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NEW YORK, April 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
If you own shares in any of the companies listed above and
would like to discuss our investigations or have any questions concerning
this notice or your rights or interests, please contact:
Joshua Rubin, Esq.
Weiss Law
305 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10007
(212) 682-3025
(888) 593-4771
stockinfo@weisslawllp.com
Datto Holding Corp. (NYSE: MSP)
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Datto Holding Corp. (NYSE: MSP) in connection with the proposed acquisition of MSP by Kaseya. Under the terms of the merger agreement, MSP shareholders will receive $35.50 in cash for each share of MSP common stock owned. If you own MSP shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us at one of the numbers listed above or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/msp
SailPoint Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SAIL)
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of SailPoint Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SAIL), in connection with the proposed acquisition of SAIL by Thoma Bravo. Under the terms of the merger agreement, SAIL shareholders will receive $65.25 in cash for each share of SAIL common stock owned. If you own SAIL shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us at one of the numbers listed above or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/sail
Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: SAVE)
WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: SAVE), in connection with the proposed merger of SAVE with Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. ("Frontier"). Under the terms of the merger agreement, SAVE's shareholders will receive 1.9126 shares of Frontier plus $2.13 in cash for each share of SAVE common stock owned, representing implied per-share merger consideration of approximately $23.67 based upon Frontier's April 18, 2022 closing price of $11.26. If you own SAVE shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us at one of the numbers listed above or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/save
Exterran Corporation (NYSE: EXTN)
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Exterran Corporation (NYSE: EXTN) in connection with the proposed merger of EXTN with Enerflex Ltd. ("Enerflex"). Under the terms of the merger agreement, EXTN shareholders will receive 1.021 shares of Enerflex common stock for each share of EXTN common stock owned. If you own EXTN shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us at one of the numbers listed above or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/extn
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SOURCE Weiss Law | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/19/shareholder-alert-weiss-law-reminds-msp-sail-save-extn-shareholders-about-its-ongoing-investigations/ | 2022-04-19T22:11:42Z |
NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner of the class action firm Monteverde & Associates PC (the "M&A Class Action Firm"), a national securities firm rated Top 50 in the 2018-2021 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report and headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating F-star Therapeutics, Inc. (FSTX), relating to its proposed acquisition by invoX Pharma via a tender offer. Under the terms of the agreement, FSTX shareholders will receive $7.12 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/f-star-therapeutics-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
We are a national class action securities litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders from corporate wrongdoing. We were listed in the Top 50 in the 2018-2021 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. Our lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions. Mr. Monteverde is recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013, 2017-2019, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017-2021 Top Rated Lawyer. Our firm's recent successes include changing the law in a significant victory that lowered the standard of liability under Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act in the Ninth Circuit. Thereafter, our firm successfully preserved this victory by obtaining dismissal of a writ of certiorari as improvidently granted at the United States Supreme Court. Emulex Corp. v. Varjabedian, 139 S. Ct. 1407 (2019). Also, in 2019 we recovered or secured six cash common funds for shareholders in mergers & acquisitions class action cases.
If you own common stock in FSTX and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.
Contact:
Juan E. Monteverde, Esq.
MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
The Empire State Building
350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4405
New York, NY 10118
United States of America
jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
Tel: (212) 971-1341
Attorney Advertising. (C) 2022 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
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SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/investor-alert-mampa-class-action-firm-announces-an-investigation-f-star-therapeutics-inc-fstx/ | 2022-06-28T04:14:35Z |
ALAMEDA, Calif., July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE: PEN) today announced that it will host a conference call to discuss financial results for the second quarter 2022 after market close on Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. A press release with second quarter 2022 financial results will be issued after market close that day.
Webcast & Conference Call Information
The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (888) 330-2443 for domestic and international callers (conference id: 4604622), or the webcast can be accessed on the "Events" section under the "Investors" tab of the Company's website at: www.penumbrainc.com. The webcast will be available on the Company's website for at least two weeks following the completion of the call.
About Penumbra
Penumbra, Inc., headquartered in Alameda, California, is a global healthcare company focused on innovative therapies. Penumbra designs, develops, manufactures and markets novel products and has a broad portfolio that addresses challenging medical conditions in markets with significant unmet need. Penumbra supports healthcare providers, hospitals and clinics in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.penumbrainc.com and connect on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Investor Relations
Penumbra, Inc.
510-995-2461
investors@penumbrainc.com
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SOURCE Penumbra, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/penumbra-inc-schedules-second-quarter-2022-earnings-release-conference-call-august-4-2022/ | 2022-07-07T21:51:00Z |
17-year-old killed, 4 hurt in stabbings on Wisconsin river
SOMERSET, Wis. (AP) — A Minnesota teenager died and four other people were seriously hurt after being stabbed while tubing down a Wisconsin river, authorities said.
St. Croix County Sheriff Scott Knudson the victims and suspect, a 52-year-old Prior Lake, Minnesota man, were all on the Apple River when the attack happened Saturday afternoon. Knudson said investigators were working to determine what led to the stabbings and whether the victims and suspect knew each other. They were tubing with two different groups that included about 20 people.
“We don’t know yet who was connected to who, who knew each other or what precipitated it,” Knudson said.
The knife attack happened on a difficult-to-access section of the river near the town of Somerset, Wisconsin, which is about 35 miles (56 kilometers) east of Minneapolis. The suspect was arrested about an hour and a half later while getting off the river downstream.
“Thank goodness a witness had taken a photo of him,” Knudson told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “Another witness located him at the exit of the tubing area, where he was taken into custody.”
A 17-year-old boy from Stillwater, Minnesota, died. Two of the other victims were flown to a hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, and two others were taken there by ambulance. The sheriff’s office said Sunday that the condition of all four surviving victims — a woman and three men in their 20s — ranged from serious to critical. They suffered stab wounds to their chests and torsos.
The sheriff’s office didn’t name the victims, but did provide a few details about them. The victims included a 20-year-old man and a 22-year-old man from Luck, Wisconsin; a 22-year-old man from Elk River, Minnesota; and a 24-year-old woman from Burnsville, Minnesota;
The name of the suspect wasn’t immediately released, but St. Croix County jail records show a 52-year-old man was being held without bond on suspicion of first-degree homicide, four counts of aggravated battery and four counts of mayhem.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/31/17-year-old-killed-4-hurt-stabbings-wisconsin-river/ | 2022-07-31T22:08:01Z |
Three-legged dog battling cancer rescues baby otter from river
By Kirsten Mitchell
Click here for updates on this story
LAKELAND, Minnesota (WCCO) — A Lakeland dog is being hailed a hero. The goldendoodle named Gus rescued a tiny baby otter in the St. Croix River. The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Roseville treated the pup and said he’s doing much better.
“He’s a very friendly, happy, goldendoodle,” Gus’ owner, Cleo Young, said.
Despite the wags and kisses, it’s been a tough few years for 6-year-old Gus.
Young said he had a tumor removed and during a routine follow up earlier this year, staff at the University of Minnesota found another, leading them to amputate his back leg.
“We thought, Oh this is going to be so sad, he isn’t going to be able to run again like he used to, but this hasn’t slowed him down at all,” Young said.
That was clear Easter Sunday when he jumped into the frigid St. Croix River. Young said her grandkids Ella and Lucy watched him from shore as they watch him swim far out, seemingly looking for something.
He returned to shore with a tiny baby otter in his mouth and left it at the girls’ feet. Covered in sand, they washed him in the sink and rushed to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Roseville.
“It was kind of a harrowing trip because it was closing at 6 p.m., and we didn’t know if we were going to make it,” Young said.
The team at WRC went right to work, nursing the cold pup back to health. They said if Gus hadn’t rescued him, he likely wouldn’t have survived.
Gus has three more chemotherapy sessions to go, but his battle for his life hasn’t stopped him, from saving another.
“It was definitely an Easter Sunday we will remember for a long time,” Ella Hammerstrand said.
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center says the baby otter is too young to be in the water and should have been in the den with his mother. He’s since been transferred to another rehabilitation center for more care.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/04/25/three-legged-dog-battling-cancer-rescues-baby-otter-from-river/ | 2022-04-25T20:07:34Z |
Premier golf destination to debut on famed Las Vegas Boulevard in 2023
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 9, 2022, Flite Golf & Entertainment's Atomic Range, a modernized golf experience along the Las Vegas Strip next to The STRAT, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its 99,000-square-foot golf complex that will house four stories with 103 separate hitting bays, six bars, 10 putting bays, meeting space and a multi-use Astrocade that will feature large scale screens for sports and entertainment viewing. Construction is slated to be completed in Q4 of 2023. Once completed, the destination will employ more than 500 locals across the seven-acre destination.
"We could not be more excited to enter the Vegas market next to the iconic STRAT. We are fortunate to have an outstanding partnership with Golden Entertainment and cannot wait to create a best in class golf entertainment experience for the people of Las Vegas and visitors," said John Vollbrecht, Founder & CEO of Flite Golf & Entertainment. "Atomic Range, our first flagship location, will feature the latest in golf and entertainment technology for those looking to create memorable experiences with friends and family. The location along the Strip adjacent to The STRAT is truly unmatched and accessible from anywhere in the Valley."
In attendance at the groundbreaking was John Vollbrecht, Founder & CEO, Flite Golf & Entertainment, Blake Sartini, CEO, Golden Entertainment, Carolyn Goodman, Mayor, City of Las Vegas, Olivia Diaz, Councilwoman, City of Las Vegas, and Bobak Mostaghasi, Principal, Atomic Range. Dignitaries and esteemed guests at the event were given the opportunity to participate in an inaugural tee-off to signify the first swings on the future site.
About Atomic Range – Las Vegas
Leading golf entertainment conglomerate, Flite Golf & Entertainment (in partnership with Golden Entertainment, Inc.) brings Atomic Range, a 99,000 square-foot golf entertainment complex to The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod. The completed project will occupy seven acres of Golden Entertainment property along Las Vegas Boulevard and adjacent to The STRAT. Upon the target opening in 2023, Atomic Range will be a premier golf entertainment destination that hosts next-generation golf technology with an immersive experience through game play for guests. The project will host four stories with 103 separate hitting bays, four bars, meeting spaces and a 12,000 square-foot multi-use space. To learn more, please visit www.AtomicRange.com.
About Flite Golf & Entertainment
Flite Golf & Entertainment is a global golf entertainment company headquartered in Dallas, TX. Flite builds, deploys, and supports innovative solutions needed to drive technology-enhanced ranges, whether on green grass or in a multi-million-dollar entertainment venue. Utilizing their innovative next-gen games, course play and guest management software, Flite brings a complete technology solution to existing range operators as well as entirely new venues seeking to offer a contemporary golf entertainment experience. Flite is a turnkey solution that is driving golf entertainment. To learn more, please visit www.flitegolf.com.
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SOURCE Atomic Range | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/atomic-range-tees-off-las-vegas-project-with-ceremonial-groundbreaking-strat-hotel-casino-amp-skypod/ | 2022-08-09T19:02:47Z |
BD2 commits to finding answers for the 40 million individuals with bipolar disorder and those not yet diagnosed
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, three family philanthropies joined with the Milken Institute to commit $150 million to launch BD2: Breakthrough Discoveries for thriving with Bipolar Disorder.
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition with dramatic and often unpredictable shifts in mood, energy, activity, and cognition, affecting at least 40 million people worldwide.
While funding for mental health has increased overall, federal funding for research related exclusively to bipolar disorder has decreased by 50% over the past 10 years. As the largest private investment focused on the study of bipolar disorder, BD2 provides an unprecedented opportunity to identify breakthroughs in scientific understanding that create new interventions so that everyone with bipolar disorder can thrive.
"For far too long, bipolar disorder has lacked funding and collaboration to identify scientific advancements and treatment improvements," said Kent Dauten, co-founder and chairman of Keystone Capital and one of three families launching the effort. "BD2 is a commitment to the 40 million people living with bipolar disorder and their loved ones."
The Baszucki, Dauten, and Brin families united with the Milken Institute to create BD2 to advance discoveries for families like theirs. David Baszucki, founder and CEO of Roblox, and Jan Ellison Baszucki, best selling author and mental health advocate, experienced the challenges of a mental health crisis firsthand in 2016 when their son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 19, and created the Baszucki Brain Research Fund to support bipolar disorder focused research. Kent Dauten and his wife, Liz, have supported bipolar disorder research extensively after two of their four children were diagnosed as teenagers. They founded the Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation at Massachusetts General Hospital. Google co-founder Sergey Brin supports an array of health research initiatives aimed at breakthroughs for Parkinson's, bipolar disorder, and other neurological conditions through the Sergey Brin Family Foundation. As a think tank and global convener, the Milken Institute is playing a leadership role in BD2, designing its structure and overseeing grantmaking so that investments make a transformational impact.
"BD2 is unique in its platform-based, integrated approach to innovation in both science and clinical care," said Jan Ellison Baszucki, who together with her husband, David Baszucki, is providing initial funding. "By bringing together researchers, clinicians, funders, and those with lived experience, we hope BD2 will deliver innovative treatments like those that helped our son recover his health."
"BD2 presents an opportunity to apply experience and resources directly to bipolar research to advance our knowledge and ultimately improve diagnosis and care," said Cara Altimus, PhD, BD2's managing director and senior director at the Milken Institute. "Together, we will accelerate discoveries for bipolar disorder and demonstrate that our approach to collaborative funding and integrated research is a new model for biomedical research."
Taking learnings from the development of Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP), a core mission of BD2 is to provide unparalleled access to breakthrough insights on bipolar disorder through four unique programs. The BD2 Discovery Grants, Brain Omics, Genetics Platforms, and the Integrated Network are designed to share data, methods, and resources across initiatives and the bipolar disorder research community.
- The BD2 Discovery Grants will fund multidisciplinary teams of scientists and clinicians to develop targeted and innovative research proposals that examine the genetic, molecular, cellular, circuit, or behavioral mechanisms of bipolar disorder.
- The Brain Omics Platform will provide state-of-the-art multi omics to understand neural and non-neural changes in bipolar disorder on a molecular scale, an approach used in other brain diseases but is unprecedented in bipolar disorder studies.
- The BD2 Genetics Platform will collect and genotype a large number of samples from individuals with diverse backgrounds who experience bipolar disorder to close a fundamental gap in science's understanding of the genetic mechanisms of bipolar disorder.
- The BD2 Integrated Network is a collaborative longitudinal study with an initial focus on people living with bipolar I. The study design and infrastructure prioritize rapid implementation of research findings to improve treatment for all those living with bipolar disorder."
About BD2
Through an integrated, collaborative approach, BD2: Breakthrough Discoveries for thriving with Bipolar Disorder will address knowledge gaps in the basic disease mechanisms of bipolar disorder as well as factors influencing clinical approaches and outcomes. This initial $150 million effort provides an unprecedented opportunity to improve the lives of people with bipolar disorder and those yet to be diagnosed.
About the Milken Institute
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life. With a focus on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling some of our most critical global issues through the lens of what's pressing now and what's coming next.
About the Milken Institute Center for Strategic Philanthropy
The Milken Institute Center for Strategic Philanthropy advises individuals and foundations seeking to develop and implement transformational giving strategies. In addition, we provide resources and leadership to make the philanthropic landscape more effective. Our vision is for a more effective philanthropic ecosystem where dollars are spent strategically, donors realize the impact they seek, and people and the planet thrive.
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SOURCE BD² | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/global-platform-launches-transform-bipolar-disorder-research-care/ | 2022-09-12T12:14:32Z |
STOCKHOLM, July 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- During the period June 27 - July 1, 2022 AB Electrolux (LEI code 549300Y3HHZB1ZGFPJ93) has repurchased in total 292,165 own series B shares (ISIN: SE0016589188) as part of the buyback program initiated by the Board of Directors in order to optimize the company's capital structure.
The share buybacks form part of the buyback program of a maximum of 8,000,000 series B shares for a total maximum amount of SEK 1,250 million, which AB Electrolux announced on April 29, 2022. The buyback program, which runs between May 2, 2022 - October 21, 2022, is being carried out in accordance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 ("MAR") and the Commission Delegated Regulation 2016/1052 (the "Safe Harbour Regulation"). The objective of the share buybacks is to optimize the company's capital structure and the intention is to reduce Electrolux share capital through subsequent share cancellations.
Series B shares in AB Electrolux have been repurchased (in SEK) as follows:
All acquisitions have been carried out on Nasdaq Stockholm by Citigroup Global Markets Europe AG on behalf of AB Electrolux. Following the above acquisitions, AB Electrolux holding of own shares as of July 1, 2022 amounts to 8,826,572 series B shares. The total number of shares in AB Electrolux amounts to 283,077,393.
A full breakdown of the transactions pursuant to article 5.3 of MAR and article 2.3 of the Safe Harbour Regulation is attached to this announcement.
CONTACT:
For further information, please contact:
Sophie Arnius, Investor Relations, +46 70 590 80 72
Electrolux Press Hotline, +46 8 657 65 07
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE Electrolux | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/04/buybacks-series-b-shares-ab-electrolux-during-week-26-2022/ | 2022-07-04T14:12:14Z |
BrainStorm to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for NurOwn® for the treatment of ALS
New clinical analyses reinforce the conclusions from NurOwn's® Phase 3 clinical trial
Conference call and webcast at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time today
NEW YORK, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022, and provided a corporate update. The company also announced its decision to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for NurOwn® for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
BrainStorm announces decision to submit a BLA to the FDA for NurOwn® for the treatment of ALS
"Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics is at a pivotal moment as a company as we finalize the regulatory filing for NurOwn® in the treatment of ALS. The continued analysis and the feedback received from the many scientific presentations of NurOwn's® Phase 3 data have uncovered key insights that furthered our understanding of the product mechanism of action and therapeutic potential and strengthened the conclusions of NurOwn's® efficacy," said Chaim Lebovits, Chief Executive Officer. "After carefully considering these learnings, the totality of the evidence from NurOwn's® clinical studies, and the feedback received from key opinion leaders and the broader ALS community, we will submit a Biologics License Application to the FDA. We are deeply grateful to the ALS clinical experts, members of the ALS community and faithful investors for their contribution to the development of NurOwn® and what it may mean to those living with ALS. Their contributions and commitment made our current progress possible and continue to inspire us as we prepare for the considerable work ahead. We intend to provide additional updates upon learning whether the FDA files our BLA submission."
New clinical analyses strengthen the conclusions from NurOwn's® Phase 3 clinical trial
A correction was made to the Muscle and Nerve publication from December 2021 describing the results of NurOwn's® Phase 3 clinical trial in ALS following new clinical analyses which strengthen the Company's original conclusions from the trial. The correction results in a statistically significant treatment difference (p=0.050) of more than 2 points for an important secondary endpoint, average change from baseline in ALSFRS-R, in the pre-specified efficacy subgroup of participants with a baseline score of at least 35. Analyses reported in the original publication utilized an efficacy model that unintentionally deviated from the trial's pre-specified statistical analysis plan by erroneously incorporating interaction terms between the subgroup and treatment. The newly published results, which includes supporting information to the publication, employ the efficacy model as pre-specified in the trial's statistical analysis plan, correcting the analyses. The correction also relates to the other subgroup analyses published for this endpoint, demonstrating that all subgroups with ALSFRS-R baseline scores of at least 26 to 35 showed a statistically significant benefit following treatment with NurOwn® (p≤0.050) on this secondary endpoint.
Other Second Quarter 2022 and Recent Highlights
- Presented new analyses from NurOwn's® Phase 3 ALS trial that showed a treatment effect in participants predicted by the ENCALS model to have intermediate to very long survival. These analyses confirmed the importance of avoiding potentially misclassifying treatment responses due to the ALSFRS-R floor effect and were presented in a poster presentation at the 2022 European Network for the Cure of ALS (ENCALS) Meeting. The presentation was delivered by Dr. Jonathan Katz, principal investigator on the trial and Chair of the Neurology Department and Director of the Forbes Norris ALS Clinic at the California Pacific Medical Center.
- Biomarker analyses from NurOwn's® Phase 3 ALS trial were the subject of an abstract presented at the 2022 American Academy of Neurology Congress by Dr. James Berry, MD, MPH, principal investigator on the trial and Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Multidisciplinary ALS Clinic and Chief of the Division of ALS and Motor Neuron Diseases. Results of the analyses showed significant changes across multiple cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers following NurOwn® treatment, with the strongest effects observed on biomarkers related to neuroprotection and neuroinflammation.
- Presented a summary of analyses from the Phase 3 trial of NurOwn® in ALS that highlighted the ability of biomarkers to predict clinical treatment response and provide a window into the complex biological pathways underlying disease progression. The presentation was delivered at the ALS Drug Development Summit by BrainStorm's President and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ralph Kern, MD, MHSc.
- Reported new results from the open-label Phase 2 study of NurOwn® in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) that highlighted post-treatment improvements in monocular and binocular low contrast letter acuity (LCLA) outcomes (1.25% and 2.5% thresholds). In contrast, matched patients from the long-term Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis (CLIMB) study and participants from the placebo arm of the SPRINT study showed worsening in LCLA outcomes over a similar time period. The results were presented in a poster presentation delivered by Dr. Kern at the 2022 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Meeting.
- Presented biomarker analyses from the open-label Phase 2 study of NurOwn® in progressive MS showing consistent post-treatment reductions in CSF inflammatory biomarkers that may be relevant to disease progression and treatment response. The presentation was delivered by Dr. Christopher Lock, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, Neurology and Neurological Studies, at Stanford School of Medicine, at the CMSC 2022 Meeting.
- Preclinical in-vitro data that showed NurOwn® cells maintaining their neurotrophic and immunomodulatory effects in the presence of Siponimod, an S1P modulator recently approved for the treatment of secondary progressive MS, were presented in a poster presentation at the CMSC 2022 Meeting. The presentation was delivered by Dr. Sidney Spector, MD, PhD, Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs and Global Strategy at BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics.
- Reported preclinical data from a murine lung injury model (the bleomycin model) that demonstrated intrathecal administration of NurOwn®-derived exosomes (Exo MSC-NTF) may have potential as a clinical therapy for inflammatory pulmonary pathologies and display superior macrophage immunomodulation compared to naïve mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (Exo-MSC). The data were presented at the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) 2022 Annual Meeting by Haggai Kaspi, PhD, Preclinical Research Manager at BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics.
- Preclinical in vitro data demonstrating the superior anti-inflammatory effects of Exo MSC-NTF compared to Exo-MSC were featured in a poster at the International Society of Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) 2022 Meeting. The poster was presented by Dr. Kim Thacker, Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs and Clinical Innovation at BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics.
- Strengthened executive team in preparation for anticipated growth and corporate development, with the appointment of Netta Blondheim-Shraga, PhD, as VP of Research & Development and Antal Pearl-Lendner, Adv., as Chief Legal Counsel
Financial Results for the Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2022
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term bank deposits were approximately $12.2 million as of June 30, 2022, compared to $18.4 million as of March 31, 2022.
Research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2022, and 2021 were approximately $5.1 million and $3.6 million, respectively.
General and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2022, and 2021 were approximately $2.5 million.
Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2022, was approximately $7.0 million, as compared to a net loss of approximately $6.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021.
Net loss per share for the three months ended June 30, 2022, and 2021 was $0.19 and $0.17, respectively.
Conference Call and Webcast
August 15, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Participant Numbers:
Toll Free: 888-506-0062
International: 973-528-0011
Participant Access Code: 955552
Webcast URL: https://bit.ly/3cXwQkt
Those that wish to listen to the replay of the conference call can do so by dialing the numbers below. The replay will be available for 14 days.
Toll Free: 877-481-4010
International: 919-882-2331
Replay Passcode: 46290
About NurOwn®
The NurOwn® technology platform (autologous MSC-NTF cells) represents a promising investigational therapeutic approach to targeting disease pathways important in neurodegenerative disorders. MSC-NTF cells are produced from autologous, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have been expanded and differentiated ex vivo. MSCs are converted into MSC-NTF cells by growing them under patented conditions that induce the cells to secrete high levels of neurotrophic factors (NTFs). Autologous MSC-NTF cells are designed to effectively deliver multiple NTFs and immunomodulatory cytokines directly to the site of damage to elicit a desired biological effect and ultimately slow or stabilize disease progression.
About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is a leading developer of innovative autologous adult stem cell therapeutics for debilitating neurodegenerative diseases. The Company holds the rights to clinical development and commercialization of the NurOwn® technology platform used to produce autologous MSC-NTF cells through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement. Autologous MSC-NTF cells have received Orphan Drug designation status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). BrainStorm has completed a Phase 3 pivotal trial in ALS (NCT03280056); this trial investigated the safety and efficacy of repeat-administration of autologous MSC-NTF cells and was supported by a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM CLIN2-0989). BrainStorm completed under an investigational new drug application a Phase 2 open-label multicenter trial (NCT03799718) of autologous MSC-NTF cells in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and was supported by a grant from the National MS Society (NMSS).
Safe-Harbor Statement
Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information, including statements regarding future BLA submission, constitute "forward-looking statements" and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'s actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Terms and phrases such as "may," "should," "would," "could," "will," "expect," "likely," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "predict," "potential," and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, BrainStorm's need to raise additional capital, BrainStorm's ability to continue as a going concern, BrainStorm's plan to submit a BLA for NurOwn® to the FDA, prospects that the FDA will accept BrainStorm's BLA for NurOwn® for filing and review, prospects that the FDA does not view BrainStorm's NurOwn® product candidate to have demonstrated adequate safety or effectiveness, prospects for future regulatory approval of BrainStorm's NurOwn® treatment candidate, the success of BrainStorm's product development programs and research, regulatory and personnel issues, development of a global market for BrainStorm's products, if approved, and services, the ability to secure and maintain research institutions to conduct BrainStorm's clinical trials, the ability to generate significant revenue, the ability of BrainStorm's NurOwn® treatment candidate to achieve broad acceptance as a treatment option for ALS or other neurodegenerative diseases, BrainStorm's ability to manufacture and commercialize the NurOwn® treatment candidate, obtaining patents that provide meaningful protection, competition and market developments, BrainStorm's ability to protect our intellectual property from infringement by third parties, health reform legislation, demand for our services, currency exchange rates and product liability claims and litigation; the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and additional strains of COVID-19 or any other health epidemic on our clinical trials, supply chain, and operations; potential delays in any planned or anticipated review or interactions with the FDA due to disruptions at, or inadequate funding of, the FDA; the impact of global economic and political developments on our business, including rising inflation and capital market disruptions; the current conflict in Ukraine, economic sanctions and economic slowdowns or recessions that may result from such development; and other factors detailed in BrainStorm's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q available at http://www.sec.gov. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on BrainStorm's forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the beliefs, expectations, and opinions of management as of the date of this press release. We do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or assumptions if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, unless otherwise required by law. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements.
CONTACTS
Investor Relations:
John Mullaly
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Phone: +1 617-429-3548
jmullaly@lifesciadvisors.com
Media:
Lisa Guiterman
Phone: +1 202 330-3431
lisa.guiterman@gmail.com
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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SOURCE BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/brainstorm-cell-therapeutics-announces-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-provides-corporate-update/ | 2022-08-15T12:11:13Z |
Accreditation is a testament to the organization's prowess in silicon design engineering
EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Global, one of the world's fastest growing engineering services firms, announced it has joined the Arm® Approved Design Partner program. This recognition further enables Quest Global to better support the organizations, by combining its expertise in designing ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and Custom SoCs (Systems on Chip) with Arm's powerful IP catalog.
As an Arm Approved Design Partner, Quest Global will have select access to Arm's vast library of IP, tools and models, as well as roadmap updates. This partnership will further strengthen Quest Global's reputation as a partner of choice by providing access to its team of extraordinary silicon engineers and offering Arm customers with design support to deliver Arm-based SoCs specifically augmented for target markets.
Speaking on the occasion, Satish Bagalkotkar, CTO, Semiconductor at Quest Global, said, "It is a very proud moment for all of us. This association will allow us to support our customers with ASIC development, helping them fast track their projects to market. Our international presence, wide range of expertise, brilliant team of engineers and our ability to deliver on our commitments no matter how challenging, will further enhance our capabilities to solve challenges faced across industries."
The organization currently supports designs up to 3nm and 60% of its silicon engineers work on 7/6/5/4/3 nm technology nodes. The semiconductor team at Quest Global has already supported 300+ custom SoC tape-outs in the last five years delivering organization specific requirements, achieving desired design frequency and low power performance targets at the target technology nodes.
"The Arm Approved Design Partner program was built to connect industry leading organizations with customers looking to successfully implement custom designs based on Arm IP," said Ciarán Dunne, vice president and general manager, Partner Enablement at Arm. "Our partners can now confidently approach Quest Global to help them with the required expertise and know-how to build Arm-based ASICs and SoCs."
About Quest Global:
We are Quest Global. We're in the business of engineering, but what we're really building is a brighter future. It's not just what we do, but why we do it that makes us different. We believe engineering has the unique opportunity to solve the problems of today that stand in the way of tomorrow. For 25 years, we have strived to be the most trusted partner for the world's hardest engineering problems. As a global organization headquartered in Singapore, we live and work in 17 countries, with 56 global delivery centers, driven by 13,000+ extraordinary employees who make the impossible possible every day.
Quest Global brings deep industry knowledge and digital expertise to deliver end-to-end global product engineering services. We bring together technologies and industries alongside the contributions of diverse individuals and their areas of expertise to solve problems better, faster. This multi-dimensional approach enables us to solve the most important and large-scale challenges across the Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Energy, Hi-Tech, Healthcare, Medical Devices, Rail and Semiconductor industries.
Media Contact:
Quest Global - Anubhuti.Agarwal@quest-global.com
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1830310/Quest_Global_Logo.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1874317/ARM_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE Quest Global | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/quest-global-becomes-arm-approved-design-partner/ | 2022-08-09T06:51:19Z |
Tatum’s huge effort helps Celtics win 108-95 to force Game 7
By STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 46 points, outdueling Giannis Antetokounmpo and making sure there wouldn’t be another Milwaukee Bucks fourth-quarter comeback, and the Boston Celtics beat the defending champions 108-95 to force a seventh game in their Eastern Conference semifinal. The third straight victory for a road team in this series forced a Game 7 on Sunday in Boston. The winner heads to Miami to begin an East finals matchup with the top-seeded Heat on Tuesday. Antetokounmpo had 44 points, 20 rebounds and six assists. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/13/tatums-huge-effort-helps-celtics-win-108-95-to-force-game-7/ | 2022-05-14T04:50:49Z |
SPARTA, Mich., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend on the Corporation's common stock of $0.25 per share. The cash dividend is payable to shareholders of record as of September 15, 2022 and will be paid on September 30, 2022. The dividend declared for the third quarter of 2022 is equal to the dividend paid in the second quarter of 2022 and third quarter of 2021.
ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Sparta, Michigan and the parent corporation of ChoiceOne Bank, Member FDIC. ChoiceOne Bank operates 35 offices in parts of Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ottawa, and St. Clair Counties in Michigan. ChoiceOne Bank offers insurance and investment products through its subsidiary, ChoiceOne Insurance Agencies, Inc. ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. common stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "COFS." For more information, please visit Investor Relations at ChoiceOne's website at www.choiceone.com.
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SOURCE ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/choiceone-financial-announces-cash-dividend/ | 2022-08-24T20:18:23Z |
SUMMIT, N.J., June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Specialty Program Group LLC (SPG), a leading operator of specialty insurance brokerages and underwriting facilities, announced today that Eli Orozco has joined as Director of Marketing.
Eli brings over 18 years of experience in project management, digital marketing, marketing strategy, branding and marketing operations. Prior to joining SPG, he served as Marketing Director at Bretford, a provider of mobile solutions, and has held positions in marketing strategy, demand generation and served as the center of excellence for digital marketing.
Eli will report to Chris Lamitola, SPG's Chief Sales Officer, to lead the SPG businesses in marketing strategy and digital transformation. "Eli brings deep expertise in digital marketing and has extensive experience developing digital marketing strategies and coaching marketing teams at a global scale," said Lamitola. "He will be a true asset to SPG and our companies as we enhance our digital marketing capabilities."
"Eli's expertise in digital strategy and implementation will be valuable to our leadership team as we strengthen our digital focus," said Chris Treanor, President & CEO of Specialty Program Group.
Headquartered in Summit, NJ, Specialty Program Group is a fully licensed holding company established to acquire and scale best-in-class insurance underwriting facilities and specialty businesses throughout North America. SPG has 18 portfolio companies and is over 1.8 billion in premium. For more information, please visit www.specialtyprogramgroup.com.
Media: Chris Lamitola
Phone: 908-790-6749
christopher.lamitola@specialtyprogramgroup.com
M&A: Chris Treanor
Phone: 908-790-6884
Chris.treanor@specialtyprogramgroup.com
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SOURCE Specialty Program Group | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/specialty-program-group-llc-strengthens-digital-capabilities-with-addition-eli-orozco-director-marketing/ | 2022-06-22T12:51:05Z |
LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Products (NYSE:APD) will release its fiscal 2022 third quarter financial results prior to market open on Thursday, August 4, 2022 and will review these results in a teleconference at 8:30 a.m. ET. The teleconference will be open to the public and the media in listen-only mode by telephone and Internet broadcast.
Live teleconference: 323-701-0160
Passcode: 5156956
Internet broadcast/slides: Available on the Event Details page on Air Products' Investor Relations website.
Telephone replay: 888-203-1112 (domestic) or 719-457-0820 (international)
Passcode: 5156956
Available from 12:30 p.m. ET on August 4, 2022 through 12:30 p.m. ET on August 11, 2022.
Internet replay: Available on the Event Details page on Air Products' Investor Relations website.
About Air Products
Air Products (NYSE:APD) is a world-leading industrial gases company in operation for 80 years. Focused on serving energy, environment and emerging markets, the Company provides essential industrial gases, related equipment and applications expertise to customers in dozens of industries, including refining, chemical, metals, electronics, manufacturing, and food and beverage. Air Products is also the global leader in the supply of liquefied natural gas process technology and equipment. The Company develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates some of the world's largest industrial gas projects, including: gasification projects that sustainably convert abundant natural resources into syngas for the production of high-value power, fuels and chemicals; carbon capture projects; and world-scale carbon-free hydrogen projects supporting global transportation and the energy transition.
The Company had fiscal 2021 sales of $10.3 billion from operations in over 50 countries and has a current market capitalization of about $55 billion. More than 20,000 passionate, talented and committed employees from diverse backgrounds are driven by Air Products' higher purpose to create innovative solutions that benefit the environment, enhance sustainability and address the challenges facing customers, communities, and the world. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
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SOURCE Air Products | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/air-products-broadcast-fiscal-2022-third-quarter-earnings-teleconference-august-4/ | 2022-07-05T19:13:11Z |
Wednesday roundup: Canton South's AJ Pierson, Tuslaw's Meredith Rankl throw no-hitters
The threat of rain couldn’t prevent AJ Pierson and Meredith Rankl from making history on Wednesday.
AJ Pierson fired a no-hitter in the Canton South baseball team’s 3-1 victory over Alliance. Rankl threw a no-hitter in the Tuslaw softball team’s 2-0 win over Northwest.
Pierson struck out 14 as he improved to 1-1 on the season. He also singled and drove in two runs.
Rankl struck out 13 on her way to a 2-0 start. At the plate, she was 2-for-2 with two RBIs.
Macaira Fox also had two hits for Tuslaw.
BASEBALL
Canton South 3, Alliance 1
Canton South - 210 - 000 - 0 — 3 - 4 - 2
Alliance - 020 - 000 - 0 — 1 - 0 - 1
W: Pierson.
Louisville 13, Minerva 0
Louisville - 240 - 124 — 13 - 13 - 1
Minerva - 000 - 000 — 0 - 2 - 9
W: Morley 1-1. L: Lautzenheiser 1-1. Notes: Cole Miller (L) 3-for-5, 2 2B, 3 RBIs. Kyle Vesely (L) 3-for-4. Records: Louisville 3-3; Minerva 2-3.
More:Tuesdays with Jaxon: Clark pitches Jackson past rival Hoover in Federal League baseball
East Canton 4, Strasburg 1
East Canton - 102 - 001 - 0 — 4 - 9 - 2
Strasburg - 000 - 100 - 0 — 1 - 3 - 0
W: Deutschman. L: Martin. Notes: Chase Vacco (EC) 4-for-4, 3B, 3 runs scored. Trevor Deutschman (EC) 2-for-4, 2 RBIs 1 run scored, 8 Ks. Grayden Clark (EC) 2-for-2, RBI.
Orrville 16, Fairless 3
Fairless - 000 - 03 — 3 - 3 - 5
Orrville - 416 - 5x — 16 - 13 - 0
W: Kerr. L: Horrisberger 0-1. Notes: Ethan Lautzenheiser (F) 2B, RBI. Records: Fairless 0-1, 0-1..
SOFTBALL
Tuslaw 2, Northwest 0
Tuslaw - 101- 000 - 0— 2 - 7 - 0
Northwest - 000- 000 - 0—0 - 0 - 1
W: Rankl 2-0. Records: Tuslaw 3-0, 1-0.
Lake 15, McKinley 2
Lake - 416 - 40 — 15 - 15 - 2
McKinley - 101 - 00 — 2 - 2 - 9
W: Roberts. L: Raebel. HR: Ward (L).
More:The goal: After winning at nationals, Tuslaw's Malena Cybak seeks first state track title
Fairless 10, Orrville 0
Orrville - 000 - 00 — 0 - 3 - 3
Fairless - 042 - 13 — 10 - 11 - 0
W: Ivy. HR: Smith (F). Notes: Hannah Smith (F) HR, 3 RBIs. Lydia Highben (F) 3B. Ava Ivy (F) 3B. Records: Fairless 3-0, 2-0.
United Local 10, Lake Center Christian 0
United Local - 101 - 08 — 10 - 12 - 0
Lake Center Christian - 000 - 00 — 0 - 1 - 1
W: Firth. L: Barber. HR: Firth (UL) 2.
BOYS TENNIS
GlenOak 5, McKinley 0
Singles: Wiles (GO) d. Diuk 6-0, 6-0; Marginean (GO) d. Welden 6-0, 6-0; Tallada (GO) d. Bliese 6-0, 6-1. Doubles: Fink-Charles (GO) d. Patterson-Pattered 6-1, 6-1; Wellman-Arway (GO) d. Shaheen-Bliese 6-1, 6-0.
Records: GlenOak 4-0.
Louisville 3, Alliance 2
Singles: Hood (A) d. Beck 6-1, 6-0; Nieschwitz (L) d. Blevins 6-1, 6-0; Romeo (A) d. Holleran 6-4, 6-4. Doubles: Ca. Duskey-Co. Duskey (L) d. Canavan-Heslop 6-1, 6-0; Shelby-Gray (L) d. Reed-Poindexter 6-1, 6-1. Records: Louisville 4-2; Alliance 3-2
BOYS LACROSSE
Hudson 13, Hoover 8
Goals: J. Jenkins 5 (Hu), Logan 4 (Ho), Kavanagh 3 (Hu), Peel (Hu) 2, Rembielak (Ho), Maldvani (Hu), L. Jenkins (Hu), Korbel (Hu), Dikens (Hu), Katania (Hu). Assists: Leiden 3 (Hu), Kavanagh 3 (Ho), Logan (Ho), Pownell (Ho), J. Jenkins (Hu). Saves: England (Ho) 14, Wright (Hu) 12.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Lake 13, Western Reserve Academy 8
Lake goals: Labbe 5, Baker 5, Neidert 3. Lake assists: Neidert 2, Baker, Labbe. Lake saves: Fierro 5. JV: Lake 4-0.
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
HIGH SCHOOL
BASEBALL
Hoover at Jackson, 5
Minerva at Louisville, 5
Tusky Valley at McKinley, 5
Alliance at Hubbard, 5
Marlington at Salem, 5
Hiland at Sandy Valley, 5
Springfield at Lake Center, 5
SOFTBALL
Hoban at Perry, 5
BOYS TENNIS
Central Catholic at McKinley, 4
Green at Brunswick, 4:15
Chippewa at McKinley, 4:15
Jackson at Western Reserve, 4:30
BOYS LACROSSE
GlenOak at Stow, 7:30
GIRLS LACROSSE
Jackson at Chagrin Falls, 7
GlenOak at Copley, 7
Brunswick at Hoover, 7:15
TRACK AND FIELD
Canton South, Central Catholic, Massillon at New Philadelphia Inv., 4:30
COLLEGE
BASEBALL
Ashland vs. Malone (Munson Stadium), noon
Ohio Dominican at Walsh (DH), 1
OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Malone, Walsh at Mount Union John Homon Open
SOFTBALL
Ohio Dominican at Walsh (DH), 2
Mount Union at Muskingum (DH), 3
Malone at Ursuline (DH), 3:30
FRIDAY
HIGH SCHOOL
BASEBALL
Nordonia at Green, 5
Massillon at McKinley, 5
Lake at Marlington, 5
GlenOak at Howland, 5
Lake Center at Central Catholic, 5
Newcomerstown at Fairless, 5
Sandy Valley at Southeast, 5
Lake Catholic at Perry, 6
SOFTBALL
Jackson at Louisville, 5
Walsh Jesuit at Perry, 5
Green at Stow, 5
Lake at Hudson, 5
McKinley at Smithville, 5
GlenOak at Fitch, 5
BOYS LACROSSE
Hoover at Green, 7
Lake at Louisville, 7:30
GIRLS LACROSSE
Lake at CVCA, 7
BOYS TENNIS
McKinley at Marlington, 4:15
Hoover, Perry at Hoover Tournament, 4:30
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Jackson at Mount Vernon, 6:30
COLLEGE
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League Tournament (St. Louis): Mount Union vs. Mount St. Joseph, 5
OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Malone at Flames Invitational (Cleveland, Tenn.)
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
Walsh at Tiffin, 6
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Ursuline at Walsh, 3 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/sports/high-school/2022/04/06/aj-pierson-canton-south-baseball-meredith-rankl-tuslaw-softball-no-hitters-april-6-box-scores/9491814002/ | 2022-04-07T04:34:50Z |
Afghanistan should join a list of the “worst of the worst” violators of religious freedom in the wake of the Taliban’s return to power, a U.S. advisory body is recommending to the State Department.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, in its annual report issued Monday, says religious minorities have “faced harassment, detention and even death due to their faith or beliefs” since the Taliban reimposed its harsh interpretation of Sunni Islamon Afghanistan. It also cited attacks on religious minorities by an Islamic State affiliate that is an enemy of the Taliban.
Afghanistan is among 15 nations that the commission says should be on the State Department’s list of “countries of particular concern.” The commission, in its report summary, defined these as governments as the “worst of the worst” in tolerating or engaging in “systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom.”
The commission, created in 1998 under the International Religious Freedom Act, makes non-binding policy recommendations to the administration and Congress. The State Department has adopted some but not all of its recommendations in the past.
In the new report, the commission recommends maintaining 10 countries currently on the State Department list, including China, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
It also recommends adding four more in addition to Afghanistan — India, Nigeria, Syria and Vietnam. The commission criticized the Biden administration for removing Nigeria from the list last year.
The report said that in Afghanistan, many minority Jewish, Hindu and Sikh residents have fled the country after the Taliban returned to power. It said many members of other religious minorities, such as Ahmadiyya Muslims, Baha’is and Christian converts are worshipping in secret for fear of persecution.
Many religious minorities fled Afghanistan out of fear for what could happen under the Taliban, rather than in response to specific actions or edicts issued by the Taliban. Some Sikhs still live and worship in Kabul, and the report notes that Taliban representatives visited a Sikh gurdwara or house of worship to assure them of their safety. But the report said many Sikhs and Hindus have fled to India “due to the lack of safety and security.”
The commission also cited a Human Rights Watch report of the Taliban attacking and seizing property of ethnic Hazaras belonging to the Shiite Muslim minority, plus an Amnesty International report of a Taliban massacre of Hazara men in 2021.
Several deadly attacks on Hazaras have been attributed to Islamic State in Khorasan Province or IS-K, which is hostile to the Taliban and proven to be an intractable security challenge. The cover of the commission’s report includes a photo of a deadly attack by IS-K on a Shiite mosque last year in Kunduz province.
The report echoes CIA World Factbook data from 2009, which said non-Muslim Afghans comprised a tiny fraction of the population. It said 99.7% of Afghans are Muslim, most of them Sunni Muslims, with about 10% to 15% Shiite Muslims.
“The Taliban, while they promised they would form an inclusive government, promising they would be a different kind of government, their actions have proven otherwise,” commission Chair Nadine Maenza said in an interview. She said that even members of the Sunni majority who don’t share the Taliban interpretation of Islamic law are being required to conform to strict dress codes and other measures.
The annual report, while based on developments in 2021, foreshadowed worries about a Russian invasion of Ukraine, citing religious persecution in Russia of Jehovah’s Witnesses and of religious minorities such as Muslim Tatars in Crimea, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. The State Department first designated Russia as a country of particular concern last year.
“We fear that violence will continue to increase because of Russia’s blatant violation of religious freedom in Russia and in this conflict that exists in Ukraine,” said commission member Khizr Khan at an online news conference Monday.
This year’s report marks the first time since 2001, when the Taliban last ruled in Kabul, that the commission recommended designating Afghanistan as a country of particular concern, the report said. The State Department last year already listed the Taliban on a similar list of non-state violators of religious freedom based on its actions before returning to power in August.
The commission recommended sanctioning individual Taliban officials deemed responsible for severe violations of religious freedom and urged that those facing persecution receiving priority in refugee resettlement.
In its report, the commission cited Myanmar’s military for “atrocities against religious communities”; China for detaining Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims “arbitrarily in concentration camps, prisons and forced labor”; Pakistan for enforcement of anti-blasphemy laws that endanger minorities; and India for worsening conditions for religious minorities under its Hindu-nationalist government.
The commission also recommended 12countries be placed on a “special watch list” due to religious-freedom concerns. They include three on the State Department’s list — Algeria, Cuba and Nicaragua — along with Azerbaijan, the Central African Republic, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Turkey and Uzbekistan.
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/us-commission-cite-afghanistan-for-religious-persecution/ | 2022-04-25T23:09:19Z |
PHILADELPHIA, July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zelira Therapeutics Ltd (ASX: ZLD, OTC-QB: ZLDAF), a global leader in the research, development and commercialization of clinically validated cannabinoid medicines, is pleased to announce that its groundbreaking insomnia medication Zenivol™ has achieved formal approval from German regulatory authority BfArM to launch in the German medical cannabis market.
Zenivol™ is the world's first and only clinically validated, pharmaceutical-grade, cannabis-based sleep medication. Zenivol™'s clinical research achieved the highest level of scientific review when it was peer reviewed in the Journal of Sleep. It is currently available by prescription in Australia under the country's legal cannabis regulations.
"The formal approval of Zenivol™ by BfArM in Germany marks a major milestone for Zelira; Germany is one of the largest global markets for cannabinoid-based medicines, and also one of the highest quality global regulatory markets for pharmaceuticals," says Zelira CEO Dr. Oludare Odumosu. "We look forward to working with our partner, Adjupharm, in launching Zenivol™ in Germany and supporting patients and physicians in treating chronic insomnia in a safe and effective manner. With formal regulatory approval for Zenivol™ now received in Germany, we continue to progress activities to license Zenivol® into other global markets."
Zelira Therapeutics Ltd (ASX: ZLD, OTCQB: ZLDAF) is a leading global therapeutic medical cannabinoid company with access to the world's largest and fastest growing cannabinoid medicine markets. Zelira owns a portfolio of proprietary revenue generating products and a pipeline of candidates undergoing clinical development that are positioned to enter global markets.
The Company is focused on developing branded cannabinoid-based medicines for the treatment of a variety of medical conditions in its Rx business, including insomnia, autism and chronic non-cancer pain.
The Company has two proprietary formulations under the HOPE™ brand that are generating revenues in Australia, Pennsylvania and have been licensed in Louisiana and Washington D.C., with other states in the US expected to follow. Zelira is also generating revenue in Australia from its proprietary and patented Zenivol™, a leading cannabinoid-based medicine for treatment of chronic insomnia. Zenivol™ has successfully completed the world's first Phase 1b clinical trial for chronic insomnia where it was found to be a safe and effective treatment.
In 2020, Zelira partnered with SprinJene®Natural to develop and commercialize natural and organic oral care products under the SprinjeneCBD brand, as part of Zelira's OTC business. The SprinjeneCBD toothpaste product is the first of several scientifically formulated, hemp-derived, oral care products containing cannabinoids and based on the proprietary and patented technology of Blackseed oil and Zinc.
The Company conducts its work in partnership with world-leading researchers and organizations including Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia; the Telethon Kids Institute in Perth; the University of Western Australia, in Perth; St. Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia; and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in the United States.
Adjupharm GmbH has more than 30 years of experience as a service provider for the pharmaceutical industry. Since then, the range of products and services has expanded enormously to focus on contract manufacturing for importers of pharmaceuticals in the EU. Adjupharm's range of services include the production and marketing of pharmaceutical dietary supplements.
In 2018, Adjupharm began pioneering work in the cannabis sector in Germany and has all the relevant licenses for the contract manufacturing of medical cannabis. Adjupharm uses its experience in the manufacture of medical cannabis to deliver high quality products to pharmacies and pharmaceutical wholesalers. Adjupharm has been a subsidiary of International Medical Cannabis (IMC) since 2019 ( www.imcannabis.de/). It combines the best of Israel and Germany: a spirit of innovation, many years of know-how in the cannabis industry, state-of-the-art technologies, security and reliability in deliveries, knowledge of the German market and knowledge of the needs of patients.
Media Contact (Zelira Therapeutics):
GVM Communications
Brenda Loughery
brenda@gvmcommsinc.com
Gia Morón
gia@gvmcommsinc.com
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SOURCE Zelira Therapeutics | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/zeliras-zenivol-worlds-first-clinically-validated-cannabinoid-medication-insomnia-achieves-regulatory-approval-germany/ | 2022-07-21T17:31:09Z |
STAMFORD, Conn., June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial inclusion and its impact on wealth equality remain among the most important issues facing consumers, lenders and policy makers. To enable greater financial inclusion, VantageScore today announced the launch of Inclusion360. The groundbreaking, open access, and interactive analytics platform uses comprehensive data sets to uncover previously underserved consumers by geographic market. VantageScore is an industry leader in predictive analytics and driving financially inclusive credit score outcomes for traditionally underserved demographic groups.
Patent-pending Inclusion360 uses novel analytic techniques to uniquely combine data from the three Nationwide Credit Reporting Agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion), VantageScore 4.0 credit scores, and information from the U.S. Census Bureau 2019 5-Year American Community Survey to generate unprecedented data insights into underserved communities across the United States. Through predictive analytics, Inclusion360 identifies nearly 13 million creditworthy consumers that have prime or near prime VantageScore credit scores that previously did not have conventional credit scores. The data is intended to be used to enable lenders and policy makers to discover and identify where financial inclusion opportunities exist using VantageScore credit scores.
"Inclusion360 provides powerful open access data and insights to help identify communities of creditworthy consumers that were sometimes previously excluded from mainstream financial services and wealth building opportunities," said Silvio Tavares, President & CEO of VantageScore.
"Being more inclusive is a win-win. Lenders can grow their businesses in a safe and sound manner and have a positive impact on the financial lives of consumers that were often previously left behind by outdated scoring models," Tavares added.
Inclusion360 data helps consumer credit-industry stakeholders gain insight needed to reach creditworthy consumers in U.S. geographies that conventional credit scores would likely restrict. Ultimately, providing opportunities for these underserved consumers to access credit can improve their financial lives and help bridge the gap in credit and wealth equality.
All data and information provided in and by Inclusion360 is for informational purposes only. Users are responsible for compliance with all applicable laws and regulations when using such data and information, including fair lending laws. Inclusion360 is used to identify potential opportunities to use VantageScore credit scoring models to expand access to credit in underserved communities. It is unlawful for a lender to discriminate on a prohibited basis in any aspect of a credit transaction. Depictions of VantageScore credit scores are not a guarantee of obtaining a VantageScore credit score or of obtaining a score in any range depicted as lendable. Inclusion360 uses U.S. Census Bureau Data but neither Inclusion360 nor VantageScore is endorsed or certified by the U.S. Census Bureau.
To use Inclusion360, visit https://vantagescore.com/lenders/inclusion360/.
About VantageScore Solutions
VantageScore Solutions develops consumer credit scoring models that combine the need for both financial inclusivity and dependable predictiveness across all scoring ranges. The company's most recent models score approximately 96 percent of all adults 18 and older – including 37 million more people than conventional models – without sacrificing safety and soundness. As a result, lenders using VantageScore can extend credit to those who have been historically marginalized, including minority and lower-to-middle income Americans. VantageScore credit scores are used by thousands of lenders, landlords, utility companies, telecom companies, and many others to determine creditworthiness. Additionally, tens of millions of consumers rely on free access to their VantageScore credit scores to monitor their own creditworthiness.
VantageScore Solutions was launched in 2006 and is owned by America's three national credit reporting companies (CRCs) – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Using a patent-protected tri-bureau methodology, VantageScore delivers time-tested, innovative and more consistent credit scoring models across all three CRCs.
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SOURCE VantageScore Solutions, LLC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/24/new-inclusion360-platform-launched-by-vantagescore-pinpoint-opportunities-financial-inclusion/ | 2022-06-24T13:53:47Z |
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mills Brings Substantial Trial and Investigations Experience
PALO ALTO, Calif., June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, announced today that Melissa Mills has joined its litigation department as a partner in the Los Angeles office. She joins the firm's expanding trial and commercial litigation practices after serving as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California for 12 years.
Upon joining the U.S. Attorney's office in 2010, Mills investigated and prosecuted complex corruption and national security crimes. She was responsible for shaping investigations, analyzing evidence, developing charges, presenting cases to the grand jury, motion practice, litigating jury trials, advocating for appropriate sentences, and any resulting appellate practice.
Most recently, Mills led a complex criminal investigation into bribery and corruption at the highest levels of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, resulting in convictions of several senior officials. She also investigated a sophisticated web of racketeering and corruption-related offenses alleged to involve local politicians, lobbyists, and developers. Other litigated cases included the capital murder of a Transportation Security Administration officer, international arms trafficking, espionage, trade secret theft, bribery and corruption, domestic and international terrorism, and other serious crimes against the U.S.
"Melissa's talents and accomplishments as an Assistant U.S. Attorney conducting corruption- and national-security-related prosecutions and investigations both nationally and internationally will be invaluable to our clients," said Doug Clark, managing partner at Wilson Sonsini. "We're pleased to welcome Melissa to the firm as we continue to add trial experience to our litigation department and bolster our proven ability to represent clients in high-profile, bet-the-company disputes."
Wilson Sonsini's litigation department has experienced significant growth over the past two-plus years. In California alone, Mills is the tenth litigation partner to join the firm since March 2020, when Wilson Sonsini added Victor Jih in the Los Angeles office. By mid-2021, the firm had added three more experienced, first-chair trial lawyers as partners in California: Susan Kay Leader (Los Angeles), Amy Candido (San Francisco), and Jordan Jaffe (San Francisco). In November 2021, Wilson Sonsini added five accomplished litigation partners in Los Angeles, each of whom has substantial experience with high-stakes trials, investigations, and appeals: Luis Li, Matthew Macdonald, Fred Rowley, Eric Tuttle (based in Los Angeles and Seattle), and Mark Yohalem.
"I am excited to join Wilson Sonsini because of its outstanding reputation, impressive roster of innovative clients, and strong commitment to continuing to expand its trial and litigation practices," said Mills. "I'm also looking forward to collaborating with the team in LA—including those I worked alongside during my time in the U.S. Attorney's office—along with others across the firm's litigation department. This is an excellent opportunity for me to apply my trial and investigations experience to help the firm further grow its sophisticated and accomplished litigation practice."
After graduating from law school, Mills was a law clerk for the Honorable A.S. Effron of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. She then went on to work on the investigation and prosecution of war crimes before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague.
From 2002 to 2006, Mills was an active-duty officer in the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Quantico, Camp Pendleton, and Fallujah, Iraq. During her service in the Marine Corps, she prosecuted and defended hundreds of criminal cases, trying numerous jury trials to verdict. During a seven-month deployment to Iraq, she traveled throughout the war theater to investigate and prosecute crimes in a combat environment. She completed her service in 2006 at the rank of captain.
Following her military service, Mills was an associate in the Los Angeles office of Gibson Dunn, where she focused on white collar crime, compliance, and anti-corruption work, from 2006 to 2010. She litigated issues of criminal, appellate, constitutional, and commercial law; conducted internal investigations; and developed, tested, and monitored corporate compliance. While there, she wrote multiple U.S. Supreme Court briefs and had an active pro bono practice.
Mills earned her J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2000, and a B.A. degree in environmental law and policy from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1996.
About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini's services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has offices in 18 technology and business hubs worldwide. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com.
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SOURCE Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/wilson-sonsinis-litigation-department-continues-grow-melissa-mills-joins-partner-los-angeles/ | 2022-06-28T13:35:59Z |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An abortion ban is set to take effect in Indiana, which was the first state to pass one after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June.
When the law starts being enforced on Thursday, Indiana will join more than a dozen states with abortion bans, though most were approved before that Supreme Court ruling and took effect once the court threw out the constitutional right to end a pregnancy.
West Virginia legislators approved an abortion ban on Tuesday and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina introduced a bill that would ban abortion nationwide after the 15th week of pregnancy, with rare exceptions, intensifying the ongoing debate inside and outside of the GOP though the proposal has almost no chance of becoming law in the Democratic-held Congress.
Abortion rights supporters have filed two lawsuits trying to block Indiana officials from enforcing the ban but no court rulings have been issued yet and all seven of the state’s abortion clinics will lose their licenses to perform the procedure under the new law.
WHAT’S COVERED IN THE ABORTION BAN?
The Indiana ban includes exceptions allowing abortions in cases of rape and incest before the 10th week of pregnancy and to protect the mother’s life and physical health. It also allows them if the fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly. The ban will replace state laws that generally prohibited abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy and tightly restricted it after the 13th week.
Under the new law, abortions can be performed only in hospitals or outpatient centers owned by hospitals, meaning all abortion clinics will lose their licenses. Any doctors found to have performed an illegal abortion would be stripped of their medical license and could face felony charges punishable by up to six years in prison.
HOW IS INDIANA’S ACTION UNIQUE?
Indiana’s Republican-dominated Legislature approved the ban during a two-week special legislative session following a political firestorm over a 10-year-old rape victim who traveled to the state from neighboring Ohio to end her pregnancy. The case gained worldwide attention when an Indianapolis doctor said the girl came to Indiana because of Ohio’s ban on abortions once fetal cardiac activity can be detected, which is usually around the sixth week of pregnancy and is often before the mother knows she’s pregnant.
The Republicans who passed Indiana’s ban were deeply divided over whether to include exceptions beyond one for protecting the mother’s life, such as for cases of rape and incest.
Similar divides among Republicans over such exceptions and whether to allow criminal charges against doctors stalled bills on tighter abortion restrictions in West Virginia and South Carolina this summer. The ban that West Virginia legislators passed Tuesday is similar to Indiana’s and it now heads to Republican Gov. Jim Justice, who is expected to sign it into law.
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO INDIANA’S ABORTION CLINICS?
Indiana abortion clinic operators have told The Associated Press that they’ll stop offering abortions when the ban takes effect but continue to support patients with information about out-of-state clinics. Planned Parenthood plans to keep its four Indiana clinics that offer abortions open and provide sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment, and contraception and cancer screenings, which it says comprise the bulk of its services.
Indiana University Health, the state’s largest hospital system, has set up advisory teams that include a lawyer for consultations on whether patients meet the legal requirements for abortions. Indiana hospitals performed 133 of the 8,414 abortions reported to the state Department of Health in 2021, with the remaining 98% taking place at clinics.
WHAT IS STATUS OF LAWSUITS?
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed two lawsuits in the past two weeks seeking to stop the ban from taking effect.
One argues that the ban violates the Indiana Constitution by infringing on the right to privacy and the guarantee of equal privileges. The other claims the ban conflicts with the state’s religious freedom law that Indiana Republicans passed in 2015 and that sparked a widespread backlash from critics who said it allowed discrimination against gay people.
The question of whether the state constitution protects abortion rights is undecided. A state appeals court ruled in 2004 that privacy is a core value under the state constitution that extends to all residents, including women seeking an abortion. But the Indiana Supreme Court later upheld a law requiring an 18-hour waiting period before a woman could get an abortion, though it didn’t decide whether the state constitution included the right to privacy or abortion.
Indiana University law professor Daniel Conkle said bringing the lawsuits so soon before the ban was set to effect made it hard to get an injunction blocking it, but that it taking effect won’t end the court fight.
___
Associated Press Writer Arleigh Rodgers in Indianapolis contributed to this report. Rodgers is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. | https://cw33.com/health/ap-health/ap-explainer-indianas-abortion-ban-becomes-law-thursday/ | 2022-09-14T23:29:06Z |
Federated-Learning-Based Method and System Secures the Data Privacy on Personal Mobile Devices
BEIJING, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bairong Inc. ("Bairong" or "the Company", 6608.HK), a leading independent AI-powered technology platform in China, has been making efforts to develop new technologies to better protect personal privacy. Its new patent based on federated learning can effectively protect privacy by restricting certain personal data from being transmitted from users' mobile devices.
The patent - "A credit anti-fraud prediction method and system for mobile devices based on federated learning" - can be applied as an important data processing and analysis solution to protect private personal information. With individual private data not leaving users' mobile devices, the solution can realize joint modeling between individual users and commercial institutions, so as to avoid leakage of personal information from the source and secondary leakage under technical analysis.
"Data security relies on advanced privacy computing technologies," said Shaofeng Zhang, Founder and CEO of Bairong. "It is crucial to lay a solid foundation for privacy protection with patented technologies before commercial applications are widely deployed. We have long recognized the importance of data security for the digital economy, and have been developing innovative technologies in the field of data security and privacy computing."
In a common scenario of financial data collection and analysis, if users want to borrow money online through their mobile devices, they first need to send their personal information, including app list, contact information, geographical location, and equipment identity number, to the server of financial institutions during the application process. The privacy and security of personal information may be at risk in this process.
With Bairong's innovative patent, users no longer need to send their personal information from their mobile devices. The new solution can directly develop a federal learning model between users' mobile devices and financial institutions, which can avoid leakage of user information from the source. While solving the problem of data security, more information on mobile devices can be leveraged to improve the accuracy of the prediction model.
Bairong's patented technology has already been adopted by some financial institutions. For a key FSP client, Bairong's federated learning technology was applied to upgrade its credit evaluation model. By ensuring security of data privacy and compliance, Bairong broke through "isolated island" limitations and integrated data from multiple parties, which increased the client's model evaluation index K-S, directly improved the asset business efficiency with AI enabling transformation, and promoted cross operations with wealth management business.
China's long-term blueprint for economic development has prioritized data security to include protection of trade secrets and personal privacy, legislation of data security and personal information protection, and security of data resources throughout their life cycle.
Bairong's patent on privacy protection is a pioneering technology in the industry, which will provide an innovative solution to data security and business development in the future. In recent years, Bairong has increased investment in R&D, and developed advanced technologies in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, blockchain, and privacy computing.
For more information, please visit Bairong.
About Bairong Inc.
Founded in March 2014, Bairong is a leading independent AI-powered technology platform in China serving more than 5,500 financial services provider clients. Bairong was the largest independent financial big data analytics solutions provider in China. Adhering to the mission of empowering every financial services provider in China with smart and comprehensive data analytics, Bairong has built a cloud-native technology platform that supports the full business cycle of FSP clients, including data analytics, decision-making support and smart consumer operation solutions, enabling them to improve risk management ability, promote user activity and operational efficiency. Bairong also provides big data marketing and distribution services that enable FSP clients to reach and serve their target customers more effectively.
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SOURCE Bairong Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/bairong-inc-reinforces-data-privacy-protection-with-new-patent/ | 2022-05-16T08:04:37Z |
This 19-year-old just became her university’s youngest-ever law school graduate
DALLAS (Gray News) – A 19-year-old woman has just become the youngest person to ever graduate from law school at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
At age 16, Haley Taylor Schlitz was accepted into nine law schools across the country. She chose SMU’s Dedman School of Law, and three years later, she is now the school’s youngest law graduate ever, according to a news release from SMU.
Taylor Schlitz graduated Friday, and she plans to work on education policy issues for an elected official or non-profit organization. She is also interested in increasing the opportunities for gifted and talented girls and students of color.
As a fifth grader, Taylor Schlitz was not accepted into her public school’s gifted program. But her parents disagreed, knowing their daughter was gifted. So, they decided to homeschool her to better meet her educational needs, according to SMU.
“Many girls and students of color are left out of our nation’s gifted and talented programs,” Taylor Schlitz said in the news release. “Society will lose out on the potential scientist who cures a major disease, the entrepreneur who starts the next Amazon and so much more. All because of their gender and/or skin color.”
Through homeschooling, Taylor Schlitz graduated high school at age 13. By age 16, she had her undergraduate degree from Texas Woman’s University and was heading to law school.
Several media outlets are calling Taylor Schlitz the youngest Black law school graduate in the United States, but SMU could not independently confirm that to Gray News.
In her free time, Taylor Schlitz serves as a mentor in the Young Scholar Program, an organization in which young Black women mentor young Black girls to help them develop leadership skills. She is also a recurring opinion columnist for several media outlets and has published a book with her mother.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/17/this-19-year-old-just-became-her-universitys-youngest-ever-law-school-graduate/ | 2022-05-17T21:46:17Z |
Top pick Travon Walker signing $37.4M contract with Jaguars
By MARK LONG
AP Pro Football Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — No. 1 overall draft pick Travon Walker and the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms Thursday on a four-year, $37.4 million contract that includes a $24.4 million signing bonus. Walker’s deal is fully guaranteed and includes a team option for a fifth year. Those are both standard for NFL first-round picks. He’s expected to sign the deal later Thursday, a day before the Jaguars begin a rookie minicamp. He’s the 10th first-rounder from the 2022 draft under contract, including four of the first six selections. He will count $6.8 million against the team’s salary cap this fall. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/12/top-pick-travon-walker-signing-37-4m-contract-with-jaguars/ | 2022-05-12T21:25:23Z |
NEW YORK, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKBA).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/akebia-therapeutics-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=25399&from=4
The lawsuit seeks to recover losses for shareholders who purchased Akebia between June 28, 2018 and September 2, 2020.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until May 13, 2022 to petition the court. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
According to a filed complaint, Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company's lead investigational product candidate, vadadustat, was not as safe in treating non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease patients with anemia as defendants had represented; (ii) as a result, defendants overstated the clinical prospects of a Phase 3 clinical program for vadadustat; (iii) accordingly, defendants also overstated vadadustat's overall commercial and regulatory prospects; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
JAKUBOWITZ LAW
1140 Avenue of the Americas
9th Floor
New York, New York 10036
T: (212) 867-4490
F: (212) 537-5887
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SOURCE Jakubowitz Law | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/01/akba-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-akebia-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-may-13-2022/ | 2022-04-01T12:02:10Z |
IAS Quality Sync Pre-bid Segment reduces ad campaign block rates and campaign activation time to further optimize digital media quality
NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Integral Ad Science (Nasdaq: IAS), a global leader in digital media quality, today announced the launch of its Quality Sync Pre-bid Segment. Currently accessible in Xandr's Invest DSP globally and other DSPs soon, the solution allows advertisers to seamlessly mirror their post-bid advertising campaign settings with their pre-bid settings, for both mobile and desktop across video and display inventory. With the Quality Sync Pre-bid Segment, advertisers can enable unified brand safety, keyword blocklists, URL exclusion lists, brand suitability (Context Control avoidance), and invalid traffic avoidance settings.
Streamlining Activation
The unified pre-bid segment removes the complexities and reduces the time and human error associated with manually mirroring post-bid preferences to pre-bid. Advertisers can launch and optimize their digital media campaigns quickly, ensuring comprehensive protection and time-sensitive updates in response to emerging news or trends.
Reducing block rates
The solution will reduce post-bid block rates since undesired placements are avoided in the bid stream. Brands can reinvest savings into quality media and focus on optimizing future campaigns.
"Our Quality Sync Pre-bid Segment provides the necessary tools to help advertisers increase efficiency and ROI of their programmatic campaigns," said Tom Sharma, Chief Product Officer, IAS. "Advertisers can capture their preferred campaign settings all in one place, streamlining workflow, reducing block rates, and improving overall media quality."
"We're pleased to bring this solution first to Xandr, with more integrations in global DSPs to come. Ensuring digital ads land in environments that are safe and suitable has never been more important, especially in an ever-evolving digital landscape and news cycle. Our solution reduces some of the complexities in campaign management for advertisers."
Unified Settings
During campaign set up, advertisers no longer need to create new lengthy lists or select thresholds for brand safety and suitability separately at the post-bid and pre-bid levels. IAS's Quality Sync Pre-bid Segment simply syncs the advertiser's selected post-bid avoidance settings from IAS Signal and presents it in a unified way, into one single pre-bid segment. This Quality Sync Pre-bid Segment will then automatically sync within the DSP to reflect any future changes to safety, suitability, invalid traffic, or custom lists.
The solution includes contextual avoidance segments and custom contextual segments based on a brand's individual needs. IAS's Context Control solution is driven by its proprietary Machine Learning capabilities, which can now seamlessly sync between post and pre-bid. Context Control is able to analyze emotion and sentiment of a web page with close to human comprehension.
DSP Integration
Xandr's strategic buying platform, Invest DSP, now offers IAS's Quality Sync Pre-bid Segment for client activation alongside its existing IAS pre-bid segments, including contextual targeting and contextual avoidance.
"The integration of IAS's Quality Sync Pre-bid Segment will reduce the time spent by advertisers manually matching their brand safety and suitability settings at both the post and pre-bid levels," said Dylan McBride, Global Head of Partnerships, Xandr. "The solution ensures that advertisers are able to launch campaigns with greater confidence and accuracy."
Advertisers will continue to measure campaign performance through Signal, IAS's reporting platform.
About Integral Ad Science
Integral Ad Science (IAS) is a global leader in digital media quality. IAS makes every impression count, ensuring that ads are viewable by real people, in safe and suitable environments, activating contextual targeting, and driving supply path optimization. Our mission is to be the global benchmark for trust and transparency in digital media quality for the world's leading brands, publishers, and platforms. We do this through data-driven technologies with actionable real-time signals and insight. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in New York, IAS works with thousands of top advertisers and premium publishers worldwide. For more information, visit integralads.com.
About Xandr
Xandr, a part of Microsoft Advertising, powers a global marketplace for premium advertising. Our data-enabled technology platform, encompassing Xandr Invest, Xandr Monetize, and Xandr Curate, optimizes return on investment for both buyers and sellers, while maintaining a commitment to an open marketplace and empowering the open web globally.
Media Contact:
press@integralads.com
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SOURCE Integral Ad Science, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/ias-announces-campaign-sync-solution-with-xandrs-invest-dsp-match-advertisers-pre-post-bid-settings/ | 2022-06-27T14:43:08Z |
Steve Bannon, the onetime adviser to former President Donald Trump who has been charged with contempt of Congress, asked a federal judge Friday to dismiss his criminal case.
Among the bevy of reasons Bannon provided for why his case should be dismissed: He said the congressional subpoena he received was invalid because of the makeup of the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol and argued that he was "targeted to send a message."
Bannon also argued that his actions were necessary in order to protect the former President's ability to shield information under executive privilege claims and insisted he had relied on prior Justice Department guidance related to executive privilege in defying the congressional subpoena.
"Under the circumstances presented here, it would be fundamentally unfair and a clear due process violation to permit this prosecution to go forward," Bannon's attorneys wrote in a late Friday court filing. "It must be dismissed."
Bannon is scheduled to go to trial in July in the criminal contempt-of-Congress case the DOJ has brought against him for not complying with the House January 6 Committee's subpoena. He has pleaded not guilty.
Bannon's legal team has repeatedly pointed to indications that Trump was looking to assert executive privilege over certain records as an element of Bannon's defense.
"Mr. Bannon received actual authority in this case for his non-compliance with the subpoena directly from former President Trump's invocation of executive privilege and corresponding directive to Mr. Bannon, that Mr. Bannon must honor that invocation with respect to the subpoena," Bannon's attorneys wrote in the court filing.
Bannon's late Friday filing comes after he suffered a major setback in his case, which the Justice Department brought in November after he failed to comply with a subpoena issued by the January 6 panel.
US District Judge Carl Nichols ruled last week that Bannon could not use as a defense -- should his case go to trial -- evidence that he was following the advice of his attorney in opting not to cooperate with the House probe.
On Friday, the Justice Department sought to further limit the evidence Bannon can put up at trial in his defense, asking Bannon's judge to exclude three new categories of evidence.
The DOJ wants excluded its internal opinions and writings laying out the department's views on whether current or former federal officials can be prosecuted in subpoena disputes in which they raised executive privilege or immunity claims. Bannon obtained those records after securing a discovery order from the judge, though several of the documents were already public and cited in previous Bannon filings.
The Justice Department also argued that the internal department documents Bannon has cited so far address scenarios distinct from what Bannon was facing when he chose not to participate in the probe.
"The Defendant was not subpoenaed in relation to his time as an Executive Branch official and he was never directed by the Executive Branch or former President Donald Trump to engage in total noncompliance with the January 6th Select Committee's ('the Committee') subpoena as he chose to do," the filing said. "Given the evidence's irrelevance, the Court should exclude it."
Bannon served as a White House adviser at the beginning of the Trump administration but had been out of the federal government for years before the period the House committee is examining.
Shortly after the Justice Department submitted its request to exclude those records, Bannon pointed to the documents in a notice he filed with the court about his intentions to assert an "entrapment by estoppel" defense -- meaning an argument that the defendant had been misled by government statements to believe his conduct was legal.
In his motion to dismiss, Bannon argued that prior Justice Department guidance is relevant to his case and should offer grounds for dismissal.
"The legal authority that Mr. Bannon relied upon in this case reflects the formal, official, binding, authoritative position of the Department of Justice, the very agency that is prosecuting this case in direct contravention of its own formal, binding, published official policy," Bannon's attorneys wrote.
The Justice Department also asked the judge to keep out any evidence Bannon seeks to put forward that he had complied with previous subpoenas; according to the department's account of a presentation Bannon's lawyer gave to prosecutors before his client was charged, Bannon testified in four previous circumstances -- in the various Russia 2016 election interference probes -- about his communications with Trump.
"Just as the fact that a person did not rob a bank on one day is irrelevant to determining whether he robbed a bank on another, whether the Defendant complied with other subpoenas or requests for testimony -- even those involving communications with the former President -- is irrelevant to determining whether he unlawfully refused to comply with the Committee's subpoena here," the DOJ wrote Friday.
Finally, the government told the court that Bannon should not be able to argue at his trial that the January 6 Committee's subpoena of him was invalid because of supposed procedural defects plaguing the panel.
Any procedural objections Bannon would seek to raise about the committee's subpoena are coming too late, the Justice Department argued in its Friday request to limit that defense.
"It is settled law in the contempt of Congress context that a subpoenaed witness who fails to raise an apparent objection or privilege to a subpoena to the issuing committee has waived it as a defense to contempt," the government wrote in the court filing.
Bannon, meanwhile, filed a request with the court Friday seeking the exclusion of evidence the government obtained from subpoenas it had issued on his lawyer's phone and email records, as well as from presentations the lawyer gave prosecutors before Bannon was charged.
Bannon accused the government of "prosecutorial over-reaching" for seeking information about his lawyer and said the government misled the grand jury, both grounds for dismissal, Bannon's attorneys argued in the court filing.
The pre-trial disputes over evidence will shape the contours of each side's case.
Bannon is just one of four recalcitrant witnesses whom the January 6 Committee referred to the Justice Department for prosecution but the only one so far to face a criminal prosecution for his failure to comply with a committee subpoena. How his case unfolds will reverberate as other potential witnesses weigh whether or not to cooperate with the congressional investigation.
This story and headline have been updated.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/steve-bannon-asks-judge-to-dismiss-his-contempt-of-congress-case-ahead-of-july-trial/article_6c9dd2b4-559a-5d90-92db-3893799033ee.html | 2022-04-16T20:09:43Z |
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Silo-Poteau Softball Highlights
Silo-Poteau Softball Highlights
By
KXII Staff
Published: Sep. 8, 2022 at 10:07 PM CDT
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Tushka-Dale Baseball Highlights | https://www.kxii.com/2022/09/09/silo-poteau-softball-highlights/ | 2022-09-09T03:25:01Z |
With up to 430 Wp packed into less than two square meters, the new REC Alpha Pure-R hits the sweet spot in terms of its power output, size, weight, and handling. REC's latest panel innovation builds on the lead-free and RoHS compliant REC Alpha Pure Series, which just won the prestigious 2022 Intersolar Award.
MUNICH, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- REC Group, an international pioneering solar energy company headquartered in Norway, launched its latest high-efficiency solar panel at Intersolar Europe 2022. With its high-power density innovations, the new REC Alpha Pure-R marks another advancement of the multiple award-winning REC Alpha family. Just two days ago, the REC Alpha Pure, launched in April 2021, won the 2022 Intersolar Award. Featuring heterojunction (HJT) cells in the large G12 format in a patented panel design, REC's newest product delivers power output of up to 430 Wp, while keeping the module under two square meter in area. This makes the new product ideal for residential installations where space is limited. The REC Alpha Pure-R is scheduled to start production in August 2022 at REC's new production lines in Singapore, doubling REC's Alpha product line capacity from 600 MW to 1.2 GW.
G12 wafers and cells in a compact form factor
At 210 x 210 mm, the G12 wafers and cells are bigger, meaning they output more power. However, most of the resulting modules are substantially larger, which is why to date G12 solar panels have been deployed mainly in large commercial and utility installations. With REC's new panel design, the Alpha Pure-R shows that G12 can also work well for residential rooftop installations.
Jan Enno Bicker, CEO at REC Group comments: "The REC Alpha Pure-R really hits the sweet spot in terms of its size, weight, power output and handling. With the new panel, we have managed again to pack more power into a compact panel size, enabling homeowners to be more energy independent, and contributing to the global energy transition."
Innovations for maximized energy
The REC Alpha Pure-R comes with a 9-amp current, making it compatible with various modern MLPE devices, which gives installers more system design options to maximize power for homeowners. Also new: the four-part junction box takes REC's iconic Twin Design a step further, dividing the panel into four strings and reducing the size of sections that switch off under shaded conditions. As a result, the panel can generate even more energy when partially shaded.
Hitting the sweet spot
The new REC Alpha Pure-R reaches 430 Wp in a compact panel size of 1.93 m², which means it comes with a leading power density of 223 W/m2 and can be easily handled by installers. Building on the success of the REC Alpha and Alpha Pure Series, the new panel features 80 half-cut HJT cells in a gapless cell layout. This makes it possible to maximize the power generating area of the panel and ensures an elegant, full black appearance. The advanced cell connection technology improves the current flow and eliminates invasive soldering, adding to the high efficiency and long-lasting performance. Additionally, the low temperature coefficient keeps the solar panel running efficiently even on hotter days, generating more energy for households. This makes it ideal for warmer climates, or for generating as much energy as possible on sunny days. REC's iconic 30 mm frame with its two support bars, make the panel robust enough to withstand heavy loads – up to 7,000 Pascal snow load and up to 4,000 Pascal wind load.
Added value also for the environment
The new panel features many of the standout highlights that have made the REC Alpha family such a success and strengthens REC's reputation as a company that takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. Like its predecessor, the REC Alpha Pure, the new panel is lead-free and RoHS compliant for less environmental impact. Following the 2020 Intersolar Award for the REC Alpha Series, this year's jury acknowledged that the REC Alpha Pure is one of the very few lead-free solar panels on the market and as such a well-deserved winner of the award.
For global inquiries please contact:
Agnieszka Schulze
Head of Global PR, REC Group
Tel.: +49 89 4 42 38 59 39
E-mail: agnieszka.schulze@recgroup.com
REC Solar EMEA GmbH
Balanstr. 71a
81541 Munich, Germany
Managing Director: Cemil Seber
Court of Registration: Munich HRB 180306
VAT ID-No: DE266243545
About REC Group:
REC Group is an international pioneering solar energy company dedicated to empowering consumers with clean, affordable solar power through high-quality solar panels with a leading power density. As Solar's Most Trusted, REC is known for its patented innovations and multiple award-winning products with reliable long-term performance. The cornerstone for REC's strong reliability is advanced and highly efficient manufacturing using Industry 4.0 practices. Founded in 1996 in Norway, REC has always been committed to a low carbon footprint in its solar materials and panels. REC is headquartered in Norway with operational headquarters in Singapore and regional hubs in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
Find out more at recgroup.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
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Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1656574/REC_Group_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE REC Group | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/intersolar-europe-2022-rec-launches-new-worlds-highest-power-solar-panel-residential-installations-with-g12-hjt-cells/ | 2022-05-12T18:09:42Z |
Broadband provider fortifies network and emergency response teams in addition to sharing preparation tips for residents in southern footprint
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone (NYSE: WOW), a leading broadband services provider, today announced the company is preparing for the upcoming 2022 hurricane season by fortifying its network, testing resiliency and updating crisis and business continuity plans in its southern markets. In anticipation of increased hurricane activity this year, WOW! is ensuring emergency response teams are prepared to quickly address service interruptions that may result from hurricanes or tropical storms.
According to the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, which starts on June 1, will have above-average activity and the Atlantic region is predicted to experience between 14-21 named storms and six to 10 could become hurricanes. In response to imminent storms, WOW! will mobilize mission critical teams and resources to respond to any reported outages as safely and quickly as possible.
"Internet access is absolutely crucial in the wake of storms, to allow people to stay connected with friends, family and critical resources," said Ed Sesi, vice president of operations for WOW!. "WOW! is doing everything it can to prepare our systems for this year's hurricane season and has put plans in place to quickly respond to any storm-related service issues."
WOW! is sharing the following tips and resources with its customers and residents in WOW!'s southern markets in anticipation of storms this hurricane season.
WOW! Hurricane and Tropical Storm Tips:
- WOW! recommends residents preload the wowway.com website on their mobile devices prior to any storm and have the WOW! customer service phone number 1-855- 4-WOW-WAY written down in the event they need to report an outage.
- The most effective way for residents to receive real-time updates on their WOW! services in areas impacted by a hurricane or tropical storm is to visit wowway.com or to call 1-855-4-WOW-WAY.
- Program emergency contact numbers and e-mail addresses into your phone including the police and fire departments, nearest hospital and important friends or family members.
- Keep mobile devices fully charged and dry while electrical power is still functional. Have a backup power supply, like a car charger or a portable battery, if possible and a safe, dry place to keep devices. Plastic zipper bags can be utilized for additional protection from water damage.
- If you are likely to lose electrical power, WOW! recommends unplugging equipment or using surge protectors to protect devices from damage when power is restored.
- If customers have electrical power but WOW! service is not functional, WOW! recommends customers restart or reset devices, including wireless gateways, modems, routers and cable boxes.
About WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone
WOW! is one of the nation's leading broadband providers, with an efficient, high-performing network that passes 1.9 million residential, business and wholesale consumers. WOW! provides services in 14 markets, primarily in the Midwest and Southeast, including Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. With an expansive portfolio of advanced services, including high-speed Internet services, cable TV, phone, business data, voice, and cloud services, the company is dedicated to providing outstanding service at affordable prices. WOW! also serves as a leader in exceptional human resources practices, having been recognized eight times by the National Association for Business Resources as a Best & Brightest Company to Work For, winning the award for the last four consecutive years. Visit wowway.com for more information.
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SOURCE WideOpenWest, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/26/wow-prepares-2022-hurricane-season/ | 2022-05-26T13:35:26Z |
Despite 11 denials, John Lennon’s killer to appear in parole hearing
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow/Gray News) - Mark David Chapman, the man who shot and killed John Lennon, is up for parole.
Officials said he is scheduled for a parole hearing sometime this week, Hawaii News Now reports.
Chapman was convicted more than 40 years ago of killing the famed Beatles member as he entered his luxury New York apartment on Dec. 8, 1980.
He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison and has been denied parole 11 times.
Chapman was an out-of-work security guard from Hawaii with a history of mental illness.
In 2000, Chapman was eligible for parole the first time. It was denied. He was denied parole again every two years thereafter.
Every two years, Chapman has gone before a parole board to plead his case. And every time, they’ve determined he should not be freed.
The latest denial came in August 2020. He was denied release and given a hold for 24 months.
The Board of Parole now has two weeks to make a decision on whether or not to grant Chapman’s release.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. via Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/30/despite-11-denials-john-lennons-killer-appear-parole-hearing/ | 2022-08-30T23:06:04Z |
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president said Tuesday that he would not attend next month’s Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles if the Biden administration excludes Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua — adding his voice to increasing warnings of a boycott by some leaders across the region.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been saying in recent weeks that the U.S. government should not exclude anyone from the summit, but he had not previously threatened to stay home.
“If they exclude, if not all are invited, a representative of the Mexican government is going to go, but I would not,” López Obrador said during his daily news conference, fresh off a visit to Cuba. He said his foreign affairs secretary, Marcelo Ebrard, would go.
The Mexican president’s absence would be a blow to the summit expected to deal heavily with the issue of migration at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden administration has worked for months to build regional consensus. Cabinet members have been visiting the region urging allies to shore up immigration controls and expand their asylum programs.
“Our goal is … to sign a regional declaration on migration and protection in June in Los Angeles when the United States hosts the Summit of the Americas,” President Joe Biden said in March, when he hosted Colombia President Iván Duque at the White House.
He called for “a new framework of how nations throughout the region can collectively manage migration in the Western Hemisphere.”
Such cooperation will be critical as the U.S. wrestles with the problem of high numbers of migrants arriving at its southern border and prepares to lift a restriction of asylum applications there later this month that is expected to draw even more migrants north.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols has previously said that the governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua have shown that they do not respect democracy and would be unlikely to receive invitations. And the U.S. does not even recognize Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro as the country’s legal leader.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki was noncommittal when asked about the invitations on Tuesday, saying “a final decision has not been made.”
“We haven’t made a decision yet about who will be invited and no invitations have been issued yet,” Psaki said during her daily media briefing.
Leaders of Caribbean nations have also discussed a collective boycott of the summit if nations are excluded and criticized the U.S. plan to invite Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó. The U.S. recognizes him as that country’s legitimate president, but many Caribbean nations do not.
“We do not believe in the policy of ostracizing Cuba and Venezuela. We do not recognize Juan Guaidó as the president of Venezuela. In those circumstances, Antigua and Barbuda will not participate,” said that country’s prime minister, Gaston Browne.
He said that a consensus to boycott the summit if countries were excluded had emerged from Caribbean foreign ministers’ meeting in Belize in March, “but I am not sure if the consensus will hold.”
St. Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves had a similar take: “If Guaidó goes to represent Venezuela, if the Americans were to do that it would be an act of folly,” Gonsalves told a weekend radio program, saying St. Vincent may not attend if Maduro is excluded.
Cuba is an active member of the Caribbean Community of nations and the Communist-governed island has provided thousands of free scholarships to Caribbean medical, engineering and other students since the mid 70s. Successive Venezuelan governments have assisted Caribbean countries with prefabricated housing and cheap oil.
A senior Biden administration official said the blowback is largely posturing in response to a strong diplomatic push from Cuba — a perennial touchstone for the Latin American left — and that the U.S. expects few leaders to follow through on threats to skip the summit.
Behind the scenes, several Caribbean leaders signaled they plan to attend, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic communications.
The official said the administration expects both López Obrador and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro to attend.
Cuba was excluded from first six hemispheric summits, held from 1994 to 2012. But Cuba was invited to the 2015 gathering in Panama following growing threats of a boycott by leftist Latin American leaders if it was excluded – as well as a thaw in relations with the U.S. under President Barack Obama, who met Cuban leader Raul Castro at the event.
Cuba also was invited to the last summit in Peru in 2018, but Castro sent his foreign minister instead because Venezuela’s Maduro had not been invited. U.S. President Donald Trump did not attend either.
Argentina, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, also issued an appeal this month to avoid excluding any governments.
In a tweet, it called the summit “a great opportunity to build a space for encounters in which all the countries of the hemisphere participate” and urged organizers “to avoid exclusions that impede having all the voices of the hemisphere in dialogue and being heard.”
López Obrador left open the possibility that he could attend if the Biden administration invites all countries. He noted that previous summits had not excluded any countries and blamed the current situation on political minorities in the U.S. backing a “hostile policy.”
“There’s still time before the summit and we could arrive at an agreement, but we have to all unite, look for America’s unity,” he said.
___
Goodman reported from Cleveland, Ohio. AP writers Will Weissert in Washington and Bert Wilkinson contributed to this story from Georgetown, Guyana. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/mexico-president-threatens-to-skip-americas-summit/ | 2022-05-11T15:38:34Z |
HUMBLE, Texas, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Third Coast Bancshares, Inc. Inc. (Nasdaq: TCBX) (the "Company" or "Third Coast"), the bank holding company for Third Coast Bank, SSB, announced today that it extended its offer to holders of $82,250,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 5.500% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2032 (the "Old Notes"), issued March 31, 2022 to exchange the Old Notes for a like principal amount of notes with identical terms other than that such new notes have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The exchange offer, which had been scheduled to expire on July 8, 2022 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, will now expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 18, 2022, unless further extended by Third Coast. All other terms, provisions and conditions of the exchange offer will remain in full force and effect. UMB Bank, N.A. is serving as exchange agent for the exchange offer.
Third Coast said it has been informed by the exchange agent that, as of July 8, 2022 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, $79,500,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Old Notes had been tendered in the exchange offer. This amount represents approximately 96.7% of the Old Notes.
This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
The indebtedness evidenced by the notes is not a deposit and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency or fund.
About Third Coast Bancshares, Inc.
Third Coast Bancshares, Inc. is a commercially focused, Texas-based bank holding company operating primarily in the Greater Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Austin-San Antonio markets through its wholly owned subsidiary, Third Coast Bank, SSB. Founded in 2008 in Humble, Texas, Third Coast Bank, SSB conducts banking operations through 14 branches and one loan production office encompassing the four largest metropolitan areas in Texas. For more information, please visit www.tcbssb.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect Third Coast's current views with respect to, among other things, future events, its financial performance and the use of proceeds from the offering. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "may," "should," "could," "predict," "potential," "believe," "will likely result," "expect," "continue," "will," "anticipate," "seek," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "projection," "would" and "outlook," or the negative version of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Third Coast's industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. Accordingly, Third Coast cautions you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although Third Coast believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of factors that could cause Third Coast's actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please see the risk factors discussed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 17, 2022, and Third Coast's other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and Third Coast does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.
Contact:
Ken Dennard / Natalie Hairston
Dennard Lascar Investor Relations
(713) 529-6600
TCBX@dennardlascar.com
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SOURCE Third Coast Bancshares | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/11/third-coast-bancshares-announces-extension-exchange-offer/ | 2022-07-11T12:24:41Z |
NEW YORK, May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. (NASDAQ: SDIG).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/stronghold-digital-mining-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=27754&from=4
This lawsuit is on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Stronghold Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus issued in connection with the Company's October 2021 initial public offering.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until June 13, 2022 to petition the court. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
According to a filed complaint, Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) contracted suppliers, including MinerVa Semiconductor Corp., were reasonably likely to miss anticipated delivery quantities and deadlines; (2) due to strong demand and pre-sold supply of mining equipment in the industry, Stronghold would experience difficulties obtaining miners outside of confirmed purchase orders; (3) as a result of the foregoing, there was a significant risk that Stronghold could not expand its mining capacity as expected; (4) as a result, Stronghold would likely experience significant losses; and (5) 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.
Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
JAKUBOWITZ LAW
1140 Avenue of the Americas
9th Floor
New York, New York 10036
T: (212) 867-4490
F: (212) 537-5887
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SOURCE Jakubowitz Law | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/27/sdig-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-stronghold-digital-mining-inc-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-june-13-2022/ | 2022-05-27T11:17:28Z |
Investment to solidify leadership position in response to rising demand
PHILADELPHIA, June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Proscia®, a leader in digital and computational pathology solutions, has raised $37 million to advance the way we understand and treat diseases like cancer. The round includes participation from Highline Capital Management, Triangle Peak Partners, and Alpha Intelligence Capital as well as existing investors including Scale Venture Partners, Hitachi Ventures, ROBO Global, Emerald Development Managers, and Razor's Edge Ventures. This investment brings Proscia's total funding to $72 million.
Demand for digital pathology, which shifts the standard of cancer research and diagnosis from microscope to digital image, is rising to tap into the full potential of pathology data. Proscia has established itself as the sole player driving this complete modernization across both life sciences organizations and diagnostic laboratories. Its Concentriq® platform combines enterprise scalability with a broad portfolio of AI applications to accelerate breakthroughs and unlock clinical insights that advance precision medicine.
"Proscia is uniquely positioned to enable a new frontier of patient care," said Jacob Doft, CEO of Highline Capital Management. "Digital pathology is a critical catalyst in the acceleration of precision medicine, creating a wealth of new data that is driving novel therapies and optimizing diagnosis so that each patient receives the most individualized treatment. We are excited to be a part of Proscia's journey as it expands its leadership position with its AI-enabled platform."
Proscia's user base includes 10 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies as well as the Joint Pathology Center, which selected Concentriq to digitize the world's largest human tissue repository of over 55 million slides. Leading reference laboratories and health systems, including LabPON, the first laboratory to reach 100% digital diagnosis, also rely on Concentriq.
"Pathology deserves the same revolutionary technology that has transformed the rest of medicine and our lives," said David West, Proscia's CEO. "Our Series C will enable us to continue delivering this innovation to the scientists and pathologists who are using it to improve patient outcomes. We are thrilled to partner with incredible investors who believe deeply in our mission as we take the next step in our journey."
The financing will enable Proscia to accelerate adoption of computational pathology, strengthening its market and product leadership. It will use the infusion of capital to scale its commercial operations. This includes expanding its sales, marketing, and support teams as well as growing distribution partnerships following its recent OEM agreement with Siemens Healthineers. Proscia will also increasingly focus on its regulatory strategy on the heels of its CE IVDR certification.
To continue offering the widest variety of AI applications on a single pathology platform, Proscia will invest in broadening its own portfolio of computational solutions and introduce a growing number of third-party applications onto Concentriq. It will build on the success of its DermAI® and AI breakthrough in melanoma detection as well as extend digital pathology's first suite of process automation solutions beyond Automated QC.
"Pathology is a multi-billion dollar market transitioning to digital," said Steve Holloway, Executive Director at Signify Research. "Adoption has moved beyond the largest life sciences organizations and medical centers as the benefits have become increasingly clear, much like we saw when the digitization of radiology crossed an inflection point."
Today's announcement comes as demand for AI-enabled pathology continues to grow. By breaking free from the limitations of glass slides, research organizations and diagnostic laboratories are overcoming a range of systemic challenges intensified by the rising cancer burden; drug development timelines average 12 years before patients gain access to new therapies, and the number of cancer cases is expected to rise 47% by 2040, putting added burden on a shrinking pathologist population. It is estimated that one billion slides will be digitized each year, fundamentally transforming the way we diagnose and treat patients in fulfilling the promise of precision care.
About Proscia
Proscia is a software company that is accelerating pathology's digital transformation to change the way we understand diseases like cancer. Its Concentriq digital pathology platform and powerful AI applications are advancing the 150-year-old standard of research and diagnosis towards a data-driven discipline, unlocking new insights that accelerate discovery, improve patient outcomes, and fulfill the promise of precision care. Leading diagnostic laboratories and 10 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies rely on Proscia's software each day. For more information, visit proscia.com.
Media Contact
Sydney Fenkell
Proscia
sydney@proscia.com
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SOURCE Proscia | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/proscia-raises-37m-series-c-fulfill-promise-precision-medicine-with-ai-enabled-pathology/ | 2022-06-14T11:59:11Z |
Taiwan says China military drills appear to simulate attack
BEIJING (AP) — Taiwan said Saturday that China’s military drills appear to simulate an attack on the self-ruled island, after multiple Chinese warships and aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s armed forces issued an alert, dispatched air and naval patrols around the island, and activated land-based missile systems in response to the situation, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said on Twitter.
China launched live-fire military drills following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan earlier this week, saying that her visit violated the “one-China” policy. China sees the island as a breakaway province to be annexed by force if necessary, and considers visits to Taiwan by foreign officials as recognizing its sovereignty.
Separately on Saturday, Taiwan’s army detected four unmanned aerial vehicles flying in the vicinity of the offshore county of Kinmen, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported.
The four drones, which Taiwan believed were Chinese, were spotted over waters around the Kinmen island group and the nearby Lieyu Island and Beiding islet, according to Taiwan’s Kinmen Defense Command.
Taiwan’s military fired warning flares in response.
“Our government & military are closely monitoring China’s military exercises & information warfare operations, ready to respond as necessary,” Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen said in a tweet.
“I call on the international community to support democratic Taiwan & halt any escalation of the regional security situation,” she added.
Kinmen, also known as Quemoy, is a group of islands administered by Taiwan. The islands are located roughly 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) east of the Chinese coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian province.
The Chinese military exercises began Thursday and are expected to last until Sunday. So far, the drills have included missile strikes on targets in the seas north and south of the island in an echo of the last major Chinese military drills in 1995 and 1996 aimed at intimidating Taiwan’s leaders and voters.
Taiwan has put its military on alert and staged civil defense drills, while the U.S. has numerous naval assets in the area.
The Biden administration and Pelosi have said the U.S. remains committed to a “one-China” policy, which recognizes Beijing as the government of China but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei. The administration discouraged but did not prevent Pelosi from visiting.
China has also cut off defense talks with the U.S. and imposed sanctions on Pelosi in retaliation for the visit.
Pelosi has been a long-time advocate of human rights in China. She, along with other lawmakers, visited Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1991 to support democracy two years after a bloody military crackdown on protesters at the square.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/06/taiwan-says-china-military-drills-appear-simulate-attack/ | 2022-08-06T08:07:19Z |
NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving may have to show the Brooklyn Nets he’s more than a great basketball player if he wants a future with the team.
General manager Sean Marks made clear Wednesday that Irving will have to prove a commitment to being available to his team that wasn’t there this season.
After Irving missed almost all the Nets’ home games because he refused to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, Marks said talks about a potential contract extension this summer will need to include an evaluation of his dedication to play unless he’s injured.
“I think those are going to be discussions,” Marks said. “It’s a team sport and you need everybody out there on the court.”
The Nets rarely had that during a disappointing season that saw an NBA championship favorite finish seventh in the Eastern Conference and get swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round.
They began the season playing without Irving, deciding they didn’t want him to be a part-time player. They eventually brought him back in December to play road games only — a decision Marks wouldn’t second-guess — with Irving unable to play in New York because of the city’s mandate requiring vaccination to perform in public venues.
An exemption to the mandate made him available for all games in late March, but by then the Nets were climbing out of a huge hole and had to win a play-in game just to reach the postseason.
Irving is eligible for an extension this summer and said he sees himself remaining in Brooklyn alongside Kevin Durant, who signed an extension last summer. He said after the season he saw those two players “managing this franchise together” alongside Marks and owner Joe Tsai.
Marks said they haven’t had any contract discussions yet with Irving but said the Nets know what they’re looking for.
“We’re looking for guys that want to come in here and be part of something bigger than themselves, play selfless, play team basketball and be available,” Marks said. “And that goes not only for Kyrie but for everybody here.”
Irving has an option for almost $37 million next season, but could seek an extension that would pay him an additional $185 million over four years. His play seems worthy of it, as Irving averaged 27.4 points last season, which would have ranked eighth in the league.
But he played only 29 games in the second straight season in which he missed time when he wasn’t hurt. Irving took a leave of absence from the team during the 2020-21 season, missing nine games for personal reasons.
This time, Marks acknowledged that Irving’s absences put an extra workload on Durant. He said the Nets need to have deep discussions after this season, including about their players’ intentions. Irving never specified why he wouldn’t get vaccinated, saying it was a personal choice.
“What drives them? Do they want to be part of this? Are they motivated by something that maybe is not good for the whole team?” Marks said. “So those are questions we’re going to have to ask ourselves and also the players that we want to bring back in here.”
Marks provided good news on Ben Simmons, whom he said is already feeling better after having back surgery last week to relieve pain from a herniated disk. Simmons never played for the Nets after they acquired the former No. 1 pick from Philadelphia in February.
With Durant, Irving and Simmons, the Nets would have three potential stars who could quickly get them to where they thought they could be this season. But Marks didn’t commit to Irving being part of the future, while also noting that Irving has his own decisions to make.
He also said he hasn’t talked to Durant about the All-Star forward’s feelings about a long-term partnership with Irving. The two are close friends who came to Brooklyn together in 2019.
Marks said he expects at some point he would talk to Durant, Tsai and coach Steve Nash about any potential free agent.
“But at the end of the day, I mean more often than not, it’s myself making those decisions,” Marks said, “and it’s not me going to Kevin and saying: ‘Do you want this person? Do you want that person? Do you want that guy?’ I don’t think that’s fair to place that on Kevin.
“Now, is he surprised by anything? Absolutely not, because he will know ahead of time what we’re doing, what we plan on doing with, to be honest with the entire roster.”
Marks predicted last summer that both Irving and James Harden would be inked to extensions by the time the Nets opened the season. Harden didn’t sign one, eventually soured on Brooklyn and was sent to Philadelphia in the swap for Simmons.
Now Irving’s future is uncertain, so Marks will make no more predictions.
“We’ll just wait and at the appropriate time we’ll make those decisions,” he said.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/for-future-with-team-nets-want-more-commitment-from-irving/ | 2022-05-11T21:27:07Z |
CEDARHURST, N.Y., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The securities litigation law firm of Kuznicki Law PLLC issues this alert to shareholders of Dingdong (Cayman) Limited (NYSE: DDL), if they purchased or acquired the Company's American Depository Shares ("ADS") pursuant and/or traceable to the Company's June 2021 initial public offering (the "IPO"). Shareholders have until October 24, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in the securities class action lawsuit.
Shareholders are encouraged to contact us at https://kclasslaw.com/cases/securities/nyse-ddl/, 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.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/filing-deadline-kuznicki-law-pllc-announces-class-action-behalf-shareholders-dingdong-cayman-limited-ddl/ | 2022-09-08T04:33:20Z |
Officials found more than $2 million in methamphetamine hidden in a vehicle at the Rio Grande City Port of Entry in Texas, US Customs and Border Protection say.
CBP officers from the Rio Grande City International Bridge discovered it Sunday in a 2012 Dodge that arrived from Mexico, Port Director Andres Guerra said in a statement Wednesday.
The $2.1 million in alleged liquid meth, totaling 110 pounds, was found by officers using imaging systems and a dog team, the statement said.
The driver -- an unidentified 41-year-old US citizen -- was turned over to agents with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations.
More than 5,000 pounds of meth was seized earlier this month after authorities in San Diego County tracked and intercepted a truck that crossed the border from Mexico. Four men were charged in what federal prosecutors described as one of the largest meth busts in San Diego County.
In April, CBP officers in California seized more than 400 pounds of meth, cocaine and heroin concealed in toolboxes and being smuggled into the country. That seizure had an estimated street value of $2.56 million, CBP said.
Meth is a highly addictive stimulant that usually takes the form of a powder. In 2020, more than 23,000 Americans died from overdoses involving psychostimulants, primarily meth, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Leader of the organic mattress industry, Naturepedic, was recognized for its environmental and social impact.
CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Certified-organic mattress and bedding manufacturer Naturepedic has been awarded the Real Leaders®️ Eco Innovation Award distinction for its Organic, Non-Toxic Bedding for Infants and its consistent work with environmental organizations to advocate for the elimination of toxic chemicals from consumer products and the environment. The annual award celebrates companies' achievement in environmental impact.
For almost 20 years, Naturepedic has been on a mission to protect families through safer, healthier organic-based products that protect lives through safer, healthier sleep and generate a positive impact on the environment. Through advocacy about the need to eliminate toxic chemicals and materials in the environment and everyday products, Naturepedic has been a fervent proponent of initiatives to prevent the use of hazardous chemicals and implement higher industry standards.
"To be included in this group of values-aligned companies for driving environmental and social impact is a great honor that we receive with excitement," said Arin Schultz, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for Naturepedic. Schultz added, "This recognition makes us even more determined to continue the work we have been doing since the very beginning and inspires us to relentlessly keep pursuing higher standards of sustainable practices particularly when it comes to the most vulnerable – babies and children."
As leaders of the sustainable mattress revolution, Naturepedic works hand-in-hand with various organizations, third-parties, and NGOs to garner a 360-degree understanding of the sustainability issues around the mattress industry. With a focus on cutting down on waste and energy use, meeting and exceeding the most stringent, reputable third-party certifications in the marketplace, and participating in environmental advocacy groups, the company is fully committed to eliminating toxic chemicals from sleep products and replacing them with natural and organic materials.
Naturepedic's accomplishments have kept coming. In early 2022, they joined the nonprofit Health Product Declaration® (HPD) Collaborative to empower product manufacturers and AECO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operation) practitioners with easy access to detailed information about product materials used by the public. Also, it continued reinforcing its "ditch the chemicals" campaign during National Cancer Prevention Awareness Month to highlight businesses' direct role in influencing non-hereditary childhood cancer. Additionally, they were the first certified non-food organic product to complete the Organic Fraud Prevention Plan for the Organic Trade Association and have donated over $200,000 to approved nonprofits dedicated to environmental causes through 1% For the Planet. Most recently, Naturepedic's EOS® Classic Organic Mattress received an esteemed award for its customizable design and personalized sleep options from Good Housekeeping 2022 Bedding Awards.
All Naturepedic mattress products for babies, kids, and adults, are GOTS-certified organic and certified non-toxic by MADE SAFE. They are also certified to the GREENGUARD Gold and UL Formaldehyde-Free standards and eliminate questionable materials and chemicals found in most conventional mattresses while meeting and exceeding the highest level of certifications available in the marketplace. All Naturepedic products meet organic and non-toxic standards.
For media inquiries, please contact Giselle Chollett at giselle@adinnyc.com or 917.386.7116
Since 2003, Naturepedic has been on a mission to protect the lives of families through safer, healthier organic-based products that have a positive impact on the environment. A brand with purpose, transparency and ethical practices, Naturepedic is the recipient of many certifications and is highly respected by numerous health and environmental organizations (https://www.naturepedic.com/certifications) and is an EPA Green Power Partner. Since its inception, Naturepedic has been a consistent and generous advocate and supporter of NGO's and nonprofits advocating for "Right to Know" about what is in the products that people bring into their homes.
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SOURCE Naturepedic | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/naturepedic-wins-2022-real-leaders-eco-innovation-award/ | 2022-07-19T16:37:34Z |
Damon Rowe brings two decades of agency experience to noted tax litigation practice
DALLAS, April 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Damon Rowe, the former executive director of the Internal Revenue Service's Office of Fraud Enforcement, has joined Meadows, Collier, Reed, Cousins, Crouch & Ungerman LLP in Dallas. Mr. Rowe will focus his practice on white-collar defense, federal tax disputes and governmental regulatory litigation. He has expertise in many areas including cryptocurrency, financial crimes, civil and criminal tax, money laundering, fraud, internal investigations and the Bank Secrecy Act.
Mr. Rowe began his IRS career in 1998 as a special agent and held numerous leadership positions for the agency including as Special Agent in Charge for both the Los Angeles and Dallas field offices.
In leading the Office of Fraud Enforcement, he implemented strategies to evaluate emerging threats through an increased reliance on data science and analytics, while establishing revised metrics, streamlined processes and a revamped organizational structure for the office. Those strategic decisions resulted in a dramatic increase in multimillion-dollar fraud schemes referred for civil fraud penalties as well as referrals for criminal investigation and prosecution.
Prior to serving in this role, Mr. Rowe was executive director of the Office of International Operations for the IRS's Criminal Investigation Division. During his tenure, the office increased its global footprint to detect financial-related cybercrimes and international money laundering and provided investigative support to federal task forces combating domestic and international terrorism.
Mr. Rowe is currently an adjunct professor at the Texas A&M School of Law, where he teaches a course in international white-collar crime.
"After two decades of public service, I felt the time was right to return to my Texas roots," says Mr. Rowe. "Meadows Collier is respected nationwide as a leader in managing complex tax litigation and successfully defending clients in cases involving innovative claims and significant financial exposure. This is the right fit for me and I'm excited about the opportunities."
Mr. Rowe earned a Master of Laws degree in taxation from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University and his law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Houston.
Attorneys with Meadows, Collier, Reed, Cousins, Crouch & Ungerman bring both dedication and experience to clients' legal matters. With origins in tax planning and tax litigation practice, the firm also provides counsel to clients with a variety of other specialized legal needs, including business and estate planning, probate, real estate, securities, banking, and commercial litigation. The firm also has a longstanding concentration in the area of white-collar defense and government regulatory practice.
Media Contact:
Barry Pound
800-559-4534
barry@androvett.com
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SOURCE Meadows Collier | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/21/former-irs-director-joins-meadows-collier-law-firm-dallas/ | 2022-04-21T17:30:22Z |
Blaustein to provide financial leadership as Underwriters Laboratories organizations grow to help solve urgent global safety challenges
NORTHBROOK, Ill., June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global safety science leader Underwriters Laboratories Inc. today announced that Ron Blaustein has been named senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO).
Underwriters Laboratories is in the midst of a significant expansion in both scope and scale to tackle the increasingly urgent safety science challenges the world now faces. Blaustein oversees financials for both the Underwriters Laboratories Research organization and the new Underwriters Laboratories Standards and Engagement organization announced in February as part of a $1.8 billion commitment to better address today's increasingly complex public safety risks and challenges.
As both the Research and Standards and Engagement organizations grow, Blaustein will provide financial stewardship, leadership and guidance aligned with the organizations' strategic operating plans.
"Underwriters Laboratories has a history of accelerating scientific discoveries that make our homes, workplaces and communities safer," Blaustein said. "As CFO, I'm committed to providing effective financial leadership as we grow to deepen our impact and further advance the public good. I'm grateful for the opportunity to tackle the tough issues we face today by building on our enterprise's legacy."
In his role, Blaustein leads a world-class finance function that will deploy resources to support the Research organization's ability to sense and act on risks to public safety across a broad range of critical fields. Backed by the recent financial commitment, the Research organization will dedicate more resources to exploring emerging human safety risks presented by technological innovations such as autonomous systems and artificial intelligence, among others. Blaustein also will build a finance team to help steer the Standards and Engagement organization as it advances its role as a critical facilitator of public-private partnerships around the world through safety advocacy campaigns and standards creation collaborations with regulators and policymakers.
"Our landmark financial commitment and new ability to deliver on our mission through two distinctly focused organizations enable us to grow our capacity and resources faster than ever before," said Terrence R. Brady, president and CEO of the Underwriters Laboratories Research organization and board chair of the Underwriters Laboratories Standards and Engagement organization. "I am confident that Ron Blaustein, with his wealth of experience and demonstrated integrity, is the right leader to steward our financial future. The board and I are terrifically pleased to welcome Ron to our executive team."
Blaustein comes to Underwriters Laboratories from the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, where he served as senior vice president and CFO since 2014. He was named CFO of the Year in 2019 by Financial Executives International. Blaustein first joined Lurie Children's hospital in 1997 after beginning his career at PwC, known then as Price Waterhouse.
Blaustein holds an MBA, with a focus on finance, strategy and health services management, from Northwestern University. He received bachelor's degrees in economics and mathematical methods in the social sciences, also from Northwestern. He will be based out of the Underwriters Laboratories headquarters in Northbrook, Illinois.
Active in the Chicago area, Blaustein serves as a board member of Northwestern University Hillel and volunteers for CJE SeniorLife. He also is a member and past subcommittee chair of the Economic Club of Chicago and on the finance committee of Keshet, which provides services for adults and children with disabilities.
For more information, visit UL.org.
About the Underwriters Laboratories Research Organization
The Underwriters Laboratories Research Organization is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing the Underwriters Laboratories public safety mission through scientific discovery and application. With best-in-class experts, we are the world's premier safety science research organization. We conduct rigorous independent research, analyze safety data and explore at the edges of technology to be the first to uncover and act on emerging risks to human safety. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security and sustainability.
About the Underwriters Laboratories Standards and Engagement Organization
The Underwriters Laboratories Standards and Engagement Organization is a nonprofit standards development and advocacy organization that translates data from safety science into practical, action-oriented safety standards. We convene experts worldwide and serve as a vital resource for regulators and policymakers. As a part of our public outreach activities, we share knowledge, advance safety policy partnerships and advocate for standards and regulations that result in positive safety changes.
Contact:
Mimi Bhattacharyya
Director of Strategic Communications
Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
mimi.bhattacharyya@ul.org
www.ul.org
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SOURCE Underwriters Laboratories Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/underwriters-laboratories-appoints-ron-blaustein-chief-financial-officer/ | 2022-06-22T15:53:46Z |
Scientists say they have finally assembled the full genetic blueprint for human life, adding the missing pieces to a puzzle nearly completed two decades ago.
An international team described the first-ever sequencing of a complete human genome – the set of instructions to build and sustain a human being – in research published Thursday in the journal Science. The previous effort, celebrated across the world, was incomplete because DNA sequencing technologies of the day weren’t able to read certain parts of it. Even after updates, it was missing about 8% of the genome.
“Some of the genes that make us uniquely human were actually in this ‘dark matter of the genome’ and they were totally missed,” said Evan Eichler, a University of Washington researcher who participated in the current effort and the original Human Genome Project. “It took 20-plus years, but we finally got it done.”
Many — including Eichler’s own students — thought it had been finished already. “I was teaching them, and they said, ‘Wait a minute. Isn’t this like the sixth time you guys have declared victory? I said, ’No, this time we really, really did it!”
Scientists said this full picture of the genome will give humanity a greater understanding of our evolution and biology while also opening the door to medical discoveries in areas like aging, neurodegenerative conditions, cancer and heart disease.
“We’re just broadening our opportunities to understand human disease,” said Karen Miga, an author of one of the six studies published Thursday.
The research caps off decades of work. The first draft of the human genome was announced in a White House ceremony in 2000 by leaders of two competing entities: an international publicly funded project led by an agency of the U.S. National Institutes of Health and a private company, Maryland-based Celera Genomics.
The human genome is made up of about 3.1 billion DNA subunits, pairs of chemical bases known by the letters A, C, G and T. Genes are strings of these lettered pairs that contain instructions for making proteins, the building blocks of life. Humans have about 30,000 genes, organized in 23 groups called chromosomes that are found in the nucleus of every cell.
Before now, there were “large and persistent gaps that have been in our map, and these gaps fall in pretty important regions,” Miga said.
Miga, a genomics researcher at the University of California-Santa Cruz, worked with Adam Phillippy of the National Human Genome Research Institute to organize the team of scientists to start from scratch with a new genome with the aim of sequencing all of it, including previously missing pieces. The group, named after the sections at the very ends of chromosomes, called telomeres, is known as the Telomere-to-Telomere, or T2T, consortium.
Their work adds new genetic information to the human genome, corrects previous errors and reveals long stretches of DNA known to play important roles in both evolution and disease. A version of the researchwas published last year before being reviewed by scientific peers.
“This is a major improvement, I would say, of the Human Genome Project,” doubling its impact, said geneticist Ting Wang of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, who was not involved in the research.
Eichler said some scientists used to think unknown areas contained “junk.” Not him. “Some of us always believed there was gold in those hills,” he said. Eichler is paid by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which also supports The Associated Press’s health and science department.
Turns out that gold includes many important genes, he said, such as ones integral to making a person’s brain bigger than a chimp’s, with more neurons and connections.
To find such genes, scientists needed new ways to read life’s cryptic genetic language.
Reading genes requires cutting the strands of DNA into pieces hundreds to thousands of letters long. Sequencing machines read the letters in each piece and scientists try to put the pieces in the right order. That’s especially tough in areas where letters repeat.
Scientists said some areas were illegible before improvements in gene sequencing machines that now allow them to, for example, accurately read a million letters of DNA at a time. That allows scientists to see genes with repeated areas as longer strings instead of snippets that they had to later piece together.
Researchers also had to overcome another challenge: Most cells contain genomes from both mother and father, confusing attempts to assemble the pieces correctly. T2T researchers got around this by using a cell line from one “complete hydatidiform mole,” an abnormal fertilized egg containing no fetal tissue that has two copies of the father’s DNA and none of the mother’s.
The next step? Mapping more genomes, including ones that include collections of genes from both parents. This effort did not map one of the 23 chromosomes that is found in males, called the Y chromosome, because the mole contained only an X.
Wang said he’s working with the T2T group on the Human Pangenome Reference Consortium, which is trying to generate “reference,” or template, genomes for 350 people representing the breadth of human diversity.
“Now we’ve gotten one genome right and we have to do many, many more,” Eichler said. “This is the beginning of something really fantastic for the field of human genetics.”
__
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://cw33.com/health/ap-health/scientists-finally-finish-decoding-entire-human-genome/ | 2022-04-01T18:05:22Z |
LAS VEGAS, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Realty ONE Group, a modern, purpose-driven lifestyle brand and ONE of the fastest growing franchisors in the world, is being called one of seven franchisors in the country with diverse ownership that is positioned to succeed in any market.
Eric Stites, Chief Executive Officer of Franchise Business Review, provided Black Enterprise with a list of seven franchises that are the most diverse brands from his firm's 2022 Top 100 Recession-Proof Franchises list.
"I would recommend any of the brands on our Recession Proof list, and these seven have the highest representation of Black franchise owners," Stite says. Realty ONE Group is ONE of the seven with high franchisee satisfaction and higher than average Black ownership representation.
"It's not by accident that we attract a diverse group of passionate entrepreneurs who embody our COOLTURE, purpose and values," said Kuba Jewgieniew, CEO and Founder of Realty ONE Group. "But more than that, we're grateful that we can give them a business model and the support they need to build a legacy for their future generations."
According to Black Enterprise and Oxford Economics, franchising has been popular among black entrepreneurs for years, with roughly 26 percent of franchises owned by people of color, versus 17 percent of independent businesses generally.
This year, Realty ONE Group was ranked a Top 100 Recession-Proof franchise by Franchise Business Review and the company claimed the No.1 spot for real estate franchisors on Entrepreneur's highly competitive 2022 Franchise 500(R) List.
The UNBrokerage, as it's known in the industry, now has more than 18,000 real estate professionals in more than 400 offices in 49 states, Washington D.C. and Canada and will be opening in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Italy, Singapore and Spain, in addition to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.
Learn more at www.OwnAOne.com.
Founded in 2005, Realty ONE Group is an industry disruptor, radically changing the face of real estate franchising with its unique business model, fun coolture, technology infrastructure and superior support for its real estate professionals. The company has rapidly evolved to include more than 18,000 real estate professionals in over 400+ offices across 49 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, Italy, Spain, Singapore and Costa Rica. Realty ONE Group ranks in the top one percent in the nation by REAL Trends, has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top 5 Real Estate Franchise and has been on Inc. 500's list of the Fastest-Growing Companies for seven consecutive years. Realty ONE Group is surging ahead, opening doors, not only for its clients but for real estate professionals and franchise owners. To learn more, visit www.RealtyONEGroup.com.
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SOURCE Realty ONE Group | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/realty-one-group-hailed-one-countrys-top-diverse-recession-proof-franchisors/ | 2022-06-01T20:00:17Z |
HOUSTON, May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oasis Petroleum Inc. (NASDAQ: OAS) ("Oasis" or the "Company") today announced financial and operating results for the quarter ending March 31, 2022.
1Q22 Operational and Financial Highlights:
- Produced 69.6 MBoepd in 1Q22 with oil volumes of 45.0 MBopd, both above the high-end of February guidance;
- E&P CapEx was $62.9MM in 1Q22, below the low-end of February guidance;
- LOE and GPT costs trended below the low-end of guidance. Cash G&A was below guidance when adjusting for approximately $4.1MM of transaction related items;
- Net cash provided by operating activities was $265.6MM and net loss from continuing operations was $19.6MM;
- Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations(1) was $287.4MM and Adjusted Free Cash Flow(1) was $217.5MM;
- Received $13.1MM distribution from Crestwood in February 2022, which is included in Adjusted EBITDA(1);
- Cash of $410.2MM exceeded $400.0MM of debt as of March 31, 2022;
- Continued focus on ESG and sustainability. Oasis North Dakota gas capture continues to be above peers. Additionally, safety performance continues to improve and the company had a low incident rate in 1Q22;
- Declared a base dividend of $0.585 per share of common stock. The base dividend will be payable on June 1, 2022 to shareholders of record as of May 20, 2022;
- Declared a variable dividend of $2.94 per share of common stock. The variable dividend will be payable on June 15, 2022 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2022;
- Oasis and Whiting Petroleum Corporation ("Whiting") continue to make progress and expect the merger (the "merger") to close in 3Q22. Oasis and Whiting each filed a premerger notification and report form under the HSR Act, and the waiting periods with respect thereto have expired. Oasis filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") on April 28, 2022.
(1) Non-GAAP financial measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measures under United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Numbers are not adjusted for $4.1MM of transaction-related G&A items.
"The first quarter was transformational for Oasis, while also exhibiting very strong operational performance," said Danny Brown, Oasis' Chief Executive Officer. "The closing of the Crestwood and Oasis Midstream Partners merger created a premier midstream company while enhancing value for Oasis and increasing transparency to the core E&P business. Additionally, the announced merger-of-equals with Whiting Petroleum will create a company with enhanced scale, poised to deliver strong returns and significant free cash generation while operating in a safe and sustainable manner. Operationally, Oasis had strong execution in the first quarter, exceeding volume expectations and keeping costs in check, which supported robust free cash generation. My thanks to all of our employees who made the quarter possible through their hard work and dedication. As we look forward, we remain focused on our core strategy, which emphasizes capital discipline and shareholder returns, and on integration planning associated with the announced merger."
The following table presents select operational and financial data for 1Q22 and guidance for 2Q22, which reflects the severe winter storms that went through North Dakota in April. While the near-term impact on production is meaningful, the Company's previous 2022 annual guidance of 65 - 70 MBoepd remains intact. Metrics reflect the Company's continuing operations and exclude amounts reported as discontinued operations due to the OMP merger. Oasis expects to update its full year guidance for the combined company after the merger with Whiting and is currently providing guidance for 2Q22 for Oasis on a stand-alone basis.
Oasis completed and placed on production 2 gross (1.43 net) operated wells in 1Q22.
The following table presents select operational and financial data for the periods presented:
For 1Q22, the Company reported a net loss from continuing operations of $19.6MM, or $1.01 per diluted share. Excluding certain non-cash items and their tax effect, adjusted net income attributable to Oasis from continuing operations (non-GAAP) was $174.5MM, or $8.32 per diluted share, in 1Q22.
The following table presents the Company's total capital expenditures ("CapEx") from continuing operations by category for the periods presented:
Oasis declared a base dividend of $0.585 per share ($2.34/share annualized) to shareholders of record as of May 20, 2022, payable on June 1, 2022. Additionally, Oasis declared a variable dividend of $2.94 per share to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2022, payable on June 15, 2022. The base dividend and variable dividend are in connection with Oasis' previously announced plan to return $70 million of capital to shareholders per quarter.
The following table presents key balance sheet statistics and liquidity metrics as of March 31, 2022 (in millions):
On May 3, 2022, the OAS lenders reaffirmed a $900MM borrowing base with the elected commitments remaining at $450MM. At the close of the merger, the borrowing base is expected to increase to $2B with $800MM of elected commitments.
Investors, analysts and other interested parties are invited to listen to the webcast:
Date: Thursday, May 5, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m. Central Time
Live Webcast: https://app.webinar.net/ejz256r5DnM
Sell-side analysts wishing to ask a question may use the following dial-in:
Dial-in: 888-317-6003
Intl. Dial-in: 412-317-6061
Conference ID: 5348387
Website: www.oasispetroleum.com
A recording of the conference call will be available beginning at 12:00 p.m. Central Time on the day of the call and will be available until Thursday, May 12, 2022 by dialing:
Replay dial-in: 877-344-7529
Intl. replay: 412-317-0088
Replay access: 4412748
The call will also be available for replay for approximately 30 days at www.oasispetroleum.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words "could," "should," "will," "may," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project," the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this press release specifically include the expectations of plans, strategies, objectives and anticipated financial and operating results of the Company, including the Company's drilling program, production, derivative instruments, capital expenditure levels and other guidance included in this press release, as well as the impact of the novel coronavirus 2019 ("COVID-19") pandemic on the Company's operations. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, risks that the proposed transaction with Whiting may not be consummated or the benefits contemplated therefrom may not be realized, the ability to obtain requisite regulatory and stockholder approval and the satisfaction of the other conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction, the potential impact of the announcement or consummation of the proposed transaction on relationships, including with employees, suppliers, customers, competitors and credit rating agencies, changes in crude oil and natural gas prices, developments in the global economy, particularly the public health crisis related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the adverse impact thereof on demand for crude oil and natural gas, the outcome of government policies and actions, including actions taken to address the COVID-19 pandemic and to maintain the functioning of national and global economies and markets, the impact of Company actions to protect the health and safety of employees, vendors, customers, and communities, weather and environmental conditions, the timing of planned capital expenditures, availability of acquisitions, the ability to realize the anticipated benefits from the Williston Basin acquisition and Permian Basin divestitures, uncertainties in estimating proved reserves and forecasting production results, operational factors affecting the commencement or maintenance of producing wells, the condition of the capital markets generally, as well as the Company's ability to access them, the proximity to and capacity of transportation facilities, and uncertainties regarding environmental regulations or litigation and other legal or regulatory developments affecting the Company's business and other important factors that may impact the operations and projections discussed herein can be found in Oasis' periodic filings with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission, including Oasis Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and the Registration Statement. Additionally, the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related decline of the oil and gas exploration and production industry may make it particularly difficult to identify risks or predict the degree to which identified risks will impact the Company's business and financial condition. Because considerable uncertainty exists with respect to the future pace and extent of a global economic recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company cannot predict whether or when crude oil production and economic activities will return to normalized levels.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and the Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval with respect to the merger or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
In connection with the merger, Oasis filed the Registration Statement with the SEC that includes a joint proxy statement/prospectus of Whiting and Oasis. After the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, Whiting and Oasis intend to mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus to the stockholders of Whiting and the stockholders of Oasis. This communication is not a substitute for the joint proxy statement/prospectus or the Registration Statement or for any other document that Whiting or Oasis may file with the SEC and send to Whiting's stockholders and/or Oasis' stockholders in connection with the merger. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF WHITING AND OASIS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY AND THOROUGHLY READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, AS EACH MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED BY WHITING AND OASIS WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT WHITING, OASIS, THE MERGER, THE RISKS RELATED THERETO AND RELATED MATTERS.
Investors are able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus, as each may be amended from time to time, and other relevant documents filed by Whiting and Oasis with the SEC (when they become available) through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by Whiting are available free of charge from Whiting's website at www.whiting.com under the "Investor Relations" tab or by contacting Whiting's Investor Relations Department at (303) 837-1661 or BrandonD@whiting.com. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by Oasis are available free of charge from Oasis' website at www.oasispetroleum.com under the "Investor Relations" tab or by contacting Oasis' Investor Relations Department at (281) 404-9600 or ir@oasispetroleum.com.
Whiting, Oasis and their respective directors and certain of their executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed, under SEC rules, to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Whiting's stockholders and Oasis' stockholders in connection with the merger. Information regarding the executive officers and directors of Oasis is included in its definitive proxy statement for its 2022 annual meeting filed with the SEC on March 17, 2022. Information regarding the executive officers and directors of Whiting is included in Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Additional information regarding the persons who may be deemed participants and their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in the Registration Statement, the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other materials when they are filed with the SEC in connection with the merger. Free copies of these documents may be obtained as described in the paragraphs above.
Oasis Petroleum Inc. is an independent exploration and production company with quality and sustainable long-lived assets in the Williston Basin. The Company is uniquely positioned with a best-in-class balance sheet and is focused on rigorous capital discipline and generating free cash flow by operating efficiently, safely and responsibly to develop its unconventional onshore oil-rich resources in the continental United States. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.oasispetroleum.com.
The Company defines Cash GPT as total GPT expenses less non-cash valuation charges on pipeline imbalances. Cash GPT is not a measure of GPT expenses as determined by GAAP. Management believes that the presentation of Cash GPT provides useful additional information to investors and analysts to assess the cash costs incurred to market and transport the Company's commodities from the wellhead to delivery points for sale without regard to the change in value of its pipeline imbalances, which vary monthly based on commodity prices.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of GPT expenses to the non-GAAP financial measure of Cash GPT for the periods presented:
The Company defines Cash G&A as total G&A expenses less G&A expenses attributable to discontinued operations, non-cash equity-based compensation expenses, G&A expenses attributable to shared service allocations and other non-cash charges. Cash G&A is not a measure of G&A expenses as determined by GAAP. Management believes that the presentation of Cash G&A provides useful additional information to investors and analysts to assess the Company's operating costs in comparison to peers without regard to the aforementioned charges, which can vary substantially from company to company.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of G&A expenses to the non-GAAP financial measure of Cash G&A for the periods presented:
The Company defines Cash Interest as interest expense less interest expense attributable to discontinued operations plus capitalized interest less amortization and write-offs of deferred financing costs. Cash Interest is not a measure of interest expense as determined by GAAP. Management believes that the presentation of Cash Interest provides useful additional information to investors and analysts for assessing the interest charges incurred on the Company's debt to finance its operating activities and the Company's ability to maintain compliance with its debt covenants.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of interest expense to the non-GAAP financial measure of Cash Interest for the periods presented:
The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings (loss) before interest expense, income taxes, DD&A, exploration expenses and other similar non-cash or non-recurring charges. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations as Adjusted EBITDA less Adjusted EBITDA from discontinued operations, plus cash distributions from OMP. The Company defines Adjusted Free Cash Flow as Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations less Cash Interest and E&P and other capital expenditures (excluding capitalized interest and acquisition capital).
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow are not measures of net income (loss) or cash flows as determined by GAAP. Management believes that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow provides useful additional information to investors and analysts for assessing the Company's results of operations, financial performance, ability to generate cash from its business operations without regard to its financing methods or capital structure and the Company's ability to maintain compliance with its debt covenants.
The following table presents reconciliations of the GAAP financial measures of net income (loss) including non-controlling interests and net cash provided by operating activities to the non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow for the periods presented:
Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Oasis and Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Oasis Per Share are supplemental non-GAAP financial measures that are used by management and external users of the Company's financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. The Company defines Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Oasis as net income (loss) after adjusting for (1) the impact of certain non-cash items, including non-cash changes in the fair value of derivative instruments, impairment, and other similar non-cash charges, or non-recurring items, (2) the impact of net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests, and (3) the non-cash and non-recurring items' impact on taxes based on the Company's effective tax rate applicable to those adjusting items in the same period. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Oasis is not a measure of net income (loss) as determined by GAAP. The Company defines Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Oasis Per Share as Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Oasis divided by diluted weighted average shares outstanding.
The following table presents reconciliations of the GAAP financial measure of net income (loss) attributable to Oasis to the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Oasis and the GAAP financial measure of diluted earnings (loss) attributable to Oasis per share to the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted Diluted Earnings Attributable to Oasis Per Share for the periods presented:
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SOURCE Oasis Petroleum Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/oasis-petroleum-inc-reports-first-quarter-2022-earnings-declares-base-variable-dividends-issues-second-quarter-outlook-provides-update-pending-merger/ | 2022-05-04T22:30:43Z |
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Demotech, Inc., the first to request a special session to address the litigation crisis affecting Florida's residential property insurance marketplace, welcomes Kevin McCarty, Founder and Principal Consultant, Celtic Global Consulting to the faculty for its June 2 webinar, scheduled from 1100 am to 1230 pm Eastern.
In 2003, Kevin was Florida's initial appointed Commissioner. Kevin oversaw the industry from 2003 through 2016, a period that saw more than 100 named events impact Florida. In 2016, Kevin formed Celtic Global to provide financial analysis, regulatory assessment, and advocacy on insurance issues.
The webinar provides a forum to hear initial opinions on the outcome of the Florida legislature's special session, convening May 23, 2022 through (possibly) May 27, 2022.
In addition to McCarty, confirmed faculty are:
- Senator Jeff Brandes, District (24), St. Petersburg, FL
- Fred E. Karlinsky, Shareholder & Co-Chair Insurance Practice, Greenberg Traurig
- Paul Handerhan, President, Federal Association for Insurance Reform
- Robert Ritchie, President & CEO, American Integrity Insurance Company
- Mahsa Saeidi, Investigative Reporter, WFLA, Tampa
- Edouard von Herberstein, Partner, Hudson Structured Capital Management
- Adam Schwebach, Executive Vice President and Branch Manager, Tampa, Gallagher Re
- Guy Fraker, Cre8teFutures
- Lisa Miller, Lisa Miller and Associates
- Wesley Todd, Founder & CEO, CaseGlide
- Joseph Petrelli, President, Demotech
- Barry Koestler, CFA, Chief Ratings Officer, Demotech
- Bob Warren, CPA (Inactive), CPCU, Client Services Manager, Demotech
- W. Burke Coleman, Esquire, Chief Regulatory and Compliance Counsel, Demotech.
The link to registration is https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1465647223656015119. Questions on registration should be referred to Paul Osborne at POsborne@demotech.com.
About Demotech, Inc.
Since 1985, Demotech has served the industry by assigning accurate, reliable, and proven Financial Stability Ratings® to P&C insurers and Title underwriters. Demotech was the first to review independent, regional and specialty insurers, 1989. 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. Visit www.demotech.com for additional information.
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SOURCE Demotech, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/23/kevin-mccarty-rounds-out-demotech-faculty-special-session-recap/ | 2022-05-23T21:29:30Z |
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As children head back to school, parents and caregivers are encouraged not to overlook routine vaccinations against serious infections such as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, and hepatitis. Superior HealthPlan is dedicated to ensuring Texans have access to information and resources about immunizations to help protect children and communities against preventable illnesses.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, immunizations have declined, with all populations showing a downward trend from pre-pandemic routine immunization rates. Routine vaccinations have proven effective in preventing serious illness within schools and communities. Despite the restart of student activities in many states last year, the immunization rate for children in kindergarten dropped between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years. This leaves thousands of young students at risk for preventable illnesses when re-entering the classroom for in-person learning.
The more immunized a community is, the harder it is for preventable illnesses to spread. Immunizations protect the individuals who are vaccinated as well as everyone who interacts with them. As students prepare to return to school, it is important to ensure students are up to date with routine immunizations to help prevent illness. In fact, childhood immunizations help protect against as many as 14 serious diseases.
Superior HealthPlan continues to invest in educational opportunities around vaccinations through programs such as Fluvention®, which provides comprehensive information about the impact the annual flu vaccine can have for the health of individuals, families, and communities. Additionally, Superior has partnered with Prospera Housing Community Services and UT Health San Antonio to bring a mobile health clinic into the community as well as Goodside Health to make care more easily accessible in schools.
"Pediatric vaccination reduces the rate of vaccine-preventable diseases and we want to ensure families have the information they need to make informed decisions about immunizing their children and accessing vaccines," said Dr. David Harmon, Chief Medical Director at Superior HealthPlan. "With the start of the school year around the corner, now is the perfect time for families to talk to their primary care providers about catching up on immunizations they or their children may have missed to reduce the spread of preventable illnesses."
Individuals can learn more about specific vaccines, immunization schedules, and safety information by reviewing materials developed by the CDC by visiting cdc.gov/vaccines.
About Superior HealthPlan
Founded in 1999, Superior HealthPlan is a managed care company that delivers quality health care throughout Texas. Committed to transforming the health of the community, one person at a time, Superior supports active local involvement in all 254 Texas counties with nearly 4,000 employees throughout the state. Superior is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading healthcare enterprise that is committed to helping people live healthier lives. More information on Superior can be found at www.SuperiorHealthPlan.com.
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SOURCE Superior HealthPlan | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/texas-residents-can-help-protect-their-communities-by-scheduling-immunizations/ | 2022-08-01T12:30:10Z |
Through real-time metabolite monitoring, Bitome's technology is expected to support accelerated product development timelines across Ginkgo's portfolio of cell programs
BOSTON, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, today announced that it has acquired certain assets from Bitome, a company pioneering real-time metabolite monitoring for faster biological product development. Bitome has developed technology leveraging machine learning to provide continuous monitoring of cell culture media, illuminating the performance of cells in real-time and enabling faster rates of bioprocess optimization.
In the design-build-test-learn process that is central to synthetic biology, testing the performance of cells is an expensive and time-consuming bottleneck. Bitome's continuous metabolite monitoring technology can help address this bottleneck, providing essential data on cell performance and potentially accelerating the path to production-ready organisms. Real-time data on the metabolic state of the cells in a bioreactor helps scientists better anticipate which cell lines and process conditions to select for further optimization, which in turn can reduce the number and duration of bioreactor runs that are necessary for a given project.
"Ginkgo is constantly looking for opportunities to strengthen its cell engineering platform, and a central component of cell engineering is testing and optimizing strains at scale," said Barry Canton, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Ginkgo Bioworks. "Having evaluated Bitome's technology over the past few years, we believe their technology will allow us to accelerate the design and optimization of strains across a range of customers and industries."
"Bitome was founded to unleash faster biotech innovation, and one of the core obstacles this industry faces is incomplete strain performance data," said Herbert Ryan, co-founder and CEO at Bitome. "Our team is thrilled to be joining the Ginkgo platform where we can deploy our technology much more broadly to create the next generation of synthetic biology."
Ginkgo is building a platform to enable customers to program cells as easily as we can program computers. The company's platform is enabling biotechnology applications across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to industrial chemicals to pharmaceuticals. Ginkgo has also actively supported a number of COVID-19 response efforts, including K-12 pooled testing, vaccine manufacturing optimization and therapeutics discovery. For more information, visit www.ginkgobioworks.com.
Bitome, Inc. is a Boston-based company that is digitizing bioprocessing. Bitome's AI engine leverages metabolomics to rapidly accelerate process optimization -- helping biotech companies get their product to market faster.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the potential success of the acquisition and Ginkgo's cell programming platform. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "can," "project," "potential," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) the effect of Ginkgo's business combination with Soaring Eagle Acquisition Corp. ("Soaring Eagle") on Ginkgo's business relationships, performance, and business generally, (ii) risks that the business combination disrupts current plans of Ginkgo and potential difficulties in Ginkgo's employee retention, (iii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Ginkgo related to its business combination with Soaring Eagle, (iv) volatility in the price of Ginkgo's securities now that it is a public company due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Ginkgo operates and plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Ginkgo's business and changes in the combined capital structure, (v) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the business combination, and identify and realize additional opportunities, (vi) the risk of downturns in demand for products using synthetic biology, (vii) the unpredictability of the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the demand for COVID-19 testing and the commercial viability of our COVID-19 testing business, and (viii) changes to the biosecurity industry, including due to advancements in technology, emerging competition and evolution in industry demands, standards and regulations. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Ginkgo's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on May 16, 2022 and other documents filed by Ginkgo from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Ginkgo assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Ginkgo does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.
GINKGO BIOWORKS INVESTOR CONTACT:
investors@ginkgobioworks.com
GINKGO BIOWORKS MEDIA CONTACT:
press@ginkgobioworks.com
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SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/ginkgo-bioworks-acquires-bitome-an-integrated-metabolite-monitoring-platform/ | 2022-06-06T12:54:28Z |
Adapted from the novel that became a not-particularly-memorable movie in 2009, "The Time Traveler's Wife" now transforms its bizarre love story into an HBO series. Rose Leslie and Theo James star, but in keeping with the time-travel rules that state there's no changing things or saving people, despite their heroics it's too late to salvage this handsome but uninvolving show.
James' Henry notes that time travel "just happens to me" at unexpected times -- a "genetic defect" that causes him to fall through time, leaving him "naked, penniless and running." He and Clare ("Game of Thrones'" Leslie) explain all this in direct-to-camera testimonials at different points in their lives, sort of like "The Office," just with more nudity.
Indeed, James' backside certainly gets oodles of exposure, in sometimes comical ways, as he flees the peculiar situations in which he finds himself. Yet the main gist of the series is its non-linear exploration of the arc of their relationship, which includes moments where Clare knows far more than Henry does, since the encounters she's referencing haven't happened to that version of him yet.
Time travel always creates all sorts of puzzling possibilities, but the way it's employed in the context of Audrey Niffenegger's book can be particularly off-putting when translated to the screen. At the top of that list is the fact that Clare and Henry first meet (for her, anyway) when she's a child and he's an adult, with him regularly blipping back to her as she grew up.
"I have loved him since I was six years old," Clare says, and despite everything portrayed about the elaborate arc of their romance, it's very hard to get through that subplot, as even Henry acknowledges, and not have it sound at least a bit creepy.
The main appeal stems wholly from the two stars, who not only convey the periodic absurdity of their frequently interrupted exchanges but effectively play the characters at multiple ages, which, given how often the timeframe resets, is no small feat.
Adapted by Steven Moffat, whose credits appropriately include "Doctor Who," and prolific director David Nutter ("Game of Thrones" and much more), "Time Traveler's Wife" is lushly presented as another sweeping love story with sci-fi overtones ("Somewhere in Time" comes to mind), complicated not by place but rather time.
It's an admirable effort, but one that simply underscores how unadaptable this material might be -- the bottom line being that if time is indeed precious, these six episodes finally feel too much like a waste of it.
"The Time Traveler's Wife" premieres May 15 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO, which, like CNN, is a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/entertainment/the-time-travelers-wife-turns-the-book-into-a-time-killing-hbo-series/article_c68c2893-49d8-51de-a6e0-9e3f63bf9fd2.html | 2022-05-13T14:19:33Z |
‘I’m shaking’: Man wins first $2 million prize on $20 ticket from new scratch-off game
RALEIGH, N.C. (WITN/Gray News) - A North Carolina man hit the jackpot after taking a chance on a $20 scratch-off ticket.
Ricky Futrell won the first $2 million prize on the new scratch-off game that launched this month, WITN reported.
“I’m shaking,” Futrell said. “It’s overwhelming.”
Futrell bought his lucky $100 Million Mega Cash ticket from the Speedway on Richlands Highway in Richlands, North Carolina.
In collecting the prize, Futrell could have chosen an annuity of $100,000 a year for 20 years or a lump sum of $1.2 million. He chose the $1.2 million cash prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $852,126.
The $100 Million Mega Cash game launched this month with four $2 million top prizes and eight $100,000 prizes. Three $2 million prizes and all eight $100,000 prizes remain to be won.
Copyright 2022 WITN via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/16/im-shaking-man-wins-first-2-million-prize-20-ticket-new-scratch-off-game/ | 2022-05-16T23:20:26Z |
SAN DIEGO, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilshire Quinn Capital announced Thursday that its private lending fund, the Wilshire Quinn Income Fund, has provided a $16,025,000 refinance loan on two hotels in Los Angeles, California.
The first property is a four-story, 91,978 square-foot Ramada by Wyndham located near Los Angeles International Airport and adjacent to the 405 Freeway. The hotel is comprised of 167 rooms, fitness center, restaurant and bar, pool, and 209 parking spaces.
The second property is located off Wilshire Boulevard in Korea Town/Wilshire Center, and consists of 56,000 square-feet and 71 rooms. The independently owned hotel has a full restaurant and conference center, in addition to subterranean parking.
The loan was funded in eight business days after the request for capital was made.
"As liquidity continues to tighten in the capital markets and the commercial lending process becomes even more restrictive, Wilshire Quinn remains committed to providing rapid lending solutions for our clients," CEO and Chief Investment Officer Christopher Garcia said.
Wilshire Quinn, a national portfolio bridge lender and debt fund manager based out of San Diego, is well known for its quick loan closings and competitive short-term lending rates.
Since 2011, Wilshire Quinn (www.wilshirequinn.com) has provided senior debt financing ranging from $200,000 to $20,000,000 on a variety of property types, including but not limited to: non-owner-occupied residential properties, multi-family properties, condos, hotels, assisted-living facilities, entitled land, parking lots, office buildings, industrial buildings, and retail centers. Wilshire Quinn works directly with real estate owners and mortgage professionals nationwide.
Loans are made or arranged by Wilshire Quinn Income Fund, LLC pursuant to California Finance Lenders Law license #603J060. Wilshire Quinn Capital, Inc. serves as manager of the Wilshire Quinn Income Fund, LLC. The information above is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. Nothing contained in the information above is an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Any such offer to purchase securities will be made only through the Private Placement Memorandum of Wilshire Quinn Income Fund, LLC.
Media Contact: Emily Mesetz, 619-872-6000, emesetz@wilshirequinn.com
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SOURCE Wilshire Quinn Capital | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/wilshire-quinn-funds-16025000-loan-hotel-portfolio-los-angeles-california/ | 2022-06-16T15:53:03Z |
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler stood just outside the third base dugout at Citizens Bank Park for the national anthem on Monday, taking a break on Memorial Day from his protest against the direction of the nation.
Kapler, who began his protest Friday, stood by himself at the railing of the Giants dugout during the playing of taps during the holiday ceremony, which was followed by a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by a military bugle company. A few other San Francisco players stood on the chalk line past the third-base bag during their stretching exercises.
“Today, I’ll be standing for the anthem,” Kapler wrote earlier Monday on his blog. “While I believe strongly in the right to protest and the importance of doing so, I also believe strongly in honoring and mourning our country’s service men and women who fought and died for that right. Those who serve in our military, and especially those who have paid the ultimate price for our rights and freedoms, deserve that acknowledgment and respect, and I am honored to stand on the line today to show mine.”
Kapler announced on Friday that he intended to remain in the clubhouse during the anthem to protest “the lack of delivery of the promise of what our national anthem represents” following the shootings that killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
“The way I see it is anything that sparks thoughtful conversation is good,” Kapler told reporters on Monday.
Kapler said he was not ready to announce whether his protest will resume on Tuesday night.
“The days move really fast,” he said. “We’re going to come out and talk about Giants and Phillies today and we’ll get into the game and then we’ll spend some time trying to get away from the game. Then the game starts the next day. I want to have my thoughts perfectly formulated. I will formulate them and I will share them. I just don’t have them right now.”
Joe Girardi replaced Kapler as Philadelphia’s manager following the 2019 season
“Everyone has a choice in this country, right?” Girardi said. “I mean that’s what America is founded on. It’s not the choice that I’ll make. But with all the choices we make in life there are consequences, no matter what you do, so you have to be prepared to explain why you do things in this world. And it’s not something that I would do.”
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/giants-kapler-pauses-protest-stands-for-national-anthem/ | 2022-05-31T08:05:49Z |
DENVER, July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, DispatchHealth is proud to be Certified™ by Great Place to Work®. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience. This year 76% of team members at DispatchHealth say it is a great place to work compared to 59% of employees at a typical U.S.-based company.
Company co-founder and CEO Dr. Mark Prather says, "We founded DispatchHealth to revolutionize the healthcare industry and expand access for patients by building the largest in-home care system. I'm happy our teams feel good about contributing to a healthier healthcare ecosystem and find their work environment fulfilling."
Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention, and increased innovation. "Great Place to Work Certification™ isn't something that comes easily – it takes ongoing dedication to the employee experience," said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, vice president of global recognition at Great Place to Work. "It's the only official recognition determined by employees' real-time reports of their company culture. Earning this designation means that DispatchHealth is one of the country's best companies to work for."
Dr. Prather adds, "The great resignation has affected every industry. However, healthcare has been impacted particularly hard, with caregivers reporting frustration over working conditions, the stress of increased demands, and a perceived lack of respect, which leads to job dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, I am encouraged by our recertification because it says DispatchHealth is living up to its mission of delivering higher quality at a better cost with happier patients and employees alike.
According to Great Place to Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work.
Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit our careers page at: www.dispatchhealth.com/careers
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SOURCE DispatchHealth | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/dispatchhealth-earns-2022-great-place-work-certification/ | 2022-07-20T20:06:23Z |
HOUSTON , July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank has announced Vickie Cohn will lead its Central and South Texas retail team, replacing Theresa Bazan, who recently was promoted to National Sales Enablement Director for Consumer and Small Business Banking.
In this senior vice president role, Cohn will be responsible for the development and effective leadership of the Austin, Kerrville, Houston and San Antonio markets' retail banking center network.
"Vickie brings an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience to the Regional Director role," Rhonda Davenport, National Retail Banking Director, said. "She is a well-respected leader who continuously focuses on building a cohesive team and inspires colleagues to focus on customer experience and community involvement."
Cohn, who has more than 25 years of retail banking experience, joined Comerica in 2009 and most recently managed the Houston North District. Throughout her career, Cohn has held various leadership roles in retail banking, including as a multi-state training manager. In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities, Cohn is communications chair for Comerica's South Texas Women Forum, an employee resource network group committed to recruiting, developing, supporting and retaining female employees at the bank.
"Through investing in employee development, she has a strong track record for delivering growth," Davenport said. "We are happy to reward her hard work and dedication with increased responsibilities."
An active community volunteer and Junior League of The Woodlands member, also serves on the Credit Coalition Committee, an organization that empowers consumers through financial and homebuyer counseling and education to make informed, reasonable and responsible decisions regarding their financial and housing goals.
Cohn earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.
Comerica Bank is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA), a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $89.2 billion as of March 31, 2022.
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SOURCE Comerica Incorporated | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/vickie-cohn-named-comerica-bank-central-amp-south-texas-retail-regional-director/ | 2022-07-05T17:47:23Z |
Iowa woman celebrates 112th birthday
Published: Jun. 14, 2022 at 7:43 AM CDT|Updated: 31 minutes ago
Des Moines, Iowa (KCCI) – A woman in Iowa keeps adding candles to her birthday cake.
Hazel Young turned 112 on Sunday. Family and friends were on hand to celebrate the day.
Young says her faith is what helps her longevity.
When Young was born, William Howard Taft was the president of the United States.
Copyright 2022 KCCI via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/14/iowa-woman-celebrates-112th-birthday/ | 2022-06-14T13:15:04Z |
Four Vietnam War veterans to receive Medal of Honor
(CNN) - President Joe Biden will award the Medal of Honor to four Vietnam War veterans.
Staff Sergeant Edward N. Kaneshiro, Specialist 5 Dwight W. Birdwell, Specialist 5 Dennis M. Fujii and retired Major John J. Duffy all served in the U.S. Army.
Kaneshiro, who will receive his medal posthumously, saved his fellow soldiers by enabling his platoon to withdraw from a village while under attack. He died the following year in battle as a result of a gunshot wound.
Birdwell was wounded in a separate battle while saving his tank commander’s life. He continued to fight and refused evacuation until he was ordered to tend to his wounds.
Fujii will receive his medal for serving aboard a helicopter ambulance during an evacuation mission. He continued fighting for 17 hours while wounded.
Duffy was wounded twice while battling enemy forces for two days in 1972, refusing evacuation and continuing to fight.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/05/four-vietnam-war-veterans-receive-medal-honor/ | 2022-07-05T12:30:17Z |
CHICAGO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading promotional products and solutions provider iPromo announced today that it has been recognized on the Inc. 5000 list for the second year in a row with three-year revenue growth of 256%, placing No. 2281 on Inc's. annual ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America.
The list represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy's most dynamic segment—its independent businesses. Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.
"In the new hybrid world we are focused on creating solutions that help with employee retention and relationship building through promotional products and corporate gifts," said Leo Friedman, iPromo's CEO & Founder. "Our clients love their online company stores, and our new SwagCloud™ platform that lets them store and distribute their products on demand. We are also passionate about reducing the 20% waste in our industry through EcoCloud™, a solution for reusing or donating unused swag. Our growth has come from being reliable branding and distribution partners for our clients."
The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Among the top 500, the average median three-year revenue growth rate soared to 2,144%. Together, those companies added more than 68,394 jobs over the past three years.
"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today."
Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $2 million.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc. magazine, which will be available on August 23.
About iPromo
iPromo is a leader in providing solutions and swag for corporate gifting, trade shows, events and branding needs. The company has been curating and sourcing the newest, smartest and most impactful promotional products since its founding in 1999, working with over 45,000 clients to match branded items to their specific requests. For more information, visit www.ipromo.com
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SOURCE iPromo | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/ipromo-marks-second-year-inc-5000-list-with-three-year-revenue-growth-256/ | 2022-08-17T16:50:59Z |
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) will present at the Goldman Sachs 43rd Annual Healthcare Conference at 1:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. David M. Reese, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development and Peter H. Griffith, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Amgen will present at the conference. The webcast will be broadcast over the internet simultaneously and will be available to members of the news media, investors and the general public.
The webcast, as with other selected presentations regarding developments in Amgen's business given by management at certain investor and medical conferences, can be found on Amgen's website, www.amgen.com, under Investors. Information regarding presentation times, webcast availability and webcast links are noted on Amgen's Investor Relations Events Calendar. The webcast will be archived and available for replay for at least 90 days after the event.
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.
Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.
Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also part of the Nasdaq-100 index. In 2021, Amgen was named one of the 25 World's Best Workplaces™ by Fortune and Great Place to Work™ and one of the 100 most sustainable companies in the world by Barron's.
For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.
CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks
Megan Fox, 805-447-1423 (media)
Jessica Akopyan, 805-447-0974 (media)
Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (investors)
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SOURCE Amgen | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/amgen-announces-webcast-goldman-sachs-43rd-annual-healthcare-conference/ | 2022-06-10T21:53:13Z |
Eagle Hill Consulting Research Finds Managers Trust Employees Will Accomplish Their Work, While Hybrid Employees Feel the Most Pressure to Perform Well
ARLINGTON, Va., June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of the pandemic, 45 percent of remote workers – both fully remote and hybrid workers – say their teams' performance has improved during the past two years according to new research from Eagle Hill Consulting. Only 34 percent of in-person workers say their team's performance has improved.
Nearly all workers say their manager trusts them to get their work done, and this is fairly consistent for remote (96 percent), hybrid (90 percent), and in-person employees (96 percent). But since the pandemic began, most employees report feeling more pressure to perform well (66 percent). That sentiment is substantially higher for hybrid workers (74 percent), followed by in-person employees (67 percent) and remote workers (56 percent).
On a positive note, 68 percent say they feel more supported by their supervisor, and 69 percent say they feel more recognized for a job well done, which is fairly consistent for remote (68 percent), hybrid (70 percent), and in-person employees (66 percent).
The sentiment comes as employees have endured an unstable and stressful two years coping with the global COVID-19 pandemic and as employee burnout is on the rise.
"Our research signals that innovative remote and hybrid approaches to work indeed are working," says Melissa Jezior, president and chief executive officer of Eagle Hill Consulting. "Employees have been telling us for years that they want more flexibility and the ability to work remotely. The pandemic forced the issue for employers, and now a large share of remote and hybrid employees indicate that their performance has improved, more so than in-person workers.
"While employees have felt more pressure to perform well, workers are feeling supported and recognized. The challenge going forward for employers will be to sustain the positives that have emerged during the pandemic while finding new ways to manage employee performance as the future of work solidifies, be it working remotely or with a hybrid approach," Jezior explained.
The research also finds:
- During the past two years, 50 percent of remote workers say their personal performance is better, along with 49 percent of hybrid workers. In-person workers were lower, at 45 percent.
- About half of employees say they feel pleased (46 percent) and motivated (45 percent) following regular discussions with their manager about their performance.
- Most employees (81 percent) have a clear understanding of the next steps in their career path with their employer, consistent for remote (82 percent), hybrid (81 percent), and in-person workers (82 percent).
- Most workers say they can advance in their jobs (75 percent), with remote (81 percent) and hybrid workers (80 percent) agreeing at slightly higher levels than in-person workers (70 percent).
- When it comes to performance challenges for work teams, employees say the biggest obstacles are sharing information across the team (32 percent), setting clear goals and metrics (31 percent), innovation and idea generation (27 percent), and defining new ways to work together (28 percent). Hybrid employees (40 percent) say their biggest challenge is innovation and idea generation. Remote (30 percent) and in-person (32 percent) workers indicate their biggest challenge is sharing information.
- To be successful in their jobs, employees say they need training and development (42 percent), clarity on expectations and goals (39 percent), and clear instruction from their team leads (32 percent). Hybrid employees (46 percent) say their biggest need is training and development. Remote workers (40 percent) indicate their most important need is clarity on expectations and goals.
- In terms of skills managers need for teams to work better, employees say it's providing clarity about team expectations (42 percent), having empathy and understanding around employees' unique needs (34 percent), engaging the team regardless of where they are working (34 percent), helping workers understand their role in achieving organizational goals (30 percent), and using new tools and technologies to build relationships across the team (26 percent). Hybrid employees (51 percent) say the most important skill need for managers is clarity on team goals. Similarly, remote workers (36 percent) indicate their biggest managerial skill needed is clarity on team goals.
The findings are based upon The Eagle Hill Performance Management and Feedback Survey 2022, conducted by Ipsos from May 10-12, 2022. The nationally representative survey included 1,001 adults in the U.S. aged 18 and older who are employed full-time or part-time. The survey polled respondents on aspects of performance management and feedback.
Eagle Hill Consulting LLC is a woman-owned business that provides unconventional management consulting services in the areas of Strategy & Performance, Talent, and Change. The company's expertise in delivering innovative solutions to unique challenges spans across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, from financial services to healthcare to media & entertainment. Eagle Hill has offices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Boston, MA and Seattle, WA. More information is available at www.eaglehillconsulting.com.
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SOURCE Eagle Hill Consulting | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/nearly-half-remote-hybrid-employees-say-team-performance-has-improved-during-past-two-years/ | 2022-06-07T22:21:59Z |
‘Back off, dude, I’ll shoot you.’ Woman recounts shooting, killing intruder
AZALEA PARK, Fla. (WESH) – Life has not always been easy for 69-year-old Virginia Morrison, and these days she said it’s been hard.
She called her son over the weekend with news so shocking he thought it was a joke.
“And I said, ‘Oh, by the way – I shot and killed a guy in my driveway today,’” Morrison said.
Deputies confirmed her story. Morrison said a stranger walked into her home Sunday afternoon.
She confronted the intruder, but he wouldn’t leave.
“I picked up a broom – a straw broom – I’d been out here sweeping with. I hit him in the face twice with it and nothing,” Morrison recalled, saying he just gave a blank stare.
Morrison said she called out to her partner, Charlie, in the other room.
“I had my cell phone in my hand, and I threw my phone at him. Nothing. I’m yelling at Charlie, ‘Shoot him! Call 911,’” she said.
Morrison said Charlie shot into the ground, and the man soon moved out of the house but stayed on the property.
“I fired a shot above him. ‘Back off, dude, I’ll shoot you.’ He just keeps coming toward me. So I shot him,” Morrison said.
According to deputies, she shot and killed the man.
Morrison said it’s hard to live with knowing she took the man’s life, but she said she couldn’t live with her partner getting hurt either.
“I had to do what I had to do to protect myself and Charlie. And I would do it again if I had to, but I don’t want to do that,” Morrison said.
Copyright 2022 WESH via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/24/back-off-dude-ill-shoot-you-woman-recounts-shooting-killing-intruder/ | 2022-05-24T17:52:26Z |
BEIJING, June 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A music video for the theme song celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)'s return to the motherland was released by China Media Group on Friday.
The theme song "We Will Be Better," composed by Hong Kong musician Keith Chan Siu-kei and Alan Cheung Ka-shing, fully displays the confidence and expectations of Hong Kong people with brisk melody and readable lyrics.
Inspired by the deepening integration between Hong Kong and the mainland over the past 25 years, Chan has used over 30 Chinese characters in the lyrics such as "sea", "river" and "bay", which share the same component, to highlight the regional characteristics of the Greater Bay Area. Meanwhile, warm images of "bridge", "shore" and "lighthouse" are used to depict the kinship between Hong Kong and the mainland.
The composition and arrangement of the song features a distinctive "Hong Kong style", combining the light rock popular with Hong Kong youth and traditional Chinese music that highlights traditional culture.
Cheung hopes to express his pride as a Chinese through his creation, and never forget his original aspiration in the tide of the development of the times and strive to move forward to the future with perseverance.
The music video records the work and life scenes of many Hong Kong compatriots, including Doo Hoi Kem, an Olympic bronze medalist, Janis Chan Pui-yee, the role model of "Touching China 2021", and Leung On-lee, a post-90s Hong Kong resident who started her poverty-alleviation career in southwest China's Guizhou Province in 2018.
Link: https://youtu.be/BNGFcwnZ2-4
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SOURCE CCTV+ | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/26/theme-song-we-will-be-better-echoes-25th-anniversary-hks-return-motherland/ | 2022-06-26T02:31:00Z |
Meet the Twenty Under 40 from the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Repository
Hard-working, driven, and leadership are a few of the many words that have been used to describe this year's Twenty Under 40 honorees.
The honorees will be honored June 21during the 15th Annual Twenty Under 40! Awards, which are produced by ystark!, a department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, and The Canton Repository.
Twenty Under 40! Awards recognize Stark County’s leaders younger than 40 who have demonstrated dynamic leadership and social responsibility.
The awards event will take place at Gervasi Vineyard in the open-air pavilion.
Tickets are $65 for general seating and include one drink ticket and heavy hors d’oeuvres. A reserved seating table can be bought for $400, which includes six tickets. Call Kelly Piero, ystark! director, at 330-458-2094.
More information about the event can be found at cantonchamber.org/twenty-under-40-awards.
Meet the Twenty Under 40 honorees.
Julie Abiecunas
At 38 years old, Julie Abiecunas, Chief Executive Officer at JRC, has accomplished a lot personally and professionally. Her work in nonprofit organizations drives her. Read all about her here.
Daniel Anschutz
Daniel Anschutz, executive chef and co-founder of Compassion Delivered and Meals by Chef Daniel has accomplished a lot in his 39 years. The Stark County-based chef "is always learning, growing and becoming more versatile in his career,” says his wife, Amanda Anschutz.
Cyrus Ausar
Greatness Cafe owner Cyrus Ausar has quite the resume for a 35-year-old. The Massillon cafe owner is described as passionate and dedicated to helping others in need.
Megan Chastek
At 34 years old, Megan Chastek, Stark County Family Court probation case manager and pretrial services officer, has accomplished a lot. Beth Liggett says, “Megan always goes above and beyond for the youth and families that she serves."
Lauren Davis
Lauren Davis, Walsh University's marketing communications manager, has quite the resume at 30 years old. “She rises to every occasion and is usually the biggest cheerleader," says Amanda Anschutz.
Kyle Quinn Dreger
At 30 years old, Kyle Quinn Dreger has made a name for himself. The chief product officer at Patriot Software "is the utmost example of a leader that is humble, hungry and kind," says Michael A. Wheeler.
Matthew Gooch
At 35 years, Matthew Gooch has made quite an impact in the community. The nurse practitioner and co-owner of Internal Medicine Physicians has proven his dedication to the community. “Matthew ... has donated his time and money to improving youth sports and resources for student athletes in the community,” says his wife, Sara Gooch.
Rachel Hagemeier
Rachel Hagemeier, Canton Symphony Orchestra Manager of Education and Community Engagement, has quite an impressive resume at 24 years old. "She hadn’t even graduated from college yet and she blew the other candidates out of the water," says Michelle Charles.
Kent Hamilton
At 34 years old, Kent Hamilton, Plain Local Schools Physical Education Teacher, has accomplished a lot. He chose to become a P.E. teacher following in his father's footsteps.
Serena Draper Hendershot
At 27 years old, Serena Draper Hendershot, Canton City Public Health Community Health Equity Coordinator, has accomplished a lot professionally and personally. “At a young age, she has earned the admiration and respect that has led her to have a seat at important tables,” says Laurie Moline.
Ashley Johnson
At 35 years old, Ashley Johnson, Innis Maggiore Senior Project Manager, has made an impact in her profession. “Ashley has a remarkable ability to unite people with different backgrounds, personalities and talents ...," says Dick Maggiore.
Amelia Kocher
Amelia Kocher has made an impressive impact in her profession at 35 years old. The Alliance Family Health Center, Inc. Executive Director "is passionate about making Stark County ... a healthier place to live,” says Kellie Johnson, MD.
Jason Mogus
At 38 years old, Jason Mogus, Center for Renewed Minds, LLC owner and clinical director, has accomplished a lot in his profession. "Every business decision he makes is not fiscally focused but focused on the well-being of others," says Brian Mogus.
Ashley Moore
At 37 years old, Ashley Moore, Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital Coordinator of Community Outreach, has accomplished a lot. "Ashley is a perfect balance of being professional, personable, creative, energetic, passionate, fun and humble," says Ron Bensinger.
Daniel Riggs
At 28 years old, Daniel Riggs, Legacy of Honor Founder and President, has made an impact. He works to give back to the community, professionally and personally.
Sarah Schmidt
At age 33, Sarah Schmidt has achieved a lot in her professional career. She is the Kent State University at Stark Assistant Director for Global Education Initiatives and adjunct faculty at the School of Peace and Conflict Studies.
Meagan Shaheen
Meagan Shaheen is the District Executive Director of the YMCA of Central Stark County—Meyers Lake and Eric Snow Family YMCA. At 37 years old, she has accomplished a lot. Read all about her achievements here.
Kyle L. Stone
Kyle L. Stone is the Stark County Prosecuting Attorney. At 38 years old, he has accomplished a lot in his professional career. "Kyle has not only found success in his career at a record pace, he also has done so in historic ways never before seen in Stark County," says Mike Sturdivant.
James L. Warnken
James L. Warnken doesn't let his visual disability hinder him. At 24 years old, the Apex Communications Network Chief Technology Officer has accomplished a lot in his professional career.
Stacie M. Weimer
Stacie M. Weimer is the YWCA Alliance Executive Director. At 35 years old, she has made quite an impact on the community. “Stacie has gone above and beyond to be a service in her community," says Korena Pow.
Kelsey Davis from The Canton Repository contributed to this story. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/2022/05/23/stark-countys-twenty-under-40-announced-canton-repository/9853524002/ | 2022-05-23T13:55:32Z |
SAN DIEGO (KSWB) – The star of the long-awaited “Top Gun” sequel credits pop icon Lady Gaga for opening the doors to “the emotional core” of the film.
In an interview that aired on Tuesday’s episode of “The Late Late Show,” Tom Cruise told James Corden that Gaga helped compose the score of “Top Gun: Maverick” in addition to contributing a new song, “Hold My Hand,” to the soundtrack.
Gaga debuted the song this week ahead of the film’s theatrical release at the end of the month.
Cruise, 59, said the song was presented to him and composer Hans Zimmer at a time when the sequel was searching for the right sound but hadn’t quite found it yet.
“It’s like that moment when things just came together in such a beautiful way,” Cruise said to Corden. “Her song that she’d written just fell right in and became really the underlying score and the heartbeat of our film. She’s amazing.”
That’s certain to be welcome news to moviegoers who continue to have fond feelings for the 1986 blockbuster. When the film opens on May 27, fans will also be treated to an appearance from original “Top Gun” cast member Val Kilmer in addition to newcomers Jon Hamm and Miles Teller, the latter of whom plays Lt. Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw, the son of Anthony Edwards’ character from the first film.
Although Gaga is new to the “Top Gun” universe, her resume only has deepened in recent years with hit movie and TV roles, including her work on “A Star Is Born,” which netted her an Academy Award.
“Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski told Insider this week that it was “nerve-racking” to hear “Hold My Hand” for the first time because he was concerned about possibly turning Gaga down.
Once he heard the song, though, Kosinski said it was “a classic melody” and “fantastic.”
“When Hans heard it, he was like, ‘I can use this as a theme for the movie,'” Kosinski told Insider.
Speaking to Corden, Cruise added that Gaga’s talent was “boundless.”
“You’ll love the music in this movie,” he claimed. | https://cw33.com/entertainment-news/tom-cruise-lady-gagas-new-song-for-top-gun-sequel-is-the-films-heartbeat/ | 2022-05-05T22:50:56Z |
Denison duo sign to play college sports
DENISON, Texas (KXII) - Two Denison student athletes signed their letters of intent with Jakalen Fields signing to play football at Wayland Baptist and Logan Voight signing to play soccer at Oklahoma Wesleyan.
“Once we got to Wayland, they said the coaches will make you work,” Fields said. “I like to do that. The campus is nice, very nice. Most of all, it was the people. Also it’s a Baptist, Christian college. That was one of the main things because I’m a Christian.”
“All the teachers, coaches, professors were all very nice,” Voight said. “I went and visited and practiced with the team. I just fell in love with it right then and there. It felt right. It was the right move and the right opportunity, so, I just took it.”
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/04/07/denison-duo-sign-play-college-sports/ | 2022-04-07T04:53:07Z |
Grant Supports the Evaluation of the Syn-One Test® to Help Clinicians Determine More Precise Diagnoses of Dementias at Early Stages of Cognitive Impairment
PHOENIX, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CND Life Sciences, an innovative medical diagnostics company pioneering the detection, visualization, and quantification of protein deposition in cutaneous nerve fibers, has been awarded a $2.4 million Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This is the second NIH SBIR Phase II award for the company to study and advance the application of the Syn-One Test, the only commercially available test that uses skin biopsies to help clinicians distinguish between serious neurologic disorders, such as dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer's disease.
"Millions of older adults experience mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and are at greater risk of developing a more serious form of dementia 5-10 years after the appearance of MCI symptoms," said Todd Levine, MD, CND's chief medical officer and principal investigator for the grant. "Understanding the type of dementia that is developing early in the disease course is becoming increasingly important, as novel drug therapies and other treatment interventions are finally becoming a reality."
CND's Syn-One Test uses small skin biopsies collected from a patient in a physician's office to accurately identify the presence of misfolded, phosphorylated alpha-synuclein, the abnormal form of the protein that is the pathological hallmark of multiple neurological disorders including DLB. Patients with MCI and clinicians who treat them often are unable to predict the progression of disease and distinguish the type of dementia that may evolve. This lack of diagnostic certainty can lead to unnecessary tests, frustration by patients and caregivers, and suboptimal care.
"The study of CND's Syn-One Test for patients in the early stages of cognitive impairment is an important and timely investigation for the dementias field," said Angela Taylor, the Interim Executive Director of the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA). "Too often people with Lewy body dementia are misdiagnosed or diagnosed very late in the disease course and do not receive proper treatment tailored specifically to their diagnosis or have the information needed to make important care planning decisions. Having a more definitive diagnosis earlier in the journey of people with progressive cognitive impairment will be a major advantage in the future to treat dementias effectively," said Ms. Taylor.
CND's NIH SBIR award will allow the company to conduct an 80-patient, multicenter clinical study with leading neurologists and academic centers across the U.S. Leveraging CND's unique cutaneous neurodiagnostic platform, the study aims to distinguish DLB from Alzheimer's disease at the early stage of MCI. By receiving pathological confirmation of disease at a very early stage through the Syn-One Test, clinicians would be able to optimize patient care with appropriate treatments for the correct disease.
About CND Life Sciences and the Syn-One Test
Founded in 2017, CND Life Sciences is dedicated to supporting the care of patients facing the potential diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease and other neurological conditions. Operating a CLIA-certified laboratory in Phoenix, Arizona, CND launched the Syn-One Test as the world's first commercially available test to detect, visualize, and quantify phosphorylated alpha-synuclein located in cutaneous nerve fibers in 2019. The test, which analyzes small skin biopsies collected conveniently from the patient in a physician's office, aids in the diagnosis of a synucleinopathy including Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure, and REM sleep behavior disorder. The Syn-One Test leverages a decade of published science from leading academic institutions in multiple countries and has demonstrated over 95% sensitivity and specificity. The company has research collaborations with multiple biopharmaceutical companies and in 2020 was awarded a previous NIH SBIR award to advance the validation and clinical utility of its Syn-One Test. For more information visit www.cndlifesciences.com.
About Synucleinopathies
There are over 20 million people in the US who suffer from movement disorders, cognitive impairment, autonomic dysfunction, and sleep disorders combined. A percentage of these patients exhibit signs and symptoms that may be indicative of a synucleinopathy, a group of serious neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's and dementia with Lewy bodies, that universally feature a misfolded, abnormal form of the alpha-synuclein protein. For a portion of these patients, the absence of objective pathological proof makes a physician's diagnosis and treatment choices difficult to determine with confidence. Published studies suggest that even the most experienced neurologists specializing in movement and cognitive disorders may misdiagnose these conditions at least 30% of the time early in the disease course when compared to gold standard autopsy studies.
Disclosure: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R44NS117214 and R44AG076072. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Contact: Kendall Swanson
Marketing Communications
P: 480.386.6667
kswanson@cndlifesciences.com
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SOURCE CND Life Sciences | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/cnd-life-sciences-awarded-nih-sbir-grant-study-novel-skin-biopsy-test-dementias/ | 2022-05-18T13:43:44Z |
Rock’n Riley festival brings community together with good food and music
FORT RILEY, Kan. (WIBW) - For the second year in a row, Fort Riley hosted Food trucks and vendors for a community fair.
The Rock’n Riley event included a line up of local food trucks for community members to grab some supper
Enjoying delicious food while admiring cars and the inaugural car meet, bringing in cars from multiple decades.
Community members were treated to a concert by the 1st Infantry Division Band.
“It’s really special when we can come out and play music for the families, for the community, and all the soldiers here at Fort Riley, because we’re doing what we love by performing music.” 1st Infantry Division Band, SFC Jennifer Champagne says.
The Rockin’ Riley event was held at the Fort Riley Main Post Exchange to catch the attention of community members as they reentered Fort Riley at the Trooper Gate.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/24/rockn-riley-festival-brings-community-together-with-good-food-music/ | 2022-06-24T04:30:33Z |
All-New Track by Tyrone Piper and James A Norkawich
LOS ANGELES, July 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Classical Crossover artists Tyrone Piper (Tenor Vocalist) and James A Norkawich (Pianist, Composer, Arranger & Producer) come together in a classic track originally done by Queen. The compilation came about when James A. Norkawich wanted to have influence in the United States through music but was searching for a voice that could encapsulate the meaning of the song "Who Wants to Live Forever". James met Tyrone Piper, a Classical Crossover vocalist from the UK, whose style, voice, and emotion captured the true essence of Freddy Mercury as well as the song's message. This all came together right after the senseless acts of violence that took place in Uvalde Texas the week before. Through music and this track both James and Tyrone feel that music can heal all, and despite being many miles apart, as individuals needed to come together as one force to make a change. Through this song, and through the vocal stylings of Tyrone Piper, and musical adaptation of James A. Norkawich the healing process can begin, all through the power of music and unity.
Tyrone Piper and James, A Norkawich – Who Wants to Live Forever
Release Currently on All Streaming Media Devices
Video
Contact E-mail for James A. Norkawich – JamesANorkawich@gmail.com
Management for Tyrone Piper – Marc Nixon
Contact E-mail – Tyrone.Piper@hotmail.com
Telephone - 07534611357
ISRC – QZHN82231644
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SOURCE James A Norkawich | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/09/classical-crossover-vocal-uk-tenor-amp-usa-pianist-unite-change-through-music/ | 2022-07-10T10:45:13Z |
OKLAHOMA CITY, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After careful consideration, Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC, the investment adviser to the AlphaClone Alternative Alpha ETF (the "Fund"), in consultation with AlphaClone, Inc., the Fund's sponsor, has recommended, and the Board of Trustees of ETF Series Solutions Trust has approved, the termination and liquidation of the Fund pursuant to the terms of a Plan of Liquidation. Accordingly, the Fund is expected to cease operations and liquidate on or about August 31, 2022 (the "Liquidation Date").
The Fund will be closed to orders for new creation units on August 19, 2022, and the last day of trading the Fund's shares on the CBOE BZX Exchange, Inc. will be August 30, 2022. From August 19, 2022 through August 30, 2022, shareholders may only be able to sell their shares to certain broker-dealers, and there is no assurance that there will be a market for the Fund's shares during that time period. Customary brokerage charges may apply to such transactions.
In anticipation of the liquidation of the Fund, the Fund will be managed in a manner intended to facilitate its orderly liquidation, such as by raising cash or making investments in other highly liquid assets. As a result, starting on August 12, 2022 all or a portion of the Fund may not be invested in a manner consistent with the Fund's stated investment strategy, which may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective.
On or about the Liquidation Date, the Fund will liquidate its assets and distribute cash pro rata to all remaining shareholders. This distribution is a taxable event. In addition, this payment to shareholders will include accrued capital gains and dividends, if any. As calculated on the Liquidation Date, the Fund's net asset value will reflect the costs of closing the Fund. For the Fund's ordinary income and capital gains distributions, if any, shareholders of record as of August 31, 2022 will be paid on or about September 1, 2022. Once the distributions are complete, the Fund will terminate.
If you would like additional information, please call 1-800-617-0004 or visit https://www.alphaclonefunds.com/.
Fund shareholders of record as of the record date are eligible to receive dividends from the liquidation distribution. The Fund will liquidate and pay dividends to shareholders of record on the pay date.
Shares are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. NAVs are calculated using prices as of 4:00 PM Eastern Time. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the investment advisor to the Fund. The Fund is distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC, which is not affiliated with Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC or any of its affiliates.
Carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risk factors, charges and expenses before investing. This and additional information can be found in the Fund's prospectus, which may be obtained by visiting www.alphaclonefunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Investments involve risk. Principal loss is possible. The Fund has the same risks as the underlying securities traded on the exchange throughout the day at market price. The Fund's investments will be concentrated in an industry or group of industries to the extent the Index is so concentrated.
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SOURCE Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/exchange-traded-concepts-close-liquidate-alphaclone-alternative-alpha-etf/ | 2022-08-11T21:22:28Z |
LULEA, Sweden (AP) — For hundreds of years, raging blast furnaces — fed with coking coal — have forged steel used in cars, railways, bridges and skyscrapers.
But the puffs of coal-fired smoke are a big source of carbon dioxide, the heat-trapping gas that’s driving climate change.
According to the World Steel Association, every metric ton of steel produced in 2020 emitted almost twice that much carbon dioxide (1.8 tons) into the atmosphere. Total direct emissions from making steel were about 2.6 billion tons in 2020, representing around 7% of global CO2 emissions.
In Sweden, a single company, steel giant SSAB, accounts for about 10% of the country’s emissions due to the furnaces it operates at mills like the one in the northern town of Lulea.
But not far away, a high-tech pilot plant is seeking to significantly reduce the carbon emissions involved in steel production by switching some of that process away from burning coking coal to burning hydrogen that itself was produced with renewable energy.
HYBRIT — or Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology — is a joint venture between SSAB, mining company LKAB and Swedish state-owned power firm Vattenfall launched in 2016.
“The cost of renewable energy, fossil-free energy, had come down dramatically and at the same time, you had a rising awareness and the Paris Agreement” in 2015 to reduce global emissions, said Mikael Nordlander, Vattenfall’s head of industry decarbonization.
“We realized that we might have a chance now to outcompete the direct use of fossil fuels in industry with this electricity coming from fossil-free sources,” he added.
Last year, the plant made its first commercial delivery. European carmakers that have committed to dramatically reducing their emissions need cleaner steel. Chinese-owned Volvo Group became the first carmaker to partner with HYBRIT. Head of procurement Kerstin Enochsson said steel is a “major contributor” to their cars’ carbon footprint, between 20 and 35%.
“Tackling only the tailpipe emissions by being an electric company is not enough. We need to focus on the car itself, as well,” she said.
Demand from other companies, including Volkswagen, is also sending a signal that there is demand for green steel. Steelmakers in Europe have announced plans to scale up production of steel made without coal.
The HYBRIT process aims to replace the coking coal that’s traditionally used for ore-based steel making with hydrogen and renewable electricity.
It begins with brown-tinged iron ore pellets that react with the hydrogen gas and are reduced to ball-shaped “sponge iron,” which takes it name due to pores left behind following the removal of oxygen. This is then melted in an electric furnace.
If the hydrogen is made using renewable energy, too, the process produces no CO2.
“We get iron, and then we get water vapor instead,” said SSAB’s chief technology officer Martin Pei. “Water vapor can be condensed, recirculated, reused in the process.
“We really solve the root cause of carbon dioxide emissions from steel making,” he said.
Steel is a recyclable material, but demand for the alloy is expected to grow in the coming years, amid a push to transform society and build wind turbines, solar plants, power transmission lines and new electric vehicles.
“Steel is a superb construction material. It is also possible to recycle steel again and again,” said Pei. “You can reuse steel as many times as possible.
“The only problem today is the current way of making steel from iron ore emits too much CO2,” he said.
By the end of this decade, the European Union is attemptingto cut overall CO2 emissions in the 27-nation bloc by 55% compared to 1990 levels. Part of that effort includes making companies pay for their C02 emissions and encourage the switch to low-carbon alternatives.
Sweden’s steel industry has set out plans to achieve “fossil-free” operations by 2045. SSAB in January brought forward its own plans to largely eliminate carbon dioxide emissions in its steel-making processes by the end of the decade.
“The companies are well aware of their possibilities and limitations in the current processes and that they have to do something about it,” said Helen Axelsson, director of energy and environment at Jernkontoret, the Swedish steel producers’ association.
But according to the World Steel Association, over 70% of global steel production takes place in Asia, where steel producers don’t have access to the same quantities of old scrap steel as countries that have been industrialized for a longer time. That’s another reason why average emissions per ton of steel are higher in the global south.
Filip Johnsson, a professor in energy technology at Gothenburg’s Chalmers University, said the vast amounts of renewable electricity necessary to make hydrogen and cleaner steel could make rolling out the HYBRIT process difficult in other parts of the world.
“I would say that the major challenge is to get loads of electricity and also to provide it sort of constantly,” he said.
The small Lulea pilot plant is still a research facility, and has so far produced just a couple of hundred tons. There are plans to construct a larger demonstration plant and begin commercial deliveries by 2026.
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Follow all AP stories on climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate.
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Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here.The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://cw33.com/news/science-technology/ap-science/green-steel-heating-up-in-swedens-frozen-north/ | 2022-04-04T23:34:06Z |
‘Front yard therapy’ promotes youth mental health at home & school in Denver
By Anna Alejo
Click here for updates on this story
DENVER (KCNC) — A Denver Public School in Montbello is taking therapy to the front yard of family homes in order to promote the mental wellness of its students. Academy 360 hired family therapist Ron Allen to ensure students received the same emotional support and structure at home – whether it’s from parents, grandparents or aunts and uncles – that they were receiving at school.
Allen has been meeting with 13-year-old Manuel Galvan Martinez for a couple of years. Martinez moved on from Academy 360, where his sisters are still enrolled. His mentor and therapist, Allen, still maintains the bond they developed when Martinez was in grade school.
“That I would come to him, that he meant that much to me, that I would come and say ‘hey we want to continue this. You can do this,’” Allen said.
Allen and Martinez work to develop skills such as how to manage frustration and how to advocate for oneself. Martinez’s mom, Shelly Martinez, said, “I’m very proud of Manuel. He’s worked very hard to get to where he’s at now.”
The yard therapy, or “Yardwork” as it’s known, is one element of a comprehensive effort at Academy 360 to build strong relationships with every student, and to ensure they learn early how to regulate emotions so they can flourish academically.
Executive Director of Academy 360 Becky McClean said, “Training some of our family members to use some of the same language that we use here at school for that ease of transition so what they hear from their teachers and staff members here at school, they’re also getting similar language at home with their parents and their grandparents.”
Manuel is doing well in middle school, thanks to the coping strategies he’s learned.
“He has all the strategies he needs to be successful so he’s been doing very good,” his mother said.
Allen added about the conversations focused on mental health, “This is something that he can be open with, and I can be open with him and actually it’s just having a conversation and a listening ear to me is therapy.”
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/05/19/front-yard-therapy-promotes-youth-mental-health-at-home-school-in-denver/ | 2022-05-19T19:01:53Z |
- Rapyd Virtual Accounts provide a faster and low-cost alternative to cross-border transfers to drive global commerce
- Businesses can get paid locally while operating globally with secure and streamlined instant payment options
LONDON and SAN FRANCISCO, May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rapyd, a global fintech-as-a-service platform, today announced the launch of Virtual Accounts, a vital product empowering businesses to expand globally while supporting local payments. This new offering allows organizations anywhere in the world to securely and reliably accept local bank transfers across over 40 countries in more than 25 currencies, including the US, UK, EU, and APAC regions.
The launch of Virtual Accounts comes at a crucial time for businesses searching for payment support to allow them to tap into the global marketplace. While 93 percent of businesses report cross-border commerce is a high priority for their organizations in 2022, nearly 1 in 4 say supporting local payment methods is their biggest operational challenge holding them back1.
Acting as local bank accounts without the typical transaction fees and extra operational costs, Virtual Accounts enable simple, familiar and automatic global payments and payouts. Before Virtual Accounts, businesses would have to rely on expensive cross-border wire transfers to a single bank account and manage separate accounts in each market. Several accounts mean higher administration costs, reconciliation errors and complex operations. Now, businesses can easily accept payments in other countries, streamline operations and offer international customers more local ways to pay.
Kadmos, the global salary payment platform revolutionizing the experience for millions of migrant workers to receive their salary, trusts Rapyd Virtual Accounts to simplify the payment of international salaries. Powered by Virtual Accounts, Kadmos makes it easy for companies to seamlessly pay international salaries across the globe, and for their employees to remit and spend their earnings everywhere.
Sasha Makarovych, Co-Founder of Kadmos comments: "When it comes to getting employees paid on time and in their local currencies, it is very administration heavy, inefficient, costly and takes many days to process and reach employees. By partnering with Rapyd, Kadmos clients experience a completely new way of paying their international workforce. Thanks to Virtual Accounts, it is faster, digital, and much cheaper – ultimately helping employers pay the more than 180 million global migrant workers more efficiently."
Kontempo, the embedded payment solution for B2B e-commerce based in Mexico City, uses Rapyd's suite of offerings, including Virtual Accounts, to help achieve their mission of building Latin America's go-to B2B Buy-Now-Pay Later solution.
Matthew Meehan, Co-Founder and CEO at Kontempo comments: "Partnering with Rapyd and implementing Virtual Accounts has been instrumental in the growth of Kontempo's business as we look to scale our BNPL offering to markets throughout Latin America. With Virtual Accounts, we're able to offer our small business customers flexible repayment methods and our merchant partners a faster, risk-free way to get paid that can also boost sales by more than 50%."
Khyati Soparkar, Head of Global Product Marketing at Rapyd comments: "One of the key factors that holds businesses back from expanding globally and reaching the next level of growth is the lack of infrastructure to support local payments. Virtual Accounts provide businesses the confidence to grow worldwide knowing they have a trusted payments solution in place. Now, it's never been easier to reach more countries, currencies and customers – all businesses need is one Rapyd account."
Virtual Accounts can be set up to match the needs of businesses as they grow, with as many Virtual Accounts as required to collect and organize funds across countries, currencies, and customer needs. Using Rapyd's single API, Virtual Accounts can be used with Rapyd Collect, Rapyd Disburse and Rapyd Wallet to empower local and cross-border payment acceptance and distribution.
Rapyd Collect
- Rapyd Collect allows businesses to securely and easily accept payment types from over 100 countries. With Virtual Accounts, businesses can add even more options in the form of local bank transfers, making it easier to reach more customers no matter where they are located.
- Virtual Accounts adds to Rapyd Collect payment collection capabilities that include Hosted Checkout, Checkout Toolkit, Virtual Terminal, Global Invoicing, and third-party plugins such as Wix and WooCommerce.
Rapyd Disburse
- Using Rapyd Disburse, businesses can disburse funds to more than a hundred countries in locally preferred payout methods like ewallets, banks, cards and cash.
- Together with Virtual Accounts, clients can send a payout to one sender or multiple recipients around the world.
Rapyd Wallet
- Virtual Accounts can be added to Rapyd Wallet, the underlying platform that acts as a financial hub for businesses by supporting a range of services like bill pay, cash withdrawal and load, and funds transfer.
- Businesses can have as many Virtual Accounts as needed and allocate them by country, currency or customer, but still only use a single Rapyd Wallet.
To learn more about Virtual Accounts, please visit www.Rapyd.net/platform/virtual-bank-accounts/.
About Rapyd
Rapyd is the fastest way to power local payments anywhere in the world, enabling companies across the globe to access markets quicker than ever before. By utilizing Rapyd's unparalleled payments network and Fintech-as-a-Service platform, businesses and consumers can engage in local and cross-border transactions in any market. The Rapyd platform is unifying fragmented payment systems worldwide by bringing together 900-plus payment methods in over 100 countries. Rapyd's investors include Stripe, General Catalyst, Oak HC/FT, Coatue, Tiger Global, Durable Capital, Latitude, Target Global, and Tal Capital. To learn more about the company that is accelerating the Fintech-as-a-Service revolution, visit www.rapyd.net, read our blog, or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
1 https://www.rapyd.net/resource/cross-border-commerce/
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SOURCE Rapyd | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/rapyd-launches-virtual-accounts-new-payments-solution-unlocking-cross-border-commerce-businesses-looking-expand-globally/ | 2022-05-04T10:37:02Z |
A NEW AND UNIQUE ANHYDROUS SKINCARE TECHNOLOGY OF PROVEN VERY HIGH EFFICACY
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Invented and developed by the CEO of FutecNZ Limited in New Zealand, (trading under the ONE24 brand) trialled and tested by accredited scientific laboratories, a vast team of individual Doctors, Specialists, Scientists and clinicians in New Zealand and North America, and the public at large.
Designed specifically for the Cosmetics, Cosmeceutical, Drugs and Veterinary markets, OTC and Rx
All our products are plant-oil-based and 100% water-free.
The flagship of our OTC cosmetic skincare products is our sunscreen which has been scientifically proven to be an SPF of 50+, and still shows 97.8% active after eight hours including six hours water immersion in a spa pool.
It has both excellent barrier and skin conditioning qualities.
The sunscreen does not erode off the skin nor does it sting or irritate the eyes, being totally suitable for all level of athletes including marathon runners, triathletes, endurance sailors and swimmers plus other high-performance sports.
This state-of-the-art technology is proven to be highly effective on all skin types both young, old and all ethnicities.
Our products are proven to be very effective for many skin conditions including very severe burns, broken and abraded skin, severe infections of both bacterial, fungal and yeast.
Because of its occlusive effect, patients experience an instant and effective relief of pain and discomfort from burnt and exposed flesh and damaged nerve endings. It will also simultaneously sterilise the local skin site and promote a rapid healing process including diabetic wound healing.
It is very efficient as a drug actives delivery vehicle.
For personal health reasons, the inventor believes it is time to "pass on the batten" to a progressive multinational company who is keen to be at the forefront of introducing new and efficient skincare products to the afore mentioned market areas.
This unique skincare technology comprises two key areas, which are:
- The formulations and
- The manufacture know-how
This updated technology can be manufactured by any reputable contract manufacturer.
The inventor is available to work alongside the company R&D and scientific teams to educate the licensee or purchaser regarding all aspects of this new skincare technology.
Product samples and professional testimonials are available upon request.
Contact details and more information available at https://futecnz.com/contact/
More product information available at https://one24.co.nz/
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SOURCE FutecNZ | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/plant-oil-based-skincare-technology-business-available-license-or-purchase/ | 2022-07-27T21:49:58Z |
Couple billed hundreds of dollars for traffic tickets after car is stolen
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WJLA) - A couple’s car was recently stolen. If that wasn’t bad enough, it was used in crime spree.
They’re expected to pay for the hundreds of dollars racked up in traffic tickets, but the couple is fighting back.
But Bob and Angie Shepherd would come face-to-face with something more daunting than D.C. rush hour traffic one April morning.
“So I get up in the morning and I’m going to work,” Bob Shepherd said. “Her car is not there.”
“The PTSD I’m suffering from because every time someone knocks on my door, I’m worried it’s them coming back,” Angie Shepherd said.
Not only were the Shepherds stunned to discover their car was missing after it was stolen, they could not believe what it would be used for next.
“We saw the video of them getting out of her vehicle, shooting the other guy, getting back in the car and driving off,” Bob Shepherd said.
After their car was stolen from their Alexandria home, it was used in a homicide in Suitland. Then the perpetrators racked up more than $400 in traffic tickets in the District of Columbia.
When the Shepherds last checked with the homicide detectives, the suspects still weren’t in custody even after the car was recovered in impound at the police station two weeks after it was stolen.
But now the Shepherds are stuck with the bill and have not heard back from the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles since.
“Are you kidding me?” Bob Shepherd said.
“Car is stolen, involved in a homicide, and then you want to charge me for the tickets, even though I’ve given you all of the documentation showing that it’s been involved in a homicide,” Bob Shepherd said.
WJLA emailed D.C. Police, who referred them to D.C. DMV.
Their media contact was sent an email, but it replied with a bounce-back message saying he was out of town and to call another number for immediate assistance.
When that number was called, it was discovered that that employee was also out of town.
“You can’t get in touch with them!” Angie Shepherd said.
The Shepherds want answers now so no one else will have to go through this.
“No, not going to pay it,” Bob Shepherd said.
A reporter has talked to so many people that have had to battle D.C. for tickets. You have to show evidence it wasn’t you. You have to go back and forth with them.
Apparently something similar happened last year.
Local news reported that a 73-year-old Vietnam veteran had to pay $2,000 in traffic tickets for his car after it was stolen.
Copyright 2022 WJLA via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/19/couple-billed-more-than-400-traffic-tickets-after-car-is-stolen/ | 2022-08-19T13:41:56Z |
ZURICH, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amcor (NYSE: AMCR, ASX: AMC), a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, today announced the next phase of its inaugural Amcor Lift-Off initiative. Announced in April, Amcor Lift-Off is part of the organization's global innovation strategy to invest in start-ups with differentiated solutions and business models that are focused on new packaging concepts and related technologies, with particular emphasis on sustainability.
More than 100 start-ups from around the world submitted entries for the first-round open call. The top eight applicants have been identified to compete for funding and resources, and whose sustainability focus includes new technologies such as nano technologies and biomaterials as well as new barrier technologies, processes, and business models for recycling infrastructure and reusable packaging.
In the next phase of Amcor Lift-Off, these companies will pitch their innovative ideas and business models to a panel of Amcor executives. The companies have been divided into key areas of strategic interest such as bio-based packaging materials, recycling and new business models within consumer goods packaging.
Vice President of Corporate Venturing and Open Innovation at Amcor, Frank Lehmann, said: "It is exciting to see the number and variety of start-ups who answered our call for innovative projects. Amcor Lift-Off further demonstrates our commitment to drive change through strategic partnerships and collaboration. We're excited for the next phase of the initiative to learn more about these companies, their ideas and opportunities to work together to develop more innovative solutions that will help our industry move toward a more circular economy."
As a leader in sustainability, Amcor is committed to investing and delivering technologically advanced packaging solutions to the market. The Amcor Lift-Off program joins Amcor's other key investments such as the addition of two new innovation centers in Asia and Europe, and its partnership with Michigan State University's School of Packaging that includes a $10 million investment and the establishment of an Endowed Chair of Packaging Sustainability for the school.
Start-ups reaching the finals will be presented with up to $250,000 in funding as well as research and development support and operational guidance to help make their ideas a reality on a global scale. To learn more about Amcor's corporate venturing, click here: https://www.amcor.com/about/ventures
About Amcor
Amcor is a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home and personal-care, and other products. Amcor works with leading companies around the world to protect their products and the people who rely on them, differentiate brands, and improve supply chains through a range of flexible and rigid packaging, specialty cartons, closures and services. The Company is focused on making packaging that is increasingly light-weighted, recyclable and reusable, and made using an increasing amount of recycled content. Around 46,000 Amcor people generate $13 billion in annual sales from operations that span about 225 locations in 40-plus countries.
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SOURCE Amcor | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/amcor-lift-off-initiative-shortlists-start-ups-seed-funding/ | 2022-06-27T10:01:01Z |
SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Accuray Incorporated (NASDAQ: ARAY) announced today that Sandeep Chalke has joined the company as senior vice president, chief commercial officer effective May 16, 2022. Mr. Chalke will have responsibility for the global commercial, product development, R&D and engineering functions for the company reporting to Accuray president and forthcoming CEO, Suzanne Winter.
Mr. Chalke brings more than 25 years of medical device expertise in commercialization, business development and operations, spanning multiple healthcare industry segments including interventional catheterization systems, diagnostic x-ray, C-arm linear accelerators, anesthesia and respiratory care, advanced wound dressing & diabetes. Most recently, he served as president, Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions at Vyaire Medical, a global respiratory care manufacturer, where he had full P&L responsibility along with oversight of select manufacturing sites. Prior to Vyaire, Mr. Chalke held various global leadership positions at Medtronic, Acelity, Inc. and GE Healthcare, where he led the development of new products and service solutions, established new markets and partnerships with government organizations and private payors to drive revenue growth, margin expansion and technology leadership.
"Sandeep has a track record of delivering commercial growth, advancing global market expansion and building world class customer support organizations. We welcome Sandeep to the Accuray team and look forward to his leadership in driving customer centricity throughout our organization and accelerating our commercialization strategy across global markets," said Suzanne Winter, president of Accuray. "I believe Sandeep's multi-sector medtech industry background will enable him to bring a unique perspective to our business that will help the Accuray team deliver on our corporate objectives."
"I am thrilled to join the Accuray team and have been impressed with the organization's passion and commitment to creating a better future for cancer patients through technology innovation and advancing radiation therapy care. I look forward to leading the company's efforts to drive patient access, gain market share and create long term value for all stakeholders," said Sandeep Chalke.
About Accuray
Accuray is committed to expanding the powerful potential of radiation therapy to improve as many lives as possible. We invent unique, market-changing solutions that are designed to deliver radiation treatments for even the most complex cases—while making commonly treatable cases even easier—to meet the full spectrum of patient needs. We are dedicated to continuous innovation in radiation therapy for oncology, neuro-radiosurgery, and beyond, as we partner with clinicians and administrators, empowering them to help patients get back to their lives, faster. Accuray is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with facilities worldwide. To learn more, visit www.accuray.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements made in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements and are subject to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate, but are not limited, expectations related to value creation, revenue growth, and margin expansion and expectations regarding the transition of leadership, including related to the company's plans, goals and objectives. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any of the company's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of the company and those of its customers and suppliers; disruptions to our supply chain, including increased logistics costs; the company's ability to achieve widespread market acceptance of its products, including new product and software offerings; the company's ability to develop new products or enhance existing products to meet customers' needs and compete favorably in the market, the company's ability to realize the expected benefits of the China joint venture and other partnerships; risks inherent in international operations; the company's ability to effectively manage its growth; the company's ability to maintain or increase its gross margins on product sales and services; delays in regulatory approvals or the development or release of new offerings; the company's ability to meet the covenants under its credit facilities; the company's ability to convert backlog to revenue; and such other risks identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 29, 2022 and as updated periodically with the company's other filings with the SEC.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and are based on information available to the company at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events. The company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual performance or results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, investors should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.
Media Contact
Beth Kaplan
Accuray
+1 (408) 789-4426
bkaplan@accuray.com
Investor Contact
Aman Patel, CFA
Investor Relations, ICR-Westwicke
+1 (443) 450-4191
aman.patel@westwicke.com
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SOURCE Accuray Incorporated | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/accuray-appoints-sandeep-chalke-svp-chief-commercial-officer/ | 2022-05-17T12:02:53Z |
DCISionRT Demonstrated to Be Superior Predictor of Risk Recurrence
and RT Benefit over Traditional Clinpath
LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/-- Prelude Corporation (PreludeDxä), a leader in molecular diagnostics and precision medicine for early-stage breast cancer, announced compelling results in 926 women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) identifying patients with low risk of recurrence independent of traditional clinicopathologic risk factors. Study results were presented today at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Special Conference: Rethinking DCIS: An Opportunity for Prevention.
The DCISionRT® test demonstrated that radiation did not significantly reduce the in-breast recurrence (IBR) rate in the low-risk group. However, the elevated/residual-risk group benefited significantly from radiation therapy (RT), with a 17.7% absolute 10-year IBR rate reduction.
"DCISionRT is a major step forward in treatment decision making for DCIS patients," said Rachel Rabinovitch, MD, FASTRO, Professor, Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado. "DCISionRT is the first biosignature specific for radiation therapy efficacy, here in the setting of adjuvant RT for DCIS. This assay can help us confidently identify a true low-risk group after lumpectomy, enabling de-escalation of radiation therapy and a high-risk group, many of whom benefit more than a relative 50% from adjuvant RT. The power of the study demonstrated that you would need to treat 100 patients in the low-risk group to benefit just one patient."
"We are honored to participate in this AACR Special Conference dedicated solely to enhancing the care of DCIS patients and present our latest clinical data demonstrating the applicability of DCISionRT to guide DCIS treatment decisions," said Dan Forche, President and CEO of PreludeDx. "DCISionRT is an important risk assessment tool to determine which patients can safely omit RT, which patients will benefit greatly from RT, and which patients may need more aggressive therapy."
DCISionRT is the only risk assessment test for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) that predicts radiation therapy benefit. Patients with DCIS have cancerous cells lining the milk ducts of the breast, but they have not spread into surrounding breast tissue. In the US, over 60,000 women are newly diagnosed with DCIS each year. DCISionRT, developed by PreludeDx on technology licensed from the University of California San Francisco, and built on research that began with funding from the National Cancer Institute, enables physicians to better understand the biology of DCIS. DCISionRT combines the latest innovations in molecular biology with risk-based assessment scores to assess a woman's individual tumor biology along with other pathologic risk factors and provide a personalized recurrence risk. The test provides a Decision ScoreTM that identifies a woman's risk as low or elevated. Unlike other risk assessment tools, the DCISionRT test combines protein expression from seven biomarkers and four clinicopathologic factors, using a non-linear algorithm to account for multiple interactions between individual factors in order to better interpret complex biological information. DCISionRT's intelligent reporting provides a woman's recurrence risk after breast conserving surgery alone and with the addition of radiation therapy. In turn, this new information may help patients and their physicians to make more informed treatment decisions.
PreludeDx is a leading personalized breast cancer diagnostics company dedicated to serving breast cancer patients and physicians worldwide. Founded in 2009 with technology licensed from University of California San Francisco, PreludeDx has focused on developing precision breast cancer tools that will impact a patient's treatment decision. Our mission is to provide patients and physicians with innovative technologies that improve patient outcomes and reduce the overall cost burden to the healthcare system. Before making a treatment decision, Know Your RiskTM. PreludeDx is a Fjord Ventures portfolio company.
For more information on how PreludeDx is making a difference for patients, please visit the Company's website: https://preludedx.com and follow us on Twitter @PreludeDx, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
PreludeDx, the PreludeDx logo, DCISionRT, the DCISionRT logo, Decision Score, The DCIS Test, Know Your Risk and Your Biology, Your Decision are trademarks of Prelude Corporation or its wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States and foreign countries.
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SOURCE PreludeDx | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/preludedx-presents-new-data-aacr-confirming-no-significant-radiation-benefit-dcisionrt-low-risk-patients/ | 2022-09-09T12:31:30Z |
PITTSBURGH, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create an improved fishing lure to increase an angler's chance of catching fish," said an inventor, from Pelzer, S.C., "so I invented the HIGH ROLLER. My design would offer a more exciting alternative than conventional lures."
The patent-pending invention provides a more effective type of lure for fishermen. In doing so, it would mimic the motion of a minnow or baitfish. As a result, it could attract and encourage fish to bite and it could make a fishing trip more productive and enjoyable. The invention features an eye-catching design that is easy to use so it is ideal for fishing enthusiasts. Additionally, it is producible in design variations and a prototype is available.
The original design was submitted to the Columbia sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-CSK-157, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/inventhelp-inventor-develops-new-lure-fishermen-csk-157/ | 2022-06-06T18:46:52Z |
NEW YORK, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Verrica Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRCA) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
Class Period: May 28, 2021 to May 24, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: August 5, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in VRCA:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/verrica-pharmaceuticals-inc-loss-submission-form?id=29222&from=4
Verrica Pharmaceuticals, Inc. NEWS - VRCA NEWS
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Verrica Pharmaceuticals, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) there were manufacturing deficiencies at the facility where Verrica's contract manufacturer produced a bulk solution for the Company's lead product candidate, VP-102; (2) these deficiencies were not remediated when Verrica resubmitted its New Drug Application for VP-12 for molluscum; (3) the foregoing presented significant risks to Verrica obtaining regulatory approval of VP-102 for molluscum; and (4) 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.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Verrica you have until August 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 Verrica 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 VRCA lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/verrica-pharmaceuticals-inc-loss-submission-form?id=29222&from=4.
ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM
J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
J. Klein, Esq.
Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
59th Floor
New York, NY 10118
jk@kleinstocklaw.com
Telephone: (212) 616-4899
www.kleinstocklaw.com
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SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/vrca-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-august-5-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-verrica-pharmaceuticals-inc-shareholders/ | 2022-06-28T11:22:24Z |
CLEVELAND, April 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite developed manufacturing industries, the US and China are expected to account for half of all packaging equipment sales growth through 2026, finds a new Freedonia Group analysis. Rising demand for more advanced equipment will be a key driver of growth in both countries:
- In the US, increased spending on advanced packaging technologies will boost productivity, reduce labor costs, and allow for greater customization of packaging. Strong interest in providing packaging that is viewed as sustainable will also encourage companies to invest in new machines.
- In China, greater mechanization of packaging processes and intensifying competition globally for a number of export-oriented industries will support sales of more advanced machinery.
Global Packaging Equipment Demand to Grow Nearly 6% Annually Through 2026
The Freedonia Group projects global demand for packaging equipment to increase 5.8% per year through 2026 to $71.1 billion. Multiple trends will drive market growth, including:
- advances in world durable and nondurable goods production, as well as the associated construction of new factories and expansion of existing sites
- the continuing shift away from manual packaging techniques by small- and mid-sized industrial enterprises around the world
- the more intensive use of packaging materials in developing nations, particularly as they increasing export to other countries
- rising demand for state-of-the-art packaging technologies in markets with established manufacturing industries because of concerns about workforce issues and the desire to reduce costs
- the adoption of new product standards and health and safety regulations that will spur demand for new packaging materials and equipment
- the growing use of green packaging materials – which often require operators to purchase new equipment – in light of mounting concerns about pollution and waste
Want to Learn More?
Global Packaging Machinery is now available from The Freedonia Group. This study provides historical data for 2011, 2016, and 2021, and forecasts for 2026 and 2031 for global packaging machinery shipments, demand by product type, and net exports on a country-by-country basis, valued in millions of current US dollars, including inflation.
Products:
- filling equipment
- case forming, packing, and sealing machinery
- labeling and coding machinery
- wrapping equipment
- other types of packaging machinery
- packaging machinery parts
Demand is also analyzed by the following markets:
- food
- beverage
- pharmaceuticals and personal care products
- chemicals
- other markets
About the Freedonia Group - The Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch.com, is the premier international industrial research company, providing our clients with product analyses, market forecasts, industry trends, and market share information. From one-person consulting firms to global conglomerates, our analysts provide companies with unbiased, reliable industry market research and analysis to help them make important business decisions. With over 100 studies published annually, we support over 90% of the industrial Fortune 500 companies. Find off-the-shelf studies at https://www.freedoniagroup.com/ or contact us for custom research: +1 440.842.2400.
Press Contact:
Corinne Gangloff
+1 440.842.2400
cgangloff@freedoniagroup.com
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SOURCE The Freedonia Group | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/19/china-amp-us-continue-dominate-global-packaging-machinery-market/ | 2022-04-19T22:06:18Z |
Data-driven report analyzes emerging cyber threats and trends that will dominate into 2023
WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Intel 471, the premier provider of cyber threat intelligence for leading intelligence, security, and fraud teams across the globe, today released The 471 Cyber Threat Report; 2022-2023 Trends & Predictions. This research analyzes recent and commonly used tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) that have been adopted by prominent threat actors, how these threats have affected enterprises, along with predictive intelligence assessments on threats that organizations should be prepared to thwart over the next year.
The report details the most impactful threats that fueled the cybercrime ecosystem over the past year and the TTPs employed by the actors behind them. It provides recommended steps organizations should take to protect themselves against existing and emerging threats on the horizon.
"It is important to not only draw attention to the TTPs commonly used by the most capable threat actors but also to provide rich context for how these TTPs can impact organizations at every stage of the cyberattack chain, and how they can be countered by tactical defenders and senior decision makers," said Intel 471 Chief Intelligence Officer, Michael DeBolt. "The findings of our latest research will help arm organizations with the adversary, credential, malware and vulnerability intelligence they need to refine their cyber defense strategy, adjust their security practices and prepare for 2023."
Other key takeaways from the report include:
- Prominent cyber threats observed over the past year include compromised access and data, ransomware, return of Emotet malware and exploitation of vulnerabilities. Many of these can be mitigated with a comprehensive identity access password program and a patching and update policy, as well as continuous monitoring for compromised credential breaches across third parties.
- Evolving threats included hacktivism, one-time password (OTP) bypass services, supply chain attacks and information-stealer malware. It is crucial to foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness to combat employee negligence synonymous with both OTP and information stealer malware.
- The threat landscape will continue to be shaped by an increase in ransomware attacks and a demand for network access, threat actors will persist in capitalizing on security vulnerabilities and hacktivism will likely remain a threat.
Intel 471 also identified a number of cyber threat trends that will likely dominate the landscape in 2023 and beyond:
- As prominent ransomware groups such as LockBit continue to offer evolving products with targeted services, vulnerabilities have reduced in quantity whilst increasing in severity. In fact, last year several vulnerabilities accounted for some of the biggest threats faced by organizations.
- World events have further complicated the threat landscape, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine acting as a catalyst for further polarization of the underground. The most prolific threat to date has been KillNet, a pro-Russian group who gained notoriety through orchestrating distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against pro-NATO countries and organizations.
- Threat actors monetized criminal services to great success in 2022. Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is a common security practice, and threat actors are turning to OTP bypass services to circumvent this layer of security. This area of the underground ecosystem will likely grow as demand increases for these services in the future.
- The use of information-stealers will continue into 2023; since the beginning of 2022, there has been a substantial uptick in offering when compared to the same period of 2021.
"With the constant evolution throughout the cyber threat landscape and resilience that threat actors continue to display, organizations need insights based on research and intelligence surrounding the most prominent threat actors to understand their activities and to stay ahead of the next attack," DeBolt added. "Just as threat actors and groups are adjusting their methods to remain resilient against new and emerging security measures, organizations should be staying abreast of key TTPs employed by adversaries and adjusting their security systems based on that intelligence to tackle new and refined ways of being compromised."
The report also includes case studies on LockBit 2.0, the most impactful ransomware strain observed by Intel 471 from November 2021 through May 2022, and the release of version 3.0, which is shaping up to be just as impactful as 2.0, as well as on the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent appearance of pro-Russian hacktivist groups.
To help organizations protect themselves from threat actors and their continuously evolving TTPs, The 471 Cyber Threat Report includes a series of mitigation recommendations to help organizations and their security teams harden their security practices, detect potential threats, and isolate their sensitive information to avoid falling victim to new ransomware strains and malware.
You can download the full report here.
Intel 471 empowers enterprises, government agencies, and other organizations to win the cybersecurity war using near-real-time insights into the latest malicious actors, relationships, threat patterns, and imminent attacks relevant to their businesses.
The company's TITAN platform collects, interprets, structures, and validates human-led, automation-enhanced results. Clients across the globe leverage this threat intelligence with our proprietary framework to map the criminal underground, zero in on key activity, and align their resources and reporting to business requirements. Intel 471 serves as a trusted advisor to security teams, offering ongoing trend analysis and supporting your use of the platform. Learn more at https://intel471.com/.
Media Contact:
John Kreuzer / Maxime Olshan-Cantin
Lumina Communications for Intel 471
Intel471@luminapr.com
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SOURCE Intel 471 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/intel-471-introduces-471-cyber-threat-report/ | 2022-08-04T13:34:53Z |
DALLAS, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Generation Hemp, Inc., a Dallas/Fort Worth based midstream hemp company (OTCQB: GENH), and its wholly-owned subsidiary, GENH Halcyon Acquisition, LLC (collectively the "Company") in collaboration with Richard Rawlings' Gas Monkey Garage, today announced the official launch of its Gas Monkey Spill-Jack consumer goods hemp product line. Gas Monkey Spill-Jack is an all-natural, plant-based, sustainable, and biodegradable loose absorbent made from the hemp hurd byproduct that is produced by the Company's hemp processing operations. This is the second consumer goods product produced by Generation Hemp, adding to its hemp animal bedding line called Rowdy Rooster Hemp. Gas Monkey Spill-Jack is now being sold on spilljackusa.com and will soon be offered on Amazon.
There are several types of spill absorbents with varying characteristics within three general categories – mineral based, animal or vegetable based, and synthetic or organic polymers. The challenge in choosing an absorbent is finding an effective material that does not pose a threat to either health or the environment, whether that threat is posed when that material is procured or used. For example, a widely used spill absorbent material in products is Bentonite Clay. This is often a very dusty material and has warnings of containing unsafe levels of lead (FDA) and has been associated with a number of health complaints in humans.
When Generation Hemp's processing facility operations often led to thick and sticky hemp oil messes similar to spills in an automotive garage, the facility managers started to use hemp hurd to soak up those spills, because kitty litter and other chemical based products could not be used around the crops being processed. When they saw how well it worked, they took it to neighboring businesses to try out further. They found that it worked faster and better than the kitty litter stand by in other applications. Chairman and CEO of Generation Hemp, Inc. commented, "We began experimenting and testing hemp hurd's efficacy against all the industrial absorbent standard go-tos. Spill-Jack performed as well or better against every other material. Most of the current products used are not the best environmental options, and other eco-friendly options just don't perform as well. When we brought the milled hemp stalks to Richard Rawlings' Gas Monkey Garage, I think everyone was somewhat stunned at Spill-Jack's performance." Evans continued, "Our team was very excited to collaborate with Richard and Gas Monkey. Getting the stamp of approval from such a well known automotive brand is one thing, but to then have the founder put his brand behind our product was just unexpected. In fact, it was our visit to Gas Monkey Garage that inspired our product's name, Spill-Jack. If you can jack up a car, you can jack up a spill!"
The initial products in the Gas Monkey Spill-Jack line will come in three different sizes: a large 20 pound bag that can absorb approximately 24 gallons of oil, a medium sized bag that can absorb approximately 9 liters of oil, and mini-bag singles sold individually or in six-packs and can be kept in the purse or glove box to clean up any spills on the go, including pet messes.
Generation Hemp, Inc. is a Dallas/Fort Worth based hemp company that operates in the midstream sector. With operations in western Kentucky and Denver, Colorado, the company uses its proprietary technology to dry, clean, process and store hemp. In addition, Generation Hemp also owns and leases real estate to companies needing seed storage facilities located within the greater Denver area.
Richard Rawlings, owner and founder of Gas Monkey Garage, is the star of the international hit series "Fast N' Loud," "Garage Rehab," "Demolition Theatre," and more. Since the inception of Gas Monkey Garage in 2004, Richard Rawlings continues to be anything except ordinary. Having built two commissioned custom cars for Hot Wheels, setting numerous world records, and cementing Gas Monkey Garage as a household name, Richard does anything but blend in! Aside from his garage and television shows, Richard Rawlings is an innovative entrepreneur, turning Gas Monkey Garage into a household name and worldwide brand. Between owning multiple restaurants/venues, having his own Tequila and Energy Drink, selling merchandise worldwide, and sponsoring some of the top names in automotive racing, Richard Rawlings only knows one speed and its full throttle. You can learn more about Richard Rawlings and the Gas Monkey crew at GasMonkeyGarage.com, and see what the Monkeys are up to every Monday night at 8pm CDT on their YouTube Channel.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The use of words such as "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "estimates," "projects", "forecasts", "proposes", "should", "likely" or similar expressions, indicates a forward-looking statement. These statements and all the projections in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management, and information currently available to management. The actual results could differ materially from a conclusion, forecast or projection in the forward-looking information. The identification in this press release of factors that may affect the company's future performance and the accuracy of forward-looking statements is meant to be illustrative and by no means exhaustive.
Contact:
Melissa M. Pagen
Generation Hemp, Inc.
Phone: (310) 628-2062
Email: mpagen@genhempinc.com
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SOURCE Generation Hemp Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/generation-hemp-officially-launches-gas-monkey-spill-jack-hemp-product-line/ | 2022-09-06T13:02:47Z |
POOLESVILLE, Md. (AP) — When environmentalist Brent Walls saw a milky-white substance in a stream flowing through a rural stretch of central Pennsylvania, he suspected the nearby rock mine was violating the law.
Recent rains had filled the ponds at the mine that allow sediment to settle out of the water, but Walls couldn’t easily take a look because they were surrounded by private property. To quickly investigate and avoid trespassing, Walls captured images of the area with his drone.
“That’s when I found the illicit discharge,” he said. The photo of cloudy liquid flowing into the creek provided evidence Walls used to accuse Specialty Granules LLC of violating the Clean Water Act.
Fifty years after that landmark legislation was signed into law, drones are giving environmentalists a new tool to capture wrongdoing where it is hard to see or expensive to find, though their use to investigate polluters is still pretty rare, Walls said.
He would like them used more often. With the help of a grant, he trains drone pilots for the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global network of clean water groups. The nonprofit wants activists from around the country to know how to use the technology for storytelling and to collect evidence that companies are polluting rivers and streams.
The Clean Water Act allows individuals – not just federal officials – to enforce the law. But citizens who want to use drones to collect evidence must have a federally-issued pilot’s certificate and navigate layers of federal, state and local rules.
Walls is the Upper Potomac Riverkeeper and part of a riverkeeper network that has used drones in a handful of other instances to collect evidence of pollution and threaten lawsuits if they aren’t satisfied with how companies respond to allegations. Drones were used, for example, to investigate a West Virginia coal operation that allegedly discharged coal residue into a nearby river. Walls said drone footage helped push the company to clean up the site.
On a pleasant, lightly windy day in June, Walls held an in-person training near the fourth hole of Bretton Woods Golf Course just off the Potomac River in Maryland.
Waccamaw Riverkeeper Cara Schildtknecht from the Carolinas coast said it was awesome to be able to finally pilot the drone. “We’ve been training to do this for months,” she said at the in-person training with three other clean water advocates.
Schildtknecht had been through Walls’ online courses and passed the test for her pilot’s certificate. After she arrived, she peeled the stickers off her drone. It was her first time flying one.
Walls helped the group ensure their controllers connected properly with their drones before they each had a chance to pilot a practice flight for about 10 minutes.
Schildtknecht said a drone will help her see areas in her watershed that are hard to reach by boat, record floods and find polluters. The view from above she said “is a gamechanger,” one that previously required paying a pilot for a manned flight.
“We have certain areas that we know could be of concern that we want to check out,” she said.
Technological advances have helped grow the drone market. Miriam McNabb, editor-in-chief of the trade publication Dronelife, said drones are now easier to fly, capture better images and can be programmed to automatically conduct surveys and track changes over time.
While drone prices can vary widely, the grant-purchased drones for the newly-trained activists cost around $2,000, Walls said.
After Walls presented Specialty Granules with his allegations in 2019, the company stopped discharges through the pipe the drone had identified and installed a filtration system that improved water quality.
Matthew McClure, vice president of operations at Specialty Granules, said in a statement that the drone images helped identify the discharge of non-toxic stormwater and that the company uses drones in its own operations. But McClure didn’t welcome the surprise inspection.
“Unscheduled drone overflies can present a distraction and potential accidents to employees who operate heavy machinery,” McClure said.
The ubiquity of drones that shoot video has also triggered privacy concerns. Cam Ward, a former Alabama state senator who is now director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, sponsored a bill in 2020 to curtail drone use over “critical infrastructure,” a term that included mines, refineries, pipelines and natural gas plants.
“There has to be some expectation of privacy,” he said.
A local environmental group that used a drone in Alabama to record discharges from an abandoned mine site argued the 2020 bill would prevent activists from keeping an eye on misbehaving companies.
Ward said he was concerned about environmentalists sabotaging important facilities. To keep sites safe, and to protect the privacy of business owners, he said there should be limits on drone use, although finding the right balance is “incredibly complex.” His bill did not pass.
Scientists and industry already widely deploy drones to monitor whales, count trees and inspect cell towers. But even some environmental groups are skeptical of their widespread use to investigate water pollution. Not only do pilots need to be federally-certified, but rules for drone use differ by location – the Federal Aviation Administration isn’t the only agency setting the rules.
“It is a patchwork of uneven, inconsistent, local, state and federal regulations across our region,” said DJ Gerken, program director at the the Southern Environmental Law Center that works with partners who use drones. Navigating that patchwork of rules matters for ensuring that evidence is admissible in court.
Walls said his training is meant to help people navigate the rules and pass the FAA test. He teaches how to identify restricted airspace, avoid structures and operate safely. To protect privacy, for example, pilots are told to make flight plans that avoid residential properties.
Anastasia Telesetsky, an environmental law professor at California Polytechnic State University, called drones a convenient tool for finding pollution that has been out of sight.
“There’s a lot of groups that know there is a problem but have been limited in the tools they can use to compel regulators to do their jobs,” she said.
Martin Lively is the Grand Riverkeeper in northeastern Oklahoma. A former mining site that’s bad enough to make the federal Superfund list is in his area.
“It is extremely polluted with lead, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, manganese,” he said. “And all of that flows into my watershed.”
Because of the pollution, the river is already regularly tested. But a drone goes a step further, helping determine, for example, whether cleaned up properties might be recontaminated when it floods.
He says a drone is a storytelling tool that can capture powerful images.
“That is a tool never to be underestimated in litigation,” he said.
___
Phillis reported from St. Louis.
___
The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment | https://cw33.com/news/science-technology/ap-science/enviros-train-drone-pilots-to-find-and-pursue-pollution/ | 2022-06-29T17:41:34Z |
The General Partner Fund Launches with $65 Million As Hoffman & Associates Continues to Grow Its Real Estate Portfolio Across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Hoffman & Associates, a leading developer of innovative mixed-use and residential communities across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, including the $3.6 billion Washington, D.C. waterfront neighborhood The Wharf, announced that it closed on its first real estate private equity fund. The Hoffman & Associates General Partner Fund, a $65 million investment vehicle, will predominantly target development projects including early-stage initiatives currently led by the company.
With 30 years of experience and 6.5 million square feet in development and construction, Hoffman & Associates is steadily growing with a variety of projects that are shaping cityscapes and neighborhoods across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. The fund gives the company an advantage in expanding its growing pipeline, acting quickly on future opportunities.
"Hoffman & Associates is expanding our portfolio. As The Wharf comes to completion, and our presence in Northern Virginia and North Carolina continues to grow with market demand and projects such as West Falls, Waterfront Station II, 4600 Fairfax Drive, Seaboard Station and RUS Bus, our company anticipates many more opportunities. The Hoffman & Associates General Partner Fund will be instrumental in continuing our company's exciting future," said Monty Hoffman, Founder and Chairman of Hoffman & Associates.
"We are honored to be able to announce The Hoffman & Associates General Partner Fund as it continues to showcase our investors' confidence in our team and our innovative, community-minded approach to development," said Jon McAvoy, Hoffman & Associates' Chief Investment Officer. "The Fund builds on our three decades of success, delivering strong returns for our investors and partners, as well as community value across the neighborhoods we serve."
This announcement follows the consistent growth of Hoffman & Associates, anchored by the completion of The Wharf later this year, as well as the company's continuous expansion across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, with a variety of projects ranging from large-scale neighborhoods to mixed-use condominium and apartment offerings, all underscoring the company's innovative and unwavering commitment to sustainable, community-minded development.
Over the next two years, the fund intends to deploy its capital base in projects including:
- West Falls: A nearly 10-acre expansive, multiphase mixed-use, transit-oriented project expanding the vibrant community in Falls Church, Virginia. West Falls will serve as a gateway to the city of Falls Church and a gathering place for all with apartments, condominiums, senior living, retail, hotel and a medical office building, along with an outdoor community gathering space in the center of the neighborhood that will provide over 18,000 square feet of open space for community use. The biggest project in Falls Church history, West Falls is poised to be Hoffman & Associates' next largest endeavor following The Wharf.
- 4600 Fairfax Drive: A dynamic, 530,000 square-foot multifamily development in Ballston, Virginia that will feature more than 500 residences including apartments and townhome-style residences in two buildings with 475 apartment residences as well as 29 townhome-style multifamily units. The project is designed to not only achieve LEED Gold certification, but also to follow Arlington County's industry leading 2020 Green Building Program.
- RUS Bus: A 500,000 square-foot transit-oriented mixed-use development in Raleigh, NC, integrating the Raleigh Union Station with innovative transit improvements, a new bus facility, bike and pedestrian-friendly spaces and multifamily residential with affordable housing, retail and hospitality. The approximately $275 million project, one of the biggest developments currently underway in Raleigh, features plans to build two high-rise buildings up to 40 stories tall, with 18,000 square feet of retail space and over 400 apartments.
- Seaboard Station: This dynamic development that is set to deliver its first phase this fall, will bring a unique mix of residential, retail and vibrant community spaces to the historic location of Seaboard Station in downtown Raleigh, NC. When complete, Seaboard Station will feature nearly 600 residences in three buildings and more than 130,000 square feet of street-level retail, restaurants and entertainment concepts, as well as underground parking and a hotel.
For more information about Hoffman & Associates, please visit www.hoffman-dev.com.
Hoffman & Associates is a leader in both residential and mixed-use development in multiple markets across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. Since its founding in 1993, Hoffman & Associates has developed over 75 mixed-use, residential, office and retail projects with an unwavering commitment to sustainable and innovative development that puts community first. Hoffman & Associates is an industry leader in creating inclusive urban communities that bring people together and enhance the way we socialize, work and live together. The company has large-scale developments throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Raleigh, North Carolina, and Falls Church, Virginia, with a portfolio totaling $6 billion. Hoffman & Associates is also the managing member of Hoffman-Madison Waterfront, a joint venture with Madison Marquette, which is developing The Wharf, a $3.6 billion, 3.3 million square-foot neighborhood along Washington, D.C.'s waterfront. Other developments include Seaboard Station, West Falls, Waterfront Station II, Parcel B at Audi Field, 4600 Fairfax Drive, RUS Bus, Amaris, The Banks, The Bower, 525 Water, VIO, The Channel and Incanto. Hoffman & Associates has offices in Washington, D.C. and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information please visit: www.hoffman-dev.com.
Hoffman & Associates
760 Maine Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20024
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SOURCE Hoffman & Associates | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/hoffman-amp-associates-announces-first-general-partner-fund/ | 2022-08-08T16:53:17Z |
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A volcano southeast of the Philippine capital spewed ash and steam about a kilometer (half a mile) into the sky on Sunday, scattering ash on nearby villages and alarming residents, officials said.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level at Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon province following the 17-minute blast but added there was no sign of an impending major eruption.
There were no reports of injuries, officials said. Fourteen people with four guides were hiking on a trail on the 1,565-meter (5,134-foot) volcano when it erupted close to noontime but everyone reached a nearby town safely, they said.
Villager Rica Tomale was hanging her laundry when ashfall rained down on her coastal town of Juban near Bulusan, shrouding the sky in darkness. Two motorcycles slipped on the ash-covered road but the drivers were unhurt, she said.
“I got scared and ran back to the house, where we hurriedly put on our face masks,” Tomale, a mother of two, told The Associated Press by telephone, adding she was surprised by the ashfall because she did not hear the volcano explode.
One of the country’s most active volcanoes, Bulusan has been showing signs of unrest with on-and-off ash and steam explosions in recent years.
“It is currently in an abnormal condition,” the government volcanology institute said, and asked people to stay away from a 4-kilometer (2.4-mile) permanent danger zone around the volcano.
Ashfall hit at least seven villages in and near Juban at the foot of Bulusan where people were asked to stay indoors and wear masks. Motorists were advised to drive cautiously.
Officials said they were assessing whether to evacuate residents, especially pregnant women, the elderly and children.
Outside the permanent danger zone, the institute warned people including those living on the vulnerable southeastern side of the volcano to stay alert due to the increased possibilities of sudden eruptions and mudflows amid the rainy season. Aircraft were advised not fly close to the volcano, which is about 600 kilometers (373 miles) southeast of Manila.
The Philippine archipelago, which has about two dozen active volcanoes, lies on the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire,” where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common. | https://cw33.com/news/ap-top-headlines/philippine-volcano-spews-ash-and-steam-alarms-villagers/ | 2022-06-06T08:44:13Z |
Stuart McWhorter stepping down as director
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stuart McWhorter is stepping down as chairman of the board of directors of Nashville-based FB Financial Corporation. He is rejoining Governor Bill Lee's administration and replacing Bob Rolfe as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
McWhorter will be succeeded as chair by William F. (Bill) Carpenter III, one of the nation's most accomplished health care executives. Carpenter was a founding employee of LifePoint Health, a leading healthcare company which, under his leadership, grew to become a Fortune 500 business. He served as LifePoint's Chief Executive Officer from 2006 to 2018 and was chair of its board of directors from 2010 to 2018.
"I have enjoyed my time serving FirstBank and am leaving to continue working to advance Tennessee's economic future with Governor Lee's administration," said McWhorter. "Bill Carpenter has a proven track record for many influential industry organizations, and I have full confidence in his ability to fill this seat." Prior to joining LifePoint, Carpenter was a partner at the law firm of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP, where his practice consisted primarily of corporate finance transactions, mergers and acquisitions and health care regulatory matters. While at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, he also served as head of the firm's health law group.
"We have the utmost gratitude and respect for Stuart and his commitment to FirstBank, and we wish him all the best in his new role as commissioner," said Chris Holmes, President and CEO. "Bill's decades of legal and corporate experience and invaluable knowledge of the Nashville community make him an ideal fit for this role. We anticipate a seamless transition in leadership and look forward to continuing FirstBank's success under his leadership."
Throughout his professional career, Carpenter has been a devout community leader through his involvement in various organizations and boards. Additionally, Carpenter is a past member of the board of directors of the American Hospital Association, the past chairman of the boards of directors of Federation of American Hospitals and Nashville Health Care Council and past member of the board of directors of Nashville Public Radio. In addition, Mr. Carpenter has served on the boards of directors of many local community organizations, including NashvilleHealth, the Center for Medical Interoperability and United Way of Greater Nashville. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trust at Montgomery Bell Academy.
About FirstBank
Nashville-based FirstBank, a wholly owned subsidiary of FB Financial Corporation (NYSE: FBK), is the third largest Tennessee-headquartered bank, with 82 full-service branches across Tennessee, South Central Kentucky, Alabama and North Georgia, and a national mortgage business with offices across the Southeast. The bank serves five of the major metropolitan markets in Tennessee and, with approximately $12.6 billion in total assets, has the resources to provide a comprehensive variety of financial services and products.
Contact:
Staci Kirpach
Staci.Kirpach@FinnPartners.com
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SOURCE FB Financial Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/firstbank-elects-bill-carpenter-chairman-board-directors/ | 2022-08-02T20:59:23Z |
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating cases of unexplained hepatitis in children. As many as 109 cases are under investigation. On Friday, the CDC reported that these cases have affected children in 25 states and territories. Nearly all the children needed to be hospitalized; five children have died, the CDC said.
The rise in these severe and mysterious cases has led the CDC to issue a health advisory to clinicians so that health care providers can be on the lookout and report cases accordingly.
What should parents know about the cases of hepatitis in kids? How worried should they be, and what are the symptoms they should be looking out for? Is there a link between the cases of hepatitis and Covid-19?
To help answer these questions, I spoke with CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. She is also author of "Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health" and the mother of two young children.
CNN: Let's start at the beginning. What is hepatitis, and how common is it in children?
Dr. Leana Wen: Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver tissue. There are a number of causes. People might have heard of hepatitis A, B and C, which are liver infections caused by the contagious hepatitis viruses. Heavy alcohol use, certain medications and specific toxins can also lead to hepatitis, as can some medical conditions. There is also something called autoimmune hepatitis, which is where the body's own immune system attacks the liver.
Hepatitis isn't common in children, especially hepatitis that is not linked to one of the hepatitis viruses. This is the reason why the cases of unexplained hepatitis have been flagged thus far. There aren't many cases, but they are significant enough to warrant closer investigation.
CNN: How many children have been affected by the unexplained hepatitis thus far, and what do we know about them?
Wen: As of May 1, the World Health Organization has reported at least 228 probable cases of child hepatitis with dozens more under investigation. These cases have been found in over 20 countries.
Twenty-five US states and territories have reported cases, with 109 cases under investigation thus far, according to the CDC. A week ago, a CDC report analyzed clinical details from one state, Alabama, that has been tracking these child hepatitis cases since October.
Nine children were identified who have no clear causes of hepatitis. They come from different locations in the state with no identified link to one another. All are generally healthy, no underlying medical conditions. The reported median age is about 3 years, with the range from 1 to 6 years old.
Three of the nine kids in the Alabama cohort ended up with acute liver failure, a life-threatening condition. Two have received liver transplants. According to the CDC, all nine of the children are currently recovering, including those with the liver transplants.
CNN: How come there are so many cases from one state?
Wen: We don't know. My guess is that there isn't necessarily something specific to Alabama, but possibly there are cases that are not being reported in other states. This is why the CDC issued its health advisory, so that clinicians can be aware and flag these cases if they see them.
The United Kingdom was the first to report cases to WHO. They have been actively looking for cases. Its Health Security Agency has identified at least 163 confirmed cases across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It's possible that now that US clinicians are aware, more cases may be reported here, too.
CNN: What do we know about what causes these hepatitis cases?
Wen: When patients present with signs of hepatitis, they would normally get a diagnostic workup that looks at whether they have hepatitis A, B or C; whether they have been exposed to toxins and medications; whether they have certain autoimmune markers; and so forth. All of these are negative in the children thus far.
One commonality among the initial nine cases in Alabama in the CDC report is that all have bloodwork showing adenovirus infection. (Two more children were identified since those nine cases were first reported.)
Given the possible link, though, this is the reason why the CDC has issued its specific health alert. It advises clinicians to be on the lookout for child hepatitis cases and report them immediately to the CDC and to state health authorities. It also instructs health care providers to order specific adenovirus testing in these children.
CNN: Could these cases be related to Covid-19?
Wen: It seems unlikely. None of the children in the Alabama case series are in the hospital because of a Covid-19 infection. There is also no link with having received the Covid-19 vaccine. The United Kingdom Health Security Agency previously reported that none of its over 100 cases to date had been vaccinated.
CNN: How worried should parents be, and what are symptoms they should be on the lookout for?
Wen: These cases of unexplained hepatitis in children remain very rare. However, some have been extremely serious. Parents should not be overly concerned but should know that this is something under investigation and then should contact their doctor if they are concerned.
Initial symptoms of hepatitis are nonspecific, meaning that a lot of people get these symptoms due to other causes. They include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite and joint pain. Later signs include dark urine and light-colored stools as (well as) jaundice -- the skin turning yellow and yellow being seen in the whites of the eyes and eyelids.
A lot of children have viral illnesses that can cause gastrointestinal upset, fever and fatigue. If your child is unable to keep fluids down, that's a sign that you should contact your doctor. Also, if the symptoms are persistent and not getting better, or if your child starts getting lethargic, contact your doctor.
The most concerning signs are if you start seeing dark urine, light-colored stools and yellowing of the skin or yellowing in the whites of the eyes. You should seek immediate medical attention if your child starts general viral symptoms and then proceeds to having these signs.
CNN: Is there anything that can be done to prevent these hepatitis cases?
Wen: Since the cause remains unknown, we can't say what measures will help prevent them. If, indeed, there is a link to adenovirus, then the same strategies we have been using throughout the coronavirus pandemic would be helpful, such as thorough handwashing with soap and water and urging people to stay home when sick.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/features/health/should-parents-be-concerned-about-unexplained-hepatitis-cases-in-children/article_6baefd54-0ad4-534b-831b-1832a5935bdd.html | 2022-05-09T13:52:52Z |
NEW YORK, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- San Marzano DOP tomatoes are the best canned tomatoes in the world, and it's time to "start spreading the news!"
The King of Tomatoes, Pomodoro San Marzano dell'Agro Sarnese Nocerino DOP is heading to the Big Apple, and it couldn't be any more apropos! Did you know that the Italian word for tomato, "pomodoro", means "golden apple"?
Not only should you look for the full name, Pomodoro San Marzano dell'Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP, but more importantly, the seals on the label which ensure the quality of the tomatoes inside. The bright red color and flavor of these incredibly sweet, non-acidic tomatoes never fail to impress.
If you are attending the Summer Fancy Food Show in NYC, visit the I 🖤 San Marzano DOP booth to try some delicious nibbles prepared so you can sample these glorious canned tomatoes for yourself!
Details for the I 🖤 San Marzano DOP booth at the Specialty Food Association NYC Summer Fancy Food Show at the Javits Center, Manhattan.
Location: 655 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10014
Dates: June 12-14, 2022
Level 3, Booth #2516
Pomodoro San Marzano dell'Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP canned tomatoes will make every dish the best it can be. For lots of simple and delicious recipes, and inspiration, check out the I 🖤 San Marzano DOP website.
RECIPES: https://ilovesanmarzanodop.com/recipes/?lang=en
Want to know where to find Pomodoro San Marzano dell'Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP canned tomatoes? You'll discover them at quality grocery stores, specialty shops, Italian grocery markets, and online. (Be sure to look for the "DOP" and the two seals that guarantee their quality.)
I 🖤 San Marzano DOP is a campaign co-funded by the European Commission - promoting San Marzano dell'agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP tomatoes in the USA.
www.ilovesanmarzanodop.com #iLoveSanMarzanoDOP
Enjoy. It's from Europe!
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SOURCE I Love San Marzano DOP | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/i-san-marzano-dop-is-coming-big-apple-starring-new-york-summer-fancy-food-show/ | 2022-06-02T17:21:43Z |
PITTSBURGH, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, July 22, 2022, twenty-five impressive Black leaders graduated from The Advanced Leadership Institute's (TALI) Executive Leadership Academy. This seven-module program included over 100 hours of instruction from renowned academic and industry experts; professional coaching; and executive mentoring, which paired each participant with a distinguished executive for hands-on guidance throughout the academy. The Executive Leadership Academy, delivered by Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business, is the flagship program of The Advanced Leadership Institute.
Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou, Dean - Professor of Finance, Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business, opened the ceremony with a warm welcome. Among her comments, she stated: "Here at the Tepper School we have made a commitment to foster diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in business. The Tepper School is honored to serve as the academic partner for The Advanced Leadership Institute; and we encourage this cohort to continue to make CMU a part of their journey."
The official ceremony to mark the accomplishments of these graduates included an inspiring keynote address by Dr. Aleta Richards, Executive Vice President, Global Head of Specialty Films, Covestro. Richards was introduced by her TALI mentee Ida Luchey-Ballard, Chemical Plant Manager, Koppers Performance Chemical Group. Traveling all the way from Dormagen, Germany, the Pittsburgh native inspired the graduates by sharing several leadership truths and words of encouragement: "This is a celebration of your journey to become even stronger wherever you choose to work…and how you are helping yourselves become even greater leaders – that's what we are celebrating today."
Cohort reflections were given by Michael Watson, Chief Compliance Officer/Chief Privacy Counsel, Wabtec Corporation: "I have very fond memories as a part of the ELA – we learned, we laughed, we elevated. We learned that even though there might be obstacles, those obstacles are not insurmountable. We learned that we cannot and should not work alone – we have each other and the TALI family." Watson also added, "ELA is an exercise in self-actualization and affirmation."
Other special remarks were offered by Jeff Broadhurst, President and CEO, Eat'n Park Hospitality Group, who spoke on behalf of TALI's Corporate CEO Council; ELA graduate Traci Jackson, Contact Center Director, Duquesne Light, who recognized the mentors, faculty, and executive coaches on behalf of the graduating cohort; Shelly Hammond, Vice President of Programs, The Advanced Leadership Institute, who welcomed the graduates into TALI's alumni; and Dr. Susan Caplan, Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University, who welcomed the graduates into CMU's alumni status.
"The 2022 graduates of the Executive Leadership Academy (ELA) are shining examples of the abundant Black talent that we have available to our communities," says Evan Frazier, President and CEO, The Advanced Leadership Institute. "As our fourth ELA cohort, these impressive leaders represent the continued growth of a strong TALI alumni network," adds Frazier.
Lara Washington, President and CEO, Allegheny Housing Rehabilitation Corporation and Board Chair, TALI provided congratulations to the 2022 ELA group: "On behalf of the board, we are so appreciative of all you have done…In four short years TALI has demonstrated a successful model of how to increase corporate diversity at the executive level. Working together, we are uniquely positioned to be a catalyst for change in our region and become a national best practice."
Alaine Allen – Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Distinguished Service Professor; Engineering and Public Policy; Carnegie Mellon University, College of Engineering
Caren Caldwell – Associate Vice President, Government Products, UPMC Health Plan
Holly Cundieff – Vice President Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, ARMADA
Clark Delanois – Managing Director, Head of Credit; Risk- Private Banking, BNY Mellon
Justin Denham – Director, Information Security & Business Resiliency, Highmark Wholecare
Tija Hilton-Phillips – Director, Regulatory Affairs, Highmark Inc.
Yarra Howze – Principal, Pittsburgh Public Schools
Traci Jackson – Contact Center Director, Duquesne Light Company
Darryl Jones – Chief of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, City of Pittsburgh
Cynthia Lester-Moody – Director, Operations Delivery and Efficiency, United Concordia Dental, a Highmark, Inc. Company
Lee Lewis, Jr. – Director, Supplier Diversity & Inclusion, Highmark Health
Ida Luchey-Ballard – Chemical Plant Manager; Koppers Performance Chemical Group
Tammi McMillan Marshall – Assistant Professor / Program Director, Carlow University
Badel Mbanga – Senior Vice President, Data Science Group for the Treasury, Management, PNC Financial Services Group
Daillard Paris – Director of Supply & Trading, Sheetz, Inc.
Renee' Richardson – Senior Manager, Pharmacy Community Relations, Giant Eagle, Inc.
Ronelle Robinson – IT Director, Human Resources Business Partner, Giant Eagle, Inc.
Tenecia Ross – Director of Human Resources, Mt. Lebanon School District
Frank Tunstall IV – Senior Vice President, Internal Audit Director, PNC Financial Services Group
Chatón Turner – Senior Associate Counsel and Vice President Risk Management and Disabilities Services, UPMC | University of Pittsburgh, Medical Center
Melissa Wade – Director, Constituent Relations, County of Allegheny, Office of County Executive Rich Fitzgerald
Kuyba Washington – Director, Human Resources, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh
Michael Watson – Chief Compliance Officer / Chief Privacy Counsel, Wabtec Corporation
Karen Weiss – Director, Technology Solutions, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh
Angela Williams – Director, Call Center Strategy, Portal Administration, UPMC Health Plan
The mission of The Advanced Leadership Institute is to cultivate Black executive leadership to strengthen companies, institutions, and communities. Its primary focus is to educate, develop, connect, and position Black leaders for executive advancement. TALI has a portfolio of leadership programs, which include the Executive Leadership Academy (a program for Black leaders with at least 10 years of work experience in corporate, nonprofit, government or entrepreneurial sectors); an Emerging Leaders Program (addressing the needs of Black leaders with a minimum of 3-5 years of professional work experience); and ongoing programming and support for TALI alumni.
The Advanced Leadership Institute is supported by major corporations and foundations in the Pittsburgh region, including Founding Underwriters: BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Highmark Foundation, and Richard King Mellon Foundation; Excellence Partners: Henry L. Hillman Foundation and Highmark; Lead Contributors: BNY Mellon, Eden Hall Foundation, and The Heinz Endowments. Presenting Sponsors: Giant Eagle, Highmark Health, PNC, and UPMC. Gold Sponsors: Bank of America, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, Covestro, Duquesne Light Company, FHL Bank Pittsburgh, Highmark Wholecare, Koppers, and Sheetz; Silver Sponsor: Wabtec; and Bronze Sponsors: CS McKee, Dollar Bank, Eat'n Park, EY, and Northwestern Mutual.
To learn more about The Advanced Leadership Institute, visit www.taliinstitute.org
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SOURCE The Advanced Leadership Institute | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/carnegie-mellon-university-hosts-executive-leadership-academy-graduation-advanced-leadership-institute-continues-provide-opportunities-advancement-black-leaders/ | 2022-07-28T16:03:33Z |
Woman trying to retrieve phone goes over 68-foot waterfall, survives
WHITLEY COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT/Gray News) – A woman survived with no injuries after going over a waterfall in Kentucky while trying to retrieve her phone.
According to Whitley County Emergency Management, the 36-year-old woman was taking photos at Cumberland Falls State Park when she dropped her phone in the river Wednesday afternoon. When she tried to retrieve the phone, she was swept away by the current.
“We all want to get really close to something so beautiful, but I can see how easy it would be to misjudge how close you are to something like that,” Cumberland Falls visitor Tonya Scherf said.
Witnesses called 911 and told dispatchers a woman had fallen into the river and went over the waterfall, landing downstream.
When first responders arrived, they found the woman at the bottom of the waterfall. She was able to swim to rescuers and was pulled out of the water.
Officials said she was checked out by EMS at the scene and, shockingly, did not need to be taken to the hospital, as she was uninjured.
Located in southeastern Kentucky, Cumberland Falls is 68 feet high by 125 feet wide, reaching depths of up to 400 feet at the base of the falls.
Anthony Christie, the Whitley County Emergency Management director, credits the woman’s ability to swim with saving her life.
“If she didn’t know how to swim, it probably would have been a different outcome,” Christie said.
Officials said the woman breached the security gate to get a closer look at the falls, and they are reminding visitors to stay behind the barricade for safety reasons.
Visitors who disobey safety rules can be fined. Officials did not say if the woman who went over the falls would be fined.
Copyright 2022 WKYT via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/09/09/woman-trying-retrieve-phone-goes-over-68-foot-waterfall-survives/ | 2022-09-09T18:17:42Z |
Fresh NFT Drop Includes Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos & Even Jesus Christ,
Plus, a Special NFT Accompanied By 12x12 Commissioned Piece
NEW YORK, June 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Self-taught mixed media artist, author and entrepreneur, Ashley Longshore, announces 'It's a Man's World,' the highly collectible complementary NFT release of men's work following her genesis collection, 'Roar!' composed of her ladies. Inspired by Longshore's greatest paintings of men, from the Presidents to Lil Wayne, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and even Jesus Christ himself, Chapter Two collectively builds on the foundation told by the globally recognized Longshore, building the spark of life and gearing up for the next phase of her NFT portfolio.
Comprised of a total of 1,500 NFTs, 'It's a Man's World' will be minted and released on Monday, June 6, 2022, with presale availability on Sunday, June 5, and will be comprised of ERC-721 NFT tokens each featuring one unique digital variation of Ashley Longshore's most celebrated men's paintings. Each will have varying rarity depicting different individuals from the collection. One lucky individual will mint a special Chapter Two NFT that will be accompanied by a 12x12 physical commissioned piece painted by Ashley. Two additional rare NFTs will grant the holder an Ashley Longshore physical painting. Additionally, buyers of this collection will be rewarded with early access to purchase the next chapter of NFTs by Ashley Longshore, avoiding increased transaction fees (increased ETH gas prices due to high demand), as well as eligibility for future art, merchandise and giveaways.
Longshore made her announcement via Discord directing fans to her newly improved website, which combines Ashley Longshore's digital and physical worlds.
Longshore's depiction of men in pop culture takes a playful spin on the serious and often controversial political figure, making them approachable and humorous. This very animated throng of gentlemen bursts with enthusiasm and liveliness taking this chapter of NFTs to the next level of desirable.
All 1,500 NFTs will be available for purchase through Ashley Longshore's website using credit card or Ethereum, per the buyer's preference. Ashley has partnered with Minotaur Labs to ensure a smooth and successful minting experience for all collectors.
"Chapter one and two collectively build the foundation of a story I am telling to create the spark of life and gear up for the next phase of my NFT portfolio." ~ Ashley Longshore
About Ashley Longshore
A self-taught mixed media artist, author and entrepreneur, Longshore has built an empire in the art world. As a powerhouse artist and pioneer in social media marketing, she has exploded into a global brand and used her platform to encourage positivity and authenticity. Dubbed by The New York Times as "Fashion's Latest Art Darling," Longshore has paved a colorful path for pop art and fashion to coexist.
About Minotaur Labs
Minotaur Labs is an end-to-end NFT solution for artists, brands and creators. Utilizing its proprietary software, Minotaur Labs provides a vertically-integrated platform for NFT production and distribution, enabling brands and creatives to build Web3 operating systems and large-scale projects on the blockchain. Uniquely differentiated, Minotaur Labs provides integrated marketing support to ensure its partners enter the metaverse safely enjoying a turn-key experience today, while building the infrastructure for tomorrow.
Media Contact
Jessica Stark, Stark Group
jessica@starkgroupnyc.com, (917) 861-6720
For more information or to request an interview please contact: press@minotaur.io
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SOURCE Minotaur Labs | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/03/ashley-longshore-announces-nft-taking-greatest-men-into-metaverse/ | 2022-06-03T16:53:11Z |
NEW YORK, July 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLP, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws and/or breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to:
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. (NYSE: BHVN)'s sale to Pfizer Inc. for $148.50 per share in cash. Biohaven common shareholders, including Pfizer, will also receive 0.5 of a share of New Biohaven, a new publicly traded company that will retain Biohaven's non-CGRP development stage pipeline compounds, per Biohaven common share. If you are a Biohaven shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
GrandSouth Bancorporation (OTC: GRRB)'s sale to First Bancorp for 0.910 shares of First Bancorp common stock for each share of GrandSouth common and preferred stock. If you are a GrandSouth shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (NASDAQ: SIMO)'s sale to MaxLinear, Inc. Per the agreement, each American Depositary Share of Silicon Motion will receive $93.54 in cash and 0.388 shares of MaxLinear common stock. If you are a Silicon Motion shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Manning & Napier, Inc. (NYSE: MN)'s sale to Callodine Group, LLC for $12.85 per share. If you are a Manning & Napier shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Halper Sadeh LLP may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits on behalf of shareholders.
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SOURCE Halper Sadeh LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/13/investigation-notice-halper-sadeh-llp-investigates-bhvn-grrb-simo-mn/ | 2022-07-13T17:08:31Z |
Singh Will Drive Value and Experience for Social Good Organizations as First Chief Customer Officer
CHARLESTON, S.C., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the world's leading cloud software company powering social good, today appointed Chris Singh as Chief Customer Officer. Singh is the first leader to hold the newly created position at Blackbaud, representing a significant next step in the company's commitment to customers and their end-to-end experience.
"I'm thrilled to announce Chris's promotion to Chief Customer Officer," said Mike Gianoni, president and CEO, Blackbaud. "We're dedicated to delivering a best-in-class experience for our customers, and this central position focused on their success will help us provide better support as a trusted partner and enable our customers to drive even more impact for social good."
Singh first joined Blackbaud in May 2021 as senior vice president of Customer Success and has already demonstrated impact in his first year with the company by:
- Conducting more than 300 customer enablement sessions with over 53,000 attendees to help customers get the most out of their Blackbaud solutions through strategic insight
- Creating a critical response center to identify and manage high priority customer issues with diligence and speed
- Working cross-functionally to programmatically mature customer product usage and utilize data strategy to deliver value to customers
- Increasing proactive customer engagements with a focus on outcome and strategy
In his new role, Singh will oversee strategy and execution of the customer experience across Blackbaud under a shared vision to deliver at every stage of the customer life cycle.
"The addition of the Chief Customer Officer role solidifies Blackbaud's stake in putting customers first," said Singh. "This role will ensure that throughout the customer life cycle, we are delivering on outcomes and great experiences in a seamless and consistent way. It will ensure that investments are made to scale and continuously transform our end-to-end customer experience as technology and businesses evolve. It means Customer Success will have board visibility and be fully accountable to deliver on the promise of great customer experience and value realization."
Prior to joining Blackbaud, Singh served as senior vice president of Customer Engagement and Experience at SAP, where he created the SAP brand of SAP Preferred Success—a best-in-class Customer Success Management program that helped thousands of customers in 53 countries meet their business and strategic goals in the cloud. He has held key senior leadership roles in product and software development, innovation, engineering and customer success. He has demonstrated success in achieving significant gains in customer satisfaction, references, renewals and incremental cloud subscription revenues.
In addition, Singh serves on several boards as an advisor and is a social media influencer and thought leader on customer success, innovation and value-based technology trends. He is deeply passionate about people and making communities stronger, and he supports many social good causes.
About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the world's leading cloud software company powering social good. Serving the entire social good community—nonprofits, higher education institutions, K–12 schools, healthcare organizations, faith communities, arts and cultural organizations, foundations, companies and individual change agents—Blackbaud connects and empowers organizations to increase their impact through cloud software, services, expertise and data intelligence. The Blackbaud portfolio is tailored to the unique needs of vertical markets, with solutions for fundraising and CRM, marketing, advocacy, peer-to-peer fundraising, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social and governance (ESG), school management, ticketing, grantmaking, financial management, payment processing and analytics. Serving the industry for more than four decades, Blackbaud is a remote-first company headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, with operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Media Inquiries
media@blackbaud.com
Forward-looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding expected benefits of products and product features. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles, particularly in larger organization; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or upon request from Blackbaud's investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc.
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SOURCE Blackbaud, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/blackbaud-names-chris-singh-chief-customer-officer/ | 2022-06-21T15:08:24Z |
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Activate your digital account | https://www.cantonrep.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cantonrep.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fhigh-school%2Fsoftball%2F2022%2F06%2F02%2Fohsaa-softball-state-tournament-massillon-tuslaw-casstown-miami-east-cayla-mattox-meridith-rankl%2F7461215001%2F | 2022-06-02T12:11:51Z |
BEIRUT (AP) — A section of Beirut’s massive port grain silos, shredded in the 2020 explosion, collapsed in a huge cloud of dust on Sunday after a weekslong fire, triggered by grains that had fermented and ignited in the summer heat.
The northern block of the silos toppled after what sounded like an explosion, kicking up thick gray dust that enveloped the iconic structure and the port next to a residential area. It was not immediately clear if anyone was injured.
Assaad Haddad the General Director of the Port Silo, told The Associated Press that “everything is under control” but that the situation has not subsided yet. Minutes later, the dust subsided and calm returned.
However, Youssef Mallah, from the Civil Defense department, said that other parts of the silos’ northern block were at risk and that other sections of the giant ruin could collapse.
The 50 year-old, 48 meter (157 feet) tall silos had withstood the force of the explosion two years ago, effectively shielding the western part of Beirut from the blast that killed over 200 people, injured more than 6,000 and badly damaged entire neighborhoods.
In July, a fire broke out in the northern block of the silos due to the fermenting grains. Firefighters and Lebanese Army soldiers were unable to put it out and it smoldered for weeks, a nasty smell spreading around. The environment and health ministries last week issued instructions to residents living near the port to stay indoors in well-ventilated spaces.
The fire and the dramatic sight of the partially blackened silo revived memories and in some cases, the trauma for the survivors of the gigantic explosion that tore through the port on Aug. 4, 2020.
Many rushed to close windows and return indoors after the collapse Sunday.
Rima Zahed, whose brother died in the 2020 blast and who has been part of a survivors’ group lobbying for the preservation of the silos as a testament to the port explosion, blamed the government for not taking action to put out the weekslong fire.
“We were talking about this three weeks ago, but they chose to do nothing and leave it on fire,” she said. “This shows the state’s failure.”
When the fermenting grains ignited earlier in July, Lebanese firefighters and army soldiers had tried to put out the fire, but officials and experts told them to stop, fearing the additional moisture from the water would worsen the situation. The Interior Ministry said over a week later that the fire had spread, after reaching some electric cables nearby.
The silos continued smoldering for weeks as the stench of the fermented grains seeped into nearby neighborhoods. Residents and survivors of the explosion told the AP that seeing the smoking silos was akin to reliving their trauma of the port blast. The environment and health ministries last week instructed residents living near the port to stay indoors in well-ventilated spaces.
The Lebanese Red Cross distributed K-N95 masks to those living nearby, and officials ordered firefighters and port workers to stay away from the immediate area near the silos.
Emmanuel Durand, a French civil engineer who volunteered for the government-commissioned team of experts, told the AP earlier in July that the northern block of the silo had been slowly tilting over time but that the recent fire accelerated the rate and caused irreversible damage to the already weakened structure. He told the AP on Sunday that he sent warnings that other parts of the northern block may also collapse imminently
Durand has been monitoring the silos from thousands of miles away using data produced by sensors he installed over a year ago, and updating a team of Lebanese government and security officials on the developments in a WhatsApp group. He repeatedly warned that a collapse was imminent.
Last April, the Lebanese government decided to demolish the silos, but suspended the decision following protests from families of the blast’s victims and survivors. They contend that the silos may contain evidence useful for the judicial probe, and that it should stand as a memorial for the tragic incident.
The Beirut Port blast was one of the largest explosions in Lebanon’s troubled history. It took place less than a year after an uprising rocked Lebanon, with hundreds of thousands protesting the country’s entrenched sectarian political parties. The blast also precipitated Lebanon’s economic crisis, costing billions of dollars in damages and destroying thousands of tons of grain. Three-quarters of the population now lives in poverty.
The silos, barely standing, have since become an iconic structure in the heart of the devastated port, surrounded to this day by crushed vehicles and warehouses, and piles of debris.
Sunday’s collapse of a part of the silos’ northern section comes just days ahead of the second anniversary of 2020 explosion.
The Lebanese probe has revealed that senior government and security officials knew about the dangerous material stored at the port, though no officials have been convicted thus far. The implicated officials subsequently brought legal challenges against the judge leading the probe, which has left the investigation suspended since December. | https://cw33.com/news/ap-top-headlines/part-of-beirut-port-silos-damaged-in-2020-blast-collapses/ | 2022-08-01T16:07:11Z |
NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bluerock Total Income+ Real Estate Fund ("Bluerock Total Income+," "the Fund," "TI+," tickers: TIPRX, TIPPX, TIPWX, TIPLX, TIPMX) announced today the Fund has surpassed $7 billion in net assets, making it the first real estate focused interval fund to achieve such milestone. Bluerock Total Income+ is the largest real estate-focused interval fund and the 3rd largest of all active interval funds (ranked by net assets).1 Year-to-date through August, the Fund has raised nearly $3 billion in new equity capital.2 TI+ is invested in a diverse portfolio of institutional, private real estate, consisting of approximately $363 billion in underlying institutional real estate equity and debt investments.
Bluerock Total Income+ is pleased to report continued outsized shareholder net returns of 26.55% over the trailing 12-months and 16.2% YTD (TIPWX, I-share, as of 8.31.22) where both equity and fixed income securities are down sharply (TIPWX, I-share) as of 8.31.2022. The Fund, approaching its 10-year anniversary, boasts positive total returns in every calendar year and an annualized net return to shareholders since inception of 9.66%, with a low 1.68% annualized standard deviation since inception (TIPWX, I-share) as of 8.31.2022. We believe the Fund's strong performance has been driven by the investment team's active management, including strategic over-weights to the industrial, residential, life science and specialty sectors, which represent over 88% of the underlying portfolio.
Bluerock Total Income+ has also been a consistent leader in risk-adjusted performance generating the single highest Sharpe and Sortino Ratios (key measures of risk-adjusted returns) of all domestic '40 Act funds (including over 6,100 equity, fixed income and specialty sector funds) since inception as of 6.30.22, per Morningstar.3 TI+'s peer-leading performance extends to both its A-shares and I-shares, reporting the highest total net returns in the trailing five-year period among all active real estate sector interval funds (seven funds) as of 8.31.2022.4 Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
TI+ recently paid its 38th consecutive quarterly distribution in June 2022 at the annual rate of 5.25% based on current net asset value (NAV).5 The Fund's quarterly distributions have also been highly tax efficient with approximately 63% of the distributions enjoying tax deferral for even higher taxable equivalent yields. In addition, TI+'s NAV per share has increased more than 50% from $25.00 per share to $38.10 per share adding significant appreciation to the distribution for attractive total returns (A-share, TI+'s longest running share class as of 8.31.22).
"The Bluerock Total Income+ Fund has generated an exceptional combination of performance metrics, including, but not limited to, consistency of tax-efficient distributions, capital appreciation, and low volatility versus the broader indexes," said Jeffrey Schwaber, CEO of Bluerock Capital Markets. "TI+ has delivered high risk-adjusted returns through multiple market cycles, and in the current volatile market with stock and bond portfolios down sharply year-to-date, provides a much-needed outperforming portfolio component to its shareholders. Further, Bluerock Total Income+ has delivered strong performance in the past 12 months with net returns of nearly 3x greater than the Fund's long-term average, supporting our bullish outlook for shareholders in this current market," added Schwaber. "Of over 6,100 open, closed and exchange traded funds in the entire Morningstar universe since TI+'s inception 10 years ago, only one fund can boast the single highest risk-adjusted return of all funds, and that is Bluerock Total Income+ Real Estate Fund."
1 Source: Intervalfundtracker.com, Bloomberg.
2 YTD new capital amounts include distribution reinvestment.
3 Source: Morningstar Direct based on daily data as of 6.30.2022, among of all U.S. open-end, closed-end, and exchange traded funds (6,101 funds since inception) TIPRX generated the highest annualized Sharpe Ratio and annualized Sortino Ratio; compiled by Bluerock Fund Advisor, LLC. TIPRX, no load. Sharpe Ratio, and Sortino Ratio are only two forms of performance measure. The Sharpe Ratio and Sortino Ratio would have been lower if the calculation reflected the load. The funds considered in the analysis have significant differences, including various objectives, strategies, liquidity, and fees (see definitions below).
4 Source: Morningstar Direct, A-shares, load waived, trailing 5 years through 8.31.2022, all real estate interval funds as identified by intervalfundtracker.com. The 5-year comparison includes seven funds. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
5 The Fund's distribution policy is to make quarterly distributions to shareholders. The level of quarterly distributions (including any return of capital) is not fixed and this distribution policy is subject to change. Shareholders should not assume that the source of a distribution from the Fund is net profit. All or a portion of the distributions consist of a return of capital based on the character of the distributions received from the underlying holdings, primarily Real Estate Investment Trusts. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions will be made after the end of each year. Shareholders should note that return of capital will reduce the tax basis of their shares and potentially increase the taxable gain, if any, upon disposition of their shares. There is no assurance that the Company will continue to declare distributions or that they will continue at these rates. There can be no assurance that any investment will be effective in achieving the Fund's investment objectives, delivering positive returns or avoiding losses.
TI+ A Share and I Share Fund Net Performance
Returns presented are total net return: Expressed in percentage terms, the calculation of total return is determined by taking the change in price, reinvesting, if applicable, all income and capital gains distributions during the period, and dividing by the starting price. Returns greater than one year are annualized.
6 Inception date of the TI+ Fund Class A share is October 22, 2012 and Class I share is April 1, 2014.
7 The maximum sales charge for the Class A shares is 5.75%. Investors may be eligible for a waiver or a reduction in the sales charge.
The performance data quoted here represents past performance. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted above. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. For performance information current to the most recent month end, please call toll-free 1-888-459-1059 or visit bluerockfunds.com/performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
The total annual fund operating expense ratio, gross of any fee waivers or expense reimbursements, is 2.09% for Class A and 1.83% for Class I. The Fund's investment advisor has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and/or absorb expenses of the fund, at least until January 31, 2023 for Class A and Class I to ensure that the net annual fund operating expenses will not exceed 1.95% for Class A and 1.70% for Class I, per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class A, and Class I, respectively, subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years. Please review the Fund's Prospectus for more detail on the expense waiver. A fund's performance, especially for very short periods of time, should not be the sole factor in making your investment decisions. Fund performance and distributions are presented net of fees. Not all investors are eligible to purchase I shares.
About Bluerock
Bluerock is a leading institutional alternative asset manager with more than $15 billion of acquired and managed assets headquartered in Manhattan with regional offices across the U.S. Bluerock principals have a collective 100+ years of investing experience with more than $48 billion real estate and capital markets experience and have helped launch leading private and public company platforms.
The Bluerock Total Income+ Real Estate Fund is a closed-end interval fund that invests the majority of its assets in institutional private equity real estate securities that are generally available only to institutional investors capable of meeting the multi-million dollar minimum investment criteria. As of Q2 2022, the value of the underlying real estate held by the securities in which the Fund is invested is approximately $363 billion, including investments managed by Ares, Blackstone, Morgan Stanley, Principal, Prudential, Clarion Partners, Invesco and RREEF, among others. The minimum investment in the Fund is $2,500 ($1,000 for retirement plans) for Class A, C, and L shares.
For copies of TI+ public company filings, please visit the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at sec.gov or the Company's website at bluerockfunds.com.
About Bluerock Total Income+ Real Estate Fund
The Bluerock Total Income+ Real Estate Fund offers individual investors access to a portfolio of institutional real estate securities managed by top-ranked fund managers. The Fund seeks to provide a comprehensive real estate holding designed to provide a combination of current income, capital preservation, long-term capital appreciation and enhanced portfolio diversification with low to moderate volatility and low correlation to the broader equity and fixed income markets. The Fund utilizes an exclusive partnership with Mercer Investment Management, Inc., the world's leading advisor to endowments, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and family offices globally, with over 3,300 clients worldwide, and over $17.3 trillion in assets under advisement.
Investing in the Bluerock Total Income+ Real Estate Fund involves risks, including the loss of principal. The Fund intends to make investments in multiple real estate securities that may subject the Fund to additional fees and expenses, including management and performance fees, which could negatively affect returns and could expose the Fund to additional risk, including lack of control, as further described in the prospectus.
The Fund's distribution policy is to make quarterly distributions to shareholders. The level of quarterly distributions (including any return of capital) is not fixed and this distribution policy is subject to change. Shareholders should not assume that the source of a distribution from the Fund is net profit. All or a portion of the distributions consist of a return of capital based on the character of the distributions received from the underlying holdings, primarily Real Estate Investment Trusts. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions will be made after the end of each year. Shareholders should note that return of capital will reduce the tax basis of their shares and potentially increase the taxable gain, if any, upon disposition of their shares. There is no assurance that the Company will continue to declare distributions or that they will continue at these rates. There can be no assurance that any investment will be effective in achieving the Fund's investment objectives, delivering positive returns or avoiding losses.
Limited liquidity is provided to shareholders only through the Fund's quarterly repurchase offers for no less than 5% of the Fund's shares outstanding at net asset value. There is no guarantee that shareholders will be able to sell all of the shares they desire in a quarterly repurchase offer. Quarterly repurchases by the Fund of its shares typically will be funded from available cash or sales of portfolio securities. The sale of securities to fund repurchases could reduce the market price of those securities, which in turn would reduce the Fund's net asset value.
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Bluerock Total Income+ Real Estate Fund. This and other important information about the Fund is contained in the prospectus, which can be obtained online at bluerockfunds.com. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing.
The Bluerock Total Income+ Real Estate Fund is distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc (ALPS). Bluerock Fund Advisor, LLC is not affiliated with ALPS.
Definitions
Sharpe Ratio: Measurement of the risk-adjusted performance calculated by subtracting the annualized risk-free rate (3-month Treasury Bill) from the annualized rate of return for a portfolio and dividing the result by the annualized standard deviation of the portfolio returns.
Sortino Ratio: Measurement of risk-adjusted performance and a modification of the Sharpe ratio to measure the return to "bad" volatility (i.e., volatility caused by negative returns considered bad or undesirable by an investor), calculated as the excess return over the risk-free rate divided by the downside semi-variance.
Annual standard deviation is the daily percentage change in an investment. Standard deviation shows how much variation from the average exists with a larger number indicating the data points are more spread out over a larger range of values.
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SOURCE Bluerock Total Income+ Real Estate Fund | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/13/bluerock-total-income-real-estate-fund-eclipses-7-billion-net-assets-reports-continued-outsized-shareholder-returns/ | 2022-09-13T14:34:05Z |
Couple stranded in Spain after testing positive for COVID on cruise
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow/Gray News) - After two years of warning people about the risks of getting infected on cruise ships, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted its advisory last month.
To bring travelers back, the cruise industry is promoting new health services and cheap fares.
One couple, however, told Hawaii News Now their experience wasn’t as safe or supportive as was advertised.
The pair said they’ve been stranded in Barcelona since Saturday, after contracting COVID-19 while on a cruise in Europe. Travelers returning to the U.S. must test negative for COVID-19.
Craig Visitacion said the 10-day Mediterranean cruise on the Norwegian Star was a much-needed vacation for he and his wife after working on the frontlines during the pandemic.
The hospital medical technician said he trusted Norwegian Cruise Line to have safety protocols in place, but had concerns when he saw passengers clustered together without masks or distancing.
“From the time we stepped on the ship, we kind of noticed, felt kind of funny about it. But you know I’m not at work, I’m on vacation, so I kind of put it to the side and just try to focus on having a good time,” Visitacion said.
The day before the cruise was scheduled to end in Barcelona, Visitacion took a required COVID-19 test and his result came back positive.
He quarantined in his cabin and said crew members told him Norwegian representatives would help when they disembarked.
“We went out. no vans, no NCL personnel, no one,” he said. “To say that they’re going to house us and bus us to a certain hotel, to tell you to the truth, I don’t even know if there was any shuttles because nobody was there.”
Unable to fly back to the United States, Visitacion said he and other cruise passengers who tested positive felt abandoned.
“We stayed overnight in the airport, not knowing what to do and where to go because we didn’t have a hotel situated at the time,” Visitacion said.
He said he was able to find a hotel for two nights but had to move to another one due to unavailability. He added that he called Norwegian for four days but couldn’t get any help.
Visitacion said he was finally contacted by a Norwegian representative who told him his travel insurance would cover 150% of his expenses.
“I think they waited too long to reach out. I had my sisters at home in Hawaii trying to help us out, because in a foreign land with people, the locals seldom speaking English, it’s very hard to communicate with them,” he said.
His sister, Charleen Karimoto, said she took two days off from work to focus on getting her brother home and making sure he can refill his medical prescriptions in Barcelona.
She says she spoke to a manager from Norwegian over the phone but was hung up on.
Visitacion shelled out thousands of dollars on hotels and booked new flights to get back to Hawaii, hoping he tests negative in the next few days.
HNN reached out to Norwegian Cruise Line for information on how positive COVID-19 cases are handled but did not receive a response.
The company’s website says its health and safety program ensures “ultimate safety” but did not list guidance for infected passengers.
Copyright 2022 HawaiiNewsNow via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/04/27/couple-stranded-spain-after-testing-positive-covid-cruise/ | 2022-04-27T19:20:58Z |
Watchdog report says Trump and Biden administration decisions drove collapse of Afghan security forces
By Oren Liebermann, Natasha Bertrand and Jeremy Herb, CNN
The US decision to leave Afghanistan under both the Trump and Biden administrations was the driving factor behind the swift collapse of the Afghan military as the Taliban swept across the country with stunning speed last summer, according to a scathing new inspector general report released Wednesday.
The interim report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction called the US decision to withdraw — conceived by the Trump administration in 2020 and implemented by the Biden administration in 2021 — the “single most important factor” behind the collapse of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.
The inspector general’s report, which also cast significant blame on decisions made by former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, is one of the deepest examinations to date at the reasons behind the stunning fall of the Afghan government last summer that saw the Taliban rapidly take control of Afghanistan amid a full US withdrawal following a 20-year war.
The interim report is another damning indictment of the failed planning and strategy that plagued America’s vision for Afghanistan, even as special inspector general John Sopko wrote that the eventual collapse was “predictable.” The US repeatedly set goals for the Afghan military that were unattainable, implemented metrics that delivered success while obfuscating the real problems and poured resources into solutions that only exacerbated the issues they were meant to fix.
“After 20 years of training and development, the ANDSF never became a cohesive, substantive force capable of operating on its own. The U.S. and Afghan governments share in the blame,” the inspector general wrote. “Neither side appeared to have the political commitment to doing what it would take to address the challenges, including devoting the time and resources necessary to develop a professional ANDSF, a multi-generational process. In essence, U.S. and Afghan efforts to cultivate an effective and sustainable security sector were likely to fail from the beginning. The February 2020 decision to commit to a rapid U.S. military withdrawal sealed the ANDSF’s fate.”
The Doha agreement, signed between the Trump administration and the Taliban in February 2020, shattered the fragile morale of the Afghan military, according to the SIGAR report. The Pentagon, over 20 years, had attempted to create a “mirror image to the US military,” the report found — something that never materialized and would have required years more training and assistance.
By 2020, Afghan forces still relied far too heavily on US personnel and support, despite $90 billion of investment by the United States over the course of the war.
The Pentagon defended its decades of training and equipping the ANDSF, asserting that an independent Afghan military backed by US support was “very nearly within reach.”
“While not perfect and faced with many residual challenges such as rampant corruption and desertion, the ANDSF had grown to exhibit competency in securing most of Afghanistan’s population centers and had taken over all offensive operations against the Taliban to include the vast majority of airstrikes,” said Army Major Rob Lodewick, a Defense Department spokesperson.
Reduction of airstrikes
Following the agreement with the Taliban, other factors also hampered the Afghan security forces. The inspector general wrote that the US conducted more than 7,400 airstrikes in 2019, but limited them the following year to only 1,600, almost half of which occurred in the two months before the US-Taliban agreement.
The reduction in airstrikes, the report said, left the Afghan forces “without a key advantage in keeping the Taliban at bay.”
The Defense Department said the reduced strikes were a reflection of the US commitment to the Doha agreement, which called for an end to strikes against the Taliban. The Afghan Air Force still conducted unilateral “defensive strikes,” Lodewick said.
The withdrawal of US contractors last year further deteriorated the state of the Afghan air force. Former Afghan Army Corps commander Gen. Sami Sadat told investigators that when US contractors withdraw, every aircraft with battle damage or in need of maintenance was grounded. “In a matter of months, 60 percent of the Black Hawks were grounded, with no Afghan or U.S. government plan to bring them back to life,” Sadat said, according to the report.
The report also criticized the way the US military left Bagram Airfield in July 2021, saying that US forces departed the base at night without notifying the new Afghan base commander.
“The U.S. military also shut off the electricity, enabling looters to ransack the base before security forces regained control,” the inspector general wrote. “Although U.S. and Afghan officials disputed the circumstances of the U.S. departure, which a U.S. military spokesperson said was the result of a miscommunication, the demoralizing effect of the silent late-night departure on Afghan soldiers was clear.”
The report scrutinized multiple ways that Ghani’s paranoia and lack of planning contributed to the fall of the country’s armed forces and ultimately, Ghani’s government.
Ghani was profoundly ignorant about the state of his own military, the report found, only realizing in the final months before the Taliban took over the country that the US provided nearly everything for the Afghan forces except the men doing the fighting. Increasingly distrustful of the United States and paranoid that the west was plotting to replace him, Ghani tightened his inner circle, replacing a young generation of US-trained Afghan officers with loyalists.
“It was not until President Biden’s April 14, 2021, announcement of the final troop and contractor withdrawal date that this senior advisor and President Ghani’s inner circle said they realized that the ANDSF had no supply and logistics capability,” the inspector general wrote. “Although the Afghan government had operated in this way for nearly 20 years, their realization came only 4 months before its collapse.”
‘Old guard of Communists’
In the week before the fall of Kabul, Ghani installed an “old guard of Communists” into nearly the entire army corps, removing the younger officers.
At that point, the Taliban controlled five of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces. Within days, they would take over virtually the entire country, culminating in the fall of Kabul on August 15. Whatever his motives, Afghan and US officials believed Ghani’s leadership changes also played a fundamental role in the collapse of the Afghan military, according to the report.
The inspector general wrote that some Afghan and US officials believed Kabul would not have fallen had Ghani remained in the capital. One Afghan squadron commander told investigators he arrived in Kabul ready to defend the capital with a dozen attack helicopters and 17 pilots. But once Ghani fled, “self-preservation instincts took over,” and the squadron commander said that anyone who could fly an aircraft fled to neighboring countries, according to the report.
The interim report, which was requested by congressional committees, also sought to assess how much US-provided equipment fell into the hands of the Taliban.
The inspector general wrote that the status of US-provided equipment remains mostly unknown. The Pentagon estimates that $7.1 billion of Afghan security forces equipment remained in Afghanistan in varying states of repair when US forces withdrew last August. “We don’t have a complete picture, obviously, of where every article of defense materials has gone, but certainly a fair amount of it has fallen into the hands of the hands of the Taliban,” a US national security adviser told the inspector general.
The Defense Department reported to Congress in March it assessed that 78 aircraft, more than 9,500 air-to-ground munitions, over 40,000 vehicles, more than 300,000 weapons and night vision and other equipment were left behind in Afghanistan. Aircraft that remained in Afghanistan at Hamid Karzai International Airport were “demilitarized and rendered inoperable,” according to the Pentagon report.
The interim report concludes with a warning to the US government.
“Unless the U.S. government understands and accounts for what went wrong, why it went wrong, and how it went wrong in Afghanistan, it will likely repeat the same mistakes in the next conflict,” the inspector general wrote.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2022/05/17/watchdog-report-says-trump-and-biden-administration-decisions-drove-collapse-of-afghan-security-forces/ | 2022-05-18T08:49:24Z |
Ex-officer convicted of storming Capitol to disrupt Congress
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal jury on Monday convicted a former Virginia police officer of storming the U.S. Capitol with another off-duty officer to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.
Jurors convicted former Rocky Mount police officer Thomas Robertson of all six counts he faced stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, including charges that he interfered with police officers at the Capitol and that he entered a restricted area with a dangerous weapon, a large wooden stick.
His sentencing hearing wasn’t immediately scheduled.
Robertson’s jury trial was the second among hundreds of Capitol riot cases. The first ended last month with jurors convicting a Texas man, Guy Reffitt, of all five counts in his indictment.
Robertson didn’t testify at his trial, which started last Tuesday. Jurors deliberated for several hours over two days before reaching their unanimous verdict.
A key witness for prosecutors in his case was Jacob Fracker, who also served on the Rocky Mount police force and viewed Robertson as a mentor and father figure. Fracker was scheduled to be tried alongside Robertson before he pleaded guilty last month to a conspiracy charge and agreed to cooperate with authorities. Fracker testified Thursday that he had hoped the mob that attacked the Capitol could overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Robertson was charged with six counts: obstruction of Congress, interfering with officers during a civil disorder, entering a restricted area while carrying a dangerous weapon, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted area while carrying a dangerous weapon, disorderly or disruptive conduct inside the Capitol building, and obstruction. The last charge stems from his alleged post-riot destruction of cellphones belonging to him and Fracker.
During the trial’s closing arguments Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Risa Berkower said Robertson went to Washington and joined a “violent vigilante mob” because he believed the election was stolen from then-President Donald Trump. He used the wooden stick to interfere with outnumbered police before he joined the crowd pouring into the Capitol, she said.
“The defendant did all this because he wanted to overturn the election,” Berkower said.
Defense attorney Mark Rollins conceded that Robertson broke the law when he entered the Capitol during the riot. He encouraged jurors to convict Robertson of misdemeanor offenses but urged them to acquit Robertson of felony charges that he used the stick as a dangerous weapon and that he intended to stop Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote.
“There were no plans to go down there and say, ‘I’m going to stop Congress from doing this vote,’” Rollins said.
Fracker testified that he initially believed that he was merely trespassing when he entered the Capitol building. However, he ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiring with Robertson to obstruct Congress.
Under cross-examination by Rollins, Fracker said he didn’t have a “verbal agreement” with anybody to obstruct the joint session of Congress. Fracker said he believed everybody in the mob “pretty much had the same goal” and didn’t need for it to be “said out loud.”
Robertson and Fracker drove with a neighbor to Washington on the morning of Jan. 6. Robertson brought three gas masks for them to use, according to prosecutors.
After listening to speeches near the Washington Monument, Fracker, Robertson and the neighbor walked toward the Capitol, donned the gas masks and joined the growing mob, prosecutors said. Robertson stopped to help his neighbor, who was having trouble breathing. Fracker broke off and entered the building before Robertson, but they reunited inside the Capitol.
Defense attorney Camille Wagner told jurors that Robertson only went into the Capitol because he wanted to retrieve Fracker, who entered the Capitol a few minutes before Robertson. Wagner said the U.S. Army veteran was using the stick to help him walk because he has a limp from getting shot in the right thigh while working as a private contractor for the U.S. Defense Department in Afghanistan in 2011.
Jurors saw some of Robertson’s vitriolic posts on social media before and after the Capitol riot. In a Facebook post on Nov. 7, 2020, Robertson said “being disenfranchised by fraud is my hard line.”
“I’ve spent most of my adult life fighting a counter insurgency. (I’m) about to become part of one, and a very effective one,” he wrote.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi told jurors that Robertson was charged for his actions, not his political beliefs. Wagner also said Robertson should be judged by his actions, not his words.
The town fired Robertson and Fracker after the riot. Rocky Mount is about 25 miles south of Roanoke and has roughly 5,000 residents.
Robertson has been jailed since Cooper ruled in July that he violated the terms of his pretrial release by possessing firearms.
More than 770 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the riot. Over 250 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors.
Robertson’s trial is one of four so far for Capitol riot defendants. Two others had their cases decided by bench trials before the same judge.
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden convicted New Mexico elected official Couy Griffin last month of illegally entering restricted Capitol grounds but acquitted him of engaging in disorderly conduct. On Wednesday, McFadden acquitted another New Mexico man, Matthew Martin, of all four charges that he faced.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/04/11/ex-officer-convicted-storming-capitol-disrupt-congress/ | 2022-04-11T22:20:05Z |
FORT WORTH, Texas, April 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AZZ Inc. (NYSE: AZZ), a global provider of metal coating solutions, welding solutions, specialty electrical equipment and highly engineered services, today announced its Board of Directors has authorized a fourth quarter cash dividend in the amount of $0.17 per share on the Company's outstanding shares of common stock. The dividend is payable on May17, 2022, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 26, 2022.
While AZZ currently intends to pay regular quarterly cash dividends for the foreseeable future, any future dividends will be reviewed on an individual basis and declared by the Board of Directors at its discretion. AZZ remains committed to enhancing shareholder value based upon its consideration of various factors, including operating results, financial condition and business outlook at the applicable time.
About AZZ Inc.
AZZ Inc. is a global provider of galvanizing and a variety of metal coating solutions, welding solutions, specialty electrical equipment and highly engineered services to a broad range of markets, including, but not limited to, the power generation, transmission, distribution, refining and industrial markets. AZZ's Metal Coatings segment is a leading provider of metal finishing solutions for corrosion protection, including hot-dip galvanizing, spin galvanizing, powder coating, anodizing and plating, to the North American steel fabrication industry. AZZ's Infrastructure Solutions segment is dedicated to delivering safe and reliable transmission of power from generation sources to end customers, and automated weld overlay solutions for corrosion and erosion mitigation to critical infrastructure in the energy and waste management markets worldwide.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements herein about our expectations of future events or results constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and management's views and assumptions regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and investors must recognize that actual results may differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Certain factors could affect the outcome of the matters described herein. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, changes in customer demand for our products and services, including demand by the metal coatings markets, power generation markets, electrical transmission and distribution markets, and industrial markets. In addition, within each of the markets we serve, our customers and our operations could potentially be adversely impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We could also experience fluctuations in prices and raw material cost, including zinc and natural gas which are used in the hot dip galvanizing process; supply-chain vendor delays; customer requested delays of our products or services; delays in additional acquisition opportunities; currency exchange rates; adequacy of financing; availability of experienced management and employees to implement AZZ's growth strategy; a downturn in market conditions in any industry relating to the products we inventory or sell or the services that we provide; economic volatility or changes in the political stability in the United States and other foreign markets in which we operate; acts of war or terrorism inside the United States or abroad; and other changes in economic and financial conditions. AZZ has provided additional information regarding risks associated with the business in AZZ's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), available for viewing on AZZ's website at www.azz.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. These statements are based on information as of the date hereof and AZZ assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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SOURCE AZZ Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/azz-inc-announces-fiscal-year-2022-fourth-quarter-cash-dividend-017-per-share/ | 2022-04-07T22:36:54Z |
Together the organizations will deliver powerful data integration that enhances efficiency while delivering quality patient care.
DALLAS, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KanTime, the fastest growing post-acute EHR software provider, has partnered with Medline, an industry leader in medical supply manufacturing and distribution. This partnership includes a data integration that helps post-acute care agencies save time and money by enhancing their efficiency when ordering medical supplies needed to deliver quality care.
Medline's clinical and supply chain data will integrate with the KanTime system, allowing customers to track inventory, spend less time updating patient information, and access data reporting. This system integration is a huge step in growing customers' profitability while improving patient care.
Michael Froning, President of Pinnacle Home Care, stated: "As a Medline customer, this integration enables us to seamlessly bring our Medline ordering data into our current patient status records within KanTime, delivering a far more efficient process when ordering medical supplies for our patients."
KanTime's Chief Executive Officer, Sundar Kannan, shared his thoughts on the integration: "There are a significant number of our customers also partnering with Medline. We are excited to bring this integration into KanTime to help our mutual customers deliver quality care."
Allison Molnar, Vice President of Sales at Medline, said: "Now more than ever, our customers are looking for ways to save time, reduce costs, and create operational efficiencies, all while providing the best possible care to their patients. Through Medline's partnership with KanTime, we will be able to do just that. We look forward to collaborating with the KanTime team to continue serving our customers and evolving within the homecare market."
KanTime Healthcare Software is an American-based healthcare technology company that is the fastest-growing post-acute software provider in the nation, with over 900,000 patients, 210,000 users, $12.9B in processed claims, and 70M annual visits. We provide cloud-based enterprise software to home health, hospice, pediatric, private duty, and consumer-directed services agencies. KanTime helps agencies improve clinical compliance, increase operations efficiency, and achieve financial success.
KanTime works seamlessly on any point of care device, be it iOS, Android, or Windows-based, both online and offline. Additionally, KanTime offers robust business intelligence tools that allow upper-level management to drill down into various clinical, financial, and operational KPIs and act accordingly.
Medline is a healthcare company, manufacturer, distributor, and solutions provider focused on improving the overall operating performance of healthcare. Partnering with healthcare systems and facilities across the continuum of care, Medline provides the clinical and supply chain resources required for long-term financial viability in delivering high-quality care. With the scale of one of the country's largest companies and the agility of a family-led business, Medline can invest in its customers for the future and rapidly respond to a dynamically changing market with customized solutions. Headquartered in Northfield, Ill., Medline has 30,000+ employees worldwide and does business in more than 125 countries and territories.
Contact: Lauren Corcoran,
lcorcoran@kantime.com
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SOURCE KanTime Healthcare Software | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/kantime-medline-partner-improve-medical-supply-ordering-post-acute-care-agencies/ | 2022-07-12T09:36:47Z |
The Commodores to perform at Bicentennial grand finale concert
Local leaders and the Bicentennial Commission gathered at The Ballpark at Jackson Friday to unveil the line up of free community activities planned to wrap up the year-long Bicentennial celebration the weekend of Aug. 12-13.
The celebration will begin with the Jackson-Madison County Bicentennial Choir performing at the Carl Perkins Civic Center on Friday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. Applications to participate in this choir are still being accepted for anyone interested.
A Celebration Parade will happen in Downtown Jackson on Saturday, Aug. 13 at 10 a.m. The theme for the parade will be “connecting through the centuries.” The City of Jackson is coordinating the parade and can be contacted for information on how to participate.
A new time capsule will be buried at Bicentennial Park located at 345 West Main Street at 11:30 a.m. that morning.
A free community concert will take place that evening at the ballpark featuring The Commodores and LOLO. Gates will open at 4 p.m. with LOLO taking the stage at 6:15 p.m. and the Commodores at 7:30 p.m. A fireworks show will end the night at 9 p.m.
LOLO, also know as Lauren Pritchard, is an artist, songwriter, actress and composer from Jackson. LOLO is signed with Sony Music Publishing and has released 3 full-length albums.
In 2017, she was nominated for a Grammy Award for her work on Panic! At The Disco’s hit album Death Of A Bachelor. LOLO is a co-writer of “High Hopes” and “Say Amen” from Panic! At The Disco’s 2018 follow up album, Pray For The Wicked which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The global hit, “High Hopes,” hit the top spot on all radio platforms and forever marked its place in history as the longest running No. 1 song, 66 weeks on the Billboard Rock Chart. Her new album, titled “Lauren,” will be released Aug. 12, leading up to her performance at the Bicentennial. Accompanied by University of Memphis-Lambuth's music program director Jeremy Tubbs, she performed one of the songs from that album at the announcement.
Just like their hit song "Brick House," the Commodores have created a foundation that just won’t budge.
After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days, the Commodores still hadn’t achieved Grammy recognition. This wasn’t to be until 1986, without Lionel Richie, when the Commodores released “Night Shift.”
In 1968 the group was formed while all the members were in college at Tuskegee Institute. After being discovered by Berry Gordy, the Commodores went on to sell over 60 million records for Motown. With hits like “Machine Gun” and “Sail On,” the Commodores became proven artists. | https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/2022/04/23/commodores-perform-bicentennial-grand-finale-concert/7405580001/ | 2022-04-23T17:12:48Z |
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