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After the first year of college sports’ name, image and likeness era, football and men’s basketball still claim the throne for the number of deals and average compensation, and social media remains the most popular way to get that NIL money.
The total amount spent was about $917 million, NIL platform Opendorse estimated.
An average football deal comes out to nearly $3,400 on two platforms. And while softball and women’s basketball generally landed in the top five overall, when you subtract football, women’s sports are getting more deals than men’s sports, Opendorse said. Female gymnasts make big bucks, too: about $7,000 on average per deal, according to NIL platform INFLCR.
A full accounting of the first year of NIL, from July 1, 2021, to June 30 is hard to come by, for numerous reasons. The majority of schools don’t make public the number of deals and amounts their athletes have received (though a couple have divulged some information in what could be considered recruiting or marketing strategy).
There also is no central framework for how and when deals should be reported.
“You have all of these different stakeholders involved in this ecosystem and a lack of consistency, not just in platform where information is being reported, but in requirements relative to what information is necessary,” said Andrew Donovan, the executive vice president of collegiate partnerships at Altius Sports.
So it’s up to major NIL tech platforms — some of which facilitate deals and disclosures, and others disclosures only — to fill in the gaps. Sort of.
“I know that what’s being reported is not a full picture,” said Donovan, whose organization works with 30 schools on education and strategic guidance and talks with donors, boosters, corporate partners and others. “… Athletes are regularly acknowledging to us that they’re not disclosing. Schools are regularly communicating the struggles that they’re having getting athletes to disclose … It’s very clear that this is not a full, complete picture of what’s going on in the NIL space.”
What lies ahead for Year 2, beyond maybe new laws or group licensing? Opendorse thinks it’s the potential of NIL spending topping more than $1 billion.
An estimated $607.4 million could go to Power Five schools, with an average annual compensation $16,074 per athlete, Opendorse said. Already, about three-fourths of the known or forming collectives, which are third-party NIL kingmakers made up of school donors and boosters, are connected to Power Five schools.
Athletes’ deals with brands — from financial businesses to apps to fashion — will likely rise, too. Opendorse projects that brand deals will encompass 64% of all NIL compensation in Year 2 and bring in about $730.4 million.
Donovan, a former president of the National Association for Athletics Compliance, also believes there will be more importance placed on helping athletes understand tax implications of NIL deals: “There’s several schools across the country that are doing a good job there, but that needs to be built out as we see these large financial figures.”
ATHLETES MAKE HOW MUCH?
It’s a broad range. INFLCR’s overall average NIL transaction value is $1,815 through June 30. Athliance, another disclosure platform, has an average value of $1,524.58. Though the true picture may lie in INFLCR’s median NIL transaction value of $53.
The Opendorse platform said average annual compensation for an athlete in NCAA Divisions I-III combined is $3,438 ( through May 31). By division, DI athletes saw an average of $3,711, $204 in DII and $309 in DIII.
Football NIL deals tend to be hefty, with an average of $3,390.95 on Athliance and $3,396 on INFLCR. Opendorse broke down average compensation per football position, ranging from $403 for a specialist, $758 for the defensive line and $2,128 for quarterback.
Women’s sports overall received $1,084 on average for an NIL deal, per INFLCR, with women’s gymnastics soaring to a $7,054 average.
Some of the average transaction figures for nonrevenue sports through May 31 on INFLCR were surprising: $8,967 for swimming and diving, $6,087 for rifle and $4,813 for men’s golf — all higher than football and in the platform’s top five. Athliance cited an average of $1,850 for hockey, $1,400 for waterskiing and $1,026.67 for indoor track and field.
MEN’S VS. WOMEN’S
As of June 20, men’s sports received 62.7% of total compensation in the NCAA and NAIA combined, compared with 37.3% for women’s sports, Opendorse said. Remove football and women flip it to 52.8% vs. 47.2% for men. The difference in Division III was stark through May 31: 82.9% men vs. 17.1% women.
Football (49.9%) and men’s basketball (17%) dominated total NIL compensation by sport in Opendorse’s platform through June 20, with women’s basketball (15.7%), women’s volleyball (2.3%) and softball (2.1%) rounding out the top five. Football also took the top spot in INFLCR’s number of NIL transactions through May 31 with 23.7%, followed by men’s basketball (22.3%), softball (8.2%), baseball (6%) and women’s basketball (4.7%).
When it comes to total NIL activities, Opendorse says football (29.3%) is the leader, then baseball (8%), men’s basketball (7.6%), women’s track and field (5.6%) and women’s volleyball (5.5%).
Donor money also favors men’s sports — a whopping 93% of it, Opendorse said. The average monthly compensation from donors at the DI level is $1,012.
Meanwhile, 91% of all women’s NIL activities are brand-related on Opendorse’s platform, but 62% of all brand compensation went to men’s sports.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR YOUR DOUGH?
Social media remains supreme for NIL activity/transactions — 67.6% from Opendorse and 61% from INFLCR, both as of June 30. The average value of a social media NIL transaction is $905 and the median is $50, INFLCR said.
Multi-activity brand endorsement — endorsing something more than once — has a major share in Opendorse’s platform at 24.4% of NIL compensation. When it comes to brand activity, 36.73% is licensing rights for an average of $9,877 per deal and 34.19% is posting content with an average of $156 per post.
WHAT THE SCHOOLS HAVE DIVULGED
Ohio State says its athletes have gotten more than 1,000 NIL deals since July 1, 2021 — up from about 600 worth a total of $2.98 million at the six-month mark.
Kansas athletes inked 219 deals from July 1, 2021, to May 5 — a period that includes the Jayhawks winning the men’s NCAA basketball tournament — for a total value of $380,915.01, according to public records obtained by the Topeka Capital-Journal. The majority of deals were for less than $1,000.
At least one Kansas athlete from all 18 sports had at least one deal, according to a recent release from the school.
And at Norfolk State, running back Rayquan Smith let everyone know he has 66 NIL deals, calling himself the “ King of NIL.”
___
More AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/one-year-of-nil-how-much-have-athletes-made/ | 2022-07-07T17:36:39Z |
New system for improved data management, reporting, analytics, and compliance
CUPERTINO, Calif., April 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - (TSXV: BWLK) (OTCQB: BWLKF) Boardwalktech Software Corp ("Boardwalktech" or the "Company"), the leading Digital Ledger Platform and enterprise software applications company, is pleased to announce it has entered into a contract with a large Indian-based multinational bank and financial services company with a presence in 17 countries generating over US$30B in revenue.
Using the Boardwalktech Digital Ledger Platform, the Bank will implement a new system for managing data, aggregating information from disparate systems, reporting and analytics. The Bank will be able to efficiently manage and align information from their internal systems allowing them to better meet internal and external reporting needs, resulting in improved data governance, compliance, and business results. This will be the first application for this client built on the Boardwalk Platform. The Contract will initially generate $90,000 in annual recurring revenue with more applications and additional revenue planned in the future.
"Aligning and understanding information from multiple internal systems of record, and using that actionable information to make rapid and timely decisions, will be a big competitive advantage for the Bank," said Andrew T. Duncan, CEO of Boardwalktech. "Aggregating information into a single source of truth – the Boardwalk Digital Ledger, will improve the delivery of required reporting information for compliance purposes, improve response times and decisions across the Bank improving customer satisfaction, and business results."
Boardwalktech has developed a patented Digital Ledger Technology Platform currently used by Fortune 500 companies running mission-critical applications worldwide. Boardwalktech's digital ledger technology and its unique method of managing vast amounts of structured and unstructured data is the only platform on the market today where multiple parties can effectively work on the same data simultaneously while preserving the fidelity and provenance of the data. Boardwalktech can deliver collaborative, purpose-built enterprise information management applications on any device or user interface with full integration with enterprise systems of record in a fraction of the time it takes other non-digital ledger technology-based platforms. Boardwalktech is headquartered in Cupertino, California with offices in India and operations in North America. For more information on Boardwalktech, visit our website at www.boardwalktech.com.
This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved".
By identifying such information and statements in this manner, the Company is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements.
An investment in securities of the Company is speculative and subject to several risks including, without limitation, the risks discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's filing statement dated May 30, 2018. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.
In connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has made certain assumptions. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward- looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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SOURCE BoardwalkTech | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/25/boardwalktech-signs-new-contract-with-major-indian-bank/ | 2022-04-25T11:57:38Z |
AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas state senator who represents Uvalde is suing the Texas Department of Public Safety for denying him access to public records related to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School that killed 19 students and two teachers.
Law enforcement, including Texas DPS Director Steven McCraw, provided conflicting and false accounts of what happened during the shooting. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he was “livid” after being “misled” on information provided by officials in the days following the shooting.
Gov. Abbott said the day after the shooting that a Uvalde CISD officer confronted the gunman before he walked into Robb Elementary. A spokesperson for Texas DPS said that was untrue the following day.
“Yes, I was misled. I am livid about what happened,” Abbott said during a press conference three days after the shooting. “I was on this very stage, and I was telling the public what had been told to me. I wrote down hand notes in detail what everybody in that room told me. The information I was given turned out, in part, to be inaccurate, and I’m absolutely livid about that. My expectation is that the law enforcement leaders that are leading the investigation… they get to the bottom of every fact with absolute certainty.”
“To date, they have been met with lies, misstatements, and shifts of blame. The State of Texas failed these families, and those families deserve to know the complete, unalterable truth about what happened that day. This is a suit to demand just that,” said Sen. Roland Gutierrez.
In an open records request to McCraw on May 31, Gutierrez requested the ballistics report on the shooting, any policy manuals or documents that show how DPS and local law enforcement are supposed to work together during active shooter or hostage situations, and any documents or reports that detail how police and DPS responded to Robb Elementary.
Gutierrez also requested information showing the exact times that each law enforcement officer, from the local to the federal level, arrived on the scene. He also asked McCraw for clarification on who was in “operational control at every step of the law enforcement response in Uvalde.”
The lawsuit says by law, DPS had 10 business days to either respond to Gutierrez’s request or seek a decision from the attorney general on whether the release of documents could be denied, but that the agency did neither.
Gutierrez claims that DPS violated Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code by failing to provide the documents.
“The community of Uvalde deserves answers now so that we can begin to heal and make sure a massacre like this never happens again,” Gutierrez said.
KXAN has reached out to Texas DPS for a response.
Last week, KXAN received a copy of a letter sent to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from a law firm representing the city of Uvalde. The letter was regarding the distribution of information from open records requests made surrounding the May 24 mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
In the letter, the law firm, Denton Navarro Rocha Bernal & Zech, P.C., requested Paxton decide if the requested information is exempt from disclosure under the Public Information Act.
The law firm said the city of Uvalde claimed, “the requested information is not information that is collected, assembled or maintained under a law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by a governmental body or for a governmental body or is excepted from disclosure.”
KXAN requested the 911 recordings and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) report, as well as 911 transcriptions of calls made surrounding the shooting. | https://cw33.com/news/texas-senator-sues-texas-dps-to-get-information-on-uvalde-shooting/ | 2022-06-22T19:42:50Z |
Jill Biden on teaching as first lady: ‘Knew I could do both’
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jill Biden says she didn’t doubt that she could keep teaching as first lady and overcame the skepticism that she could handle both jobs by instructing her staff to “figure it out.”
In a new interview in the September issue of Real Simple magazine, the first lady describes how she uses Post-it notes to manage her large family, and offers marriage advice to newlyweds hoping to celebrate 45 years of marriage as she and President Joe Biden did on June 17.
Biden is the first first lady to continue her career outside the White House.
“I think people were a little skeptical. Could I truly do it, since I was the first one to try it?,” she said. “But I knew I wanted to teach.”
She said she told her staff, “This is what I want to do. We have to figure it out.’
Biden continues to teach English and writing at Northern Virginia Community College, which is where she taught during the eight years her husband was vice president. Her staff back then also doubted that she could teach and serve as second lady, but she managed.
“I saw it work then, and I knew we could figure out how to do it now,” she said.
Biden doesn’t like to use “juggling” or “balancing” to describe how she handles her responsibilities.
“You can’t do anything in a haphazard way,” she said. “You have to have purpose while you’re doing it, and it has to be organized. That’s the key to it.”
To that end, she relies on Post-it notes to manage her family gatherings and save herself from having to explain things over and over. She sticks instructions — like “fill glasses with ice” or “light candles” — to her kitchen cabinets so family arriving will know right away how to help.
“Everything is set up so when somebody comes in, they do what they want to do,” she said.
The first lady also uses Post-it notes to communicate with the president.
“If I want to get a message to Joe, I put one on his mirror,” she said. “It may be a nice ‘I missed you’ or ‘I hope you get whatever it is you’re working on.’”
She said it’s taken a lot of work for her and the president to get to 45 years of marriage. Both were married previously.
Joe Biden, 79, lost his first wife and infant daughter when the car she was driving collided with a truck in Delaware just before Christmas 1972. His two young sons were gravely injured. Jill Biden, 71, was divorced from her first husband.
“You have to work in any relationship, but especially in marriage. It’s not always 50/50,” she said. “Sometimes you lean on him, sometimes he leans on you. Sometimes he’s super busy and I have to pick up a lot of it, or vice versa.
“The goal is that we’re not in the same place at the same time, so we can count on one another when we need to,” she added.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/02/jill-biden-teaching-first-lady-knew-i-could-do-both/ | 2022-08-02T13:49:44Z |
Wordiest Shakespeare characters of all time
Francesco Hayez // Wikimedia Commons
Wordiest Shakespeare characters of all time
“To thine own self be true.”
“To be or not to be?”
While some of us may have dreaded the Bard during high school, others relish reliving William Shakespeare’s legendary works time and time again in books, plays, and renewed adaptations that continue today on stage and on the silver screen. Indeed, many of our most beloved and critically-acclaimed television and movie stars have taken on some of the most famous and complex Shakespeare characters in notable adaptations, including James Earl Jones, Mark Rylance, Maggie Smith, Anne Hathaway, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
In the spirit of this year’s celebration of National Shakespeare Day on April 23, Stacker has compiled this comprehensive list of the top 40 most prolific Shakespeare characters of all time (sans the iambic pentameter for easy reading), using data provided by Open Source Shakespeare.
Inspired to deliver a romantic monologue to a loved one? Searching for the most clever or evil way to approach someone with bad news? These iconic characters have you covered with all of the wit, charm, and eloquence you’ll need.
William Segar // Wikimedia Commons
#40. Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth appeared in “Henry VI, Part 3” and “Richard III.”
Speeches: 129
Queen Elizabeth was known as Lady Grey before she married King Edward IV in exchange for the return of her lands. Her willful and passionate spirit was interpreted as a foil to Richard III, which he often took as a threat to his power. The character has been played by notable actors Mary Kerridge (in the 1955 film “Richard III”) and Annette Bening (on stage in 1990’s “Richard III”).
Public Domain // Wikimedia Commons
#39. Troilus
Troilus appeared in “Troilus and Cressida.”
Speeches: 131
Troilus was a prince of Troy and brother to Hector and Paris. He is deeply in love with Cressida, a fellow Trojan who was exchanged to the Greeks for a Trojan prisoner of war and vows to kill Diomedes when Cressida agreed to an affair. One notable actor who played Troilus is Albert Finney.
Max Cowper // Wikimedia Commons
#38. Benedick
Benedick appeared in “Much Ado About Nothing.”
Speeches: 134
Benedick was one of the central characters of “Much Ado About Nothing,” where over the course of the play he turned from a misogynistic bachelor to a devoted lover who confronted his best friend on his loved one’s behalf. A few notable actors who played Benedick include Derek Jacobi, Sir Kenneth Branagh, and David Tennant.
Alfred W. Elmore // Wikimedia Commons
#37. Don Pedro
Don Pedro appeared in “Much Ado About Nothing.”
Speeches: 135
Don Pedro was the prince of Aragon who used his influence to manipulate the people around him to positive ends, such as the pairing of Hero and Claudio and Benedick and Beatrice. He was noticeably the only single person at the end of the play, despite the fact that he was a prince. One notable actor who played Don Pedro on the silver screen is Denzel Washington.
Charles Robert Leslie // Wikimedia Commons
#36. Robert Shallow
Robert appeared in “Henry IV, Part 2” and “Merry Wives of Windsor.”
Speeches: 136
Robert Shallow was a wealthy landowner who was a justice of the peace in Gloucester and was often depicted as an arrogant member of the upper class. He was interpreted as a foil to Sir John Falstaff (#2 on our list), who took advantage of Robert’s wealth. The audience is expected not to feel too much sympathy for Robert because he is depicted as an antagonistic character. David Bamber played the role in the 2012 “Hollow Crown” TV series.
Vincenzo Camuccini // Wikimedia Commons
#35. Cassius
Cassius appeared in “Julius Caesar.”
Speeches: 140
Cassius leads conspirators against Julius Caesar; he greatly resents Caesar’s power over the Roman people and how he revels in it. Cassius is also responsible for persuading Brutus to join the other conspirators. One of his most famous lines, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings,” inspired the title of the popular John Green YA novel and film, “The Fault in Our Stars.” Notable actors who have played Cassius include John Gielgud, Richard Johnson, David Collings, Cyril Nri.
Michael Goodman // Wikimedia Commons
#34. Parolles
Parolles appeared in “All’s Well that Ends Well.”
Speeches: 141
Parolles was a braggart soldier who was a liar, coward, and the best friend of Bertram. He had a bad influence on Bertram, which included encouraging him to run away to war and to have an extra-marital affair. Notable actors who have played Parolles include Larry Pines, Peter Jeffrey, and Conleth Hill.
Public Domain // Wikimedia Commons
#33. King Edward IV (Plantagenet)
King Edward IV appears in “Henry VI, Part 2,” “Henry VI, Part 3,” and “Richard III.”
Speeches: 144
King Edward IV is a member of the house of York and slighted some of his advisers and political supporters by marrying a commoner, Lady Grey, instead of a French noblewoman. He tries to calm the feuding factions of the nobility but fails, and is unaware that his brother Richard is doing his best to thwart and manipulate him.
Theodore Chasseriau // Wikimedia Commons
#32. Macbeth
Macbeth appeared in “Macbeth.”
Speeches: 146
Macbeth was a general in the army of Scottish King Duncan, whom he killed after hearing a prophecy that he will be king. Throughout the play, he struggled with his ambition to maintain the throne and his guilt over killing in order to do so. Notable actors who played Macbeth include David Garrick, William Charles Macready, Henry Irving, Sir Ian McKellen, and James McAvoy.
William Holman Hunt // Wikimedia Commons
#31. Proteus
Proteus appeared in “The Two Gentlemen in Verona.”
Speeches: 147
Proteus was a nobleman in Verona whose best friend was Valentine; he pledged his devotion to Julia before joining Valentine in Milan. Proteus betrayed Valentine by attempting to seduce Silvia and threatens her with rape; after seeing Valentine and Julia at the end of the play, his relationships with them were mended.
Angelica Kauffmann // Wikimedia Commons
#30. Valentine
Valentine appeared in “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.”
Speeches: 149
Valentine was a nobleman in Verona who traveled to Milan and fell in love with Silvia. He was betrayed by Proteus and banned from Milan, but by the end of the play his willingness to forgive and his devotion to Silvia earned her father’s approval.
George Henry Hall // Wikimedia Commons
#29. Sir Toby Belch
Sir Toby Belch appeared in “Twelfth Night.”
Speeches: 152
Sir Toby Belch was a crude, jolly, and corrupted knight, similar to another Shakespeare character, Sir John Falstaff (who also made this list). He was so impressed by a chambermaid’s plot to take down the ill-humored and socially ambitious Malvolio that he not only teamed up with her but also married her by the end of the play.
Angelica Kauffmann // Wikimedia Commons
#28. Cressida
Cressida appeared in “Troilus and Cressida.”
Speeches: 152
Cressida was a beautiful Trojan whose father defected to the Greek camp; she was Troilus’ lover and was traded to the Greeks in exchange for Trojan prisoners of war. She openly flirted with the Greeks and is often portrayed as a woman with fickle affections. Suzanne Burden and Laura Pyper are among the notable actresses to have portrayed her.
Henry Corbould // Wikimedia Commons
#27. Pandarus
Pandarus appeared in “Troilus and Cressida.”
Speeches: 153
Pandarus was Cressida’s uncle, and facilitated the meeting between Cressida and Troilus; he has been referred to as a pimp, seeing as he encouraged the characters to simply sleep together rather than share romantic moments. He is portrayed as a coward and a degenerate; Troilus cursed him at the end of the play and Pandarus had the ending soliloquy, which included complaints and a declaration that he would give the audience his “diseases.” One notable actor who portrayed Pandarus is Charles Grey.
Public Domain // Wikimedia Commons
#26. Henry IV
Henry IV appeared in “Henry IV Part One,” “Henry IV Part Two,” and “Richard II.”
Speeches: 154
Henry IV was introduced as Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, and staged a strategic takeover of the throne while Richard II was away at war in Ireland. When Richard II was murdered for Henry IV’s sake, the latter vowed to journey to Jerusalem and cleanse himself for his part in the killing. A guilt-ridden Henry IV then struggled to manage civil disputes in England.
William Luson Thomas // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Petruchio
Petruchio appeared in “The Taming of the Shrew.”
Speeches: 158
Petruchio was a leading male character who decided to marry the infamously strong-willed Katharine of Padua for the challenge of “taming” her and the huge dowry he would receive. Petruchio successfully manipulated her to become more obedient and submissive to the point where she would agree with any statement he said, regardless of its logic.
Francis Philip Stephanoff // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Hostess Quickly
Hostess Quickly appeared in “Henry IV, Part 1,” “Henry IV, Part 2,” “Henry V,” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor.”
Speeches: 158
Hostess (or Mistress) Quickly is the proprietor of the Boar’s Head Tavern in Eastcheap and her speech is often filled with double entendres and bawdy language. She was depicted as a woman with connections to criminals, but she also served as a messenger of Falstaff’s death and delivered love notes between characters in “The Merry Wives of Windsor.”
John Massey Wright // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Biron
Biron appeared in “Love Labor’s Lost.”
Speeches: 159
Biron was a well-spoken Lord in King Navarre’s court who reluctantly took the oath to be a celibate scholar for three years; Biron believed that it would be impossible for all of them to keep the oath. He fell in love with Lady Rosaline, who attended to the Princess of France, and subsequently broke his vow.
Public Domain // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Menenius Agrippa
Menenius appeared in “Coriolanus.”
Speeches: 162
Menenius was an extremely clever patrician and a friend and father figure to Coriolanus. Menenius used his wit to manipulate the plebeians to love him despite his distaste for them; in this regard, he acted as a foil to Coriolanus, who openly showed his disdain for the plebians and his ambition for power.
Francesco Hayez // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Romeo
Romeo appears in “Romeo and Juliet.”
Speeches: 163
Romeo was the titular character in “Romeo and Juliet,” where he was the son of Lord Montague, the head of a noble family in Verona. Some argue that Romeo’s decisions, from urging Juliet to marry him to slaying her kinsman after he killed his friend, drove the plot of the play. Notable actors and adaptations are Basil Rathbone, Leonard Whiting, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Frederic Leighton // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Desdemona
Desdemona appeared in “Othello.”
Speeches: 165
Desdemona was a Venetian beauty who enraged her father by eloping with Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian military. A lively spirit, she was devoted and faithful to Othello even when he abused her, and blamed herself when he strangled her to death over his mistaken belief in her infidelity. Dame Maggie Smith played the role in a 1965 film adaptation.
James William Edmund Doyle // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester)
Richard appeared in “Henry VI, Part 1,” “Henry VI, Part 2,” Henry VI, Part 3,” and “Richard III.”
Speeches: 166
Richard Plantagenet (who is not the Richard referred to simply as “Gloucester” in Richard III and Henry VI) gets most of his lines in all three Henry VI plays. While he is labeled Duke of Gloucester here, he is given the title Duke of York in “Henry VI, Part 1,” after losing all of his titles in the death of his father. In part two he is called York and is after the throne almost as much as Gloucester is.
John Massey Wright // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Queen Margaret
Margaret appeared in “Henry VI, Part 1,” “Henry VI, Part 2,” “Henry VI, Part 3,” and “Richard III.”
Speeches: 169
Margaret was the widow of King Henry VI and mother of their son, Prince Edward; in the titular plays she was portrayed as a dominating, ambitious, and strategic woman who fiercely advocated for her son’s right to inherit the throne. In “Richard III” she fell to the mercy of the York family, and her curses served as prophecies. The plays and the role has been adapted for television a number of times, with famed Shakespearean actress Peggy Ashcroft playing Margaret in a 1963 TV adaptation.
Public Domain // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Earl of Warwick
The Earl appeared in “Henry IV, Part 2,” “Henry V,” “Henry VI, Part 1,” “Henry VI, Part 2,” and “Henry VI, Part 3.”
Speeches: 182
Nicknamed “The Kingmaker” the Earl of Warwick served Lancaster kings as an aid and adviser to King Henry IV and King Henry V. The Earl supported the House of York’s claim to the throne only to be slighted by King Edward IV when he married Elizabeth Gray; he decided to support Queen Margaret’s power grab only to die in battle and realize that all of his “kingmaking” ultimately meant nothing.
Note: There are technically two Earls across these plays. Henry IV-Henry VI Part One is Richard de Beauchamp, the 13th Earl. Richard “Kingmaker” Neville is the 16th Earl.
John Ogborne // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Henry VI
Henry VI appeared in “Henry VI, Part 1,” “Henry VI, Part 2,” “Henry VI, Part 3,” and mentioned in “Richard III.”
Speeches: 183
Henry VI was the son of the famous Henry V, who was killed in battle; as such, Henry VI relied on the words of scheming advisers for the majority of his life. Throughout his reign, he struggled to calm the conflict among the nobility and lost the lands in France that his father gained; he ultimately wished to rule in name while someone else had control.
Benjamin West // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Lear
Lear appeared in “King Lear.”
Speeches: 188
Lear was the narcissistic king of Britain who decided to divide his kingdom between his two eldest daughters, who gave him false flattery, and disowned his youngest daughter, who was truly loyal to him. His actions resulted in a loss of power and a descent into madness. Notable actors who played Lear are Henry Irving, Donald Wofit, and Laurence Olivier.
Richard Westall // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Coriolanus
Coriolanus appeared in “Coriolanus.”
Speeches: 189
Caius Marcius Coriolanus was a brilliant Roman general who openly despised the plebian class and earned the disdain of other Roman politicians. His arrogance, thirst for power and inability to play politics like his friend Menenius Agrippa ultimately contributed to his downfall. Notable actors include Tom Hiddleston and Ralph Fiennes.
George Clint // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Brutus
Brutus appeared in “Julius Caesar.”
Speeches: 194
Marcus Brutus was a supporter of the Roman Republic and a dear friend to Julius Caesar; Cassius manipulates Brutus into joining the conspirators. While the others were motivated by ambition and envy, Brutus genuinely believed that Caesar as the sole ruler of Rome would not have been good for the Republic. The play focused on his struggle to walk the lines between loyalty, duty, and friendship. Notable actors to take on the iconic character include James Mason and Paterson Joseph.
Victoria and Albert Museum // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Vincentio
Vincentio appeared in “Measure for Measure.”
Speeches: 194
Vincentio, the Duke of Vienna, was good-natured and couldn’t bring himself to punish people when they broke the law. He left his deputy Angelo in charge and then impersonated a friar to spy on Angelo and the people of Vienna.
Robert Walker Macbeth // Shutterstock
#11. Rosalind
Rosalind appeared in “As You Like It.”
Speeches: 201
Rosalind was the strong-willed, clever, and good-hearted protagonist of “As You Like It.” She was banished from court by her uncle, and used that opportunity to help the people around her; her character dominated the play.
Arthur Hopkins // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Cleopatra
Cleopatra appeared in “The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra.”
Speeches: 204
Cleopatra was the queen of Egypt who took on powerful men as lovers and was intense in her emotions. She is regarded as one of the most powerful and empowered women in Shakespeare’s plays, and while she could be fickle in her affections, she showed that she ultimately loved Mark Antony, choosing suicide rather than life without him. Notable actors to depict Cleopatra include Kim Cattrall, Mark Rylance, and the legendary Elizabeth Taylor.
Johann Heinrich Ramberg // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Timon
Timon appeared in “Timon of Athens”
Speeches: 210
Timon was a lord of Athens who was once extremely generous to others because he believed that friendship meant giving without asking in return. After those same people refused to help him with his debts, Timon denounced humanity for being villainous and self-serving. His lack of support when in need balanced by the people who seek him out explored the questions of whether generosity or friendship are things to be advised against.
George Edward Robertson // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Antony
Antony appeared in “Julius Caesar” and “The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra.”
Speeches: 253
Mark Antony was first introduced as a hedonistic character who made his military fortunes by besting the forces of Brutus and Cassius after Caesar’s death; he became one of the three rulers of the Roman Republic. Antony struggled between his duties as an honorable leader and his luxurious life with Cleopatra. Richard Burton played the famous role in the 1963 film version of the play, “Cleopatra.”
James Ward // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Iago
Iago appeared in “Othello.”
Speeches: 272
Iago was an ensign serving with Othello and became resentful of him when the latter promoted another soldier whom Iago considered inferior. Iago subsequently conspired against Othello and enjoyed manipulating people around him; he was eventually exposed and condemned to be imprisoned and tortured. Notable actors include Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Kenneth Branagh, and Rory Kinnear.
Public Domain // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Othello
Othello appeared in “Othello.”
Speeches: 274
Othello was an experienced Moorish general in the Venetian military who convinced a Venetian woman to elope with him to Cyprus; he was considered a racial and cultural outsider and exoticized by the other characters. Othello was manipulated by Iago to believe that his wife, Desdemona, was unfaithful; after abusing and then killing Desdemona, Othello realized his mistake and killed himself. You may have seen this role on the big screen, played by Sir Patrick Stewart, Laurence Fishburne, and Mekhi Phifer.
Canva
#5. Hamlet
Hamlet appeared in “Hamlet.”
Speeches: 358
Hamlet was the main character of the titular play, the son of the deceased King Hamlet, and nephew of the current King Claudius; the quest to avenge his father’s death drove the plot. The character is one of Shakespeare’s most recognizable, with many soliloquies (“To be, or not to be”) and lines (“Get thee to a nunnery”) still quoted and referenced in modern-day. Notable actors to portray him include Edwin Booth, John Barrymore, Ian Charleson, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Ben Whishaw, and Tom Hiddleston.
National Portrait Gallery // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Henry V
Henry V appeared in “Henry IV, Part 1,” “Henry IV, Part 2,” and “Henry V.”
Speeches: 377
Henry V was a charismatic and intelligent king committed to the responsibilities tied to having the throne. He was goal-driven and used his oratory skills to justify his claims to conquer France and motivate his troops. Tom Hiddleston played Henry V in the “Hollow Crown” TV series.
William Hogarth // Wikimedia Commons
#3. Richard III (Duke of Gloucester)
Richard III appears in “Henry VI, Part 3” and “Richard III”
Speeches: 409
Not to be confused with Richard Plantagenet, who is also labeled as Gloucester in “Henry VI,” Richard III is the main character in the play of the same name. Richard was the brother of King Edward IV and Duke of Gloucester who greatly desired to be king and would stop at nothing to do so. While he was evil and manipulative, he was also intelligent and captivated audiences with his use of language and political savvy. Notable actors include Sir Ian McKellen, Al Pacino, and Laurence Olivier. Actor Peter Sellers reportedly had aspirations to play the role himself but appeared instead in a 1965 TV special about The Beatles’ music reciting “A Hard Day’s Night” in the style of Olivier’s Richard III.
Johann Heinrich Ramberg // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Falstaff
Falstaff appeared in “Henry IV, Part 1,” “Henry IV, Part 2,” and “Merry Wives of Windsor,” and is mentioned in “Henry V.”
Speeches: 471
Sir John Falstaff was a disgraced knight, braggart soldier, and a friend of Prince Hal; he was a flawed character in that he accepted bribes and had no qualms exploiting other characters. However, audiences loved Falstaff because he was a charismatic character and had a good sense of humor.
John Taylor // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Shakespeare
Shakespeare appeared in the “First Folio” (which contains most of Shakespeare’s most famous works).
Speeches: 733
It’s thought that Shakespeare himself appeared in his own plays, particularly because he was listed as a principal actor in the posthumously published “First Folio” edition of most of his most famous plays. Nicholas Rowe, an actor who wrote the first critical edition of Shakespeare’s works, referred to him as “the Ghost in his own Hamlet.” Shakespeare was part of Lord Chamberlain’s Men, an acting troupe, and became the co-owner of the now-renowned Globe Theatre. The first play that was likely performed at Shakespeare’s famous playhouse was “Julius Caesar” in 1599. | https://localnews8.com/stacker-lifestyle/2022/04/15/wordiest-shakespeare-characters-of-all-time/ | 2022-04-16T13:05:09Z |
Feds: Thousands may have student debt that should be erased
(AP) - Record-keeping failures by the federal government may have left thousands of Americans saddled with student debt that should have been automatically canceled through a benefit for low-income borrowers, according to a new federal study.
In a scathing report released on Wednesday, the Government Accountability Office faulted the Education Department for sloppy oversight of its income-driven repayment program — a collection of plans that offer reduced monthly payments and carry a promise to erase all remaining debt after 20 or 25 years of payments.
The study, requested by Congress, identified 7,700 federal student loans that appear to meet the conditions for loan forgiveness but had yet to be canceled as of September 2020. The loans were held by 3,000 borrowers and amount to a combined $49 million.
It was released a day after the Education Department announced changes to fix what it called “historical failures” of the program. Those changes are expected to help some borrowers get their loans discharged more quickly.
Investigators said they couldn’t verify why the loans hadn’t been forgiven — gaps in the Education Department’s data made it impossible to know for sure. But they suggested it could be the result of poor record-keeping.
Before 2014, the report said, the department failed to make sure borrowers’ monthly payments were being tracked. That in turn has prevented the agency from tracking borrowers’ progress toward loan forgiveness, leaving some repaying loans longer than they should have.
So far, only 157 loans have been forgiven through income-driven plans, according to the study.
“The Department of Education has had trouble tracking borrowers’ payments and hasn’t done enough to ensure that all eligible borrowers receive the forgiveness to which they are entitled,” the GAO said. “We found thousands of borrowers still in repayment who could be eligible for forgiveness now.”
The report details a host of other shortcomings in the income-driven repayment program.
Education officials have failed to make the requirements clear to borrowers, including what types of payments count, the report said. When borrowers pause their payments through the forbearance process, for example, that time generally doesn’t count toward forgiveness. But that wasn’t clearly explained, the GAO found.
It also blamed the agency for failing to tell borrowers that they can request an update on their progress toward loan forgiveness.
Created in 1994, the income-driven repayment program was meant to provide a safety net for people who struggle to repay student loans. The program now offers five repayment options that provide reduced monthly payments based on income and family size. The balance is supposed to be automatically forgiven after 20 or 25 years, depending on the plan.
Among more than $1 trillion in student debt held by the federal government, about half is being repaid through those plans.
The number of loans eligible for forgiveness through the program is expected to balloon in coming years, according to the GAO. By 2030, the office estimates, up to 1.5 million loans held by 600,000 borrowers could meet the conditions for forgiveness.
In a response to the report, Education Department officials acknowledged the failures of the program and promised improvement. They also acknowledged the need to act quickly.
“We recognize that it is important to get payment counting correct now, as the number of loans that have been in repayment long enough to qualify for loan forgiveness will only grow over time,” wrote Richard Cordray, chief operating officer for Federal Student Aid, the office that oversees student loans.
He added that the program has “long been a source of confusion and frustration for many borrowers.”
Cordray agreed to a list of changes recommended by the GAO. He said his agency will identify and correct record-keeping errors, and will create a system to let borrowers check their progress toward loan forgiveness online, among other changes.
Under the department’s new action, borrowers in income-driven plans will get all of their past monthly payments counted toward loan forgiveness, even if they weren’t in an eligible repayment plan at the time. Borrowers who had long stretches in forbearance will also get that time counted toward forgiveness, even though it typically is excluded.
The department called it a one-time revision “to correct for data problems and past implementation inaccuracies.”
Borrower rights advocates applauded the changes but also called for broader improvements to the program, which has long been criticized for being overly complex. Democrats in Congress have urged the department to replace existing income-driven repayment plans with a single, more generous plan.
Among those calling for an overhaul is Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., who leads the House education committee and requested the GAO investigation. In a statement, he said the report “confirms serious problems with the management” of the program.
“I am pleased that the Biden-Harris Administration announced steps to fix the problem,” he said. “I continue to stand ready to work with the Department of Education to improve the Income-Driven Repayment program.”
The latest action is part of the Biden administration’s piecemeal attempt to reduce the burden of student debt. The Education Department has taken action to make it easier to get loan forgiveness through other programs, including one for public servants and another for students who are defrauded by their colleges.
This month the administration also suspended student loan payments through August, extending a freeze that has allowed millions of Americans to postpone their payments during the pandemic.
But President Joe Biden also faces mounting pressure to enact sweeping student debt forgiveness for all borrowers, which was one of his campaign promises. Some Democrats have pressed Biden to cancel $50,000 for all student loan borrowers, saying it would jumpstart the economy and address racial inequities.
Biden previously said he supports canceling up to $10,000, but said it should be done by Congress. Last year he asked for a review on the legality of using executive action to erase student debt. No decision has been announced.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/21/feds-thousands-may-have-student-debt-that-should-be-erased/ | 2022-04-21T11:08:01Z |
LAS VEGAS, April 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As Easter is around the corner, it's a great time for family gatherings or planning an escape from the city to relax mind and soul in the wild. To cater to such off-grid power needs during the holiday, BLUETTI, an innovative company in the power storage industry for over 10 years, is now offering an Easter assortment, starting from Apr 7, 7PM PDT and ending on Apr 18, 7PM PDT.
Though with no battery built-in, the AC300 is 100% modular, which can connect with up to 4 B300 battery packs to reach a 12,288Wh capacity. The 3000W Pure Sine AC inverter is built for securely running high-load devices. The BLUETTI Fusion Box Pro can combine 2 such units in series and even boost to a massive 24,576Wh/ 6000W/ 24V, which is sure to cover all household power needs for a day or two.
AC200MAX integrates a 2048Wh (51.2V 40Ah) ultra-durable LiFePO4 battery pack that holds up to 3,500 cycles before dropping to 80% efficiency. It features 16 outputs to run multiple devices at the same time. Flexible to recharge it in 7 ways, the maximum 1400W input rate allows it to top up to full within 2 hours. It also compatible with B300 battery packs to expand up to as much as 12,288Wh.
When considering a solar generator as an emergency power supply, then EP500 should be on the top of the list since it's shipped with a 5100Wh capacity and a 2000W rated pure sine wave AC inverter. With the Smart Home Panel, EP500 can be integrated into the home grid due to the seamless 24/7 UPS function, combating power failure anytime. Remote control, monitor, and firmware updates can be done merely with clicks on the cellphone.
EB55 & EB70 are super lightweight and portable especially for outdoor trips like camping or fishing. The easy-to-carry handle is ergonomically constructed for easy transport. Simply hook it up with BLUETTI solar panels PV120 or PV200 to make it a reliable power source with endless green energy.
Widely compatible with most solar generators in the market, PV350 solar panel is made of advanced laminated technology and long-lasting ETFE material to withstand daily scratch and water splash. The 350-Watt monocrystalline can ensure a high conversion rate up to 23.4%. Always stay powered along the way.
Highly Recommended BLUETTI Modules for Easter:
AC300+2*B300+3*PV350 Combo
--AC300: 3000W Power Station
--B300: 3072Wh LFP External Battery
--PV350: 350W Foldable Monocrystalline Solar Panel
AC200MAX+3*PV350 Off-grid Power Solution
--AC200MAX: 2200W, 2048Wh Expandable Solar Generator
--PV350: 350W Foldable Monocrystalline Solar Panel
EP500+4*PV350 Unparalleled Power Backup
--EP500: 2000W, 5100Wh Solar Power Station
--PV350: 350W Foldable Monocrystalline Solar Panel
EB55/EB70+PV120/ PV200 Ultra Portable System
--EB55: 700W, 537Wh Solar Generator
--EB70: 700W, 716Wh Solar Generator
--PV120: 120W Foldable Monocrystalline Solar Panel
--PV200: 200W Foldable Monocrystalline Solar Panel
About BLUETTI
With over 10 years of experience in the energy storage industry, BLUETTI is committed to building the world's best power stations for van dwellers, explorers, and off-grid life. For more information, please visit https://www.bluettipower.com/
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SOURCE BLUETTI POWER INC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/09/bluetti-offer-2022-easter-bundle/ | 2022-04-09T03:18:38Z |
The Company continues to focus on facilitating economic growth in Ontario and announces a landmark agreement with First Nations
TORONTO, May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Hydro One Limited (Hydro One or the Company) today announced its financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022.
First Quarter Highlights
- First quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $0.52 was 15.6% higher compared to EPS of $0.45 for the same period in 2021.
- EPS for the quarter was higher year over year primarily due to approved rates for the transmission and distribution segments as well as higher peak demand and higher energy consumption, partially offset by higher depreciation, amortization and asset removal costs and higher operating, maintenance and administrative expenses.
- Hydro One commits to meaningful Reconciliation with an industry-leading agreement to provide First Nations with the opportunity to invest in an equity stake in the Waasigan Transmission Line project.
- Hydro One announced grants from its Energizing Life Community Fund for Indigenous communities, charitable organizations, and municipalities.
- Hydro One and Jack.org announced a free mental health discussion for educators and adults to help identify the signs of struggle in young people and access support.
- The Company filed an evidence update on the Joint Rate Application with the Ontario Energy Board (OEB).
- Subsequent to the quarter, the Minister of Energy directed the OEB to amend Hydro One Networks Inc.'s transmission licence to develop four additional transmission lines to meet the growing electricity demand in southwestern Ontario.
- The Company's capital investments and in-service additions for the quarter were $449 million and $229 million, respectively, compared to $527 million and $157 million in 2021.
- Quarterly dividend declared at $0.2796 per share, payable June 30, 2022.
"We are extremely proud to announce a momentous agreement with First Nations communities to help us build the electricity grid of the future in northwestern Ontario," said Mark Poweska, President and CEO of Hydro One. "Building on our strong track record, we are also excited to receive the opportunity to develop four additional transmission lines to enable economic prosperity in Ontario."
Key Financial Highlights
2022 First Quarter Highlights
The Company reported net income attributable to common shareholders of $310 million during the quarter, compared to $268 million in the same period of 2021. This resulted in EPS of $0.52, compared to EPS of $0.45 in the prior year.
Revenues, net of purchased power[1] for the first quarter of $1,033 million were $116 million higher than revenues, net of purchased power1 for the first quarter of 2021. The increase is mainly due to the impacts of the OEB decision in April 2021 regarding the deferred tax asset (DTA) amounts previously allocated to ratepayers (DTA Implementation Decision), as well as revenues resulting from OEB-approved 2022 rates, and higher peak demand and energy consumption. Pursuant to the DTA Implementation Decision, Hydro One is currently recovering deferred tax amounts allocated to rate payers and included in customer rates for the 2017 to 2021 period over a two-year period which began on July 1, 2021. Hydro One has also adjusted the transmission revenue requirement and the base distribution rates effective January 1, 2022 to remove any further allocation of deferred tax amounts. The impacts of the DTA Implementation Decision are offset by a higher tax expense, and therefore net income neutral in the period.
Operation, maintenance and administration costs in the first quarter of 2022 were higher than last year, primarily due to higher allowance for doubtful accounts.
Depreciation, amortization and asset removal costs for the first quarter were higher than last year primarily due to growth in capital assets as the Company continues to place new assets in-service, consistent with its ongoing capital investment program.
Income tax expense for the first quarter of 2022 was higher than the prior year primarily due to income tax expense pursuant to the DTA Implementation Decision and higher earnings, partially offset by higher deductible timing differences compared to the first quarter of the prior year.
Hydro One continues to invest in the reliability and performance of Ontario's electricity transmission and distribution systems by addressing aging power system infrastructure, facilitating connectivity to new load customers and generation sources, and improving service to customers. The Company made capital investments of $449 million during the first quarter of 2022, and placed $229 million of new assets in-service.
Selected Operating Highlights
Through the industry-leading agreement with Hydro One, First Nations communities will have the option to invest in a 50 per cent equity stake in the Waasigan Transmission Line project that will support economic growth in northwestern Ontario.
The Minister of Energy directed the OEB to amend Hydro One Networks Inc.'s transmission licence to develop four additional transmission lines to meet the growing electricity demand in southwestern Ontario. This is in addition to Hydro One's previous transmission designation for the Chatham to Lakeshore line in 2020. These five transmission lines are expected to meet the needs of new and growing industries and help attract future jobs to the region. As the Windsor-Essex region continues to grow, a consolidated approach to developing the new transmission lines provides more transparency during engagement with Indigenous communities, residents, municipalities, and stakeholders and are expected to expedite development in the region.
For the second year, Hydro One announced grants from its Energizing Life Community Fund for 24 Indigenous communities, charitable organizations, and municipalities, that each received $25,000 to support initiatives that promote physical, psychological and emotional safety across Ontario.
Common Share Dividends
Following the conclusion of the first quarter, on May 4, 2022, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend to common shareholders of $0.2796 per share to be paid on June 30, 2022 to shareholders of record on June 8, 2022.
This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's first quarter 2022 unaudited consolidated financial statements and MD&A. These financial statements and MD&A together with additional information about Hydro One, including the audited consolidated financial statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2021 can be accessed at www.HydroOne.com/Investors and www.sedar.com.
Quarterly Investment Community Teleconference
The Company's first quarter 2022 results teleconference with the investment community will be held on May 5, 2022 at 8 a.m. ET, a webcast of which will be available at www.HydroOne.com/Investors. Members of the financial community wishing to ask questions during the call should dial 1-866-221-1674 prior to the scheduled start time and request access to Hydro One's first quarter 2022 results call, conference ID 6793175 (international callers may dial 1-270-215-9604). Media and other interested parties are welcome to participate on a listen-only basis. A webcast of the teleconference will be available at the same link following the call. Additionally, investors should note that from time to time Hydro One management presents at brokerage sponsored investor conferences. Most often, but not always, these conferences are webcast by the hosting brokerage firm, and when they are webcast, links are made available on Hydro One's website at www.HydroOne.com/Investors and are posted generally at least two days before the conference.
Hydro One Limited (TSX: H)
Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.5 million valued customers, approximately $30.4 billion in assets as at December 31, 2021, and annual revenues in 2021 of approximately $7.2 billion.
Our team of approximately 9,300 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2021, Hydro One invested approximately $2.1 billion in its transmission and distribution networks, and supported the economy through buying approximately $1.7 billion of goods and services.
We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Company by the Canadian Electricity Association.
Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.hydroone.com, www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov.
For More Information
For more information about everything Hydro One, please visit www.hydroone.com where you can find additional information including links to securities filings, historical financial reports, and information about the Company's governance practices, corporate social responsibility, customer solutions, and further information about its business.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Hydro One uses a number of financial measures to assess its performance. The Company presents "revenues, net of purchased power" to reflect revenues net of the cost of purchased power, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Non-GAAP financial measures do not have a standardized meaning under GAAP used to prepare the Company's financial statements and might not be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities. They should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of the Company's financial information reported under US GAAP.
Revenues, Net of Purchased Power
Revenues, net of purchased power is defined as revenues less the cost of purchased power. Revenues, net of purchased power is used internally by management to assess the impacts of revenue on net income and is considered useful because it excludes the cost of power that is fully recovered through revenues and therefore net income neutral.
The following table provides a reconciliation of GAAP (reported) Revenues to non-GAAP (adjusted) Revenues, Net of Purchased Power on a consolidated basis.
Forward-Looking Statements and Information
This press release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such information includes, but is not limited to, statements related to: the Company's continuing focus on facilitating economic growth in Ontario; the Company's expected recovery of deferred tax amounts; the Company's actions to improve service to customers; the Company's plans to improve reliability, including facilitating connectivity for new load customers and generation sources; the continuing growth of the Windsor-Essex region; the Company's ongoing and planned projects and expected capital investments, including anticipated outcomes and impacts; the impact of Hydro One's agreement with First Nations communities, and the impact of the Waasigan Transmission Line project; and payment of dividends. Words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "attempt," "may," "plan," "will", "can", "believe," "seek," "estimate," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking information. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actions and involve assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking information. Some of the factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from the results expressed, implied or forecasted by such forward-looking information, including some of the assumptions used in making such statements, are discussed more fully in Hydro One's filings with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Hydro One does not intend, and it disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking information, except as required by law.
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SOURCE Hydro One Limited | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/05/hydro-one-reports-first-quarter-results/ | 2022-05-05T12:09:45Z |
Kids Coding Franchise Helps Kids Enjoy a Fun-Filled Season Ahead of New School Year
HOUSTON, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Beat the heat (and the boredom) this summer at Code Ninjas, the world's largest and fastest-growing franchise where kids learn to code. Code Ninjas offers a wide variety of summer camps for kids 5-14 that integrate video games, robotics and a ton of other tools and technologies to ensure that kids have fun and continue to be inspired outside of their regular school year schedule.
"Though summer has just started, it will be time for the new school year before you know it," says Grant Smith, Code Ninjas VP of Education. "Code Ninjas provides opportunities for kids to learn how to code, but we also foster an environment for kids to be creative. A summer filled with moviemaking in Minecraft, making wearable tech, and creating adventures in game design are just a few examples of the camps offered at Code Ninjas that will give kids exciting memories they can take back to school."
Due to a spike in travel, amusement park and family vacation prices have soared, and summer activities are booking up quickly. With that in mind, summer 2022 is already bringing unexpected challenges to parents trying to fill up their schedule. Code Ninjas has parents covered with a wide assortment of camp curriculum over the summer months that offers parents an option for kids to have fun with fellow campers, learn new skills and beat summer boredom.
Each Code Ninjas center – or Dojo – fosters a safe space for kids to socialize and collaborate in new ways. Code Ninjas camps offer more than just STEM learning; kids get an opportunity to become active users of technology. Campers are given the tools to think critically, create new things and problem solve using the coolest tools and tech.
Everything about Code Ninjas is built around fun, which keeps kids coming back. The curriculum is self-paced, but not self-taught; kids get immediate help and encouragement from Code Senseis™ and fellow Ninjas as they advance from white to black belt, on the nine-belt program that makes up Code Ninjas CREATE. Younger kids can take part in Code Ninjas JR, and all ages are able to take part in summer camps instilling the problem solving and critical thinking skills into the innovators of tomorrow.
For more information on Code Ninjas summer camps in your area, please visit www.codeninjas.com/CampInfo.
Founded in 2016, Code Ninjas® is the world's largest and fastest-growing kids coding franchise. In hundreds of Code Ninjas centers, kids ages 7-14 have fun building video games while gaining life-changing skills in coding, robotics, and problem solving. Code Ninjas offers a robust, game-based curriculum made up of nine belts, just like martial arts. The courses are self-paced, but not self-taught; kids get immediate help and encouragement from Code Senseis (teachers) and fellow students as they advance from white to black belt. The program keeps kids motivated with little wins along the way, and "Belt-Up" celebrations where they receive color-coded wristbands to mark their graduation to the next level. By the time a child finishes the program, they will publish their own app, available to the public on an app store.
Media contact: Bailey Feldman, Fishman PR, bfeldman@fishmanpr.com or (847) 945-1300
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SOURCE Code Ninjas | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/20/code-ninjas-offers-summer-camps-beat-summer-boredom/ | 2022-06-20T15:44:00Z |
BMO's Third Quarter 2022 Report to Shareholders, including the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the period ended July 31, 2022, is available online at www.bmo.com/investorrelations and at www.sedar.com.
Third Quarter 2022 Compared with Third Quarter 2021:
- Net income of $1,365 million, compared with $2,275 million; adjusted net income1,3 of $2,132 million, compared with $2,292 million
- Reported earnings per share (EPS)2 of $1.95, compared with $3.41; adjusted EPS1,2,3 of $3.09, compared with $3.44
- Provision for credit losses (PCL) of $136 million, compared with a recovery of the provision for credit losses of $70 million
- Return on equity (ROE) of 8.8%, compared with 17.5%; adjusted ROE1,3 of 13.8%, compared with 17.6%
- Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio4 of 15.8%, compared with 13.4%
Year-to-Date 2022 Compared with Year-to-Date 2021:
- Net income of $9,054 million, compared with $5,595 million; adjusted net income1,3 of $6,903 million, compared with $6,425 million
- Reported EPS2 of $13.45, compared with $8.35; adjusted EPS1,2,3 of $10.20, compared with $9.63
- Provision for credit losses of $87 million, compared with a provision of $146 million
- ROE of 21.1%, compared with 14.5%; adjusted ROE1,3 of 16.0%, compared with 16.7%
TORONTO, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - For the third quarter ended July 31, 2022, BMO Financial Group (TSX:BMO) (NYSE:BMO) recorded net income of $1,365 million or $1.95 per share on a reported basis, and net income of $2,132 million or $3.09 per share on an adjusted basis.
"Our performance this quarter continued to demonstrate the strength and quality of our diversified business mix, credit excellence and the resilience of our earnings power. We delivered robust loan growth and margin expansion that drove record revenue in our North American personal and commercial businesses, buffering the impact of challenging market conditions on our capital markets businesses," said Darryl White, CEO BMO Financial Group.
"Our relentless focus on employee engagement and customer satisfaction continues to gain momentum, which we believe will be a sustained differentiator over time. We are committed to providing customers with exceptional experiences and personalized advice in every interaction, and helping them make real financial progress – highlighted by our achievement of highest customer satisfaction for retail banking advice in the J.D. Power 2022 Canada Retail Banking Advice Satisfaction Study, reclaiming the top ranking amongst Canada's largest banks, as well as our recognition by World Finance magazine as the best Commercial, Private and Retail Bank in Canada.
"BMO's proven track record of superior risk management, strong capital and liquidity, and dynamic financial management positions us for success in any economic environment. We continue to execute our disciplined growth strategy, investing in our talent and technology, including the integration of Bank of the West, to deliver long-term returns for our shareholders and progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future and inclusive society," concluded Mr. White.
Concurrent with the release of results, BMO announced a fourth quarter 2022 dividend of $1.39 per common share, unchanged from the prior quarter, and an increase of $0.33 or 31% from the prior year. The quarterly dividend of $1.39 per common share is equivalent to an annual dividend of $5.56 per common share.
The foregoing section contains forward-looking statements. Please refer to the Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.
During the first quarter of 2022, we completed the sale of our EMEA Asset Management business to Ameriprise Financial, Inc., including the transfer of certain U.S. asset management clients, and on April 30, 2021 we completed the sale of our Private Banking business in Hong Kong and Singapore to J. Safra Sarasin Group. Collectively, we refer to these transactions as "divestitures". The divestitures reduced net revenue and expenses by approximately 2% and 4%, respectively, on both a reported and adjusted basis, compared with the prior year.
On December 20, 2021, we announced the signing of a definitive agreement with BNP Paribas to acquire Bank of the West and its subsidiaries. Under the terms of the agreement we will pay a cash purchase price of US$16.3 billion, or US$13.4 billion net of an estimated US$2.9 billion of excess capital (at closing) at Bank of the West. The transaction, which is expected to close by the end of calendar 2022, is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
On closing, the acquisition is expected to add approximately US$94 billion in assets, US$59 billion of loans and US$80 billion of deposits to our consolidated balance sheet. These amounts are based on the financial position and results of Bank of the West as at the period ended June 30, 2022. We expect to fund the transaction primarily with excess capital, reflecting our strong capital position and anticipated capital generation.
On March 29, 2022, we issued 20,843,750 common shares for $3,106 million to finance a portion of the purchase price.
This acquisition aligns with our strategic, financial, and cultural objectives, and meaningfully accelerates our U.S. growth. Building on the strength of our performance and our integrated North American foundation, the acquisition will bring nearly 1.8 million customers to BMO and will further extend our banking presence through an additional 502 branches and commercial and wealth offices in key U.S. growth markets. Post closing, our footprint will expand to 32 states, including an immediate scaled entry into the attractive California market, where we expect to deliver a highly competitive offering to new growth markets, combining the strength of our digital banking platform and our strong banking team to generate good customer growth.
A signature strength of Bank of the West is the deep relationships formed between their employees, their customers, and the communities they have served for over 100 years. As part of this transaction, BMO does not plan to close Bank of the West branches, and is committed to retaining front-line Bank of the West branch employees.
Leveraging our deep integration experience and proven track record for U.S. expansion, we remain confident in achieving annual pre-tax cost synergies of approximately US$670 million (C$860 million) through operational efficiencies across our combined businesses. Integration planning is underway and is being overseen by a dedicated, joint integration management office.
Under IFRS accounting, the purchase price will be allocated to the identifiable assets and liabilities of Bank of the West at close, on the basis of their relative fair values, with the difference recorded as goodwill. The fair value/par value differences, referred to as the fair value mark, will be amortized to income over the estimated life of the underlying asset (liability). Intangible assets identified, including the core deposit intangible related to non-maturity deposits, will be amortized over their estimated life. The fair value of fixed rate loans and deposits is largely dependent on interest rates. If interest rates increase, the fair value of the acquired fixed rate assets (in particular, loans and securities) will decrease, resulting in higher goodwill. If interest rates decrease, the opposite would be true. Conversely, the fair value of floating rate assets (liabilities) and non-maturity deposits approximate par, providing no natural fair value change offset. Changes in goodwill relative to our original assumptions announced on December 20, 2021, will impact capital ratios at close, because goodwill is treated as a deduction from capital under the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) Basel III rules. In addition, given that the purchase price of the acquisition is in U.S. dollars, any change in foreign exchange translation between the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar between the announcement and the close of the acquisition, will result in a change to the Canadian dollar equivalent goodwill.
We are proactively managing exposure to capital from changes in fair value of the assets and liabilities of Bank of the West at close. As part of our fair value management actions, we entered into interest rate swaps that rise in value as interest rates rise, resulting in mark-to-market gains (losses) recorded in trading revenue. These swaps were largely offset from an interest rate risk perspective through the purchase of a portfolio of matched duration U.S. treasuries and other balance sheet instruments that generate net interest income. Together, these transactions aim to mitigate changes in goodwill arising from changes in interest rates between the announcement and closing of the acquisition, with the associated revenue (loss) treated as an adjusting item. In addition, BMO entered into forward contracts, which qualify as accounting hedges, to mitigate changes in the Canadian dollar equivalent of the purchase price on close. Changes in the fair value of these forward contracts are recorded in other comprehensive income (OCI) until close of the transaction.
The impact of the fair value management actions on our results was treated as an adjusting item. The current quarter included a loss of $945 million pre-tax ($694 million after-tax) related to the management of interest rate changes, comprising $983 million of mark-to-market losses on certain interest rate swaps reflecting lower medium and long-term interest rates as at July 31, 2022, compared with April 30, 2022, recorded in non-interest revenue, as well as $38 million interest income on a portfolio of U.S. treasuries and other balance sheet instruments recorded in net interest income. Year-to-date results included $3,172 million pre-tax ($2,331 million after-tax) comprising $2,967 million recorded as non-interest revenue and $205 million recorded as net interest income. The cumulative impact on our Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio was approximately 70 basis points relating to these fair value management actions. In addition, the changes in the fair value of the forward contracts decreased OCI by $4 million in the current quarter and decreased OCI by $68 million year-to-date.
This Significant Events section contains forward-looking statements. Please refer to the Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.
The order in which the impact on net income is discussed in this section follows the order of revenue, expenses and provision for credit losses, regardless of their relative impact.
Adjusted results and ratios in this Third Quarter 2022 Performance Review section are on a non-GAAP basis and discussed in the Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures section.
Reported and adjusted net income decreased from the prior year, as higher net income in our P&C businesses was offset by decreases in BMO Capital Markets and BMO Wealth Management. On a reported basis, Corporate Services recorded a higher net loss compared with the prior year, and on an adjusted basis, Corporate Services recorded net income compared with a net loss in the prior year.
Adjusted results in the current quarter excluded the impact of the announced acquisition of Bank of the West, comprising a loss of $694 million ($945 million pre-tax) related to the management of the impact of interest rate changes between the announcement and closing of the acquisition on its fair value and goodwill, reflecting lower medium and long-term interest rates compared with the prior quarter, as well as acquisition and integration costs of $61 million ($82 million pre-tax). In addition, adjusted results excluded the impact of divestiture costs of $6 million ($7 million pre-tax) in the current quarter. For further information, refer to Note 12 to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in our Third Quarter 2022 Report to Shareholders. Adjusted net income also excluded the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets and other acquisition and integration costs in both the current quarter and the prior year.
Reported and adjusted net income was $965 million, an increase of $137 million or 17%. Results were driven by a 13% increase in revenue, primarily due to higher net interest income, reflecting strong balance growth and higher margins, as well as higher expenses and a lower provision for credit losses compared with the prior year.
Reported net income was $568 million, an increase of $18 million or 3% from the prior year, and adjusted net income was $569 million, an increase of $13 million or 2%. The impact of the stronger U.S. dollar increased net income growth by 3%, revenue growth by 5%, and expense growth by 4%.
On a U.S. dollar basis, reported net income was $445 million, relatively unchanged from the prior year, and adjusted net income was $446 million, a decrease of $4 million or 1%. Reported and adjusted results were driven by a 12% increase in revenue, primarily due to higher net interest income, reflecting strong loan growth and higher margins, as well as higher expenses and a higher provision for credit losses compared with a recovery in the prior year.
Reported net income was $324 million, compared with $379 million in the prior year, and adjusted net income was $325 million, compared with $384 million. Traditional Wealth reported net income was $263 million, a decrease of $37 million or 12% from the prior year, with higher underlying revenue growth of 3% more than offset by higher underlying expenses. Insurance net income was $61 million, a decrease of $18 million from the prior year, primarily due to the impact of unfavourable market movements and a lower benefit from changes in investments to improve asset liability management in the current quarter, relative to the prior year.
Reported net income was $262 million, compared with $553 million in the prior year, and adjusted net income was $266 million, compared with $559 million. Reported and adjusted results were driven by lower revenue in both Global Markets and Investment and Corporate Banking reflecting current market conditions, lower expenses, including lower performance-based compensation partially offset by higher severance costs, and a lower recovery of the provision for credit losses compared with the prior year.
Reported net loss was $754 million, compared with a reported net loss of $35 million in the prior year, and adjusted net income was $7 million, compared with an adjusted net loss of $35 million. Reported results decreased, primarily due to lower revenue reflecting fair value management actions related to the announced acquisition of Bank of the West in the current quarter. Adjusted results increased, primarily due to lower expenses and the impact of a more favourable tax rate in the current quarter.
BMO's Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio was 15.8% as at July 31, 2022, a decrease from 16.0% at the end of the second quarter of 2022, as internal capital generation and common shares issued from treasury under the shareholder dividend reinvestment and share purchase plan were more than offset by higher risk-weighted assets and a reduction in the benefit from fair value management actions related to the announced acquisition of Bank of the West.
Total provision for credit losses was $136 million, compared with a recovery of the provision for credit losses of $70 million in the prior year. The total provision for credit losses as a percentage of average net loans and acceptances ratio was 10 basis points, compared with a recovery of the provision for credit losses ratio of 6 basis points in the prior year. The provision for credit losses on impaired loans was $104 million, an increase of $33 million from the prior year. The provision for credit losses on impaired loans as a percentage of average net loans and acceptances ratio was 8 basis points, compared with 6 basis points in the prior year. There was a $32 million provision for credit losses on performing loans in the current quarter, compared with a $141 million recovery in the prior year. The $32 million provision for credit losses on performing loans in the current quarter reflected a deteriorating economic outlook and balance growth, largely offset by continued reduction in pandemic uncertainty and positive portfolio migration. The $141 million recovery of credit losses in the prior year reflected an improving economic outlook and positive credit migration, partially offset by the impact of the uncertain economic environment on future credit conditions, as well as balance growth.
Refer to the Critical Accounting Estimates section of BMO's 2021 Annual Report and Note 4 of our audited annual consolidated financial statements for further information on the allowance for credit losses as at October 31, 2021.
BMO has a deep sense of purpose – to be a champion for progress and a catalyst for change. We are leveraging our position as a leading financial services provider to create opportunities for our communities and our stakeholders to make positive, sustainable change in the belief that success can and must be mutual. In support of our customers, communities and employees, BMO:
- Enhanced its NewStart Program to help newcomers to Canada, including those displaced from Ukraine, with the support they need to regain their financial footing faster and start building a life in Canada with a suite of personalized, no-fee banking products.
- Announced a further investment in community programs and organizations to support Black-owned businesses and Black entrepreneurs, the expansion of Black cultural programs, and Boys and Girls Clubs skilled trades career opportunities, bringing our commitment in Madison, Wisconsin, to over US$1 million.
- Announced that we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Radicle Group Inc., a Calgary-based leader in sustainability advisory services and solutions, and technology-driven emissions measurement and management. The acquisition will make BMO a leader in carbon credit development, emissions measurement capabilities, and the environmental commodity market, and supports our Climate Ambition to be our clients' lead partner in the transition to a net-zero world. Completion of the transaction is subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.
BMO's leadership continues to be recognized across a number of rankings:
- Awarded the highest customer satisfaction ranking in retail banking advice by J.D. Power in its 2022 Canada Retail Banking Advice Satisfaction Study, the top spot amongst Canada's largest banks, demonstrating our continued commitment to helping customers make real financial progress, including clarity of advice and concern for customer needs.
- Named by World Finance magazine as Best Private Bank, Best Commercial Bank and Best Retail Bank, representing the benchmark of achievement and best practices in a variety of fields. This award reflects our commitment to fostering client-centric relationships, driving digital innovation and transformation, and our comprehensive understanding of evolving client needs and industry development.
- Named to Corporate Knight's ranking of Canada's Best 50 Corporate Citizens, and ranked first among major Canadian banks with top-quartile scores in board gender diversity, executive diversity, and sustainability pay link. In addition, we received a top-quartile Clean Revenue score, driven by our sustainable finance strategy.
The foregoing sections contain forward-looking statements. Please refer to the Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.
BMO's continuous disclosure materials, including interim filings, annual Management's Discussion and Analysis and audited annual consolidated financial statements, Annual Information Form and Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Circular, are available on our website at www.bmo.com/investorrelations, on the Canadian Securities Administrators' website at www.sedar.com, and on the EDGAR section of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov. Information contained in or otherwise accessible through our website (www.bmo.com), or any third party websites mentioned herein, does not form part of this document.
Results and measures in this document are presented on a GAAP basis. Unless otherwise indicated, all amounts are in Canadian dollars and have been derived from our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). References to GAAP mean IFRS. We use a number of financial measures to assess our performance, as well as the performance of our operating businesses, including measures and ratios that are presented on a non-GAAP basis, as described below. We believe that these non-GAAP amounts, measures and ratios, read together with our GAAP results, provide readers with a better understanding of how management assesses results.
Non-GAAP amounts, measures and ratios do not have standardized meanings under GAAP. They are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies and should not be viewed in isolation from, or as a substitute for, GAAP results.
Certain information contained in BMO's Management's Discussion and Analysis dated August 30, 2022 for the period ended July 31, 2022 (Third Quarter 2022 Report to Shareholders) is incorporated by reference into this document. For further details on the composition of non-GAAP amounts, measures and ratios, including supplementary financial measures, please refer to the Glossary of Financial Terms section in our Third Quarter 2022 Report to Shareholders which is available at www.sedar.com.
Our non-GAAP measures broadly fall into the following categories:
Management considers both reported and adjusted results and measures useful in assessing underlying ongoing business performance. Adjusted results and measures remove certain specified items from revenue, non-interest expense and income taxes, as detailed in the following table. Adjusted results and measures presented in this document are non-GAAP. Presenting results on both a reported basis and an adjusted basis permits readers to assess the impact of certain items on results for the periods presented, and to better assess results excluding those items that may not be reflective of ongoing business performance. As such, the presentation may facilitate readers' analysis of trends. Except as otherwise noted, management's discussion of changes in reported results in this document applies equally to changes in the corresponding adjusted results.
We also present reported and adjusted revenue on a basis that is net of insurance claims, commissions and changes in policy benefit liabilities (CCPB), and our efficiency ratio and operating leverage are calculated on a similar basis, as reconciled in the Revenue section. Measures and ratios presented on a basis net of CCPB are non-GAAP. Insurance revenue can experience variability arising from fluctuations in the fair value of insurance assets, caused by movements in interest rates and equity markets. The investments that support policy benefit liabilities are predominantly fixed income assets recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in insurance revenue in the Consolidated Statement of Income. These fair value changes are largely offset by changes in the fair value of policy benefit liabilities, the impact of which is reflected in CCPB. The presentation and discussion of revenue, efficiency ratios and operating leverage on a net basis reduces this variability, which allows for a better assessment of operating results. For more information refer to the Insurance Claims, Commissions and Changes in Policy Benefit Liabilities section in our Third Quarter 2022 Report to Shareholders.
We analyze consolidated revenue on a reported basis. In addition, we analyze revenue on a taxable equivalent basis (teb) at the operating group level, consistent with the Canadian peer group. Revenue and the provision for income taxes in BMO Capital Markets and U.S. P&C are increased on tax-exempt securities to an equivalent pre-tax basis. These adjustments are offset in Corporate Services. Presenting results on a teb basis reflects how our operating groups manage their business and is useful to facilitate comparisons of income between taxable and tax-exempt sources. The effective tax rate is also analyzed on a teb basis for consistency of approach, with the offset to operating segment adjustments recorded in Corporate Services.
Tangible common equity is calculated as common shareholders' equity less goodwill and acquisition-related intangible assets, net of related deferred tax liabilities. Return on tangible common equity is commonly used in the North American banking industry and is meaningful because it measures the performance of businesses consistently, whether they were acquired or developed organically.
Capital is allocated to the operating segments based on the amount of regulatory capital required to support business activities. Unallocated capital is reported in Corporate Services. Capital allocation methodologies are reviewed annually.
Bank of Montreal's public communications often include written or oral forward-looking statements. Statements of this type are included in this document, and may be included in other filings with Canadian securities regulators or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or in other communications. All such statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and any applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements in this document may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to our objectives and priorities for fiscal 2022 and beyond, our strategies or future actions, our targets and commitments (including with respect to net zero emissions), expectations for our financial condition, capital position or share price, the regulatory environment in which we operate, the results of, or outlook for, our operations or for the Canadian, U.S. and international economies, the closing of our proposed acquisition of Bank of the West, including plans for the combined operations of BMO and Bank of the West, the financial, operational and capital impacts of the transaction, and the COVID-19 pandemic, and include statements made by our management. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "will", "would", "should", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "project", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "goal", "commit", "target", "may", "might", "forecast" and "could" or negative or grammatical variations thereof.
By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific in nature. There is significant risk that predictions, forecasts, conclusions or projections will not prove to be accurate, that our assumptions may not be correct, and that actual results may differ materially from such predictions, forecasts, conclusions or projections. The uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened this risk, given the increased challenge in making assumptions, predictions, forecasts, conclusions or projections. We caution readers of this document not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, as a number of factors – many of which are beyond our control and the effects of which can be difficult to predict – could cause actual future results, conditions, actions or events to differ materially from the targets, expectations, estimates or intentions expressed in the forward-looking statements.
The future outcomes that relate to forward-looking statements may be influenced by many factors, including, but not limited to: general economic and market conditions in the countries in which we operate, including labour challenges; the severity, duration and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and possibly other outbreaks of disease or illness, and its impact on local, national or international economies, as well as its heightening of certain risks that may affect our future results; information, privacy and cyber security, including the threat of data breaches, hacking, identity theft and corporate espionage, as well as the possibility of denial of service resulting from efforts targeted at causing system failure and service disruption; benchmark interest rate reforms; technological changes and technology resiliency; political conditions, including changes relating to, or affecting, economic or trade matters; climate change and other environmental and social risk; the Canadian housing market and consumer leverage; inflationary pressures; global supply-chain disruptions; changes in monetary, fiscal, or economic policy; changes in laws, including tax legislation and interpretation, or in supervisory expectations or requirements, including capital, interest rate and liquidity requirements and guidance, and the effect of such changes on funding costs; weak, volatile or illiquid capital or credit markets; the level of competition in the geographic and business areas in which we operate; judicial or regulatory proceedings; the accuracy and completeness of the information we obtain with respect to our customers and counterparties; failure of third parties to comply with their obligations to us; our ability to execute our strategic plans and to complete proposed acquisitions or dispositions, including obtaining regulatory approvals; critical accounting estimates and the effects of changes to accounting standards, rules and interpretations on these estimates; operational and infrastructure risks, including with respect to reliance on third parties; the possibility that our proposed acquisition of Bank of the West does not close when expected or at all because required regulatory approvals and other conditions to closing are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all or are received subject to adverse conditions or requirements; the anticipated benefits from the proposed acquisition of Bank of the West, such as it creating synergies and operational efficiencies, are not realized; our ability to perform effective fair value management actions and unforeseen consequences arising from such actions; changes to our credit ratings; global capital markets activities; the possible effects on our business of war or terrorist activities; natural disasters and disruptions to public infrastructure, such as transportation, communications, power or water supply; and our ability to anticipate and effectively manage risks arising from all of the foregoing factors.
We caution that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all possible factors. Other factors and risks could adversely affect our results. For more information, please refer to the discussion in the Risks That May Affect Future Results section, and the sections related to credit and counterparty, market, insurance, liquidity and funding, operational non-financial, legal and regulatory, strategic, environmental and social, and reputation risk, in the Enterprise-Wide Risk Management section of BMO's 2021 Annual Report, and the Risk Management section in our Third Quarter 2022 Report to Shareholders, all of which outline certain key factors and risks that may affect our future results. Investors and others should carefully consider these factors and risks, as well as other uncertainties and potential events, and the inherent uncertainty of forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the organization or on its behalf, except as required by law. The forward-looking information contained in our Third Quarter 2022 Report to Shareholders, is presented for the purpose of assisting shareholders and analysts in understanding our financial position as at and for the periods ended on the dates presented, as well as our strategic priorities and objectives, and may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Material economic assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained in our Third Quarter 2022 Report to Shareholders include those set out in the Economic Developments and Outlook section of BMO's 2021 Annual Report, as updated in the Economic Developments and Outlook section in our Third Quarter 2022 Report to Shareholders, as well as in the Allowance for Credit Losses section of BMO's 2021 Annual Report, as updated in the Allowance for Credit Losses section in our Third Quarter 2022 Report to Shareholders. Assumptions about the performance of the Canadian and U.S. economies, as well as overall market conditions and their combined effect on our business, are material factors we consider when determining our strategic priorities, objectives and expectations for our business. Assumptions about Bank of the West's balance sheet, product mix and margins, and interest rate sensitivity were material factors we considered in estimating the fair value and goodwill and intangibles amounts at closing, and assumptions about our integration plan, the efficiency and duration of integration and the alignment of organizational responsibilities were material factors we considered in estimating pre-tax cost synergies.
In determining our expectations for economic growth, we primarily consider historical economic data, past relationships between economic and financial variables, changes in government policies, and the risks to the domestic and global economy. Please refer to the Economic Developments and Outlook and Allowance for Credit Losses sections in our Third Quarter 2022 Report to Shareholders.
Interested parties are invited to visit BMO's website at www.bmo.com/investorrelations to review the 2021 Annual MD&A and audited annual consolidated financial statements, quarterly presentation materials and supplementary financial and regulatory information package.
Interested parties are also invited to listen to our quarterly conference call on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at 8.00 a.m. (ET). The call may be accessed by telephone at 416-406-0743 (from within Toronto) or 1-800-898-3989 (toll-free outside Toronto), entering Passcode: 2522858#. A replay of the conference call can be accessed until September 30th, 2022, by calling 905-694-9451 (from within Toronto) or 1-800-408-3053 (toll-free outside Toronto) and entering Passcode: 2979715#.
A live webcast of the call can be accessed on our website at www.bmo.com/investorrelations. A replay can also be accessed on the website.
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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This Notice provides information about the sources of the Fund's monthly distributions. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's Managed Distribution Plan.
The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with 'yield' or 'income'.
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. Sources include net investment income (NII), short-term capital gains (ST),long-term capital gains (LT) and paid in capital. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
The following table provides an estimate of the Fund's distribution sources, reflecting the fiscal year-to-date cumulative amount of distributions. The Fund attributes these estimates equally to each regular distribution throughout the year. Consequently, the estimated information as of the specified month-end shown below is for the current distribution, and also represents an updated estimate for all prior months in the year.
The following table provides information regarding distributions and total return performance over various time periods. This information is intended to help you better understand whether returns for the specified time periods were sufficient to meet distributions.
The fund makes distributions in accordance with a managed distribution plan that provides for the declaration of monthly distributions to common shareholders of the fund at an annual minimum fixed rate of 7.0%, based on the fund's average monthly net asset value (NAV) per share over the prior 12 months. Under the managed distribution plan, distributions are sourced from income and also may be sourced from paid-in capital and/or capital gains. The fund's distributions in any period may be more or less than the net return earned by the fund on its investments and therefore should not be used as a measure of performance or confused with yield or income. Distributions in excess of fund returns will cause the fund's NAV to decline. Investors should not draw any conclusions about the fund's investment performance from the amount of its distribution or from the terms of its managed distribution plan.
The quoted distribution rate is a figure that uses the fund's previous distribution to calculate an annualized figure. The distribution rate is calculated by annualizing the last distribution and then dividing by the period-ending NAV or market price. Special distributions, including special capital gains distributions, are not included in the calculation.
The Allspring Utilities and High Income Fund is a closed-end equity and high-yield bond fund. The fund's investment objective is to seek a high level of current income and moderate capital growth with an emphasis on providing tax-advantaged dividend income.
The final determination of the source of all dividend distributions in the current year will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax-reporting purposes will depend upon a fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. Each fund will send shareholders a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell shareholders how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
For more information on Allspring's closed-end funds, please visit our website.
This closed-end fund is no longer available as an initial public offering and is only offered through broker-dealers on the secondary market. A closed-end fund is not required to buy its shares back from investors upon request. Shares of the fund may trade at either a premium or discount relative to the fund's net asset value, and there can be no assurance that any discount will decrease. The values of, and/or the income generated by, securities held by the fund may decline due to general market conditions or other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of such securities. Equity securities fluctuate in value in response to factors specific to the issuer of the security. Debt securities are subject to credit risk and interest rate risk, and high yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality have a much greater risk of default and their values tend to be more volatile than higher-rated securities with similar maturities. The fund is also subject to risks associated with any concentration of its investments in the utility sector. Funds that concentrate their investments in a single industry or sector may face increased risk of price fluctuation due to adverse developments within that industry or sector. The fund is leveraged through a revolving credit facility and also may incur leverage by issuing preferred shares in the future. The use of leverage results in certain risks, including, among others, the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and the market price of common shares. Foreign investments may contain more risk due to the inherent risks associated with changing political climates, foreign market instability, and foreign currency fluctuations. Derivatives involve additional risks, including interest rate risk, credit risk, the risk of improper valuation, and the risk of noncorrelation to the relevant instruments they are designed to hedge or closely track.
Allspring Global Investments™ is the trade name for the asset management firms of Allspring Global Investments Holdings, LLC, a holding company indirectly owned by certain private funds of GTCR LLC and Reverence Capital Partners, L.P. These firms include but are not limited to Allspring Global Investments, LLC, and Allspring Funds Management, LLC. Certain products managed by Allspring entities are distributed by Allspring Funds Distributor, LLC (a broker-dealer and Member FINRA/SIPC).
This material is for general informational and educational purposes only and is NOT intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation of any kind—including a recommendation for any specific investment, strategy, or plan.
Some of the information contained herein may include forward-looking statements about the expected investment activities of the funds. These statements provide no assurance as to the funds' actual investment activities or results. Readers must make their own assessment of the information contained herein and consider such other factors as they may deem relevant to their individual circumstances.
© 2022 Allspring Global Investments Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully, whose dulcet tones provided the soundtrack of summer while entertaining and informing Dodgers fans in Brooklyn and Los Angeles for 67 years, died Tuesday night. He was 94.
Scully died at his home in the Hidden Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, the team announced after being informed by family members. No cause of death was provided.
“He was the best there ever was,” pitcher Clayton Kershaw said after the Dodgers’ game in San Francisco. “Just such a special man. I’m grateful and thankful I got to know him as well as I did.”
As the longest tenured broadcaster with a single team in pro sports history, Scully saw it all and called it all. He began in the 1950s era of Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson, on to the 1960s with Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax, into the 1970s with Steve Garvey and Don Sutton, and through the 1980s with Orel Hershiser and Fernando Valenzuela. In the 1990s, it was Mike Piazza and Hideo Nomo, followed by Kershaw, Manny Ramirez and Yasiel Puig in the 21st century.
“You gave me my Wild Horse name. You gave me love. You hugged me like a father,” tweeted Puig, the talented Cuban-born outfielder who burned brightly upon his Dodgers debut in 2013. “I will never forget you, my heart is broken.”
The Dodgers changed players, managers, executives, owners — and even coasts — but Scully and his soothing, insightful style remained a constant for the fans.
He opened broadcasts with the familiar greeting, “Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good evening to you wherever you may be.”
Ever gracious both in person and on the air, Scully considered himself merely a conduit between the game and the fans.
“His voice played a memorable role in some of the greatest moments in the history of our sport,” Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said. “I am proud that Vin was synonymous with baseball because he embodied the very best of our national pastime.”
After the Dodgers’ 9-5 win, the Giants posted a Scully tribute on the videoboard.
“There’s not a better storyteller and I think everyone considers him family,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He was in our living rooms for many generations. He lived a fantastic life, a legacy that will live on forever.”
Although he was paid by the Dodgers, Scully was unafraid to criticize a bad play or a manager’s decision, or praise an opponent while spinning stories against a backdrop of routine plays and noteworthy achievements. He always said he wanted to see things with his eyes, not his heart.
“We have lost an icon,” team president and CEO Stan Kasten said. “His voice will always be heard and etched in all of our minds forever.”
Vincent Edward Scully was born Nov. 29, 1927, in the Bronx. He was the son of a silk salesman who died of pneumonia when Scully was 7. His mother moved the family to Brooklyn, where the red-haired, blue-eyed Scully grew up playing stickball in the streets.
As a child, Scully would grab a pillow, put it under the family’s four-legged radio and lay his head directly under the speaker to hear whatever college football game was on the air. With a snack of saltine crackers and a glass of milk nearby, the boy was transfixed by the crowd’s roar that raised goosebumps. He thought he’d like to call the action himself.
Scully, who played outfield for two years on the Fordham University baseball team, began his career by working baseball, football and basketball games for the university’s radio station.
At age 22, he was hired by a CBS radio affiliate in Washington, D.C.
He soon joined Hall of Famer Red Barber and Connie Desmond in the Brooklyn Dodgers’ radio and television booths. In 1953, at age 25, Scully became the youngest person to broadcast a World Series game, a mark that still stands.
He moved west with the Dodgers in 1958. Scully called three perfect games — Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series, Sandy Koufax in 1965 and Dennis Martinez in 1991 — and 18 no-hitters.
He also was on the air when Don Drysdale set his scoreless innings streak of 58 2/3 innings in 1968 and again when Hershiser broke the record with 59 consecutive scoreless innings 20 years later.
When Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run to break Babe Ruth’s record in 1974, it was against the Dodgers and, of course, Scully called it.
“A Black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol,” Scully told listeners. “What a marvelous moment for baseball.”
Scully credited the birth of the transistor radio as “the greatest single break” of his career. Fans had trouble recognizing the lesser players during the Dodgers’ first four years in the vast Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
“They were 70 or so odd rows away from the action,” he said in 2016. “They brought the radio to find out about all the other players and to see what they were trying to see down on the field.”
That habit carried over when the team moved to Dodger Stadium in 1962. Fans held radios to their ears, and those not present listened from home or the car, allowing Scully to connect generations of families with his words.
He often said it was best to describe a big play quickly and then be quiet so fans could listen to the pandemonium. After Koufax’s perfect game in 1965, Scully went silent for 38 seconds before talking again. He was similarly silent for a time after Kirk Gibson’s pinch-hit home run to win Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that year and had the stadium’s press box named for him in 2001. The street leading to Dodger Stadium’s main gate was named in his honor in 2016.
That same year he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.
“God has been so good to me to allow me to do what I’m doing,” Scully, a devout Catholic who attended Mass on Sundays before heading to the ballpark, said before retiring. “A childhood dream that came to pass and then giving me 67 years to enjoy every minute of it. That’s a pretty large thanksgiving day for me.”
In addition to being the voice of the Dodgers, Scully called play-by-play for NFL games and PGA Tour events as well as calling 25 World Series and 12 All-Star Games. He was NBC’s lead baseball announcer from 1983-89.
While being one of the most widely heard broadcasters in the nation, Scully was an intensely private man. Once the baseball season ended, he would disappear. He rarely did personal appearances or sports talk shows. He preferred spending time with his family.
In 1972, his first wife, Joan, died of an accidental overdose of medicine. He was left with three young children. Two years later, he met the woman who would become his second wife, Sandra, a secretary for the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams. She had two young children from a previous marriage, and they combined their families into what Scully once called “my own Brady Bunch.”
He said he realized time was the most precious thing in the world and that he wanted to use his time to spend with his loved ones. In the early 1960s, Scully quit smoking with the help of his family. In the shirt pocket where he kept a pack of cigarettes, Scully stuck a family photo. Whenever he felt like he needed a smoke, he pulled out the photo to remind him why he quit. Eight months later, Scully never smoked again.
After retiring in 2016, Scully made just a handful of appearances at Dodger Stadium and his sweet voice was heard narrating an occasional video played during games. Mostly, he was content to stay close to home.
“I just want to be remembered as a good man, an honest man, and one who lived up to his own beliefs,” he said in 2016.
In 2020, Scully auctioned off years of his personal memorabilia, which raised over $2 million. A portion of it was donated to UCLA for ALS research.
He was preceded in death by his second wife, Sandra. She died of complications of ALS at age 76 in 2021. The couple, who were married 47 years, had daughter Catherine together.
Scully’s other children are Kelly, Erin, Todd and Kevin. A son, Michael, died in a helicopter crash in 1994.
___
Former Associated Press staffer Stan Miller contributed biographical information to this report.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sport | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/vin-scully-dodgers-broadcaster-for-67-years-dies-at-94/ | 2022-08-03T14:46:11Z |
HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Seadrill Limited ("Seadrill" or "the Company") (XOAS:SDRL) announces that its Q1 2022 earnings will be published on May 25, 2022.
Seadrill's executive management team will provide a live presentation at 9:00am EST / 2:00pm BST / 3:00pm CET on May 25, 2022. Subsequent to the presentation, a Q&A session will be held exclusively for sell-side and industry analysts.
To tune into the live presentation, the following options are available:
Webcast
To register to the conference call via webcast, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/382TvK2
Conference call
To listen to the presentation via conference call, please join the call on the day by dialling one of the international telephone numbers listed below and using the corresponding pin: 425187
United States: +1 855 9796 654
+1 646 664 1960
Norway: +81 503 308
UK: +44 800 640 6441
+44 20 3936 2999
UAE: +971 800 0357 04553
If dialling into the presentation via conference call, you will be able to download the presentation materials via the Company's website: www.seadrill.com.
If you are unable to tune into the webcast, a replay of the presentation will be made available soon after the live event on the Investor Relations section of the website: www.seadrill.com/investors/.
About Seadrill
Seadrill is a leading offshore drilling contractor utilizing advanced technology to unlock oil and gas resources for clients across harsh and benign locations around the globe. Seadrill's high-quality, technologically-advanced fleet spans all asset classes allowing its experienced crews to conduct operations from shallow to ultra-deep-water environments. The Company owns and/or operates 30 rigs, which includes drillships, semi-submersibles, and jack-ups.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release includes forward-looking statements. Such statements are generally not historical in nature, and specifically include statements about the Company's plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in its business and the markets in which it operates. These statements are made based upon management's current plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risks described from time to time in the Company's regulatory filings and periodical reporting. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of these factors. Further, the Company cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward looking statement.
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Media questions should be directed to:
Sara Dunne
Director of Communications
communications@seadrill.com
+ 1 281 630 7064
Analyst questions should be directed to:
Hawthorn Advisors
seadrill@hawthornadvisors.com
+44 (0) 203 7454960
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE Seadrill Limited | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/10/sdrl-notice-q1-2022-earnings-release-presentation/ | 2022-05-10T10:08:25Z |
Reds stop 11-game skid, beat Cardinals 4-1 behind Lodolo
CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds ended an 11-game losing streak, their longest in six years, jumping to a first-inning lead and beating the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 as former first-round draft pick Nick Lodolo got his first major league win. Colin Moran drove in two runs for the Reds, who had been 0-4 at home this year and had not won anywhere since April 10 at World Series champion Atlanta. Cincinnati had been outscored 68-20 during the skid. Moran hit a sacrifice fly and Nick Senzel followed with an RBI single in the first. The Reds are a major league-worst 3-13. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/04/24/reds-stop-11-game-skid-beat-cardinals-4-1-behind-lodolo/ | 2022-04-25T00:32:15Z |
Jaime Ramirez Stepping Down as Executive Vice President and President, Tools & Storage
Robert Raff, 20-Year Company Veteran to Lead Tools as Acting Executive Vice President and President, Tools
NEW BRITAIN, Conn., July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) today announced that Jaime Ramirez, Executive Vice President and President, Tools & Storage, will be stepping down from his role to pursue opportunities outside of the Company, effective July 22, 2022. Robert Raff, a 20-year Stanley Black & Decker veteran and currently Head of Stanley Outdoor Integration, will be appointed Acting Executive Vice President and President, Tools. Mr. Raff will work closely with Donald Allan, President and CEO of Stanley Black & Decker, to help drive execution of the Company's strategy focused on the growth of its core businesses.
Mr. Allan said, "Stanley Black & Decker maintains a strong bench of leaders and we are fortunate that Robert will step in to lead Tools as we continue to drive our business forward. Robert is a long-time veteran executive of the Company who has served in various roles, including leading our Security business transformation and 14 years as a leader in Tools. He knows the business, the team and our customers well, and we are confident in his ability to drive progress in executing our strategy of focusing on our core businesses, including enhanced investments in Tools, to continue to grow our leading franchises."
Mr. Allan added, "Jaime has had a distinguished career with Stanley Black & Decker for more than 30 years. We wish Jaime the best and are grateful for his many contributions throughout his tenure."
Robert Raff currently serves as Head of Stanley Outdoor Integration, a role he has held since August 2021. Over the past 20 years, Mr. Raff has served in various leadership roles across Stanley Black & Decker including President, Stanley Security; President, Convergent Security Solutions; President, North America Commercial Global Tools & Storage; President, Hardware and other roles.
The Company has retained Heidrick & Struggles to conduct an internal and external search for a permanent successor to Mr. Ramirez.
About Stanley Black & Decker
Headquartered in the USA, Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) is the world's largest tool company operating nearly 50 manufacturing facilities across America and more than 100 worldwide. Guided by its purpose – for those who make the world – the company's more than 60,000 diverse and high-performing employees produce innovative, award-winning power tools, hand tools, storage, digital tool solutions, lifestyle products, outdoor products, engineered fasteners and other industrial equipment to support the world's makers, creators, tradespeople and builders. The company's iconic brands include DEWALT®, BLACK+DECKER®, CRAFTSMAN®, STANLEY®, CUB CADET®, HUSTLER® and TROY-BILT®. Recognized for its leadership in environmental, social and governance (ESG), Stanley Black & Decker strives to be a force for good in support of its communities, employees, customers and other stakeholders. To learn more visit: www.stanleyblackanddecker.com.
Investor Contacts:
Dennis Lange
Vice President, Investor Relations
dennis.lange@sbdinc.com
(860) 827-3833
Cort Kaufman
Senior Director, Investor Relations
cort.kaufman@sbdinc.com
(860) 515-2741
Christina Francis
Director, Investor Relations
christina.francis@sbdinc.com
(860) 438-3470
Media Contact:
Debora Raymond
Vice President, Public Relations
debora.raymond@sbdinc.com
(203) 640-8054
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SOURCE Stanley Black & Decker | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/stanley-black-amp-decker-announces-leadership-transition-tools-business/ | 2022-07-12T10:34:54Z |
National Archives asks Secret Service to probe deleted texts
WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Archives on Tuesday requested that the Secret Service investigate “the potential unauthorized deletion” of agency text messages sent and received around the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The Secret Service has come under heavy scrutiny following the revelation last week that text messages sent around the time of the Capitol attack may have been erased. In response, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 investigation issued a subpoena for the messages and other related records.
The Secret Service has said all procedures were followed and pledged “full cooperation” with the Archives’ review.
“The United States Secret Service respects and supports the important role of the National Archives and Records Administration in ensuring the preservation of government records,” said agency spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.
The deletion of the messages has raised the prospect of lost evidence that could shed further light on then-President Donald Trump’s actions during the insurrection, particularly after testimony about his confrontation with security as he tried to join supporters at the Capitol.
The National Archives, which is in charge of government record-keeping, asked the Secret Service to investigate the possible erasure of the messages and report back within 30 days.
“Through several news sources, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has become aware of the potential unauthorized deletion of United States Secret Service (Secret Service) text messages,” Laurence Brewer, the chief record keeper for the U.S., said in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security.
If it is determined any text messages were deleted, the agency must detail what records were affected, a statement on the reasoning for deletion, plan for establishing safeguards to prevent future loss as well as “details of all agency actions taken to salvage, retrieve, or reconstruct the records,” the letter read.
The potential loss of the records first came to light last week when the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, in a letter obtained by The Associated Press, told lawmakers that Secret Service messages between Jan. 5 and Jan. 6, 2021, were erased “as part of a device-replacement program.”
The watchdog said the messages were deleted after they had been requested as part of an investigation into the Jan. 6 attack.
The Secret Service responded by telling AP that “the insinuation that the Secret Service maliciously deleted text messages following a request is false.”
“In fact, the Secret Service has been fully cooperating with the OIG in every respect — whether it be interviews, documents, emails, or texts,” Secret Service spokesman Guglielmi said.
He said the Secret Service had started to reset its mobile devices to factory settings in January 2021 “as part of a pre-planned, three-month system migration.” In that process, some data was lost.
The nine-member House Jan. 6 panel has taken a recent, renewed interest in the Secret Service following the dramatic testimony of former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson about Trump’s actions on the day of the insurrection.
Also Tuesday, Guglielmi said the agency had sent an initial set of documents and records to congressional investigators but it remains unclear if it falls within the requirements of the committee’s subpoena.
A request for comment from the Jan. 6 committee was not immediately returned.
___
Associated Press writer Mike Balsamo contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the Jan. 6 committee hearings at https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/19/national-archives-asks-secret-service-probe-deleted-texts/ | 2022-07-19T19:30:10Z |
Mindshare Selected to Lead Full-Funnel Media and Marketing Approach
CHICAGO, July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Discover Financial Services has selected Mindshare, the media services company that is part of WPP, as their US media agency of record, in leading audience and media strategy, planning, investment, measurement, and data and analytics.
Mindshare will partner closely with Discover to drive a full-funnel marketing and media approach across the full customer journey from awareness through account opening through retention. Mindshare is particularly suited to this work, having successfully completed its integration with global performance agency Neo earlier this year, providing clients with a broader range of transformative media services.
"We are thrilled to partner with Discover, a financial services powerhouse that always puts their customers first," says Amanda Richman, North America CEO, Mindshare. "Together, we will help Discover drive business transformation, by connecting brand to performance and purpose to deliver Good Growth."
"Working with Mindshare gives Discover a fresh perspective on our media approach and allows us to tap into their strong thought leadership, analytics and measurement capabilities," said Kate Manfred, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Discover. "As we continue Discover's mission to help people spend smarter, manage debt better and save more so they achieve a brighter financial future, while also pushing to be the leading digital bank and payments partner, it is important to develop a holistic media vision that is appropriate for our highly disruptive industry, and Mindshare is the partner to help us continue to push our thinking."
Mercer Island Group led an extensive competitive review of the account.
Mindshare is a media services company that accelerates Good Growth for its clients in the age of transformation. Good Growth is business growth that is enduring and sustainable while also helping to shape society and the world for the better. We accelerate it for our clients by using media as a multiplier to drive sales and maximize marketing investments. We use Precisely Human Intelligence that combines data science and behavioral science to understand consumers and their motivations better and we act on that intelligence by planning media with intention to connect brands with consumers around their shared values. We were the first purpose-built company created by WPP and today our 10,000 people operate in 116 offices in 86 countries, helping to drive Good Growth for our clients, our people, the industry and the world.
http://www.mindshareworld.com
Instagram and Twitter: @mindshare_usa
Facebook: facebook.com/mindshareusa
LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/company/mindshare
Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a digital banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover® card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers private student loans, personal loans, home loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its banking business. It operates the Discover Global Network® comprised of Discover Network, with millions of merchants and cash access locations; PULSE®, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International®, a global payments network with acceptance around the world. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.
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SOURCE Mindshare | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/discover-financial-services-chooses-mindshare-us-media-services-agency-record/ | 2022-07-21T20:12:32Z |
Maintaining ukulele strings
The ukulele is an affordable and fun instrument to play, and a good model will bring you many years of pleasure. However, most musical instruments require some degree of maintenance, and stringed instruments, in particular, need regular care to preserve their tone and playability.
While nylon strings do not deteriorate as quickly as their metal-wound counterparts, it is good practice to keep an eye on the state of your instrument and change your strings often.
When should you replace ukulele strings?
You should replace your strings once they lose their tonal brightness or show signs of wear or discoloration. This way, you can avoid inconvenient string breakages while ensuring that you sound your best and your technique is not impaired.
You may also wish to experiment with different string gauges and materials to find the combination that sounds and feels best, according to your musical preferences. This requires time and patience to replace the strings and let them settle after stretching and then to play them for a while to learn their unique qualities.
A single string often must be changed immediately following a breakage. In this instance, it is essential to be well-versed in string replacement, carry a spare set and keep the necessary tools on hand, especially if you are playing as part of an ensemble or regularly perform live.
Removing your old ukulele strings
While many players like to attack their old ukulele strings with a pair of wire cutters, this is not the recommended removal technique. Most professionals adhere to a slow and steady method, whereby the strings are slackened and replaced one at a time. This allows the instrument to adjust to the change in tension gradually and avoids undue stress on the neck.
Loosening the string
Start loosening the string by turning the ukulele’s tuning peg until it completes a couple of revolutions and the string slackens and lays against the fretboard. It can then be unwound by hand until you can entirely remove it from the instrument’s headstock.
Removing the string
Once it is free from the tuning peg, the string can be wriggled at the bridge until the knot comes loose. Nylon strings usually untie easily, but you can use a pair of needle-nose pliers if the knot is incredibly tight.
Attaching your new ukulele strings
Before taking the plunge, save yourself time and energy by arranging your strings to ensure that you don’t accidentally change the wrong one. While strings usually come packaged in the correct sequence, it doesn’t hurt to double-check!
Threading the string
Put one end of the new string back through the bridge, ensuring that your selected string coincides with the correct hole. With traditional strings, be sure to leave about three inches of string trailing from the back of the bridge to tie the knot. If you have ball-end strings or bridge pins, ignore the next step, as these don’t need to be tied.
Tying the string
Once your string is in place, take the short end up and over the top of the bridge, loop it under the long end of the string and bring it back to the bridge. Pass the string back under itself and wrap it around twice. Finally, place a finger on the knot and pull the long end of the string until the knot tightens against the bridge.
Tightening the string
Insert the free end of the string through the hole in its corresponding tuning post, then pull it back two to three frets to give you plenty of slack. You may then manually wind it around the tuning post as neatly as possible before tensioning the string using the tuning peg. The first loop must go above the string’s free end, and all others must wrap around underneath it, sandwiching the free end between the coils. Ensure tat all strings are wound in the correct direction around their tuning posts, with each facing the inside of the headstock.
Tuning the string
Take the string’s free end and snip off the excess, leaving a neatly wound capstan remaining. Repeat this process until all strings are replaced and tensioned, ready to be tuned. Be sure to stretch the strings gently, applying tension slowly. Finally, tune the strings to pitch using a set of pitch pipes or a digital tuner to ensure that you don’t over-tension the strings, as this can result in damage or even breakage.
What you need to buy to restring a ukulele
Aquila New Nylgut Ukulele Strings
These much-lauded ukulele strings are designed to synthesize traditional gut strings and are renowned for their longevity and tonal qualities.
Sold by Amazon
This handy little tool comprises a pin-puller, string winder and wire cutter in a single compact unit.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/music-br/string-instruments-br/how-to-restring-a-ukulele/ | 2022-07-21T14:27:23Z |
RICHMOND, England, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Peratech, a leading innovator in tactile-based user interfaces for high-performance electronics, has announced that its full-range, force-sensing technology will be in the latest Lenovo Legion 7i and 7 (16", 7) gaming laptops' W-A-S-D keys.1 Integrated into Lenovo Legion's high-performance premium gaming laptops, Peratech's Force Keyboard and Hydra™ user interface software deliver a more immersive, engaging gaming experience.
Unlike other gaming laptops that have added force function to the W, A, S, D keys, Peratech's full-analog response enables players to engage with games on a much more intuitive, physical level by extending the simple on/off switch of a standard key to unleash the full range of force in real-world interaction.
Jim Thomas, Peratech CCO shared, "Imagine driving down your local highway and your accelerator is restricted to just 2 options, 'off' or 'full speed.' Reality-based physics calls for acceleration dependent on how hard you press on the gas pedal, or how hard you turn the steering wheel. This is the difference Peratech intelligent tactile sensing makes."
Added Thomas, "The key to the experience is how we leverage Peratech's ability to bring sensing technology and advanced controller software together to deliver the full, immersive gaming experience in notebook PCs while preserving the existing typing experience. The force keys and non-force keys feel the same because they are the same. From the force standpoint, the accuracy, consistency, and key uniformity brings a console-style game controller experience without your hands leaving the keyboard. This is exactly what everyone has been asking for in the PC gaming community."
"We know that gamers value high performance and an immersive, intuitive playing experience," said Zhaochun Ma, Lenovo Vice President of Consumer and SMB Notebook Development Center, Intelligent Devices Group. "That's why we've teamed up with Peratech to bring the new Force Sensor Technology to the improved Lenovo Legion TrueStrike Keyboard – letting players accelerate their in-game character as more force is applied to the keys on the new Lenovo Legion 7i and 7 (16", 7) gaming laptops."
Peratech VP of Product, Alex Baker commented, "The key is our Hydra™ user interface software. Combined with the dynamic range of our tactile sensing solution, Hydra gives all users a better out-of-the box experience. For the advanced gamers and influencers, Hydra gives Pros the ability to show how they play the game with its Xbox [360 Game Bar] widget. Add Hydra's ability to share custom-tuned gaming profiles, and Pros can engage users and extend their brand more than ever. simply put, Peratech's Hydra takes user engagement on gaming PC to a whole new level."
About Peratech
Peratech's award-winning, proprietary, tactile-sensing user interfaces bring a new dimension to the electronics user experience enabling intuitive, engaging human machine interactions in a wide variety of applications and markets. Over a million devices around the world now employ Peratech technologies. Peratech's custom design and product integration engineering services minimize both cost and time to mass product launch. Peratech Holdco Ltd. is a privately held company based in Richmond, North Yorkshire, UK.
1 Availability may vary by geography and products/features may only be available in selected markets. All offers and features subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings, features and specifications at any time without notice.
Quantum Tunnelling Composite, QTC, and Hydra are registered trademarks of Peratech Holdco Ltd. LENOVO and LENOVO LEGION are trademarks of Lenovo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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SOURCE Peratech Holdco Limited | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/11/peratech-transforms-pc-gaming-experience-through-new-force-enabled-keyboards-latest-lenovo-legion-7i-7-gaming-notebooks/ | 2022-07-11T13:56:25Z |
The 12-year-old player in the Little League World Series who fell from a bunk bed is no longer under sedation and even received a supportive video message Wednesday from his favorite Major League Baseball player, according to an Instagram account set-up to provide updates on his condition.
Easton Oliverson of Utah's Snow Canyon Little League suffered a fractured skull after falling from a bunk bed at the players' dormitory in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, early Monday morning, his team told CNN. He is being treated at Geisinger Janet Weis Children's Hospital in Danville, Pennsylvania, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Support for Easton came flooding in after news of his injury made headlines. The Brigham Young University football team and Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts submitted supportive videos through Instagram for Easton.
"Hey Easton, it's Mookie Betts. I just want you to know that we are praying for you, thinking of you and I hope to see you soon, my man," Betts, known to be Easton's favorite player, said on video Wednesday.
An additional post Wednesday on Easton's Instagram also provided updates on the Little Leaguer.
"This morning's updates have us all in tears of joy," the post read, accompanied by a picture of Easton and a video of him eating from a spoon with eyes closed in his hospital bed.
The post also said Easton asked for water Wednesday morning, which his doctors said was good since it usually takes about a week or two before patients who have had a breathing tube removed want to eat or drink.
"While Easton is making TREMENDOUS progress, he still has a very long road ahead," the post read.
The injury happened early Monday morning, according to a statement from Little League International. St. George News reports Easton fell out of his bed in his sleep in the middle of the night, citing a source within the team.
Easton was airlifted to the local children's hospital, where he underwent surgery to stop the bleeding and stabilize him, according to his Instagram account. He was then put into a medically induced coma, his team said.
Easton's father, Jace, who is an assistant coach on his son's team, said in a statement, "There was a lot of blood in his brain and a lot of pressure being caused. He had what was called an epidural hematoma. He fractured his skull and in the meantime punctured an artery outside the brain which caused the bleeding."
The Little League World Series released a statement to CNN Wednesday saying the bunk beds at the players' dorms did not have safety rails and have since been removed from the dorms.
"Since 1992, Little League has used institutional-style bunk beds to offer the most space for the players to enjoy their time in the dorms. While these beds do not have guard rails, Little League is unaware of any serious injuries ever occurring during that period of time," the league's statement read. "Out of an abundance of caution, Little League has made the decision to remove all bunks from within the dorms and have each bed frame individually on the floor."
The league said it would use all available resources to "support the player, his family, and his coaches and teammates, as we navigate this unfortunate situation."
Easton's Snow Canyon Little League team is scheduled to play its first game of the Little League World Series Friday afternoon. Snow Canyon is the first team from Utah to make it to the series in the 75-year history of the tournament.
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NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Oscar Health, Inc. (NYSE: OSCR) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
This lawsuit is on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Oscar Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus issued in connection with the Company's March 2021 initial public offering.
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 11, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in OSCR:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/oscar-health-inc-loss-submission-form?id=28799&from=4
Oscar Health, Inc. NEWS - OSCR NEWS
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Oscar Health, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Oscar was experiencing growing COVID-19 testing and treatment costs; (2) Oscar was experiencing growing net COVID costs; (3) Oscar would be negatively impacted by an unfavorable prior year Risk Adjustment Data Validation result relating to 2019 and 2020; (4) Oscar was on track to be negatively impacted by significant SEP membership growth; 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.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Oscar you have until July 11, 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 Oscar 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 OSCR lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/oscar-health-inc-loss-submission-form?id=28799&from=4.
J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
J. Klein, Esq.
Empire State Building
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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.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/oscr-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-july-11-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-oscar-health-inc-shareholders/ | 2022-06-21T10:53:05Z |
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing the collaboration that produced the COVID-19 Earth Observing Dashboard in 2020, NASA and its international partners in Europe and Japan have combined the collective scientific power of their Earth-observing satellite data in expanding the online resource to document a broad array of planet-wide changes in the environment and human society.
The expanded dashboard from NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), includes six new focus areas – atmosphere, agriculture, biomass, water and ocean, cryosphere, and the economy – that allow users to drill down into data-driven stories and interactively explore relevant datasets.
"At NASA, accessibility to data is a top priority," said Karen St. Germain, NASA Earth Science Division director. "With our partners at ESA and JAXA, this is another important step to getting the latest information to the public about our changing planet, in an accessible and convenient way, which can inform decisions and planning for communities around the world."
The dashboard provides an easy-to-use resource for the public scientists, decision-makers, and people who may not be familiar with satellite or Earth observation data. It offers a precise, objective, and comprehensive view of our planet. Using accurate remote sensing observations, the dashboard shows the changes occurring in Earth's air, land, and water and their effects on human activities. Users can explore countries and regions around the world to see how the indicators in specific locations change over time.
The agencies collaborated to identify the most relevant satellite data streams and adapted existing computing infrastructure to share data from across the agencies and produce relevant indicators and stories.
"International collaboration between our space agencies is key," said Simonetta Cheli, director of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA. "Our advanced Earth-observing satellite data provided by ESA, NASA and JAXA are used every day to benefit society at large and advance our knowledge of our home planet. After the success of the Earth Observing Dashboard, I am delighted to see how our resources and technical knowledge can be expanded and used to further our understanding of global environmental changes and other societal challenges impacting our planet."
The atmosphere focus area demonstrates ways in which air pollution and climate change contribute to the biggest environmental challenges of our time.
In the agriculture focus area, users can explore satellite data that provides insights into agricultural production, crop conditions, and food supply.
The biomass focus area features a story describing how trees and plants remove substantial amounts of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere each year.
In the cryosphere focus area, a story on the effects of global temperature rise on the extent of sea ice allows the reader to interact with a geographic visualization of a JAXA sea ice dataset.
The water and ocean area focuses on Earth's largest natural resource and enables users to discover a view of the ocean that is as rich and complex as that of land.
The economy focus area provides access to datasets that show how Earth's social and economic systems are connected to the environment.
In addition to the curated stories and dataset offered in each of the focus areas, the Earth Observing Dashboard provides direct access to a dataset exploration tool, which allows users to interactively explore the different indicators in detail.
"Following the collaboration with NASA and ESA on COVID-19, we expanded this dashboard to widely provide the stories on global issues about the environment and climate change to the world in the trilateral collaboration," said Koji Terada, JAXA vice president and director general for the Space Technology Directorate I. "From the perspective of contributing to the understanding of the Earth's environment and systems and enhancing the values of Earth observation data, we at JAXA will continue to work on updating this dashboard."
Last year, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced a concept for NASA's Earth Information Center, which is an opportunity for the agency to leverage its data and modeling capabilities to work with trusted government and community partners with longstanding engagement in communities most affected by climate change. The expanded Earth Observing Dashboard complements planning that is underway for the Earth Information Center.
NASA, ESA and JAXA will continue to enhance the dashboard as new data become available.
Visit the Earth Observing Dashboard at:
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SOURCE NASA | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/nasa-partners-offer-global-view-environmental-changes/ | 2022-05-19T15:36:31Z |
Funding will restore water in the Pacoima Wash in San Fernando Valley, California
LOS ANGELES, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Enterprises has chosen to invest $55,000 in the Council for Watershed Health to support the Upper Los Angeles River Watershed Arundo donax Eradication Project. Bonneville Environment Foundation (BEF), a member of the California Water Action Collaborative (CWAC), along with other partners, will lead in the eradication of Arundo donax, grass that can reach up to 20 feet, in the Pacoima Wash located in the San Fernando Valley. This tall perennial grass is threatening California's riparian ecosystems by outcompeting native species, such as willows, for water.
As part of Cox's suitability goals for the communities it serves, this project will offset 11.8 million gallons of water per year.
BEF has substantial expertise in instigating and overseeing water restoration projects. This is done by quantifying the amount of water restored to critically depleted ecosystems, while confirming that a specific amount of water was restored to a dewatered river or stream.
"Sustainability and driving positive environmental change are core to the way Cox does business. We're excited to work with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to increase water availability for the ecosystem in the Los Angeles Water Basin," said Ira Pearl, vice president of environmental sustainability for Cox Enterprises.
"Locally, it's important that we focus our time and energy on implementing climate adaptation measures created to preserve our water resources and reduce our reliance on imported water," said Jason Casanova, director of planning and information design for the Council for Watershed Health. "That is where tracking and eradicating the highly invasive riparian plant species Arundo donax comes into the picture. This plant is not a species we can ignore. If left to its own devices, we have seen it take over and dominate natural river systems across Southern California."
"We're thrilled that Cox Enterprises continues to invest in sustainability efforts in our region," said Ingo Hentschel, senior vice president and region manager for Cox Communications in California. "Last year, one of our campuses in San Diego was the first solar plus storage project in the country for Cox Communications and this water offset project further demonstrates commitment to positively impacting communities throughout the state."
BEF is overseeing the project in connection the CWAC. CWAC is a group of diverse stakeholders including environmental organizations, food and beverage companies, agricultural producers, etc. that are working together on water issues in California.
About Bonneville Environmental Foundation
BEF is the most trusted, knowledgeable, and proactive partner on water projects in the U.S. Our Business for Water Stewardship™ team unlocks collective corporate action to accelerate real, measurable, and lasting solutions for water, nature, and business. Learn more and join us today at https://www.b-e-f.org/programs/business-for-water-stewardship.
About Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises is dedicated to building a better future through our leading communications, automotive, and media companies. Our major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Automotive, and we are strategically investing in new industries and emerging technologies, with sizeable interests in clean technology and healthcare. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Cox is a global company with nearly $20 billion in annual revenues and brands that include Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book and Cox Homelife. Founded in 1898 by Ohio Governor James M. Cox, the company is a family-owned business committed to its people, communities and planet. To learn more about Cox, visit coxenterprises.com, view our Sustainability Report at coxcsrreport.com, or follow us on Twitter via @CoxEnterprises.
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SOURCE Cox Enterprises | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/cox-enterprises-invests-upper-los-angeles-river-watershed-arundo-donax-eradication-project/ | 2022-06-01T15:31:28Z |
FinTech Launch – Discover the Good, The Bad, and the Ugly in Your Investments
BOISE METRO, Idaho, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspire Insight is a new online investment screening tool that gives users instant access to biblical values data on over 24,000 stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs. The free tool released by Inspire Investing, a leader in the biblically responsible investing industry, utilizes their proprietary Inspire Impact Score™ methodology that allows users to instantly measure the biblical values alignment of their investments according to Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) principles.
Users can screen their 401(k)s, IRAs, and other investment accounts by typing a ticker symbol or company name in the search bar at inspireinsight.com and instantly see if their investments contain unbiblical activities such as abortion or human rights issues and find alternative investments that are biblically aligned and doing good in their communities.
"It's the Google of biblically responsible ESG investing," said Robert Netzly, CEO and creator of the FinTech tool. "Many Christian investors are surprised to learn they are profiting from and supporting unbiblical activities within their investment portfolios as there has not been adequate access to the data needed to make biblically aligned investment decisions until now."
Other organizations are also leveraging this technology. For example, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), one of the nation's most respected and successful Supreme Court advocates for the First Amendment, has partnered with Inspire Insight to launch the Viewpoint Diversity Score Business Index. As featured in the WSJ and Daily Wire, Jeremy Tedesco, Senior legal counsel for ADF said, "the Index is the first comprehensive benchmark designed to measure corporate respect for religious and ideological diversity in the market, workplace, and public square."
"This is exactly why we built the Inspire Insight technology," said Netzly. "To provide the information needed to address the poignant need in the financial industry to apply a faith-based worldview to the growing field of ESG screening data."
The Inspire Impact Score is an objective scoring model that considers the negative and positive impact a given company has on its communities, customers, workplace, and the world. This qualitative data is evaluated by the rigorous, rules-based methodology which returns the final score ranging from -100 to 100, where 100 is considered a highly biblically aligned company, and a company with a score of -100 lie contrary to biblical principles. These factors contribute to the Inspire Impact score being the most comprehensive biblical ESG investing screening tool. A company with a high Inspire Impact Score typically is one of integrity, a blessing to their environment, society, and the world.
"The Inspire Impact Score is not meant to "anoint" a company as "holy," or "Christian," but rather seeks to provide a simple method to compare the relative alignment of companies with a broad set of commonly used biblical, faith-based investment screening issues," commented Robert Netzly.
For serious investors and FinTech enthusiasts that enjoy granular mechanics, Inspire released a whitepaper on the scoring methodology and how it is calculated.
Inspire Investing is a leading provider of biblically responsible, faith-based ESG (environmental, social, and governance)1 investments and is the creator of the globally recognized Inspire Impact Score™, which investors around the world use to measure the biblical alignment of their investments according to Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) principles.
Inspire ranked #3 in the "Top 50 fastest growing RIA firms" by FA Magazine two years in a row (2020 & 2021 report) and recognized in The Financial Times "Americas' Fastest Growing Companies" 2021 & 2022 report. Inspire's Discretionary Assets Under Management (AUM) is $1.9 billion as of March 31, 2021.
Visit www.inspireinvesting.com to learn more about Inspire's biblically responsible investment products.
Investment advisory services are offered through Inspire Investing, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC.
1. Environmental criteria considers how a company performs as a steward of nature. Social criteria examine how it manages relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates. Governance deals with a company's leadership, executive pay, audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights.
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SOURCE Inspire Investing | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/inspire-insight-free-faith-based-esg-investment-screening-tool/ | 2022-06-07T09:27:05Z |
Swedish driver Marcus Ericsson gives Ganassi another Indy 500 win
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Marcus Ericsson had to leave Formula One to become a global superstar — a goal achieved Sunday when the Swedish driver won the Indianapolis 500.
Ericsson took control of Sunday’s race late and had it under control for Chip Ganassi Racing until a crash by teammate Jimmie Johnson with four laps remaining brought out a rare red-flag stoppage at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
IndyCar is among the purest forms of motorsports and rarely throws artificial cautions or issues stoppages that might change the outcome. But a crowd of more than 300,000 — only a few thousand shy of a sellout and the largest sporting event since the pandemic began — roared when IndyCar called the cars to pit road.
The stoppage gave Pato O’Ward and the rest of the challengers almost 12 minutes on pit road to strategize how to catch Ericsson for the win. The race resumed with two laps remaining and Ericsson easily got the jump on O’Ward, but the Mexican got one final look for the lead that Ericsson defended.
A crash back in traffic brought out the caution and Ericsson coasted to the victory podium under yellow.
It is the fifth Indy 500 victory for team owner Chip Ganassi, who caught a ride to the victory podium on the side of Ericsson’s car. Ericsson is the second Swede to win the Indy 500 in 106 runnings, joining 1999 winner Kenny Brack.
He poured his jug of milk all over his face, then handed the bottle to Ganassi so the boss could take his own swig. Ganassi had not won the 500 in 10 years and sent five legitimate contenders to Indy to end the drought.
O’Ward, who signed an extension with Arrow McLaren SP on Friday, finished second. The Mexican was trying to give his country a banner celebration on the biggest day in motorsports; Sergio Perez opened Sunday with a win in the Monaco Grand Prix.
Tony Kanaan was third in a Ganassi car and followed by Felix Rosenqvist, another Swede, who was fourth for McLaren.
American drivers Alexander Rossi and Conor Daly finished fifth and sixth, Rossi for Andretti Autosport and Daly for Ed Carpenter Racing.
Helio Castroneves, last year’s winner, finished seventh and one spot ahead of Meyer Shank Racing teammate Simon Pagenaud. Reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou finished 10th in another Ganassi entry.
Honda drivers took six of the top nine spots, along with the win.
___
More AP Indy 500 coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/indianapolis-500 and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/29/swedish-driver-marcus-ericsson-gives-ganassi-another-indy-500-win/ | 2022-05-29T20:40:33Z |
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NXTLVL Holdings, LLC ("NXTLVL Marine"), a family-owned and operated marine dealer with 4 locations throughout Texas, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Austin Boats & Motors, Inc. ("ABM"), a 48-year-old family-owned and operated full-service boat dealership located in Lakeway, Texas.
Effective April 15, 2022, ABM will operate as NXTLVL Marine's 5th location. Martin Boyer, General Manager of ABM, will remain onboard for a transition period to manage operations of the dealership alongside its 20 dedicated employees.
"We have been focused on expanding our Texas footprint deeper into Austin because of its incredible growth potential," said Darryl Moore, General Manager of NXTLVL Marine. "We are extremely pleased to have acquired such an outstanding dealership with a strong reputation and long-tenured management team in place."
Austin Boats & Motors, Inc. ranked as a Boating Industry Magazine Top 100 Dealership from 2006 -2020 and has served on numerous Dealer Advisory Councils with Glastron, Crownline, Blue Wave and Tigé. Further, ABM has earned Boating Industry Magazine's Best in Class Customer Service, Best in Class Best Digital Strategy, and two Top 20 Dealership Awards.
"We are also very excited to combine forces with a family-owned, well-respected dealership like NXTLVL Marine to help accelerate ABM's growth," added ABM President and Owner Martin Boyer. "It was to me to ensure the legacy and history of ABM was preserved. Over the last several months, it became very apparent to me that the family owners of NXTLVL Marine share my core values and will be a true steward to what my family has built."
"We see numerous advantages and benefits to this acquisition, both for our customers as well our team," added NXTLVL Marine General Manager Blake Flanagan. "ABM is the perfect extension of our new Lake LBJ location, which will allow us to leverage the ABM brands in the territory create a more powerful customer servicing dealership organization in the West Austin market. With the addition of ABM, NXTLVL now covers the IH-35 corridor from Fort Worth/Dallas all the way down to New Braunfels."
NXTLVL Marine is a leading Texas marine dealer with fourteen brands across its five locations in Texas: New Braunfels; Lake LBJ; Ft. Worth; Dallas; and the new ABM location in Lakeway. NXTLVL Marine was founded in 2020 and previously acquired Eagle Marine in 2021.
Contact: Blake Flanagan
blake@nxtlvlmarine.com
nxtlvlmarine.com
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SOURCE NXTLVL Marine | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/nxtlvl-marine-acquires-austin-boats-amp-motors/ | 2022-05-17T21:19:48Z |
- Focused understanding of the pain points with the goal of advancing progress in the cellular immunotherapy landscape
- Features a series of panels and talks from scientific leaders in cellular immunotherapy
- Hosted by Mitchell Finer, PhD and Melissa Carpenter, PhD (ElevateBIo), Agnieszka Czechowicz, MD, PhD (Stanford University), and presented by investment bank Chardan
NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chardan announced today that the inaugural SPICI (Smart People in Cellular Immunotherapy) Symposium focused on advancing progress in the cellular immunotherapy space, will take place from Sunday, September 11 through Tuesday, September 13, 2022, in Berkeley, CA. The two-and-a-half-day event will feature a series of panels and talks with scientific leaders from some of the world's leading cellular immunotherapy companies, as well as leading scientists in the space.
Mitchell Finer, PhD and Melissa Carpenter, PhD, both of ElevateBio, and Agnieszka Czechowicz, MD, PhD, of Stanford University will host the event in partnership with Chardan and ElevateBio.
"We created the SPICI Symposium to bring together the smartest scientists in the cellular immunotherapy space to better understand the current pain points, as well as areas of innovation that will help advance the field forward and hopefully facilitate an accelerated development of cellular immunotherapies to patients," said host Dr. Mitchell Finer, President of R&D, ElevateBio and CEO of Life Edit.
The symposium will focus on key topics including: clinical and regulatory considerations, immune cell type selection and cellular engineering, autologous and allogeneic approaches for greater access to cell therapies, future enabling technologies, manufacturing and analytics strategies, and the development of iPS cell derived immune cell therapies.
Emily Levine, Chief Commercial Officer of Chardan added, "Chardan is thrilled to be a part of creating the SPICI Symposium. Facilitating these types of events where leaders can leverage past learnings while at the same time brainstorming novel approaches in cell therapy will increase the probability for success and accelerate clinical entry and path to approval. This is in line with Chardan's mission of focusing on disruptive innovation for the benefit of society."
For more information about the SPICI Symposium, please email info@chardan.com.
Chardan Capital Markets, LLC (Chardan) is an independent global investment bank specializing in healthcare, disruptive technologies, and SPACs. Our range of services include capital raising, merger and acquisition advisory, strategic advisory, equity research, corporate access, and institutional trading. Headquartered in New York City, Chardan is a registered broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and is a member of the following: FINRA, SIPC, NASDAQ and the NYSE Arca, Inc. For more information, visit us at www.chardan.com, or follow Chardan on LinkedIn or Twitter.
ElevateBio is a technology-driven company built to power the development of transformative cell and gene therapies today and for many decades to come. The company has assembled industry-leading talent, built state-of-the-art facilities, and integrated diverse technology platforms, including gene editing, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and protein, vector, and cellular engineering, necessary to drive innovation and commercialization of cellular and genetic medicines. In addition, BaseCamp in Waltham, MA, is a purpose-built facility offering process innovation, process sciences, and current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) manufacturing capabilities. It was designed to support diverse cell and gene therapy products, including autologous, allogeneic, and regenerative medicine cell products, and viral vector manufacturing capabilities.
Through BaseCamp and its enabling technologies, ElevateBio is focused on growing its collaborations with industry partners while also developing its own portfolio of cellular and genetic medicines. ElevateBio's team of scientists, drug developers, and company builders are redefining what it means to be a technology company in the world of drug development, blurring the line between technology and healthcare.
For more information, visit us at www.elevate.bio, or follow ElevateBio on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.
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SOURCE Chardan | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/chardan-announces-inaugural-spici-smart-people-cellular-immunotherapy-symposium/ | 2022-09-08T13:46:54Z |
Report finds ‘unnecessary’ force by agents at Rio Grande
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Border Patrol agents on horseback engaged in “unnecessary use of force” against non-threatening Haitian immigrants but didn’t whip any with their reins “intentionally or otherwise,” according to a federal investigation of chaotic scenes along the Texas-Mexico border last fall that sparked widespread condemnation.
In a 511-page report released Friday, Customs and Border Protection blamed a “lack of command control and communication” for mounted agents using their horses to forcibly block and move migrants during an influx of Haitians arriving last September to the U.S. border outside Del Rio, Texas.
Video and photos of the incident made it appear agents were whipping Haitians, which caused outrage among advocacy groups and civil rights leaders. The Biden administration promised a full investigation after many in the president’s own party objected that such tactics with racial overtones were the kinds of policies the U.S. was supposed to be moving away from after years of hardline immigration tactics under President Donald Trump.
As part of the investigation, four Border Patrol employees — all of whom have been placed on administrative duty since the investigation began months ago — have been recommended for disciplinary action which will come separately, according to senior CBP officials who briefed journalists before the report’s release.
By September 19, 2021, around 15,000 Haitian migrants had crossed from Mexico into the United States and were concentrated in an encampment underneath the international bridge. But the encampment was fully cleared within days after the incident, as the outcry mounted.
Federal investigators said no migrant was struck with a whip, forced to return to Mexico or denied entry into the U.S. during the 15 minutes that they were forcibly blocked and moved by mounted agents. One agent yelled inappropriate comments about a migrant’s national origin including, “You use your women” while also narrowly missing a child walking nearby while pursuing a migrant.
The use of force drove migrants back into the Rio Grande, despite their having been well within U.S. territory and not presenting threats in any way, according to the senior CBP officials.
Investigators said they did not speak to Haitian migrants while preparing the investigation but used statements and court documents that some provided as part of lawsuits they filed against U.S. authorities.
The report said the incident began after authorities from a state agency also working in the area, the Texas Department of Public Safety, requested help from federal authorities. That conclusion follows Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this week authorizing state forces to apprehend migrants and return them to the U.S.-Mexico border — raising questions about his state’s enforcement powers as top GOP leaders have slammed the Biden administration for failing to curb the rising number of crossings.
Agents acted with the permission of their supervisor who was unable to get guidance from higher up the Border Patrol chain of command, the report said. Communication occurred on a radio channel that wasn’t recorded, further complicating investigation into the incident.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/08/report-finds-unnecessary-force-by-agents-rio-grande/ | 2022-07-08T19:02:36Z |
W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, global standards organization ASTM International launched ASTM Xcellerate™, an emerging technology program focused on strengthening the world's emerging technology from research to standards.
"At ASTM International, we believe standards offer an invaluable platform for global collaboration," notes Kathie Morgan, ASTM International president. "The ASTM Xcellerate program aims to put standards at the heart of all emerging technologies – promoting excellence, accelerating development, and bridging the gap to sustained success."
The ASTM Xcellerate program builds on ASTM's globally recognized standards development process to provide the speed and agility new technologies need to survive and thrive.
Intending to accelerate progress across all emerging technologies, ASTM Xcellerate has a scope focused on:
- empowering broader global collaboration by harmonizing the needs of international research communities and embedding standards at the very start of the emerging technology process;
- accelerating commercialization and reducing costs by supporting key R&D, avoiding duplication of work, and minimizing wasted resources; and
- bridging the gap between research and full-scale operation by connecting industry and key stakeholders with relevance built in.
ASTM Xcellerate is built around four key pillars designed to meet the needs of industry, research organizations, regulators, academia, and governments as they explore the benefits standards can bring to emerging technologies around the world. The four pillars include:
- Centers of Excellence;
- Technical Experts;
- Market Insight; and
- Advisory Services.
"At present, ASTM Xcellerate currently covers four primary technologies including additive manufacturing, exo technologies, emerging airspace, and robotics and automation," according to Brian Meincke, ASTM International vice president, global business development and innovation strategy. "ASTM is globally recognized as a leading standards development organization among these industries and the ASTM Xcellerate program will support and grow our thought leadership in these and other key emerging technologies."
Meincke notes that in the future, the aim is to expand ASTM Xcellerate to include other exciting technologies where ASTM's research to standards approach can add real value.
ASTM International also launched a new website to serve as a hub for all ASTM Xcellerate activities. To learn more about ASTM Xcellerate, including programs, events, news and insights, and ways to get involved, visit www.astmxcellerate.com.
About ASTM International
Committed to serving global societal needs, ASTM International positively impacts public health and safety, consumer confidence, and overall quality of life. We integrate consensus standards – developed with our international membership of volunteer technical experts – and innovative services to improve lives… Helping our world work better.
Media Inquiries: Dan Bergels, tel +1.610.832.9602; dbergels@astm.org
Xcellerate Contact: Tessa Sulkes-Llewelyn, tel +1.610.832.9677; tsulkes@astm.org
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SOURCE ASTM International | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/astm-international-launches-xcellerate-program-emerging-technologies/ | 2022-06-28T14:58:14Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Friday it has reached an agreement with Moderna to buy 66 million doses of the company’s next generation of COVID-19 vaccine that targets the highly transmissible omicron variant, enough supply this winter for all who want the upgraded booster.
The order of the bivalent shot follows the announcement last month that the federal government had secured 105 million doses of a similar vaccine from rival drugmaker Pfizer. Both orders are scheduled for delivery in the fall and winter, assuming regulators sign off on their effectiveness. The Pentagon said the Moderna contract was worth $1.74 billion.
The omicron strain has been dominant in the U.S. since December, with the BA.5 subvariant now causing a massive wave of infections across the country, even infecting President Joe Biden.
“We must stay vigilant in our fight against COVID-19 and continue to expand Americans’ access to the best vaccines and treatments,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “As we look to the fall and winter, we’re doing just that — ensuring Americans have the tools they need to stay safe and help keep our nation moving forward.”
The U.S. orders with Pfizer and Moderna include options to purchase 300 million doses each, but reaching that total will require more funding from Congress, the Biden administration said.
About 261 million Americans have received at least one COVID-19 shot, but only 108 million have received a booster.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic. | https://cw33.com/health/ap-health/us-reaches-deal-with-moderna-for-omicron-covid-19-vaccine/ | 2022-07-29T17:43:50Z |
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BRP Group, Inc. ("BRP Group") (NASDAQ: BRP) today announced the appointments of Kelly Nash to President, Middle Market Client Experience and Go-to-Market Strategy, and Ryan Shinkle to President, Middle Market Business Development. Jeff Hughes has been appointed Regional President, Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners, LLC ("BKS Partners"), succeeding Ms. Nash.
BRP's Middle Market Operating Group provides commercial risk management, employee benefits, and private risk management solutions to clients nationwide.
In her newly created role, Ms. Nash will be responsible for delivering best-in-class platforms and services for the firm's Middle Market clients. She will support BRP's regional leaders in building and executing national capabilities for client service, operations, placement, and other client-facing resources.
Ms. Nash joined BRP in 2017 and most recently served as Regional President of BKS Partners. She has been recognized as a Power Broker by Risk and Insurance and an Elite Woman in Insurance by Insurance Business America.
Mr. Hughes will succeed Ms. Nash in the role of Regional President for BKS Partners. As Regional President, he will take holistic responsibility over the BKS Partners business in the southeast region of the U.S. Most recently, Mr. Hughes served as Managing Director of Employee Benefits, BKS Partners.
As President of Business Development, Mr. Shinkle will be responsible for supporting BRP's U.S. regions in building sales leadership, implementing best practices, and developing the firm's network of advisors across the Middle Market Segment. He will develop and deliver strategies and programs across the organization to build on BRP's track record of exceptional organic growth.
Mr. Shinkle joined BRP in 2020 as part of the firm's Partnership, BRP Group's nomenclature for a strategic acquisition, with Insgroup, Inc. ("Insgroup"). Most recently, he served as Managing Director, Middle Market Business Strategy.
"This is an exciting time for our Middle Market segment as our business continues to rapidly grow and evolve," said Dan Galbraith, Chief Operating Officer, BRP Group. "Both Kelly and Ryan have been instrumental in the expansion of our Middle Market presence and capabilities across the nation. Together, they will make a lasting impact on the way we deliver excellence to our clients and colleagues."
"We're thrilled to announce Jeff's appointment to Regional President of BKS Partners," said Mr. Galbraith. "His experience and expertise will help to drive our business in the southeast region of the U.S. forward. We're excited to see continued growth with him in this leadership role."
BRP Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRP) is an independent insurance distribution firm delivering tailored insurance and risk management insights and solutions that give our Clients the peace of mind to pursue their purpose, passion and dreams. We are innovating the industry by taking a holistic and tailored approach to risk management, insurance and employee benefits, and support our Clients, Colleagues, Insurance Company Partners and communities through the deployment of vanguard resources and capital to drive our growth. BRP Group represents over 1,200,000 Clients across the United States and internationally. For more information, please visit www.baldwinriskpartners.com.
This press release may contain various "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which represent BRP Group's expectations or beliefs concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical facts and may include statements that address future operating, financial or business performance or BRP Group's strategies or expectations. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may", "might", "will", "should", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "projects", "potential", "outlook" or "continue", or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements.
Factors that could cause actual results or performance to differ from the expectations expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those described under the caption "Risk Factors" in BRP Group's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and in BRP Group's other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at: www.sec.gov, including those risks and other factors relevant to the business, financial condition and results of operations of BRP Group and factors related to the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on BRP Group's business, financial condition and results of operations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated. All forward-looking statements and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to BRP Group or to persons acting on behalf of BRP Group are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and BRP Group does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law.
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SOURCE Baldwin Risk Partners | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/brp-group-inc-announces-executive-appointments/ | 2022-08-03T18:58:21Z |
Residents can pay their deposit for the City of Detroit Basement Backup Protection Program with cash, personal or business check, or card at any DivDat kiosk
DETROIT, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Diversified Data Processing & Consulting, Inc. ("DivDat" or the "Company"), announced today that eligible Detroit homeowners participating in the City of Detroit Basement Backup Protection Program can pay their $100 deposit on approved upgrades to correct or prevent residential flooding, per program guidelines. The program deposit for each eligible and approved home can be paid exclusively on any Detroit-area DivDat kiosk. The DivDat Payment Network conveniently presents resident bill payers with local City Departments, including the DWSD, as well as other local area billers to pay on DivDat branded indoor and outdoor payment kiosks, located in and around the metro Detroit area.
Working with DivDat to offer accessible, convenient, and secure channels to accept residents' bill payments has been an enormous benefit for the DWSD," said Gary Brown, director of the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department (DWSD). "The DivDat kiosk allows Detroit homeowners, including landlords, in eligible neighborhoods to pay their deposit for the Basement Backup Protection Program where and how it's most convenient to them – at DivDat kiosk locations across Detroit. The partnership with DivDat to accept these deposits help us speed up the process to get backwater valves installed in homes in the pilot neighborhoods."
DivDat has provided payment processing to the City and its departments, including DWSD since 2017. Today, all City of Detroit Departments provide convenient bill payment options to residents through DivDat's omnichannel payment pathways, including kiosk, web, mobile app, and IVR/phone pay. DivDat has helped the City transition from cash handling to accepting cash payments free of charge to bill payers at its many Detroit area kiosks.
"We are proud to further facilitate additional specialized payment types and corresponding back-end integrations for the City of Detroit and its Departments," said Jason Bierkle, President, DivDat. "Providing additional payment channels and corresponding immediate account posting help reiterate the peace of mind for homeowners and landlords that their home's value is being prioritized as a result of this City program."
The City of Detroit Basement Backup Protection Program is funded by the Detroit Future Fund, as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA funding is in part designed to provide vital services and make necessary investments in infrastructure. As a result of ARPA funding, The Detroit Future Fund is able to cover the cost of the Basement Backup Protection Program, with the exception of the homeowner's portion of the payment, which can be made by DivDat kiosk or online. To determine eligibility for the Basement Backup Protection Plan and to apply for the program, visit https://detroitmi.gov/basementprotection.
DivDat is the leader in omnichannel bill payment and processing serving corporations as well as municipalities, utility companies, courts, and quasi-governmental entities. DivDat's proprietary payment technologies span indoor and outdoor payment kiosks, web interfaces, IVR/phone payment options, mobile app, and point of service modules facilitating in-person payments made to cashiering representatives. Across all channels, bill payments paid on the DivDat Payment Network feature real-time automated posting to accurate customer-specific accounts, reducing the need for manual intervention, so treasury teams are more efficient and get paid faster®. DivDat and its leadership have been recognized for their contributions to DE&I. The DivDat kiosk and the full DivDat Payment Network promote equality and access by providing corporations and governments with the tools and technologies to make it just as easy for unbanked and underbanked people to stay current on essential bills as it is for those with access to electronic payment methodologies and credit, effectively leveling the paying field®. Learn more about DivDat at www.DivDat.com.
Samara Cogswell, Chief Marketing Officer
scogswell@divdat.com
517-281-7092
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SOURCE DivDat | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/city-wide-divdat-bill-pay-kiosks-available-accept-detroit-basement-backup-protection-program-homeowner-deposit/ | 2022-08-16T16:14:02Z |
Which balance beam for kids is best?
A balance beam is an excellent, fun way for kids to improve their coordination, whether for everyday balance or if they’re taking their first steps toward gymnastic competitions. However, not every balance beam is right for every kid. For example, a gymnastics hopeful should have a competition-ready bar that the youngest kids might struggle on.
The best balance beam for kids is the Milliard Adjustable Balance Beam. Its lowest setting is perfect for any age, and it’s easy to raise the bar later.
What to know before you buy a balance beam for kids
Height
Balance beams for kids always begin resting on the floor, typically with beam heights not exceeding 4 inches. Once your child has grown taller and improved their skills, you can consider a beam that’s on legs and 6-12 inches off the floor. Older children with plenty of experience on a balance beam can use beams as high as 24 inches. Anything higher than this is used for competitions among the most experienced teenagers and adults.
Length
Balance beams for kids typically come in lengths of 4, 6 or 8 feet. Keep to beams of 4 or 6 feet for casual use by the youngest kids and especially for use at home. Beams 8 feet long are better for kids starting to get into gymnastics; just make sure you have the necessary space.
For reference, official competition balance beams are 16 feet long.
Design
Balance beams for kids come in a wide range of colors. Purple, tan and blue are some of the most common for standard beams, while plastic beams often come in a rainbow of bright colors. It shouldn’t be difficult to find one that matches your child’s favorite color.
What to look for in a quality balance beam for kids
Core material
A balance beam’s core material affects what level of gymnastics your child can perform.
- Plastic is common in balance beams aimed at those who’ve only recently learned to walk. It’s usually not sturdy enough to handle much more than 100 pounds. Many plastic beams come in pieces rather than as a whole, so you can adjust the challenge to the child or create funky shapes and courses to keep them entertained.
- Foam is common for beginner gymnastics. It’s just sturdy enough to provide some give, but soft enough not to hurt if the child falls. It also tends to cost less than wood or metal.
- Wood and metal are best for children who are ready to step up their game. They provide the best support and strength but also include a thin layer of foam for a little protection.
Adjustability
Children grow fast, which is why the best balance beams for kids let you adjust their heights. Some may only have one or two settings above floor height while others have multiple.
How much you can expect to spend on a balance beam for kids
They can cost as little as $30 or as much as $200-plus. Small, basic beams rarely cost more than $75 while the average beam costs $150-$200. Serious gymnastic beams for kids typically start around $200.
Balance beam for kids FAQ
What exactly does a balance beam for kids improve?
A. It improves your child’s coordination and core strength, with their balance improving as a result.
Why do most balance beams use suede covers?
A. Suede, either natural or synthetic, is typically thick and offers some extra grip for a gymnast. It’s also more durable.
How old should my child be before they start ‘professional’ gymnastics?
A. Every child is different. One might have a natural aptitude and be ready by as young as 4 or 5, while another child might need more time to mature and get the basics down. Regardless, there are plenty of classes available for children of all ages that teach those basics as long as they can comfortably walk. Remember to take your child’s interests and abilities into account when signing them up.
What’s the best balance beam for kids to buy?
Top balance beam for kids
Miliard Adjustable Balance Beam
What you need to know: The adjustable height lets it grow alongside your child’s skills and age.
What you’ll love: It’s 8 by 4 inches with five height settings between 7-24 inches. The legs are made of steel for durability and have anti-slip feet to keep them steady. The padded suede beam with a wooden core is competition grade.
What you should consider: A few consumers reported the 24-inch height setting as a little wobbly. Others reported the suede to be a little slippery.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top balance beam for kids for the money
OMNISAFE Upgraded Balance Beams
What you need to know: This balance beam is great for teaching the youngest kids a little balance.
What you’ll love: It’s made up of six connected “stepping stones” that measure 21 by 6 by 4 inches. They are lightweight with a rubberized base, plus the entire stretch can be made easier or harder by moving the logs closer together or farther apart.
What you should consider: Only six stepping stones are included. You will need to buy more if you want a longer balance beam.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
S&S Worldwide Figure Eight Balance Beam Set
What you need to know: These pieces let you create your own balance beam shapes.
What you’ll love: The set includes eight straight pieces, 18 curved ones and one cross-section. Every piece is connectable so you can make long, winding squiggly beams, a simple straight, circles and a figure 8. The pieces can hold up to 110 pounds.
What you should consider: Putting all the pieces together and taking them apart each time can be a hassle. The pieces take up a large amount of storage space.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/gymnastics-br/best-balance-beam-for-kids/ | 2022-08-30T04:45:20Z |
LAS VEGAS, July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pandamonium is the Kanpai Pandas' signature annual entertainment event. This year's Pandamonium will be held on August 13th in downtown Las Vegas at the Events Center from 6 PM to 1 AM, where the Kanpai Panda team will welcome thousands of Pandas, celebrities, artists, and athletes from around the world!
Tyga, Rich The Kid, Keyboard Monkey, Wenzday, Bijou, DJ E-ROCK, DJ Romeo, and DJ Ignite will be performing! We can't wait for the Kanpai Panda community to indulge in exclusive real-world experiences that the NFT space scarcely provides. In addition to the artists performing, there will be crypto social media influencers, athletes, and other big names attending Pandamonium to dance the night away! The venue is 120,000 sq ft. with a 30 ft x 80 ft stage, with full sound and lighting. Food and beverages will be sold at the event. Come join us for an NFT experience you will never forget.
There are 2 tiers for access to the event. If you are already holding a panda you can mint a free GA ticket on our website, or buy one on OpenSea. If you have a VIP pass (airdropped to Genesis Panda holders in April and available on OpenSea), you will get access to the Pandamonium VIP lounge and will receive other exclusive perks and benefits for future events. If you don't have a VIP pass, you can acquire one here (OpenSea). As a bonus, VIP holders will also get FREE entrance to the afterparty at Drais from 1 AM-7 AM.
This event will be gated by TokenProof, instructions on how to set up your wallet for a QR scan at the event can be found here or on Pandamonium.live under 'Tickets'! For additional details regarding the event, go to Pandamonium.live!
Since our launch in April 2022, the Kanpai Panda team has provided holders access to more than 30 events, including Crypto Bahamas, UFC 276 (Adesanya fight) 🥊, UFC 277, Imagine Dragons 🐲, Bad Bunny 🐰, season tickets to the upcoming Raiders season (10 games) 🏈, and more! The Kanpai Panda team is planning to launch over 40 projects in 2023, with 10+ being international. This is only the beginning.
Kanpai Pandas is building a family of like-minded people, creating a vast network effect where holders can have fun and grow together. The team strongly believes in community feedback and encourages holders to have a say in what events are hosted and where. Kanpai Pandas believe in building a sustainable long-term foundation through providing real-world utility and on-chain innovation. This is merely the tip of the iceberg for what the Kanpai Panda team aims to offer holders.
You can buy a Kanpai Panda from our website (kanpaipandas.io) or secondary marketplaces like OpenSea.
Kanpai! 🍻
MINTING OPEN 🐼 at kanpaipandas.io ✨
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KanpaiPandas
Discord: discord.gg/kanpaipandas
OpenSea: https://opensea.io/collection/kanpai-pandas
Media Contact: info@kanpaipandas.io
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SOURCE Kanpai Pandas | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/15/pandamonium-tyga-rich-kid-las-vegas-august-13th/ | 2022-07-15T14:59:50Z |
The project marks the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital's first return to in-person programming since the start of the pandemic
FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, August 8, Orbis International, with generous support from Alcon, the global leader in eye care, will kick off its first in-person training project on board the Flying Eye Hospital – a fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital on board a plane – since the pandemic began. Over a two-week period, Orbis's clinical staff and Volunteer Faculty (medical experts) along with Alcon bioengineers and trainers will share their knowledge with nearly 50 ophthalmologists, ophthalmology residents, nurses and biomedical engineers from several countries throughout the Caribbean,1 helping them build skills to fight avoidable blindness in their communities.
The participants will hone their skills using cutting-edge ophthalmic surgical simulation training technology on the Flying Eye Hospital, which is currently at Fort Worth Alliance Airport, and additional hands-on training in the Alcon Experience Center (AEC), a state-of-the-art training facility on Alcon's nearby campus. Simulation training allows the visiting eye care teams to grow their confidence in a training environment before moving on to real-life surgical procedures.
Learning surgical skills for cataract removal will be a major focus of the training. Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness worldwide2 despite being treatable with an operation that can take as little as ten to fifteen minutes. Participants will also learn to treat other conditions that threaten vision, including glaucoma, the most common cause of irreversible blindness. A select group of these participants, who are already highly experienced ophthalmologists, will also participate in a train-the-trainer course, which will deepen their ability to train the next generation of eye care professionals. This helps ensure ongoing continuity of and local access to eye care in their home countries.
"When the pandemic broke out in March 2020, we had to make the difficult decision to cancel the second half of a training we were delivering in Fort Worth in partnership with Alcon, so we could not think of a more fitting place for the Flying Eye Hospital to return to in-person programming," said Derek Hodkey, President and CEO of Orbis International. "While the plane has continued its mission virtually over the past two years, this is an unmistakable sign of hope, a chance to pick up where we left off and an opportunity to apply new innovations to our fight against avoidable blindness."
Alcon, through its charitable donation foundations Alcon Foundation and Alcon Cares, has been a generous supporter of Orbis for over forty years, providing monetary donations and state-of-the-art ophthalmic equipment, surgical products, and supplies for Orbis's Flying Eye Hospital and partner hospitals around the world. Alcon's expert biomedical engineers and trainers also participate in Orbis programs, sharing their skills and knowledge to help program participants learn to operate and maintain critical medical technology.
"Alcon is proud of our more than 40-year partnership with Orbis, as we've worked together to improve volume and access to quality eye care that benefits underserved populations in communities around the world," said David Endicott, CEO of Alcon. "We are pleased to welcome participating learners to our Fort Worth Alcon Experience Center where they will have hands-on experience with Alcon surgical equipment to build their skills and confidence in eye care techniques such as Phaco cataract, medical retina and glaucoma procedures."
Globally, Alcon operates 10 AECs along with 26 training centers and 42 wet labs where training is focused on upskilling ophthalmologists and optometrists so that they are proficient in the latest techniques and technologies.
This year, Orbis is also celebrating 40 years since the Flying Eye Hospital took its first flight. Since 1982, three generations of the Flying Eye Hospital have taken training to eye care teams in over 95 countries around the world. In 2020, Orbis reimagined in-person Flying Eye Hospital trainings as virtual ones to ensure that eye care teams could still access critical training safely during the pandemic. Orbis reached nine countries in 2020 and 34 countries in 2021 through virtual Flying Eye Hospital projects. With the plane now returning to in-person programming, the virtual model Orbis developed is being used in conjunction with in-person training, a concept known as "blended learning," to ensure that participants can maximize the time with their mentors, continue their education after the plane leaves and more.
Globally, 1.1 billion people live with vision loss, and 90% of cases are completely avoidable.3 Nine out of ten people with vision loss live in low- and middle-income countries,4 where quality eye care is often difficult, sometimes impossible, to access. An effective, lasting solution to this challenge is to ensure that eye care professionals in such countries can access quality ophthalmic training, building the skills they need to provide quality eye care to patients in their communities.
Over the past four decades, Orbis has conducted tens of millions of eye screenings and performed eye surgeries and laser treatments for hundreds of thousands of patients. Orbis has also trained hundreds of thousands of eye care professionals at all levels, including tens of thousands of medical doctors. The people Orbis trains go on to provide sight-saving care in their communities and, in many cases, go on to train eye care professionals themselves.
Orbis is a leading global non-governmental organization that has been a pioneer in the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness for four decades. Orbis transforms lives by delivering the skills, resources and knowledge needed to deliver accessible quality eye care. Working in collaboration with local partners, including hospitals, universities, government agencies and ministries of health, Orbis provides hands-on ophthalmology training, strengthens healthcare infrastructure and advocates for the prioritization of eye health on public health agendas. Orbis operates the world's only Flying Eye Hospital, a fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft, and an award-winning telemedicine platform, Cybersight. For the past ten consecutive years, Orbis has achieved Charity Navigator's coveted four-star rating for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency, placing Orbis in the top 3% of U.S. charities. In 2021, Orbis earned GuideStar's platinum Seal of Transparency. To learn more, please visit orbis.org.
Alcon helps people see brilliantly. As the global leader in eye care with a heritage spanning over 75 years, we offer the broadest portfolio of products to enhance sight and improve people's lives. Our Surgical and Vision Care products touch the lives of more than 260 million people in over 140 countries each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors. Our more than 24,000 associates are enhancing the quality of life through innovative products, partnerships with Eye Care Professionals and programs that advance access to quality eye care. Learn more at www.alcon.com.
1 Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago
2 https://www.iapb.org/learn/vision-atlas/causes-of-vision-loss
3 https://www.iapb.org/learn/vision-atlas
4 https://www.iapb.org/learn/vision-atlas/inequality-in-vision-loss
MEDIA CONTACTS
Orbis International
Kristin Taylor
Vice President, Global Communications and Marketing
kristin.taylor@orbis.org
Alcon
Steven Smith
Director, Global External Communications
steven_p.smith@alcon.com
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SOURCE Orbis International | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/orbis-alcon-kick-off-two-week-training-caribbean-eye-care-teams-help-fight-avoidable-blindness-local-communities/ | 2022-08-04T21:49:05Z |
Latest acquisition expands Spectrum's global capabilities; provides enhanced resources, expertise and experience to award-winning Aurora team
WASHINGTON and LONDON, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Spectrum Science, an independent, integrated marketing, communications and media agency hyper-focused on health and science, today announced the acquisition of UK-based strategic communications consultancy, Aurora Healthcare Communications and other group agencies under This is Avalon Group (Aurora). Spectrum and Aurora have worked together for more than a decade as part of Global Health Marketing & Communications (GHMC). The two companies will now formally join forces under the GHMC brand, each as a GHMC Company. GHMC remains the largest network of fully independent healthcare communications agencies; Spectrum serves as founder and chair of GHMC.
"After 14 years of close, trusted and successful collaboration, we are thrilled to formalize our partnership with Aurora, building upon our existing global business and expanding capabilities to best meet client needs," says Jonathan Wilson, owner and CEO of Spectrum and chairman and CEO of GHMC. "The past several years have been a period of great growth for Spectrum as we've transformed to a fully integrated marketing and communications agency with 250 employees spread all over the country. As the logical next step in this exciting journey, we're looking forward to bringing our model to even more clients across Europe, further expanding our global work while supporting Aurora's evolution along a similar path."
As leading independent healthcare communications agencies in two of the most important global markets, this mutually beneficial partnership allows both organizations to further strengthen their transatlantic offerings and create new, exciting opportunities and career pathways for staff.
Aurora will continue to operate under the Aurora brand with ongoing leadership from co-founders Claire Eldridge and Neil Crump, with no change in day-to-day operations. Neil will assume the role of Chief Growth Officer for GHMC, working closely with the network's President, Tim Goddard, to drive an expansion of capabilities, geographic presence and new business. Claire will continue in her role as Chief Executive Officer of Aurora and will focus on leading the integration with Spectrum in addition to setting the strategic direction for the agency to unlock its growth potential.
"We are delighted to build on the strong foundation we've established through our long-standing collaboration with Spectrum," says Claire Eldridge, Chief Executive Officer of Aurora. "For nearly 20 years, we have focused on expanding our capabilities across communications, patient engagement and social impact to best serve our clients and tell meaningful stories to improve lives and prove it. Now in partnership with Spectrum, we can continue to grow our offerings with an eye towards today's rapidly evolving industry, and a diversified set of clients who want to have the same impact we do for patients."
Additionally, Chris Bath will continue in his role of Managing Director of Aurora, working closely with the existing Aurora leadership team to oversee the agency's strategic direction, daily operations and existing client business, with the potential for more shared opportunities and global work. Aurora's 34 permanent employees bring further expertise in patient engagement, medical communications, social impact and brand and corporate communications.
The Aurora acquisition closely follows two previously announced acquisitions for Spectrum: The Seismic Collaborative and SONIC Health. Financing for all three deals was provided by Monroe Capital.
About Aurora
Aurora is a strategic communications consultancy helping the world's leading healthcare organizations improve lives and prove it. Since 2005, Aurora has run campaigns that reach, inspire and activate audiences including patients, families and caregivers, healthcare professionals and beyond. We do this for top global pharmaceutical companies, charities, MedTech firms and device manufacturers. Our approach works, and we evidence our impact using our comprehensive Acumen framework. Our work is multinational. As the UK partner and EU hub of GHMC, we match international best practice with on-the-ground local knowledge. Through insights, co-design, audience activation and communication management, we help businesses deliver healthcare for good. Visit www.auroracomms.com to find out more.
About Spectrum Science
Spectrum Science is an integrated marketing, communications and media agency like no other. An independent, full-service agency with end-to-end capabilities, Spectrum's team are experts in science—focused on strategic engagements with our audiences. We leverage human-centered insights, motivating creative, innovative storytelling and technology to reach audiences where they are with the content they need and want. Spectrum offers global reach as the US partner and chair of Global Health Marketing & Communications (GHMC). For more information on how Spectrum goes Beyond the Science Quo, visit www.spectrumscience.com or follow @SpectrumScience on Twitter.
About Global Health Marketing & Communications (GHMC)
GHMC is the largest and most robust network of independent healthcare agencies worldwide, dedicated to improving outcomes through the delivery of dynamic, health-lingual experiences that drive meaningful global change. With more than 700 health-specialist communications professionals spanning more than a dozen disciplines, from patient engagement to clinical trial recruitment to advertising, the agencies that make up the partnership share a belief in insights-driven strategies and a commitment to collaboration. Today, GHMC has capabilities and reach into more than 60 countries. For more information, visit www.GHMCNetwork.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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SOURCE Spectrum Science | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/spectrum-science-strengthens-global-presence-with-acquisition-longtime-uk-partner-aurora-healthcare-communications/ | 2022-08-11T10:42:10Z |
OAKLAND, Calif., May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) announced today that it will be presenting at three investor conferences next month. Chief Executive Officer Linda Rendle and Chief Financial Officer Kevin Jacobsen will be featured speakers during these events at the following times:
2022 RBC Capital Markets Global Consumer & Retail Conference, Boston
June 1, 11:20-11:50 a.m. ET
Bernstein 38th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference, New York
June 2, 1:30-2:20 p.m. ET
dbAccess Global Consumer Conference 2022, Paris
June 15, 11:15-11:55 a.m. Central European Summer Time (5:15-5:55 a.m. ET)
Live webcasts of these fireside chats can be accessed on the company's website. Replays will be posted there following the events.
The Clorox Company
The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) is a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products with about 9,000 employees worldwide and fiscal year 2021 sales of $7.3 billion. Clorox markets some of the most trusted and recognized consumer brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products; Pine-Sol® cleaners; Liquid-Plumr® clog removers; Poett® home care products; Fresh Step® cat litter; Glad® bags and wraps; Kingsford® grilling products; Hidden Valley® dressings and sauces; Brita® water-filtration products; Burt's Bees® natural personal care products; and RenewLife®, Rainbow Light®, Natural Vitality CALM™, and NeoCell® vitamins, minerals and supplements. The company also markets industry-leading products and technologies for professional customers, including those sold under the CloroxPro™ and Clorox Healthcare® brand names. More than 80% of the company's sales are generated from brands that hold the No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in their categories.
Clorox is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. The company has been broadly recognized for its corporate responsibility efforts, included on the Barron's 2022 100 Most Sustainable Companies list, 2022 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, the Human Rights Campaign's 2022 Corporate Equality Index and the 2021 Parity.org Best Places for Women to Advance list, among others. In support of its communities, The Clorox Company and its foundations contributed about $20 million in combined cash grants, product donations and cause marketing in fiscal year 2021. For more information, visit TheCloroxCompany.com and follow the company on Twitter at @CloroxCo.
CLX-F
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SOURCE The Clorox Company | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/clorox-present-upcoming-rbc-bernstein-deutsche-bank-investor-conferences/ | 2022-05-12T22:39:45Z |
Lawyers appeal Brittney Griner’s Russian prison sentence
MOSCOW (AP) - Lawyers for American basketball star Brittney Griner on Monday filed an appeal against her 9-year Russian prison sentence for drugs possession, Russian news agencies reported.
Griner, a center for the Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was convicted on Aug. 4. She was arrested in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport after vape canisters containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage.
Griner played for a women’s basketball team in Yekaterinburg during the WNBA off-season.
Lawyer Maria Blagovolina was quoted by Russian news agencies on Monday as saying the appeal was filed, but the grounds of the appeal were not immediately clear.
Blagovolina and co-counsel Alexander Boykov said after the conviction that the sentence was excessive and that in similar cases defendants have received an average sentence of about five years, with about a third of them granted parole.
Griner admitted that she had the canisters in her luggage, but said she had inadvertently packed them in haste and that she had no criminal intent. Her defense team presented written statements that she had been prescribed cannabis to treat pain.
Before her conviction, the US State Department declared Griner to be “wrongfully detained.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken took the unusual step of revealing publicly in July that the U.S. had made a “substantial proposal” to get Griner home home, along with Paul Whelan, an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage. He did not elaborate, but the AP and other news organizations have reported that the U.S. has offered to free Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. and once earned the nickname the “Merchant of Death.”
On Sunday, a senior Russian diplomat said exchange talks have been conducted.
“This quite sensitive issue of the swap of convicted Russian and US citizens is being discussed through the channels defined by our presidents. These individuals are, indeed, being discussed. The Russian side has long been seeking the release of Viktor Bout. The details should be left to professionals, proceeding from the ‘do not harm’ principle,’” Alexander Darchiev, head of the foreign ministry’s North America department, told state news agency Tass.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/15/russian-media-lawyers-brittney-griner-appeal-prison-sentence/ | 2022-08-15T10:03:53Z |
Invests $50 million in Marine Protected Areas in the Tropical Pacific
LISBON, Portugal, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bezos Earth Fund today announced its first investments dedicated explicitly to marine protection at the United Nations Ocean Conference, totaling $50 million in new grants. These grants further its commitment to the 30x30 initiative to protect 30% of the planet's land and sea by 2030. Currently, only 7.93% of the ocean is zoned as marine protected areas.
The Bezos Earth Fund will provide grants totaling $30 million to support organizations working in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama in strengthening the Eastern Tropical Marine Corridor. By creating a network of marine protected areas covering more than 500,000-square-kilometers (193,000-square-miles) and a transboundary biosphere reserve, the four countries' biological hotspots will be connected and protected. These grants are provided alongside those of other members of the Connect to Protect Eastern Tropical Pacific Coalition. The coalition will work alongside governments, local communities, non-government organizations, and scientists to help establish a regional governance structure, design, and implement marine protected areas and the biosphere reserve, and secure long-term sustainable financing.
"The ocean is our planet's life support system and a major carbon sink," said Dr. Andrew Steer, president and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund. "Investing in the ocean can be a powerful solution to many major challenges. It can protect vital marine ecosystems, provide jobs, help local communities, improve food security, and address climate change. These commitments are the first of many the Bezos Earth Fund will make to support marine protection in this decisive decade."
The Earth Fund's $20 million grant to the National Geographic Society's Pristine Seas will further advance the goal of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. With this support, the Pristine Seas team will explore, document, and conduct research in the central and western Pacific Ocean over the next five years. This region contains the highest marine biodiversity on the planet, most of which is unprotected from extractive activities.
"It is an honor to receive this grant. It provides us with an exciting opportunity to work with local partners to accelerate, scale, and finance permanent ocean protection," said Dr. Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and founder of Pristine Seas. "This grant allows Pristine Seas to continue to provide countries and local communities with the assistance and support they need to create marine-protected areas and achieve their ocean conservation and economic goals."
The Bezos Earth Fund is Jeff Bezos' $10 billion commitment to fund scientists, activists, NGOs, and other actors who will drive climate and nature solutions. By allocating funds creatively, wisely, and boldly, the Bezos Earth Fund has the potential for transformative influence in this decisive decade. Funds will be fully allocated by 2030—the date the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals must be achieved.
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SOURCE Bezos Earth Fund | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/bezos-earth-fund-announces-first-commitments-marine-protection-un-ocean-conference/ | 2022-06-27T08:29:19Z |
Revenue decrease largely due to lower eCommerce traffic
14.4% reduction in Operating Expenses
Significant improvements in Operating Cash Flow
EBITDA(1) improved by $3.5 million
DENVER, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - (TSX: CWEB) (OTCQX: CWBHF), Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc. ("Charlotte's Web" or the "Company"), the market leader in full-spectrum hemp extract wellness products, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022.
"While our e-commerce traffic was lower compared to prior periods, subscriptions more than doubled since Q1-2021. With e-commerce revenue down $3.0 million year-over-year, rebuilding traffic and conversions remain key priorities for us in e-commerce, which is our largest revenue channel," said Jacques Tortoroli, Chief Executive Officer. "In our retail business, shipping was disrupted in January due to a two-week closure after a local wildfire in Boulder County. Despite the slow start, the overall business improved through the quarter with March being the largest revenue month of the quarter. The quarter did not benefit from our new retail sales organization which was put in place in April."
Progress continued in key international markets. In the U.K., the Company achieved a milestone becoming one of the first companies to receive validation of its Novel Food applications from the UK Food Standards Agency ("FSA") for full-spectrum hemp extracts in the United Kingdom. The milestone adds Charlotte's Web to the FSA's list of products allowed to be sold in the UK. The Company's Novel Foods applications for the European Union were also validated during the quarter and are now proceeding through the safety evaluation process. In Canada, the Company is in discussions for extraction and distribution to bring to market Charlotte's Web's first international hemp harvest, which is anticipated for later this year. In Israel, the Company believes the regulatory environment for CBD sales in retail outlets continues to move forward. Charlotte's Web expects to begin filing product registrations in the coming months through its Israeli partner, Intercure, with the Company's first bulk product shipment anticipated in the second half of the year.
"Our December/January reorganization reduced complexity and reduced SG&A expenses by more than $20.0 million on an annualized basis," said Lindsey Jensen, Chief Financial Offer. "This resulted in improved gross margin percentage, lower operating expenses, and improved EBITDA(1) for Q1-2022 compared to the same quarter of 2021. We used $4.7 million in operating cash in the quarter with the majority of this occurring in January. In the quarter we received $0.5 million against our $10.8 million IRS receivable that we started the year with, and an additional $2.7 million has been collected since March 31 through the date of this press release. We continue to steward the use of cash while furthering our product rationalization to lower complexity and costs across our operations."
Q1-2022 Financial Review
For the three-month period ended March 31, 2022, consolidated net revenue was $19.4 million, a decrease of 17.3% versus $23.4 million in Q1-2021. The decrease was partly due to a temporary closure of the Company's production and shipping terminal in January after a local wildfire in Boulder County.
Direct-to-consumer ("DTC") eCommerce revenue was $13.1 million, a decrease of $3.0 million or 18.5% year-over-year. The decrease was attributable to lower traffic to the Company's online store, wildfire shipping delays, and an industry-wide consumer shift to lower-priced CBD products; primarily gummies and topical products, where Charlotte's Web is the market share leader. New DTC subscriptions increased 107% year-over-year and eCommerce conversion rates were strong at 14.2%. Charlotte's Web maintains the largest e-commerce business in the CBD industry. DTC sales contributed 67.9% of the Company's total net revenue in Q1-2022.
Business-to-business ("B2B") revenue was $6.2 million, $1.1 million or 14.6% lower year-over-year with reduced shipments to some of the Company's largest retail customers after the warehouse closure and some supply chain challenges on top-selling CBD Clinic SKUs. This was partially offset by new retail distribution in grocery, natural, and pet retail, following the passing of Assembly Bill 45 in California. Charlotte's Web holds the number one market share position across major retail channels including total U.S. F/D/M, total U.S. natural specialty retail, and e-commerce, based on market share data from leading third-party analysts such as Nielsen, SPINS, and Brightfield Group, respectively. B2B sales contributed 32.1% of total net revenue in Q1-2022.
Gross profit was $11.7M, or 60.5% of consolidated revenue versus $13.6 million and 58.3% respectively in Q1-2021.
Total selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") of $20.4 million were reduced by 14.4% year-over-year. The $3.4 reduction versus Q1-2021 was primarily the result of actions taken in late 2021 and early 2022 to bring expenses in line with current revenue levels to support a return to positive cash flow.
An operating loss of $8.6 million recorded for the first quarter of 2022 was a $1.5 million, or 14.8%, an improvement from an operating loss of $10.1 million in Q1-2021. The net loss and comprehensive loss for the quarter was $8.6 million, or ($0.06) per share on a basic and diluted basis, a $4.1 million, or 32.5%, improvement compared to a net loss and comprehensive loss of $12.8 million, or ($0.09) per share on a basic and diluted basis in Q1-2021.
Adjusted EBITDA1 loss for the first quarter of 2022 was $5.3 million as compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $6.2 million in the prior-year period, an improvement of 15.0%.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Net cash use for the first quarter of 2022 was $5.0 million with the majority of the cash being used in January. Cash used for operations in February and March was significantly lower than January due to increased revenue and reduced expenses. The Company still believes it will be cash flow neutral for fiscal 2022.
The Company's cash and working capital at March 31, 2022, were $14.5 million and $69.9 million, respectively, compared to $19.5 million and $75.6 million at December 31, 2021. In the first quarter, the Company collected $0.5 million in IRS refunds of the $10.8 million outstanding at December 31, 2021. An additional $2.7 million was collected in April and the remaining balance of $7.6 million is expected to be collected in 2022.
Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis
The Company's unaudited condensed consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 and the unaudited condensed consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss, Shareholders' Equity, and Cash Flows and accompanying notes for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 and related management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations ("MD&A") are reported in the Company's 10Q filing on the Securities and Exchange Commission website at www.sec.gov and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://investors.charlottesweb.com.
Conference Call
Management will host a conference call to discuss the Company's 2022 first-quarter results at 11:00 a.m. ET on May 17, 2022. A recording of the call will be available through May 23, 2022. To listen to a replay of the earnings call please dial 1-416-764-8677 or 1-888-390-0541 and provide conference ID 55137632. A webcast of the call can be accessed through the investor relations section of the Charlotte's Web website.
About Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc.
Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc., a Certified B Corporation headquartered in Denver, is the market leader in innovative hemp extract wellness products under a family of brands which includes Charlotte's Web™, CBD Medic™, CBD Clinic™, and Harmony Hemp™. Charlotte's Web branded premium quality products start with proprietary hemp genetics that are 100-percent American farm-grown and manufactured into hemp extracts containing naturally occurring phytocannabinoids including cannabidiol ("CBD"), CBC, CBG, terpenes, flavonoids, and other beneficial hemp compounds. The Company's CW Labs R&D division, advances hemp science at two centers of excellence in Louisville, Colorado, and the Hauptmann Woodward Research Institute at the University at Buffalo, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) network. Charlotte's Web product categories include full-spectrum hemp CBD oil tinctures (liquid products), CBD gummies (sleep, stress, exercise recovery), CBD capsules, CBD topical creams and lotions, as well as CBD pet products for dogs. Through its vertically integrated business model, Charlotte's Web maintains stringent control over product quality and consistency. Charlotte's Web products are distributed to more than 15,000 retail, over 8,000 health care practitioners, and online through the Company's website at www.CharlottesWeb.com.
Charlotte's Web was founded by the seven Stanley Brothers with a mission to unleash the healing powers of botanicals through compassion and science, benefiting the planet and all who live upon it. Charlotte's Web is a socially and environmentally conscious company and is committed to using business as a force for good and a catalyst for innovation. The Company weighs sound business decisions with consideration for how its efforts affect employees, customers, the environment, and diverse communities. The rate the Company pays for agricultural products reflects a fair and sustainable rate driving higher quality yield, encouraging regenerative farming practices, and supporting U.S. farming communities. Management believes that its socially oriented and environmentally responsible actions have a positive impact on its customers, suppliers, employees and stakeholders. Charlotte's Web donates a portion of its pre-tax earnings to charitable organizations.
Shares of Charlotte's Web trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol "CWEB" and are quoted in U.S. Dollars in the United States on the OTCQX under the symbol "CWBHF". As of May 13, 2022, Charlotte's Web had 145,150,852 Common Shares outstanding.
Forward-Looking Information
In the interest of providing the shareholders and potential investors of Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc. with information about the Company, certain information provided herein constitutes forward-looking statements or information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "anticipate", "expect", "project", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "intend", "target", "believe" and similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Although these forward-looking statements are based on assumptions the Company considers to be reasonable based on the information available on the date such statements are made, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. By their nature, these statements involve a variety of assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual results, levels of activity, and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on certain assumptions and analysis by the management of the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future development and other factors that it believes are appropriate.
Specifically, this press release contains forward-looking statements relating to, but not limited to: rebuilding DTC traffic and conversion; progress continuing in key international markets; our products continuing being allowed to be sold in the UK; the Novel Foods applications proceeding through the safety evaluation process; the continued discussions to extract and bring to market our first international hemp harvest in British Columbia, Canada anticipated for later this year; the regulatory environment, in Israel for CBD sales in retail outlets continues to move forward and our partner Intercure will be filing product registrations in the coming months; the expectation that we will have our first bulk product shipment in the second half of the year; that we continue to steward use of cash while furthering our product rationalization to lower complexity and costs across our operations; the Company's belief it will be cash neutral in 2022; and that the remaining IRS A/R balance of $7.2 million will be collected in 2022 ; anticipated consumer trends and corresponding product innovation; anticipated future financial results; international expansion activities and strategy, including Israel product launch, harvest and planned product sales in Canada, and expansion in UK and EU; sales volume, product, channel and international expansion plans; growth of the Company's market share position; collection of a near-term IRS tax refund; that the reorganization right-sized our operating expenses to our revenue; the impact of certain activities on the Company's business and financial condition; suggested regulatory developments; and the Company's anticipated trajectory, long-term growth expectations and shareholder value creation.
The material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking statements herein include, but are not limited to, the following: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the regulatory climate in which the Company currently operates and may in the future operate; successful sales of the Company's products; the success of sales and marketing activities; there will be no significant delays in the development and commercialization of the Company's products, including in relation to supply chain disruptions; outcomes from R&D activities; ability for the Company to leverage R&D and brand recognition for product sales; the Company's ability to deal with adverse growing conditions (due to pests, disease, fungus, climate or other factors) in a timely and cost-effective manner; there will be no significant reduction in the availability of qualified and cost-effective human resources; new products will continue to be added to the Company's portfolio; demand for the Company's products will grow in the foreseeable future; there will be no significant barriers to the acceptance of the Company's products in the market, including in international markets; the Company will be able to maintain compliance with applicable contractual and regulatory obligations and requirements; there will be adequate liquidity available to the Company to carry out its operations and business plans; the Company will have sufficient capital to pursue its sales volume, product, channel and international expansion; and products do not develop that would render the Company's current and future product offerings undesirable and the Company is otherwise able to minimize the impact of competition and keep pace with changing consumer preferences.
The Company's forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the Company's operations, supply chain, distribution chain, and to the broader market for the Company's products; revenue fluctuations; nature of government regulations (both domestic and foreign); economic conditions; loss of key customers; retention and availability of executive talent; competing products; common share price volatility; loss of proprietary information; product acceptance; internet and system infrastructure functionality; information technology security; available capital to fund operations and business plans; crop risk; international and political considerations; regulatory changes; and including but not limited to those risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2021 available on www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com, and other risk factors contained in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission available on www.sec.gov and filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities available on www.sedar.com. The impact of any one risk, uncertainty, or factor on a particular forward-looking statement is not determinable with certainty as these are interdependent, and the Company's future course of action depends on management's assessment of all information available at the relevant time.
Except as required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. All forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to the Company or persons acting on the Company's behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.
Non-GAAP Measures
The press release contains non-GAAP measures, including EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. Please refer to the section in the tables captioned "Non-GAAP Measures" below for additional information and a reconciliation to GAAP for all Non-GAAP metrics.
Non-GAAP Measures
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA") is not a recognized performance measure under U.S. GAAP. The term EBITDA consists of net loss and excludes interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes other non-cash items such as changes in fair value of financial instruments (Mark-to-Market), Share-based compensation, and impairment of assets. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered supplemental to, and not a substitute for, our reported financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP financials measures do not have a standardized meaning prescribed under U.S. GAAP and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The primary purpose of using non-GAAP financial measures is to provide supplemental information that we believe may be useful to investors and to enable investors to evaluate our results in the same way we do. We also present the non-GAAP financial measures because we believe they assist investors in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis, as well as comparing our results against the results of other companies, by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. Specifically, we use these non-GAAP measures as measures of operating performance; to prepare our annual operating budget; to allocate resources to enhance the financial performance of our business; to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies; to provide consistency and comparability with past financial performance; to facilitate a comparison of our results with those of other companies, many of which use similar non-GAAP financial measures to supplement their GAAP results; and in communications with our board of directors concerning our financial performance. Investors should be aware, however, that not all companies define these non-GAAP measures consistently.
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SOURCE Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/charlottes-web-delivers-operating-improvements-lower-revenue-first-quarter-2022/ | 2022-05-16T20:12:56Z |
Biden fights talk of recession as key economic report looms
(AP) - Facing a potentially grim report this week on the economy’s overall health, President Joe Biden wants to convince a skeptical public that the U.S. is not, in fact, heading into a recession.
The Commerce Department on Thursday will release new gross domestic product figures. Top forecasts such as the Atlanta Federal Reserve’s GDPNow are predicting that the figure will be negative for the second straight quarter — an informal signal that the country is stuck in a downturn. That’s political chum for Republicans in an election year.
The Biden administration is pre-emptively telling voters not to judge the economy by GDP or inflation alone. It says people should look at job gains, industrial output and other measures that point toward continued growth, even as Americans are downbeat in polls on the economy and Biden. The president maintains the economy is just cooling off after a sharp recovery from the 2020 recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re not going to be in a recession, in my view,” Biden said Monday. “My hope is we go from this rapid growth to steady growth.”
The specter of a recession could worsen what already appears to a bleak round of midterm elections this November, in which Biden’s Democrats could possibly lose control of the House and Senate. Biden’s team gave technical arguments in a report issued last week about how recessions depend on a dashboard of indicators and that only the non-governmental National Bureau of Economic Research can formally say when a downturn begins.
Republicans warn that the GDP report could show an economy in collapse, noting that Biden was also wrong on inflation as the consumer price index has jumped to a 40-year high despite assurances that the price increases would fade as the country moved past the pandemic.
“The White House published a whole explanation insisting that even if the new data suggest that our country is in recession, we actually won’t be,” Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said in Monday in a speech to the Senate.
“The same people who said inflation wouldn’t happen,” he continued, “are now insisting we aren’t headed into a recession. Draw your own conclusions.”
The GDP report will likely be a “choose your own economy” kind of messaging in which voters will decide which numbers resonate with them the most. It’s GOP bluntness against Democratic nuance.
“You’ll have Republicans saying two consecutive quarters of negative growth — that’s a recession,” said Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the center-right American Enterprise Institute. “And you’ll have Democrats making this kind of hard to follow argument that we’re not in recession, but, yes, we are slowing down. If I had to bet, I would bet that the Republican argument gets more traction.”
Not only is the likely GOP message more direct, it also leans into how many Americans feel right now.
A July poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 83% believe the U.S. is going in the wrong direction. That’s a sharp reversal from May of 2021 when 54% said the country was headed in the right direction, a level of approval that overlapped with an increase in vaccinations against COVID-19 and payments flowing from Biden’s $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package.
Separately, the University of Michigan’s index of consumer sentiment is lower now than it was during the worst months of the 2008 financial crisis, an epic recession that involved the crash of the housing and stock markets and required a burst of government aid.
The negativity has left the Biden administration trying to make the case that things are better than people think. Their argument starts with the torrid pace of hiring, with an average of 375,000 jobs being added monthly during the second quarter. Unemployment has held at 3.6% since March.
An alternative measure of the overall economy called gross domestic income contradicts GDP, showing that there was growth during the first three months of the year instead of decline. And gasoline prices, a core vulnerability for Biden, have fallen more than 60 cents a gallon since the middle of June, evidence that some inflationary pressures are easing.
Both publicly and privately, administration officials say the GDP report won’t tell the whole story.
“When you’re creating almost 400,000 jobs a month, that is not a recession,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Still, inflation has undermined the robust job market. Wage gains have failed to keep pace with price increases, meaning many people are effectively earning less money. There are also economic threats from abroad as China and many European economies are slowing down in ways that could spill over to the U.S. as the Federal Reserve is focused on raising interest rates in order to lower inflation.
But so long as hiring continues, liberal economists believe that public opinion will change and fears of a recession will fade. The White House analyses are “grounded in data,” said Heidi Shierholz, president of the liberal Economic Policy Institute.
“People will understand that if we continue to have extremely low unemployment that the idea we’re in a recession just doesn’t make a lot of sense,” she said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/26/biden-fights-talk-recession-key-economic-report-looms/ | 2022-07-26T16:11:59Z |
SAINT JOHN, NB, April 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Moltex Energy Canada Inc. (Moltex) and SNC-Lavalin Group (TSX: SNC) are pleased to announce a strategic partnership to advance clean nuclear energy. SNC-Lavalin, a fully integrated professional services and project management company with offices around the world, will support the development and deployment of Moltex's innovative nuclear technologies.
"Canada and the world will need to explore all nuclear technology options to meet net zero commitments. Given the scale of the challenge, it is important that we work on the deployment of Gen III SMRs and grid-scale reactors and look to the future and support the development of Gen IV reactors. Moltex's unique Gen IV molten salt design can not only help achieve net zero carbon, but it can also help to reduce nuclear waste," said Joe St. Julian, President, Nuclear, SNC-Lavalin. "SNC-Lavalin is pleased to support Moltex as it pursues a project to license and construct the first of a kind (FOAK) waste-burning reactor in New Brunswick, Canada."
Moltex will draw on SNC-Lavalin's world-class network of experts in engineering, licensing and regulatory affairs, cost estimating, supplier qualification and management, quality assurance, and construction and operation planning. SNC-Lavalin will collaborate with Moltex to attract new customers and promote Moltex's business goals.
"SNC-Lavalin's partnership with Moltex is a resounding endorsement of our nuclear technologies," said Rory O'Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer, North America, Moltex Energy. "SNC-Lavalin has an impeccable record of delivering projects on time and on budget and will be an invaluable partner as we progress the development of our technologies and grow our business."
In addition, Mr. St. Julian has accepted a seat on the Moltex board of directors, where his experience and leadership will be greatly valued.
The agreement has also garnered recognition and support from the provinces of New Brunswick and Ontario.
"New Brunswick welcomes investment in clean energy, especially as it builds on the province's established core of expertise in nuclear technology," said the Hon. Mike Holland, New Brunswick Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development. "This agreement contributes not only to the growth of long-term, high-quality jobs in New Brunswick's energy sector; it also recognizes the leadership role of both Moltex and the province in advancing the next generation of nuclear technology."
"I'm thrilled to welcome this new partnership between Moltex and SNC-Lavalin that builds our provincial energy industry, one renowned for its talented workforce and strong nuclear supply chain," said the Hon. Todd Smith, Ontario Minister of Energy. "We know the world is watching us when it comes to SMRs. This partnership enhances our clean energy advantage and reputation as a global hub for SMR expertise, making Ontario an even more attractive place to do business and create jobs."
Moltex is a private company developing breakthrough nuclear technologies, including a Stable Salt Reactor - Wasteburner (SSR-W), which uses recycled nuclear waste as fuel; a Waste To Stable Salt (WATSS) process for recycling nuclear waste; and GridReserve thermal energy storage tanks that allow the reactor to complement intermittent renewables. Moltex is developing first-of-a-kind units for NB Power in New Brunswick, Canada, and intends to build further units across the country and abroad.
Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is a fully integrated professional services and project management company with offices around the world dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, technology and data to design, deliver and operate the most complex projects. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital – and delivered to clients in key strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear, Operations & Maintenance and Capital. News and information are available at snclavalin.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Media contacts:
Erin Polka
Vice President, Communications
Moltex Energy
erinpolka@moltexenergy.com
Daniela Pizzuto
Director, External Communications
SNC-Lavalin
media@snclavalin.com
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SOURCE Moltex Energy | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/13/moltex-snc-lavalin-announce-strategic-partnership-advance-clean-nuclear-energy/ | 2022-04-13T20:05:03Z |
Bosch on Wednesday announced a $200 million investment to build hydrogen fuel-cell stacks for Class 8 semi trucks at its Anderson, South Carolina, facility.
Production is scheduled to start in 2026, and work has already begun on upgrades that include adding an estimated 147,000 square feet of floor space for fuel-cell manufacturing and related operations, Bosch said in a press release.
Bosch is an investor in Nikola, and the once-troubled fuel-cell vehicle company plans to use its fuel-cell tech. The Nikola Tre semi recently completed a testing program with Anheuser-Busch in California, in which prototype trucks logged over 12,000 miles and hauled two million pounds of freight, the release noted, adding that Nikola is continuing pilot testing with Total Transportation Services Inc.
Nikola plans to assemble production versions of the Tre at its own Arizona factory, but it’s also contracting with truck maker IVECO to have vehicles assembled at that firm’s German factory. Nikola had been favoring General Motors as the supplier for hydrogen fuel-cell hardware in North America, with Bosch for Europe. GM had also been slated to build Nikola’s Badger fuel-cell pickup.
That all changed when founder Trevor Milton was charged with securities fraud, and a broad memorandum of understanding between the companies was replaced by a far more limited partnership.
Although fuel cells are shifting to trucks, rather than passenger vehicles, Bosch might provide U.S.-built fuel cells to other truckmakers. It added fuel cells to its portfolio as part of a broad shift in the shadow of the VW diesel scandal that involved the supplier’s complicity in emissions “defeat devices,” and now plans to invest $1 billion in fuel-cell tech by 2024.
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- Toyota and DOE look at how hydrogen fuel-cell tech could help smooth the grid
- BMW is making room for hydrogen in next-generation Neue Klasse EV
- Report: Hyundai has delayed the next generation of Nexo fuel-cell vehicle
- Volvo fuel-cell semi: 600 miles, 15-minute refueling with green hydrogen still not widely available
- Renault Scénic Vision EV concept: Fuel-cell range extender enables smaller, lighter battery | https://cw33.com/automotive/internet-brands/bosch-plans-to-make-fuel-cells-for-electrified-semis-in-south-carolina/ | 2022-09-01T19:10:04Z |
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) – A family in Connecticut got quite a scare after a bear broke into their house and helped itself to some treats over the weekend.
“I wasn’t scared. I was just mad,” said Bill Priest, the West Hartford homeowner. “I don’t know why I was mad, I was just really mad he was there.”
The bear had first entered Priest’s garage on July 25, opening a refrigerator and emptying its contents across the floor, Priest said. On that occasion, an animal control officer told the homeowners to contact Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and to keep the house’s main doors closed for the next week.
On Sunday afternoon, the bear returned, coming face-to-face with Priest inside his home.
“He was on the floor chowing down after finding things on the counter,” said Priest, who told Nexstar’s WTNH that he had just finished working in the yard when he found the bear eating sweets in the kitchen.
Priest also filmed himself yelling at the bear, telling it to “get out of here.”
“Go on! Go! Take off, bud!” Priest can be heard yelling as the bear meanders out of the front door.
In the same video, after Priest successfully shoos the bear from the front door, he heads to the garage to find the bear waiting by his open garage door.
“Go on! Time to leave!” he yells.
“I had to get a little more aggressive … I could have yelled at him all day, and we would have just, both just stood there,” Priest told WTNH.
This same bear paid the family a visit once again on Monday morning, trying to get in through the front but only managing to damage the screen door.
DEEP has since set up a bear trap next to Priest’s home, using a box of stale doughnuts as bait. If successful, DEEP will return to tranquilize the bear and work to condition the animal against returning to Priest’s residence.
DEEP’s guidelines also note that Priest did the right thing in this particular situation by raising his voice.
“If you see a bear on your property you can either leave the bear alone and wait for it to leave or make loud noises from a safe distance to attempt to scare the bear away,” Connecticut’s DEEP writes of black bears. “After the bear leaves the property, remove anything that may have attracted it to the area.”
There have been more than 7,000 bear sightings across Connecticut since the beginning of the year, according to DEEP. The department’s official site has more information on how to avoid attracting bears, as well as tips for staying safe during bear encounters. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/video-connecticut-man-yells-at-bear-until-it-leaves-his-kitchen/ | 2022-08-02T23:06:43Z |
Supported by Microsoft, IAR Systems is now providing its embedded expertise and software solutions to the millions of developers using Visual Studio Code worldwide. The launch is in response to market demands and will help professionals accelerate development workflows.
UPPSALA, Sweden, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IAR Systems®, the world leader in software and services for embedded development, today proudly presented Visual Studio Code extensions for IAR Systems embedded software development solutions. Now available at Visual Studio Code Marketplace, these extensions enable developers to work in Visual Studio Code while at the same time taking advantage of the powerful capabilities of the IAR Systems' software solutions specialized in embedded systems.
For many years, IAR Systems and Azure RTOS have delivered the highest level of product integration, including the Azure RTOS ThreadX kernel integration in the IAR Embedded Workbench debugger. This state-of-the-art debugger integration with Microsoft's Embedded Tools extension includes the ability to view all Azure RTOS ThreadX objects, set thread-specific breakpoints, view suspended thread's call stacks, and view the unique execution profile and performance monitoring features in Azure RTOS ThreadX. The new IAR Systems' extensions bring the same high level and integration capabilities to the Visual Studio Code community. In addition, this gives IoT developers a seamless development experience from prototyping to delivered product, enabling a fully GitHub-based automated development workflow.
"IAR Systems has been a great partner with Microsoft as we've been working on Azure RTOS for embedded applications. And now, we're excited to bring the capabilities in the IAR Embedded Workbench to the millions of developers using Visual Studio Code. We look forward to seeing what developers build with this technology", said Amanda Silver, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft.
"The Visual Studio extensions from IAR Systems open a bridge between the leading general code development environment and the leading embedded development environment to make the sum greater than the parts", commented Anders Holmberg, CTO, IAR Systems. "This gives our mutual users the best of both worlds, enabling users to develop the next generation of smart embedded devices for a wide range of different use cases and workloads in the most efficient way possible."
The Visual Studio Code extensions from IAR Systems are compatible with all the latest versions of IAR Embedded Workbench, and IAR Build Tools. In addition, the extensions can be used for other build systems, such as CMake, source control, and versioning extensions like GitHub.
"The new Visual Studio Code extensions on GitHub and Marketplace will make a difference on how IAR Systems interact with and potentially expand our audience, but also accelerate our expertise in code excellence, as we interact with new developers sharing knowledge and practice", said Anders Holmberg, CTO, IAR Systems.
More information is available at www.iar.com/vscode.
Editor's Note: IAR Systems, IAR Embedded Workbench, Embedded Trust, C-Trust, C-SPY, C-RUN, C-STAT, IAR Visual State, I-jet, I-jet Trace, IAR Academy, IAR, and the logotype of IAR Systems are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by IAR Systems AB. All other product names are trademarks of their respective owners.
IAR Systems Contacts
Anders Holmberg, CTO, IAR Systems
Tel: +46 18 16 78 00 Email: anders.holmberg@iar.com
Jesper Andersson - Rydåker, CMO, IAR Systems
Tel: +46 18 16 78 00 Email: jesper.andersson-rydaker@iar.com
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE IAR Systems | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/20/iar-systems-enable-visual-studio-code-extensions-meet-developer-demands/ | 2022-06-20T09:37:43Z |
WUHAN, China, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DouYu International Holdings Limited ("DouYu" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: DOYU), a leading game-centric live streaming platform in China and a pioneer in the eSports value chain, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022.
First Quarter 2022 Financial and Operational Highlights
- Total net revenues in the first quarter of 2022 were RMB1,795.6 million (US$283.3 million), compared with RMB2,152.7 million in the same period of 2021.
- Gross profit in the first quarter of 2022 was RMB243.8 million (US$38.5 million), compared with RMB260.2 million in the same period of 2021.
- Net loss in the first quarter of 2022 was RMB86.9 million (US$13.7 million), compared with RMB101.8 million in the same period of 2021.
- Adjusted net loss[1] in the first quarter of 2022 was RMB52.5 million (US$8.3 million), compared with RMB70.7 million in the same period of 2021.
- Average mobile MAUs[2] in the first quarter of 2022 were 55.1 million, compared with 59.1 million in the same period of 2021.
- Quarterly average paying user[3] count in the first quarter of 2022 was 6.4 million, compared with 7.0 million in the same period of 2021.
Mr. Shaojie Chen, Chief Executive Officer of DouYu, commented, "During the first quarter of 2022, we continued executing on our strategic upgrade to develop our game-centric comprehensive content platform. In conjunction with our adoption of a selective copyright procurement strategy, we increased our investment in self-produced content and tournaments and enhanced our collaboration with game developers and distributors to deliver a stable operational performance through our high-quality game contents and refined operations. Our average mobile MAUs were 55.1 million in the first quarter. Going forward, we will continue to explore new business initiatives by leveraging our competitive advantage in livestreaming, videos, graphics, and interactive communities, while maintaining our leading position in the traditional livestreaming industry."
Mr. Hao Cao, Vice President of DouYu, commented, "In the first quarter of 2022, our total revenues were RMB1.8 billion and our gross profit was RMB243.8 million, representing a gross margin of 13.6%. During the same quarter, we continued to make adjustments to our livestreaming operations and optimized our cost structure while constantly offering our premium content and refining our operations. We focused on operating efficiency improvement through ROI enhancement and cost controls and achieved encouraging results. Our gross margin improved year over year and net loss decreased to 86.9 million, while adjusted net loss narrowed to RMB52.5 million. Looking ahead, we will continue to improve our operational efficiency and remain focused on exploring new growth drivers and enhancing monetization capabilities to generate sustainable growth and higher shareholder value."
First Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Total net revenues in the first quarter of 2022 decreased by 16.6% to RMB1,795.6 million (US$283.3million), compared with RMB2,152.7 million in the same period of 2021.
Livestreaming revenues in the first quarter of 2022 decreased by 13.6% to RMB1,727.2 million (US$272.5 million) from RMB1,998.6 million in the same period of 2021. The decrease was due to the implementation of prudent operating strategies in anticipation of a tightening regulatory environment. Such strategies primarily include the Company's adjustments to certain interactive features and the related operations in order to promote the long-term development of its platform.
Advertising and other revenues in the first quarter of 2022 were RMB68.4 million (US$10.8 million), compared with RMB154.1 million in the same period of 2021. The decrease was primarily due to the continued exploration of new commercialization models by using a portion of advertising traffic that could have been directly monetized, as well as the challenging macro environment.
Cost of revenues in the first quarter of 2022 was RMB1,551.8million (US$244.8 million), a decrease of 18.0% compared with RMB1,892.5 million in the same period of 2021.
Revenue sharing fees and content costs in the first quarter of 2022 decreased by 19.2% to RMB1,340.6 million (US$211.5 million) from RMB1,659.6 million in the same period of 2021. The decrease was primarily due to the decreased revenue sharing fees which is in line with the Company's decreased livestreaming revenues, as well as a significant decrease in copyright costs.
Bandwidth costs in the first quarter of 2022 decreased by 11.8% to RMB151.9 million (US$24.0 million) from RMB172.1 million in the same period of 2021. The decrease was mainly due to less peak bandwidth usage for fewer purchased eSport tournaments, as well as lower per unit bandwidth costs as a result of improved procurement efficiency.
Gross profit in the first quarter of 2022 was RMB243.8 million (US$38.5 million), compared with RMB260.2 million in the same period of 2021. Gross margin in the first quarter of 2022 improved to 13.6% from 12.1% in the same period of 2021. The increase in gross margin was primarily due to the significant decrease in copyright costs as a percentage of total net revenues.
Sales and marketing expenses in the first quarter of 2022 decreased 11.2% to RMB186.4 million (US$29.4 million) from RMB209.9 million in the same period of 2021. The decrease was mainly attributable to the decreased personnel-related expenses and branding expenses.
Research and development expenses in the first quarter of 2022 increased 4.5% to RMB116.3 million (US$18.3million) from RMB111.3 million in the same period of 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to continued investment in technical personnel as the Company continues to invest in product upgrades to support its game-centric content strategy.
General and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2022 increased 2.3% to RMB90.1 million (US$14.2 million) from RMB88.1 million in the same period of 2021.
Other operating income, net in the first quarter of 2022 was RMB47.8 million (US$7.5 million), compared with other operating income of RMB23.9 million in the same period of 2021.
Loss from operations in the first quarter of 2022 was RMB101.2 million (US$16.0 million), compared with RMB125.1 million in the same period of 2021.
Adjusted loss from operations in the first quarter of 2022, which adds back share-based compensation expenses, was RMB68.0 million (US$10.7 million), compared with RMB91.8 million in the same period of 2021.
Income tax expenses in the first quarter of 2022 and 2021 were nil due to the Company's cumulative net losses and the resulting tax loss carry forward.
Net loss in the first quarter of 2022 was RMB86.9 million (US$13.7 million), compared with RMB101.8 million in the same period of 2021.
Adjusted net loss in the first quarter of 2022, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, share of loss in equity method investments, and impairment loss of investments, was RMB52.5 million (US$8.3 million), compared with RMB70.7 million in the same period of 2021.
Basic and diluted net loss per ADS[4] in the first quarter of 2022 were RMB0.27 (US$0.04) and RMB0.27 (US$0.04), respectively. Adjusted basic and diluted net loss per ADS in the first quarter of 2022 were RMB0.16 (US$0.03) and RMB0.16 (US$0.03), respectively.
Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and bank deposits
As of March 31, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term and long-term bank deposits of RMB6,315 million (US$996.2 million), compared with RMB6,643 million as of December 31, 2021.
Share Repurchase Program
On August 30, 2021, the Company announced that its board of directors had authorized a share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to US$100 million of its ordinary shares in the form of ADSs during a period of up to 12 months commencing on August 30, 2021. The Company expects to utilize existing funds to make repurchases under this program. As of March 31, 2022, the Company had repurchased an aggregate of US$33.9 million (RMB215 million) worth of its ADSs under this program.
Recent Developments
Regulatory Update
On May 7, 2022, the competent authorities of the PRC issued the Opinion on Live Streaming Virtual Gifting and Enhancing the Protection of Minors (the "Opinion"). The Opinion stipulates that, for the main purpose of protecting minors, internet platforms shall, among other requirements and restrictions, (i) prohibit minors from engaging in virtual gifting, (ii) cancel all ranking functions that rank livestreamers solely by the volume of virtual gifts that they receive or rank users by the volume of virtual gifts that they send, within one month starting from the publication of the Opinion, and (iii) impose restrictions on certain interaction functions between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. every day.
The Company is committed to fully complying with the Opinion and other applicable laws and regulations. Although the interpretation and implementation of the Opinion remain uncertain, the Company is carefully considering the provisions of the Opinion and assessing their implications for the Company's business. While the Company has been proactively monitoring the regulatory trends, and has strategically adjusted its operational strategies in response to the evolving regulatory landscape, the Company expects the Opinion, and the compliance measures to be taken, will have negative impacts on the live streaming service of the industry players, including that of the Company, which may in turn adversely affect the Company's business operations and financial condition. The Company will proactively seek guidance from and cooperate with the regulatory authorities in connection with its efforts to comply with the Opinion and the related implementation rules. There is no assurance that the compliance measures that the Company plans to take will be effective, or the implementation of the Opinion will not have a material adverse impact on the Company's business operations and financial condition in the following quarters.
Conference Call Information
The Company will hold a conference call on May 18, 2022, at 7:00am Eastern Time (or 7:00pm Beijing Time on the same day) to discuss the financial results. Listeners may access the call by dialing the following numbers:
The replay will be accessible through May 25, 2022, by dialing the following numbers:
A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.douyu.com/.
About DouYu International Holdings Limited
Headquartered in Wuhan, China, DouYu International Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: DOYU) is a leading game-centric live streaming platform in China and a pioneer in the eSports value chain. DouYu operates its platform on both PC and mobile apps to bring users access to immersive and interactive games and entertainment livestreaming, a wide array of video and graphic contents, as well as opportunities to participate in community events and discussions. By nurturing a sustainable technology-based talent development system and relentlessly producing high-quality content, DouYu consistently delivers premium content through integration of livestreaming, video, graphics, and virtual communities with a primary focus on games, especially on eSports. This enables DouYu to continuously expand its user base and enhance its user experience. For more information, please see http://ir.douyu.com/.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted operating income (loss) is calculated as operating income (loss) adjusted for share-based compensation expenses. Adjusted net income (loss) is calculated as net income (loss) adjusted for share-based compensation expenses, share of income (loss) in equity method investments, and impairment loss on investments. Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to DouYu is calculated as net income (loss) attributable to DouYu adjusted for share-based compensation expenses, share of income (loss) in equity method investments, and impairment loss of investments. Adjusted basic and diluted net income per ordinary share is non-GAAP net income attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the calculation of non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ordinary share. The Company adjusted the impact of (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) share of income (loss) in equity method investments, (iii) impairment loss of investments to understand and evaluate the Company's core operating performance. The non-GAAP financial measures are presented to enhance investors' overall understanding of the Company's financial performance and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of the historical non-GAAP financial measures to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. As non-GAAP financial measures have material limitations as analytical metrics and may not be calculated in the same manner by all companies, they may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. In light of the foregoing limitations, you should not consider non-GAAP financial measures as a substitute for, or superior to, such metrics in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Results" near the end of this release.
Exchange Rate Information
This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB6.3393 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on March 31, 2022, in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled in U.S. dollars at that rate on March 31, 2022, or at any other rate.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's results of operations and financial condition; the Company's business strategies; general market conditions, in particular the game live streaming market; the ability of the Company to retain and grow active and paying users; changes in general economic and business conditions in China; the impact of the COVID-19 to the Company's business operations and the economy in China and globally; any adverse changes in laws, regulations, rules, policies or guidelines applicable to the Company; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "target," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the Securities Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
Investor Relations Contact
Lingling Kong
DouYu International Holdings Limited
Email: ir@douyu.tv
Phone: +1 (646) 224-6934
Robin Yang
ICR, LLC.
Email: DouYu.IR@icrinc.com
Phone: +1 (646) 224-6934
Media Relations Contact
Lingling Kong
DouYu International Holdings Limited
Email: pr_douyu@douyu.tv
Phone: +1 (646) 308-1475
Edmond Lococo
ICR, LLC.
Email: DouYu.PR@icrinc.com
Phone: +1 (646) 308-1475
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SOURCE DouYu International Holdings Limited | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/douyu-international-holdings-limited-reports-first-quarter-2022-unaudited-financial-results/ | 2022-05-18T09:26:40Z |
Think about it this way: If Justice Samuel Alito gets his way and the Trumpist Supreme Court majority voids Roe v. Wade, many states will be forced to begin criminal investigations of women who suffer miscarriages. Don’t give me that crying act, sweetheart. In this state, abortion is murder.
After all, it’s not as if the police have anything better to do.
Exactly how the authorities are supposed to know who’s pregnant to begin with is a tricky question. Maybe doctors will be required to turn them in. Call them “mandatory reporters,” like teachers who encounter child abuse.
And what about those home pregnancy tests? Maybe they’ll need to be taken under official supervision. Perhaps pharmacists can be deputized.
Hippocratic oath be damned.
In the spirit of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, Republican state legislators are considering prosecuting women who travel, say, from Missouri to Illinois for legal abortions. Can we expect Texas to administer pregnancy tests at the Mexican border — going and coming? Otherwise, there could be as many gynecologists as cut-rate dentists in Juarez.
Look, if all this sounds like a bad joke, I wish it were. Most Americans believe that there’s a right to privacy bestowed by the U.S. Constitution. The very austere Justice Alito, however, assures us that’s not so. His draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the 50-year-old Supreme Court precedent granting American women reproductive freedom, stringently points out that the word “abortion” does not appear in the text.
Of course, neither do the words “cellphone” or “woman.” Women participated not at all in the Constitution’s, pardon the expression, gestation. They played no role in 18th-century American political life — one of the many reasons constitutional “originalism” makes so little sense. Slavery is another.
The overall tone of Alito’s draft opinion was best described by Adam Serwer in The Atlantic: “Alito’s writing reflects the current tone of right-wing discourse: grandiose and contemptuous, disingenuous and self-contradictory, with the necessary undertone of self-pity as justification.”
In my view, turning government over to law school all-stars was never a good idea. Rationalizing the irrational is what they do. Indeed, Alito himself is as good a suspect as any for who leaked the fool thing to the media, thereby placing maximum pressure on his colleagues to affirm it.
And speaking of irrationality, Alito’s 98-page opinion relies for much of its historical analysis on 17th-century English jurist Matthew Hale, who pronounced the abortion of a “quick child” a “great crime.” (A “quick child” is a fetus whose mother can feel its movements — that is, one who is five or six months along.) Polls show most Americans would agree, but more about that to come.
Among historians and legal scholars, Hale is notorious for having also decreed that a man can’t rape his wife, as a woman cedes property rights to her womb at marriage. He also presided over one of England’s most notorious witchcraft trials in 1662, sentencing two elderly widows to be hanged.
Some learned authority, no?
Seventeenth-century biographer John Aubrey wrote that the eminent jurist’s first wife “made a great cuckold of him,” but that’s neither here nor there, and I’m ashamed of myself for mentioning it. For whatever cause, he definitely had an attitude about women.
The main reason Americans think there’s a right to privacy is the Fourth Amendment, which affirms, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.”
Think about it: What could possibly be a person’s own damn business more than the decision of whether or not to bear a child? Do you really want the government to monitor your neighbor’s intimate life? Your own? If you’re like most Americans, no, you pretty much don’t.
So often in the forefront, Oklahoma has already imprisoned a woman who had a miscarriage after taking illegal drugs — a Native American woman, naturally. It’s hard to imagine them investigating debutantes.
Regardless, polls have shown that the great majority agree with President Bill Clinton’s formulation that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare.” More than two-thirds of respondents to a 2018 Gallup poll said they wouldn’t like to see Roe v. Wade reversed. Most favor little or no restriction on first trimester abortion, but feel quite different about late-term procedures — roughly the standard courts have established in the decades since 1973.
Now Minority Leader Mitch McConnell tells reporters that a post-Alito Republican Senate “certainly could legislate in that area.” Which can only mean, Mike Tomasky deduces in The New Republic, “that Republicans are contemplating a federal law to make abortion illegal — everywhere.”
New York, California, everywhere.
And what then? President Biden vetoes it, the 2024 presidential election turns on it, and the United States ruins a lot of women’s lives and tears itself to pieces. | https://www.albanyherald.com/opinion/gene-lyons-abortion-is-set-to-tear-the-country-apart/article_a66f9d42-d2d0-11ec-bf4f-53fe99f07e08.html | 2022-05-14T23:33:48Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- One Rock Capital Partners, LLC ("One Rock"), a value-oriented, operationally focused private equity firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Diana Barr to its team of Operating Partners. Working alongside One Rock Operating Partners Mike Anderson and AJ Skobel, Ms. Barr will be responsible for driving post-acquisition value at One Rock's portfolio companies primarily through recruiting and proactive executive network development.
Ms. Barr has more than 30 years of experience in talent acquisition, leadership development and strategy, as well as executive recruiting. Prior to joining One Rock, Ms. Barr led Boeing's global executive staffing and created the company's in-house executive recruiting function. In that capacity, she served as a close advisor to the Executive Council and Senior Leadership on matters related to talent strategy, diversity, selection, assessment, and succession planning. Prior to that, she held a comparable role with W.W. Grainger, focused on global executive staffing, employment branding and social media. Earlier in her career, Ms. Barr was a Search Consultant for several executive search firms, including firms focused on the private equity space. Ms. Barr began her career as an HR Generalist with Marriott International.
"One Rock continues to prioritize building out a strong bench of talent across our portfolio companies to support ongoing strategic and operational needs," said Tony W. Lee, Managing Partner of One Rock. "We believe Diana's extensive background in human resources and talent acquisition, coupled with her vast professional network, will be invaluable and resourceful to our portfolio companies as One Rock implements the companies' growth plans and expands its executive development efforts."
"People strategy is what sets organizations apart from peers in the industry," said Ms. Barr. "I look forward to leveraging my network and experience in executive recruitment and business strategy to assist One Rock's portfolio companies' efforts to build and optimize strong pipelines of talent that align with overall growth strategies."
Working alongside Operating Partners has been a key part of One Rock's strategy since inception. Ms. Barr joins a growing team of Operating Partners at One Rock.
One Rock makes controlling investments in companies with potential for growth and operational improvement using a rigorous approach that utilizes highly experienced Operating Partners to identify, acquire and enhance businesses in select industries. The involvement of these Operating Partners affords One Rock the ability to conduct due diligence and consummate acquisitions and investments in all types of situations, regardless of complexity. One Rock works collaboratively with company management and its Operating Partners to develop a comprehensive business plan focused on growing the enterprise and its profitability to enhance long-term value. For more information, visit www.onerockcapital.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Hallie Erlich
Prosek Partners
pro-onerock@prosek.com
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SOURCE One Rock Capital Partners, LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/one-rock-capital-partners-expands-operating-partner-team-with-addition-diana-barr/ | 2022-08-11T13:48:42Z |
Just add water: Kellogg’s launches new cereal
Published: Sep. 9, 2022 at 11:32 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
(CNN) - Kellogg’s is putting a new spin on a breakfast classic.
The company has created new instabowls that just need water.
The little tubs of cereal have milk powder inside. When you add water and stir, the milk rehydrates and instantly creates milk and cereal.
There are four to choose from – Frosted Flakes, Raisin Bran Crunch, Froot Loops and Apple Jacks.
You can pop them in your cart at Walmart for $1.98 a bowl.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/09/09/just-add-water-kelloggs-launches-new-cereal/ | 2022-09-09T17:01:13Z |
NEW YORK , June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP notifies investors in Arqit Quantum Inc. f/k/a Centricus Acquisition Corp. ("Arqit Quantum Inc. f/k/a Centricus Acquisition Corp." or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ARQQ) of a class action securities lawsuit.
CLASS DEFINITION: The lawsuit seeks to recover losses on behalf of Arqit Quantum Inc. f/k/a Centricus Acquisition Corp. investors who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud. This lawsuit is on behalf of: (i) all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Arqit securities between September 7, 2021 and April 18, 2022, inclusive; and/or (ii) all holders of Centricus securities as of the record date for the special meeting of shareholders held on August 31, 2021 to consider approval of the merger between Arqit and Centricus (the "Merger") and entitled to vote on the Merger. Follow the link below to get more information and be contacted by a member of our team:
ARQQ investors may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500.
CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that defendants made false statements and/or concealed that: (1) Arqit's proposed encryption technology would require widespread adoption of new protocols and standards for telecommunications; (2) British cybersecurity officials questioned the viability of Arqit's proposed encryption technology in a meeting in 2020; (3) the British government was not an Arqit customer but, rather, providing grants to Arqit; (4) Arqit had little more than an early-stage prototype of its encryption system at the time of the Merger; and (5) as a result, Defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Arqit Quantum Inc. f/k/a Centricus Acquisition Corp. during the relevant time frame, you have until July 5, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you are a class member, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket costs or fees. There is no cost or obligation to participate.
WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, the team at Levi & Korsinsky has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. Our firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States.
CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
55 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10006
jlevi@levikorsinsky.com
Tel: (212) 363-7500
Fax: (212) 363-7171
www.zlk.com
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SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/arqq-lawsuit-alert-levi-amp-korsinsky-notifies-arqit-quantum-inc-fka-centricus-acquisition-corp-investors-class-action-lawsuit-upcoming-deadline/ | 2022-06-02T18:52:06Z |
For the second year, THOR sponsors Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend focused on inclusivity in the outdoors and stewardship of public lands
ELKHART, Ind., Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Underscoring its continued commitment to promoting inclusivity in the outdoors, THOR Industries, Inc. (NYSE: THO) is highlighting its two-year partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), the preeminent leadership development organization for girls grades K-12, through the short film "Stronger Together".
In the multi-year partnership, THOR sponsors GSUSA's largest and most popular outdoor event, Girl Scouts Love State Parks. The annual event is hosted in nearly 500 state parks across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The 2022 event, occurring September 10th and 11th, will be focused on inclusivity and park stewardship.
Girl Scouts will once again incorporate THOR's sustainability program, Pick Up America, into its park stewardship efforts. Any of the nearly 75,000 Girl Scouts and families expected to participate may pledge to remove bags of trash from public lands through a custom-designed, co-branded Pick Up America website. Since the founding of the partnership, Girl Scouts have pledged to remove more than 22 tons of trash from public lands – contributing to more than 259 tons of trash pledged to be removed from public lands since the Pick Up America program launched in 2019.
"We are proud to be working with Girl Scouts and look forward to supporting their continued success in providing girls with outdoor experiences that build confident, courageous leaders," shared Bob Martin, President and CEO of THOR Industries. "Girl Scouts Love State Parks is a great opportunity to connect people with nature and families with each other while promoting stewardship in state parks across our great nation."
The film, "Stronger Together: Girl Scouts and THOR's commitment to equity in the outdoors" illustrates the organizations' shared values and shared commitment to outdoor equity and environmental stewardship.
THOR Industries is the sole owner of operating companies which, combined, represent the world's largest RV manufacturer. For more information on the Company and its products, please visit https://www.thorindustries.com/.
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org.
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SOURCE THOR Industries | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/thor-industries-highlights-partnership-with-girl-scouts-usa/ | 2022-08-01T13:23:08Z |
NEW YORK, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc..
Shareholders who purchased shares of AUPH during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
CONTACT US HERE:
CLASS PERIOD: May 7, 2021 to February 25, 2022
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Aurinia was experiencing declining revenues; (ii) Aurinia's 2022 sales outlook for the Company's only product which it offers for the treatment of adult patients with active lupus nephritis, LUPKYNIS, would fall well short of expectations; (iii) accordingly, the Company had significantly overstated LUPKYNIS's commercial prospects; (iv) as a result, the Company had overstated its financial position and/or prospects for 2022; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
DEADLINE: June 14, 2022 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/aurinia-pharmaceuticals-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=27342&from=4
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of AUPH during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is June 14, 2022. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
The Gross Law Firm
15 West 38th Street, 12th floor
New York, NY, 10018
Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com
Phone: (646) 453-8903
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SOURCE The Gross Law Firm | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-aurinia-pharmaceuticals-inc-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-june-14-2022-nasdaq-auph/ | 2022-05-18T11:02:21Z |
Policyholders experience a 9% improvement in relative risk rating after 12 months of cyber coverage with Cowbell
PLEASANTON, Calif., Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cowbell, the leading provider of cyber insurance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), today announced the results of its Q3 cyber insurance risk report, the Cowbell Cyber Round-Up report. The topline findings of the report showcase that Cowbell's continuous risk assessment and monitoring keep policyholders and insurers up-to-date with risk profile changes, enabling the proactive remediation of newly identified risk exposures, resulting in a 9% improvement in relative risk rating.
The report finds policyholders significantly improve their risk profile and optimize their premium at renewal by taking advantage of the risk management and risk engineering resources bundled by Cowbell with every policy. Through Cowbell Factors, policyholders enter the cyber insurance renewal cycle with unmatched visibility and control over their risk exposures. Cowbell's continuous assessment equips businesses prior and throughout the policy period to help improve their cyber risk profile and circumvent cyber incidents. This data underpins Cowbell's low reported claims of under 2%, well under the industry average.
"Every Cowbell policy is bundled with access to robust risk management resources. This partnered approach gives control back to the policyholder when it comes to improving their cybersecurity posture, and thus, policy and premium," says Manu Singh, director of risk engineering at Cowbell. "The Q3 Cyber Round-Up report clearly demonstrates the positive impact this approach has on our policyholders."
Highlighted features and findings in this quarter's report include:
- At renewal, the risk rating (aka Cowbell Factors) of Cowbell's policyholders as benchmarked against their respective industries shows a relative 9% improvement overall validating the on-going efforts from Cowbell's risk engineering team to engage policyholders on a continuous risk improvement process to help them avoid cyber incidents.
- Accounts that enable Cowbell Connectors, an additional activation that generates deeper insights of an organization's risk profile, perform better end up across all Cowbell Factors by an average of 5 percentage points compared to their industry peers.
This is the third Round-Up report delivered by Cowbell. Through these reports, Cowbell showcases a new era in cyber insurance by championing a new form of coverage and policies that give back control to the policyholders on how their cybersecurity posture directly impacts their policy and premium.
SMEs that want to understand whether they represent a bigger insurance risk than industry peers are invited to request their organization's Cowbell Factors at https://cowbell.insure/for-businesses/
About Cowbell Cyber
Cowbell is signaling a new era in cyber insurance by harnessing technology and data to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with advanced warning of cyber risk exposures bundled with cyber insurance coverage adaptable to today and tomorrow's threats. In its unique AI-based approach to risk selection and pricing, Cowbell's continuous underwriting platform, powered by Cowbell Factors, compresses the insurance process from submission to issue to less than 5 minutes. Cowbell Insurance Agency is currently licensed in 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Cowbell Reinsurance Company is a licensed insurance captive in the State of Vermont. For more information, please visit www.cowbell.insure.
Media Contact
John Kreuzer
Lumina Communications for Cowbell Cyber
Cowbell@LuminaPR.com
408-963-6418
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SOURCE Cowbell Cyber | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/15/cowbell-report-finds-policyholders-experience-significant-risk-improvement-upon-renewal/ | 2022-09-15T13:49:05Z |
Agency hires new chief strategy officer, announces wins for national and local creative campaigns
CHICAGO, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Havas Chicago announced the appointment of Lance Koenig as the creative agency's newest chief strategy officer. The appointment comes on the heels of a series of five new business wins for the agencies' Annex and Havas Chicago teams, including creative campaigns for community partners including The Museum of Science and Industry, Moors Brewing, Choose Chicago and The City of Chicago, alongside national vision care and eyewear company MyEyeDr.
"Havas Chicago is experiencing continued momentum in 2022 as we win new accounts and work on multiple creative campaigns that drive true impact in Chicago and the country as a whole," said Myra Nussbaum, who expanded her chief creative officer role to include the president title in January of this year. "Our goal is to lead with creativity to make a meaningful difference for the brands and people we work with—and especially this year, that strategy is working."
Industry veteran brings new strategic lens to Chicago
Koenig joins the Chicago agency's executive leadership team after serving as the head of global strategy for The Martin Agency where he led strategy for major consumer and corporate partners since 2019. Prior leadership positions include senior strategy roles at Forsman & Bodenfors Toronto, Leo Burnett Chicago and DDB Chicago.
"The opportunity to work with Myra and all the incredible talent at Havas felt entrepreneurial to me," shared Koenig, "It's exciting to build on the office's recent growth and drive impact for clients by pushing to be more ambitious in our approach—ultimately thinking and acting bigger."
"I am thrilled to have a strategic partner that understands the importance of creativity in helping brands break through the cluttered media world we live in," said Nussbaum. "Lance and I will continue to shape the strategic vision for Havas Chicago by utilizing data, CX and rich consumer insights to deliver meaningful brand ideas to our clients that move their businesses forward."
Creative campaigns kick off the year
Following the success of the 150th Anniversary Inheritance Pass campaign for Yellowstone Forever—a legacy park access pass only redeemable in 150 years in 2172, that garnered significant national and global attention—Havas Chicago plans to make waves in Chicago in a similar fashion. The agency, including its Annex team, was recently awarded multiple Chicago-based new business wins including work with local tourism organization Choose Chicago, an anti-violence campaign for The City of Chicago, Black-owned craft brewery Moors Brewing and new campaign work for The Museum of Science and Industry.
"Having the opportunity to pitch and successfully win Chicago-based work is invigorating for our team, because we get to see the direct impact of the campaigns," notes Jamie McGarry, Havas Chicago chief growth officer and Chicago native. "Our agency has deep roots in Chicago, and we are committed to making positive contributions to the city we love. We are thrilled anytime that we can make an impact through creativity."
The agency is also celebrating its national wins, including agency of record following a competitive pitch process for MyEyeDr-- a premier vision care and eyewear company.
"The Havas team brought us the perfect blend of art and science. Their idea was both aspirational and true to our core values and mission and can work for years to come, bringing to life our entire consumer journey in the most insightful ways," shared Noha Abdalla, MED and chief marketing officer of MyEyeDr.
ABOUT HAVAS CHICAGO
Havas Chicago is part of Havas Creative, a powerful network of creative agencies made up of best-in-class, cross-disciplinary talent spread across our villages globally. Havas Chicago is committed to building brands through powerful strategies and meaningful creativity. As part of Havas Creative North America, we fuse independent spirit with global scale. Together, we share the same mission to leverage creativity as a force for good and create meaningful connections between people and brands. Learn more at our website: www.chi.havas.com.
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SOURCE Havas Chicago | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/havas-chicago-wins-work-hires-lead-strong-momentum-2022/ | 2022-06-02T13:22:10Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Krane Funds Advisors, LLC ("KraneShares"), an asset management firm known for its global exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and innovative investment strategies, announced that the KraneShares Global Carbon Offset Strategy ETF (Ticker: KSET) now tracks the S&P GSCI Global Voluntary Carbon Liquidity Weighted Index—the first-to-market benchmark for the current performance of global voluntary carbon futures markets.
KSET, listed on the New York Stock Exchange on April 27 this year, is the first US-Listed ETF to track the global Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM)1, which is complementary to the global carbon allowance markets tracked by KraneShares' flagship global carbon ETF (KRBN).
KSET's new index tracks carbon offset futures contracts. These contracts include nature-based global emission offsets (N-GEOs) and global emission offsets (GEOs), which trade through the CME Group, the world's largest financial derivatives exchange. Due to the evolving nature of carbon markets, an important characteristic of the index is the flexibility to reweight, add or remove constituents at regular intervals to ensure that it can adapt over time.
"Previously, KraneShares and IHS Markit, which is now part of S&P Global, made history when we launched the KraneShares Global Carbon Strategy ETF (KRBN). KRBN uses the IHS Markit Global Carbon Index as its benchmark," said Luke Oliver, Managing Director and Head of Strategy at KraneShares. "We are pleased to deepen our relationship with S&P Global and leverage their extensive history as an index provider and their strong research capabilities to capture the complex and ever-changing voluntary carbon market through KSET's new index."
"We're excited that KraneShares has selected our S&P GSCI Global Voluntary Carbon Liquidity Weighted Index as the underlying benchmark for its exchange-traded fund," said Fiona Boal, Head of Commodities and Real Assets at S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI). "This new voluntary carbon futures index is a key addition to S&P DJI's continued efforts to grow its suite of new and innovative thematic alternative indices for the commodities space."
"The voluntary carbon market serves as a powerful tool in the global fight to combat climate change and an important way to accelerate the transition to a decarbonized world," said Eron Bloomgarden, co-founder of Climate Finance Partners (CLIFI) KSET's non-discretionary sub-advisor. "At the same time, it provides price discovery, a potential hedge for climate risk exposure, and diversification* from traditional asset classes."
The S&P GSCI Global Voluntary Carbon Liquidity Weighted Index was launched on June 22, 2022.
What are Carbon Offsets?
Carbon offsets are intended to counteract emissions that corporations, governments, or individuals generate as part of their business-as-usual activities. The governing bodies overseeing the registration and verification of carbon offset projects are called carbon offset registries. These registries issue credits for emission-reducing projects or programs such as forest conservation, the creation of wind farms, methane gas capture in a landfill, and hydropower projects. Credits are issued proportionate to the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) a project takes out of the atmosphere. Entities can calculate their emissions and purchase a corresponding quantity of credits to offset their activity. Entities often utilize offsets as a short-term bridge to abate emissions that they cannot avoid within their own operations while they work on implementing longer-term decarbonization measures.
For additional information on the KraneShares Global Carbon Offset Strategy ETF (Ticker: KSET), contact your financial advisor or visit kraneshares.com/KSET.
*Diversification does not ensure a profit or guarantee against a loss.
About Krane Funds Advisors, LLC
Krane Funds Advisors, LLC is the investment manager for KraneShares ETFs. KraneShares is a premier platform that develops and delivers differentiated, high-conviction investment strategies to global investors.
Since 2013, KraneShares has become one of the leading China ETF providers. Given China's importance in addressing the global climate challenge, our Climate Suite is a natural extension of our China focus. KraneShares strives to deliver innovative first-to-market strategies based on strong partnerships and deep investing knowledge. KraneShares helps investors stay current on global market trends and provides meaningful diversification.
Krane Funds Advisors, LLC, is a signatory of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investing (UN PRI). The firm is majority-owned by China International Capital Corporation (CICC).
About Climate Finance Partners
Climate Finance Partners delivers innovative climate finance solutions and investment products to address capital needs for emerging environmental challenges. CLIFI is led by a team of investment professionals with deep experience in the fields of traditional investment and environmental finance.
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 full and summary prospectus, which may be obtained by visiting www.kraneshares.com Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Risk Disclosures:
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its stated objectives. Indices are unmanaged and do not include the effect of fees. One cannot invest directly in an index.
This information should not be relied upon as research, investment advice, or a recommendation regarding any products, strategies, or any security in particular. This material is strictly for illustrative, educational, or informational purposes and is subject to change. Certain content represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results; material is as of the dates noted and is subject to change without notice.
The market for carbon offset credit futures may be less developed, and potentially less liquid and more volatile, than more established futures markets. While the market has grown, there can be no assurance that this growth will continue. The price for carbon offset credit futures is based on a number of factors, including the supply of and the demand for carbon offset credit futures as well as the supply and demand for carbon offset credits. The performance of carbon offset credit futures and carbon offset credits may differ and may not be correlated with each other, over short or long periods of time. There is no assurance that cap and trade regimes will continue to exist, or that they will prove to be an effective method of reduction in GHG emissions. Changes in U.S. law and related regulations may impact the way the Fund operates, increase Fund costs and/or change the competitive landscape. New technologies may arise that may diminish or eliminate the need for cap and trade markets. Ultimately, the cost of emissions credits is determined by the cost of actually reducing emissions levels. If the price of credits becomes too high, it will be more economical for companies to develop or invest in green technologies, thereby suppressing the demand for credits.
The Fund invests through a subsidiary, and is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary's investments. Since the Subsidiary is organized under the law of the Cayman Islands and is not registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as such the Fund will not receive all of the protections offered to shareholders of registered investment companies. The Fund and the Subsidiary will be considered commodity pools upon commencement of operations, and each will be subject to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC rules. Commodity pools are subject to additional laws, regulations and enforcement policies, which may increase compliance costs and may affect the operations and performance of the Fund and the Subsidiary. Futures and other contracts may have to be liquidated at disadvantageous times or prices to prevent the Fund from exceeding any applicable position limits established by the CFTC. The value of a commodity-linked derivative investment typically is based upon the price movements of a physical commodity and may be affected by changes in overall market movements, volatility of the Index, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity.
The Fund and the Subsidiary will be considered commodity pools upon commencement of operations, and each will be subject to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC rules. Commodity pools are subject to additional laws, regulations and enforcement policies, which may increase compliance costs and may affect the operations and performance of the Fund and the Subsidiary. Futures and other contracts may have to be liquidated at disadvantageous times or prices to prevent the Fund from exceeding any applicable position limits established by the CFTC. The value of a commodity-linked derivative investment typically is based upon the price movements of a physical commodity and may be affected by changes in overall market movements, volatility of the Index, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity. The Fund may invest in derivatives, which are often more volatile than other investments and may magnify the Funds' gains or losses. A derivative (i.e., futures/forward contracts, swaps, and options) is a contract that derives its value from the performance of an underlying asset. The primary risk of derivatives is that changes in the asset's market value and the derivative may not be proportionate, and some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives are also subject to liquidity and counterparty risk. Liquidity risk means that certain investments may become difficult to purchase or sell at a reasonable time and price. If a transaction for these securities is large, it may not be possible to initiate which may cause the Fund to suffer losses. Counterparty risk is the risk of loss in the event that the counterparty to an agreement fails to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of derivative.
The use of futures contracts is subject to special risk considerations. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts include: (a) an imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the reference asset and the price of the futures contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a futures contract and the resulting inability to close a futures contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the inability to predict correctly the direction of market prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; and (e) if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities or financial instruments from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements, which may lead to the Fund selling securities or financial instruments at a loss. Fluctuations in currency of foreign countries may have an adverse effect to domestic currency values. The Fund is subject to interest rate risk, which is the chance that bonds will decline in value as interest rates rise. Narrowly focused investments typically exhibit higher volatility. The Fund's assets are expected to be concentrated in carbon offset credit futures and carbon credit futures and its investments could react similarly to market developments. Thus, the Fund is subject to loss due to adverse occurrences that may affect these futures. KSET is non-diversified.
ETF shares are bought and sold on an exchange at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. However, shares may be redeemed at NAV directly by certain authorized broker-dealers (Authorized Participants) in very large creation/redemption units. The returns shown do not represent the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times. Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Beginning 12/23/2020, market price returns are based on the official closing price of an ETF share or, if the official closing price isn't available, the midpoint between the national best bid and national best offer ("NBBO") as of the time the ETF calculates the current NAV per share. Prior to that date, market price returns were based on the midpoint between the Bid and Ask price. NAVs are calculated using prices as of 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
The KraneShares ETFs, KFA Funds ETFs, and KraneShares Mutual Funds are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Company (SIDCO), 1 Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456, which is not affiliated with Krane Funds Advisors, LLC, the Investment Adviser for the Funds, or any sub-advisers for the Funds.
The 'S&P GSCI Global Voluntary Carbon Liquidity Weighted Index' is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates ("SPDJI") and has been licensed for use by Krane Funds Advisors, LLC ("KraneShares"). S&P® and S&P 500® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P"); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC ("Dow Jones"); GSCI is a registered trademark of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. ("Goldman") and has been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices; and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by KraneShares. KraneShares Global Carbon Offset Strategy ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates, or Goldman, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the S&P GSCI Global Voluntary Carbon Liquidity Weighted Index.
1Data from Bloomberg as of 4/25/2022
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SOURCE Krane Funds Advisors, LLC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/kraneshares-global-carbon-offset-etf-kset-now-tracks-sampp-dow-jones-index/ | 2022-08-01T12:28:02Z |
Topeka Golf Association names Addison Alonzo Player of the Year
Published: Sep. 18, 2022 at 8:24 PM CDT|Updated: 5 minutes ago
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - The Topeka Golf Association has named Addison Alonzo as its 2022 Player of the Year.
Alonzo earned the title by winning the City Match Play in June, and the City Stroke Play in July.
The Topeka West graduate also golfs collegiately at Hutchinson Community College.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/09/19/topeka-golf-association-names-addison-alonzo-player-year/ | 2022-09-19T01:31:14Z |
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Bryce Harper saw the pitch flying toward his face, so he quickly turned his head and raised his left hand to protect himself.
Turns out, the Phillies slugger would rather he hadn’t.
Harper will be sidelined indefinitely with a broken left thumb after he was hit by a pitch from Blake Snell in Philadelphia’s 4-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.
“I kind of wish it hit me in the face,” said Harper, who was wearing a splint on his thumb. “I don’t break bones in my face. I think I can take 98 (mph) to the face, but not 97 to the thumb. Yeah, I was kind of in protection mode a little bit trying to get my hand up there and not let it hit me again.
“It’s just a bummer. I am really bummed out.”
The reigning NL MVP, who missed only a few games last year when he was hit in the face by a fastball from St. Louis’ Genesis Cabrera, checked his swing as the 97 mph fastball from Snell rode inside and high toward his shoulder before hitting him on the outside of the left hand in the fourth inning.
Harper immediately fell to the ground and was in visible pain as he held his hand while on his knees for several minutes with Phillies head trainer Paul Buchheit attending to him.
Phillies general manager Dave Dombrowski, who traveled with the team on the road trip, said it was too early to determine if surgery will be needed. He added he wasn’t sure what type of fracture Harper had or where on his thumb the injury occurred. Harper said he would see a medical specialist when he returns to Philadelphia.
“We will put him on the injured list (Sunday),” Dombrowski said. “I was concerned at first he got hit in the face. I was concerned right off the bat because he is a tough guy and he walked off the field immediately.”
As Harper was halfway to Philadelphia’s dugout, he appeared to angrily yell at Snell and motioned with his hand at the Padres starting pitcher. Snell eventually shouted back at Harper. Many of the fans at Petco Park fans started to boo Harper after several seconds with Harper shouting at Snell.
Harper then appeared to cool down and say, “I know, I know” to Snell, acknowledging that the pitcher didn’t mean to hit him with the pitch.
“It wasn’t heated at all,” Harper said. “It was just the moment and a crappy situation. I’ve been playing against Blake since we were 10, 11 years old so I know there was no ill-will behind that at all. The inside pitch is part of the game. He is a great player and a great human being as well. I wish him the best and I told him to keep throwing that inside fastball because it sets that slider really good.”
Snell texted Harper and said the two are on good terms.
“Obviously, I felt terrible hitting him,” Snell said. “I don’t do that and he knows that. We’ve talked, we’ve handled it. He plays with a lot of passion and I can understand why he’d be upset. I’m just as upset as he is — I hit him. … I just hope he recovers quickly and gets back out there and continues to compete.”
Snell added he and Harper were going to see each other after Saturday’s game or on Sunday.
The Phillies got all the runs they would need in this one off Snell (0-5) in the fifth inning. J.T. Realmuto hit a solo home run, and Alec Bohm followed with a double. Didi Gregorius singled to put runners on first and third, and Yairo Munoz had a run-scoring groundout and Kyle Schwarber an RBI single.
Phillies starter Zach Eflin (3-5) pitched five effective innings, allowing four hits — including Jorge Alfaro’s two-run double in the fifth — while striking out three and walking two. Seranthony Dominguez got three outs for his second save of the season.
Snell gave up four runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings with four strikeouts and two walks.
Philadelphia will now have to move forward for much — or perhaps the rest — of the season without its biggest bat and run producer in Harper.
Harper, serving as the Phillies’ designated hitter, was replaced by Johan Camargo.
Harper is hitting .318 with 15 home runs, 48 RBIs and a .984 OPS this season in 64 games despite a small tear in the UCL of his right elbow that has prevented him from playing the outfield since April 16. He has tried to avoid season-ending Tommy John surgery with a platelet-rich plasma injection and rest.
“He is a guy who really isn’t replaceable on an individual basis, but we are going to have to be in a position that other people are going to have to step up,” Dombrowski said. “We will make a move to try and get someone here (Sunday).”
Dombrowski said outfielder Mickey Moniak, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick who has struggled in limited action in the majors, would be an option to be called up to help offset the loss of Harper.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: RHP Connor Brogdon was placed on COVID-19 list. … To replace Brogdon, the Phillies selected the contract of Mark Appel, who was the first overall pick in the 2013 draft and had been pitching this season for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. It is his first time in the big leagues. He didn’t pitch Saturday night.
Padres: 3B Manny Machado took a notable step in his recovery from a sprained left ankle, taking batting practice and ground balls on the field before the game. Machado declined to comment on the status of his ankle, but manager Bob Melvin continued to express optimism that Machado could be available to pinch hit in the near future.
UP NEXT
Phillies RHP Kyle Gibson (4-3, 4.06 ERA) takes the hill in the four-game series finale against Padres RHP Yu Darvish (7-3, 3.17 ERA).
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/harper-breaks-thumb-in-phillies-4-2-win-over-padres/ | 2022-06-26T19:07:26Z |
The hospital is a joint venture between Altru and Encompass Health
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., and GRAND FORKS, N.D., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Altru and Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) announce the opening of Altru Rehabilitation Hospital, a 37-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital located at 4500 South Washington Street in Grand Forks. The hospital, which is an expansion of Altru's previous 23-bed unit at the same location, features all private patient rooms, a large therapy gym with advanced rehabilitation technologies, an activities of daily living suite, and an on-site dialysis suite. Following state inspections, the hospital is expected to expand to 40 beds this fall.
The hospital serves patients recovering from debilitating injuries and illnesses, including strokes and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and complex orthopedic conditions. In addition to 24-hour nursing care, Altru Rehabilitation Hospital will continue to offer physical, occupational and speech therapies to restore functional ability and quality of life. Care is provided by highly specialized nurses, therapists and physicians.
"As our region's trusted health system, Altru is committed to providing high-quality rehabilitative care to our patients," said Janice Hamscher, Chief Nursing Officer at Altru. "This partnership with Encompass Health gives us the opportunity to serve even more patients throughout our region. I am very proud of this partnership and the additional services we will provide through this expansion. Together, we will continue our legacy of high-quality rehabilitative care."
"We are excited to open this hospital in Grand Forks as a joint venture between Encompass Health, a national leader in post-acute healthcare services, and Altru Health System, a trusted provider of rehabilitative care for more than 60 years," said Brad Kennedy, President of Encompass Health's South Central Region. "Both Altru and Encompass Health have a proven track record of quality, patient and family satisfaction and are united in our mission to providing compassionate care and helping patients regain the strength, function and confidence needed to move forward in their lives."
Altru Rehabilitation Hospital is Encompass Health's 151st inpatient rehabilitation hospital, and its first location in North Dakota. Altru's inpatient rehabilitation unit, which has provided care to residents in the area since 1958, has consistently maintained its accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
About Altru Health System
Based in Grand Forks, N.D., Altru Health System is an independent, non-profit healthcare organization. We are physician-led, with over 300 providers and 55 specialties of care. Altru boasts an acute care hospital, specialty hospital, level II trauma center and more than two dozen practice locations throughout northwest Minnesota and northeast North Dakota. Altru was the first member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, extending Mayo Clinic expertise to the patients we serve. Altru employs over 3,600 staff and providers who are empowered to fulfill Altru's vision of providing world-class care to the residents of our region. For more information, visit altru.org.
About Encompass Health
Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) is the largest owner and operator of rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. With a national footprint that includes 151 hospitals in 36 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high-quality, compassionate rehabilitative care for patients recovering from a major injury or illness, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For and Modern Healthcare's Best Places to Work in Healthcare. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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SOURCE Encompass Health Corp. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/altru-rehabilitation-hospital-37-bed-inpatient-rehabilitation-hospital-now-open-grand-forks/ | 2022-08-03T13:40:55Z |
ST. LOUIS, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arch Resources, Inc. (NYSE: ARCH) will discuss its second quarter 2022 financial results in an investor conference call that will be broadcast live on Thursday, July 28 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time.
Interested participants may access the conference call by dialing 800-289-0720 approximately five to 10 minutes prior to the start time. For participants calling from an overseas location, please dial +1 323-701-0160. No passcode is needed. The call will also be webcast and will be accessible via the "investor" section of the Arch website at http://investor.archrsc.com. Following the live event, a replay and an audio download will be available on the site.
Arch's second quarter 2022 earnings release will be distributed via PR Newswire before the market opens on July 28 and will be posted to the company's website at that time.
Arch Resources is a premier producer of high-quality metallurgical products for the global steel industry. The company operates large, modern and highly efficient mines that consistently set the industry standard for both mine safety and environmental stewardship.
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SOURCE Arch Resources, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/arch-resources-announce-second-quarter-2022-results-july-28/ | 2022-07-12T21:47:27Z |
Appointment aligns with leadership transition and succession plan, primes agency to capitalize on future growth opportunities in Pacific Northwest
PORTLAND, Ore., July 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global independent marketing and communications firm FINN Partners has named Shannon Riggs a managing partner of its Pacific Northwest Strategic Communications Business Unit. Riggs is preparing for a seamless transition in the unit's leadership, taking the reins from marketing communications industry icon Wendy Lane Stevens. Lane Stevens has announced her retirement effective Sept. 30 following more than 40 years in the business and more than six years as managing partner of FINN's Portland-based office. Riggs' appointment reinforces FINN Partners' commitment to ensuring the next generation of leadership and marketing services are in place and poised for future growth in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
"It is with heartfelt gratitude that we offer our best wishes to Wendy as she embarks on a new chapter. She has been a true collaborative partner since our alliance first formed in 2016 and has instilled her brand of tenacity, creativity and drive in the next generation," said Peter Finn, founding managing partner and CEO. "Since bringing Wendy's agency, LANE PR, into the FINN Partners fold, we have welcomed additional high-caliber firms from around the Pacific Northwest. Staffed with up-and-coming leaders like Shannon Riggs, we are confident that our business momentum will only build in this important region."
Riggs has dedicated nearly 25 years to the marketing communications industry and counsels CEOs and senior marketing executives at national nonprofits, regional brands and Fortune 500 companies. Previously a senior partner, she has developed a reputation for conceiving strategies that drive change and build business, and she is well-equipped to lead the office into its next chapter. Her tenure with FINN Partners extends to when she joined the predecessor office in Portland, LANE PR, in 2006. As managing partner, Riggs will oversee the management of what is now the Pacific Northwest Strategic Communications Business Unit and its staff, the majority of which are based in Portland. She has been working closely on a smooth changeover with Lane Stevens, who continues in her duties through Sept. 30.
"It has been a privilege to work alongside Shannon for more than 15 years and witness her clear impact on our clients' business, on our unit's growth and on our staff's development," said Lane Stevens. "Shannon is already a highly accomplished and strategic PR practitioner, but I know she will continue to exceed all expectations as she embraces this new role with her characteristic positive and inspiring outlook. I can't wait to see how FINN and our Pacific Northwest team grow next."
The Pacific Northwest is a key growth market for FINN Partners, which has acquired three best-in-class integrated communications and marketing agencies since 2016: Portland-based LANE PR, Seattle-based Barokas Communications and Vancouver, Washington-based AHA (Alling Henning Associates).
The global PR agency's Pacific Northwest offices represent a diverse portfolio of regionally and national based clients across industries such as technology, financial services, manufacturing, food and beverage, travel and tourism, and health. With a workforce of more than 75, the three Pacific Northwest offices provide integrated communications services and expertise including corporate communications; internal communications and employee engagement; public relations; and influencer and digital marketing.
In its 10 years of business, FINN Partners has grown from about $24 million in fees to almost $170 million in fees in 2021. The Pacific Northwest offices have been instrumental in the agency's growth in recent years and, given their outlooks, are expected to be strong contributors to a continuation of this upwards trajectory.
Founded in 2011 on the core principles of innovation and collaborative partnership, FINN Partners has grown from about $24 million in fees to almost $170 million in fees over 10 years, becoming one of the fastest growing independent public relations agencies in the world. The full-service marketing and communications company's record-setting pace is a result of organic growth and integrating new companies and new people into the FINN world through a common philosophy. With more than 1,200 professionals across 27 offices, FINN provides clients with global access and capabilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. FINN Partners clients are also supported through longstanding partner agencies and its membership in the PROI network of leading agencies around the world. Headquartered in New York, FINN has offices in: Atlanta, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Dublin, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Guam, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Jerusalem, London, Los Angeles, Munich, Nashville, Orange County, Paris, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, Vancouver and Washington, D.C. Find us at finnpartners.com and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @finnpartners.
Contact:
FINN Partners:
Celia Jones, Global Director of Marketing Communications
celia.jones@finnpartners.com
773.885.9781 (Chicago)
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SOURCE FINN Partners | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/13/finn-partners-names-shannon-riggs-managing-partner/ | 2022-07-13T12:34:27Z |
Special Weather Statement issued May 12 at 1:08PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
At 107 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Egin, or 9 miles northwest of Rexburg, moving northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD…Pea size hail.
SOURCE…Radar indicated.
IMPACT…Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include…
Rexburg, Rigby, Ashton, Dubois, Felt, Idmon, Henrys Lake, Terreton,
Marysville, Lorenzo, Sugar City, Menan, Teton, Roberts, Lewisville,
Mud Lake, Parker, Tetonia, Hamer and Spencer.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. | https://localnews8.com/weather/alerts-weather/2022/05/12/special-weather-statement-issued-may-12-at-108pm-mdt-by-nws-pocatello-id/ | 2022-05-12T19:42:51Z |
EDISON, N.J., April 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Taylored Services announces campus setting by leasing 100,000 square feet (SF) of additional space at 201 Mill Road, Edison, NJ (Taylored Edison II), prolonging its long-term partnership with Heller Industrial Park.
Serving as the company's new 20,000 SF corporate headquarters, Taylored Edison II is ideally located just 15 minutes from the port of New York/New Jersey. The location provides multi-channel customers a competitive advantage for trans-loading, cross dock, and bonded container freight station (CFS) services, as well as full case distribution and e-commerce unit fulfillment solutions.
Taylored's existing presence in New Jersey at 301 Mill Road (Taylored Edison I) and the new adjacent facility will strengthen the company's footing in the area. Taylored also has plans for a third facility opening in May 2022 at 401 Mill Road (Taylored Edison III) which will create a comprehensive menu of distribution, fulfillment and warehousing-based 3PL services that can be customized to each customer's unique requirements.
The company also operates an in-house freight brokerage, Taylored Freight Services, and offers ample opportunity for growth to new and existing customers alike. The strategic choice of moving the company's headquarters within the Edison campus will allow timely communication and better management of client service support between the buildings.
Following the opening of Taylored Savannah, this recent update for the northeastern region is the company's latest fast-paced growth initiative serving their comprehensive national expansion plan. To date, Taylored operates a network of 12 locations—a total of 18 facilities spanning over 4 million SF—that are strategically located near gateway ports and key inland locations.
The Taylored East expansion has been part of the first phase of the company's growth initiatives, establishing their positioning of facility clusters at port centric locations. Since closing the acquisition of a globally recognized, U.S. based logistics company in 2020, the company has had its sights set on increasing their footprint while continuously being recognized as a Top 100 3PL service provider in the United States.
The acquisition increased the company's footprint in key distribution metros, and the trend continues as more locations are added to the mix. Taylored is a mission-critical partner to any wholesale, distributor or retailer importing product into the U.S. with flexibility to adjust to the changing supply chain needs of its customers.
"We pride ourselves on being growth oriented, performance driven, and customer focused. Our mission is to service our customers by leveraging our retail & logistics expertise, continued investment in technology, and a network of strategically located facilities to bring down our customers' logistics costs and shorten their delivery times in this rapidly changing retail environment," said Jim DeVeau, President and CEO of Taylored Services Parent Co., Inc.
Taylored Edison II will be home to the company's training center, and between all three Edison locations, will provide multi-channel fulfillment solutions to importers and domestic suppliers in the retail vertical for whom supply chains and consumer expectations are becoming increasingly complex. The company has led this campus rollout without strain to the workforce or customer base and will carry on with business as usual during these major company growth milestones.
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SOURCE Taylored Services LLC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/21/taylored-services-announces-new-edison-corporate-office-with-100000-sq-ft-expansion/ | 2022-04-21T14:28:42Z |
Madison Co.'s athletic history origins predate its birth
Dan Morris and David Thomas are both members of the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame Board, and when the Jackson-Madison County Bicentennial Commission asked the Hall of Fame to have someone make a First Friday Forum presentation of the history of athletics in the county, Morris and Thomas were the ones selected for the discussion.
As sports and leisure is the theme of the month of June in the year-long celebration of the 200th birthday for the Hub City and its surrounding county, Morris and Thomas – whom each have decades of experience in local sports media – had institutional knowledge as a foundation for the research they did.
Morris was a sports writer and sports editor for The Sun for more than 30 years, and Thomas has been involved in sports media with The Sun and in radio for nearly 40 years and is currently the news director at WNWS-FM 101.5.
Morris said the sports history of Madison County actually goes back to the county’s earliest days 200 years ago if not before then when the Chickasaw Indians would play stickball, which resembles lacrosse. Players would scoop up a rock wrapped in deer skin and try to move it down a field into a goal.
The game was used as a way to keep peace between different tribes, settle disputes and develop toughness in young boys before they became warriors for the tribe.
Morris also noted an early painting of West Tennessee College, which would later become Union University’s old campus in East Jackson. In the painting that’s dated in the mid-1800s, there are children playing in the front yard of the main building and they appear to be playing baseball. Baseball was invented in New England and was brought to the South during the Civil War as Union soldiers used it to have recreation during downtime between battles.
One piece of lesser-known baseball history Morris mentioned about Jackson is there once was a baseball field at what is now known as Conger Park when it was still known as its previous name – Highland Park – and it stretched all the way from its current location next to the hospital to Campbell Lake.
Morris also highlighted the national and international athletic achievements of individual and team athletes as well as listing the number of state championships each high school in Jackson has to its name.
As Morris was highlighting football history in Jackson, he mentioned whom Rothrock Stadium was named after before it was changed to Lane Field in 2010. Tom Rothrock was a judge who was an avid supporter of both football programs at Jackson High and Union University and helped get the stadium put in place that now is the home of the Lane College Dragons.
Thomas discussed the potential future of Jackson area sports and what sports could become popular in the coming years.
Even though lacrosse and wrestling are popular TSSAA sports in more populated areas of the state, the arrival of Blue Oval City to West Tennessee could bring either or both of those sports to this area as well.
Girls’ flag football started this year with a small league that played in Middle Tennessee, and he said TSSAA officials see that as a possibility as well since the Tennessee Titans organization are investing funds into that sport.
He also said soccer has already grown in the last couple decades in the area, and that will probably continue to grow.
“I’m sure just a few years ago, no one thought soccer would be a big sport around here, but it’s growing and only going to get bigger,” Thomas said.
Reach Brandon Shields at bjshields@jacksonsun.com. Follow him on Twitter @JSEditorBrandon or on Instagram at editorbrandon. | https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/2022/06/06/madison-co-s-athletic-history-origins-predate-its-birth/7482943001/ | 2022-06-07T05:23:37Z |
The thought piece finds no solid evidence of alpha generation among the cohort of managers reviewed.
ST. LOUIS, May 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NISA Investment Advisors, LLC ("NISA") released a framework to evaluate risk parity manager performance in its new paper: "The Disparity Among Risk Parity Managers."
The analysis begins with an exploration of the inadequacies of traditional risk parity benchmarking and proceeds to look at two alternative benchmarking methodologies based on extracting information directly from manager return data. The analysis shows there is no solid evidence of alpha for the cohort of managers examined with both approaches. In fact, the average manager under-performs the empirically estimated benchmarks, even after adjusting for the impact of manager fees.
According to David G. Eichhorn, CFA, NISA's CEO and Head of Investment Strategies:
- "Risk parity, as a strategy, has helped many investors achieve higher risk adjusted returns – in no small part because of the adoption of leverage. But it is important not to confuse this outcome with manager skill/alpha."
- "Our results indicate that investors would have done as well or better by holding the quintessential risk parity asset classes in proportions similar to that of the average risk parity manager's holdings."
- "Because these weights can be readily ascertained from manager time series either statically or dynamically, we believe that a passive approach exists that investors can utilize to seek better risk-adjusted performance and undoubtedly lower manager fees."
To view previous NISA Perspectives posts, please visit our website by clicking here.
About NISA Investment Advisors, LLC
NISA Investment Advisors, LLC is a registered investment adviser, and manages assets for some of the largest institutional investors in the U.S. The firm is 100% employee-owned and based in St. Louis, Missouri. Client portfolios include investment-grade fixed income, derivative overlay and equity investments. As of March 31, 2022, NISA managed $306 billion in physical assets and $178 billion in derivative notional value in separate account overlay portfolios. In December of 2021, NISA was named a Best Place to Work in Money Management by Pensions & Investments, based upon anonymous surveys of employees by the publication1. As a thought leader, NISA is known for its Pension Surplus Risk Index (PSRX®), a forward-looking estimate of the funded status volatility of U.S. corporate defined benefit plans, published monthly.
In March of 2022, NISA was named a Greenwich Quality Leader for U.S. Institutional Investment Management Services for the eighth straight year, based upon client interviews by a third party.2
For more information, visit www.nisa.com and see us on LinkedIn.
- Source: 2021 Rankings announced by Pensions & Investments on December 13, 2021. Pensions & Investments worked with Best Companies Group to conduct a two-step process for ranking participating firms from June, 2021 through August, 2021. No compensation was paid by NISA in connection with obtaining or using this ranking. NISA was one of 34 recipients in 2021 for the 100-499 Employee category. To participate, a firm had to have at least 20 employees in the U.S., have at least $100 million of discretionary, institutional assets under management or advisement and be in business for at least one year. Participating firms completed a questionnaire on firm's policies, practice, benefits and demographics. Additionally, employees at participating firms were emailed an engagement and satisfaction survey. Visit pionline.com for more details, including past rankings and methodology.
- Source: 2021 Rankings announced by Coalition Greenwich on March 2, 2022. Between July and October 2021, Coalition Greenwich conducted interviews with 811 individuals from 661 of the largest tax-exempt funds in the United States. These U.S.-based institutional investors are corporate and union funds, public funds, and endowment and foundation funds, with either pension or investment pool assets greater than $150 million. Thought piece participants were asked to provide quantitative and qualitative evaluations of their asset management and investment consulting providers, including qualitative assessments of those firms soliciting their business and detailed information on important market trends. No compensation was paid by NISA in connection with obtaining or using this ranking. NISA was one of four 2021 recipients. Rankings do not represent any one client's experience because they reflect an average of experiences of clients who chose to participate. Visit www.greenwich.com for more details, including past rankings and methodology.
All investments entail risk including loss of principal; derivatives investments could lose more than the amount invested.
Contact:
Michael Herley for NISA Investment Advisors, LLC
michael.herley@southportpr.com or 203-308-1409
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SOURCE NISA Investment Advisors, LLC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/24/nisa-investment-advisors-issues-new-analysis-examining-disparity-among-risk-parity-managers/ | 2022-05-24T21:55:55Z |
Actor Fred Ward, of ‘Tremors,’ ‘The Right Stuff’ fame, dies
NEW YORK (AP) — Fred Ward, a veteran actor who brought a gruff tenderness to tough-guy roles in such films as “The Right Stuff,” “The Player” and “Tremors,” has died. He was 79.
Ward died Sunday, his publicist Ron Hofmann said Friday. No cause or place of death was disclosed per the family’s wishes.
Ward earned a Golden Globe and shared the Venice Film Festival ensemble prize for his performance in Robert Altman’s “Short Cuts,” and played the title character in “Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins.” He also reached new heights playing Mercury 7 astronaut Virgil “Gus” Grissom in 1983′s Academy Award- nominated film “The Right Stuff.”
“Devastated to learn about the passing of my friend, Fred Ward,” tweeted actor Matthew Modine, who co-starred with Ward in “Short Cuts” and Alan Rudolph’s Equinox.” “A tough façade covering emotions as deep as the Pacific Ocean. Godspeed amigo.”
A former boxer, lumberjack in Alaska and short-order cook who served in the U.S. Air Force, Ward was a San Diego native who was part Cherokee. One early big role was alongside Clint Eastwood in 1979′s “Escape From Alcatraz.”
“I mourn the loss of Fred Ward, who was so kind to me when we worked together on ‘Remo Williams,’” actor Kate Mulgrew tweeted. “Decent and modest and utterly professional, he disarmed with a smile that was at once warm and mischievous.”
Ward’s other roles included a rumpled cop chasing a psychotic criminal played by Alec Baldwin in George Armitage’s “Miami Blues.” He was a formidable and intimidating father to both Freddie Prinze Jr.’s character in “Summer Catch” and David Spade’s title character in “Joe Dirt.”
Ward played President Reagan in the 2009 Cold War espionage thriller “Farewell” and had a supporting role in the 2013 action flick “2 Guns,” starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg.
In the horror-comedy “Tremors,” Ward paired with Kevin Bacon to play a pair of repairmen who end up saving a hardscrabble Nevada desert community beset by giant underground snakes.
With the sexually charged, NC-17 “Henry & June,” Ward showed more than just grit. Based on the book by Anais Nin and directed by Philip Kaufman, Ward played novelist Henry Miller, opposite Nin and his wife, June. “My rear end seemed to have something to do with (that rating),” he told The Washington Post.
He also reteamed with Altman for the part of a studio security chief in the director’s 1992 Hollywood satire “The Player,” and played a union activist and Meryl Streep’s workmate in Mike Nichols’ “Silkwood” in 1983.
Ward demonstrated his comedy chops playing a terrorist intent on blowing up the Academy Awards in “Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult” in 1994.
On the small screen, he had recurring roles on NBC’s “ER” playing the father of Maura Tierney’s Abby Lockhart in 2006-2007 and guest starred on such series as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Leverage” and “United States of Tara.” Ward most recently appeared in the second season of HBO’s “True Detective” as the retired cop father of Colin Farrell’s Det. Ray Velcoro.
Ward is survived by his wife of 27 years, Marie-France Ward and his son, Django Ward.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/13/actor-fred-ward-tremors-right-stuff-fame-dies/ | 2022-05-13T22:22:31Z |
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, NeuroBehavioral Hospitals of the Palm Beaches (NBH) announced it will be opening two locations, North and South, to increase access to mental health care in Palm Beach County. NBH-North opened on April 11 in the space previously occupied by the St. Mary's Institute for Mental Health at 993 45th Street, West Palm Beach, Florida. NBH-North is licensed as a hospital provider of Baker Act emergency treatment services as well as providing outpatient services. NBH-South, a specialized hospital capable of serving voluntary patients who require additional treatment or have medical complexities, will open approximately eight weeks later at the space previously occupied by the Watershed Treatment Center at 4905 Park Ridge Blvd, Boynton Beach, Florida. These new facilities will provide high quality, evidence-based services in best-in-class environments, to individuals experiencing a mental health condition who require inpatient hospitalization.
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9021651-neurobehavioral-hospitals-of-the-palm-beaches-new-locations/
The Health Care District's mission is to recognize and bridge gaps of the health care needs within our community, and we see a huge need in our mental health delivery of services." said, Darcy J. Davis, CEO of the Health Care District. "Partnering with NeuroBehavioral Hospitals, who is committed to raising the standards of mental health care that is grounded in evidence based, quality treatment planning will be a much-needed health care provider for our community at a perfect time."
"NeuroBehavioral Hospitals will provide compassionate healthcare to individuals suffering with mental illness," said Beau Lynch, CEO of NeuroBehavioral Hospital of the Palm Beaches. "Since the closure of the Jerome Golden Center in 2019 and subsequent consolidation of services by other providers, access to care in Palm Beach County has been severely limited. Our NBH North and South locations are the first step at reversing this trend and raising the standard of mental healthcare. Our goal is to improve health and transform lives and NeuroBehavioral Hospitals of the Palm Beaches will change the way mental healthcare is provided in the communities we serve."
"Our NeuroBehavioral care model uses a fully integrated interdisciplinary team approach to provide individualized, comprehensive mental health care to each patient." said Dr. Paul Rashid, Chief Medical Officer. "The interdisciplinary team's goal is to consider the individual complexities of each patient and personalize each treatment plan for the most optimized outcomes."
"We are thrilled to be working with NBH and look forward to collaborating with likeminded providers committed to improving the behavioral health care and improving access to our community." said, Ann M. Berner, CEO at Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network. "In 2019 after the closure of the Jerome Golden Center, and subsequent behavioral health closures, our community has lost 104 inpatient mental healthcare beds which was a blow to our integrated delivery system at a critical time. Now that NBH North and South campuses are coming online, Florida is, for the first time in years, gaining a much-needed addition beds, bringing a total number of NBH mental health inpatient beds in Palm Beach County to 114."
NeuroBehavioral Hospitals is committed to raising the standard of mental health care. With nearly twenty years of experience providing evidence-based, trauma-informed programs in a variety of inpatient, residential, and outpatient settings, NeuroBehavioral Hospitals of the Palm Beaches and its affiliated sites currently provide mental health and substance use disorder treatment to approximately 3,000 patients in ten states. Learn more at www.nbhospitals.com.
CONTACT:
Judy Q. Lilley
judy.lilley@nbhospitals.com
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SOURCE NeuroBehavioral Hospitals of the Palm Beaches (NBH) | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/neurobehavioral-hospitals-palm-beaches/ | 2022-04-11T12:01:18Z |
JUNO BEACH, Fla., May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) appointed President and Chief Executive Officer John Ketchum as chairman of the board, effective July 29, 2022, at which time he will serve as NextEra Energy's chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer. Ketchum will succeed Jim Robo, who will be retiring as executive chairman effective on that date.
Ketchum became president and chief executive officer on March 1, 2022. Prior to that, he served in several senior executive positions since joining the company in 2002.
NextEra Energy, Inc.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. NextEra Energy owns Florida Power & Light Company, which is America's largest electric utility that sells more power than any other utility, providing clean, affordable, reliable electricity to more than 5.7 million customer accounts, or more than 12 million people across Florida. NextEra Energy also owns a competitive clean energy business, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. Through its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy generates clean, emissions-free electricity from seven commercial nuclear power units in Florida, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. A Fortune 200 company, NextEra Energy has been recognized often by third parties for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity. NextEra Energy is ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry on Fortune's 2022 list of "World's Most Admired Companies," recognized on Fortune's 2021 list of companies that "Change the World" and received the S&P Global Platts 2020 Energy Transition Award for leadership in environmental, social and governance. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.GulfPower.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.
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SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/23/john-ketchum-appointed-chairman-nextera-energy/ | 2022-05-23T12:29:01Z |
Biden feels well, isolating after ‘rebound’ COVID-positive test
WASHINGTON (Gray News) - President Joe Biden is feeling well and continues to isolate Monday after testing positive again for COVID-19, his physician said.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor said Biden’s test came back positive Monday as expected following an initial “rebound positivity” on Saturday, according to a letter released by the White House.
The president continues to work from the executive residence, O’Connor stated.
Biden’s positive test Saturday caused him to cancel travel and in-person events. He is isolating for at least five days, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
After initially testing positive on July 21, Biden, 79, was treated with the anti-viral drug Paxlovid. He tested negative for the virus Tuesday and Wednesday, clearing him to leave isolation while wearing a mask indoors.
Research suggests that a minority of those prescribed Paxlovid experience a rebound case of the virus.
A likelihood of a rebound case, rather than a reinfection, is a positive sign for Biden’s health once he’s clear of the disease, said Dr. Albert Ho, an infectious disease specialist at Yale University’s school of public health.
“The fact that the president has cleared his illness and doesn’t have symptoms is a good sign and makes it less likely he will develop long COVID,” Ho said.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to the report. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/01/biden-feels-well-isolating-after-rebound-covid-positive-test/ | 2022-08-01T16:18:25Z |
After Creating a Medical Patch to Conquer Her Daughter's Blindness, Founder Paige Brattin Repurposes the Product to Help Her Father's Fight with Cancer
KAMUELA, Hawaii, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Worthy Brands, purveyor of medical patches for people of all ages, introduces their latest product innovation, Port Worthy Patches. Before and after chemotherapy treatments, these sterile, FDA and CE certified patches alleviate the pain-points chemotherapy recipients face surrounding the sensitive port area on a cancer patient's chest.
For chemotherapy patients, port therapy involves a port, which is a plastic disc (roughly the size of a U.S. quarter) that is placed underneath the patient's skin, usually above the breast or below the collarbone. The port is then used to intravenously feed chemotherapy medication directly into a large vein and into the heart.
For Worthy Brands' Founder & CEO, Paige Brattin, creating Port Worthy Patches occurred rather serendipitously. At five-years-old, Brattin's daughter, Eddy had been diagnosed with amblyopia, reduced vision in one eye caused by abnormal visual development early in life. To help her daughter in the fight against this leading cause of childhood blindness, Brattin developed Worthy Brands' flagship product, See Worthy Patches. Deviating from antiquated drug store eye patches, See Worthy Patches differed with breathable material, optimized adhesives, a versatile shape fitting all faces from infants to adults, and gender-neutral, "cool" designs.
Nurses of cancer patients administering chemotherapy treatments had contacted Brattin regarding using the See Worthy eye patches as chest port covers for their patients. They mentioned that the See Worthy Patches had offered more comfort and sterility than other common options. It was also around this time that Brattin's father was undergoing chemotherapy during his battle with lymphoma. Knowing the opportunity See Worthy Patches were providing for other chemotherapy patients, Brattin discovered that her father was also dealing with the same pain-points standard drug store products provided. He tried one of Brattin's patches, and was astonished that it was gentle and the perfect size to cover his port.
"The opportunity to create Port Worthy was shining right in front of us. We discovered that there hadn't been a product on the market to cover a medical port. With many cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, we knew we had a product on our hands that could make a difference for so many," says Brattin. "Dealing with medical battles like blindness and cancer are already challenging enough. Our mission has always been to make difficult times for others easier. Worthy Brands has the technology to do so. First, we were inspired by my daughter and her fight for vision, and now we are inspired by my Dad and his quest to beat lymphoma."
Worthy Brands utilizes a portion of their proceeds to give back to causes ameliorating the adversity that their consumers face. Sales from Port Worthy Patches benefit Swim Across America, a non-profit organization that hosts charity swims to fund cancer research and patient programs.
More versatile and providing increased breathability than gauze or medical tape, Port Worthy Patches help reduce skin irritation from bra straps, their ultra-sensitive adhesives help protect chest hair when removing, and they keep the port, often covered with ointments and creams, protected from clothing.
Port Worthy Patches retail for $28.50 per box and include a one month's supply of 48 patches. Designs include standard white patches; "Flower Power" with gray, black, white and red floral motifs; "Hope Patch Box" with a red tattoo-styled heart saying "hope" across an anchor as well as a campy electrical outlet "port" patch; and a "Tropical Patch Box" consisting of patches inspired by the company's birthplace of Hawaii with seashells and hibiscus flowers.
For more information and to purchase patches, please visit https://worthybrands.com/collections/port-worthy or their Instagram profile at @port_worthy.
ABOUT PORT WORTHY:
Port Worthy was founded in 2021 with a mission to inspire and impact the world with purpose and style through making the lives of chemotherapy patients and caregivers easier. Port Worthy's chemotherapy port covers are innovative with an optimized ergonomic shape, breathable material, and fun-to-wear designs. Ultimately, the brand understands that a cancer diagnosis is a stressful time for many, and wants to reduce this stress while also giving back to organizations that seek to eradicate cancer and help patients. For every box of port patches sold, Port Worthy donates a portion of sales to "Swim Across America", a non-profit organization that hosts charity swims to fund cancer research and patient programs.
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SOURCE Worthy Brands | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/12/following-success-see-worthy-patches-worthy-brands-debuts-port-worthy-patches/ | 2022-04-12T17:46:59Z |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Internet Explorer is finally headed out to pasture.
As of Wednesday, Microsoft will no longer support the once-dominant browser that legions of web surfers loved to hate — and a few still claim to adore. The 27-year-old application now joins BlackBerry phones, dial-up modems and Palm Pilots in the dustbin of tech history.
IE’s demise was not a surprise. A year ago, Microsoft said that it was putting an end to Internet Explorer on June 15, 2022, pushing users to its Edge browser, which was launched in 2015.
The company made clear then it was time to move on.
“Not only is Microsoft Edge a faster, more secure and more modern browsing experience than Internet Explorer, but it is also able to address a key concern: compatibility for older, legacy websites and applications,” Sean Lyndersay, general manager of Microsoft Edge Enterprise, wrote in a May 2021 blog post.
Users marked Explorer’s passing on Twitter, with some referring to it as a “bug-ridden, insecure POS” or the “top browser for installing other browsers.” For others it was a moment for 90′s nostalgia memes, while The Wall Street Journal quoted a 22-year-old who was sad to see IE go.
Microsoft released the first version of Internet Explorer in 1995, the antediluvian era of web surfing dominated by the first widely popular browser, Netscape Navigator. Its launch signaled the beginning of the end of Navigator: Microsoft went on to tie IE and its ubiquitous Windows operating system together so tightly that many people simply used it by default instead of Navigator.
The Justice Department sued Microsoft in 1997, saying it violated an earlier consent decree by requiring computer makers to use its browser as a condition of using Windows. It eventually agreed to settle the antitrust battle in 2002 over its use of its Windows monopoly to squash competitors. It also tangled with European regulators who said that tying Internet Explorer to Windows gave it an unfair advantage over rivals such as Mozilla’s Firefox, Opera and Google’s Chrome.
Users, meanwhile, complained that IE was slow, prone to crashing and vulnerable to hacks. IE’s market share, which in the early 2000s was over 90%, began to fade as users found more appealing alternatives.
Today, the Chrome browser dominates with roughly a 65% share of the worldwide browser market, followed by Apple’s Safari with 19%, according to internet analytics company Statcounter. IE’s heir, Edge, lags with about 4%, just ahead of Firefox. | https://cw33.com/news/so-long-internet-explorer-the-browser-is-finally-retiring/ | 2022-06-15T14:57:33Z |
NEW YORK, April 18, 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
South Jersey Industries, Inc. (NYSE: SJI)
WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of South Jersey Industries, Inc. (NYSE: SJI), in connection with the proposed acquisition of SJI by Infrastructure Investments Fund. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, SJI's shareholders will receive $36.00 in cash for each share of SJI common stock that they hold. If you own SJI 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/sji
Columbia Care Inc. (OTCQX: CCHWF)
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Columbia Care Inc. (OTCQX: CCHWF) in connection with its proposed merger with Cresco Labs ("Cresco"). Under the terms of the merger agreement, CCHWF shareholders will receive 0.5579 shares of Cresco for each share of CCHWF common stock owned, representing an implied per-share merger consideration of approximately $3.00 based upon Cresco's April 15, 2022 closing price of $5.38. If you own CCHWF 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/cchwf
Emclaire Financial Corp (NASDAQ: EMCF)
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Emclaire Financial Corp (NASDAQ: EMCF) in connection with the proposed merger of EMCF with Farmers National Banc Corp. ("Farmers"). Under the terms of the merger agreement, each shareholder of EMCF may elect to receive either $40.00 per share in cash or 2.15 shares of Farmers' common stock, subject to an overall limitation of 70% of the shares being exchanged for Farmers' shares and 30% for cash. If you own EMCF 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/emcf
The National Security Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSEC)
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of The National Security Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSEC), in connection with the proposed acquisition of NSEC by VR Insurance Holdings, Inc. Under the terms of the merger agreement, NSEC's shareholders will receive $16.35 in cash for each share of NSEC common stock that they hold. If you own NSEC 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/nsec
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SOURCE Weiss Law | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/18/shareholder-alert-weiss-law-reminds-sji-cchwf-emcf-nsec-shareholders-about-its-ongoing-investigations/ | 2022-04-19T03:12:22Z |
CHICAGO, Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE: ORI) — today announced its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of 23 cents per common share. This dividend is payable on September 15, 2022 to shareholders of record on September 1, 2022. Subject to quarterly Board approval, the full year's cash dividend is projected to be 92 cents per share for 2022, compared to 88 cents paid in 2021.
The current annualized regular dividend rate of 92 cents per share marks the 41st consecutive year that Old Republic has boosted this rate, and 2022 becomes the 81st year of uninterrupted regular cash dividend payments.
About Old Republic
Chicago-based Old Republic International Corporation is one of the nation's 50 largest shareholder-owned insurance businesses. It is a member of the Fortune 500 listing of America's largest companies. The Company is organized as an insurance holding company whose subsidiaries actively market, underwrite, and provide risk management services for a wide variety of coverages mostly in the general and title insurance fields. Old Republic's general insurance business ranks among the nation's 50 largest, while its title insurance business is the third largest in its industry.
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SOURCE Old Republic International Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/19/old-republic-declares-third-quarter-regular-cash-dividend-23-cents-per-share/ | 2022-08-19T11:33:12Z |
Yet again, the U.S. is trudging into what could be another COVID-19 surge, with cases rising nationally and in most states after a two-month decline.
One big unknown? "We don't know how high that mountain's gonna grow," said Dr. Stuart Campbell Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University.
No one expects a peak nearly as high as the last one, when the contagious omicron version of the coronavirus ripped through the population.
But experts warn that the coming wave – caused by a mutant called BA.2 that's thought to be about 30% more contagious – will wash across the nation. They worry that hospitalizations, which are already ticking up in some parts of the Northeast, will rise in a growing number of states in the coming weeks. And the case wave will be bigger than it looks, they say, because reported numbers are vast undercounts as more people test at home without reporting their infections or skip testing altogether.
At the height of the previous omicron surge, reported daily cases reached into the hundreds of thousands. As of Thursday, the seven-day rolling average for daily new cases rose to 39,521, up from 30,724 two weeks earlier, according to data from Johns Hopkins collected by The Associated Press.
Dr. Eric Topol, head of Scripps Research Translational Institute, said the numbers will likely keep growing until the surge reaches about a quarter the height of the last "monstrous" one. BA.2 may well have the same effect in the U.S. as it did in Israel, where it created a "bump" in the chart measuring cases, he said.
Keeping the surge somewhat in check, experts said, is a higher level of immunity in the U.S. from vaccination or past infection compared with early winter.
But Ray said the U.S. could wind up looking like Europe, where the BA.2 surge was "substantial" in some places that had comparable levels of immunity. "We could have a substantial surge here," he said.
Both experts said BA.2 will move through the country gradually. The Northeast has been hit hardest so far — with more than 90% of new infections caused by BA.2 last week compared with 86% nationally. As of Thursday, the highest rates of new COVID cases per capita over the past 14 days were in Vermont, Rhode Island, Alaska, New York and Massachusetts. In Washington, D.C., which also ranks in the top 10 for rates of new cases, Howard University announced it was moving most undergraduate classes online for the rest of the semester because of "a significant increase in COVID-19 positivity" in the district and on campus.
Some states, such as Rhode Island and New Hampshire, saw the average of daily new cases rise by more than 100% in two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins data.
Joseph Wendelken, spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Health, said despite rising cases, hospitalizations remain relatively low, and that's the metric they are most focused on right now. About 55 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, compared with more than 600 at one point in the pandemic.
Officials credit high vaccination rates. State statistics show 99% of Rhode Island adults are at least partially vaccinated and 48% have gotten the booster dose that scientists say is key in protecting against severe illness with omicron.
Vermont also has relatively high levels of vaccination and fewer patients in the hospital than during the height of the first omicron wave. But Dr. Mark Levine, the health commissioner there, said hospitalizations and the numbers of patients in intensive care units are both up slightly, although deaths have not risen.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that new hospital admissions of patients with confirmed COVID-19 were up slightly in New England and the New York region.
On the West Coast, modelers from Oregon Health & Science University are projecting a slight increase in hospitalizations over the next two months in that state, where cases have also risen steeply.
As the wave moves across the country, experts said states with low rates of vaccination may face substantially more infections and severe cases that wind up in the hospital.
Ray said government leaders must be careful to strike the right tone when talking to people about protecting themselves and others after COVID restrictions have largely been lifted. Philadelphia recently became the first major U.S. city to reinstate its indoor mask mandate after a sharp increase in infections. But Vermont's Levine said there are no plans to bring back any of the restrictions that were imposed earlier during the pandemic.
"It's going to be hard to institute restrictive, draconian measures," Ray said. "Fortunately, we have some tools that we can use to mitigate risk. And so I hope that leaders will emphasize the importance for people to watch the numbers," be aware of risks and consider taking precautions such as wearing masks and getting vaccinated and boosted if they're not already.
Lynne Richmond, a 59-year-old breast cancer survivor who lives in Silver Spring, Md., said she plans to get her second booster and keep wearing her mask in public as cases rise in her state and nearby Washington, D.C.
"I never really stopped wearing my mask…I've stayed ultra-vigilant," she said. "I feel like I've come this far; I don't want to get COVID."
Vigilance is a good strategy, experts said, because the coronavirus is constantly throwing curveballs. One of the latest: even more contagious subvariants of BA.2 found in New York state, known as BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1. And scientists warn that new and potentially dangerous variants could arise at any time.
"We shouldn't be thinking the pandemic is over," Topol said. "We should still keep our guard up." | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/article_c5cc87aa-bcdb-11ec-909c-5b7459645f34.html | 2022-04-15T18:56:03Z |
CNN cancels ‘Reliable Sources’; host Stelter leaving network
NEW YORK (AP) — CNN has canceled its weekly “Reliable Sources” show on the media, and said Thursday that its host, Brian Stelter, is leaving the network.
The show will have its last broadcast this Sunday.
CNN has been looking to cut costs but also to put forth a less opinionated product. Stelter has written a book, “Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth” and been critical of Fox News, making him a frequent target of the CNN’s conservative critics.
Stelter came to CNN from The New York Times, where he was a media writer.
“He departs CNN as an impeccable broadcaster,” said Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent and content development at CNN. “We are proud of what Brian and his team accomplished over the years, and we’re confident their impact and influence will long outlive the show.”
Stelter said that he was grateful for his nine years at CNN, proud of the show and thankful to its viewers.
“It was a rare privilege to lead a weekly show focused on the press at a time when it has never been more consequential,” he said. “I’ll have more to say on Sunday.”
The “Reliable Sources” newsletter, a daily compendium of the media’s big stories, will continue and will be led by CNN senior media reporter Oliver Darcy.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/18/cnn-cancels-reliable-sources-host-stelter-leaving-network/ | 2022-08-18T19:24:34Z |
Organizers of PAX, New York Comic Con, Star Wars Celebration Will Lead the In-Person Return of Seminal North American Video Game Industry Expo
LOS ANGELES, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- E3, the world's premier celebration of interactive entertainment, will make its long-awaited return to the Los Angeles Convention Center in the second week of June, 2023. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) will partner with ReedPop, the veteran event production company behind PAX, New York Comic Con, Star Wars Celebration, and other acclaimed celebrations of pop culture, to reunite the global video game industry for a week of titanic AAA reveals, earth-shaking world premieres, and exclusive access to the future of video games.
E3 2023 will welcome back publishers, developers, journalists, content creators, manufacturers, buyers, and licensors. The event will also highlight digital showcases and feature in-person consumer components.
"It is a tremendous honor and privilege for ReedPop to take on the responsibility of bringing E3 back in 2023," said Lance Fensterman, President of ReedPop. "With the support and endorsement of the ESA, we're going to build a world class event to serve the global gaming industry in new and broader ways than we already do at ReedPop through our portfolio of world leading events and web sites."
Kyle Marsden-Kish, ReedPop Global VP of Gaming who will lead the newly formed E3 team along with his global gaming live event responsibilities added, "For years, we've listened, heard, and studied the global gaming community's feedback. E3 2023 will be recognizably epic—a return to form that honors what's always worked—while reshaping what didn't and setting a new benchmark for video game expos in 2023 and beyond."
"We are thrilled to bring back E3 as an in-person event with ReedPop, a global leader in producing pop culture events." continued Stanley Pierre-Louis, President and CEO of the ESA. "The past three years have confirmed that E3 convenes our industry like no other event. ReedPop brings world-class talent and a keen understanding of the video game industry, which will serve to enhance the E3 experience for years to come."
A streamlined and secure media registration for E3 2023 will begin in late 2022. Confirmed exhibitors, hotel and travel guides, event schedules, and more will be shared in the months to come via media releases and the official E3 website. Media, creators, industry professionals, and fans are encouraged to visit this website often for updates, and to follow E3 on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
For business inquiries, email e3@reedpop.com.
Assets
About E3
E3 is the world's premier event for computer and video games and related products. The show is owned and operated by the ESA, the US trade association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies developing and publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the internet. For more information, visit www.e3expo.com or follow E3 on Facebook @E3Expo or Twitter @E3.
About ESA
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) serves as the voice and advocate for the U.S. video game industry. Its members are the innovators, creators, publishers and business leaders that are reimagining entertainment and transforming how we interact, learn, connect and play. The ESA works to expand and protect the dynamic marketplace for video games through innovative and engaging initiatives that showcase the positive impact of video games on people, culture and the economy. For more information, visit www.theESA.com or follow the ESA on Twitter @theESA.
About ReedPop
ReedPop is a boutique group within RX – one of the world's leading events organizers. Launched in 2006, the group has become the number one producer of pop culture events across the globe as well as a full service digital content provider and media company. Delivering once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences curated specifically for localized audiences, ReedPop currently features events in North America and Europe, including: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), PAX West, East, and Unplugged, Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), Star Wars Celebration, MCM Comic Con, Eurogamer Expo (EGX), Star Trek Missions and more. In addition to organizing and managing events, ReedPop also runs and operates the Gamer Network and its portfolio of leading gaming websites including Eurogamer, Rock Paper Shotgun and GamesIndustry.Biz. The staff at ReedPop are a fan-based, globally focused group of professionals that are uniquely qualified to build and serve the communities with whom they share a common passion. (www.reedpop.com)
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SOURCE ReedPop | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/e3-returns-june-2023-now-produced-by-reedpop/ | 2022-07-07T15:23:41Z |
Warren Buffett fans have plenty to cheer this weekend
By Paul R. La Monica and Nicole Goodkind, CNN Business
Berkshire Hathaway investors are set to descend on Omaha, Nebraska, for the company’s first annual meeting with shareholders present since 2019. It should be a victory lap for CEO Warren Buffett.
Shares of Berkshire Hathaway are up 10% this year and not far from a record high. Berkshire is easily beating the market. The S&P 500 is down nearly 12%.
Buffett has a lot to gloat about. Top Berkshire holdings such as Coca-Cola and Kraft Heinz are thriving. The two food and beverage giants recently reported strong earnings. Coke’s stock is up 11% this year while Kraft Heinz has surged more than 20%.
Berkshire also has a sizable stake in oil giant Chevron, the Dow’s top stock this year with a gain of more than 35%.
Buffett and Berkshire vice chairman Charlie Munger have been criticized by some investors in the past few years as tech stocks took the market by storm. But Buffett and the 98-year-old Munger have held firm in their belief that owning quality, large cap American companies in the consumer, financial services and energy industries is a good recipe for long-term success.
That’s not to say that Berkshire is totally against the idea of owning tech stocks. In fact, Berkshire’s top holding is Apple. The company has also invested recently in Amazon as well as HP.
Still, investing experts point out that Buffett’s penchant for buying top companies and holding them for a long time is what remains key to the success of Berkshire Hathaway.
“One thing that stands out with Buffett and Munger is their ability to produce such great returns over such a long period,” said Bill Stone, chief investment officer with The Glenview Trust Company, in a report. “The investment business is littered with shooting stars that had great returns only to flame out, sometimes in spectacular fashion.”
Stone is also a Berkshire shareholder and will be attending the meeting.
But other experts say they want to know how Buffett and Munger feel about the market in light of the recent slowdown in the economy and concerns that the Federal Reserve is expected to keep hiking interest rates.
“With rising rates and inflation, what kind of asset allocation is appropriate? We’re looking for that Buffett and Munger wisdom,” said Sean Bonner, CEO of Guild, an investment education app catered to military members. Bonner is a Berkshire shareholder who’s planning to go to the meeting for the first time.
Investors will also want to hear what Berkshire plans to do with its massive cash pile, which stood at nearly $147 billion as of the end of February.
Berkshire has put some money to work this year, with plans to buy insurer Alleghany and a boost to its stake in oil company Occidental Petroleum. But Buffett has long talked about wanting to make an “elephant-sized” deal.
There’s one issue that Berkshire investors won’t need to ask about this year though: the question of succession planning. Buffett announced last year that vice chairman Greg Abel, who oversees Berkshire’s energy, consumer and other non-insurance businesses, will eventually take over as CEO.
Amazon and Apple add to market confusion
It’s been a volatile month for Big Tech, and markets can’t figure out what to make of it all.
Investors are suffering from whiplash: mega cap tech stocks led a 1,000-point drop in the Dow last week and then recovered on Monday. On Tuesday we saw another 800-point Dow drop and another large recovery on Thursday.
Investors’ hopes of finally removing their neck braces hinged on Apple and Amazon reporting first-quarter earnings yesterday afternoon. Some cohesion between the two trillion-dollar plus companies could provide clarity on the market outlook.
Strong numbers by Apple and Amazon would increase investor confidence as the Federal Reserve plans to hike rates next week. Both companies also serve as gauges of consumer confidence; good news could assuage fears of a forthcoming economic downturn.
But that didn’t happen.
Apple did beat earnings estimates. Revenue grew nearly 9% on an annual basis as sales rose 19%. Earnings per share came in at $1.52, beating estimates of $1.43. The company announced a $90 billion share buyback and a 5% dividend increase.
But Apple’s outlook doesn’t look great. Shares dropped after CFO Luca Maestri warned of Covid-related supply constraints that could hurt second-quarter sales by between $4 billion and $8 billion. Apple is not immune to supply chain challenges, added CEO Tim Cook.
Amazon disappointed investors with earnings well expectations. The stock dropped nearly 13% in post-market trading after the company reported a $7.6 billion loss on its investment in electric vehicle company Rivian. Amazon posted earnings of $7.38 per share, missing estimates of $8.36.
Revenue at Amazon grew by 7% during the first quarter, compared to 44% last year. That’s the company’s slowest rate of growth for any quarter since the dot-com bust of 2001. Forecasts for the second quarter were also disappointing. Growth could slow to 3% from a year earlier.
“The pandemic and subsequent war in Ukraine have brought unusual growth and challenges,” Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said in a statement.
McDonald’s has to ditch millions of Russian burgers
Trash bins in Russia are overflowing with bad Big Macs and moldy McNuggets.
McDonald’s lost $100 million worth of food and supplies after it closed its restaurants in Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. The inventory will “likely be disposed of” said the company.
McDonald’s made the choice to shut down its 850 Russian restaurant locations and 108 restaurants in Ukraine due to the conflict but continued to pay its 62,000 employees and numerous suppliers in the region.
McDonald’s reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue as it offset Russian losses with price hikes in the US and strong international growth.
McDonald’s announced in February that it closed its Ukrainian restaurants for safety reasons but that employees would provide local councils with extra food wherever possible. The restaurant said it hoped councils would distribute products like buns, donuts, cheese, milk and water to Ukrainians in need.
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™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/money/cnn-business-consumer/2022/04/29/warren-buffett-fans-have-plenty-to-cheer-this-weekend/ | 2022-04-29T15:06:27Z |
ATLANTA -- The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has named Tracy L. Brundage president of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, effective Aug. 1.
Brundage currently serves as the president of Keystone College, a private institution with more than 50 fields of study located in La Plume, Pa. She has been Keystone’s president since 2018.
ABAC President David Bridges announced plans last year to retire after serving as president for 16 years.
“I’m excited to welcome Dr. Brundage to ABAC and know she will bring a sharp focus on student support and work force development to an institution that’s so critical to communities, especially in south Georgia,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “Her skills and experience will build on the good work done by Dr. Bridges, and I appreciate the efforts of the campus search committee to find such a strong candidate to lead the students, faculty and staff of ABAC into the future.”
As Keystone’s president, Brundage has managed a $27.5 million budget while restructuring debt and reorganizing the college’s administration to realize an anticipated net surplus for Fiscal Year 2022. In steering the college through the COVID-19 pandemic, she addressed enrollment challenges by creating strong career pathways and expanding services to mid-career learners. She also implemented a plan that is on target to double the amount of funding available for annual scholarships from the previous fiscal year.
“I’m grateful for the board’s and Chancellor Perdue’s confidence in me to lead a college that takes such pride in its students and the opportunities to learn hands-on in everything from agriculture to health care,” Brundage said. “I understand the role ABAC and its students, faculty, staff and alumni play in local communities and across the state. I can’t wait to join them and get started.”
A native of Scranton, Pa., Brundage holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Gettysburg College, as well as both a master of education in training and development and a doctorate in work force education and development from Penn State University.
A recognized expert in the work force development field, Brundage has 30 years of overall experience in a wide variety of academic and operational leadership, strategic planning and organizational development positions both in higher education and the private sector.
Before being named its president, Brundage served as Keystone’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. In that capacity she supervised the Library, Advising & Disability; Career Services; Institutional Research & Planning; Office of Grants & Specialized Programming; the Keystone College Environmental Education Center, and Adult & Online Learning. She managed a budget of $10 million, had a team of 13 employees, served on the president’s cabinet and performed the chief administrative officer duties in the absence of the president.
Prior to coming to Keystone, Brundage served as vice president of work force development at the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, Pa. A former faculty member at Penn College and the Harrisburg Area Community College, she served as director of Continuing Education at Penn State – York.
She has, among other positions, also served as a corporate trainer and owned and operated the Aurora Leigh Bed & Breakfast in Lock Haven, Pa.
Under her leadership, Keystone College attained a student success rate of placing 94% of its students in jobs, and many of its programs have a 100% placement rate. Keystone also has evolved to meet the changing educational needs of students. The college, during her tenure, created campuswide enrollment and retention strategies, opened a Professional Development Institute, expanded experiential learning opportunities and added new high-demand, career-based bachelor’s level and other programs to help meet regional work force needs. | https://www.albanyherald.com/local/tracy-brundage-to-succeed-david-bridges-as-president-of-abraham-baldwin-agricultural-college/article_3defb36c-cb08-11ec-8308-736b2e98155c.html | 2022-05-03T19:22:27Z |
GREAT FALLS, Va., June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MitoSense, Inc., a life-science company focused on harnessing the power of mitochondria to fight disease, has named Ed McMullen, former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as a Senior Advisor to its Board of Directors.
McMullen served as United States to Switzerland and Liechtenstein from November 2017 to January 2021 and has been recognized for developing the strongest US/Swiss bilateral relationship in history. As U.S. Ambassador, McMullen worked closely with the private sector by helping companies pursue public-private partnerships and economic development opportunities.
In addition to his Ambassadorship, McMullen has extensive public affairs and business development experience. He founded his own public affairs company specializing in corporate advertising, public relations, data analytics, and polling. Currently with LondUS Capital, he also helps clients with investment and economic development opportunities, state incentives, state environmental regulations, and the range of services relating to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). He also serves as Senior Policy Advisor for Adams and Reece LLP law firm where he provides economic development and FDI guidance to a broad range of clients. Throughout his career, Ed's clients have included several Fortune 25 companies and associations operating in the aerospace, power & energy, technology, data analytics, pharmaceutical, finance, and biotech sectors. Ambassador McMullen also serves as a Trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and as Vice Chairman of the American Swiss Foundation.
MitoSense Board Chairman Van Hipp said, "We are honored to have Ambassador McMullen on board as a key part of the MitoSense team. More and more science news is coming out on the role mitochondrial health, and particularly mitochondrial dysfunction, plays in impacting a variety of diseases that affect millions throughout the world. Ambassador McMullen's international experience and business acumen will play a big role in our efforts to help people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's."
Ambassador McMullen noted, "I've been very impressed with the MitoSense story—its science, the team they've put together and the potential it holds to help people suffering from diseases for which there is no effective treatment. The fact that our U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has entered into a cooperative research agreement with MitoSense speaks volumes. I look forward to doing all I can to help in this endeavor."
Switzerland's pharmaceutical industry is one of the best in the world. Not only is Switzerland home to many multinational pharmaceutical companies, it also is consistently one of the world's largest exporters of medicine. McMullen's addition comes at a time when MitoSense is growing its partnerships and expanding upon its work such as its recent Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
MitoSense is a private research and development company focused on harnessing the power of Mitochondria to fight disease, specifically neurodegenerative diseases. Utilizing exclusively licensed technology to replenish the mitochondria in humans using Mitochondria Organelle Transplantation (MOT™), the company, through its U.S.-based research partner, is initially focusing its efforts on treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). For more information, visit: MitoSenseInc.com.
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Jack White's fans were treated to an unexpected surprise on Friday at a concert in Detroit, where the singer-songwriter pulled out a ring and proposed to his girlfriend Olivia Jean.
The rocker, best known for being one half of The White Stripes, seemingly confirmed the news on Instagram with a photo of him and Jean on stage. The sold-out show at the Masonic Temple in White's hometown was the first stop on his "Supply Chain Issues" tour.
During the concert, White brought Jean, who is a singer and the opening act, on stage for a duet of the White Stripes' 2001 "Hotel Yorba," according to The Detroit News. Jean had performed solo but is also lead singer of The Black Belles.
After introducing her to the crowd as his girlfriend, White then presented a ring and asked her to marry him.
The engagement was brief, as a small group -- including White's mother, Jean's father and an officiant -- quickly gathered on stage to make the marriage official.
With the wedding complete, White resumed performing and finished the 90-minute concert.
This is White's third marriage. He was previously married to Meg White of The White Stripes and model and singer Karen Elson.
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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Uranium Energy Corp (NYSE: UEC), (the "Company" or "UEC") is pleased to report, in accordance with NYSE American requirements, the filing of the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended April 30, 2022 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). This Form 10-Q filing, which includes the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements, related notes thereto and management's discussion and analysis, is available for viewing on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml or on the Company's website at www.uraniumenergy.com.
About Uranium Energy Corp
Uranium Energy Corp is America's leading, fastest growing, uranium mining company listed on the NYSE American. UEC is a pure play uranium company and is advancing the next generation of low-cost, environmentally friendly ISR mining uranium projects. The Company has two production ready ISR hub and spoke platforms in South Texas and Wyoming, anchored by fully licensed and operational processing capacity at the Hobson and Irigaray Processing Plants. UEC also has seven U.S. ISR uranium projects with all of their major permits in place. Additionally, the Company has other diversified holdings of uranium assets, including: 1) one of the largest physical uranium portfolios of U.S. warehoused U3O8; 2) a major equity stake in the only royalty company in the sector, Uranium Royalty Corp; and 3) a pipeline of resource-stage uranium projects in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Paraguay. The Company's operations are managed by professionals with a recognized profile for excellence in their industry, a profile based on many decades of hands-on experience in the key facets of uranium exploration, development and mining.
Stock Exchange Information:
NYSE American: UEC
WKN: AØJDRR
ISN: US916896103
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this letter constitute "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian securities laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of exploration activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation or realization of mineral resources, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry including, without limitation, those associated with the environment, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this letter and in any document referred to in this letter. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this letter can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For forward-looking statements in this letter, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This letter shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.
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SOURCE Uranium Energy Corp | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/uranium-energy-corp-files-fiscal-2022-q3-quarterly-report/ | 2022-06-14T22:24:56Z |
CALGARY, AB, April 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Vermilion Energy Inc. ("Vermilion", "We", "Our", "Us" or the "Company") (TSX: VET), (NYSE: VET) today announced the pricing of its previously announced private offering of up to US$400 million of 8 year senior unsecured notes (the "New Notes"). The New Notes will be issued in the aggregate principal amount of US$400 million, and will have a maturity date of May 1, 2030 and a fixed coupon of 6.875% per annum, to be paid semi-annually. The notes were priced at 99.241% of par. The offering of the New Notes (the "Offering") is expected to close on or about April 26, 2022, subject to customary closing conditions. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the New Notes to reduce the amount outstanding on our credit facility. Contingent upon the completion of the Offering, it is our intention to reduce the size of our credit facility from $2.1 billion to $1.6 billion. The completion of the Offering is not subject to the reduction of the size of the credit facility.
The New Notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("U.S. Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The New Notes have not been and will not be qualified for sale to the public under applicable Canadian securities laws and, accordingly, any offer and sale of the New Notes in Canada will be made on a basis which is exempt from the prospectus requirements of such securities laws. Pursuant to the terms of the Offering, the New Notes will be offered and sold only on a prospectus-exempt basis to institutional "accredited investors" in certain provinces in Canada and, in the United States, will be offered and sold only to "qualified institutional buyers" in reliance on Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act and to certain non-U.S. persons in transactions outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security in any jurisdiction and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offering, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking information includes statements regarding the size and terms of the Offering, the use of proceeds therefrom, the closing date for the Offering, and the renewal and reduction of Vermilion's credit facility. Vermilion believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon.
The forward-looking statements contained herein are based upon certain assumptions and factors including, without limitation, current and future economic and financial conditions and expected future developments. Vermilion believes such assumptions and factors are reasonably accurate at the time of preparing this press release. However, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results and circumstances to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: closing of the Offering; failure to obtain any necessary consents and approvals required to complete the Offering and/or renew and reduce the Company's credit facility in the manner described herein or at all; and general economic, market and business conditions; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Vermilion. There is a specific risk that Vermilion may be unable to complete the Offering, in the manner described herein or at all. If Vermilion is unable to complete the Offering, there could be a material adverse impact on Vermilion and on the value of its securities. See also the risks and uncertainties described under "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" included in Vermilion's Annual Information Form dated March 4, 2022 filed under the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).
Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Vermilion does not undertake any obligation, except as required under applicable law, to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Vermilion is an international energy producer that seeks to create value through the acquisition, exploration, development and optimization of producing assets in North America, Europe and Australia. Our business model emphasizes free cash flow generation and returning capital to investors when economically warranted, augmented by value-adding acquisitions. Vermilion's operations are focused on the exploitation of light oil and liquids-rich natural gas conventional resource plays in North America and the exploration and development of conventional natural gas and oil opportunities in Europe and Australia.
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SOURCE Vermilion Energy Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/19/vermilion-energy-inc-announces-pricing-its-unsecured-notes-offering/ | 2022-04-20T02:33:59Z |
Public-private collaboration to evaluate five antimicrobial agents across two combination regimens for treating both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant forms of TB with shorter treatment durations
SEATTLE, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Project to Accelerate New Treatments for Tuberculosis (PAN-TB) collaboration announced today the execution of a joint development agreement (JDA) supporting the progression of two investigational tuberculosis (TB) combination treatment regimens into phase 2 clinical development. The collaboration will evaluate whether the novel regimens, which combine registered products and new chemical entities (NCEs), can effectively treat all forms of active pulmonary TB using substantially shorter treatment durations than existing drug regimens, with the goal of identifying a regimen suitable for phase 3 development.
TB is a major global cause of illness, disability and catastrophic household costs, and is one of the leading causes of death from an infectious disease worldwide, responsible for an estimated 1.5 million deaths per year. A shorter drug regimen that can treat both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant forms of TB in potentially three months or less could provide a significant benefit to both patients and health systems and may overcome the need for accompanying drug-resistance testing.
Recognizing that no single organization produces the full range of drugs needed to respond to TB, the PAN-TB collaboration brings together philanthropic, non-profit and private sector organizations to accelerate the development of novel, shorter drug regimens to treat all forms of TB. The five antimicrobial agents to be evaluated under the new JDA, and the organizations contributing them, include:
- Bedaquiline; registered product for multidrug-resistant TB, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, and NCE for drug-sensitive TB, TB Alliance1
- Delamanid; registered product, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
- Pretomanid; registered product, TB Alliance
- OPC-167832; NCE, Otsuka
- Sutezolid; NCE, TB Alliance, Medicines Patent Pool, Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute
The two investigational drug regimen combinations to be evaluated include:
- DBOS – delamanid, bedaquiline, OPC-167832 and sutezolid
- PBOS – pretomanid, bedaquiline, OPC-167832 and sutezolid
The planned phase 2 trials that will be supported by the JDA were designed by the PAN-TB collaboration and informed by the World Health Organization's (WHO) recently published position statement on the design of clinical trials for novel TB therapies.
New treatment regimens could help transform TB care. The most commonly used drug regimen for the treatment of drug-sensitive TB requires patients to take multiple drugs for up to six months with routine clinical monitoring. Patients with drug-resistant forms of TB can face longer and more complex treatment journeys, often with significant side effects that require increased monitoring. Accurate and rapid drug resistance testing is essential for early diagnosis of both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB, but access to testing can be limited due to high costs, technical challenges and other barriers.
The PAN-TB collaboration is a first-of-its-kind effort to accelerate development of a drug regimen capable of treating all forms of TB (a "pan-TB" regimen), focusing on advancing research through phase 2 clinical studies and identifying promising regimens for further development. The collaboration comprises Evotec, GSK, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Otsuka, TB Alliance, the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The JDA announced today is among the four collaborators contributing drugs – Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Otsuka, TB Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute. Gates MRI will also conduct the clinical studies.
Masanori Kawasaki, Global TB Project Leader, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., said: "We are extremely proud to be moving forward within this unique collaboration towards the phase 2 b/c trial of a new universal treatment regimen. We are excited to be working closely with our colleagues in the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV and the TB Alliance to do all we can to bring a new treatment to patients whose options are limited. Otsuka is dedicated to research and development to eliminate tuberculosis. We extend our thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for bringing together leaders in the field of TB, towards the goal of ending TB for good."
Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, MD, PhD, Global Head of Global Public Health R&D, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, said: "The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing research and development to create next-generation TB treatment regimens, as guided by our 10-year initiative to discover and develop new drugs to help end TB. Today, our medicine has become the backbone of WHO-recommended all-oral treatment regimens for nearly all DR-TB patients, and this agreement will allow us to explore further our medicine's potential to help transform TB treatment for patients in need while maintaining its long-term effectiveness in the face of rising antimicrobial resistance."
Mel Spigelman, MD, President and CEO, TB Alliance, said: "TB is becoming a greater and greater global health emergency. We are proud to be a member of the PAN-TB consortium to advance novel drug regimens that can much more effectively combat this deadly pandemic and save lives. This initiative is a significant advancement of our pioneering efforts that introduced and validated the concept of regimen development in TB."
Emilio Emini, PhD, CEO, the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, said: "The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute team looks forward to working with its PAN-TB collaboration partners in the execution of the phase 2 clinical studies evaluating the first two TB drug regimens for further development as potentially improved TB treatment options."
Werner Lanthaler, PhD, CEO, Evotec, said: "Tuberculosis still has a significant impact on global health that needs to be addressed. The PAN-TB research group brings together global leaders in their particular fields. As Evotec we are dedicated to contributing to the research through our expertise and multi-modality platform, which can help validate drug candidates."
1Janssen provided the exclusive rights for developing and marketing bedaquiline for drug-sensitive TB to the TB Alliance in 2009
The Project to Accelerate New Treatments for Tuberculosis (PAN-TB) is a first-of-its-kind collaboration among philanthropic, non-profit and private sectors that aims to accelerate the development of an investigational drug regimen capable of treating all forms of tuberculosis.
The PAN-TB collaboration will leverage members' collective assets, resources and scientific expertise to identify and evaluate new drug regimens with an acceptable safety profile, that have the potential to treat both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB, and are better-tolerated, shorter in duration and simpler to use than existing options. The collaboration will focus on advancing research through phase 2 clinical efficacy studies in order to identify promising regimens for further development.
The PAN-TB collaboration plans to work closely and transparently with the European Regimen Accelerator for Tuberculosis (ERA4TB), which was launched in January 2020. New molecular entities identified by ERA4TB that show promise in initial human studies could later be incorporated into the PAN-TB collaboration's later-stage, clinical research. Several organizations, including Evotec, GSK and Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, are members of both projects, which will help to ensure coordination across collaborations toward the common goal of advancing TB drug and regimen development.
The founding members of the PAN-TB collaboration are Evotec, GSK, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., based in Japan, the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Additional members may be announced in the future.
Evotec is a life science company with a unique business model that delivers on its mission to discover and develop highly effective therapeutics and make them available to the patients. The Company's multimodality platform comprises a unique combination of innovative technologies, data and science for the discovery, development, and production of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products. Evotec leverages this "Data-driven R&D Autobahn to Cures" for proprietary projects and within a network of partners including all Top 20 Pharma and over 800 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, as well as other healthcare stakeholders. Evotec has strategic activities in a broad range of currently underserved therapeutic areas, including, e.g., neurology, oncology, as well as metabolic and infectious diseases. Within these areas of expertise, Evotec aims to create the world-leading co-owned pipeline for innovative therapeutics and has to-date established a portfolio of more than 200 proprietary and co-owned R&D projects from early discovery to clinical development. Evotec operates globally with more than 4,500 highly qualified people. The Company's 16 sites offer highly synergistic technologies and services and operate as complementary clusters of excellence. For additional information please go to www.evotec.com and follow us on Twitter @Evotec and LinkedIn.
GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at gsk.com/company.
At Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular, Metabolism, & Retina; Immunology; Infectious Diseases & Vaccines; Neuroscience; Oncology; and Pulmonary Hypertension.
Learn more at www.janssen.com. Follow us at www.twitter.com/JanssenGlobal. Janssen Research & Development, LLC and Janssen Pharmaceutica NV are part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.
Otsuka is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy, Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide. Otsuka researches, develops, manufactures and markets innovative products, focusing on pharmaceutical products to meet unmet medical needs and nutraceutical products for the maintenance of everyday health. In pharmaceuticals, Otsuka is a leader in the challenging area of mental health and also has research programs in several under-addressed diseases including tuberculosis, a significant global public health issue.
TB Alliance is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding faster-acting and affordable drug regimens to fight TB. Through innovative science and with partners around the globe, we aim to ensure equitable access to faster, better TB cures that will advance global health and prosperity. TB Alliance operates with support from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (United Kingdom); Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research through KfW; Global Disease Eradication Fund (Korea); Global Health Innovative Technology Fund; Indonesia Health Fund; Irish Aid; Korea International Cooperation Agency; Medical Research Council (United Kingdom); National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Republic of Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and the United States Agency for International Development. For more information, visit www.tballiance.org.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and effective use of novel biomedical interventions addressing substantial global health concerns, for which investment incentives are limited – malaria, tuberculosis, enteric and diarrheal diseases, and diseases that impact maternal, newborn, and child health. For further information please visit www.gatesmri.org.
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates and the board of trustees. For further information please visit www.gatesfoundation.org.
Bedaquiline, developed by Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, was the first targeted medicine for TB with a novel mechanism of action to be introduced in over 40 years when it received accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2012. Today, it is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a core component of all-oral treatment regimens for nearly all DR-TB patients and is included on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines. It is indicated in the U.S. and European Union for use as part of combination therapy in the treatment of adult and pediatric patients (5 years and older and weighing at least 15 kg) with pulmonary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB). In total, 156 countries are accessing the medicine today, including the 30 countries with the highest burdens of TB. To learn more about how Johnson & Johnson is working to enable access to this medicine, visit JNJ.com/TB.
Delamanid is a compound created by Otsuka Pharmaceutical with a mechanism of action showing anti-mycobacterial activity that occurs through inhibition of the synthesis of mycolic acid, an essential component of mycobacterial cell walls. 1 To date, delamanid (50 mg film-coated tablets) is approved in 47 countries for treatment of patients with MDR-TB. It was added to the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines in 2015 and to date has been used to treat patients with MDR-TB in more than 122 countries.
In 2020, in the European Union, approval was granted for Deltyba 50 mg film-coated tablets to be used in children and adolescents weighing at least 30 kg.2 In 2021, a 25 mg dispersible tablet formulation was approved in the European Union for children with pulmonary MDR-TB weighing at least 10 and below 30 kg as part of an appropriate combination regimen, when an effective treatment regimen cannot otherwise be composed for reasons of resistance and tolerability.2
1 Matsumoto M, et al. OPC-67683, a nitro-dihydro-imidazooxazole derivative with promising action against tuberculosis in vitro and in mice. PLoS Med. 2006; 3(11): e466
2 Deltyba (delamanid) EU Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/deltyba-epar-product-information_en.pdf
OPC-167832 is an anti-TB compound discovered and currently under investigation by Otsuka. It inhibits the enzyme decaprenylphosphoryl-β-D-ribose 2'-oxidase (DprE1), which is connected to synthesis involving mycobacterial cell walls. This is a different mechanism of action from other currently available anti-TB drugs. In vivo studies in mice suggest that OPC-167832 plus delamanid-containing regimens have the potential to shorten therapy and improve outcomes in drug-susceptible TB and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).1
1 Hariguchi N, et al. OPC-167832, a Novel Carbostyril Derivative with Potent Antituberculosis Activity as a DprE1 Inhibitor. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2020 May 21;64(6):e02020-19.
Pretomanid is a new chemical entity and a member of a class of compounds known as nitroimidazooxazines. Pretomanid was developed by TB Alliance as an oral tablet formulation for the treatment of tuberculosis in combination with other anti-tuberculosis agents. One such combination is the BPaL regimen, consisting of bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid, which received its first regulatory approval in 2019. In 2022, the World Health Organization issued a rapid communication on forthcoming TB treatment guidelines that will allow for the programmatic implementation of treating almost all forms of drug-resistant TB with six-month, BPaL-based regimens.
In October 2019, The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and Pfizer entered into a license agreement which granted MPP rights to sublicense to third parties the patents and information relating to sutezolid. In December 2020, MPP and Gates MRI signed an agreement to advance the development of this investigational drug from the oxazolidinone class, for use in low- and middle-income countries.
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SOURCE The Project to Accelerate New Treatments for Tuberculosis | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/pan-tb-collaboration-advance-investigational-tuberculosis-drug-regimens-phase-2-clinical-trials/ | 2022-08-17T13:00:24Z |
Chronic homelessness continues in Temple due to having a culture that enables vagrancy rather than offering a way out, a consultant told community leaders Thursday.
Robert Marbut, a San Antonio-based homeless consultant, presented the findings from a survey conducted in Bell County at a Community, Alternative, Resources and Empowerment (CARE) Network meeting Thursday morning in Temple.
The average number of years for a homeless person to be without shelter in Temple is nine years, one of the more concerning figures, Marbut said. About 54.6% remain homeless for more than five years, he added.
“We want to think about graduating people from the streets,” he said. “We want to think about not taking care of people experiencing homeless, but how do we get them out of homelessness.”
More women are homeless in Bell County than the national average, the survey showed.
While women usually represent about 25% of the transient population in the country, Marbut’s research found that in Bell County, that number was more than 40%. He said he had a hunch that the large number of homeless women was due to them feeling safe in the area.
Marbut said homelessness can be very costly to local communities since it creates a significant drain on resources, overwhelms the criminal justice system, overloads emergency rooms, diverts limited resources of non-profit organizations, suppresses economic development and frightens residents.
“Overall, it becomes costly in many ways,” he said. “Most jails in the United States, about 20% of jails are jammed with homeless for Mickey Mouse stuff. I’m not talking about felonies. Felonies are on another level.”
The problem in Temple, Marbut said, will continue to grow exponentially unless action is taken soon.
“You have some very concerning sub-data,” he said. “If it (continues the same), I will be back five years from now, and you’ll be two and a half times worse than you are now.”
About 40 representatives from local organizations heard from Marbut, who encouraged action and a system that can be held accountable to make changes in the city.
Jasmin Spain joined Family Promise of East Bell County about a month ago as director of family Services after spending time working with foster children. She said she was surprised to hear about the statistics of homelessness in Temple but would do her part to help the community.
“I’m even more motivated to step in and make some new changes,” Spain said. “I think the community engaging more, and forming relationships and friendships, will be very beneficial for families experiencing homelessness.”
Spain said Marbut’s words will aid her in taking a different approach to helping the transient population.
“My biggest takeaway was not to enable but to engage,” Spain said. “I think that is a big statement and an interesting challenge to take on.”
Nancy Glover, Temple director of housing and development, said the cities of Temple and Killeen hired Marbut to help with the population’s destitute residents and mental health issues.
About 436 transient individuals were interviewed in Bell County to obtain the data presented during the CARE meeting.
“There were some parts of the data that I was shocked by,” Glover said. “At this time, we’re taking in this information, and then we’ll develop more solutions. We’re really going to be data-driven with our solutions.”
Glover said she was hopeful after hearing positive responses from the organizations helping the vagrant community.
“The agencies are ready to work together and find the solutions to help people graduate from homelessness,” she said. “Not only by providing them a hot meal but by digging in and figuring out what can be done to help them get into a home and find that stability.”
The following steps, Glover said, are to find solutions and present them to almost 100 organizations that help combat the problems.
“I’m looking forward to coming back and presenting the solutions to the group,” Glover said. “That way, they can lock arms and attack the problem head on and hopefully convert a major percentage of the population out of homelessness.”
Temple City Councilwoman Judy Morales, a CARE member for more than 20 years, said knowing the main issues would help the members find the best answer to engage the situation.
“Understanding the issues can help us come up with a very good solution for the whole area,” she said. “It was interesting to see those numbers. It’s very helpful to know the truth, and changes need to be made.” | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_662b2b72-fff6-11ec-af24-fb2a7beeb5c7.html | 2022-07-10T04:37:50Z |
One person killed, three firefighters injured when fireworks explode in N.C.
LENOIR COUNTY, N.C. (WITN/Gray News) - Three firefighters were injured and one person killed when a brush fire ignited a building causing fireworks stored inside to explode.
Lenoir County Emergency Services Director Murry Stroud says a person on the farm died, while one firefighter was transported to the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center.
At approximately 3:15 p.m. Friday afternoon, La Grange Volunteer Fire Department, North Lenoir Fire & Rescue, and the North Carolina Forest Service were dispatched to 4871 Bulltown Road in La Grange, North Carolina for a reported brush fire approaching a structure.
Stroud says fields were being burned off at the hay farm when the fire got out of control and reached a container filled with fireworks.
Prior to arrival, the Lenoir County 911 Center advised responding personnel the structure contained commercial-grade fireworks.
Shortly after arrival, fireworks detonated causing several injuries and damage to fire department apparatus.
Three firefighters were transported to ECU Health Trauma Center to be treated for their injuries. One patient was taken by helicopter and two patients were transported by Lenoir County Emergency Services ambulance. All three are in stable condition.
Authorities say the civilian property representative died on scene.
The fire is under control and crews are working to fully extinguish hotspots.
The ATF and SBI will join in the investigation Saturday morning.
Lenoir County Emergency Services says the site was permitted, inspected and licensed to have fireworks.
Copyright 2022 WITN via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/11/one-person-killed-three-firefighters-injured-when-fireworks-explode-nc/ | 2022-06-11T04:02:04Z |
(The Hill) — The CEO of password-manager company LastPass said Thursday that it was was recently hacked, but the company sees no evidence the incident exposed any customer data or passwords.
“We have determined that an unauthorized party gained access to portions of the LastPass development environment through a single compromised developer account and took portions of source code and some proprietary LastPass technical information,” CEO Karim Toubba wrote in a letter to customers.
The software allows users to store their passwords for various accounts and websites in a “vault” that can be unlocked with a singular master password, also providing customers with auto-generated passwords designed to be hard to snatch.
Toubba said the company became aware of the hack after observing unusual activity two weeks ago.
LastPass said its software is designed so that the company can never know or gain access to customers’ master passwords.
“Our investigation has shown no evidence of any unauthorized access to encrypted vault data,” the company wrote on a frequently asked questions page. “Our zero knowledge model ensures that only the customer has access to decrypt vault data.”
The company said its products are operating normally and LastPass is working with a cybersecurity and forensics firm following the incident.
“Based on what we have learned and implemented, we are evaluating further mitigation techniques to strengthen our environment,” Toubba told customers. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/worlds-top-password-manager-lastpass-says-it-was-hacked/ | 2022-08-26T19:38:39Z |
Prestigious ranking by Inc. Magazine comes amid OOROO's plans to expand in and beyond the Tucson-metro area
TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OOROO Auto, a multi-award-winning auto repair and maintenance service provider in Southern Arizona, announced today it has been named among Inc. Magazine's prestigious Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America.
Ranking at 3596, OOROO now joins an impressive list of well-known names that first came to national prominence as honorees on the Inc. 5000, including Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia and many others.
"This award highlights the amazing growth OOROO has experienced over the past few years and is a testament to our team's efforts in providing friendly and efficient service with honesty and heart," said OOROO Founder and CEO Jeff Artzi. "We've worked hard to create positive experiences through our customer-centric car care programs, like our Happy Car Club and OOROO at Work program, and I believe our growth is a reflection of our success achieving that."
"It's amazing to think how far we've come in eight years, and we're just getting started," Lindsey Wiederstein, OOROO Co-Founder added. "Our business model is simple, but it works, and our customers tell us every day how much they appreciate the experience when they visit one of our shops or when we provide services to them at their work or home—giving them back time in their day and week."
As a forward-thinking, tech-focused company, OOROO created its "Happy Car Club" subscription service in late 2021. Through its intuitive app, the program allows customers to pay one low monthly fee and receive a suite of auto care services, including oil changes, inspections, maintenance services, towing, and a discount on all other auto repairs. Happy Car Club has helped the company expand its mobile repair services and its lauded Client Partner program, OOROO at Work, which serves as an employee perk for companies enrolled in the program. To date, more than 36 local employers are enrolled in the OOROO at Work program, and that number is expected to rise as OOROO continues its growth trajectory in the coming months and years ahead.
"Our culture is very different than what you'd find at other auto shops—and customers notice and are very vocal about that difference. The enthusiasm expressed in our reviews is evidence of that," said Leroy Ingram, Director of Operations.
Starting with just one shop in Oro Valley, the multi-award-winning company now has three shops around the Tucson area. As an additional differentiating factor between itself and other automotive maintenance and repair providers, OOROO offers convenient online appointment scheduling and contactless payments through its OOROO Auto app. Key to its growth strategy and mission to transform the industry, OOROO has expanded its mobile service area to include Tucson, Phoenix, Oro Valley, Marana, Sahuarita, Green Valley, Vail and Rita Ranch. Its plans include an expansion into the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 list have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. 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
For more information on OOROO Auto, please visit www.oorooauto.com or email at info@oorooauto.com.
Media Contact:
Josh Skalniak, Lambert & Co.
jskalniak@lambert.com
480.352.2050
About OOROO Auto
Born out of the entrepreneurial spirit of CEO Jeff Artzi, who previously served as CEO of a 100- store automotive services chain, OOROO is not a typical auto care company—from its unique name to its culture-first, technology-forward approach that's rooted in honesty, trust and transparency. In addition to achieving a spot on the 2022 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America, the multi-award-winning auto repair and maintenance service provider has been the recipient of numerous awards, including two Tucson Metro Chamber Copper Cactus Awards (for Best Employer and Innovation), Better Business Bureau Ethics Awards, Arizona Daily Star Reader's Choice Award, Best Auto Shop in Green Valley, and Best of the Northwest 6 years in a row.
More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000
Inc's multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States.
Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2021. The entire Inc. 5000 can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.
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SOURCE OOROO Auto | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/ooroo-auto-named-inc-5000-list-americas-fastest-growing-companies/ | 2022-08-16T20:13:36Z |
Inaugural BIG3 All-Star Game and 2022 Championship Game Tip Off at 4pm on CBS
LOS ANGELES, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the BIG3 announced that the league's first-ever All-Star Game will be held ahead of the 2022 Championship Game at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA on August 21. Additionally, following last weekend's games, the bottom four teams have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. The remaining eight teams will battle out across the final two weeks of the regular season at Comerica Center in Frisco, TX, where the bottom two teams will also be eliminated from playoff contention each weekend. The final four teams will move on to the playoffs at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL, to compete for a spot in the 2022 Championship Game. Top players and two coaches from each of the 10 teams not playing in the Championship Game will be selected to play in the All-Star Game.
"We are thrilled to be bringing the best of the best to compete in Atlanta, whether that be for the coveted Dr. J trophy or the title of BIG3 All-Star," said Chris Hannan, BIG3 CEO. "This has been our most competitive season yet with multiple 3-or-4-way tiebreakers deciding last week's standings. Ultimately, only one team can win, but fans will still be able to see their favorite players and coaches show off the best of their skills in Atlanta. Eliminating the bottom four teams will allow us to put on a tremendous show for our fans to close out the 2022 BIG3 season."
This announcement comes as the BIG3 continues to show tremendous growth in viewership throughout the league's fifth season. Last weekend's games on CBS averaged 508k viewers up 17% from Week 6 in 2021, and 13% higher than 2021 season average. With these schedule changes announced and the biggest games ahead, this season's ratings will deliver significant increases returning to pre-pandemic viewership.
Tickets for the remainder of the regular season can be purchased here. Tickets for playoffs and Championship/All-Star Game weekend will go on sale this Friday, July 29th." For more information, go to BIG3.com and follow @thebig3 on twitter and instagram.
BIG3 (BIG3.com) is where FIREBALL3 superstars play. The premier global BIG3 league features many of the greatest, most popular, and skilled professional athletes of all time. Founded by producer, actor, and music legend Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, the BIG3 combines highly competitive, physical, fast game experiences and incredible fan experiences.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Hannah Palacios, hpalacios@hstrategies.com
Gaby Moran, gmoran@hstrategies.com
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SOURCE BIG3 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/big3-announces-schedule-adjustments-remainder-2022-season-including-first-ever-big3-all-star-game-state-farm-arena-atlanta-august-21/ | 2022-07-27T00:18:38Z |
All dollar figures in US dollars, unless otherwise indicated
VANCOUVER, BC, May 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Equinox Gold Corp. (TSX: EQX) (NYSE American: EQX) ("Equinox Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its first quarter 2022 summary financial and operating results. The Company's unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2022 will be available for download on SEDAR, on EDGAR and on the Company's website. The Company will host a conference call and webcast on May 4, 2022 commencing at 7:30 am Pacific Time to discuss the Company's first quarter results and activities underway at the Company's projects. Further details are provided at the end of this news release.
Christian Milau, CEO of Equinox Gold, commented: "Over the first few months of 2022 we poured first gold at our new Santa Luz mine in Brazil, strengthened our balance sheet and investment portfolio with the sale of our non-core Mercedes mine, and made good progress with construction at our Greenstone project. We expect gold production to increase and costs to come down over the next three quarters with new production from Santa Luz, increased production from our other Brazil mines as the rainy season ends, and growing production at Mesquite. We are on track to achieve guidance for 2022, with 60% of production and more than 85% of cash flow forecast to come in the second half of the year. We look forward to achieving commercial production at Santa Luz and reporting on construction milestones at Greenstone as we ramp up activity heading into the summer season."
HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022
Operational
- Produced 117,452 oz of gold during the quarter; sold 119,324 oz of gold at an average realized gold price of $1,862 per oz
- Total cash costs of $1,238 per oz and AISC (all-in sustaining costs) of $1,578 per oz(1)
- Recommenced plant operations at RDM on March 14 following a temporary suspension on February 26 to reduce water levels in the tailings storage facility; mining and stockpiling of ore continued during the suspension
- Total recordable injury frequency rate of 3.76 for the quarter with five lost-time injuries, and 3.01 on a rolling 12-month basis
Earnings
- Earnings from mine operations of $28.5 million
- Net loss of $19.8 million or $(0.07) per share
- Adjusted net loss of $23.9 million(1) or $(0.08) per share(1), after adjusting for certain non-cash expense items(2)
Financial
- Cash flow from operations before changes in non-cash working capital of $33.5 million ($16.4 million cash flow used in operations after changes in non-cash working capital)
- Adjusted EBITDA of $43.4 million(1)(2)
- Expenditures of $37.1 million in sustaining capital and $90.7 million in non-sustaining capital(1)
- Cash and cash equivalents (unrestricted) of $151.2 million at March 31, 2022
- Net debt(1) of $385.1 million at March 31, 2022 (including $278.9 million of in-the-money convertible notes)
Construction, development and exploration
- Poured first gold at Santa Luz on March 30, 2022; commissioning and ramp up continuing towards achieving commercial production
- Advanced Greenstone construction
POST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Sold Mercedes on April 21, 2022 to Bear Creek Mining Corporation for aggregate consideration of:
- Exploration drilling in 70-km-long greenstone belt that hosts Fazenda and Santa Luz identified multiple near-mine and regional discoveries that highlight growth potential
- Received $40 million (C$50 million) and transferred five million shares of the Company's investment in Solaris Resources Inc. following the exercise of warrants the Company granted on April 28, 2021
- Acquired 1 million shares of Solaris at C$6.75 per share on exercise of share purchase warrants. Following the exercise of the share purchase warrants, the Company owns 13,826,737 shares, representing approximately 12.71% of Solaris
During Q1 2022, the Company recognized revenue of $223.2 million on sales of 119,324 ounces of gold, compared to revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2021 ("Q4 2021") of $381.2 million on sales of 212,255 ounces of gold. Gold ounces sold and revenues are comparable to Q1 2021. The decrease in ounces sold from Q4 2021 to Q1 2022 was mainly due to decreased production at Los Filos, Aurizona, Mesquite and RDM. In accordance with the sites' mine plans, waste stripping occurs early in the calendar year, resulting in the majority of ore tonnes being mined later in the year. In addition to this, Q1 2022 production for RDM and Aurizona was lower than Q4 2021 due to higher levels of rainfall impeding production.
In Q1 2022, earnings from mine operations were $28.5 million, a decrease compared to $99.4 million in Q4 2021. Earnings from mine operations was impacted by lower gold production and higher operating costs due to oil prices, supply chain constraints and inflationary pressures. Net loss in Q1 2022 was $19.8 million compared to net income of $109.0 million in Q4 2021, driven by the decrease in earnings from mine operations and a $18.7 million loss on the change in fair value of share purchase warrants in Q1 2022 compared to a gain of $27.5 million in Q4 2021.
Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2022 of $43.4 million decreased from $130.0 million in Q4 2021 driven by lower earnings from mine operations in Q1 2022. Adjusted net loss was $23.9 million for Q1 2022 compared to adjusted net income of $72.2 million in Q4 2021.
Additional information regarding the Company's financial results and activities underway at the Company's projects is available in the Company's Q1 2022 Financial Statements and accompanying management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2022, which will be available for download on the Company's website at www.equinoxgold.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Due to a reversal of previous decisions by SUPRAM (State Environmental Agency - Minas Gerais), permitting the next TSF raise at RDM is delayed. Discussions with regulatory authorities are ongoing. If the Company is not able to achieve satisfactory resolution prior to the need to start the next raise in Q2 2022, operations at the mine may be temporarily suspended commencing in Q2 or Q3 2022.
The RDM TSF is raised on an intermittent basis throughout the mine life to store additional tailings produced from ongoing operations. The TSF has been designed and is operated to industry best practices and is regularly inspected and audited by independent parties. A design alteration was filed with SUPRAM in 2017 to change from a centreline to a downstream design, which is considered the safest construction method, and since 2018 each raise has been completed using a downstream design. Permits to raise the TSF using a downstream design were granted in 2019 and 2020. In 2020, the Company requested a raise method formalization as an addendum to the license to operate, confirming the change to a downstream design, and in early 2021 SUPRAM granted the permit to raise the TSF to its current level. In 2021, the Company applied for a permit for the next TSF raise, which has not been granted to date.
NON-IFRS MEASURES
The Company's financial and operating results are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). This news release includes the following non-IFRS measures which have no standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Such non-IFRS measures have been derived from the Company's financial statements and are consistently measured and presented. Non-IFRS measures are intended to provide additional information about the performance of the Company and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Numbers presented in the tables below may not sum due to rounding.
Cash costs and cash costs per oz sold
Cash costs is a common financial performance measure in the gold mining industry; however, it has no standard meaning under IFRS. The Company reports total cash costs on a per oz sold basis. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance and ability to generate operating income and cash flow from mining operations. Cash costs include mine site operating costs plus lease principal payments, but are exclusive of depreciation and depletion, reclamation, capital and exploration costs and net of by-product sales and then divided by ounces sold to arrive at cash costs per oz sold. The measure is not necessarily indicative of cash flow from operations under IFRS or operating costs presented under IFRS.
AISC per oz sold
The Company is reporting AISC per oz of gold sold. The methodology for calculating AISC was developed internally and is calculated below. Readers should be aware that this measure does not have a standardized meaning. Current IFRS measures used in the gold industry, such as operating expenses, do not capture all of the expenditures incurred to discover, develop and sustain gold production. The Company believes the AISC measure provides further transparency into costs associated with producing gold and will assist analysts, investors and other stakeholders of the Company in assessing its operating performance, its ability to generate free cash flow from current operations and its overall value. In calculating AISC, the Company includes silver by-product credits as it considers the cost to produce the gold is reduced as a result of the by-product sales incidental to the gold production process, thereby allowing management and other stakeholders to assess the net costs of gold production.
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash costs per oz of gold sold and AISC per oz of gold sold to the most directly comparable IFRS measure on an aggregate basis.
Sustaining and non-sustaining capital reconciliation
Sustaining capital expenditures are defined as those expenditures which do not increase annual gold ounce production at a mine site and excludes all expenditures at the Company's projects and certain expenditures at the Company's operating sites which are deemed expansionary. Sustaining capital expenditures can include, but are not limited to, capitalized stripping costs at open pit mines, underground mine development, mining and milling equipment and TSF raises.
The following table provides a reconciliation of sustaining capital expenditures to the Company's total capital expenditures for continuing operations.
Total mine-site free cash flow
Mine-site free cash flow is a non-IFRS financial performance measure. The Company believes this measure is a useful indicator of its ability to operate without reliance on additional borrowing or usage of existing cash. Mine-site free cash flow is intended to provide additional information only and does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures of performance presented by other mining companies. Mine-site free cash flow should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.
The following table provides a reconciliation of mine-site free cash flow to the most directly comparable IFRS measure on an aggregate basis:
AISC contribution margin, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA
The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use AISC contribution margin and adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the Company's performance and ability to generate cash flows and service debt. AISC contribution margin is defined as revenue less AISC. EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization, adjusted to exclude specific items that are significant but not reflective of the underlying operating performance of the Company, such as the impact of fair value changes of warrants, foreign exchange contracts and gold contracts; unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses, transaction costs, and share-based compensation expense. It is also adjusted to exclude items whose timing or amount cannot be reasonably estimated in advance or that are not considered representative of core operating performance, such as impairments and gains and losses on disposals of assets.
Prior to Q4 2021, adjusted EBITDA was calculated excluding transaction costs as an adjusting item. Commencing in Q4 2021, the Company has adjusted for transaction costs as this item is not considered representative of core operating performance. The calculation of adjusted EBITDA for March 31, 2021 has been adjusted to conform with the current methodology and is different from those previously reported.
The following tables provide the calculation of AISC contribution margin, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, as calculated by the Company:
Adjusted net income and adjusted EPS
Adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are used by management and investors to measure the underlying operating performance of the Company. Adjusted net income is defined as net income adjusted to exclude specific items that are significant but not reflective of the underlying operating performance of the Company, such as the impact of fair value changes in the value of warrants, foreign exchange contracts and gold contracts, unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses, and non-cash share-based compensation expense. It is also adjusted to exclude items whose timing or amount cannot be reasonably estimated in advance or that are not considered representative of core operating performance, such as impairments and gains and losses on disposals of assets. Adjusted net income per share amounts are calculated using the weighted average number of shares outstanding on a basic and diluted basis as determined by IFRS.
Prior to Q4 2021, adjusted net income was calculated excluding transaction costs as an adjusting item. Commencing in Q4 2021, the Company has adjusted for transaction costs as this item is not considered representative of core operating performance. The calculation of adjusted net income for March 31, 2021 has been adjusted to conform with the current methodology and is different from those previously reported.
The following table provides the calculation of adjusted net income and adjusted EPS, as adjusted and calculated by the Company:
Net debt
The Company believes that in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, the Company and certain investors and analysts use net debt to evaluate the Company's performance. Net debt does not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore it may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. This measure is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performances prepared in accordance with IFRS. Net debt is calculated as the sum of the current and non-current portions of long-term debt, net of the cash and cash equivalent balance as at the balance sheet date. A reconciliation of net debt is provided below.
Equinox Gold will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 commencing at 7:30 am Pacific Time to discuss the Company's first quarter results and activities underway at the Company's projects. All participants will have the opportunity to ask questions of Equinox Gold's CEO and executive team. The webcast will be archived on Equinox Gold's website until November 4, 2022.
Conference call
Toll-free in U.S. and Canada: 1-800-319-4610
International callers: +1 604-638-5340
Webcast
www.equinoxgold.com
ABOUT EQUINOX GOLD
Equinox Gold is a Canadian mining company operating entirely in the Americas, with six operating gold mines, a mine in commissioning, and a clear path to achieve more than one million ounces of annual gold production from a pipeline of development and expansion projects. Equinox Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX and the NYSE American under the trading symbol EQX. Further information about Equinox Gold's portfolio of assets and long-term growth strategy is available at www.equinoxgold.com or by email at ir@equinoxgold.com.
CAUTIONARY NOTES
Technical Information
Doug Reddy, Msc, P.Geo., Equinox Gold's COO, is the Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 for this Equinox Gold press release and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this document.
Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation and may include future-oriented financial information. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information in this news release relate to, among other things: the strategic vision for the Company and expectations regarding exploration potential, production capabilities and future financial or operational performance; the Company's ability to successfully advance its growth and development projects, including the commissioning of Santa Luz, the construction of Greenstone and the expansions at Los Filos, Castle Mountain and Aurizona; the expectations for the Company's investments in Solaris, i-80 Gold, Pilar Gold and Bear Creek; the Company's production and cost guidance; and conversion of Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves. Forward-looking statements or information generally identified by the use of the words "believe", "will", "advancing", "strategy", "plans", "budget", "anticipated", "expected", "estimated", "on track", "target", "objective" and similar expressions and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", or "should", or the negative connotation of such terms, are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company has based these forward-looking statements and information on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events and these assumptions include: Equinox Gold's ability to achieve the exploration, production, cost and development expectations for its respective operations and projects; prices for gold remaining as estimated; currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; commissioning of Santa Luz and construction of Greenstone being completed and performed in accordance with current expectations; expansion projects at Los Filos, Castle Mountain and Aurizona being completed and performed in accordance with current expectations; tonnage of ore to be mined and processed; ore grades and recoveries; availability of funds for the Company's projects and future cash requirements; capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates; Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates and the assumptions on which they are based; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services; no labour-related disruptions and no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction, development and production, including by blockade or industrial action; the Company's working history with the workers, unions and communities at Los Filos; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner, including for the RDM tailings storage facility raise; the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and other regulatory requirements; the strategic visions for i-80 Gold, Solaris Resources, Pilar Gold and Bear Creek and their respective abilities to successfully advance their projects; the ability of Pilar Gold and Bear Creek to meet their respective payment commitments to the Company; and the ability of Equinox Gold to work productively with its joint venture partner and Indigenous partners at Greenstone. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release.
The Company cautions that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in gold prices; fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services; fluctuations in currency markets; operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mining (including environmental accidents and hazards, industrial accidents, equipment breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, cave-ins, flooding and severe weather); inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks and hazards; employee relations; relationships with, and claims by, local communities and indigenous populations; the Company's ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner or at all, including for the RDM tailings storage facility raise; changes in laws, regulations and government practices, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations; legal restrictions relating to mining including those imposed in connection with COVID-19; risks relating to expropriation; increased competition in the mining industry; a successful relationship between the Company and Orion; the failure by Pilar Gold or Bear Creek to meet their respective payment commitments to the Company; and those factors identified in the section titled "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's MD&A dated May 3, 2022 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, the section titled "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's MD&A dated March 23, 2022 for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in the section titled "Risks Related to the Business" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 24, 2022 for the year ended December 31, 2021, all of which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar. Forward-looking statements and information are designed to help readers understand management's views as of that time with respect to future events and speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement or information contained or incorporated by reference to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements and information. If the Company updates any one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
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SOURCE Equinox Gold Corp. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/03/equinox-gold-reports-first-quarter-2022-financial-operating-results/ | 2022-05-04T02:59:53Z |
Canadian police: 10 dead, 15 injured from stabbings
REGINA, Saskatchewan (AP) — A series of stabbings in two communities in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan left 10 people dead and 15 wounded, authorities said Sunday. Police are looking for two suspects.
The stabbings took place in multiple locations on the James Smith Cree Nation and in the village of Weldon, northeast of Saskatoon, police said.
Rhonda Blackmore, the Assistant Commissioner of the RCMP Saskatchewan, said some of the victims appear to have been targeted by the suspects but others appear to have been attacked at random. She couldn’t provide a motive.
“It is horrific what has occurred in our province today,” Blackmore said.
She said there are 13 crime scenes where either deceased or injured people were found.
The search for suspects was carried out as fans descended in Regina for a sold out annual Labor Day game between the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The Regina Police Service said in a news release that with the help of Mounties, it was working on several fronts to locate and arrest the suspects and had “deployed additional resources for public safety throughout the city, including the football game at Mosaic Stadium.”
The alert first issued by Melfort, Saskatchewan RCMP about 7 a.m. was extended hours later to cover Manitoba and Alberta, as the two suspects remained at large.
Damien Sanderson, 31, was described as five feet seven inches tall and 155 pounds, and Myles Sanderson, 30, as six-foot-one and 200 pounds. Both have black hair and brown eyes and may be driving a black Nissan Rogue.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority said multiple patients were being treated at several sites.
“A call for additional staff was issued to respond to the influx of casualties,” authority spokeswoman Anne Linemann said in an email.
Mark Oddan, a spokesman with STARS Air Ambulance, said two helicopters were dispatched from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and another from Regina.
He said two carried patients to the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, while the third carried a patient to Royal University from a hospital in Melfort, a short distance southeast of Weldon.
Oddan said due to privacy laws, he could not disclose information about their ages, genders or conditions.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/09/04/canadian-police-10-dead-15-injured-stabbings/ | 2022-09-04T22:38:18Z |
HERNDON, Va., July 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NRTC, a member-driven and technology-focused organization based in Herndon, Virginia, today announced the general availability of its Operational Intelligence platform. Operational Intelligence is a vendor-agnostic analytics platform that proactively helps optimize a broadband provider's business. The platform correlates all traffic that flows across the provider's network with infrastructure elements, subscribers, traffic types, security information, location, social media, weather and more in real-time.
Operational Intelligence helps providers be more effective by alerting only on what matters and automating tedious tasks. The platform identifies potential service and subscriber issues using machine learning and real-time data analysis so providers can address them before they happen. Easy-to-understand dashboards allow operators to quickly explore and narrow down views at the user or infrastructure element level. Custom alerts and actions ensure that the appropriate teams get notified and relevant automated actions are triggered. Providers can opt to monitor the software data themselves or have NRTC's experienced NOC technicians monitor their entire network 24x7x365.
Operational Intelligence provides value across all areas of the broadband provider's business, helping turn "operational data" into "actionable intelligence." The platform can identify sales opportunities as well as customer satisfaction levels. Support teams benefit from real-time and historical data at both the user and network levels, and execs have complete visibility into essential metrics.
"Running a broadband business is hard, so we developed Operational Intelligence to help make it easier," said Chris Beatson, Chief Technology Officer at NRTC's Managed Services division. "We started working with one of our member cooperatives and have since worked closely with several pilot members to build out the platform for providers of all sizes and access technologies."
"Broadband providers work with a variety of systems and tools, so having a single platform that correlates their data and alerts them when appropriate is a game-changer," said Jon Bartleson, President of NRTC Managed Services. "Operational Intelligence allows them to focus on proactive fixes vs. reactive issues. The feedback from pilot customers has been great, and we're excited to make the platform available to all our members."
NRTC is a member-driven cooperative that provides technology solutions to help more than 1,500 electric and telecom members bring all the advantages of today's evolving technology to rural America. NRTC's products and services are developed specifically to meet the needs of rural providers and their customers, and include smart grid and utility solutions, broadband engineering, infrastructure and managed network services, mobile service solutions, and video solutions. NRTC helps providers grow by delivering end-customer technical support, network services, cybersecurity solutions and revenue-generating services leveraged by a powerful service delivery platform. NRTC helps ensure member success by bringing national scope and scale to local, rural projects and helping integrate technology solutions with existing infrastructure. Visit www.nrtc.coop.
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SOURCE The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/13/nrtc-launches-operational-intelligence-platform-broadband-providers/ | 2022-07-13T16:08:25Z |
- Nurtec ODT open-label extension study is the first of its kind evaluating a CGRP-targeted medication in patients who are using it as a preventive and an as-needed acute treatment for migraine
- Over the course of this open-label extension study, > 80% of patients experienced ≥50% reduction and approximately 50% experienced a 100% reduction
- Complete data from the Phase 3 zavegepant nasal spray study highlight its ultra-rapid pain relief in as little as 15 minutes that lasts through 48 hours after a single dose
- New studies showed positive efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics data for Nurtec ODT as an acute treatment of migraine in adults from China and Korea
NEW HAVEN, Conn., June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. (NYSE: BHVN) today announced new data from three late-breakers and three oral presentations supporting the safety and efficacy of Nurtec® ODT (rimegepant) and zavegepant nasal spray for the treatment of migraine. The oral presentations included a first of its kind study in migraine reporting on the safety and benefits of Nurtec ODT when used as a preventive treatment and as-needed for acute treatment of migraine. The data were presented at the 64th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society (AHS) held from June 9-12 in Denver, CO.
Elyse Stock, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Biohaven commented, "Biohaven is proud of the growing body of clinical efficacy and safety data for Nurtec ODT and zavegepant, the building blocks of our CGRP franchise. We are committed to advancing research for migraine and bringing effective treatment options to the millions of patients living with it. We hope these data will give confidence to healthcare providers that Nurtec ODT can offer an effective, all-in-one treatment for patients to both prevent and treat migraine attacks. With the US FDA's recent acceptance of the NDA filing for zavegepant nasal spray, we are excited about its potential as a new therapy for the acute treatment of migraine."
These new data reinforce Nurtec ODT's efficacy and safety for patients using it to both prevent and treat migraine attacks. Biohaven also presented full Phase 3 efficacy and safety data for zavegepant nasal spray. The data show zavegepant nasal spray was effective for the acute treatment of migraine, achieving its coprimary endpoints and providing an ultra-rapid onset of pain relief at the earliest measured time point of 15 minutes and sustained benefits through 48 hours after a single intranasal dose, with favorable safety and tolerability.
Richard Lipton, MD, lead author and presenter of the 52-week, open-label Nurtec ODT extension study, and Professor and Vice Chair of Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Director of the Montefiore Headache Center commented, "I'm honored to share results from a first of its kind study – one that looked at Nurtec ODT's safety, tolerability, and outcomes when used as an acute and preventive treatment of migraine over 52 weeks after the 12-week double-blind prevention study. Given these positive outcomes coupled with a consistently safe and well-tolerated profile, the data continue to suggest that Nurtec ODT represents an effective, flexible treatment option for patients."
The oral presentations spotlighting the new data were presented on Saturday, June 11. Details from all late-breaker and oral presentations are shared below.
Late-Breakers
- Patterns of Medication Utilization and Migraine Frequency in Adults Using Rimegepant for Both Preventive and Acute Treatment for Migraine: Results from a 52-Week, Open-Label Extension Study
- Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Rimegepant 75 mg Orally Disintegrating Tablet for the Acute Treatment of Migraine: Results from a Phase 3, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Adults From China and Korea (Study BHV3000-310)
- A Phase 1, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Single- and Multiple- dose, Double-blind Study to Evaluate the Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Rimegepant Orally Disintegrating Tablets 75 mg in Healthy Chinese Adults
Oral and Poster Presentations
- Safety and Tolerability of Rimegepant Every Other Day for Preventive Treatment of Migraine Plus As-Needed for Acute Treatment of Migraine: Results from a 52-Week, Open-Label Extension Study
- Efficacy and Safety of Zavegepant Nasal Spray for the Acute Treatment of Migraine: Results of a Phase 3 Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial
- Increased Placebo Response Over Time in Oral Migraine Preventive Trials: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis
Dr. Lipton is a paid consultant and stockholder of Biohaven.
About NURTEC ODT
NURTEC ODT (rimegepant) is the first and only calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist available in a quick-dissolve ODT formulation that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura and the preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults. The activity of the neuropeptide CGRP is thought to play a causal role in migraine pathophysiology. NURTEC ODT is a CGRP receptor antagonist that works by reversibly blocking CGRP receptors, thereby inhibiting the biologic activity of the CGRP neuropeptide. The recommended dose of NURTEC ODT is 75 mg, taken as needed, up to once daily to treat or every other day to help prevent migraine attacks. For more information about NURTEC ODT, visit www.nurtec.com. The most common adverse reaction was nausea and abdominal pain/indigestion. Avoid concomitant administration of NURTEC ODT with strong inhibitors of CYP3A4, strong or moderate inducers of CYP3A. Avoid another dose of NURTEC ODT within 48 hours when it is administered with moderate inhibitors of CYP3A4 or potent inhibitors of P-gp.
Indication
NURTEC ODT orally disintegrating tablets is a prescription medicine that is used to treat migraine in adults. It is for the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura and the preventive treatment of episodic migraine. It is not known if NURTEC ODT is safe and effective in children.
Important Safety Information
Do not take NURTEC ODT if you are allergic to NURTEC ODT (rimegepant) or any of its ingredients.
Before you take NURTEC ODT, tell your healthcare provider (HCP) about all your medical conditions, including if you:
- have liver problems,
- have kidney problems,
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant,
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Tell your HCP about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
NURTEC ODT may cause serious side effects including allergic reactions, trouble breathing and rash. This can happen days after you take NURTEC ODT. Call your HCP or get emergency help right away if you have swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat or trouble breathing. This occurred in less than 1% of patients treated with NURTEC ODT.
The most common side effects of NURTEC ODT were nausea (2.7%) and stomach pain/indigestion (2.4%). These are not the only possible side effects of NURTEC ODT. Tell your HCP if you have any side effects.
You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1–800–FDA–1088 or report side effects to Biohaven at 1–833–4NURTEC.
See full Prescribing Information and Patient Information.
About Zavegepant
Zavegepant is a third generation, high affinity, selective and structurally unique, small molecule CGRP receptor antagonist from Biohaven's NOJECTION™ Migraine Platform and the only CGRP receptor antagonist in clinical development with both intranasal and oral formulations. The efficacy and safety profile of intranasal zavegepant for the acute treatment of migraine, as compared to placebo, was shown in a randomized controlled Phase 2/3 dose-ranging trial with a total of over 1000 patients who received zavegepant. In this study, zavegepant showed statistical superiority to placebo on the coprimary endpoints of 2-hour freedom from pain and freedom from a patients' most bothersome symptom (either nausea, photophobia or phonophobia). This was the second zavegepant pivotal clinical trial to meet these coprimary endpoints. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted a new drug application for zavegepant with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act date in the first quarter of 2023.
About Biohaven
Biohaven is a global commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company with a portfolio of innovative, best-in-class therapies to improve the lives of patients with debilitating neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases, including rare disorders. Biohaven's Neuroinnovation™ portfolio includes FDA-approved NURTEC® ODT (rimegepant) for the acute and preventive treatment of migraine (EMA-approved as VYDURA® for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura, and prophylaxis of episodic migraine in adults who have at least four migraine attacks per month) and a broad pipeline of late-stage product candidates across five distinct mechanistic platforms: CGRP receptor antagonism for the acute and preventive treatment of migraine and other CGRP-mediated diseases; glutamate modulation for obsessive-compulsive disorder and spinocerebellar ataxia; myeloperoxidase (MPO) inhibition for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Kv7 ion channel activators for focal epilepsy and neuronal hyperexcitability, and myostatin inhibition for neuromuscular diseases. More information about Biohaven is available at www.biohavenpharma.com.
NURTEC, NURTEC ODT and VYDURA are registered trademarks of Biohaven Pharmaceutical Ireland DAC. Neuroinnovation and NOJECTION are trademarks of Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
Forward-looking Statement
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The use of certain words, including "believe", "continue", "may", "will", "anticipate", "expect" and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements that are based on the current expectations and assumptions of Biohaven's management about NURTEC ODT as an acute treatment for patients with migraine and preventive treatment for migraine. Factors that could affect these forward-looking statements include those related to: Biohaven's ability to effectively commercialize NURTEC ODT, delays or problems in the supply or manufacture of NURTEC ODT, complying with applicable U.S. regulatory requirements, the expected timing, commencement and outcomes of Biohaven's planned and ongoing clinical trials; the timing of planned interactions and filings with the FDA; the timing and outcome of expected regulatory filings; the potential commercialization of Biohaven's product candidates; the potential for Biohaven's product candidates to be first in class or best in class therapies; and the effectiveness and safety of Biohaven's product candidates. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Additional important factors to be considered in connection with forward-looking statements are described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2022, and in Biohaven's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this new release, and Biohaven does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Biohaven Contact
Jennifer Porcelli
201-248-0741
Vice President, Investor Relations
jennifer.porcelli@biohavenpharma.com
Media Contact
Mike Beyer
Sam Brown Inc.
mikebeyer@sambrown.com
312-961-2502
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SOURCE Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/13/biohaven-presents-new-migraine-data-64th-annual-scientific-meeting-american-headache-society-including-first-its-kind-study-nurtec-odt-rimegepant-complete-phase-3-data-zavegepant-nasal-spray/ | 2022-06-13T12:56:22Z |
CHICAGO, May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Angeles Investors – the investment community on a mission to find, fund, and grow the most promising startup ventures – will recognize the top 100 startups in the U.S. with Hispanic or Latinx DNA and Adelante Award honoree at its Q2 Pitch Night Event & Awards in Silicon Valley on May 12, sponsored by Silicon Valley Bank.
The Angeles 100 is not a ranked list, but rather a collection of inspiring venture-backed startups driving innovation. These startups will have built, or are building, great companies of the exact kind Angeles supports and invests in. This year's honorees exemplify how startup founders drive the business forward and set their organizations up for success.
The Angeles Investors Adelante Award is the inaugural award to be given annually to a leader who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to advancing entrepreneurship within the U.S. Hispanic and Latinx community - moving the United States of America forward...Adelante!
"We're excited to be live at the Computer History Museum to celebrate great business achievements, exceptional leadership, reconnect with peers, forge new partnerships, and obtain new perspectives into the fast-paced venture capital industry from the world's leading investors and entrepreneurs," said Adela Cepeda, Angeles Board Chair and Director at BMO Financial Corp.
Keynote speaker and CEO & Founder of Conectado, Guillermo Diaz, Jr., will open the event with a discussion on Leveraging the Metaverse to Connect, Grow our Community and Grow our Economy, followed by panel discussions featuring CEOs of America's Top Early Stage Ventures. Accredited investors will have an opportunity to hear a few of America's top startups pitch for funding and invest as Friends of Angeles.
Nominations for the Angeles 100 are solicited from Angeles members, partners, and the general public. Awardees are evaluated on their accomplishments and their ability to raise funding for their startup venture.
Event tickets may be purchased online.
Angeles Investors is a community of investors on a mission to find, fund and grow the most promising Hispanic and Latinx startup ventures. Angeles 100 awardees will be recognized during the 2022 Angeles Investors Q2 Pitch Night Event & Awards Celebration on May 12, at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.
For sponsorship and membership opportunities or to purchase event tables, contact Dahlia Mjarez at members@angelesinvestors.com.
Media are invited to attend.
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SOURCE Angeles Investors | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/angeles-investors-announce-top-100-startups-with-hispanic-dna-amp-adelante-award-honoree/ | 2022-05-04T14:09:05Z |
Leading Canadian HVAC Provider Continues to Grow its National Footprint
ST. CATHARINES, ON, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Right Time Group of Companies ("Right Time" or the "Company") is continuing its national growth with the acquisition of Wardlaw Heating and Cooling. Founded in 1981, Wardlaw Heating and Cooling is a leading installer and service provider for heating, air conditioning and air quality equipment in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Management and employees of the company will join the Right Time team and continue to serve their customers and community. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Named 2020 Employer of the Year by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce and winner of the Sault Star's Reader's Choice Best HVAC Company 2016 - 2021, Wardlaw is the fourteenth acquisition completed by Right Time. "We're excited to welcome the Wardlaw team to the Right Time family," said Right Time CEO Craig Goettler. "Greg Wardlaw and Kelly Jackson have built an exceptional business and strong reputation within the Algoma District. Right Time is committed to delivering the premium service and brand promise that the Wardlaw name is known for."
"We are proud of the company we have built and our commitment to the community we have served for the past 40 years," said co-owner Greg Wardlaw. "We chose Right Time because they have a great reputation for integrating and optimizing local HVAC businesses while maintaining the company's local brand and reputation, which we believe will benefit both our dedicated team and customers. We are looking forward to Wardlaw's continued success and growth with Right Time."
Right Time is continuously looking to add new residential HVAC and home services locations to its existing network in Canada. Interested owners are encouraged to contact Curtis Budgell at the coordinates below or visit the website to request more information.
Right Time is majority-owned by Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private equity firm.
About Right Time
Right Time is the leading Canadian independent heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning ("HVAC") contractor focused on the residential market. Right Time now operates out of 19 locations in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia with over 1000 employees, and provides preventative maintenance programs, repairs, and replacements of household HVAC units. For more information, please visit www.right-time.ca.
About Gryphon Investors
Based in San Francisco, Gryphon Investors (www.gryphoninvestors.com) is a leading private equity firm focused on profitably growing and competitively enhancing middle-market companies in partnership with experienced management. The firm has managed over $8.3 billion of equity investments and capital since 1997. Gryphon targets making equity investments of $50 million to $300 million in portfolio companies with enterprise values ranging from approximately $100 million to $600 million. Gryphon prioritizes investment opportunities where it can form strong partnerships with owners and executives to build leading companies, utilizing Gryphon's capital, specialized professional resources, and operational expertise.
Contact:
Curtis Budgell, Vice President, Corporate Development
Right Time Group of Companies
curtis.budgell@right-time.ca
204-296-8420
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SOURCE Right Time Group of Companies | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/01/right-time-group-companies-acquires-wardlaw-heating-cooling/ | 2022-04-01T12:09:55Z |
Johnny Depp recording played in trial warns of ‘bloodbath’ if arguments escalate
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Jurors hearing testimony in Johnny Depp’s libel lawsuit against his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, on Monday listened to audio recordings in which he referred to the violence that could ensue if their arguments were allowed to escalate.
“The next move, if I don’t walk away ... it’s going to be a bloodbath, like it was on the island,” Depp says on the recording.
In other audio clips, Depp loudly shouts vulgarities at his wife, calling her a degrading name and yelling, “You stupid f—-” at her.
Depp winced on the stand as the clips were played, while Heard appeared to fight back tears.
Depp is suing Heard for libel over a 2018 op-ed piece she wrote in The Washington Post. She refers to herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”
The clips were part of a grueling cross-examination of Depp that concluded late Monday morning, as he took the stand for a fourth day of testimony over his allegations that Heard falsely portrayed him as a domestic abuser.
Heard’s lawyers continued their onslaught of questions during their cross-examination. focusing on Depp’s drinking, drug use and charged interactions with Heard during their relationship.
During Monday’s testimony, Depp actually said very little. Most of the questioning consisted of Heard’s lawyer playing audio clips or reading vulgar text messages sent by Depp and asking Depp if he’d read them correctly.
Throughout the cross-examination, Depp showed his displeasure with Rottenborn’s questions. When Rottenborn interrupted one response, Depp said, “I was talking.” When Rottenborn said he considered the question to be fully answered, Depp responded, “as long as you’re happy.”
Depp also expressed disapproval as Rottenborn read headlines from a series of negative articles written about the actor, some dating back to 2014.
“These are all hit pieces. These are dreck,” Depp said.
Rottenborn introduced the articles to try to demonstrate that the 2018 Post article at the center of the case is not what damaged his reputation, but instead a long history of bad behavior.
While the libel lawsuit is supposed to center on whether Depp was defamed in the article, most of the trial has focused on ugly details of the couple’s brief marriage. Depp denies ever striking Heard, while Heard’s attorneys argue that Depp physically and sexually abused her and that his denials lack merit because he was often drunk and high to the point of blacking out.
Depp was last on the stand Thursday. Heard’s attorneys referenced his history of trashing hotel rooms as well as the time he smashed a bathroom sconce during an argument with Heard. Depp is also facing a lawsuit filed by a member of a film crew who alleges the actor assaulted them in 2018.
The jury has seen dozens of Depp’s texts to friends regarding his drinking, drug use and interactions with his then-wife, as well as his notes of contrition to Heard and her father.
Depp said the accusations and the article contributed to an unfairly ruined reputation that made him a Hollywood outcast and cost him his role in the lucrative “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie franchise. Heard’s attorneys say Depp’s damaged reputation is the result of his own bad behavior.
Depp has been on the stand in Fairfax County Circuit Court since Tuesday afternoon. The actor has testified that Heard abused drugs and that she was the one who physically attacked him. He called the drug addiction accusations against him “grossly embellished,” though he acknowledged taking many drugs.
___
Associated Press writer Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/25/johnny-depp-takes-stand-4th-day-libel-trial-against-amber-heard/ | 2022-04-25T16:36:41Z |
53 nutritional and protein drinks recalled for possible microbial contamination
(Gray News) – Dozens of nutritional and beverage products are being voluntarily recalled due to the potential for microbial contamination.
Lyons Magnus is working with the FDA to recall 53 products distributed nationwide.
Some of the products include popular protein and nutritional drinks, like Premier Protein and Oatly oak milk.
The products are packed in various formats under many different brand names, which can be found on the Food and Drug Administration’s website.
Refer to the top of the carton or the side of the case to identify the Lot Code and Best By Date for each product.
Anyone who has the recalled product should throw it away or return it for a refund.
According to the FDA, no illnesses or complaints have been reported. Possible symptoms could include fever, vomiting and urinary tract infection.
Consumers in all time zones with questions may contact the Lyons Recall Support Center 24/7 at 1-800-627-0557, or visit its website at www.lyonsmagnus.com.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/02/53-nutritional-protein-drinks-recalled-possible-microbial-contamination/ | 2022-08-02T15:41:58Z |
DC’s pioneering ‘Baby Bonds’ plan aims to narrow wealth gap
WASHINGTON (AP) — Aaliyah Manning’s dreams of becoming a psychologist ended abruptly during her freshman year at Potomac State in West Virginia when the cost of continuing her education became overwhelming.
“The money just wasn’t there,” she said. “I knew I wasn’t going to finish so I just had fun.”
After a year, Manning, 25, was back in the nation’s capital working fast food jobs. Now she lives largely on public assistance in a two-bedroom apartment with her boyfriend, his mother and his 9-year-old daughter from another relationship. She still has student debt and there’s a baby boy on the way.
She sees a brighter future for that baby, thanks to a landmark social program being pioneered in Washington. Called “Baby Bonds,” the program will provide children of the city’s poorest families with up to $25,000 when they reach adulthood. The money is to be used for a handful of purposes, including education.
“It would be such a different opportunity for him, a lot different than what I had,” Manning said of her soon-to-arrive baby.
In just over a decade, the Baby Bonds idea has moved from a fringe leftist concept to actual policy, with the District of Columbia as the first laboratory. Lawmakers from coast to coast are monitoring the experiment, one that proponents say could reshape America’s growing wealth gap in a single generation if instituted on a federal level.
One week after giving birth to her second child, a daughter named Kali, Aaliyah Wright told The Associated Press that she did not anticipate having much savings to help her children when they reached adulthood, especially with about $80,000 in student loan debt.
She and her husband, Kainan, are on Medicaid despite steady jobs (she’s a case worker at a nongovernmental organization and he’s a barber) and an estimated annual income of about $70,000.
Even at that income level, their new daughter still would qualify for the city’s Baby Bonds program, although at a lower level.
“At that stage of maturity and adulthood, that money can be a door opener to some pretty big things,” Kainan Wright said
Despite the name, the bonds are more accurately trust funds, designed to provide a boost of capital at a critical time in the lives of the country’s poorest children. At age 18, each enrolled child would receive a large lump sum payment that can be used to pay for higher education, invest in a business or make a down payment on a home.
“Think about all the things that people with money do to support themselves or what parents do for kids,” said Kenyan McDuffie, a District of Columbia Council member who pushed through Washington’s Baby Bonds program last summer. The clock started ticking in October and as of mid-August the city has so far identified 833 babies born since then who will receive up to $25,000 when they turn 18.
“Think about all those young folks who are going to be here in a city trapped in poverty, graduated from high schools turning 18,” McDuffie said. “And then having an account with money in it for them.”
It’s an expensive and long-simmering investment that by definition will take a generation of sustained political willpower to truly bear fruit. The district’s program will cost $32 million for the first four years alone.
The idea was originally proposed in 2010 by academics William Darity and Darrick Hamilton as a way to break the poverty cycle by giving children of poor families a chance to build long-term equity — either actual property, a stake in a business or the earning potential that comes from higher education.
It came to mainstream attention when Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., made it a centerpiece of his 2020 presidential campaign.
“I think it’s an idea that’s growing,” Booker told the AP. “And it’s a big idea. It’s on the level of Social Security. It’s on the level of Medicare. One generation would create a dramatic change.”
But for politicians, the price tag can be daunting. Booker’s national plan envisioned annual costs of $60 billion, something he proposes financing by raising taxes on the wealthy.
For now, the Washington experiment will be closely watched by other state and local governments, with Baby Bonds proposals recently emerging in Wisconsin and Washington state and Massachusetts studying the issue. California just created a more targeted version, with Baby Bonds funds specifically for children who lost parents to COVID-19.
Manning and her boyfriend, Darren Gibson, say the expectation that their child will be part of the district’s first Baby Bonds generation is a much needed injection of hope. Gibson, 26, left high school three credits short of graduation. Now he’s the sole earner for his growing household, making less than $10,000 per year as a videographer shooting music videos for local artists.
“It takes such a burden off my shoulders,” he said. Gibson said he will raise his son to make good use of that money when he matures. “It’s on me to work on him and make sure he follows his ambitions.”
The concept’s journey from academic thought experiment to on-the-ground policy received a major boost from the national conversation on poverty brought on by the pandemic. The economic iniquities exposed by COVID-19 fueled calls for a new approach to the cycle of generational poverty. And the Baby Bonds concept, already familiar from Booker’s campaign, gained fresh momentum with multiple proposals receiving serious consideration at a state level.
But most of them have failed to see daylight.
Gov. Phil Murphy, D-N.J., made headlines in 2020 for backing a Baby Bonds proposal. But the Legislature stripped it out of his budget, and Murphy did not propose it again.
In June 2021, Connecticut’s legislature approved the country’s first state-level Baby Bonds program. But in May of this year, lawmakers, in coordination with the governor’s office, chose to delay the program’s start by two years.
That makes Washington, D.C., the first real test case.
Connecticut’s treasurer, Shawn Wooden, who championed the program, said he was surprised and disappointed by the delay in his own state but remains convinced that the policy’s time has come.
“There’s quite the level of interest in this, and always with these things we need what we call first movers,” Wooden said. For the concept to spread, “there needs to be success in Connecticut. There needs to be success in the District of Columbia.”
Wooden has discussed Baby Bonds with members of President Joe Biden’s domestic policy team. McDuffie’s office has fielded queries from multiple state governments.
The concept is new enough that it’s still being tinkered with in real time, with multiple models and internal debates among advocates on issues such as how best to determine eligibility. Washington’s program is so new that the 833 families who have qualified have not been informed yet and will not be until the city hires a fund manager.
Connecticut’s will automatically enroll any newborn from a family on the state’s Medicaid program. Booker’s proposal would have sidestepped that issue by granting every child born in the country a Baby Bonds fund and $1,000 in seed money. Then, all subsequent payments into the fund would have been heavily weighted toward poorer families.
Washington’s program is open to families on Medicaid who make less than 300% of the federal poverty line, meaning earnings of up to about $83,250 for a family of four. With those parameters, it is designed to benefit not only the impoverished but also families like the Wrights who might be considered lower-middle class.
At their income level, their daughter will receive closer to $15,000 instead of the $25,000 limit.
There is one inevitable quirk in the system: Any Baby Bonds program has to set a start date that excludes anyone born before it. In the case of the Wright family, Kali, would receive benefits but her older bother, Khaza, would not. Aaliyah Wright was fine with that.
“OK, so I know my future is set for one child,” said Wright. “So now I need to really focus on making things work for him.”
There are differences among plans in the size of the final payout. Booker’s proposal would have paid about $46,000 to children of the poorest families, while the district expects to pay out a maximum of $25,000. Connecticut’s plan would pay an estimated $13,000 — something Wooden described as “pretty much the floor” for a serious attempt at a Baby Bonds program.
Naomi Zewde, an assistant professor in health economics at the City University of New York who conducted a 2019 analysis of the concept, set the lowest impactful payment at $15,000.
“It has to be a sum of money that’s kind of outside what people would normally come across,” she said.
Zewde’s analysis suggested that a nationwide federal Baby Bonds program would massively reduce the racial wealth gap between white and Black Americans in a single generation, even as it boosted both races.
Currently the median wealth of young white Americans stands at $46,000, compared with $2,900 for Black Americans.
For a Baby Bonds program to succeed, it has to be on a national level and have strong popular support, advocates said.
Darity, a Duke professor who co-authored the original Baby Bonds proposal, points to Britain, which instituted a similar program called the child trust fund in 2005. But the program was discontinued and all future payments halted in 2010 in a government austerity campaign.
“I think the assessment in England was that they had not built grassroots support for the policy when they started it,” he said. “So there wasn’t any strong resistance to eliminating the plan.”
In the United States, the program already has been strongly endorsed by prominent liberal organizations such as the Urban Institute and Prosperity Now.
But there are detractors.
Veronique de Rugy, a senior research fellow at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center, said the one-way nature of the deposits, with no mechanism for the families themselves to add money, “does nothing to encourage the culture of savings.”
She added that the program could tie up millions that could be used to address immediate societal conditions that also help feed the cycle of poverty.
“A lot of these kids are still going to be stuck in bad schools,” she said.
Michael Strain, an economist at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, says Baby Bonds advocates will struggle to persuade lawmakers around the country to make such an expensive commitment. “I absolutely think it’s a hard sell,” he said. “The 18-year lag is less of a political obstacle than the price tag.”
Wooden rejected the perception of Baby Bonds as having no payoff for 18 years, saying the benefits will be immediate and measurable. That nest egg, he said, will inspire real-time changes in planning, academic achievement and overall ambition in both children and families.
“There is a high value that should be placed on hope,” he said. “We know what hopelessness looks like in our communities.
Manning, the young expectant mother in Washington, said the knowledge that the money was waiting for her son would change how her family talks about his future.
“It would be much more focused,” she said. “‘Do you know what you want to do? What are your plans?’”
___
Follow Ashraf Khalil on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ashrafkhalil
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/21/dcs-pioneering-baby-bonds-plan-aims-narrow-wealth-gap/ | 2022-08-21T13:52:14Z |
Independa Health Hub® will now offer mental telehealthcare, home lab tests, faith-based videos, music therapy content and more to access from the comfort of home.
LOS ANGELES, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Independa, the award-winning TV-based platform providing remote engagement, education and care, today announced new partnerships on the Independa Health Hub®, an integrated ecosystem of health offerings available in the United States on 2022 and 2021 smart TVs from LG Electronics.
New partners offering their services on the Independa Health Hub include at-home health test provider RxHomeTest, interfaith video content and music therapy provider Coro Health, mental telehealthcare resources provided by MediOrbis and one-on-one tech support and education for older adults provided by Senior Savvy. These new partnerships mark an era of massive growth for the Independa Health Hub, which was officially launched with LG Electronics USA at CES® 2022.
"Independa is thrilled with our existing and latest additional partners, who all have been delivering impactful services and resources to dynamic communities," said Kian Saneii, founder and CEO of Independa. "By bringing these offerings to the familiar TV interface, we are able to reach millions of homes and improve access to life-changing health resources, 24/7, 365 days per year."
A recent 2022 survey found that telehealth greatly improved the lives of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 83% of adults feeling more comfortable for the well-being of their parent with telehealth as an option.
"Parks Associates research shows 23% of US internet households have used telehealth for therapy or counseling services and almost two thirds of consumers have had a telehealth session in the last year," said Elizabeth Parks, President & CMO, Parks Associates. "Consumers are embracing new ways to communicate and there has been dramatic adoption of remote care. The forced familiarity with virtual care lays a foundation for growth. Consumers now understand what it is and how to access services and this is an example of an innovative partnership highlighting new care models."
The Independa Health Hub provides consumers with bi-directional video communication that allows users to connect with healthcare providers, wellness services, family and friends in the comfort of their homes through their LG smart TVs. Further, a wide range of video-on-demand content as well as other valuable yet free services, such as pharmacy discounts and entertainment content, are available. As the first tele-healthcare service supported on LG TVs, Independa features an intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to initiate a video chat with a caregiver or easily access a menu of relevant professional services. Pop-up notifications inform when someone is calling and personal alerts can be set up for more reminders. All notifications and alerts are integrated into the webOS platform, so they are always just a glance away.
Matthew Durgin, Head of LG's Content and Services Development, welcomed the expanded Independa Health Hub partners to the LG smart TV ecosystem. "Compelling new integrated so-lutions like health content and testing bring simplicity to in-home care and can play a big role in enhancing lives of consumers across America, especially as the nation emerges from the pan-demic," he said.
About The Independa Health Hub®
The Independa Health Hub, integrated with webOS-enabled 2022 and 2021 LG smart TVs, notifies viewers of important communications while consuming content. This functionality helps users easily switch to important tele-appointments, receive medication reminders, messages or photos, or in general be reminded of important activities or events. Some Health Hub apps include:
- Two-way video calls with loved ones and doctors -- social and clinical all in one (free)
- Messages (free)
- Photos (free)
- Games (free)
- Pharmacy Rx discounts (free)
- Entertainment programming (free)
- Dental discount offering
- 24/7 dental televisits
- 24/7 doctor televisits
- 24/7 therapy televisits
- Medical grade health videos
- Exercise videos that cater to every ability level
- Faith-based videos
- Music therapy
- At home lab tests
About Independa
Founded in 2009, Independa, Inc, is the innovator of the award-winning TV-based social engagement, education and care platform. Independa enables simplified yet powerful remote engagement to those most difficult to reach, most socially isolated, and most expensive to care for — whether professionally or through family and friends. Independa transforms a person's standard TV into a bi-directional engagement window to the world, enabling caregivers and loved ones alike to connect with the TV through a standard browser or an iOS or Android app. For senior living communities, homecare organizations, PACE programs, CCRCs and CCRCs at home, insurance organizations, and others providing care from a distance, Independa improves the care recipient quality of life and care, while increasing staffing and operational efficiencies and effectiveness. Independa helps people stay at their residence of choice longer, safer and more comfortably, delivering on the joys and possibilities of a Life, Connected™. Connect with Independa at independa.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Coro Health
Founded in 2009, Coro Health, is a digital therapeutics company based in Austin, Texas and is the leading provider of therapeutic music and spiritual support programs within the healthcare industry. The company's two flagship products, MusicFirst and CoroFaith are delivered to millions of users daily in over 5,000 locations. Coro Health's patented Music Prescription™ building technology has been clinically proven to create playlists that reduce agitation and depression. For more information or a demonstration, please visit www.corohealth.com or join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn
About MediOrbis
MediOrbis is a multi-specialty telemedicine practice and telehealth company that is transforming the way healthcare is provided worldwide. MediOrbis delivers expert services in virtually any field of medicine, clinical care or diagnostics. Recognized for efficiency and cost-effectiveness, MediOrbis is shattering the barriers of traditional medicine and extending the reach of clinical care and chronic care management to its global customer base.
About RxHomeTest
RxHomeTest is an at-home health test provider based in Portland, Oregon, and is part of the Oregon Translational Research and Development Institute (OTRADI), which is at the forefront of healthcare innovation in the Pacific Northwest. The company makes health testing accessible through a wide range of reliable, convenient, and confidential lab tests to anyone seeking to monitor their health. Learn more about all their at-home tests at https://rxhometest.com/shop
About Senior Savvy
Senior Savvy provides one-on-one tech support and education for older adults and their families. Founded in 2018, founder and CEO Abbie Richie has hosted hundreds of live workshops, Q&A sessions, and online programs that are broadcasted through community content channels. Sessions and workshops can be tailored to fit the needs of each individual. Learn more on their website at seniorsavvy.net.
All registered or unregistered trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners.
Media Contact:
Lauren Chouinard
FortyThree, Inc.
831.621.5661
Independa@43pr.com
View original content:
SOURCE Independa | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/independa-adds-new-partners-ecosystem-health-offerings-lg-consumer-tvs/ | 2022-06-01T14:02:57Z |
Texas cities, counties, transit systems and special-purpose taxing districts will receive $1.2 billion in sales tax allocations in August, according to a news release from Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.
Most of Central Texas continued to exhibit solid economic growth and stability. Bell, Coryell and Milam counties, as well as most of the municipalities in those counties, reported increases in August compared to the same month last year. Several tallied double-digit percentage point increases.
Temple saw an increase in its allocation compared to last year. It is expected to receive about $3.28 million, a 16.96% increase from last year.
Belton also experienced an increase in its allocation. It will receive $866,605, a 16.25% rise.
The total August allocations for Texas represent a 10.8% increase from the allocations distributed during August 2021. These allocations are based on sales made in June by businesses that report tax monthly, and on sales made in April, May and June by quarterly filers.
The county will receive $2.98 million in sales tax allocations in August, an increase of 11.41% from last year, according to the release.
Killeen is expected to receive about $3.1 million in sales tax revenue, a 5.46% increase, the release said.
Harker Heights will receive $1.03 million, a 0.43% increase.
Nolanville is receiving $238,838, a 16.69% increase.
Salado is set to receive $83,700 this month, a healthy 33.21% increase.
Troy will receive $77,705, a 16.96% increase.
Morgan’s Point Resort will receive $37,690, an 11.36% increase.
Little River-Academy is expected to receive $13,449, a 5.9% increase.
Holland will receive $13,446, an impressive 47.98% increase.
Coryell County will receive $316,676, 1.63% more than August last year.
Copperas Cove saw a 3.92% increase in allocations; it is set to receive $639,233.
Gatesville experienced an 8.12% decrease in sales tax allocations, receiving $243,190.
Milam County will receive $182,480, an impressive increase of 48.79% from August 2021.
Rockdale will receive $103,501, a 9.8% increase.
Cameron is expected to receive $120,845, a 15.6% increase.
Thorndale will receive $29,204, a healthy 35.43% increase.
Milano is set to receive $12,278, a 3.65% increase. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/business/article_16c46994-1b81-11ed-8d91-abc415bc216e.html | 2022-08-14T05:50:13Z |
NEW YORK, June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Advertising -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. ("Verrica" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: VRCA) and certain of its officers, on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased, or otherwise acquired Verrica securities between May 28, 2021 and May 24, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/vrca.
This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws.
The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading, and failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that there were manufacturing deficiencies at the facility where the Company's contract manufacturer produced bulk solution for VP-102; (2) that these deficiencies were not remediated when the Company resubmitted its NDA for VP-12 for molluscum; (3) that the foregoing presented significant risks to the Company obtaining regulatory approval of VP-102 for molluscum; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint you can visit the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/vrca or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss in Verrica you have until August 5, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Contact:
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Peretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson
212-697-6484 | info@bgandg.com
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SOURCE Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/bronstein-gewirtz-amp-grossman-llc-notifies-verrica-pharmaceuticals-inc-vrca-investors-class-action-encourages-investors-contact-firm/ | 2022-06-10T14:37:23Z |
NEW YORK (AP) — Lauren Jackson is savoring every minute of her basketball comeback even though the battle-tested Australian hoops icon knows she can’t do things that once captivated fans before retiring from the sport six years ago.
No, that “LJ” is no more. This chapter belongs to the now 41-year-old mom, and her return is creating a buzz.
“I don’t know when the last day will be. It has been a slow process,” Jackson said in an interview with The Associated Press while training in New York with the Australian national team last week. “I can’t believe I’m back here. It’s so bizarre. It’s been fun, a real journey.”
Jackson’s body let her down and forced her to walk away from the game she loves, and she doesn’t know how long it will hold up.
Nearly 10 months after starting her return, Jackson is on the short-list to play for the Australian national team at the FIBA World Cup in Sydney next month. She helped Australia win the gold medal in the 2006 World Cup in Brazil.
“I get so emotional talking about this. I never thought I’d represent Australia again,” the four-time WNBA MVP said. “On my way to the first game against Canada on the bus I started crying because I was wearing the green and gold again. My life has changed so much and I’m not the person I used to be as an athlete.”
Even if the 6-foot-5 Jackson isn’t the same player who averaged 18.9 points in her WNBA career for Seattle, she still can compete with the best.
Jackson said she is stronger than when she played for the Storm and helped them win two championships. She also won league titles in Australia, Spain and Russia as well as three Olympic silver medals and one bronze,
“I played two Olympics with her, she’s still pretty good,” Australian national team coach Sandy Brondello said. “She’s getting her legs back and looks in great shape. She makes good reads. She’s not the LJ of six years ago, but she certainly still shows a lot of LJ-like moves.”
Jackson retired from playing in 2016 after knee injuries derailed her career. She had hoped to compete in the Olympics that year, but an ACL injury ended that dream. She stopped playing in the WNBA in 2012, walking away as one of the best players in league history.
Jackson had no intentions of playing again competitively after having a partial replacement on her right knee and dealing with the ACL tear that was followed by a staph infection. . She also acknowledges she had become reliant on painkillers, anti-inflammatories, sleeping pills and anti-depressants at the end of her playing career.
“I would take anything to get me out of bed in the morning,” Jackson told the AP.
A few years later, she tried medical cannabis.
Jackson said she was part of a trial for medical cannabis 13 months ago and that it seemed to help. A few months later she started working out again to try and get in basketball shape — she had gained nearly 50 pounds since retiring.
She was working out with the coach of her hometown Australian Basketball league team. Matt Paps, the coach of the Albury team, said to her that he’d love to have her comeback and play.
“People started talking about (playing for Australia) back then,” Jackson recalled. “I heard that. That’s crazy. When I start thinking too far ahead I’d start get panic attacks.
“You can’t look too far ahead. … It was too big a goal. The way my career ended I couldn’t deal with that emotionally.”
Australian player Rebecca Allen never had a chance to play with Jackson on the national team. The Liberty’s wing wasn’t part of the New York training camp because of schedule conflicts with her WNBA team. But what Jackson is attempting to do isn’t lost on the 29-year-old.
“She’s an icon of basketball in the world and one of the best to come out of Australia,” Allen said. “Even to learn from her, and for her personally to beat the odds with the injuries she’s had and to come back and play at such a high caliber. You can learn so much from her experience.
“I was watching her in the Olympics, I loved her game, her passion. She played with such intensity,” Allen added. “Having that type of personality is an asset. I’m excited to play along side of her.”
Now after playing about a dozen games in the Australian league, Jackson said she has passed some of the “little hurdles, barriers and milestones” she wanted to hit. She’ll wait and see if she is selected to the team that will compete at the World Cup. Brondello expects the team to be announced soon.
She knows her two sons, Harry and Lenny, will be cheering her on if she does make the squad which she led to medals in four Olympics and three World Cup.
“It’s definitely hit me that this could happen,” Jackson said. “My teammates have been incredible. They are so supportive. Embraced me more than I could have asked for. Whatever role I play it will be a supporting role.
“Such an incredibly special time for me that I never thought I’d be a part of again. I still get teary about it.” | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/ex-wnba-star-lauren-jackson-savors-each-day-of-her-comeback/ | 2022-08-03T14:45:10Z |
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