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‘Donkey Kong defense’ arises at Bill Cosby sex abuse trial
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) - The “Donkey Kong defense” came into play Monday at a civil trial over sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby, as his attorney pressed a key witness over previous statements that she had played the arcade game during a visit with Cosby to the Playboy Mansion in 1975, six years before its release.
The testimony came in the Los Angeles County trial over the lawsuit of Judy Huth, who also began testifying Monday, but did not yet describe her allegation that Cosby sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion when she was 16. Cosby denies her allegations.
Donna Samuelson, a high school friend of Huth’s who accompanied her and Cosby on a visit to the mansion, returned to the stand Monday, testifying about the game room with an adjacent bedroom where Huth says Cosby forced her to perform a sex act.
“You testified multiple times that you were playing Donkey Kong,” Cosby attorney Jennifer Bonjean told Samuelson, referring to a 2014 police interview and a 2016 deposition in Huth’s case.
“If I did I did,” Samuelson said. “I understand it wasn’t around yet.”
Bonjean played a clip from the deposition, in which Samuelson referred to the game several times.
Asked Monday to explain the discrepancy, Samuelson answered, “I got the name wrong. I just kept saying that because it was a game. It could have been Atari.”
She also said she was playing the game when Cosby came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders before she shook them off.
Bonjean showed Samuelson and the jury a photo of the game room taken in 2016, where a Donkey Kong game could be seen, and asked whether similar photos taken years after 1975 could have affected her memory and testimony.
Samuelson replied that she hadn’t seen such an image until the 2016 photo was shown to her in court during her testimony last week.
During his opening statement on Wednesday, Huth’s attorney Nathan Goldberg sought to head off the issue, telling jurors they were going to be hearing “the Donkey Kong defense” from Cosby’s lawyers.
“So she got the name wrong,” Goldberg said, “so what?”
Bonjean embraced the term in her opening, saying Huth’s similar prior statements about Samuelson playing the game, and photos showing it in the room later, were evidence that the two women were coordinating a false story.
The trial represents one of the last remaining legal claims against Cosby after his Pennsylvania criminal conviction was thrown out and other lawsuits were settled by his insurer against his will.
Huth, 64, briefly took the stand late Monday, recalling the spring day in 1975 when she and Samuelson took her brother’s dog to play frisbee at Lacy Park in San Marino, California, a place they frequented.
She said they noticed a production was happening there that would turn out to be a shoot for the film “Let’s Do It Again.” They saw stars Sidney Poitier, Jimmie Walker and Cosby, Huth said.
She remembered whispering, “That’s Bill Cosby” to Samuelson, and Cosby playfully mimicking her whisper and pretending to be holding a leash of his own dog.
She testified that after chatting for a while, Cosby invited them to a watch him play tennis at a Los Angeles club the following Saturday.
Huth said they were “excited, because we were kids, and he was a celebrity. It was out of the norm, that was for sure.”
The girls met Cosby at the club, where they briefly watched him play tennis then went to the local house where he was staying.
There, Cosby suggested they play a game a game of pool, and suggested the stakes.
“He said for every game I lose I have to drink a beer, and for every game he loses he has to drink a beer,” Huth testified.
Huth said she had between one and three beers.
“I’m sure I felt the effects of the alcohol,” she said.
After about an hour, Cosby said he had a surprise for them, and they followed him in Samuelson’s Mustang to a gate, where the two cars were let in, Huth said.
They parked and walked into a game room, where Buck Owens, country star and host of the TV show “Hee Haw,” was shooting pool, but left after a few minutes, Huth said.
She said she realized she was at the Playboy Mansion when she saw a drawing on the wall that was signed, “To Hugh,” slowly realizing that it referred to Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.
Asked by her attorney what her reaction to being there was, she responded only with, “Wow.”
She was shown a photo taken by Samuelson inside the game room.
“That’s me and Bill Cosby, she said.”
The picture, essential to Huth’s case, has already been shown to jurors several times. It shows Cosby wearing a red beanie and smiling next to the teenage Huth.
Cosby’s attorneys acknowledge that he took the girls to the mansion, but deny any sex assault occurred. They have described Huth’s lawsuit as a scheme to cash in on the photos that were taken that day.
The Associated Press does not normally name people who say they have been sexually abused, unless they come forward publicly, as Huth has.
___
Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/07/donkey-kong-defense-arises-bill-cosby-sex-abuse-trial/ | 2022-06-07T03:52:52Z |
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to simplify the process of ironing, folding and stacking laundry," said an inventor, from Glendale, Ariz., "so I invented the ROBO - FOLDER. My automatic design would help speed up the process and it would be useful for busy households, individuals with disabilities and commercial facilities."
The invention provides an automatic way to iron/de-wrinkle, fold and stack laundry. In doing so, it eliminates the need to manually complete these tasks. As a result, it saves time and effort and it increases convenience. The invention features a user-friendly design that is easy to use so it is ideal for households, apartments, laundromats, hotels, etc. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.
The original design was submitted to the Phoenix sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-PBT-196, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/inventhelp-inventor-develops-new-machine-iron-fold-amp-stack-laundry-pbt-196/ | 2022-08-03T18:19:53Z |
CEO/Author Shares 3 Steps to Help Others, 4 Steps for Self
SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- To strengthen self-esteem, the National Day of Encouragement on Sept. 12 is the perfect time to encourage others to reach higher. That's the advice from a bestselling author on harmony and CEO of a global health company.
"For National Day of Encouragement, lift another higher by giving a word of encouragement and letting them know you believe in them," said Kevin Guest, chairman and CEO of USANA Health Sciences (NYSE: USNA), and a global advocate for living life at the highest success levels. "Sometimes all a person needs is to know life matters and they can make a difference. Having people who believe in you and your ability to live a successful life is key to that."
Author of All the Right Reasons: 12 Timeless Principles for Living a Life in Harmony, Guest says relationships with others is paramount, and he provides three steps to encourage others, along with four steps to bolster one's own self-esteem.
"As human beings, we need each other. We need encouragement, empathy, and connections. We need smiles, kind words, good advice, and trusted friends," Guest wrote in All the Right Reasons. "We need mentors, teachers and people who make us feel uncomfortable in our comfort zones. Sometimes we even need a kick in the seat of the pants."
Agreeing with author John Maxwell who wrote in "Leadership Gold," people quit people, not companies, Guest advocates that giving genuine encouragement can help employees feel better about themselves, their bosses and their coworkers, which can result in satisfied employment.
"We have to speak up because no matter how meager we think our abilities, we all have specific talents or experiences we can use to bless someone else," Guest said.
First, the global leader suggests we show up and listen.
"Having interacted with thousands of people during my career, I realize the most authentic relationship-building experiences happen when I'm sitting kneecap to kneecap with someone, looking them in the eye and sincerely wanting to understand," he said. "Face-to-face meetings lead to solid business partnerships and long-term relationships that help grow a business.
"They foster trust, build bridges, and help us manage conflict from a position of mutual understanding. Simply put, technology can't replace the power of face-to-face communication, so we need to show up."
Next, Guest says to praise others genuinely.
"Tell colleagues you believe in them, and you know they can accomplish their goals," he said. "Share something they've accomplished, and urge them onward with encouragement such as, 'you're talented' and 'keep up the good work!'
"To emphasize the power of praise, my mother told me over and over that I was smart and could do anything I put my mind to. Right or wrong, I believed her, and those simple words have carried me through my life to lead a successful company internationally," Guest said. "Imagine the influence you can have by sharing genuine words of encouragement with others."
Third, Guest urges everyone to start something new, a challenge he gave tens of thousands of associates around the world in his company's global convention in August 2022.
"Today is the day to start something positive with others," he said. "Commit to focus outside of yourself on National Day of Encouragement and boost another up. Imagine the positive effect you will have."
That's just half the equation, Guest said. Helping others succeed means taking care of your own reservoir of strength.
"Four things to stay strong yourself are to be kind to yourself, challenge negative thinking about yourself, remind yourself of your accomplishments, and graciously accept compliments.
"I've learned that to implement those four points, I surround myself with positive people, I celebrate small successes, I'm highly aware of my thought patterns and fill my mind with positive thoughts, and I accept compliments with a verbal thank you."
According to the bestselling author, when you help others achieve career success, you give them a priceless gift.
"Most of the successful people I've met got there because they were told they had value and others encouraged them," Guest said. "Sometimes all a person needs is to know that her life matters and that she can make a difference. Having people who believe in you and your ability to succeed is very important."
To help people reach their fullest potential, 100% of Guest's book sales are directed to the USANA Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides food and nutrition to food-insecure children.
A sought-after international speaker, Guest shares more insight in his book, which is available on Amazon. For more information, visit www.kevinguest.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tim Brown, Candid Communications
tim@candidcom.com
801-557-1466
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SOURCE USANA | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/celebrate-national-day-encouragement/ | 2022-09-12T12:13:17Z |
Partnership with the world's leader in electric vehicle rentals marks Wheels Up's continued commitment to carbon reduction, sustainability
NEW YORK, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wheels Up Experience Inc. (NYSE: UP), the leading brand in private aviation, and Hertz (NASDAQ: HTZ) announced a new strategic partnership to give Wheels Up members access to Hertz's industry-leading electric vehicle offerings and new, premium benefits.
Wheels Up members have access to a variety of high-end vehicles, including Tesla and Polestar models from the largest rental fleet of electric vehicles in North America. The EV models are available for rent from Hertz at 111 private airports, with plans to expand to more than 500 private airports in the coming months. Members also receive complimentary President's Circle® top-tier status in the award-winning Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty program. President's Circle is Hertz's highest loyalty membership tier and includes an elevated selection of vehicles, guaranteed upgrades, dedicated customer support and more bespoke benefits.
Additional exclusive perks for Wheels Up members include discounts for Hertz Prestige and Dream Car Collection vehicles and delivery and pickup service for added convenience. With this service, a member's vehicle will be waiting when they step off their plane and can be left on the tarmac when they depart. Members will also have access to a dedicated Hertz Private Aviation Specialist at the Wheels Up call center who can assist with reservations, support all ground transportation needs, confirm the specific Hertz vehicle is in position prior to landing, and more.
This partnership is the latest step by Wheels Up in its efforts to expand its product offerings and provide a seamless first- to last-mile travel solution for its members and customers. With the added benefit of providing members access to Hertz's fleet of EV models, the partnership complements Wheels Up's carbon offset program, allowing members to reduce their carbon footprint on the ground and in the air.
"Our mission is to serve our members' needs throughout their entire travel experience, from the moment they leave their home to the moment they return," said Lee Applbaum, chief marketing officer at Wheels Up. "We're excited to partner with Hertz in providing best-in-class service and the most advanced electric vehicles on the market as part of our ongoing commitment to building a sustainable future."
"We're thrilled to offer Wheels Up members a premium level of service to elevate their travel experience with our Hertz Gold Plus Rewards elite President's Circle status and a variety of luxury vehicles including our newest EV models and other exclusive benefits," said Laura Smith, Hertz executive vice president of sales, marketing and customer experience. "We know having a seamless experience from air to ground travel is important and together we will ensure an exceptional travel journey."
Hertz joins the robust list of preeminent lifestyle brands already available to Wheels Up members, including Inspirato, Barton & Gray, Pinehurst, Abercrombie and Kent,and more. Working with these and other partners, Wheels Up continues to offer unsurpassed experiences – both on and off the ground – with Wheels Down, a collection of once-in-a-lifetime events, private meet-and-greet experiences, and invaluable member benefits.
Wheels Up Experience (NYSE: UP) is the leading provider of "on demand" private aviation in the United States and one of the largest private aviation companies in the world. Powered by a growing marketplace of more than 1,500 safety-vetted and verified aircraft, Wheels Up is the only company in the industry to offer a total private aviation solution that includes a relentless focus on safety and service, with flexibility across all types of aircraft, membership programs, corporate solutions, aircraft management, whole aircraft sales and commercial travel benefits through a strategic partnership with Delta Air Lines.
The Wheels Up App enables members and customers to search, book and fly. Wheels Up Connect, Core, and Business memberships provide enhancements such as flight sharing, empty-leg Hot Flights, Shuttle Flights, Shared Flights, signature Wheels Up Down events and exclusive member benefits from preeminent lifestyle brands. Wheels Up's ongoing Wheels Up Cares program aligns with philanthropic organizations and initiatives that affect and matter to the company and its customers, members, stakeholders, families, and friends. The Wheels Up Cares fleet comprises five custom-painted Beechcraft King Air 350i aircraft, with each plane serving as a flying symbol for a specific social cause.
Hertz, one of the most recognized brands in the world, has a long-standing legacy of providing a fast and easy experience designed to make every journey special. It starts with top-rated vehicles to fit every traveler's needs, delivered with a caring touch and personalized services including its award-winning Hertz Gold Plus Rewards loyalty program, Ultimate Choice, Hertz app, and more. To learn more or to reserve a vehicle at an airport or a convenient neighborhood Hertz location, visit Hertz.com.
Hertz pioneered the car rental industry more than 100 years ago and today is owned by Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. which includes Dollar and Thrifty vehicle rental brands.
Media Contact
press@wheelsup.com
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SOURCE Wheels Up | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/going-green-wheels-up-hertz-partner-offer-new-electric-vehicle-options/ | 2022-06-28T13:29:29Z |
Driven by its innovative approach to Agile transformations and dedication to supporting non-technical teams, AgileSherpas posts three-year revenue growth of 518 percent
NEW YORK, Aug. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Led by increasingly strong customer demand, AgileSherpas (agilesherpas.com) has just been recognized as No. 827 on the annual Inc. 5000 List, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. AgileSherpas joins companies such as Intuit, Zappos, Chobani, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known brand names that gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000 List.
"AgileSherpas has been rapidly iterating ever since we were founded just over five years ago, and this award is a powerful validation of that market-driven evolution. We've grown organically yet very intentionally from a small band of trainers and coaches focused on Agile marketing training into a world-class team of agilists supporting end-to-end, enterprise-grade Agile transformations," said AgileSherpas CEO and Co-Founder Andrea Fryrear. "Our year-over-year revenue growth directly reflects the ever-growing need for these services."
The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 List have not only been successful but have also demonstrated resilience amid labor shortages, travel restrictions, supply chain woes, and other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the second quarter of 2020, AgileSherpas quickly pivoted to 100% online, remote delivery of all services, and has continued to scale its digital offerings through innovative combinations of instructor-led workshops, self-directed courses, virtual coaching, and new hybrid learning offerings. Later this year, the company will launch Transformation as a Service (TaaS)SM, opening an entirely new path to agility for its enterprise customers.
"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. Magazine. "Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today."
AgileSherpas' Head of Training and Delivery, Ross Libby, praised his team for their role in earning this recognition: "Our Sherpas are deeply passionate about their work; we all firmly believe that Agile ways of working help individuals, teams, and organizations thrive in this now human-capital centric world. Their commitment to delivering outstanding outcomes ensures our customers recognize the results they came to us seeking."
Founded in 2017, AgileSherpas originally made a splash in the Agile market by co-authoring the world's first internationally recognized Agile marketing training course with the International Consortium for Agile (ICAgile). The AgileSherpas team quickly expanded their offerings to include long-term coaching for teams and leadership, organizational design, and all other aspects of Agile transformation. Known as Agility AscensionTM, their transformation approach provides a flexible yet data-driven and customized path to the peak of agility for marketers and other teams outside the technical realms of software development and IT.
Protracted demand for this specialized approach has enabled AgileSherpas to triple their headcount over the past 18 months, which has sustainably catapulted AgileSherpas to its place on the Inc. 5000 List. Leadership now looks to capitalize on the embrace of online and hybrid learning that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated by creating the world's first Transformation-as-a-Service (TaaS)SM approach.
"By leveraging anywhere, anytime access to this enterprise-grade approach, TaaS aims to make Agile transformation less risky and more likely to succeed," said Fryrear. "We look forward to deploying this unique approach in order to best support even more departments, business units, and organizations in their broad understanding and adoption of Agile ways of working."
Complete results of the Inc. 5000 List, 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.
Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 List are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places.
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SOURCE AgileSherpas | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/29/agilesherpas-ranks-no-827-2022-inc-5000-list-americas-fastest-growing-private-companies/ | 2022-08-29T15:58:48Z |
The James Webb Space Telescope is using infrared light to reveal otherwise invisible aspects of the universe -- and capturing stunning imagery in the process.
Among the wonders it's discovering and observing are exoplanetary systems, which each consist of a planet outside of our solar system and its host star, and many of them are in need of a name.
The IAU wants this to be a collaborative affair, so participants must create a team composed of teachers, students, astronomy enthusiasts, or professional or amateur astronomists.
Once the team selects its favorite names for one exoplanet and its host star, they are required to host a community outreach event that teaches the public about exoplanets. Only then can the team submit a written and video proposal that includes the names and justifications for their choices.
The video cannot be more than three minutes long, and the essay should not exceed 300 words. The team is also required to write a report no longer than 300 words on their public outreach initiative, which could be a talk by a scientist on exoplanet discoveries, and submit photos or video of the event.
If you were hoping to name a planet after yourself, you're out of luck.
Naming an exoplanetary system is a huge responsibility, so the IAU set forth a list of guidelines to follow.
To begin with, the names should have long-standing cultural, geographic or historical significance. Indigenous names are encouraged, but any team proposing one must be led by a member of an Indigenous community.
Additionally, the name of the exoplanet and its host star need to follow the same theme, meaning they must be related in some way.
Teams cannot submit names of people, pets or organizations. Any terms related to political, military or religious activities are also not allowed.
National vetting processes will take place between November 15 and December 15, 2022, and each country will select one proposal along with two backups. Afterward, an international committee will review the submissions and choose one for each exoplanet between December 16, 2022, and March 16, 2023.
The winning names will be announced on March 20, 2023.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/the-webb-telescope-will-closely-observe-20-exoplanets-and-their-stars-heres-how-you-can/article_c2ba5cea-5307-587f-9b9e-dc5fc7d4dc4e.html | 2022-08-18T19:14:00Z |
ROSH HA'AYIN, Israel, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Partner Communications Company Ltd. ("Partner" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: PTNR) (TASE: PTNR), a leading Israeli communications operator, announces that the Company's Board of Directors resolved today to appoint Mr. Shlomo Rodav to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Rodav will replace Mr. Shlomo Zohar who concluded today his term as Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors.
Mr. Shlomo Rodav was appointed a director in the Company in April 2022. Mr. Rodav served in the past as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yeinot Bitan Ltd., as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bezek-the Israel Telecommunication Corp. Ltd. and as chairman and a board member of various public companies including Tnuva Ltd., Gilat Satellite Telecommunication Ltd., and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Partner in 2013.
About Partner Communications
Partner Communications Company Ltd. ("Partner") is a leading Israeli provider of telecommunications services (cellular, fixed-line telephony, internet and television services). Partner's ADSs are quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market™ and its shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (NASDAQ: PTNR) (TASE: PTNR).
For more information about Partner see:
http://www.partner.co.il/en/Investors-Relations/lobby/
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SOURCE Partner Communications Company Ltd. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/partner-communications-announces-appointment-mr-shlomo-rodav-chairman-board-directors/ | 2022-07-28T14:38:38Z |
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "We thought there could be a more convenient packaging method for single use hand sanitizer," said one of two inventors, from Madison, Ala., "so we invented the SANI POUCH. Our design would be easily transported in a pocket or purse so it is ready to use if needed."
The patent-pending invention ensures that a single use of hand sanitizer is readily available if needed. In doing so, it offers an alternative to transporting a traditional bottle of sanitizer or wipes. As a result, it increases convenience, sanitation and protection and it provides added peace of mind for users. The invention features a practical and portable design that is easy to use and transport so it is ideal for the general population. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.
The original design was submitted to the Birmingham sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-BRK-4141, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/29/inventhelp-inventors-develop-single-use-hand-sanitizer-brk-4141/ | 2022-08-29T22:01:57Z |
- The Dolphin Solar Canopy includes 665 solar panels that are expected to produce nearly 250 kilowatts of AC power (kWac) when operating at peak production.
- The clean energy generated by the solar panels goes directly onto the grid to serve Duke Energy customers in Florida.
- Duke Energy is also installing four (4) electric vehicle (EV) charging stations inside CMA's parking garage for use by guests, staff, interns, and volunteers.
- The Dolphin Solar Canopy at CMA is the latest solar facility contributing to Duke Energy's efforts to have 1,500 megawatts of solar generation in Florida by 2024.
CLEARWATER, Fla., Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearwater Marine Aquarium is now harvesting the power of the sun in collaboration with Duke Energy by installing 250 kWac solar photovoltaic panels for Florida customers.
"Bringing solar to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium will have such a meaningful impact on our environment, the marine life that are cared for at this facility and the thousands of visitors who leave inspired to make a difference in the communities we serve," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president.
The Dolphin Solar Canopy is located on the top floor of Clearwater Marine Aquarium's parking garage. The 665 solar panels will provide shade for vehicles parked beneath it and will produce enough clean energy to effectively replace carbon emissions created from burning the equivalent of over 313,000 pounds of coal each year.
"The same building that provides us the opportunity to share the work we do in the wild to preserve our environment with guests around the world is now able to serve a dual purpose," said Lisa Oliver, Clearwater Marine Aquarium COO. "Through our partners at Duke Energy, we are now able to take advantage of our building footprint in a whole new way by providing clean energy for folks throughout Florida."
Duke Energy also installed four Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations on the second floor of CMA's parking garage. CMA guests, staff, interns and volunteers are able to use the charging stations for their EV needs.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium opened its $80 million expansion in 2020 including a 1.5 million-gallon habitat for resident bottlenose dolphins Hope, Apollo, PJ, Nicholas and Hemingway.
About Clearwater Marine Aquarium:
Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working marine rescue center dedicated to inspiring the human spirit through leadership in education, research, rescue, rehabilitation and release. With a mission to preserve the environment and its marine life, CMA is home to rescued dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, a nurse shark and more. Through Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, CMA conducts important global research focused on protecting manatees, North Atlantic right whales and sea turtles. Major motion picture Dolphin Tale (2011) and its sequel Dolphin Tale 2 (2014) features the true stories of rescued resident dolphins Winter and Hope, inspiring millions around the world. The mission and potential to change people's lives differentiates Clearwater Marine Aquarium from any other aquarium in the world. CMAquarium.org
About Duke Energy Florida:
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000 people.
Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business and at least a 50% carbon reduction from electric generation by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The 2050 net-zero goals also include Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 emissions. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2022 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Contact:
Kelsy Long
klong@cmaquarium.org
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SOURCE Clearwater Marine Aquarium | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/clearwater-marine-aquarium-duke-energy-bring-clean-energy-pinellas-county-with-new-solar-canopy/ | 2022-09-12T18:46:41Z |
Biden seeks consensus at fractured Americas summit
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden plunged into this week’s Summit of the Americas aiming to push for regional progress in addressing economic development, climate change and migration despite the absence of some notable counterparts from Latin America.
With the U.S. playing host to the gathering for the first time since 1994, Biden and his team set about strengthening relationships and moving past the considerable drama over which world leaders would participate.
“At this summit,” Biden said in his opening remarks Wednesday night, “we have an opportunity for us to come together around some bold ideas, ambitious actions and to demonstrate to our people the incredible power of democracies to deliver concrete benefits and make life better for everyone. Everyone.”
The U.S. president was expected to spend Thursday sitting down with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, as well as deliver a speech to the broader group of attendees. Vice President Kamala Harris was to meet with Caribbean leaders to talk about clean energy, and first lady Jill Biden was hosting a brunch to build relationships with fellow spouses.
The day is expected to end with a dinner at the Getty Villa, an art museum with views of the Pacific Ocean.
A range of activists from the United States and dissidents from the region have been gathering around the Los Angeles convention center, where most of the meetings are taking place, to promote their causes.
There could be tension when Biden meets for the first time with Bolsonaro, an ally of former President Donald Trump. Bolsonaro is running for a second term and has been casting doubt on the credibility of his country’s elections, something that has alarmed officials in Washington.
When Bolsonaro accepted an invitation to the summit, he asked that Biden not confront him over his election attacks, according to three of the Brazilian leader’s Cabinet ministers who requested anonymity to discuss the issue.
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, rejected the idea that Biden had agreed to any conditions for the meeting with Bolsonaro.
“There are no topics off limits in any bilateral the president does, including with President Bolsonaro,” Sullivan told reporters. He added, “I do anticipate that the president will discuss open, free, fair and transparent democratic elections.”
Biden began emphasizing the theme on Wednesday as he welcomed leaders to the summit.
“Democracy is a hallmark of our region,” he said.
It also became a sticking point when planning the guest list for the event. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador wanted the leaders of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua to be invited, but the U.S. resisted because it considers them authoritarians.
Ultimately an agreement could not be reached, and López Obrador decided not to attend. Neither did the presidents of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.
Honduras Foreign Relations Secretary Eduardo Enrique Reina spoke about President Xiomara Castro’s decision to stay away.
“The president was very clear that this should be a summit without exclusions,” Reina said. Still, he said the Honduran government was ready to work on common problems, saying, “The political will to work with all countries in the Americas is there.”
It’s a reminder that relations with Latin America have proved tricky for the administration even as it solidifies ties in Europe, where Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted closer cooperation, and in Asia, where China’s rising influence has rattled some countries in the region.
One challenge is the unmistakable power imbalance in the hemisphere. World Bank data shows that the U.S. economy is more than 14 times the size of Brazil, the next-largest economy at the summit. The sanctions the U.S. and its allies levied against Russia are much harder in Brazil, which imports fertilizer from Russia. And trade data indicate that the region has deepening ties with China, which has also invested in the region.
This leaves the U.S. in a position of showing Latin America why a tighter relationship with Washington would be more beneficial at a time when economies are still struggling to emerge from the pandemic and inflation has worsened conditions.
Sullivan pledged that the U.S. “will be putting specific dollars into producing tangible results” in the region, with worker training and money for food security, among other things.
“When you tally all that up and look at the practical impact of what the summit deliverables from the United States will mean for the public sphere, it is significantly more impactful on the actual lives and livelihoods of the people of this region than the kinds of extractive projects that China has been invested in,” he said.
Suzanne Clark, CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said in a blog post that her organization is partnering with the U.S. State Department to host a related CEO summit. The chamber’s top listed priorities are increasing rule of law and trade with Latin America countries.
“The pandemic’s impact has been exacerbated by stagnant economic growth and longstanding ills such as poverty, inequality, insecurity, corruption, and inadequate health care,” Clark said. “As the hemisphere emerges from the cloud of COVID, new challenges such as rising inflation, especially in the food and energy sectors, threaten to further expose the region’s fragility.”
Harris has been emphasizing private sector investment to address the region’s challenges, particularly when it comes to reducing migration by offering more economic opportunity in people’s home countries.
“One of the things that is without question, when we are able to improve the prosperity and stability of our neighbors, we as a nation benefit,” she told reporters Wednesday. “So the work that we have been doing in the summit has been to bring CEOs together, heads of state of a number of the countries in the Western Hemisphere are going to be here to talk about how we can continue to collaborate.”
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Boak reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Debora Alvares in Brasilia, Brazil, and Elliot Spagat in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/09/biden-seeks-consensus-fractured-americas-summit/ | 2022-06-09T13:09:41Z |
Gogoro is enabling new business models with its battery-as-a-service platform that allow vehicle fleets to adopt sustainable transportation that is safe, reliable, scalable, and always available.
Gogoro and Jardine Cycle & Carriage to launch a pilot in Singapore with a view to expand across other markets in the region.
SINGAPORE, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gogoro® Inc. (Nasdaq: GGR), a global technology leader in battery swapping ecosystems that enable sustainable mobility solutions for cities, today announced that Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded it with a sandbox pilot to deploy and validate battery swapping as a means for next generation smart mobility.
Gogoro is kicking off its sandbox pilot by partnering with Jardine Cycle & Carriage (SGX: C07), a diversified group with market-leading businesses across Southeast Asia. Jardine Cycle & Carriage's subsidiary Cycle & Carriage will be the exclusive distributor of Gogoro's electric scooters in Singapore as well as the operator and installer of Gogoro's battery swapping infrastructure in the city-state.
"Cities are in desperate need of sustainable transportation solutions, not just for consumers, but for businesses. Gogoro battery swapping provides a sustainable path for urban fleets that is safe, reliable, scalable and always available. Today in Taiwan, Gogoro's battery swapping enables more than a quarter of all quick commerce deliveries like food and online purchases and nearly 100% of all electric deliveries," said Horace Luke, founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Gogoro. "We are partnering with Jardine Cycle & Carriage Group to introduce this new sustainable business model for food delivery and logistics fleets in Singapore today and in other cities across the region in the future."
JC&C's Managing Director for Direct Motor Interests, Wilfrid Foo, added, "In support of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, we are excited to collaborate with Gogoro to introduce an innovative electric two-wheeler solution for our city-state's green ambitions. We are confident that we are well-placed to accelerate the implementation of Gogoro's best-in-class battery swapping solution by deploying our existing infrastructure to operate the GoStation network in Singapore. Together with Gogoro, we are looking for partners in the delivery or logistics space that are interested in harnessing this potential and benefitting from this platform with us. Jardine Cycle & Carriage participates across the automotive value chain from manufacturing, distribution, retail to aftersales in several Southeast Asian countries. With our regional network, we look forward to the prospect of facilitating opportunities for the penetration of electric scooters and battery swapping stations in new markets."
Launching soon, the Gogoro battery swapping sandbox pilot will include Gogoro Smartscooters, Gogoro GoStation battery swap stations and Gogoro smart batteries. Cycle & Carriage will manage Gogoro's battery swapping network and vehicle fleet in Singapore. Cycle & Carriage will also explore working with a variety of food delivery and logistics fleets in the country. The Gogoro sandbox supports Singapore's Green Plan 2030 and vision for transitioning Singapore to sustainable energy and transportation.
The Singapore Green Plan 2030 is a national sustainability movement which seeks to rally bold and collective action to tackle climate change. The Green Plan charts ambitious and concrete targets over the next 10 years, strengthening Singapore's commitments under the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Paris Agreement, and positioning Singapore to achieve its long-term net zero emissions aspiration as soon as viable. More information can be found on Singapore's Green Plan 2030 here https://www.greenplan.gov.sg/.
"Gogoro is honored to be given approval by the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) to operate a sandbox to validate Gogoro battery swapping as a smart mobility refueling solution for the future, and we applaud the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and its proactive commitment to sustainable energy and transportation," said Luke.
In early 2022, Gogoro announced its participation in the development of Singapore's new Technical Reference (TR25) standard for charging electric vehicles, where Gogoro focused on battery swapping for electric two-wheel vehicles. TR25 established new requirements for safe installation, maintenance and operation of EV charging including battery swapping systems that provide a significant path to accelerating EV adoption in Singapore. A key objective of the sandbox is to achieve TR25 certification of Gogoro's battery swapping platform.
Singapore and other Southeast Asian cities require sustainable mobility solutions for logistics and delivery fleets that not only achieve the best alternative to gas-powered vehicles but are well suited to their specific market and industry needs. The Gogoro ecosystem combines the greatest vehicle optimization and reliability for businesses while providing the easiest and most sophisticated battery swapping system that enables logistics companies to better manage their fleets and deliveries more efficiently.
Launched in 2015, Gogoro battery swapping has become the refueling leader for electric two-wheel vehicles with more than 92% market share in Taiwan in the first half of 2022. Gogoro's open battery swapping ecosystem currently supports ten different vehicle brands, accounting for more than 25% of all two-wheelers sold in Taipei City, Taiwan in the first half of 2022.
At the heart of Gogoro's ecosystem is the Gogoro Network, an open and interoperable battery swapping platform that was recognized in 2021 by Guidehouse Insights as the leading battery swapping solution for lightweight urban vehicles. The Gogoro Network is an open platform for battery swapping and smart mobility services, delivering a fresh alternative to legacy fuel. Gogoro Network is a new generation of swappable battery refueling that is smart, scalable, and continually optimizing itself to be dynamic and versatile for people, communities, and businesses. With more than 500,000 riders and nearly 11,000 battery swapping GoStation cabinets at over 2,240 locations, Gogoro Network is hosting 340,000 daily battery swaps with more than 325 million total battery swaps to date.
Founded in 2011 to rethink urban energy and inspire the world to move through cities in smarter and more sustainable ways, Gogoro leverages the power of innovation to change the way urban energy is distributed and consumed. Gogoro's battery swapping and vehicle platforms offer a smart, proven and sustainable long-term ecosystem for delivering a new approach to urban mobility. Gogoro has quickly become an innovation leader in vehicle design and electric propulsion, smart battery design, battery swapping, and advanced cloud services that utilize artificial intelligence to manage battery availability and safety. The challenge is massive, but the opportunity to disrupt the status quo, establish new standards, and achieve new levels of sustainable transportation growth in densely populated cities is even greater. For more information, visit www.gogoro.com/news and follow Gogoro on Twitter: @wearegogoro.
Jardine Cycle & Carriage (JC&C) is the investment holding company of the Jardine Matheson Group in Southeast Asia. JC&C seeks to grow alongside Southeast Asia's urbanisation and emerging consumer class by investing in market-leading businesses. With interests across diversified businesses, JC&C works closely with its businesses to enable them to achieve their potential and to elevate their communities. JC&C has a significant automotive presence in the region including Astra and Tunas Ridean in Indonesia, THACO Corporation in Vietnam, as well as the Cycle & Carriage businesses in Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar. Together with its subsidiaries and associates, JC&C employs around 240,000 people across Southeast Asia. For more information, visit www.jcclgroup.com.
This communication contains forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward looking statements generally relate to future events or Gogoro's future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward looking statements because they contain words such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "going to," "could," "intends," "target," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern Gogoro's expectations, strategy, priorities, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements in this communication include, but are not limited to, the potential of the partnership between Gogoro and Jardine Cycle & Carriage including the ability of such partnership to achieve its goals, projections of market opportunity, market share and potential growth in Singapore, the capability of Gogoro's technology, Gogoro's business plans including related to its battery swapping sandbox pilot, and statements by Gogoro's founder, chairman and chief executive officer. Gogoro's expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results in future periods are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including risks related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, risks related to macroeconomic factors including inflation and consumer confidence, risks related to political tensions, Gogoro's ability to effectively manage its growth, Gogoro's ability to launch and ramp up the production of its products and control its manufacturing costs and manage its supply chain issues, Gogoro's risks related to ability to expand its sales and marketing abilities, Gogoro's ability to expand effectively into new markets, foreign exchange fluctuations, Gogoro's ability to develop and maintain relationships with its partners, risks related to operating in the PRC, regulatory risks and Gogoro's risks related to strategic collaborations, risks related to the China market and other international markets, alliances or joint ventures including Gogoro's ability to enter into and execute its plans related to strategic collaborations, alliances or joint ventures in order for such strategic collaborations, alliances or joint ventures to be successful and generate revenue, Gogoro's ability to raise additional capital, the risks related to the need for Gogoro to invest more capital in strategic collaborations, alliances or joint ventures, and the risk of Gogoro having to update the accounting treatment for its joint ventures. The forward looking statements contained in this communication are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in Gogoro's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including in Gogoro's Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021, which was filed on May 2, 2022 and in its subsequent filings with the SEC, copies of which are available on our website and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The forward looking statements in this communication are based on information available to Gogoro as of the date hereof, and Gogoro disclaims any obligation to update any forward looking statements, except as required by law.
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SOURCE Gogoro | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/singapores-land-transport-authority-awards-gogoro-with-sandbox-pilot-gogoro-jardine-cycle-amp-carriage-announce-partnership-electric-two-wheeled-vehicles-battery-swapping-singapore/ | 2022-09-02T05:18:26Z |
FREMONT, Calif. and OXFORD, United Kingdom, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cerus Endovascular Ltd., a privately held, commercial-stage medical device company, announced today the appointment of Stephen Griffin, Ph.D. to Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Dr. Griffin has been with the company since 2014 and was appointed President in 2018. He was critical in assembling the current Cerus Endovascular team and indispensable in creating and establishing the "Contour" brand internationally.
"Stephen played a vital role in helping me create and execute our strategic plan as well as navigating the various regulatory and commercial hurdles in order to achieve our current level of commercial and technical success," stated Dr. Sam Milstein, Chairman of the Board. "Not only has Stephen been the key inventor behind all of the company's implant product portfolio but the high regard with which he is held by his peers has been invaluable in affirming the credibility of the company's technical and commercial platform."
"I am truly honored to accept this role and will continue to give my 100% effort in expanding our global footprint with our portfolio of products," stated Dr. Griffin. "I continue to be excited about the potential of our products and the impact that they already have and will have on patients and their families. I am blessed to have a job I love and to work with so many incredibly smart people. My work never gets old."
Cerus Endovascular is a privately held, commercial-stage medical device company engaged in the design and development of highly differentiated and proprietary interventional neuroradiology devices and delivery systems for the treatment of acute, life-threatening neurological conditions, specifically, intracranial aneurysms. The company's CE Marked products, the Contour Neurovascular System™ and the Neqstent Coil Assisted Flow Diverter, expand the number and types of treatable intracranial aneurysms. For more information, please go to: www.cerusendo.com.
Contact:
Melody A. Carey
Rx Communications Group, LLC
917-322-2571
mcarey@rxir.com
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SOURCE Cerus Endovascular | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/cerus-endovascular-names-stephen-griffin-chief-executive-officer/ | 2022-07-12T12:40:24Z |
Locals Invited to "Eat Happy" with Free Entrée Grand Opening Offer
DALLAS , June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- What's the news? Mendocino Farms, the fast-casual restaurant known for turning sandwiches, salads and more into an unexpected culinary adventure, is expanding in Dallas with a new location in West Village (3700 McKinney Avenue) opening on Tuesday, July 12. The West Village location will be the restaurant company's third in the area with two additional openings slated for later this year.
Why is this important? With the new West Village location, Mendocino Farms seeks to bring its adventurous flavors and "Eat Happy" mantra to Dallasites, offering residents and visitors of the in-town neighborhood a convenient dining option, either in the restaurant or through takeout or delivery.
"Known for bringing people together, West Village embodies the spirit of hospitality at the heart of Mendocino Farms," said Kevin Miles, CEO of Mendocino Farms. "This vibrant community of foodies is a perfect fit for our next Dallas location. We're eager to raise the bar on what guests can expect from a fast casual culinary experience, welcoming the West Village community to our herd whether they are nearby residents, professionals or regulars on the Katy Trail."
Locals can join the West Village grand opening celebrations by creating a My Mendo account and selecting "DFW-West Village" as their favorite location before opening day. The offer includes a free sandwich, salad or bowl with any menu purchase during the first two weeks post-opening.
As a new neighbor committed to supporting the communities it serves, Mendocino Farms is donating 50% of opening day sales to La La Land Kind Café's We Are One project, empowering local foster youth with the knowledge and skillset necessary for workplace success.
What's good to eat? Mendocino Farms' menu crafts fresh sandwiches, salads and more inspired by flavors from around the world, including right here in Texas. For those craving the taste of a summer cookout, try the limited-time Backyard BBQ Chicken Salad, featuring shaved, roasted chicken, crispy chopped romaine, kale, cabbage, black bean and corn succotash, grape tomatoes, red onion and fresh cilantro with fresh herb buttermilk ranch. The "Not So Fried" Chicken Sandwich has quickly become a Texas fan-favorite with its elevated take on a classic, made with shaved, roasted chicken breast, Mendo's signature krispies, herb aioli, mustard pickle slaw, tomatoes and pickled red onions on toasted ciabatta – or get it over a bed of greens, salad style – with a side of tangy mustard barbeque sauce or mustard pickle remoulade.
Mendocino Farms' philosophy on creating classics with a tempting twist also extends to its beverage offerings with refreshing agua fresca flavors, including Rose Lemonade, Thai Turmeric Lemonade and Get Your Greens, as well as local beer and wine on tap at the West Village location.
How/where can I get it? Dine-in, order online or through the Mendocino Farms App for pick up or delivery, seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Delivery is available through third-party partners including UberEats, DoorDash and Postmates. Locals can also Eat Happy with a group through flexible catering options for gatherings with families, friends or coworkers, and other celebratory moments.
To learn more about the upcoming West Village opening, click here.
Mendocino Farms takes guests on a culinary adventure with its diverse menu of chef-driven, seasonal sandwiches and salads made from fresh, high-quality ingredients. Founded in Southern California in 2005 by husband-and-wife team Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen, Mendocino Farms has grown to 47 locations and counting in California and Texas. By creating gathering places for connection and nourishment whether dining in store, enjoying at home, or catering it to the office, the restaurant company aims to make hearts and stomachs happy through unexpected flavors and friendliness. For more information visit mendocinofarms.com.
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SOURCE Mendocino Farms | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/mendocino-farms-moooves-into-west-village-with-crave-able-culinary-creations/ | 2022-06-28T13:41:21Z |
Russia’s war in Ukraine
By Andrew Raine, Amy Woodyatt, Hafsa Khalil and Ed Upright, CNN
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
By Andrew Raine, Amy Woodyatt, Hafsa Khalil and Ed Upright, CNN
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
You must be logged in to post a comment. | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-europe-mideast-africa/2022/05/22/russias-war-in-ukraine-26/ | 2022-05-23T10:25:27Z |
WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — As the nation reels in the wake of a series of tragic mass shootings, President Joe Biden on Thursday called for action from lawmakers to combat gun violence.
Speaking at the White House, the president urged Congress to restore a ban on the sale of assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. Biden said that if Congress refuses his ideas, they must find other solutions, such as raising the age to buy assault-style weapons from 18 to 21 and limiting access to guns for those struggling with mental health issues.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Biden said, reports that guns are now the number one killer of children in the United States. The president says the agency also states that more school-aged children have died from guns than on-duty police officers and active-duty military combined.
“For God’s sake, how much more carnage are we willing to accept? How many more innocent American lives must be taken before we say enough?” Biden questioned.
As debate over federal gun legislation divides the nation, a renewed call for tougher gun laws has permeated Washington following mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were killed; Buffalo, New York, where 10 people died at a supermarket in a primarily Black area; and most recently, Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a man who blamed his surgeon for ongoing pain opened fire at a hospital, killing the surgeon and three other people before fatally shooting himself.
“This time we have to take the time to do something,” Biden said, calling out the Senate, where 10 Republican votes would be needed to pass legislation supported by Democrats.
“I know how hard it is, but I’ll never give up and if Congress fails, I believe this time a majority of the American people won’t give up, either,” he added. “I believe the majority of you will act to turn your outrage into making this issue central to your vote.”
When Biden visited the shattered community of Uvalde on Sunday, he was met with chants of “do something” as he departed a church service, Biden pledged: “We will.” He also mentioned his visit to Buffalo following the mass shooting at a grocery store.
“At both places, we spent hours. Hundreds of family members who were broken, whose lives will never be the same, they had one message for all of us: Do something, just do something, for God’s sake, do something,” Biden said during his remarks Thursday night.
Democrats first attempted to respond to the mass shootings with a domestic terrorism bill in the Senate last week that would have opened debate on difficult questions surrounding hate crimes and gun safety. The bill was blocked.
The House now is swiftly working to put its stamp on gun legislation.
Biden said he does not want to take away guns from responsible owners.
“I want to be very clear. This is not about taking away anyone’s guns. It’s not about vilifying gun owners. In fact, we believe we should be treating responsible gun owners as an example of how every gun owner should behave,” Biden said. “I respect the culture and the tradition and the concerns of lawful gun owners. At the same time, the Second Amendment, like all other rights, is not absolute.
“This isn’t about taking anyone’s rights. It’s about protecting children. It’s about protecting families. It’s about protecting whole communities. It’s about protecting our freedom to go to school, to a grocery store, to a church, without being shot and killed.”
Framework of gun reform bill up for discussion
The Democratic legislation by the House, called the Protecting Our Kids Act, was quickly added to the legislative docket.
But partisan positions were clear at a Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday on the legislation, which initially aimed to raise the age limit for purchasing semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.
The bill also would make it a federal offense to import, manufacture or possess large-capacity magazines and would create a grant program to buy back such magazines.
The measure passed the House Judiciary Committee and a vote by the full House could come as early as next week.
The legislation builds on the Biden administration’s executive action banning fast-action “bump-stock” devices and “ghost guns.”
Gun violence surges to ‘crisis’ level
However, with Republicans nearly all in opposition, the House action will mostly be symbolic, merely putting lawmakers on record about gun control ahead of this year’s elections.
The Senate is taking a different course, with a bipartisan group striving toward a compromise on gun safety legislation that can win enough GOP support to become law.
Any legislative response to the shootings will have to get through the evenly divided Senate, where support from at least 10 Republicans would be needed to advance the measure to a final vote.
A group of senators has been working privately this week in hopes of finding a consensus.
No major gun legislation has passed the Senate in years — even after the devastating massacre of 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.
The Senate did, however, approve a modest measure to encourage compliance with background checks after a church shooting in Texas and the Parkland school shooting in Florida.
The president is also calling for national “red flag” laws, so that a parent, teacher or counselor could flag someone exhibiting violent tendencies, threatening classmates or experiencing suicidal thoughts. Biden says 19 states and the District of Columbia currently have such laws.
Biden left Americans with the following impassioned plea: “Enough. It’s time for each of us to do our part. It’s time to act. For the children we’ve lost, the children we can save, for the nation we love, let’s hear the call and the cry. Let’s meet the moment. Let us finally do something.”
The Hill and The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/enough-biden-calls-for-action-to-combat-gun-violence/ | 2022-06-03T17:07:33Z |
HOUSTON (AP) — A 24th woman filed a civil lawsuit Monday alleging sexual misconduct by Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is also awaiting possible discipline from the NFL.
The latest lawsuit was filed in Houston by attorney Tony Buzbee, who is representing all 24 women.
“Lost in the media frenzy surrounding Deshaun Watson is that these are twenty-four strong, courageous women who, despite ridicule, legal shenanigans, and intense media scrutiny, continue to stand firm for what is right,” Buzbee said in a statement.
Watson has been accused by massage therapists of harassing, assaulting or touching them during appointments when he was with the Houston Texans.
The latest lawsuit makes similar allegations as the woman, a massage therapist, accuses Watson of assaulting and harassing her during an August 2020 session in her apartment. The woman alleges that during the massage session, Watson exposed himself and masturbated and “offered no apology or explanation for his conduct.”
The woman has quit being a massage therapist because of what happened to her and now suffers from depression and anxiety, according to the lawsuit.
Rusty Hardin, Watson’s lead attorney, said he could not immediately comment on the latest lawsuit.
“Our legal team has not had time to investigate this new filing and had not heard her name until today. Deshaun continues to deny he did anything inappropriate with any of the plaintiffs,” Hardin said in a statement Monday.
Hardin has previously said Watson had consensual sexual activity with three of the women and did not force any of his accusers to have sexual contact.
The first 22 lawsuits were filed in March and April of 2021, with the latest two being filed since two of the women detailed encounters with Watson while being interviewed on HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.”
As the 24th lawsuit was being formally announced, Watson took part in the Browns’ charity golf outing in Rocky River, Ohio. Watson did not speak to the media.
Before Watson arrived at Westwood Country Club, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was asked if the latest lawsuit causes the organization to revisit with the quarterback about his legal situation.
“With that, we’re trying to just be respectful of the process and let that take care of it,” Stefanski said.
Two separate Texas grand juries in March declined to indict Watson on criminal complaints stemming from the allegations.
But Watson could still be suspended if the NFL determines he violated the league’s personal conduct policy. The three-time Pro Bowler has been interviewed by league investigators, who will present their findings to disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson. Commissioner Roger Goodell said last month the investigation was nearing a conclusion.
League spokesman Brian McCarthy said there was no update on the investigation or any timeline.
“We will decline comment as the matter remains under review,” he said in an email to The Associated Press.
Watson has maintained his innocence, saying any sexual activity was consensual.
At his introductory news conference with the Browns in March, Watson denied any wrongdoing. “I’ve never assaulted or disrespected or harassed any woman in my life,” Watson said. “I’ve never done these things people are alleging.”
Stefanski said Monday the team is prepared to handle whatever the league decides.
“I think all along we’re just going to take those things day-by-day and when we have information, then we’ll act on said information,” he said.
Watson was traded from the Texans to Cleveland in March and then signed a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract with his new team despite his ongoing legal problems.
Cleveland signed veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett to back up Watson. Baker Mayfield remains on the team, but the Browns are looking to trade the No. 1 overall pick in 2018.
Watson has been participating in the Browns’ offseason team activities, which will continue this week. The team has a mandatory minicamp scheduled from June 14-16.
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AP Sports Writer Tom Withers reported from Cleveland.
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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/browns-watson-named-in-24th-lawsuit-by-massage-therapists/ | 2022-06-07T02:53:59Z |
Some evacuated from Mariupol; US lawmaker Pelosi visits Kyiv
ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) - Some women and children have been evacuated from a steel plant that is the last defensive stronghold in the bombed-out ruins of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, while U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Ukraine’s president in the country’s capital in a show of American support.
Russia’s offensive in coastal southern Ukraine and the country’s eastern industrial heartland has Ukrainian forces fighting village by village and more civilians fleeing airstrikes and artillery shelling as the war reaches their doorsteps.
Thousands of residents were believed to remain trapped with little food, water or medicine in blockaded Mariupol. The United Nations was working to broker an evacuation of as many as 1,000 civilians who were hunkered down with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters beneath a sprawling Soviet-era steel plant that is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians.
Footage released early Sunday by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office showed Pelosi in Kyiv with a congressional delegation that included representatives Jason Crow, Jim McGovern, Gregory Meeks and Adam Schiff. The visit was not previously announced.
“We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom,” said Pelosi, who is second in line to the U.S. presidency after the vice president and the highest-ranking American leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the war.
“We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done,” Pelosi added.
GRAPHIC WARNING: Videos may contain disturbing content.
Pelosi’s office did not say when the meeting took place, but the light in the video and other details suggested the meeting took place Saturday. Members of Congress Barbara Lee and Bill Keating were also listed as being in the delegation, although it wasn’t clear if they were in Kyiv.
The delegation was scheduled to hold a press conference in the Polish city of Rzeszow on Sunday.
Russian forces have embarked on a major military operation to seize significant parts of southern and eastern Ukraine following their failure to capture the capital. Mariupol is a major target because of its strategic location near the Crimea Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014.
Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency said Saturday that 19 adults and six children were brought out from the Azovstal steelworks, but gave no further details.
A top official with the Azov Regiment, the Ukrainian unit defending the plant, said 20 civilians were evacuated during a cease-fire, though it was not clear if he was referring to the same group. There was no confirmation from the U.N.
“These are women and children,” Sviatoslav Palamar said in a video posted on the regiment’s Telegram channel. He also called for the evacuation of the wounded: “We don’t know why they are not taken away and their evacuation to the territory controlled by Ukraine is not being discussed.”
Ukraine has blamed the failure of numerous previous evacuation attempts on continued Russian shelling.
U.N. humanitarian spokesperson Saviano Abreu said the world organization was negotiating with authorities in Moscow and Kyiv on evacuations from Mariupol, but he could not provide details of the ongoing effort “because of the complexity and fluidity of the operation.”
Abreu would not confirm video posted on social media purportedly showing U.N.-marked vehicles in Mariupol.
In the town of Lyman in the Donetsk region, where at least half the population has fled Russian shelling, around 20 elderly people and children clutching bags along with their dogs and cats boarded a minivan marked with a sign reading “evacuation of children” in Ukrainian. It sped off toward the city of Dnipro as explosions were heard in the distance.
“The liberators have come and have freed us from what? Our lives?” said Nina Mihaylenko, a professor of Russian language and literature, referring to the Russian forces.
Video and images from inside the plant, shared with The Associated Press by two Ukrainian women who said their husbands are among the fighters refusing to surrender there, showed unidentified men with stained bandages; others had open wounds or amputated limbs.
A skeleton medical staff was treating at least 600 wounded people, said the women, who identified their husbands as members of the Azov Regiment of Ukraine’s National Guard. Some of the wounds were rotting with gangrene, they said.
In the video the men said that they eat just once daily and share as little as 1.5 liters (50 ounces) of water a day among four people, and that supplies inside the besieged facility are depleted.
The AP could not independently verify the date and location of the video, which the women said was taken in the last week in the maze of corridors and bunkers beneath the plant.
The women urged that Ukrainian fighters also be evacuated alongside civilians, warning they could be tortured and executed if captured. “The lives of soldiers matter, too,” Yuliia Fedusiuk told the AP in Rome.
In his nightly video address late Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy switched into Russian to urge Russian troops not to fight in Ukraine, saying even their generals expect that thousands more of them will die.
The president accused Moscow of recruiting new soldiers “with little motivation and little combat experience” so that units gutted early in the war can be thrown back into battle.
“Every Russian soldier can still save his own life,” Zelenskyy said. “It’s better for you to survive in Russia than to perish on our land.”
In other developments:
— Ukrainian Deputy Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotsky said in televised remarks that Russian forces have seized hundreds of thousands of tons of grain in territory under their control. Ukraine is a major grain producer, and the invasion has pushed up world prices and raised concerns about shortages.
— A Russian rocket attack destroyed the airport runway in Odesa, Ukraine’s third-most populous city and a key Black Sea port, the Ukrainian army said.
Getting a full picture of the unfolding battle in eastern Ukraine has been difficult because airstrikes and artillery barrages have made it extremely dangerous for reporters to move around. Also, both Ukraine and Moscow-backed rebels have introduced tight restrictions on reporting from the combat zone.
But Western military analysts suggested that the offensive in the Donbas region, which includes Mariupol, was going much slower than planned. So far, Russian troops and the separatists appeared to have made only minor gains in the month since Moscow said it would focus its military strength in the east.
Numerically, Russia’s military manpower vastly exceeds Ukraine’s. In the days before the war began, Western intelligence estimated Russia had positioned near the border as many as 190,000 troops; Ukraine’s standing military totals about 200,000, spread throughout the country.
With plenty of firepower still in reserve, Russia’s offensive still could intensify and overrun the Ukrainians. Overall the Russian army has an estimated 900,000 active-duty personnel. Russia also has a much larger air force and navy.
Hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance has flowed into Ukraine since the war began, but Russia’s vast armories mean Ukraine will continue to require huge amounts of support.
___
Fisch reported from Sloviansk. Associated Press journalists Jon Gambrell and Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington, Trisha Thompson in Rome and AP staff around the world contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/01/some-evacuated-mariupol-us-lawmaker-pelosi-visits-kyiv/ | 2022-05-01T09:40:44Z |
Bradenton Police cite multiple drivers for not wearing a seatbelt
Published: May. 31, 2022 at 5:21 PM EDT|Updated: 34 minutes ago
BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) - The Click It or Ticket Campaign is in full effect in the city of Bradenton.
If you want to save $116, police have a simple solution: buckle your seatbelt.
On Tuesday, officers nabbed multiple drivers who either weren’t buckled up, or tried the “seatbelt fake-out” move
Beside the fact that it’s the law, your seatbelt can & WILL save your life in the event of a crash.
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/31/bradenton-police-cite-multiple-drivers-not-wearing-seatbelt/ | 2022-05-31T21:56:37Z |
RICHMOND, Va., July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV) will webcast its conference call on August 3, 2022, following the release of its results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 after market close on that date. The conference call will begin at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time and will be hosted by Candace C. Formacek, Vice President and Treasurer.
A live webcast of the conference call will be available online on a listen-only basis at www.universalcorp.com. A replay of the webcast conference call will be available at that site through November 3, 2022. A taped replay of the call will also be available from 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time on August 3rd through August 16, 2022, at (866) 813-9403. The telephone replay identification number is 516295.
All remarks made during the conference call will be current at the time of the call, and the language of the call will not be updated to reflect subsequent material developments.
While news media representatives will not be able to ask questions during the webcast, they are welcome to monitor the remarks on a listen-only basis. The use of any comments made by Universal employees or other participants during the call will be restricted for background use only and not for attribution. The contents of the presentation are the property of Universal Corporation, protected by copyright law, and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Universal Corporation. Rebroadcast of the copyrighted call or any portion thereof is prohibited.
Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV), headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a global business-to-business agri-products supplier to consumer product manufacturers, operating in over 30 countries on five continents. We strive to be the supplier of choice for our customers by leveraging our farmer base, our commitment to a sustainable supply chain, and our ability to provide high-quality, customized, traceable, value-added agri-products essential for our customers' requirements. We find innovative solutions to serve our customers and have been meeting their agri-product needs for more than 100 years. Our principal focus since our founding in 1918 has been tobacco, and we are the leading global leaf tobacco supplier. Through our plant-based ingredients platform, we provide a variety of value-added manufacturing processes to produce high-quality, specialty vegetable- and fruit-based ingredients as well as botanical extracts and flavorings for the food and beverage end markets. For more information, visit www.universalcorp.com.
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SOURCE Universal Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/universal-corporation-announces-conference-call/ | 2022-07-26T21:27:05Z |
Award-winning nanoliquid technology company delivers environmentally sustainable solutions to reduce fertilizer and crop protectant inputs while improving farmers' profits
SANDY, Utah, Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aqua-Yield, the leading nanoliquid company for agricultural production worldwide, today announced the close of its Series A investment round of $23M. The round was led by the Larry H. Miller Company (the LHM Company) with participation from Penny Newman Grain Company and San Leonardo. The company will leverage the funding to accelerate the global adoption of its nanoliquid solutions.
Aqua-Yield offers a technology unlike anything else in the market, having created its own segment in the world of crop inputs. The company's award-winning nanoliquid solutions leverage sophisticated nanoparticles to make liquid agricultural products more effective at plant absorption and dramatically increase crop-yield and profits for farmers while enhancing the sustainability of the soil.
"Since 2014, the Aqua-Yield team has developed a robust patent platform. We sustainably grow profits by solving plant absorption problems and have helped thousands of growers reduce their synthetic fertilizer and crop protection inputs by 25-50 percent," said Clark T. Bell, Aqua-Yield CEO and co-founder. "The patented nano-based technology acts as a catalyst to traditional liquid agricultural fertilizers and crop protection products. This tech works with all traditional ag inputs by enhancing plant absorption of nutrients and efficacy of crop protectants. With our suite of 16 commercially available products we have an answer for nearly every crop."
"Since the beginning of the global pandemic our company has doubled in size year-over-year," added Clark. "Nanoliquid technology enables growers to stretch their ag inputs. This has been key to growth as the agribusiness industry faces supply chain struggles, product availability, and the current environmental strains that will continue to play a key role in the future."
The company's solutions work for farms of all sizes and in all regions of the United States, and is currently used on four million acres of farms, and in more than nine countries. Between 2014 and 2021, the company conducted more than 750 field trials that resulted in an average 3:1 return on investment for growers. Since 2014, Aqua-Yield's solution has reduced farmers' use of micronutrients by up to 80 percent and use of macronutrients by up to 50 percent by minimizing fertilizer and chemical applications and increasing nutrient uptake, germination rates, crop yields, and growth cycles.
"Aqua-Yield makes synthetic fertilizers and chemicals more efficient, increasing nutrient uptake and decreasing synthetic fertilizer use, resulting in more environmentally efficient and profitable farms," said David Smith, the LHM Company's chief strategy officer. "Stewardship is a core value at the Larry H. Miller Company, and we see this investment as an opportunity to improve methods that feed our planet in a more sustainable and responsible manner."
"As an original investor in Aqua-Yield, I've been impressed with how the executive team has bootstrapped and grown the company in an holistic way," said Fraser Bullock, founding partner and member of the board of Aqua-Yield. "The capital from our Series A will allow us to expand our commercial team globally and establish a strategic international footprint."
In addition, Aqua-Yield will announce additional follow-on capital from a leading agriculture investor in the Fourth Quarter of 2022. For more information about Aqua-Yield's technology, products and solutions, visit www.aquayield.com/products.
With the recent news of becoming a USDA and EPA Winner of the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge, retailers and growers alike are encouraged by the benefits of Aqua-Yield® Nanoliquid® products have to offer, especially during this time of economic turmoil. Aqua-Yield offers a technology unlike anything else on the market, having created its own segment in the world of inputs. The ag industry is starting to take notice of this technology company out of Utah that recommends just 2-6 oz of its liquid technology per acre. Backed by several Universities, 3rd party trials, and several years of testing by its technical team, Aqua-Yield has given their customers across the country, and across the world, the solutions they've been looking for. From stressed out crops, to the unconquered weed problems, to the lack of nutrient availability, or just to helping maintain healthier soil. Aqua-Yield is solving big problems while being affordable, flexible, and clean. For more information about the company and its solutions, visit www.aquayield.com.
Headquartered in Sandy, Utah, the Larry H. Miller Company (the LHM Company) is a privately-owned business with operations located mainly across the western United States. As a portfolio of companies and investments, the LHM Company's focus falls within the primary categories of real estate, health care, finance, entertainment, sports, and long-term strategy and investments, as well as philanthropy. For more information about the Larry H. Miller Company, visit www.lhm.com.
Penny Newman Grain is one of the largest merchandizers of grain and feed ingredients in the Western United States. Its youngest division, Farm Products, offers a portfolio of best-in-class crop input technologies that facilitate the reduction in chemical fertilizers and crop protection products while maximizing yield potential, with the goal of fostering a more regenerative production paradigm at scale. Additional information on Penny Newman Grain may be found at www.penny-newman.com.
San Leonardo is an investment affiliate of the John and Katie Hansen Family Foundation, which was established in 2006 and is active in seeking creative, leverageable solutions for global sustainability and conservation challenges. Since inception the Foundation has been led by Katie Vogelheim, a seasoned management executive with experience in a broad range of businesses around the world.
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SOURCE Aqua-Yield | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/13/aqua-yield-announces-23-million-series-funding-round/ | 2022-09-13T15:39:31Z |
Award winners recognized for optimal and innovative use of clinical surveillance to support and improve patient care
MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VigiLanz, a clinical surveillance company, today announced the winners of the annual Vigi Awards, which honor innovative hospitals throughout the United States.
The Vigi Awards recognize how hospitals have used clinical surveillance to enhance patient safety. The award winners are selected by VigiLanz based on nominations of individuals and teams submitted by VigiLanz customers. All award winners receive a donation to a charity of their choice.
"We are incredibly proud of this year's Vigi Award winners, and it is our honor to recognize them for their amazing accomplishments and achievements," said David Goldsteen, MD, VigiLanz CEO. "Demonstrated improvements in patient safety, outcomes, and cost savings matter to us all and it is our privilege to be able to partner with some of our country's finest hospitals and health systems to improve lives."
This year's winners:
Infection Preventionist of the Year: Adriana Jimenez, PhD, Infection Prevention Manager – Jackson Health System, Florida
Recognized for using VigiLanz to track isolation and HAI activations, develop device and analysis reports, and customize real-time alerts.
Pharmacy Team of the Year: Pharmacy Team – Freeman Health System, Missouri
Recognized for using VigiLanz to:
- Build rules to quickly identify patients discharged with a new cardiology medication so that residents could provide appropriate medication education.
- Create data mining searches to capture MRSA screens and culture results to validate discontinuation of vancomycin.
- Identify patients with positive MRSA nasal screens that would benefit from mupirocin.
Safety Team of the Year: Safety Team – Christus Health, Texas
Recognized for using VigiLanz to improve quality of medication error reports, enable error reporting standardization, and aid in the creation of meaningful action plans.
Rising Star (tie): Pharmacy Team – Benefis Health System, Montana
Recognized for the development of VigiLanz rules to quickly identify the most severe patients that would likely benefit from a thorough comprehensive medical review, saving staff time.
Rising Star (tie): Dechen Lama, IT Systems Administrator – Mount Sinai Health System, New York
Recognized for putting infection prevention ideas into action, including quickly creating new rules to identify and isolate COVID-19 and monkeypox patients and enable timely care.
5-Star Patient Care: Pharmacy and Microbial Stewardship Team – Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, Texas
Recognized for using rule-based alerts in conjunction with a pharmacist-driven MRSA protocol to provide timely de-escalation of antibiotics.
Stewardship: Stewardship Team – Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Ohio
Recognized for enhancing long term health outcomes by using data collected by VigiLanz to identify pediatric patients allergic to Penicillin that may no longer be allergic and would benefit from allergy testing.
They Did What? Wow!: Laura Stines, Infection Prevention Data Analyst – Cone Health System, North Carolina
Recognized for using VigiLanz to automatically populate HAI dashboards, providing more data to drive decision making and analyze trends, and reducing risk of manual entry errors.
Great Catch!: Continental Division – HCA Healthcare, Colorado
Recognized for using data captured by VigiLanz to investigate care patterns, enable investigations, and catch drug diversions to advance patient safety.
"VigiLanz allows a much more streamlined approach to medication compliance compared to pulling the data from the electronic health record directly. The way VigiLanz collates the information into workable documents means we can also create visual aids, such as graphs and tables, to demonstrate trends or data," said Holly Monatt, Vice President of Pharmacy Services at HCA Healthcare Continental Division. "The time we spend interpreting and reviewing data is so much more meaningful because of the efficiencies VigiLanz provides us for actual data gathering."
For more information on the Vigi Awards and award winners, please visit the VigiLanz website.
About VigiLanz
Founded in 2001, VigiLanz is a privately held, rapidly growing provider of SaaS-based clinical surveillance, safety, quality, and risk solutions. The organization is focused on transforming the delivery of quality care by aggregating disparate EHR transactional workflow and documentation data across health systems to identify real-time clinical issues that avoid or minimize harm, optimize clinical outcomes, and support preventive care. VigiLanz is a clinical partner to a large and growing community of hospital CMOs, CMIOs, CIOs, quality and safety teams, infectious disease and control specialists, pharmacists, and other clinicians dedicated to innovative, real-time inpatient care.
For More Information
John Gonda
(616)-309-4888
jgonda@sage-growth.com
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SOURCE VigiLanz | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/vigilanz-announces-winners-2022-vigi-awards/ | 2022-08-15T14:35:31Z |
The global collective of Gen Z VCs, founders, angel investors, startup enthusiasts, and aspiring VCs will convene in Chicago for their national event on October 7, 2022
CHICAGO, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and World Business Chicago, the city's economic development agency, join national organization Gen Z VCs to announce its national event, Gen Z VCs Future-of-Chicago Summit 2022, will occur in Chicago on October 7.
"I'm thrilled to welcome the global Gen Z VCs community to our great city," said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. "These young and talented individuals prove that finding success in the VC space is possible at any age and are doing a great job to create community within the industry. I'm excited for them to see our growing herd of local unicorns, connect with our diverse founders' community and truly experience why Chicago is known around the world as a startup powerhouse."
Gen Z VCs is a collective of 17,000+ young venture capitalists (VCs), angel investors, founders, startup enthusiasts, and aspiring VCs. The global organization strives to make venture capital (VC) more transparent and welcoming for the next generation of investors through several initiatives. They serve as the central place where young people in venture capital can collaborate, connect Gen Z founders with like-minded young investors, and elevate the Gen Z perspective and voices.
"This community has grown from a Slack group when I launched my career in VC into a much larger movement around empowering the next generation. We quickly grew from a group of 30 friends to 17,000+ people globally, and we're excited to begin our national roadshow," said Meagan Loyst, Founder of Gen Z VCs. "Chicago has proven to be one of the most diverse, dynamic startup communities in the world, and it's the perfect host city for our upcoming national event for founders, innovators, and investors."
Gen Z VCs Future-of-Chicago Summit 2022 is presented by World Business Chicago, the city's private-public economic development agency, supported by a council of 200+ local leaders. World Business Chicago's programs drive inclusive growth and opportunity throughout the city's tech, innovation, and startup ecosystem, including through flagship programs, Chicago Venture Summit series, Startup Chicago, ThinkChicago, and Venture Engine with the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition.
"We had the good fortune to meet Meagan Loyst, founder, Gen Z VCs, when World Business Chicago hosted a business roundtable in New York City. Since our first meeting we have developed a wonderful rapport with the organization, which includes today's news that it will host its national road show in Chicago," said Michael Fassnacht, President & CEO of World Business Chicago, and Chief Marketing Officer for the City of Chicago. "Gen Z VCs represent the bright future of the global venture capital ecosystem, and we're excited to showcase Chicago to their founders, innovators, and investors."
Gen Z VCs Future-of-Chicago Summit will occur on Friday, October 7, 2022; following 1871's Supply Chain Innovation Lab Summit with Accenture (October 5) and World Business Chicago's Chicago Venture Summit Future-of-Logistics (October 6).
"Their evolution from a Slack community into a growing collective of initiatives built by the community, for the community, is incredibly inspiring," said Mark Tebbe, Chair of World Business Chicago's Innovation & Venture Council. "Gen Z VCs will feel right at home with the Chicago startup community, and World Business Chicago is so proud to host their national event this October."
The October 7 summit will include a full-day of programming, which will feature keynote speakers, fireside chat, panels, and a startup showcase to connect local talent with innovative companies.
"Especially during the height of the pandemic, Gen Z VCs served as a powerful platform for young founders, investors, and technologists to build community," said Landon Campbell, Chicago General Manager for Drive Capital. "And the Chicago startup and VC community couldn't be more excited to help this global collective continue to build and grow right here in America's heartland."
"GenZ VCs is the community I wish existed when I was just starting out in my career," said Haley Kwait Zollo, Partner for Chicago-based Starting Line VC. "I think Chicago is positioned to be a leading startup ecosystem and I'm bullish on what the future has in store with this next generation at the helm. We're excited to welcome the Gen Z VCs community and can't wait to share in this ultimate Chicago experience."
To learn more about Gen Z VCs Future-of-Chicago Summit, visit https://tinyurl.com/genzchicago
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SOURCE World Business Chicago | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/chicago-mayor-lori-e-lightfoot-amp-world-business-chicago-join-gen-z-vcs-announce-gen-z-vcs-future-of-chicago-summit-2022/ | 2022-09-07T18:13:12Z |
The Thai government will distribute one million free cannabis plants to households across the nation in June to mark a new rule allowing people to grow cannabis at home, its health minister has said.
Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced the move in a Facebook post on May 8 in which he expressed his intention for cannabis plants to be grown like "household crops."
The new rule, which comes into force on June 9, will allow people to grow cannabis plants at home after notifying their local government, but the plants will have to be of medical grade and used exclusively for medicinal purposes. Additionally, the cannabis cannot be used for commercial purposes without further licenses.
The move is the latest step in Thailand's plan to promote cannabis as a cash crop. About a third of its labor force works in agriculture, according to the World Bank.
In a region notorious for harsh penalties towards illegal drugs, Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia in 2018 to legalize cannabis for medical research and use.
The kingdom has also loosened local laws around cannabis. Thai drinks and cosmetics companies last year rushed to launch products with hemp and CBD, a compound that does not give users a high, after their use was approved for consumer goods.
In a further Facebook post on May 10, Anutin noted that Thai companies registered to do so could sell cannabis products that contained less than 0.2 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the part of the plant responsible for getting people high.
"This will enable people and the government to generate more than 10 billion baht per year in revenue from marijuana and hemp," Anutin wrote.
Kitty Chopaka, a Bangkok-based cannabis entrepreneur, told CNN the law was meant to pave the way for people to use the plant in medicinal teas or soups.
"It will still be considered criminal if you don't have a legal prescription and you have to be a patient of some form of ailment for this to work. Only then will you be able to grow cannabis at home and use it however you like."
She added that, even though recreational use of the drug remained illegal, "smoking weed will happen, and there's no way the [government] can stop that."
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ATLANTA, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Volato, the most efficient way to own a private jet, today announced that Nicholas Cooper, Co-founder and CCO, and James Cuff, VP Marketing & Business Development, will attend TC Sessions: Mobility 22, taking place at the San Mateo County Event Center, May 18-20, 2022, in San Mateo, Calif.
Back for the fourth consecutive year and presented by TechCrunch, the conference will take place both in-person and online and gather together founders, engineers, investors, regulators and technologists dedicated to transforming the way people and packages are moved around the globe.
The Volato team will be meeting with potential investors and technologists throughout the course of the event.
Visit their booth on site, or to make an appointment, email rsvp@flyvolato.com.
Volato's unique business model offers fractional ownership at 1/16, 1/8, 1⁄4, 1⁄2, through to a full HondaJet Elite aircraft in the fleet. Shares are in a five-year program term. Owners may fly for as low as $3,200 per hour plus fuel at cost. With the charter program now in operation, owners may earn up to $1,250 per hour, even on the hours they fly, leading to a net rate as low as $1,950 per hour plus fuel at cost, with flight time charged to the nearest 1/10th of an hour. Repositioning fees are reduced or eliminated from owner flight charges depending on the departure distance from a Volato base.
For more information, visit https://www.flyvolato.com.
About Volato:
Volato is the modern way to buy and own a private jet, creating a more accessible, sustainable category of private aviation ownership through an innovative business model that reduces costs while increasing the convenience of ownership. Volato focuses on missions of up to four passengers and operates a fleet of bespoke HondaJet Elite aircraft.
PR Contact:
Tori Mattei
tmattei@virgo-pr.com
631.942.5069
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SOURCE Volato | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/private-jet-company-volato-announces-participation-techcrunch-mobility-conference/ | 2022-05-17T14:55:32Z |
Which cat mice toys are best?
Between naps, your cat probably loves to play by chasing and batting things around the house. Tiny mice toys fulfill this pastime in an affordable way. The smaller mice come in larger quantities, leaving you with spares when some go missing. If you want a pack of quality cat mice toys, the top choice is Penn Plax Purr Pet Mice Cat Toys.
What to know before you buy a cat mice toy
Why do cats like mice toys?
Cats like mice because they encourages its natural instincts. In the wild, a cat stalks, hunts and chases its prey to feed itself. For the domestic housecat, a small mouse is a perfectly sized target. Tiny mice toys are light and move easily across rooms, which perks your cat’s interest and exercises its body.
What materials are cat mice toys made of?
Mice toys are often made from faux fur. The body is filled with cotton stuffing and many include a small plastic shaker with rattling beads inside. Each mouse has fabric pieces either sewn or glued on to indicate features on the mice.
Quantity vs. size
If your cat likes to wrestle, it can hug in larger mice with its front paws and kick them with its back legs. However, many mice packs come with 12, 24 or more small mice to offer your cat a variety of new toys. Your cat can enjoy chasing a new toy with fresh smells every few days with a larger set of smaller mice.
What to look for in quality cat mice toys
Cat attraction
Mice toys are decorated and sometimes scented to attract your cat’s attention. Some come in realistic shades such as gray and white while others are brightly colored. The mice are sometimes either stuffed or sprayed with catnip, catnip scents or other smells attractive to cats. This helps to engage your cat even if the toy is not moving or otherwise encouraging attention.
Durability
Your cat wants to bite and scratch at mice toys as it tosses them around your home. You don’t want to be picking up tons of tiny fur pieces or for your cat to cough up cotton. Good-quality mice toys can endure these behaviors multiple times without falling apart.
Noise
Mice cat toys can crinkle, rattle or squeak to attract your cat. This noise is created by a plastic piece or pieces inside each mouse when your cat pounces on it. Noises can also be made by shaking, throwing or rolling the mice around on the floor.
Realism
Certain mice are designed to look more realistic than others. The size and style of the mouse is meant to appeal to your cat by mimicking the movements of real mice. Whiskers, tails, ears and eyes are all additions to the tiny furry body to make it more realistic.
How much you can expect to spend on cat mice toys
Buying mice for your cat is easy and affordable, with most sets around $7-$15.
Cat mice toys FAQ
Why are mice good toys for cats?
A. Mice toys encourage your cat to run, jump and get exercise. This helps keep your cat lean and happy. An active cat lives a longer, healthier life.
How do you make a mouse toy?
A. You need fabric, scissors, a marker, paper, yarn, a needle and a piece of elastic or broken hair band. Follow the steps to put it all together.
- Make a pattern by cutting a half oval out of paper about 2 inches long. Then cut a smaller half oval for the ears.
- Cut out your patterns.
- Trace the patterns onto your fabric and cut 3 pieces for the body and two ear pieces.
- Use the needle and yarn to stitch together two pieces on one side. Take one of the open ends of fabric and sew the third piece of fabric to it. Sew together the final portion, leaving 1 inch of room for stuffing.
- Stuff cotton or other filler to attract your cat in the open hole of the fabric body.
- Sew the mouse up completely.
- Use more yarn to sew on eyes and ears.
- Use the elastic piece as a tail and sew it onto the mouse’s end with yarn.
- Tug the tail and send the mouse flying across the room to attract your cat’s attention.
What’s the best cat mice toy to buy?
Top cat mice toy
Penn Plax Purr Pet Mice Cat Toys
What you need to know: This is a pack of small mice that your cat can bat around for hours.
What you’ll love: The mice are white, gray and black to look realistic. Each is the size of a small mouse, about 2 inches long. These can be used for all life stages and are safe for kittens to elderly adult cats.
What you should consider: A few customers reported some of the mice tails falling off after their cats played with it.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top cat mice toy for the money
Hartz Cattraction Silver Vine and Catnip Cat Toys
What you need to know: This set of brightly colored mice is soft, fluffy and will attract your cat’s attention.
What you’ll love: There are 12 mice in each pack and they can be used by cats of all ages. The mice contain a blend of catnip and silver vine to attract your cat’s attention, but these are nontoxic natural ingredients.
What you should consider: These may not be ideal for cats that have a strong reaction to catnip, as some customers reported the mice breaking after rough play.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: These mice toys for cats of any age let yours play independently indoors.
What you’ll love: This is a 36-pack of mice in assorted colors that rattle when batted around. It’s a great value for endless hours of entertainment for your cat, and if any mice end up under the couch, there are plenty more to replace it.
What you should consider: A few customers complained that not all of the mice rattled and some may lose tails or ears easily.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/best-cat-mice-toy/ | 2022-08-03T21:59:46Z |
NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP notifies investors in MINISO Group Holding Limited ("MINISO" or the "Company") (NYSE: MNSO) of a class action securities lawsuit.
CLASS DEFINITION: The lawsuit seeks to recover losses on behalf of MINISO investors who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud. This lawsuit is on behalf of persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired publicly traded MINISO securities pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus issued in connection with MINISO's October 2020 initial public offering. Follow the link below to get more information and be contacted by a member of our team:
MNSO 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) defendants and other undisclosed related parties owned and controlled a much larger amount of MINISO stores than previously stated; (2) as a result, MINISO concealed its true costs; (3) the Company did not represent its true business model; (4) defendants, including the Company and its chairman, engaged in planned unusual and unclear transactions; (5) as a result of at least one of these transactions, the Company is at risk of breaching contracts with People's Republic of China authorities; (6) the Company would imminently and drastically drop its franchise fees; and (7) as a result, defendant's statements about the Company's 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 MINISO during the relevant time frame, you have until October 17, 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/2022/09/01/mnso-lawsuit-alert-levi-amp-korsinsky-notifies-miniso-group-holding-limited-investors-class-action-lawsuit-upcoming-deadline/ | 2022-09-01T13:23:49Z |
Ardmore man drowns at Lake Murray
Published: Jul. 19, 2022 at 9:47 AM CDT|Updated: 20 minutes ago
ARDMORE, Okla. (KXII) - An Ardmore man drowned at Lake Murray Monday afternoon.
Troopers said Gregory Franks was on a boat near the Lake Murray Lodge when he went under the water and never resurfaced.
The 58-year-old’s body was discovered just before noon on Monday in about 15 feet of water.
Troopers said he was not wearing a life jacket.
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/19/ardmore-man-drowns-lake-murray/ | 2022-07-19T15:09:07Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFST) pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with LifeStance Health's June 2021 initial public offering (the "IPO"), of the important October 11, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased LifeStance Health securities pursuant and/or traceable to the Registration Statement you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the LifeStance Health class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8073 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than October 11, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the IPO Registration Statement featured false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the number of virtual visits clients were undertaking utilizing LifeStance Health was decreasing as the COVID-19 lockdowns were being lifted, thereby flatlining LifeStance Health's out-patient/virtual revenue growth; (2) the percentage of in-person visits clients were undertaking utilizing LifeStance Health was increasing as the COVID-19 lockdowns were being lifted, thereby causing LifeStance Health's operating expenses to increase substantially; (3) LifeStance Health had lost a large number of physicians due to burn-out and, as a result, its physician retention rate had fallen significantly below the 87% highlighted in the IPO's registration statement and LifeStance Health had been expending additional costs to onboard new physicians who were less productive than the outgoing physicians they were replacing; and (4) as a result, LifeStance Health's business metrics and financial prospects were not as strong as the IPO's registration statement represented. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the LifeStance Health class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8073 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/rosen-leading-investor-counsel-encourages-lifestance-health-group-inc-investors-with-losses-secure-counsel-before-important-deadline-securities-class-action-lfst/ | 2022-09-01T04:56:15Z |
Nearly 1.4 million saws recalled after several reports of injuries
(Gray News) – Nearly 1.4 million miter saws have been recalled due to injury and laceration hazards.
DeWALT issued the recall after reports of the saw’s rear safety guard breaking nearly 600 times, making it easier for something to fly off and hit the user or someone nearby.
The recall involves models DWS779, DWS780 and DHS790 with date codes 2019 04 through 2022 04, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
CPSC said only saws without a green dot on the nameplate or a black dot on the arm of the saw are included in the recall.
There have been nine reports of laceration injuries so far.
Anyone with the saws should stop using them and contact DeWALT for details on how to receive a free repair kit or take it to a DeWALT service center for a free repair.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/05/nearly-14-million-saws-recalled-after-several-reports-injuries/ | 2022-08-05T13:50:19Z |
A nonspeaking valedictorian with autism shares her voice in commencement address
By AJ Willingham, CNN
“Life is for service.” Those are the words Rollins College valedictorian Elizabeth Bonker lives by — words that inspired Rollins’ most famous graduate, Mr. Fred Rogers. Bonker, who is nonspeaking and has autism, gave a remarkable address during her school’s recent commencement ceremony in Winter Park, Florida.
Clad in a cap and gown decorated with flowers, Bonker explained, through a text-to-speech program, how she typed her remarks using a single finger with the help of a communication aide. People with nonspeaking autism have trouble developing speech, and in Bonker’s case, neuromotor issues inhibit her communication and her ability to do some other basic tasks.
Learning to type changed everything.
“That one critical intervention unlocked my mind from its silent cage,” she said during her address.
About 25% to 30% of people with autism are nonspeaking, according to one 2018 study. That definition can range from no speech whatsoever to a small set of sounds or words. By Bonker’s estimate, there are about 31 million people around the world like her.
Her goal is to help them find their voice, as she has.
“I have a dream. Communication for all,” she said. “My life will be dedicated to relieving them from suffering in silence.”
In her address, Bonker said she has often been minimized or cast aside because of her differences, and her high school principal once called her a slur and said she would never be a valedictorian.
However, Bonker encouraged her fellow students to hold fast to their freedom to choose their own outlook and their own way in life, which she called a “fundamental human right.”
In that freedom to choose, Bonker hopes her fellow graduates will choose to live a life like Mister Rogers did, and like she intends to.
“We are all called to serve as an everyday act of humility; as a habit of mind; to see the worth in every person we serve,” she said.
Bonker was one of five graduating students to earn a 4.0 GPA, and Rollins College said her fellow valedictorians unanimously chose her to address their fellow graduates.
“Elizabeth’s message has given hope to millions of people who are nonspeaking autistic, and their families,” Rollins College President Grant Cornwell said in a statement provided to CNN. “We are thrilled for Elizabeth and hope the attention to her story supports her advocacy work going forward.”
During her time at Rollins, Bonker also founded Communication 4 ALL, a nonprofit that supports her dream of ending stigma and silence for other nonspeaking people with autism.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2022/05/13/a-nonspeaking-valedictorian-with-autism-shares-her-voice-in-commencement-address/ | 2022-05-13T17:41:13Z |
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vetted (formerly Lustre) announced today the launch of its AI-powered product search engine, alongside a $15 million Series A investment round led by global software investor Insight Partners. The round included participation from existing investors Index Ventures, Bling Capital, and Golden Ventures, as well as angels including Shiva Rajaraman, the former VP of Commerce at Meta.
Vetted enables shoppers to effortlessly discover the brands and products most recommended for their needs – based on reviews from trusted sources on platforms such as Reddit, YouTube, and other reputable expert sites.
"We spend over $100 billion shopping online, yet getting the best value has become an overwhelming and frankly anti-consumer experience," said Stuart Kearney, Co-founder of Vetted. "Shoppers shouldn't have to spend hours sifting through indistinguishable products littered across thousands of ad-infested sites loaded with fake reviews and unreliable information. That's why we're building Vetted. Our users get a smart guide aligned with their best interests, transforming e-commerce into the simple and trustworthy experience everyone wants – especially today, when every dollar counts."
Powering Vetted is cutting-edge machine learning that replicates a savvy shopper's research process. It automatically vets trustworthy product data and analyzes everything from price history, ideal use cases, and reviewer consensus – just like a careful shopper would – to rank the best products according to their relevance. Vetted's search results even show users why a given product was selected, making it easy for consumers to purchase with confidence. Vetted is also available as a browser extension, enabling shoppers to take its research engine with them wherever and whenever they shop.
"Over 330,000 shoppers already trust Vetted, with users buying our recommendation in a given category 70 percent of the time," said Hanna Jung, VP of Marketing of Vetted. "They're also asking for help beyond our initial focus on consumer electronics. With this additional funding, we're excited to dramatically expand our product and retailer coverage to further empower shoppers across all their shopping needs."
"We are thrilled to support Stuart and the Vetted team on their mission to provide a shopping experience where consumers find the products best suited to their needs with minimal effort and maximum confidence," said Thilo Semmelbauer, Managing Director at Insight Partners. "The opportunities for disruption in e-commerce are endless, and Vetted is well positioned to be a dominant player."
To view the media kit, click here.
Vetted (formerly Lustre) is an award-winning product search engine on a mission to transform shopping into the most simple and trustworthy experience possible. For more information, visit https://vetted.ai/ or follow us on Twitter @vetted_ai.
Insight Partners is a global software investor partnering with high-growth technology, software, and Internet startup and ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. As of February 24, 2022, the closing of the firm's recent fundraise, Fund XII, brings Insight Partners' regulatory assets under management to over $90B. Insight Partners has invested in more than 600 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO. Headquartered in New York City, Insight has offices in London, Tel Aviv, and Palo Alto. Insight's mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with practical, hands-on software expertise to foster long-term success. Insight Partners meets great software leaders where they are in their growth journey, from their first investment to IPO. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on Twitter @insightpartners.
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SOURCE Vetted | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/vetted-raises-15m-ensure-consumers-buy-best-products-best-prices/ | 2022-08-02T14:00:04Z |
In Re The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York
the Honorable Judge Martin Glenn
Case No. 20-12345.
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 4, 2022, Judge Martin Glenn of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York said he would set a new bar date for adult sex abuse claimants in the chapter 11 bankruptcy case of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre. The deadline for filing claims had expired in 2021. A new window will allow additional filings for adult sex abuse claims in 2022.
The Rockville Centre Diocese, which represents New York's Nassau and Suffolk counties, filed its petition seeking relief under Chapter 11 on October 1, 2020. At the time, the diocese faced 223 suits by alleged victims of child sex abuse under New York's Child Victims Act. Those claimants became creditors in the bankruptcy proceeding. Though mediation has continued in that proceeding, no agreement had been reached and no compensation plan has been filed to date.
On May 24, 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed New York's Adult Survivors Act (ASA), which gives survivors of adult sexual abuse (over age 18 when the offense occurred) a year to file their claims, regardless of when the offense occurred. The one-year window opens on November 24, 2022.
Under the New York law, claims may be brought against institutions or employers for abuse that occurred at work or was associated with employment. Dioceses have claimed that a bankruptcy filing blocks new claims – but many more victims have come forward since the passage of the Adult Survivors Act, including at least 700 claims filed against the Rockville Centre Diocese in bankruptcy court.
Judge Glenn agreed with the diocese and the future claims representative that a new bar date for the adult claims was consistent with the rationale behind the New York law. He also noted that claimants would receive relief more quickly with a Chapter 11 claim than with a state court claim.
Judge Glenn has not yet specified the bar date for the adult claims. He has called on the diocese to define a notice process and indicated that he will base the claim deadline on time to publish notice.
Jerrold Parker, Founding Partner of Parker Waichman LLP, explains that adequate time is essential to these victims: "Survivors of sexual abuse often do not tell their story immediately. New York has recognized this reality and offered victims the time they need, to understand their trauma and come forward when they are ready. We applaud Judge Glenn for recognizing that New York gives victims the time they need to hold their abusers held accountable. We urge him not to reduce the time the state has granted to this vulnerable population."
If you or a loved one have been sexually abused in New York, you or your loved one could be entitled to receive substantial monetary compensation from the individual or institution responsible for the sexual abuse.
Parker Waichman LLP helps those who have suffered sexual abuse receive full monetary compensation. Trust your case with our sex abuse lawsuit lawyers. For a free consultation, contact our law firm today by using our live chat or calling 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529).
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SOURCE Parker Waichman LLP | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/05/parker-waichman-llp-applauds-extension-deadline-submission-adult-sex-abuse-claims-against-roman-catholic-diocese-rockville-centre/ | 2022-08-05T22:07:42Z |
UPPER ST. CLAIR, Pa., May 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rally House is ecstatic to open a new store in Upper St. Clair, PA, further broadening the reach of this locally-inspired and family-owned sports and merchandise retailer. Now, more dedicated fans can get stylish apparel and high-quality accessories for beloved Pittsburgh area businesses and teams, like the Steelers, Pitt Panthers, and numerous others from Rally House South Hills Village.
Rally House and its employees love providing fans with merchandise and apparel they're proud to show off and opening new locations fuels this passion. "I'm so excited to watch our company grow in the Pittsburgh market," describes District Manager Sarah Hyde. "South Hills Village mall is where I started my retail career, and I couldn't be more thrilled to have a store here for fans to get all the gear they need to support their favorite Pittsburgh teams."
Rally House South Hills Village is the go-to destination for team-specific jerseys, hats, and other apparel from renowned brands such as Mitchell & Ness, Nike, and New Era. While here, patrons will find a range of products for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates. There's also an assortment of college gear for the Pitt Panthers, Penn State Nittany Lions, and West Virginia Mountaineers.
Boasting city and state pride is simple for customers shopping at Rally House South Hills Village. This store offers an array of Pittsburgh-themed merchandise from various reputable vendors, including RALLY Brand™. Visitors can shop clothing and gifts for stand-out names like Pittsburgh Brewing, Primanti Bros, and more.
Patrons can expect phenomenal customer service and a broad selection of merchandise when they shop at Rally House South Hills Village. Plus, there's a complete line of products available online at www.rallyhouse.com, with shipping to every state for added convenience.
Stay current on store updates by visiting www.rallyhouse.com/rally-house-south-hills-village or follow Rally House Pittsburgh on Instagram (@rally_pitt) and Rally House South Hills Village on Facebook (@RallySouthHillsVillage).
About Rally House
Rally House and Sampler Stores Inc. is a family-owned specialty boutique that offers a large selection of apparel, hats, gifts and home décor representing local NCAA, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS teams in addition to locally inspired apparel, gifts and food. Proudly based in Lenexa, Kansas, Rally House operates 100+ locations across 12 states.
CONTACT:
Sarah Hyde, District Manager
shyde@rallyhouse.com
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SOURCE Rally House | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/13/rally-house-adds-new-store-pittsburgh-area/ | 2022-05-13T16:38:26Z |
Missouri school bus bursts into flames while taking students home
ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) – A school bus in Missouri burst into flames as middle school students were heading home.
According to KMOV, everyone escaped the bus just in time, and no injuries were reported.
“It was kind of scary because I didn’t know what I was going to do,” explained eighth-grader Jaidyn Conners, who was onboard as smoke swirled from under the hood. “I had to hurry up and get off the bus.”
Battalion Chief Jon Bollinger said the fire could have been mistaken for a house fire based on the amount of smoke it produced.
The heat combined with the massive flames forced firefighters to call for more help.
Bollinger believes the fire started in the engine compartment and made its way into the cab.
The fire chief acknowledged the bus driver’s quick actions.
“His first action was to stop what he was doing and get everybody to safety, and it makes our job that much easier,” Bollinger said.
The school district released the following statement about the fire:
“Student safety should never be in jeopardy. The district is working with its bus service provider, Missouri Central, to investigate the cause. District officials responded to the scene when a mechanical issue causing a fire was reported on the bus. A replacement bus transported the five students safely home. A thorough investigation is underway in collaboration with the bus service provider, Missouri Central, and other appropriate parties. Students safely exited the bus prior to the fire. The district is very grateful to University City Fire Department, which responded immediately to ensure the safety of the students and nearby residents. This is a very unfortunate incident as the district continues to prioritize the safety and well-being of students.”
Copyright 2022 KMOV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/13/missouri-school-bus-bursts-into-flames-while-taking-students-home/ | 2022-05-13T21:09:49Z |
Alteryx Server-FIPS enables users to more effectively scale analytics initiatives across public sector agencies
IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alteryx, Inc. (NYSE: AYX), the Analytics Automation Company, today announced Alteryx Server-FIPS, a version of its Server offering that is aligned with the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) for data security and computer systems. The launch of Server-FIPS is monumental for the use of analytics in public sector environments that require enhanced data encryption. Alteryx Server-FIPS is a FIPS-capable and scalable server-based product for scheduling, sharing, and running apps and models created in Alteryx Designer-FIPS for others in the organization to leverage.
This announcement comes on the heels of Alteryx Designer-FIPS, demonstrating Alteryx's commitment to providing automated analytics to the public sector. The new offering allows analysts to share and collaborate on analytic workflows, macros, and analytic apps with other users throughout their organization. Additionally, IT leaders can trust that Alteryx Server-FIPS provides visibility, control, audibility, and FIPS capability needed to manage self-service analytics at scale, making analytic governance more achievable.
"With the launch of Alteryx Server-FIPS, we are doubling down on our enablement activities across the public sector with expanded access to secure analytics and a keen focus on building data literacy across the government workforce," said David Colberg, vice president, global government affairs and public policy, Alteryx. "This is an important step in our journey, and we will continue to prioritize the security compliance needs of our partners and customers in order to meet increasing demands across the government space."
Analysts at federal, state, and local government levels face pressing policy decisions that impact organizations and individuals within their jurisdiction. To make data-driven recommendations, analysts can utilize automated analytics to build workflows that give stakeholders the actionable intelligence they need to make rapid decisions that drive the organization forward. Public sector agencies can more accurately resource plan and provide personalized services to citizens to better protect national and economic interests with secure access to analytics.
"The federal government has stringent information security requirements, especially for software that manages and analyzes federal data. The launch of Alteryx Server-FIPS demonstrates a continued company commitment to meeting the needs of the federal government," said Nick Sinai, senior advisor, Insight Partners. "Alteryx is meeting the public sector where they are with automated analytics, helping government agencies build data skills and get more done."
For more information about how Alteryx is enabling the public sector to securely utilize analytics and make data driven decisions, visit the Alteryx Server-FIPS landing page or request a consultation.
About Alteryx
Alteryx (NYSE: AYX) powers analytics for all by providing our leading Analytics Automation Platform. Alteryx delivers easy end-to-end automation of data engineering, analytics, reporting, machine learning, and data science processes, enabling enterprises everywhere to democratize data analytics across their organizations for a broad range of use cases. More than 8,000 customers globally rely on Alteryx to deliver high-impact business outcomes. To learn more, visit www.alteryx.com.
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SOURCE Alteryx, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/alteryx-announces-new-capabilities-meet-compliance-needs-public-sector/ | 2022-08-24T18:38:09Z |
ATLANTA, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rollins Inc. (NYSE: ROL), a premier global consumer and commercial services company, announced today that its Board of Directors has unanimously approved the Company's long-term leadership succession plan.
The plan provides that effective January 1, 2023, the Company's current President and Chief Operating Officer, Jerry Gahlhoff Jr., is expected to become Rollins' President and Chief Executive Officer. Gary W. Rollins, current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is expected to remain as Chairman of the Board of Directors. In preparation for this expected promotion, Jerry will spend the next 5 months working on this transition with Gary and John Wilson, Vice Chairman.
"I've had the pleasure of supporting the company and our pest control business for over 56 years and am fortunate to have had the opportunity to lead this great organization," said Gary Rollins, Chairman and CEO at Rollins. "I look forward to Jerry's advancement and my continuation as Chairman of the Board. I am extremely pleased with our succession plan and our outstanding leadership team."
Jerry joined Rollins during the Company's 2008 acquisition of HomeTeam, where he served in a variety of leadership roles including President. He was named President and COO of Rollins in 2020 and joined the Board of Directors in 2021.
"Jerry is an exceptional leader, with great vision and a deep understanding of our industry and our customers," Rollins said. "His years of service have been marked by outstanding performance, most recently as our President and COO. Jerry has had the unique opportunity to be intimately involved in most every facet of our organization. I have the utmost confidence he will continue to build on the strong heritage of our organization, and its track record."
Jerry Gahlhoff commented, "I am deeply honored to be named incoming CEO and look forward to leading this great organization into our next phase of growth and achievement. I am confident that the solid foundation Gary and others have created over the years – grounded in our culture of providing excellent customer service and business expansion – will serve us for years to come. Our entire organization is grateful for Gary's leadership, and I know we will continue to benefit from his vision and guidance as our Chairman."
ABOUT ROLLINS, INC.
Rollins, Inc. is a premier global consumer and commercial services company. Through its family of leading brands, Orkin, HomeTeam Pest Defense, Clark Pest Control, Northwest Exterminating, McCall Service, Trutech, Critter Control, Western Pest Services, Waltham Services, OPC Pest Services, The Industrial Fumigant Company, PermaTreat, Crane Pest Control, Missquito, Orkin Canada, Orkin Australia, Safeguard (UK), Aardwolf Pestkare (Singapore), and more, the Company and its franchises provide essential pest control services and protection against termite damage, rodents and insects to more than 2.8 million customers in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia from more than 800 locations. You can learn more about Rollins and its subsidiaries by visiting our web site at www.rollins.com, where you can also find this and other news releases by accessing the news releases button.
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release together with other statements and information publicly disseminated by the Company, may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning the business of Rollins, Inc. We have based these forward- looking statements largely on our current opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions and projections about future events. Such forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's plans and expectations in connection with the CEO succession plan and transition of CEO leadership from Mr. Rollins to Mr. Gahlhoff, the relationship of Mr. Rollins to the Company post-transition and other plans and expectations.
It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future events discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results may differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should read this press release with the understanding that our actual future results, performance and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described in the section titled "Risk Factors" set forth in Part I, Item 1A of our 2021 Annual Report and in our other SEC filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and you should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. While we believe that such information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, such information may be limited or incomplete. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements.
For Further Information
Julie Bimmerman (404) 888-2103
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SOURCE Rollins, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/rollins-inc-board-directors-approves-2023-ceo-succession-plan/ | 2022-07-27T15:39:21Z |
BARRIE, ON, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - MediPharm Labs Corp. (TSX: LABS) (OTCQX: MEDIF) (FSE: MLZ) ("MediPharm Labs" or the "Company") a pharmaceutical company specialized in precision-based cannabinoids, has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") with OneLife Botanicals PTY ("OneLife Botanicals") for the sale of MediPharm Labs Australia Pty Ltd ("MPLA"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, for a minimum value of $6.9M AUD ($6.2M CAD). The Agreement is subject to routine conditions and is anticipated to close within 90 days.
The Agreement includes the assets of MPLA, specialized licensing, operational knowledge, and Australian and New Zealand customers currently served from that facility. All international contracts outside of Australia and New Zealand will remain with MediPharm Labs and be serviced from our Barrie GMP facility.
In July 2021, MediPharm Labs was the first purpose-built cannabis facility to receive a pharmaceutical Drug Establishment License. Awarded by Health Canada, this license is recognized in over 50 countries as part of the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S). At this time, the Company has completed a review of its international manufacturing platform and identified significant potential savings in moving all domestic and international manufacturing to the Canadian facility.
After an extensive sale process, the Agreement with OneLife Botanicals was identified as a strategic fit for both parties. OneLife Botanicals is an emerging leader in Australia region for cannabis-based wellness and medical products, with plans to launch OTC CBD products across Australia. Purchasing the MPLA facility expedites OneLife Botanicals' timing to commercialization. The Company and OneLife Botanicals will also enter into a transition services agreement to allow for the two companies to smoothly transition products and services produced in the facility, and to work together on future commercial opportunities.
David Pidduck, CEO of MediPharm Labs commented, "This sale represents a major milestone for MediPharm Labs as it continues to focus on rightsizing the business to achieve profitability. As we look to maintain our strong cash balance, this transaction paired with corporate restructuring completed in June 2022 should allow us to reduce our quarterly burn rate as we improve sales.
I want to personally thank our Australian team. This group of professionals are trailblazers in the Australian and international medical cannabis market, achieving major milestones such as multiple customer product launches and our first deliveries to Germany. OneLife Botanicals is gaining one of the most capable medical cannabis manufacturing teams in Australia."
OneLife Botanicals CEO Andrew Grant said, "This purchase aligns and expedites the strategic aim of our organization to produce high quality medicinal cannabis products by integrating manufacturing into the end-to-end supply chain. The integration of a fully operational facility brings forward our objectives to take our products and brand to the market.
Our company undertook extensive research in considering this important acquisition and is highly confident about the capabilities and capacity of the operation to manufacture products in accordance with all compliance and quality standards.
The integration of this business with our existing cultivation facility facilitates savings in capital investment, access to operational efficiencies and establishes us as a significant supplier in the Australian medicinal cannabis industry.
We intend to build on the existing customer base and develop additional product distribution opportunities to become a formidable participant in the market."
Founded in 2015, MediPharm Labs specializes in the development and manufacture of purified, pharmaceutical-quality cannabis concentrates, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and advanced derivative products utilizing a Good Manufacturing Practices certified facility with ISO standard-built clean rooms. MediPharm Labs has invested in an expert, research driven team, state-of-the-art technology, downstream purification methodologies and purpose-built facilities with five primary extraction lines for delivery of pure, trusted and precision-dosed cannabis products for its customers. Through its wholesale and white label platforms, MediPharm Labs formulates, develops (including through sensory testing), processes, packages and distributes cannabis extracts and advanced cannabinoid-based products to domestic and international markets. In 2021, MediPharm Labs received a Pharmaceutical Drug Establishment Licence from Health Canada, becoming the only company in North America to hold a domestic Good Manufacturing Licence for the extraction of natural cannabinoids. The Company carries out its operations in compliance with all applicable laws in the countries in which it operates.
Website: www.medipharmlabs.com
Onelife Botanicals is a niche producer of medicinal cannabis in Melbourne, Australia. The company has a passion for developing and producing products that provide a range of health benefits and assist in treating a range of specific health conditions.
The company operates an existing cultivation site with extensive Infrastructure, including fit for purpose glasshouses for growing Medicinal Cannabis in a controlled environment. The glasshouses facilitate the optimum growing environment through temperature and climate control, allowing natural sunlight to be maximized in a protected and secure environment.
The Directors and stakeholders are focused on identifying and exploring market opportunities, along with embracing innovation in the production processes. The success of the business is able to be achieved with an extensive Research and Development program, aimed at staying ahead of changes in growing methods, technological solutions and product applications, along with advanced automation ensuring that we minimize operating expenditure and maximise quality control.
The organisation is committed to make the health benefits of this natural and powerful plant available to everyone seeking to improve their One Life.
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the delay or failure for the Agreement to close within 90 days; the ability for MediPharm Labs to realize savings in moving all manufacturing to the Canadian facility; and the ability for MediPharm Labs to significant reduce the quarterly burn rate or improve sales. 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 the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, MediPharm Labs assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change.
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SOURCE MediPharm Labs Corp. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/11/medipharm-labs-enters-into-62m-purchase-agreement-sale-australian-facility/ | 2022-07-11T12:22:35Z |
President's Message: Learn some facts about real estate commissions
We have received questions about why brokers representing home sellers often pay the commission of brokers representing home buyers. Here are answers to those questions and basic information every buyer and seller needs to know. This practice has worked so well for so long because it provides the greatest economic benefits for both buyers and sellers, creates greater access and equity for first-time, low- and middle-income and all buyers and enables small business brokers to compete with larger brokers.
In fact, listing brokers paying the commission of buyer brokers underpins local broker marketplaces, which are the primary source of information for home search sites, and serve as the driving force behind America’s efficient and accessible real estate market.
How real estate commissions work
In order to understand how real estate commissions are paid, it’s necessary to first understand the tool used in the vast majority of all home purchases: a Multiple Listing Service. Multiple Listing Services, or local broker marketplaces, are essentially databases of all the homes for sale in a given market, maintained in most cases by local REALTOR® associations. Local REALTOR® associations also make most of this information publicly available for free, and each database often feeds home search sites. When a seller lists a property on one of these local broker marketplaces with a listing broker, they get access to the largest pool of possible buyers that have been brought to the marketplace by buyer brokers. Meanwhile, buyers can work with any broker and see ALL homes for sale.
Where do commissions come in?
Typically, the seller’s broker pays the buyer broker’s commission for finding a ready, willing and able buyer. This creates a larger pool of buyers for sellers and saves sellers time and money by working with an established group of brokers. For buyers, it saves them money at closing and enables the buyer to receive professional representation. The practice of listing brokers paying buyer brokers enables efficiency, effectiveness and accessibility for first-time, low- and middle-income and buyers of all walks of life. This practice also has been the driving force behind a thriving American real estate market. From 2010 to 2020, this approach to commissions:
• Enabled 88% of homebuyers to purchase their home through a real estate broker.
• Contributed to an $8.2 trillion increase in total housing wealth.
• Helped 6.3 million more new buyers become homeowners.
For the 90% of sellers who use a broker, they sell for 30% more on average than homes sold off the local broker marketplace as for sale by owner. That means someone working with an agent could get $390,000 for their home vs. $300,000 if they tried to do it on their own. If this practice changed and sellers’ brokers stopped paying buyers’ brokers, what would be the likely outcome?
• No centralized source of available homes for consumers or brokers.
• Buyers would have to visit every broker in town to see all available homes.
• Outdated home status information.
• Fewer homes for buyers to choose from on real estate sites.
• Unverified, inaccurate and unreliable property information.
• Sellers would likely have to pay to list and advertise their properties on websites.
• Buyers unable to afford brokerages would have fewer options.
• Inconsistent broker information in listings across the marketplaces.
• Markets would be controlled by the largest brokers.
Facts about commissions
Commissions are always negotiable.
The seller decides what fee they are willing to pay for their broker’s services and how much that listing broker should offer a broker who brings a buyer to close the transaction. Commissions can be negotiated at any point throughout the transaction, including at the outset and any time before the transaction closes.
Broker cooperation benefits consumers.
Broker cooperation in the commission process leads to brokers sharing their inventory with each other. In turn, that means sellers have access to the largest possible pool of potential buyers, and buyers have access to the greatest number of housing options in one place.
Commissions cannot be included as part of a mortgage.
The vast majority of mortgage lenders do not allow commissions to be added to home loans. Listing brokers’ offers of compensation to buyer brokers gives first-time and low- and middle-income homebuyers a better shot at affording a home and professional representation in the home-buying process. For many buyers, saving for a down payment is difficult enough, if buyers had to pay real estate commissions out-of-pocket on top of closing costs, it would push the dream of homeownership even further out of reach for countless people.
Commission rates are determined by market forces.
Commissions fluctuate over time and have notably decreased steadily in recent years. In fact, in 2020 the average real estate commission in the U.S. fell to a new low of 4.94%, according to Real Trends.
You get what you pay for.
Local MLS broker marketplaces allow small brokerages to compete with large ones and provide for unprecedented competition among brokers, including different service and pricing models. So, you can choose from many commission models. Like with other things, you can expect someone with discounted commissions to provide a different service level. Those are choices to consider as you prepare to make likely the single most significant investment in your lifetime.
U.S. real estate market is the world standard.
The U.S. real estate model has long been viewed as the most consumer-friendly around the world. Buyers abroad are forced to wade through complex markets that require consumers to work with multiple brokerages to access fragmented inventory because listings are not shared freely in the marketplace. The result is more time consuming, impersonal and costly.
Commission FAQs
Is there a “set commission” real estate brokers charge consumers?
No. The market decides commission rates, and commissions are always negotiable. Consumers have the choice of who they want to pay and how they want to pay them. Because of the pro-consumer local MLS broker marketplace model, and options like a success fee, there is unprecedented competition among real estate brokers, especially when it comes to the service and commission options available to consumers.
Why not require buyers to pay commissions directly to their broker instead of the historic practice of listing brokers paying the buyer broker?
Forcing buyers to take on the additional out-of-pocket expense would cause them incredible hardship and would freeze many, particularly first-time and low- and middle-income homebuyers, out from an already competitive market. That could also force homebuyers to forgo professional help during what is likely the most complex and consequential transaction they’ll make in their lifetime.
How does the U.S. model compare to other, international broker marketplaces?
The U.S. approach is the most consumer-centric model. By consolidating fees and the overall process, our nation’s model simplifies the experience, provides greater certainty of success to both buyers and sellers, and provides guidelines that ensure the accuracy of housing inventory made available to real estate professionals and consumers, all at comparable or lower total costs than those in other countries.
Why should real estate professionals make the money they do in commissions when so much information is available online?
Real estate brokers provide essential guidance as consumers navigate the legal, financial and community aspects of a purchase, including everything from determining property value to negotiating the price. They also make local broker marketplaces, which online housing portals tap into, possible because of all the information they input into those databases. And Realtors' annual income is just $43,330 and 88% are small businesses, a majority of which are women-owned.
How does the current approach to commissions benefit small businesses?
Access to inventory and free advertising as well as the practice of the listing broker paying the buyer brokers’ commission incentivizes participation in these local real estate marketplaces and creates the largest, most accessible and most accurate source of housing information available to consumers. That levels the playing field among brokerages, allowing small brokerages to compete with large ones, and provides for unprecedented competition among brokers, including different service and pricing models for consumers.
This column was written and published by the National Association of Realtors. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/2022/07/15/presidents-message-learn-some-facts-real-estate-commissions/10016871002/ | 2022-07-15T20:06:48Z |
Tuesday forecast: Isolated showers today
On and off showers/t-storms the rest of the week
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Today begins a week of unsettled weather with at least a low chance of rain all the way through the weekend. Latest models are indicating Saturday night into Sunday morning being the highest chance for heavier, widespread rain.
At this point in time you shouldn’t have to cancel any outdoor plans just yet since the other rain chances will be scattered at best and it’s difficult to know where any rain or t-storms will be at any given moment of the day. As you read the forecast know we’re giving the best time frames when rain may affect your outdoor plans.
Today: Increasing Clouds. Slight chance of showers/ isolated t-storm mainly late this morning into the afternoon. Highs in the upper 50s-low 60s. Winds SE 10-20, gusts around 30 mph.
Tonight: Can’t completely rule out some spotty showers however most of the night will be dry and mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s-low 50s. Winds SE/S 15-25 mph.
Tomorrow: Scattered showers/t-storms through most of the day with late day sun especially after 4pm. Highs in the mid 60s to low 70s. Winds S/W 15-30 mph.
Most of Wednesday night is dry before more rain moves in through the day on Thursday with highs warmer and in the 70s with low 80s possible. This rain may linger all day Thursday and last into Thursday night before Friday will mainly be dry.
Models are keeping most of the rain Friday night into Saturday morning mainly in central KS before it moves into eastern Kansas Saturday afternoon into Saturday night. Gusts 30-45 mph are possible Friday and Saturday.
While t-storms could occur anytime this week through Saturday, the threat for severe weather is low but not impossible to get a few strong wind gusts and small hail. IF rain lingers on Sunday, which latest models indicate it does, the risk for t-storms is low to no risk by that time with more stable air in place.
Taking Action:
- Don’t cancel any outdoor plans this week but have a Plan B especially tomorrow and Thursday. We’ll keep an eye on the weekend as well as rain may affect at least part of the day but with this being more in the medium range will wait to be more specific as we get closer.
- If you are outside this week and you hear thunder, go inside because you are in danger and close enough to be struck by lightning.
- Keep checking back daily for updates to any changes to this weather pattern.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/19/tuesday-forecast-isolated-showers-today/ | 2022-04-19T09:55:31Z |
Attorneys General warn NFL to improve treatment of women
NEW YORK (AP) — The attorneys general of six states have written to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell , expressing concern over the league’s treatment of female employees and admonishing him for a lack of improvement to the league’s workplace culture. Without improvement, the attorneys general warned of potential legal action. The letter outlines concerns of gender discrimination ranging from the NFL’s treatment of women who have experienced domestic violence to the hiring and promotion of women in NFL offices. The letter comes as Congress investigates how the league has handled claims of sexual harassment in the front office of the Washington Commanders. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/04/06/attorneys-general-warn-nfl-to-improve-treatment-of-women/ | 2022-04-06T18:08:05Z |
Judge again denies Steve Bannon bid to delay his trial next week
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday again denied a request from Steve Bannon to delay his criminal contempt trial, saying he was confident a fair and impartial jury could be seated despite the extensive media coverage of the onetime adviser to former President Donald Trump.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols had earlier in the week rejected a bid by Bannon’s lawyers to delay his trial, which is scheduled to start Monday with jury selection. He made a similar ruling Thursday, turning aside concerns from Bannon’s lawyers about a CNN report set to air on the eve of trial and what they said were prejudicial comments made during a hearing this week by the House committee investigating the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
“I am cognizant of current concerns about publicity and bias and whether we can seat a jury that is going to be appropriate and fair, but as I said before, I believe the appropriate course is to go through the voir dire process,” Nichols said, referring to the questioning of individual jurors before they are selected. “And I have every intention of getting a jury that is appropriate, fair and unbiased.”
Should that not happen, he said, the court will simply start the process over.
Bannon is charged in Washington’s federal court with defying a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee that sought his records and testimony. Bannon was indicted in November on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress, one month after the Justice Department received a congressional referral. Each count carries a minimum of 30 days of jail and as long as a year behind bars.
He previously argued that his testimony is protected by Trump’s claim of executive privilege.
A lawyer for Bannon told the committee in a letter over the weekend that Bannon was now prepared to testify after Trump issued his own letter saying he would waive any claim of executive privilege.
Though such a professed willingness to testify won’t erase the criminal charges Bannon faces, Nichols left open the possibility that the letters could be referenced at trial, saying the information was “at least potentially relevant” to Bannon’s defense.
The judge mused earlier Thursday that Bannon could argue that he believed the committee’s dates for compliance with the subpoena were malleable and flexible — an argument prosecutors say is belied by the facts and the law.
“The crime of default (with regard to a subpoena) is complete at the time,” prosecutor Amanda Vaughn said.
_____
Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/14/judge-again-denies-steve-bannon-bid-delay-his-trial-next-week/ | 2022-07-14T17:29:35Z |
Handcrafted spirits from Asheville elevate daytime television's biggest event
ASHEVILLE, N.C., June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nominees attending the 49th Daytime Emmy Awards will celebrate one of the industry's biggest nights on Friday, June 24, in Los Angeles with handcrafted gin from Chemist Spirits, an artisan Prohibition-era distillery located in the heart of downtown Asheville, North Carolina.
"Women are such a large part of the Daytime Emmy Awards. As a female-founded and owned spirits brand, Chemist is proud to be the official gin of the 2022 ceremony," said Debbie Word, who established Chemist Spirits in 2018 alongside her daughter, Danielle Donaldson, who is a chemist by training.
Word is one of the few female distillery founders in the United States. According to industry data, less than 19% of American distillers are female and only 2% of distilleries are owned by women. Word and Donaldson aim to challenge the industry norm by growing their business and mentoring other women and minority groups in the distilling profession.
"Our goal is to help more women and people of color to join the distilling community to make it stronger and more inclusive," says Word, who hosts women's entrepreneurial events at Chemist Spirits and is a member of the Distilled Spirits Council. "We plan to use the spotlight as the official gin of the Daytime Emmy Awards to help advance this conversation on the national stage."
Chemist Spirits is the recipient of multiple accolades, including winning Double Gold at the Women's Wine and Spirits Awards in London, Best In Class at the Berlin International Spirit Awards, and Double Gold at the John Barleycorn Awards. Chemist's American Gin was also chosen as the 'Gin of the Month' for the popular Craft Gin Club of London.
For Word, spotlighting the art and science of distilling at the Daytime Emmy Awards complements the ceremony's celebration of the television arts and sciences.
"Every bottle of Chemist Spirits represents an amazing balance that takes a lot of time, patience, and understanding of the art and science of distilling to actually achieve," says Word. "At the end of the night, we look forward to seeing the nominees and their guests toast their achievements with Chemist Spirits gin to celebrate this incredible evening, and we hope our message of female ownership and inclusivity resonates throughout the event."
Chemist Spirits gin will also be featured in the 2022 Daytime Emmy Awards gift bag.
About the Daytime Emmy Awards
The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of categories, including daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, and legal/courtroom programs. This year's show will be presented live at 9 PM EDT (replay at 9 PM PDT) on Friday, June 24, on the CBS Television Network and streamed on Paramount+.
About NATAS
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is a service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational, and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy Awards for News & Documentary, Sports, Daytime, and Children's & Family programming, as well as achievements in television Technology & Engineering.
NATAS membership consists of more than 18,000 broadcast and media professionals represented in 19 regional chapters across the country. Beyond awards, NATAS has extensive educational programs including regional student television and its Student Award for Excellence and the National Student Production Awards for outstanding journalistic work by high school students, as well as scholarships, publications, and major activities for both industry professionals and the viewing public.
About Chemist Spirits
Founded in 2018, Chemist Spirits is distilled and hand-crafted in Asheville, North Carolina. Located in the heart of downtown, Chemist is a fully operational distillery and features a three-level speakeasy, Antidote, on site. Founded by distiller Debbie Word, Chemist produces artisan gin, whiskey and a variety of small-batch spirits using local botanicals and drawing inspiration from pioneering tastemakers in the food and beverage industry. Chemist Spirits was created to honor the real-life chemists and pharmacists who kept distilling alive during Prohibition. These complex and captivating products create an authentic taste of old-world distilling, encasing meticulous skill and knowledge in each bottle to provide a cure for the common cocktail. www.chemistspirits.com | Instagram @ChemistSpirits
Contact: Valerie Pascoe
Chemist Spirits Public Relations
valerie@chemistspirits.com
864.230.4791
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SOURCE Chemist Spirits | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/woman-owned-chemist-spirits-shines-official-gin-49th-daytime-emmy-awards/ | 2022-06-01T15:39:29Z |
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisian voters have approved a referendum on a new constitution that gives more powers to the country’s president. It’s a step that brings hope to many in the struggling North African nation, but critics warn it could return Tunisia to autocracy and say low turnout marred the vote’s legitimacy.
Some people interviewed by The Associated Press this week celebrated the result of Monday’s referendum and expressed support for President Kais Saied, who spearheaded the project and proposed the text himself.
Others said they worry about what the changes could mean for the future of democracy in the country. The overhauled constitution gives sweeping executive powers to the president and weakens the influence of the legislative and judicial branches of the government.
Adel, a 51-year-old plumber who refused to give his last name due to fear of political reprisals, said that while he supported Saied, he did not participate in Monday’s referendum because he thought the proposed changes gave the executive branch too much power.
“This constitution he made was not for the long-term. Those who will come after Saied will do whatever they want without being held accountable,” he said.
In 2011, Tunisians rose up against Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the country’s strongman president, and kicked off the Arab Spring protests in North Africa and the Middle East. Tunisia was the only nation to emerge from the protests with a democratic government.
Saied won the presidency in 2019 with over 70% of the vote. He continues to enjoy widespread popular support; recent polls put his approval rating at well over 50%.
The referendum took place a year to the day after Saied froze Tunisia’s parliament and dismissed his government. Opponents derided the moves as “a coup,” but many Tunisians supported the president’s actions due to exasperation with political elites and years of economic stagnation.
In the same way, many citizens think the new constitution will end years of political deadlock and reduce the influence of the country’s largest political party, Ennahdha. Others saw a “yes” vote as a vote for Saied and a chance to change their fortunes.
Saida Masoudi, 49, a fast-food seller in a Tunis suburb who voted for the revised constitution, said she hoped the changes would pave the way to economic reforms and lower living costs.
“We just want the country to improve and reform. That’s why I participated in this referendum, so that the country will return to how it was before” she said, adding that she thinks Tunisians lived better under Ben Ali than they do today.
However, Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s regional director, called the constitution’s adoption “deeply worrying.” She said in a statement that the revisions were drafted behind closed doors in a process controlled by Saied.
“The new constitution dismantles many of the guarantees to the independence of the judiciary, removes protection for civilians from military trials and grants the authorities the power to restrict human rights or renege on international human rights commitments in the name of religion” Morayef said.
Official preliminary results showed about one-third of registered voters cast ballots, with 94.6% giving their approval.
Opposition leaders had called for a boycott of the referendum, saying the process was flawed, and they argue the turnout reflected discomfort with the changes to Tunisia’s system of government.
“The referendum was rigged from the start, with no participation threshold provided for,” International Commission of Jurists regional director Said Benarbia said. “The low turnout and the opaque, illegal process by which the adoption of the constitution was made possible do not give the president any mandate or legitimacy to change Tunisia’s constitutional order.”
Several people the Associated Press spoke with said they did not vote in the referendum. Some said they were uninterested in politics, while others said a new constitution would do little to change their quality of life. Several did not understand the changes it would introduce.
“I didn’t vote because none of this interests me,” Khalil Riahi, a 26-year-old DJ, said. “Whether it’s Kais Saied doing this or someone else, it’s all the same to me. Nothing will change.”
Monica Marks, Professor of Middle East politics at NYU Abu Dhabi, says that many Tunisians have grown tired, disillusioned and cynical in recent years but that they “never called for a complete up-ending of their political system”.
“What they’ve been calling for, for years, is for effective leadership from government that makes a real tangible difference in their everyday lives and solves the economic challenges that they’re desperately grappling with” says Marks, explaining that many are attached to the idea that “one man alone can take the system, break it and maybe fix it.”
“There are still a lot of Tunisians who believe that Saied is Mr. Fix It… They believe he is the man who will clean up everything, even though he’s ruled by powers of personal decree for an entire year, and their situation tangibly hasn’t changed.” | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/new-constitution-gives-some-tunisians-hope-others-concern/ | 2022-07-29T17:44:51Z |
Bethel AME Church, the Albany (GA) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and the Conference of National Black Churches will host a COVID vaccination clinic Saturday at 217 S. Washington Street, across from the Albany Civic Center.
ALBANY — In this politically divided state and nation, where such life-saving measures as getting vaccinations can stir up political debate, Bethel AME Church and the Albany (GA) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. have simply ignored the chatter and paved the way for citizens to protect themselves against the coronavirus.
The two entities, joined this week by the Conference of National Black Churches, will host their ninth COVID vaccination clinic Saturday at the church at 217 S. Washington Street, across from the Albany Civic Center.
“We’re going to help make Albany healthier by vaccinating members of the community one shot at a time,” officials with the two groups said in a news release.
The clinic will be held Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Vaccines administered include the Pfizer and Moderna first and second boosters, and Pfizer first and second shots for adults and children ages 5 and above.
The vaccines will be supplied and administered by Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital at no cost to the public. The first 25 newcomers who show up for vaccines will receive a $20 gift card.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
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Southern Trust Home Services says homeowners can make easy, small changes in the way they use water and electricity to help offset rising costs
ROANOKE, Va., July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With the cost of energy and fossil fuels rising throughout the summer, Southern Trust Home Services, a leading electrical, HVAC and plumbing company serving southwest Virginia, says homeowners should employ a number of tips and tricks to lower their utility and energy costs while still staying cool.
"Utility bills in Virginia and all across the country could spike as much as 12 to 20% this season, so finding ways to save money on our summer energy bills is a priority for most homeowners," said Ted Puzio, owner of Southern Trust Home Services. "There are a number of ways we can reduce our energy costs this summer while still beating the heat."
- Installing ceiling fans or placing box fans around the home. Fans don't cool the air themselves, but they do assist a home's air conditioning unit by moving colder air around. Fans also help dry the humid air that can hold heat.
- Upgrade or tune-up the air conditioner. Air conditioning units need to be properly maintained to work at their most efficient, so homeowners should have their system tuned up on a yearly basis. However, if a home's AC unit is more than 15 years old, a homeowner should consider upgrading to a newer system that has a high ENERGY STAR Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating.
- Add low-flow water fixtures. Since water use increases in the summer, homeowners can find more savings by adding low-flow fixtures to their showerheads, toilets and outdoor sprinklers. Garden lovers should also only water first thing in the morning or late in the evening to allow plants to soak up their fill. Afternoon sun can evaporate the water before plant roots can drink it in.
- Close the blinds and seal up the home. Keeping blinds closed during the middle of the day blocks the heat of the afternoon sun which lessens the work on air conditioners. Adding weather stripping to doors and windows can also keep cool air from leaking out of the home.
- Turn up the thermostat. Raising the thermostat by a few degrees can save hundreds of dollars each summer. Coupled with adding ceiling and box fans, homeowners can save money while still moving cool air throughout the home.
- Cook outdoors or later at night. Instead of firing up the stove for the evening meal, homeowners can keep the heat outside by grilling their dinners on the patio. Families can also opt for cooking meals in slow cookers all day or by waiting until the sun goes down to turn on the oven.
"And, as always, we recommend that people stay hydrated. Drinking more water is not only healthy, it helps you stay cool," Puzio said. "These tips help homeowners save money, and they also lessen the strain on their municipality's power grid, which can prevent brownouts and blackouts. We should all be doing our parts to save money and energy this summer."
Founded in 1995 as Southern State Electric, Southern Trust Home Services provides residential plumbing, electrical HVAC services, drain cleaning and one day bath remodel services, including 24/7 emergency repairs, to homeowners in more than 60 cities throughout southwest Virginia. Roanoke's first to offer a lifetime guarantee on all recommended repairs, Southern Trust Home Services staffs dedicated, certified, licensed and insured, drug and criminal background checked technicians who provide timely, same-day services for a variety of home repairs, installations, and maintenance. An A Better Business Bureau accredited company since 2006, Southern Trust Home Services has financing available including 0 percent for 18 months, and Lifetime Repair Guarantee on stated repairs. To find out more, call 540-343-4348 or visit www.southerntrusthomeservices.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
865-977-1973
hripley@ripleypr.com
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SOURCE Southern Trust Home Services | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/roanoke-home-service-experts-offer-tips-save-summer-utility-bills/ | 2022-07-19T12:11:36Z |
BERWYN, Pa. and FARNBOROUGH, England, July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Triumph Group, Inc. (TRIUMPH) [NYSE:TGI] announced that its Actuation Products and Services business has been awarded a contract from Boeing. The contract spans hundreds of variations of wire control cables used on the Boeing 737 MAX, 767, 777 and 777X programs. TRIUMPH will provide manufacturing, and life cycle support for these highly engineered mechanical components. The work under this agreement will be performed at TRIUMPH's Shelbyville, Indiana facility.
"We are proud to be selected as the provider for Boeing's wire control cable requirements. We will continue to deliver enhanced value to Boeing over the life of the contract," said Mike Boland, President of Triumph Actuation Product and Services.
TRIUMPH is a leading provider of mechanical and electro-mechanical control cables for commercial, military, and industrial platforms applications and has been providing wire control cables to Boeing since 2003.
TRIUMPH Actuation Products & Services is a leader in design, development, manufacture and support of complex electro-hydraulic and mechanical systems and equipment for the aerospace and defense industry. Products include actuators, pumps, motors, reservoirs, control valves and a wide range of mechanical controls for commercial and military aircraft. Our Actuation Products & Services business services customers around the world with ten manufacturing sites across North America and Europe.
TRIUMPH, headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, designs, engineers, manufactures, repairs, and overhauls a broad portfolio of aerospace and defense systems and components. The company serves the global aviation industry, including original equipment manufacturers and the full spectrum of military and commercial aircraft operators.
More information about TRIUMPH can be found on the company's website at www.triumphgroup.com.
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SOURCE Triumph Group | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/triumph-receives-contract-boeing-wire-control-cables/ | 2022-07-18T07:04:56Z |
"Cheer" star Jeremiah "Jerry" Harris has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Joseph D. Fitzpatrick.
"The sentence is 12 years in prison, to be followed by 8 years of court-supervised release," Fitzpatrick said to CNN in an email.
Harris, a former star of the Netflix reality docuseries "Cheer," pleaded guilty in February to one count each of receiving child pornography and engaging in sexual acts with a minor.
In a statement released on Thursday, Todd Pugh, Harris' attorney, said Harris "is exceedingly grateful" for the judge's "recognition of his humanity, worthiness, and rehabilitative potential."
"While Jerry has a difficult road ahead of him, his uncompromising spirit and strength has carried him through challenging times before. He has nothing but empathy and remorse for the people he has harmed and hopes that today's proceeding provided them some peace," Pugh said.
Pugh also provided to CNN the statement Harris made to the court, in which Harris apologized for the "trauma" his abuse caused.
"I pray that your suffering comes to an end and that these proceeding provide you with needed closure. I am ashamed as I know that I took advantage of your youth and weakness. I was wrong and selfish. I caused you harm and I do not blame anyone," Harris said in his statement.
In December 2020, Harris was charged with a seven-count indictment that was filed in U.S. District Court in northern Illinois.
In a plea agreement with the government, Harris pleaded guilty to two of the charges from that indictment, stating that he received child pornography and engaged in interstate travel to meet a 15-year-old boy with whom he engaged in sexual relations.
"Cheer" follows the cheer team from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas. Harris is one of several students whose stories were spotlighted in the series, which debuted on the streaming service in January 2020.
The second season of "Cheer," released last year, addressed the allegations made against Harris and featured an interview with two of his accusers.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/entertainment/cheer-star-jerry-harris-sentenced-to-12-years-in-prison-in-child-pornography-case/article_ab20d507-bb03-5bbe-9673-58134375b963.html | 2022-07-07T19:01:57Z |
More than 200 Custom-Curated Voyages Departing from More Homeports than Ever Before, Visiting Spectacular Destinations throughout the California Coast, Mexico, Hawaii, Tahiti, the Caribbean and Panama Canal
SANTA CLARITA, Calif., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises today announced its most expansive Americas schedule ever with 47 itineraries across 214 departures from seven convenient North American homeports, highlighted by new voyages to the South Pacific and Hawaii.
New for the 2023-24 season are Sapphire Princess' two South Pacific Islands & Hawaii cruises roundtrip from Los Angeles featuring "More Ashore" late-night stays in Honolulu and Tahiti, and for the first time ever visiting Fiji, along with a pair of Hawaii cruises with overnight stays in Honolulu on Discovery Princess – the ship's first-ever sailings to the Aloha State. Princess will also sail again from Galveston with a series of voyages on Regal Princess providing consumers with hassle-free drive or fly options for enjoying the sun-splashed islands of the Western Caribbean.
In addition to sailing from Galveston, the 2023-24 Americas program will offer consumers a broad spectrum of departure points for roundtrip cruises including Los Angeles, Ft. Lauderdale, San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver, as well as one open-jaw departure from New York, making it easier than ever to create memorable cruise vacations to sought-after destinations with just a short drive or domestic flight.
With the new program, vacationers have even more opportunities to visit iconic destinations along the California Coast, the flavorful cruising of Mexico, the laid-back vibe of Hawaii and Tahiti, tropical Caribbean shores, and the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal, which complement the line's vast array of itinerary choices featuring two- to 111-day voyages to Alaska, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, Asia, Canada/New England, and all around the globe on World Cruises.
"No one can match our unique combination of unparalleled itinerary choices with the authentic, personalized MedallionClass experience that makes a Princess cruise so special and memorable. So whether you're looking for a quick Caribbean getaway or a 'bucket list' trip to the South Pacific – or anything in between – Princess has got you covered," said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises.
Princess' 2023-24 destination highlights and deployments include:
Hawaii & Tahiti (Crown Princess, Diamond Princess, Discovery Princess, Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess and Sapphire Princess)
- 17 destinations, including four Hawaiian Islands and six South Pacific Islands
- 18 departures on five itineraries, ranging in length from 15 to 32 days, sailing from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver:
The Caribbean (Caribbean Princess, Emerald Princess, Enchanted Princess, Island Princess, Regal Princess, Ruby Princess, and Sky Princess)
- 126 departures on 18 itineraries, ranging in length from five to 21 days, sailing roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale and Galveston
- 25 Caribbean islands, including Cozumel, Grand Cayman, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, Grand Turk and Princess Cays, the cruise line's private island resort
- "More Ashore" late-night stays in Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, San Juan, St. Maarten and St. Thomas on select itineraries
Mexico (Crown Princess, Diamond Princess and Discovery Princess)
- 8 destinations, including Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, La Paz, and Loreto
- 24 departures on five unique itineraries, from five to 10 days, sailing from Los Angeles and San Francisco:
- "More Ashore" overnight stays in Cabo San Lucas are featured on every five-day Cabo San Lucas Getaway cruise.
California Coast (Crown Princess, Discovery Princess (newest ship) Grand Princess, Ruby Princess and Sapphire Princess)
- 11 destinations in three countries, including six destinations in California: Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Monterey, Catalina Island, San Diego, and Ensenada
- 25 total departures on 13 unique itineraries from three to 11 days, sailing from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver:
- Select itineraries feature "More Ashore" late-night stays in San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver.
Panama Canal (Emerald Princess, Island Princess and Ruby Princess)
- Two ways to see the Panama Canal: Roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale (partial transit) or ocean-to-ocean (full transit) between Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles or San Francisco
- 18 destinations, including Falmouth, Fuerte Amador (Panama), Cartagena and Puntarenas (Costa Rica)
- 23 departures on six itineraries, ranging from 10- to 15-days
Princess MedallionClass Vacations
Princess delivers Princess MedallionClass Vacations which begins with the Medallion® wearable, a quarter-sized, device that enables everything from expedited contactless boarding to locating loved ones anywhere on the ship, as well as enhanced service like having whatever guests need, delivered directly to them, wherever they are on the ship. In addition, guests can share their favorite cruise moments using MedallionNet, the best Wi-Fi at sea, as well as stay connected with friends and family back home, work remotely anywhere on the ship, quickly post content and stream favorite movies and shows.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237), or by visiting the company's website at http://www.princess.com/.
About Princess Cruises
One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is the world's leading international premium cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 15 modern cruise ships, carrying millions of guests each year to 330 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. A team of professional destination experts have curated 170 itineraries, ranging in length from three to 111 days and Princess Cruises is continuously recognized as "Best Cruise Line for Itineraries." In 2017 Princess Cruises, with parent company Carnival Corporation, introduced MedallionClass Vacations enabled by the Medallion device, the vacation industry's most advanced wearable device, provided free to each guest sailing on a MedallionClass ship. The award-winning innovation offers the fastest way to an effortless personalized vacation, giving guests more time to do the things they love most. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).
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SOURCE Princess Cruises | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/princess-cruises-2023-24-americas-cruise-season-feature-47-itineraries-including-new-voyages-south-pacific-hawaii-departures-galveston/ | 2022-07-28T14:16:11Z |
UK Treasury chief Sunak defends wife in tax controversy
By DANICA KIRKA
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Treasury chief has defended his wife’s decision to take advantage of rules that allow many foreigners to escape U.K. taxes on their overseas income, saying critics have launched a smear campaign against her to get at him. In an interview with the Sun newspaper, Rishi Sunak says he expects scrutiny as a politician but it is unfair to attack his wife, Akshata Murty, who is a private citizen with her own career and independent investments. Murty, a fashion designer and businesswoman, is also the daughter of the Indian billionaire who founded the information technology company Infosys. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/04/08/uk-treasury-chief-sunak-defends-wife-in-tax-controversy/ | 2022-04-08T16:38:22Z |
Experienced Global Account Management and Client Services Executive Joins Leading San Diego Marketing Agency
SAN DIEGO, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mindgruve, one of the fastest-growing modern marketing agencies in the U.S., today announced Rachel Gigli Carrieri as Vice President of Client Services, effective June 7, 2022. Gigli Carrieri will lead the growing Account Management team, providing strategic oversight for client projects and execution.
View Mindgruve's executive leadership team here.
"We are excited to have a talented leader like Rachel Gigli Carrieri join our Executive Team. With her unique global experience managing high-profile accounts and proven ability to drive client results, increase sales, and improve customer satisfaction, adding Rachel to our leadership team was a natural fit," said Chad Robley, co-founder and CEO of Mindgruve. "Rachel has a strategic approach to client service— one that will bring significant value to our clients and drive business growth for brands."
Gigli Carrieri joins Mindgruve with over 17 years of extensive integrated marketing experience focused on cross-channel communications, gained from both sides of the pond. Gigli Carrieri's rich global experience in account management and servicing client account portfolios will enable the agency to continue providing world-class service to its clients. Her experience includes:
- BMW UK
- JWT, London - Kraft Foods and Johnson & Johnson
- Digitaria (a JWT company) - CBRE and Petco
- VITRO - Facebook, El Pollo Loco, San Manuel Casino and California Smokers' Helpline
- Wunderman Thompson - T-Mobile
"I'm thrilled to join Mindgruve during such an exciting time of growth. The agency's data-driven approach to marketing makes it easy to prove ROI and measure success," said Gigli Carrieri. "I look forward to providing the expertise needed to ensure client success through every stage of the funnel."
We are a global, independent marketing agency comprised of strategists, creatives, media experts, data scientists and engineers from around the world driven by one common purpose — create groundbreaking work that helps brands drive business growth. For more information, visit https://mindgruve.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn.
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SOURCE Mindgruve | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/mindgruve-appoints-rachel-gigli-carrieri-vice-president-client-services/ | 2022-07-07T14:10:07Z |
Stormont Vail offers sports injury clinic on Saturdays through October
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Stormont Vail will again offer a sports injury clinic on Saturdays through October, however, it is open to all schools this year.
Stormont Vail Health says it will once again host its Sports Injury Clinic for area high school athletes in 2022. It said this year, however, it is opening its doors to all schools in the community.
Stormont Vail said a sports medicine physician and an athletic trainer will see athletes who may need immediate care for an injury they got during a game, but did not need to visit the Emergency Room.
The health network indicated that the clinic will be held between 8 and 10 a.m. every Saturday from Sept. 3 to Oct. 29 at the Cotton O’Neil Kanza Park, 2660 SW Third St. No appointment is necessary, however, patients are asked to enter through the west doors and proceed to the second floor.
Stormont Vail noted that injuries appropriate for the clinic include:
- Potential fractures
- Torn ligaments including ACL
- Dislocations
The health network said clinic visits will be billed to the student athlete’s insurance and a specialty office visit co-pay will be assessed.
For more information about the clinic, click HERE.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/09/01/stormont-vail-offers-sports-injury-clinic-saturdays-through-october/ | 2022-09-01T18:17:58Z |
Report: Costco raises some food court prices
Published: Jul. 7, 2022 at 2:53 PM CDT|Updated: 19 minutes ago
(CNN) – Attention Costco shoppers: You may notice some price hikes at the food court.
The hot dog and soda combo is still available for $1.50, but if you’re a fan of the warehouse club’s chicken bake, you’ll have to shell out an extra buck, according to a report from Insider.
The price for it has reportedly gone up from $2.99 to $3.99.
And if you just want a 20-ounce fountain drink, those are now reportedly 69 cents instead of 59 cents.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/07/report-costco-raises-some-food-court-prices/ | 2022-07-07T20:13:00Z |
GUIYANG, China, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. ("FTA" or the "Company") (NYSE: YMM), a leading digital freight platform, announced that the Company's Yunmanman and Huochebang apps resumed new user registration today.
As previously announced by the Company, the Cybersecurity Review Office ("CRO") of the Cyberspace Administration of China initiated a cybersecurity review of FTA's Yunmanman and Huochebang apps last July. FTA has fully cooperated with the CRO in the cybersecurity review and has taken comprehensive measures to address issues identified during the process. The CRO informed FTA that its Yunmanman and Huochebang apps may resume new user registration today.
About Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd.
Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YMM) is a leading digital freight platform, connecting shippers with truckers to facilitate shipments across distance ranges, cargo weights and types. The Company provides a range of freight matching services including freight listing service, freight brokerage service and online transaction service. The Company also provides a range of value-added services that cater to the various needs of shippers and truckers, such as financial institutions, highway authorities, and gas stations operators. With a mission to make logistics smarter, the Company is shaping the future of logistics with technology and aspires to revolutionize logistics, improve efficiency across the value chain and reduce its carbon footprint for our planet. For more information, please visit ir.fulltruckalliance.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements which are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to," and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. 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: FTA's goal and strategies; FTA's expansion plans; FTA's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; expected changes in FTA's revenues, costs or expenses; industry landscape of, and trends in, China's road transportation market; competition in FTA's industry; FTA's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its services; FTA's expectations regarding its relationships with shippers, truckers and other ecosystem participants; FTA's ability to protect its systems and infrastructures from cyber-attacks; PRC laws, regulations, and policies relating to the road transportation market, as well as general regulatory environment in which FTA operates in China; the results of regulatory review and the duration and impact of any regulatory action taken against FTA; the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather conditions and production constraints brought by electricity rationing measures; general economic and business condition; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
In China:
Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd.
Mao Mao
E-mail: IR@amh-group.com
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Emilie Wu
Tel: +86-21-6039-8363
E-mail: FTA@thepiacentegroup.com
In the United States:
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
E-mail: FTA@thepiacentegroup.com
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SOURCE Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/full-truck-alliance-announces-resumption-new-user-registration/ | 2022-06-29T12:20:30Z |
Redesigned USOpen.org and US Open App will Include New Fan Experiences Leveraging Hybrid Cloud and Explainable AI
ARMONK, N.Y., Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) today announced a five-year renewal of their longstanding, 30-year partnership. From the launch of USOpen.org in 1995 to the introduction of the mobile app in 2009, and last year's debut of the IBM Power Index with Watson, IBM and the USTA have collaborated for more than three decades, today delivering a world-class platform that provides unparalleled, first-of-its-kind fan experiences through hybrid cloud and AI technologies. This year, they will continue to expand and enhance the US Open digital offerings with new features added to the US Open app and USOpen.com ahead of the 2022 tournament.
Building on the popular IBM Match Insights with Watson feature — which analyzes millions of data points and over 100 million sources over the course of the tournament — 'Win Factors' brings an additional level of transparency into what is being analyzed by the AI models.. Win Factors is designed to provide fans with an increased understanding of the elements affecting player performance, such as the court surface, rankings, head-to-head records, ratio of games won, net of sets won, recent performance, yearly success, and media commentary. For the first time at the US Open, users can also register their own predictions for match outcomes on the US Open app and USOpen.com, through the 'Have Your Say' function. They can then compare their prediction with the aggregated predictions of other fans and the AI-powered Likelihood to Win generated by IBM.
"Our partnership with the USTA provides a unique opportunity to showcase the full breadth of IBM capabilities, against the backdrop of one of the most exciting and iconic sporting events in the world. As we look ahead, the possibilities to continually expand and enhance the US Open digital fan experience are endless," said Jonathan Adashek, Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing at IBM. "Together we have created a platform of innovation by activating the same hybrid cloud, AI technology and IBM Consulting services that we use with our clients across all industries to bring the US Open digital properties to life for millions of tennis fans around the world."
"IBM's expertise and digital leadership has brought our fans closer to the tournament for the past three decades," said Kirsten Corio, USTA Chief Commercial Officer. "We are excited to continue to leverage IBM's innovative tech to serve up the tournament in exciting new ways and deepen global fan engagement with the US Open."
Win Factors and Have your Say join a comprehensive suite of digital fan features — including the IBM Power Index, Match Insights, and Fantasy Tennis game — on the newly redesigned US Open digital platforms.
The USTA and IBM iX, the experience design arm of IBM Consulting, worked to design and develop an updated website and app designed to enable fans around the world, and onsite at the US Open, to access the tournament, their favorite content, engaging insights and utilities faster and more intuitively than before. The US Open Digital Platforms include many new features. Fans can mark their favorite players to curate their digital experience based on their selections. The Scores, Schedule, Draws, and Players sections have been completely redesigned to deliver more relevant and contextual content and insights. The US Open mobile app introduces a new toggled state called "At the Open" which is specifically catered to the on-site attendee. "At the Open" is designed to provide fans with everything they need to optimize their visit, including ticket access management, mobile food ordering, grounds maps and curated content outlining each day's events.
The US Open's digital experiences run on a combination of on-premises, public, and private clouds, and IBM has designed a data architecture that helps ensure the right data — pulling from a variety of data sets and APIs — gets in the right hands at the right time. IBM leverages a hybrid cloud approach to collect, integrate, and distribute data and applications running on Red Hat OpenShift across multiple clouds to seamlessly handle the variety of different workloads required. This year's innovative solutions were built on IBM Cloud, and containerized using Red Hat OpenShift. The flexibility of the cloud allows for rapid innovation each year, as the IBM developers building these solutions are able to write code for new features once, and deploy it in any environment.
The 2022 US Open, including its Fan Week, during which the Qualifying tournament is held, runs from August 23 through September 11. To see IBMs technology in action, including the daily updated IBM Power Index, visit USOpen.org, or on your mobile device via the US Open app, available in the Apple and Android app stores.
Media Contact:
Rebecca Bernhard
rebecca.bernhard@ibm.com
About IBM
IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider, helping clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Nearly 3,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. For more information, visit www.ibm.com.
About USTA
The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, and launched the US Open Series, linking seven summer WTA and ATP World Tour tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 120 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA's philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
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SOURCE IBM | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/ibm-usta-announce-multi-year-partnership-renewal-ahead-2022-us-open/ | 2022-08-18T11:02:33Z |
Brisk Creates Tropical Escape for Fans Inspired by its New Brisk® Dragon Paradise™ Sparkling Iced Tea Available Only at Taco Bell®, Featuring Surprise Performances, Fan Favorites from the Taco Bell Food Truck and More
Fans Can Enter for a Chance to Win a One-of-a-Kind Trip to Miami through Brisk National Sweepstakes
PURCHASE, N.Y., July 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 21, Brisk is bringing Ty Dolla $ign to Miami as part of an epic escape for music lovers, culture creators and foodies alike - "Enter Dragon Paradise." The event at Island Gardens will celebrate the launch of Brisk Dragon Paradise Sparkling Iced Tea, the powerhouse iced tea brand's first-ever sparkling tea available exclusively at participating Taco Bell locations nationwide. The unique product innovation combines mouth-watering tropical dragon fruit, raspberry and blackberry flavors with a hibiscus tea base and a refreshing fizzy sensation for the ultimate taste adventure.
Taking place just before one of 2022's biggest music moments in Miami, Brisk will bring music fans into the Dragon Paradise world with performances by today's best and upcoming talent; a custom Tree-ki bar serving Dragon Paradise cocktails, mocktails, and beverages; and the Taco Bell Food Truck serving favorites like the Crunchy Taco, Black Bean Crunchy Taco, Nacho Cheese Doritos® Locos Tacos and the Bean and Cheese Burrito.
"I'm hyped to be in Miami later this month with Brisk to celebrate the new Brisk Dragon Paradise," said Ty Dolla $ign. "It's a huge weekend in South Beach and we're going to kick it off right with an epic party on the water. You know we'll bring the energy from the jump, so we can't wait to see the fans come out and enter Dragon Paradise!"
Five lucky fans will also have the chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience for them and a friend in Miami, FL via national sweepstakes including (2) VIP tickets to attend Brisk's "Enter Dragon Paradise" event on July 21, (2) General Admission tickets valid for 3-days to a Miami Music Festival from July 22 – July 24 and a stipend for weekend activities. To enter, consumers must:
- LIKE the designated "Enter Dragon Paradise" sweepstakes post on TikTok or Instagram
- FOLLOW @DrinkBrisk on TikTok or @Brisk on Instagram
- COMMENT with hashtags #SweepstakesEntry and #BriskDragonParadise
Full details and terms and conditions can be found here.
"At Brisk, we have a rich history of bringing bold flavor to our enthusiastic fans and giving them access to authentic experiences and innovations," said Katrina McDonald, Senior Marketing Director, Pepsi Lipton Partnership. "We're excited to bring the spirit of Brisk Dragon Paradise to life with this epic event, especially within the music and entertainment space that celebrates and embodies the same creative individuality and passion as our fans."
"The PepsiCo beverage portfolio has a long tradition of collaboration to entice and excite our consumers," said Alex Chiavegatti, Senior Director, PepsiCo Global Foodservice. "By teaming up with our long-standing foodservice partners at Taco Bell to celebrate the new Brisk Dragon Paradise Sparkling Iced Tea in Miami, we are delivering a one-of-a-kind food and beverage and entertainment experience that fans of both brands will love."
To register to attend this epic event, visit BriskDragonParadise.com.
To find Brisk Dragon Paradise at a Taco Bell near you, visit http://www.drinkbrisk.com/flavor/dragon-paradise-sparkling-tea/.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $79 billion in net revenue in 2021, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.
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SOURCE PepsiCo Beverages North America | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/08/brisk-ty-dolla-ign-invite-fans-enter-dragon-paradise-with-epic-concert-event-miami/ | 2022-07-08T14:13:20Z |
New dispensary expands patient access to medical cannabis; grand opening specials available
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the United States, today announced the opening of a new medical dispensary in Coral Springs, Florida. Located at 10400 W. Atlantic Blvd., the doors will open at 9am on Friday, July 1, 2022. The dispensary will be open seven days a week, hours are Monday through Saturday from 9am – 9pm and on Sunday from 10am – 8pm.
Grand opening festivities throughout the day at the new dispensary will include numerous partner giveaways, music, food trucks, deals and specials, and all registered patients will receive a 25% discount. Trulieve also offers statewide home delivery, convenient online ordering and in-store pickup. As always, all first-time guests are eligible for a 50% new customer discount at any Florida-based location.
"Trulieve is proud to continue being at the forefront of expanding access to medical marijuana for Florida's patient population," said Trulieve's Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers, "Trulieve is committed to investing in the Coral Springs community, as well as offering patients access to high quality products and providing exceptional customer experiences."
As the state's leading medical cannabis provider, Trulieve's retail employees are trained to provide personalized patient care and support individuals at every stage of their cannabis journeys. Trulieve dispensaries throughout Florida offer on-site consultations to help patients obtain appropriate medical products and dosages that ensure optimal cannabis experiences.
Trulieve patients across Florida can choose from the largest selection of THC and CBD products available in a variety of consumption methods, including smokable flower, concentrates, edibles, capsules, syringes, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers, and more.
Designed to meet every patient's needs, our portfolio of in-house brands includes Alchemy, Co2lors, Cultivar Collection, Modern Flower, Momenta, Muse, Roll One and Sweet Talk. Patients also have access to beloved brands such as Bellamy Brothers, Bhang, Binske, Blue River, Black Tuna, DeLisioso, Love's Oven, Miami Mango, O.pen and Sunshine Cannabis, all available exclusively at Trulieve in Florida.
For more information, or to learn how to become a registered patient, please visit Trulieve.com.
About Trulieve
Trulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S. operating in 11 states, with leading market positions in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth and expansion, building scale in retail and distribution in new and existing markets through its hub strategy. By providing innovative, high-quality products across its brand portfolio, Trulieve delivers optimal customer experiences and increases access to cannabis, helping patients and customers to live without limits. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. For more information, please visit Trulieve.com.
Facebook: @Trulieve
Instagram: @Trulieve_
Twitter: @Trulieve
Investor Contact
Christine Hersey, Executive Director of Investor Relations
+1 (424) 202-0210
Christine.Hersey@Trulieve.com
Media Contact
Rob Kremer, Executive Director of Corporate Communications
+1 (404) 218-3077
Robert.Kremer@Trulieve.com
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SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/01/trulieve-opening-coral-springs-fl-medical-dispensary/ | 2022-07-01T13:21:15Z |
MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian court on Tuesday rejected opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s appeal of a nine-year prison sentence for fraud.
The rejection means Navalny will be sent to a high-security prison, according to the independent news site Mediazona.
Navalny, the Kremlin’s most persistent critic who had built a nationwide network of supporters, was arrested in January 2021 upon returning from Germany, where he had been recuperating from nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin.
Authorities said the six months of recovery abroad violated terms of a 3½-year suspended sentence in a fraud case.
In March, he was sentenced to nine years in a separate case alleging that he defrauded supporters by seeking donations to run for president even though he knew the previous conviction disqualified him from being a candidate. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/russian-opposition-leaders-9-year-sentence-appeal-rejected/ | 2022-05-25T08:03:51Z |
Company to expedite cloud capabilities for media companies
NEW YORK, June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Operative announces today the appointment of Michael Grossi as Chief Executive Officer and Ben Tatta as Chief Commercial Officer. These changes will help accelerate market adoption of Operative's next-generation cloud core platform, which enables media companies to unify and modernize their ad sales and content businesses. Founder and former CEO Lorne Brown will move to a strategic board role focused on market development and investment strategy.
Operative continues to make unrivalled investment in new products and technologies for the media industry. This is a pivotal time in the industry, with a torrent of pressures and volatility from the pandemic and current economic climate, coupled with preexisting complexity of viewership fragmentation and new currencies. Operative is uniquely able to provide a single modern architecture SaaS solution designed to serve Network, Local, Digital and MVPD customers.
Michael brings over 30 years of experience leading and growing enterprise software and technology companies, having served numerous times in both CEO and board roles over the last decade.
The continued growth at Operative and market opportunity made it a compelling time for industry veteran Ben Tatta to join to lead that continued charge in the market. Ben Tatta is a seasoned media veteran with deep rooted expertise in media sales, measurement, and technology.
"I am thrilled to join Operative at a time where we can create a significant positive impact for our customers," said Michael Grossi. "Our goal is simple, to help media companies unlock their true value. We want to create the next level of scale at Operative to help accelerate that mission".
Ben Tatta commented, "I've been following Operative as a leading player in this industry for many years, with a renewed focus over the past few years as they continue to bring new transformational capabilities to market with their AOS platform. When Lorne and Michael approached me about leading Operative to the next level of scale and growth, it was not only a very logical fit based on my experience, but also an exciting opportunity to help transform the way media companies do business."
Under Michael's leadership and with Ben's industry knowledge, the executive team is being strengthened to provide customers with exceptional service and solutions to accelerate growth. "Operative has become a staple in the industry synonymous with media modernization and advancement. After leading Operative for years on this journey, I'm delighted to have both Michael and Ben join the team to take the Company to the next level and am excited to work with them," said Lorne Brown.
Lastly Michael commented, "Aside from the tremendous continued organic growth opportunity that Operative has ahead, I am confident that we can complement this with substantial inorganic growth as well. Having Francisco Partners as the majority owner opens access to their experience, influence, and capital, all which I plan to leverage to accelerate new platform capabilities".
Operative is the preferred business management solution for linear, digital media, and converged media, and a software partner for over 300 of the world's top media brands. No other software company brings a comparable depth of experience combined with an open, modular framework to create truly innovative software that performs across all platforms, revenue models, and business categories. Since 2000, Operative has grown to over 1200+ global employees and processes more than $40 billion in linear and digital advertising revenue for the best-known companies in the industry. For more information, visit www.operative.com
Michael Grossi has 30 years of experience in enterprise software and technology working for leading global media companies in mobile, telecom, and IT. He has unique expertise in driving emerging and transformative growth strategies for companies with a focus on operational excellence and customer service. Michael started his career as a Captain in the United States Air Force, where he oversaw several different technology defense programs in the Intelligence Command. He has a BSBA in Finance from Villanova University and an MBA from Bentley University. He currently serves on the Deans Advisory Council at the Villanova School of Business (VSB).
Ben Tatta has more than 25 years of traditional and digital media experience leading media sales, technology, and measurement businesses. Ben has made his mark in media leading innovation over the years, most notably as co-founder and president of advanced TV analytics company 605 and during his tenure at Cablevision as President of Media Sales where he launched the industry's first system-wide deployment of addressable TV advertising. He has held senior leadership roles at companies including USA Networks, IBM, ABC, Lagardere Media and eBay Enterprise Marketing. He received a B.A. in Economics from Villanova University.
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SOURCE Operative | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/13/operative-prepares-accelerated-growth-with-new-executive-appointments/ | 2022-06-13T18:32:31Z |
Colorado governor signs law to protect abortion rights
DENVER (AP) — Colorado joined a handful of other states Monday in codifying the right to abortion in statute, a party-line response to efforts across the country to limit abortion access in anticipation of a pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a challenge to the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that banned states from outlawing abortion.
Gov. Jared Polis signed into law the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which passed the Democratic-led Legislature after dozens of hours of testimony by residents and fierce opposition by minority Republicans. The law guarantees access to reproductive care before and after pregnancy and bans local governments from imposing their own restrictions.
It also declares that fertilized eggs, embryos and fetuses have no independent rights. That’s a response to failed ballot initiatives that sought to restrict abortion by giving embryos the rights of born humans. In 2014, voters rejected a proposal to add unborn human beings to the state’s criminal code, allowing prosecutors to charge anyone who kills a fetus with a crime.
“Colorado has been, is and will be a pro-choice state,” Polis said, calling increasing abortion restrictions elsewhere “an enormous government overreach, an enormous government infringement” of individual rights. “No matter what the Supreme Court does in the future, people in Colorado will be able to choose when and if they have children.”
Colorado was the first state to decriminalize abortion in most cases in 1967, and it allows access to abortion but had nothing in state law guaranteeing it. New Jersey, Oregon and Vermont had previously codified the right to abortion throughout pregnancy, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights.
Republicans would still be able to introduce legislation and ballot measures to reverse the new law. For that reason, abortion rights groups are weighing a 2024 constitutional ballot measure, much like Nevada did in 1990.
Colorado Democrats cited the high court’s consideration of a Mississippi case that could overrule Roe v. Wade, as well as a new Texas law banning abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. If Roe is overturned fully, at least 26 states are likely to either ban abortion outright or severely limit access, the Guttmacher Institute says.
“We don’t want to ever see what’s happening in Texas to happen in Colorado,” said House Majority Leader Rep. Daneya Esgar, a sponsor of the Colorado legislation.
Idaho has enacted a law modeled after the Texas statute. Missouri lawmakers have introduced a bill to make it illegal for the state’s residents to get abortions in other states. Arizona’s legislature has approved a ban on abortion after 15 weeks and, like other states, has a law that would automatically ban abortion if Roe is overturned.
In California, Democratic leaders are considering more than a dozen bills this year to prepare for a Roe reversal. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law last month to make abortions cheaper for people on private insurance plans. Washington state enacted a law banning legal action against people who aid or receive an abortion, responding to the Texas law’s provision allowing people to sue abortion providers or those who assist them.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/04/04/colorado-governor-signs-law-protect-abortion-rights/ | 2022-04-05T01:18:10Z |
January 6 defendant claims self-defense in police assault case
By Holmes Lybrand, CNN
In the sixth Capitol riot trial, a January 6 defendant’s hope for an acquittal seemingly rests on the jury believing he tackled a DC police officer in self-defense.
Thomas Webster, a 56-year-old Marine Corps veteran and retired police officer from the New York Police Department who faces six charges for his actions that day, told the jury Thursday that he was trying to defend himself against a “rogue” cop who assaulted him first and that he only grabbed the officer’s gas mask after tackling the officer so he “could see my hands.”
The defendant said he was originally conflicted about attending the “Stop the Steal” rally and found the speeches unimpressive, adding that he went up to the front of the US Capitol after seeing people walking away with injuries, telling the jury he was “programmed” to help in those instances.
According to Webster, he only tackled the officer, Noah Rathbun, after Rathbun taunted him to come across the fence line for a fight and punched him in the head. The hit, Webster said, was “like getting hit with a hammer,” adding that he started seeing stars and was scared.
Webster’s telling of the event ran in almost complete contradiction to officer Rathbun’s testimony Wednesday. According to Rathbun, it was Webster who taunted him to fight, yelling for the officer to “take my shit off,” Rathbun testified. The officer also says he never punched Webster and only “made contact incidentally with his face” after Webster continued to push against the metal fence separating the rioters and police.
After the contact, Webster says he swung his flagpole at the metal fence to ward off Rathbun. “I was seeing stars,” Webster testified.
According to Webster, Rathbun then separated the fencing. “He’s coming after me,” Webster testified thinking at the time, “I’m afraid. He’s gone rogue.”
He then ran at Rathbun and the officer “kind of fell down,” Webster said, adding that he “grabbed the filter” of Rathbun’s gas mask “and just pushed up.”
“I just wanted him to see my hands,” Webster testified. “It was scary … he was fighting back.”
It was here that Rathbun testified he “was not able to breathe” because Webster was pulling his chin strap up into his neck.
“He knocked me down … grabbed my helmet and started pulling me,” Rathbun said Wednesday.
Webster will continue his testimony Friday morning with Judge Amit Mehta presiding.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2022/04/28/january-6-defendant-claims-self-defense-in-police-assault-case/ | 2022-04-29T00:11:21Z |
ATLANTA, May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mammoth Holdings, America's premier express car wash platform, announced the appointment of Jennifer Vanderveldt as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Ms. Vanderveldt – most recently Chief Financial Officer at European Wax Center – joins the senior management team established by David Hoffmann who took the helm as CEO in October of 2021.
"Jennifer is an extraordinary talent with the ideal skills to support Mammoth's transformation and growth trajectory" said Mammoth CEO David Hoffmann. "She has a proven track record of scaling businesses for generating growth and successfully managing and creating value for membership-based, recurring revenue businesses."
During her tenure at European Wax Center, Vanderveldt led the company's $200+ million IPO which became one of the top consumer issuances of 2021 with meaningful share price appreciations in its first two quarters of trading. Previously, she held leadership positions in finance, strategy, general management and data and analytics at top retail and consumer service brands including Petco and Michaels. She began her career as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan.
"There is an immense growth opportunity for Mammoth to become the leader within this large and highly fragmented market," said Vanderveldt. "Most importantly, I'm aligned with Dave's vision for delivering a customer-centric value proposition and a seamless experience across our family of brands. I am thrilled to support Mammoth's path forward," said Vanderveldt.
Vanderveldt will oversee Mammoth's accounting, finance, and information technology departments. She will focus on building a shared services corporate infrastructure to support operational excellence and leverage analytical insights to drive optimized business performance.
"Jennifer's exceptional financial and data analytics experience combined with COO Corey Joselin's expertise in continuous improvement and Six Sigma excellence make up a powerful executive team at Mammoth, well-equipped to achieve our vision of 500 sites by 2025," said Hoffmann.
Mammoth's co-founder, Chip Hackett, will be stepping back from his executive duties as Chief Financial Officer. Hackett will focus his efforts on Mammoth's Business Advisory Council (BAC), a team of owner operators who advise the organization on operational execution, best practices, real estate and site selection, and M&A integration.
Mammoth Holdings is the first car wash platform formed by industry insiders and has 99 operating locations. Mammoth is customer-focused operationally; operator-focused in its approach to acquisitions; and seeks to be the partner-of-choice for car wash operators who desire liquidity, growth capital, and a tax-deferred equity investment opportunity. Mammoth Holdings' multi-brand portfolio includes Coastal, Shine-N-Go, SUDS, Silverstar, Busy Bee, PureMagic, Marc-1, Ultra, Wash Me Fast, Wiggy Wash, Pals, Finish Line, LuLu's, Ollie's, PitStop, and Swifty, among others.
Mammoth has significant growth capital and is actively seeking acquisitions and development opportunities.
In October 2018, Mammoth partnered with Red Dog Equity LLC, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, which, through its partnership with Tom Pritzker's family business interests (advised by The Pritzker Organization), provides the equity for Mammoth Holdings' corporate development initiatives. Monroe Capital and Morgan Stanley provide Mammoth Holdings' debt financing.
About Mammoth Holdings
Headquartered in Atlanta, Mammoth Holdings operates 99 conveyor car washes under the Coastal, Shine-N-Go, SUDS, Silverstar, Busy Bee, PureMagic, Marc-1, Ultra, Wash Me Fast, Wiggy Wash, Pals, Finish Line, LuLu's, Ollie's, PitStop, and Swifty brands in Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Illinois, Utah, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Indiana, Tennessee, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Florida.
Mammoth Holdings was founded by Gary Dennis and Chip Hackett in 2002. To learn more, please visit us online at mammothholdings.com.
About Red Dog Equity LLC
Red Dog Equity LLC is a private equity firm that invests in lower middle-market companies poised for strong growth in partnership with driven, entrepreneurial business leaders ("Red Dogs"). To learn more, please visit reddogequity.com.
About The Pritzker Organization
The Pritzker Organization is the merchant bank for the business interests of the Tom Pritzker family. Additional information can be found at pritzkerorg.com.
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SOURCE Mammoth Holdings | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/23/mammoth-holdings-names-jennifer-vanderveldt-chief-financial-officer/ | 2022-05-23T12:29:52Z |
Automated Testing Solutions Seamlessly Integrate Into Embedded CI/CD Pipelines to Optimize Software Delivery
MONROVIA, Calif. and BERLIN, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Parasoft, a global leader in automated software testing for over 30 years, today announced it will be showcasing its innovative approach to compliance reporting and risk assessment and demonstrating its powerful capabilities in software test automation that encompass process standards compliance, code safety, and cybersecurity at Embedded World 2022, Hall 4, Booth 4-378 on June 21-23. Visitors will experience live demos and learn how to:
- Accelerate software delivery with continuous testing.
- Make quality, compliance, and security an integrated part of the CI/CD toolchain.
- Automate compliance with industry standards.
- Increase code quality and reduce the cost of defects.
- Test smarter with AI and ML.
Parasoft's expertise in navigating the world of embedded safety- and security-critical applications will be featured in the following Embedded World sessions:
- Use AI to Prioritize Static Analysis Results & Lighten the Load of MISRA Compliance
- IoT Security and Risk Management in the SDLC
With an unparalleled approach to coverage for industry coding standards in MISRA, AUTOSAR C++ 14, CERT C/C++, CWE, JSF, UL 2900 and more, Parasoft automated testing solutions save development time and helps organizations establish a sustainable compliance process with dynamic, industry-specific compliance dashboards and reporting widgets that automatically generate compliance documentation.
Top organizations in industries like automotive, aerospace, and defense successfully deployed Parasoft C/C++test, a unified, fully integrated testing solution for safety- and security-critical software, and implemented modern development workflows to increase developer productivity, reduce the overall cost of standards compliance, and achieve compliance goals.
Parasoft provides customers software testing capabilities made for today's Agile and DevOps environments. The innovative patented testing solution integrates tightly into embedded development teams' C and C++ IDE, CI/CD pipeline, and containerized deployments to detect defects earlier and automatically enforce compliance with industry standards like ISO 26262, DO-178C, IEC 62304, IEC 61508, and EN 50128.
"Our powerful test automation solutions integrate seamlessly into Git-based CI/CD platforms helping all industries that build embedded real-time applications accelerate the pace at which they deliver value to their customers," said Igor Kirilenko, chief product officer at Parasoft. "Embedded dev teams can deliver safe, secure, and reliable software faster by integrating automated static analysis, unit testing, and structural code coverage into their DevOps workflow."
Parasoft helps organizations continuously deliver quality software with its market-proven, integrated suite of automated software testing tools. Supporting the embedded, enterprise, and IoT markets, Parasoft's technologies reduce the time, effort, and cost of delivering secure, reliable, and compliant software by integrating everything from deep code analysis and unit testing to web UI and API testing, plus service virtualization and complete code coverage, into the delivery pipeline. Bringing all this together, Parasoft's award winning reporting and analytics dashboard delivers a centralized view of quality enabling organizations to deliver with confidence and succeed in today's most strategic ecosystems and development initiatives — security, safety-critical, Agile, DevOps, and continuous testing.
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SOURCE Parasoft | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/parasoft-showcases-innovative-solutions-compliance-testing-embedded-world-2022/ | 2022-05-31T18:17:01Z |
- Sixteen percent of California households could afford to purchase the $883,370 median-priced home in the second quarter of 2022, down from 24 percent in first-quarter 2022 and down from 23 percent in second-quarter 2021.
- A minimum annual income of $199,200 was needed to make monthly payments of $4,980, including principal, interest and taxes on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at a 5.39 percent interest rate.
- One-fourth of California home buyers were able to purchase the $677,000 median-priced condo or townhome. A minimum annual income of $152,800 was required to make a monthly payment of $3,820.
- Infographic: https://www.car.org/Global/Infographics/HAI-2022-Q2
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Housing affordability in California fell below 20 percent and slid to the lowest level in nearly 15 years as home prices soared to record highs in April and May and interest rates jumped to levels not seen in more than 13 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) said today.
The percentage of home buyers who could afford to purchase a median-priced, existing single-family home in California in second-quarter 2022 slid to 16 percent from 24 percent in the first quarter of 2022 and was down from 23 percent in the second quarter of 2021, according to C.A.R.'s Traditional Housing Affordability Index (HAI). California hit a peak high affordability index of 56 percent in the first quarter of 2012.
C.A.R.'s HAI measures the percentage of all households that can afford to purchase a median-priced, single-family home in California. C.A.R. also reports affordability indices for regions and select counties within the state. The index is considered the most fundamental measure of housing well-being for home buyers in the state.
A minimum annual income of $199,200 was needed to qualify for the purchase of a $883,370 statewide median-priced, existing single-family home in the second quarter of 2022. The monthly payment, including taxes and insurance on a 30-year, fixed-rate loan, would be $4,980, assuming a 20 percent down payment and an effective composite interest rate of 5.39 percent. The effective composite interest rate was 3.97 percent in first-quarter 2022 and 3.20 percent in second-quarter 2021. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit the highest level in more than 13 years in June as the Federal Reserve continued to raise rates aggressively in the second quarter.
With the median price of condominiums and townhomes reaching another record high in second-quarter 2022, affordability for condos and townhomes fell from the previous quarter. Twenty-five percent of California households earned the minimum income to qualify for the purchase of a $677,000 median-priced condo/townhome in the second quarter of 2022, which required an annual income of $152,800 to make monthly payments of $3,820. The second quarter 2022 figure was down from 37 percent a year ago.
Nationwide housing affordability also plunged in second-quarter 2022. Compared with California, nearly four in ten (38 percent) of the nation's households could afford to purchase a $413,500 median-priced home, which required a minimum annual income of $93,200 to make monthly payments of $2,330. Nationwide affordability was a revised 49 percent a year ago.
Key points from the second-quarter 2022 Housing Affordability report include:
- Compared to the previous quarter, housing affordability in the second quarter of 2022 declined in all but two of 51 counties. Affordability remained level in Glenn and Santa Cruz counties.
- In the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, affordability declined from the previous quarter in all counties. Alameda County and Napa tied for the least affordable Bay Area counties, at just 15 percent of households able to purchase the $1,500,000 and $1,005,000 median-priced home, respectively. Twenty-eight percent of Solano County households could afford the $625,000 median-priced home, making it the most affordable Bay Area county.
- In the Southern California region, housing affordability deteriorated in all counties. Orange County was the least affordable at 12 percent, while San Bernardino County was the most affordable at 30 percent of households able to purchase the $493,000 median-priced home.
- In the Central Valley region, Kings County was the most affordable at 39 percent, and San Benito was the least affordable at 17 percent.
- In the Central Coast region, Santa Barbara County was the least affordable at 10 percent, and Monterey and Santa Cruz tied for the most affordable at 13 percent.
- For the state as a whole, Lassen (54 percent) remained the most affordable county in California in the second quarter of 2022, followed by Kings (39 percent), Glenn (36 percent) and Shasta (36 percent). Lassen County also required the lowest minimum qualifying income ($58,800) of all counties in California to purchase a median-priced home and was the only county in the state with a minimum required income less than $60,000.
- Mono (6 percent), Santa Barbara (10 percent), San Luis Obispo (12 percent) and Orange (12 percent) were the least affordable counties in California, with each requiring at least a minimum income of $202,800 to purchase a median-priced home in the county. San Mateo required the highest minimum qualifying income to buy a median-priced home, surpassing the $500,000 benchmark for the first time to reach a record high of $512,000. Three other counties in California requiring a minimum qualifying income of over $400,000 in second-quarter 2022 were San Francisco ($450,800), Marin ($434,800) and Santa Clara ($428,400).
- Housing affordability declined the most on a year-over-year basis in Kings, dropping 17.1 points from the previous year. Mariposa (14.8 points) and Siskiyou (14.4 points) had the second and the third largest year-over-year dips in the latest quarter. Like the rest of the state, interest rate and home price surges from a year ago were the primary factors that led to the sharp drop in affordability in these counties.
See C.A.R.'s historical housing affordability data.
See first-time buyer housing affordability data.
Leading the way…® in California real estate for more than 110 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States with more than 217,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.
Traditional Housing Affordability Indices (HAI) were calculated based on the following effective composite interest rates: 5.39% (2Qtr. 2022), 3.97% (1Qtr. 2022) and 3.20% (2Qtr. 2021).
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SOURCE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/california-housing-affordability-slides-lowest-level-nearly-15-years-second-quarter-2022-home-prices-set-record-highs-interest-rates-surge-car-reports/ | 2022-08-11T15:14:37Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday highlighted new figures showing the government’s red ink will grow less than expected this year and the national debt will shrink this quarter as he tried to counter criticism of his economic leadership amid growing dismay over inflation going into midterm elections that will decide control of Congress.
Biden, embracing deficit reduction as a way to fight inflation, stressed that the dip in the national debt would be the first in six years, an achievement that eluded former President Donald Trump despite his promises to improve the federal balance sheet.
“The bottom line is the deficit went up every year under my predecessor before the pandemic and during the pandemic. It has gone down both years since I’ve been here,” Biden said. “Why is it important? Because bringing down the deficit is one way to ease inflationary pressures.”
The president is placing a renewed emphasis on reducing the deficit — which is the gap between what the nation spends and what it takes in — in order to blunt Republican criticism that the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package has left the U.S. economy worse off. It’s an attempt to burnish his credentials as a responsible steward of the economy while trying to fend off criticism about inflation at a 40-year high. The reopening of the economy coming out of the coronavirus pandemic and the commodity squeeze resulting from theRussia-Ukraine warhas made high prices a key political risk for Democrats.
But it is unclear if greater fiscal responsibility can deliver politically for Biden as Democrats try to defend their control of the House and Senate. His two most recent Democratic predecessors, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, also cut budget deficits, only to leave office and see their Republican successors use the savings on tax cuts.
When reporters tried to question Biden about other topics after his remarks, the president prodded, “You don’t want to ask about deficits?”
Bidden is making a nuanced argument about how the financial outlook has improved: Strong job gains over the past 16 months have increased total incomes and led to additional tax revenues. That means that this fiscal year’s budget deficit will decline $1.5 trillion, much better than the $1.3 trillion that was initially forecast. Less government borrowing will, in turn, limit the financial sources of inflation.
But the expected $26 billion drop this quarter in the national debt — which is money the U.S. owes due to accumulated deficits over time — will be short-lived, as the debt already totals $23.9 trillion and will continue to rise in the second half of this year. And while Biden expects his plans will improve the outlook for budget deficits over the next decade, the national debt would continue to climb. The Biden administration believes that the cost of servicing the debt is low enough to sustain the borrowing, while critics say structural changes are needed to improve the long-term outlook.
“There needs to be a real fiscal restructuring because we continue to see these trillion-dollar deficits as far as the eye can see,” said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former director of the Congressional Budget Office who now leads the center-right American Action Forum.
Holtz-Eakin said the Biden administration is taking credit for lower deficits over the past two years that largely occurred due to the end of coronavirus-related spending, rather than fixing the finances of Medicare and Social Security that will determine the long-term budget outlook.
“That doesn’t seem to be the right aspiration for a great country,” Holtz-Eakin said. “What they’re doing is essentially deferring the need to do anything real and genuinely fix the programs that are important to people.”
Deficit reduction also matches a priority of Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, the key Democratic vote in the evenly split Senate who blocked the passage of Biden’s domestic and environmental agenda in December. The reduction also occurs amid rising interest rates on U.S. Treasury notes, a consequence of inflation running at 8.5% and the Federal Reserve’s efforts to reduce price pressures.
Within an hour of Biden’s remarks, Senate Republicans gathered to challenge Biden’s economic policies. Their core critique is that overspending in response to COVID-19 was paired with restrictions on domestic oil and natural gas production, leading to higher gasoline prices than under Trump.
‘The biggest drag on the U.S. economy right now involves the rising energy costs,” said Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska. “This is purely a self-inflicted wound by the Biden administration.”
One of the challenges for Biden is that voters have largely shrugged off deficit increases and seldom rewarded deficit cuts. Voters might discuss the idea of reducing deficits with pollsters, yet health care, incomes and inflation are often top of mind when casting their ballots.
Norman Ornstein, an emeritus scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, noted that deficits are often “abstract” for voters. The recent low interest rates have also muted any potential economic drags from higher deficits, which have risen following the COVID-19 pandemic and, separately, the 2008 financial crisis, to help the economy recover.
“They’re more likely to respond to things that are in their wheelhouse or that they believe will have a more direct effect on their lives,” Ornstein said. Deficits are “a step removed for most voters, and we’ve been through periods where we’ve had the big deficits and debt and it’s not like it devastated directly people’s lives.” | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/with-deficit-falling-biden-pivots-to-fiscal-responsibility/ | 2022-05-05T04:58:12Z |
GARYSBURG, N.C., Sept. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 14, 2022, Firefighters from several departments attended a meeting to learn about toxic PFAS found in their turnout gear that could be impacting their health.
The meeting was organized and co-hosted by Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) and included a presentation by Kevin Ferrara, a retired US Air Force firefighter, internationally known for his work on this issue. Ferrara commented that "military firefighters were deceived for decades about toxic firefighting foam; leadership knew but said nothing. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when will my doctor tell me I have cancer because of my exposure to toxic PFAS? As veterans and firefighters, we never asked or expected to be sickened by those we trusted to protect us, let alone the protective clothing we wear."
Bryan Brice of The Law offices of F. Bryan Brice, Jr. Brice Legal Firm and Annemarie Pantazis of Wilder-Pantazis Law Group provided additional information regarding legal options, as well as state and federal resources for firefighters and their families. Brice, speaking of chemical companies like Dupont, 3M, and Chemours stated, "We need to hold the chemical companies and those responsible accountable for the high cancer rates and other injuries caused by the unconscionable level of PFAS in firefighter turnout gear."
Therese Vick, North Carolina Healthy Communities Campaign Coordinator for BREDL and the mother of a firefighter said, " Firefighters risk their lives to protect us. The turnout gear they need to protect them should not pose a threat to their health. Our hope is to bring this information to the men and women of the fire service, the public, and decision makers."
#PFAS #firefighters #foreverchemicals
CONTACT: Therese Vick (919) 345-3673 therese.vick@gmail.com
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SOURCE Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League Inc | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/16/informational-meeting-held-firefighter-exposure-toxic-chemicals-turnout-gear/ | 2022-09-16T18:15:03Z |
WOODINVILLE, Wash., June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As farmers face surging fuel and input costs, unseasonal cold weather and precipitation in Washington State throws a wrench into already complicated food pricing.
"The pathways are up to our boot tops with standing water," said Amy White of Bumblebee Farms. "Even cold-weather crops like spinach, arugula, radishes, peas, and kale are struggling because the soil is saturated with water."
Over the past decade, small local farms have been adjusting to increasing heat by switching out tried-and-true seed varietals for more heat-hardy varieties. By contrast, spring of 2022 has been unusually cold and wet—Seattle is experiencing its coldest spring since 1955.
Many farms in the Greater Seattle area--Sammamish, Snohomish, and Snoqualmie valleys—have high water tables. Seasonal flooding comes with the territory--but not usually this late in the season, when drier, heat-loving crops like tomatoes and squash are supposed to be in the ground already. Food safety rules dictate that fields cannot be planted again until 60 days after a flooding event—meaning some varieties may not have any time to come to fruition.
Plus, when the soil is saturated, tilling can create compaction and disrupt soil ecosystems. For those on tiny margins, farmers are having to choose: Wait until the weather is more stable for heat-loving crops, or till anyway, which can create problems in the future.
"We use a no-till system so we are just waiting until the soil is workable with hand tools," said Noa Kay, farmer at Songbird Haven Farms. "Still, we're planting our cucumbers a month later than what's typical."
That uncertainty is partially responsible for rising costs of food—though not entirely. "We're hearing consistent reports of everything from linen service to the price of olive oil increasing," Farmstand Local Foods shared in a recent newsletter.
An American workforce already reeling from the pandemic is struggling to afford rising costs of food. On the flip side, farmers are barely breaking even. "We are now losing money on every box we send off the farm, so it's time to raise our shipping prices, which will further limit our customer base," Micha Ide wrote in a recent article for Eat Local First.
"The soil is still so wet that we can't get spinach or carrots to germinate. We've done two failed plantings on each," said White. "Arugula is a whole saga, with half our plantings failed."
"That's quite a bit of income and time lost," she added. "It's been discouraging, but we just have to keep replanting, otherwise when the weather does improve we won't have anything."
Increasing fuel costs and inputs like animal feed, fertilizer, and equipment are also putting a strain on farmers. "The heat dome the Pacific Northwest experienced last year damaged crops and reduced the availability of local grains, which raised our feed costs by 12.5%," wrote Ide. "That was before the expected global shortage of wheat that is being predicted due to the war in Ukraine."
As the summer plays out, we're yet to see the true impacts to our food system that the extreme weather this year has caused. "With more precarious growing conditions we need a lot more resiliency and fairer resource allocation," said Kay.
Ansley Roberts, Farm Manager at 21 Acres, said that local food producers are uniquely positioned to contribute to food access initiatives, trial climate-hardy seed varietals, and grow a wide variety of crops. While industrial farms are dependent on imports from abroad, small farms are able to nimbly source their needs locally. And farms on about five acres or less grow more food crops, account for a greater percentage of crop diversity, and produce less waste than large-scale industrial agriculture.
One thing is certain: small farms are still the best-positioned to address urgent food needs.
"What I saw during the pandemic was that smaller, more localized operations were the first to pivot and feed their community," said Roberts. "It speaks to the importance of diversity in our food systems."
21 Acres Center for Local Food & Sustainable Living is a nonprofit organization committed to educating about the value of agroecology, soil health, local food systems, and green energy as solutions to climate change. Our campus in Woodinville, Washington hosts a Certified Organic regenerative farm, a LEED Platinum certified building, a distribution center for local food, and a year-round retail Farm Market.
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SOURCE 21 Acres Center for Local Food | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/21-acres-extreme-precipitation-threatens-food-security-drives-up-local-food-costs/ | 2022-06-29T18:23:03Z |
SHANGHAI, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 15th Pujiang Innovation Forum 2022 opened in China's financial hub Shanghai on August 27. With the theme of "Low Carbon: A New Mission for Global Innovation", the forum will focus on underpinning low-carbon development through technological innovation, establishing a sound economic and technological system for green, low-carbon and circular development, and deepening global cooperation in low-carbon technology to jointly draw a new blueprint for global sustainable development.
This year, more than 230 experts from international organizations, top universities, scientific research institutions,think tanks, companies and more than 40 academicians from nearly 30 countries and regions participated in the event online and offline.
Pujiang Innovation Forum was jointed founded by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Shanghai Municipal People's Government in 2008. Focusing on the theme of innovation, it has become an important platform for promoting global cooperation in science, technology and innovation by pooling global ideas and enabling scientific and technological innovation.
At the opening ceremony, "INNOMATCH", a matchmaking platform for global technology supply and demand was officially launched, which aims to gather global innovation resources, address the innovation needs of enterprises, and build a two-way fast track for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements.
At the plenary meeting held later, Borge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum, said that technology is key to mitigating climate change and this is why China's commitment to promoting green technology solutions is amazing.
During this forum, a number of reports and cooperation agreements were released such as The 2022 "Ideal City" Global High-level Scientist Analysis Report and Low&Net Zero Carbon Related Science and Technology, and Prospective Analysis of Application Scenarios.
At the Regional & Urban Forum held on Aug. 28, the National Innovation Center par Excellence (NICE) signed contracts with six international companies, including ARaymond Company of France and DuPont Company of the United States, to jointly promote global innovation and high-quality, integrated green development.
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SOURCE Shanghai Center for Pujiang Innovation Forum | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/15th-pujiang-innovation-forum-held-chinas-shanghai/ | 2022-08-31T05:42:33Z |
Billions pour into bioplastics as markets begin ramping up
CLEVELAND (AP) — In a world increasingly troubled by the persistent harm that plastic — manufactured in petrochemical plants — has had on the environment, companies are investing billions of dollars to ramp up production of plastics made from natural, renewable materials that can be safely composted or can biodegrade under the right conditions.
Bioplastics have long been used in medical applications. The stitches you got after cutting your hand slicing onions were likely made of a bioplastic thread that harmlessly dissolved into your body.
But the nascent bioplastics industry envisions a far bigger role for materials made from corn, sugar, vegetable oils and other renewable materials in the hope of grabbing a larger share of a nearly $600 billion global plastic market.
Since large-scale production began in the 1950s, fossil fuel plastics have made food safer to consume and vehicles safer to drive, for example. Yet plastics are seen as one of the world’s leading environmental threats with its production responsible for emitting million tons of greenhouse gases each year.
Of the 9 billion tons of fossil fuel plastic produced since the 1950s, only 9% percent has been recycled, studies have shown. The rest has been buried in landfills, burned or has polluted land and waterways. The chemical structure of fossil fuel plastic means it can never fully disintegrate and instead breaks down into smaller and smaller particles.
For now, bioplastic represents just 1% of global plastic production. If plastic made with fossil fuels is the enormous Mall of America in Minnesota, bioplastics would be a 7-Eleven.
Companies and investors see opportunities. Data from i3 Connect show investment in bioplastic manufacturing reached $500 million in the first three months of 2022, exceeding the previous high of $350 million in the last quarter of 2021. The money is coming in from both corporations and venture capitalists.
Zion Market Research estimates the bioplastics market will surge from $10.5 billion in 2021 to some $29 billion in 2028.
Danimer Scientific is one company making a big bet on bioplastic with a recent expansion of its plant in Winchester, Kentucky, The Georgia-based firm makes a bioplastic called PHA using microorganisms that ferment with canola oil. The result is plastic pellets that manufacturers can use to mold products in the same way they use petrochemical plastic, Danimer CEO Stephen Croskrey said in an interview.
The expansion has made Danimer one of the largest PHA producers in the world.
Straws and plastic drink stirrers made from Danimer’s PHA are being used in Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts and large venues like Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California, Croskrey said.
“We have active development projects for just about anything you can imagine,” he said.
Testing has shown products made from Danimer’s PHA can biodegrade in six months in marine environments and two years in soil, Croskrey said.
The other primary bioplastic sold today is PLA, polylactic acid, usually produced by fermenting sugar from corn and sugar cane. One producer is Minneapolis-based NatureWorks, a joint venture by Cargill, one of the world’s largest privately-held corporations, and Thailand-based PTT Global Chemical. It is the largest PLA company in the world, capable of producing 150,000 metric tons of bioplastic pellets annually at a plant in Blair, Nebraska.
NatureWorks is building a $600 million plant in Thailand that will increase its production capacity by 50%, said Leah Ford, the company’s global marketing communications manager, in an interview.
The company’s “biggest visibility market,” Ford said, is compostable food service items such as plastic cutlery, clear cups, wrappers and containers that, along with restaurant food waste, can be converted into a dark organic material to enrich soil in gardens and on farms. That’s important because food waste clogs recycling machinery and contaminates recyclable petroleum plastics.
Some Starbucks stores use disposable cups lined with NatureWorks’ PLA, Ford said.
NatureWorks has become something of a game changer in the United Kingdom, where PG Tips, a big name in tea, has switched from polyester tea bags to bags made with cellulose and a thin layer of NatureWorks’ PLA that are fully compostable, Ford said.
Researchers at McGill University in Montreal released a study in 2019 that said petroleum-based polyester tea bags leach billions of microplastic particles when steeped in hot water. Around 60 billion cups of tea are consumed annually in the UK.
One of the criticisms of bioplastic made with corn and sugar is that it uses arable land on a hungry planet. Ford called that concern unfounded. NatureWorks uses sugar extracted from corn while the rest of the kernels are used to produce sweeteners, ethanol, cooking oils and livestock feed.
PLA, unlike PHA, does not easily biodegrade in nature. It needs to be mixed with food waste in industrial composters to biodegrade. When buried in landfills, PLA will eventually disintegrate, but that would likely take decades.
NatureWorks has formed a partnership with PHA manufacturer CJ Bio to produce a bioplastic that can more easily biodegrade. The company, headquartered in South Korea, is expanding its plant in Indonesia and is planning to build a large plant in the Americas, said Raj Kirsch, vice president of research and development at CJ Bio.
Blending the two types of bioplastic “brings a lot of value propositions to the final end product,” Kirsch said in an interview.
Ramani Narayan, a professor of chemical engineering at Michigan State University, has worked with Cargill in the past to help with PLA production.
Narayan said companies are using biodegradability claims to make their products more attractive to consumers. But the term is “misused, abused and overused because everything in the world is biodegradable given the right time and environment.”
California, Narayan noted, has banned the use of the term “biodegradable” in marketing. The world needs to replace petroleum plastic with plastic materials that have been verified and certified as completely biodegradable, he said.
Narayan acknowledged that bioplastics are easier to biodegrade than petrochemical plastic which can take centuries to disintegrate, shedding worrisome microplastic along the way. Yet the fact that PHA takes longer to break down in cold oceans and lakes than in temperate climes shouldn’t be sugarcoated.
“It will take time, and you need to say that,” Narayan said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/09/billions-pour-into-bioplastics-markets-begin-ramping-up/ | 2022-08-09T14:18:25Z |
What a Roe v. Wade reversal could mean for abortion access across America
(Stacker) - A leaked Supreme Court draft ruling that would overturn Roe v. Wade, dated in February and published May 2 by Politico, was confirmed as authentic by Chief Justice John Roberts on May 3.
Votes can change between initial drafts and final rulings, and abortion is still legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C. Still, the leaked document sparked shock, outrage, and protests among those who see the document as a harbinger of what’s to come when the final ruling is announced in June or early July. The publication of the court’s initial draft is unprecedented in history and has been compared by some to the release of the Pentagon Papers.
To explore what overturning Roe v. Wade might mean for abortion access across the United States, Stacker analyzed data from the Guttmacher Institute’s driving distance dataset that aggregates population data at a geographic unit between 600 and 3,000 people. This dataset further determines the median distance from abortion clinics for women of reproductive age—defined in this analysis between the ages of 15 and 49—across 26 states likely to ban or severely restrict abortion access should Roe be overturned. Although Guttmacher’s data relies on census data, which collects gender data as binary, abortion access impacts people beyond those who identify as women.
The landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision put federal protections for abortion rights in place for the first time in U.S. history, marking a major victory for reproductive freedom. But the integrity of Roe eroded over the last few decades. Particularly in recent years, states like Mississippi and Texas have brought legal challenges to the decision by imposing increasingly restrictive abortion laws. These challenges coincide with a new, 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court.
Between 2012 and 2017 alone, at least 276,000 people received abortions outside their home states. And while restrictive bans are still unenforceable right now, some legal experts warn conservative states may next attempt to criminalize traveling to other states for abortion services should Roe be overturned.
An estimated 26 states would certainly or likely move to ban abortion if Roe is overturned, according to the Guttmacher Institute. This would disproportionately impact abortion access for those with limited financial resources. The most commonly cited reason for seeking an abortion was “socioeconomic concerns,” according to a 2017 study of people who got abortions across 14 countries, including the U.S. Abortions in the U.S. can cost up to $750, depending on the state, clinic, and health insurance coverage, a number that does not include the additional costs associated with crossing state lines, including travel and lodging.
Christie Citranglo contributed reporting for this story.
Current bans limit abortion access and set precedent for more barriers
Until a decision is reached by the Supreme Court this summer, abortion will remain legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C. Overturning Roe v. Wade would not immediately outlaw abortion across the U.S., but it would give states the right to determine the legality of the procedure.
Under current conditions, at what stage and under what circumstances abortions can be performed varies from state to state. In those with the tightest restrictions, multiple bans exist to limit access now and potentially in the future should Roe fall. Bans on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy are enacted in 13 states and are among the most restrictive laws on the books.
Thirteen states have trigger bans that effectively signal intent and establish preemptive legislation to ban abortion in the event that Roe is overturned. If a reversal ruling is reached—acting as the trigger—then the proactive laws established in these states would take effect almost immediately.
Near-total bans include laws that restrict all abortions with certain exceptions like saving the life of the parent or cases of rape.
Some states had abortion bans in place prior to the Roe decision, which became unenforceable after 1973. If Roe falls, these states could seek to reinforce these bans assuming they were never declared unconstitutional.
Four state constitutions have amendments that declare they are not obligated to protect a right to abortion.
Travel distance for abortion access could increase by hundreds of miles
A person seeking a legal abortion in the U.S. travels on average 25 miles to reach a clinic. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, that average distance could increase to 125 miles as clinics in states with abortion bans would likely be forced to close, according to the Myers Abortion Facility Database.
This travel burden becomes more severe in regions experiencing disproportionately low access to reproductive health care and states with restrictive anti-abortion legislation. The north-to-south corridor between North Dakota and Texas, for example, has a high concentration of counties already traveling roughly 250 miles to reach an abortion provider. Some even travel up to 350 miles.
Disparities in abortion access similarly exist in the southern U.S. In the possible reversal of Roe, travel distances in Louisiana could increase from 37 miles, or around half an hour of driving time, to 666 miles just one way—representing more than 11 hours of nonstop driving, and the largest increase in distance of any state.
Residents could have to travel as far as Maryland for legal abortions, according to Michelle Erenberg, director at reproductive health advocacy group Lift Louisiana, in an email interview with Stacker.
“Lawmakers have become much more radicalized in their views on abortion,” Erenberg said, “which has led to more radical policies.” She pointed to new legislation up for review in her home state, HB813, or “The Abolition of Abortion in Louisiana Act of 2022.”
“Under this law, Louisiana can refuse to comply with decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court,” Erenberg said. “Abortion would be considered a homicide, and attempting to get an abortion could be prosecuted as attempted murder or criminal battery.”
Increased travel distances bring increased travel costs, potentially longer wait times to receive care, and time away from work and familial responsibilities. These barriers will disproportionately affect low-income Americans’ access to safe and legal abortions.
A 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that increases in distance to the nearest abortion care facility were associated with significant reductions in legal abortion rates. Conversely, when travel distances were reduced, legal abortion rates increased. Researchers estimate there would be more than 70,000 additional legal abortions each year if disparities in travel distances were eliminated.
It should be noted determining the exact number of illegal abortions and pregnancies reluctantly carried to term due to a lack of care is difficult to quantify as this data on this is often not reported or logged.
Clinic states brace for an influx of abortion patients
About 100,000 people seeking abortions will be unable to access a provider within the first year of a Roe reversal. As a result, 75,000 of them will likely give birth, according to predictions released on May 6, 2022, by Caitlin Myers, an economics professor at Middlebury College and co-Director of MiddData. Myers’ predictions are based on state policy changes made within the last month.
These predictions also assume that the people from ban states seeking an abortion are able to get an appointment with remaining providers, which Myers notes may not be possible due to high demand and long wait times.
The influx of abortion seekers to so-called clinic states—or states that have legal protections for abortion in place—is predicted to be large should Roe v. Wade be overturned. Projecting which states will see the largest increases has everything to do with geography.
A large influx of abortion-seekers is projected to look for services in North Carolina due to its proximity to many southeastern states where abortion is certain or likely to be banned if Roe is overturned. But unlike Illinois, the legal status of abortion in North Carolina is tenuous and highly dependent on whether anti-abortion candidates are successful in the state’s midterm elections over the coming months. The debate over abortion rights in North Carolina will likely be decided, at least for the time being, in 2023.
Clinics in North Carolina have already seen an increase over the past year of out-of-state abortion seekers, with some coming from as far as Texas in search of services, according to Amber Gavin, the vice president of Advocacy and Operations at A Woman’s Choice, a group of North Carolina and Florida-based abortion clinics. And if Roe is overturned, Gavin expects those numbers will keep climbing.
“I do think we’re going to see probably well over 50% to 80% [more] patients than what we’re currently seeing,” she told Stacker in an interview.
Gavin also said A Woman’s Choice clinics are considering hiring more staff and physicians to accommodate the influx. “We’re working really hard with our staff, with abortion funds, with advocates on the ground to make sure that people who need and want that care are able to get it,” she said.
Illinois has long been a reproductive care hub for Midwesterners. Out-of-state patients seeking abortions rose from 2,970 in 2014 to 9,686 in 2020, according to Illinois Department of Public Health data. These numbers are projected to continue to rise as people come from Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Missouri, and even some Southern states. To increase access, two Planned Parenthood clinics have opened in recent years along the Illinois border. The state is one of the few in the Midwest where the right to abortion is certain to be protected long-term.
Many clinic states have made moves since 2019 to fund abortion services and codify abortion. Vermont, for instance, passed Act 47, which preserves the right to reproductive choice, including abortion, in the year following the appointment of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Several other states followed suit, including California, Connecticut, Oregon, Maine, and Illinois. The subsequent appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in 2020 cemented the court’s conservative supermajority and encouraged legal challenges to Roe v. Wade in 2021.
Some states have already taken steps to ensure access to safe abortions for people crossing state lines.
In 2019, New York funded the New York Abortion Access Fund, intended to help low-income abortion seekers from other states travel to New York for services. In March 2022, California passed SB 245, an act that eliminates out-of-pocket costs for abortions for those who have private insurance, as well as those on California’s Medicaid. In Oregon, legislators passed the Reproductive Health Equity Fund, which allocates $15 million to expand abortion services, including helping to cover expenses of those traveling to Oregon for abortions. And Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont is planning to sign a bill that would shield Connecticut abortion providers and out-of-state patients from being sued by states where abortion—even outside the state—is illegal.
Copyright 2022 Stacker via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/06/what-roe-v-wade-reversal-could-mean-abortion-access-across-america/ | 2022-05-06T20:21:00Z |
Man charged with capital murder after police find 2 dead women inside apartment
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Gray News) – A man in Texas has been charged with capital murder after police found two dead women inside his apartment.
The Corpus Christi Police Department said Jason Lara, 37, has been charged with murder.
According to police, officers were dispatched Saturday to an apartment for a welfare concern. When police and apartment staff entered the apartment, they found the bodies of two women.
Upon investigation, detectives identified Lara as the suspect. On Wednesday, Lara was located by police and taken into custody without incident.
Lara was charged with capital murder and taken to the Nueces County Jail on a $1 million bond. Police said he also had an outstanding warrant for unlawful possession of a firearm with a $50,000 bond.
Police did not publicly identify the victims, nor provide further details about their deaths. The investigation is ongoing.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/20/man-charged-with-capital-murder-after-police-find-2-dead-women-inside-apartment/ | 2022-05-20T20:38:13Z |
NEW YORK, April 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesmerize (www.mesmerize.com), a prominent out-of-home media company specializing in patient education at the point of care, is pleased to announce the addition of HomeTown Pharmacy, a Michigan-based pharmacy chain, to its point of care network. HomeTown Pharmacy specializes in pharmacy and infusion services and has long-term care pharmacy options for senior and PACE communities, with locations in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana.
HomeTown Pharmacy brings together the personalized service of independently owned community pharmacies with the buying power and efficiencies of a larger corporation. Mesmerize will collaborate with HomeTown Pharmacy to deliver best-in-class patient education to the communities served across HomeTown Pharmacy's locations. HomeTown Pharmacy has access to Mesmerize's full-service digital signage studio to customize each screen and create personalized messages tailored to each location.
"Growing Mesmerize's network of specialty pharmacies solidifies our commitment to patient education and expands our reach at the point of care," said Craig Mait, Mesmerize President and Chief Revenue Officer. "Mesmerize's partnership with HomeTown Pharmacy allows us to deliver valuable information to community pharmacy consumers."
"Mesmerize's technology platform connects HomeTown Pharmacy customers with valuable health and wellness information, helping us to carry out our mission to be a patient-driven, community pharmacy," said Jonathan Grice, HomeTown's President.
ABOUT HOMETOWN PHARMACY
HomeTown Pharmacy operates over 40 pharmacies around the state of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana to include retail pharmacy, long-term care pharmacy, compounding pharmacy, and durable medical equipment with the mission of improving the health and well-being of the patients they proudly serve. For more information, please visit www.hometownpharmacy.com.
ABOUT MESMERIZE
Mesmerize is a media company that specializes in patient education at the point of care. Mesmerize provides targeted educational materials including digital and static wallboards, literature distribution, and branded medical essentials to patients and caregivers in waiting rooms, exam rooms, and other high traffic areas of doctors' offices, community-based organizations, AIDS service organizations, and independent and chain pharmacies. For more information, please visit www.mesmerize.com.
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SOURCE Mesmerize | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/21/mesmerize-expands-its-point-care-network-with-hometown-pharmacy-partnership/ | 2022-04-21T12:50:44Z |
Sen. Marshall touts legislation earmarking unused COVID funds for school security
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - An estimated $150.1 billion of available COVID funds has yet to be spent by schools according to U.S. Senator Roger Marshall. Thursday (6/9), he and U.S. Congressman Mike Garcia (CA-25) introduced the Safe Schools Act legislation. The law would allow COVID relief dollars for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund to be used by schools to “harden themselves” with physical security measures. According to a news release, that would include locks, panic buttons, individual room security systems, video surveillance, and hiring and paying the salaries of armed school resource officers. Current ESSER guidelines require expenses be related to COVID-19.
According to Marshall’s office, the Kansas Department of Education has only spent $261.3 million of the $1.28 billion funds awarded to it. Nationally, of the $189.5 billion of COVID money for schools, state education agencies have yet to spend 79.2% of it or $150.1 billion.
“What happened in Uvalde was a horrific tragedy,” Senator Marshall said. “While many have been quick to play politics, one thing we can all agree on is that Congress must act to harden schools. For these reasons, I am introducing this legislation that allows the abundance of unused COVID relief dollars to be diverted to secure schools in Kansas and throughout the nation.”
Rep. Garcia agreed. “Now more than ever, we must be proactive in securing our schools. All Constitutional options need to be examined to ensure our children are safe in the classroom. I’m proud to join Senator Marshall in introducing the Safe Schools Act, a common-sense bill that would allow schools to spend leftover COVID relief funds on crucial security improvements to protect students from harm.”
According to the news release, there were 67 disrupted plots against K-12 schools from 2006-2018 – 66% of the schools had no system for alerting officials to concerns or threats.
Text of Senator Marshall’s Safe School’s Act is available HERE. Senators Tim Scott (SC), Thom Tillis (NC), Steve Daines (MT), Rick Scott (FL), Chuck Grassley (IA), Todd Young (IN), and Mike Braun (IN) have cosponsored the legislation.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/09/marshall-introduces-legislation-earmarking-unused-covid-funds-school-security/ | 2022-06-09T13:37:09Z |
- Maritime company accelerates growth in the Jones Act market
- Rose Cay grows to over 100 permanent employees in one year
- Rose Cay provides critical infrastructure for the growth of renewable energy
NEW YORK, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rose Cay Maritime ("RCM" or the "Company"), a leading Jones Act-compliant company, announced its 100th hire before celebrating its first anniversary. During its first year, the Company led the return-to-service process of a fleet of laid-up vessels, which included 11 dry-dockings and work with eight U.S. shipyards, representing tens of millions of dollars in economic impact and hundreds of American jobs. RCM can now provide the urgently needed infrastructure support to renewable fuel producers and major energy companies across the United States during a period of unprecedented change to the U.S. energy complex.
RCM provides essential services in the energy supply chain for Fortune 100 companies, using a fleet of Jones Act vessels, which are American-owned, built, crewed and flagged. The Company's employees and advisory committee are industry leaders with expertise across maritime operations, supply chain logistics, infrastructure development, and real asset investments.
"In just one year, our team has established a leading maritime logistics company poised to support the Energy Transition. Through hard work and perseverance, we acquired, refurbished, and relaunched a core fleet of U.S.-made, flagged, and crewed Jones Act vessels," said Alex Parker, RCM's Managing Partner. "Today, thanks to our employees, we are a trusted provider of safe and reliable transportation services to the world's largest energy companies and governments. We will continuously strive to improve and harness our entrepreneurial prowess to provide critical energy infrastructure to America."
Rose Cay Maritime has created a new paradigm for Jones Act shipping focused on safety, customer service, and environmental consciousness. RCM views itself as a partner with its customers as they contend with today's rapidly evolving energy and logistics environments. In addition, as the renewable fuels market becomes an increasingly important part of the U.S. Energy Transition process, reducing carbon emissions, RCM is working with its customers to transport cargoes on all three major U.S. Coasts, including from the Gulf Coast into end markets on the West Coast.
The RCM fleet has a concentration of vessels in New York Harbor, which offers the most carbon efficient transportation mode as compared to truck or rail, to support regional energy distribution. Energy poverty and disparity in the U.S. are typically highlighted during times of disruption due to war, natural disaster, and can affect households without access to critical infrastructure. The RCM fleet provides a vital energy link to communities when they need it most.
"I am proud to be a part of the team that helped strengthen the U.S.-flagged fleet by bringing these Jones Act qualified vessels back into service," said former Maritime Administrator RADM Mark H. Buzby, USN (Ret). "Our focus has been to build a team of professionals ‑ afloat and ashore ‑ who are focused on safety, efficient operations, and doing it right, no shortcuts." Building trust on the waterfront takes commitment and producing results; RCM's outstanding people are making that happen every day."
"We are very pleased to have partnered with the Rose Cay Maritime team to return our fleet to service at a time when the U.S. energy complex is in need of more reliable, environmentally conscious operators of coastwise vessels," said Josh Trump, Managing Director at Contrarian Capital Management, financial sponsor of the RCM fleet. "With producers of biofuels increasingly in need of vessels to transport product across the country we are excited about the opportunity that lies ahead and Rose Cay's ability to be the industry's provider of choice."
RCM offers an operating platform that is responsive to market changes, while maintaining a stable foundation for the future. Deep maritime, Jones Act regulatory, technical, and financial expertise ensure that the Company will be prepared to stay ahead of market and regulatory shifts, as well as provide prudent oversight for Company operations and investments. The RCM team has the vision and technological know-how to meet the rigorous demands of being a leading Jones Act operator.
The Company's forward-looking approach, collaborations with top energy companies, safe operations, and commitment to the Energy Transition sets it apart from its peers. RCM is prepared to meet today's energy supply chain challenges and those that lie ahead with adherence to stringent Jones Act regulatory requirements.
Hiring Contact:
Recruiting@rcmaritime.com
Investor Contact:
Joel Fine
Rose Cay Maritime
JJFine@rcmaritime.com
Media Contacts:
Jessica Resnick-Ault
Edelman-Smithfield for Rose Cay Maritime
Jessica.Resnick-Ault@edelmansmithfield.com
Rose Cay Maritime (RCM) RoseCayMaritime (rcmaritime.com) is a growing Jones Act compliant company focused on leading the Energy Transition. RCM provides essential services in the energy supply chain for Fortune 100 companies, using a fleet of Jones Act vessels, which are American-owned, built, crewed and flagged. Our employees and advisory committee are industry leaders with expertise across maritime operations, supply chain logistics, data analytics, and real asset investment.
RCM has the backing of Rose Cay Rose Cay (rosecaycap.com), an innovative investment platform, actively seeking opportunities to transform essential industries for the future.
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SOURCE Rose Cay Maritime | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/rose-cay-maritime-announces-100th-employee-investment-into-energy-transition-accelerates/ | 2022-09-06T16:07:31Z |
Idaho House Speaker Bedke defeats Giddings in GOP lieutenant governor primary
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Powerful House Speaker Scott Bedke has won the GOP primary for lieutenant governor.
The fourth-generation rancher who is generally considered an expert on the state’s water issues defeated state Rep. Priscilla Giddings in a race called Wednesday following voting in Tuesday’s primary.
The race was another battle between an establishment Republican in Bedke against a far-right candidate in Giddings. Bedke got about 52% of the vote and Giddings 43%, while Daniel Gasiorowski received the remainder.
Giddings was censured by her House colleagues late last year after publicizing the name of a 19-year-old intern who reported she was raped by another House lawmaker.
Bedke was appointed to a House seat representing south-central Idaho in 2001 by Republican Gov. Dirk Kempthorne. Following redistricting, he won the Republican primary and general election. He ran mostly unopposed ever since.
He became speaker in 2012 by defeating then-Speaker Lawerence Denney, now Idaho’s secretary of state.
You can view full election results HERE. | https://localnews8.com/politics/idaho-politics/2022/05/18/bedke-defeats-giddings-in-lt-gov-primary/ | 2022-05-18T17:02:22Z |
Trusted vendor to financial institutions expanding fraud detection, cybersecurity and compliance platform to digital currencies space as FIs look to protect customer holdings
VANCOUVER, BC, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - INETCO Systems Ltd. ("INETCO") has added Francisco Maroto, Head of Blockchain & Digital Assets at BBVA, and former Netcoins President and current Madali Ventures CEO Mitchell Demeter to the company's Advisory Board to support the next stage in the evolution of INETCO's fraud detection, cybersecurity and compliance platform. The moves come at a time when the company is adding a digital currency transaction protection solution that will allow financial institutions to advance digital currency offerings to customers safe from fraud and manipulation.
"We are a proven and trusted vendor to top tier financial institutions around the world," says INETCO CEO Bijan Sanii. "They are looking at ways to help their customers hold and manage digital currencies in their portfolios, as well as advance the establishment of government-backed digital currencies. None of this will happen unless the banks can assure their customers that these products are safe, and INETCO's software provides that safety net."
INETCO's platform has unique abilities to predict, detect and block fraudulent payments, insider fraud transactions and advanced persistent threats in real-time. Our INETCO Insight® and INETCO BullZAI® products are sold to financial institutions and Fintechs around the world including Moneris, PT Alto and Fiserv. Launching in Q4-2022, INETCO'S digital currencies offering will enable banks and financial institutions to conduct safe, trusted and regulatory compliant digital currency transactions. It will be the first solution to provide financial institutions with both fiat and digital currency solutions on a single platform.
Francisco Maroto is the Head of Blockchain & Digital Assets at Clients Solutions Strategy at Spain's BBVA, one of the largest banks and financial services companies in the world. He acts as a program manager in blockchain and crypto projects, helping define the blockchain strategy at BBVA at a global level. Previously, Francisco was responsible of Swift Global Centre at global operations, leading the effort of payments and Swift-related projects such as SEPA migration, Bizum or Swift GPI.
Mitchell Demeter is President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Madali Ventures, a cryptocurrency payments company with a focus on global remittances using blockchain technologies. He was previously the President of Netcoins Inc., a leading Canadian online cryptocurrency brokerage. A serial entrepreneur, he brought the world its first Bitcoin ATM and first physical Bitcoin brokerage in 2013.
"Francisco and Mitchell provide proven experience with the technology and solutions we have built and will sell to our banking customers," Sanii says. "Each brings a unique customer perspective and set of relationships to our team that will be critical as we execute on this exciting expansion of our product offering to existing banking customers and beyond."
NETCO, INETCO Insight, INETCO BullzAI, the INETCO logo, and the INETCO Insight logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of INETCO Systems Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: INETCO Systems
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SOURCE INETCO Systems | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/inetco-adds-additional-financial-services-digital-currencies-expertise-advisory-board/ | 2022-05-19T12:33:09Z |
Amber Alert issued for missing Pennsylvania 13-year-old
Published: Aug. 31, 2022 at 2:33 PM CDT|Updated: 13 minutes ago
(Gray News) - The Pennsylvania State Police issued an Amber Alert on Wednesday for a 13-year-old girl believed to have been abducted.
Reading City police are searching for Janae Kalia-Henry, 5 feet 1 inches tall and approximately 106 pounds. She was last seen in the area of Schuylkill Avenue in Reading City, Berks County at around 2 a.m. wearing a red shirt with pink and purple pants.
She was abducted by an unknown male who placed her into a silver Chevrolet Traverse with an unknown Pennsylvania registration, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Reading Police Department at 610-655-6116 or call 911.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/31/amber-alert-issued-missing-pennsylvania-13-year-old/ | 2022-08-31T19:47:01Z |
TalentBurst, Inc will be able to process payments on the CoupaLink platform
BOSTON, May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TalentBurst, Inc., a leading talent workforce solutions provider, announced that the company is now a "Coupa Verified" company. TalentBurst workflow solutions platforms will be adding this innovative payroll payment processing SAS service to its existing robust technology stack. TalentBurst can now process payroll payments specifically on CoupaLink for any of Coupa's 500+ customers and 500,000 suppliers.
CoupaLink's Partner Program will enable TalentBurst to better serve its customers and people, through this robust payment processing system. Joining the Silver level membership in Coupa's open platform community allows TalentBurst to provide their services to Coupa's customers, bringing value, solutions and unique technology access.
"[Our] partners work with the CoupaLink team to ensure both business and technical approaches are validated, resulting in valuable, well-architected end to end solutions for our customers." CoupaLink writes in their Partner Guide.
Brad Talwar, CEO of TalentBurst stated, "We are very proud to partner with Coupa as a Silver LINK partner. We hope that Coupa's customers view TalentBurst as a uniquely qualified provider of Global Employer of Record services with verified payroll processing capabilities that can be used for employees in the United States and also 96 other countries."
About TalentBurst, Inc.
Since 2002, TalentBurst has established itself as one of the most respected names in the staff augmentation, payroll, and employer of record, (EOR) space. TalentBurst provides total workforce talent solutions to Fortune 500 companies in the United States and Canada, including, but not limited too, staff augmentation, high hazard pay roll, and employer of record services. TalentBurst has a global workforce of 2,400 people with estimated revenues of $145 million for the year (2021). TalentBurst is certified by the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (NMSDC). TalentBurst was ranked by Inc. magazine for over nine years as one of the United States' fastest growing companies. TalentBurst is also recognized as a Top 50 Diversity Owned Business in Massachusetts and Top 50 Privately held Business in Massachusetts.
About Coupa
Coupa empowers companies around the world with the visibility and control they need to spend smarter and safer. We take a comprehensive approach to spend management with a unified platform that allows you to see all your spend in one place—from purchasing to invoicing to expenses. See it, understand it, control it.
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SOURCE TalentBurst | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/23/talentburst-inc-announces-new-verification-silver-level-partnership-with-coupalink/ | 2022-05-23T15:34:03Z |
Patients Can Capture and Share Important Parts of Their Disease Journey
SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The HealthTree Foundation, a patient-driven, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that empowers patients at each step of their disease journey, today announced the launch of its new journaling feature for multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia patients. The free journaling tool inside of the HealthTree software platform allows patients to capture their stories in video, audio or text format and share journal entries by email or on social media. The journaling addition marks another milestone by the HealthTree Foundation to provide a comprehensive set of tools to blood cancer patients who are navigating a life-threatening diagnosis.
Patients can keep the journal entries private or can share the entries with family and friends.
"Journaling about myeloma has been therapeutic for me. It allowed me to express and release my emotions and make some sense out of what was happening to me," said Richard Hite, multiple myeloma patient. "The HealthTree journaling tool allows me to capture my experience and the perspective I have gained to share with my wife and kids. There are so many lessons I have learned from myeloma that I don't want to forget."
The health benefits of journaling are clinically proven to reduce stress, strengthen the immune system, improve memory and comprehension, improve mood and increase emotional regulation.
Multiple myeloma patient Michelle Peterson said, "I kept a journal as I started my myeloma treatment and when I was too sick to write, my family took over for me. Now, it's an important memory not just for me, but for my entire family."
"When I became ill, my wife and I both realized from the many calls, texts and visits that we would not be able to keep up," said AML patient Steve Hodges. Yet, we have so many friends and family who have a genuine need to know what's happening and to support us. We began journaling and providing access for friends and family. Their comments, support, care and interest are a rising tide, bringing us home to those who've meant the most to us over our lifetimes, and who are so good for us now."
To access the free journal, use the following links:
HealthTree Journal for Multiple Myeloma: https://healthtree.org/myeloma/my-journal
HealthTree Journal for Acute Myeloid Leukemia: https://healthtree.org/aml/my-journal
For more information and other free tools, visit www.healthtree.org.
The HealthTree Foundation is a patient-driven, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that empowers patients at each step of their disease journey. Myeloma and AML patients can access the foundation's resources for free. These include the HealthTree Cure Hub, an online community tool that helps patients explore their best treatment options, find clinical trials based on their stage of disease and lab values, and contribute their de-identified data to accelerate a cure. Other HealthTree tools include a learning management platform called HealthTree University, a HealthTree Coach mentoring program, disease news sites, Community webinar events and a specialist directory. Jennifer Ahlstrom and her husband Paul founded the HealthTree Foundation which provides patient education, advocacy and research funding for multiple myeloma and AML.
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SOURCE HealthTree Foundation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/healthtree-foundation-launches-journaling-feature-multiple-myeloma-aml-patients/ | 2022-08-10T11:45:12Z |
Recently I heard a statement on TV by a concerned speaker, “Too many of our young people are dying from gunshots.”
My immediate thought (probably influenced by 84 years of life as an American) was “Too many of our parents and fellow citizens are neglecting their responsibilities to our children and young people who need to be taught appropriate use and protection of weapons.”
It probably would be wise to require would-be buyers to view such a film as well as obtain knowledge of their mental health before they could purchase such weapons. Providing information on the proper care and use of weapons would help.
It is important to provide more care for people with mental disorders when considering whether they should have access to a weapon and deciding whether they should need constant supervision.
Jim Clemons
Belton | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/letters_to_the_editor/article_06ef20ca-feeb-11ec-93f8-17bb5de73c45.html | 2022-07-09T10:54:25Z |
C-level appointments will accelerate customer-centric innovation and partnership from the top down as ChurnZero scales
WASHINGTON, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ChurnZero, a leading Customer Success company, has hired seasoned technology professional Allison Tiscornia as its chief customer officer (CCO), effective immediately. Abby Hammer, a founding member of the company who has served as both ChurnZero's chief customer officer and head of product since 2015, is promoted to chief product officer. Tiscornia and Hammer will partner to deliver the maximum value for the growing number of subscription brands worldwide who partner with ChurnZero to increase customer value and drive revenue.
"The expectations for a chief customer officer at a Customer Success company couldn't be higher," says Abby Hammer, who led the search for ChurnZero's critical new hire. "Alli is joining the team as both a leader and the voice of the ChurnZero customer. A truly customer-centric company runs on partnership between Customer Success and product at the highest level, responding to customer needs with innovation, then leading customers to value through engagement and coaching in a cycle of ever-increasing benefits and returns."
"This the ultimate challenge for a Customer Success leader—to lead CS at a CS company," says Alli Tiscornia. "As well as providing best-in-class software, services, and support to top-tier subscription businesses, ChurnZero has led the way in developing the best practices and partnerships that are shaping the evolving field of Customer Success. I am excited to continue building ChurnZero's leadership, expertise, and industry influence with the help of its stellar product leader and proven Customer Success technology platform."
Tiscornia is a Silicon Valley technology industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience in both Customer Success and complementary customer-centric roles. She has held leadership positions managing Customer Success, professional services, implementation, onboarding and support organizations. She joins ChurnZero from Sendoso, where she served as chief customer officer and built the customer experience organization. She previously served as the company's chief sending operations officer, focusing on aligning fulfillment with product and customer workflows. Prior to her role at Sendoso, she was vice president of customer services at Zenefits, where she oversaw platform development and the delivery of professional services and support.
"We are excited to welcome Alli, and to recognize Abby, whose journey with ChurnZero has seen us go from new entrant to acclaimed leader as one of the fastest-growing Customer Success platforms in the industry," said ChurnZero CEO and Co-Founder You Mon Tsang. "Together, Alli and Abby will drive the innovation and value our customers need and expect in the years ahead."
Visit ChurnZero's website for more information about the company and open positions.
ChurnZero is a recognized leader in Customer Success dedicated to helping subscription businesses succeed at scale. The company is known for its powerful, enterprise-class Customer Success platform and its ongoing partnership with its users to ensure they get what they need to increase revenue, improve efficiency and deliver the best possible customer experiences. Customers report achieving significant increases in net revenue retention, user adoption, customer lifetime values and Net Promoter Scores.
Through the platform, Customer Success teams can identify and act on trends to spot potential churn risks and act on renewal and expansion opportunities. Best-in-class automation, personalization, and in-app communication make it easy to engage and lead customers to value at scale. Seamless data sharing and integrations with CRM, support, finance, NPS, LMS, and communication software help create a truly-customer centric culture. The company prides itself on being trusted partners, consultants, and coaches, so customers can focus on the work that matters to grow their businesses.
Founded in 2015, ChurnZero is a remote-first company with headquarters in Washington, D.C. and an office in Amsterdam. The company has raised more than $35 million in funding from leading investment firms including JMI Equity. For more information visit https://churnzero.net or find ChurnZero on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Contact
Heather Philbin
pr@churnzero.net
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SOURCE ChurnZero | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/churnzero-appoints-allison-tiscornia-chief-customer-officer-promotes-abby-hammer-chief-product-officer/ | 2022-06-23T12:57:56Z |
- Reejig has been honored with two awards at this year's global HR Tech Awards powered by Lighthouse Research & Advisory (one of the HR technology industry's most innovative firms)
- The workforce intelligence platform was praised for offering talent and business leaders real value and insights into where to find their best-fit talent
SYDNEY and SAN FRANCISCO, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading workforce intelligence platform Reejig has been named the winner of the HR Tech Award for Best Advance in Practical AI in the Talent Management and Talent Acquisition categories.
These accolades recognize Reejig's innovation in developing the world's first independently audited ethical talent AI to deliver real value and practical impacts in helping global enterprises find, move and upskill talent at scale.
The HR Tech Awards - powered by Lighthouse Research & Advisory, one of the HR technology industry's most innovative firms - is designed to help HR technology buyers and employers understand some of the best companies in the industry for technology selection needs. The initiative provides peer-reviewed feedback and inputs on solutions purpose-built to serve employers and the workforce. It involves a rigorous judging component with a panel of independent practitioners, consultants, and educators providing inputs on each submission.
Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, commended Reejig on the wins and commented that, "Employers everywhere are talking about skills, but the conversation can be difficult because of the sheer scale of the challenge around identifying and tracking those skills across the workforce. Reejig is tackling this problem with an enterprise-grade workforce intelligence system, offering talent and business leaders real value and insights into where to find their best-fit talent."
CEO and Co-Founder of Reejig, Siobhan Savage said the business was once again honoured to be recognised for its innovation in AI, which is helping global enterprises and governments find, move and upskill their workforces using the world's first independently audited ethical talent AI.
"We're not just building technology; we're also creating impact and change – for the better through our mission towards zero wasted potential. We are committed to ensuring our AI is truly ethical and are proud to have created the global blueprint for ethical talent AI," she added.
These announcement of these awards come on the heels of Reejig's recent recognition as a 2022 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum.
About Reejig:
Reejig is a leading workforce intelligence platform that enables global organizations to find, retain, and upskill talent at scale. Powered by the world's first independently audited ethical AI, Reejig acts as your central nervous system for all talent decisions, enabling zero wasted potential. Learn more by visiting reejig.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Media contact
Eliza Fisher
eliza.fisher@howorth
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SOURCE Reejig | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/reejig-takes-home-top-hr-technology-awards/ | 2022-05-19T03:25:51Z |
Letter to the editor: Push for alternative energy
Gary Brown’s May 16 article ("Getting historical perspective on climate change") in the Canton Repository on historical views of weather patterns and climate change was interesting, but left the impression that the understanding of current scientists regarding climate is comparable to the theories of the 1870s.
Two hundred years ago, we were unable to predict tomorrow’s weather with any accuracy. Today, powerful and sophisticated scientific instruments like radar, satellite imagery and computer analysis predict the arrival of hurricanes and tornadoes with precision. Current extreme weather patterns, like severe droughts, torrential rain and more frequent and severe hurricanes, have provoked intense and careful analysis.
Climate scientists overwhelmingly support the view that today’s unusual weather patterns are due to increased greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere, a consequence of burning fossil fuels.
If we continue adding more greenhouse gases, climate scientists predict that the weather patterns we have relied on over the last 5,000 years to grow crops and raise animals in a specific area will drastically change, leading to dramatic changes in how and where we can live on Earth, resulting in massive human migration, financial loss and misery.
Ignore the science today and future generations will be unable to enjoy life on Earth as we currently do. We need to rapidly reduce the burning of fossil fuels for energy. Urge your representatives in Congress to support alternative energy sources and place reasonable fees on industries that add more carbon to our atmosphere.
Marcie Groesbeck, Plain Township | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/opinion/2022/05/25/letter-editor-push-alternative-energy/9894100002/ | 2022-05-25T10:56:12Z |
Inflation could slow rather than stop industry bounce-back
AVON, Conn., Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The voluntary benefits market will likely continue its trend of healthy sales growth for the next several years, according to a new report from Eastbridge Consulting Group. However, lingering concerns about the impact of inflation could hold growth well below 2021's strong double-digit results.
Eastbridge's Forecasting Voluntary Sales Spotlight™ Report analyzes the current sales environment and projects future sales potential in the voluntary market. It offers several different scenarios dependent on the industry's rate of recovery from the pandemic, inflation and other factors based on Eastbridge' longstanding expertise in the industry. The report is designed to help carriers develop their own predictions for future opportunities, update their business plans and determine what investments to make.
Despite the uncertain economy, the report shows continued opportunity for carriers and producers in the voluntary market.
"After more than two decades of near-continuous growth, the voluntary benefits market is still only half tapped," said Nick Rockwell, Eastbridge president. "Even during previous economic downturns, we've seen strong demand and need for the added protection voluntary benefits provide employees."
About 54 million employees work in businesses that have yet to offer them voluntary benefits, and another 14 million employees have access to voluntary benefits at work but haven't yet purchased coverage. The continuing move away from employer-funded benefits also could help fuel voluntary growth, the report states.
Information about purchasing the Forecasting Voluntary Sales Spotlight™ Report is available on Eastbridge's website. Those interested can email info@eastbridge.com or call (860) 676-9633.
About Eastbridge Consulting Group
Eastbridge Consulting Group, Inc. is a marketing advisory firm serving companies focused on the voluntary/worksite benefits market in the United States and Canada.
CONTACT: Ginger Bates
EMAIL: gbates@eastbridge.com
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SOURCE Eastbridge Consulting Group | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/latest-eastbridge-report-sees-continued-growth-voluntary-market/ | 2022-08-18T12:36:38Z |
Lawrence Public Schools Staff Union rally for higher pay
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) -Staff of Lawrence Public Schools rallied outside of the Lawrence Public Schools District Office Monday evening, they’re asking better pay.
The staff joining the rally, is a group that includes cafeteria staff, janitors, nurses aids and paraeducators.
They are asking the district to give them a livable wage which they say is $15 an hour.
“We are fighting for living wage, we have about 300 of our workers that make between $11-$13 an hour, we have about 400 of our workers that make under $15 an hour,” said Hannah Allison-Natale.
“We have members that are living out of their car and donating blood and having two or three jobs, that’s unacceptable,” said Tatyana Younger.
Allison-Natale who helped organized the rally says the staff deserve an increase in pay for their hard work and dedication to the district.
“We care for our students, we serve our educators help serve some of our most vulnerable students with disabilities, we feed our students we clean our building, we make the schools run.”
She says their working conditions need to improve in order for students to be successful in the classroom.
“We believe that our working conditions are our students living conditions. For us to have our best working conditions possible in order for our students to have the best learning conditions we need to make a living wage so we are not working two or three jobs or unable to feed our own families,” she said.
The group says the district always meets their concerns with the same answer.
“A lot of it is budget issues, budget crisis, they had to make up all that money so that continues to be the thing that we keep coming back to, it’s “If you want this, then we are going to have to cut this,”. I believe there is budget issues, but I believe there is enough creativity or something we can do to sustain the workers that we have and make it to these people want to work in these schools,” said Younger.
We have reached out to the district for a statement regarding the rally and we have not heard back yet.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/17/lawrence-public-schools-staff-union-rally-higher-pay/ | 2022-05-17T03:27:19Z |
NEW YORK, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. ("Li-Cycle" or the "Company") (NYSE: LICY). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether Li-Cycle and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
On March 24, 2022, Blue Orca Capital published a report (the "Report") characterizing the Company as "a near fatal combination of stock promotion, laughable governance, a broken business hemorrhaging cash, and highly questionable Enron-like accounting." According to the Report, "Li-Cycle recognizes revenues using an Enron-like mark-to-model accounting gimmick.
Li-Cycle recognizes revenues months prior to the actual sales of its recycled black mass, based on its own provisional estimate of the future value of the product. This accounting treatment is plainly vulnerable to abuse, giving Li-Cycle discretion over its reported revenues. We suspect that under this framework, LiCycle marks up the value of its receivables on unsold products and runs the gains through its revenue line."
On this news, Li-Cycle's stock price fell $0.47 cents per share, or 5.60% to close at $7.93 per share on March 24, 2022.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980
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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/20/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-behalf-investors-li-cycle-holdings-corp-licy/ | 2022-06-20T06:59:44Z |
Dangerous species of worm found in Arkansas, authorities say
GREENE COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT/Gray News) - Although most worms are harmless, not all of them are. A dangerous species has just been spotted in Arkansas, according to state authorities.
Since the week of June 13, hammerhead worms have been found in Greene County, according to the University of Arkansas’ Division of Agriculture, KAIT reports.
Officials said hammerhead worms can contain a potent neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin, which is often found in pufferfish. Exposure to tetrodotoxin can cause headaches, body numbness, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
They mentioned hammerhead worms are carnivorous, and if the worms are cut in half, they will regenerate, creating two worms instead of one.
Officials said you should do the following if you spot a hammerhead worm:
- Do not touch it. Wear gloves if you handle them.
- Do not hesitate to kill the worm. They recommend putting it into a bucket with salt, vinegar or hot water to kill it.
Hammerhead worms are often identified by their broad spade-shaped head and long-flattened body. They typically grow to be 8 to 12 inches.
If you spot a hammerhead worm, officials recommend reporting your sighting by clicking here.
Copyright 2022 KAIT via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/23/dangerous-species-worm-found-arkansas-authorities-say/ | 2022-06-23T19:44:41Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — North Texas-based esports organization Complexity Gaming and massively popular gaming streamer TimTheTatman are celebrating the Dallas Cowboys’ home opener with a pop-up store in Frisco.
The pop-up will be at the Lenovo Legion Esports Center at the Star in Frisco on Sept. 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. There, they will be selling TimTheTatman and Complexity merch, including shirts hats and lanyards.
No tickets are required for this free event. The first 200 people in line will get a quick meet-up with TimTheTatman. Because of this, officials are urging that overnight camping is not allowed and that Frisco PD will remove any overnight campers from the premises.
You do not have to purchase merch to meet TimTheTatman, you only have to be one of the first 200 people in line.
Large backpacks, weapons (real or fake), or large camera equipment are not allowed inside. For more information, click here. | https://cw33.com/news/local/complexity-gaming-timthetatman-dallas-cowboys-season-opener-pop-up-saturday-in-frisco/ | 2022-09-07T16:14:48Z |
Survey Shows Almost Half of Employers Planning Higher Salary Increase Budgets for 2023
WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Salary.com®'s Annual U.S. National Salary Budget Survey, the long predominant 3 percent raise, which started its decline last year, has been replaced by a median raise of 4 percent across all employee categories. Forty-eight percent of U.S. employers are planning higher year-over-year salary increase budgets for 2023, continuing an upswing that began in 2022. Even more promising for American workers: a quarter of employers plan to give increases in the range of 5–7 percent in 2023. Salary.com conducted the survey of 1000+ organizations in June of 2022.
The survey revealed that 2022 actual salary increases were higher than what was planned in 2021: 22 percent of organizations gave increases in the range of 4-5 percent vs. the 12 percent that had planned to do so last year.
"2023 promises to be another banner year for employees seeking salary increases," said Chris Fusco, Senior Vice President of Compensation at Salary.com. "For perspective, in 2020, as the pandemic was taking hold, just under 10 percent of employers planned a higher salary budget increase than the prior year. In 2023 almost half of employers are planning higher salary budgets."
Cost of living increases: When organizations provided COLA increases, they tended to be more generous in 2022 than in 2021, as average COLA increases rose above 2 percent for the first time in many years. This is not surprising, given record-high inflation rates in 2022 and much talk of an impending recession. However, smaller organizations (under 500 full-time employees) were more likely to provide COLA increases than larger organizations. Average COLA increases for smaller organizations hovered in the range of 2.5–2.7 percent, higher than the typical 2 percent provided by larger organizations.
Geography: The Pacific Northwest continues to pay slightly higher salaries than other regions of the country, with median total increases in the 5 percent range vs. the U.S. median of 4 percent.
Industries: Healthcare median total increases in 2022 were in the 3 percent range, significantly less than the US median of 4 percent with less variability than the overall U.S. population. While notable given the challenges the industry has had in attracting and retaining quality workers, salary increases in the healthcare industry are impacted by reimbursement limits imposed by private and federal health insurers.
Other categories in the survey, such as variable pay and salary structure increases, fell in line with data from prior years. In terms of pay practices, the vast majority of organizations surveyed utilize a common date employee pay increase cycle (87 percent), with the months of January and April serving as the most popular months.
Over 1000 human resource professionals across 20 diverse industries (including healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, retail and wholesale, hospitality and leisure, and education) participated in this year's survey, which closed June 17, 2022. Now in its 12th year, Salary.com's U.S. and Canada National Salary Budget Survey is designed to collect critical data on how organizations are budgeting for salary increases over the next year and provides insight into current variable pay practices.
Salary.com® is the leading provider of compensation market data, software, and analytics, bringing more of the trusted data and intuitive software organizations need to get pay right. The industry's fastest-growing compensation management company, Salary.com serves over 30,000 survey participant organizations, over 8,000 business-to-business software subscribers, and over 45 million employees globally. HR professionals rely on Salary.com's 360° view of their compensation practices so they can efficiently and accurately achieve internal pay equity and adapt to market changes. Salary.com's state-of-the-art CompAnalyst® accelerates compensation workflows, delivers real-time data, and powers accurate, equitable, and competitive compensation through one intuitive platform. For more information, please visit www.salary.com.
Media Contact:
Julie Murphy
Julie.murphy@salary.com
617-967-5426
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SOURCE Salary.com, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/trending-salarycom-data-indicates-days-annual-salary-increases-3-range-are-over/ | 2022-09-06T14:36:08Z |
Greenhorn Ranch reopens for Summer 2022, celebrates six decades of family getaways
QUINCY, Calif. , May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenhorn Ranch announced today it will open for the 2022 season April 30, marking the start of its 60th year in business. A Summer Season Celebration with live music and special events is planned for May 28. The 600-acre site in the Northern Sierra's remote Plumas County continues its legacy, attracting generations of families to its picturesque mountains and endless trails.
"I've been going up there since the mid-1980s and this will be our seventh year taking our children to the ranch," said longtime Greenhorn visitor Douglas Giorgis. "It is their favorite place."
The California-style dude ranch was founded in 1962 and serves as a getaway escape for families across the country. Originally used as a goat farm during the Gold Rush, 1962 marked a new era for the ranch when a group of investors realized a dream of an idyllic family escape offering frpersonnesh air and adventure. Ownership changed in 2000, and again in 2018 upon the retirement of Ralph & Trish Wilburn. The current owners have spent the past four years renovating and updating the ranch, while maintaining it rustic authenticity newand charm.
This year, guests will enjoy updates including beautifully remodeled cabins, a refurbished airstream trailer, a fleet of e-assist mountain bikes, and several additions to the outdoor activity calendar.
"The new ownership group takes great pride and responsibility in keeping the memories and values of the ranch alive so future generations can continue to enjoy what past generations have experienced," said Co-Owner Peter Derbonne.
All-inclusive packages include lodging, meals, horseback riding, fly fishing, skeet shooting, archery, hiking, electric mountain biking, games, and evening entertainment. For more information, visit GreenhornRanch.com.
About Greenhorn Ranch
Greenhorn Ranch is a working guest ranch in Northern California's Lost Sierra. Established in 1962, it hangs its hat on fostering new traditions. The long-time member of the Dude Ranch Association is driven to serve guests through Western hospitality, a warm welcome, real ranch living, and an unparalleled vacation experience. Catering to greenhorns from around the world, it guides families and vacationers on a genuine horse ranch experience with guided trail rides, horseback riding lessons, expert wranglers, stocked fishing ponds, and more. With 600 acres, more than 60 horses trained for family riding, a staff of full-time wranglers and adventure seekers, Greenhorn Ranch is ready to be your guide. Cultivate your cowboy within. Learn more at www.GreenhornRanch.com.
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SOURCE Greenhorn Ranch | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/california-dude-ranch-celebrates-60-years/ | 2022-05-04T16:44:17Z |
190th remembers pilot killed in Saturday plane crash
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - The Kansas Air National Guard says the pilot killed in plane crash in Shawnee Co. last weekend had logged more than 5,000 hours in the air.
In a social media post published at 11:20 a.m. Monday, the 190th Air Refueling Wing asked followers to honor and remember the service of Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Steven D. Stucky.
Stucky died Saturday after his small airplane stalled, then crashed shortly after takeoff at a private airfield in Northeast Shawnee Co.
According to the post, Stuckey joined the 190th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in April 1967. Stucky attended Combat Crew Training School at Castle Air Force Base in 1977 and served as an Inflight Refueling Instructor for 20 years. He also served as the Chief Boom Operator for the Operations Group.
Stuckey was named the 190th’s Command Chief Master Sergeant in 2001 and served in that role until his retirement in 2004.
The post says Stucky logged more than 5,000 hours in the air, including combat support missions during Desert Storm, Operation Northern Watch, Allied Force and combat missions over Bosnia.
The private air strip where Stuckey died has been the site of two other fatal plane crashes. In Aug. 2003 Col. Michael O’Tolle was killed in an accident involving a small airplane, and Ivan Hittle died in June 2006 when his ultralight went down.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/18/190th-remembers-retired-pilot-killed-saturday-plane-crash/ | 2022-07-18T20:37:26Z |
TSX: GPR | NYSE American: GPL
This news release constitutes a "designated news release" for the purposes of the Company's prospectus supplement dated October 15, 2021, to its short form base shelf prospectus dated September 10, 2021.
VANCOUVER, BC, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Great Panther Mining Limited (TSX: GPR) (NYSE-A: GPL) ("Great Panther" or the "Company"), a growth-oriented precious metals producer focused on the Americas, announces that the Company will undertake a share consolidation (the "Consolidation") of its common shares (the "Shares") on the basis of one post-Consolidation for every 10 pre-Consolidation Shares.
The Company currently has 471,164,174 Shares issued and outstanding. Upon completion of the Consolidation, the Company will have approximately 47,116,417 Shares issued and outstanding. Some slight variance is expected due to fractional rounding. As is customary, to reflect the Consolidation, all outstanding incentive stock options granted pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "Omnibus Incentive Plan") will be adjusted to increase their exercise price by a factor of 10 and to reduce the number of Shares issued upon exercise by dividing by 10. Appropriate adjustments to reflect the Consolidation will also be made to outstanding deferred share units, restricted share units and performance share units granted pursuant to the Omnibus Incentive Plan.
The Company expects the Consolidation will allow it to comply with the minimum price listing standard of the NYSE American and therefore maintain its listing of Shares on that exchange. Subject to the Company receiving all required approvals, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") and NYSE American, the Consolidation is expected to take effect at close of business on July 21, 2022. Notice of the Consolidation has been provided to the TSX and NYSE American, and the Common Shares are expected to begin trading on a post-Consolidation basis on the TSX and NYSE American on or about July 25, 2022, under a new CUSIP number.
No fractional Shares will be issued pursuant to the Consolidation. In lieu of any such fractional Shares, each registered shareholder of the Company otherwise entitled to a fractional Common Share following the implementation of the Consolidation will receive the nearest whole number of post-Consolidation Shares.
Holders of shares of the Company who hold uncertificated shares (that is shares held in book-entry form and not represented by a physical share certificate), either as registered holders or beneficial owners, will have their existing book-entry account(s) electronically adjusted by the Company's transfer agent or, in the case of beneficial shareholders, by their brokerage firms, banks, trusts or other nominees that hold in street name for their benefit. Such holders generally do not need to take any additional actions to exchange their pre-Consolidation Shares for post-Consolidation Shares. If you hold your Shares with such a bank, broker or other nominee, and if you have questions in this regard, you are encouraged to contact your nominee.
Registered shareholders holding share certificates will be mailed a letter of transmittal advising of the Consolidation and instructing them to surrender the share certificates representing pre-Consolidation Shares for replacement certificates or a direct registration advice representing their post-Consolidation Shares. Until surrendered for exchange, each share certificate formerly representing pre-Consolidation Shares will be deemed to represent the number of whole post-Consolidation Shares to which the holder is entitled as a result of the Consolidation.
Great Panther is a growth-oriented precious metals producer focused on the Americas. The Company owns a portfolio of assets in Brazil, Mexico and Peru that includes three gold and silver mines, an advanced development project and a large land package with district-scale potential. Great Panther is focused on creating long-term stakeholder value through safe and sustainable production, reinvesting into exploration and pursuing acquisition opportunities to complement its existing portfolio. Great Panther trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol GPR and on the NYSE American under the symbol GPL.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (together, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's expectations that it will meet the NYSE American continued listing standards following completion of the Consolidation, and the Company's growth orientation and focus on creating long-term stakeholder value through safe and sustainable production, reinvesting into exploration and pursuing acquisition opportunities to complement its existing portfolio.
These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory risks and uncertainties, including risks relating to the Company's ability to regain compliance with NYSE American listing standards, and those described in respect of Great Panther in its most recent annual information form and management's discussion and analysis filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com and its most recent annual report on Form 40-F and management's discussion and analysis on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov.
There is no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove accurate or that actual results will not vary materially from these forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements and information are designed to help readers understand management's current views of our near- and longer-term prospects and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not intend, nor does it assume any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, changes in assumptions, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.
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SOURCE Great Panther Mining Limited | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/11/great-panther-mining-announces-share-consolidation/ | 2022-07-11T22:15:01Z |
In support of PlatON project goal of free circulation of data assets around the world
NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Encentive has officially joined the PlatON ecosystem and received a grant from the LatticeX Foundation to apply Encentive's turn-key, multi-chain dApp building platform to user tools and interoperability development for LatticeX's PlatON network. PlatON is a next-generation Internet infrastructure protocol based on the fundamental properties of blockchain and supported by a privacy-preserving computation network. It provides a trading platform for data assets, algorithm models, and computing power, combining cryptography-based privacy-preserving computation and blockchain technology to achieve the free circulation of data assets around the world.
The Encentive Web3 OS turn-key DeFi Module Builder will provide a PlatON on-ramp to community leaders, influencers, and enterprises who use Encentive to create and customize modules for their own DeFi apps. Encentive's Web3 OS capabilities include farming, staking, NFT marketplaces, GameFi, OTC, and more. With these tools community leaders can dramatically increase the empowerment and growth potential of the communities they serve. Encentive enables anyone with a community following to create a DEX overnight on many chains at once and customize the DEX's properties to serve best and incentivize that community.
Where Web 2.0 was driven by the advent of mobile internet, social network and cloud computing technology, the intelligent web vision is built upon three new layers of technological innovation: blockchain, A.I. and the Internet of Things (IoT). While A.I. will play a critical role in tagging web content, and of course putting it to use in novel ways, the key to completing the leap from Web 2.0 to the intelligent web universe of 3.0 remains in the protocols for privacy and ownership.
A.I. projects and enterprises do not have access to larger valid datasets to train better models, and published models can quickly become out of date without effort to acquire more data to re-train them. As a result, the focus of AI has shifted from an orientation centered on AI-based algorithms, to one on big data architectures that guarantee security and privacy. Isolation of data and protection of data privacy is becoming the next challenge in the field of A.I.
By combining blockchain and privacy-preserving computation with A.I., PlatON will help to realize the full potential of AI in Web 3.0.
Encentive's role in the blockchain component includes building out the infrastructure and economic incentives through robust cross-chain capability, including pioneering work with Alchemy Pay to offer fiat-to-crypto on/off ramps, allowing users to seamlessly employ DeFi functions that require crypto transactions from their wallet addresses as well as credit card payment options.
The user tools and interoperability initiative with PlatON is a critical extension of Encentive's Web3 OS, adding momentum to Encentive's core mission to help users and organizations to incentivise their communities with powerful Web3 applications, including sophisticated DeFi marketplace tools such as staked and farmed trading pairs, customized liquidity provider fees, native tokens & NFTs, airdrop functions, and user referral rewards. Moreover, as the Encentive and PlatON ecosystems deepen their integration, a leading model for application deployment and access will emerge, lowering barriers and accelerating the inevitable migration of Web2's billions of users to Web3.
About Encentive
The Encentive Web3 OS enables code-free overnight deployment of peer-to-peer DeFi apps and marketplaces starting from a community of one, plus fiat/crypto on/off ramps. Any individual or organization can establish the next great DeFi app or marketplace almost instantly, complete with farming and staking, fine-tuned to benefit and serve the governance needs and trading preferences of their own unique communities and missions. The Encentive Web3 OS DeFi dApp Builder gives users the power to build their own core teams and communities around their own style of incentives, setting and adjusting transaction fees, stake-pool interest, referral rewards, governance protocols, and more.
Website: https://encentive.io
Dapp: https://app.encentive.io/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Encentive_io
Medium: https://medium.com/@encentive
About LatticeX's PlatON
PlatON was initiated and promoted by the LatticeX Foundation. Based on the basic properties of the blockchain and supported by a privacy-preserving computing network, PlatON provides the next-generation Internet basic protocol featuring "computing interoperability". It builds a computing system jointly assembled by cryptographic algorithms such as verifiable computing, secure multi-party computing, zero-knowledge proof, homomorphic encryption, and blockchain technology to provide public infrastructure under an open-source architecture for global artificial intelligence, distributed application developers, data providers as well as various institutions, communities, and individuals with computing needs.
Website: https://www.platon.network/en | https://latticex.foundation/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/PlatON_Network
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlatON_Network | https://twitter.com/LatticeX_SGP
Discord: https://discord.gg/jAjFzJ3Cff
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SOURCE Encentive | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/encentive-web3-os-officially-joined-platon-ecosystem/ | 2022-08-31T13:43:42Z |
The Utah Based Software Company Ranks No. 666 With Three-Year Revenue Growth of 947 Percent
FARMINGTON, Utah, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, LoanPro announced its position of No. 666 on the annual Inc. 5000, its second consecutive year on the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy's most dynamic segment—its independent businesses.
Rhett Roberts, CEO of LoanPro said, "We're grateful to be recognized by Inc for the second consecutive year, and believe this is not only a result of our innovative software, but the passionate people working behind the scenes. We believe that the best products are built by people who truly understand the use-case and that our process of turning an idea into reality is what differentiates LoanPro from our competition. We value constant brainstorming and embrace the learnings that come from failure. It's been our experience that the best ideas come from a tapestry of contributors all working towards a solution."
Many of the top lenders in the nation have already benefited from LoanPro's Loan Management Software, whose mission is powering financial innovation. With new lending types and products seemingly created daily, LoanPro's configurable software allows for the creation and servicing of these new or trending loan types without missing a beat.
Landing at #256 on the 2021 Inc. 5000 list, LoanPro celebrates staying in the top thousand and remaining profitable, while simultaneously nearly doubling their workforce. LoanPro continues to expand their product and team, with plans to add over 450+ jobs in Utah over the next 16 years.
The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19.
LoanPro is an innovative loan management software which powers financial innovation by giving users the tech they need to bring their lending innovations to life. Built on its own API, LoanPro unites with its users existing software, while encouraging the use of powerful integrations and unifying all aspects of the loan lifecycle in a single source of truth.
For more information on LoanPro, visit loanpro.io.
Media Contact: Jay Meier
Jay.Meier@loanpro.io
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SOURCE LoanPro | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/consecutive-years-loanpro-lands-excellent-spot-inc-5000/ | 2022-08-16T11:57:28Z |
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Maryland-based lender deceived its loan customers by selling them insurance policies they didn’t ask for or know about in many cases, the attorneys general of a handful of states claimed in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in Pennsylvania.
The lawsuit — filed by the attorneys general of the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah and Washington — alleges that Mariner Finance pressured its sales force to “add on” additional insurance coverage for customers seeking personal and other loans.
“Mariner portrays itself as a community-oriented lender operating small, local branches with strong ties to its local geography. In reality, Mariner deploys aggressive, high-pressure sales tactics, dictated by a profit-driven model that operates according to the famous maxim articulated in Glengarry Glen Ross: Always Be Closing,” the roughly 100-page lawsuit said.
The suit seeks restitution for consumers as well as civil penalties and the repayment of profits, among other consequences.
Mariner disputed the suit in a statement from founder and CEO Josh Johnson, who said the firm cooperated with the investigation and provided data, documents and testimony “that clearly demonstrates the legality of its products and the vital support they provide to consumers.”
“Mariner Finance has continuously disputed the claims that the small multi-state coalition has alleged and will continue to defend itself as an important provider of credit options to those who may have limited access to other sources of consumer credit,” Johnson said.
The suit paints a picture of relentless internal sales goals and prodding messages from managers pushing workers to sell various kinds of insurance, including accident and credit insurance. It’s not something many consumers would expect, according to the suit, since Mariner bills itself primarily as a lender, not an insurance sales company.
Mariner operates 480 branches in 27 states and manages $2 billion in loans.
In 2019, Mariner sold nearly $122 million in premiums and fees for the so-called add-ons, not including interest, according to the suit.
The average loan size was $3,650, with an average rate of 28%, the suit said. Added on insurance counted for $360 per loan, not including interest.
“Since the premiums and fees are financed, these add-ons increase interest payments by an average of about $180 in interest to the loan, for a total added cost to the consumer of approximately $540,” the lawsuit said.
The suit added that 80% of consumers, as of 2020, were were charged for added on insurance coverage.
Most of the consumers who were interviewed by state officials as part of the lawsuit said they didn’t know the additional coverage was optional, that it cost more money or that they had an add-on at all.
The loans, in many cases, were for consumers in difficult financial straits who had pressing financial needs, according to Cari Fais, who leads the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
“Mariner’s practice of attaching costly add-ons to the loans of unwitting consumers doubtless plunged many already debt-ridden families into more difficult circumstances,” Fais said in a statement. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/ags-lender-heaped-insurance-plans-onto-unwitting-borrowers/ | 2022-08-17T16:07:14Z |
Fight climate change from the kitchen with mouth-watering Do Good Chicken that is raised on a diet made with nutritious surplus grocery food
BEDMINSTER, N.J., May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, a new climate-forward food company, Do Good Foods, has officially launched Do Good Chicken in grocers throughout Philadelphia. The company is on a mission to change the world with products that enable people to "Do Good" with everyday purchases. Its first introduction, Do Good Chicken, is a simple, tasty, good for plate and planet option that helps fight food waste and combat climate change.
Each year, about 40% of healthy grocery food gets tossed into landfills. According to the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization, if food waste were its own country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. To help keep this healthy food from going to waste, Do Good Foods has partnered with grocers for a smart, impactful solution to protect our planet.
How Can Chicken Save the World?
After community donations, Do Good Foods takes healthy surplus food from grocery stores and upcycles it into nutrient-dense chicken feed that mimics a chicken's natural diet. The high quality, carbon-reduced chicken is then made available for purchase at those same markets, closing the loop and helping combat food waste. Each delicious Do Good Chicken saves approximately four pounds of surplus groceries from being thrown away, thus preventing approximately three pounds of greenhouse gases.
"Food waste is a massive problem with approximately 40% of the food we grow in the U.S. going to waste. We believe this can be solved with what we are doing at Do Good Foods by upcycling surplus grocery food, creating a closed loop system, and providing accessible great tasting chicken to consumers. We are bringing real sustainability to scale and empowering everyone to be a part of the solution" said Justin Kamine, co-CEO and co-Founder of Do Good Foods, also adding, "We're thrilled to make our first retail market Philadelphia – also home to our very first production facility – giving everyone an easy way to Do Good and start making an immediate impact on our planet right from their own kitchen."
Do Good Foods has teamed up with Philadelphia native, chef and founder of Carroll Couture Cuisine and Spice Finch, Jennifer Carroll, to provide home cooks with an easy, climate-friendly recipe using delicious Do Good Chicken, spices, herbs and fresh vegetables.
"Good food should be eaten, not wasted," says Jennifer Carroll. "As a chef, restauranter and someone who just wants to do better for the environment, it is so exciting to partner with a brand that is on a mission to help everyone – from home cooks to professional chefs – create smarter meals that make a real impact."
Not Only Good for Planet, Good for Plate Too
Do Good Chicken brings 100% natural, high-quality taste with no antibiotics, hormones, or steroids. The cage-free chickens are raised and harvested in the U.S. and available in a variety of cuts that can be grilled, baked, pan-fried, and enjoyed. Together, we can fight climate change from our kitchen.
Join the Mission, Do Some Good
For Philadelphians who give a cluck about food waste, Do Good Chicken can be found in the poultry section at select Albertsons banners (Shaw's, Safeway, Acme) and GIANT stores across the Philadelphia area. To find a retailer, visit DoGoodChicken.com and to learn more, follow @dogoodchicken on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Do Good Foods:
Do Good Foods is a revolutionary climate-forward company. Our carbon-reduced food products give consumers a delicious way to fight food waste and combat climate change from their kitchen. Founded by the Kamine family, Do Good Foods has created a closed-loop system with state-of-the-art infrastructure designed to upcycle surplus grocery food (after community donations occur) into nutritious animal feed. Do Good Foods first product, Do Good Chicken, is raised using this healthy feed, can be purchased locally giving consumers an opportunity to make an immediate environmental impact and Do Good...for Plate & Planet.™
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SOURCE Do Good Foods | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/do-good-foods-launches-carbon-reduced-chicken-philadelphia-delicious-way-tackle-food-waste/ | 2022-05-16T12:47:22Z |
MIAMI and CHEYENNE, Wyo., Aug. 23, 2022 /PR Newswire/ -- LiveHire Ltd. (ASX: LVH), a global software-as-a-service (SaaS) Total Talent Acquisition platform that helps companies connect with and hire the talent they need, and CrintellTech, an AI-driven recruitment intelligence platform that automates candidate sourcing, announce their strategic integration to transform the recruiting life-cycle.
Today's market for talent is tight and sourcing talent can be one of the most time consuming parts of a recruiter's job, accentuating the need to reach out to passive candidates in addition to active candidates in order to meet hiring needs.
Companies using LiveHire to source and hire candidates can now automate their process for sourcing and engaging with passive candidates from job board databases and professional networks by leveraging the strategic integration to CrintellTech. The CrintellTech Chrome App/Extension provides two products for the sourcing of external candidates passing them directly into LiveHire; "Eva" and "Assist".
With "Eva", LiveHire recruiters can pass the details of a job or sourcing requirement directly to Eva, allowing Eva's AI to source their desired number of candidates from integrated job board profile databases and then send emails and text messages to candidates to confirm their interest in applying. Eva's AI automatically exports candidates to LiveHire and updates their status based on their responses.
With "Assist", recruiters can export suitable candidates they find while on job board profile databases or professional networks straight into LiveHire, assigning them to jobs and including notes about why they think the candidate is a good fit. Furthermore, Crintell Assist can save recruiters time and money by identifying candidates that have already exported to LiveHire, thereby reducing the cost of external sourcing.
Once imported into LiveHire from CrintellTech through Eva or Assist, hiring teams on LiveHire can engage with candidates by leveraging workflow automations and native two-way email and text messaging all the way through to hiring, helping hiring teams deliver award-winning candidate experiences and outstanding recruitment outcomes.
"We are excited about the LiveHire integration with Crintell Technologies and our ability to accelerate the flow of qualified candidates and recruiter productivity," says Christy Forest, LiveHire CEO. "LiveHire's Total Talent Acquisition Platform (ATS + CRM) paired together with CrintellTech will streamline and modernize the hiring process and ultimately deliver a better candidate experience."
"We are excited to be a part of this strategic partnership with LiveHire. I believe our technologies complement each other and aim to bring in quality candidates and greatly improve recruiter productivity." says Arbind Joseph M, Founder and CEO of Crintell Technologies.
About LiveHire
LiveHire is a globally-leading recruitment and contingent direct sourcing platform - enabling clients to attract and engage both permanent employees and contingent workers to deliver Total Talent and Direct Sourcing solutions. LiveHire offers an award-winning candidate experience and provides talent-on-demand through its unique talent pooling and 2-way text messaging functionality, having successfully enabled end-to-end recruitment from sourcing through to hire of diverse workforces for over 200 clients across 20 verticals globally. For more information, visit https://www.livehire.com/
About CrintellTech
CrintellTech is an AI-driven recruitment intelligence platform that automates resume searches and transforms the recruitment process. The founding team at Crintell has decades of hands-on experience in staffing and recruitment and understands the conundrums faced by recruiters and employers. Crintell knew there was a need for a simple yet powerful solution that would facilitate and empower recruiters to do a better and more meaningful job. Crintell was birthed to provide better resolution to these issues and create measurable impact to the entire recruitment life cycle.
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SOURCE LiveHire | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/23/livehire-crintelltech-announce-strategic-integration-automate-candidate-sourcing-streamline-recruiting-life-cycle/ | 2022-08-23T16:10:40Z |
Veterans' Access to Public and Private Sector Benefits Are Streamlined with ID.me While Safeguarding Private, Sensitive Information
MCLEAN, Va., July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ID.me, the secure digital identity network, today announced a new milestone of around 12.5 million users from the military community. These users have used ID.me's login, which makes digital identities reusable, 253 million times to access benefits from government, non-profits, and private organizations.
"As a Veteran, I found it shocking that Veterans were often showing their DD-214, and with it their SSN, to a stranger to get military benefits like a free appetizer on Veterans Day," said Blake Hall, an Army Veteran and ID.me's Co-Founder and CEO. "Before ID.me, identity verification for veterans was a fragmented, time-consuming process that increased the risk of identity theft. Today, ID.me improves the customer experience for millions of military family members who wish to access services and benefits while enhancing their privacy, too."
ID.me puts military family members in full control of their information with the ability to seamlessly login to hundreds of organizations, including:
- Veterans Affairs: Since 2016, ID.me has provided a secure and portable login that enables Veterans to access services and benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
- AccessVA: ID.me enables veterans, family members, service members, business partners, and VA employees and contractors to access a variety of VA services.
- VFW: ID.me allows veterans to access Veteran Service Organizations like Veterans of Foreign Wars.
- Vet Tix: ID.me allows members of the military and their families to prove their military service to Vet Tix, a non-profit organization that allows veterans to access free tickets from organizations and members of the public who donate those tickets.
- Institute for Veterans & Military Families: ID.me allows veteran and military family business owners to register their business with Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans & Military Families (IVMF), which offers a Boots to Business program.
- Shift.org: ID.me empowers military users to verify at Shift, a veteran-founded organization that helps current and former members find professional career paths.
- Fanatics: ID.me allows veterans and military to access offers from Fanatics, an ecommerce platform used by most of the professional sports leagues in America.
- Waves of Honor: ID.me empowers veterans and active duty military to claim free and/or heavily discounted tickets to theme parks across the country.
- ID.me Shop: ID.me allows members of the military and their families to find and access offers from hundreds of organizations that utilize ID.me to honor service in a secure manner.
- Arts in Armed Forces: ID.me grants users access to exclusive AITAF event discounts for military members and their families.
- National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA): ID.me powers military verification required to create an account and gain access to benefits only made available through NaVOBA.
- VetsinTech: ID.me grants veterans access to various programs to assist with education, employment, and entrepreneurship.
ID.me earned funding from the government to improve privacy and the customer experience for military families in 2013 when the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency of the United States Department of Commerce, awarded ID.me a cooperative agreement to enable "members of the military community and their families, First Responders, and students to access exclusive benefits and services online both securely and efficiently without having to share sensitive information with the brands directly."
Nine years after winning the grant from NIST, ID.me continues to enhance customer experience for members of the military, veterans, and their families.
To learn more, visit https://insights.id.me/article/government/one-login-to-serve-veterans-throughout-their-digital-life-government-non-profits-and-the-private-sector/.
The ID.me secure digital identity network includes partnerships in 30 states, 10 federal agencies, and over 500 name-brand retailers. The company provides identity proofing, authentication and group affiliation verification for organizations across sectors. The company's technology meets the federal standards for consumer authentication and is approved as a NIST 800-63-3 IAL2 / AAL2 conformant credential service provider by the Kantara Initiative. ID.me's Identity Gateway also maintains a Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Moderate Authority to Operate (ATO). ID.me strives towards its mission of "No Identity Left Behind" to enable all people to have secure access to services. To learn more, visit https://www.ID.me
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SOURCE ID.me | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/11/idme-announces-milestone-around-125-million-military-users-have-used-idme-more-than-250-million-times-access-services/ | 2022-07-11T20:42:06Z |
Did you lose money on investments in Unilever? If so, please visit Unilever PLC Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com to discuss your rights.
NEW YORK, June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") of Unilever PLC ("Unilever" or the "Company") (NYSE: UL) between September 2, 2020 and July 21, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Unilever is a British multinational consumer goods company which sells more than 400 products in over 190 countries, including Ben & Jerry's ice cream, which they acquired in 2000. In an attempt to preserve Ben & Jerry's longstanding "Social Mission," Unilever's acquisition of Ben & Jerry's included allowing for an independent board of directors, which was given primary responsibility for preserving and enhancing the objectives of the company's Social Mission (the "B&J Board").
More than 20 years after the acquisition, Ben & Jerry's remains a wholly owned subsidiary of Unilever with an independent board addressing the company's Social Mission. Since the acquisition, the B&J Board continued its Social Mission by engaging in promotions and advocacy across a host of issues concerning the environment, voter turnout, fair trade, and genetically modified organisms. Today, the B&J Board, chaired by Anuradha Mittal ("Mittal"), consists primarily of social activists who joined long after Unilever's acquisition.
The B&J Board passed a resolution in July 2020 to end sales of Ben & Jerry's products in areas that the B&J Board considers to be Palestinian territories illegally occupied by Israel. According to Mittal, Ben & Jerry's CEO Matthew McCarthy ("McCarthy") chose not to "operationalize" the resolution immediately, thus temporarily thwarting the B&J Board's decision. During the morning of July 19, 2021, Unilever and its hand-picked CEO McCarthy "operationalized" the B&J Board's resolution to boycott Israel. Ben & Jerry's announced on its website and through its Twitter account that, upon the expiration of the current licensing agreement by which its products had been distributed in Israel for decades, Ben & Jerry's would end sales of its ice cream in "Occupied Palestinian Territory", but Ben & Jerry's would purportedly continue to sell its products in Israel.
The decision by the B&J Board appeared to arise out of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions ("BDS") movement. The BDS movement is a pro-Palestinian movement promoting boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions against Israel. The BDS movement's objective is to coerce Israel into making concessions to the Palestinians by using boycotts and the like to exert economic and political pressure. Additionally, and of particular significance here, 35 U.S. states have adopted laws, executive orders, or resolutions aimed at discouraging boycotts, divestment, and sanctions of Israel ("Anti-BDS Legislation").
During the morning of July 22, 2021, CNBC reported that the states of Texas and Florida were examining Ben & Jerry's actions in connection with the states' Anti-BDS Legislation. In addition to condemnation of Ben & Jerry's boycott by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, CNBC reported that Texas State Comptroller Glenn Hegar, who controls billions of dollars in assets for Texas' public pension funds, had already told his office to take action. Similarly, the state of Florida's CFO Jimmy Patronis ("Patronis"), who controls Florida's public pension funds, told CNBC that his office was already discussing the issue. In a letter reportedly sent to Ben & Jerry's CEO, Patronis wrote: "It is my belief that Ben & Jerry's brazen refusal to do business in Israel will result in your placement on the Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List." The letter also stated that Florida would then "be prohibited from investing in Ben & Jerry's or its parent company, Unilever." Being added to the list also meant that Unilever would not be able to enter or renew contracts with the state or any municipality in Florida.
On this news, the price of Unilever ADRs fell $3.19 to close at $55.52 per ADR on July 22, 2021.
If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 15, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.
If you purchased the ADRs of Unilever, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Unilever PLC Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com.
Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2022 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
Contact Information:
Peter Allocco
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
https://www.bernlieb.com
(212) 951-2030
pallocco@bernlieb.com
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SOURCE Bernstein Liebhard LLP | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/25/unilever-plc-nyse-ul-shareholder-class-action-alert-bernstein-liebhard-llp-reminds-investors-deadline-file-lead-plaintiff-motion-securities-class-action-lawsuit-against-unilever-plc-nyse-ul/ | 2022-06-25T01:30:59Z |
Campaign aims to promote early literacy and foster diverse representation in children's literature
NEW YORK , July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fidelis Care, a New York State health plan, and Literacy Inc. (LINC), a non-profit organization whose mission is to equip New York City families with foundational literacy skills, today announced its second year of the Diversity Through Literacy campaign. Through a generous donation from Fidelis Care, over 1,000 free books featuring stories that represent racial diversity, including 500 copies of the New York Times best-seller The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez, will be distributed by Literacy Inc. across New York City boroughs on July 7.
Created in 2021, Diversity through Literacy aims to increase diverse representation of children in books, and to cultivate unique perspectives on inclusion and equity, while also helping families learn about the benefits of early literacy and its impact on children's healthy development.
"Fidelis Care stresses the importance of positively impacting a child's most formative years through early literacy habits such as reading aloud, which, with just 15 minutes a day can lead to many significant cognitive and developmental benefits," said Fidelis Care Medical Director and pediatrician Dr. Lisa Moreno. "Children are highly impressionable. At a time in our society when racial and social justice issues continue to make headlines, it's important we demonstrate to children that excellence can look like them, too."
"We distribute books, but we also hold workshops for parents," added LINC Deputy Director Eliana Godoy. "Our goal is to engage parents by providing them with simple tools and strategies they can use daily at home to create a strong literacy-rich foundation and nurture a love of reading. Through these daily experiences, children are prepared to enter school and have the necessary skills to triumph at school and in life."
The free book distribution on July 7 will take place at the locations listed below where community members are welcome to join, enjoy refreshments and family friendly entertainment.
Fidelis Care staff members will volunteer and read a children's book aloud to the families present. Multilingual Fidelis Care Representatives will be available to speak with parents and provide information on the importance of health and wellness for kids and families, while Literacy Inc. staff and volunteers will lead reading programs and offer resources to parents that share the importance of diversity and representation in children's literature.
A Diversity through Literacy parent workshop will be held virtually on July 22 at 4 PM, hosted by Literacy Inc. and Fidelis Care. Author Rio Cortez will conduct a live read of The ABCs of Black History.
For the past 25 years, LINC has worked to harness the power that exists in every community to make literacy a value and right of all children and promoting educational equity. Early literacy is critical for children's lifelong social and health benefits. Our two-generational Community Literacy Model connects families with each other and with resources that already exist in the community to surround children with literacy-rich environments inside and outside of home. When a child reads, a community succeeds!
For more information about Fidelis Care, contact Maria J. Ramirez at: mramire2@fideliscare.org
For more information about LINC and our Diversity Through Literacy program, visit us at: https://www.lincnyc.org/onlineprograms or contact Virginia Taddoni, Senior Communications Manager, LINC at vtaddoni@lincnyc.org or 212-620-5462, ext. 133.
Fidelis Care is a mission-driven health plan offering quality, affordable coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life. With more than 2.4 million members statewide, Fidelis Care believes that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. Follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/fidelis-care, on Twitter at @fideliscare, Instagram at @fideliscare, and on Facebook at facebook.com/fideliscare. For more information, call Fidelis Care at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.
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SOURCE Fidelis Care | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/fidelis-care-literacy-inc-support-diversity-through-literacy/ | 2022-07-05T14:42:11Z |
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CNX Resources Corporation (NYSE: CNX) ("CNX") today announced that it has commenced a cash tender offer (the "offer") to purchase up to $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the $700,000,000 amount outstanding of its 7.250% Senior Notes due 2027 (the "Notes").
The offer is being made pursuant to the terms and conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase dated September 12, 2022, copies of which may be obtained from Global Bondholder Services Corporation, the tender agent and information agent for the offer, by calling (855) 654-2015 (toll free) or, for banks and brokers, (212) 430-3774 or by email at contact@gbsc-usa.com.
The offer will expire at 5:00 p.m. New York City Time on October 7, 2022, unless extended or earlier terminated (such time and date as the same may be extended, the "Expiration Time"). Tendered Notes may be withdrawn at any time before 5:00 p.m. New York City Time on September 23, 2022 (the "Withdrawal Deadline").
Certain information regarding the Notes and the terms of the offer is summarized in the table below.
Each holder who validly tenders its Notes on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 23, 2022 (the "Early Tender Deadline") will be entitled to an Early Tender Payment, which is included in the Total Consideration above, of $30 for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered by such holder, if such Notes are accepted for purchase pursuant to the offer, Holders validly tendering, and not validly withdrawing, Notes after the Early Tender Deadline and on or before the Expiration Time will be eligible to receive only the Tender Offer Consideration, which is an amount equal to the Total Consideration less the Early Tender Payment.
In addition, holders whose Notes are accepted for payment in the offer will receive accrued and unpaid interest from and including the last interest payment date to, but not including, the applicable payment date for their Notes purchased pursuant to the offer. Notes tendered prior to the Withdrawal Deadline may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Withdrawal Deadline. Notes tendered after the Withdrawal Deadline may not be withdrawn.
If the purchase of all validly tendered Notes would cause us to purchase a principal amount greater than the tender cap set forth above, then the offer will be oversubscribed and CNX, if it accepts Notes in the offer, will accept for purchase tendered Notes on a prorated basis as described in the offer documents. At any time after the Early Tender Deadline and prior to the Expiration Time (such time, the "Early Acceptance Time"), CNX may elect to accept for purchase Notes tendered prior to such Early Acceptance Time on the terms and subject to the conditions of the offer, including any required proration. So long as the other terms and conditions described in the Offer to Purchase are satisfied, and subject to the Tender Cap, CNX intends to accept for purchase all Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Deadline, and will only prorate such Notes if the aggregate amount of Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn exceeds the Tender Cap. If the Tender Offer is not fully subscribed as of the Early Tender Deadline, Holders who validly tender Notes after the Early Tender Deadline may be subject to proration, whereas Holders who validly tender Notes at or prior to the Early Tender Deadline will not be subject to proration. Furthermore, if the Tender Offer is fully subscribed as of the Early Tender Deadline, Holders who validly tender Notes after the Early Tender Deadline will not have any of their Notes accepted for payment. Payment for any Notes so accepted will be made promptly after the Early Acceptance Time, which is currently expected to occur on or about September 27, 2022, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the offer.
CNX's obligation to accept for purchase, and to pay for, Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions described in the offer documents, including the completion of CNX's recently announced offering of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its senior notes due 2031 on terms and conditions satisfactory to CNX. The offer is not conditioned upon any minimum amount of Notes being tendered and the offer may be amended, extended, terminated or withdrawn, subject to applicable law. The complete terms and conditions of the offer are set forth in the offer documents which are being sent to holders of Notes. Holders of Notes are urged to read the offer documents carefully.
CNX has retained Citigroup Global Markets Inc. to serve as the Dealer Manager for the tender offer. Questions regarding the terms of the tender offer may be directed to Citigroup Global Markets Inc., at (212)-723-6106 (collect) or (800)-558-3745 (U.S. toll-free).
CNX is the premier independent natural gas development, production, and midstream company, with operations centered in the major shale formations of the Appalachian basin.
Cautionary Statements:
This press release does not and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any notes in the offer. In addition, this press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities issued in connection with any contemporaneous notes offering, nor shall there be any sale of the securities issued in such offering in any offer, solicitation or sale of notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. The offering may be made only by means of an offering memorandum.
Various statements in this release, including those that express a belief, expectation or intention, may be considered forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. When we use the words "believe," "intend," "expect," "may," "should," "anticipate," "could," "estimate," "plan," "predict," "project," "will" or their negatives, or other similar expressions, the statements which include those words are usually forward-looking statements. When we describe strategy that involves risks or uncertainties, we are making forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release, if any, speak only as of the date of this press release; we disclaim any obligation to update these statements unless required by securities law and we caution you not to rely on them unduly. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and assumptions about future events. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. These risks, contingencies and uncertainties relate to, among other matters, the factors discussed in the 2021 Form 10-K under "Risk Factors," which is on file at the Securities and Exchange Commission, as updated by any subsequent Form 10-Qs that we file.
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SOURCE CNX Resources Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/cnx-resources-corporation-announces-tender-offer-its-7250-senior-notes-due-2027/ | 2022-09-12T12:01:03Z |
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