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PHILADELPHIA, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PowerPay, a financial technology company that provides consumer lending for home improvements, solar and elective healthcare, is pleased to announce the hiring of Chris Klemick as Head of the Healthcare lending division.
Chris, a healthcare sales and finance executive brings more than twenty years of leadership and enterprise sales. Most recently, Chris was the Director of Strategic Channels and Partnerships at Ally Lending, a division of Ally Bank. He focused on cultivating and managing enterprise-level relationships and identifying and implementing lending platform partnerships to grow and achieve healthcare sales objectives. For the past two and a half years, Chris served as Head of Healthcare Sales and managed a sales team that originated over one billion dollars in healthcare loans.
Based in Philadelphia, Chris will be responsible for growing PowerPay's healthcare brand across the U.S. His employment comes at a critical time, as PowerPay recently entered the patient financing marketplace with no merchant fee and promotional programs in audiology, dentistry, cosmetics, medical spa, fertility, and veterinary.
Michael Petrakis, CEO of PowerPay: "We are excited to have Chris join PowerPay. He has tremendous experience in the elective healthcare vertical and brings a wide network of partners, affiliates, and merchant opportunities to us. Chris is the right person to help us deliver our disruptive no fee and promotional lending programs to an industry in need of change."
Launched in 2020, PowerPay is a financial technology company providing seamless consumer financing solutions to over 7,000 contractors and merchants. The company helps merchants grow their businesses with a simple point of sale financing platform converting large purchases into affordable monthly payments. PowerPay has processed over $1 billion in loans since its inception. www.getpowerpay.com.
PowerPay's healthcare financing enables medical professionals to offer their patients loans of up to $60,000 with rates from 1.99% and terms from 3 months to 6 years. The company's proprietary loan origination technology platform simplifies financing for both patients and medical professionals and merchants.
Contacts:
Arina Zhukova
800-397-4485
pr@getpowerpay.com
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SOURCE PowerPay | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/powerpay-announces-hiring-chris-klemick-lead-healthcare-division-drive-growth-elective-healthcare-lending/ | 2022-06-08T13:50:27Z |
Bidens paid 24.6% taxes on $610,702 earnings, returns show
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, earned $610,702 during their first year in the White House and paid $150,439 in federal income taxes. That was a tax rate of 24.6% for 2021, well over the average of around 14% for all Americans.
The totals were similar to the Bidens’ 2020 returns, when they reported earning $607,336 as he ran for president. They reported a federal income tax rate of 25.9% then.
The national median household income was $67,521 in 2020, according to U.S. Census data.
It’s the second straight year Biden has released his tax returns from the White House, reestablishing a tradition that presidents make their filings public after President Donald Trump declined to do so.
Both this year and last were steep drops from 2019 for the Bidens, when they earned nearly $1 million, primarily from book sales, speeches and their teaching positions at the University of Pennsylvania and Northern Virginia Community College.
Jill Biden still teaches in Virginia while serving as first lady. The returns show Biden earning $378,333 as president — his $400,000 annual salary minus the time before noon on Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, 2021 — and his wife receiving $67,116 for her teaching.
The couple gave $17,394 to 10 different charities in 2021. The largest gift was $5,000 to the Beau Biden Foundation, a nonprofit that works to combat child abuse named for their son, Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015 at age 46.
The Bidens also released their 2021 Delaware income tax return and reported paying $30,765 in state income tax there. The first lady released a Virginia return showing she paid $2,721 in Virginia state income tax.
Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, released their 2021 tax filings, which showed them earning $1,655,563 in 2021 and paying $523,371 — a federal income tax rate of 31.6%. Harris and Emhoff also paid $120,517 in California income tax and $2,044 in New York income tax.
The second gentleman, who teaches at Georgetown Law School, paid $54,441 in District of Columbia income tax, and the couple contributed $22,100 to charity in 2021.
Biden campaigned on the transparency of his personal finances, releasing 22 years of tax filings ahead of the 2020 election. It was a direct challenge to Trump, who argued for years that an audit prevented him from releasing his taxes — though the IRS had mandated for four-plus decades that the tax returns of sitting presidents and vice presidents be audited.
The New York Times later obtained Trump’s tax records and reported that he paid just $750 in federal income taxes during his first year in the White House. IRS figures indicate that the average tax filer paid roughly $12,200 in 2017, about 16 times what the former president paid.
The returns were released on April 15, traditionally the deadline for paying federal taxes. This year the deadline has been extended to Monday, April 18.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/04/15/bidens-paid-246-taxes-610702-earnings-returns-show/ | 2022-04-16T23:08:29Z |
The leading regulatory healthcare attorney and disability rights leader brings 20 years of healthcare policy experience and a passion for health equity to the value-based PBM
MONTVALE, N.J., May 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EmpiRx Health, the industry's only value-based pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), is excited to welcome Ted Kennedy, Jr. to its Board of Directors. Kennedy's appointment as a board member will strengthen EmpiRx Health's commitment to transforming healthcare benefits. EmpiRx Health is at the forefront of healthcare innovation. A clinically-advanced population health management strategy and financially-aligned pay-for-performance model drive improved health outcomes and sustainable cost savings for its clients and patients.
"We are thrilled to welcome Ted Kennedy Jr. to the EmpiRx Health Board of Directors. His impressive background in healthcare policy and his work toward equal rights for people with disabilities will be an asset to our continued growth," said CEO of EmpiRx Health, Karthik Ganesh. "His appointment comes at a time when healthcare costs have become unsustainable—EmpiRx Health customers and people nationwide are in urgent need for value-based healthcare benefits. We look forward to the contributions Ted will make to continue to innovate and lead in the healthcare space."
Kennedy is a healthcare attorney and partner in the law firm Epstein Becker Green, where he advises many of the nation's foremost healthcare companies on the key legal, regulatory, reimbursement, coverage issues and emerging policy changes facing hospitals, post-acute providers, government and commercial insurance entities, and life sciences companies. From 2015 to 2019, Ted also served as a State Senator in the Connecticut General Assembly.
As an amputee and childhood bone cancer survivor, Kennedy is an active leader in the disability rights and independent living movement. He currently serves as Board Chair of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), one of the nation's leading civil rights and public policy organizations dedicated to social reform and equal rights for people with disabilities. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Disability Equality Index (DEI), the leading corporate social responsibility, accountability and ESG benchmarking tool that scores and tracks businesses on their disability inclusion policies.
Kennedy's appointment adds to an exciting year for EmpiRx Health. In addition to being named a Great Place to Work for the third consecutive year and having received multi-year recognition on the Inc. 5000 lists of America's fastest-growing private companies, this past April, EmpiRx Health hosted its second annual Value Xchange virtual event. With prominent industry thought leaders, the virtual event kickstarted the change that is needed to disrupt and transform healthcare benefits.
Learn more about EmpiRx Health at EmpiRxHealth.com.
About EmpiRx Health
EmpiRx Health is the industry's most clinically advanced and only value-based PBM, and has received multi-year recognition on the Inc. 5000 lists of America's fastest-growing private companies. EmpiRx Health's growth is fueled by the highly unique and client-aligned nature of its value proposition – a pay-for-performance financial model with guaranteed savings, an industry-first and client-tailored population health management approach, and an unparalleled high-touch service experience that has resulted in industry-best client retention rates. Learn more about the EmpiRx Health model at www.empirxhealth.com.
Media Contact:
Heather Tidwell
847.224.6462
htidwell@mww.com
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SOURCE EmpiRx Health | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/24/empirx-health-announces-ted-kennedy-jr-new-board-member/ | 2022-05-24T18:50:46Z |
Sarasota County seeking input on solid waste collection
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Sarasota County’s Solid Waste Department has launched an online market assessment to gauge community reaction to the county’s curbside solid waste collection of garbage, recycling, yard waste and bulk items.
The information collected will be used to develop the scope for a forthcoming franchise agreement procurement process. The current contract with the franchise hauler expires in September 2024.
“Feedback from the market assessment will help design the scope of service for Sarasota County’s next franchise agreement. So, it’s important that we hear directly from our customers to help ensure their solid waste collection needs are continuing to be met,” Solid Waste Director Brian Usher said.
The online market assessment is available through Friday, May 6, in more than 50 languages. Residents and businesses in unincorporated Sarasota County are encouraged to participate.
For more information, contact 311 or visit scgov.net.
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/03/31/sarasota-county-seeking-input-solid-waste-collection/ | 2022-04-02T09:20:37Z |
Biden to appear on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ during Western trip
WASHINGTON (AP) - Another sign America’s entertainment landscape is returning to normal: President Joe Biden will make his first in-person appearance on a late-night talk show since taking office.
Biden will be a guest Wednesday night on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” the White House said.
Kimmel tweeted Sunday: “Our very elected President @JoeBiden visits @JimmyKimmelLive Wednesday night. No malarkey.”
Biden travels Wednesday to Los Angeles to host the Ninth Summit of the Americas, and Kimmel’s show tapes in Hollywood.
In December 2021 Biden appeared virtually on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon, his first late-night appearance while in office.
Government leaders from across the hemisphere will gather to discuss economic prosperity, climate change, the migration crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, the White House said. Biden will give the summit’s opening address on Thursday.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/06/biden-appear-jimmy-kimmel-live-during-western-trip/ | 2022-06-06T05:23:00Z |
TULSA, Okla., May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ClearSign Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: CLIR) ("ClearSign" or the "Company"), an emerging leader in industrial combustion and sensing technologies that improve energy, operational efficiency and safety while dramatically reducing emissions, today announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 3,640,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $1.11 per share, for gross proceeds of $4,040,400. The Company has also granted to the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase, at the same price per share as the underwriters paid for the initial shares, an additional 546,000 shares to cover over-allotments in connection with the offering, which if exercised in full would increase the gross proceeds to $4,646,460.
The offering is expected to close on or about June 1, 2022, subject to customary closing conditions.
ClearSign intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital, research and development, marketing and sales, and general corporate purposes.
Newbridge Securities Corporation is acting as the sole book-running manager of the offering.
The shares described above are being offered by ClearSign pursuant to a shelf registration statement previously filed with and subsequently declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. A final prospectus supplement describing the terms of the offering will be filed with the SEC. The offering will be made only by means of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, as may be further supplemented by any free writing prospectus and/or pricing supplement that the Company may file with the SEC. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities 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. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement, and accompanying base prospectus relating to this offering, may be obtained from Newbridge Securities Corporation, Attn: Equity Syndicate Department, 1200 North Federal Highway, Suite 400, Boca Raton, FL 33432, email: syndicate@newbridgesecurities.com, telephone: (877) 447-9625.
ClearSign Technologies Corporation designs and develops products and technologies for the purpose of improving key performance characteristics of industrial and commercial systems, including operational performance, energy efficiency, emission reduction, safety and overall cost-effectiveness. Our patented technologies, embedded in established OEM products as ClearSign Core™, and ClearSign Eye™ and other sensing configurations, enhance the performance of combustion systems and fuel safety systems in a broad range of markets, including the energy (upstream oil production and down-stream refining), commercial/industrial boiler, chemical, petrochemical, transport and power industries. For more information, please visit www.clearsign.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the proposed public offering and the intended use of proceeds from the offering. The offering is subject to market and other conditions and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed or as to the actual size or terms of the offering. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including those risks disclosed in the section "Risk Factors" included in the preliminary prospectus supplement filed with the SEC on May 26, 2022. ClearSign cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur.
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SOURCE ClearSign Technologies Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/27/clearsign-technologies-corporation-prices-underwritten-public-offering-common-stock/ | 2022-05-27T13:40:18Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — If you have kids or even if you don’t you have probably heard of the phenomenon that is Disney on Ice.
It’s a performance that takes all of your favorite Disney characters off of the screen, and well, simply onto the ice skating rink for you to enjoy. But what really makes the ice show so memorable?
CW33’s Yolonda Williams gives Inside DFW an inside look at the details behind favorites like Frozen and Mulan. Now you know Disney is always on the go.
We learned everything we could about one of the most important things about show business, the costumes. For more on Disney on Ice, click here. | https://cw33.com/news/inside-dfw/inside-look-at-the-costumes-behind-disney-on-ice/ | 2022-05-27T05:45:34Z |
New Mexico fires could threaten 15,000 homes if they continue to grow, officials say
By Paradise Afshar and Theresa Waldrop, CNN
More than 15,000 homes could be threatened over the next three days if the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires in New Mexico continue to grow, according to Andy Lyon, a public information officer with the Southwest Incident Management Team.
This includes the city of Las Vegas, New Mexico, which is about 85 miles northeast of Albuquerque, and the surrounding communities in San Miguel and Mora Counties, according to Lyon.
Five fires are actively burning throughout six counties in New Mexico, according to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Like much of the Southwest, New Mexico has been under a prolonged, severe drought, which has helped create critical fire conditions. April’s fire weather conditions are the worst seen in the state in more than a decade.
The largest blaze, the combined Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires, merged more than a week ago and have burned about 146,000 acres, according to Lyon, and the fire is just 20% contained.
Some 172 homes have been destroyed in Mora County and San Miguel County, and more than 6,000 homes have been evacuated.
“One house lost to one New Mexico family is too many,” she said. “We are very grateful for the work of the firefighters and fire responders.”
About 3,500 people had been evacuated in and around the city of Las Vegas as of Monday evening because of the fire threat, according to San Miguel County Manager Joy Ansley. As of Friday, 270 structures had been visibly damaged or destroyed, including 166 homes, she said.
The situation is “a long-term event,” San Miguel and Mora counties said in a joint release Tuesday. “We don’t anticipate having ‘control’ of this fire any time soon.”
Lujan Grisham said the Cooks Peak fire has burned more than 59,000 acres and is 72% contained. She said mitigation efforts, such as digging trenches and containment lines, are being used.
“It’s not like putting out a house fire. You don’t drive a fire truck and spray water,” the governor said. Additional support is coming from the federal government and other states, she said.
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™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
CNN’s Monique Smith contributed to this report | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2022/05/03/new-mexico-fires-could-threaten-15000-homes-if-they-continue-to-grow-officials-say/ | 2022-05-04T00:32:15Z |
PITTSBURGH, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I like taking a full body picture of what clothes I wear each day, however it does get tiresome asking others to take the picture for me," said the inventor from North Versailles, Pa. "I created this mirror to help an individual capture full body pictures from different angles and add filters if they choose."
He invented the SMART MIRROR to help provide a multi-functional smart mirror that offers versatile operating features. The mirror would include an interactive smart hub for use on social media and various platforms. This would allow individuals to solely capture images of themselves from a variety of angles. Additionally, the mirror would be available in various sizes and could be used in the home or any commercial space.
The original design was submitted to the Pittsburgh sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-PDK-221, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/inventhelp-presents-wireless-mirror-pdk-221/ | 2022-06-22T18:56:16Z |
NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Neurovation Labs, Inc., a biotechnology company targeting physiological biomarkers of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued U.S. Patent No. 11,439,715, on September 13, 2022. The patent, entitled "Compositions and Methods to Detect GluA1 in Brain and to Identify the Presence of GluA1-Mediated Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Other Neurological Disorders," is directed to novel radiotracer compositions as well as methods for detecting GluA1 and GluA1-containing central nervous system receptors.
"The compounds protected by this patent are part of a series of radiotracers that Neurovation Labs is developing to enable objective diagnosis of brain disorders and to better evaluate the mechanisms underlying PTSD and other brain traumas. These compounds and the corresponding methods covered by the patent represent a novel, targeted approach to mental healthcare where we may definitively detect central nervous system disorders," said Dr. Jennifer Perusini, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of the company. "We aim to visualize, measure, and subsequently alleviate wounds in patients that were previously considered invisible."
This patent is owned solely by Neurovation Labs and is the second issuance from a broader intellectual property portfolio stemming from the company's research and development. The company is currently exploring applications and extensions of its technology to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and micro-TBI, with support from a U.S. Air Force Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract.
Neurovation Labs is a biotechnology company revolutionizing the way psychiatric disorders are diagnosed and treated, with an initial focus on PTSD. Founded in 2016, the company is leveraging a major brain biomarker discovery to develop two products: (1) a molecular diagnostic and (2) a companion targeted treatment. Both products are in preclinical development and have the potential to transform PTSD healthcare.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include statements about the Company's products, its intellectual property, and the Company's approach and objectives. We have attempted to identify these statements by the use of forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "forecast," "estimate," "expect," and "intend," among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Neurovation Labs' current expectations and actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, risks, and uncertainties, such as the ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals including from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the impact of changes in global economic conditions, the company's need for additional financing, risks associated with data analysis and reporting, risks related to the progress of pre-clinical and clinical research and development, and uncertainties of intellectual property protection and litigation, among others. As with all pharmaceutical and biotechnology products under development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval, and commercialization processes. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date thereof. Neurovation Labs undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this presentation, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by the federal securities laws.
Contact: Press@NeurovationLabs.com
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SOURCE Neurovation Labs Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/neurovation-labs-announces-issuance-second-us-patent-covering-compositions-methods-detecting-ptsd-biomarker/ | 2022-09-14T13:29:47Z |
BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday criticized a diplomatic snub by Ukraine for his country’s president and defended Berlin’s record on delivering weapons to Kyiv amid tensions that have flared at a delicate moment in German policymaking on the war.
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany’s largely ceremonial head of state, had hoped to travel to Ukraine on Wednesday with his Polish and Baltic counterparts. But he said Tuesday that his presence “apparently … wasn’t wanted in Kyiv.” The German newspaper Bild quoted an unidentified Ukrainian diplomat as saying that Steinmeier was not welcome at the moment, pointing to his close relations with Russia in the past.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany later said the government would be glad to welcome Scholz — who, unlike Steinmeier, sets government policy. But the snub to Steinmeier may make that more difficult.
“The president would have liked to go to Ukraine,” Scholz told rbb24 Inforadio, noting that Steinmeier is Germany’s head of state and was recently reelected with broad support. “So it would have been good to receive him.”
“It is, in any case, somewhat irritating, to put it politely,” Scholz added, noting that Steinmeier has strongly criticized Russia’s war and called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw his troops from Ukraine.
The flap comes amid a discussion within Scholz’s governing coalition about whether Germany should authorize sending heavy weapons such as tanks to Ukraine as that nation prepares to face a stepped-up Russian offensive in the east. Germany broke with tradition after Russia’s invasion to supply arms to Ukraine but has faced criticism from Kyiv for perceived hesitancy and slowness in providing material.
A Ukrainian presidential advisor, Oleksiy Arestovych, told Germany’s ARD television that he didn’t know the reasons for the decision to reject a Steinmeier visit but also signaled that Kyiv would like to see Scholz so that “practical decisions” could be made on matters such as weapons.
A senior lawmaker with one of Germany’s three governing parties, Wolfgang Kubicki, said he didn’t think Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was “well advised” to reject a visit by Steinmeier.
“I cannot imagine that the chancellor … will travel to a country that designates our country’s head of state as an unwanted person,” he told the German news agency dpa. Another governing party lawmaker, Juergen Trittin, told the RND newspaper group that the move was “a big propaganda success for Vladimir Putin.”
Steinmeier, who became president in 2017, served twice as ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel’s foreign minister and before that as ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s chief of staff. During that time, Germany pursued a dialogue with Putin and cultivated close energy ties.
Last week, Steinmeier admitted mistakes in Germany’s policies toward Russia, saying that “we failed on many points.”
Asked when would go to Ukraine, Scholz said only that he had visited Kyiv shortly before the war and regularly speaks to Zelenskyy.
Scholz said “the weapons we are delivering have made a very substantial contribution” to Ukraine foiling Russia’s plans for a quick conquest. He was tight-lipped on the possibilities of a bigger German contribution, but insisted that “we are delivering, we have delivered and we will deliver.”
On Monday, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock of the Green party said “Ukraine needs further military material, above all heavy weapons, and now is not the time for excuses — now is the time for creativity and pragmatism.”
The message appeared directed at more hesitant German politicians, particularly among Scholz’s Social Democrats.
Scholz said “we are delivering the weapons that all the others are also delivering.” He also said Germany won’t make unilateral decisions and stressed the need to prevent NATO countries from becoming a party to the war.
Germany, which has Europe’s biggest economy, also has faced criticism for opposing a quick halt to deliveries of natural gas from Russia, which accounts for about 40% of its gas supplies.
___
Follow all AP stories on Russia’s war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/germany-irritated-by-ukraines-snub-of-a-presidential-visit/ | 2022-04-13T19:46:12Z |
With the introduction of PayGround's Payment API, healthcare organizations can focus on their core business and leave payment processing to PayGround
GILBERT, Ariz., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PayGround, a healthcare payment processing platform, has launched PayGround's Payment API, which enables healthcare organizations to directly integrate with the PayGround platform, providing organizations with payment-processing capabilities within their existing platforms without disrupting the patient's current experience.
"Healthcare needs a payment API that solves our complex industry-specific challenges, such as HIPAA compliance and integrating with our unique billing systems," says PayGround CEO Drew Mercer. "This is a sophisticated payment API specific for healthcare — and it's just one of the ways we're expanding our platform. We're excited to continue to grow PayGround's capabilities to be able to offer multiple secure and effective payment solutions for our partners."
While PayGround's existing iFrame technology can be embedded into the healthcare vendor workflow to process one-time credit card and ACH transactions, the Payment API offers a more sophisticated solution. The Payment API elegantly allows organizations to use PayGround as a seamless and unseen payments processor. That means users remain in the organization's system to pay their bills.
With PayGround's Payment API, organizations can securely send basic patient demographic information, outstanding balances and payment method details to PayGround, and associate a digital wallet item to patients.
"They also have the ability to process a one-time payment using a manually entered credit card or a digital wallet item," says Stephanie Hanson, PayGround Director of Product Management. "In addition, PayGround's Payment API can process recurring payments using a token for a previously saved digital wallet item, process a void or a refund for processed transactions, and provide reporting tools for reconciliation and settlement."
This enhancement represents PayGround's commitment to continually expanding its offerings to help change the way the healthcare industry manages payment processing.
PayGround is a financial marketplace — allowing providers to collect all patient payments in one platform, while enabling patients and their dependents to manage bills from across all providers in one place. PayGround removes the financial complexities of the provider/patient relationship by leveraging modernized tools — allowing everyone to focus on more important things. Welcome to PayGround, healthcare's first digital wallet.
Media Inquiries: Jana Berrelleza, jana@payground.com
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SOURCE PayGround | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/payground-adds-payment-api-its-platform-streamlined-payment-processing/ | 2022-07-14T14:56:48Z |
Deep-red Utah embraced voting by mail. Then came 2020.
By SAM METZ
Associated Press
PROVO, Utah (AP) — Utah was the only Republican-led state that mailed all active voters ballots before the 2020 election made the practice the subject of nationwide controversy. Though the GOP-majority Legislature overwhelmingly approved the state’s mail-in ballot law a decade ago, unsubstantiated worries about election fraud upended consensus and provoked a groundswell of vocal opposition to the overwhelmingly popular practice. Veteran Republican lawmakers in Utah — as well as in states such as Georgia and Nebraska — are stunned by how unproven claims about mail-in ballots and widespread fraud has transformed the policy discussion, but say most voters still prefer to vote by mail. | https://localnews8.com/news/utah/2022/04/22/deep-red-utah-embraced-voting-by-mail-then-came-2020/ | 2022-04-22T16:39:39Z |
TORONTO, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - SoftwareReviews, a leading source for insights on the software provider landscape, has published its 2022 Enterprise Architecture (EA) Emotional Footprint. Four providers have been identified as Champions.
Often, individual departments within an organization view enterprise architecture (EA) differently. For instance, IT professionals view EA from the perspective of infrastructure, while operations and functional leaders view EA from a business process standpoint. Using an EA framework allows IT leaders to visualize and model the current state of their organization holistically so they can strategize and plan for the future state.
"Current digital transformation trends bring business and technology increasingly closer," says Milena Litoiu, principal research director and EA category analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. "As the two become increasingly intertwined, the enterprise architecture role grows in importance and relies on tools-supported modeling, automation, and artificial intelligence for tasks like whiteboard drawings, model conversion, pattern recognition, and optimization."
Adopting the right enterprise architecture software can bring more agility into practice and increase smoothness in planning, analysis, design, and execution. The best EA software includes features like project and document management, analytics and reporting, and process architecture.
End users have identified the top EA providers through reviews on SoftwareReviews. The firm has analyzed the data to identify the best options for the year, based on user feedback.
The Net Emotional Footprint (NEF) of each software provider is a result of aggregated emotional response ratings across the areas of service, negotiation, product impact, conflict resolution, strategy, and innovation. The NEF is a powerful indicator of overall user sentiment toward the provider and its product from the software user's point of view.
The 2022 Enterprise Architecture Software Champions are as follows:
- Mega Hopex EA Suite, +96 NEF, ranked high for being respectful.
- Capsifi Jalapeno, +93 NEF, ranked high for being effective.
- Essential Project, +92 NEF, ranked high for being transparent.
- Atoll SAMU EA Tool, +94 NEF, ranked high for saving time.
SoftwareReviews' comprehensive software reviews provide the most accurate and detailed view of a complicated and ever-changing market. The data comes from real end users who use the software day in and day out and IT professionals who have worked with it intimately through procurement, implementation, and maintenance.
To compare and evaluate enterprise architecture software providers using the most in-depth and unbiased analyst reports available, visit SoftwareReviews' dedicated EA category page.
For more information about SoftwareReviews, the Data Quadrant, or Emotional Footprint, or to access resources to support the software selection process, visit softwarereviews.com and connect via LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
SoftwareReviews is the most in-depth source of buyer data and insights for the enterprise software market. By collecting customer experience data from business and IT professionals, the SoftwareReviews methodology produces detailed and authentic insights into the experience of evaluating and purchasing enterprise software.
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SOURCE SoftwareReviews | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/these-top-enterprise-architecture-tools-will-help-it-leaders-bring-agility-into-practice-2022-beyond-according-softwarereviews-user-data/ | 2022-07-19T18:16:35Z |
Man arrested after wanting to drug, kidnap child from school, authorities say
XENIA, Ohio (WXIX/Gray News) - Police in Ohio say a man is facing multiple charges after he admitted to going to an elementary school to drug and kidnap a child.
WXIX reports authorities were called Monday evening by St. Brigid School Principal Terry Adkins about an unknown man, later identified as 35-year-old Reid Duran, who entered the school during an open house.
According to Adkins, Duran lied to him about who he was and why he was at the school.
Court documents said Adkins met officers in the parking lot and told them about Duran.
Authorities said Duran told them several stories about why he was at the school before eventually admitting that he came to the school to kidnap a juvenile.
Court documents shared that Duran voluntarily went to the Xenia Police Division. However, while speaking to officers, he picked up a pen, stood up and violently lunged at an officer.
Sgt. Lon Etchison of the Xenia Police Division said the officer defended himself and took Duran into custody.
According to court documents, Duran told officers that he was attempting to find a small child for sexual favors at the school. He also claimed that he preferred children between the ages of five and 13.
Duran reportedly told officers that he planned to give a child a Starburst candy that would tranquilize them. He said he planned to wait until the child passed out and then remove them from school.
Sgt. Etchison said Duran attempted to escape police custody after his interview and had to be physically restrained. Duran was then taken to the Greene County Jail.
Police said Duran has been charged with one count of attempted kidnapping, one count of felonious assault and one count of escape. He is currently scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 29.
Police urged anyone with further information to contact the Xenia Police Division Criminal Investigation Section at 937-376-7026.
Copyright 2022 WXIX via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/26/man-arrested-after-wanting-drug-kidnap-child-school-authorities-say/ | 2022-08-26T02:58:18Z |
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE American: AMPE) ("Ampio" or the "Company") today announced that an independent special committee of the Ampio Board of Directors (the "Committee"), with the assistance of independent legal counsel, is in the process of conducting an internal investigation that relates to, among other matters, Ampio's AP-013 clinical trial and other clinical trials.
FDA has communicated to the Company that it does not consider data from AP-013 to be sufficient to demonstrate efficacy as a second pivotal trial for Ampion. Further analysis subsequent to that communication from FDA suggests that data from AP-013 will not be sufficient to support regulatory approval in the US or other countries. Management's recent analyses also indicate no clinically meaningful treatment effect signals from the Company's three COVID-19 clinical trials, AP-017, AP-018, or AP-019.
The Ampio Board of Directors also has begun a process to consider strategic alternatives for Ampio and Ampion, which may include the continued development and advancement of Ampion, capital raising, licensing and other partnering opportunities, positioning the Company for a strategic transaction or other alternative(s).
The Committee also is overseeing a review of unauthorized use of Ampion by individuals not participating in clinical trials. Ampion is an investigational drug not approved by FDA. Ampio instituted safeguards to cease this practice and engaged independent outside counsel to conduct a thorough review, which is ongoing. The Company is currently in the process of working to ensure that the issue has been resolved, that appropriate mitigation measures have been implemented, and that this information is provided to FDA.
The Company does not intend to make further public comment on the Committee's work during the pendency of the investigation. The Committee cannot predict the duration or outcome of the investigation.
About Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the advancement of immunology-based therapies for the potential treatment of multiple inflammatory conditions (e.g., osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) and other joints). Ampio's lead drug is Ampion™.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, words such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," or "estimate" or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.
Such forward-looking statements include, for example, statements about: the expected scope of the internal investigation and the initiatives that may be pursued as part of a consideration of strategic alternatives. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements include the risk factors described in the Ampio's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and other factors set forth in Ampio's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as (a) our cash resources available to continue our operations and implement one or more strategic alternatives, including our ability to raise capital through an equity or debt financing; (b) the expenses and costs we will incur in connection with the internal investigation, any related litigation and compliance with FDA and SEC requirements; and (c) the actual and perceived effectiveness of Ampion, and how Ampion compares to competitive products.
The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, Ampio assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.
Investor and Media Contacts:
Tony Russo or Nic Johnson
Russo Partners
info@ampiopharma.com
tony.russo@russopartnersllc.com
nic.johnson@russopartnersllc.com
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SOURCE Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/ampio-independent-committee-conduct-investigation/ | 2022-05-16T21:49:51Z |
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (AP) — One person has been killed and two others wounded in a shooting Saturday at an automotive interior products warehouse in suburban Chicago.
Bolingbrook police responded about 6:25 a.m. to reports of the shooting at the WeatherTech facility, Capt. Anthony Columbus told WLS-TV.
The suspected shooter fled the building, but was found about 9:25 a.m. and taken into custody, police said.
The victims were taken to hospitals where one later died, police said. Another was in critical condition and the third was treated and released.
Further details about the shooting were not immediately available. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/3-wounded-suspect-arrested-in-illinois-warehouse-shooting/ | 2022-06-26T12:26:09Z |
CHICAGO (AP) — A day after ordering a two-strike intentional walk that backfired, Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa said he’d do it all over again.
In the sixth inning of Thursday’s 11-9 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, La Russa walked right-handed hitting speedster Trea Turner with a 1-2 count. Left-handed hitting Max Muncy followed with a three-run homer off lefty Bennett Sousa that opened the Los Angeles lead to 10-5.
Muncy had five RBIs in his return after missing 11 games with left elbow inflammation. He entered hitting .150 to Turner’s .303.
Before Friday’s home game against Texas, the 77-year-old La Russa referred to a line he said was passed on to him by former White Sox and Baltimore manager Paul Richards.
“Trust your gut. Don’t cover your butt,” La Russa said.
Freddie Freeman was at second in the sixth on Thursday after Sousa bounced an 0-2 slider for a wild pitch. With first-base open, La Russa ordered the intentional walk to Turner, whom he believed represented a bigger threat.
“Pssssh, 24 hours later, I’m even more surprised,” La Russa said of the reaction. “That’s not even a close call. I mean do you know what Muncy was hitting from the left-hand side this season? .125.”
The move was all about Turner, who had already driven in a run when he legged out an infield single.
“Turner is a tough hitter with no strikes, one strike, two strikes,” La Russa said. “He shortens up and he’s got all kinds of ways to put the ball in play and hurt you.
“Now, if it had been a right-handed pitcher, yeah, I probably would have tried to make a pitch.”
Turner said he was astonished when he was sent to first. Muncy admitted he was riled, then lofted a 2-2 pitch from Sousa just over the left-center wall for his fourth homer.
“Since then, somebody sent me some stats about what Turner hits with 1-2 counts,” La Russa said. “He’s like the third- or fourth-best hitter in baseball over the past three years. I mean, we all know that.”
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/tony-la-russa-says-hed-order-walk-to-turner-again/ | 2022-06-11T20:47:08Z |
DoorDash on Thursday said it received a record number of customer orders in the second quarter, boosted by resilient demand and its acquisition of Finnish delivery service Wolt Enterprises.
DoorDash said orders grew 23% to 426 million in the April-June period, surpassing Wall Street’s expectations. Analysts polled by FactSet forecast total orders of 419 million. The delivery company’s gross order volume jumped 25% to $13 billion, also beating expectations.
Based on the strong results, San Francisco-based DoorDash raised its full-year order forecast. The company now expects gross order volumes between $51 billion and $53 billion, up from the $49 billion to $51 billion range it forecast earlier this year.
DoorDash shares jumped 13.5% in after-hours trading.
DoorDash said its net loss for the quarter more than doubled to $263 million as it closed the $8.1 billion acquisition of Wolt. The company said stock-based compensation costs and increased headcounts hurt profits. Wolt has around 6,000 employees.
The company lost 72 cents per share in the April-June period, compared to a 30-cent per share loss in the same period a year ago. That was far larger than the 21-cent per share loss Wall Street expected.
DoorDash said it hasn’t seen much negative impact from inflation. Consumers added slightly fewer items per order in response to higher prices at restaurants and other retailers. But the company also gained customers during the quarter.
DoorDash CEO Tony Xu said DoorDash’s growth __ it has added 80,000 stores to its platform over the last year __ is one reason sales continue to grow even as consumers pull back on some spending. Xu said history also shows that food spending rarely declines due to economic conditions.
“It is less of a discretionary spend relative to other categories of spend,” Xu said Thursday during a conference call with investors.
The company also hit an all-time high for DashPass members, indicating users are seeking more affordable options. DashPass members get free delivery on most orders; the membership costs $59 in the first year and $96 annually after that.
DoorDash didn’t provide an update Thursday on the number of DashPass members it has. But it has previously said that the number tops 10 million.
DoorDash also said it also gained drivers during the quarter and was able to retain them with benefits like gas-cost relief and mileage-based bonuses. DoorDash said it spent $40 million on those benefits during the quarter.
DoorDash said high inflation is likely causing more people to consider gig work for extra cash. The typical DoorDash driver makes deliveries for just four hours per week; 90% work under 10 hours per week.
The company said its full-year outlook anticipates softer consumer spending in the second half of this year. DoorDash could also potentially lose customers to rival Grubhub, which recently combined with Amazon to offer free delivery for a year.
DoorDash announced in November its plan to buy Wolt, which operates in 22 countries where DoorDash has no presence, including Germany, Sweden, Hungary and Israel. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/doordash-sees-record-orders-in-q2-as-it-combines-with-wolt/ | 2022-08-05T13:10:45Z |
"La Albiceleste" to Face Honduras on Sept. 23 at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium and Jamaica on Sept. 27 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ
TICKETS TO GO ON SALE FRIDAY, AUG. 26 AT 10AM ET
CHICAGO, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CMN Sports, an international sports and entertainment multimedia company, announced two major friendlies featuring 2022 FIFA World Cup contender Argentina against Honduras on Friday, Sept. 23 at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium (8:00pm) and Jamaica on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Red Bull Arena (8:00pm) in Harrison, NJ. Tickets for both matches will go on sale Friday Aug. 26 at 10am ET and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.
The games are expected to mark the beginning of the end of an illustrious international career for global icon Lionel Messi. The 35-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward, widely considered the best player in the history of the game, is preparing to make his fifth World Cup appearance for Argentina this year in Qatar.
"CMN Sports is committed to bringing top-flight soccer to the U.S. and we could not be more excited to host these matches ahead of the World Cup," said Carolina Daza, Director of CMN Sports. "Argentina and Lionel Messi are synonymous with excellence, and as the team prepares to compete on the world's biggest stage and possibly bid farewell to its greatest player, we invite fans to come out and honor Messi's incredible legacy."
A seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, Messi is set to captain a young but driven Argentina squad, which currently ranks third in the world. The former Barcelona superstar is Argentina's all-time leading scorer (86 goals) and this year helped his country capture the Finalissima via a 3-0 win over four-time World Cup Champion Italy. In 2021, Messi led "La Albiceleste" to its 15th Copa América title by defeating five-time World Cup Champion Brazil 1-0.
Argentina, currently on a remarkable 32-game unbeaten streak, won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986 and will face Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland in the group stage of the tournament, which kicks off on Nov. 20.
The South Americans' talented roster also includes goalkeeper Franco Armani (River Plate), defenders Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), and Germán Pezzella (Betis), midfielders Angel Di María (Juventus), Nicolás González (Fiorentina), and Giovani Lo Celso (Villareal), as well as forwards Lautaro Martínez (Internazionale), Julián Alvarez (Manchester City) and Paulo Dybala (Roma).
CMN is the leader in live entertainment. As a touring, booking, sports and multicultural marketing agency, our goal is to entertain by creating unique experiences through our events. Henry Cárdenas, entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of CMN, is a pioneer in bringing Latin entertainment and live sporting events to the United States. The Chicago-based company with offices in Miami operates through professionals constantly creating cutting-edge experiences and producing the best events in the country. To learn more about CMN, visit www.cmnevents.com or follow us at @cmnevents.
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SOURCE CMN Sports | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/cmn-sports-announces-two-friendlies-featuring-argentina-global-superstar-lionel-messi-prepares-make-fifth-world-cup-appearance/ | 2022-08-24T15:35:30Z |
MEXICO CITY, May 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: AZTECACPO Latibex: XTZA), one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television programming in the world, today announced financial results for the first quarter 2022.
"Despite the positive performance of revenue in the quarter, the company's net sales are still below levels prior to the health contingency due to Covid-19," commented Rafael Rodríguez, CEO of TV Azteca. "In this context, in the coming months we will seek to boost the production and acquisition of content, the investment in maintenance and equipment and hiring human resources, suspended during the health contingency, and which are necessary to overcome the great challenges for the year and offer the most competitive programming to audiences, in order to strengthen the revenue generation and preserve the operational and financial viability of the company."
"Regarding our balance sheet, TV Azteca continues with the constructive dialogue with the holders of the notes denominated in foreign currency, which began the previous year, to allow the reorganization of its debt, in line with the context and situation of the company, and has the firm conviction that favorable agreements can be reached in the near future for all parties and for the development of Mexican television," added Mr. Rodríguez.
First quarter results
Net sales for the period were Ps.2,915 million, 14% above the Ps.2,563 million for the same quarter of the previous year. Total costs and expenses increased 13% to Ps.2,237 million, from Ps.1,978 million in the previous year.
As a result, TV Azteca reported EBITDA of Ps.678 million, compared to Ps.584 million a year ago. The company generated operating income of Ps.480 million, from a profit of Ps.417 million the previous year.
TV Azteca recorded net income of Ps.285 million, compared to a net loss of Ps.281 million in the same period of 2021.
Net sales
The company's advertising sales in Mexico grew 14%, to Ps.2,867 million, from Ps.2,513 million a year earlier.
The sum of revenues from TV Azteca Guatemala and TV Azteca Honduras, as well as the company's content sales outside of Mexico, was Ps.48 million, compared to Ps.50 million the previous year.
Costs and SG&A Expenses
Total costs and expenses increased 13% in the quarter as a result of a 14% growth in production, programming and transmission costs — to Ps.2,061 million, from Ps.1,804 million a year ago — together with a 1% increase in selling and administrative expenses, to Ps.176 million, compared to Ps.174 million in the previous year.
The increase in costs — consistent with the growth in income — reflects the production of content and the acquisition of exhibition rights required by the company's different platforms in the period.
The increase in selling and administrative expenses is the result of higher personnel, fees and travel expenses, partially offset by a reduction in operating expenses and services.
EBITDA and net results
The company's EBITDA was Ps.678 million, compared to Ps.584 million in the same period of the previous year. TV Azteca reported operating income of Ps.480 million, from Ps.417 million a year ago.
The main variations below EBITDA were as follows:
Reduction of Ps.103 million in other financial expenses that reflects expenses related to the cancellation of foreign exchange hedges and interest on the company's cost-bearing debt a year ago.
Foreign exchange gain of Ps.229 million, compared to a foreign exchange loss of Ps.209 million in the same quarter of 2021 as a result of a dollar net liability monetary position, together with the appreciation of the exchange rate of the peso against the dollar this period, compared to depreciation the previous year.
Reduction of Ps.99 million in the balance of discontinued operations, due to losses related to the discontinued operation of Azteca Comunicaciones Perú this quarter, compared to profit from the operations of the company a year ago.
TV Azteca recorded a net income of Ps.285 million in the quarter, from a net loss of Ps.281 million the previous year.
Balance Sheet
As of March 31, 2022, TV Azteca's debt with cost was Ps.12,432 million, compared to Ps.12,548 million from the previous year.
The balance of cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter was Ps.949 million, compared to Ps.1,671 million a year ago. The company's net debt as of March 31, 2022 was Ps.11,483 million, from Ps.10,877 million the previous year.
The restricted cash balance — which reflects the amount to cover payments for content exhibition rights and other short-term obligations of the company — was Ps.1,655 million, compared to Ps.246 million a year ago.
About TV Azteca
TV Azteca is one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television programming in the world, operating four television networks in Mexico: Azteca uno, Azteca 7, adn40 and a+, through more than 300 owned and operated stations across the country. The company also owns TV Azteca Digital, operator of several of the most visited digital platforms and social networks in Mexico.
TV Azteca is a Grupo Salinas company (www.gruposalinas.com), a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating: economic value through market innovation and goods and services that improve standards of living; social value to improve community wellbeing; and environmental value by reducing the negative impact of its business activities. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. These companies include TV Azteca (www.TVazteca.com; www.irtvazteca.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Purpose Financial (havepurpose.com), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), Punto Casa de Bolsa (www.puntocasadebolsa.mx), Totalplay (irtotalplay.mx; www.totalplay.com.mx) and Totalplay Empresarial (totalplayempresarial.com.mx). TV Azteca and Grupo Elektra trade shares on the Mexican Stock Market and in Spains' Latibex market. Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. The group of companies shares a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance.
Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are concepts about the future that involve risks and uncertainty that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Other risks that may affect TV Azteca and its subsidiaries are presented in documents sent to the securities authorities.
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SOURCE TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/02/tv-azteca-announces-sales-ps2915-million-ebitda-ps678-million-first-quarter-2022/ | 2022-05-03T01:25:21Z |
Cohen & Steers Announces Preliminary Assets Under Management and Net Flows For June 2022
Published: Jul. 11, 2022 at 3:18 PM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
NEW YORK, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --—Cohen & Steers, Inc. (NYSE: CNS) today reported preliminary assets under management of $87.9 billion as of June 30, 2022, a decrease of $6.4 billion from assets under management at May 31, 2022. The decrease was due to market depreciation of $5.6 billion, distributions of $649 million and net outflows of $210 million.
About Cohen & Steers
Cohen & Steers is a leading global investment manager specializing in real assets and alternative income, including real estate, preferred securities, infrastructure, resource equities, commodities, as well as multi-strategy solutions. Founded in 1986, the firm is headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Dublin, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
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SOURCE Cohen & Steers, Inc.
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/11/cohen-amp-steers-announces-preliminary-assets-under-management-net-flows-june-2022/ | 2022-07-11T21:26:58Z |
- DEADLINE TO VOTE: 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time on July 17, 2022
- VOTE NOW by phone at (855) 935-2562, if in North America, or 1-(207) 607-7123, if international
- VOTE NOW online at www.proxyvote.com
- Support Nikola's future growth by VOTING FOR Proposal 2
PHOENIX, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nikola Corporation (Nasdaq: NKLA), a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy infrastructure solutions, today released the following message from Chief Executive Officer Mark Russell urging stockholders to vote FOR Proposal 2 ahead of the Company's 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be held virtually on July 18, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Additional information is available at nikolamotor.com/investors.
Dear Nikola Stockholders,
I am reaching out with an important message regarding Proposal 2, ahead of our Annual Meeting. Thanks to the support of our stockholders, we are getting close to securing the number of votes needed to approve Proposal 2. However, we are still short of the votes needed so don't wait. Vote NOW. You must actively vote before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 17, 2022. Make your vote count!
Approving Proposal 2 would allow us to increase the authorized number of common shares to 800 million. This is very important as it would allow Nikola greater flexibility to support the future growth and development of our business as we strive to reach new milestones.
SUPPORT NIKOLA BY VOTING TODAY:
- By Phone: Please call Alliance Advisors, Nikola's proxy solicitor, toll-free, at (855) 935-2562. International voters can call 1-(207) 607-7123. You can also contact Alliance Advisors if you have any questions about voting.
- By Internet: Vote at www.proxyvote.com using your control number by following the instructions shared by your broker, bank or other nominee.
We urge all stockholders to VOTE no matter how many shares you own. If you owned Nikola stock as of April 4, 2022, please vote your shares even if you have sold them. The Annual Meeting will take place virtually on July 18, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NKLA2022.
Thank you for your continued support of Nikola as we advance our mission to pioneer solutions for a zero-emissions world.
Sincerely,
Mark Russell, Chief Executive Officer and President
Nikola Corporation is globally transforming the transportation industry. As a designer and manufacturer of zero-emission battery-electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and hydrogen station infrastructure, Nikola is driven to revolutionize the economic and environmental impact of commerce as we know it today. Founded in 2015, Nikola Corporation is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.nikolamotor.com or Twitter @nikolamotor.
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SOURCE Nikola Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/nikola-stockholders-we-need-your-vote-vote-now-proposal-2-before-annual-meeting-july-18-2022/ | 2022-07-12T12:45:38Z |
NEW YORK, July 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Novartis AG ("Novartis" or the "Company") (NYSE: NVS). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether Novartis and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
On May 5, 2022, Novartis "announced a temporary, voluntary suspension of production at its radioligand therapy production sites in Ivrea, Italy and Millburn, New Jersey." The production halt was to "address potential quality issues identified in its manufacturing process." On this news, Novartis's American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") price fell $2.06, or 2.3%, to close at $86.21 per ADR on May 5, 2022. Then, on May 31, 2022, STAT News published an article entitled "Documents show problems at Novartis facility where cancer drug production was halted." The article reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had cited deficiencies at the Company's New Jersey facility following an inspection in late 2021, including a "concern that Novartis failed to notify customers about batches of Lutathera . . . that were distributed despite failing to meet quality specifications."
On this news, Novartis's ADR price fell $1.82 per ADR, or 1.99%, over the following two trading days, closing at $89.64 per ADR on June 1, 2022.
The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris 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, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm 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.pomerantzlaw.com
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980
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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-behalf-investors-novartis-ag-nvs/ | 2022-07-14T01:58:13Z |
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A New York state trooper should have been disciplined for getting romantically involved with one of Andrew Cuomo’s adult daughters while serving on the Democrat’s security detail when he was governor, the state inspector general said in a report.
The watchdog report released Friday comes two years after the relationship — and the trooper’s apparent banishment to a post near the Canadian border — became the subject of newspaper headlines.
There was public speculation at the time that Cuomo had personally ordered the trooper transferred to a post about 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of the governor’s mansion because he was upset about the relationship.
The report by Inspector General Lucy Lang does not address whether the governor requested the trooper’s transfer and does not say which of Cuomo’s three daughters was involved.
A top aide to Cuomo told the commander of the governor’s security detail about the relationship May 22, 2020, the day after the governor found out from his daughter, according to the inspector general’s report.
Word of the relationship was then passed up to Kevin Bruen, who is now the superintendent of the state police but at the time was the first deputy. Bruen told a colleague at the time that the governor was “very upset.”
The trooper, Dane Pfeiffer, who got involved with Cuomo’s daughter told state police that the relationship began about two months earlier and that he never physically interacted with her while on duty. He described his actions as “professional.” But Bruen thought Pfeiffer was “compromised.”
“You can’t be in this position and have that kind of a relationship with one of the protectees,” Bruen told the inspector general’s investigators. “You might be … at a particular assignment, and if there’s a fire in the house, you run to your beloved. Right. But that’s not your job.”
Bruen declined to formally discipline Pfeiffer for a consensual relationship but wanted him removed from the protective services unit. Pfeiffer soon afterward requested a transfer to a troop in northernmost New York. Pfeiffer told inspector general investigators he didn’t actually want to go but was “voluntold” to change assignments.
“On paper I volunteered, but no, I don’t want to go up there, never want to go there again,” Pfeiffer testified.
Pfeiffer was promoted to sergeant in November and had reportedly been posted to New York City.
The inspector general’s report does not conclude Cuomo did anything wrong but faulted state police for not following their own procedures after finding out about the relationship.
The inspector general concluded that Pfeiffer should have been disciplined. The report notes that regulations require officers to refrain from activities that could “interfere with the proper, impartial, and effective performance of official duties.”
In contrast, the report noted that Bruen decided to discipline Pfeiffer’s supervisor for failing to notify superiors upon learning about the relationship. The supervisor, a sergeant, chose to retire.
The troopers’ union, the New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association, said it was “shocked and appalled” by the conclusion that the trooper should have been disciplined.
The union said he had engaged in “off-duty conduct that was personal in nature and had nothing to do with his duties or responsibilities.”
State police said in an emailed statement the protective services unit was overhauled last year “and we are already working with the Inspector General to ensure the recommendations in the report are implemented.”
Cuomo resigned a year ago in a sexual harassment scandal. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/relationship-with-cuomo-daughter-led-to-troopers-transfer/ | 2022-08-19T22:27:08Z |
Mariners place RHP Romo on IL with shoulder inflammation
CHICAGO (AP) — The Seattle Mariners have placed reliever Sergio Romo on the 10-day injured list on with right shoulder inflammation. The move was made retroactive to Tuesday, a day after Romo pitched a scoreless inning at Minnesota in his 800th major league appearance. The 39-year-old Romo finalized a $2 million, one-year contract with Seattle last month. Right-hander Matt Koch was promoted from Triple-A Tacoma, and right-hander Casey Sadler was transferred to the 60-day injured list. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/04/13/mariners-place-rhp-romo-on-il-with-shoulder-inflammation/ | 2022-04-14T00:41:16Z |
NEW YORK, July 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE: WM) redeemable senior notes (the "Notes") between February 13, 2020 and June 23, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"), including the following senior redeemable notes issued by WM in May 2019: (i) 2.95% Senior Notes due 2024; (ii) 3.20% Senior Notes due 2026; (iii) 3.45% Senior Notes due 2029; and (iv) 4.00% Senior Notes due 2039, of the important August 8, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Waste Management Notes during the Class Period 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 Waste Management class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=6891 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 August 8, 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: The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the U.S. Department of Justice had indicated to Waste Management that it would require Waste Management to divest significantly more assets than the $200 million Antitrust Revenue Threshold; (2) as a result, the merger would not be completed by the End Date; and (3) the Notes would be subject to mandatory redemption at 101% of par. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Waste Management class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=6891 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.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/23/rosen-top-ranked-firm-encourages-waste-management-inc-investors-secure-counsel-before-important-august-8-deadline-securities-class-action-wm/ | 2022-07-23T19:21:56Z |
China's northwestern city of Xi'an, home to 13 million people, was partially shut down on Wednesday after it reported the country's first outbreak of a highly transmissible new Omicron subvariant that is fast dominating the United States and Europe.
The city recorded 18 Covid infections from Saturday to Monday, all of which are of the Omicron BA.5.2 subvariant, according to local disease control officials.
BA.5.2 is a sub-lineage of BA.5, which is already dominant in the US and appears to escape antibody responses among both people previously infected with Covid-19 and those who have been fully vaccinated and boosted, according to researchers.
It is the first time the subvariant has been reported in China, one of the last places in the world still adhering to a stringent zero-Covid policy.
On Tuesday, Xi'an officials announced sweeping restrictions that would shut down parts of the city for seven days starting from Wednesday.
Entertainment, sports and cultural venues, including bars, cinemas, gyms, libraries and museums, were closed; restaurant dining and large gatherings, from weddings to conferences, were suspended; all places of worship were shut and religious activities banned, city official Zhang Xuedong said at the press conference Tuesday.
Kindergartens and primary and secondary schools were ordered to start summer holidays early, while universities were told to seal their campuses, according to Zhang.
Authorities also locked down nine residential neighborhoods categorized as "high-risk areas," banning residents from leaving their communities.
"The seven-day temporary control measures are meant to quieten the society down as much as possible, reduce mobility...and the risk of cross-infection," Zhang said.
The announcement caused a stir among some Xi'an residents, many of whom recalled the chaos of the city's month-long stringent lockdown between December and January.
During that citywide lockdown, a steady stream of complaints about food shortages, as well as heartbreaking scenes of critical patients -- including heavily pregnant women -- being denied medical care caused shock and anger across the nation.
On Tuesday night, photos and videos posted by Xi'an residents on social media showed huge crowds of travelers -- many carrying large bags and suitcases -- outside the train station, rushing to leave the city.
In the city's Changan district, residents were ordered to undergo mass Covid testing from midnight to 6 a.m. Wednesday. They are only allowed to leave their community, enter public venues and use public transport after taking the tests, according to a government notice.
As of Wednesday, Xi'an has reported 29 local infections.
Meanwhile in Shanghai, authorities on Tuesday ordered mass testing for 12 of its 16 districts, in response to a handful of new infections linked to a karaoke bar.
Although the financial hub lifted a months-long lockdown on most of its 25 million residents in June, it is still subject to Covid restrictions from frequent testing to targeted lockdowns.
The city reported 24 locally transmitted Covid-19 cases as of Wednesday.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/xian-shuts-back-down-as-china-finds-first-cases-of-new-omicron-subvariant/article_1115501a-a167-5e49-b40d-995461289b46.html | 2022-07-06T08:19:07Z |
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahern Rentals, Inc. ("Ahern") elected to terminate, effective immediately, its previously announced offer to eligible holders to exchange (the "Exchange Offer") its 7.375% Second Priority Senior Secured Notes (CUSIP: 008674AH6 / U0085GAD1; ISIN US008674AH66 / USU0085GAD17) (the "Notes") and solicitation of consents from holders of the Notes (the "Consent Solicitation") to amend the indenture governing the Notes, each as set forth in and subject to the terms and conditions of the Confidential Offering Memorandum and Consent Solicitation Statement dated June 30, 2022 ("Confidential Offering Memorandum").
As a result of the termination of the Exchange Offer, Notes previously tendered in the Exchange Offer, if any, will not be accepted for exchange for new notes, no exchange consideration will be delivered or become payable to holders who have properly tendered their Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and any Notes previously tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be promptly returned to the tendering holders.
As a result of the termination of the Consent Solicitation, the proposed amendments to the indenture governing the Notes will not become effective, the Notes will remain outstanding and subject to the terms of the existing indenture currently governing the Notes, and consents previously delivered pursuant to the Consent Solicitation, if any, will be deemed voided.
D.F. King & Co. is serving as the information agent for the Exchange Offer. You should direct questions and requests for assistance by sending an e-mail to ahern@dfking.com, or calling (800) 669- 5550 (toll-free) or (212) 269-5550 (for banks and brokers).
This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes or any security.
The Exchange Offer was made, and new notes were offered, only (a) in the United States to holders of Notes who are reasonably believed to be "qualified institutional buyers" (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act")) in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and (b) outside the United States to holders of Notes who are persons other than "U.S. persons" (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act) in reliance upon Regulation S under the Securities Act and who are non-U.S. qualified offerees and eligible purchasers in other jurisdictions as set forth in the Confidential Offering Memorandum. Holders who have returned a duly completed eligibility letter certifying that they were within one of the categories described in the immediately preceding sentences were authorized to receive and review the Confidential Offering Memorandum and to participate in the Exchange Offer and the Consent Solicitation.
About Ahern
Ahern is the largest independently owned equipment rental company in the United States. With $906 million in fiscal year 2021 revenue, the company is ranked as the eighth largest U.S. equipment rental company by Rental Equipment Register. Founded in 1953 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ahern has expanded through organic growth to develop a national platform with 112 branch locations in 31 states as of March 31, 2022. Ahern focuses on the aerial market segment of the $50 billion equipment rental industry with an extensive fleet of "high reach" equipment, which is supplemented by a fleet of ground engaging, general rental, and specialty equipment to provide customers with a "one-stop" solution for their equipment needs. Serving a large and diverse customer base comprised of commercial and residential construction companies, specialty contractors, industrial companies, utility companies, governmental entities, and homeowners, Ahern provides a comprehensive range of equipment and solutions, including renting and selling used/new equipment, parts, supplies, and related merchandise, as well as providing maintenance, repair, and other services that supplement rental and sales activities.
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SOURCE Ahern Rentals, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/23/ahern-rentals-elects-terminate-previously-announced-exchange-offer-its-7375-second-priority-senior-secured-notes/ | 2022-08-23T19:45:30Z |
Company expands its portfolio of musculoskeletal oncology and complex orthopaedic solutions to include conditions of the pelvis
PARSIPPANY, N.J., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Onkos Surgical, a rapidly growing, leading innovator of solutions for musculoskeletal oncology and complex orthopaedic procedures, today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance for its My3D® Personalized Pelvic Reconstruction system.
The My3D Personalized Pelvic Reconstruction system is the first of its kind solution that includes 3D printed implants, instruments, and models, as well as an advanced planning service to treat deformity, trauma, disease, and revisions where other treatments or revisions have failed. Included in the offering are patient-specific implants for both acetabular reconstruction and advanced reconstruction that span multiple regions of the pelvis. The implants are designed and printed with unique features that help address the challenges of bone and soft tissue attachment and accuracy of anatomic restoration.
"This offering from Onkos Surgical will greatly advance how I, and my colleagues treat these patients," said Matthew Seidel, MD, orthopedic surgeon with HonorHealth Orthopedics in Scottsdale, AZ. "Patients with these conditions of the pelvis have many clinical challenges. Historically, our implant options are mass produced and may not be best suited for the individuality that each patient requires. With this platform, Onkos has developed a process that allows me to virtually plan the surgery in advance and delivers a patient specific implant and instruments in a matter of weeks. It changes the way I can treat my patients."
The My3D service includes access to the Onkos uDesign® Digital Ecosystem, where a surgeon can send patient images through a secure, HIPAA compliant, cloud-based portal. Anatomical images are then rendered into 3D models for the surgeon to collaborate on a virtual surgical planning session for the resection of the diseased bone and for the implant that matches precisely to the patient. With this clearance and capability, Onkos can meet surgery requirements in 6 weeks from start to finish.
Onkos Surgical Co-Founder and CEO Patrick Treacy stated, "This clearance is a major milestone for Onkos Surgical as we continue to leverage our experience and expertise in 3D planning and printing to optimize patient specific solutions for complex orthopaedic conditions. We founded the company with the belief that patients with these challenging conditions deserve solutions designed specifically for them. Our My3D platform and Digital Ecosystem enable us not only to provide that personalized solution faster, but also to lay the foundation for future clearances in musculoskeletal personalization."
More than 350 leading medical institutions in the US choose Onkos' innovative Precision Orthopaedics solutions. This approach supports improved patient outcomes and experiences, leveraging the latest innovations in virtual surgical planning, 3D anatomic modeling and printing, implant design, and workflow optimization.
For more information on Onkos Surgical and its solutions, please visit www.onkossurgical.com.
Onkos Surgical is a leader in innovative solutions for musculoskeletal oncology and complex orthopaedic procedures. With our Precision Orthopaedics approach, surgeons are better informed about patient-specific clinical challenges and are able to plan and implement a more precise reconstruction. Our personalized approach supports improved patient outcomes and experiences using the latest innovations in virtual surgical planning, 3D modeling and printing, implant design, and workflow optimization for both adult and pediatric conditions. More than 350 of the leading academic medical institutions in the US choose Onkos Surgical Precision Orthopaedics.
Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "future," "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "potential," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions and current expectations but are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, market trends and demand. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results. The forward-looking statements included are made only as the date of this release. The company assumes no obligation to update any information or forward-looking statement contained herein, save for any information required to be disclosed by law.
Media Contacts:
Sean Curry
SVP, Commercial Operations
Onkos Surgical
scurry@onkossurgical.com
973.264.5400
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SOURCE Onkos Surgical | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/onkos-surgical-receives-fda-510k-clearance-3d-printed-patient-specific-pelvic-reconstruction-system/ | 2022-07-14T14:37:42Z |
Russian hacking in Ukraine has been extensive and intertwined with military operations, Microsoft says
By Sean Lyngaas, CNN
At least six different Kremlin-linked hacking groups have conducted nearly 240 cyber operations against Ukrainian targets, Microsoft said Wednesday, in data reveal a broader scope of alleged Russian cyberattacks during the war on Ukraine than previously documented.
“Russia’s use of cyberattacks appears to be strongly correlated and sometimes directly timed with its kinetic military operations,” said Tom Burt, a Microsoft vice president.
The Microsoft report is the most comprehensive public record yet of Russian hacking efforts related to the war in Ukraine. It fills in some gaps in public understanding of where Russia’s vaunted cyber capabilities have been deployed during the war.
Burt cited a cyberattack on a Ukrainian broadcast company on March 1, the same day as a Russian missile strike against a TV tower in Kyiv, and malicious emails sent to Ukrainians falsely claiming the Ukrainian government was “abandoning” them amid the Russian siege of the city of Mariupol.
Suspected Russian hackers “are working to compromise organizations in regions across Ukraine,” and may have been collecting intelligence on Ukrainian military partnerships many months before the full-scale invasion in February, the Microsoft report says.
Russia’s military attacks on Ukraine sometimes “correlate with cyberattacks, especially when it involves attacks on telecom infrastructure in some areas,” Victor Zhora, a senior Ukrainian government cyber official, told reporters Wednesday.
In the weeks after Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine, some pundits and US officials were surprised that there hadn’t been more noticeably disruptive or debilitating Russian cyberattacks on the country. Possible explanations ranged from disorganization in Russian military planning to hardened Ukrainian defenses, to the fact that bombs and bullets take precedence over hacking in wartime.
But a barrage of alleged Russian and Belarusian hacks aimed at destabilizing Ukraine has indeed taken place, with some hacks emerging weeks after they took place. Some hacking attempts have been more successful than others.
A multi-faceted cyberattack at the onset of the war knocked out internet service for tens of thousands of satellite modems in Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe; US officials are investigating the incident as a potential Russian state-sponsored hack, CNN previously reported.
Earlier this month, a Russian military-linked hacking group targeted a Ukrainian power substation in a hack that, had it been successful, could have cut power for 2 million people, according to Ukrainian officials. But while the same hacking group succeeded in cutting power in Ukraine in 2015 and 2016, the recent cyberattack did not affect the provision of electricity at the targeted power company, according to Zhora.
NATO officials David Cattler and Daniel Black noted a series of alleged Russian data-wiping hacks aimed at Ukrainian organizations over multiple weeks.
“If observers see this cyber-offensive as a series of isolated events, its scale and strategic significance get lost in the conventional violence unfolding in Ukraine,” Cattler and Black wrote in Foreign Affairs this month. “But a full accounting of the cyber-operations reveals the proactive and persistent use of cyberattacks to support Russian military objectives.”
Officials from the White House, Department of Homeland Security and other agencies have worked closely with Ukrainian counterparts to try to defend against Russian hacking and gain insights into Russian capabilities that might be used against the US.
“Ukraine was, unfortunately, kind of a playground for cyber weapons over the last eight years,” Zhora said. “And now we see that some technologies that were tested or some of attacks that were organized on Ukrainian infrastructure continue in other states.”
Zhora touted the resilience of Ukrainian network defenders.
Russian hackers “continue to be dangerous,” Zhora said Wednesday. “They continue to threaten democracies, threaten Ukrainian cyberspace. Nevertheless, I don’t think they can scale their cyber warriors or they can use some completely new technologies that can attack Ukrainian infrastructure.”
CNN has requested comment from the Russian Embassy in Washington on the Microsoft report.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-europe-mideast-africa/2022/04/27/russian-hacking-in-ukraine-has-been-extensive-and-intertwined-with-military-operations-microsoft-says/ | 2022-04-27T18:59:44Z |
‘It’s not about me’: Former Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson talks about termination
By Jennifer McRae
Click here for updates on this story
AURORA, Colorado (KCNC) — Supporters of former Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson gathered on Monday afternoon to contest her termination. Wilson was fired by the city manager last week.
“It’s not about me, it’s about making sure that we have leaders in the police departments, in this city, across the state who are willing to stand up to the unions and stand up to those who are doing it wrong, willing to fire those officers who are doing it wrong,” said Wilson. “I’m talking about criminal behavior, it cannot and will not and should not be allowed in that building.”
Wilson also claimed her firing was a political move.
“What I did was not popular. Leadership is not a popularity contest.”
She also discussed the current police force and urged the community to take a positive outlook.
“The vast majority of the officers in the Aurora police force, those dedicated men and women, embraced the changes that are coming, are excited about the change the consent decree will implement, better training, better equipment, better support in implementing support for best practices. So please, still believe in these men and women who are out there doing their jobs selflessly.”
“Chief Wilson was the pathway for equity and justice for women, for LGBTQ and victims of violence,” said Maisha Fields, the daughter of state Rep. Rhonda Fields.
Supporters of Wilson were emotional about her firing and at times disagreed about the city manager’s reasoning for terminating Wilson.
Last week, Jim Twombly said that there were two issues with Wilson: management and leadership. In the announcement about Wilson, Twombly said that Wilson “prioritized community involvement” but didn’t “effectively manage the operations of the department, effectively engage with staff, build morale, and validate employee feedback.”
Wilson was hired as police chief in August 2020. She served as interim chief before that.
Wilson took over as chief during a tumultuous time in Aurora. The city was facing a lawsuit stemming from the 2019 death of Elijah McClain after an encounter with police. The City of Aurora agreed to pay $15 million to the family of McClain to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit filed over his death. There were widespread protests throughout the city during the summer months of 2020, many spurred by the lack of investigation into McClain’s death.
During Wilson’s tenure, the city also consented to improve policing and public safety in an agreement reached with Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. That agreement was reached in November 2021 after issues were identified in a report from the 14-month investigation into the practices of the Aurora Police Department and Aurora Fire Rescue. The investigation team appointed by Weiser found the Aurora Police Department has a history of racially biased policing and found Aurora police and fire departments have a pattern of violating federal and state laws.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. | https://localnews8.com/cnn-regional/2022/04/11/its-not-about-me-former-aurora-police-chief-vanessa-wilson-talks-about-termination/ | 2022-04-11T23:39:20Z |
A new partnership with Sustainable Travel International brings awareness and carbon offset options to employees, advisors and clients worldwide
NEW YORK, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of World Environment Day, Internova Travel Group, one of the largest travel services companies in the world, today announced it is offering more sustainable solutions for employees, advisors and clients who are concerned about reducing and tracking their carbon footprint. The company has entered into a partnership with Sustainable Travel International to support travelers through their climate mitigation journey.
During the pandemic, Internova recognized the exponential growth in demand for practical resources to support carbon offsetting goals. Sustainable Travel International, a global organization with over 15 years of experience developing successful carbon offset programs for the travel industry, will therefore work with Internova to share expertise in sustainability education, carbon calculation and reporting. Clients will have access to target-setting consultation, tools and certified carbon offset options for highly vetted climate-protection projects.
Gabe Rizzi, President of Internova Travel Group, said:
"A more sustainable future will only become a reality if we all do our part. That's why we're taking this collaborative approach with Sustainable Travel International. Together, we will take the necessary steps to reduce our travel emissions while helping advisors, as well as corporate and leisure clients, do the same.
"Equally, our clients need accountability for their own travel plans. Partnering with Sustainable Travel International will allow us to equip our clients with information to make responsible travel choices."
Internova offers ethical, eco-conscious options to clients and works to promote travel to destinations that focus on visitor growth and sustainable economic expansion. The company also partners with suppliers with strong sustainability associations and certifications. The relationship with Sustainable Travel International represents the next phase of Internova's corporate social responsibility strategy "to connect the world through travel – sustainably, inclusively, and responsibly – to grow our business, protect our planet and enrich people's lives everywhere, one experience at a time."
Internova Travel Group's latest corporate social responsibility report can be found here.
Internova Travel Group is one of the largest travel services companies in the world with a collection of leading brands delivering high-touch, personal travel expertise to leisure and corporate clients. Internova manages leisure, business and franchise firms through a portfolio of distinctive divisions. Internova represents more than 70,000 travel advisors in over 6,000 company-owned and affiliated locations predominantly in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, with a presence in more than 80 countries.
Sustainable Travel International is a mission-driven organization dedicated to protecting and conserving our planet's most vulnerable destinations. We are transforming tourism's impact on nature and people by working alongside local communities, engaging travelers and businesses in responsible practices, and strengthening destination management. Through our work, we aim to safeguard nature, combat climate change, and empower communities to preserve the integrity of destinations around the globe. For more information, visit www.sustainabletravel.org.
CONTACT:
Elizabeth Gaerlan
egaerlan@internova.com
212-944-1125
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SOURCE Internova Travel Group | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/internova-travel-group-enhances-its-sustainable-travel-initiative/ | 2022-06-06T17:28:22Z |
Are Braun or Philips electric razors best?
Although electric razors don’t offer quite as close a shave as manual razors, electric razors are a more convenient and safer option. If you’re looking for a quality electric razor that’ll contour to your face, provide a nice, clean shave and last a long time, Braun and Philips are great options to consider. Both brands offer several great electric razors with key features and shaving styles designed to suit user preference.
Braun electric razors
Braun electric razors have a foil system that allows the user to move the blade up and down for a nice, clean shave. Most Braun razors have two or three separate shaver foils. These foils, which consist of around 900 ergonomically designed holes, take hold of and cut the hair on your face. In the middle, between the shaving foils, there’s a vibrating trimmer. This component helps push stray hairs into the foils. Some trimmers pop out for a more precise shave, while others come separately as attachments.
Some Braun razors work best on dry skin, while others work well on wet skin. Several of the newer designs adjust the power to the foils when dealing with thicker or coarser beards or facial hair. This allows them to work even when other options may not.
Braun electric razors range in price, with many between $180-$300.
Braun electric razors pros
- Best for a classic shave with a smooth up and down motion similar to a traditional razor
- Great for those who want a quick shave
- The vibrating middle trimmer easily guides hair to the shaving folds
- The foil system helps collect and shave hair while protecting your skin
- Offers a closer shave than many other electric razors
- Work on wet or dry skin
- Highly portable for those on the go
- Blades last around 18 months with frequent use
Braun electric razors cons
- Some razors don’t come with pop-out trimmers
- The cost of Braun’s foil razors is higher than most rotary razors
- Some models have a short battery life
- Manual razors provide a closer shave
Best Braun electric razors
Braun Series 9 Cordless Electric Foil Razor
Made of titanium and weighing around two pounds, this sturdy, efficient electric razor provides a very close shave without the fear of nicks and cuts. It has four powerful cutting elements that use AutoSense Technology to help capture additional hairs during each shaving stroke. With a clean and charge station, this razor was built to last.
Available at Amazon
Braun Series 7 Cordless Electric Foil Razor
Lighter-weight than the previous model, this razor uses a stainless steel blade that offers a great shaving experience at a lower price point than newer models. The OptiFoil system can cut hair as short as .05mm, making for a very close shave. Although not as powerful as the Series 9, this razor comes with many of the same features that make this razor a great mid-range option.
Available at Amazon
Braun Series 5 Cordless Electric Foil Razor
This razor comes with an eight-direction comfort head for a close, contoured shave. It also has two SensoFoil blades and shaving foils that protect the skin. One of the more budget-friendly options by Braun, this electric razor makes for a great entry-level option.
Available at Amazon
Philips electric razors
Philip electric razors offer an entirely different shaving experience to many other electric razors on the market right now. These razors come with distinct rotary heads that shave in different directions. This helps maximize shaving coverage, while also cutting the hair in hard-to-reach areas like around the jawline or Adam’s apple.
Similar to Braun razors, Philips electric razors last around 30-45 minutes at full charge. Some razors last longer, however. With many other features, like the SmartClean system and handy LED displays, Philips offers a lot in each product.
Philips electric razors range in price. They can be $35-$300.
Philips electric razors pros
- The rotating heads turn in different directions, which lets them cut stubborn hairs with ease
- Philips razors come with additional smart features that make them a more budget-friendly option than other electric razors
- Newer models last more than 45 minutes without needing a charge
- Some razors have a self-cleaning system that keeps the razor in top shape
- The blades last around 24 months with regular use and care
Philips electric razors cons
- These razors use a non-traditional shaving system, which can be difficult to get used to
- Some older models require eight hours to reach a full charge, but newer options are fully charged within an hour
- Manual razors offer a closer shave
- Some newer models are expensive
Best Philips electric razors
Philips Norelco S9721/89 Shaver
Each shaving head can move in eight directions, making this rotary razor perfect for those who want to easily shave difficult-to-reach areas more effectively. This model has adjustable speed settings and a SmartClean PLUS system that cleans, charges and primes the razor for the next shave. Overall, this electric razor offers a pleasant, contoured shaving experience.
Available at Amazon
This rechargeable, cordless electric shaver provides a close shave without breaking the bank. The blades are surrounded by protective, ComfortGlide rings that prevent irritation to the skin. Plus, this razor includes a quick-clean pod and a pop-up trimmer for a precise, comfortable shave.
Available at Amazon
This stainless-steel electric razor is a great entry-level option for those who need something quick and convenient that still provides a close shave. With ComfortCut blades that are easy to open and wash, this razor is designed to last a long time. At full charge, it has 40 minutes of battery life.
Available at Amazon
Should you get a Braun electric razor or a Philips electric razor?
Both Braun and Philips offer long-lasting electric razors that provide a smooth shave. With its foil shaving system, Braun is better for those who prefer a more traditional shaving style akin to a manual razor. However, if you want a razor that reliably contours to your face and you don’t mind the unique circular style of shaving, a Philips razor may be a better option.
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/hair-removal-shave-br/braun-electric-razor-vs-philips-electric-razor/ | 2022-07-16T09:09:25Z |
Leading Denver home service company invites clients, homeowners to FlyteCo Brewing on April 21
DENVER, April 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- High 5 Plumbing, a family-owned and operated plumbing company serving residents in the greater Denver metropolitan area, is inviting the public to celebrate National High Five Day with the team from 5-7 p.m. on April 21 at FlyteCo Brewing in Denver.
The event will feature a happy hour with the first 150 attendees 21 and over receiving a free beer ticket. There will also be raffle drawings and plenty of high fives. High 5 Cares partners will be featured at the event as well for those interested in learning more about the program and its benefits.
"Of course, National High Five Day has a special place in our company's heart," said Claire Doyle, marketing director at High 5 Plumbing. "You can't give a high five without a smile on your face, and we are looking forward to passing out complimentary beers and high fives to the Denver community. We plan on having an amazing time celebrating such a fun holiday."
High 5 Plumbing offers a variety of plumbing services to residents in the Denver area, including repair and installation, drain cleaning, pump plumbing, piping, garbage disposal services, sewer line repair, gas plumbing, water heater installation and much more. In addition, the company offers 24/7 emergency services.
"At High 5 Plumbing, we love making a positive impact on our clients, team and community," said Levi Torres, owner of High 5 Plumbing. "Without the community, there is no High 5 Plumbing. This event gives us an opportunity to celebrate with our clients and neighbors while continuing to bring smiles to people's faces one high five at a time."
To celebrate National High Five Day with the High 5 team, come to FlyteCo Brewing at 4499 W 38th Ave #101 in Denver.
For more information on High 5 Plumbing, visit https://www.high5plumbing.com/.
About High 5 Plumbing
Founded in 2012, High 5 Plumbing is a local, family-owned company serving residents in the greater Denver metropolitan area. With a professional team that has extensive experience and a commitment to service, High 5 Plumbing offers comprehensive plumbing, sewer and drain services. The company was built on the values of solving plumbing problems and serving every customer with professionalism and respect. For more information about High 5 Plumbing, visit https://www.high5plumbing.com/.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
(865) 977-1973
hripley@ripleypr.com
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SOURCE High 5 Plumbing | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/13/high-5-plumbing-celebrate-national-high-five-day-with-area-residents/ | 2022-04-13T12:30:10Z |
Blue Jays’ Hernández leaves vs Yanks with left side issue
NEW YORK (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernández has been pulled from a game at Yankee Stadium with left side discomfort. Hernández grounded out to second base in the sixth inning and left the field in pain. He slammed his helmet as he made his way down the dugout tunnel back to the clubhouse. The 29-year-old was a first-time All-Star in 2021, when he hit .296 with 32 homers, 116 RBIs and an .870 OPS. He’s finished in the top 20 of AL MVP voting each of the past two seasons. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/04/13/blue-jays-hernandez-leaves-vs-yanks-with-left-side-issue/ | 2022-04-14T02:21:24Z |
The 2nd collaboration includes limited-edition apparel and boots that help support the SkillsUSA Hope Fund
ROCKFORD, Mich., Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Labor Day, Wolverine, the 139-year-old heritage work brand, and the Ram Truck Brand, the automaker that is "Built to Serve", are back with their second exclusive collaboration that will benefit the skilled trades. To recognize the hard work, integrity, and dedication of America's workers, both brands have come together for a consecutive year with a limited-edition "Built for the Driven" collection which features American made boots, clothing, and accessories.
"Our collaboration with the Ram Truck Brand has seamlessly allowed us to connect to existing and new consumers with our unique and purposeful product," said Scott Schoessel, VP of Marketing at Wolverine. "Though most importantly, this co-branded collection is helping to inspire the next generation of skilled tradespeople to develop their careers and close the skilled trades gap that continues to exist in our country today."
Alongside the two fan-favorite work boot styles of the Wolverine x Ram Tradesman Safety Toe boot and cobranded socks from the 2021 collection, the new "Built for the Driven" collection includes the addition of a graphic tee shirt, sweatshirt, and beanie. Each item is designed to reflect the quality and craftsmanship the brands are known for to encourage the next generation of skilled tradespeople to pursue their passions.
"Together with Wolverine, we're excited to release our second licensed collection 'Built for the Driven' to create more awareness around educational opportunities in the skilled trades workforce," said Marissa Hunter, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Stellantis North America. "From the thoughtfully designed work boots to the graphic tees, this collection is designed to educate and empower young men and women entering the work force about the many reputable career occupations available in skilled trades."
As part of the launch, Wolverine is donating $75,000 to the SkillsUSA Hope Fund that's providing equitable access to opportunities for more youth to pursue their skilled trades career. The Wolverine and the Ram Truck Brand partnership was built on the brands' joint missions to support educational opportunities around the skilled trades, extending from Wolverine's long-standing Project Bootstrap platform.
"Competing in the SkillsUSA masonry competitions allowed me to build relationships with the supporting companies, which ultimately jumpstarted my career," said Ashton White, SkillsUSA member and national masonry gold medalist. "By joining SkillsUSA, students can be job ready on day one because they will develop the necessary personal, workplace and technical skills for their career. I've had so many great opportunities because of SkillsUSA and I'm thankful to be part of this amazing organization."
Beginning today, all items from the second rendition of the Wolverine and the Ram Truck Brand collection are available in limited quantities on www.Wolverine.com with pricing ranging from $15 – $229. Shop today to support the next generation of skilled trades people.
ABOUT WOLVERINE
Wolverine, the 139-year-old boot and clothing company, is on a mission to honor the spirit and tenacity of the American worker and build the next generation of skilled trades people. Taking pride in crafting durable boots with unrivaled craftsmanship and the highest quality materials, Wolverine is dedicated to serving hardworking people all over the world. Through Project Bootstrap, Wolverine has contributed nearly $2 million over the last 5 years to organizations in support of the skilled trades. For more information, visit www.wolverine.com. Wolverine is a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW)
ABOUT RAM TRUCK BRAND
In 2009, the Ram Truck brand launched as a stand-alone division, focused on meeting the demands of truck buyers and delivering benchmark-quality vehicles. With a full lineup of trucks, the Ram 1500, 2500/3500 Heavy Duty, 3500/4500/5500 Chassis Cab, ProMaster and ProMaster City, the Ram brand builds trucks that get the hard work done and families where they need to go.
Ram continues to outperform the competition and sets the benchmarks for:
- 1,075 lb.-ft. of torque with Cummins Turbo Diesel
- Towing capacity of 37,090 lbs. with Ram 3500
- Segment first 1,000 lb.-ft of torque with Cummins Turbo Diesel
- Payload of 7,680 lbs. with Ram 3500
- Most luxurious: Ram Limited with real wood, real leather and 12-inch Uconnect touchscreen
- Best ride and handling with exclusive link coil rear and auto-level air suspensions
- Most interior space with Ram Mega Cab
- The most cargo space available in any traditional full size cargo van
- Most capable full-size off-road pickup – Ram Power Wagon
- Ram 1500, America's most powerful half-ton diesel pickup with 480 lb.-ft. of torque, achieves an unsurpassed 33 mpg highway and delivers up to 1,000 miles of range on a single tank of fuel
- Ram 1500 TRX is the quickest, fastest and most powerful mass-produced pickup truck in the world
- Most awarded light-duty truck in America
- Highest owner loyalty of any half-ton pickup
The latest J.D. Power APEAL study, which rates the emotional bond between customers and their vehicles, named the 2022 Ram 1500 as the best vehicle in the large light-duty pickup category. This marks the third straight year Ram 1500 has received top honors.
The Ram 1500 lineup includes the Know & Go mobile app featuring an immersive experience for customers who want to learn more about their vehicles.
Ram is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.
ABOUT SKILLSUSA
SkillsUSA is a nonprofit partnership of education and industry founded in 1965 to strengthen the nation's skilled workforce. Driven by employer demand, SkillsUSA helps students develop necessary personal and workplace skills along with technical skills grounded in academics. This SkillsUSA Framework empowers every student to succeed at work and in life, while helping to close the skills gap in which millions of positions go unfilled. Through SkillsUSA's championships program and curricula, employers have long ensured schools are teaching relevant technical skills, and with SkillsUSA's new credentialing process, they can now assess how ready potential employees are for the job. SkillsUSA has nearly 400,000 members nationwide in high schools, colleges and middle schools, covering over 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, and is recognized by the U.S. departments of education and labor as integral to career and technical education. It has served nearly 14.2 million members since 1965. For more information, visit www.skillsusa.org.
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SOURCE Wolverine | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/wolverine-ram-truck-brand-debut-built-driven-collection-benefitting-next-generation-skilled-workers/ | 2022-08-31T13:51:36Z |
Ansys aims to reduce environmental and climate impacts of its existing operations through careful consideration of resource use
Key Highlights
- A leader in simulation software, Ansys enables users to achieve sustainability targets through advanced simulation technology designed to reduce waste
- The company's own environmental strategy focuses on overall emissions reduction and project implementation based on energy audit outcomes of its global infrastructure
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ansys (NASDAQ: ANSS) plans to reduce the environmental and climate impacts of its operations by measuring, analyzing, and reducing resource use. The simulation software provider's goal is to reduce scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 15% by 2027, compared with its current 2019 baseline. The company also extends its commitment through simulation solutions that help users minimize materials waste, improve circularity, accelerate product development processes, and minimize physical prototyping.
Ansys' environmental strategy focuses on reducing overall emissions and continuing to implement projects coming out of energy audits, including lighting enhancements and on-site renewable energy. It's part of a larger effort to simultaneously lower emissions, reduce environmental impacts, and optimize operations.
The company continues to progress its product handprint initiative—reporting how Ansys enables customers to reduce their impact on the planet. Each product handprint, or use case, illuminates Ansys' work in specific areas, including semiconductors, energy, digital twins and aerospace. Through its online documentary series—Earth Rescue—Ansys showcases the efforts of visionary customers that are innovating new solutions in the fight against climate change. New episodes of Earth Rescue will be released this fall.
"Through our environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, Ansys is committed to driving positive change for our investors, customers, employees and partners," said Janet Lee, vice president, general counsel and secretary at Ansys and head of its ESG program. "The pillars of our ESG program — advancing sustainability through products, investing in our people, operating responsibly and collaborating with stakeholders — ensure we can deliver long-term value for our business and our communities as we build a better future, together."
When visionary companies need to know how their world-changing ideas will perform, they close the gap between design and reality with Ansys simulation. For more than 50 years, Ansys software has enabled innovators across industries to push boundaries by using the predictive power of simulation. From sustainable transportation to advanced semiconductors, from satellite systems to life-saving medical devices, the next great leaps in human advancement will be powered by Ansys.
Take a leap of certainty … with Ansys.
Ansys and any and all ANSYS, Inc. brand, product, service and feature names, logos and slogans are registered trademarks or trademarks of ANSYS, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. All other brand, product, service and feature names or trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that provide current expectations or forecasts of future events based on certain assumptions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and no assurance can be given that our emissions goal can or will be achieved. Further details on forward-looking statements and important factors that may affect our emissions goal as well as our future business and operating results are discussed in our public filings.
ANSS–G
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SOURCE Ansys | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/ansys-targets-15-carbon-reduction-by-2027/ | 2022-08-03T14:41:49Z |
Company Cancels Earnings Call in Light of Transaction with Thoma Bravo
Second Quarter 2022 Highlights
- Annual Recurring Revenue ("ARR") growth accelerated to 22% year-over-year, growing for the sixth straight quarter on a year-over-year basis to $341.0 million at June 30, 2022
- Software as a service ("SaaS") ARR now exceeds 30% of total ARR, surpassing the $100 million threshold
- Total revenue for the second quarter 2022 of $72.0 million, of which 92% was subscription-based
- SaaS revenue for the second quarter 2022 grew 69% year-over-year – accelerating for the fifth straight quarter
DENVER, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping Identity Holding Corp. ("Ping Identity," or the "Company") (NYSE: PING), which delivers intelligent identity solutions for the enterprise, today announced its financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2022.
"Ongoing ARR growth acceleration and demand for our services led to a strong first half of the year. We were excited to see SaaS ARR exceed $100 million, as growth in the quarter was once again highlighted by expansion of our cloud solutions," said Andre Durand, Ping Identity's Chief Executive Officer. "As customers buy in to our hybrid cloud platform vision, we had a record number of customer wins that each exceeded half a million dollars in ARR. As we look to the second half of the year, we remain focused on maturing our cloud platform, supporting our channel partners, and winning in the customer use case.
"We are also excited to announce our transaction with Thoma Bravo," added Durand. "We believe this is a great outcome for all stakeholders as we accelerate our vision for securing the Internet through intelligent identity, while delivering extraordinary experiences for our end users."
Key Highlights for the Second Quarter 2022
ARR: Ending ARR at June 30, 2022, was $341.0 million and represented a 22% increase compared with the second quarter 2021. SaaS ARR exceeded $100 million, representing 30% of total ending ARR. Ping Identity defines ARR as the annualized value of all subscription contracts as of the end of the period.
Revenue: Total revenue for the second quarter 2022 was $72.0 million. Subscription revenue was $66.3 million, or 92% of total revenue. SaaS revenue of $22.7 million grew 69% from $13.4 million in the second quarter 2021, once again accelerating on a sequential quarter basis, driven by the continued adoption of Ping Identity's PingOne solutions.
Cash Flow: Net cash used in operating activities was $3.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared with net cash provided by operating activities of $44.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2021. Unlevered Free Cash Flow* was $(8.4) million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared with $34.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate: Ping Identity's dollar-based net retention rate at June 30, 2022, was 114%. The Company calculates dollar-based net retention rate as ending ARR for the current reporting period from customers with associated ending ARR for the same period last year, divided by ending ARR for the same period last year.
Customers: Ended the second quarter 2022 with 331 customers with more than $250,000 in ARR, up 19% year-over-year in that customer cohort.
* Please refer to the section titled "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information" and the tables within this press release which contain explanations and reconciliations of the Company's non-GAAP financial measures.
Transaction with Thoma Bravo
In a separate press release issued today, Ping Identity announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Thoma Bravo, a leading software investment firm, for $28.50 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at an Enterprise Value of approximately $2.8 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Ping Identity shareholders and regulatory approvals. Closing of the transaction is not subject to any financing contingency. Upon completion of the transaction, Ping Identity's common stock will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Ping Identity will become a privately held company.
Given the transaction with Thoma Bravo, Ping Identity will not host an earnings conference call or provide financial guidance in conjunction with this earnings release. For further detail and discussion of Ping Identity's financial performance please refer to Ping Identity's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
In addition to Ping Identity's results determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), the Company believes the following non-GAAP measures presented in this press release and discussed on the related conference call are useful in evaluating its operating performance: Non-GAAP Gross Profit, Non-GAAP Gross Profit Margin, Non-GAAP Operating Expenses, Non-GAAP Operating Margin, Non-GAAP Net Income, Non-GAAP Net Income Per Share, Free Cash Flow and Unlevered Free Cash Flow. Certain of these non-GAAP measures exclude stock-based compensation, depreciation and/or amortization expense and acquisition-related expenses, as noted in the reconciliation. Ping Identity believes that non-GAAP financial information, when taken collectively, may be helpful to investors because it provides consistency and comparability with past financial performance and assists in comparisons with other companies, some of which use similar non-GAAP financial information to supplement their GAAP results. The non-GAAP financial information is presented for supplemental informational purposes only, and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. A reconciliation is provided herein for each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.
Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical consolidated financial information, certain statements in this press release and on the related conference call may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release and on the related conference call are forward-looking statements. These statements may include words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "plan," "intend," "believe," "may," "will," "should," "can have," "likely" and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. For example, all statements Ping Identity makes relating to its estimated and projected costs, expenditures, cash flows, growth rates and financial results or its plans and objectives for future operations, growth initiatives, or strategies are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that the Company expected. Specific factors that could cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those disclosed previously in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") which include, but are not limited to: uncertainties associated with the proposed merger with an affiliate of a private equity fund advised by Thoma Bravo, L.P. ("Merger"); the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Agreement and Plan of Merger ("Merger Agreement"); the inability to complete the proposed Merger due to the failure to satisfy closing conditions; risks related to disruption of management's attention from our ongoing business operations due to the proposed Merger; the effects of the announcement of the proposed Merger on our relationships with our customers, operating results and business generally; the risk that the proposed Merger will not be consummated in a timely manner or at all; the costs relating to the proposed Merger if it is not consummated; restrictions imposed on our business during the pendency of the proposed Merger; potential litigation against us or our directors challenging the proposed Merger; our ability to recruit, retain and develop our senior management team and key employees, including in light of the proposed Merger; our ability to adapt to rapid technological change, evolving industry standards and changing customer needs, requirements or preferences; our ability to enhance and deploy our cloud-based offerings while continuing to effectively offer our on-premise offerings; our ability to maintain or improve our competitive position; the impact of adverse general and industry-specific economic and market conditions, as well as geopolitical events including inflation, slower growth or recession, new or increased tariffs, changes to fiscal and monetary policy, higher interest rates, currency fluctuations, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Russia, geopolitical issues in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and reductions in IT and identity spending; the ongoing impact of the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; the impact on our business of a network or data security incident or unauthorized access to our network or data or our customers' data; the effects on our business if we are unable to acquire new customers, if our customers do not renew their arrangements with us, or if we are unable to expand sales to our existing customers or develop new solutions or solution packages that achieve market acceptance; our ability to manage our growth effectively, execute our business plan, maintain high levels of service and customer satisfaction or adequately address competitive challenges; our ability to enhance and expand our sales and marketing capabilities; our ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel to execute our growth plan; the risks associated with interruptions or performance problems of our technology, infrastructure and service providers; our dependence on Amazon Web Services cloud infrastructure services; the impact of data privacy and cybersecurity concerns, evolving regulations of cloud computing, cross-border data transfer restrictions and other domestic and foreign laws and regulations; the impact of volatility in quarterly operating results; the risks associated with our revenue recognition policy and other factors that may distort our financial results in any given period; the effects on our customer base and business if we are unable to enhance our brand cost-effectively; the impact of our frequently long and unpredictable sales cycle; our ability to identify suitable acquisition targets or otherwise successfully implement our growth strategy; the impact of a change in our pricing model; our dependence on strategic relationships with third parties; the ability of our platform, solutions and solution packages to interoperate with our customers' existing or future IT infrastructures; the impact of real or perceived errors, failures, vulnerabilities or bugs in our solutions; our reliance on SaaS vendors to operate certain functions of our business; the impact of the failure by our customers to pay us in accordance with the terms of their agreements; our ability to expand the sales of our solutions and solution packages to customers located outside of the United States; the risks associated with exposure to foreign currency fluctuations; the impact of potentially adverse tax consequences associated with our international operations; the impact of changes in tax laws or regulations; our ability to maintain our corporate culture; our ability to develop and maintain proper and effective internal control over financial reporting; the risks associated with having operations and employees located in Israel; the risks associated with doing business with governmental entities; the impact of catastrophic events on our business; and other factors disclosed in the section entitled ''Risk Factors'' in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Given these factors, as well as other variables that may affect Ping Identity's operating results, you should not rely on forward-looking statements, assume that past financial performance will be a reliable indicator of future performance, or use historical trends to anticipate results or trends in future periods. The forward-looking statements included in this press release and on the related conference call relate only to events as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication is being made in respect of the pending Merger (as defined below) of Ping Identity and Thoma Bravo. Ping Identity will file with the SEC a proxy statement on Schedule 14A relating to its special meeting of stockholders and may file or furnish other documents with the SEC regarding the pending Merger. When completed, a definitive proxy statement will be mailed to Ping Identity's stockholders. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE PROXY STATEMENT REGARDING THE PENDING MERGER AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PENDING MERGER.
The definitive proxy statement will be filed with the SEC and mailed or otherwise made available to Ping Identity's stockholders. Ping Identity's stockholders may obtain free copies of the documents Ping Identity files with the SEC from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or through the Investors portion of Ping Identity's website at investor.pingidentity.com under the link "Financials" and then under the link "SEC Filings" or by contacting the Company's Investor Relations by e-mail at investor@pingidentity.com.
Participants in the Solicitation
Ping Identity and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Ping Identity's stockholders in connection with the pending Merger. Information regarding Ping Identity's directors and executive officers, including a description of their direct interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in Ping Identity's 2022 annual proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 21, 2022, and in the related amendment filed on April 20, 2022. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their interests will be contained in the proxy statement for Ping Identity's special meeting of stockholders and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC in respect of the proposed Merger when they become available. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
About Ping Identity
Ping Identity delivers intelligent identity solutions for the enterprise. We enable companies to achieve Zero Trust identity-defined security and more personalized, streamlined user experiences. The PingOne Cloud Platform provides customers, workforce, and partners with access to cloud, mobile, SaaS and on-premises applications across the hybrid enterprise. Over half of the Fortune 100 choose us for our identity expertise, open standards, and partnerships with companies including Microsoft and Amazon. We provide flexible identity solutions that accelerate digital business initiatives, delight customers, and secure the enterprise through multi-factor authentication, single sign-on, access management, intelligent API security, directory, and data governance capabilities. For more information, visit www.pingidentity.com.
Ping Identity Contacts
Follow Us on Twitter: @PingIdentity
Join us on LinkedIn: Ping Identity
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: PingIdentityTV
Like Us on Facebook: PingIdentityPage
Investor Relations Contact:
David Banks
Tel: 303.396.6200
investor@pingidentity.com
Media Contact:
Megan Johnson
Tel: 757.635.2807
press@pingidentity.com
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SOURCE Ping Identity Corp. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/ping-identity-reports-second-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-08-03T11:42:26Z |
LONDON, ON, July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Voices, the #1 voice marketplace, is pleased to introduce Project Marketplace™, a new way for clients to discover and hire voice talent.
Project Marketplace will provide creative directors, agencies, casting directors, video producers, video and content producers with another way to hire talent, discover new voices, and create relationships on Voices.
"Today we're excited to bring our vision to life by launch an ecommerce-like store allowing talent to list services available for hire, at preset prices. We're pleased to announce that we're launching Project Marketplace, a new way for clients to buy voice over projects," says David Ciccarelli, Founder and CEO of Voices.
- Less Back and Forth: The back and forth of auditioning is completely eliminated creating a quicker, easier hiring process.
- Eliminate Uncertainty: Projects are predefined packages of work with upfront prices and timelines. Skip the guesswork and purchase with confidence knowing exactly what you'll receive.
- Hire Instantly: You can buy a project instantly and then the talent gets to work. All you have to do is download your files when the project is complete.
Several other features such as project listings, customization of project packages, set prices are available through this product launch.
"Project Marketplace is the culmination of years of work and it's my hope you'll find this new way to hire, and new way to earn, one of our best innovations yet," Ciccarelli added.
For more help getting your projects set up, check out the Project Marketplace Guide or the Creating Projects on Voices video.
Voices is the world's #1 voice marketplace, with over 2 million registered users. Since 2005, the biggest and most beloved brands have entrusted Voices to help them find professionals to bring their projects to life. Headquartered in London, Canada, Voices helps match clients with voice over, music, audio production, and translation professionals in over 160 countries and 100+ languages and dialects.
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SOURCE Voices.com | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/voices-launches-project-marketplace-faster-way-hire-platform/ | 2022-07-18T11:50:17Z |
This year's Campaign features ten tour courses, including a trip to "Cheongwaedae," and selects Kim Min-ha as its official celebrity ambassador
SEOUL, South Korea, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2022 Visit Korean Heritage Campaign, a joint project implemented jointly by the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation (CHF), held a press conference at the Yeongbingwan Hall, or Blue House, on June 14 to announce to start the Campaign's third year.
Launched in 2020, the Campaign has established itself as a valuable brand that allows people both in Korea and abroad to rediscover the value of Korean culture and heritage. The Campaign is committed to spreading the Hallyu, or Korean Wave, across the globe.
This year's Campaign will feature ten unique themes under which 75 different destinations are centered on the World Heritages and Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in Korea and a wide variety of related content.
Despite the limitations due to COVID-19 over the past two years, the Campaign has made remarkable achievements in promoting Korea's culture, heritage, and the Hallyu movement to people worldwide. They include the implementation of overseas advertisements on large billboards in major cities around the world, including New York and London, participation in the Dubai Expo, and the production of 677 pieces of online content.
Meanwhile, actress Kim Min-ha, who emerged as a worldwide phenomenon with her role in the hit drama television series "Pachinko," serves as the official celebrity ambassador for this year's Campaign. She appeared in a video project promoting the Campaign. As the ambassador, Kim visited the Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon as part of her trip through the "Mountain Temple Route" to reflect on the ancestors' legacy through the Tripitaka Koreana, the complete collection of Buddhist scriptures carved on over eighty thousand woodblocks. Her trip to the Haeinsa Temple will be included in the "2022 Visit Korean Heritage Campaign Brand Video" (to be released in the year's second half). It will be aired on one of the massive billboards in Times Square, New York City.
For this year's "Korea In Fashion," one of the Campaign's popular programs, the CHA and the CHF will collaborate with the fashion brand "Rieul" by designer Kim Ri-eul. "Korea In Fashion" gained massive attention by working with designer Tchai Kim for the past two years. Its video clips recorded 650,000 views on YouTube and 700,000 clicks for the photos, effectively suggesting Hanbok as a fashion choice among younger generations. This year, it plans to showcase new and intriguing aspects of Hanbok again with designer Kim Ri-eul, known for his suits made with Hanbok fabric worn by BTS and Zico.
More details on the "Visit Korean Heritage Campaign" are available on the Campaign's official website (chf.or.kr/visit), YouTube (www.youtube.com/koreanheritage), and the Instagram page (@visitkoreanheritage).
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SOURCE Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/2022-visit-korean-heritage-campaign-is-ready-get-rolling/ | 2022-06-21T13:51:09Z |
Which dog laxative is best?
There’s nothing worse than being all blocked up, and there’s never an easy answer for loosening things out again. From the range of possible causes to the intimidating number of options, solving this problem for your dog can be complex, but don’t worry — it is doable.
The best dog laxative is the Vet Classics No Scoot Dog Supplement For Healthy Anal Gland Function. These chews are packed with natural ingredients, such as beet pulp and pumpkin powder, and the dosage instructions are simple and straightforward.
What to know before you buy a dog laxative
Dog laxative types
There are three types of dog laxatives:
- Bulk-forming laxatives are the most commonly found over-the-counter. They’re packed with fiber which aids your dog’s digestive tract and helps your dog’s stool become softer and larger.
- Emollient laxatives soften your dog’s stool by helping it absorb more water. They’re particularly effective for dogs who’ve just had surgery, as it reduces their need to strain. However, emollient laxatives need to be prescribed.
- Lubricant laxatives do just that, lubricate your dog’s digestive tract. This helps your dog pass stool faster and easier, and it also helps it absorb water to make it softer. However, it can affect your dog’s ability to absorb some nutrients, so it’s best used only occasionally.
Dog laxative forms
There are three forms of dog laxatives:
- Chews are the most common form as they’re easy to administer and store. They aren’t always the yummiest, so if you have a picky dog, you may want to get one that’s flavored.
- Kibble-like laxatives are small, dry pieces that you mix in with your dog’s regular food. Like chews, you may need flavored ones to get picky dogs to eat them.
- Liquid and powder laxatives are the most difficult to dose, but they can also be the easiest to get your dog to take. All you need to do is mix them with water and add a splash of broth, and your dog should drink it right up.
Dosage quantity
Every dog laxative package contains a certain amount of doses, usually 40, 60 or 120. However, your dog may need several doses if they’re a large breed. You also need to consider how long you need to treat your dog, whether for a week or a new life-long regimen. Since dog laxatives don’t last forever, your goal should be to get only as many as you need. If you’re unsure of how many you need, opt for a smaller amount since you can always order more.
What to look for in a quality dog laxative
Flavor
Dogs don’t like taking medicine any more than you do. Help them and you by getting laxatives with yummy flavors such as chicken, beef and cheese.
Instructions
Dog laxatives must be carefully administered to avoid causing more digestive stress, not to mention to ensure it takes effect. The best laxatives have detailed dosage instructions, including how much to give and how long they need to be given. Some even include instructions or suggestions on actions to take if the laxative doesn’t work.
How much you can expect to spend on a dog laxative
They can cost as little as $10 or as much as $50. Basic laxatives typically cost no more than $15. Higher-quality laxatives can cost up to $25. Large packages of good-quality laxatives typically start around $20.
Dog laxative FAQ
What can cause constipation in dogs?
A. There’s a truly gargantuan list of reasons why your dog may be constipated, from diet issues or age to medication side effects or an enlarged colon. If your dog is constipated, you should always take it to your veterinarian to establish the cause so you can choose the best treatment method, whether that be laxatives or something else.
How long does a dog laxative take to work?
A. That depends on the type of laxative and how bad your dog’s constipation is. Lubricant laxatives can take effect in as little as six hours, but most other laxatives may not start working for 24 to 72 hours.
Can pregnant dogs take a laxative?
A. Most laxatives are safe for pregnant dogs, though you should check with your veterinarian before giving your pregnant dog any kind of laxative.
What’s the best dog laxative to buy?
Top dog laxative
Vet Classics No Scoot Dog Supplement For Healthy Anal Gland Function
What you need to know: These chews were formulated by veterinarians and are packed with healthy ingredients.
What you’ll love: These chews support healthy, regular bowel function and support healthy anal gland function. One chew is needed for every 20 pounds your dog weighs, given twice daily. There are no genetically modified ingredients, with some of the ingredients included being dandelion root and pumpkin powder.
What you should consider: Some dogs won’t want to eat the chews, so they must be hidden. Some consumers noted that these appear to be different from those purchased directly from a veterinarian.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy
Top dog laxative for the money
What you need to know: This small package is excellent for dogs that don’t have digestive issues often.
What you’ll love: Some of its all-natural ingredients include sugar beet pulp, flaxseed, psyllium husk, pumpkin powder and dandelion root. It has 40 chews, with one dosage being one or two chews daily for every 20 pounds your dog weighs. It can be safely used daily if necessary.
What you should consider: Using these daily on large dogs can get expensive fast. It takes a few days for the effects to become noticeable.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy
Worth checking out
Bernie’s Perfect Poop Digestion Support Supplement
What you need to know: These are perfect for picky dogs, thanks to the flavors.
What you’ll love: The flavors are cheddar cheese or chicken, and it comes in 4.2-, 12.8- and 30-ounce sizes. Each dose contains plenty of fiber, prebiotics, probiotics and enzymes, all to aid your dog’s digestive system. It has detailed dosage instructions for each weight class of dog.
What you should consider: Some dogs had allergic reactions such as hives or had digestive issues such as diarrhea or vomiting. It needs to be mixed with your dog’s normal meals.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/pets-br/health-br/best-dog-laxative/ | 2022-08-25T19:50:28Z |
HANGZHOU, China, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lynk Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as 'Lynk Pharmaceuticals'), an innovative clinical stage company, announced that its innovative drug LNK01004, has been approved by National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for clinical trials in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD).
LNK01004 is a novel kinase inhibitor that can simultaneously inhibit multiple cytokine-induced signaling pathways in vitro and in vivo. LNK01004 is tissue-restricted inhibitor that can potentially prevent safety issues caused by systemic drug exposure. Approval for the treatment of atopic dermatitis is the second clinical indication approved for LNK01004 in China. Previously, LNK01004 was approved for evaluation in clinical trials for patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis. It completed dosing of the first cohort of participants in a Phase Ⅰ study in China in late July, 2022.
Dr. Jun Wang, co-founder and CSO of Lynk Pharmaceuticals, said, "Atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease with a protracted course of symptoms. LNK01004 potently inhibits multiple inflammatory cytokines and restricts drug distribution to the skin with very limited drug exposure in the blood system. Therefore, it will potentially show a maximal efficacy and maximal safety profile, we look forward to bringing LNK01004 as an innovative, effective and safe treatment option to patients with atopic dermatitis."
About Lynk Pharmaceuticals:
Lynk Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage company, was founded in 2018 by senior drug R&D experts and executives from Pfizer, Merck, and Johnson & Johnson. Lynk Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative drugs for the treatment of cancer, as well as immune and inflammatory diseases. Driven by a higher goal, Lynk Pharmaceuticals aims to be a market leader to address unmet medical demands by the development of innovative therapies. To date, Lynk Pharmaceuticals has independently developed a number of innovative new drugs, and independently as well as jointly with its US partner launched a number of clinical studies globally. For more information about Lynk Pharmaceuticals, please visit: https://www.lynkpharma.com.
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SOURCE Lynk Pharmaceuticals | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/lynk-pharmaceuticals-announces-ind-approval-lnk01004-atopic-dermatitis-china/ | 2022-08-03T12:53:46Z |
Mr. Sola, the former CEO and Co-Founder of Rewire Securities and Merion Square Capital, will serve as the company's Global Head of Capital Markets. He will manage a worldwide team dedicated to business development, including raising capital for Vesttoo's Flagship Insurance-Linked Program and other investment products.
TEL AVIV, Israel, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vesttoo, a leading global alternative risk transfer and investment platform, announced today the hiring of ILS industry veteran and investment executive Stefano Sola as the company's Global Head of Capital Markets, leading a team dedicated to capital raising and business development in Vesttoo offices around the globe. He will also build and maintain relationships and partnerships with financial institutions, banks, investment banks, and funds to increase the capacity, asset allocation, sales, and distribution of Vesttoo's financial products.
Mr. Sola is a seasoned C-Suite Executive with established experience in the international investment banking, asset management, and corporate sectors, as well as ground-up design, start-up, and management of new ventures, including licensed broker dealers and licensed investment advisors. He boasts an impressive track record in planning, implementing, and driving results through turn-around strategies, M&A activity, and IPO execution in different market cycles. He has an in-depth understanding and development of new corporate financing, capital raising, and investment strategies and successful implementation from both a corporate perspective as well as a banking and institutional investor one.
Vesttoo is an industry leader in utilizing artificial intelligence to model non-catastrophe insurance-linked investments, providing insurers with additional capacity from the capital markets while providing investors with access to low volatility assets whose returns are uncorrelated to market trends. To this date, the company has provided over $2.5 billion in capacity for insurers, boasting significant profits in times where similar companies worldwide are struggling to stay afloat.
"It gives me tremendous pleasure to announce the joining of Mr. Sola to our team," said Yaniv Bertele, CEO and Co-Founder of Vesttoo. "His expertise and track record are second to none, and he is joining Vesttoo at a crucial moment. We are constantly reminded of the importance of Vesttoo's role in allowing investors to diversify their portfolios. Mr. Sola's extensive experience in international finance and his deep relationships with major global financial and insurance institutions will help us expand our abilities and make our product more readily available than ever."
"Stefano is one of the best in his field and will achieve great things with Vesttoo," said Jacques Aigrain, Chairman of Vesttoo's Advisory Board and former CEO of Swiss Re. "Vesttoo is in a position to further develop the reinsurance industry, and Stefano is the right man to lead its business development as it extends the capabilities of its marketplace for Life and P&C insurance-linked investment products."
"It is extremely exciting to join Vesttoo at this time," said Vesttoo's Global Head of Capital Markets, Stefano Sola. "With the current financial atmosphere and potential recession on the horizon, they are only thriving and reaching new heights. I look forward to taking part in their ambitious vision and growth phase."
As the Global Head of Capital Markets, Mr. Sola will be responsible for raising capital commitments for Vesttoo's various products, including its flagship insurance-linked program (ILP), which will invest in a diversified portfolio of P&C insurance risks modeled by Vesttoo's proprietary AI. In addition, he will grow Vesttoo's brand recognition and relationships with banks and other financial institutions.
About Vesttoo
Vesttoo connects the insurance industry and the capital markets, by combining AI-powered technology with expertise in fintech, insurance, and asset management so that insurers have the capacity they need, and investors have opportunities to diversify with uncorrelated low volatility insurance risk.
For more information, visit https://vesttoo.com.
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Media Contact: Liran Grunhaus, media@vesttoo.com
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SOURCE Vesttoo | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/vesttoo-hires-ils-industry-veteran-stefano-sola-head-its-global-capital-markets-team/ | 2022-06-22T12:52:04Z |
VANCOUVER, BC, June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- INDOCHINO, a global leader in made to measure men's suiting and apparel, outfitted several key picks at last night's 2022 NBA draft. INDOCHINO has dressed a number of incoming players over the years, and the brand was excited for this year's draft class to show off their custom suiting in-person, after two years of virtual and scaled-down events.
INDOCHINO dressed six draft picks including Keegan Murray, Mark Williams, Nikola Jovic, Ousmane Dieng, Jeremy Sochan, and Blake Wesley. In the lead-up to last night's draft, these players visited INDOCHINO showrooms to customize their suit fabric, choosing their lapel style, buttons, monograms, and more.
Please see below for the styles the players selected and customized:
- Keegan Murray, from the University of Iowa, was chosen as the #4 pick by the Sacramento Kings and opted for INDOCHINO's Herringbone Charcoal Suit
- Mark Williams, standing at 7ft tall, was drafted to the Charlotte Hornets and chose INDOCHINO's Knotting Birdseye Deep Blue Suit
- Nikola Jovic, a Serbian basketball player and one of the top prospects this year, was drafted by the Miami Heat while wearing INDOCHINO's Harrogate Glen Check Midnight Blue
- Ousman Dieng, a French basketball player who was traded from the New York Knicks to Oklahoma City Thunder went with INDOCHINO's RJ Solid Red Suit, a bold all-red look
- Jeremy Sochan, a Polish-American player who was drafted to the San Antonio Spurs with the #9 overall pick, chose INDOCHINO's bright Birdseye Lilac suit
- Blake Wesley, from Notre Dame, was drafted to the San Antonio Spurs while wearing INDOCHINO's classic Harrogate Black Suit, which he opted to upgrade into a Tuxedo in the showroom
The NBA 2022 draft was held last night, June 23rd at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The 2022 event marks a return to the draft's normal June date after several postponements were made in past years due to the pandemic. As this was the first year since the pandemic players could sit amongst their family and friends in person, INDOCHINO was honored they could also showcase their personal style with made-to-measure suits from the brand.
"It's a privilege to be able to dress these players and expand INDOCHINO's presence," said Drew Green, CEO of INDOCHINO. "To be able to dress several of this year's NBA draft picks is a privilege for our brand and offers us the opportunity to inspire avid basketball fans to create their own custom apparel."
As with all INDOCHINO garments, each item is customizable and made to measure. Custom suits start at $499 USD, blazers from $289, and shirts from $79. Casual pants are priced at $79. The full availability can be found at: www.indochino.com
As the global leader in made to measure apparel, INDOCHINO has developed the shopping experience of the future. Born out of the belief that you don't need to spend a fortune on a custom wardrobe, INDOCHINO was the first company to disrupt the retail sector by making perfect-fitting, personalized apparel on a mass scale.
Customers take on the role of designer, picking out every detail of their garments to make them truly one-of-a- kind. These are made to their precise measurements and shipped directly to their door, hassle free. The company's omni-channel approach allows them to shop online or in person at any INDOCHINO showroom.
For more information, visit www.indochino.com and follow INDOCHINO's social media channels.
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SOURCE Indochino | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/24/indochino-dressed-2022-nba-draft-picks-made-measure-suits/ | 2022-06-24T13:52:06Z |
NTSB shares preliminary report regarding Amtrak train derailment near Mendon
MENDON, Mo. (KCTV) - On Thursday, the National Transportation Safety Board released their preliminary report regarding the June 27 Amtrak train derailment near Mendon, Missouri.
The full preliminary report was made available at ntsb.gov. KCTV5 News is sharing the NTSB’s report below for your convenience.
Grade Crossing Collision Between Amtrak Passenger Train and Dump Truck
Investigation Details
What Happened
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. Release Date: July 21, 2022
On June 27, 2022, about 12:42 p.m. local time, eastbound National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) train 4 (also known as the Southwest Chief), carrying 270 passengers and 12 crew, derailed in Mendon, Missouri after colliding with a 2007 Kenworth W900B dump truck that was fouling a highway railroad grade crossing. (1) (See figure.) Three train passengers and the truck driver died, and multiple passengers and crew were transported to local hospitals with injuries. Damage was estimated by Amtrak and BNSF Railway (BNSF) to be about $4 million.
Amtrak train 4, traveling from Los Angeles, California, to Chicago, Illinois, consisted of two locomotives and eight railcars. The collision with the fully loaded dump truck occurred at milepost 363.8 on the BNSF Marceline Subdivision near a rural passive highway railroad grade crossing on County Road 113, also known as Porsche Prairie Avenue. The highway railroad grade crossing was equipped with crossbucks, and a stop sign on the right side of Porsche Prairie Avenue as the dump truck driver approached from the south. All locomotives and railcars derailed with seven of the railcars coming to a rest on their sides. The dump truck received heavy damage and came to rest in a ditch northeast of the rail crossing adjacent to the road.
In the vicinity of the accident area, BNSF authorizes train movements with a traffic control system. Train movements are coordinated by a BNSF train dispatcher located at the Dispatch Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Train movements on the Marceline Subdivision are governed by operating rules, special instructions, timetable instructions, and the signal indications of the traffic control system and supplemented with an overlaid positive train control (PTC) system. The maximum allowable speed on this section of track was 90 mph for passenger trains. The PTC system was enabled and operating at the time of the collision. Preliminary review of the data from the leading locomotive’s event recorder showed that train 4 was traveling 89 mph when its emergency brakes were activated. The weather was clear with no precipitation at the time of the accident.
While on scene, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators conducted highway railroad grade crossing inspections and highway vehicle inspections, reviewed data from the lead locomotive’s forward-facing image recorder and event recorder, obtained the dump truck’s engine control module, and conducted interviews. NTSB’s investigation is ongoing. Future investigative activity will focus on highway railroad grade crossing design specifications, railcar design, survival factors, and passenger railcar crashworthiness.
Parties to this investigation include the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, BNSF, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Missouri Department of Transportation.
1 (a) All times in this document are local time unless otherwise noted. (b) Amtrak is a passenger railroad service that provides medium- and long-distance intercity passenger rail service in the contiguous United States and to nine cities in Canada. (c) Fouling refers to being in proximity to a track such that the individual or equipment could be struck by a moving train.
2 Passive highway railroad grade crossings lack train-activated signals or gates to warn of an approaching train. Traffic control devices at passive crossings include advance warning signs, pavement markings, crossbucks, and stop signs.
Related Videos
Watch the 6/28/22 media briefing on the YouTube Channel.
Watch the 6/29/22 media briefing on the YouTube Channel.
Previous coverage from KCTV5 News:
Family of De Soto woman killed in Amtrak derailment files lawsuit
Train derailment: Amtrak, BNSF sue company that owned dump truck
Train derailment: GoFundMe for De Soto victims tops $17,000 in just a day
NTSB is looking into intersection where train derailment happened
Four people killed in fatal Amtrak crash identified
NTSB spends Tuesday investigating deadly Amtrak train derailment in Missouri
NTSB investigates train derailment, shares more about crossing in Mendon
Fourth person dies in Amtrak train crash near Mendon, about 150 injured
Passengers help each other climb out of train cars following deadly derailment
Boy Scouts played major rescue role after train derailed
Site of train derailment was on MoDOT’s safety improvement list for 2022
4 killed when Amtrak train derails in Mendon, Missouri
Leavenworth County students on Amtrak train are ‘okay’ following crash
Copyright 2022 KCTV. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/21/ntsb-shares-preliminary-report-regarding-amtrak-train-derailment-near-mendon/ | 2022-07-21T20:46:21Z |
Text scams target bank customers and cost consumers millions
Reports of bank fraud up 15%
InvestigateTV - Text fraud cost consumers $137 million dollars in the first half of 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Scammers are using text messages to pose as representatives from financial institutions, leading banks to issue warnings to their customers.
Suzanne Garber said her nightmare started with a text message she thought was from her bank. The text asked about a purchase she had not made. She answered it.
Shortly after, Garber received a phone call. The caller ID on her phone identified the caller as Wells Fargo.
The caller told Garber that to reverse the unauthorized purchase, she had to set up an account with a new bank and use the payment app Zelle to transfer $1,000 to this new account.
Garber said once she sent the money, she lost it all.
Darius Kingsley, Chase Head of Consumer Business Practices, said if you ever get a suspicious text from someone saying they’re from your bank, don’t respond.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a phone call, text message or an email, Kingsley said scammers are finding creative and sometimes aggressive tactics to trick you.
“If you do get that kind of call, again, just hang up on it,” Kingsley advised. “If you get that email. Delete the email. Don’t click on any links on it.”
The FTC’s latest data shows in 2021 there were 33,000 reports of bank fraud tied to debit cards and electronic transfers. In the first quarter of 2022 there’s been a 15% increase from the end of last year.
As for Garber, she filed a complaint with her state, sent a letter to her bank, filed a police report and notified the BBB, but she never recovered her money.
We reached out to Wells Fargo for comment. They said they were using website warnings and social media posts to help customers like Garber avoid scams such as these. They also said to only send money via Zelle “to known and trusted recipients”.
The U.S. Government Services and Information website lists recent and common scams and frauds. It also allows you to report scams or scam attempts.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/03/text-scams-target-bank-customers-cost-consumers-millions/ | 2022-08-03T20:47:38Z |
Remnants of an uncontrolled Chinese rocket reentered the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean, US Space Command says
By Sharif Paget and Christina Maxouris, CNN
Remnants of a massive Chinese rocket that was descending uncontrollably back to Earth reentered the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean at roughly 12:45 p.m. ET Saturday, the US Space Command said on Twitter.
The Chinese 23-ton Long March 5B rocket, which delivered a new module to its space station, took off from Hainan Island at 2:22 p.m. local time Sunday, July 24, and the module successfully docked with China’s orbital outpost. The rocket had since been in an uncontrolled descent toward Earth’s atmosphere — marking the third time that China has been accused of not properly handling space debris from its rocket stage.
“No other country leaves these 20-ton things in orbit to reenter in an uncontrolled way,” Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, told CNN’s Jim Acosta Saturday afternoon.
In a Saturday statement on Twitter, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson wrote China “did not share specific trajectory information” as the rocket fell back to Earth.
“All spacefaring nations should follow established best practices, and do their part to share this type of information in advance to allow reliable predictions of potential debris impact risk, especially for heavy-lift vehicles, like the Long March 5B, which carry a significant risk of loss of life and property,” Nelson said.
“Doing so is critical to the responsible use of space and to ensure the safety of people here on Earth,” he added.
In a statement, the China Manned Space Agency said remnants of the rocket reentered the atmosphere at about 12:55 a.m. Sunday Beijing time — or about 12:55 p.m. ET Saturday.
The agency added most of the remnants burned up during the reentry process over the Sulu Sea, which is between the island of Borneo and the Philippines.
“What we really want to know is did any pieces actually end up sitting on the ground,” McDowell told CNN. “That may take a little while longer for the reports to filter back.”
Video posted online appears to show what experts believe are images of the rocket booster burning up in the atmosphere, but CNN cannot confirm their veracity.
Vanessa Julan, a resident of Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, shared a video with CNN that shows what appears to be rocket debris burning up.
She told CNN she shot the footage at around 12:50 a.m. local time, which is the same as Beijing time.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
CNN’s Yong Xiong contributed to this report. | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-world/2022/07/30/remnants-of-an-uncontrolled-chinese-rocket-reentered-the-atmosphere-over-the-indian-ocean-us-space-command-says-2/ | 2022-07-31T03:00:26Z |
Move signals the completion of a multi-year reorganization effort at the Goal family of companies and positions it for continued double digit growth
SAN DIEGO, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovative, award-winning financial services company Goal Solutions has promoted Matt Myers to CEO; Matt has served as President of Goal since January 2020.
Adding CEO to Matt's President title recognizes the strategic vision and leadership he has brought to the Goal family of companies over the past 15+ years. Matt began his career at Goal in 2007 in Portfolio Performance Analytics and Credit Risk before launching the Asset Management business in 2012. He later spent time in Goal's investing business working on whole loan acquisitions and ABS issuance. Later promoted to Chief Operating Officer he led Goal's expansion into Loan Servicing via acquisition as the company continued to vertically integrate. Under Matt's leadership as President starting in early 2020 Goal Solutions has achieved record-setting growth across all business lines.
"The success of the company is a testament to Matt's outstanding leadership which has enabled Goal to enter new markets, provide an expanding array of services, and deliver remarkable results. The team of experts and comprehensive capabilities Matt has assembled makes Goal Solutions a highly sought-after organization that our employees enjoy working at and our clients have come to expect great things from." said Ken Ruggiero, Co-Founder and Chairman of Goal Solutions.
Matt Myers, President and CEO, added "Goal's success is a reflection of the entire organization making a commitment to diversify into new asset classes and services developing deep expertise across all areas of the business. Our focus on innovation at all levels of the company has helped deliver significant value to our clients. I'm immensely proud of the culture we have that gives everyone in the organization a chance to make meaningful contributions, learn new skills, and truly enjoy the work we perform as a team for our clients."
Since 2008 Goal Solutions has delivered comprehensive and customizable Loan Servicing, SPV Administration and Asset Management solutions. Driven by technology, data science, and industry expertise, Goal is a strategic partner for investors, originators, banks, credit unions, and colleges across the entire consumer finance lifecycle. Learn more about the Goal family of companies at www.goalsolutions.com.
Contact for Press Inquiries
Brian Cox | VP Business Development
617-680-351
bcox@goalsolutions.com
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SOURCE Goal Solutions | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/goal-solutions-promotes-matt-myers-ceo/ | 2022-07-12T10:31:51Z |
Serving Adults of All Ages, Executive Home Care Creates a First-Class Experience for Clients
HACKENSACK, N. J., July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Executive Home Care, a leading in-home care provider with a wide range of service options and care programs, has announced their plans of national expansion through franchising. The brand improves the quality of life for clients and their families while focusing on service excellence wherever the client may be. Receiving care at home is cost effective, safer, and more comfortable for all involved. Executive Home Care is a full-service, premium in-home health care company, serving adults of all ages.
To assist in growing the brand's expansion, Executive Home Care has brought in an impressive leadership team with a robust background in both the franchising and the homecare services industries. In December of 2021, Executive Home Care named Tim Hadley as the brand's new Chief Executive Officer. Tim has spent nearly two decades providing strategic business planning, growth strategies, and data analytics in several healthcare fields, including in-home care, ambulatory care, and medical equipment sales. To supplement his staff, Tim brought on Greg Esgar to serve as the Chief Financial Officer of Executive Home Care. As the former CFO of Massage Envy Franchising and several healthcare concepts previously, Greg brings to the table over 20 years of expertise in financial and operational leadership for growing companies.
In May of 2022, Executive Home Care added Kevin Porter to the leadership team as the brand's Senior Vice President of Franchise Operations. Kevin has over 20 years of franchising homecare and healthcare operations experience, recently serving as Vice President of Field Operations and Vice President of Strategic Growth in the homecare industry. Tim has continued to enhance the leadership team by adding Jason Wiedder as Executive Home Care's Chief Growth Officer and named Larry France the Director of Franchise Development. Jason and Larry will play an integral role in the growth and expansion of Executive Home Care. In total, the Executive Home Care leadership team possess roughly 75 years of in-home care care/healthcare experience.
"Providing peace of mind and increasing the well-being of our clients and their families is our number one priority," said Jason Wiedder, Chief Growth Officer of Executive Home Care. "Since our inception, we have set out to improve the quality of life for so many, and look forward to making our services more available to those in need throughout the country."
Executive Home Care is a people-driven business, and relies on the expertise of the exceptional caregivers they employ. Every caregiver at Executive Home Care is CNA-certified, allowing them to give in-depth, day-to-day care for clients. This can include, but is not limited to, assisting in at-home tasks, daily hygiene upkeep, medication reminders. Understanding that the caregivers are pinnacle to the health of their clients, Executive Home Care conducts a comprehensive vetting process to ensure a strong partnership and personal connection between each client and caregiver.
"We understand that our caregivers are critical to our success, and quite frankly, what makes our business possible," said Executive Home Care CEO Tim Hadley. "Because of that, we are extremely diligent in our training, continuous education after onboarding, and our process in selecting the right caregiver for the right client."
Founded by Lenny Verkhoglaz in 2004 and franchising since 2013, Executive Home Care has a strong understanding of the overwhelming responsibility of providing in-home care. The company follows their brand promise of building exceptional C.A.R.E., which stands for showing compassion, being attentive, showing respect and providing excellence. Already operating in seven states, Executive Home Care is actively seeking franchise partners as they continue their growth throughout the United States.
"Our most successful franchisees are ambitious, people-oriented leaders who show humanity and have an affinity for helping the elderly and those with other needs," said Jason Wiedder. "With excellent service being our priority, it's extremely important to us to partner with those who possesses strong operational skills and a passion for providing unmatched services and personal care."
Including the franchise fee, the initial investment for an Executive Home Care franchise is between $99,000 to $175,000. For more information about Executive Home Care's franchising opportunities, please visit www.executivehomecarefranchise.com.
As the nation's leading in-home care provider, Executive Care offers a wide range of service options and care programs with the goal of improving the quality of life and establishing peace of mind for both clients and their families. The brand recognizes individuals are much more comfortable living in their own homes, amidst their personal treasures and familiar surroundings, and it is their mission to enhance the well-being of those in need with a commitment to service excellence. For more information, please visit www.executivehomecare.com
Contact: Grant Hennessy, Franchise Elevator PR, 630-453-8187, ghennessy@franchiseelevator.com
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SOURCE Executive Home Care | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/executive-home-care-reveals-national-franchise-expansion-plans-demand-in-home-care-continues-grow/ | 2022-07-05T17:45:04Z |
- Employees admit to risky decision making (45%) and sending emails in error (62%) resulting from an intense hybrid working environment
- Security training is failing - 76% of IT leaders think that data security training alone will reduce email security mistakes yet 33% of employees don't recall any data security training in the last two years
- IT leaders (91%) say they could be more progressive in how they manage risk and should regularly review their approach to email security (72%)
LONDON, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Information security processes may hurt more than they help, diminishing staff focus and opening businesses up to a greater risk of data breaches, according to the latest research from Zivver, a leader in secure communication solutions. Surveying over 6,000 end users and 850 IT decision makers in Europe and the US, this is one of the largest global surveys into secure digital communications and employee productivity.
"Freedom to Focus: securely empowered employees, protected businesses" report examines the balance between having the ability to focus and outbound data security breaches, revealing that half of the employees (50%) found that IT security slowed them down and made them less productive, leading to a likely email error as their mind is distracted from the job at hand. Meanwhile, the majority of employees (78%) felt that the IT environment requires them to grapple with too many arduous IT security protocols and disparate IT systems, hindering productivity and increasing the risk of mistakes. Most IT leaders (82%) echoed these sentiments, recognizing employees' right to focus, free of distractions.
Despite growing cyber security threats, the findings highlighted a significant disconnect between IT leaders and employees when it came to data security training. Only a third of employees (36%) spoke of putting their data security training into practice, while another third (33%) questioned its value in the first place. On the other hand, IT leaders view training as essential (85%), and three quarters (76%) recognized its advantages in reducing email security errors. This disparity is noteworthy because most employees (88%) predominantly rely on, and prefer to use, email for doing their job while, feeling it is a safe channel of communication. The data clearly shows that cybersecurity training is not working, especially in silos. With data leaks on the rise, organizations need to move quickly to use smart technology to bridge this gap, preventing any behaviors that could lead to an outbound risk before it even happens. In fact, four in five (79%) IT leaders think that smarter email data security could reduce errors.
This issue comes at a time when the risk of a data breach through outbound email is higher than ever. Headlines typically focus on high-profile sophisticated cyber-attacks as a means to access confidential data. However, the real risk to organizations has gone under-reported. The research uncovered that a third of IT leaders (33%) believe sensitive data has been put at risk due to outbound emails.
The research also found the widespread use of digital communications tools to assist employees in hybrid work environments is causing collaboration overload – driving employees to distraction (34%) increasing stress (29%), causing difficulties in switching off (25%), and increasing data security concerns (23%).
Zivver's findings raise important questions for organizations on how to improve employee engagement with security policies that ultimately avoid data leaks. Almost all of IT leaders (91%) agree, saying they could be more progressive in how they manage risk and should regularly review their approach to email security (72%). Part of this review entails the ramp up of smart technology that works towards replacing an over-reliance on training – which is seen by staff and IT teams alike as putting an unfair pressure on the workforce to act as the first line of defense.
Wouter Klinkhamer, CEO at Zivver, said: "We can try to design cybersecurity so employees don't make errors, but errors are ubiquitous. The best businesses are those that best manage employee mistakes to prevent them from turning into a security incident. IT teams need to engage with employees without security measures getting in their way and create an effortless and frictionless experience by tailoring security policies and technology to them. Only then can employees truly be empowered in their work, with the freedom to focus without the distraction of clunky IT processes."
These sentiments overlap with IT leaders who see the same barriers impacting employee productivity and mental health, but to a higher degree. Two thirds of employees (62%) said they make more email errors at work when they are time-poor or distracted (59%) and stressed and frustrated (37%). Indeed, IT professionals (33%) spoke of data loss due to employees attaching the incorrect documents in emails.
Klinkhamer continued: "It is up to business leaders to act with intent to provide workers with the smart technology. With the ability to send emails in a highly secure and unobtrusive way and flagging potential mistakes in advance, employees are empowered to be effective and secure in their day-to-day work."
Steven Bond, Information Rights Manager at The Open University added: "Email has been heavily relied upon for decades now, for better or worse, to disseminate the lion's share of communication – from inconsequential one liners to mass broadcasts. As more people than ever have been working remotely, email security has surged up the agenda for businesses. Supporting people to be able to make better decisions, implement effortless tools, and avoid being overloaded should be key drivers for businesses."
About the survey
The survey comprises of 6031 interviews with employees who use email at work and 855 IT decision makers with responsibility / influence over data security. All respondents work in organisations with 250+ employees across US, UK, Netherlands, France, Germany, and Belgium. The research took place in March 2022.
Read it here: https://www.zivver.com/freedom-to-focus
About Zivver
Zivver leads the 3rd generation of secure digital communications and provides effortless, smart and secure technology to organizations to safeguard sensitive information, while ensuring regulatory compliance and empowering individuals to work with minimal disruption. Zivver optimizes secure communications and productivity by adding a security and privacy layer on top of existing email systems, such as Outlook (Desktop and Microsoft 365) and Gmail. Founded in 2015, Zivver serves over 5,000 organizations across multiple markets and verticals including Financial Services, Local Government, Healthcare, Central Government, Legal and more. Zivver was identified as a representative vendor for Email Data Protection Specialists in Gartner's 2021 and 2020 Market Guide for Email Security; is one of the CyberTech 100, which recognizes the world's most innovative CyberTech companies for financial services, and is amongst the fastest-growing technology companies being nominated for Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 in 2021.
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SOURCE Zivver | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/98-employees-call-freedom-focus-their-roles-face-bureaucratic-it-security-overload-communication-platforms/ | 2022-05-17T13:05:16Z |
Record Revenue Since Company Inception
Q2 2022 Net Revenue Increased 14.6% Compared to Prior Quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Margin Expanded Approximately 220 Basis Points Compared to Prior Quarter
NEW YORK, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. ("AWH" or the "Company") (CSE: AAWH.U) (OTCQX: AAWH), a vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator focused on bettering lives through cannabis, today reported its financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2022 ("Q2 2022"). Financial results are reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and all currency is in U.S. dollars.
Q2 2022 Financial Highlights
- Gross Revenue increased 16.2% quarter-over-quarter and increased 20.7% year-over-year, to $117.7 million.
- Net revenue, which excludes intercompany sale of wholesale products, increased 14.6% quarter-over-quarter and 17.0% year-over-year, to $97.5 million.
- Retail revenue grew 19.4% quarter-over-quarter to $75.6 million. Gross wholesale revenue grew 11.0% quarter-over-quarter to $42.1 million and wholesale, net of intercompany sales, grew 0.7% to $21.9 million.
- Net loss decreased to $21.2 million during the quarter, compared to a net loss of $27.8 million in Q1 2022.
- Adjusted EBITDA1 was $20.9 million, representing a 21.4% margin, a ~220 basis point margin expansion quarter-over-quarter.
- As of June 30, 2022, cash and cash equivalents were $140.6 million, and net debt2 was $152.7 million.
Business Highlights
- The Company started adult-use sales at its Rochelle Park, New Jersey dispensary on April 21st, with store sales reaching as high as $1.25 million in a single week. Subsequent to quarter end, the Company opened its Fort Lee, New Jersey dispensary for medical sales. The Company expects to begin selling adult-use cannabis at its Montclair, New Jersey store on August 19th, pending approval by the township, followed by adult-use sales in Fort Lee this fall. The Company added 4,000 square feet of canopy in New Jersey for a total of 20,000 square feet of canopy in the state and 217,000 square feet overall.
- In Q2 2022, AWH opened its East Lansing, Michigan dispensary, which, combined with Fort Lee, New Jersey brings the Company's current total to 22 operating dispensaries.
- The Company began construction at its cultivation facility in Smithfield, Pennsylvania. During the remainder of the year, AWH will build out the facility and begin constructing its six planned dispensaries in Pennsylvania.
- AWH closed on $65 million of the remaining funding available under the accordion feature of its existing Senior Secured Term Loan (the "Loan"), bringing the total debt financing from the Loan to $275 million. This capital will support the Company's growth and expansion initiatives in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other states.
- Subsequent to quarter end, the Company announced that it entered into a definitive agreement providing AWH the option to acquire 100% of the equity of Ohio Patient Access ("OPA"), which owns and operates three Ohio dispensaries that are in the process of being built in Cincinnati, Piqua, and Sandusky. The addition of OPA's three dispensaries will increase AWH's Ohio footprint to five dispensaries, the maximum permitted by the State. The Company also signed two agreements to acquire two dispensary licenses in Illinois from separate sellers. Once closed, the Company would have ten dispensaries in Illinois, which would maximize scale and bring the Company to the state-imposed cap of ten.
Management Commentary
"We are pleased with our financial performance for the quarter, with upwards of 15% revenue growth and operating leverage which drove a 220 basis point increase in Adjusted EBITDA margins," said Abner Kurtin CEO and Co-Founder. "The key driver of these results was the commencement of adult-use sales at our Rochelle Park, New Jersey dispensary, one of the top performing stores in the state. Ascend is extremely well positioned to benefit from adult-use sales in New Jersey, because of our attractive collection of assets combined with high operating leverage given our focused portfolio. Outside of New Jersey, the rest of the business across the portfolio also exceeded expectations. Furthermore, we were pleased to announce important acquisitions in Ohio and Illinois, which bring us to the retail cap in both states, positioning us to be a leader in the Midwest. This growth is supported by one of the top balance sheets in the industry with $141 million of cash and no near term maturities."
Q2 2022 Financial Overview
Net revenue, which excludes intercompany sale of wholesale products, was $97.5 million, representing a 17.0% year-over year increase, primarily driven by new retail stores and higher wholesale volumes sold. Net revenue increased 14.6% quarter-over-quarter, primarily driven by the start of adult-use sales in New Jersey and increases in wholesale volumes and realized pricing in New Jersey and Michigan.
Total retail revenue in the second quarter of 2022 was $75.6 million, which represents a 19.4% increase compared to the prior quarter and was driven by the start of adult-use sales at the Rochelle Park, New Jersey dispensary.
Gross wholesale revenue increased to $42.1 million, an 11.0% sequential increase, driven by growth in intercompany wholesale sales. Net wholesale revenue increased 0.7% sequentially to $21.9 million, driven by increased pricing and volumes sold in New Jersey and Michigan, partially offset by lower pricing in Illinois and lower volume sold in Massachusetts.
Q2 2022 gross profit was $33.0 million, or 33.8% of revenue, compared to $23.4 million, or 27.6% of revenue, in the prior quarter. The sequential increase was driven by adult use sales in New Jersey; reductions in startup costs as a percentage of revenue; sequential improvements in standalone retail and wholesale gross margins; and an increase in AWH manufactured products sold at AWH retail locations.
Q2 2022 Adjusted Gross Profit1 was $44.4 million, or 45.6% of revenue, compared to $36.5 million, or 42.9% of revenue, in the prior quarter. Adjusted Gross Profit1 excludes depreciation and amortization included in cost of goods sold, equity-based compensation included in cost of goods sold, and non-cash inventory adjustments. Adjusted Gross Profit1 margin increased 268 basis points driven by increased pricing in New Jersey, higher wholesale volume throughput in Michigan, and higher intercompany sales as a percentage of wholesale sales.
Total Q2 2022 general and administrative ("G&A") expenses were $33.6 million, compared to $33.2 million in the prior quarter (excluding litigation settlement). Total G&A expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased from 39.0% of revenue in the prior quarter to 34.4% of revenue as more assets came online.
Net loss attributable to AWH in the second quarter of 2022 was $21.2 million, or a loss of $0.11 per basic and diluted common share, which was primarily driven by operating costs and tax expenses.
Adjusted EBITDA1, which adjusts for tax, interest, depreciation, amortization, equity-based compensation, and other items deemed one-time in nature, was $20.9 million in Q2 2022. This represents a 27.6% increase quarter-over-quarter. Adjusted EBITDA Margin1 of 21.4% represented a 220 basis point increase compared to the prior quarter driven by improved operating leverage as more assets came online.
Non-GAAP Financial Information
This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including Adjusted Gross Profit, Adjusted Gross Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP are included in the financial schedules attached to this press release. This information should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for, or superior to, any measure of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Conference Call and Webcast
AWH will host a conference call on August 15, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The conference call may be accessed by dialing (888) 390-0605 with conference ID 06364687. A live audio webcast of the call will also be available on the Investor Relations section of AWH's website at https://www.awholdings.com/investors and will be archived for replay.
About Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.
AWH is a vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator with licenses and assets in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. AWH owns and operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, growing award-winning strains and producing a curated selection of products for retail and wholesale customers. AWH produces and distributes its in-house Simply Herb, Ozone, and Ozone Reserve branded products. For more information, visit www.awholdings.com.
Additional information relating to the Company's second quarter 2022 results is available on the Investor Relations section of AWH's website at https://awholdings.com/investors/, the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and Canada's System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes forward-looking information and statements, which may include, but are not limited to, the plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company. Words such as "expects", "continue", "will", "anticipates" and "intends" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information and statements. Without limiting the generality of the preceding statement, all statements in this press release relating to estimated and projected revenue, expectations regarding production capacity, anticipated capital expenditures, expansion, profit, product demand, margins, costs, cash flows, sources of capital, growth rates and future financial and operating results are forward-looking information and statements. We caution investors that any such forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current projections and expectations about future events and financial trends, the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, and on certain assumptions and analysis made by the Company in light of the experience of the Company and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors management believes are appropriate.
Forward-looking information and statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information and statements herein. Such factors include, among others, the risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in the Company's other reports and filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulators on its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking information and statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such information and statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking information and statements. Any forward-looking information and statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking information and statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward looking information and statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release.
ASCEND WELLNESS HOLDINGS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
ASCEND WELLNESS HOLDINGS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
ASCEND WELLNESS HOLDINGS, INC.
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
ASCEND WELLNESS HOLDINGS, INC.
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
ASCEND WELLNESS HOLDINGS, INC.
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
ASCEND WELLNESS HOLDINGS, INC.
RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED)
We define "Adjusted Gross Profit" as gross profit excluding non-cash inventory costs, which include depreciation and amortization included in cost of goods sold, equity-based compensation included in cost of goods sold, start-up costs included in cost of goods sold, and other non-cash inventory adjustments. We define "Adjusted Gross Margin" as Adjusted Gross Profit as a percentage of net revenue. Our "Adjusted EBITDA" is a non-GAAP measure used by management that is not defined by U.S. GAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. We define "Adjusted EBITDA Margin" as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net revenue. Management calculates Adjusted EBITDA as the reported net loss, adjusted to exclude: income tax expense; other (income) expense; interest expense, depreciation and amortization; depreciation and amortization included in cost of goods sold; non-cash inventory adjustments; equity-based compensation; equity-based compensation included in cost of goods sold; start-up costs; start-up costs included in cost of goods sold; transaction-related and other non-recurring expenses; litigation settlement; and loss on sale of assets. Accordingly, management believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides meaningful and useful financial information, as this measure demonstrates the operating performance of the business. Non-GAAP financial measures may be considered in addition to the results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, but they should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, U.S. GAAP results.
The following table presents Adjusted Gross Profit for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
The following table presents Adjusted EBITDA for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
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SOURCE Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/awh-announces-q2-2022-financial-results/ | 2022-08-15T20:24:12Z |
Did you lose money on investments in Energy Transfer? If so, please visit Energy Transfer LP Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com to discuss your rights.
NEW YORK, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP announces that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the common shares of Energy Transfer LP ("Energy Transfer" or the "Company") (NYSE: ET) between April 13, 2017 and December 20, 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.
Energy Transfer, a Delaware company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, was founded in 1996 and became a publicly traded partnership in 2006. The Partnership was formerly known as Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and changed its name to Energy Transfer LP in October 2018. Energy Transfer is a company engaged in natural gas and propane pipeline transport. Energy Transfer LP, through its subsidiaries, provides transportation, storage, and terminalling services for products like natural gas, crude oil, Natural Gas Liquids ("NGL"), and refined products.
In the Complaint, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (a) Energy Transfer had inadequate internal controls and procedures to prevent contractors from engaging in illegal conduct with regards to drilling activities, and/or failed to properly mitigate known issues related to such controls and procedures; (b) Energy Transfer, through its subsidiary Rover Pipeline, LLC ("Rover"), hired a third-party contractor to conduct Horizontal Directional Drilling Activities ("HDD") for the Rover Pipeline Project (the "Project"), whose conduct of adding illegal additives in the drilling mud caused severe pollution near the Tuscarawas River when a large inadvertent release took place on April 13, 2017 (the "April 13 Release"); and (c) Energy Transfer continually downplayed its potential civil liabilities when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") was actively investigating Energy Transfer's wrongdoing related to the April 13 Release and consistently provided it with updated information about FERC's findings on this matter. These issues were foreseeably likely to subject Energy Transfer to increased governmental scrutiny and enforcement, as well as increased reputational and financial harm, and would also materially impact Energy Transfer's financial results.
On August 8, 2019, Energy Transfer filed its quarterly report on Form 10-Q with the SEC, reporting the Partnership's financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 (the "2Q19 10-Q"). The 2Q19 10-Q disclosed that two years earlier, in mid-2017, FERC Enforcement Staff began a non-public formal investigation "regarding allegations that diesel fuel may have been included in the drilling mud at the Tuscarawas River HDD."
As a result of this news, the price of Energy Transfer stock declined 4.6% over two trading days, to close at $13.38 on August 12, 2019.
Then on December 16, 2021, FERC publicly issued to Energy Transfer an Order To Show Cause And Notice of Proposed Penalty (the "FERC Order"), which proposed a $40 million fine for the inadvertent release incident. On this news, the price of Energy Transfer shares declined 2.8% over the course of two trading days, to close at $8.25, on December 20, 2021.
If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 2, 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 ET common shares, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Energy Transfer LP 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.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/energy-transfer-lp-nyse-et-shareholder-class-action-alert-bernstein-liebhard-llp-announces-that-securities-class-action-lawsuit-has-been-filed-against-energy-transfer-lp-nyse-et/ | 2022-06-06T22:44:12Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — The day has come. It has finally arrived and we are going to be celebrating with all of our hearts, and taste buds.
That’s right, it’s Wednesday, July 13! Not what you expected to read? Well, this day is special because it’s National French Fry Day! On this day we shall celebrate as a country for one of the greatest side items known to mankind. Whether you’re eating a burger, chicken, steak, fish, or vegan food, french fries will always be there to make your meal delicious.
NationalToday explains where exactly fries came from, “Potatoes were being fried in Belgium way before the French, but more on that later. When it comes to the tastiest French fries on the planet, everyone seems to have an opinion. It’s a time-consuming decision to find your favorite because no two restaurants seem to have the same recipe.”
We wanted to make sure you can get the best fries in Dallas and not waste time attempting to perfect your at-home fries today because who needs a hot kitchen when it’s so hot outside? We checked out Yelp’s list of the best fries in Dallas:
- Potato Corner
- Hopdoddy Burger Bar – Uptown
- Rodeo Goat
- Fish & Fizz – North Dallas
- Maple Leaf Diner – North Dallas
- Jimmys Big Burgers
- Vegan Food House – Oak Cliff
- Chip’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers
- Whiskers Fish & Burgers
- Streets Fine Chicken – Oak Lawn
- Angry Dog
Now, if you don’t mind we’ll be munching on some delicious Dallas fries. If you want more options to pick from, click here for more from Yelp. | https://cw33.com/lifestyle/food-and-drink/list-eat-at-these-spots-in-dallas-to-decide-who-really-has-the-best-french-fries-in-town/ | 2022-07-13T17:12:30Z |
Faster than any shark alive today and big enough to eat an orca in just five bites: A new study suggests the extinct shark known as a megalodon was an even more impressive superpredator than scientists realized before.
The Otodus megalodon, the inspiration behind the 2018 film "The Meg," lived more than 23 million years ago. Fossils of the extinct giant are hard to come by: While there are plenty of fossilized shark teeth, their bodies mainly consist of cartilage rather than bones, and are rarely preserved.
A research team led by Jack Cooper, a paleobiologist at Swansea University, set out to use 3D modeling from a rare and exceptionally well-preserved megalodon spinal column to extrapolate information about the shark's movement and behavior. Their research was published in Science Advances Wednesday.
"We estimate that an adult O. megalodon could cruise at faster absolute speeds than any shark species today and fully consume prey the size of modern apex predators," wrote the researchers.
Most of what we know about megalodons come from scientific inferences: Scientists have estimated the extinct sharks could be as long as 65 feet through a comparison with great white sharks, thought of as their "best available ecological analog," since they both occupy the top rung in the food chain, according to the article.
The researchers used a megalodon vertebral column from Belgium, a tooth from the United States, and the chondrocranium -- the cartilaginous equivalent of a skull -- from a great white shark to build their 3D skeleton. Then they used a full-body scan of a great white shark to estimate how flesh would sit on the megalodon's skeleton.
With a complete 3D rendering, they came up with estimates for the volume and body mass of the shark's whole body. By comparing the figures to the size of modern sharks, they estimated the shark's swimming speed, stomach value, calorie needs, and prey encounter rates.
The megalodon they modeled would have been almost 16 meters, or 52 feet, long. It weighed around 61,560 kilograms, or 135,717 pounds, according to their estimates.
They estimated the megalodon would have been able to devour prey the size of orca whales -- which can be up to 26 feet long and weigh over 8,000 pounds -- in just five bites.
Prey the size of a modern humpback whale would have been too big for a megalodon to eat in full, according to the researchers. Eating large prey may have given the megalodon a competitive edge over other predators. Eating large amounts at a time would have also allowed them to travel great distances without eating again, much like modern great white sharks.
An adult megalodon would have needed to eat a whopping 98,175 calories per day, 20 times higher than an adult great white shark. They could have met their energetic needs by eating around 31.9 kilograms of shark muscle, according to the researchers' estimates.
The megalodon was also faster than any shark alive, with a theoretical average cruising speed of around 3.1 mph. This speed would have allowed it to encounter more prey, helping it meet its massive caloric demands.
Overall, the data extrapolated from the 3D model paints the portrait of a "transoceanic superpredator," say the researchers.
Luckily, today's orcas don't have to worry about running into the massive shark. The megalodon went extinct around 3.6 million years ago, according to the United Kingdom's Natural History Museum, for reasons scientists are still trying to understand.
Austin Riley hit a three-run homer Friday night for the surging Atlanta Braves, who beat the visiting Houston Astros 6-2 in the first game between the clubs since last October's World Series. Click for more.
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COLUMBIA, Md. , May 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With its observations of a special pair of stars at a special moment in their lives, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is shedding new light on stardust.
Over an interval of 387 days, a giant star in the constellation Aquarius periodically has a dramatic change in its brightness. This is because the star falls into a category called Mira variables, which pulsate over long periods and surround themselves in a shell of dust.
But this isn't just any Mira variable. The star is one of two in a binary star system known as R Aquarii, where it has a companion white dwarf. The two orbit one another, and the white dwarf crosses in front of the Mira variable every 43.6 years, causing an eclipse from the perspective of a viewer on Earth.
Another feature that's special about R Aquarii is that the periastron, or the point in the orbit where the two stars are closest to each other, happens during the eclipse. This means that as the eclipse occurs – and the pair gets dimmer and dimmer, overall – the white dwarf and the Mira variable get closer and closer together. The white dwarf accretes more and more of the dust surrounding the Mira variable, and, because of this optimal geometry, we get to watch this process occur.
Since 2016, SOFIA, a joint project of NASA and the German Space Agency at DLR, has been monitoring the onset of the eclipse, which started in 2018, with periastron expected to occur in 2023. The flow of dust can be inferred at mid-infrared wavelengths, and SOFIA's infrared camera, FORCAST, has just the right angular resolution to watch.
By combining what they know about the system – the distance between the two stars, the fact that an eclipse is ongoing, and predictions of how much dust there is – astronomers can figure out the balance between the amount of dust escaping the Mira variable and how much is being accreted by the white dwarf. These are "both very big questions," said Ravi Sankrit, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore and first author on a recent paper published in The Astrophysical Journal about SOFIA's 2018 and 2019 observations of R Aquarii.
"It's an opportunity to see it in a unique way, because the material that's being accreted isn't obscured by the Mira, it's right out in front," added Steven Goldman, a scientist with Universities Space Research Association, based at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. Goldman is a co-author on the paper, which looks at how the onset of the eclipse is beginning to affect the dust surrounding the system.
Since the two stars move from being very far apart to very close to one another, their dust is constantly changing. Continued mid-infrared monitoring is required to fully understand how the dust is affected by the stars' orbit.
"Binarity, winds, jet formation, mass loss, and accretion are fundamental astrophysics," Sankrit said. "So, the real excitement here is that you're getting something that is on a human timescale probing very fundamental aspects of astrophysics."
The physics that Sankrit, Goldman, and their team are uncovering is applicable to more than just R Aquarii. There are hundreds of other similar binaries, and those are just the ones we know of. These other binary systems are likely experiencing the same phenomenon but aren't oriented correctly for us to be able to see their periastron and the changes in their surrounding dust.
Additional Resources: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ac4792
About SOFIA
SOFIA is a joint project of NASA and the German Space Agency at DLR. DLR provides the telescope, scheduled aircraft maintenance, and other support for the mission. NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley manages the SOFIA program, science, and mission operations in cooperation with the Universities Space Research Association, headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, and the German SOFIA Institute at the University of Stuttgart. The aircraft is maintained and operated by NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703, in Palmdale, California. SOFIA achieved full operational capability in 2014, and the mission will conclude no later than Sept. 30, 2022. SOFIA will continue its regular operations until then, including science flights and a deployment to New Zealand this summer.
About USRA
Founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), is a nonprofit corporation chartered to advance space-related science, technology and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities, and conducts other major research and educational programs. USRA engages the university community and employs in-house scientific leadership, innovative research and development, and project management expertise. More information about USRA is available at www.usra.edu.
PR Contact:
Suraiya Farukhi, Ph.D.
sfarukhi@usra.edu
443-812-6945 (cell)
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SOURCE Universities Space Research Association | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/20/sofia-watches-binary-star-systems-eclipse/ | 2022-05-20T17:34:32Z |
WESTBURY, N.Y., June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Paylogix®, the premium technology solution provider in the administration of voluntary benefits welcomes Salary Finance Inc., the leading global provider of socially responsible financial products in the workplace as the newest provider to their Co-Op Funding Program.
"We pride ourselves in delivering the best in voluntary benefits to the insurance industry," said Richard Pfadenhauer, CISSP, president and founder. "Salary Finance is providing a valuable service to American workers with beneficial solutions. This partnership will be invaluable to brokers by simplifying the administration of these benefits to their clients."
"Total household debt spiked to its highest level since 2007. American workers are struggling. A perfect storm of high inflation, a restrictive housing market, bloated student loans, and the elimination of the child tax credit has led to an increase in financial stress," Dan Macklin, CEO, Salary Finance, said. "We're thrilled to partner with Paylogix, a trusted benefits partner for insurance brokers and leading enterprise employers, to make it easy for employees using Paylogix to enroll in and use their Salary Finance benefits."
Through the Paylogix platform, brokers can merge multiple products from multiple vendors and carriers into one online Consolidated Billing® statement. Brokers who offer Salary Finance voluntary benefits will have access to the full suite of Paylogix® enrollment and billing solutions. Through partnerships with over 60 benefit providers nationwide, Paylogix® can provide this service at no additional cost to brokers or their clients.
About Salary Finance
Salary Finance's mission is to improve the financial health of working Americans by providing access to socially responsible financial products in the workplace. When employees can access affordable credit, reduce bad debt, and increase their savings, they're happier and more productive at work, and more likely to achieve long-term financial stability. Employers benefit from improved retention and engagement, at no additional cost.
About Paylogix®
Paylogix® is the trusted premium technology solution provider for efficiency and transparency in the administration of voluntary benefits. Our thoughtfully designed tools to facilitate enrollment through billing processes, are automated, innovative, and secure to provide users with the data they need, when they need it. If you are an insurance carrier, broker, or enrollment company, interested in learning more about how Paylogix® can help provide accurate and more efficient enrollment and billing processes, visit http://www.paylogix.com or email info@paylogix.com for more information.
Media Contact:
Lisa Sanderson, Paylogix
lisas@paylogix.com 516-570-9987
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SOURCE Paylogix | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/paylogix-welcomes-salary-finance-inc-newest-member-their-co-op-funding-program/ | 2022-06-01T20:27:13Z |
The Mexican region ships the first truck of avocados across the border, strengthening Mexico's status as the number one source of the beloved fruit
DALLAS, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mexican avocado industry is celebrating the first-ever delivery of fresh avocados to cross the border from the Mexican state of Jalisco into the United States. The agreement was first announced in 2021 by Mexican authorities with the United States to allow avocado imports from the additional Mexican state.
Jalisco now joins the state of Michoacán, delivering fresh, quality avocados to meet the growing demand in the U.S. Michoacán exports billions of pounds of avocados to the United States each year1. The Michoacán region meets the ideal conditions for producing and harvesting the freshest avocados year-round, with its rich volcanic soil, natural irrigation, and unique topography. Now, combined with Jalisco's summer crop, the opportunity for high-quality Mexican avocados to reach U.S. consumers' table will be even stronger.
"Our expansion into the Jalisco region will strengthen our grower base and allow us to increase our import numbers, enhancing our mission of providing consumers with the freshest avocados year-round," said Ron Campbell, Executive Director at the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association.
In fact, the demand for avocados has grown dramatically over the last twenty years. In the past 7 years alone, U.S. consumption of Avocados From Mexico, the number one selling avocado brand in the United States, has doubled – now at more than 8 pounds per capita per year2. In 2021, the United States imported $3.0 billion avocados, with $2.8 billion coming from Mexico (92%) – that's 1.2 million metric tons of avocados coming from Mexico just last year. And, since 1997 when Mexico first began exporting, production has grown, with the supply of Mexican avocados in the U.S. reaching more than 2 billion pounds.3
"This first export of avocados from Jalisco will only improve the already positive economic benefits of avocado imports from Mexico," said Campbell. As Mexican avocado imports move through the food supply chain, they contribute $6.5 billion in economic output and $4 billion in GDP in the U.S. economy.4 "In fact, because Avocados From Mexico has tapped into U.S. culinary trends of consumers, it's boosted avocado consumption by over 600%, an impressive 10% average annual growth rate4 and we expect it only to increase."
The Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico (APEAM A.C.), the only cooperative partner for exporting avocados into the United States, will now work closely with Jalisco to deliver even more avocados to the U.S. This new agreement will allow the import of fresh Hass avocados from Mexico to expand and will operate under the Cooperative Service Agreement between the USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and APEAM. The new agreement integrates 695 orchards, 9,441 hectares, 11 packing houses and 10 municipalities in Jalisco.
Unmatched Commitment to Quality, Sustainability, Safety and Traceability in the Supply Chain
Avocados imported from Jalisco will adhere to the same standards to provide consumers in the U.S. with the high-quality avocados they know and expect from Mexico. In fact, the industry goes above and beyond standards to ensure every avocado meets consumer expectations of flavor and consistency.
And, with a strong commitment to sustainable practices, the avocado industry, its members, and its success depend on the conservation of the natural environment, soil, forests, and water, as well as the economic security of its fundamental communities in Mexico.
APEAM's close partnership with the USDA ensures that all avocado growers and packers in Mexico comply with the most stringent phytosanitary rules and regulations. Alongside the USDA, APEAM ensures that all growers and packers adhere to good agricultural practices (GAP) and the highest quality and food safety standards. Through every step of the supply chain, the industry enacts rigorous guidelines, and these standards start at the orchards. To confirm that phytosanitary requirements are being executed throughout the orchards and packing houses, nearly 90 USDA regulatory officers and 12 administrative staff systematically conduct a series of inspections. All export-certified orchards and packing houses require these inspections before they can be harvested and exported to the U.S. The USDA's partnership with APEAM is the backbone of the avocado industry in Mexico – their attention to phytosanitary standards, food safety and the industry's commitment to traceability and quality is a strong indication of the close cooperation between the two nations and ensures an abundant supply of avocados all year long.
For more information on the journey of avocados from Mexico to the United States, visit www.AvocadoInstitute.org
About Avocados From Mexico
Avocados From Mexico (AFM) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association (MHAIA), formed for the purpose of advertising, promotion, public relations and research for all stakeholders of Avocados From Mexico. Under agreements, MHAIA and the Association of Avocado Exporting Producers & Packers of Mexico (APEAM) have combined resources to fund and manage AFM, with the intent to provide a focused, highly- effective and efficient marketing program in the United States. AFM is headquartered in Irving, Texas.
- Hass Avocado Board Volume Data
- Hass Avocado Board 2020 US Census Data
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
- According to a Texas A&M Study, between 1989/1990 and 2019/2020
Media Contact:
Ana Ambrosi
aambrosi@avocadosfrommexico.com
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SOURCE Avocados From Mexico | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/mexican-avocado-industry-celebrates-first-ever-avocado-export-jalisco-united-states/ | 2022-08-01T13:02:44Z |
Practical webinar enables CPAs, accountants and tax professionals to quickly get up to speed on changes that will impact individual and business planning in 2023
RADNOR, Pa., Aug. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Surgent Accounting & Financial Education, a division of KnowFully Learning Group, today announced a new online CPE course that covers changes to the tax code included in the Inflation Reduction Act, which just passed the House and is on its way to President Biden's desk for his signature. Airing live on Tuesday, August 16 with subsequent dates throughout August, "Summary and Analysis of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IR22)" will provide a deep dive into all aspects of legislation that will impact tax planning for both individual and business clients.
Surgent's experts closely watched the ups and downs of various tax legislation proposals introduced throughout 2022 with a commitment to launch a course as soon as the bill became law. The final legislation addresses climate change, the high cost of prescription drugs and attempts to lower the deficit by $300 billion.
"As is our practice, we at Surgent are bringing you all the pertinent tax provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act," said Nick Spoltore, Surgent's vice president of strategic content development. "We understand that accounting and finance professionals will, of course, look to us for the particulars on the corporate minimum book tax, stock buy-back provisions, and increased IRS funding. This sweeping legislation, though, also brings about welcome changes to prescription caps for Medicare beneficiaries, healthcare subsidies, clean energy, and many other wide-reaching topics."
A panel of Surgent faculty will provide detailed information professionals can begin to apply to their practices right away, with topics including:
- 15% corporate tax
- 1% tax on the repurchase of corporate stock
- Enhancement of IRS services
- Prescription drug pricing reform, including drug price negotiation
- Maximum out-of-pocket cap for Medicare beneficiaries
- Extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies for certain individuals
- Clean energy and efficiency incentives for individuals
- Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit
- Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction (Section 179D)
- Extensions, increases, and modifications of the New Energy Efficient Home Credit
- Clean Vehicle Credit and credit for previously owned clean vehicles
- Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicles
- Transfers of certain credits to an unrelated transferee
- Increase in Research Credit against payroll tax for small businesses
"Many in the accounting and finance industry remained doubtful that any tax legislation would be enacted in 2022, but our team stayed on top of it in order to be the first to introduce the kind of timely course our learners expect from Surgent," said Liz Kolar, Surgent's executive vice-president. "When professionals deepen their knowledge, they not only gain a competitive edge, they make a bigger impact for their clients."
In addition to this CPE webinar, Surgent is also updating its 2023 curriculum to reflect the changes to the federal tax code that will soon go into effect.
"Our customers can certainly rest assured that they'll be given a treatment of this new law that is both comprehensive and engaging so that they can effectively and immediately look after their own interests and those of their clients," said Spoltore.
The two-hour course is worth two CPE credits. Learn more about and register for the new webinar here.
Surgent Accounting & Financial Education, a division of KnowFully Learning Group, is a provider of the high-impact education experiences that accounting, tax and financial professionals need throughout their careers. For most of the company's 35-year history, Surgent has been a trusted provider of the continuing professional education (CPE), continuing education (CE) and skill-based training that professionals need to maintain their credentials and stay current on industry changes. More recently, Surgent became one of the fastest-growing certification exam review providers, offering adaptive learning-based courses that help learners pass accounting and finance credentialing exams faster. Learn more at Surgent.com.
The KnowFully Learning Group provides continuing professional education, exam preparation courses and education resources to the accounting, finance and healthcare sectors. KnowFully's suite of learning solutions helps learners become credentialed, satisfy required credit hours to maintain credentials, and stay informed on the latest trends and critical changes in their industries over the course of their careers. The company provides exam preparation and continuing education for accounting, finance, and tax professionals under the Surgent Accounting & Financial Education brand. KnowFully's healthcare education brands include CME Outfitters, CE Concepts, PharmCon, The Rx Consultant, ChiroCredit, IA Med, Psychotherapy.net and American Fitness Professionals & Associates. For more information, please visit KnowFully.com.
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SOURCE Surgent Accounting & Financial Education | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/12/surgent-accounting-amp-financial-education-presents-new-online-cpe-course-tax-implications-just-passed-inflation-reduction-act/ | 2022-08-13T01:15:14Z |
Wishing Well Texoma gives Pottsboro boy his greatest wish
SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) -From singing on stage with Blake Shelton, to cruising with Mickey Mouse, one might think little Wyatt McKee has it all.
Wyatt was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, meaning the left side of his heart didn’t grow.
His family is doing everything in his power to let Wyatt live out his dreams.
And his biggest one is going on a Disney cruise.
Today the McKee family arrived at the Texas Roadhouse in Sherman, in style.
They were greeted with cheers and laughter as they had their going away party before the family set sail.
Mother Harley Mckee says, “it makes you want to cry a little bit, you know and they’re all coming out here and cheering you on and that’s all for him so it’s really awesome.”
Thanks to Wishing Well Texoma, Wyatt’s dreams are coming true.
Wyatt has gone through two surgeries and still has one to go.
Until then the family will patiently wait for a new heart for Wyatt.
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/17/wishing-well-texoma-gives-pottsboro-boy-his-greatest-wish/ | 2022-07-17T23:42:47Z |
Fate of 2,500 Ukrainian POWs from steel plant stirs concern
POKROVSK, Ukraine (AP) - With Russia claiming to have taken prisoner nearly 2,500 Ukrainian fighters from the besieged Mariupol steel plant, concerns grew about their fate as a Moscow-backed separatist leader vowed they would face tribunals.
Russia has declared its full control of the Azovstal steel plant, which for weeks was the last holdout in Mariupol and a symbol of Ukrainian tenacity in the strategic port city, now in ruins with more than 20,000 residents feared dead. The seizure gives Russian President Vladimir Putin a badly wanted victory in the war he began nearly three months ago.
As the West rallies behind Ukraine, Polish President Andrzej Duda arrived in Ukraine on an unannounced visit and will address the country’s parliament on Sunday, his office said.
Poland, which has welcomed millions of Ukrainian refugees since the start of the war, is a strong supporter of Ukraine’s desire to join the European Union. With Russia blocking Ukraine’s sea ports, Poland has become a major gateway for Western humanitarian aid and weapons going into Ukraine and has been helping Ukraine get its grain and other agricultural products to world markets.
The Russian Defense Ministry released video of Ukrainian soldiers being detained after announcing that its forces had removed the last holdouts from the Mariupol plant’s extensive underground tunnels. It said a total of 2,439 had surrendered.
Family members of the fighters, who came from a variety of military and law enforcement units, have pleaded for them to be given rights as prisoners of war and eventually returned to Ukraine. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Saturday that Ukraine “will fight for the return” of every one of them.
Denis Pushilin, the pro-Kremlin head of an area of eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, said the captured fighters included some foreign nationals, though he did not provide details. He said they were sure to face a tribunal. Russian officials and state media have sought to characterize the fighters as neo-Nazis and criminals.
“I believe that justice must be restored. There is a request for this from ordinary people, society, and, probably, the sane part of the world community,” Russian state news agency Tass quoted Pushilin as saying.
Among the defenders were members of the Azov Regiment, whose far-right origins have been seized on by the Kremlin as part of its effort to cast the invasion as a battle against Nazi influence in Ukraine.
A prominent member of Russia’s parliament, Leonid Slutsky, said Moscow was studying the possibility of exchanging the Azovstal fighters for Viktor Medvedchuk, a wealthy Ukrainian with close ties to Putin who faces criminal charges in Ukraine, the Russian news agency Interfax reported. Slutsky later walked back those remarks, saying he agreed with Pushilin that their fate should be decided by a tribunal.
The Ukrainian government has not commented on Russia’s claim of capturing Azovstal. Ukraine’s military had told the fighters their mission was complete and they could come out. It described their extraction as an evacuation, not a mass surrender.
The capture of Mariupol furthers Russia’s quest to create a land bridge from Russia stretching through the Donbas region to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014.
The impact on the broader war remained unclear. Many Russian troops already had been redeployed from Mariupol to elsewhere in the conflict.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov reported Saturday that Russia destroyed a Ukrainian special-operations base near Odesa, Ukraine’s main Black Sea port, as well as a significant cache of Western-supplied weapons in northern Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region. There was no confirmation from the Ukrainian side.
The Ukrainian military reported heavy fighting in much of the Donbas in eastern Ukraine.
“The situation in Donbas is extremely difficult,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. “As in previous days, the Russian army is trying to attack Sloviansk and Sievierodonetsk.” He said Ukrainian forces are holding off the offensive “every day.”
Sievierodonetsk is the main city under Ukrainian control in the Luhansk region, which together with the Donetsk region makes up the Donbas. Gov. Serhii Haidai said the only functioning hospital in the city has just three doctors and supplies for 10 days.
On Sunday, the British Ministry of Defense said Russia’s only operational company of BMP-T Terminator tank support vehicles, which are designed to protect main battle tanks, “has likely been deployed to the Sievierodonetsk axis of the Donbas offensive.” It said, however, with a maximum of 10 of the vehicles deployed, “they are unlikely to have a significant impact on the campaign.”
Sloviansk, in the Donetsk region, is critical to Russia’s objective of capturing all of eastern Ukraine and saw fierce fighting last month after Moscow’s troops backed off from Kyiv. Russian shelling on Saturday killed seven civilians and injured 10 more elsewhere in the region, the governor said.
A monastery in the Donetsk region village of Bohorodichne was evacuated after being hit by a Russian airstrike, the regional police said Saturday. About 100 monks, nuns and children had been seeking safe shelter in the basement of the church and no one was hurt, the police said in a Facebook post, which included a video showing extensive damage to the monastery as well as nuns, monks and children boarding vans on Friday for the evacuation.
Zelenskyy on Saturday emphasized that the Donbas remains part of Ukraine and his forces were fighting to liberate it.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, he pressed Western countries for multiple-launch rocket systems, which he said “just stand still” in other countries yet are key to Ukraine’s success.
Portugal and Poland, where Costa stopped for talks before traveling on to Kyiv, support bringing Ukraine into the European Union quickly, even if some other EU members balk at granting it speedy access.
U.S. President Joe Biden signed off Saturday on a fresh, $40 billion infusion of aid for Ukraine, with half for military assistance. Portugal pledged up to 250 million euros, as well as continued shipments of military equipment.
Mariupol, which is part of the Donbas, was blockaded early in the war and became a frightening example to people elsewhere in the country of the hunger, terror and death they might face if the Russians surrounded their communities.
The seaside steelworks, occupying some 11 square kilometers (4 square miles), were a battleground for weeks. Drawing Russian airstrikes, artillery and tank fire, the dwindling group of outgunned Ukrainian fighters held out with the help of airdrops that Zelenskyy said cost the lives of many “absolutely heroic” helicopter pilots.
The Russian Defense Ministry on Saturday released video of Russian troops taking into custody Serhiy Volynskyy, the commander of the Ukrainian Navy’s 36th Special Marine Brigade, which was one of the main forces defending the steel plant. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify the date, location and conditions of the video.
With Russia controlling the city, Ukrainian authorities are likely to face delays in documenting evidence of alleged Russian atrocities in Mariupol, including the bombings of a maternity hospital and a theater where hundreds of civilians had taken cover. Satellite images in April showed what appeared to be mass graves just outside Mariupol, where local officials accused Russia of concealing the slaughter by burying up to 9,000 civilians.
An estimated 100,000 of the 450,000 people who resided in Mariupol before the war remain. Many, trapped by Russia’s siege, were left without food, water and electricity.
The Ukrainian mayor of Mariupol warned Saturday the city is facing a health and sanitation “catastrophe” from mass burials in shallow pits across the ruined city as well as the breakdown of sewage systems. Vadim Boychenko said summer rains threaten to contaminate water sources as he pressed Russian forces to allow residents to safely leave the city.
“In addition to the humanitarian catastrophe created by the (Russian) occupiers and collaborators, the city is on the verge of an outbreak of infectious diseases,” he said on the messaging app Telegram.
___
McQuillan reported from Lviv. Stashevskyi reported from Kyiv. Associated Press journalists Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Andrea Rosa in Kharkiv, Frances D’Emilio in Rome, and other AP staffers around the world contributed.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/22/fate-2500-ukrainian-pows-steel-plant-stirs-concern/ | 2022-05-22T10:42:35Z |
TAIPEI, Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Acer Inc. (TWSE: 2353) announced its consolidated revenues for August at NT$20.24 billion with 15.9% growth month-on-month (MoM). Its year-to-August revenues were NT$188.42 billion with a decline of 7.9% year-on-year (YoY). Business highlights include revenues from:
- Vero eco-conscious line grew 146.2% in August MoM
- Desktop PC grew 9% year-to-August YoY
- Commercial business [1] grew 4.4% year-to-August YoY
While the industry is experiencing headwinds, Acer continues to enhance its business resilience through establishing multiple business engines. Its businesses other than PCs and displays contributed 24.7% of total revenues in August, and the eight public subsidiaries have all announced their August revenues. Highlights of businesses under incubation:
- Acer Gadget Inc. revenues grew 17.2% year-to-August YoY
- Acer ITS Inc. revenues grew 117.4% year-to-August YoY
- Altos Computing Inc. revenues grew 131.1% year-to-August YoY
- MPS Energy Inc. revenues grew 47.3% year-to-August YoY
- AcerPure Inc. revenues grew 76.3% year-to-August YoY
About Acer
Founded in 1976, Acer is one of the world's top ICT companies with a presence in more than 160 countries. As Acer evolves with the industry and changing lifestyles, it is focused on enabling a world where hardware, software and services will fuse with one another, creating ecosystems and opening up new possibilities for consumers and businesses alike. Acer's 7,500 employees are dedicated to the research, design, marketing, sale, and support of products and solutions that break barriers between people and technology. Please visit www.acer.com for more information.
© 2022 Acer Inc. All rights reserved. Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and/or service marks, indicated or otherwise, are the property of their respective owners. All offers subject to change without notice or obligation and may not be available through all sales channels. Prices listed are manufacturer suggested retail prices and may vary by location. Applicable sales tax extra.
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SOURCE Acer | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/acer-reports-august-consolidated-revenues-nt-2024-billion-with-159-growth-month-on-month/ | 2022-09-08T11:01:49Z |
Shlomit Harth will help define and communicate Tenurex's revolutionary vision for correspondent banking services
TEL AVIV, Israel , Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Israeli fintech startup TenureX has appointed Shlomit Harth, board member of Meitav, and former Gartner Vice President as an Advisory board member to help develop strategy and communicate the value of the company's disruptive technology evolution to the Financial Community.
The company believes that Shlomit will play a crucial role in advising on TenureX's branding and long-term marketing strategy. Using her expertise, she is well positioned to help Tenurex shape and communicate the narrative around TenureX's "correspondent banking in a box" platform, reviving a once-moribund industry by slashing the cost, complexity, and risk of partnering with correspondent banks.
Shlomit Harth brings three decades of experience in the technology and fintech industries, including nearly 20 years as a senior executive at Gartner, where she was Vice President and Israel Country Manager. Since leaving Gartner in 2019, Harth has been an active angel investor specializing in seed-stage technology startups; she is also Venture Partner at TPY Capital.
"Getting Shlomit on board is a real coup for TenureX, especially at such a crucial early stage in our story," said Izhar Arieli, co-founder, and CEO of TenureX. "When we founded the company in 2020, we were four banking industry veterans who realized that correspondent banking was broken and had a plan to fix it. But that's only half the battle - we needed someone skilled at storytelling, with unrivaled contacts throughout the industry, and who knows how to engage financial institutions and get them passionate about the new opportunities that digital technology affords."
"At TenureX, hiring the most talented people is built into our DNA, and Shlomit stands head and shoulders above everyone else," continued Arieli. "Not only has she spent two decades building partnerships at Gartner, but she is one of only a handful of senior executives that helped define new categories of technology verticals.
"It's an open secret In the financial services industry that correspondent banking is broken," said Shlomit Harth. "The continued reliance on legacy technology makes it incredibly complex and risky for financial institutions to partner with correspondent banks and prevents them from expanding into new markets and developing new international revenue streams."
"I was deeply impressed by TenureX's technology and its vision of embedding full, end-to-end data into every transaction, making it easy for financial institutions to make intelligent, strategic, and compliant decisions. Above all, I love the chutzpah: Izhar and the team know they're doing something unique and valuable; I look forward to a fruitful collaboration and company success."
About TenureX
TenureX was founded in 2020 by four banking experts with a wide variety of industry experience.
They know first-hand the frustrations and missed opportunities faced by non-bank financial institutions as they struggle to work together, and are passionate about making things simpler for everyone in correspondent banking.
The TenureX vision is to democratize correspondent banking by moving away from subjective, rigid, bilateral, relationship banking. Instead the company is building objective, streamlined, multilateral, transaction-based relationships.
For further information:
Izhar Arieli - CEO and Co-founder
Phone
+ 972 (0) - 73 – 326-0303 (ISR)
+1- 605 – 836-8739 (USA)
Email: izhar@tenurex.com
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1871833/TenureX_Shlomit_Harth.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1838172/TenureX_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE TenureX | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/tenurex-appoints-former-gartner-vp-board-advisor/ | 2022-08-03T15:23:16Z |
6 fire crew members in 1 department expecting children this year
Published: Aug. 12, 2022 at 3:40 PM EDT|Updated: 13 minutes ago
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH/Gray News) – Six crew members at a fire department in Kansas are expecting children by the end of the year.
According to KWCH, the McPherson Fire Department posted a photo on Facebook of the firefighters’ wives showing off their baby bumps while wearing their husbands’ gear.
The first of the six babies is due Sept. 27, with one other due in October, two in November and two in December.
“The joy of welcoming a baby has multiplied by six,” the fire department said in the social media post. “We feel blessed.”
Copyright 2022 KWCH via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/12/6-fire-crew-members-1-department-expecting-children-this-year/ | 2022-08-12T19:54:32Z |
CALGARY, AB, April 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Sundial Growers Inc. (NASDAQ: SNDL) ("Sundial" or the "Company") reported its financial and operational results for the full year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2021. All financial information in this press release is reported in millions of Canadian dollars and represents results from continuing operations unless otherwise indicated.
The Company will hold a conference call and webcast at 10:30 a.m. EDT (8:30 a.m. MDT) on Thursday, April 28, 2022. Please see the dial-in details within the release and additional details on Sundial's website at www.sndlgroup.com.
This press release is intended to be read in conjunction with the Company's Financial Statements and Notes for the period and the accompanying Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"). These reports are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com along with the Company's Form 20-F, which have also been filed on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
Sundial has also posted a supplemental investor presentation on its website and a Letter to Shareholders from Sundial's CEO, Zach George. Both can be found at https://sndlgroup.com/investors.
- Net revenue for 2021 of $56.1 million, a decrease of 8% over the previous year. Net revenue for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $22.7 million, an increase of 63% over the fourth quarter of 2020.
- Gross margin improvement to a loss of $7.0 million for 2021, compared to a loss of $49.9 million in the previous year, due to a lower inventory impairment provision and a more favorable sales mix of higher-margin products. Gross margin loss of $2.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to a loss of $4.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.
- Net loss from continuing operations of $230.2 million for the full year 2021 compared to $206.3 million loss in the previous year. The 2021 net loss from continuing operations includes $182.3 million of non-cash items, including asset impairment ($60 million), unrealized losses on investments in marketable securities ($44.5 million), and fair value charges on derivative warrants ($77.8 million). Net loss from continuing operations of $54.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to a loss of $64.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.
- Record Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of $32.1 million for the full year 2021, compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $25.6 million in the previous year. Adjusted EBITDA of $18.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $5.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.
- $1.1 billion of cash, marketable securities, and long-term investments, $558.3 million of unrestricted cash and no outstanding debt at December 31, 2021. $377.7 million of unrestricted cash and no outstanding debt at April 25, 2022.
- 2021 investment and fee revenue of $13.1 million, $32.9 million in share of profit from equity accounted investees and net unrealized losses on marketable securities of $44.5 million, driven primarily by declines in the share prices of Sundial's investments in Village Farms International, Inc. and The Valens Company Inc.
- Acquired Inner Spirit Holdings Ltd. ("Inner Spirit" or "Spiritleaf" and the Spiritleaf retail network) on July 20, 2021, and Alcanna Inc. ("Alcanna") on March 31, 2022, creating the largest private sector cannabis and liquor retail network in Canada.
"2021 was a transformational year for Sundial. We increased the sustainability of our business model, establishing a strong balance sheet, positive Adjusted EBITDA results, and significant improvements in gross margin," said Zach George, Chief Executive Officer of Sundial. "We continue to focus on improvements to our supply chain and manufacturing processes, against a competitive and challenging operating environment in Canada. Sundial is working to become a leading regulated product platform through leveraging consumer insights and innovation to deliver best-in-class products. We are beginning to see positive momentum across all of our key operating segments and remain committed to our goal of becoming free cash flow positive within the 2022 calendar year."
The Company's Cannabis operations comprise two segments: cannabis cultivation and production, and cannabis retail.
CANNABIS CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION
Sundial remains focused and committed to optimizing its cultivation and processing activities.
- Continuous improvement of all aspects of cultivation and processing production has supported Sundial's commitment to cultivation excellence in 2021. Sundial's average weighted potency achieved on flower lots fully tested in Olds set a record in the fourth quarter of 2021 at 22.4% THC potency. In January 2022, the Company's yield was up 58% or 61 grams per square feet versus January 2021 and its average weighted potency results based on flower lots fully tested were at 23.3%.
- Cost of sales for cannabis cultivation and production decreased significantly in 2021 from $51.7 million to $41.0 million reflecting the effects of Sundial's cost optimization efforts, offset by revenue reductions.
- Through a comprehensive review of Sundial's portfolio focused on its most profitable and higher margin SKUs, the Company has seen positive results for its premium portfolio:
- Caviar Cones were the number one concentrate SKU at launch in Alberta and British Columbia.
- Subsequent to year end, Caviar Cones remain the highest selling concentrate SKU as measured by SPPD (Sales Per Point of Distribution) within the province of Ontario.
- Subsequent to the year-end, Sundial launched a milled flower product under the Palmetto brand in select provinces. The decision to launch this new product was driven by Sundial's continued portfolio focus on inhalables.
- The net book value of Sundial's facility in Olds at December 31, 2021, was $29.9 million or $66.73 per square foot, well below replacement cost.
NET REVENUE FROM CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION
Net revenue from cultivation and production operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $40.0 million compared to $60.9 million the previous year, reflecting oversupply, price compression, and the Company's comprehensive portfolio review and SKU rationalization. For the fourth quarter of 2021, net revenue from cultivation and production operations was $12.8 million compared to $13.9 million in the prior year. Wholesale sales to licensed producers were also reduced in 2021 to $9.8 million from $18.0 million in 2020 as the Company concentrated its sales efforts on retail sales.
NET SELLING PRICE
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the average net selling price was $2.22 per gram equivalent compared to $2.59 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The decrease of $0.37 per gram equivalent was mainly due to lower prices for provincial board sales, partially offset by slightly higher prices for sales to other licensed producers and higher prices for a small amount of medical sales. Provincial board sales prices have decreased due to the continued growth of the discount segment and undersupply of available quality products. For the fourth quarter of 2021, the average net selling price was $2.45, an increase of 28% from the previous year mainly due to the rise in prices for sales to other licensed producers and reduced inventory monetization transactions, partially offset by lower prices for provincial board sales.
REVENUE BY FORMATS
In the full-year 2021, gross revenue from Sundial's formats was:
GROSS MARGIN
Gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2021, was negative $15.5 million compared to negative $49.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase of $34.4 million was due to a lower inventory impairment provision compared to the prior period as well as Sundial's ongoing focus on cost optimization, reduction of harvested inventory subject to potential impairment, and offering the most competitive and profitable strains and brands to its customers against the backdrop of industry-wide price compression and high relative operating costs at our state-of-the-art facility. This demonstrates substantial progress towards the Company's goal of sustainable positive gross margins that is critical to Sundial's success.
CANNABIS RETAIL
The Company's retail network creates an opportunity to own the relationship with cannabis consumers and showcase both Sundial's branded products and the best offerings from other Canadian licensed producers.
- Gross margin for retail operations for the period from July 20, 2021 to December 31, 2021, was $8.5 million dollars.
- As of April 25, 2022, the Spiritleaf store count is 104 (20 corporate stores and 84 Franchise stores). Spiritleaf celebrated its 100th store opening on July 1, 2021.
- Sundial launched a multi-store pilot program to improve the consumer experience through assortment, price, and engagement, to meet the diverse needs of Canadian cannabis consumers. Subsequent to the year-end, the Company expanded the pilot program from four to 22 stores due to the positive response from concierges and consumers and expects to have it in all Spiritleaf stores by the end of Q2 2022.
- Spiritleaf has launched a private label brand, Spiritleaf Selects, to drive traffic to stores and generate product exclusivity and differentiation for Spiritleaf. The new brand is expected to increase Sundial's market share in retail products and will further utilize the Company's production capacity. The Spiritleaf Selects concept is a direct result of Sundial's vertically integrated business model.
- Subsequent to the quarter end, Spiritleaf received the Franchisees' Choice Designation for 2022 as part of the Canadian Franchise Association Awards of Excellence.
REVENUE FROM RETAIL
Gross retail revenue from July 20, 2021, to December 31, 2021, was $16.1 million. Cannabis retail revenue comprised $10.2 million of retail cannabis sales to consumers at corporate-owned Spiritleaf retail cannabis stores, $4.3 million of franchise revenue, representing royalty revenue, advertising revenue and franchise fees and $1.6 million of other revenues, such as supply and accessories. Gross revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2021, was $10.0 million, comprised of retail, franchise, and other revenue.
SYSTEM-WIDE RETAIL SALES
System-wide retail sales[1] were $74.9 million from July 20, 2021, to December 31, 2021, and $41.4 million for the fourth quarter. System-wide retail sales represent the aggregate revenue earned by franchised Spiritleaf retail cannabis stores and corporate-owned Spiritleaf retail cannabis stores and do not represent revenues that accrue to the Company. The Company receives all revenues from corporate-owned Spiritleaf retail cannabis stores and royalties and advertising fees in respect of the franchised Spiritleaf retail cannabis store revenue.
Sundial's investment income is classified as income from operations, as investment activities are integral to the Company's operations.
- In 2021, the Company deployed capital into several cannabis-related investments totaling $577.9 million, including $395.6 million to the SunStream Bancorp Inc. joint venture ("SunStream"). In the fourth quarter of 2021, $89.1 million was directed to these investments, including $72.4 million to SunStream. The investment portfolio generated a net $1.6 million in investment income for the full year of 2021, including interest, fees, and gains and losses on marketable securities. Publicly disclosed strategic investments in Village Farms International, Inc. and The Valens Company Inc. resulted in unrealized losses of $64.7 million during 2021. The widespread 2021 decline in market capitalization of cannabis companies provides opportunity to Sundial through the anticipated consolidation of the Canadian industry.
- As at April 25, 2022, Sundial has invested an additional $70.3 million in the SunStream joint venture.
- The Company's portfolio of secured credit-related investments, through direct strategic investments and SunStream, currently generates a weighted-average annualized rate of return from interest of 12.3%.
- Recent developments throughout the North American cannabis industry including merger and acquisition activity, have impacted Sundial's direct cannabis-related investments and the SunStream credit portfolio. Sundial believes that this activity will ultimately result in stronger risk adjusted returns and capital recycling for the SunStream credit portfolio but it has also resulted in the need to delay the previously announced initial public offering of SunStream IVXX, the specialty finance company associated with SunStream. Sundial expects additional portfolio scale and increased certainty of portfolio composition will create a more suitable context for the completion of the initial public offering in the future.
Revenue from investments in the fourth quarter of 2021 was negative $18.8 million, including unrealized losses on marketable securities of $43.8 million, due to fluctuations in share prices from our portfolio of equity cannabis-related investments.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021, were $38.4 million compared to $32.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase of $6.4 million was mainly due to increases in salaries and wages due to the Inner Spirit acquisition. General and administrative expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2021, were $11.6 million compared to $6.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020.
SALES AND MARKETING EXPENSES
Sales and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021, were $5.0 million compared to $5.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. For the fourth quarter of 2021, sales and marketing expenses were $1.5 million compared to $2.3 million in the previous fourth quarter.
NET LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Net loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $230.2 million compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $206.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The 2021 net loss includes a $60 million non-recurring, non-cash impairment charge on the Olds facility, a $77.8 million non-cash charge for change in estimate of fair value of derivative warrants and a $17.0 million charge for inventory impairment.
ADJUSTED EBITDA FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $32.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to a loss of $25.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was due to the following:
- Inclusion of interest and fee revenue;
- Inclusion of share of profit of equity-accounted investees; and
- Decrease in cost of sales.
The increase was partially offset by:
- A decrease in net revenue; and
- An increase in general and administrative expenses.
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $18.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021, compared to a loss of $5.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020. The increase was due to the following:
- Increase in net revenue including Spiritleaf;
- Inclusion of interest and fee revenue; and
- Inclusion of share of profit of equity-accounted investees.
The increase was partially offset by:
- Increase in cost of sales including Spiritleaf; and
- Increase in general and administrative expenses.
LIQUIDITY POSITION
- Asset value per share at December 31, 2021, including cash, loans, marketable securities, and the Olds facility at net book value was approximately $1.4 billion or $0.61 per share.
- During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company raised $1.18 billion through a combination of registered direct offerings, warrant exercises and at-the-market offerings.
- As at December 31, 2021, and April 25, 2022, the Company had an unrestricted cash balance of approximately $558.3 million and $377.7 million, respectively, and total common shares outstanding of 2.4 billion at April 25, 2022.
- Sundial is currently under a blackout period in accordance with securities regulations that prohibit the Company from effecting any transactions in Sundial stock until an expected date of May 16, 2022, including launching a buyback program. Cash consideration paid to Alcanna shareholders under the revised Arrangement Agreement amounted to $1.50 per Alcanna share, or approximately $54 million. In comparison to the all share consideration under the original Arrangement Agreement this has the equivalent impact of a share buyback.
- On August 9, 2021, Sundial was notified by Nasdaq that the closing bid price of the Company's common shares for the 30 consecutive business day period from June 25, 2021 to August 6, 2021 did not meet the minimum bid price per share requirement of the Nasdaq. Sundial will regain compliance with this requirement if at any time prior to August 8, 2022, the closing bid price of its shares is at least US$1.00 for a minimum of ten consecutive business days. Sundial continues to monitor market sentiment and developments in the cannabis industry and is committed to the maintenance of its NASDAQ listing. If there is no significant change in market conditions, Sundial intends to implement a reverse share split in the third quarter of 2022, subject to prior shareholder approval which is expected to be obtained at the Company's 2022 Annual General Meeting.
- Sundial's management and Board of Directors will review opportunities to unlock shareholder value through dividending investee securities to Sundial shareholders.
Sundial remains focused on building long-term shareholder value through the accretive deployment of cash resources, the expansion of our retail distribution network, the further streamlining of our operating structure, and the enhanced offering of high-quality brands.
With the Alcanna acquisition subsequent to year-end, Sundial is now Canada's leading regulated products platform, with a strong balance sheet and access to capital. The acquisition is expected to enable Sundial to expand its ownership of the consumer relationship while diversifying and stabilizing revenue streams. The acquisition has increased the Company's cannabis distribution network while enhancing its scale and expertise in retail operations, including liquor. Sundial has commenced and will continue the post-acquisition integration work throughout the remainder of 2022.
Moving forward, the Company will report its financial results under four segments:
- Cannabis Production and Cultivation
- Cannabis Retail
- Liquor Retail
- Investments
Certain specified financial measures in this news release, including adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations and system-wide retail sales are non-IFRS measures. These terms are not defined by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures provided by other companies. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative for or superior to measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures are presented and described in order to provide shareholders and potential investors with additional measures in understanding the Company's operating results in the same manner as the management team.
ADJUSTED EBITDA FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations is a non-IFRS measure which the Company uses to evaluate its operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations provides information to investors, analysts, and others to aid in understanding and evaluating the Company's operating results in a similar manner to its management team. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations is defined as net income (loss) from continuing operations before finance costs, depreciation and amortization, accretion expense, income tax recovery and excluding change in fair value of biological assets, change in fair value realized through inventory, unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses, unrealized gains or losses on marketable securities, change in fair value of derivative warrants, share-based compensation expense, asset impairment, gain or loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment and certain one-time non-operating expenses, as determined by management.
SYSTEM-WIDE RETAIL SALES
System-wide retail sales is a non-IFRS measure which the Company uses to evaluate the performance of its retail operations. System-wide retail sales represent the aggregate revenue earned by both franchised and corporate-owned Spiritleaf retail cannabis stores and do not solely represent the retail segment's revenue. The Company only receives royalties, advertising and franchise fees in respect of franchised Spiritleaf retail cannabis store revenue. The system-wide retail sales measure is useful to management in evaluating brand scale and market penetration and is used by management to assess the financial and operating performance of the Company and the strength of the Company's market position relative to its competitors.
Sundial will host a conference call and webcast at 10:30 a.m. EDT (8:30 a.m. MDT) on Thursday, April 28, 2022.
WEBCAST ACCESS
To access the live webcast of the call, please visit the following link:
https://services.choruscall.ca/links/sundialgrowers20220428.html
REPLAY
The webcast archive will be available for three months via the link provided above.
A telephone replay will be available for one month. To access the replay dial:
Canada/USA Toll Free: 1-800-319-6413 or International Toll: +1-604-638-9010
When prompted, enter Replay Access Code: 8895#
Sundial is a public company whose shares are traded on Nasdaq under the symbol "SNDL". Its business is reported and analyzed under three segments: Cannabis Production and Cultivation, Cannabis Retail, and Investments. Sundial will add a Liquor Retail segment in the next reporting period, following the acquisition of Alcanna on March 31, 2022.
As a licensed producer that crafts small-batch cannabis using state-of-the-art indoor facilities, Sundial's 'craft-at-scale' modular growing approach, award-winning genetics, and experienced growers set us apart. Sundial's brand portfolio includes Top Leaf, Sundial Cannabis, Palmetto, and Grasslands. Sundial also operates the Spiritleaf retail banner. Spiritleaf aims to be the most knowledgeable and trusted source of recreational cannabis by offering a premium consumer experience and quality curated cannabis products. Sundial has acquired Alcanna and is now the largest private sector cannabis and liquor retailer in Canada.
Sundial's investment portfolio seeks to deploy strategic capital through direct and indirect investments and partnerships throughout the global cannabis industry.
We are proudly Albertan, headquartered in Calgary, AB, with operations in Olds and Rocky View County, Alberta, Canada. For more information on Sundial, please go to www.sndlgroup.com.
Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement
This news release includes statements containing certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law ("forward-looking statements"), including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company's cost-cutting initiatives, operational goals, demand for the Company's products, the Company's ability to achieve profitability or its goal of sustainable, positive gross margin and positive free cash flow, the development of the legal cannabis industry, performance of the Company's investments, including through the SunStream joint venture, any potential dividends of investee securities to the Company's shareholders or other forms of unlocking shareholder value, the Company's ability to regain compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price requirement, whether by a reverse share split or otherwise, the maintenance of production levels and maintenance or improvement in harvest THC levels (including during the COVID-19 pandemic), the expansion of product offerings and retail networks, expansion of retail pilot programs, introduction and market share impact of the Spiritleaf Selects brand, and the integration and realization of expected benefits of the acquisition of Alcanna.Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "likely", "outlook", "forecast", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Please see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form, which was filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's annual report on Form 40-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 29, 2022, and the risk factors included in our other SEC filings for a discussion of the material risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.
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SOURCE Sundial Growers Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/27/sundial-reports-full-year-fourth-quarter-2021-financial-operational-results/ | 2022-04-28T02:41:54Z |
Sandwich carriers are now Thaw & Sell, vegan-certified, and have an ambient shelf life up to four days
LOS ANGELES, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today La Brea Bakery, North America's No. 1 artisan bread brand, announced a number of advancements to its sandwich carriers for the food service industry.
"The pandemic has significantly impacted the foodservice industry, and the needs of operators have shifted," said Brie Buenning, director of marketing for La Brea Bakery. "Operators are looking for product solutions that help address labor constraints and can be used in multiple applications across the menu. When we examined our portfolio, we saw an opportunity to enhance our sandwich carriers to address operators' changing needs in a challenging environment."
La Brea Bakery's new and improved sandwich carriers include the following:
1) A refreshed assortment of carrier breads including:
Benefit: Operators can simplify their inventory to bread products that are versatile enough to be used across the menu and truly meet business needs.
2) Carriers' ambient shelf life has increased to four days using natural enzyme technology
Benefit: Now that carriers can be kept ambient longer, operators can free up freezer space and use bread over several days, decreasing waste and maximizing profits.
3) La Brea Bakery carriers are now sold Thaw & Sell
Benefit: Unlike parbaked products, Thaw & Sell bread does not need to be baked before serving, reducing labor, saving time and making La Brea Bakery products easier to use.
4) Vegan certification for all carriers
Benefit: As plant-based diets continue to grow in popularity, operators can trust that La Brea Bakery sandwich carriers (with the exception of Brioche buns and multigrain sliced sandwich bread) are free of all animal products, such as honey or cheese.
"We're proud to be able to make these changes while maintaining what La Brea Bakery bread is known for: delicious artisan bread made with time and care that elevates any eating experience," said Buenning.
For more information on La Brea Bakery's sandwich carriers and recipe inspiration to use one bread three ways, visit labreabakery.com/sandwichcarriers.
La Brea Bakery is North America's No.1 artisan bread brand. Since 1989, La Brea Bakery has focused on crafting true artisan bread with its original recipe, high quality ingredients and dedication to the artisan process. Based in Los Angeles, the brand has revolutionized the modern artisan bread movement and won over the culinary community and consumers with its hearth-baked, handcrafted breads sold at online retailers and grocery stores across the country.
CONTACT: Lauren Peck lauren@maccabee.com 612-294-3129
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SOURCE La Brea Bakery | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/la-brea-bakery-launches-revamped-artisan-sandwich-carriers-align-with-shifting-food-service-needs/ | 2022-06-09T14:02:08Z |
FAIRPORT, N.Y., July 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Manning & Napier, Inc. (NYSE: MN), ("Manning & Napier" or "the Company") today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share of Class A common stock. The dividend will be paid on or about August 19, 2022 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 5, 2022.
Manning & Napier (NYSE: MN) provides a broad range of investment solutions through separately managed accounts, mutual funds, and collective investment trust funds, as well as a variety of consultative services that complement our investment process. Founded in 1970, we offer equity, fixed income and alternative strategies, as well as a range of blended asset portfolios, including life cycle funds. We serve a diversified client base of high-net-worth individuals and institutions, including 401(k) plans, pension plans, Taft-Hartley plans, endowments and foundations. For many of these clients, our relationship goes beyond investment management and includes customized solutions that address key issues and solve client-specific problems. We are headquartered in Fairport, NY and had 275 employees as of March 31, 2022.
This press release and other statements that the Company may make may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reflect the Company's current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and financial performance. Words like "believes," "expects," "may," "estimates," "will," "should," "intends," "plans," or "anticipates" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, are used to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Although the Company believes that it is basing its expectations and beliefs on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of what it currently knows about its business and operations, there can be no assurance that its actual results will not differ materially from what the Company expects or believes. Some of the factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ from its expectations or beliefs include, without limitation: changes in securities or financial markets or general economic conditions; the impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. and global economy; a decline in the performance of the Company's products; client sales and redemption activity; any loss of an executive officer or key personnel; changes in the Company's business related to strategic acquisitions and other transactions; the Company's ability to successfully deploy new technology platforms and upgrades; changes of government policy or regulations; and other risks discussed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contacts
Investor Relations Contact
Emily Blum
Prosek Partners
973-464-5240
eblum@prosek.com
Public Relations Contact
Nicole Kingsley Brunner
Manning & Napier, Inc.
585-325-6880
nbrunner@manning-napier.com
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SOURCE Manning & Napier, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/22/manning-amp-napier-inc-announces-quarterly-dividend/ | 2022-07-22T12:54:15Z |
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Government of Barbados (the "Offeror") announces that it has today launched an offer to purchase for cash, at a price to be determined pursuant to a modified Dutch auction, its Notes (as defined below) subject to satisfaction or waiver of the New Financing Condition and the Maximum Aggregate Consideration Amount (each as defined below) and the other conditions described in the tender offer memorandum dated 9 September 2022 (the "Tender Offer Memorandum").
Offer to Purchase the Offeror's Notes
9 September 2022 -The Government of Barbados announces that it has today launched an offer to holders (the "Noteholders") of its outstanding (i) U.S.$530,595,100.00 6.500% Notes due 2029 (the "Notes") to purchase for cash up to U.S.$70,000,000.00 of the Notes in aggregate tender consideration (including accrued interest) (the "Maximum Aggregate Consideration Amount") on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Tender Offer Memorandum.
Capitalised terms used in this announcement but not defined have the meanings given to them in the Tender Offer Memorandum.
The Notes have an aggregate nominal amount outstanding as set forth in the table below. In the event that the aggregate tender consideration for the Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase (including accrued interest) exceeds the Maximum Aggregate Consideration Amount (and the Offeror has not accepted in its sole and absolute discretion, subject to applicable law, more than the Maximum Aggregate Consideration Amount for purchase up to such excess aggregate tender consideration (including accrued interest) for the Notes so validly tendered), the Notes will be subject to the proration procedures described in the Tender Offer Memorandum.
All documentation relating to the Offer including the Tender Offer Memorandum and any amendments or supplements thereto will be available to Noteholders via the website for the Offer accessible at: www.dfking.com/barbados. The Offer is subject to offer and distribution restrictions in, among other countries, the United Kingdom, Italy and Belgium, as described below.
Summary of the Offer
The Offeror is offering to the holders of the Notes (the "Offer") to tender their Notes for purchase by the Offeror for cash on the terms and subject to the Maximum Aggregate Consideration Amount and the New Financing Condition and the other conditions set out in the Tender Offer Memorandum.
Subject to satisfaction or waiver of the New Financing Condition (as defined below), if the Offeror decides to accept for purchase valid tenders of the Notes pursuant to the Offer, the Offeror intends to accept an aggregate amount of Notes for purchase up to the Maximum Aggregate Consideration Amount. Subject to applicable law, the Offeror expressly reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to purchase more or less than the Maximum Aggregate Consideration Amount or not to accept any Notes for purchase pursuant to the Offer.
Rationale for the Offer
The Offeror is making the Offer (subject to the New Financing Condition (as defined below)) in connection with the Offeror's governmental debt management and as part of a broader refinancing operation to channel savings from the operation towards certain conservation and sustainability efforts.
All Notes purchased by the Offeror pursuant to the Offer will be cancelled and will not be re-issued or re-sold.
Tender Consideration
The Offeror will pay a purchase price for the Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer to be determined pursuant to a modified Dutch auction process as described in the Tender Offer Memorandum and will also pay an Accrued Interest Payment in respect of such Notes.
The Offeror will calculate any Accrued Interest with respect to the Notes accepted for purchase in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Notes, and the calculation will be final and binding on all Noteholders whose Notes were accepted for purchase, absent manifest error.
The Offeror reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to modify in any manner and at any time any of the terms and conditions of the Offer.
New Financing Condition
Whether the Offeror will accept for purchase Notes validly tendered in the Offer is subject (unless such condition is waived by the Offeror in its sole and absolute discretion), without limitation, the execution by the Offeror as the borrower of a multicurrency term facility agreement being arranged by Credit Suisse International as Global Lead Arranger and FirstCaribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited as Domestic Lead Arranger and Facility Agent and satisfaction of any conditions precedents therein or such other financing as the Offeror may determine on terms acceptable to it (in each case as determined by the Offeror in its sole and absolute discretion) (the "New Financing Condition").
Even if the New Financing Condition is satisfied, the Offeror is not under any obligation to accept for purchase any Notes tendered pursuant to the Offer.
Acceptance Amount And Proration
Under the modified Dutch auction procedure described in the Tender Offer Memorandum, the Offeror will determine, in its sole discretion, the aggregate principal amount of Notes (if any) it will accept for purchase (subject to satisfaction or waiver of the New Financing Condition on or prior to the Settlement Date) pursuant to the Offer (the "Acceptance Amount") and a single cash purchase price for each U.S.$100 in principal amount of Notes at which it will purchase Notes on the Settlement Date, that have been validly tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer, taking into account the Maximum Aggregate Consideration Amount, the Minimum Purchase Price, the Maximum Purchase Price and the aggregate principal amount of Notes so tendered and the prices at which such Notes are so tendered (or deemed to be tendered), as set out below. The Offeror is under no obligation to purchase any Notes pursuant to the Offer and reserves the right to accept significantly more or less (or none) of the Notes that are tendered.
Once the Offeror has determined the Purchase Price for the Notes, the Offeror will accept Tender Instructions in the following order:
All Notes not accepted as a result of pro-rationing and all tenders of Notes with a purchase price in excess of the Purchase Price will be rejected.
In the event proration is required, the Offeror will multiply the principal amount of Notes subject to pro-ration by the applicable proration factor. To avoid purchases of Notes in principal amounts other than denominations of U.S.$100 and integral multiples of U.S.$100 in excess thereof (the "Authorised Denominations") and to ensure the Offeror returns Notes in Authorised Denominations, if necessary, the Offeror will make downward adjustments to the nearest U.S.$100 principal amount or, if applicable, the minimum Authorised Denomination. If application of proration will result in either (i) the relevant Noteholder transferring Notes to the Offeror in a principal amount of less than U.S.$100 or (ii) Notes in a principal amount of less than U.S.$100 being returned to a Noteholder, then the Offeror will, in its sole and absolute discretion, either reject all or accept all of such Noteholder's validly tendered Notes. Notes not accepted for purchase as a result of pro-ration will be returned to the relevant Noteholder. Noteholders who tender less than all their Notes must continue to hold Notes in Authorised Denominations.
If proration of the tendered Notes is required, the Offeror will determine the applicable proration factor as soon as reasonably practicable following the Expiration Deadline and after giving effect to any increase or decrease in the Maximum Aggregate Consideration Amount.
In order to be valid, Tender Instructions must be submitted in respect of a minimum nominal amount of U.S.$100 (the "Authorised Denomination") and in integral multiples of U.S.$100 (the "Minimum Denomination").
Expected Timetable of Events
The times and dates below are indicative only.
The above times and dates are subject to the right of the Offeror to extend, re-open, amend, and/or terminate the Offer (subject to applicable law and as provided in the Tender Offer Memorandum). Noteholders are advised to check with any bank, securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold Notes when such intermediary would need to receive instructions from a Noteholder in order for that Noteholder to be able to participate in, or (in the limited circumstances in which revocation is permitted) revoke their instruction to participate in, the Offer before the deadlines specified in the Tender Offer Memorandum. The deadlines set by any such intermediary and each Clearing System for the submission of Tender Instructions will be earlier than the relevant deadlines specified above. See "Procedures for Participating in the Offer" in the Tender Offer Memorandum.
Announcements
Unless stated otherwise, announcements in connection with the Offer will be by the issue of a press release through the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and by the delivery of notices to the relevant Clearing Systems for communication to Direct Participants. Such announcements may also be made by the issue of a press release to a Notifying News Service. Copies of all such announcements, press releases and notices and will be available on the Offer Website or alternatively they can also be obtained upon request from the Information and Tender Agent, the contact details for which are below. Significant delays may be experienced where notices are delivered to the Clearing Systems and Noteholders are urged to contact the Information and Tender Agent for the relevant announcements during the course of the Offer. In addition, Noteholders may contact the Dealer Managers for information using the contact details below.
Tender Instructions
In order to participate in and be eligible to receive the relevant Purchase Price and any Accrued Interest Payment pursuant to the Offer, Noteholders must validly tender their Notes by delivering, or arranging to have delivered on their behalf, a valid Tender Instruction in respect of the Offer that is received by the Information and Tender Agent by 5.00p.m. New York City time on 15 September 2022 (the "Expiration Deadline").
Tender Instructions will be irrevocable except in the limited circumstances described in the Tender Offer Memorandum.
Noteholders are advised to check with any bank, securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold Notes when such intermediary would need to receive instructions from a Noteholder in order for that Noteholder to be able to participate in, or (in the limited circumstances in which revocation is permitted) revoke their instruction to participate in, the Offer by the deadlines specified in the Tender Offer Memorandum. The deadlines set by any such intermediary and each Clearing System for the submission of Tender Instructions will be earlier than the relevant deadlines specified in the Tender Offer Memorandum.
Tender Instructions must be submitted in respect of a nominal amount equal to or greater than the Minimum Denomination and in and authorised denominations of integral multiples thereof.
A separate Tender Instruction must be completed on behalf of each beneficial owner.
Disclaimer
This announcement does not contain the full terms and conditions of the Offer. The terms and conditions of the Offer are contained in the Tender Offer Memorandum, and are subject to the Offer and distribution restrictions set out below and more fully described therein.
Further information
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and CIBC World Markets Corp. have been appointed by the Offeror to serve as dealer managers (the "Dealer Managers") for the Offer. D.F. King (the "Information and Tender Agent") has been appointed by the Offeror to act as the information and tender agent in connection with the Offer.
For additional information regarding the terms of the Offer, please contact Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC by telephone at (800) 820-1653; Collect: (212) 538-2147 and by email at Americas.LM@credit-suisse.com and CIBC World Markets Corp. by telephone at (212) 455-6427 by email at Andrew.W.Lee@cibc.com.
Requests for documents and questions regarding the tender of Notes may be directed to the Information and Tender Agent D.F. King & Co., Inc. via:
Banks & Brokers Call: (212) 269-5550
Toll free: (866) 342-4881
Email: barbados@dfking.com
The Tender Offer Memorandum is expected to be distributed to Noteholders beginning today. A copy of the Tender Offer Memorandum is available on the tender offer website accessible at www.dfking.com/barbados.
No Recommendation
The relevant Purchase Price, if paid by the Offeror with respect to the Notes of any series accepted for purchase, will not necessarily reflect the actual value of such Notes. Noteholders should independently analyse the value of the Notes and make an independent assessment of the terms of the Offer. None of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers or the Information and Tender Agent has or will express any opinion as to whether the terms of the Offer are fair. None of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers or the Information and Tender Agent makes any recommendation that Noteholders should submit an offer to sell or tender Notes or refrain from doing so pursuant to the Offer, and no one has been authorised by any of them to make any such recommendation.
Offer and Distribution Restrictions
Neither this announcement nor the Tender Offer Memorandum constitutes an offer to participate in the Offer in any jurisdiction in which, or to any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such offer or for there to be such participation under applicable securities laws. The distribution of the Tender Offer Memorandum in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession the Tender Offer Memorandum comes are required by the Offeror, the Dealer Managers and the Information and Tender Agent to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions
Nothing in this announcement or the Tender Offer Memorandum or the electronic transmission thereof constitutes an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the New Notes in the United States or any other jurisdiction.
In addition, each Noteholder participating in an Offer will also be deemed to give certain representations in respect of the other jurisdictions referred to above and generally as set out in "Procedures for Participating in the Offer" of the Tender Offer Memorandum. Any tender of Notes for purchase pursuant to an Offer from a Noteholder that is unable to make these representations will not be accepted. Each of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers and the Information and Tender Agent reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to investigate, in relation to any tender of Notes for purchase pursuant to an Offer, whether any such representation given by a Noteholder is correct and, if such investigation is undertaken and as a result the Offeror determines (for any reason) that such representation is not correct, such tender shall not be accepted. The acceptance of any tender shall not be deemed to be a representation or a warranty by any of the Offeror, the Dealer Manager or the Information and Tender Agent or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates that it has undertaken any such investigation and/or that any such representation to any person underwriting any such Notes is correct.
United Kingdom
The communication of the Tender Offer Memorandum and any other documents or materials relating to the Offer are not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorised person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the FSMA). Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents and/or materials is exempt from the restriction on financial promotions under section 21 of the FSMA on the basis that it is only directed at and may be communicated to (1) those persons who are existing creditors of the Offeror within Article 43(2) of the FSMA (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended, and (2) to any other persons to whom these documents and/or materials may lawfully be communicated.
Belgium
Neither the Tender Offer Memorandum nor any other documents or materials relating to the Offer have been, or will be, submitted to or notified to, or approved by, the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (Autorité des services et marchés financiers/Autoriteit voor Financiële Diensten en Markten) and, accordingly, the Offer may not be made in Belgium by way of a public offering, as defined in Article 3 of the Belgian Law of 1 April 2007 on takeover bids (loi relative aux offres publiques d'acquisition/wet op de openbare overnamebiedingen), as amended or replaced from time to time.
Accordingly, the Offer may not be, and are not being advertised, and the Tender Offer Memorandum, as well as any brochure, or any other material or document relating thereto (including any memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar document) may not, have not and will not be distributed, directly or indirectly, to any person located and/or resident within Belgium, other than those who qualify as qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés/qekwalificeerde beleggers), within the meaning of Article 2, e), of the Prospectus Regulation acting on their own account. Accordingly, the information contained in the Tender Offer Memorandum or in any brochure or any other document or material relating thereto may not be used for any other purpose, including for any offering in Belgium, except as may otherwise be permitted by law, and shall not be disclosed or distributed to any other person in Belgium.
France
The Tender Offer Memorandum and any other documents or materials relating to the Offer are only addressed to and are only directed at qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation in France. Each person in France who receives any communication in respect of the Offer contemplated in the Tender Offer Memorandum and any other documents or materials relating to the Offer will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed to and with the Dealer Managers and the Offeror that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation.
European Economic Area
In any European Economic Area ("EEA") Member State, this announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum are only addressed to, and are only directed at, "qualified investors" (as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017, as amended (the "Prospectus Regulation")) in that Member State.
Each person in a Member State of the EEA who receives any communication in respect of the Offer contemplated in this announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed to and with each Dealer Manager and the Offeror that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation.
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SOURCE Government of Barbados | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/government-barbados-announces-an-offer-purchase-cash-its-notes-listed-below/ | 2022-09-09T16:05:56Z |
Seattle Pacific University is under investigation for alleged hiring discrimination, the state attorney general confirmed Friday.
"Seattle Pacific University admits that it refuses to hire gay faculty and staff," Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in a statement obtained Friday by CNN affiliate KIRO.
Lori Windham, senior counsel at Becket Law, which supports religious liberty and is representing SPU, in a statement accused the state attorney general of "going after a 130-year-old Christian university and violating our country's long-standing principle of the separation of church and state."
"We will defend Seattle Pacific's right to operate its school in accordance with its faith," she added.
In May, students and staff at the private Christian university staged a sit-in and asked for the removal of SPU's board of trustees "after they voted to keep in place school policies that prohibit employees from engaging in 'same-sex sexual activity,'" Ferguson said.
As students walked across the stage during a commencement ceremony the following month, they handed the interim president rainbow pride flags in protest over the school's hiring policy.
Ferguson said his office was contacted by numerous faculty and students to file complaints or express concern about the policy.
In a letter to SPU on June 8, Ferguson notified the university his office was opening an inquiry about the "possible discriminatory employment policies and practices" and asked for additional information.
SPU countered with a federal lawsuit on Wednesday, saying the "attorney general's probe inquires into confidential religious matters and is beyond the scope of authority granted under state law and the federal constitution."
The lawsuit asked a federal judge to declare that the university's religious-based hiring policies are protected by the First Amendment, and to halt the attorney general's investigation permanently.
"The lawsuit demonstrates that the University believes it is above the law to such an extraordinary degree that it is shielded from answering basic questions from my office regarding the University's compliance with state law," Ferguson said in the statement.
In its US District Court complaint, SPU said it responded to Ferguson's letter and sought clarification on the scope of the investigation, but that Ferguson's office dismissed the university's inquiries as "rhetorical questions."
"SPU believes the attorney general's office has targeted the university because of its Christian beliefs and is asking the federal court to ensure it can maintain its religious identity," SPU said in a statement.
"Seattle Pacific University is in federal court defending its right to hire Christian faculty and staff after Washington state's attorney general demanded the university's internal communications and private employee information," the university statement said.
The university lawsuit said it "holds to traditional Christian beliefs regarding marriage and sexuality, in alignment with the Free Methodist Church," and if SPU changed its employment policies to allow Christians in same-sex marriages to be employed, the school would be "automatically disaffiliated from the Free Methodist Church."
Ferguson's statement said his office "respects the religious views of all Washingtonians and the constitutional rights afforded to religious institutions."
"As a person of faith, I share that view," he added. "My office did not prejudge whether Seattle Pacific University's employment policies or its actions are illegal. We responded to the complaints from concerned Washingtonians by sending the University a letter. The letter asked four questions. The letter also invited the University to provide any additional information that it wanted my office to consider."
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Kansas among worst states for racial equality in education
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Kansas has been ranked among the worst states in the nation for racial equality in education.
Decades after the landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, WalletHub.com says while no one can be denied enrollment in a school due to their skin color, that does not necessarily mean educational conditions are equal for all students. The personal finance website said it recently released its report for the Best States for Racial Equality in Education, and Kansas was in the bottom half.
In order to find which states have more racial equality in education than others, WalletHub said it compared all 50 states against the difference between white and Black Americans in areas like high school and college degrees, test scores and graduation rates.
The report ranked Kansas 32nd overall, with a total score of 40.97. Meanwhile, Colorado ranked 37th with a total score of 36.09 and Nebraska ranked 40th with a total score of 34.71.
However, Missouri ranked 29th with an overall score of 42.92 and Oklahoma ranked 6th with an overall score of 60.07.
The report also found that Nebraska had the fifth-highest gap in standardized test scores between white students and Black students. Oklahoma was found to have the fourth-highest gap in mean SAT scores.
The study shows the states with the most racial equality in education are as follows:
- Wyoming
- West Virginia
- New Mexico
- Idaho
- Montana
The study also found the states with the least racial equality in education are as follows:
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
- Connecticut
- New York
- Massachusetts
For more information or to see where other states fall, click HERE.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/09/kansas-among-worst-states-racial-equality-education/ | 2022-06-09T22:46:29Z |
(NewsNation) — President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that the Department of Education will forgive tens of thousands of dollars in federal student loan debt for millions of people.
But there’s a lot of fine print. Here are the basics:
- If you individually earned less than $125,000 per year in the 2020 or 2021 tax year (or $250,000 for married couples), up to $10,000 of student loan debt will be forgiven.
- People within the same eligibility criteria who received a Pell Grant are eligible for $20,000 in student loan forgiveness. If you want to learn how to find out if you got a Pell Grant, click here.
But, there’s more:
- Only people who have federal student loan debt are eligible; private loan holders are not.
- The debt forgiveness program applies to undergraduate degrees, not graduate programs.
- Current students are only eligible if they took out their loans before July 1, 2022.
- Although a yearly or signing bonus is separate from your salary, it will count toward your total reported income for the year.
How do I apply and how long do I have?
The Department of Education will release information on how to sign up for student loan forgiveness in the coming weeks.
Nearly 8 million borrowers, whose income information the department already has on file, will be automatically enrolled in relief. Everyone else needs to fill out an application that will be available by the end of the year.
“The Department of Education will work quickly and efficiently to set up a simple application process for borrowers to claim relief,” according to a White House statement.
The pause on federal student loan repayment will be extended once again through Dec. 31, 2022, but you should expect to resume payments in January of the coming year.
What steps do I need to take?
Make sure your loan servicer has all your correct information, including postal address, email and phone number, so that you’ll be able to receive any guidance it provides and follow any pertinent instructions.
Not sure who your servicer is? The Department of Education has a website with instructions: “Who is my loan servicer?”
In the coming months, watch for notifications from your loan servicer and take precautions — there are bound to be issues. Look out for a message that you have either a zero balance or that your balance has been reduced by $10,000 or $20,000. Save this information for later in case something changes.
What about current and future students?
Current students can qualify for loans taken out before July 1, 2022, but if someone else claims you as a dependent when filing taxes, eligibility will be based on that person’s income and not your own.
The Biden administration plans to help future students by cutting monthly payments in half for undergraduate loans and proposing a rule that those who have worked at a non-profit, in the military, or in federal, state, or local government, receive appropriate credit.
By capping monthly payments for undergraduate loans at 5% of a borrower’s discretionary income — half of the rate that borrowers must pay now — will lower the average annual student loan payment by more than $1,000.
Will forgiveness include Parent Plus loans?
Yes, student loan forgiveness applies to Parent Plus loans. According to the latest data from the Department of Education, parents of 3.6 million students owe more than $107 billion in Parent Plus loans as of March 2022. This signifies roughly 6% of the entire $1.6 trillion in federal student loan debt Americans owe.
How many people will this help and how much is it costing taxpayers?
If all borrowers claim the assistance they are entitled to, this could provide relief to up to 43 million borrowers and completely cancel the full remaining balance for roughly 20 million borrowers.
Among borrowers, 21% are 25 years and under, and 44% are ages 26-39. More than a third are borrowers age 40 and up, including 5% of borrowers who are senior citizens.
Black students are more likely to have to borrow for school and more likely to take out larger loans. Black borrowers are twice as likely to have received Pell Grants compared to their white peers. 60% of borrowers have Pell grants and are eligible for $20,000 of relief.
The cost of the $10,000 cancellation initiative could cost the federal government anywhere from $300 billion to $980 billion, according to estimates by the University of Pennsylvania.
The Root of the problem
Critics say loan forgiveness is a distraction from the bigger problem: college tuition is too expensive and prevents many high school graduates from seeking higher education.
The president promised to protect future students and taxpayers by reducing the cost of college and holding schools accountable when they hike up prices. To reduce the cost, Biden plans to double the maximum Pell Grant and make community college free.
The administration says it also plans to hold more colleges accountable for their obligation to keep costs reasonable and ensure borrowers get value for their investments. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/student-loan-forgiveness-whats-in-the-fine-print/ | 2022-08-25T12:34:09Z |
With Yonder, Primer gives commercial and government organizations early intelligence about emerging narratives that may impact their brands or strategic advantage – and helps to create a window of opportunity to take countermeasures.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Primer, a leader in machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) solutions for government agencies and Fortune 1000 companies, today announced it has acquired Yonder, a pioneering company in disinformation analysis. Yonder is renowned in the information operations space, having deployed AI technology to identify disinformation campaigns and provide contextual intelligence for some of the world's largest organizations, including a global retailer, a fast food brand, a telecommunications giant, and the U.S. Government.
Primer redefines how people engage with an increasingly complex world of information with its AI-powered toolkit for risk and security applications that support time-sensitive, mission-critical decision making. By pairing Yonder's contextual narrative intelligence capabilities with Primer's state-of-the-art NLP models and solutions, such as Primer Command for real-time security and operational intelligence, customers can proactively monitor emerging narratives, identify the groups starting and promoting them, assess the potential risks, and take action to avoid or mitigate harm to their brands and operations.
Getting ahead of false or misleading influence campaigns - before they go viral and have lasting effects on perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors - is essential to combating the challenges of information-based warfare. From the war in Ukraine to market manipulation of cryptocurrency, disinformation changes the course of conflict, impacts elections, degrades brands, and distorts discussions. Primer has a track record of success deploying NLP infrastructure and pre-trained engines that help organizations such as the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) detect, understand, and respond to disinformation campaigns as part of their overall information operations posture.
"Primer saw a unique opportunity to join forces with Yonder and accelerate our ability to provide the world's best solutions for detecting and monitoring information operations and disinformation campaigns as they unfold, giving customers early warning capabilities to launch countermeasures and defend against attacks," said Sean Gourley, CEO, Primer. "The experts at Yonder have defined and shaped the disinformation analysis space over the last several years. We are thrilled to welcome them to Primer and help our customers meet the rapidly changing needs for today's information warfare environment."
"Since our founding, Yonder has been dedicated to developing technologies to protect brands and their reputations from manipulation on social media. It's clear this mission is more important than ever, and Primer is the perfect partner to take our solutions to the next level," said Jonathon Morgan, CEO, Yonder. "Primer's machine intelligence for text-based information is unparalleled, and Primer's talent is world class. Together, we will continue to deliver the industry's best tools for information operations, situational understanding, and decision support."
"The ability to collect, analyze, and act on intelligence that could impact reputational integrity has become mission critical for organizations of every size, in every industry," said Tejas Totade, CTO, at Ruder Finn, one of the world's largest independent global communications and creative agencies. "Yonder's narrative detection capabilities coupled with Primer's innovative language analysis platform will be a uniquely powerful solution for Ruder Finn as we help our clients promote and protect their brands."
Strengthening Primer's Foundation
Today's announcement builds on Primer's strategy to build the infrastructure for creating and deploying NLP models and applications that enable government and civil society organizations to be successful in their missions.
The acquisition of Yonder follows Primer's recent acquisition of LightTag, which added team-based data label management software to Primer's infrastructure, ensuring better data on which to train NLP models, higher model performance, and faster deployment of models into production.
Yonder complements Primer Command, an AI-powered real-time security and operational intelligence solution that provides situational awareness of fast-breaking events to inform timely decisions and action.
Customers and partners will now have access to a larger set of complementary technologies designed to analyze and interpret natural language, including Primer's pre-trained NLP models with advanced algorithms for bot detection, synthetic text detection, and claim detection and extraction.
For more information about today's announcement and to request demos of Yonder and Primer Command, please contact Primer.
Resources:
- Blog post by Sean Gourley, Primer CEO
- Blog post by Jonathon Morgan, Yonder CEO
- Primer Command
- Request a Demo
About Primer
Primer builds machines that can read and write with human-level precision. Primer's industrial-grade NLP technology is deployed by some of the world's largest government agencies, financial institutions, and Fortune 50 organizations. Trusted to operate in sensitive and complex data environments, Primer provides deep and proven artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) solutions tailored to risk and security applications, including: monitoring global events in real time, identifying disinformation campaigns, responding to cybersecurity attacks, detecting risks to brand reputation, and other impacts on organizational resilience and mission success. Primer is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, with offices around the world. For more information, please visit https://primer.ai.
Media contact:
Kim Dion, PR/AR, Primer
press@primer.ai
® PRIMER is a registered trademark of Primer Technologies, Inc.
® PRIMER COMMAND is a registered trademark of Primer Technologies, Inc.
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SOURCE Primer | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/primer-acquires-yonder-adds-disinformation-analysis-ai-portfolio-information-operations/ | 2022-06-07T14:47:57Z |
The Baddest Bikes in the Walking Dead Universe Ride onto OpenSea!
LOS ANGELES, April 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The rumble of tailpipes. The wind in your hair. And decomposing zombie limbs fly past your face as you race to OpenSea for one of the hottest NFTs of 2022: Darryl Dixon's iconic motorcycle from "The Walking Dead."
Earlier this year, creative production studio and blockchain experience company Orange Comet locked down an exclusive NFT deal with AMC and "The Walking Dead." This Thursday, their next collection of The Walking Dead NFTs roar into the metaverse. Last month, their inaugural "TWD" drop — 5000 Walker Access Passes — sold out immediately. Show up late to this week's party, and you'll be roadkill.
The drop is happening this Thursday, April 14 @ 12 noon PST / 3pm EST.
THE COLLECTIONS:
5000 DARYL DIXON'S ICONIC MOTORCYCLES
Now, Daryl loves his hog almost as much as he loves gal-pal Carol, dog, and his trusty crossbow… but when these newly-minted vehicles go on sale, we expect them to go quicker than Daryl can shoot an arrow through a charging walker's oozing eyeball.
The newest collection will feature 20 different bike designs, spanning 8 different rarities: SUPER-LEGENDARY, LEGENDARY, SUPER-EPIC, EPIC, SUPER-RARE, RARE, UNCOMMON, & COMMON.
FOR WALKER ACCESS PASS HOLDERS, this drop could have significant added value for you. Not only will Passholders have an exclusive 1 hour Whitelist Pre-Access to the drop, matching top-tier Walker Access Pass rarity with Daryl Motorcycle rarity (or its higher variant), will yield a FREE AIRDROP(s) that will be valuable in TWD Virtual Universe.
Passholders, here's what to look for:
- A LEGENDARY PASS and SUPER-LEGENDARY BIKE yields a metaverse-ready 3D DARYL RIDER and a metaverse ready Tool NFT.
- A LEGENDARY PASS and LEGENDARY BIKE yields a 3D DARYL RIDER.
- An EPIC PASS and SUPER-EPIC BIKE yield two metaverse-ready Tool NFTs.
- An EPIC PASS and an EPIC BIKE yields one metaverse-ready Tool NFT.
- A SUPER-RARE Pass and SUPER-RARE BIKE yields one metaverse-ready Super-Rare Tool NFT.
- A RARE PASS and RARE BIKE yields one metaverse-ready Rare Tool NFT.
- An UNCOMMON PASS and an UNCOMMON BIKE yield one metaverse-ready Uncommon Tool NFT.
- An UNCOMMON PASS and a COMMON BIKE yield one metaverse-ready Common Tool NFT.
THE AUCTION: 50 MODEL-KIT BIKES
Also, what's rarer than one of those 5000 Dixon bikes? No worries, we got you with 50 unique model-kit motorcycles. These bad boys are not built for speed but exclusivity, and available only through a 48-hr English Auction on OpenSea (no passholder whitelist).
Only four top-tier rarities will be included, with the following starting bids:
- SUPER-LEGENDARY / 3 ETH
- LEGENDARY / 2 ETH
- SUPER-EPIC / 1 ETH
- EPIC / .75 ETH
Winners of each auction item will receive a premium Deed of Land with a rarity level matching the bike (Super-Legendary motorcycle yields a Super-Legendary Deed.) Gas anyone? This is truly an opportunity to die for!
To mint your Daryl Motorcycle, your wallet must be connected to the Orange Comet website. Visit orangecomet.com before noon PT / 3pm EST on April 14th to ensure your wallet is successfully connected.
Remember…if you are a WALKER ACCESS Passholder, lucky, lucky you! You're eligible for a 1-hr Whitelist Pre-Access, beginning at 11am PST / 2pm EST.
Time to get back in the saddle, hit the gas and ride like the wind to the upcoming official AMC's The Walking Dead NFT drop, only from Orange Comet, and only on OpenSea. Join Daryl and his fleet of badass bikes as they ride away to live another day. No helmets required.
Sign up to stay informed about upcoming drops at https://orangecomet.com/ and join the Walking Dead NFT community on Discord for breaking news, exclusive offers, live AMA's and more. https://OrangeComet.com/TWDDiscord.
ABOUT ORANGE COMET
Orange Comet is a premium content creation company focused on producing high-quality and disruptive NFT digital collectibles and blockchain-based experiences. The Company's team brings together some of the world's leading and award-winning media creators, producers, and artists to partner with the biggest brands, IP, and talent across music, sports, arts, and entertainment. By blending super-creative content and game-changing technology, our mission is to create groundbreaking NFT experiences for the passionate fan bases of our clients, simultaneously unlocking new levels of interest, engagement, and revenue. Co-founded by Hollywood veteran producer, Dave Broome, NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, and Grammy award-winning music icons Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Orange Comet is powered by a passionate group of people that believe the future of all entertainment and media is on the verge of major disruptive change through a variety of blockchain experiences. Dedicated to blockchain sustainability, Orange Comet runs on green servers and builds a carbon-negative solution in the NFT space, including partnering with eco-conscious blockchains. Our collective diversity in background, expertise, and industries, works to help our clients shape their businesses for the emerging Metaverse of opportunities that awaits. For more information, visit us at OrangeComet.com, as well as on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
ABOUT AMC
AMC is home to some of the most popular and acclaimed programs on television. AMC was the first basic cable network to ever win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series with Mad Men in 2008, which then went on to win the coveted award four years in a row, before Breaking Bad won it in 2013 and 2014. The network's series The Walking Dead is the highest-rated series in cable history. AMC's current original drama series are Better Call Saul, Fear the Walking Dead, Kevin Can F Himself, NOS4A2, Quiz, Soulmates, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and the forthcoming series 61st Street, and Pantheon. AMC also explores authentic worlds and discussions with original shows like Talking Dead, AMC Visionaries, and Ride with Norman Reedus. AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, SundanceTV, BBC America, and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on-demand, and mobile.
ABOUT OPENSEA
OpenSea is the world's first and largest digital marketplace for crypto collectibles and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). A core part of OpenSea's vision is that open protocols like Ethereum and interoperable standards like ERC-721 and ERC-1155 will enable vibrant new economies. They're building tools that allow consumers to trade their items freely, creators to launch new digital works, and developers to build rich, integrated marketplaces for their digital items.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Yong@orangecomet.com
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SOURCE Orange Comet | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/13/amcs-walking-dead-nfts-ride-again-this-thursday-april-14th/ | 2022-04-13T16:59:44Z |
Total Core Mall Leased Space Strong at 95.0%
Core Mall Sales Per Square Foot Reached $605 in June, up 12.2% compared to 2019
Average Renewal Spreads were 2.3% for the Six Months Ended June 30th
Core Mall Total Occupancy Increased 480 Basis Points to 93.8%
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PREIT (NYSE: PEI) today reported results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. A description of each non-GAAP financial measure and the related reconciliation to the comparable GAAP financial measure is provided in the tables accompanying this release.
"It has been a busy and very productive quarter. In the face of an evolving economic backdrop, our team continues to deliver strong results, bringing new tenants to the portfolio and executing on asset sales." said Joseph F. Coradino, Chairman and CEO of PREIT. "We continue to drive the quality of our properties, raise capital through asset sales and pay down debt, improving the balance sheet and setting the stage for the anticipated exercise of our credit facility extension."
- Same Store NOI, excluding lease termination revenue, increased 3.6% for the six months ended June 30,2022 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021 driven by increased occupancy and rental revenue.
- Same Store NOI, excluding lease termination revenue, decreased 5.7% for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2021.
- Robust leasing activity is driving increased occupancy with Core Mall Total Occupancy increasing by 480 basis points to 93.8% compared to the second quarter 2021. Core Mall Non-anchor Occupancy eclipsed 90%, improving 450 basis points to 90.5% compared to the second quarter of 2021.
- Total Core Mall leased space, at 95.0%, exceeds occupied space by 120 basis points, and core mall non-anchor leased space, at 92.3%, exceeds occupied space by 180 basis points when including executed new leases slated for future occupancy, demonstrating the rapid pace of leasing activity.
- For the rolling 12 month period ended June 30, 2022, core mall comparable sales grew to $605 per square foot.
- Average renewal spreads for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were 2.3%.
- Two new trustees were elected to the Company's Board of Trustees.
- The Company made notable advances in its capital-raising efforts. As part of its debt reduction plan, the Company has applied asset sale proceeds and excess cash from operations to pay down debt by $82 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022. The Company currently has over $65 million in purchase and sales agreements executed, and has several others in the final stages of negotiation for a total of over $200 million of potential incremental asset sales pending.
Leasing and Redevelopment
- 297,000 square feet of leases are signed for future openings, which is expected to contribute annualized gross rent of $5.9 million.
- Construction has started on a new self-storage facility in previously unused below grade space at Mall at Prince George's in Hyattsville, MD.
- A lease has been executed with Tilted 10 and Tilt Studio, an action-packed bi-level 104,000 square foot indoor family entertainment center at Willow Grove Park, adding family entertainment to this locally-loved destination shopping experience, and is expected to open in the third quarter 2022.
- Phoenix Theatres at Woodland Mall, occupying 47,000 square feet, opened in April 2022.
- At Moorestown Mall, Cooper University Healthcare has started construction on its facility that is expected to open in the second half of 2023. The sale of land for multi-family development was completed in June 2022. Construction is expected to begin on this project in August 2022 with initial occupancy anticipated in fall 2024.
- Landlord work is underway for a new prototype, 32,000 square foot, LEGO® Discovery Center at Springfield Town Center with expected opening in third quarter 2023.
- Leases are executed for 10 stores within the portfolio with expanding retailers Rose & Remington, BoxLunch and Lovisa.
Primary Factors Affecting Financial Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021
- Net loss attributable to PREIT common shareholders was $17.6 million (which takes into consideration the accrual of preferred dividends that accumulated during the quarter but have not been paid), or $3.32 per basic and diluted share for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to net loss attributable to PREIT common shareholders of $31.4 million, or $6.04 per basic and diluted share for the three months ended June 30, 2021.
- Funds from Operations increased in the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the prior year period due primarily to a gain of $8.8 million from the sale of our Moorestown multifamily land parcel and a decrease in general and administrative expenses offset by lower NOI, including lease termination revenue.
- Same Store NOI, including lease terminations, decreased by $4.4 million, or 8.3% due primarily to lower lease termination revenue and lower rental income compared to the same quarter last year as a result of accounting treatment for abatements that positively impacted the 2021 quarter partially offset by increases in minimum rent and percentage rent.
- FFO for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was $1.72 per diluted share and OP Unit compared to $1.51 per diluted share and OP Unit for the three months ended June 30, 2021.
All NOI and FFO amounts referenced as primary factors affecting financial results above include our share of unconsolidated properties' revenues and expenses. Additional information regarding changes in operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 is included on page 15.
Liquidity and Financing Activities
As of June 30, 2022, the Company had $113.9 million available under its First Lien Revolving Credit Facility. The Company's corporate cash balances, when combined with available credit, provide total liquidity of $127.6 million.
Asset Dispositions
Multifamily Land Parcels: During the quarter, the Company closed on the sale of land for 375 residential units at Moorestown Mall for approximately $12 million. The Company has executed agreements of sale for land parcels for anticipated multi-family development at three properties. One parcel is being re-marketed and the parcel at Exton Square Mall is included in the $28.8 million purchase price.
Hotel Parcels: The Company has an executed purchase and sale agreement for the sale of a parcel for hotel development at Springfield Town Center for $2.7 million.
Other Parcels: In February, we completed the redemption of preferred equity issued as part of the sale of our New Garden land parcel. In connection with this settlement, we received approximately $2.5 million. The Company expects to close on the sale of an anchor box at Valley View Mall for $2.6 million in the second half of the year. In July, the Company executed an amended purchase and sale agreement for the sale of Exton Square Mall for $28.8 million, which is expected to close in the second half of the year. In April, we executed a purchase and sale agreement for the sale of the former Sears TBA location at Moorestown Mall for $3.35 million. In May, we executed a purchase and sales agreement for the sale of 11 outparcels for $32.5 million. The sale of 3 parcels for over $5 million has been completed at this time.
2022 Outlook
The Company is not issuing detailed guidance at this time.
Conference Call Information
Management has scheduled a conference call for 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday August 9, 2022, to review the Company's results and future outlook. To listen to the call, please dial 1(888) 330-2024 (domestic toll free), or 1(646) 960-0187 (international), and request to join the PREIT call, Conference ID 9326912, at least fifteen minutes before the scheduled start time as callers could experience delays. Investors can also access the call in a "listen only" mode via the internet at the Company's website, preit.com. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download the necessary software to listen to the Internet broadcast. Financial and statistical information expected to be discussed on the call will also be available on the Company's website.
For interested individuals unable to join the conference call, the online archive of the webcast will also be available for one year following the call.
About PREIT
PREIT (NYSE:PEI) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that owns and manages innovative properties developed to be thoughtful, community-centric hubs. PREIT's robust portfolio of carefully curated, ever-evolving properties generates success for its tenants and meaningful impact for the communities it serves by keenly focusing on five core areas of established and emerging opportunity: multi-family & hotel, health & tech, retail, essentials & grocery and experiential. Located primarily in densely-populated regions, PREIT is a top operator of high quality, purposeful places that serve as one-stop destinations for customers to shop, dine, play and stay. Additional information is available at www.preit.com or on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.
Rounding
Certain summarized information in the tables included may not total due to rounding.
Definitions
Funds From Operations ("FFO")
The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT") defines Funds From Operations ("FFO"), which is a non-GAAP measure commonly used by REITs, as net income (computed in accordance with GAAP) excluding (i) depreciation and amortization of real estate, (ii) gains and losses on sales of certain real estate assets, (iii) gains and losses from change in control and (iv) impairment write-downs of certain real estate assets and investments in entities when the impairment is directly attributable to decreases in the value of depreciable real estate held by the entity. We compute FFO in accordance with standards established by NAREIT, which may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs that do not define the term in accordance with the current NAREIT definition, or that interpret the current NAREIT definition differently than we do. NAREIT's established guidance provides that excluding impairment write downs of depreciable real estate is consistent with the NAREIT definition.
FFO is a commonly used measure of operating performance and profitability among REITs. We use FFO and FFO per diluted share and unit of limited partnership interest in our operating partnership ("OP Unit") in measuring our performance against our peers and as one of the performance measures for determining incentive compensation amounts earned under certain of our performance-based executive compensation programs.
FFO does not include gains and losses on sales of operating real estate assets or impairment write downs of depreciable real estate (including development land parcels), which are included in the determination of net loss in accordance with GAAP. Accordingly, FFO is not a comprehensive measure of our operating cash flows. In addition, since FFO does not include depreciation on real estate assets, FFO may not be a useful performance measure when comparing our operating performance to that of other non-real estate commercial enterprises. We compensate for these limitations by using FFO in conjunction with other GAAP financial performance measures, such as net loss and net cash used in operating activities, and other non-GAAP financial performance measures, such as NOI. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered to be an alternative to net loss (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indication of our financial performance or to be an alternative to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available for our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions. We believe that net loss is the most directly comparable GAAP measurement to FFO.
When applicable, we also present FFO, as adjusted, and FFO per diluted share and OP Unit, as adjusted, which are non-GAAP measures, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, to show the effect of such items as gain or loss on debt extinguishment (including accelerated amortization of financing costs), impairment of assets, provision for employee separation expense, insurance recoveries or losses, net, gain on derecognition of property, gain or loss on sale of preferred equity interest, gain or loss on hedge ineffectiveness and reorganization expenses which had an effect on our results of operations, but are not, in our opinion, indicative of our ongoing operating performance.
We believe that FFO is helpful to management and investors as a measure of operating performance because it excludes various items included in net loss that do not relate to or are not indicative of operating performance, such as gains on sales of operating real estate and depreciation and amortization of real estate, among others. We believe that Funds From Operations, as adjusted, is helpful to management and investors as a measure of operating performance because it adjusts FFO to exclude items that management does not believe are indicative of our operating performance, such as provision for employee separation expense, gain on hedge ineffectiveness and reorganization expenses.
Net Operating Income ("NOI")
NOI (a non-GAAP measure) is derived from real estate revenue (determined in accordance with GAAP, including lease termination revenue), minus property operating expenses (determined in accordance with GAAP), plus our pro rata share of revenue and property operating expenses of our unconsolidated partnership investments. NOI does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered to be an alternative to net loss (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indication of our financial performance or to be an alternative to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of our liquidity. It is not indicative of funds available for our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions. We believe NOI is helpful to management and investors as a measure of operating performance because it is an indicator of the return on property investment, and provides a method of comparing property performance over time. We believe that net loss is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to NOI. NOI excludes other income, depreciation and amortization, general and administrative expenses, insurance recoveries (net), provision for employee separation expense, project costs and other expenses, interest expense, reorganization expenses, impairment of assets, equity in loss or income of partnerships, gain on extinguishment of debt, gain or loss on sales of real estate and gain or loss on sale of preferred equity interest.
Same Store NOI is calculated using retail properties owned for the full periods presented and excludes properties acquired or disposed of, under redevelopment, or designated as non-core during the periods presented. Non Same Store NOI is calculated using the retail properties excluded from the calculation of Same Store NOI.
Unconsolidated Properties and Proportionate Financial Information
The non-GAAP financial measures of FFO and NOI presented in this press release incorporate financial information attributable to our share of unconsolidated properties. This proportionate financial information is non-GAAP financial information, but we believe that it is helpful information because it reflects the pro rata contribution from our unconsolidated properties that are owned through investments accounted for under GAAP using the equity method of accounting. Under such method, earnings from these unconsolidated partnerships are recorded in our statements of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP under the caption entitled "Equity in (loss) income of partnerships."
To derive the proportionate financial information from our unconsolidated properties," we multiplied the percentage of our economic interest in each partnership on a property-by-property basis by each line item. Under the partnership agreements relating to our current unconsolidated partnerships with third parties, we own a 40% to 50% economic interest in such partnerships, and there are generally no provisions in such partnership agreements relating to special non-pro rata allocations of income or loss, and there are no preferred or priority returns of capital or other similar provisions. While this method approximates our indirect economic interest in our pro rata share of the revenue and expenses of our unconsolidated partnerships, we do not have a direct legal claim to the assets, liabilities, revenues or expenses of the unconsolidated partnerships beyond our rights as an equity owner in the event of any liquidation of such entity. Our percentage ownership is not necessarily indicative of the legal and economic implications of our ownership interest. Accordingly, NOI and FFO results based on our share of the results of unconsolidated partnerships do not represent cash generated from our investments in these partnerships.
Core Properties
Core Properties include all operating retail properties except for Exton Square Mall. Core Malls exclude Exton Square Mall and power centers.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "project," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans, strategies, anticipated events, trends and other matters that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events, achievements, results, cost reductions and the impact of COVID-19 and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that might cause future events, achievements or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, our business might be materially and adversely affected by the following:
- the effectiveness of our financial restructuring and any additional strategies that we may employ to address our liquidity and capital resources in the future;
- our ability to achieve forecasted revenue and pro forma leverage ratio and generate free cash flow to further reduce indebtedness;
- the COVID-19 global pandemic and the public health and governmental response, which have created periods of significant economic disruptions and also have and may continue to exacerbate many of the risks listed herein;
- changes in the retail and real estate industries, including bankruptcies, consolidation and store closings, particularly among anchor tenants;
- changes in economic conditions, including unemployment rates and its effects on consumer confidence and spending, supply chain challenges, the current inflationary environment, and the corresponding effects on tenant business performance, prospects, solvency and leasing decisions;
- our inability to collect rent due to the bankruptcy or insolvency of tenants or otherwise;
- our ability to maintain and increase property occupancy, sales and rental rates;
- increases in operating costs that cannot be passed on to tenants, which may be exacerbated in the current inflationary environment;
- the effects of online shopping and other uses of technology on our retail tenants;
- risks related to our development and redevelopment activities, including delays, cost overruns and our inability to reach projected occupancy or rental rates;
- social unrest and acts of vandalism or violence at malls, including our properties, or at other similar spaces, and the potential effect on traffic and sales;
- our ability to sell properties that we seek to dispose of, which may be delayed by, among other things, the failure to obtain zoning, occupancy and other governmental approvals and permits or, to the extent required, approvals of other third parties;
- potential losses on impairment of certain long-lived assets, such as real estate, including losses that we might be required to record in connection with any disposition of assets;
- our substantial debt, particularly in light of increasing interest rates, and our ability to remain in compliance with our financial covenants under our debt facilities;
- our ability to raise capital, including through sales of properties or interests in properties, subject to the terms of our Credit Agreements; and
- potential dilution from any capital raising transactions or other equity issuances.
Additional factors that might cause future events, achievements or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements include those discussed herein and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 in the section entitled "Item 1A. Risk Factors" and any subsequent reports we file with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements made by us speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.
** Quarterly supplemental financial and operating **
** information will be available on www.preit.com **
Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust
Selected Financial Data
The following table presents a reconciliation of net loss determined in accordance with GAAP to (i) FFO attributable to common shareholders and OP Unit holders, (ii) FFO, as adjusted, attributable to common shareholders and OP Unit holders, (iii) FFO attributable to common shareholders and OP Unit holders per diluted share and OP Unit, (iv) and FFO, as adjusted, attributable to common shareholders and OP Unit holders per diluted share and OP Unit for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust
Selected Financial Data
NOI for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust
Selected Financial Data
The table below reconciles net loss to NOI of our consolidated properties for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.
Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust
Selected Financial Data
The table below reconciles equity in (loss) income of partnerships to NOI of equity method investments at ownership share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust
Selected Financial Data
Changes in Funds from Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 (all per share amounts on a diluted basis unless otherwise noted; per share amounts rounded to the nearest half penny; amounts may not total due to rounding)
CONTACT: AT THE COMPANY
Mario Ventresca
EVP & CFO
(215) 875-0703
Heather Crowell
heather@gregoryfca.com
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SOURCE PREIT | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/preit-reports-second-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-08-09T12:11:09Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The monarch butterfly fluttered a step closer to extinction Thursday, as scientists put the iconic orange-and-black insect on the endangered list because of its fast dwindling numbers.
“It’s just a devastating decline,” said Stuart Pimm, an ecologist at Duke University who was not involved in the new listing. “This is one of the most recognizable butterflies in the world.”
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature added the migrating monarch butterfly for the first time to its “red list” of threatened species and categorized it as “endangered” — two steps from extinct.
The group estimates that the population of monarch butterflies in North America has declined between 22% and 72% over 10 years, depending on the measurement method.
“What we’re worried about is the rate of decline,” said Nick Haddad, a conservation biologist at Michigan State University. “It’s very easy to imagine how very quickly this butterfly could become even more imperiled.”
Haddad, who was not directly involved in the listing, estimates that the population of monarch butterflies he studies in the eastern United States has declined between 85% and 95% since the 1990s.
In North America, millions of monarch butterflies undertake the longest migration of any insect species known to science.
After wintering in the mountains of central Mexico, the butterflies migrate to the north, breeding multiple generations along the way for thousands of miles. The offspring that reach southern Canada then begin the trip back to Mexico at the end of summer.
“It’s a true spectacle and incites such awe,” said Anna Walker, a conservation biologist at New Mexico BioPark Society, who was involved in determining the new listing.
A smaller group spends winters in coastal California, then disperses in spring and summer across several states west of the Rocky Mountains. This population has seen an even more precipitous decline than the eastern monarchs, although there was a small bounce back last winter.
Emma Pelton of the nonprofit Xerces Society, which monitors the western butterflies, said the butterflies are imperiled by loss of habitat and increased use of herbicides and pesticides for agriculture, as well as climate change.
“There are things people can do to help,” she said, including planting milkweed, a plant that the caterpillars depend upon.
Nonmigratory monarch butterflies in Central and South America were not designated as endangered.
The United States has not listed monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act, but several environmental groups believe it should be listed.
The international union also announced new estimates for the global population of tigers, which are 40% higher than the most recent estimates from 2015.
The new figures, of between 3,726 and 5,578 wild tigers worldwide, reflect better methods for counting tigers and, potentially, an increase in their overall numbers, said Dale Miquelle, coordinator for the nonprofit Wildlife Conservation Society’s tiger program.
In the past decade, tiger populations have increased in Nepal, northern China and perhaps in India, while tigers have disappeared entirely from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, said Miquelle. They remain designated as endangered.
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Follow Christina Larson on Twitter: @larsonchristina
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://cw33.com/news/science-technology/ap-science/beloved-monarch-butterflies-now-listed-as-endangered/ | 2022-07-21T14:26:16Z |
Which fall shower curtain is best?
As the weather turns crisp and fall decorations fill our homes, swapping your regular shower curtain for a fall shower curtain can help you savor the season during your daily routine. You can find fall-themed shower curtains with various prints, patterns and sayings that evoke cozy fall vibes. But choosing the right one for your bathroom can be a bit overwhelming. If you’re looking for a sophisticated yet reasonably priced fall shower curtain, the Shirtacle Harvest Grains & Grasses Shower Curtain is a top choice.
What to know before you buy a fall shower curtain
Materials
Fall shower curtains can come in a few different materials, just like regular shower curtains. The most common material options are linen, hemp, cotton, nylon, polyester or poly-cotton blends and plastic.
Plastic shower curtains will be waterproof and affordable, though they may not offer the appealing seasonal aesthetic you may be looking for in a fall shower curtain. Fabric shower curtains provide a more refined look while still offering a water-resistant barrier across the tub.
Size
Since fall shower curtains are a seasonal specialty item, they may not come in as many sizes as other shower curtains. However, you can generally find sizes that most standard bathtubs, measuring between 70 and 72 inches wide and long. If you want a seasonal shower curtain outside those common measurements, be sure to choose a design that comes in multiple sizes.
Hanging method
Autumn-themed shower curtains can have various hanging methods like simple holes, sewn holes, small holes with metal grommets or large holes with metal grommets. Curtains with smaller holes require hooks to hang on a curtain rod, while large holes can be threaded directly onto the rod. Holes with grommets are more durable since the metal acts as a seal to protect the curtain from tears and rips over time.
Cleaning and maintenance
As with regular shower curtains, fall shower curtains require periodic cleaning to keep soap scum and mildew at bay. If your shower curtain is machine-washable, that’s your best bet. If not, scrubbing with soapy water and a brush or sponge can help refresh your curtain as needed. Since you’ll only bring out this specialty shower curtain one season a year, it’s a good idea to clean it before packing it up again to prevent the buildup of dirt or dust while in storage.
What to look for in a quality fall shower curtain
Unique designs and high-performing materials differentiate quality fall shower curtains from all the others. Besides finding a design that suits your style, a waterproof or water-resistant curtain may be the most important feature when shopping for the best fall shower curtain.
Design and patterns
As you look for a shower curtain that evokes your fondest fall memories, consider your personal design preferences as well as your existing bathroom decor. You can find fall-themed shower curtains in many different shades, prints and patterns. There are even seasonal shower curtains based on pop culture icons from big brand names. Consider how the curtain will fit within your existing color palette and patterns, then choose a seasonal curtain that complements what you already have.
Reinforced holes
Some shower curtains provide extra structure around the openings for hooks, such as sewn hems or metal grommets. If you’re decorating a high-traffic bathroom or just want to preserve your curtain for as long as possible, look for a seasonal shower curtain that has durable hook holes.
Water-resistance
While many shower curtains boast water-resistant capabilities, not all specialty shower curtains are made with longevity in mind. Seasonal shower curtains are more likely to use delicate fabrics to enhance the design since they won’t hang in your bathroom all year round. However, finding a shower curtain that fits your seasonal mood and resists water will help protect your curtain without demanding extra cleaning and maintenance.
How much you can expect to spend on a fall shower curtain
Most fall shower curtains cost $20-$70. More expensive shower curtains can cost up to $100 or more, depending on the unique designs, brand names, limited releases and materials.
Fall shower curtain FAQ
Do fall shower curtains come in sizes that fit shower stalls?
A. Potentially. Shower stalls are typically less wide than bathtubs, so you may need less material to cover them. Some fall shower curtains come in multiple sizes, so you can measure your space and choose the best size. Since these curtains are seasonal, many products only come in the standard size for bathtubs, so you may have to hang
Should I get a seasonal shower curtain made of polyester?
A. Yes, if you want a durable, water-resistant and easy-to-maintain curtain. Polyester offers many benefits for a seasonal shower curtain. It’s easy to clean and often machine-washable. You don’t need a plastic curtain liner, as polyester is already water-resistant and will perform well all by itself. It’s also fast-drying so you won’t need to worry about mold or mildew when you fold it up and tuck it away for the rest of the year.
What’s the best fall shower curtain to buy?
Top fall shower curtain
Shirtacle Harvest Grains & Grasses Shower Curtain
What you need to know: This is a strong and durable 100% polyester shower curtain featuring a warm and vibrant watercolor painting in autumn colors.
What you’ll love: The oversized watercolor artwork dominates the curtain and adds a warm, earthy vibe to any bathroom. There are 12 buttonholes sewn across the top for hooks. Water-resistant fabric is easy to clean and dries quickly.
What you should consider: Some customers say the curtain is thinner than expected.
Where to buy: Sold by Etsy
Top fall shower curtain for the money
LB Rustic Sunflower Fall Shower Curtain
What you need to know: This seasonal shower curtain features a large print of sunflowers and a cornucopia of autumn gourds over an orange background.
What you’ll love: Metal grommets across the top help reinforce the holes and the curtain comes with 12 plastic hooks for hanging. The fabric is 100% polyester, which is machine-washable and quick drying. The curtain comes in five different sizes to fit all sizes of shower stalls and bathtubs.
What you should consider: The included plastic hooks may not be as durable as metal ones. The curtain arrives folded so that it may have creases in it.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Nature’s Harvest 70-Inch x 72-Inch Shower Curtain with Hooks Set
What you need to know: This standard-sized shower curtain features cute autumnal sayings perfect for the fall season.
What you’ll love: The farmhouse style shower curtain comes with 12 pumpkin-shaped hooks for hanging. The curtain is made of polyester, and is also machine-washable and quick drying.
What you should consider: A curtain liner is not included.
Where to buy: Sold by Bed Bath & Beyond
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/bed-bath-br/shower-accessories-br/best-fall-shower-curtain/ | 2022-09-11T00:22:33Z |
NEW YORK, June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for BHAT, VRM, REV, RBLX, and JAGX.
To see how InvestorsObserver's proprietary scoring system rates these stocks, view the InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alert by selecting the corresponding link.
- BHAT: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=BHAT&prnumber=062420225
- VRM: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=VRM&prnumber=062420225
- REV: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=REV&prnumber=062420225
- RBLX: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=RBLX&prnumber=062420225
- JAGX: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=JAGX&prnumber=062420225
(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alerts are based on our proprietary scoring methodology. Each stock is evaluated based on short-term technical, long-term technical and fundamental factors. Each of those scores is then combined into an overall score that determines a stock's overall suitability for investment.
InvestorsObserver provides patented technology to some of the biggest names on Wall Street and creates world-class investing tools for the self-directed investor on Main Street. We have a wide range of tools to help investors make smarter decisions when investing in stocks or options.
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SOURCE InvestorsObserver | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/24/thinking-about-buying-stock-blue-hat-interactive-vroom-revlon-roblox-or-jaguar-health/ | 2022-06-24T16:24:49Z |
Recall issued for ‘Blue’s Clues’ riding toy after children suffer facial injuries
(Gray News) - Huffy Corp. has issued a recall for thousands of its ride-on toys after multiple children have reported being injured while using the toy.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 28,550 “Blue’s Clues” foot-to-floor ride-on toys are included in the recall, as the item can tip forward when a child is riding it, posing fall and injury hazards to children.
The company has received reports of 19 children falling forward while riding the toy, resulting in 18 facial injuries.
According to the recall, the ride-on toy is made with plush light blue fabric with spots and is in the shape of the “Blue’s Clues” cartoon dog character. The toy is intended for children 1 ½ to 3 years old.
Consumers were advised to take the recalled ride-on toy away from their children immediately and to stop using it.
The agency said the Huffy Corporation could be contacted at 800-872-2453 for a free kit with instructions to install a new stop bar on the ride-on toy.
The model number included in the recall is 55061 with date codes 15221, 15921, 19921, 21021, 22321, 23721, 26821, 28821 and 29421. The date code and model number are on the label located under the body of the product near the sound unit and battery door.
The recall notice said the toy was sold exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide from August 2021 through July 2022 for about $40.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/27/recall-issued-blues-clues-riding-toy-after-children-suffer-facial-injuries/ | 2022-08-28T00:13:24Z |
HOUSTON, July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bayou Companies, LLC ("Bayou") and Wasco Energy ("Wasco") today announced the restart of the Bayou-Wasco Insulation("BWI") facility effective immediately. BWI will continue to operate from New Iberia, Louisiana, and provide customers with both Glass Syntactic Polyurethane ("GSPU") and Glass Syntactic Polypropylene ("GSPP" or 5LPP) insulation services. In addition to providing more choices for Gulf of Mexico customers, BWI will also serve in partnership with other Wasco locations to provide added support, capacity, and plant redundancy, further reducing execution risk on major subsea projects.
"The landscape and demand for subsea flow assurance have changed dramatically, and we are excited about moving forward and working with Wasco to go to market in a coordinated fashion to support customers across geographies," said Tanmay Desai, CEO of Bayou. "We also look forward to working with Wasco's worldwide footprint to accelerate the growth of our ODYSEA division and the global deployment of Goldilocks ("GDLX™") technology to supplement polyurethane and polypropylene-based coatings, giving customers greater options."
"Over the last few years, the market for flow assurance systems has shifted significantly with new geographies providing significant growth opportunities for BWI products and services," said Giancarlo Maccagno, Group CEO of Wasco Energy. "Wasco is excited by the opportunity to restart the BWI facility with Bayou and the prospect of providing our customers with a suite of competitive products and services."
About The Bayou Companies
With 80 years of exceptional service, Bayou is widely recognized as a market leader in both onshore and offshore pipe coatings and highly specialized insulation solutions for the energy industry. Through its division ODYSEA, The Bayou Companies continues to focus on advancing thermal insulation and flow assurance solutions for subsea infrastructure for their deepwater clients. Throughout its long history, Bayou has been a reliable partner for its customers across its mission-critical suite of services and has continued to invest in capabilities that equal the increasingly complex demands of the pipeline community. Bayou has invested significantly in building out world-class facilities in its strategically located New Iberia, Louisiana campus including an expansive manufacturing and storage footprint that provides efficient logistics and seamless operations for its customers.
About Wasco Energy
Wasco Energy is a leading integrated energy group that operates in the global market. It provides reliable and competitive products, services and solutions to oil, gas and energy players worldwide. Wasco Energy has built an enviable track-record of delivering major projects across key markets and continues to extend its footprint via distinct product and service offerings in the areas of Pipeline Services, Engineering Services and Field Services.
Media inquiries please contact:
For The Bayou Companies:
Amber Murphy
amurphy@bayoucompanies.com
For Wasco Energy:
Amanda Chong
amanda.chong@wascoenergy.com
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SOURCE The Bayou Companies; Wasco Energy | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/bayou-wasco-announce-restart-bayou-wasco-insulation-facility/ | 2022-07-18T11:35:09Z |
Rep. Arrington introduces bill to provide Medicare and Medicaid recognition to FECs
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Freestanding Emergency Centers (NAFEC) applauds Representative Jodey Arrington (R-TX 19) and 10 co-sponsors for introducing H.R. 8597 - The Medicare Emergency Care Improvement Act. This important legislation would expand emergency medical access to rural Americans, improve the quality of urban care and provide permanent Medicare and Medicaid recognition to freestanding emergency centers (FEC), allowing patients to keep vital emergency medical access they have been able to access during the pandemic.
"FECs are an essential part of our nation's healthcare system, providing high-quality, cost-effective care to millions of patients each year," said NAFEC President Rhonda Sandel. "Many FECs have been providing care to Medicare beneficiaries since the beginning of the pandemic under a temporary program established by CMS. But unless the statute is updated to provide permanent recognition, these beneficiaries will lose access to their FECs when the Public Health Emergency terminates. We are grateful for Rep. Arrington's leadership working to preserve and expand access to quality emergency care for all Americans."
In April 2020, as a response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and to expand patient access, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a waiver allowing FECs to enroll as Medicare-certified hospitals and receive Medicare reimbursement for the duration of the pandemic. Nearly 60 percent of FECs nationwide enrolled in the temporary program and showed the benefit of long-term implementation. Since the waiver was implemented, an actuarial study of Medicare claims found more efficient care with a 22 percent cost reduction across all acuity conditions.
"In 2010, Texas began licensing FECs, and now there are more than 200 across several states. The benefit these facilities provided throughout the pandemic is undeniable; however, in classic fashion, the government has lagged behind the pace of healthcare innovation," said Rep. Arrington. "Unless Congress enacts a law providing permanent recognition to FECs prior to the end of the public health emergency, Medicare beneficiaries will face a critical lack of emergency care options. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the Emergency Care Improvement Act to expand healthcare access across the board."
The bill has also been endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians.
FECs place emergency care directly into communities. With ER physicians on-site 24/7, advanced imaging, lab and licensed pharmacy services, they provide a new model of care delivery. Patients with emergency conditions can be seen, diagnosed and stabilized quickly, reducing costs and saving lives.
About NAFEC
The National Association of Freestanding Emergency Centers (NAFEC) is a member-based association representing freestanding emergency centers across the country. The Association works with national leaders to ensure this industry's fair regulation and growth, as well as raise public awareness of the industry and promote an overall understanding of the unique benefits of freestanding emergency centers.
Media Contact:
Alice Claiborne, 713-865-6342
aclaiborne@themach1group.com
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SOURCE National Association of Freestanding Emergency Centers | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/emergency-care-improvement-act-aims-expand-emergency-healthcare-access/ | 2022-08-01T21:37:33Z |
JUMET, Belgium, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Exothera S.A., a leading CDMO that specializes in the development and manufacture of viral vectors for vaccines and gene therapies, has developed and is continuing improving the exoREADY platform for accelerated viral vector manufacture. This fully integrated platform will ensure faster, more cost-effective production of viral vector-based therapeutics (for gene therapy, vaccines, and oncolytic viruses for cancer treatment) at scale.
Viral vector-based cell and gene therapies are increasingly being applied to the treatment of a wider range of health conditions such as chronic diseases, cancers, and autoimmune diseases. While the market is growing rapidly, the industry is struggling to deliver affordable therapies quickly because development and manufacturing processes are complex. Innovative biotechs are being slowed down because they have to select and assemble all the complex elements required for the development and manufacture of their therapies.
Exothera is overcoming these limitations by introducing exoREADY, a plug-and-play viral vector platform where all the steps in the production process will be assembled and optimized so that the system is ready-to-use. The platform will significantly shorten production lead times, improve manufacturing process robustness, and have a significant impact on cost per dose.
The exoREADY platform's objective is to provide an off-the-shelf solution for transient expression for both adeno-associated virus (AAV) and lentivirus (LV) compatible with adherent and suspension culture based on an optimized HEK-293 cell line. exoREADY users will also access pre-optimized downstream purification processes, dedicated quality control protocol and an analytical testing tool kit that can address all the steps required for the manufacture of complex advanced therapies in a fast, efficient, and lower cost manner. Exothera is developing the platform so that only a few parameters need to be fine-tuned to be able to lock in the process quickly enabling biotherapeutic companies to scale production rapidly.
Emilie Gateau, Platform Development Manager at Exothera: "Large scale viral vector-based therapeutics manufacturing is still challenging, and our goal is to significantly streamline the process by providing an all-in-one platform for commercial scale manufacturing which offers a fast, affordable solution, from cell line selection to drug substance delivery".
"We are very grateful for the support and trust of Wallonia. Their financing is helping accelerate the optimization of the exoREADY platform, thereby providing the industrialization tools cell and gene therapy product developers need to become available to all," said Thibault Jonckheere, Chief Executive Officer at Exothera
The exoREADY platform comes as an additional disruptive asset for Exothera. The company recently extended its GMP facility in Jumet (Belgium) to 8,600 m² (92,570 ft²). The expansion allows Exothera to become one of the largest viral vector manufacturing facilities in Europe, only two years after it was founded.
About Exothera SA
Exothera is a viral vector CDMO using standard and innovative bioproduction platforms to rapidly deliver affordable viral vector-based vaccines and cell and gene therapies. As a Univercells company, Exothera capitalizes on novel manufacturing technologies and best-in-class bioprocessing expertise to provide custom-made process optimization and GMP clinical and commercial production of viral vectors. Based on its extensive technology expertise, Exothera selects technologies to optimally answer customer needs for cost-effective and agile viral vector manufacturing and provides QC services and analytical development.
Website: www.exothera.world
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SOURCE EXOTHERA | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/exothera-develops-exoready-ready-to-use-viral-vector-production-platform-accelerate-advanced-therapy-manufacture-scale/ | 2022-06-09T07:31:59Z |
BOISE, Idaho, May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearwater Analytics (NYSE: CWAN), a leading provider of SaaS-based investment accounting, reporting, and analytics solutions, announced several enhancements to their product offering during Q1 2022.
Thousands of client users rely on Clearwater Analytics as their single version of the truth to meet their accounting, regulatory, and financial reporting needs with high accuracy and efficient, timely reporting. Clearwater takes on the operational tasks associated with investment accounting and reporting so that its clients can focus on growing their investment returns. The Q1 product updates include support for the latest accounting and regulatory standards, enriched asset class reporting, and upgraded user experience.
Clearwater's proactive regulatory enhancements are driven to provide its clients with regulatory filings that are timely, accurate, and follow up-to-date guidance. The company's ability to deliver enriched asset class reporting enables its clients to feel confident when investing in new asset classes or growing their business through acquisitions.
Clearwater Analytics' Q1 2022 product enhancements include:
- NAIC 2022 Quarterly Guidance Updates: Clearwater proactively updated the NAIC schedules to meet the latest requirements from the NAIC so clients can rest assured that their reports are compliant.
- Schedule B: Enhancements for Mortgage Loans: Clearwater added enhanced Schedule B reporting to allow for Total Valuation Allowance on Schedule B Verification, reports with multiple partial repayments with the same loan number in one line on Schedule B Part 3, and "Value of Land and Buildings" on Schedule B Parts 1 and 2.
- Schedule BA: Enhancements for Limited Partnerships: Clearwater eliminated the duplication of income due to return of capital from Schedule BA Parts 1 and 3 to better improve accuracy.
- Enhancements to Solvency II Reports: The company added several reports for Solvency Capital requirement calculations. These reports include Currency Risk SCR, Equity Risk SCR, and Spread Risk SCR. Clearwater also updated the Underlying Asset Category for all equities and now populates Issue Type for all non-derivative assets on SOLV2 ADD/QAD 230 and SOLV2 AAD/QAD 236 per Lloyd's of London guidance.
- New Cumulative Catch-Up Method of Accounting: The company added a cumulative catch-up (CCU) amortization adjustment that provides a new optional method of accounting for cash flow changes on pre-paying securities.
- LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) Cessation and Reference Rate Transition: Clearwater enhanced calculation type support for forward-looking term and overnight average floating rate and fixed-to-float bonds.
- New Fields Added: Custody File Date and Trading File Date: Clearwater added two new fields to Locked Down Transaction Details report to allow clients to better understand the timing of activity recognition.
- Filed Name Change: Legal Entity Identifier: Clearwater changed the name of the Clearwater Reporting Site field "Legal Entity Identifier" to "Issuer LEI." The new name more clearly indicates that this field is a specific identifier that is applied to the security's issuer.
- Pledging Update for Report of Conditions: Clearwater now automatically removes outdated pledges during daily reconciliation. A pledge is considered outdated if the account no longer holds a security position against the entered pledge.
"We are committed to keeping our clients' regulatory reporting up-to-date with new regulatory updates being made, which is evident through many of the product features made available throughout Q1," said Jody Kochansky, President of Technology and Product at Clearwater Analytics. "As our clients continue to grow their portfolios, they can rely on Clearwater to provide the reporting they need."
About Clearwater Analytics
As the industry-leading SaaS solution for investment accounting and reporting, Clearwater enables growth of assets under management (AUM) for more than 1,100 clients including pension plans, governments, global insurers, asset managers, and corporations. Each day, Clearwater automates data collection, reconciliation, compliance, risk, and performance reporting across $5.9T of AUM with its comprehensive cloud platform and best-in-class service team. Additional information about Clearwater can be found at clearwateranalytics.com, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
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SOURCE Clearwater Analytics | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/05/clearwater-analytics-continues-product-innovation-with-q1-product-updates/ | 2022-05-05T15:26:27Z |
ASHBURN, Va., July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clark Construction Group has broken ground on a new 24MW data center (VA6) in Ashburn, Virginia for NTT Ltd., a world-leading IT infrastructure and services company.
Sitting on NTT's 78-acre data center campus, the 188,000-square-foot VA6 data center will feature 24MW of critical IT load and will be NTT's sixth data center on-site. The two-story steel structure will feature an efficient data hall layout for NTT's customers. The facility will also provide front and back-of-house support spaces for facility management and customer use.
"We are excited to partner with NTT to deliver this critical infrastructure project for the region and help them support their customers' needs," said Louie Sarracino, a vice president at Clark Construction who oversees the company's mission-critical project portfolio. "Data centers are a key sector for Clark, and we look forward to accelerating our growth in the data infrastructure sector in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond."
VA6 is slated for completion in Q1 2024.
About Clark Construction Group
For more than a century, Clark Construction Group has been transforming the ideas and visions of its clients into world-class projects that make the United States a stronger, safer place. As one of the nation's largest asset creators, Clark has offices strategically located across the country to serve the needs of its clients. For more information, visit www.clarkconstruction.com.
Media Contact:
Carly Thayer
carly.thayer@allisonpr.com
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SOURCE Clark Construction Group | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/clark-construction-breaks-ground-ntt-data-center-ashburn/ | 2022-07-18T16:20:31Z |
- Trial based on the recent breakthrough discovery of a novel treatment paradigm for urea associated skin diseases
- First patients dosed in Europe in Phase 2 trial assessing the safety and efficacy of MC2-25 Cream in Chronic Kidney Disease-associated Pruritus (CKD-aP) stages 3-5 patients
- MC2-25 Cream has the potential to become the first approved treatment for ~30 million people in US and EU with chronic kidney disease associated pruritus stages 3 and 4
- Topline results are expected in Q1 2024
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MC2 Therapeutics A/S, a commercial stage pharmaceutical company, engaged in research in skin biology and development of novel treatment paradigms for autoimmune and chronic inflammatory skin conditions, announces that the first patients have been dosed in its European Phase 2 trial, MC2-25-C1, evaluating the safety and efficacy of MC2-25 Cream compared to MC2-25 vehicle in treating moderate to severe CKD-aP in patients with CKD stages 3-5.
MC2-25 Cream is an innovative new drug candidate, addressing MC2's new biological treatment paradigm for treatment of urea associated skin diseases. MC2-25 Cream inhibits carbamylation in skin, and thereby potentially can provide relief of the severe skin dryness and debilitating itch, which CKD patients suffer from.
"The initiation of the Phase 2 trial with MC2-25 Cream in Europe marks the first step in our journey to leverage our scientific breakthrough discovery of how to treat urea associated skin diseases, for which there are currently limited or no approved therapies," says Jesper J. Lange, President and CEO of MC2 Therapeutics and added: "As part of our commitment to developing this novel treatment paradigm, we also plan to engage with regulatory authorities in the US in Q4 2022 as part of our global CKD-aP program."
"CKD-aP severely impacts the quality of life of CKD patients stages 3-5 with very few treatment options. There are no approved treatments for stages 3-4 patients and no therapies known to treat the damage in the skin caused by the disease. Based on the novel treatment paradigm targeting carbamylation in skin, MC2-25 Cream has the potential to become the first therapy addressing the origin of CKD-aP for millions of CKD patients," says Kieran McCafferty, MD, at Barts Health NHS Trust and Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University London and principal investigator of the MC2-25-C1 trial and continues: "The trial has been endorsed by Kidney Research UK and is a highly appreciated opportunity for our CKD-aP patients to contribute to the clinical development of this exciting drug candidate."
About MC2-25 Cream
The active component of MC2-25 Cream is a di-peptide, which is formulated in MC2 Therapeutics' proprietary formulation and drug delivery system – PAD Technology™. MC2-25 Cream is an effective isocyanate scavenger showing >90 % inhibition of protein carbamylation and counteracting the morphological skin changes induced by carbamylation as demonstrated in an in vitro reconstructed human uremic skin model.
Isocyanate is a very reactive molecule known both to be neurotoxic and to readily react with proteins, peptides and amino acids present in the body and skin. In CKD patients carbamylation of amino acids and proteins is highly upregulated and believed to be a key contributor to the root cause of CKD-aP.
For more information about MC2 Therapeutics' breakthrough discovery of a novel biological treatment paradigm for urea associated skin diseases, please see Press Release of September 1st, 2022.
About the MC2-25 Phase 2 Trial
The trial is a Phase 2, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group trial in subjects with CKD-aP stages 3-5. The trial is expected to enroll approximately 108 patients in about 23 centers in Europe. Subjects will apply trial medication topically twice daily for 12 weeks.
The primary objective is to compare therapeutic efficacy of MC2-25 Cream versus vehicle cream, as well as to characterize the safety profile of MC2-25 Cream in subjects with CKD-aP. The primary efficacy endpoint is the mean change in weekly mean Worst Itch Numeric Rating Score (WI-NRS) from baseline to week 12. Secondary endpoints will be assessed, including treatment success according to responder endpoints, as well as various other patient and physician reported outcomes.
Topline results are expected in Q1 2024.
About CKD-aP
CKD-aP effects more than 35 million people in the US and EU, of which the vast majority (~30 million) are non-dialysis patients (stages 3 and 4) who currently have no approved treatment options. People suffering from CKD have severe dry skin and evidence of damaged nerve fibers in the skin. CKD-aP is a severe condition, which leads to an overall increased mortality risk, as well as higher frequency of depression and reduced quality of life.
About MC2 Therapeutics A/S
MC2 Therapeutics A/S is a privately held commercial stage pharmaceutical company committed to research of skin biology and development of novel treatment paradigms for people with autoimmune and chronic inflammatory skin conditions.
Its innovative approach to address complex challenges more effectively is anchored in deep understanding of the skin biology combined with learnings from the pathophysiology across disease segments. Fueled by an entrepreneurial mindset and creativity, MC2 Therapeutics aims to set new standards in treatment satisfaction for people with skin conditions.
For additional information on MC2 Therapeutics Group, please visit www.mc2therapeutics.com
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1889076/MC2_Therapeutics_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE MC2 Therapeutics | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/mc2-therapeutics-announces-initiation-phase-2-clinical-trial-ckd-ap/ | 2022-09-14T13:04:06Z |
Mr. Happy Face crowned ‘World’s Ugliest Dog’
(CNN) - Mr. Happy Face, a 17-year-old rescue with a crooked head and a mohawk, is the winner of this year’s Ugliest Dog Contest.
Owner Jeneda Benally calls her dog, Mr. Happy Face, “magnificent,” but he took home the title in the return of Sonoma County, California’s Ugliest Dog Contest, after a two-year pandemic break.
Benally says the most common question she gets from people who see her dog is “What is he?”
“He kind of looks like Yoda,” she said. “This is not the full length of his tongue, I should forewarn you. I think it might be longer than Gene Simmons’ tongue.”
Benally rescued Mr. Happy Face from a shelter, where she asked to see “unadoptable” dogs. The hairless Chinese Crested-Chihuahua mix came from a hoarding situation and was 17 years old.
At first, he couldn’t even tolerate human touch, but now, he and Benally have bonded.
“He started kissing my feet and ankles, and what woman doesn’t want any creature to kiss their feet and ankles?” Benally said.
After his win, Mr. Happy Face is taking a victory lap, showing up on morning TV and enjoying a treat of pureed chicken baby food while waiting for a cab in New York City.
“His skin is so humanlike that he does smell a little bit under the armpits. Am I giving too much information away?” Benally said.
She hopes Mr. Happy Face will inspire others to adopt older pets.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/28/mr-happy-face-crowned-worlds-ugliest-dog/ | 2022-06-28T08:14:02Z |
NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 5WPR, one of the largest independently-owned PR firms in the U.S., announced today the expansion of its Corporate Communications division with new Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) team.
The Environmental, Social, and Governance team is increasingly being tapped to build dynamic PR campaigns for ESG companies who assess their clients' ESG risks and help them implement programs to strengthen their organizations and compete in the new corporate paradigm. The team is also relied upon by large companies to amplify their groundbreaking ESG initiatives and demonstrate their exemplary corporate stewardship.
"Companies are rightfully being held to higher standards and expectations, their consumers and investors are expecting the brands they love to more closely align with their personal values and be good corporate citizens," said 5WPR CEO, Matthew Caiola. "We're proud of our ESG clients and the work we do for them in sharing the value they bring to their clients and our society overall."
PR services offered to corporate clients include messaging and positioning, media relations, initial public offering media strategy, new market expansion campaigns, visibility programs, content creation, sponsorships/partnerships, digital media campaigns, event planning, thought leadership and speaking opportunities.
5W Public Relations is a full-service PR agency in NYC known for cutting-edge programs that engage with businesses, issues and ideas. With more than 275 professionals serving clients in B2C (Beauty & Fashion, Consumer Brands, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Travel & Hospitality, Technology, Nonprofit), B2B (Corporate Communications and Reputation Management), Public Affairs, Crisis Communications and Digital Marketing (Social Media, Influencer, Paid Media, SEO). Founded by Ronn Torossian nearly 20 years ago, 5W was named to Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces 2022 list, awarded 2020 PR Agency of The Year, and brings leading businesses a resourceful, bold and results-driven approach to communication.
Media Contact
Matthew Caiola
mcaiola@5wpr.com / 212.999.5585
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SOURCE 5W Public Relations | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/5wpr-announces-expansion-corporate-communications-offerings-with-dedicated-environmental-social-governance-team/ | 2022-09-01T15:36:11Z |
Dump truck explodes after crash on Ohio highway
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) - Several lanes were blocked on an Ohio highway following a crash and explosion on Thursday morning.
According to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, a dump truck traveling I-77 north struck an Ohio Department of Transportation vehicle that was on the shoulder just before 7:30 a.m. near the Graybill Road interchange in Green, WOIO reported.
The crash resulted in an explosion, and both vehicles caught fire, the sheriff’s office said.
According to the sheriff’s office, the driver of the dump truck suffered life-threatening injuries.
The Ohio Department of Transportation said their driver was seriously injured, but the injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Delays on I-77 north stretched out of Summit County into Stark County.
Copyright 2022 WOIO via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/12/dump-truck-explodes-after-crash-ohio-highway/ | 2022-05-12T21:58:59Z |
Which silicone spatula is best?
The term spatula refers to two distinct kitchen tools. The first version is a long-handled scraper used for mixing, folding and removing the remnants of batters and doughs from a bowl, while the second is has a flat head used to flip pancakes, burgers and other flat items as they cook. Every well-stocked kitchen needs at least one of each, but it can be challenging to find a silicone spatula that is up for everything that is thrown its way.
For superior performance, flexible sizes and versatile uses, the Di Oro Seamless Series Silicone Spatula Set is a good choice.
What to know before you buy a silicone spatula
Flipper or scraper?
When you need a spatula, what are you using it for?
- Flippers: Flipper silicone spatulas are also referred to as turners and feature a long handle attached to a flat, wide head. This head might be solid, or it sometimes has slots or holes in it. If you are looking for something to help flip fried eggs, burgers on the grill or other fried sandwiches, this is what you want.
- Scraper: A scraping spatula has a smaller solid head that can be curved with a slight bowl, rounded and narrow or flat. These are best for stirring, folding or scraping batters and sticky or liquid doughs.
Size
The size of your silicone spatula matters, especially if you are looking for a scraper. A full-sized spatula would not fit to scrape out the remainder of pesto in a tiny jar, but a small spatula would be messy when folding egg whites into cake batter.
Likewise, the length of the handle matters, too. Short handles offer more control, but longer ones can stir and fold deep batches of cake.
Number of silicone spatulas
The perfect number of silicone spatulas to have varies depending on how often you cook and which culinary tasks you perform. Veteran bakers accumulate a wide variety of sizes and shapes to accommodate everything from delicate lace cookie batters to stiff bread doughs.
In general, when it comes to scraping spatulas, three is a good number — small, medium and large. This expands your cooking repertoire and makes it easy to work without constantly having to stop and wash your tools.
What to look for in a quality silicone spatula
Chemical-free
Everything that touches your food should be free from any kind of chemicals. This includes:
- Bisphenol A (BPA)
- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
To be sure, look for silicone spatulas labeled food-grade or FDA-approved.
Safe at high heat
Although scrapers are not likely to be used above room temperature, any silicone flippers that are used on the stove or grill need to be able to stand the heat — or get out of the kitchen. At a minimum, your silicone flipper should be safe at 400 degrees, but 600 degrees or more is optimal.
Different colors
Black or white are classic choices for silicone spatulas, but if you’d like a little more color in your life, look for a set that reflects the rainbow.
Stainless steel core
A stainless steel core at the center of your spatula’s handle has less to do with its performance in the kitchen and more to do with its durability. Stainless steel gives this tool more strength so you can really put some muscle into mixing that dough without risking the spatula snapping in half.
How much you can expect to spend on a silicone spatula
The price varies depending on the durability of the materials and whether or not you purchase spatulas in a set. Expect to spend $4-$20.
Silicone spatula FAQ
Can you wash spatulas in the dishwasher?
A. While most silicone spatulas are dishwasher safe, to preserve their longevity and prevent cracking or water spots, the best solution is hand-washing. Use hot water and mild detergent and scrub with a plastic sponge. The nonstick nature of silicone means they are easy to clean by hand, too.
Are there different types of scraping and flipping spatulas?
A. Yes. Spatulas are further divided into different types, including:
- Offset spatula: This angled, thin blade is usually metal and is best for frosting cakes.
- Flat frosting spatula: Similar to the offset spatula, the flat frosting spatula features a blade that is in line with the handle.
- Fish spatula: The head is thinner, longer and includes slats for flipping delicate fish.
- Spoonula: This hybrid kitchen tool has a deeper bowl that can be used to more efficiently stir food.
What’s the best silicone spatula to buy?
Top silicone spatula
Di Oro Seamless Series Silicone Spatula Set
What you need to know: These three spatulas can handle temperatures up to 600 degrees.
What you’ll love: Three different sizes and shapes make this set very versatile for all baking and cooking tasks. They all feature internal stainless steel handles and a heat-resistant silicone exterior that is BPA-free and FDA-approved for food use.
What you should consider: These are less flexible and may eventually crack if consistently washed in the dishwasher.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top silicone spatula for the money
Amazon Commercial Nonstick Heat-resistant Silicone Spatula Set
What you need to know: The silicone is soft and flexible and works great on nonstick cookware.
What you’ll love: This set includes two small and two large spatulas. They are heat-resistant to 428 degrees. They come in sleek black or bright rainbow colors, and each has a hole at the end for hanging.
What you should consider: Harmless water spots appear after washing the spatula in the dishwasher.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Norpro Nylon Nonstick Slotted Spatula
What you need to know: It’s a good balance of firm and flexible for a variety of cooking tasks.
What you’ll love: It can be used on nonstick and enameled cookware. It has a firm grip handle and can be used to flip everything from delicate crepes to hearty burgers.
What you should consider: It may be too small for some users.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/best-silicone-spatula/ | 2022-06-10T14:26:36Z |
PITTSBURGH, May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "One of my clients would complain that her kids would have germs all over them when picking them up from school," said an inventor from Laguna Hills, Calif., so I invented PUMP-N-GO. "My design offers a convenient way to sanitize hands, as well as apply lotion and sunscreen while on the go in your vehicle."
The invention provides a convenient way to apply hand sanitizer, lotion and sunscreen from the inside of your vehicle. This could help avoid bacteria, germs, viruses, and smelly odors as well as aid in preventing transmission of the highly contagious COVID-19. The device also offers easy access to hand lotion and sunscreen which could especially be useful in the winter and summer months.
The concealed design could be adaptable for different vehicle types and could be producible in different sizes, colors and styles. A prototype is available.
The original design was submitted to the Orange County sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-OCM-1512, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/27/inventhelp-inventor-develops-vehicle-accessory-aid-hand-sanitation-ocm-1512/ | 2022-05-27T16:10:09Z |
Brewers fans will experience more rich content and engagement through Facebook Messenger
SAN FRANCISCO, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GameOn Technology, the industry-leading conversational applications platform, and the Milwaukee Brewers announced today that through Brewers Facebook Messenger, fans will have the ability to enjoy a streamlined and interactive experience through live game updates, scores, highlight videos and player specific information while using the chat application. In addition, fans will be able to access additional rich content including the team's YouTube videos, new podcast and blogs in one easy-to-access place. This new conversational platform will utilize technology in a unique way that has not yet been used by an MLB team.
"Baseball fans, self-included, love to chat before, during and after the game. Part of being a fan is sharing how you feel with your baseball community," said Alex Beckman, CEO and co-founder, GameOn Technology. "When fans want to chat with their favorite team or their fellow fans, we believe their experience should be fun, easy and fast. GameOn Technology has taken customer obsession to new heights in 2022 in delivering next-gen user experiences that are as rewarding for fans. We're excited to be working with a forward-thinking, fan-first organization to push the limits of fan engagement and offer a solid user experience utilizing technology."
GameOn develops conversational AI solutions that create robust and personalized audience engagement across the customer life cycle. Once a user engages with one of GameOn's consumer-driven partners through chat, multiple solutions and levels of content are offered to those users. This new application will offer unique and different customization options so Brewers enthusiasts will be served with contextually relevant content, creating a richer fan experience. This application is complementary to content offered elsewhere, including the team's website and MLB Ballpark app. This new content platform will be offered at no cost to the end user and can be accessed through Brewers Facebook Messenger.
"We look forward to working with GameOn to provide Brewers fans with an enhanced digital experience that is individually tailored and serves up user-friendly rich content," said Rick Schlesinger, Brewers President – Business Operations. "Our goal is always to offer the most innovative consumer experience possible, whether it's at American Family Field or through other engagement opportunities. We believe this takes the fan experience to another level."
The Milwaukee Brewers chat application for Facebook Messenger is built on ChatOS™, GameOn's proprietary end-to-end development and integration platform designed specifically for the future of messaging and voice applications. The industry-leading technology streamlines the deployment of robust, content-driven, premium conversational experiences. ChatOS connects directly to brands' Content Management Systems (CMS), data sources and API feeds, allowing them to effortlessly deploy content across a wide array of platforms and applications through highly engaging chat experiences.
About GameOn Technology
GameOn is based in San Francisco and was founded in 2014 with a shared passion for building innovative messaging products that serve the world of broadcast media. Using its proprietary bot platform, ChatOS, GameOn has designed, developed, and launched business solutions for many of the world's largest sport, lifestyle, and media companies becoming an industry leader in user retention, engagement, and monetization in the applications space. Some of the world's most notable brands like the NBA, NHL, PGA, ATP Media, Arsenal F.C., Sky Sports and TIME Inc. partner with GameOn to provide customized, rich customer experiences on the world's major chat application platforms. GameOn has been recognized for its work in the tech and sports space receiving accolades from outlets including Fast Company and the Sports Technology Awards. The company is Pre-Series B and has investors who include Quest Ventures and Mirae Asset Venture Investment. To learn more, visit www.gameontechnology.com.
Media Contacts:
Jasmine Mayo
Head of Communications, GameOn Technology
jasmine@gameontechnology.com
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SOURCE GameOn | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/gameon-launches-first-of-its-kind-fan-engagement-focused-chat-experience-with-milwaukee-brewers/ | 2022-06-23T14:31:35Z |
Guardians trade INF Yu Chang to Pirates for cash
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Guardians have traded infielder Yu Chang to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash. Chang had been designated for assignment last week. Once a promising prospect for Cleveland, the 26-year-old Chang played in just four games for the Guardians this season and struck out seven times in 10 at-bats. He also missed time after being placed on the COVID-19 list. Chang batted .228 with nine homers and 39 RBIs in 89 games for Cleveland in 2021. His strong finish in the final three months put him in position to win a utility job this season. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/30/guardians-trade-inf-yu-chang-to-pirates-for-cash/ | 2022-05-30T16:10:08Z |
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Price Simms Family Dealerships, one of the largest privately held Automotive Groups in Northern California, has completed the acquisition of Downtown Ford and Harrold Ford from the Victory Automotive Group, adding two stores to their now 28-store lineup.
Price Simms CEO, Adam Simms commented, "The two dealerships are among the largest Ford stores in Sacramento, and we're excited for this new opportunity. The talent at both stores has put us in a position to become stronger and I'm pleased to welcome our new teammates."
Mr. Simms continued, "To grow our business into nearby Sacramento is tremendously exciting for our organization and we look forward to making significant capital improvements and supporting our surrounding neighborhoods. My family used to live here and it's very exciting for me to return and once again contribute to this amazing community."
Price Simms owns and operates a vast portfolio of dealerships throughout the San Francisco Bay Area including several award-winning high-volume Toyota and Ford stores, the first two Polestar dealerships in the US, and various luxury stores including Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes, and more.
Chairman Tom Price purchased his first Bay Area dealership in 1976 and has been serving our local communities ever since. In 2003, he partnered with automotive tech pioneer, Adam Simms, to create Price Simms Family Dealerships. They now own and operate 28 franchised dealerships across 14 Northern California locations.
Visit us today at: Toyota Sunnyvale • Toyota Marin • Toyota Walnut Creek • Ford Fairfield • Downtown Ford of Sacramento • Lincoln Fairfield • Mercedes-Benz Fairfield • Volvo Marin • Volvo Palo Alto • Polestar Marin • Polestar San Jose • Land Rover Marin • Jaguar Marin • Aston Martin Los Gatos • Aston Martin Walnut Creek • McLaren San Francisco • McLaren Walnut Creek • Bentley Los Gatos • Bentley Walnut Creek • Lamborghini Los Gatos • Lamborghini Walnut Creek • Rolls Royce Los Gatos • Lotus Los Gatos • Pininfarina Los Gatos • Czinger Los Gatos • Maserati Walnut Creek • Sprinter Mercedes Fairfield
Media Contact
Paul Schraeder
+18183265717
paulschraeder@pricesimms.com
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SOURCE Price Simms Family Dealerships | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/price-simms-family-dealerships-acquire-two-ford-dealerships-sacramento/ | 2022-09-02T16:00:33Z |
Investment from global pharmaceutical leader will provide strategic support for LabCentral's mission to foster biotechnology innovation and entrepreneurship in Massachusetts
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LabCentral today announced that Takeda, a global biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan with a global U.S. hub located in Massachusetts, will become a LabCentral Founding Sponsor. Takeda will provide funding over a period of three years to support LabCentral's biotech incubator located at 700 Main Street in the heart of Kendall Square in Cambridge, Mass. The Founding Sponsorship will provide strategic support for LabCentral's operations at the location, including its shared lab space and a robust range of programs designed to help its community of biotech startup residents accelerate their research and development.
"Partnering is a critical element of Takeda's research and development strategy. We employ a unique model that supports diverse and flexible partnerships to translate science into highly transformative medicines for patients around the world," said Michael Martin, head of Takeda's center for external innovation. "As part of Takeda's broader partnering strategy, we endeavor to empower and accelerate early-stage biotech innovation and R&D. LabCentral's geographic location in the center of Boston's scientific community, along with its track record of success serving as a launching pad for biotech and life sciences startups, made it a natural investment partner."
LabCentral will allow a maximum of seven Founding Sponsorships for LabCentral 700, including up to four Sponsors from the pharmaceutical/biotech industry. Takeda is joining existing Founding Sponsors Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), Triumvirate Environmental, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Roche and Eppendorf.
"LabCentral 700 is our original facility, optimized to help early stage scientists and entrepreneurs cultivate the seeds of biotech innovation, and its success has become a blueprint for the buildout of our other facilities – LabCentral 610 and now LabCentral 238 – so we can support all stages of the biotech startup lifecycle," said Johannes Fruehauf, co-founder and president of LabCentral. "The support and collaboration of sponsors like Takeda is instrumental as we continue to grow and develop our operations to help high-potential startups at 700 Main and beyond."
Highlighting the success of LabCentral residents and alumni, the companies have raised nearly $17 billion in funding since 2013 and more than $6 billion last year alone. Also last year, LabCentral companies launched 80 new clinical trials and generated 1,449 new jobs within the local economy (and 4,608 new jobs since 2013.)
As part of the Founding Sponsorship, Takeda will have the ability to award up to fifteen LabCentral Golden Tickets, which include advisory support and a seat within LabCentral's shared lab space for one year, to promising biotech entrepreneurs. The company will also gain access to LabCentral's community of startups, with the right to organize monthly events and meetings at LabCentral 700, which include the support of LabCentral's team for logistics and marketing. Additional benefits include participation in LabCentral's resident Selection Committee, office space at LabCentral 700 and invitations to attend and speak at special events.
About LabCentral
A private, non-profit institution, LabCentral was founded in 2013 as a launchpad for high potential life-sciences and biotech startups. Operating a total of 225,000 square-feet in the heart of Kendall Square in Cambridge, Mass., LabCentral offers fully permitted laboratory and office space for as many as 100 startups comprising approximately 1,000 scientists and entrepreneurs. More information is available at www.labcentral.org.
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SOURCE LabCentral | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/takeda-becomes-founding-sponsor-labcentral-help-life-sciences-startups-accelerate-new-medical-treatments/ | 2022-07-21T13:00:31Z |
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Verana Health®—a digital health company elevating quality in real-world data—today announced it will present two research posters at the American College of Epidemiology (ACE) 2022 Annual Meeting, which will be held Sept. 8-11 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Both research projects demonstrate the value of using quality, de-identified real-world data (RWD) curated from electronic health records (EHRs) to derive actionable insights about missing data. Researchers used de-identified RWD from the American Academy of Ophthalmology IRIS® Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight) and the American Academy of Neurology Axon Registry®.
The two abstracts to be presented as posters during the meeting at The Scott Resort & Spa in Scottsdale are:
- Combining Data from Medical Registries Reduces the Proportion of Subjects with Missing Demographic Data, presented by Lauren Wiener, Quantitative Scientist at Verana Health.
- Diabetic Retinopathy Disease Severity Missingness in Electronic Health Records, presented by Thai Hien Nguyen, MPH, at Verana Health.
Both posters will be presented and discussed on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The first poster cited above will explain how Wiener and researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine sought to reduce the proportion of missing demographic data for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in a neurology medical registry by supplementing it with de-identified data on the same patients from an ophthalmology registry. Researchers found that among subjects with MS in the Axon Registry, the proportion of missing demographic data was reduced by supplementing it with de-identified IRIS Registry data for race, ethnicity, and location, but not for age and sex, for which there was more initial data.
In the latter study, Thai Hien Nguyen and researchers from Stanford and Duke University Schools of Medicine sought to understand the mechanism of missingness from unspecified ICD codes for diabetic retinopathy (DR) disease severity using the IRIS Registry. On average, patients with unspecified encounters were significantly older, had better visual acuity and lower utilization of ophthalmic procedures at the time of the encounter. Researchers observed significant differences between clinical encounters with specified and unspecified disease severity. Based on these findings and clinical correlation, unspecified clinical encounters are likely associated with less severe retinopathy.
This research also demonstrates Verana Health's commitment to collaborating with medical specialty organizations, researchers, and healthcare providers to uncover new insights from de-identified RWD that could help to improve the quality of care and the treatments available for patients.
The IRIS Registry is the largest specialty society clinical data registry in all of medicine. It incorporates data on more than 75 million patients and more than 450 million billable visits. These data have been contributed by nearly 16 thousand participating clinicians across the U.S.
One of the largest real-world clinical data registries for neurology in the world, the Axon Registry incorporates de-identified data on more than 3 million patients and nearly 18 million billable visits from more than 1,400 participating clinicians.
Verana Health leverages its proprietary VeraQ™ population health data engine to help manage, curate, and analyze de-identified RWD in the IRIS Registry and Axon Registry.
To learn more about the IRIS Registry, the Axon Registry, and Verana Health's partnerships with the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Academy of Neurology, visit: https://www.veranahealth.com/partners/.
Verana Health® is a digital health company elevating quality in real-world data. Verana Health operates an exclusive real-world data network of more than 20,000 healthcare providers (HCPs) and about 90 million de-identified patients, stemming from its strategic data partnerships with the American Academy of Ophthalmology®, American Academy of Neurology, and American Urological Association. Using its clinician-informed and artificial intelligence-enhanced VeraQ™ population health data engine, Verana Health transforms structured and unstructured healthcare data into curated, disease-specific data modules, Qdata™. Verana Health's Qdata helps power analytics solutions and software-as-a-service products for real-world evidence generation, clinical trials enablement, HCP quality reporting, and medical registry data management. Verana Health's quality data and insights help drive progress in medicine to enhance the quality of care and quality of life for patients. For more information, visit www.veranahealth.com.
Media contact:
Megan Moriarty
Amendola Communications
913.515.7530
mmoriarty@acmarketingpr.com
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SOURCE Verana Health | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/verana-health-highlight-value-curated-real-world-data-american-college-epidemiology-2022-annual-meeting/ | 2022-09-08T15:24:47Z |
NEW YORK, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, CLEAR (NYSE: YOU) announced that CLEAR's Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program pursuant to which the Company may purchase up to $100 million of its Class A Common Stock.
"As CLEAR owners, we are intensely focused on economic capital allocation to maximize long-term returns, including opportunistic share repurchases," said Caryn Seidman-Becker, CEO of CLEAR.
Under the repurchase program, CLEAR may purchase shares of its Class A Common Stock on a discretionary basis from time to time through open market repurchases, privately negotiated transactions, or other means, including through Rule 10b5-1 trading plans. The timing and actual number of shares repurchased will be determined by management depending on a variety of factors, including stock price, trading volume, market conditions and other general business considerations. The repurchase program has no expiration date and may be modified, suspended, or terminated at any time.
Repurchases under this program will be funded from CLEAR's existing cash and cash equivalents or future cash flow. As of March 31, 2022, CLEAR had $663 million in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities.
About CLEAR
Founded in 2010, CLEAR's mission is to create frictionless experiences. With more than 12 million members and hundreds of partners across the world, CLEAR's identity platform is transforming the way people live, work, and travel. Whether it's at the airport, stadium, or right on your phone, CLEAR connects you to the things that make you, you - making everyday experiences easier, more secure, and more seamless. Since day one, CLEAR has been committed to privacy done right. Members are always in control of their own information, and we never sell member data.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that any and such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results, developments and events may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those described in the Company's filings within the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections titled "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.
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SOURCE CLEAR | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/clear-announces-100-million-share-repurchase-authorization/ | 2022-05-16T12:56:03Z |
NEW YORK, May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE: AWF), a registered closed‑end investment company, today announced earnings for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022.
Total net assets of the Fund on March 31, 2022 were $1,036,685,870 as compared with $1,107,356,837 on December 31, 2021 and $1,102,272,659 on March 31, 2021. On March 31, 2022, the net asset value per share was $12.02 based on 86,229,677 shares of common stock outstanding.
For the period January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022, total net investment income was $15,242,349 or $0.18 per share. The total net realized and unrealized loss was $(68,969,183) or $(0.80) per share for the same period.
AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc. is managed by AllianceBernstein L.P.
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SOURCE AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/27/alliancebernstein-global-high-income-fund-inc-reports-fourth-quarter-earnings/ | 2022-05-28T06:42:42Z |
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Palau’s vice president and her eight-member delegation have been quarantined in Taiwan after two of them tested positive for the coronavirus.
Palau is one of the 14 countries still maintaining formal relations with Taiwan, which China claims as its own and has relentlessly sought to isolate internationally by depriving it of diplomatic partners.
Vice President J. Uduch Sengebau Senior arrived for an official five-day visit on Saturday and was due to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen.
The delegation from the Pacific nation had PCR tests on Sunday, with two of them positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.
The conditions of their quarantine remain unclear. Taiwan generally mandates several days of quarantine in a hotel or private home.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said their schedule has been suspended for the time being. In a statement, the ministry gave no details on who in the delegation had tested positive or how long they would remain in Taiwan, but said it would “continue to provide them with the proper care.”
Taiwan has gradually relaxed its COVID-19 restrictions, but testing and quarantine restrictions for foreign arrivals remain in place.
Upon her arrival, Senior, who is also her country’s justice minister, said she looked forward to “strengthening bilateral relations with the Taiwan government and the Ministry of Justice in Taiwan, in the areas of justice, maritime security and public safety.”
“The Republic of Palau and the Republic of Taiwan share similar beliefs in human rights, justice, the rule of law,” Senior said.
Taiwan this week is also hosting Foreign Minister Mario Bucaro of Guatemala, another of its dwindling number of diplomatic allies.
The visits come amid heightened tensions between Taiwan and China, following China’s threatening military exercises and missile launches staged in retaliation for a trip to the island earlier this month by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
With a population of just over 18,000, Palau has recorded 5,348 cases of COVID-19 and six deaths. Taiwan, with 23 million people, has reported more than 5 million cases and close to 10,000 deaths.
Quarantine rules remain flexible and reports say the government plans to further relax them beginning Thursday. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-palau-vp-delegation-quarantined-in-taiwan-after-2-get-virus/ | 2022-08-30T04:40:51Z |
WILMINGTON, Del., May 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ugreen is announcing the global release of the HiTune T3 true wireless ANC earbuds. Before their international launch, the T3 earbuds were trialed in the UK market where they were received positive reviews.
Same Sound, New Color
During the international release, Ugreen will be releasing a second color option for the T3 earbuds. Previously, the earbuds were only available in white, but they will now also be available in black. The black version of the T3 earbuds will maintain the same sleek form factor and provide the same high-quality audio.
T3 Key Features
The T3 earbuds feature 10mm PU+Wool composite dynamic drivers, which offer punchy and dynamic bass without sacrificing mid and high tones.
In addition, they offer feed-forward ANC which can reduce ambient noise by 25 dB. This is a proprietary system developed by the HiTune Acoustics Lab. The ANC doesn't produce inner ear pressure, so listeners can spend hours comfortably enjoying their music.
The T3 earbuds also feature the Real Voice 4.0 environmental noise cancellation system, which effectively filters out 90% of external noise.
Availability
HiTune T3 earbuds were launched in February on Amazon UK with a recommended retail price of £35.99. Today the T3 earbuds will launch on Amazon US, and several European Amazon stores at the price of $35.99. Additionally, they will be available on Ugreen's Official Website around May 7th.
About HiTune
HiTune is a Ugreen sub-brand that strives to provide high-quality audio devices that the average person can afford. Good audio devices are often prohibitively expensive, but it doesn't have to be this way.
About Ugreen
Ugreen is a global leader in consumer electronics. Ugreen is dedicated to pursuing excellence in research and development, with the goal of providing more value to electronic consumers.
Contact:
pr@ugreen.com
Ugreen Limited
Related Links
https://www.ugreen.com/
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SOURCE Ugreen Limited | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/01/ugreen-launches-new-hitune-t3-earbuds-globally/ | 2022-05-02T05:47:11Z |
Deputies find 100 migrants inside big rig on highway; dozens of occupants ran away
GANADO, Texas (AP) - Authorities say deputies found about 100 migrants in the back of a semitrailer that had broken down on a South Texas highway, but many of them fled.
Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies found the semitrailer around 7 a.m. Friday just north of Ganado, about 90 miles southwest of Houston.
The sheriff’s office says when authorities opened the back of the vehicle, many of the occupants jumped out and ran away into nearby brush and cornfields.
Deputies took 64 people, including the semitrailer’s driver, into custody.
Jackson County Sheriff Kelly Janica says those who entered the country illegally are being processed by the U.S. Border Patrol.
Authorities are still searching for about 40 migrants who fled on foot.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/07/deputies-find-100-migrants-inside-big-rig-highway-dozens-ran-scene/ | 2022-05-07T23:29:13Z |
A baby formula maker under investigation by federal agencies for reports of consumer complaints and infant illness will consider distributing some of its products on a case-by-case basis, according to a statement from the US Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are currently looking into Abbott Nutrition's powdered infant formula products. Abbott has recalled and held back Similac, Alimentum and EleCare products produced at its facility in Sturgis, Michigan, while enhanced safety testing is conducted.
The formula recalls have exacerbated product shortages due to supply chain issues.
As enhanced testing will take time, the FDA said it "has no objection" for Abbott to immediately release products to "individuals needing urgent, life-sustaining supplies" of certain specialty and metabolic formulas on a case-by-case basis.
"The FDA is concerned that the risk of not having certain specialty and metabolic products available could significantly worsen underlying medical conditions and in some cases pose life-threatening risks for infants and individuals who rely on these products," the agency said. "In these circumstances, the benefit of allowing parents, in consultation with their healthcare providers, to access these products may outweigh the potential risk of bacterial infection."
The FDA stressed that products produced at the facility from late January through early March, prior to an FDA inspection, may carry a risk of contamination, and said parents seeking the formula should talk to their child's doctor about whether the benefit of consuming the formula outweighs the risk of a bacterial infection in their child's circumstances.
The formulas recalled earlier this year have been linked to serious Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella infections in five infants. Two of the babies with Cronobacter infections died.
The specialty and metabolic formulas that may be released on a case-by-case basis are the following: Glutarex-1, Glutarex-2, Cyclinex-1, Cyclinex-2, Hominex-1, Hominex-2, I-Valex-1, I-Valex-2, Ketonex-1, Ketonex-2, Phenex-1, Phenex-2, Phenex-2 Vanilla, Pro-Phree, Propimex-1, Propimex-2, ProViMin, Calcilo XD, Tyrex-1, Tyrex-2 and Similac PM 60/40.
Parents seeking the product should contact Abbott directly to request it, the FDA said.
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