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Providing users with an interactive and personalised search experience for the past 2 years
SHENZHEN, China, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HUAWEI's Petal Search celebrates its 2nd year anniversary, looking back at how much the search engine has grown in the pursuit of the vision to be an All-In-One Search Engine.
Since Petal Search's inception back in May 2020, the search engine has grown from strength to strength. Even as Petal Search serves on a global level, it continues to provide personalised local search results to its users. Within the past two years, the search engine has improved tremendously in all regards. Petal Search now supports more than 70 languages in over 170 countries and regions and has become a popular search engine.
Within the past two years, the search engine has improved tremendously in all regards. In addition to that, Huawei's Petal Search continues to forge numerous partnerships with over 3,000 partners to date, working hand in hand to enrich its vast ecosystem.
2020: Building basic search capabilities for global users
With the vital importance of online search engines in our daily lives and the simplicity of the Search bar, users are connected seamless to content on the internet. Simply by typing keywords, users can gain access to every relevant and available content online.
With that in mind, Huawei set out to create its own mobile service and search engine. After a period of gruelling tests, Huawei launch Petal Search which is pre-installed on all Huawei smartphones. And Search servers as Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) native search engine.
Building on Huawei's 1+8+N Seamless AI Life strategy, Petal Search built on its own search capabilities in the global market to provide users with search and query capabilities based on specific technical functions and all-scenario capabilities. In November, Petal Search once again brought a variety of new features to its users. Introducing three new search verticals such as Nearby, Shopping and Travel, Petal Search provides a close loop search service for its users, directing them straight to the results without having to leave the page. Other unique tools such as weather updates, calculator and real time currency exchange rates are also provided to allow user quick access these needed services.
User trends are a crucial point in the development of Petal Search. With the growing use of other search methods on search engines, Petal Search provides users with Multimodal search capabilities allowing users with more ways to search for content.
Even with an overly saturated search engine landscape, Petal Search's unique services and the elevated search experience that is offered draws more users towards selecting it as their search engine of choice.
2021: Rapid development providing users with an All-In-One search platform
Together with more than 3,000 partners, Petal Search provides users with a variety of services on one single platform further working to its goal of being an All-In-One Search Engine.
Furthermore, Petal Search upgraded its user interface for a more seamless interaction and introduced Petal GO which allows users to subscribe to a variety of Cards ranging from daily news, entertainment and many more.
To create a personalised experience, Petal Search provides localised Box services based on the different service requirements of countries and regions. For example, users who in Singapore can access the "Shared Umbrella" Box by typing those keywords into the search bar. Users will be provided with locations with umbrella sharing services. With over 300 localised Boxes such as "Property Rental" in Madrid and "Job" in United Kingdom, users are provided with unique information based on the location they are in.
Through the introduction of its unique features and experiences, Petal Search has distinguished itself amongst the other search engines in the market.
Huawei recognises the concerns of users when it comes to Privacy and security. With all these personal information, Petal Search unites the hardware-based security and safety technologies to ensure the standards of data privacy and security for Huawei users with certified ePrivacyseal data protection and GDPR compliances. Using Privacy Center, users are allowed to choose between search modes, standard or smart, to better help in their search process.
With great growth within its first year, Petal Search continues in its journey to improving the search experience for its users.
2022: Developing the Next-Generation Search Engine
This year, Petal Search continues to be committed to become the search engine of choice for users globally. According to Statcounter's metrics, Petal Search ranks as the top 3 Mobile Search Engines in more than 18 countries.
Petal Search continues to expand on current services, providing more than 500 new localised Box services and over 20 vertical search categories. Petal Search also continues to better under its users with improvements in its multi-modal search capabilities.
As Petal Search works on its features and functions, it continues in its commitment to helping users across the world to find what they are looking for and curate high quality content, all while keeping users' data safe, private, and secure. In addition to the security certifications, Petal Search provides a Safe Search function to allow users to safety display search results and notify users regarding the source of information to ensure authentic results are displayed.
With the current search engines matching users with the results, they are looking for, Petal Search aims to provide users with more by connecting people to the services they need.
The team behind Petal Search continues to upgrade the search tool and offer users with an enhanced search experience. With key aspects such as all-scenario collaboration, service ecosystem, user scenarios, human connections and conversational interaction capabilities, Petal Search continues to grow and evolve to better serve users with next generation of search engines capabilities.
To download and experience Petal Search, please visit: https://bit.ly/3rpGYGY
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SOURCE Petal Search, Huawei | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/petal-search-celebrates-incredible-growth-its-2nd-anniversary/ | 2022-06-30T18:39:01Z |
New Cartridge Aims to Reduce Therapy Downtime, Ease Workloads, and Lower Costs of Hemodialysis Treatment in Acute Care Settings
WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresenius Medical Care North America's (FMCNA) Renal Therapies Group today announced the availability of Speedswap®, a new option for the NxStage® System One™ with NxView™ that enables the changing of a flow-compromised dialysis filter without replacing the entire cartridge. The new Speedswap system is designed to help reduce therapy downtime,1 ease nursing workloads,1 and lower treatment costs2 in acute care settings.
Clogging or clotting of the dialysis circuit is a common occurrence associated with continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) in critical care settings, which can lead to therapy downtime.3 Speedswap allows a flow-compromised NxStage filter to be replaced without replacing the cartridge through the use of a pre-attached, yet detachable, filter.
"This introduction of Speedswap aims to both improve the quality of dialysis treatment in the critical care setting and make our technology even easier to use by the care team," said Joe Turk, President of the Renal Therapies Group at Fresenius Medical Care North America. "This product is another example of how we are always working to introduce innovations that improve our NxStage System One and ensure it remains the first and best choice of all hospitals for continuous therapy."
The innovative system brings to the market two products to be used with the NxStage System One with NxView -- Cartridge Express with Speedswap and Speedswap Express Kit.
Some of the features of the Speedswap cartridge system include:
- Shipping connectors designed to maintain the sterility and integrity of valves during storage and the shipping process.
- Valves that enable the user to disconnect the pre-attached filter. The valves are designed to stop the flow of fluid when disconnected and allow fluid to flow when connected.
- A line restrictor that is designed to allow for pressure adjustment within the venous and arterial lines, as well as to allow for connections to alternate sources of access.
- Safe2 Rotator Connector that features a spin-lock designed to prevent accidental disconnect and improve handling for greater flexibility and durability.
- Pressure Oscillating Diaphragm (POD) Technology that is created to eliminate the blood-air interface and may reduce the risk of filter clotting and related therapy interruptions.
- Needleless valves designed to minimize the occurrence of air in the circuit.
"The simplified filter exchange should help make our life-sustaining therapy even easier to provide in an often busy critical care setting," said Dr. Mike Anger, Chief Medical Officer for FMCNA's Renal Therapies Group. "We also hope to improve patient outcomes by reducing the time necessary to change dialysis filters which should minimize interruption to continuous kidney replacement therapy."
The NxStage System One with NxView is used by leading U.S. hospitals including the majority of the top renal care hospitals as ranked by US News & World Report.4 With a uniquely designed volumetric fluid balancing system, fluid accuracy is achieved without the need for scales. Simple, intuitive controls are designed to ensure ease of use and simplify user experience, while scale-based alarms are completely eliminated, reducing staff workload.
Effluent flows to an open drain line, eliminating interruptions in therapy due to emptying waste bags, and the system eliminates the need for cumbersome equipment and water treatment systems.
For more information about Speedswap, please visit: https://fmcna.com/products/critical- care/speedswap.
Caution: Federal (U.S.) law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.
Read the Instructions for Use for safe and proper use of this device. For a complete description of hazards, contraindications, side effects, and precautions, see full package labeling at fmcna.com.
Kidney replacement therapy, as with any medical therapy, is not without risks. The decision of which therapy to use should be made by the physician, based on previous experience and on the individual facts and circumstances of the patient. There is no literature demonstrating one therapy is clinically better than another.5
NxView is contraindicated as the sole method of monitoring a patient during treatment.1
The Speedswap cartridge can only be used with the following software versions and user guide:
- NxView Software 3.1 or higher
- System One Cycler Software 4.14 or higher
- NxStage System One User Guide NC4921 Rev. J or higher
- NxStage System One Critical Care User Guide. NC4921 Rev. M. 2022; Data on file, 08/2021; Instructions for Use CAR-535/SSK-535. NC45-0926. Rev. F. 2022.
- Data on file. January 2022.
- Joannidis M, Oudemans-van Straaten HM. Clinical Review: Patency of the Circuit in Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy. Crit Care 2007;11(4):218.
- Harder, B. America's Best Hospitals: the 2021-22 Honor Role and Overview. https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/hospital-ratings/kidney-failure, accessed 7/21/2022.
- Nash DM, Przech S, Wald R, O'Reilly D, "Systematic review and meta-analysis of renal replacement therapy modalities for acute kidney injury in the intensive care unit," Journal of Critical Care, 2017. 41:138–144.
Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) is the premier healthcare company focused on providing the highest quality care to people with renal and other chronic conditions. Through its industry-leading network of dialysis facilities and outpatient cardiac and vascular labs, Fresenius
Medical Care North America provides coordinated healthcare services at pivotal care points for hundreds of thousands of chronically ill customers throughout the continent. As the world's largest fully integrated renal company, it offers specialty pharmacy and laboratory services, and manufactures and distributes the most comprehensive line of dialysis equipment, disposable products, and renal pharmaceuticals. For more information, visit the FMCNA website at https://fmcna.com/.
Disclaimer
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, including changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory reforms, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.
Media Contact:
Fresenius Medical Care North America
Scott Sayres
Corporate Communications
Scott.Sayres@FreseniusMedicalCare.com
+1 (940) 297-5678
©2022 Fresenius Medical Care. All Rights Reserved. Fresenius Medical Care, the triangle logo, NxStage, Speedswap, NxView, and System One are trademarks of Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc., or its affiliated companies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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SOURCE Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/25/nxstage-fresenius-medical-care-launches-speedswap-critical-care-dialysis/ | 2022-08-25T13:21:37Z |
JERUSALEM (AP) — The chief executive of embattled Israeli spyware maker NSO has stepped down as part of a corporate reorganization, the company announced Sunday.
NSO has been connected to a number of scandals resulting from alleged misuse by customers of its flagship Pegasus phone surveillance software. Last year, the U.S. placed restrictions on the company, saying its tools had been used to “conduct transnational repression.” NSO denies any wrongdoing.
In a statement, the company said that CEO Shalev Hulio, one of its founders, would be stepping down. Yaron Shohat, the company’s chief operating officer, will lead the firm on an interim basis and manage the reorganization process while it searches for a new CEO.
A company official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the reorganization efforts, said Hulio is to remain with the company. The official added that 100 employees, or roughly 13% of NSO’s work force, would be dismissed.
Pegasus allows operators to stealthily invade a target’s mobile device, giving them access to contacts, messages and movement history.
The company says that Pegasus is sold only to foreign governments after approval by Israel’s Defense Ministry as a tool for catching criminals and terrorists.
It says it has safeguards in place to prevent abuse, but critics say these safeguards don’t go far enough and NSO has acknowledged it cannot control whom its clients monitor. It says it does not have access to information that is collected.
Critics, including human rights groups and outside researchers, say customers have abused Pegasus to keep tabs on journalists, rights activists and political dissidents from Mexico to Saudi Arabia to the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
NSO does not identify its clients. But the company has acknowledged cutting off at least seven customers for abusing its technology. These reportedly have included authorities in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
Sunday’s statement said firm’s reorganization will examine “all aspects of its business, including streamlining its operations to ensure NSO remains one of the world’s leading high-tech cyber intelligence companies, focusing on NATO-member countries.”
NSO also faces lawsuits from Apple and Facebook accusing the Israeli firm of breaking into their products.
The U.S. Commerce Department’s decision to add NSO to its “entity list” has hurt the company by limiting its access to U.S. components and technology. NSO is challenging the designation.
The company has also been hurt by an Israeli decision late last year to tighten its supervision of cyber exports. That decision, made in the wake of criticism that Israel’s oversight of the digital surveillance industry was too lax, has reduced the number of countries that can purchase Israeli cyber software from over 100 to 37. | https://cw33.com/technology/ap-technology/israeli-spyware-firm-chief-steps-down-amid-nso-restructuring/ | 2022-08-21T21:30:15Z |
Five Star Fakes: Fake online reviews cheating businesses and consumers
Experts say digital marketplace rife with fake product and service reviews
InvestigateTV - Online reviews have become an essential part of the digital shopping experience. Virtual “word of mouth” is how many gauge the caliber of new products and services. When that five-star review pops up, it’s seen as a badge of quality. But, according to industry experts, there’s a chance that online review was either bought or sold and, in many cases, completely fake.
When private businesses write their own reviews or buy fake customer reviews it’s more than just a frustration for consumers, it’s illegal.
The Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Advertising Practices monitors deceptive endorsements that cheat businesses and consumers of their purchasing experience. Fake reviews violate Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act) (15 USC §45) which prohibits “unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce.”
Over the last few years, the FTC said it has tried to combat the problem, but the bad actors are still out there.
Even the experts can be fooled.
Kay Dean, a former fraud investigator for the federal government, said she never thought she would be deceived by an online review.
“Five years ago, I used online reviews to find a doctor and I ended up having a bad experience,” Dean said. “And it left me really suspicious about those reviews that I had relied on.”
That experience kickstarted Dean’s involvement in uncovering fakes. In 2018, Dean launched FakeReviewWatch.com and its accompanying YouTube channel, both designed to help consumers avoid falling victim to fake reviews.
On her site and YouTube channel, Dean has uncovered thousands of examples of fake online reviews.
“I started doing some digging and I uncovered that the practice I went to had someone on Facebook and Facebook review exchange groups, bartering and trading, Yelp and Google reviews with other businesses,” Dean said.
She said the scope of the problem is massive and there is little to no regulation. She said in her opinion, most people don’t realize how polluted online review spaces are.
“The fraud extends across every profession you can imagine,” Dean said. “I’ve seen surgeons, psychiatrists, weddings, DJ’s, lactation consultants, piano teachers, and you name it.”
Finding the Fakes
According to the World Economic Forum, a Swiss lobbying group, fake online reviews cost businesses and consumers $152 billion a year. “When there is motivation to profit more from this kind of practice, it’s likely that sellers might engage with this practice,” UCLA researcher Sherry He said. He, along with researchers Brett Hollenbeck and David Proserpio, conducted a 2021 research project delving into the markets for fake online reviews. The researchers found that sellers post in private online groups to promote their products and pay customers to purchase them and leave positive reviews.
InvestigateTV searched multiple social media platforms and found numerous groups buying, selling and trading fake reviews.
Along with breaking federal law, the companies buying and selling reviews on these exchanges violated Facebook’s policies for fraud and deception. According to the company’s website, stolen information, goods, or services by “fake and misleading user reviews or ratings” violate its guidelines.
The social media giant has worked to curb the growing problem. In 2021, the United Kingdom’s government agency Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) met with Facebook to help combat the trading of fake and misleading reviews happening on its platforms. Since that meeting, Facebook removed over 16,000 groups.
InvestigateTV reached out to Facebook concerning its policies and safeguards against fake review groups. The investigative team also had questions about the public groups we found buying, selling, and trading reviews.
Facebook said it would investigate and explained its policies through an email but did not want to be quoted. The company did tell InvestigateTV that it uses computer algorithms to flag fake review groups. Humans are then assigned to investigate and eventually decide whether the group is pulled or the content is removed. Several days after our questions, the groups we asked about were deleted.
The fake reviews bought and sold on social media platforms could eventually end up as product and service reviews on other websites.
InvestigateTV also reached out to online retailer Amazon about the problem of fake reviews. The company said it “suspends, bans, and takes legal actions against those who violate” its policies.
Amazon said in 2021 it reported more than 16,000 abusive groups to social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In a statement, the company said those complaints resulted in groups with over 11 million members being taken down.
In response to questions about how they find fake reviews, Amazon said it uses a detection system to actively remove reviews that appear on their sites. In February, the company said it took legal actions against three major “fake review brokers” that were targeting Amazon customers in hope of encouraging them to leave reviews of products the customers had not purchased.
In a May press release, Amazon said the same three companies would no longer be allowed to broker fake reviews, and as a result, nearly 350,000 people posting fake reviews were “no longer incentivized to do so on Amazon.”
InvestigateTV also examined the policies concerning fake reviews from three major review-driven businesses: Yelp, TripAdvisor and Google Reviews.
In a statement, Yelp said it regularly flags groups, posts or individuals who participate in online review exchange groups. In 2021, the company said it made more than 1,000 reports to other online platforms to warn them of nearly 950 suspicious groups, posts or individuals. Yelp also said it reported companies that engaged in these practices to the FTC.
TripAdvisor said in 2020 it rejected 1.3 million reviews before they were ever published.
In a statement, the company wrote “while we believe in the right to write about one’s travel experience, we block millions of reviews from ever appearing on our site that do not meet our guidelines.”
Google did not respond to InvestigateTV’s email.
Fighting the Fakes
The Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Advertising Practices says knowing the exact percentage of fake reviews in the online marketplace is difficult.
“There are various statistics out there in terms of how many fake reviews there are, but I think it’s probably an unknowable number,” said Rich Cleland, the assistant director of the division.
Currently, the FTC does not track the number of complaints filed for fake online reviews but is aware that some reviews are written by people who have been paid to write them.
Cleland said it can be a challenge to shut down these accounts despite knowing they exist.
“One of the reasons that it is challenging is that many of the worst actors, the review farms that are turning out these millions of reviews, they’re not located in the United States,” Cleland said. “And it’s difficult to shut these places without international cooperation.”
In October of 2021, the commission sent out a reminder to 700 companies – including “top consumer products companies, leading retailers and retail platforms, major ad agencies and other names you know” notifying them of fines that could arise if fake online reviews were found to deceive the public.
According to Cleland, companies could be subject to up to $46,000 per violation. As of June 2022, no companies have been penalized.
The FTC also recently published new guidelines for companies’ platforms and marketers who rely on online reviews. The guidelines included treating “positive and negative reviews equally” and the need for “reasonable processes in place to spot fake or deceptive reviews”.
Filtering the Fakes
As government agencies and major online retailers fight five-star fakes, one expert built what he said is an online transparency tool for consumers.
Saoud Khalifah, CEO of FakeSpot, created an online web extension and app after becoming a victim of fake online reviews in 2015. He said he was looking for an athletic endurance supplement on Amazon, trusted the five-star rating system and decided to purchase the item.
His expectations fell short once the product arrived.
“I got the product in person, it looked like someone made it in a garage,” Khalifah said. “The tape was falling off the packaging and the pills themselves looked like someone put in woodchips from a woodworking shop.”
Khalifah said it was the last time he ordered a product without checking if the reviews were written by a paid actor.
“Fake reviews can be very dangerous, so in some instances, they could be pushing a product that is a counterfeit product that has very toxic chemicals,” Khalifah said.
The FakeSpot app works by using an “A-F” grading system to rate if the product’s reviews are honest and legitimate.
“We don’t care about selling tires, we don’t care about selling fake stuff,” Khalifah said. “We just want to protect consumers online.”
The company shared with InvestigateTV that it monetizes by product recommendations offered to users through its platform. Khalifah also told us FakeSpot does not harvest users’ data.
Flagging the Fakes
If you find a fake review, experts said report it to the FTC and the platform you are using.
Rich Cleland and Kay Dean also shared tips consumers can practice using:
- Think twice if you see a product/service with only five-star reviews
- If you see reviews that are posted within hours/days of each other’s, be skeptical.
- Read both the positive and negative reviews
- May attention to language, if it mentions a free product, has poor grammar or sounds like an advertisement it likely is.
Finally, Dean suggested taking a disconnected approach with online reviews and instead consider close family and friends’ reviews.
“Don’t rely on reviews or opinions of complete strangers that you’ve never even met, because they might not even be a real person at all,” Dean said.
To see complete written statements from Amazon, Yelp and Tripadvisor see below.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/20/five-star-fakes-fake-online-reviews-cheating-businesses-consumers/ | 2022-06-20T21:01:25Z |
Extensive portfolio enables Ribbon partners to deliver secure cloud migrations to rapidly growing UC platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom, while mitigating fraud and robocalls
PLANO, Texas, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ribbon Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: RBBN), a global provider of real time communications software and IP Optical networking solutions to service providers, enterprises, and critical infrastructure sectors, today announced that it will be demonstrating key solutions at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, April 11-14, in Las Vegas.
"Hybrid work is completely changing the basic tenets of business communications, and that will be on full display during this year's Channel Partners Conference," said Dave Hogan, Vice President Growth Segments at Ribbon. "Across the globe, Ribbon's channel partners are helping businesses facilitate the transition to hybrid work environments by making it easier for organizations to securely migrate to cloud-based communications for unified communications (UC) and contact centers."
Ribbon will be demonstrating its carrier-grade solutions that enable migrations to Microsoft Teams, Zoom Phone, and other leading cloud UC services globally. Additionally, Ribbon will highlight its ability to migrate and protect some of the world's largest contact center deployments. Ribbon's Session Border Controllers (SBCs) provide contact centers with multiple layers of security including against advanced denial-of-service attacks, which have become a major concern for contact centers.
In addition, Ribbon will highlight its Analytics solutions, which provide an enterprise-wide view of network performance and threats. As the number and sophistication of attacks on communications systems rise, Ribbon offers advanced protection from fraud and robocalls via its Voice Threat Prevention portfolio.
Hogan added, "We are working closely with our channel partners to help our customers across all industries, especially in regulated sectors like financial services and health care transition and secure their communications environments. Our partners are experts at delivering enterprise-wide our voice, security and analytics solutions to national and multi-national organizations, allowing them to gradually and seamlessly migrate legacy assets to secure cloud-based communications technology."
Ribbon is working with large Systems Integrators and Channel Partners in every global region to deliver these solutions including:
- Infosys – Ribbon and Infosys, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, recently announced that the two companies are collaborating to deliver an integrated IT Managed Services offering to global enterprises. The integrated solution, which enables global enterprises to seamlessly migrate from legacy on-premise PBX communications systems to Microsoft Teams Phone System Direct Routing, has already been deployed by one of the world's largest automobile brands as part of their worldwide communications upgrade.
- TD Synnex – Ribbon recently expanded its relationship with TD Synnex, a Fortune 200 corporation and a leading provider of a comprehensive range of distribution, logistics and integration services for the technology industry, to add support for a wide range of enterprises, into the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA). TD Synnex is reselling Ribbon's Cloud and Edge portfolio of products. In addition to Ribbon's Microsoft-certified SBCs, the portfolio includes analytics, media gateways, policy and routing capabilities and an advanced application server platform.
- Westcon Comstor – Ribbon recently expanded its distribution agreement with Westcon-Comstor, to expand beyond covering Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) to several additional countries in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region including Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the PRC, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Visit Ribbon at Channel Partners at booth 2019.
About Ribbon
Ribbon Communications (Nasdaq: RBBN) delivers communications software, IP and optical networking solutions to service providers, enterprises and critical infrastructure sectors globally. We engage deeply with our customers, helping them modernize their networks for improved competitive positioning and business outcomes in today's smart, always-on and data-hungry world. Our innovative, end-to-end solutions portfolio delivers unparalleled scale, performance, and agility, including core to edge software-centric solutions, cloud-native offers, leading-edge security and analytics tools, along with IP and optical networking solutions for 5G. To learn more about Ribbon visit rbbn.com.
Important Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events that involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this release, including those regarding the expected benefits of Ribbon's products and services, are forward-looking statements. The actual results of Ribbon Communications may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Ribbon Communications' business, please refer to the "Risk Factors" section of Ribbon Communications' most recent annual or quarterly report filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements represent Ribbon Communications' views only as of the date on which such statement is made and should not be relied upon as representing Ribbon Communications' views as of any subsequent date. While Ribbon Communications may elect to update forward-looking statements, Ribbon Communications specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.
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SOURCE Ribbon Communications Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/ribbon-showcases-comprehensive-solutions-portfolio-enabling-secure-hybrid-work-environments-channel-partners-conference-amp-expo/ | 2022-04-11T13:20:19Z |
Year-Long Campaign to Inspire Voter Participation Commences Upon Start of Five-Week Season in Texas
DALLAS, April 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Athletes Unlimited, a network of next generation professional sports leagues empowering female athletes, and Vote.org, the leading nonpartisan online voter information and registration organization, have partnered in launching the Power in My Voice campaign. Athletes Unlimited's year-long initiative, led by the athletes, will inspire voter participation, demonstrate the power in every person's voice, and encourage fans to exercise their power through their vote and other forms of civic engagement.
Throughout each traveling, five-week season in 2022, beginning in Dallas, Athletes Unlimited and Vote.org will host in-stadium voter engagement booths across the league's four sports – Basketball, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Softball – helping to register voters and answering any questions about voting requirements and changes. The league will educate on the importance of voter participation on game broadcasts, social media, and via a voting-themed gameday, among a variety of other athlete-led promotion of fulfilling civic duty and valuing your fundamental right to vote.
"Our athletes continue to be role models in their civic leadership efforts off the field, and again we see them blazing trails with their 2022 Power in My Voice campaign. Athletes Unlimited is excited to partner with Vote.org in this voting initiative, supporting the athletes' vision of connecting fans to the power in their own voices through civic engagement," said Jazmyn Jackson, Manager of Civic Leadership at Athletes Unlimited. "It is inspiring to watch our athletes be leaders in this space by standing firm in the belief that there is power in every person's voice and standing up for those that may not have access to the vote."
According to a 2020 Texas Tribune analysis, it is harder to vote in Texas than in any other state due to restrictive voting laws. And the recent voting bill, SB 1, further restricted numerous means of voting in the state when it was passed last September.
"This election, more than ever, we must educate the American people on the ways they can cast their ballot and continue to turnout in the record numbers we saw in 2020. Amid numerous changes to voting laws in states like Texas, it is paramount we help voters ensure they are registered, understand the voting options available to them, and navigate important deadlines and requirements to make certain their vote is counted," said Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey. "We are excited to partner with Athletes Unlimited and their players, who serve as role models to so many to accomplish this goal. Together we can reach their fans with a message that simplifies the voting process, lowering the barriers to political engagement, and increasing turnout among young people. By making voting easier, and in turn, getting more people to vote, we create a stronger, more representative democracy."
During the 2020 election cycle in Texas, Vote.org made over 22 million voter contacts in the state, helped register over 480K voters, facilitated over 218K mail-in ballot requests, and served 750 meals via food trucks to voters waiting in polling lines.
In 2021, Vote.org filed a lawsuit in Texas, alleging that a new law, House Bill 3107, which requires a "wet signature" on voter registration applications in Texas, places an undue burden on voters and voter registration organizations. Texas does not offer online voter registration, which is widely available in other states, leaving voters with increasingly limited registration options.
If you're interested in learning more about the Power in My Voice campaign, we'd be happy to connect you with spokespeople from Athletes Unlimited or Vote.org.
Vote.org is the largest 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan voting registration and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) technology platform in America, with the goal of reaching historically underserved voters of color and underrepresented young voters.
Athletes Unlimited is a network of new professional sports leagues where athletes compete in fantasy-inspired games in softball, volleyball, and lacrosse, eliminating team owners and empowering athletes as leaders and decision-makers.
CONTACT: Jordan Wilhelmi | jordan@unbendablemedia.com
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SOURCE Vote.org | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/athletes-unlimited-voteorg-launch-power-my-voice-partnership-2022-season/ | 2022-04-08T01:29:05Z |
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) (the "Company"), a leading provider of high-quality single-family homes for rent, announced today that members of the Company's management team will participate in a roundtable discussion during the BofA Securities 2022 Global Real Estate Conference (the "Conference") taking place September 13-14, 2022.
The Company's roundtable discussion will begin at 12:40 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, September 14, 2022. A live audio webcast will be available on the Company's website at www.americanhomes4rent.com under "Investor relations." A replay of the webcast will be available through September 28, 2022.
About American Homes 4 Rent
American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) is a leading single-family property owner, leasing operator, and build-to-rent developer. Recent achievements include being named a 2022 Great Place to Work®, a 2022 Top U.S. Homebuilder by Builder100, one of America's Most Responsible Companies 2022 and America's Most Trusted Companies 2022 by Newsweek and Statista, and a Top ESG Regional Performer by Sustainalytics. We are an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on acquiring, developing, renovating, leasing, and managing homes as rental properties. As of June 30, 2022, we owned 58,715 single-family properties in selected submarkets in 22 states.
Additional information about American Homes 4 Rent is available on our website at http://www.americanhomes4rent.com.
Investor Relations Contact:
Nicholas Fromm
Phone: (855) 794-2447
Email: investors@ah4r.com
Media Relations Contact:
Megan Grabos
Phone: (805) 413-5088
Email: media@ah4r.com
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SOURCE American Homes 4 Rent | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/american-homes-4-rent-participate-bofa-securities-2022-global-real-estate-conference/ | 2022-09-06T22:05:57Z |
LAMBERTVILLE, N.J., May 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pedego Electric Bikes, an award-winning electric bike company with sixteen unique models and over 200 brick and mortar stores, welcomes its newest store in Lambertville, New Jersey. Owner Rich Bastian, is building an electric transportation empire through his five Pedego stores and commitment to go green together with the state.
Photo download:
http://www.kcomm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Store-Bob-2022.jpg
Image Caption: Store manager Bob Lonsdale
As New Jersey hits their all-time record for gas prices, the state is exploring new ways to reduce its carbon footprint while becoming less dependent on fossil fuels. Recently, New Jersey signed a contract with Aecon, a multinational engineering firm, to promote the electrification of the state's public bus system.
New Jersey's efforts are part of a national initiative to reduce dependency on petroleum based products. The United States government has announced efforts to utilize green procurement practices and innovation to transform heavy-pollutant industries into industries that are low in carbon emissions. On an individual level, citizens are taking control and looking for ways to save at the pump, by taking action to conserve their usage of fossil fuels and increasing the amount of walking and cycling in their daily lives.
Recently, electric bikes have become a popular mode of transportation in addition to walking and traditional cycling. New Jersey is now home to 10 Pedego Electric Bike stores, with one recently opening in the town of Lambertville. Pedego's Lambertville location is owned by Rich Bastain, who also owns four other Pedego locations, across three states.
"To me, Pedego is about much more than electric bikes," said Bob Lonsdale, Manager of Pedego Lambertville. "E-biking is no doubt a leisure activity, but I believe that e-bikes provide New Jersey residents with commuting flexibility in and around the city, while also saving money and preserving the environment. Electric is the direction this beautiful state is headed, and I am proud to be contributing to making New Jersey a greener place."
Headquartered in Orange County, California, Pedego Electric Bikes has found great success in their non-franchise brick and mortar retail model over the past 13 years, and continues to hit the throttle on opening physical stores. Pedego has built a brand on a complete line of class-leading electric bikes, from cruisers to fat tire trail bikes, an industry leading 5-year warranty and a network of locally-owned dealers available for customization and regular on-site servicing. With Pedego's independent store growth, they are creating economic local growth in a profitable and booming industry.
Pedego has a unique culture of business leadership and has cultivated a massive community of Pedego enthusiasts. "Everything electric is just hot," says Don DiCostanzo, CEO of Pedego. "We are a lifestyle brand contributing to economic growth and entrepreneur opportunities. Whether it be a fun family activity, a serious sport, to reach personal health goals or for electric transportation, Pedego has an option for any activity that most everyone can enjoy - no matter the ability."
Pedego Lambertville also offers rental bikes perfect for riding the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, allowing riders to take full advantage of the scenic outdoor spaces in Lambertville. In an effort to even further integrate themselves into the community, the store partnered with the New Hope Celebrates Organization, donating bikes to be used at their annual Pride Ride. Pedego Lambertville will also be collaborating with other local organizations in the future by donating electric bikes.
To find a Pedego store near you please visit www.pedego.com/dealers.
About Pedego Lambertville
Pedego Lambertville is located at 13 North Union Street Lambertville, NJ 08530, and offers e-bikes for rental and purchase, as well as bike mechanic service and to suit all Pedego e-biking needs. Their business hours are 11am-5pm Wednesday, Thursday 10am- 5pm, Friday 11 am-7pm, and Saturday through Sunday 10pm-5pm. To learn more about Pedego's full-range lineup of electric bikes and try one for free, contact team@pedegolambertville.com or call (609) 542-0050.
About Pedego® Electric Bikes
Founded in 2008, Pedego® is the leading brand of electric bikes in North America. Pedego is famous for premium quality, five-star local service, and an industry leading five year warranty. A complete line of 16 electric bike models are available at over 200 locally-owned Pedego stores that offer sales, rentals, tours, accessories, and service. Visit www.pedego.com to find a store and try a Pedego.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Rachel Devany
KCOMM
rachel@kcomm.com
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SOURCE Pedego Electric Bikes | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/20/americas-leading-e-bike-retailer-pedego-is-now-open-lambertville-owner-committed-going-electric-with-new-jersey/ | 2022-05-20T18:50:17Z |
Mayetta man arrested for high speed chase through Jackson Co.
JACKSON CO., Kan. (WIBW) - A Mayetta man is facing several charges connected to a high-speed chase Tuesday evening in Jackson County.
Sheriff Tim Morse says Lucas Michael Kitchkommie, 42, of Mayetta was booked into the Jackson Co. Jail for aggravated assault on law enforcement, reckless driving, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, driving under the influence, driving while suspended, criminal littering, and interference with law enforcement.
Morse says his office received a report Tuesday night of a possible drunk driver, driving recklessly in a black Kia on US-75 north towards Jackson Co.
Morse said a deputy spotted Kitchkommie driving over 100 mph shortly after he entered Jackson Co. and attempted to pull him over.
Morse says Kitchkommie fled down US-75, then west on 158th Rd. then south near L Rd. Morse said the Kia drove through yards near an apartment complex before stopping on Buffalo Dr. where Kitchkommie was taken into custody.
No injuries were reported.
Officials say PBPB Police and KHP assisted with the incident.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/30/mayetta-man-arrested-high-speed-chase-through-jackson-co/ | 2022-06-30T14:13:12Z |
LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 19, 2022
NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP announces that a federal securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired the American Depositary Receipts ("ADR's) of 17 Education & Technology Group Inc. (NASDAQ: YQ) ("17 EdTech") pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with 17 EdTech's December 2020 initial public offering (the "IPO").
All investors who purchased the ADR's of 17 Education & Technology Group Inc. and incurred losses are urged to contact the firm immediately at classmember@whafh.com or (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774. You may obtain additional information concerning the action or join the case on our website, www.whafh.com.
If you have incurred losses in the ADR's of 17 Education & Technology Group Inc., you may, no later than September 19, 2022, request that the Court appoint you lead plaintiff of the proposed class. Please contact Wolf Haldenstein to learn more about your rights as an investor in the ADR's of 17 Education & Technology Group Inc.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO JOIN CASE
According to the filed complaint, the Registration Statement featured false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:
- Defendant 17 EdTech's K-12 Academic AST Services would end less than a year after the IPO;
- as part of its ongoing regulatory efforts, Chinese authorities would imminently curtail and/or end 17 EdTech's core business; and
- as a result, Defendants' statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
On December 4, 2020, 17 EdTech issued its IPO of ADR's, selling approximately 27,400,000 ADR's at $10.50 per ADR, which when adjusted for the reverse split (1:4) on November 21, 2021, is $44.00 per ADR. Since the IPO, 17 EdTech's ADRs have traded as low as $0.88 per ADR, and are currently trading at $1.94 per ADR.
Wolf Haldenstein has extensive experience in the prosecution of securities class actions and derivative litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas; and offices in New York, Chicago and San Diego. The reputation and expertise of this firm in shareholder and other class litigation has been repeatedly recognized by the courts, which have appointed it to major positions in complex securities multi-district and consolidated litigation.
If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this case, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735, via e-mail at classmember@whafh.com, or visit our website at www.whafh.com.
Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP
Patrick Donovan, Esq.
Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis
Email: gstone@whafh.com, donovan@whafh.com or classmember@whafh.com
Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
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SOURCE Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/05/17-education-amp-technology-group-inc-class-action-alert-wolf-haldenstein-adler-freeman-amp-herz-llp-announces-that-securities-class-action-lawsuit-has-been-filed-against-17-education-amp-technology-group-inc-united-states-district-court-central-district-california/ | 2022-08-05T13:43:30Z |
Law enforcement officials believe the body found in a submerged vehicle Sunday is "more than likely" that of Kiely Rodni, the missing 16-year-old last seen almost three weeks ago at a campground party in Northern California, authorities said Monday.
Kiely was at the Prosser Family Campground on August 5 and was last seen around 12:30 a.m. August 6, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said. Her disappearance was initially treated as a possible abduction, which law enforcement later explained was because they "had nothing to go on."
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said the case is still an active investigation and the victim has not yet been positively identified.
"Last night we did receive some information of the recovery of the vehicle that we've been searching for and it was located inside Prosser Lake," Moon said at a Monday news conference. "It was located within a search zone that we have been searching since the very beginning of our operation."
Moon added that the lone body found inside is believed to be the missing teen, though she did not name Kiely.
The vehicle was located by volunteer dive group Adventures with Purpose, who often join underwater searches, Moon said. It was found upside down about 14 feet beneath the lake's surface, which has dropped about 3 feet since the teen first disappeared, according to Nevada County Sheriff's Capt. Sam Brown said.
Multiple agencies contributed to the search for Kiely over the last two weeks, including dive teams and swimmers who also scanned the lake with side-scan sonar, Brown said.
There were 200-300 juveniles at the campground party, which was in a wooded area, said Placer County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Angela Musallam during a news conference last week.
The grounds are about 17 miles north of Lake Tahoe and 36 miles from Reno, Nevada.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/body-found-in-submerged-car-more-than-likely-kiely-rodni-the-missing-california-teen-authorities/article_efc76798-af28-5124-ae31-03ff95b4b581.html | 2022-08-22T21:31:18Z |
CLEVELAND, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW) announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022. All comparisons are to the second quarter of the prior year, unless otherwise noted.
SUMMARY
- Consolidated net sales increased 9.2% in the quarter to $5.87 billion
- Diluted net income per share decreased to $2.21 per share in the quarter compared to $2.42 per share in the second quarter 2021
- Lowering FY22 diluted net income per share guidance to a range of $7.65 to $7.95 per share, including acquisition-related amortization expense of $0.85 per share
CEO REMARKS
"Demand remained strong during the second quarter in The Americas Group and the Performance Coatings Group, as both groups delivered sales within our guidance," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John G. Morikis. "Speaking to trends in the business since our June 8th investor day, pro architectural demand in The Americas Group accelerated as the quarter progressed and has meaningfully strengthened further in July. Similarly, Performance Coatings Group demand remained strong through the quarter in North America, the Group's largest region, and this strong demand has also continued into July. Conversely, the slower North America DIY demand trend we previously described in Consumer Brands Group did not improve and we experienced tight supply in certain resins, in particular alkyd resins, which significantly impacted our North America non-paint sales. Internationally, demand deteriorated faster than anticipated in Europe, and no meaningful recovery occurred in China following the lifting of COVID lockdowns, both of which meaningfully impacted Consumer Brands Group and Performance Coatings Group sales.
"Consolidated gross margin improved sequentially, but at a slower pace than anticipated. Segment profit improved sequentially in The Americas Group as well as in the Performance Coatings Group, where margin also improved on a year over year basis. At the same time, we are disappointed in our weaker than expected earnings results in the quarter, which were primarily related to the lower than expected sales in the Consumer Brands Group and the Europe and Asia Pacific regions in the Performance Coatings Group, raw material costs that have not yet moderated despite sequential deflation of feedstock costs and supply chain inefficiencies incurred in serving our customers. We are taking aggressive actions throughout the second half of the year in response to these challenges."
SECOND QUARTER CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
Consolidated net sales increased primarily due to selling price increases in all segments, higher professional architectural sales volume in North America paint stores and higher sales volumes in our packaging and coil businesses. These increases were partially offset by lower protective and marine sales volume in North America paint stores and lower sales volumes outside of North America in the Consumer Brands and Performance Coatings Groups primarily due to challenging prior year comparisons. Currency translation rate changes decreased consolidated net sales by 1.4%.
Income before income taxes decreased due to higher raw material costs and other input costs, including higher supply chain costs to serve our customers, primarily in The Americas Group and the Consumer Brands Group, and lower sales volume in the Consumer Brands Group, partially offset by selling price increases in all three operating segments. The loss in the Administrative segment increased $45.1 million due primarily to unfavorable returns on marketable securities and sale of assets, higher interest expense, and higher selling, general and administrative costs, partially offset by favorable changes in compensation expense.
Diluted net income per share included a charge of $0.20 per share for acquisition-related amortization expense.
SECOND QUARTER SEGMENT RESULTS
The Americas Group ("TAG")
Net sales in TAG increased due primarily to selling price increases and higher professional architectural sales volume in North America paint stores, partially offset by lower sales volumes in protective and marine and DIY end markets. TAG segment profit decreased due primarily to increased raw material costs.
Consumer Brands Group ("CBG")
Net sales in CBG increased due primarily to selling price increases in all regions, partially offset by lower sales volume outside of North America. Currency translation rate changes decreased CBG's net sales by 1.2%. CBG segment profit decreased primarily due to lower sales volume, increased raw material costs and higher supply chain costs, partially offset by selling price increases. Acquisition-related amortization expense reduced segment profit as a percent of net external sales by 260 basis points compared to 290 basis points in the second quarter of 2021.
Performance Coatings Group ("PCG")
Net sales in PCG increased due to higher sales in most end markets, primarily attributable to selling price increases, and sales volume growth in our packaging and coil businesses, partially offset by lower sales volume outside of North America. Acquisitions increased sales by 2.9%, while currency translation rate changes decreased PCG's net sales by 3.7%. PCG segment profit increased due primarily to selling price increases, partially offset by increased raw material costs. Acquisition-related amortization expense reduced segment profit as a percent of net external sales by 280 basis points compared to 370 basis points in the second quarter of 2021.
LIQUIDITY AND CASH FLOW
The Company generated $639.7 million in net operating cash during the first six months of 2022. This cash generation, along with an increase in our short-term borrowings, allowed the Company to return cash of approximately $1.01 billion to our shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases, as well as repay $260.2 million in long-term debt, and close an acquisition in the second quarter. The Company closed two additional acquisitions on July 1st that will be reported in our third quarter results. The Company purchased 2.55 million shares of its common stock during the first six months. At June 30, 2022, the Company had remaining authorization to purchase 46.0 million shares of its common stock through open market purchases.
2022 GUIDANCE
"We expect third quarter 2022 consolidated net sales to increase by a low to mid-teens percentage compared to the same period a year ago," said Mr. Morikis. "We are maintaining our full year consolidated net sales guidance to be up by a high-single to low-double digit percentage based on the strong momentum we are seeing in our pro architectural business in The Americas Group and continued strength in North American industrial demand in the Performance Coatings Group. Given the shortfall in our second quarter results, demand pressures in Europe, China and North American DIY, and a continuation of the highest cost inflation seen in decades, we are lowering our full year adjusted diluted net income per share guidance to a range of $8.50 - $8.80 per share, which represents 6.1% growth from 2021 at the mid-point. This implies a second half diluted net income per share of $4.63 per share at the mid-point, an increase of 35% over the same period last year.
"We are responding aggressively to inflationary pressures by implementing a 10% price increase in The Americas Group effective September 6th, with significant additional pricing actions being taken in our other two operating segments. We will manage our expenses tightly in the second half with the slowdown in market demand in certain regions and businesses, however, we will continue to invest in growth, including stores, sales representatives and innovative products. We remain highly confident in our strategy, our people, and our ability to emerge as an even stronger Company following the current near-term pressures."
CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION
The Company will conduct a conference call to discuss its financial results for the second quarter, and its outlook for the third quarter and full year 2022, at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. Participating on the call will be Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John Morikis, along with other senior executives.
The conference call will be webcast simultaneously in the listen only mode by Issuer Direct. To listen to the webcast on the Sherwin-Williams website, click on https://investors.sherwin-williams.com/financials/quarterly-results/, then click on the webcast icon following the reference to the Q2 webcast. An archived replay of the webcast will be available at https://investors.sherwin-williams.com/financials/quarterly-results/ beginning approximately two hours after the call ends.
ABOUT THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution, and sale of paint, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. The Company manufactures products under well-known brands such as Sherwin-Williams®, Valspar®, HGTV HOME® by Sherwin-Williams, Dutch Boy®, Krylon®, Minwax®, Thompson's® WaterSeal®, Cabot® and many more. With global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Sherwin-Williams® branded products are sold exclusively through a chain of more than 5,000 Company-operated stores and facilities, while the Company's other brands are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors. The Sherwin-Williams Performance Coatings Group supplies a broad range of highly-engineered solutions for the construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets in more than 120 countries around the world. Sherwin-Williams shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: SHW). For more information, visit www.sherwin.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements," as defined under U.S. federal securities laws, with respect to sales, earnings and other matters. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "project," "could," "plan," "goal," "target," "potential," "seek," "intend," "aspire" or "anticipate" or the negative thereof or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are based upon management's current expectations, predictions, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events and conditions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from the Company's historical performance, results and experience. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include such things as: general business and economic conditions; the Company's ability to successfully integrate past and future acquisitions into its existing operations, as well as the performance of the businesses acquired; strengths of retail and manufacturing economies and the growth in the coatings industry; changes in the Company's relationships with customers and suppliers; changes in raw material availability and pricing; adverse weather conditions or natural disasters, including due to the impacts of climate change; public health crises, including the duration, severity and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic and the actions implemented by international, federal, state and local public health and governmental authorities to contain and combat COVID-19, which may exacerbate one or more of the aforementioned and/or other risks, uncertainties and factors more fully described in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); and other risks, uncertainties and factors described from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC. Since it is not possible to predict or identify all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect future results, the above list should not be considered a complete list. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTS:
Jim Jaye
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Direct: 216.515.8682
investor.relations@sherwin.com
Eric Swanson
Vice President, Investor Relations
Direct: 216.566.2766
investor.relations@sherwin.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
Julie Young
Vice President, Global Corporate Communications
Direct: 216.515.8849
corporatemedia@sherwin.com
Regulation G Reconciliations
Management of the Company believes that investors' understanding of the Company's operating performance is enhanced by the disclosure of diluted net income per share excluding the loss on the divestiture of Wattyl, and Valspar acquisition-related amortization expense. This adjusted earnings per share measurement is not in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). It should not be considered a substitute for earnings per share computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The following tables reconcile diluted net income per share computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP to adjusted diluted net income per share.
Management of the Company believes that investors' understanding of the Company's operating performance is enhanced by the disclosure of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) excluding the loss on the divestiture of Wattyl in 2021. This measurement is not in accordance with U.S. GAAP. It should not be considered a substitute for net income or net operating cash. The following table reconciles net income computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA.
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SOURCE The Sherwin-Williams Company | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/sherwin-williams-company-reports-2022-second-quarter-financial-results/ | 2022-07-27T12:37:40Z |
The annual black-tie gala returned in-person to celebrate the cyber risk industry's top performers
NEW YORK, June 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading insurtech provider, Zywave, along with Advisen, a Zywave company, honored the cyber risk industry's top performers at the ninth annual Cyber Risk Awards, held in-person at Gotham Hall in New York City the evening of Thursday, June 16, 2022.
Thousands of cyber industry professionals cast their votes throughout the five-week voting process, yielding the highest voter turnout in the event's history. The winners were announced during a gala dinner for 480 attendees, sponsored by Arete, The Beckage Firm, CFC Underwriting, Epiq, and Pondurance.
"We congratulate all of the award winners and those who were nominated," said Jeff Cohen, Zywave senior vice president. "We want to especially thank everyone who voted and helped contribute to the success of this recognition program. It was wonderful to gather and celebrate in-person for the first time in two years as we applaud all of the outstanding efforts from the cyber risk industry."
Four individuals and 11 companies were recognized with awards given out during the evening. In addition, the program featured presentations by AXA XL's Jeremy Gittler, Shannon Groeber and Graeme Newman of CFC Underwriting, Tom Reagan from Marsh, Stott and May's Karl Sharman, and WTW's Tom Srail.
Below is the complete list of award winners:
Individuals
Cyber Risk Industry Person of the Year- USA: Jennifer Coughlin, Mullen Coughlin
Cyber Risk Industry Person of the Year- London: James Burns, CFC Underwriting
Cyber Risk Industry Person of the Year- Rest of the World: Maya Bundt, Swiss Re
Cyber Risk Industry Person of the Year- Actuary/Modeler: Rajeev Gupta, Cowbell Cyber
Companies
Cyber Event Response Team of the Year: Kroll
Cyber Newcomer of the Year: Mosaic
Cyber Reinsurer or Reinsurance Broker of the Year: Munich Re
Cyber Law Firm of the Year: Mullen Coughlin
Cyber Technology Provider of the Year: CrowdStrike
Cyber Product or Partnership of the Year: Chubb's Widespread Event Coverage
Cyber Claims Team (Insurer or MGA): CFC Underwriting
Cyber MGA of the Year: Evolve MGA
Cyber Retail Broking Team of the Year: Marsh
Cyber Wholesale Broking Team of the Year: INSUREtrust
Cyber Insurer of the Year: Beazley
For more information on Zywave, visit www.zywave.com. To learn more about Advisen, a Zywave company, acquired by Zywave in November 2020, visit www.advisenltd.com.
About Zywave
Zywave leads the insurtech industry, fueling business growth for its partners with cloud-based sales management, client delivery, content and analytics solutions. Zywave's all-in-one platform provides customizable, user-friendly options that enable insurance professionals to build a unique solution to fit their specific growth goals—their own Modern RevOps Machine. More than 15,000 carriers, agencies and brokerages worldwide—including all of the top 100 U.S. insurance brokerages—use Zywave solutions to enhance client services, achieve business growth and promote greater health, wellness, risk management and safety. Additional information can be found at www.zywave.com.
Contact: Megan O'Shea
megan.oshea@zywave.com
414-454-6117
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SOURCE Zywave | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/17/zywave-amp-advisen-announce-2022-cyber-risk-award-winners/ | 2022-06-17T14:43:03Z |
Governor's Early Literacy Foundation, in collaboration with Scholastic, expands its K-3 Home Library program to benefit 162,000 teachers and students across Tennessee, marking the first statewide roll-out of an at-home book delivery program for K-3 students
NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- To combat summer learning loss in Tennessee and support student learning in the home, Governor's Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) today announced the expansion of its K-3 Home Library program to deliver 970,000 books to teachers and students statewide this summer, including every rising first and second grader enrolled in a public school in Tennessee. In collaboration with Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company, 162,000 students and teachers will receive a pack of six high-quality, age-appropriate books and literacy resources. The packs will be delivered directly to the homes of participating students and teachers, at no cost to families or school districts.
Through the K-3 Home Library program, GELF is partnering with 146 school districts and charter schools to deliver books in all 95 Tennessee counties this summer. Children enrolled in a participating school district are signed up to receive the books unless a caregiver chooses to opt them out, making it easy for families to be a part of the program.
The books were selected by GELF's Educator Advisory Council (EAC), a group of 21 diverse Tennessee educators that serve GELF's K-3 initiatives. The EAC also created activity-based resources that are being provided to teachers and parents to help them incorporate the program's books in the classroom and in the home.
Only 32% of Tennessee third graders read proficiently, a 16% decline since 2019. According to the Tennessee Department of Education, Tennessee ranks 31st in the country in fourth grade reading proficiency, a ranking calculated using results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, better known as the Nation's Report Card.
Third grade reading proficiency is the benchmark where children transition from "learning to read" to "reading to learn" and is a key indicator for a child's future educational success and workforce readiness. A student not reading at his or her grade level by the end of the 3rd grade is four times less likely to graduate high school on time. Research shows that two to three months of proficiency is lost for students who do not read over the summer, but reading four to six books has the potential to stop, mitigate, or reverse this "summer slide."
A two-decade long study found that the presence of a home library increases children's academic success, vocabulary development, attention and job attainment. Children with as few as 25 books in the home complete an average of two more years of schooling than those with no books.
This is GELF's third year collaborating with Scholastic to deliver books and resources to students and teachers during the summer. Since 2020, GELF's K-3 Home Library program has placed more than 2.1 million books in the homes of more than 205,000 elementary school students and teachers. Books have been delivered in all 95 Tennessee counties, in partnership with 94% of Tennessee school districts.
"We are honored to help bring the first statewide at-home book delivery program for students and teachers to Tennessee," said James Pond, GELF President. "Through the K-3 Home Library program, we are meeting thousands of students where they are with the books and resources they need to combat learning loss and support learning in the home. Our goal is to shine a light on Tennessee as a leader in collaborative early literacy efforts, and we hope other states look to us to help promote a culture of reading inside and outside of the classroom. It's more than books. It's the future of Tennessee."
This announcement kicks off GELF's "Stop the Slide!" campaign to promote a summer of active young readers and combat the proverbial "summer slide."
GELF President James Pond was joined by Chris Hedrick, Senior Vice President of Sales, Scholastic Education Solutions, and children's book author Carmen Agra Deedy at Mayfield Elementary in Cleveland, Tenn. on June 8 to officially kick off the "Stop the Slide!" campaign and announce the expansion of the K-3 Home Library program with participating students and teachers. Carmen Agra Deedy performed a special read-aloud of her book, The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet!, that students will receive through the program, and local mascots helped distribute books to students and teachers in attendance.
"Books can be a source of comfort, learning and joy, and Scholastic is committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience all the benefits of reading, including a sense of ownership by having their own home library. We are so proud to be part of this statewide effort in Tennessee and to execute a shared mission in advancing children's literacy with the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation," said Chris Hedrick, Senior Vice President of Sales, Scholastic Education Solutions
The K-3 Home Library program has grown by 403% since 2020 and has quickly become one of GELF's key initiatives. The success of previous collaborations spurred GELF and Scholastic to explore ways to reach even more students this summer.
One educator said, "This is one of the most beneficial initiatives for increasing literacy that I have witnessed as an educator."
One parent said, "My son really enjoyed these books to the point of requesting more books on his own and wanting to pick them out himself, which is new for us."
The K-3 Home Library program is underwritten by the State of Tennessee with key support from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation.
"We recognize the importance of childhood literacy, and we understand that, unfortunately, many Tennessee students may not have access to books, particularly during the summer when school is not in session," said Chelsea Johnson, director of the BlueCross Foundation. "We hope this grant will help get books into the hands of more of our state's children, allowing them to maintain and expand critical reading skills, even when they're not in class."
To help "Stop the Slide!," GELF encourages Tennesseans to join the Foundation's "Booker's Book Club" on social media this summer by posting photos of their children reading with the hashtags #BookersBookClubTN #StoptheSlideTN. For more information, follow @GovEarlyLiteracyTN or visit GovernorsFoundation.org.
Governor's Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) equips Tennessee's children with books and innovative literacy tools that encourage lifelong learning for a brighter future. GELF is a nonpartisan 501c3 driven by a mission to strengthen early literacy in Tennessee by acting as a thought leader, advisor, and catalyst for programs across the state. These programs include Birth-5 Book Delivery through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, K-3 Home Library, Caregiver Engagement, Book Buses, and Storybook Trails. GELF was founded in 2004 by former Gov. Phil Bredesen as a public-private partnership to sustain Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Tennessee. GELF has grown from solely a book-gifting program to an early literacy organization driven by a vision where all Tennessee children have access to the resources, guidance, and support they need to become lifelong learners. For more information, visit www.GovernorsFoundation.org or www.facebook.com/GovEarlyLiteracyTN, or call toll-free at (877) 99-BOOKS.
For more than 100 years, Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) has been encouraging the personal and intellectual growth of all children, beginning with literacy. Having earned a reputation as a trusted partner to educators and families, Scholastic is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books, a leading provider of literacy curriculum, professional services, and classroom magazines, and a producer of educational and entertaining children's media. The Company creates and distributes bestselling books and e-books, print and technology-based learning programs for pre-K to grade 12, and other products and services that support children's learning and literacy, both in school and at home. With 15 international operations and exports to 165 countries, Scholastic makes quality, affordable books available to all children around the world through school-based book clubs and book fairs, classroom libraries, school and public libraries, retail, and online. Learn more at www.scholastic.com.
The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation organized to promote the philanthropic mission of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. It has awarded $120 million in grants since 2005. The foundation provides funding for the BlueCross Healthy Place program, which creates active, healthy spaces across Tennessee.
Contact:
Claire Jones
Claire.jones@tn.gov
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SOURCE Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/nearly-one-million-books-coming-tn-homes-spur-summer-reading-help-stop-slide-through-first-statewide-k-3-book-delivery-program-serving-162k-students/ | 2022-06-08T15:19:26Z |
TAMPA, Fla., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LM Funding America, Inc. (NASDAQ: LMFA) ("LM Funding" or "LMFA") today announced that it has entered into a hosting and services agreement with a multi-state data hosting company to host up to 4,200 of LMFA's S19J Pro Antminer Machines (S19J) (100 TH/s) ("Bitmain Miner Machines"). The Bitmain S19J Pro Antminer Machine is a high efficiency, high hash rate machine for Secure Hashing Algorithm (SHA) 256 mining that generates an average hash rate of 100 TH/s and has an average power consumption 3,000 kWh. LMFA anticipates that once all 4,200 machines are operational at the new facility, LMFA will have a total capacity of approximately 420 petahash capable of generating approximately 53 Bitcoin per month based on difficulty rates.1 LMFA expects all of its 5,000 newly purchased miners, including 800 miners not being hosted by the new vendor, will be operational by the fourth quarter of 2022, potentially generating a total of 504 petahash.
Bruce M. Rodgers, Chairman and CEO of LM Funding, commented, "We understand that our machine suppliers' supply chain issues have been largely resolved based on the information available to us, and we currently anticipate our mining operations will commence in the third quarter. As a result, we anticipate having approximately 5,000 mining machines operational in the fourth quarter of 2022, currently expected to be capable of generating approximately 764 Bitcoins per year. We also plan to take advantage of the current disruptions in the market by seeking to purchase miners at attractive valuations while hosting the machines where we can find the most economical power and quality service."
The new agreement is for 60 months and includes full hosting and management services.
1 Future changes in the network-wide mining difficulty rate or Bitcoin hash rate may also materially affect the future performance of LMFA's production of bitcoin. Additionally, all discussions of financial metrics assume mining difficulty rates as of June 17, 2022. The total network's hash rate data is calculated from a third-party source, which is available here: https://www.blockchain.com/charts/hash-rate. Data from third-party sources has not been independently verified. See "Forward-Looking Statements" below.
LM Funding America, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is a technology-based specialty finance company that provides funding to nonprofit community associations (Associations) primarily located in the state of Florida, as well as in the states of Washington, Colorado and Illinois, by funding a certain portion of the associations' rights to delinquent accounts that are selected by the Associations arising from unpaid Association assessments. LMFA is also entering the cryptocurrency mining business through a new subsidiary, US Digital Mining and Hosting Co., LLC.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," and "project" and other similar words and expressions are intended to signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guaranties of future results and conditions but rather are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Some of these risks and uncertainties are identified in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the risks of entering into and operating in the cryptocurrency mining business, the capacity of our bitcoin mining machines and our related ability to purchase power at reasonable prices, the ability to finance our planned cryptocurrency mining operations, our ability to acquire new accounts in our specialty finance business at appropriate prices, the need for capital, our ability to hire and retain new employees, changes in governmental regulations that affect our ability to collected sufficient amounts on defaulted consumer receivables, changes in the credit or capital markets, changes in interest rates, and negative press regarding the debt collection industry. The occurrence of any of these risks and uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Contact:
Crescendo Communications, LLC
Tel: (212) 671-1021
Email: LMFA@crescendo-ir.com
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SOURCE LM Funding America, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/lm-funding-announces-agreement-with-multi-state-data-hosting-company-anticipates-capacity-504-petahash-fourth-quarter-2022/ | 2022-06-27T13:07:54Z |
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., April 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambium Networks Corporation ("Cambium Networks") (NASDAQ: CMBM), a leading provider of wireless networking infrastructure solutions, today announced select preliminary financial results for the first quarter 2022 ended March 31, 2022 and plans to report full financial results on Thursday, May 5, 2022.
Cambium Networks now expects GAAP revenues of between $61-$63 million compared to the previous outlook of $77.5-$81.5 million provided on February 17, 2022. The change in outlook primarily reflects the consequence of two unexpected events during the first quarter 2022. A lockdown by the Chinese government in Shenzhen as a result of rising COVID cases impacted manufacturing during the middle of March. In addition, during the last two weeks of the quarter, a lockdown in Shanghai closed our distribution and warehousing facility. Without the supply and distribution constraints, Cambium Networks would have been within or above the high-end of the previous first quarter 2022 revenue outlook range provided on February 17, 2022. Net income is expected to be below the low-end of the previous GAAP and non-GAAP ranges. Cash is expected to be approximately $38 million. We expect some recovery in revenues during the second quarter 2022, pending the reversal of the previous lockdowns and no additional COVID lockdowns, given higher backlog, up 10% year-over-year.
Conference Call and Webcast
Cambium Networks will host a live webcast and conference call to discuss its financial results and Q&A at 4:30 p.m. ET, on May 5, 2022. On the call will be Atul Bhatnagar, president and CEO, and Andrew Bronstein, CFO. The call will be moderated by Peter Schuman, senior director of investor & industry analyst relations.
To join the financial results live webcast and view additional materials which may be posted to the investor website, listeners should access the investor page of Cambium Networks website https://investors.cambiumnetworks.com/. Following the live webcast, a replay will be available in the event archives at the same web address for a period of one year.
To access the live conference call by phone, listeners should dial +1(877) 288-4394 in the U.S. or Canada and +1(470) 495-9483 for international callers, referencing conference ID number 4383975. To join the live webcast and view additional materials, listeners should access the investor page of Cambium Networks website at https://investors.cambiumnetworks.com/. Following the live webcast, a replay will be available on the investor page of Cambium Networks website for a period of one year. A replay of the conference call will be available for 48 hours soon after the call by phone by dialing +1(855) 859-2056 in the U.S. or Canada and +1(404) 537-3406 for international callers, using the conference ID number 4383975.
About Cambium Networks
Cambium Networks delivers wireless communications that work for businesses, communities, and cities worldwide. Millions of our radios are deployed to connect people, places and things with a unified wireless fabric that spans multiple standards and frequencies of fixed wireless and Wi-Fi, all managed centrally via the cloud. Our multi-gigabit wireless fabric offers a compelling value proposition over traditional fiber and alternative wireless solutions. We work with our Cambium certified ConnectedPartners to deliver purpose-built networks for service provider, enterprise, industrial, and government connectivity solutions in urban, suburban, and rural environments, with wireless that just works.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements concerning our expected next quarter revenues, net income and cash . All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this document, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "target," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this document are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions including those described in the "Risk factors" section of our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2022. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Some of the key factors that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations include: the unpredictability of our operating results; the impact of the global shortage of certain components including semiconductor chipsets; the constraint in global shipping and logistics; risks presented by the global COVID-19 pandemic, which could significantly disrupt our manufacturing, sales and other operations and negatively impact our financial results; our inability to predict and respond to emerging technological trends and network operators' changing needs; the impact of the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, which may disrupt our sales and product design activities in the region; our reliance on third-party manufacturers, which subjects us to risks of product delivery delays and reduced control over product costs and quality; our reliance on distributors and value-added resellers for the substantial majority of our sales; the inability of our third-party logistics and warehousing providers to deliver products to our channel partners and network operators in a timely manner; the quality of our support and services offerings; our or our distributors' and channel partners' inability to attract new network operators or sell additional products to network operators that currently use our products; the technological complexity of our products, which may contain undetected hardware defects or software bugs; our channel partners' inability to effectively manage inventory of our products, timely resell our products or estimate expected future demand; our inability to manage our growth and expand our operations; unpredictability of sales and revenues due to lengthy sales cycles; our inability to maintain an effective system of internal controls, produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations; our reliance on the availability of third-party licenses; risks associated with international sales and operations; current or future unfavorable economic conditions, both domestically and in foreign markets and political tensions among the U.S. and China; and our inability to obtain intellectual property protections for our products.
Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts:
Investors:
Peter Schuman, IRC
Sr. Director Investor & Industry Analyst Relations
Cambium Networks
+1 (847) 264-2188
Peter.schuman@cambiumnetworks.com
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SOURCE Cambium Networks | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/13/cambium-networks-corporation-announces-preliminary-first-quarter-2022-revenues-reporting-date/ | 2022-04-13T21:35:25Z |
(NewsNation) — Pope Francis was greeted by an unexpected visitor during his latest sermon.
A curious young boy was roaming the pews for some adventure, and was warmly greeted by the pope.
Each Wednesday, the pope holds a service during which he greets visitors from around the world, and shares a message and benediction.
The message of this sermon just so happened to be about the relationship between the world’s youth and the elderly.
Pope Francis recalls ”in the hearing we talked about the dialogue between old and young, this child was brave, and he remains calm!” he said with a smile.
This isn’t the first time Francis has shown his charisma. In 2014, he welcomed his mini me for a hug and kiss, even though the boy seemed less than impressed with the extraordinary attention given to him.
The pope seems to enjoy having youth steal the show, letting them bask in the limelight, calming mortified parents by comforting their children, and showing them that religion is about embracing those around you. and being humble in all walks of life. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/little-boy-runs-to-pope-francis-during-sermon/ | 2022-08-18T12:52:14Z |
Restraining order against Spring Hill dropped after Court rules against Olathe
2006 boundary agreement can be broken
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - The Kansas Supreme Court has decided to drop a restraining order against the City of Spring Hill and its City Administrator from the City of Olathe after a 2006 boundary agreement was not honored.
In the matter of Appeal No. 124,156: City of Olathe v. City of Spring Hill and James Hendershot, the Kansas Supreme Court says in 2006, Spring Hill and Olathe both signed a written agreement to restrict their future growth by establishing annex land boundaries adjacent to the two cities.
The Court noted that the agreement had no time limitations and was to stay in effect unless the two cities mutually agreed to terminate it.
However, in the spring of 2021, court records indicate that Spring Hill announced its intention to break the agreement by annexing land on Olathe’s side of the agreed boundary.
The Court said the purpose of the annexation was to pursue a commercial site development.
Therefore, court records note that Olathe took Spring Hill and City Administrator James Hendershot to court to get a restraining order and injunctions to prevent the annexation.
The District Court had ruled against Olathe but stayed its order while the case was being appealed. The Court then said it assumed jurisdiction over the case at Olathe’s request.
In a unanimous opinion written by Justice Eric Rosen, the Court said it affirmed the Johnson Co. District Court. It said it relied on a longstanding rule that bars governing bodies from compelling future elected officials to follow general policy decisions.
The Court said the move would have undermined democratic principles if a city council could take away from future voters the power to elect city councils that could pursue their own policies.
The Court concluded that the 2006 agreement cannot be enforced against the 2021 Spring Hill city council. It also said it upheld the district court decision and lifted the state on the order.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/05/restraining-order-against-spring-hill-dropped-after-court-rules-against-olathe/ | 2022-07-05T14:38:47Z |
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I thought there should be a simple and easy way to carry a plate and drink with one hand," said an inventor, from Maxwell, Texas, "so I invented the SOPHTRAY. My design can be used at social gatherings, picnics, barbecues and parties."
The patent-pending invention provides an effective way to hold a food plate and a beverage cup in one hand. In doing so, it eliminates the need to struggle or shuffle a plate and drink. As a result, it could help to prevent spills and it can be used while dining indoors or outdoors. The invention features a versatile design that is easy to use so it is ideal for households. Additionally, it is producible in design variations and a prototype is available.
The original design was submitted to the National sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-CTK-2756, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/05/inventhelp-inventor-develops-convenient-platebeverage-cup-holder-ctk-2756/ | 2022-09-05T15:36:52Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Plant-based yogurt company Lavva announces it has been acquired by lead operating partner Next in Natural, in concert with Lavva Founder and Chief Growth Officer Liz Fisher. The new alliance brings forth a team of strategic investors, including David Heller, Art Wrubel, and David Blitzer. In addition, Jeff Lichtenstein has been appointed Chief Volcanic Officer (CEO). Lichtenstein's years of experience in the natural CPG category helped launch and scale companies such as Chobani, Stumptown, and Hu, amongst others, as the founder and CEO of Gourmet Guru, later acquired by UNFI.
"Lavva is what's next in natural – delicious and nutritious plant-based products aligned with consumer demand for clean, whole food, functional, regenerative ingredients, and convenience," states Lichtenstein. "Joining forces with these outstanding partners allows us to fortify the supply chain to keep up with demand and to produce additional innovation."
The future of the plant-based yogurt market is promising, with total revenues projected to hit $3.6B by *2026 (Research & Markets). Lavva is well positioned to capitalize on this surging segment with its unique offering that eliminates the use of gums, oils, flavors, and added sugar. It is a rich, creamy, nutrient-dense blend of pili nuts, coconut, and young plantains, with naturally occurring prebiotics and probiotics making it a gut health powerhouse. Lavva gets its name from the nutrient-dense volcanic soil in which the pili nut grows.
"We are on track to propel the company's growth by leveraging Next In Natural's expertise in production, R&D, business development, and marketing, which will help us evolve and reach new audiences. Our goal is to become known and trusted as one of the few truly healthy and delicious foods at the grocery store that doesn't still have its leaves attached," adds Liz Fisher.
Next in Natural is a Brooklyn, New York-based venture studio that helps invest in and operate emerging natural CPG companies focused on sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
Lavva is on a mission to realize the full potential of plant-based foods made without compromise. Powered by the regenerative pili nut, Lavva is the only yogurt that is Paleo and Plantricious Certified made fresh using only whole, unprocessed raw ingredients to support a healthy metabolism, digestion, and immune function.
Lavva is available exclusively at visionary retailers and D2C partners seeking to elevate their yogurt selection.
Contact: Hello@LovveLavva.com visit www.lovvelavva.com or follow the company @LovveLavva.
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SOURCE Lavva | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/lavva-plant-based-yogurt-announces-strategic-partnership-with-next-natural/ | 2022-08-10T13:20:22Z |
NEW YORK and ARVADA, Colo., June 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Northern Lights Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: "NLIT") ("Northern Lights") a special purpose acquisition corporation, and SHF, LLC d/b/a/ Safe Harbor Financial ("Safe Harbor"), a leading financial services provider to the cannabis industry, are announcing that they have entered into a redemption backstop arrangement in the form of an OTC Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction agreement for up to $50 million with Midtown East Management NL LLC ("Midtown East"). Midtown East has agreed to not redeem any public shares it purchases in connection with the planned business combination. Northern Lights anticipates that the shares purchased in connection with the agreement will help ensure the maximum redemption threshold condition in the business combination agreement will be met.
Please refer to Northern Lights' Current Report on Form 8-K, filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for additional information.
The redemption backstop arrangement is in addition to the $60 million PIPE commitment from certain accredited investors previously announced on February 14, 2022.
Safe Harbor is one of the first financial services providers to offer reliable access to banking solutions for cannabis, hemp, CBD, and ancillary operators, making communities safer, driving growth in local economies, and fostering long-term partnerships. Safe Harbor, through its partners, serves the regulated cannabis industry and implements the highest standard of accountability, transparency, monitoring, reporting, and risk mitigation measures while meeting BSA obligations in line with FinCEN guidance on CRBs. Over the past seven years, Safe Harbor (including its predecessor) has processed over $12 billion in deposit transactions with operations spanning 20 states with regulated cannabis markets. For more information, visit www.shfinancial.org.
Northern Lights is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. For more information, visit https://northernlightsacquisitioncorp.com/home/default.aspx.
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to (i) trends in the cannabis industry, including changes in U.S and state laws, rules, regulations and guidance relating to Safe Harbor's services; (ii) Safe Harbor's growth prospects and Safe Harbor's market size; (iii) Safe Harbor's projected financial and operational performance, including relative to its competitors; (iv) new product and service offerings Safe Harbor may introduce in the future; (v) the proposed business combination, including the implied enterprise value, the expected post-closing ownership structure and the likelihood and ability of the parties to successfully consummate the potential transaction; (vi) the risk that the proposed business combination may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, whether as a result of recent volatility in the capital markets or otherwise, which may adversely affect the price of Northern Lights' securities; (vii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed business combination, including the approval of the proposed business combination by the stockholders of Northern Lights; (viii) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the proposed business combination on Northern Lights' or Safe Harbor's business relationships, performance, and business generally; (ix) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Northern Lights or Safe Harbor related to the definitive unit purchase agreement or the proposed business combination; (x) the ability to maintain the listing of Northern Lights' securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market; (xi) the price of Northern Lights' securities, including volatility resulting from changes in the competitive and highly regulated industry in which Safe Harbor plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Safe Harbor's business and changes in the combined capital structure; (xii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the proposed business combination, and identify and realize additional opportunities; and (xiii) other statements regarding Safe Harbor's and Northern Lights' expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intends," "outlook," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would," and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject, are subject to risks and uncertainties. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Northern Lights' registration statement on Form S-1, the proxy statement relating to the proposed business combination, which has been filed in preliminary form by Northern Lights with the SEC, other documents filed by Northern Lights from time to time with SEC, and any risk factors made available to you in connection with Northern Lights, Safe Harbor, and the transaction. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of Safe Harbor and Northern Lights), and other assumptions, that may cause the actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
The proposed business combination involving Northern Lights and Safe Harbor has been submitted to the stockholders of Northern Lights for their consideration. Northern Lights has filed a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the "Proxy Statement") with the SEC on June 10, 2022, which has been mailed to the stockholders of Northern Lights in connection with Northern Lights' solicitation for proxies for the vote by the stockholders of Northern Lights connection with the proposed business combination and other matters as described in the Proxy Statement. Before making any voting decision, the stockholders of Northern Lights and other interested persons are advised to read the Proxy Statement, along with all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed business combination and Northern Lights' solicitation of proxies for its special meeting of stockholders to be held to approve, among other things, the proposed business combination, because these documents will contain important information about Northern Lights, Safe Harbor, and the proposed business combination. Stockholders may obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement, as well as other documents filed with the SEC regarding the proposed business combination and other documents filed with the SEC by Northern Lights, without charge, at the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to Northern Lights Acquisition Corporation, 10 East 53rd Street, Suite 3001, New York, NY, 10022, or by telephone at (615) 554-0044.
This press release relates to a proposed business combination between Northern Lights and Safe Harbor and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
Northern Lights and Safe Harbor, and certain of their respective directors and executive officers, under the rules of the SEC, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Northern Lights' stockholders in favor of the approval of the business combination. Information about the directors and officers of Northern Lights and their ownership of Northern Lights Class B common stock can also be found in Northern Lights' registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on June 2, 2021 in connection with its initial public offering, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the SEC on March 25, 2022, the Proxy Statement, and other documents subsequently filed by Northern Lights with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of Safe Harbor, as well as information regarding the interests of other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction, may be obtained by reading the Proxy Statement regarding the business combination. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described above.
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SOURCE Safe Harbor Financial | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/17/northern-lights-acquisition-corp-safe-harbor-financial-announce-redemption-backstop-up-50m-connection-with-spac-business-combination/ | 2022-06-17T16:05:38Z |
ATLANTA, July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Propel Center, a first-of-its-kind ideation hub for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), today announced an exciting new collaboration with The Walt Disney Company designed to prepare promising young innovators for careers in the arts, media, entertainment and hospitality industries.
Revealed at the 2022 HBCU Philanthropy Symposium in D.C., the announcement detailed how Propel and Disney will work together to provide meaningful support, mentors, internships and a guest speakers series as part of the expansive opportunities being made available to the future storytellers and innovators from underrepresented communities. Through this collaboration, Disney will also work with HBCU faculty and other industry leaders to co-develop curriculum that will position students for successful recruitment into these desired professions.
The initial curriculum will focus on the areas of technology and hospitality where Disney has a significant number of entry-level career opportunities. The hope is to create a bridge between the academic training students receive and the job opportunities available to them in the industry.
"The launch of this new collaboration with The Walt Disney Company positions the Propel Center to continue its important work of providing unprecedented opportunities and access to HBCUs," said Anthony Oni, Education Farm's board chairman and the founder of Ed Farm and Propel. "This collaboration is much more than an important moment. It's also an opportunity to invest in HBCUs in ways that advance student learning and opportunities; while participating in the HBCU tradition of developing transformative leaders."
"At Disney, we know that technology and hospitality play a huge role in telling great stories and creating seamless consumer experiences. We want to give HBCU students the opportunity to build the skills necessary in these areas to help them succeed in their careers," said Jennifer Cohen, executive vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility, The Walt Disney Company. "With the help of Propel's network and expertise, we hope to reach more students and empower them with the experience and confidence to push storytelling forward."
Synonymous with pushing forward, "The Propel Center is a bold and transformational initiative impacting the entire HBCU ecosystem," said Waymond Jackson, CEO of Education Farm. "Through cutting-edge curriculum, innovative technology, trending thought leadership, and other opportunities such as the ones this exciting new Disney collaboration presents, Propel aims to elevate how HBCU scholars see and experience the world. By equipping them with the resources, training, and tools they need to become leaders who advance equity, transform the talent pipeline, and tell their stories, we are ensuring that they are prepared to fill and create the jobs of the future."
This collaboration with Propel is part of the Disney Future Storytellers initiative. Through social investments and collaborations such as these, Disney is increasing access to careers in storytelling and innovation for those who have been historically underrepresented. From arts and STEM programs for school-age children to scholarships, storytelling and technical skills-building programs for teens and young adults, Disney is helping today's youth to pursue their dreams, build their talents and skills, and become who they imagine they can be.
About Ed Farm
Education Farm (Ed Farm) was launched in February 2020 in Birmingham, Alabama to create programs designed to engage students, educators and adult learners in innovative digital skills experiences that better prepare them for the 21st-century workforce. Supported by founding partners Apple Inc. and Alabama Power Company, Ed Farm is expanding its ed-tech initiatives and its footprint across the country, building upon the existing programming and work taking place in Birmingham.
About Propel Center
Imagined by Ed Farm and founding partners Apple Inc. and Southern Company, the Propel Center is a first-of-its-kind innovation hub for the entire HBCU community of colleges serving as a catalytic epicenter of learning, providing students with the knowledge, skills, tools and resources necessary to transform the nation's talent pipeline and workforce. Through a robust virtual platform, on-campus activities at partner institutions and a physical campus to be located near the Atlanta University Center, Propel will provide innovative curricula and unprecedented leadership opportunities in order to produce the next generation of Black leaders. To learn more, visit propelcenter.org.
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SOURCE PropelCenter.org | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/propel-center-walt-disney-company-announce-new-collaboration-designed-curate-next-cohort-storytellers-innovators-hbcus/ | 2022-07-21T22:03:25Z |
PASADENA, Calif., Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.18 per common share for the third quarter of 2022. The dividend is payable on October 14, 2022, to shareholders of record on September 30, 2022. The common stock dividend for the 12 months ending September 30, 2022, of $4.66 per common share represents an increase of 24 cents, or 5 percent, over the 12 months ended September 30, 2021.
The dividend allows the company to share its continued high-quality, strong and increasing net cash provided by operating activities with its common shareholders while retaining a significant portion for reinvestment into its highly leased pipeline of new Class A development and redevelopment projects. For the 10-year period ending December 31, 2022, the company expects an aggregate $2.0 billion of cash flows from operating activities after dividends will have been generated for reinvestment. Additionally, its funds from operations (FFO) payout ratio (quarterly common stock dividends divided by quarterly funds from operations) remains favorably low at 56 percent for the three months ended June 30, 2022. Growth in the company's net cash flows provided by operating activities continues to generate opportunities to increase the company's quarterly cash dividend per common share while maintaining a low FFO payout ratio.
About Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE), an S&P 500® urban office real estate investment trust, is the first, longest-tenured and pioneering owner, operator and developer uniquely focused on collaborative life science, agtech and technology campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations. Founded in 1994, Alexandria pioneered this niche and has since established a significant market presence in key locations, including Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland and Research Triangle. For more information, please visit www.are.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Actual results might differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Sara Kabakoff, Vice President – Communications, (626) 788-5578, skabakoff@are.com
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SOURCE Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/alexandria-real-estate-equities-inc-declares-cash-dividend-118-per-common-share-3q22-an-aggregate-466-per-common-share-12-months-ending-september-30-2022-up-24-cents-or-5-percent-over-12-months-ended-september-30-2021/ | 2022-09-06T12:56:03Z |
Get Out!: Kellye Cash concert, Miss Volunteer America kickoff highlight the weekend
The Ned’s concert series has the final concert of the season on Friday with a local favorite as Kellye Cash is joined by family and friends for her performance: Cash & Cline Tribute Concert.
Cash, who is from Milan, made history as the only Miss Tennessee winner to go on to win Miss America.
She’s a regular performer across the region as she and her family put their talents together while performing country classics made famous by her uncle, country icon Johnny Cash, and others.
Cash will be joined by her parents Billie and Roy, who wrote the Johnny Cash song, “I Still Miss Someone,” husband Todd Sheppard, her daughter Cassidy Spencer and husband Tanner, and her son Brady Sheppard and wife Lauren.
They’ll perform country classics by Cash, Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, George Jones and more.
Tickets are available and can be ordered online at https://thened.jacksontn.gov for $25 apiece. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Here’s a rundown of other things to do this weekend in Jackson and West Tennessee:
Thursday
Business After Hours: The Jackson Chamber’s monthly networking opportunity happens this month at First Horizon Bank (325 Oil Well Road) from 5-7 p.m. Attendees have the chance to make contacts and network while enjoying hors d’oeuvres. This event is free for Chamber members with no advance registration required.
Friday
Military History and Armed Forces Symposium: Discovery Park of America has a full weekend of events planned to honor and recognize the military history of the United States that will feature a variety of programs and interactive activities that explore the past, present and future of the American military. From presentations and panel discussions from special guests to static and active demonstrations of military equipment and vehicles to gallery talks, this comprehensive event will be the largest ever held in this region. Guests will also experience historical interpreters and period musicians throughout the museum and park. The weekend will start with opening remarks from Gen. John Castellaw at 10:10 a.m. on Friday, and then the slate is full of presentations, musical concerts and other events at the park at 830 Everett Boulevard in Union City.
After Hours Movie: The Jackson-Madison County Library (433 East Lafayette Street in Downtown Jackson) celebrates National Jazz Month with a showing of one of Disney and Pixar’s newest movies, Soul! Snacks and refreshments provided. The showing starts at 5:30 p.m.
Bicentennial Bicycle Awareness Ride: Take a ride with Madison County Parks and Recreation and the the City of Jackson Parks and Recreation in Celebration for Jackson Madison Co. 200 Bicentennial. You will ride through some of Jackson’s beautiful, historic neighborhoods. This event is also promoting bike lanes, cycling infrastructure, and making streets safe for all. It starts at the West Tennessee Farmer’s Market (91 New Market Street in Downtown Jackson) at 5:30 p.m.
Miss Teen Volunteer America: Ahead of the inaugural Miss Volunteer America pageant next week, Liberty Tech High School will be the place that hosts the inaugural teen pageant with preliminary pageant on Friday at 7:30 p.m. with the finals on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Tickets on Friday are $50, and Saturday tickets are $100. Both are available online at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/23546/liberty-technology-magnet-high-school.
Saturday
East Jackson Historic Tour and Wellness Walk: This event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This walk will start at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church (106 Glass Street) and continue through East Jackson featuring speakers and historical landmarks. Attendees are asked to bring two cans of food to the walk that will be donated to RIFA. Each person will receive a commemorative tour map.
Historic Structures Tour: The Old Country Store invites you to tour its Historic Structures in celebration of the Jackson Madison County Bicentennial theme for April—Architecture and Open Houses. Tickets are $12 per person and include a guided tour of the Casey Jones Home, the Village Chapel, the Providence House, and a scoop of Blue Bell ice cream in Miss Anne’s Ice Cream Shoppe. Tours start every hour on the hour, with the first tour starting at 10 a.m. and the last tour starting at 2 p.m. You must have a reservation and show your printed ticket or email receipt when you check in at the Casey Jones Museum at the start of your tour. Please arrive 5-10 minutes before your reserved tour time, so that your group can start promptly touring these amazing historic structures.
Author discussion: The Griot Collective of West TN and the Friends of the Jackson-Madison County Library present Charles Dodd White, fiction writer and essayist, discussing his works including “How Fire Runs,” a novel addressing white supremacy and other issues in our society in East Tennessee. The discussion will be at the Jackson-Madison County Library at 2 p.m.
Crawfest: The fifth annual Crawfest benefitting the Scarlet Rope Project is back again this year. Once again, it’s sure to be filled with plenty of food, live music, and competition. There will be a contest for the best crawfish cooking team, games for the kids, and maybe even a concert. It’s a great way to kick off summer. It will be at Hub City Brewing (250 West Main Street in Downtown Jackson) at 3 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Sunday
Miss Volunteer America kickoff: The opening ceremony for Miss Volunteer America will be at The Ned at 2 p.m, where all 47 contestants will be introduced and presented state flags. A time to purchase the pageant program ($20) and get autographs from the contestants will happen that evening at Hub City Brewing at 7:30 p.m. | https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/2022/04/28/get-out-kellye-cash-concert-miss-volunteer-america-kickoff-highlight-weekend/7436648001/ | 2022-04-28T08:13:27Z |
Volaris Reports April 2022 Traffic Results: 32% YoY demand growth with an 85% Load Factor
Published: May. 4, 2022 at 3:40 PM CDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
MEXICO CITY, May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Volaris (the "Company") (NYSE: VLRS and BMV: VOLAR), the ultra-low-cost airline serving Mexico, the United States, Central, and South America, reports its April 2022 preliminary traffic results.
In April 2022, Volaris' capacity (measured in ASMs) increased 28.1% compared to April 2021, while demand (measured in RPMs) increased 31.6% compared to the same period; the result was a load factor of 84.6% (+2.3 pp YoY). Volaris transported 2.6 million passengers during the month, a 34.6% increase compared to April 2021. Passenger demand (RPMs) in the domestic Mexican and international markets increased 26.8% and 48.3%, respectively, compared to April 2021. Year-to-date, the Company has transported 54.7% more passengers than in the first four months of 2021, with a load factor of 83.8% (+4.4pp YoY).
Commenting on April 2022 traffic figures, Volaris' President and CEO Enrique Beltranena said: "Demand remained strong in April. Volaris demonstrated its ability to adapt to changing demand and gradually pass through rising fuel prices, and we continue growing with sustained traffic volume. This demand strength confirms that we can fill our seats without sacrificing profitability. We will continue to closely monitor our booking trends and remain flexible with our growth plan."
The information included in this report has not been audited, and it does not provide information on the company's future performance. Volaris' future performance depends on many factors. It cannot be inferred that any period's performance or its comparison year over year will indicate a similar performance in the future.
About Volaris:
Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. ("Volaris" or the "Company") (NYSE: VLRS and BMV: VOLAR), is an ultra-low-cost carrier, with point-to-point operations, serving Mexico, the United States, Central and South America. Volaris offers low base fares to build its market, providing quality service and extensive customer choice. Since the beginning of operations in March 2006, Volaris has increased its routes from 5 to more than 190, and its fleet from 4 to 107 aircraft. Volaris offers more than 500 daily flight segments on routes that connect 44 cities in Mexico and 29 cities in the United States, Central, and South America, with one of the youngest fleets in Mexico. Volaris targets passengers who are visiting friends and relatives, cost-conscious business and leisure travelers in Mexico, the United States, and Central and South America. Volaris has received the ESR Award for Social Corporate Responsibility for eleven consecutive years. For more information, please visit www.volaris.com.
Investor Relations Contact
Félix Martínez / Naara Cortés Gallardo / ir@volaris.com
Media Contact
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SOURCE Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V. - Volaris
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.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/volaris-reports-april-2022-traffic-results-32-yoy-demand-growth-with-an-85-load-factor/ | 2022-05-04T22:33:11Z |
Indiana snaps 6-game losing streak against Minnesota
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kelsey Mitchell scored 26 points, Crystal Dangerfield had 10 points and six assists against her former team and the Indiana Fever beat the Minnesota Lynx 82-76 to snap a six-game losing streak in the series. Dangerfield, who was waived by Minnesota a week ago, made a jumper from the free throw line to extend Indiana’s lead to 76-72 with 2:26 left and added two free throws at 18.9 to seal it. Dangerfield, the 2020 rookie of the year, was 3 of 7 from the field in 21 minutes. Rookie NaLyssa Smith added nine points for Indiana. Sylvia Fowles had 26 points and 14 rebounds to lead Minnesota. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/10/indiana-snaps-6-game-losing-streak-against-minnesota/ | 2022-05-11T05:27:28Z |
BEIJING, June 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zhihu Inc. (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390) ("Zhihu" or the "Company"), the operator of Zhihu, a leading online content community in China, today announced that each of the proposed resolutions submitted for shareholders' approval (the "Proposed Resolutions") as set forth in the notice of annual general meeting dated May 19, 2022 (the "AGM Notice") has been adopted at its annual general meeting of shareholders, the class meeting of holders of the Class A ordinary shares with a par value of US$0.000125 each, and the class meeting of holders of Class B ordinary shares with a par value of US$0.000125 each held in Beijing, China, on June 10, 2022.
After the adoption of the Proposed Resolutions, all corporate authorizations and actions contemplated thereunder are approved, including, among other things, that (i) the Company's existing memorandum and articles of associations are amended and restated by their deletion in their entirety and by the substitution in their place of the eleventh amended and restated memorandum and articles of association as set out in Part A of Appendix I to the circular of the Company dated May 19, 2022; (ii) Mr. Dahai Li, Mr. Dingjia Chen, and Mr. Derek Chen are re-elected as directors of the Company; and (iii) the directors of the Company are granted a general mandate to allot, issue, and deal with additional Class A ordinary shares or equivalents and a general mandate to repurchase the Company's own shares, respectively, on the terms and in the periods as set out in the AGM Notice.
Zhihu Inc. (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390), the operator of Zhihu, a leading online content community in China where people come to find solutions, make decisions, seek inspiration, and have fun. We have been dedicated to expanding our content and service offerings to enable our users to explore and enjoy "fulfilling content" (有获得感的內容) that broadens horizons, provides solutions, and resonates with minds. Since the initial launch in 2010, we have grown from a Q&A community into one of the top five comprehensive online content communities and the largest Q&A-inspired online content community in China, both in terms of average mobile MAUs and revenue in 2019, 2020, and 2021, according to CIC. For more information, please visit https://ir.zhihu.com.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "target," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to," or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
In China:
Zhihu Inc.
Email: ir@zhihu.com
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Helen Wu
Tel: +86 (10) 6508-0677
Email: zhihu@tpg-ir.com
In the United States:
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1 (212) 481-2050
Email: zhihu@tpg-ir.com
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SOURCE Zhihu Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/11/zhihu-inc-announces-results-annual-general-meeting-class-meeting-class-b-meeting/ | 2022-06-11T07:05:09Z |
BRADENTON, Fla., Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition (NLCRC) is launching an industry-first collaborative recycling pilot program that focuses on consumer plastic packaging for engine oil and other petroleum-based products.
The NLCRC, comprised of members Castrol, Valvoline, Pennzoil - Quaker State, Graham Packaging, Plastipak Packaging, Berry Global, Chevron, and the Petroleum Packaging Council, is an industry-led technical coalition focused on developing a national market-sustaining program that drives the recovery and recycling of plastic packaging used to transport lubricants and related products for commercial and consumer use.
The recycling pilot is a one-year project involving over 40 locations in Atlanta, including retail stores and auto care centers, instant oil change locations, and several commercial facilities. The pilot aims to assess and measure the economic and market drivers for post-consumer recovery and recycling, better understand consumer waste disposal behaviors, and define parameters for model development and future scalability. Project partners include retail companies, commercial entities, Safety-Kleen, and Nexus Circular.
"One of the biggest waste management challenges facing the US is our ability to collect, sort, and process plastic packaging and return it to productive use. For contaminated packaging from petroleum and related materials, this isn't really happening. The pilot focuses on the heart of the problem – collection -- to find the most efficient ways to aggregate and transport the materials to processors that want them, creating value in a waste material that doesn't exist today." ~ Tristan Steichen, Director of NLCRC
Addressing a challenge as complex as this is not feasible for most individual companies, particularly given the complexities of distribution, supply chains, and competition. Transforming an industry requires collaboration with all stakeholders focusing on a common goal. The NLCRC seeks to represent a single voice of the industry. We aim to make an impact on the communities where our products are disposed while delivering meaningful results to the industry, its customers, and its member companies by reducing environmental and social risk and improving sustainability performance.
The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition or "NLCRC" is an industry-led technical coalition established in 2021 by a committed consortium of lubricant manufacturers and associated plastic packaging manufacturers, focused on establishing solutions for post-consumer recovery and recycling of plastic lubricant containers.
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SOURCE NLCRC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/23/national-lubricant-container-recycling-coalition-announces-atlanta-lubricant-container-recycling-pilot/ | 2022-08-23T11:40:11Z |
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Biden administration said Thursday that it is phasing out a program that aimed to give at-risk Afghans a quicker pathway to the U.S. through humanitarian relief but was criticized for its bureaucratic barriers and for ultimately leaving people’s lives in legal limbo.
Instead, starting Oct. 1, the U.S. government said it would focus on beefing up efforts to help more Afghans get permanent U.S. residency rather than the temporary legal status of humanitarian parole, which allowed them to stay in the country for just two years.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration is adopting a “new model” for Afghans traveling “directly to the communities where they will be moving” instead of having a stopover elsewhere in the country, which was required to get humanitarian parole.
“This is important to us. This has been a priority. And that’s how we’re going to make the process work a little bit better,” she said.
Since the chaotic evacuation of Afghans following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, some 86,000 Afghans have arrived in the United States — nearly all through the humanitarian parole process, which has left their future uncertain.
Thousands more remain in Afghanistan and their lives are at risk for aiding American troops. Some have been killed, advocates say.
Others have made their way to neighboring Pakistan but have been stalled by the backlog to process special immigrant visas for Afghans who supported the U.S. government during the war there. Nearly 75,000 such visas are still in the pipeline.
Humanitarian parole was intended originally to be a fast-track way to pull out Afghans who were unable to leave during the evacuation by the U.S. military a year ago. But it has fallen short, advocates said. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services struggled to keep up with the surge in applicants and address the growing backlog.
Since July 2021, the U.S. government has received nearly 50,000 humanitarian parole requests. But the agency has adjudicated fewer than 10,000, denying approximately 95% of them.
“Far too many of our allies remain in harm’s way, and far too many families remain separated by bureaucratic hurdles,” Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, the head of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, a refugee resettlement agency, said in a statement.
Jean-Pierre said the government is working on making things faster so Afghans left behind can get out soon.
“We know that many of our allies and Afghans remain under threat in the country,” she said.
Under the new model, dubbed “Operation Enduring Welcome,” Afghans must have immediate family members in the U.S. or have worked for the U.S. government in Afghanistan or be identified as being among the most vulnerable applicants to the U.S. refugee program.
The administration said providing more Afghans with permanent residency will make it easier for them to restart their lives in the United States and participate in their new communities.
__
Associated Press writer Chris Megerian in Washington contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-us-changes-focus-to-long-term-residency-for-more-afghans/ | 2022-09-02T19:15:22Z |
Maryland assisted-living facilities ordered to pay $950K in back wages, penalties after paying health care workers less than min. wage
FULTON, Md. (Gray News) – Essential workers at four assisted-living facilities in Maryland fell victim to employers who failed to pay them all the wages they legally earned.
According to the Department of Labor, an investigation revealed caregivers and technicians who were working at one of four centers owned and operated by International Health Care Consultants, Inc. were paid less than the federal minimum wage.
IHCC paid some workers a day rate of $65 per day for 12 hours of work, the Department of Labor reports, which equals less than $5.42 per hour.
Other employees were paid $80 a day for 12 hours of work, less than $6.67 per hour.
Additionally, investigators found some employees were only paid a day rate for 12 hours when working overnight 24-hour shifts.
After nearly four years of litigation, a consent judgment was entered by the U.S. District Court on April 21, 2022, to resolve the violations, according to the Department of Labor.
A judge ordered IHCC to pay the employees $466,642 and an equal amount in liquidated damages, in addition to a $16,716 civil money penalty for overtime violations – a combined total of $950,000.
“The significant amount of money due to just 27 employees indicates that these employees worked very long hours, often with little or no sleep at all during their shifts,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Nicholas Fiorello, in Baltimore. “We remain steadfast in ensuring essential protections for essential workers, and providing clear, confidential compliance assistance to any worker or employer with questions.”
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/26/maryland-assisted-living-facilities-ordered-pay-950k-back-wages-penalties-after-paying-health-care-workers-less-than-min-wage/ | 2022-04-26T15:44:44Z |
HUB's latest technology platform delivers choice, efficiency, price transparency, and trusted brokerage advice to clients of RESAAS agents
CHICAGO, Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hub International Limited (HUB), a leading global insurance brokerage and financial services firm, today announced its partnership with RESAAS Services Inc. (TSX-V: RSS, OTCQB: RSASF), a technology platform for the real estate industry, for clients of RESAAS agents to access VIU by HUB, a digital brokerage platform for transactional personal insurance created for customers who want a digital-first experience with human interaction and advice.
HUB launched VIU by HUB in June 2022 and is quickly gaining interest and adoption by partners like RESAAS, which reflects a growing number of relationships in the real estate industry, financial services, and auto dealer sector.
"VIU by HUB is a game changer, and our exclusive partnership with RESAAS and its network of 500,000 real estate agents is the type of relationship we had in mind when we first launched our innovative digital-first brokerage platform," said Bryan Davis, EVP, Head of VIU. "VIU by HUB allows RESAAS agents across the U.S. to tap into the expertise and insurance relationships HUB has cultivated and offer their clients a streamlined digital experience to purchasing insurance -- adding value to RESAAS's already stellar real estate services."
With the ever-changing consumer landscape demanding choice, VIU by HUB meets customers where they are and gives them the freedom to secure insurance how they want.
Tom Rossiter, CEO of RESAAS added, "RESAAS continues to expand our offering beyond the real estate transaction to deliver value for our real estate professionals before, during and after a home purchase. When reviewing the insurance landscape, VIU by HUB's personalized approach offers the right experience for the 500,000 RESAAS agents and their clients. RESAAS is proud to partner with VIU by HUB as our exclusive insurance partner within the global RESAAS platform."
Under the terms of the agreement, HUB has joined RESAAS's Ancillary Services division that enables RESAAS agents to generate additional, non-transactional recurring revenue by introducing their clients to select, nationwide and best-in-class partnerships endorsed by RESAAS. HUB and RESAAS will share in the commissions generated by sales from this partnership.
About Hub International
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Hub International Limited is a leading full-service global insurance broker and financial services firm providing risk management, insurance, employee benefits, retirement and wealth management products and services. With more than 14,000 employees in offices located throughout North America, HUB's vast network of specialists brings clarity to a changing world with tailored solutions and unrelenting advocacy, so clients are ready for tomorrow. For more information, please visit www.hubinternational.com.
About RESAAS Services Inc.
Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, RESAAS (TSX-V: RSS, OTCQB: RSASF) is an award-winning global technology platform for the real estate industry. With over 500,000 real estate agents utilizing RESAAS in 160 countries, RESAAS enables real-time industry communication, delivers new business opportunities and captures unique real estate data. Some of real estate's biggest brands leverage RESAAS to provide business intelligence to real estate brokerages, franchises and associations. For more information, please visit https://www.resaas.com.
CONTACTS:
Media: Marni Gordon
Phone: 312-279-4601
marni.gordon@hubinternational.com
Media: Jessica Wiltse
Phone: 312-596-7573
jessica.wiltse@hubinternational.com
Media: Don Mosher
Phone: 604-617-5448
don.mosher@resaas.com
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SOURCE Hub International Limited | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/hub-international-partners-with-resaas-simplify-home-insurance-process/ | 2022-08-02T12:52:32Z |
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif., May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BIOLASE, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIOL), the global leader in dental lasers, today announced that it has received notice from the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq) on May 13, 2022 informing BIOLASE that it has regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the "Rule") for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market. Consequently, BIOLASE is now in compliance with all applicable listing standards and its common stock will continue to be listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market.
BIOLASE was previously notified by Nasdaq on May 24, 2021 that it was not in compliance with the minimum bid price rule because its common stock failed to meet the closing bid price of $1.00 or more for 30 consecutive business days. To regain compliance with the Rule, the Company was required to maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 or more for at least 10 consecutive trading days. The requirement was met on May 12, 2022, the tenth consecutive trading day when the closing bid price of the Company's common stock was over $1.00.
On April 28, 2022, BIOLASE announced that it had effected a 1-for-25 reverse stock split that became effective at 11:59 p.m. ET that same day, and that BIOLASE common stock would begin trading on a split-adjusted basis at the opening of the market on April 29, 2022. The purpose of the reverse stock split was to raise the per share trading price of the Company common stock to continue its listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
About BIOLASE
BIOLASE is a medical device company that develops, manufactures, markets, and sells laser systems in dentistry and medicine. BIOLASE's products advance the practice of dentistry and medicine for patients and healthcare professionals. BIOLASE's proprietary laser products incorporate approximately 301 patented and 32 patent-pending technologies designed to provide biologically and clinically superior performance with less pain and faster recovery times. BIOLASE's innovative products provide cutting-edge technology at competitive prices to deliver superior results for dentists and patients. BIOLASE's principal products are revolutionary dental laser systems that perform a broad range of dental procedures, including cosmetic and complex surgical applications. BIOLASE has sold over 43,300 laser systems to date in over 80 countries around the world. Laser products under development address BIOLASE's core dental market and other adjacent medical and consumer applications.
For updates and information on Waterlase iPlus®, Waterlase Express™, and laser dentistry, find BIOLASE online at www.biolase.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/biolase, Twitter at www.twitter.com/biolaseinc, Instagram at www.instagram.com/waterlase_laserdentistry, and LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/biolase.
BIOLASE®, Waterlase® and Waterlase iPlus® are registered trademarks of BIOLASE, Inc.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve significant risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the anticipated roll out of new go-to-market sales strategies, the Company's efforts to achieve its goal of becoming EBITDA positive. Forward-looking statements can be identified through the use of words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," and variations of these words or similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect BIOLASE's current expectations and speak only as of the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from BIOLASE's current expectations depending upon a number of factors. These factors include, among others, adverse changes in general economic and market conditions, competitive factors including but not limited to pricing pressures and new product introductions, uncertainty of customer acceptance of new product offerings and market changes, risks associated with managing the growth of the business, and those other risks and uncertainties that are described, from time-to-time, in the "Risk Factors" section of BIOLASE's annual reports filed on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, BIOLASE does not undertake any responsibility to revise or update any forward-looking statements.
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SOURCE BIOLASE, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/biolase-regains-compliance-with-nasdaq-minimum-bid-price-requirement/ | 2022-05-16T11:07:39Z |
CHICAGO, April 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Technomic has released one of its most highly anticipated reports, the 2022 Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report, which includes expert findings and insights into the sales performance of U.S. chain restaurants in 2021. The report is built using decades of historical data, providing a detailed analysis of the foodservice industry and overarching trends; annual sales and unit counts by chain and segment; and pandemic-related recovery metrics.
"2021 was a year like no other for the Top 500 chain restaurants," said Kevin Schimpf, director, industry research and insights. "Drastic shifts in market conditions led to unprecedented volatility in results for the industry's largest chains. While overall Top 500 sales surpassed pre-pandemic benchmarks, more than half of all ranked chains fell short of returning to 2019 performance levels."
Key findings include:
- Top 500 chain sales hit a total of $361 billion in 2021, increasing by 18% on an annual basis
- Widespread rollback of dining restrictions and historically high levels of inflation were key factors driving the expansion of Top 500 sales
- After declining the prior year, Top 500 location footprint expanded slightly in 2021 to a total of more than 226,000 restaurants
- The chicken menu category posted double-digit sales growth for the third consecutive year, paced by strong results from chains like Raising Cane's, Slim Chickens and Jollibee
Technomic has been producing a ranking of top U.S. chain restaurants since 1978. The latest ranking is available for purchase now: https://www.technomic.com/reports/industry-reports/top-500
Contacts:
Press and program inquiries: Kevin Schimpf, kschimpf@technomic.com
Purchasing details: Patrick Noone, pnoone@technomic.com
About Technomic
Technomic Inc., a Winsight company, was founded as a management consulting firm in 1966. Since then, Technomic's services have grown to encompass cloud-based B2B research tools, consumer and menu trend tracking and other leading strategic research and analytic capabilities, to prioritize and size business opportunities. Our clients include food manufacturers and distributors, restaurants, retailers and multiple other business verticals aligned with the food industry that are looking to make informed decisions to support their business growth. Visit Technomic at www.technomic.com.
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SOURCE Technomic | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/08/technomic-reports-top-500-chain-restaurant-sales-recovered-past-pre-pandemic-levels-2021/ | 2022-04-08T14:43:30Z |
Former Trump Org. CFO expected to plead guilty in NY tax case
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s longtime finance chief is expected to plead guilty as soon as Thursday in a tax evasion case that is the only criminal prosecution to arise from a long-running investigation into the former president’s company, three people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg was scheduled to be tried in October on allegations he took more than $1.7 million in off-the-books compensation from the company, including rent, car payments and school tuition.
Prosecutors in the Manhattan district attorney’s office and Weisselberg’s lawyers met Monday with the judge overseeing the case, Juan Manuel Merchan, according to court records. The judge then scheduled a hearing in the matter for 9 a.m. Thursday but did not specify the reason.
The people who spoke to the AP did so on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the case. They said the purpose of Thursday’s hearing was for Weisselberg to enter a guilty plea, but cautioned that plea deals sometimes fall apart before they are finalized in court.
Weisselberg’s lawyer, Nicholas Gravante Jr., told The New York Times on Monday that Weisselberg has been engaged in plea negotiations to resolve the case, but did not specify terms of a potential plea deal. Reached by the AP, Gravante declined to comment.
The Times, citing two people with knowledge of the matter, said Weisselberg was expected to receive a five-month jail sentence, which would make him eligible for release after about 100 days. The deal would not require Weisselberg to testify or cooperate in any way with an ongoing criminal investigation into Trump’s business practices.
Trump’s company, the Trump Organization, is also charged in the case but did not appear to be involved in the plea agreement talks. Weisselberg and the Trump Organization have pleaded not guilty.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. A message seeking comment was left with a lawyer for the Trump Organization.
News of Weisselberg’s plea negotiations came days after the judge denied requests by his lawyers and the Trump Organization to throw out the case. The judge did drop one criminal tax fraud count against the company citing the statute of limitations, but more than a dozen other counts remain.
In seeking dismissal of the case, Weisselberg’s lawyers argued prosecutors in the Democrat-led district attorney’s office were punishing him because he wouldn’t offer up damaging information against the former president.
The judge rejected that argument, saying that evidence presented to the grand jury was legally sufficient to support the charges.
Weisselberg, who turned 75 on Monday, is the only Trump executive charged in the yearslong criminal investigation started by former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., who went to the Supreme Court to secure Trump’s tax records. Vance’s successor, Alvin Bragg, is now overseeing the investigation. Several other Trump executives have been granted immunity to testify before a grand jury in the case.
Prosecutors alleged that Weisselberg and the Trump Organization schemed to give off-the-books compensation to senior executives, including Weisselberg, for 15 years. Weisselberg alone was accused of defrauding the federal government, state and city out of more than $900,000 in unpaid taxes and undeserved tax refunds.
The most serious charge against Weisselberg, grand larceny, carried a potential penalty of five to 15 years in prison. The tax fraud charges against the company are punishable by a fine of double the amount of unpaid taxes, or $250,000, whichever is larger.
Trump has not been charged in the criminal probe, but prosecutors have noted that he signed some of the checks at the center of the case. Trump, who has decried the New York investigations as a “political witch hunt,” has said his company’s actions were standard practice in the real estate business and in no way a crime.
Last week, Trump sat for a deposition in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ parallel civil investigation into allegations Trump’s company misled lenders and tax authorities about asset values. Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination more than 400 times.
In the months after Weisselberg’s arrest, the criminal probe appeared to be progressing toward a possible criminal indictment of Trump himself, but the investigation slowed, a grand jury was disbanded and a top prosecutor left after Bragg took office in January — although he insists it is continuing.
___
Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak. Send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/16/trump-org-cfo-expected-plead-guilty-ny-tax-case/ | 2022-08-16T01:53:03Z |
ST. LOUIS, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Spartech, a leading manufacturer of engineered thermoplastics and custom packaging solutions, is pleased to announce that Tom Hafele has joined Spartech as General Manager, Acrylic Rods & Tubes. He will be located in the Pleasant Hill, Iowa office.
"Tom complements our goal of shaping the future of plastics through material strength and application expertise," said Spartech CEO John Inks. "His vast experience and leadership expertise will help us continue to serve as a reliable and responsive partner to our valued customers."
Tom has over 20 years of manufacturing experience. Prior to joining Spartech, he held various manufacturing, quality, and continuous improvement leadership roles. Most recently, he was the plant manager at the Illinois Tool Works (ITW) plant in Frankfort, Illinois. Prior to this he was the director of operations for Dickten Masch Plastics (DMP) in Wisconsin.
Tom and his wife, Kathy, will reside in Pleasant Hill.
About Spartech
Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri with a unique innovation center and 16 manufacturing facilities located throughout the United States, Spartech is a leading plastics manufacturer of engineered thermoplastic materials and specialty packaging products. Meeting exact standards for everything from food packaging to aerospace and automotive applications, Spartech continues to make a world of difference with sustainable, diverse, reliable, and innovative products including UltraTuf™, Royalite®, Korad™, PreservaPak™, and Polycast®. https://spartech.com
Media Contact:
For Spartech
Sheldon Ripson
sheldon@spokemarketing.com
636-751-5733
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SOURCE Spartech | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/spartech-announces-tom-hafele-general-manager-acrylic-rods-amp-tubes/ | 2022-05-19T16:05:25Z |
Queen Elizabeth is featured on several currencies. Now what?
LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II has been depicted on British banknotes and coins for decades. Her portrait also has been featured on currencies in dozens of other places around the world, in a reminder of the British empire’s colonial reach.
So what happens next after her death this week? It will take time for the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries to swap out the monarchs on their money.
But that doesn’t mean the bills don’t work — they do.
Here’s a look at what is next for the paper cash featuring the late queen:
SWITCHING MONARCHS
The queen’s portrait on British notes and coins is expected to be replaced by a likeness of the new King Charles III, but it won’t be immediate.
“Current banknotes featuring the image of Her Majesty The Queen will continue to be legal tender,” the Bank of England said. An announcement on existing paper money issued by the U.K.’s central bank will be made after the official 10-day mourning period has ended, it said.
The Royal Mint, which is the official maker of British coins, said all coins with her portrait “remain legal tender and in circulation,” with more information to come later.
“As we respect this period of respectful mourning, we continue to strike coins as usual,” the Royal Mint said on its website.
With 4.7 billion U.K. banknotes worth 82 billion pounds ($95 billion) in circulation and about 29 billion coins, British money bearing the queen’s image will likely be in circulation for years.
“Rather than all of the current coins and notes being handed in, the process will be a gradual one and many of the coins featuring portraits of Queen Elizabeth II will remain in circulation for many years to come,” according to Coin Expert, a British coin research website.
After Charles takes the crown at his coronation, a new portrait will need to be taken to use on redesigned notes and coins, the website said.
Coins featuring him will show him facing to the left, replacing the queen’s rightward gaze in line with tradition dating to the 17th century. It dictates monarchs be shown in profile and in opposite direction to their predecessors.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER COUNTRIES?
Other nations’ currencies that feature the queen — from Australian, Canadian and Belizean dollars — also will be updated with the new monarch, but the process could take longer, because “it is much easier to enforce a new design in the country where it originates, rather than in other countries where different jurisdiction may take place,” the Coin Expert website said.
The Bank of Canada said its current $20 banknote, made of synthetic polymer, is designed “to circulate for years to come.”
“There is no legislative requirement to change the design within a prescribed period when the Monarch changes,” the Bank of Canada said.
In general, when a new portrait subject is chosen for Canadian money, the process begins with drawing up a fresh design, and a new note is ready to be issued “a few years later,” the bank said.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand said it will issue all of its stock of coins depicting the queen before new ones go out with Charles’ image. The queen also is featured on the $20 bill, which is made “infrequently” and there is no “plan to destroy stock or shorten the life of existing banknotes just because they show the Queen,” the bank said.
“It will be several years before we need to introduce coins featuring King Charles the Third, and longer until stocks of $20 notes are exhausted,” it added.
THE QUEEN’S CURRENCY
She first appeared on money when she was still a princess. That was in 1935, when Canada’s $20 bill featured 8-year-old Princess Elizabeth, whose grandfather King George V was then the monarch, as part of a new series of notes.
Canadian $20 bills were updated with a new portrait of the queen in 1954, a year after her coronation, and her portrait also started appearing on other currencies around the world, mainly British colonies and Commonwealth countries.
British bills didn’t get her image until 1960 — seven years after her coronation. That’s when the Bank of England was granted permission to use her likeness on paper money, starting with the 1-pound note, though the formal and regal image was criticized for being too severe and unrealistic.
She became the first monarch to be depicted on British banknotes. British coins, meanwhile, have featured kings and queens for more than 1,000 years.
CURRENCIES OUTSIDE THE U.K.
At one time, Queen Elizabeth II appeared on at least 33 different currencies, more than any other monarch, an achievement noted by Guinness World Records.
Her image is still featured on money in places where she remains a beloved figure, such as Canada, and continue to incorporate the Union Jack into their flags, like Australia and New Zealand.
She’s also found on notes and coins issued by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the monetary authority for a group of small nations including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Other places have long stopped putting her face on their currency. After Jamaica gained independence from Britain in 1962, its central bank replaced the queen on paper notes with portraits of national heroes such as Marcus Garvey.
Notes in the Seychelles now feature local wildlife instead of the queen. Bermuda did a similar revamp, though the queen retains a minor position on bills. Trinidad and Tobago swapped in a coat of arms after it became a republic.
Hong Kong dollars issued after Britain handed its colony back to Beijing in 1997 feature Chinese dragons and skyscrapers on the Asian financial center’s skyline.
___
Follow AP coverage of Queen Elizabeth II at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/09/10/queen-elizabeth-is-featured-several-currencies-now-what/ | 2022-09-10T04:58:14Z |
CDC: Listeria outbreak linked to Fla. ice cream brand
(CNN) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a listeria outbreak linked to Big Olaf Creamery-brand ice cream. The outbreak has resulted in at least one death and 22 illnesses.
Big Olaf ice cream is sold only in Florida. The manufacturer contacted retailers to recommend they stop selling its ice cream products until further notice.
The CDC says if you have any of the ice cream, you should throw it away and clean areas, containers and utensils that may have touched it.
Twenty-three people in 10 states have been infected in the outbreak, one woman lost a pregnancy and one person from Illinois died.
The CDC says nearly all of the infected either lived in or traveled to Florida in the month before they were infected.
After interviewing 17 people infected, investigators found 14 had eaten ice cream. Six said they ate Big Olaf ice cream or ice cream at locations that might have been supplied by the company.
The investigation is ongoing.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/05/cdc-listeria-outbreak-linked-fla-ice-cream-brand/ | 2022-07-05T10:00:34Z |
DALLAS (STACKER) — The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.
Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely. Early research suggests this strain may cause less severe illness than Delta and the original virus, however, health officials have warned an Omicron-driven surge could still increase hospitalization and death rates—especially in areas with less vaccinated populations.
The United States as of March 18 reached 970,343 COVID-19-related deaths and nearly 79.7 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 65.3% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 44.4% of vaccinated people have received booster doses.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in Texas using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and Covid Act Now. Counties are ranked by the highest vaccination rate as of March 17, 2022. Due to inconsistencies in reporting, some counties do not have vaccination data available. Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in your state.
#50. Jim Hogg County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.2% (2,870 fully vaccinated)
— 8.8% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 423 (22 total deaths)
— 43.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 50,038 (2,602 total cases)
— 119.6% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#49. Medina County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.3% (28,530 fully vaccinated)
— 8.6% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 378 (195 total deaths)
— 28.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,617 (10,119 total cases)
— 13.9% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#48. San Patricio County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.4% (36,982 fully vaccinated)
— 8.4% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 504 (336 total deaths)
— 71.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,504 (11,013 total cases)
— 27.6% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#47. Reeves County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.0% (8,953 fully vaccinated)
— 7.4% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 457 (73 total deaths)
— 55.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,731 (4,590 total cases)
— 26.1% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#46. Tarrant County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.0% (1,177,685 fully vaccinated)
— 7.4% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 275 (5,779 total deaths)
— 6.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,691 (561,192 total cases)
— 17.1% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#45. Caldwell County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.4% (24,607 fully vaccinated)
— 6.8% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 401 (175 total deaths)
— 36.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,349 (14,125 total cases)
— 41.9% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#44. Blanco County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.6% (6,753 fully vaccinated)
— 6.4% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 285 (34 total deaths)
— 3.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,096 (2,517 total cases)
— 7.4% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#43. Zavala County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.8% (6,727 fully vaccinated)
— 6.1% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 574 (68 total deaths)
— 95.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,020 (4,028 total cases)
— 49.3% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#42. Aransas County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.8% (13,351 fully vaccinated)
— 6.1% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 340 (80 total deaths)
— 15.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,316 (4,071 total cases)
— 24.0% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#41. Calhoun County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.0% (12,133 fully vaccinated)
— 5.8% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 225 (48 total deaths)
— 23.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,679 (5,680 total cases)
— 17.1% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#40. Nueces County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.0% (206,622 fully vaccinated)
— 5.8% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 407 (1,476 total deaths)
— 38.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,287 (98,859 total cases)
— 19.7% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#39. Karnes County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.1% (8,908 fully vaccinated)
— 5.6% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 436 (68 total deaths)
— 48.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,543 (5,545 total cases)
— 56.0% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#38. Bastrop County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.2% (50,762 fully vaccinated)
— 5.5% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 259 (230 total deaths)
— 11.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,395 (21,644 total cases)
— 7.0% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#37. Pecos County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.6% (9,119 fully vaccinated)
— 4.8% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 449 (71 total deaths)
— 52.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,754 (2,651 total cases)
— 26.5% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#36. Brazoria County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.6% (215,473 fully vaccinated)
— 4.8% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 261 (976 total deaths)
— 11.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,840 (92,967 total cases)
— 9.0% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#35. Rockwall County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.1% (60,964 fully vaccinated)
— 4.0% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 250 (262 total deaths)
— 15.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,126 (26,361 total cases)
— 10.2% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#34. Brewster County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.0% (5,431 fully vaccinated)
— 2.5% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 304 (28 total deaths)
— 3.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 11,453 (1,054 total cases)
— 49.7% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#33. Bell County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.5% (216,097 fully vaccinated)
— 1.7% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 241 (876 total deaths)
— 18.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,371 (66,672 total cases)
— 19.4% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#32. Zapata County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.6% (8,449 fully vaccinated)
— 1.5% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 367 (52 total deaths)
— 24.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,834 (3,663 total cases)
— 13.4% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#31. Archer County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.7% (5,110 fully vaccinated)
— 1.3% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 327 (28 total deaths)
— 11.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,775 (2,119 total cases)
— 8.7% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#30. Galveston County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.7% (204,185 fully vaccinated)
— 1.3% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 246 (840 total deaths)
— 16.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,809 (95,145 total cases)
— 22.0% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#29. Dallas County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.9% (1,578,520 fully vaccinated)
— 1.0% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 251 (6,619 total deaths)
— 14.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,531 (567,466 total cases)
— 5.5% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#28. Kleberg County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.2% (18,470 fully vaccinated)
— 0.5% lower vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 473 (145 total deaths)
— 60.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,312 (7,152 total cases)
— 2.3% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#27. Denton County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.1% (542,106 fully vaccinated)
— 1.0% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 150 (1,331 total deaths)
— 49.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,025 (177,663 total cases)
— 12.1% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#26. Kendall County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.4% (29,143 fully vaccinated)
— 1.5% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 247 (117 total deaths)
— 16.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,090 (8,106 total cases)
— 25.0% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#25. Comal County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.6% (96,273 fully vaccinated)
— 1.8% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 347 (542 total deaths)
— 18.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,154 (33,044 total cases)
— 7.2% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#24. Brooks County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.8% (4,383 fully vaccinated)
— 2.1% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 719 (51 total deaths)
— 144.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,670 (1,608 total cases)
— 0.5% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#23. Duval County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.9% (6,901 fully vaccinated)
— 2.3% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 609 (68 total deaths)
— 107.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,793 (3,324 total cases)
— 30.7% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#22. Hays County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.9% (142,445 fully vaccinated)
— 2.3% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 215 (494 total deaths)
— 26.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,972 (59,786 total cases)
— 14.0% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#21. Harris County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.0% (2,967,151 fully vaccinated)
— 4.1% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 229 (10,801 total deaths)
— 22.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,149 (996,816 total cases)
— 7.2% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#20. La Salle County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.5% (4,847 fully vaccinated)
— 6.6% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 625 (47 total deaths)
— 112.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,024 (2,333 total cases)
— 36.1% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#19. Willacy County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.6% (13,789 fully vaccinated)
— 6.8% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 590 (126 total deaths)
— 100.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,353 (6,910 total cases)
— 42.0% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#18. Frio County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 65.4% (13,285 fully vaccinated)
— 8.1% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 453 (92 total deaths)
— 54.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,203 (5,727 total cases)
— 23.7% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#17. Val Verde County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.2% (32,453 fully vaccinated)
— 9.4% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 598 (293 total deaths)
— 103.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,138 (14,285 total cases)
— 27.8% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#16. Collin County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.8% (690,708 fully vaccinated)
— 10.4% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 142 (1,471 total deaths)
— 51.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,963 (206,563 total cases)
— 12.4% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#15. Williamson County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.0% (401,285 fully vaccinated)
— 12.4% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 147 (869 total deaths)
— 50.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,345 (131,956 total cases)
— 2.0% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#14. Bexar County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.8% (1,378,971 fully vaccinated)
— 13.7% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 300 (6,015 total deaths)
— 2.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,483 (550,639 total cases)
— 20.6% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#13. Travis County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.2% (881,368 fully vaccinated)
— 14.4% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 133 (1,696 total deaths)
— 54.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,255 (219,815 total cases)
— 24.3% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#12. Fort Bend County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.9% (575,847 fully vaccinated)
— 17.2% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 149 (1,211 total deaths)
— 49.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,023 (178,762 total cases)
— 3.4% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#11. Dimmit County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 71.6% (7,253 fully vaccinated)
— 18.3% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 504 (51 total deaths)
— 71.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 56,677 (5,738 total cases)
— 148.7% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#10. Hidalgo County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 72.1% (626,544 fully vaccinated)
— 19.2% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 444 (3,861 total deaths)
— 51.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,843 (198,439 total cases)
— 0.2% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#9. Hudspeth County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 73.7% (3,600 fully vaccinated)
— 21.8% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 348 (17 total deaths)
— 18.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,098 (982 total cases)
— 11.8% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#8. Cameron County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 77.7% (328,888 fully vaccinated)
— 28.4% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 475 (2,010 total deaths)
— 61.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,617 (99,939 total cases)
— 3.6% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#7. El Paso County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 80.0% (671,804 fully vaccinated)
— 32.2% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 440 (3,689 total deaths)
— 49.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,630 (206,705 total cases)
— 8.1% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#6. Edwards County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 83.6% (1,615 fully vaccinated)
— 38.2% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 569 (11 total deaths)
— 93.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,068 (465 total cases)
— 5.6% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#5. Maverick County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 92.0% (54,020 fully vaccinated)
— 52.1% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 780 (458 total deaths)
— 165.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,314 (20,737 total cases)
— 54.9% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#4. Starr County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 92.0% (59,446 fully vaccinated)
— 52.1% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 560 (362 total deaths)
— 90.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,497 (19,711 total cases)
— 33.8% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#3. Irion County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 95.0% (2,119 fully vaccinated)
— 57.0% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 195 (3 total deaths)
— 33.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,516 (438 total cases)
— 25.1% more cases per 100k residents than Texas
#2. Presidio County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 95.0% (6,924 fully vaccinated)
— 57.0% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 537 (36 total deaths)
— 82.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 14,394 (965 total cases)
— 36.8% less cases per 100k residents than Texas
#1. Webb County
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 95.0% (269,554 fully vaccinated)
— 57.0% higher vaccination rate than Texas
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 369 (1,020 total deaths)
— 25.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Texas
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,512 (92,713 total cases)
— 47.0% more cases per 100k residents than Texas | https://cw33.com/news/local/counties-with-the-highest-covid-19-vaccination-rate-in-texas/ | 2022-04-03T15:57:16Z |
If the words that come to mind when thinking about shapewear include uncomfortable or suffocating, you’re not alone. While shapewear has justifiably received its reputation, the past few years have proven that change is possible, even for undergarments.
Celebrities are known to wear shapewear under their red carpet dresses to smooth and slim, so it’s only natural that this rebirth of comfortable shapewear is partially credited to influential figures, such as Kim Kardashian and Lizzo. However, if you’re not one to jump on the latest trends, here are 10 slimming and affordable shapewear alternatives to Skims and Yitty.
Shapewear styles
Form
One of the primary reasons shapewear is known for being uncomfortable is that it used to be tailored to one specific body type. Luckily, there are now a ton of styles to choose from in a plethora of forms. While the common forms focus on slimming the waist and hips, you can also find shapewear to smooth your arms, legs and back.
Bottom style
Shapewear is often chosen with a specific outfit in mind, which can help narrow down the options. For dresses, common bottom styles include long shorts or a slip. If you don’t want panty lines, you may opt for a thong or midlength shorts for a shorter cocktail dress. There are also options with two different leg styles to conceal your shapewear if you have a long slit.
Top style
The top of the outfit is just as important as the bottom. You can choose from a skinny strap, a thick strap or a strapless one. Some include a built-in bra with support, while others do not. There is also a style that ends below the bra.
Shapewear features
Compression level
While all shapewear offers compression, there are a variety of levels. If you want to wear something every day, try to find a shapewear piece such as high-waisted briefs or a camisole with moderate compression. However, those looking for smoothing and slimming in an evening dress may want more compression. Less compression tends to be more comfortable, while high compression is ideal for a night out.
Fit
Instead of buying a size down to try and suck everything in, stick to your actual size. If shapewear is too small, it becomes uncomfortable, can cause bulges and will roll up or down.
Shade
Most shapewear is a neutral color because it’s supposed to be the shade of your skin. This will help it remain unseen, even if a garment is slightly see-through. Shapewear comes in various colors, including white, beige, brown and black.
Best Slimming and Affordable Shapewear
Spanx High-Waisted Power Short Shapewear
The no-slip strip on the waistband ensures these high-waisted shorts won’t be rolling down all day. They’re also available in regular and plus sizes.
Sold by Amazon
Maidenform Open Bust Body Shaper
This body shaper targets the tummy, waist and back for all-day coverage. Plus, the open bust allows you to wear your own bra and prevents bulges.
Bali Lace ’N Smooth Firm Control Body Shaper
In addition to offering firm control on the tummy, waist and rear, the lace allows it to be worn as a trendy bodysuit. This body shaper also features a built-in underwire bra for additional support.
Shapermint High Waister Body Shaper Shorts
These high-waisted body shaper shorts offer slimming to the waist, tummy, rear and thighs. Plus, you can clean them in the washing machine.
Sold by Amazon
Naomi and Nicole Unbelievable Comfort Hi Waist Brief
With silicone gripper elastic at the inner rear leg openings, you don’t have to worry about these briefs curling or riding up. Additionally, they are available in sizes up to 5X.
Yummie Convertible Camisole Shapewear
If you’re looking for a piece of shapewear for everyday use, this camisole offers just the right amount of compression. In addition, since the straps convert to several styles, you can wear it with many outfits.
Sold by Amazon
Squeem Strapless Waist Cincher
For ultimate waist shaping, this corset-style waist cincher with internal flexible steel bones is the ideal choice. Plus, the fabric is composed of natural rubber and cotton, making it comfortable and discreet under clothes.
Sold by Amazon
SlimMe Smoothing Arm Compression Shaper
Shapewear isn’t just for the lower body, and this arm compression shaper is the perfect example. It holds sagging skin, reduces jiggle and is thin enough to layer under clothing.
Sold by Amazon
ShaperQueen High Waister Thong Shaper Panty
This high-waisted shapewear offers the best of tummy control while offering a thong for invisible panty lines. It also features anti-slip bones to keep the top from rolling down.
Sold by Amazon
Wacoal Convertible Shaping Body Briefer
For versatility, this body briefer gets an extra point. The straps can be convertible to several styles or taken off entirely for a strapless look. It also features a built-in underwire bra, so you don’t have to wear any other bulky undergarments.
Sold by Amazon
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Bre Richey writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/shapewear-br/10-slimming-and-affordable-shapewear-alternatives-to-skims-and-yitty/ | 2022-05-07T13:25:41Z |
"I will say this and everyone's gonna hate me but as a woman, just because you go change your [body] parts, doesn't make you a woman, sorry," Gray said after Morgan brought up the issue of trans athletes in sports.
"Right, you feel that?," Morgan responded.
"I know that for a fact," Gray replied.
"Being a little girl is a whole epic book, you know? And you can't have that just because you want to be a woman," she told Morgan, later adding that she "doesn't think you should be labeled transphobic just because you don't agree."
Midler similarly sparked controversy when she tweeted on Monday, "WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name!"
"They don't call us "women" anymore; they call us "birthing people" or "menstruators", and even "people with vaginas"!," her tweet reads. "Don't let them erase you! Every human on earth owes you!"
Both of their comments did not go over well.
"What is it about 'womanhood' that TERFs [a term defined as a feminist who excludes the rights of transgender women from their advocacy of women's rights] like macy gray and bette midler are so desperate to cling to?," writer Arielle Tschinkel tweeted. "Trans women existing doesn't make me any less of a woman, no matter how different our experiences may be. it's just ridiculous at its core honestly."
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/entertainment/macy-gray-and-bette-midler-face-backlash-for-comments-criticized-as-transphobic/article_604ae7d2-b085-5171-969b-7fbf9f3318a8.html | 2022-07-05T16:58:34Z |
Chiefs release 2022 schedule
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WIBW) - The Chiefs 2022 schedule was released Thursday night.
The Chiefs open the season with a late afternoon game in Arizona, and will close the regular season in a yet-to-be determined division battle with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The team will be featured in five primetime games, including against AFC West foe Los Angles Chargers for Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football debut. Those games also include a Monday Night matchup against AFC West rivals Las Vegas Raiders, and three Sunday Night Football appearances.
- WEEK 1: @ Arizona Cardinals, 3:25 p.m. Sept. 11 (CBS)
- WEEK 2: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 7:20 p.m. Sept. 15 (TNF on Amazon Prime)
- WEEK 3: @ Indianapolis Colts, 7:20 p.m. Sept. 25 (CBS)
- WEEK 4: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 (SNF on NBC)
- WEEK 5: vs. Las Vegas Raiders, 7:15 p.m. Oct. 10 (MNF on ESPN)
- WEEK 6: vs. Buffalo Bills, 3:25 p.m. Oct. 16 (CBS)
- WEEK 7: @ San Francisco 49ers, 3:25 p.m. Oct. 23 (FOX)
- WEEK 8: Bye Week
- WEEK 9: vs. Tennessee Titans, 7:20 p.m. Nov. 6 (SNF on NBC)
- WEEK 10: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 12 p.m. Nov. 13 (CBS)
- WEEK 11: @ Los Angeles Chargers, 3:25 p.m. Nov. 20 (CBS)
- WEEK 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams, Nov. 27 (FOX)
- WEEK 13: @ Cincinnati Bengals, 3:25 p.m. Dec. 4 (CBS)
- WEEK 14: @ Denver Broncos, 7:20 p.m. Dec. 11 (SNF on NBC)
- WEEK 15: @ Houston Texans, 12 p.m. Dec. 18 (CBS)
- WEEK 16: vs. Seattle Seahawks, 12 p.m. Dec. 24 (FOX)
- WEEK 17: vs. Denver Broncos 12 p.m. Jan 1 (CBS)
- WEEK 18: @ Las Vegas Raiders TBD
Single-game tickets go on sale Friday morning. Season ticket holders have first access to the online sale beginning at 10:00 a.m. The general public can then purchase tickets at 11:00 a.m.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/13/chiefs-release-2022-schedule/ | 2022-05-13T01:13:24Z |
OUT MAGAZINE, ADVOCATE MAGAZINE, OUT TRAVELER MAGAZINE, PRIDE.COM AND MORE UNDER NEW 'EQUAL PRIDE' LGBTQ+ OWNERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- New LGBTQ+ ownership and leadership is now underway for Out.com/ Magazine, Advocate.com/ Magazine, Out Traveler Magazine, Plus Magazine and Pride.com, as Equal Entertainment announces the acquisition of the assets of Pride Media, which is now rebranded as Equal Pride. Equal Pride will now become the leading LGBTQ+ owned and certified voice to the LGBTQ+ community with plans to expand the audience with women and people of color.
The acquisition returns the company to LBGTQ+ majority ownership and creates the largest LGBTQ+ - owned media, digital, TV, and entertainment company in the country with the majority of Equal Pride employees also identifying as LGBTQ+, women, and/or people of color. Equal Pride will be run by Mark Berryhill who becomes Chief Executive Officer. Michael Kelley will become Chairman and President of Global Growth and Development reporting to Berryhill. Diane Anderson-Minshall, the first female CEO of Pride Media, will retain C-suite responsibilities as the Chief Global and Development Officer of Equal Pride focused on editorial brands and international audience expansion. Rounding out the leadership, Joe Lovejoy, will become Chief Financial Officer and Stuart Brockington has been upped to EVP of Sales and Partnerships, effective immediately. Equal Pride 2022 clients include: General Motors, Google Pixel, Gilead, Capital One, Disney/Hulu, TikTok, McDonald's, Molson Coors, NBCU, J&J and many others.
This new company's mission includes expansion plans that will serve a broader range of diverse audiences.
"Our combined company will be the premier home for LGBTQ+ people — and increasingly women and people of color creators, storytellers, journalists, and businesspeople who want to have an impact through their work with one of the most diverse group of media and digital brands in the world," CEO Mark Berryhill said.
In addition, Equal Pride will also encompass the LGBTQ&A podcast, various branded web series as well as the equality-focused entertainment brand, Celebrity Page (in the 9th season airing on Reelz and Ovation cable channels as well as syndication) and its digital partner, celebritypage.com.
"We could not be more excited about the opportunity to join forces with Equal," Diane Anderson-Minshall said as she assumes a role in leadership with expanded duties on global content growth. "This combination will not only create an unparalleled scale with the most diverse and engaged audiences for advertisers as well as other strategic revenue opportunities, but it will also bring together some of our community's top talent, the most popular media brands, and the most impactful content in the world. This is the beginning of our most exciting chapter."
For more information, please contact:
Scott Adkins,
scott@adkinspublicity.com
Makenzie Clayburg,
makenzie@adkinspublicity.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Equal Pride | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/equal-entertainment-acquires-pride-media-assets-creating-leading-lgbtq-owned-operated-media-digital-enterprise-rebranded-equal-pride/ | 2022-06-21T14:53:01Z |
ASUR Announces Total Passenger Traffic for May 2022
Published: Jun. 6, 2022 at 4:30 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
Compared to May 2019, passenger traffic increased by 41.1% in Colombia, 21.6% in Puerto Rico and 13.3% in Mexico
MEXICO CITY, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: ASR; BMV: ASUR), ASUR, a leading international airport group with operations in Mexico, the U.S. and Colombia, today announced that passenger traffic for May 2022 reached a total of 5.5 million passengers, 20.4% above the levels reported in May 2019, reflecting a continued gradual recovery in travel demand.
Compared to May 2019, passenger traffic increased by 41.1% in Colombia, 21.6% in Puerto Rico and 13.3% in Mexico. Passenger traffic growth in Mexico and Colombia was driven by a recovery in both domestic and international traffic, while international traffic in Puerto Rico remained weak.
This announcement reflects comparisons between the periods May 1 through May 31, 2022, May 1 through May 31, 2021 and May 1 through May 31, 2019. Transit and general aviation passengers are excluded from traffic measures in Mexico and Colombia.
About ASUR
Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (ASUR) is a leading international airport operator with a portfolio of concessions to operate, maintain and develop 16 airports in the Americas. This comprises nine airports in southeast Mexico, including Cancun Airport, the most important tourist destination in Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America, and six airports in northern Colombia, including Medellin international airport (Rio Negro), the second busiest in Colombia. ASUR is also a 60% JV partner in Aerostar Airport Holdings, LLC, operator of the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport serving the capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan. San Juan's Airport is the island's primary gateway for international and mainland-US destinations and was the first, and currently the only major airport in the US to have successfully completed a public–private partnership under the FAA Pilot Program. Headquartered in Mexico, ASUR is listed both on the Mexican Bolsa, where it trades under the symbol ASUR, and on the NYSE in the U.S., where it trades under the symbol ASR. One ADS represents ten (10) series B shares. For more information, visit www.asur.com.mx.
View original content:
SOURCE Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V.
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.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/asur-announces-total-passenger-traffic-may-2022/ | 2022-06-06T21:49:37Z |
ROME, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 4, lifestyle retailer MINISO unveiled its latest store in Naples, Italy. This marks the third store that MINISO has opened in the country in less than a month, following the successful opening of two others in April, including the brand's biggest store in the city of Rome.
The Naples shopfront is conveniently located at Napoli Centrale Train Station, a busy transport hub in a bustling central neighbourhood. Sitting at a crossroads between North and South Italy, the station processes 390 trains a day and welcomes around 50 million passengers a year.
The store spans 120 square metres and features many iconic MINISO products, including popular co-branded items with beloved names, such as Marvel, Minions, We Bare Bears and more. 80 per cent of the items available in-store are in the price range from €0.5 to €15, which means that customers can enjoy an enriched shopping experience without breaking the bank.
Strategic store locations to maximise foot traffic
The brick-and-mortar retailer has carefully selected its new store locations in busy shopping districts and transportation hubs as these locations naturally have a high level of foot traffic.
In Italy, MINISO is present in Euroma 2 Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in Rome, featuring minimalist and sleekly designed products that meet Italian tastes. The above-mentioned Naples store is also the first Italian store in a transportation hub.
In France, MINISO has locations in core metro stations, including Paris Gare de Lyon which opened earlier this month.
Tapping on the great potential of the European market to accelerate growth
MINISO is now present in over 150 locations across Europe since its entry in 2018. In Italy, for instance, MINISO can be found in 15 locations in 9 cities across the country since opening its first store in Rome in April 2021. More new outlets in the UK, France, Spain and other European markets are coming too.
"We are very pleased to see such rapid growth in the region," said MINISO overseas VP Vincent Huang. "At MINISO, we are committed to bringing more of our affordable products to meet the needs and desires of consumers in Italy and other European countries."
The UK, Italy and Spain are open for franchising now.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE MINISO | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/miniso-opens-new-store-naples-italy-further-strengthening-its-presence-strategic-european-markets/ | 2022-06-01T06:47:35Z |
Music teacher charged with repeated sexual battery of 15-year-old student, sheriff says
TAMPA, Fla. (Gray News) – A music teacher in Florida has been arrested and charged with sexual battery after he had sexual contact multiple times with a 15-year-old student, officials said.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said Jason Troche, 34, admitted to investigators that he knew the victim was underage and admitted to the sex acts with the student.
The student’s father signed the teen up for guitar lessons with Troche in March at the Music Showcase store in Tampa. The student attended guitar lessons once a week with Troche.
The sheriff’s office said the sexual abuse began in June and continued through this month.
Troche also sent inappropriate messages through social media to the victim, the sheriff’s office said.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said his office will continue to seek justice in the case.
“It’s upsetting that a person put into a position of trust and care for one of our children has violated that trust with his disgusting actions,” Chronister said in a statement.
The sheriff believes there may be more victims of Troche and asks them to call 813-247-8200.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/09/16/music-teacher-charged-with-repeated-sexual-battery-15-year-old-student-sheriff-says/ | 2022-09-16T22:22:59Z |
NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams said it plainly: It isn’t really fair. A male athlete would never have to make the same choice.
But after a trailblazing career that both transformed and transcended her sport, Williams, who turns 41 next month, has told the world she’ll soon step away from tennis to focus on having a second child and making her daughter, Olympia, a big sister. Her explanation in a lengthy Vogue essay resonated with women in sports and well beyond, many of whom could relate only too well to her words, “Something’s got to give.” And to the idea that, no, you really can’t have it all — at least, not all at the same time.
Many noted that Williams’ achievements, which included winning a major when two months pregnant, had made her seem superhuman. But, said Sherie Randolph, even ordinary women are expected to seamlessly combine work and motherhood.
“Society makes women think they can have everything all at once — be the best hands-on-mom and at the top of the field,” said Randolph, a history professor at Georgia Tech and founder of a Black feminist think tank who’s working on a book about African American mothers.
“But that just is not borne out in reality for most women,” she said. ”What ends up happening is that working mothers are just worn out and overworked trying to labor at the highest level of two demanding jobs — motherhood and their profession.” As if to prove her point, Randolph’s 4-year-old son constantly interrupted her thoughts about Williams’ decision as she tried to discuss them in a phone call.
In explaining how her daughter yearned to be a big sister, Williams noted she didn’t want to be pregnant again as an athlete: “I need to be two feet into tennis or two feet out.”
“Believe me,” the 23-time Grand Slam champion also wrote, “I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair. If I were a guy I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labor of expanding our family.”
“Maybe I’d be more of a Tom Brady if I had that opportunity,” she added, a reference to the 45-year-old superstar quarterback who recently retired, then reversed his decision 40 days later.
Many women, discussing Williams’ announcement, reflected on their own agonizing choices in the name of “having it all.”
“Even as a woman who sits at a desk, whose body is not taxed by the work at hand, I have felt that searing pulling apart of myself — towards my career, and towards my family,” said Jo McKinney, 57, a New York advertising executive.
“Now, looking back, I wish that every time I chose my family over my job … it didn’t label me as unambitious,” she said. “I got goosebumps as I read Serena’s piece because she said what many of us feel and are afraid to voice: It’s not fair, and something’s got to give.”
Such dilemmas are exacerbated in sports, said Lisa Banks, a prominent Washington employment attorney specializing in both gender and sports cases.
“Having it all is a subjective thing,” she said. “You can have it all, but can you have it at the same time and the same level, if you’re going through pregnancies? No, you miss some time, you miss training. You’re necessarily at a disadvantage.”
The issue has been illustrated vividly in track and field. U.S. sprinters Allyson Felix and Alysia Montano became advocates for mothers when they split with Nike over contract clauses that reduced salaries when they became pregnant.
Four-time Olympic champion sprinter Sanya Richards-Ross retired after the 2016 Olympics before starting a family with her husband, former NFL defensive back Aaron Ross.
“I always knew I didn’t want to start a family while I was still competing,” she said. “I feel being an athlete is the most selfish role you could have because it’s always all about you. Resting, recovering, training. Everything is so hyper-focused on the athlete. And being a parent is the opposite of that.”
Of Williams’ decision, she said, “I don’t want to say it’s unfair, but it’s a harsh reality and harsh truth that as an elite female athlete, we definitely have to consider a lot of things our male counterparts don’t.”
Distance runner Kara Goucher, who also fought battles over pregnancy pay, said people are starting to acknowledge the issue, and careers are lasting longer. But she added: “You see the dad at the Super Bowl holding his kids. The reason he’s able to do that … is because someone else is there taking care of their children. That’s not how it is for mothers.”
Like Williams when she won the Australian Open in 2017, beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings was newly pregnant when she won a gold medal in London in 2012.
“I think at some point, you gotta make that choice,” she said. “Ultimately it’s very clear that that clock is ticking. Usually, being a mama wins out.”
But Walsh Jennings expects Williams to keep building her legacy. (Williams has become a venture capitalist with her Serena Ventures, and is a fashion designer, among other things.) “She has earned the right to stop and breathe, and to grow her family,” she said.
Tennis legend Chris Evert, who won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, retired at 34 and started a family two years later. “The motherhood/tennis career subject is not one I experienced,” she said in an email message. “I wanted and chose to spend every second with my children. That was my choice but doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for everyone.
“As far as Serena, I think this is the right time,” Evert said. “She’s squeezed everything she could out of her game. … She’s transcended tennis and become a leader on many important cultural, social and gender issues. She has lived an extraordinary life and will undoubtedly continue to crash the glass ceiling.”
One thing is clear: The U.S. Open, after which Williams strongly hinted she’ll retire, will be a huge draw. Ticket sales were sharply up on Tuesday, said Kirsten Corio, chief commercial officer for the U.S. Tennis Association.
A mother of two herself, Corio said of Williams’ announcement that “the realization is a little bit crushing, that as a woman you can’t do both as an athlete at the top of your game.”
“It’s a lot of emotions to process, both as a fan of sports and of working moms,” she said. “The one emotion that I can boil it down to, really, is just gratitude.”
Dearica Hamby was also feeling gratitude. Williams, said the WNBA player for the Las Vegas Aces, has been “an example for a lot of us, especially mothers being able to compete at such a high level.”
Still, Hamby, who like Williams has a daughter, 5-year-old Amaya, said the tennis star’s call was a hard one — and it’s a discussion she’s been having a lot lately with coaches and players.
“You’re almost forced to choose,” she said of motherhood and pro sports. “It’s the reality of the world we live in. I mean, are men gonna start having kids? It’s the hard reality of the world.”
___
AP writers Maryclaire Dale, Howard Fendrich, Eddie Pells and Willie Ramirez contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/serenas-choice-williams-tough-call-resonates-with-women/ | 2022-08-11T08:39:12Z |
Microplastics found in lungs of living humans for the first time, study says
Published: Apr. 7, 2022 at 3:44 PM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
(CNN) – According to a new study, scientists are finding microplastic particles in the lungs of living people.
Microplastics come from plastic in the environment when it shears into tiny pieces. They’ve been found in the ocean and drinking water, soil, air and food, but this is the first time they’ve been detected in living lungs.
In a study published in Science of the Total Environment, the authors say it suggests people are inhaling the plastic particles.
The researchers looked at lung samples taken during routine surgeries on 13 people, and found 12 different types of plastic embedded in the lungs.
The health consequences of exposure to microplastics are still unknown.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/07/microplastics-found-lungs-living-humans-first-time-study-says/ | 2022-04-07T22:01:40Z |
SINGAPORE, Aug. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Marine Online (Singapore) Pte Ltd registered its revenue at US$150 million as at August 2022, eclipsing 2021's performance of US$6 million. While this tremendous improvement highlighted the company's resilience in the post-pandemic business landscape, Marine Online experienced an exponential growth as at Q3 2022 compared to 2021 – translating to a 25-fold surge.
As a world-renowned maritime eCommerce platform, Marine Online also has an extensive network of Authorised Service Providers (ASP) to serve customers worldwide. Additionally, all partners within are selected through a series of stringent evaluations. That grants shipowners almost round-the-clock quality assistance – from supplies to maintenance and repair operations, and emergency assistance.
Yang Ling, Chief Executive Officer of Marine Online remarked, "We reported a growth exceeding our expectations despite a tough business landscape due to our focus on execution. Our platform setup enables easy access to products and services for all shipowners. Our ASP network's receiving two sign ups daily to be authorised service providers proves Marine Online's service strategy is in the right direction. Moreover, receiving a request for quotation (RFQ) every 15 minutes daily corroborates we are evolving in tandem with the fluid market conditions. We are extremely pleased with our results. With shipping at the backbone of world trade, Marine Online will continue to enhance its user interface to provide quality service to shipowners."
Available in both desktop and app versions, Marine Online is a client-centric platform providing maritime professionals with a wide range of services. Developed for both shipowners and service providers, Marine Online aims to provide easy, secure and efficient online procurement experience.
About Marine Online (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Marine Online is the world's first one-stop integrated platform specialising in maritime services for the global market. Launched in 2019, it has provided various maritime services through its revolutionary A.I and Big Data enabled platform to regional ship and cargo owners. With its portfolio of 8 major services – bunkering, chartering, crewing, port agency, ship supply, ship for sale, marine and technical services, plus features such as Marine Credit, Global Shipowners Alliance and Authorised Service Provider networks open for registration at Marine Online shapes the future of maritime by using cutting edge technology to create business opportunities and connections. For more information, visit marineonline.com
Contact:
Marine Online Marketing
+65 9001 2168
marketing@marineonline.com
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SOURCE Marine Online (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/25/marine-online-registers-us150-million-revenue-q3-2022/ | 2022-08-25T00:40:41Z |
During a popular week for celebrations and sales, FAB CBD offers 30% off site wide and two exciting new products.
MILWAUKEE, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The July 4th sale at FAB CBD has started! Along with some new product launches to celebrate this year, the popular CBD company is offering a 30% discount on all products, site wide. The newest product arrivals are at the top of many customers' lists, so take advantage of the sale while supplies last.
Shop the July 4th Sale– 30% Off Storewide.
The new Complete Cannabinoid™ Softgel adds another impressive innovation to the FAB product line. A few things set this full spectrum capsule apart from what other brands are doing. First, it contains equal parts CBD, CBG, CBN, and CBC, which is almost unheard of in the current CBD market. Second, it is made with cassava root rather than gelatin, making the softgel accessible to vegetarians and vegans in addition to the rest of the population. Customers are raving about how easy the softgels are to swallow or to carry with them on the go, and they love having a taste-free option in their CBD regimen.
Shop the Complete Cannabinoid™ Softgels.
Another new product gracing the online shelves of the FAB CBD store is an unflavored CBD+CBG Oil. Previously only available in mint and citrus, this popular and potent 2400mg oil can now be experienced with the natural flavor of hemp. A sublimely balanced 1:1 ratio of CBD and CBG lead the way in this robust full spectrum blend, establishing a gold standard for tinctures in the CBD industry.
Shop the natural flavor CBD+CBG oil.
Some favorite items in the FAB lineup that are expected to fly off the shelves this July 4th include the ever-popular Anytime Gummies and Nighttime Gummies, as well as the 600mg Topical CBD Cream and an invigorating CBD Body Salve.
Since 2017, FAB CBD has been on a mission to support its customers through the creation of high-quality full-spectrum CBD products. The team at FAB CBD seeks to enable everyone to live a healthy lifestyle through innovation, science, and top-notch products.
Effective today, customers can shop all products for up to 30% off storewide. The sale lasts June 30 to July 5th, using the code: FIREWORKS.
Shop The Sale By Going To: https://fabcbd.com/pages/july-4th-sale
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SOURCE FAB CBD | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/fab-cbd-goes-big-july-4th-sale/ | 2022-06-30T18:36:57Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and his administration went all out Thursday to play down a troubling new economic report that added to the evidence of a recession, trying to pull focus instead to major legislative progress on measures to tame inflation, reduce debt and preserve America’s competitive edge.
The desire to accentuate the positive reflected the political tensions that are already playing out in the runup to the midterm elections. Republican lawmakers are sounding the alarm that a downturn has already started, a claim challenged by Biden and his fellow Democrats who wanted the public to instead focus on a pair of likely wins in Congress.
Thursday reflected the constant push-and-pull that has defined the Biden administration, in which any triumph can be overshadowed by a setback and the news cycle moves at a faster pace than victory laps. This created dueling narratives about where the country is.
Republicans said the report showing the economy shrank for the second consecutive quarter was evidence of a “Biden recession” at a time when inflation is at a four-decade high.
Biden, in turn, cited near-record-low unemployment and signs of continued business investment in the economy. He declared, “That doesn’t sound like recession to me.”
The president celebrated congressional passage of a $280 billion bipartisan package to boost the U.S. semiconductor industry and the sudden resurrection of a Democrats-only proposal to lower prescription drug costs, tackle climate change, fund the IRS, establish a minimum corporate tax and cut the deficit.
Other White House officials took Biden’s cue and shrugged off the gross domestic product report showing the economy shrank at an annual rate of 0.9%.
“Where we are right now is we’re on the cusp of doing really historic things that would help move the ball forward on the economy,” Brian Deese, director of the White House National Economic Council, told The Associated Press when asked about the troubling GDP report. “That’s our focus.”
In a rare press conference, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen allowed that Americans are fundamentally concerned about inflation, not the back-and-forth between Democrats and Republicans about whether the GDP report shows that the economy has slid into a recession.
“We should avoid a semantic battle,” Yellen told reporters, adding that Americans’ “biggest concern is with inflation” and that they generally feel good about their ability to find a job and stay employed.
Still, the treasury secretary deployed some rhetoric of her own by saying that growth was “slowing,” when the GDP report showed that the economy has shrunk in size over the past six months.
The ultimate arbiter of whether the country is in a recession is the National Bureau of Economic Research, which might not make its determination for some time.
Yellen portrayed the slowdown as positive for an economy returning to normal after the pandemic, a contrast to the Republicans’ argument that it was an unabashed failure caused by Democratic policies rather than a world’s complicated attempt to re-emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.
This debate trickled down to the semiconductor bill now awaiting Biden’s signature and new climate and drug pricing legislation that Democrats have dubbed the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.” The administration says both bills would combat inflation, while Republican opponents argue they will push prices higher.
“This morning the government announced what every American has been feeling for nearly a year — we are in a recession,” House Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said in a floor speech. “Democrat spending caused this inflation. And now, they are doubling down on the same failed strategy.”
Other Republicans moved quickly to capitalize on the report, with the Republican National Committee declaring it indicative of “Biden’s Recession.”
Even the White House acknowledges that the legislative proposals won’t have an immediate effect on consumer prices or economic output, but it believes voters will reward Biden and Democrats for being seen as proposing solutions to the challenges affecting households’ bottom lines.
Biden told The Associated Press in an interview earlier this year that he sees his mission as giving Americans a renewed sense of confidence, yet the faith he seeks to keep and spread is constantly getting eroded because the losses are lingering in people’s memories and the wins are easily forgotten.
Even if a U.S. recession is an open question for economists, the matter of the economy’s health is largely settled among voters.
Nearly 8 in 10 Americans described the U.S. economy as poor and roughly 7 in 10 disapproved of Biden’s economic leadership, according to a June survey by AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Consumer sentiment as measured by the University of Michigan began to decline as inflation persisted as a threat, with confidence among Democrats relatively weak.
The Federal Reserve, which on Wednesday moved sharply to raise interest rates to further slow the economy in an effort to bring down inflation, signaled that more hikes are on the horizon in a sign that the battle against inflation — and the political skirmishes that follow — could continue well into this year’s November elections. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/biden-shrugs-off-recession-talk-talks-up-fighting-inflation/ | 2022-07-29T02:37:01Z |
‘Sorry, it’s lost’: UPS offering $500 after losing $12K engagement ring in shipping, woman says
CORNELIUS, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - A North Carolina woman says she continues to want answers from a major shipping company after her engagement ring never got to her as requested.
Kristy Schiano said she mistakenly left her engagement ring at a hotel in Arizona back in March and noticed it was missing when she was on her way to the airport.
“Immediately, when I was in the Uber, I realized it. My heart fell into my stomach,” Schiano said.
WBTV reports she called hotel staff, who told her they found the ring and would ship it back to her.
Schiano said she didn’t have to wait long before she received a UPS tracking number and was told a signature would be needed when the package arrived.
However, days later, her doorbell video camera captured a UPS driver leaving a package on the doorstep but then coming back to pick it up without ever returning.
Schiano said no one was home at the time of the delivery and the driver never scanned the item when he went back to his truck. She also contacted the shipping company.
“UPS got back to me and said, sorry, it’s lost, oops,” she said.
Schiano said the ring’s metal band had twists that were symbolic of her partnership, and it was valued at $12,000. But UPS only offered her $500, per the shipping documents.
“I understand it is a major shipper; I understand logistics are very hard ... but oops,” she said.
Schiano said she hopes her ring makes it back to her, but she still plans on getting married next month, just with another ring at the moment.
“Looking back, what could I have done differently? I don’t think there’s anything I could have done differently,” she said.
A UPS spokesperson said their team is looking into this issue.
Copyright 2022 WBTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/12/sorry-its-lost-ups-offering-500-after-losing-12k-engagement-ring-shipping-woman-says/ | 2022-05-12T20:28:08Z |
The officers in the hallway of Robb Elementary wanted to get inside classrooms 111 and 112 — immediately. One officer’s daughter was inside. Another officer had gotten a call from his wife, a teacher, who told him she was bleeding to death.
Two closed doors and a wall stood between them and an 18-year-old with a rifle who had opened fire on children and teachers inside the connected classrooms. A Halligan bar — an ax-like forcible-entry tool used by firefighters to get through locked doors — was available. Ballistic shields were arriving on the scene. So was plenty of firepower. Some officers were itching to move.
One such officer, a special agent at the Texas Department of Public Safety, had arrived around 20 minutes after the shooting started. He immediately asked: Are there still kids in the classrooms?
“If there is, then they just need to go in,” the agent said.
Another officer answered, “It is unknown at this time.”
The agent shot back, “Y’all don’t know if there’s kids in there?” He added, “If there’s kids in there we need to go in there.”
“Whoever is in charge will determine that,” came the reply.
The inaction appeared too much for the special agent. He noted that there were still children in other classrooms within the school who needed to be evacuated.
“Well, there’s kids over here,” he said. “So I’m getting kids out.”
The exchange happened early in the excruciating 77 minutes on May 24 that started when Salvador Ramos, who earlier had shot his grandmother in the face, walked through an unlocked door of Robb Elementary, encountering no interference. At the end of those 77 minutes, 19 students, including the daughter of one of the officers in the hallway, and two teachers were dead or dying. Others sustained serious injuries in the deadliest school shooting in Texas history.
During most of those 77 minutes, despite urgent pleas from officers and parents amassed outside, officers stayed outside rooms 111 and 112, on either end of a wide hallway with bulletin boards displaying children’s artwork. Ramos fired at least four sets of rounds — including the initial spray of fire that likely killed many of his victims.
After the special agent’s comment, nearly another hour passed before a tactical team from the Border Patrol breached the classroom doors and killed the gunman.
Questions have swirled whether some lives could have been saved if officers confronted the barricaded gunman sooner. Authorities have shared conflicting information about who was in charge, who confronted the shooter and when. Debate over whether locked classroom doors could be breached gave way to the discovery they may never have been locked at all.
Revelations trickled out in the press: The New York Times described officers’ doubts about the decision to wait; breakdowns in communications and tactics; and that officers held off from the confrontation even though they knew people were injured, and possibly dying, inside. The San Antonio Express-News reported that there is no evidence officers tried the doors on rooms 111 and 112 — contradicting a key assertion by the Uvalde schools police chief, Pete Arredondo. He told The Texas Tribune that officers tried the doors, found them locked and had to wait for a master key to unlock them. The Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV revealed that the officers, in effect, had more than enough firepower, equipment and motivation to breach the classrooms.
At least three investigations — by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Texas Legislature and the local district attorney, Christina Mitchell Busbee — are reviewing records and interviewing witnesses to evaluate law enforcement response. Understanding of the response has been marred by refusals by state and local agencies to release public records, efforts by local officials to bar journalists from public meetings and closed-door hearings held by the state House of Representative. The secrecy already prompted Texas Monthly to ask, “Will We Ever Know the Truth About Uvalde?”
The Tribune reviewed a timeline of events compiled by law enforcement, plus surveillance footage and transcripts of radio traffic and phone calls. Details were confirmed by a senior DPS official. The understanding of what happened could change as video records are synched and enhanced. But records and footage show a well-equipped group of local officers entered the school almost immediately and pulled back once the shooter began firing from inside the classroom. Then they waited for more than an hour to reengage.
“They had the tools,” Terry Nichols, a former Seguin police chief and active-shooter expert, said. “Tactically, there’s lots of different ways you could tackle this. … But it takes someone in charge, in front, making and executing decisions, and that simply did not happen.”
Here are some key findings from these records and materials:
No security footage from inside the school showed police officers attempting to open the doors to classrooms 111 and 112, which were connected by an adjoining door. Arredondo told the Tribune he tried to open one door and another officer tried to open another, but the door was reinforced and impenetrable. Those attempts were not caught in footage reviewed by the Tribune. Some law enforcement officials are skeptical the doors were ever locked.
In the first minutes of the law enforcement response, an officer said the Halligan firefighting tool was on site. Authorities didn’t use it and instead waited for keys.
Officers had access to four ballistic shields inside the school, according to a law enforcement transcript. The first arrived 58 minutes before officers stormed the classrooms. The last arrived 30 minutes before.
Multiple DPS officers — up to eight — entered the building at various times while the shooter was holed up. Many quickly left to pursue other duties, including evacuating children, after seeing the number of officers already there.
At least some officers on the scene seemed to believe Arredondo was in charge inside the school, and at times Arredondo seemed to be issuing orders such as directing officers to evacuate students from other classrooms. That contradicts Arredondo’s assertion he did not believe he was running the law enforcement response. Arredondo’s lawyer, George E. Hyde, said the chief will not elaborate, given the ongoing investigation.
What the camera saw
Video was captured by a wide-angle camera positioned inside the school building’s northwest entrance. The camera offers a slight view of the entrances to classrooms 111 and 112 to the left.
The Tribune also reviewed transcripts of radio traffic and body camera footage.
They show the gunman arrived on campus at 11:28 a.m. He appears to have been planning a shooting for a while. In October, the law enforcement timeline said, he withdrew from Uvalde High School. A month later, when he was still 17, he purchased gun accessories online, including rifle slings and a military carrier vest. He began buying ammunition in April and purchased his gun on his 18th birthday in May. On May 14, he posted an ominous message on Instagram: “10 more days.”
At 11:33 a.m. May 24, he walked into Robb Elementary’s northwest entrance and headed south toward the two classrooms on the left side, randomly firing shots in the hallway. He had crashed his car and fired some shots outside, so the school already was on lockdown and the hallways were nearly empty.
Within a minute, the shooter entered classroom 111 — he didn’t appear to encounter a locked door in the footage — and began shooting. He briefly walked out the classroom door and then went back in, shooting more. For the next three minutes, he fired frequently inside a classroom filled with children.
During that burst of gunfire, the first three officers entered the school: two from the Uvalde Police Department and one from the school district’s force.
Moments later, Arredondo and seven more officers arrived. The shooter opened fire at the first three officers closest to the two classrooms, grazing two and forcing all the officers to bolt to either end of the hallway. Those officers, including Arredondo, remained in these positions for the rest of the standoff, never firing a shot.
Arredondo called the Uvalde Police Department’s dispatch on his cellphone. Seven minutes had passed since the shooter first entered the building.
“Hey, hey, it’s Arredondo. It’s Arredondo. Can you hear me?” said the 50-year-old veteran of law enforcement, who leads a department of six. “No, I have to tell you where we’re at. It’s an emergency right now. I’m inside the building.”
Since the massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., in 1999, an evolving and increasingly detailed body of training on mass shootings instructs police to confront shooters as soon as possible — even at the risk of officers’ lives.
By the time Arredondo called dispatch, at least 11 officers had entered the school. But Arredondo told the dispatcher that he didn’t have the firepower to confront the lone gunman, according to a transcript reviewed by The Texas Tribune.
“OK, we have him in the room,” he said on his cellphone. “He’s got an AR-15. He’s shot a lot. He’s in the room. He hasn’t come out yet. We’re surrounded, but I don’t have a radio.”
After the dispatcher confirmed the location of a SWAT team, Arredondo continued.
“Yes and they need to be outside of this building prepared,” he said. “Because we don’t have enough firepower right now. It’s all pistol and he has an AR-15. If you can get the SWAT team set up, by the funeral home, OK, we need — yes, I need some more firepower in here because we all have pistols and this guy’s got a rifle. So I don’t have a radio. …”
Shooting started again inside the school within a minute of the start of the call. But police wouldn’t breach the classroom where the gunman was barricaded for another hour and 10 minutes.
An agonizing wait
A standoff had begun. The gunman fired shots at least three more times — at 11:40 a.m., 11:44 a.m. and 12:21 p.m. — but officers held their positions. That was true even as more police filed in and four ballistic shields were carried into the building over the next 40 minutes.
The special agent from DPS who urged officers to go into the classroom stayed for six minutes before leaving to clear other rooms, rescuing a student found hiding in a bathroom. More troopers arrived just minutes or seconds before the tactical team from the Border Patrol stormed the classroom, but did not participate in the breach.
Another officer who entered the hallway was Ruben Ruiz of the Uvalde school district police force. His wife, teacher Eva Mireles, had called him on his cellphone and told him she was bleeding heavily.
“She says she is shot,” he told the officers on the scene. The video doesn’t capture what Ruiz did inside the school. But a DPS official told the Tribune that Ruiz was soon escorted away by other officers on the scene.
By 12:01 p.m., the DPS special agent had returned to the hallway and offered his urgent assessment: The situation required officers to go into the classrooms.
“It sounds like a hostage rescue situation,” the DPS officer said. “Sounds like a UC (undercover) rescue. They should probably go in.”
A police officer — it’s not clear whether from the city or school district — then said, “Don’t you think we should have a supervisor approve that?”
“He’s not my supervisor,” the DPS agent countered before leaving the hallway to clear other rooms of children.
The painful wait continued. SWAT officers from the city police arrived on the scene at around 12:10 p.m., a little more than a half-hour after the shooter first entered the school. One minute later, Arredondo asked for a master key, according to the transcripts. It took about six minutes for a set of keys to arrive, and the chief began testing them on a different classroom door. Soon after, more gunshots could be heard from inside the classrooms full of students.
At 12:38 p.m., Arredondo tried to talk to the shooter. Hearing no reply, he indicated that the SWAT team could breach the classrooms if it was ready.
By then, a long-awaited working key had been found. Officers inserted it into the door of room 111, and a tactical unit from the Border Patrol stormed in. All that’s audible from the video is a flurry of gunshots. The team then exited the room and indicated that the gunman was dead — 77 minutes after the carnage started.
Almost immediately, questions about whether police did the right thing began. State officials offered contradicting information in the immediate aftermath. DPS Director Steve McCraw told reporters days later that it was the “wrong decision” not to breach the classroom sooner.
Law enforcement experts say Arredondo was the rightful incident commander, though they were baffled why he abandoned his radios, declined to take charge and lacked access to classrooms. J. Pete Blair, executive director of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University, dismissed the idea that the state police, being a far larger police agency, should have wrested command from Arredondo when they arrived on scene.
“The person who should be in charge is the person who has the best picture of what’s happening and also the skill set to manage what needs to happen,” Blair said. He added, “Command exchanges are voluntary. They’re not forced. (Someone) can’t come in and say, ‘I’m taking it away from you.’”
“At this point it’s clear that a multitude of errors in judgment combined to turn a bad situation into a catastrophe,” said Katherine Schweit, a former FBI agent who co-authored the agency’s foremost research on mass shootings. “The law enforcement rarely thinks their response is textbook, (but) I can’t think of another incident in the United States where it appears so many missed opportunities occurred to get it right.”
Zach Despart contributed reporting.
Disclosure: The New York Times, Texas Monthly and Texas State University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism.
This story was first published at www.texastribune.org by The Texas Tribune. This story has been edited for length. The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/article_c5381186-f1da-11ec-9c79-a77a3c6eb2a9.html | 2022-06-22T06:00:07Z |
GREENSBORO, N.C., Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT), a leading operator of upscale open-air outlet centers, announced today that its financial results for the quarter ending September 30, 2022, will be released on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, after the market close. The Company will host its conference call for analysts, investors and other interested parties on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
To access the conference call, listeners should dial 1-877-605-1702.
A live audio webcast of this call will be available to the public on Tanger's Investor Relations website, investors.tangeroutlets.com.
A telephone replay of the call will be available from November 3, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time through 11:59 p.m. on November 17, 2022, by dialing 1-877-660-6853, replay access code #13732469. An online archive of the webcast will also be available through November 17, 2022.
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT) is a leading operator of upscale open-air outlet centers that owns (or has an ownership interest in) and/or manages a portfolio of 37 centers with an additional center currently under development. Tanger's operating properties are located in 20 states and in Canada, totaling approximately 14.0 million square feet, leased to over 2,700 stores operated by more than 600 different brand name companies. The Company has more than 41 years of experience in the outlet industry and is a publicly-traded REIT. For more information on Tanger Outlet Centers, call 1-800-4TANGER or visit the Company's website at www.tangeroutlets.com.
Investor Contact Information
Doug McDonald
SVP, Finance and Capital Markets
T: (336) 856-6066
TangerIR@tangeroutlets.com
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SOURCE Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/19/tanger-outlet-centers-schedules-third-quarter-2022-earnings-release-conference-call/ | 2022-08-19T14:42:01Z |
Have a Very Happsy Summer!
CLEVELAND, Ohio, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Certified organic bed-in-a-box, Happsy announces the continuation of its Summer Sale on all certified organic mattresses, sold online, with code summer25. Save 25% and get interest-free financing via PayPal.
It's never too early to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle and a better night's sleep. Recognized for its high-quality materials, highly comfortable design, and affordable price, Happsy only makes certified organic mattresses, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified organic, and MADE SAFE certified non-toxic, with the manufacturing process following strict environmental standards. Having chosen to use better materials such as organic cotton, latex, and wool. Happsy's "inspired by nature" design provides excellent comfort for nearly every body type.
A good choice for you, Happsy is also a good choice for the environment, as a proud member of 1% for the Planet donating one percent (or more) of their annual gross mattress sales to approved environmental organizations. And a member and supporter of The Conservation Alliance, a coalition of more than 250 like-minded businesses that pool resources to fund and advocate for the protection of North America's wild places.
For more information on Happsy, visit https://www.happsy.com. For media inquiries, please get in touch with Janelle Dunbar at jd@womensmarketinggroup.com or 516.242.7677.
Happsy is an online mattress brand focused exclusively on offering high-quality, certified organic mattresses and bedding at affordable prices. Recognized by Good Housekeeping as the "Best Organic Boxed Mattress" to Buy Online in 2021, all Happsy mattresses, toppers, and other bedding products are certified to the rigorous organic and non-toxic standards of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and MADE SAFE. Produced in the U.S. using the highest quality domestic and imported materials approved by GOTS and MADE SAFE without ever using polyurethane foam, formaldehyde, pesticides, GMO's, adhesives, flame retardants, or other toxic or questionable chemicals. In addition, all Happsy mattresses are GREENGUARD Gold certified and UL Formaldehyde Free Validated, and all Happsy latex is GOLS or FSC Preferred by Nature Rainforest Alliance certified. Happsy is also a member and supporter of One Percent for the Planet, Women's Voices for the Earth, and American Sustainable Business Network. Learn more at Happsy.com
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SOURCE Happsy | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/july-fourth-sale-announcement-happsy-we-are-continuing-our-25-off-summer-sale-all-organic-bed-in-a-box-mattresses/ | 2022-06-22T18:32:50Z |
The U.S. women’s national team has not only been wildly successful on the field, the players have also been unabashedly outspoken, using their platform to advocate for equal rights for themselves and others.
The team’s efforts to secure equitable pay finally came to fruition this week. The four-time Women’s World Cup winners reached a collective bargaining agreement with U.S. Soccer that gives them the same pay as their male counterparts.
But the historic milestone wasn’t achieved just because the women filed a discrimination lawsuit in 2019 or complained to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2016. It was decades in the making.
Former goalkeeper Briana Scurry, who started on the team that won the 1999 World Cup, said the job of a national team player is first to be a skilled player and a great teammate. But there’s always been another unspoken component.
“Part two is you have to understand that there is a standard of doing more than just being a footballer, you have to push the envelope further and further, raise the bar in terms of equality,” Scurry said. “It was so clear to all of us back then that we deserved so much more than we were getting when we were the ones winning World Cups and Olympic Games, and bringing great notoriety to soccer in this country.”
—In 1995, a year before the Atlanta Games became the first Olympics to include women’s soccer, a group of nine players, including Scurry, Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly, sat out of a training camp in a dispute over bonuses.
—Following the team’s memorable 1999 World Cup victory at the Rose Bowl, 20 of the team’s players refused to play in a tournament in Australia. That led to the team’s first collective bargaining agreement.
Akers, who is in the National Soccer Hall of Fame, said back when the national team was founded in the 1980s, the players got a $10 per diem and had to wear their own cleats in games. They were given hand-me-down uniforms from the men’s team.
Out of necessity, it became “part of the team’s DNA” for the players to advocate for themselves off the field, Akers said.
“That’s also a part of playing for the U.S. National Team, you’re representing your country, you’re representing your family, your teammates, and you’re out there giving everything you have to be the best you can be — and that doesn’t just mean as a soccer player, it means as a person and it means how you interact and work to make the world better,” she said.
Over the years, the battles extended beyond pay.
Abby Wambach led a group of players in protesting the artificial turf fields at the 2015 World Cup in Canada, claiming — rightly — that the men’s World Cup would never be held on fake grass. The players said the game is inherently different on turf and there’s a greater risk of injury. The tournament went on as planned, but the point was made for future World Cups.
Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem before two games in 2016 in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback who knelt to draw attention to racial inequity.
At a match in Texas this year, a number of players wore armbands that read “Protect Trans Kids” hours after Gov. Greg Abbott called for investigations into parents for seeking gender-affirming care for their transgender children, likening it to child abuse.
One of the team’s most dramatic stands for equality came in 2016, when five high-profile players — Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Becky Sauerbrunn, Hope Solo and Carli Lloyd — filed their EEOC complaint.
Unsatisfied with the lack of response, the women filed a gender discrimination lawsuit in 2019, just a few months before the team went to France and won the World Cup, spurring chants of “Equal Pay!” from fans celebrating the victory.
The U.S. Soccer Federation settled the lawsuit with the women for $24 million earlier this year, and vowed to work with both the men’s and women’s teams to equalize pay going forward. On Wednesday, the teams announced that deals had been struck.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today without all the generations of women’s national team players that came before that decided to fight for better everything,” Sauerbrunn said. “So much credit needs to go to them and I hope that they feel pride in what they did because we wouldn’t be here without them.”
Amanda Cromwell, who played for the national team from 1991-98, appearing in 55 matches, is proud of that legacy.
“I hope these women know the players that came before them, Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, they paved the way for this group, and we fought our battles back then with some contract issues and trying to get more,” Cromwell said. “We’ve come a long way, I’ll say that.”
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/us-womens-team-has-history-of-advocating-for-equal-rights/ | 2022-05-21T22:52:07Z |
- Business combination with Maersk Drilling anticipated to close October 3, 2022
- Q2 Total Revenue of $275 million, an increase of 31% quarter-over-quarter
- Q2 Net Income of $37 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $84 million
- Q2 Cash Flow from Operations of $88 million and Free Cash Flow of $56 million
SUGAR LAND, Texas, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Corporation (NYSE: NE, "Noble", or the "Company") today reported second quarter 2022 results.
Robert W. Eifler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble Corporation, stated, "The second quarter marks an important inflection in Noble's financial results. As signaled previously, we expect to produce meaningful step-ups in earnings as we move through 2022, and we delivered on the first step-up during this quarter. Our second quarter results, which are underpinned by strong operational performance, highlight the ability of the Noble platform to deliver long-term value for our shareholders. As our organization prepares to complete the business combination with Maersk Drilling, we remain focused on providing world class service to our customers and operating safely every day."
Second Quarter Results
Contract drilling services revenue for the second quarter of 2022 totaled $262 million compared to $195 million in the first quarter. Marketed fleet utilization was 85 percent in the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to 75 percent in the previous quarter. Contract drilling services costs for the second quarter were $178 million, up from $166 million in the first quarter of 2022.
Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was $84 million compared to $27 million in the first quarter of 2022. Capital expenditures totaled $31 million in the second quarter.
Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was $88 million and free cash flow was $56 million for the same period.
Operating Highlights and Backlog
Noble's marketed floater fleet was 100% contracted in the second quarter. The Noble Faye Kozack was awarded a one-well contract with LLOG for work in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico at a rate of $420,000 per day. The contract includes managed pressure drilling services and is expected to commence in late 2022 or early 2023. In Suriname, APA Corp executed its second option for the Noble Gerry de Souza and is expected to novate the rig to TotalEnergies for one well. The Noble Globetrotter I recently concluded with Shell and demobilized to complete routine maintenance following that 10-year contract. Following its brief out-of-service period, the rig is scheduled to mobilize to Mexico during the third quarter to commence work for CNOOC and Petronas. Additionally, during the second quarter the four drillships under the Commercial Enabling Agreement were awarded 7.4 years of incremental term in connection with the sanctioning of the Yellowtail development in Guyana.
In the second quarter, the Noble Regina Allen commenced operations in Guyana for Repsol and, after completion of its current program, is scheduled to return to Trinidad and Tobago to drill six firm wells with a different operator. In the U.K. North Sea, the Noble Sam Hartley is preparing to commence its program for TotalEnergies. Additionally, the Noble Houston Colbert mobilized to the Middle East and is now preparing for its 3.5-year campaign in Qatar.
Noble's estimated revenue backlog was approximately $2.1 billion as of June 30, 2022. This excludes the 3.5 year firm term contracts for both the Noble Mick O'Brien and Noble Houston Colbert, which were signed after the quarter end.
Maersk Drilling Business Combination Update
The Danish public tender exchange offer process in connection with Noble's business combination with The Drilling Company of 1972 A/S ("Maersk Drilling") has now commenced. The tender exchange offer period for outstanding Maersk Drilling shares is set for August 10 to September 8, 2022.
As previously announced, the Company has entered into an asset purchase agreement to sell five jackup rigs for $375 million to a newly formed subsidiary ("Buyer") of Shelf Drilling, Ltd. to address the potential concerns identified by the UK Competition and Markets Authority ("CMA") in the Phase I review of the proposed business combination with Maersk Drilling. The rigs are the Noble Hans Deul, Noble Sam Hartley, Noble Sam Turner, Noble Houston Colbert, and Noble Lloyd Noble. Publication of the CMA's final decision on the divestment's adequacy in addressing their competition concerns is scheduled for September 1, 2022. If the Buyer and related sale agreement are accepted by the CMA, closing of the Business Combination is expected to occur on October 3, 2022, with the jackup divestment sale expected to close promptly thereafter.
Outlook
Noble's guidance for full year 2022 remains unchanged from what was previously provided on May 2, 2022.
Commenting on Noble's outlook for the second half of 2022, Mr. Eifler stated, "Demand for offshore drilling is increasing in all our key operating regions, and we expect this positive momentum to continue despite global economic concerns. Tender activity remains at attractive levels and our customers have a robust pipeline of opportunities for our rigs. We look forward to completing the business combination with Maersk Drilling in early October and creating a dynamic leader in offshore drilling. I'm confident in Noble's ability to deliver on the key transaction rationale, which include enhancing the customer experience and executing on our commitment to return capital to shareholders."
Fleet Status Report
In conjunction with second quarter results, the Company has also provided an updated "Fleet Status Report" which reflects the current status and contract information for each of its rigs. The updated report can be found under the "Our Fleet" section of the Company's website.
Conference Call
Noble will host a conference call related to its second quarter 2022 results on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Central Time. Interested parties may dial +1 929-203-0901 and refer to conference ID 31391 approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Alternatively, a live webcast link will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website. A webcast replay will be accessible for a limited time following the scheduled call.
For additional information, visit www.noblecorp.com or email investors@noblecorp.com
About Noble Corporation
Noble is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. The Company owns and operates one of the most modern, versatile, and technically advanced fleets in the offshore drilling industry. Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921. Noble performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of offshore drilling units focused largely on ultra-deepwater and high specification jackup drilling opportunities in both established and emerging regions worldwide. Additional information on Noble is available at www.noblecorp.com.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transactions (the "Business Combination") contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2021, by and among Noble, Noble Finco Limited ("Topco"), Noble Newco Sub Limited and The Drilling Company of 1972 A/S ("Maersk Drilling"), Topco has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (which Registration Statement was declared effective on April 11, 2022) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") that includes a proxy statement of Noble that also constitutes a prospectus for Topco and an offering prospectus of Topco used in connection with Topco's offer to exchange shares in Maersk Drilling for Topco shares. Noble mailed the proxy statement/prospectus to its shareholders in connection with the vote to approve the merger of Noble with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Topco, and Topco distributed the offering prospectus in connection with the exchange offer. Topco also filed an offer document with the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finanstilsynet). This communication does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed Business Combination and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the proposed Business Combination. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND THE OFFERING DOCUMENT RELATING TO THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION IN ITS ENTIRETY AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY EACH OF TOPCO AND NOBLE WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE BUSINESS COMBINATION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TOPCO, MAERSK DRILLING AND NOBLE, THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION AND RELATED MATTERS.
Investors and shareholders can obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Noble and Topco through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and shareholders can obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents related thereto on Maersk Drilling's website at www.maerskdrilling.com or on Noble's website at www.noblecorp.com or by written request to Noble at Noble Corporation, Attn: Richard B. Barker, 13135 Dairy Ashford, Suite 800, Sugar Land, Texas 77478.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction pursuant to the proposed Business Combination or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction, in each case in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act and applicable European or UK, as appropriate, regulations. Subject to certain exceptions to be approved by the relevant regulators or certain facts to be ascertained, the public offer will not be made directly or indirectly, in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction, or by use of the mails or by any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile transmission, telephone and the internet) of interstate or foreign commerce, or any facility of a national securities exchange, of any such jurisdiction.
Forward-looking Statements
This communication includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this communication, including those regarding future guidance, the offshore drilling market and momentum, contract commitments, commencements, novations, extensions or renewals, contract tenders, plans and objectives of management for future operations, rig mobilizations and scheduling, industry conditions, worldwide economic conditions, the anticipated timings associated with the Business Combination and the Danish tender exchange offer, the divestment of drilling rigs in connection with the CMA's review of the transaction, and benefits or results of acquisitions or dispositions are forward-looking statements. When used in this communication, the words "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "prepare," "project," "schedule," "should," "shall" and "will" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that such expectations will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication and we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as required by law. We have identified factors, including, but not limited to, the business combination with Maersk Drilling (including but not limited to the risk that the business combination may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the business combination, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement, the effect of the announcement or pendency of the business combination on Noble's business relationships, performance and business generally, the risk that the proposed business combination disrupts current plans and potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the proposed business combination, the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against related to the proposed business combination, requirements, conditions or costs that may be imposed in connection with obtaining regulatory approvals of the business combination, the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations (including with respect to synergies and financial and operational metrics, such as EBITDA and free cash flow) after the completion of the proposed business combination, and to identify and realize additional opportunities, the failure to realize anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination, the potential impact of announcement or consummation of the proposed business combination on relationships with third parties, and risks associated with assumptions that parties make in connection with the parties' critical accounting estimates and other judgments), the effects of public health threats, such as the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19, and the adverse impact thereof on our business, financial condition and results of operations (including but not limited to our operating costs, supply chain, availability of labor, logistical capabilities, customer demand for our services and industry demand generally, our liquidity, the price of our securities, our ability to access capital markets, and the global economy and financial markets generally), the effects of actions by, or disputes among OPEC+ members with respect to production levels or other matters related to the price of oil, market conditions, factors affecting the level of activity in the oil and gas industry, supply and demand of drilling rigs, factors affecting our drilling contracts, including duration, downtime, dayrates, operating hazards and delays, risks associated with operations outside the US, actions by regulatory authorities, credit rating agencies, customers, joint venture partners, contractors, lenders and other third parties, legislation and regulations affecting drilling operations, compliance with regulatory requirements, violations of anti-corruption laws, shipyard risk and timing, delays in mobilization of rigs, hurricanes and other weather conditions, and the future price of oil and gas, that could cause actual plans or results to differ materially from those included in any forward-looking statements. These factors include those "Risk Factors" referenced or described in the Company's most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q's, and other filings with the SEC. We cannot control such risk factors and other uncertainties, and in many cases, we cannot predict the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. You should consider these risks and uncertainties when you are evaluating us.
NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NON-GAAP MEASURES AND RECONCILIATION
Certain non-GAAP measures and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures for the Company have been provided for meaningful comparisons between current results and prior operating periods. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position, or cash flows that excludes or includes amounts that are not normally included or excluded in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company defines "Adjusted EBITDA" as net income (loss); interest income and other, net; gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net; interest expense, net of amounts capitalized; loss on impairment; reorganization items, net; certain corporate projects and legal matters; certain infrequent operational events; and depreciation and amortization expense. We believe that the Adjusted EBITDA measure provides greater transparency of our core operating performance. We prepare Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share by eliminating from Diluted Earnings per Share the impact of a number of non-recurring items we do not consider indicative of our on-going performance. We prepare Adjusted Net Income (Loss) by eliminating from Net Income (Loss) the impact of a number of non-recurring items we do not consider indicative of our on-going performance.
In order to fully assess the financial operating results, management believes that the results of operations, adjusted to exclude the following items, which are included in the Company's press release issued on August 8, 2022, are appropriate measures of the continuing and normal operations of the Company:
For the quarter ended June 30, 2022, the Company disclosed free cash flow as a non-GAAP liquidity measure. Free cash flow of $56 million was calculated as Net cash provided by operating activities of $88 million less cash paid for capital expenditures of $32 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.
These non-GAAP adjusted measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, contract drilling revenue, contract drilling cost, contract drilling margin, average daily revenue, operating income, cash flows from operations, or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Please see the following non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations for a complete description of the adjustments.
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SOURCE Noble Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/noble-corporation-reports-second-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-08-08T20:56:41Z |
The EUA authorizes at-home sample collection with testing performed in a laboratory
SILVER SPRING, Md., May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the Labcorp Seasonal Respiratory Virus RT-PCR DTC Test for use without a prescription by individuals with symptoms of respiratory viral infection consistent with COVID-19. This product is the first direct-to-consumer (non-prescription) multi-analyte COVID-19 test authorized by FDA and allows an individual to self-collect a nasal swab sample at home and then send that sample to Labcorp for testing. The test can identify and differentiate multiple respiratory viruses at the same time, detecting influenza A and B, commonly known as the flu, respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV, along with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Results are delivered through an online portal, with follow-up from a health care provider for positive or invalid test results.
"While
the FDA has now authorized many COVID-19 tests without a prescription, this is the first test authorized for flu and RSV, along with COVID-19,
where an
individual can self-identify their need for a test, order it, collect their sample and send it to the lab for testing, without consulting a health care professional,"
said Jeff Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
This home sample collection kit can be purchased online or in a store without a prescription. The samples can be self-collected by individuals ages 18 years and older, self-collected by individuals 14 years and older with adult supervision, or collected with adult assistance for individuals 2 years and older. This will enable consumers to more easily determine whether they may be infected with COVID-19, flu, or RSV, which can aid in determining if self-isolation (quarantine) is appropriate and to assist with health care decisions after discussion with a health care professional.
Media Contact: Jim McKinney, 240-328-7305
Consumer Inquiries: Email or 888-INFO-FDA
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
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SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-first-covid-19-test-available-without-prescription-that-also-detects-flu-rsv/ | 2022-05-16T20:01:30Z |
Husband accused of killing wife on honeymoon in Fiji
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WHBQ) - A Tennessee man is charged with murdering his wife after she died while on their honeymoon in Fiji. The circumstances surrounding her death are still unclear.
Authorities say newly married 38-year-old Bradley Robert Dawson is charged with the murder of his wife, 39-year-old Christi Chen. The Fiji Sun reports he is accused of killing her in a resort on the Yasawa Islands.
Not much is known about how Chen died. Police in Fiji are continuing their investigation in hopes of finding answers.
Records show the couple lived in the Cooper-Young area of Memphis.
One neighbor says she saw Chen right before the vacation and described her as elated that she would get to spend her honeymoon in Fiji.
Chen graduated from the University of Tennessee and worked at Kroger as a pharmacist.
Dawson works for Youth Villages, a non-profit which works to improve children’s lives. The organization says he has been suspended pending further information.
Dawson is due in a Fiji court on July 27. His attorney says his client maintains his innocence.
Copyright 2022 WHBQ via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/19/husband-accused-killing-wife-honeymoon-fiji/ | 2022-07-19T06:00:58Z |
Judge: Pharmacies owe 2 Ohio counties $650M in opioids suit
CLEVELAND (AP) — A federal judge in Cleveland awarded $650 million in damages Wednesday to two Ohio counties that won a landmark lawsuit against national pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens and Walmart, claiming the way they distributed opioids to customers caused severe harm to communities and created a public nuisance.
U.S. District Judge Dan Polster said in the ruling that the money will be used to abate a continuing opioid crisis in Lake and Trumbull counties, outside Cleveland. Attorneys for the counties put the total price tag at $3 billion for the damage done to the counties.
Lake County is to receive $306 million over 15 years. Trumbull County is to receive $344 million over the same period. Polster ordered the companies to immediately pay nearly $87 million to cover the first two years of the abatement plan.
In his ruling, Polster admonished the three companies, saying they “squandered the opportunity to present a meaningful plan to abate the nuisance” after a trial that considered what damages they might owe.
Walmart and Walgreens both said they will be appealing the ruling. CVS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trumbull County Commissioner Frank Fuda praised the award in a statement, saying “the harms caused by this devastating epidemic” can now be addressed.
Lake County Commissioner John Hamercheck said in a statement “Today marks the start of a new day in our fight to end the opioid epidemic.”
A jury returned a verdict in November in favor of the counties after a six-week trial. It was then left to Polster to decide how much the counties should receive from the three pharmacy companies. He heard testimony in May to determine damages.
The counties convinced the jury that the pharmacies played an outsized role in creating a public nuisance in the way they dispensed pain medication into their communities.
It was the first time pharmacy companies completed a trial to defend themselves in a drug crisis that has killed a half-million Americans since 1999.
Attorneys for the pharmacy chains maintained they had policies to stem the flow of pills when their pharmacists had concerns and would notify authorities about suspicious orders from doctors. They also said it was doctors who controlled how many pills were prescribed for legitimate medical needs not their pharmacies.
Walmart issued a statement Wednesday saying the counties’ attorneys “sued Walmart in search of deep pockets, and this judgment follows a trial that was engineered to favor the plaintiffs’ attorneys and was riddled with remarkable legal and factual mistakes. We will appeal.”
Walgreens spokesperson Fraser Engerman said “The facts and the law did not support the jury verdict last fall, and they do not support the court’s decision now.
“The court committed significant legal errors in allowing the case to go before a jury on a flawed legal theory that is inconsistent with Ohio law and compounded those errors in reaching its ruling regarding damages.”
CVS is based in Rhode Island, Walgreens in Illinois and Walmart in Arkansas.
Two chains — Rite Aid and Giant Eagle — settled lawsuits with the counties before trial. The amounts they paid have not been disclosed publicly.
Mark Lanier, an attorney for the counties, said during trial that the pharmacies were attempting to blame everyone but themselves.
The opioid crisis has overwhelmed courts, social services agencies and law enforcement in Ohio’s blue-collar corner east of Cleveland, leaving behind heartbroken families and babies born to addicted mothers, Lanier told jurors.
Roughly 80 million prescription painkillers were dispensed in Trumbull County alone between 2012 and 2016 — equivalent to 400 for every resident. In Lake County, some 61 million pills were distributed during that period.
The rise in physicians prescribing pain medications such as oxycodone and hydrocodone came as medical groups began recognizing that patients have the right to be treated for pain, Kaspar Stoffelmayr, an attorney for Walgreens, said at the opening of the trial.
The problem, he said, was “pharmaceutical manufacturers tricked doctors into writing way too many pills.”
The counties said pharmacies should be the last line of defense to prevent the pills from getting into the wrong hands.
The trial before Polster was part of a broader constellation of about 3,000 federal opioid lawsuits consolidated under the his supervision. Other cases are moving ahead in state courts.
Kevin Roy, chief public policy officer at Shatterproof, an organization that advocates for solutions to addiction, said in November the verdict could lead pharmacies to follow the path of major distribution companies and some drugmakers that have reached nationwide settlements of opioid cases worth billions. So far, no pharmacy has reached a nationwide settlement.
___
This story has been corrected to show that Trumbull County was awarded $344 million, not $444 million.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/17/ohio-counties-awarded-650m-cvs-walmart-walgreens-suit/ | 2022-08-17T19:38:12Z |
NEW YORK, April 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Volta Inc..
Shareholders who purchased shares of VLTA during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
CONTACT US HERE:
CLASS PERIOD: August 2, 2021 to March 28, 2022
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Volta had improperly accounted for restricted stock units issued in connection with the business combination of Volta Industries, Inc. ("Legacy Volta") and Tortoise Acquisition Corp. II; (2) as a result, the Company had understated its net loss for third quarter 2021; (3) there were material weaknesses in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that resulted in a material error; (4) as a result of the foregoing, the Company would restate its financial statements; (5) as a result of the foregoing, Legacy Volta's founders would imminently exit the Company; (6) as a result, the Company's financial results would be adversely impacted; and (7) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
DEADLINE: May 31, 2022 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/volta-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=25860&from=4
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of VLTA during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is May 31, 2022. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
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SOURCE The Gross Law Firm | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/13/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-volta-inc-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-may-31-2022-nyse-vlta/ | 2022-04-13T10:58:06Z |
(Stacker) — More than two-and-a-quarter centuries since the first assembly of the Supreme Court in 1790, neither of the other two branches of government bears as close a resemblance to its original form as the highest American court.
Even as its number of justices and gender and racial makeup evolved over generations, the Supreme Court’s core responsibility remains unchanged: Interpret the constitutionality of laws and serve as the final venue of appeal for corporations, governments, and even individual people.
Appointing a justice is one of a president’s most lasting and impactful decisions. In February 2022, President Joe Biden had his first opportunity to nominate a Supreme Court justice, a replacement for Justice Stephen Breyer, who is retiring at the end of the 2021-2022 term. Biden kept his 2020 campaign promise to nominate the first Black woman to potentially serve on the Supreme Court, selecting Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. After a contentious confirmation hearing, Judge Jackson was confirmed on April 7, 2022.
The last half-century has been among the most consequential in the Supreme Court’s history, from civil rights and corporate law to religious freedom and gender equality. Here’s a look at every justice appointed and confirmed to serve on the Supreme Court over the last 50 years.
Earl Warren (1953–1969)
The son of a railroad mechanic, Los Angeles native Earl Warren rose to become one of the most consequential chief justices in the history of the Supreme Court. Warren was the driving force behind Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, the landmark 1954 decision that banned racial segregation in public schools and paved the way for the modern Civil Rights movement. Serving from 1953–1969, Chief Justice Warren presided over one of the most tumultuous periods in American history. He previously served as district attorney and governor of California.
John Marshall Harlan II (1955–1971)
Just as Chief Justice Earl Warren was a liberal icon, John Marshall Harlan II was a darling among conservatives. Worried about progressive overreach following the Brown v. Board decision the year before, Congress took the then-unprecedented step of subjecting Harlan to questions about his judicial philosophy during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing prior to his confirmation, a process that is now standard practice. Harlan, who enforced Prohibition as an assistant U.S. attorney, wrote dissenting opinions on landmark cases that limited police powers—including the famous Miranda v. Arizona case that guaranteed the right to have an attorney present during questioning—while joining the majority in groundbreaking civil rights cases.
William J. Brennan (1956–1990)
Few Supreme Court justices served longer or exerted more influence than William J. Brennan, the son of Irish immigrants who rose to the rank of colonel during service in World War II. Elevated to the High Court by President Dwight D. Eisenhower as a recess appointment, he was confirmed despite several objections to his Catholic faith—and one lone no-vote by Sen. Joseph McCarthy. A skilled back-room collaborator who was known for his ability to persuade fellow justices, Brennan wrote more than 1,200 opinions during his tenure—including Baker v. Carr, which established the “one person, one vote” standard.
Charles Evans Whittaker (1957–1962)
Justice Charles E. Whittaker’s rise to the Supreme Court was as unconventional as his tenure. A high school dropout, Whittaker leveraged both his talents and his political connections to rise first to a seat on a U.S. District Court, then to the U.S. Court of Appeals, and then finally to the United States Supreme Court. One of the shortest-serving justices—and one whose impact is among the least remembered— Whittaker retired after just five years due to what was likely a nervous breakdown. In a final act of integrity, Whittaker refused his federal pension in retirement, as his conscience forbid him from accepting government benefits while he was still able to work.
Potter Stewart (1958–1981)
Justice Potter Stewart’s position as a lonely centrist on a sharply divided court gave him enormous clout as a swing vote during his two-plus decades on the bench. A World War II veteran, Stewart used his legal skills to act as the defense in several summary court-martial trials. He served on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals before becoming President Eisenhower’s third recess appointment to the Supreme Court. He was instrumental in striking down the death penalty in 1972, but also in reinstating it four years later.
Arthur Goldberg (1962–1965)
Born into humble circumstances, Justice Arthur Goldberg was the son of Jewish immigrants, with a lineage that traces to the Polish town that would later become the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp. A ferocious opponent of the death penalty, his three-year tenure was one of the shortest in the history of the High Court, but also among the most productive. Goldberg’s most critical opinion is the one that declared that the Ninth Amendment guarantees the right to privacy. In 1965, he accepted a request from President Lyndon B. Johnson to retire and take on the role of U.N. ambassador as the budding Vietnam War began to spiral out of control.
Byron White (1962–1993)
Born in Colorado, Justice Byron White was a star athlete who left medical school to play professional football for the team that is now called the Pittsburgh Steelers. He later entered the law profession, clerked for the Supreme Court, worked in private practice, and later joined John F. Kennedy’s campaign for president before being nominated to replace Justice Whittaker. He wrote nearly 1,000 opinions over more than three decades of service, during which he became known for his intense and sometimes harsh questioning of attorneys. Although White upheld affirmative action and voted to desegregate schools, he became more conservative with age. He voted to reduce civil rights protections and upheld a ban on consensual gay sex.
Abe Fortas (1965–1969)
Born in 1910 in Memphis, Justice Abe Fortas was the first member of his family to go to college—and at age 20, he earned the distinction of being the youngest law student at Yale University. He served in several high-level government posts and later worked in private practice defending victims of McCarthyism. Once appointed to the Supreme Court, he became an ally of Chief Justice Earl Warren, siding with the majority on major civil rights cases like the Voting Rights Act of 1965. When Warren resigned, President Johnson nominated Fortas for chief justice, but his bid was rejected due to Fortas’ long-standing friendship with the president.
Thurgood Marshall (1967–1991)
In the entire history of the Supreme Court, few names ring louder than that of Justice Thurgood Marshall: a champion of civil rights who successfully argued 30 cases before the High Court before being appointed himself. A native of then-segregated Baltimore, Marshall would become the first black Supreme Court justice in American history. While he wielded incredible influence as a justice and authored many landmark opinions, he is probably most famous for his work as an attorney—when he successfully argued Brown v. Board of Education before the Supreme Court he would later join.
Warren E. Burger (1969–1986)
Born into humble circumstances in Minnesota in 1907, Chief Justice Warren Burger’s talents earned him an early place among the political power brokers of the state’s Republican party. President Richard Nixon appointed Burger to replace Earl Warren in hopes that Burger’s law-and-order reputation would provide a conservative counterweight to what Nixon saw as the liberal excesses of the 1960s. Although the lifelong Republican’s conservative bona fides did shine through in several opinions, he joined liberal majorities on several key decisions—particularly the one that enforced school busing as a remedy to segregation.
Harry Blackmun (1970–1994)
Like Justice Burger, Justice Harry Blackmun was born in Minnesota during the first years of the 20th century; the two were friends and Blackmun attended Harvard on Burger’s advice. His passion for medicine drove him to serve as counsel for the Mayo Clinic—a time he later looked back on fondly—before asserting himself as a reliably conservative voice on the U.S. Court of Appeals. After his appointment by Richard Nixon to the Supreme Court, Blackmun drifted to the left and grew apart from the chief justice. Motivated by his time at the Mayo Clinic, Blackmun led the controversial Roe v. Wade decision, which protected legal abortion.
Lewis F. Powell Jr. (1972–1987)
Born in Virginia in 1907, Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. stood out in law school and rose quickly upon graduation, making partner in a prestigious law firm after just three years. Active in both politics and the American Bar Association, he was unanimously voted as president of that organization, which he dramatically reformed during his tenure. When Powell was appointed to the Supreme Court, he served his term as a moderate and a pragmatist, which earned him the respect and admiration of many fellow justices. He was the deciding vote on several high-profile cases.
John Paul Stevens (1975–2010)
Although he was a child of the Depression, Justice John Paul Stevens was born into one of Chicago’s wealthiest families. A decorated World War II codebreaker, Stevens went on to a law career that included a clerkship for Supreme Court Justice Wiley Rutledge and a stint on the U.S. Court of Appeals. Although he was appointed by Republican President Richard Nixon, Stevens became the bedrock of the court’s liberal wing. He spearheaded decisions in cases like Sony v. Universal City Studios, which allowed people to use VCRs without violating copyright laws, and worked to strengthen and uphold the Americans With Disabilities Act. When he retired at 90, he was the third-longest-serving justice in the court’s history.
Sandra Day O’Connor (1981–2006)
Texas native Sandra Day O’Connor will always be remembered as the first woman to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court. The true legacy of the former Arizona state senator and state Superior Court judge, however, lies in her opinions. Nominated by President Ronald Reagan and approved unanimously by the Senate, O’Connor led the majority on a decision that required female-only nursing schools to admit men and also served as the swing vote on a case that upheld Roe v. Wade.
William Rehnquist (1986–2005)
Chief Justice John Marshall was a hero to Chief Justice William Rehnquist, and the two men are now remembered as among the most successful chief justices in history. Born in 1924 in Wisconsin, Rehnquist served in World War II then embarked on an academic career that was so impressive he was hired as a Supreme Court justice’s clerk at a young age. During that time, he wrote a controversial memo to the justice urging him to reject Brown v. Board of Education and uphold Plessy v. Ferguson, whose “separate but equal” doctrine enshrined legalized segregation. After serving as deputy attorney ceneral under President Nixon, he was nominated for the Supreme Court—and his civil rights memo came back to haunt him during Senate confirmations hearings. Rehnquist prevailed, however, and was later elevated by President Reagan to the position of chief justice, where his even temperament and consensus-building skills enshrined his success and legacy.
Antonin Scalia (1986–2016)
The sudden death in 2016 of New Jersey native Justice Antonin Scalia was a crushing blow to the legions of conservatives who viewed him as a hero. Highly regarded both as a law student and a professor, Scalia was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals, where he cemented his masterful legal writing skills, as well as his reputation for wit and strict adherence to conservative, originalist doctrine. During his 30 years on the bench, Scalia wrote more concurring opinions than any justice in history and more dissenting opinions than all but two. Controversial, aggressive, and unconventional, Scalia will be remembered as one of history’s most consequential and colorful justices.
Anthony Kennedy (1988–2018)
California native Justice Anthony Kennedy was born into a prominent political and legal household, where visits from giants like Earl Warren were not uncommon. After working in private practice, Kennedy, who retired in 2018, worked as a lobbyist, a position he used to help then-Governor Ronald Reagan pass a spending bill. At 38, he became the youngest appellate judge in America and rose to the Supreme Court after the failed nomination of Robert Bork. A powerful voice of individual liberty, Kennedy was known as a swing vote for high-profile cases like Obergefell v. Hodges, which enshrined marriage equality in 2015.
David Souter (1990–2009)
Many seemingly conservative justices were appointed by Republican presidents only to evolve into left-leaning jurists—but few more dramatically than Massachusetts-born Justice David Souter. After a stellar academic career, he moved from private practice to become a deputy state attorney general before moving to the United States Court of Appeals. He would serve there for just three months before President George H.W. Bush nominated him for the Supreme Court. A strong supporter of the separation of church and state, Souter’s philosophical legacy is that laws should change with societal realities—a stark contrast to the philosophy of originalists like Justice Scalia.
Clarence Thomas (1991–Present)
Just 43 years old and backed by less than a year of judicial experience when he was nominated for the High Court, Justice Clarence Thomas endured one of the harshest nomination hearings in history due to allegations of sexual harassment from former colleague Anita Hill. The Georgia native remains only the second African-American appointed to the Supreme Court, breaking several racial barriers during his academic career. Although he was one of the first students to benefit from Yale University’s then-new open-admission policy, which for the first time opened the school to non-white students, Thomas is known to despise affirmative action. He has proven to be a reliably conservative voice, but mostly in writing: Thomas is known for remaining silent during arguments.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1993–2020)
Born in Brooklyn in 1933, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg solidified the liberal wing of the Supreme Court when her nomination was confirmed in 1993. Prior to her nomination, Ginsburg was a powerful advocate for women’s rights through her work with the American Civil Liberties Union, and she continued to press for gender equality from the bench. Instead of forcing change through the courts, her skillfully written opinions forced the legislature to rewrite the rules on policies like gender-based pay discrimination and gender equality in the military. In the last two decades before her death, she was diagnosed with colon cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer, but rarely missed a day of oral arguments even when hospitalized.
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Stephen Breyer (1994–2022)
San Francisco native Stephen Breyer served on the Supreme Court nearly a quarter-century after his nomination and confirmation, far longer than the average justice’s 16-year run. Hired just one year out of law school as a clerk for Justice Arthur Goldberg, Breyer served as Special Counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee and was a Watergate prosecutor. The hallmark of the Clinton appointee’s tenure was pragmatism, acting as a moderate voice with deference to decisions made by the Legislature. Breyer announced his retirement in January 2022 that he would retire after the 2021-2022 term.
John Roberts (2005–Present)
President George W. Bush originally appointed Chief Justice John Roberts to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, but when Chief Justice William Rehnquist retired, he withdrew that nomination so he could appoint Roberts—who had earlier been appointed by President Bush to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals—to head the High Court. The youngest chief justice in a century, Roberts authored several opinions that adhered to conservative ideals on issues of race in academic institutions and the military. However, he has fallen out of favor with many conservatives in recent years after supporting decisions that bolstered the Affordable Care Act and legalized gay marriage.
Samuel Alito (2006–Present)
New Jersey-born Justice Samuel Alito is a reliably conservative justice whose appointment cemented the legacy of President George W. Bush. A graduate of Princeton and Yale, Alito was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals by Bush’s father, President George H.W. Bush. Unlike many of his colleagues, who are often guided by an overarching judicial philosophy, Alito is known for making decisions on a case-by-case basis—although he has displayed libertarian leanings. He wrote the majority opinion in the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby decision that exempts employers from certain laws based on the religious convictions of the owners.
Sonia Sotomayor (2009–Present)
The first Latino woman—and the third woman of any ethnicity to be appointed to the Supreme Court—Justice Sonia Sotomayor was raised in public housing projects in the Bronx. Sotomayor’s early academic brilliance earned her several scholarships, and she was hired to work for the iconic Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau when she was just 25 years old. She was appointed to the U.S. District Court by Republican President George H.W. Bush before being nominated to the Supreme Court by Democratic President Barack Obama. She quickly established herself as a feisty, inquisitive jurist and a reliable voice for gay rights, affirmative action, the Affordable Care Act, and other liberal banners.
Elena Kagan (2010–Present)
New York City native Justice Elena Kagan completed a stellar academic career before clerking first for a U.S. Appeals Court judge and then later for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. After moving between careers in law, academia, and briefly, politics, she was confirmed for the Supreme Court after being nominated by President Barack Obama. The youngest justice on the court, as well as the only one with no judicial experience, Kagan’s arrival, signaled the first time in history that the Supreme Court would include three sitting female justices at the same time. She is known as the justice who is most in tune with pop culture and technology.
Neil Gorsuch (2017–Present)
At Harvard, future Justice Neil Gorsuch was classmates with future President Barack Obama. Ironically, Obama should have named the successor to Antonin Scalia’s seat, but tactics by the Republican-controlled Senate stymied that effort—which led to the elevation of Justice Gorsuch by President Trump. Gorsuch clerked for two Supreme Court justices, Kennedy and White, before taking his own place on the court in 2017.
Brett Kavanaugh (2018–Present)
Like Judge Clarence Thomas, Justice Brett Kavanaugh went through a contentious confirmation hearing when psychology professor Dr. Christine Blasey Ford came forth with allegations that he sexually assaulted her when they were younger. Kavanaugh was later confirmed in October 2018 to give the high court a conservative majority for the first time in decades. In the past, he has clerked for former Justice Anthony Kennedy, helped write the Starr Report that detailed the grounds for President Bill Clinton’s impeachment, and served in the U.S. Court of Appeals on the DC Circuit despite many senators considering him too partisan.
Amy Coney Barrett (2020–Present)
The nomination and subsequent confirmation process of Justice Amy Coney Barrett was highly controversial, mainly due to the timing of it. Following Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death in September 2020, President Donald Trump moved quickly to nominate her replacement. He was met with opposition from senate Democrats because of how close the 2020 presidential election was—and how the Senate Republicans did not allow Obama’s Supreme Court justice pick to get confirmed when a similar situation happened four years prior.
Barrett was 48 years old when she was confirmed, making her one of the youngest Supreme Court justices in history. The justice, who clerked for former Justice Antonin Scalia, is also one of the most conservative voices in the high court—particularly on the topics of abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.
Ketanji Brown Jackson (2022–Present)
Like the divisive confirmation process of the three justices before her, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson faced combative questioning in the hearings prior to being confirmed as a Supreme Court justice on April 7, 2022. Not only did she make history as the first Black woman to join the highest court in the land, but she’s also the first former federal public defender to serve on the Supreme Court.
The D.C.-born, Miami-raised judge graduated from Harvard Law School before clerking for Justice Stephen Breyer, whose seat she took on the Supreme Court when he retired 22 years later. Throughout her career, Jackson worked as an attorney in private practice, a federal public defender, vice-chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, a federal appellate judge, and a federal district court judge for D.C.—where she made several rulings against the Trump administration. While on the Sentencing Commission, she reduced sentences for some drug-related offenses and has a record of backing workers’ rights. | https://cw33.com/news/every-supreme-court-justice-of-the-past-50-years/ | 2022-04-11T23:36:56Z |
LAKE MARY, Fla., June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FARO® Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: FARO), a global leader in 4D digital reality solutions, today announced the election of Yuval Wasserman as Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective May 26, 2022. Mr. Wasserman joined the FARO Board of Directors in December of 2017 and has served on all Board committees, including most recently as Chairman of the Talent Development and Compensation Committee.
"I'm pleased to have an executive with Yuval's broad experience of successfully driving long-term profitable growth in global technology companies, most recently as the President and CEO of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. where he led a nearly 7 fold increase in market capitalization, to share in the leadership of FARO," commented Michael Burger, FARO Chief Executive Officer. "I also want to thank John Donofrio, who has been FARO's Chairman since 2019, for his partnership and leadership. John's deep experience with FARO over the last 14 years has been invaluable as we have sought to transform FARO into a leading 4D solutions provider."
John Donofrio remains on FARO's Board of Directors and will assume leadership of the Company's Talent Development and Compensation Committee, effective May 26, 2022.
About FARO
FARO serves the 3D Metrology, AEC (Architecture, Engineering & Construction), O&M (Facilities Operations & Maintenance), and Public Safety Analytics markets. For over 40 years, FARO has provided industry-leading technology solutions that enable customers to digitize their world, and then use that data to make smarter decisions faster. FARO continues to be a pioneer in bridging the digital and physical worlds through data-driven accuracy, precision, and immediacy. For more information, visit FARO.com.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding FARO Technologies Inc's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.
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SOURCE FARO | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/faro-announces-election-yuval-wasserman-chairman-board-directors/ | 2022-06-02T20:59:02Z |
The multi-Platinum, multi–Grammy Award-winning artist has been confirmed as the headline act of the Saturday night Yasalam After-Race Concert
Lamar joins Swedish House Mafia on the weekend entertainment bill, with two more global superstar acts still to be announced for the four-day festival
Even with the additional capacity in 2022, many Grandstand tickets and hospitality packages are already sold out and fans are urged to purchase soon or risk missing out
ABU DHABI, UAE, Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As we pass the halfway point of the 2022 Formula 1 season, excitement for the season finale builds further as Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management and Flash Entertainment today announced that Kendrick Lamar will headline the Yasalam After-Race Concert on Saturday, 19th November at the FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2022.
As a multi-Platinum, Grammy-award winning artist and co-founder of creative imprint pgLang, Kendrick Lamar has achieved massive critical and cultural success since his debut album good kid, m.A.A.d city released in 2012.
In the past 10 years since its release, Lamar has accumulated a staggering total of 14 Grammy wins, and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album DAMN. Lamar's latest album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, was released in May 2022 immediately earning rave reviews.
The announcement follows on from March's reveal that multi-Grammy nominated trio Swedish House Mafia will be entertaining fans on Friday, 18th November with their swaggering hip-hop beat-craft, and rock 'n' roll attitude, and with additional seats on sale and two more A-list, world-class superstars yet to be announced, there will be more opportunities to 'Go Unreal' in 2022.
Access to the concerts is exclusively for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders. Grand Prix ticket purchasers will also be able to secure Golden Circle tickets to get the best possible access closest to the stage at the Etihad Park.
Race-goers looking for a premium weekend package are reminded that the circuit offers a range of hospitality tickets including 3-day passes to established favourites such as the Luna Lounge, Shams Suite, and Sunset Lounge, as well as the all-new Deck @ 9. Designed specifically for 2022, this new and ultra-cool 3-day VIP experience pairs a lively party atmosphere with five-star food and beverage. The Deck @ 9 luxury suite overlooks the recently modified Turn 9 (Marsa corner), and guests can enjoy all the racing action to a soundtrack from top DJs and live musical entertainment.
New for this year, ticketholders will be able to select their seat in the grandstand using a virtual and interactive viewer, giving guests an idea of what they will see from their seat while purchasing a ticket online. Ticket purchasers can also upgrade their concert experience with Golden Circle access to the Etihad Park, getting access closest to the stage.
Those guests wishing to upgrade to a premium experience can choose from a range of hospitality packages, providing an opportunity to enjoy the region's leading sports and entertainment event in the finest of settings, with top-quality food and beverage and live DJs. Hospitality package options for this year's event include the new Sunset Lounge, Luna Lounge, Yas Suites, Marsa Suite, Champions Club and the F1 Paddock Club, where guests can purchase a three-day ticket and enjoy the ultimate Abu Dhabi Grand Prix experience.
With more exciting announcements to follow, purchase a ticket now to ensure you don't miss out on one of the year's biggest and best events. To buy, please visit: www.yasmarinacircuit.com
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SOURCE Seven Media | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/multi-platinum-grammy-award-winning-artist-kendrick-lamar-set-headline-saturday-after-race-concert-abudhabigp/ | 2022-08-02T11:52:23Z |
TeeTiny Online, a space where players from all around the world can gather to play, is coming soon
- TeeTiny Online, Smilegate Megaport's first MMORPG for a global community
- Global CBT, one global server for all, auto-translation feature, gameplay possible with players from around the world
SEONGNAM, South Korea, June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Smilegate Megaport (CEO Ina Jang) has announced that it will hold a global CBT (Closed Beta Test, an anonymous pilot test) for TeeTiny Online, a new multi-platform MMORPG developed by TEENY.studio (Co-CEOs SeByoung Chae and HeeIl Yang), which will last for two weeks from June 23rd (Thu) until July 7th.
TeeTiny Online is Smilegate's first MMORPG for a global community and was presented as a unique IP for the first time during the 2020 G-Star exhibition. Offering cross-platform gameplay on PCs and mobile devices, TeeTiny Online is highly accessible.
Its concept is centered around being "a space where players from all around the world can gather to play," thus TeeTiny Online uses a single global server and promotes a strong sense of community. TeeTiny Online is a story of adventure and battle revolving around a tower imbued with magical power.
In TeeTiny Online, players are not restricted to a single class; they can freely switch weapons to change their class and can strategize to figure out the best way to fight the monsters and bosses on each floor. They can also enjoy a variety of play modes from cooperating with other global players in real-time to PvP content. Moreover, AI-supported auto-translation will be added in various spaces like the garden and to support communities like factions and guilds in order to allow players to openly communicate and enjoy the game with other global users.
TeeTiny Online doubles the fun with its fantasy setting and comical elements including humorous costumes that players across diverse cultures will be able to recognize and relate to. It also supports low-spec devices as it aims to reach a wide range of casual and global players.
Smilegate Megaport's Department Head Jaydn Jeong "is very thrilled to introduce TeeTiny Online, a charming MMORPG which will allow players from all around the world to cooperate and compete in the same space." He added that "this CBT will help us lay the foundation for a globally integrated MMORPG with a community that players from around the world can enjoy together. We plan to speed up development, so please look forward to it."
During TeeTiny Online's CBT period, many rewards, including a crystal currency, will be available through login events and mission events. Information on the game, CBT, and events can be found on the official website (https://teetiny.game.onstove.com).
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SOURCE Smilegate Megaport | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/24/smilegate-launches-global-cbt-new-multi-platform-mmorpg-teetiny-online/ | 2022-06-24T12:19:04Z |
San Antonio is sounding the alarm as Title 42 is set to end
By Rosa Flores and Rosalina Nieves, CNN
Katie Myers has a smile for everyone as she walks around Travis Park in downtown San Antonio, greeting migrants who have just been dropped off in the city by US immigration authorities.
Myers is a volunteer with the Interfaith Welcome Coalition, a non-profit that helps migrants traveling through San Antonio with the basics, like buying bus tickets and making phone calls.
But Myers says there’s a new phenomenon that complicates this current surge.
Since mid-March, Myers says, on average, immigration officials are leaving 150 to 200 migrants at the bus station every day and 300 to 500 at the airport. The sudden spike took volunteers like Myers by surprise.
In prior surges, most migrants only spent a few hours in San Antonio before traveling north, Myers said. But during a period last month, 20 to 25 migrants each day needed to stay overnight.
“It’s not just simply a matter of arranging for them to get a ticket,” Myers said. “You have to figure out whether or not there’s a place for them to live.”
There are now two groups of migrants arriving in San Antonio: those with the plans and means to travel onwards, and those without, Myers said. And the numbers keep rising.
At the border, US officials are bracing for an increase in migrant arrivals when the public health border policy known as Title 42 is lifted next month. The policy has allowed officials to swiftly return migrants to Mexico or their native countries during the pandemic.
Some Texas leaders have said local services available to migrants will be overwhelmed when Title 42 ends — but San Antonio officials say the situation is already causing alarm.
An ‘unsustainable increase’ in migrants
In San Antonio, some 150 miles from the Rio Grande, white buses and vans, with no signage or logos, are already dropping off hundreds of migrants at the downtown bus station and the airport every day.
In one hand, the migrants carry a manila envelope with the forms provided to them by US immigration officials. The other usually holds a small plastic bag with all their belongings and a US government issued cell phone — a device migrants use to verify their whereabouts and the Biden administration’s alternative to detention. On their feet are lace-less shoes, as migrants must give up their laces during immigration processing.
The city is seeing an “unsustainable increase,” in migrants, according to San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. The rising numbers prompted Nirenberg to write a letter to US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Nirenberg provided CNN a copy of the letter, dated March 31, that states from March 19 to the 29, an average of 628 people were staying in shelters, sleeping at the airport or at the city park.
“I respectfully request immediate action from the Department of Homeland Security to increase funding for humanitarian infrastructure and resources,” Nirenberg wrote. Since then, city officials have been in continuous dialogue with US Customs and Border Protection and FEMA, according to his office.
In a statement to CNN, DHS said it has “been in regular contact with the mayor of San Antonio and other elected officials, local leaders, and non-governmental organizations as part of a whole-of-government effort to manage and plan for any increase of encounters along our Southwest border.”
San Antonio city officials have warned if the unpredictable surges continue, and Title 42 lifts, the city’s ability to meet the humanitarian need could be limited, according to an April 4 memo.
A coalition of non-profit organizations has been providing hotels to migrant women traveling with children, Myers said, but this still leaves many migrant men without places to stay. But Myers and other volunteers are taking the surge in stride — they’re used to making it work with funds from generous donors and the sweat equity of volunteers.
A church turned overnight shelter
Across the street from Travis Park, Rev. Gavin Rogers, a pastor from a church that bears the same name as the park, warms up a rice and seafood dish to welcome migrants to his newly opened migrant shelter.
“We opened up our shelter to relieve those who are trying to get through San Antonio to their host cities and are just waiting on proper transportation,” says Rogers.
Located in the basement of his church, the shelter can host up to 150 people per night. A makeshift diner, made up of tables and chairs, fills the center of the small space. Green cots line the walls.
Meanwhile at the park, volunteers with the Interfaith Welcome Coalition, like Myers, set up an informal consultation desk under a tree.
One by one, people approach the table in an orderly fashion, asking for their names to be added to the list of guests Rogers will host. The line grows long; a sign word of the shelter has spread amongst the recently arrived migrants.
“A few nights ago, we were at 120, a few days ago we were at like 44. So, it really varies depending on if hotels open. A lot of those hotels will give preference to women and children and families,” says Rogers.
As a result, when Rogers opens the doors to his church, mostly men walk in. The stress and weight of the day’s wait can be seen clearly on their faces. Most have spent their day at the nearby park with no access to money, food or a public restroom. According to Rogers, the migrants spend on average one or two nights in San Antonio before moving on to other cities.
Jessie Amaya, a migrant from Venezuela was an exception. He told CNN he had slept at Roger’s church for over 20 days. Unlike most of the migrants CNN spoke to, Amaya has no family or friends in the United States. He left his home country for fear of political prosecution and hopes to call San Antonio home.
San Antonio officials ‘talking like border officials’
US Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat representing San Antonio, says he worries about the surge of migrants expected next month when Title 42 lifts.
He’s so worried, in fact, he’s joining a growing number of Democrats up for re-election who are opposing the Biden administration’s decision to end the policy next month.
“When you start hearing San Antonio officials talking like the border officials, saying ‘We need help, we need help,’…then we know that the impact has rippled up 150 miles or further,” Cuellar said.
Of the more than 220,000 migrant encounters reported by CBP in March, nearly 50%, were expelled under Title 42. But come next month, border officials will revert to pre-pandemic protocols and process all migrants they encounter. The Biden administration also says it will increase the number of federal agents on the southern border — though Cuellar argues that still places the burden of the humanitarian crisis in the hands of municipalities and non-profits.
When he asked the White House for a plan to address the post-Title 42 surge, Cuellar says he wasn’t satisfied with the answer.
“They said we’re going to notify the not-for-profits that more people are coming,” Cuellar said. “That’s not a plan. That’s just a notification.”
Paying it forward
At Travis Park, Myers continues her work, floating from one migrant to the next, smiling as she answers questions and reassures people. One man approaches her, worried about not having a place to stay for the night.
“Just wait here,” Myers tells him, and then explains his name will be added to the list of migrants staying at the reverend’s shelter that night.
Myers, who started volunteering with migrants in 2018, helps at the park three days a week. She says she witnesses acts of kindness all the time — recalling when a migrant recently handed her their last $3 to “pay it forward.”
While the solution to immigration is complicated, Myers says, she has found something easy she can do to contribute: “Treat them with kindness and dignity and respect.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2022/04/19/san-antonio-is-sounding-the-alarm-as-title-42-is-set-to-end-2/ | 2022-04-20T06:52:28Z |
Metal Pay now available across the EU/EEA
AMSTERDAM, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Metallicus, a leader in digital assets technology, today announced the expansion of its Metal Pay product across the EU and EEA.
Metal Pay is a simple, secure and free financial app where you can buy and sell over 65 cryptocurrencies and link directly with your cash balance. Metal Pay user funds in the United States are FDIC-insured, and the expansion to Europe will ensure equivalent safeguards through protection in an EEA-authorised credit institution.
"We have been hearing from people across Europe that they wanted us to put Metal Pay into their hands – and I'm thrilled to announce we've done it," said Marshall Hayner, Co-founder and CEO of Metallicus. "We believe ease of use, security and compliance vastly increase the everyday utility of digital assets and unlock the transformative potential of these technologies for everyone from consumers to fintechs and financial institutions."
"The EU is home to numerous fintech SMEs that need to be future-ready. With incoming EU identity verification requirements, Metallicus has the solutions to enable safe, compliant, and secure transactions," said Metallicus' General Manager for Europe, Benedikt Goetz.
Launching Metal Pay wallet in Europe is a natural next step for the San Francisco-based company. This year alone, Metallicus has partnered with London-based Railsbank in the European launch, plus initiated several other partnerships in the EU and US markets to boost utility for banks, businesses and consumers. Fully compliant and licensed, further expansion plans into additional European countries, Australia and Asia are underway.
Key attributes of Metal Pay in Europe include:
- Buy and sell crypto, direct deposit paychecks, pay bills
- 0% fees for USDC purchases
- Cash Wallets with unique account/routing numbers
- Services enabled by an EMI license in Lithuania and a VASP license in Estonia
- User E-money is protected in an EEA-authorised credit institution or the Bank of Lithuania
About Metallicus
Founded in 2016 in San Francisco and available in 45 US states and 31 countries, Metallicus' vision is to create the world's most customer-centric network, bridging traditional banking and digital assets. The company's flagship products include Metal Pay and Proton, the only blockchain with Verified Decentralized Identity. Download the app or learn more at http://Metalpay.com.
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SOURCE Metallicus | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/metal-pay-launches-digital-assets-payments-service-europe-expanding-reach-across-30-new-markets/ | 2022-06-07T11:46:42Z |
In abortion fight, conservatives push to end all exceptions
By REBECCA BOONE and JOHN HANNA
Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Angela Housley was halfway through her pregnancy when she learned the fetus was developing without parts of its brain and skull and would likely die within hours or days of birth, if it survived that long.
The news came during her 20-week ultrasound.
“The technician got a really horrible look on her face,” Housley said. “And we got the really sad news that our baby was anencephalic.”
It was 1992 and abortion was legal in Idaho, though she had to dodge anti-abortion protesters outside the Boise hospital after the procedure. If the same scenario were to happen later this year, she would likely be forced to carry to term.
That’s because Idaho is one of at least 22 states with laws banning abortion at the 15th week or earlier, many of them lacking exceptions for fetal viability, rape or incest, or even the health of the woman. Several of those bans would take effect if the U.S. Supreme Court issues a ruling overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, as a leaked draft of the opinion suggests.
Such exceptions were once regularly included in even the most conservative anti-abortion proposals. But as the battle over abortion access heats up, experts on both sides of the issue say the exceptions were a temporary stepping stone intended to make anti-abortion laws more palatable.
Many of the current abortion bans are designed as “trigger laws,” automatically going into effect if the high court overturns the nationwide right to abortion. That ruling is expected to be released by late June or early July.
Alabama and Oklahoma have enacted bans with no exceptions. Alabama’s 2019 law is blocked in federal court but could be reinstated based on the Supreme Court’s ruling. The Republican sponsors envisioned the legislation as a vehicle to challenge Roe in court, and said they could add rape and incest exceptions later if Roe is overturned.
“They’re basically using people — in this particular situation, women — as collateral damage,” said Democratic Rep. Chris England, the chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party. “In the debate, we tried to talk reasonably to them and say, ‘What happens if you win? This is the law, You’re not going to have the opportunity to change it before people get hurt.’”
Several other states, including Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas, also have bans or trigger laws in place that lack exceptions for rape or incest, according to the Guttmacher Institute and Associated Press reporting.
Idaho and Utah have exceptions for rape or incest, but require the pregnant woman to first file a police report and then prove to the abortion provider the report was made. Only about a third of sexual assaults are reported to police, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.
Texas and Idaho allow exceptions for “medical emergencies” but leave that interpretation up to physicians, making some critics fear doctors will wait to intervene until a woman is near death.
Public support for total abortion bans appears to be low, based on a Pew Research Center survey released Friday and conducted in March. The survey showed just 10% of U.S. adults say abortion should be illegal in all cases. When probed further, just 8% think abortion should be illegal with no exceptions. An additional 27% percent say abortion should be illegal in most cases.
Arkansas has two near-total abortion bans — a trigger law from 2019 and one passed last year that is blocked in federal court. Neither have exceptions for rape or incest, though they do allow abortions to save the woman’s life. The state also never repealed its pre-1973 total abortion ban with no restrictions.
Republicans in the state were split on the issue last year, with Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Sen. Missy Irvin expressing reservations about the lack of protections for sexual assault survivors.
“Do you know how many young girls are on suicide watch because they were raped, because they were a victim of incest?” asked Irvin, who ultimately voted for last year’s bill.
The sponsor of last year’s ban, Republican Sen. Jason Rapert, defended the lack of exemptions, saying it still allowed the use of emergency contraception.
Elizabeth Nash, a state policy analyst for the abortion-rights supporting Guttmacher Institute, said that of 86 pending proposals for abortion restrictions this year, only a few — including one each in Idaho, New Jersey and West Virginia — include rape and incest exceptions.
The exceptions were always “incredibly limited,” she said. “You might think these exceptions are helpful. But in fact they’re so restricted, they’re very hard to use.”
Troy Newman, president of the national anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, said exceptions to abortion restrictions for rape and incest and to protect a pregnant woman’s life in the past have been “thrown in there to appease some centrists.”
Newman said his group, based in Wichita, Kansas, opposes rape and incest exceptions. Their rationale: “Don’t punish the baby for the crime of the father.”
The Ohio Legislature is weighing a trigger law that lacks sexual assault exceptions. During a hearing last month, the bill’s GOP sponsor, Rep. Jean Schmidt, caused controversy when she called pregnancy resulting from rape “an opportunity” for the rape victim to “make a determination about what she’s going to do to help that life be a productive human being.”
She was responding to a question from Democratic Rep. Rich Brown, who asked if a 13-year-old impregnated during a rape would be forced to carry to term.
Rape “emotionally scars the individual,” Schmidt conceded, “but if a baby is created, it is a human life.”
Democratic Rep. Tavia Galonski countered that pregnancy is often traumatic and dangerous on its own, adding: “To then force a survivor of rape to carry a pregnancy to term and go through childbirth is utterly vile and only adds to the trauma they have already suffered.”
In South Carolina, supporters of a 2021 abortion ban added exceptions for rape and incest because it was the only way to get the law passed. During debate, Republican Sen. Richard Cash argued against the exceptions.
“Punish the rapist … but it doesn’t belong on the baby,” he said.
Democratic Sen. Mia McLeod responded that it was obvious Cash had never been raped.
“Well, I have. You’re looking at a sexual assault survivor,” she said, adding that requiring rape victims to carry babies to term could lead them to desperate measures, including dangerous illegal abortions or suicide.
“I’m just asking that the men in this body give the women and girls of this state” a choice, McLeod said.
New Hampshire has banned abortion after 24 weeks of gestation except for when the woman’s health is threatened, though the state will soon add an exception for fatal fetal anomalies. The Republican-led legislature has rejected attempts to add rape and incest exceptions.
Republican Rep. Beth Folsom, who said in January that she is a rape survivor, argued the exceptions aren’t necessary because rape victims carefully track their menstrual cycles and wouldn’t wait 24 weeks to seek an abortion. An incest exception wasn’t needed, she added, because “that aggressor is going to make sure that young girl or woman has an abortion before anyone finds out.”
Mallory Schwarz, executive director of Pro-Choice Missouri, expressed concern that provisions in laws like the one in Texas that allow abortions past six weeks in medical emergencies, will require doctors to wait until a patient appears to be dying to perform an abortion.
“Any of those kind of pieces that are left up to interpretation are generally going to have a broad chilling effect on providers who don’t want to jeopardize their career and livelihood and practice and ability to care for other patients,” Schwarz said.
Many bans outlaw abortion after six weeks, when vaginal ultrasounds can first detect electrical activity in embryonic cells that may later become the heart. Proponents call them “heartbeat laws,” arguing that cardiac activity is a reliable indicator of life.
In Idaho, Housley has repeatedly testified against the state’s abortion bans in the Legislature, but said the lawmakers were uninterested in hearing about her experience.
“My baby had a heartbeat, but that’s not the only thing a baby needs,” said Housley. Anti-abortion politicians “are not at all interested in the reality of this issue. They’ve hijacked this discussion, and that’s why we are where we are.”
___
Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas. Associated Press writer Hannah Fingerhut and AP statehouse reporters from around the U.S. contributed. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-idaho/2022/05/06/in-abortion-fight-conservatives-push-to-end-all-exceptions-2/ | 2022-05-06T21:19:15Z |
With Three-Year Revenue Growth of 28,650 Percent, Distributed Ledger Receives Ranking No. 7 Among America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies
NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inc. revealed that Distributed Ledger (DLI) is No. 7 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy's most dynamic segment—its independent businesses. Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.
"I remember being 6 years old and I could not wait to be 7. It has always been my favorite number. Today #7 represents the drive and dedication of our entire team and what we accomplish together. I am so proud of our amazing team at DLI, and we are just getting started!"
- CEO, Mike Francis
The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Among the top 500, the average median three-year revenue growth rate soared to 2,144 percent. Together, those companies added more than 68,394 jobs over the past three years.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc. magazine, which will be available on August 23.
"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today."
Distributed Ledger provides blockchain and crypto mining services to businesses and individuals centered around the client's needs. DLI's core mission is to help businesses understand, utilize, and accumulate cryptocurrency. They do that by providing a fully managed Bitcoin mining product called Mining as a Service in addition to ASIC procurement and Miner Guard, a cleaning, maintenance, and repair program for miners. DLI operates around the United States and Latin America with offices in Alabama, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Mexico City. The company has its eyes on the future with its work towards combining traditional datacenter infrastructure and cryptocurrency mining.
Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. The top 500 companies on the Inc. 5000 are featured in Inc. magazine's September issue. The entire Inc. 5000 can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.
The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.
For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, visit http://conference.inc.com/.
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SOURCE Distributed Ledger Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/distributed-ledger-ranks-no-7-2022-inc-5000-annual-list/ | 2022-08-18T18:40:53Z |
TSX | NYSE | LSE: WPM
VANCOUVER, BC, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Wheaton Precious Metals™ Corp. ("Wheaton" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has been named to the Corporate Knights' 2022 list of the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada.
"At Wheaton, sustainability is ingrained in every aspect of our business, including the high expectations and standards we set for ourselves and our partners," said Randy Smallwood, Wheaton's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are honoured that our ESG efforts have been recognized in this year's list of the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada."
Corporate Knights, a Canadian media and research company has been producing global corporate and fund rankings for 20 years. Selected from a pool of 332 Canadian companies, including all those with revenues over $1 billion – each evaluated on a set of 24 environmental, social and governance indicators, relative to their industry peers and using publicly available information – the Best 50 Corporate Citizens sets the standard for sustainability leadership in Canada.
Within the overall Asset Management peer group, Wheaton ranked third among 207 global companies and within the GICS Industry of Metals and Mining, Wheaton finished ninth among 304 global companies.
Wheaton recently published its third annual Sustainability Report highlighting the Company's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance and continued leadership. The report is available for download here.
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SOURCE Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/wheaton-precious-metals-recognized-corporate-knights-2022-list-best-50-corporate-citizens-canada/ | 2022-06-29T21:18:52Z |
HONG KONG, MAY 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- China Natural Resources Inc. (NASDAQ: CHNR) (the "Company") today announced its results of operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021. For the convenience of the reader, amounts in Chinese Yuan ("CNY") have been translated into United States dollars ("US$") at the rate of US$1.00 = CNY6.3559 as quoted by www.ofx.com on December 31, 2021.
Mr. Wong Wah On Edward, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, "We continued to make meaningful progress on the strategic diversification of our business in 2021. Our progress was, however, slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting shutdowns, logistic complications, and the steep global increase in operating costs and inflation. In addition, our operations in the rural wastewater treatment industry in 2021 resulted in a near-term reduction in our revenue level, but we believe our actions will be a catalyst for increased revenue growth and profitability. We are already seeing initial positive signs from our efforts to streamline our operations and our cost reduction plan, while at the same time focusing on continued exploration of the Moruogu Tong Mine. As we recently noted, we expect commodities prices to remain high, with demand continuing to outstrip supply. With even greater urgency placed on exploration opportunities and the potential for higher valuations of assets such as the Moruogu Tong Mine, we also recently announced plans to increase investments in the Moruogu Tong Mine. We are also evaluating other attractive business opportunities and believe that we will be able to further leverage our expertise and capital to create even greater value for shareholders."
Financial Results for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2021
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had two operating segments: wastewater treatment and exploration and mining. Revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 was CNY18.74 million (approximately US$2.95 million), as compared to revenue of approximately CNY42.50 million (approximately US$6.69 million) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020. The decrease in revenue was mainly caused by the completion of the construction phase of a public-private partnership wastewater treatment project in January 2021.
Net loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 was approximately CNY54.97 million (approximately US$8.65 million) as compared to net profit of approximately CNY22.92 million (approximately US$3.61 million) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020. The turn to loss in 2021 from profit in 2020 was mainly due to the recognition of fair value loss of approximately CNY38.35 million (approximately US$6.03 million) in the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 and fair value gain of approximately CNY31.33 million (approximately US$4.93 million) in the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, relating to the Company's holdings in Feishang Anthracite Resources Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, designated as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, and the impact of warrants issued to institutional investors in a private placement in January 2021, which were designated as derivative financial liabilities.
The Company had a cash balance of approximately CNY58.36 million (approximately US$9.18 million) at December 31, 2021.
On January 20, 2021, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain institutional investors, pursuant to which the Company issued and sold on January 22, 2021, in a registered direct offering, an aggregate of 3,960,000 of its common shares at a price of US$1.85 per share, and in a concurrent private placement, warrants initially exercisable for the purchase of an aggregate of 1,584,000 of its common shares with an initial exercise price of US$2.35 per share. Because the changes in equity from this private placement transaction are dominated in US$, the US$ amount is the actual transaction amount and the corresponding CNY amount was translated from US$ at the applicable exchange rate as of the transaction date, January 22, 2021.
About China Natural Resources:
China Natural Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHNR), a British Virgin Islands corporation, through its operating subsidiaries in the People's Republic of China (the "PRC"), is currently engaged in the provision of equipment for rural wastewater treatment, engineering, procurement and construction services related to wastewater treatment in the PRC, the acquisition and exploitation of mining rights in Inner Mongolia, including preliminary exploration for nickel, lead, silver and other nonferrous metal, and is actively exploring further business opportunities in the healthcare sector, natural resources sector and other sectors.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. These statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the intent, belief and current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers with respect to: the impact of the Company's actions on its future financial performance; the Company's performance in the rural wastewater treatment industry in the PRC; the impact of rising commodity prices; the level of demand for nickel, lead, silver, lithium, copper and other precious minerals; the potential presence of minerals in the Moruogu Tong Mine; and the ability of the Company to extract any minerals found in the Moruogu Tong Mine in an economically viable manner. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Among the risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ from its forward-looking statements are: the impact on the Company's financial position of its investment in the wastewater treatment sector of the PRC; the growth potential of the wastewater treatment and environmental protection industries in the PRC; possible downturns in the sectors that the Company may invest in; the results of the next assessment by the Staff of the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications department of the Company's compliance with the Nasdaq Listing Rules; uncertainties related to governmental, economic and political circumstances in the PRC; uncertainties related to metal price volatility; uncertainties related to the Company's ability to acquire a mining permit for the Moruogu Tong Mine; uncertainties regarding the ability to profitably extract minerals from the Moruogu Tong Mine, as well as the nature of any such minerals; uncertainties regarding the successful integration, costs, revenues and profitability associated with the Company's recently acquired wastewater treatment business; uncertainties related to the Company's ability to fund operations and planned capital expenditures; uncertainties related to possible future increases in operating expenses, including costs of labor and materials; uncertainties related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; uncertainties related to the political situation between the PRC and the United States, and potential negative impacts on companies with operations in the PRC that are listed on exchanges in the United States; uncertainties relating to geopolitical turmoil or conflict; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. When, in any forward-looking statement, the Company, or its management, expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, that expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and is believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the stated expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
The consolidated statements of profits or loss of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 and the consolidated statements of financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. The consolidated statements of profit or loss and the consolidated statements of financial position have been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 17, 2022.
* The Company restated the comparative financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020 to account for a common control transaction (the acquisition of Precise Space-Time Technology Limited and its wastewater treatment business) using the pooling of interest method.
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SOURCE China Natural Resources, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/china-natural-resources-reports-full-year-2021-results/ | 2022-05-17T22:08:28Z |
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has test-fired a new type of tactical guided weapon designed to boost its nuclear fighting capability, state media reported Sunday, a day before its chief rivals the United States and South Korea begin annual drills that the North views as an invasion rehearsal.
The 13th weapons test this year came amid concerns that North Korea may soon conduct an even larger provocation. That may include a nuclear test in an effort to expand the country’s arsenal and increase pressure on Washington and Seoulwhile denuclearization talks remain stalled.
The official Korean Central News Agency said leader Kim Jong Un observed what it called the weapon’s successful launch. It released a photo showing a beaming Kim clapping his hands with military officers.
KCNA said the weapon tested has “great significance in drastically improving the firepower of the front-line long-range artillery units, enhancing the efficiency in the operation of (North Korea’s) tactical nukes and diversification of their firepower missions.”
KCNA didn’t elaborate, but its use of the words “tactical nukes” suggested the weapon is likely capable of carrying a nuclear warhead that could hit strategic targets in South Korea, including U.S. military installations. The KCNA dispatch didn’t say when and where the launch occurred.
“North Korea is trying to deploy not only long-range nuclear missiles aimed at American cities but also tactical nuclear weapons to threaten Seoul and U.S. bases in Asia,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.
“Pyongyang’s purposes likely exceed deterrence and regime survival. Like Russia employs the fear it could use tactical nukes, North Korea may want such weapons for political coercion, battlefield escalation and limiting the willingness of other countries to intervene in a conflict,” he said.
Some observers said the weapon showed in North Korean photos suggested it might be a smaller, lighter version of its nuclear-capable KN-23 missile that has a highly maneuverable flight aimed at defeating missile defense systems. Others said it could be a new missile that combines the technical characteristics of the KN-23 and another short-range ballistic missile called the KN-24.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it had detected two launches from the North’s eastern coastal town of Hamhung early Saturday evening.
It said the missiles flew about 110 kilometers (68 miles) at an altitude of 25 kilometers (16 miles) and a maximum speed of Mach 4. South Korea’s presidential office said officials have met twice this weekend to discuss the North Korean military activities.
South Korea’s military said later Sunday that its nine-day springtime drills with the United States will start on Monday. It said the allies decided to hold computer-simulated command post exercises that don’t involve field training after reviewing factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and the allies’ combined defense readiness.
The exercises could further intensify animosities on the Korean Peninsula because North Korea has previously responded with its own weapons tests and fiery rhetoric.
North Korea has started this year with a slew of weapons tests, including its first flight test of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. homeland since 2017. South Korea recently said it has detected signs that North Korea is rebuilding tunnels at a nuclear testing ground it partially dismantled weeks before it entered now-dormant nuclear talks with the United States in 2018.
A possible nuclear test by North Korea would involve a tactical nuclear warhead, said analyst Cheong Seong-Chang at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea. He predicted that North Korea would push to mount a tactical nuclear warhead on the weapon tested this weekend and deploy such nuclear missiles near the border with South Korea.
“North Korea has a domestic imperative to make and perfect weapons ordered by Kim Jong Un last year regardless of what the U.S. does or doesn’t do. The test also tells his people that their country is strong despite their apparent economic difficulties,” said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at Washington’s Center for a New American Security. “One reason for the political timing could be to protest anticipated U.S.-South Korea military drills.”
On Friday, Kim attended a massive civilian parade in Pyongyang that marked the milestone 110th birthday of his state-founding grandfather, Kim Il Sung. It appeared the country passed its most important national holiday without a highly anticipated military parade to showcase its new weapons systems.
Kim may still hold a military parade on the April 25 founding anniversary of North Korea’s army. But if that anniversary goes without a military parade again, some experts say that might mean Kim doesn’t have new powerful missiles to display and that his next provocative step will likely be a nuclear test.
___
Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/north-korea-says-it-tested-new-tactical-guided-weapon/ | 2022-04-17T15:14:24Z |
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan dies aged 73
By Mostafa Salem, CNN
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates President whose modernization policies helped transform his country into a regional powerhouse, died on Friday aged 73, state media WAM said.
“The Ministry of Presidential Affairs mourn the people of the UAE, the Arab and Islamic nations, and the whole world. The leader of the nation and the patron of its march, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, passed away to the Lord’s side today, Friday, May 13,” WAM said.
“The Ministry of Presidential Affairs announces an official mourning and flags to be flown at half-mast for the late His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, for a period of 40 days, starting today, and suspending work in ministries, departments, federal and local institutions, and the private sector for 3 days, starting today (Friday),” WAM said in a tweet.
Sheikh Khalifa’s role had been largely ceremonial since he suffered a stroke and underwent surgery in 2014. His brother and Abu Dhabi’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, has been widely seen as the de-facto leader of the UAE, handling day-to-day affairs for the Gulf state.
Sheikh Khalifa was appointed as the second president of the UAE in 2004, succeeding his father and founder of the nation, Sheikh Zayed al Nahyan.
Born in 1948 in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa was the eldest son of Sheikh Zayed. Prior to his role as president, he was crown prince of Abu Dhabi and headed Abu Dhabi’s Supreme Petroleum Council, which drafts oil policy.
As president he headed one of the largest investment funds in the world, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, managing hundreds of billions of dollars in assets.
One of the world’s tallest buildings, the Burj Khalifa, took on his name after the UAE government bailed Dubai out of its debt, and as a sports fan he supported the acquisition of English Premier League soccer club Manchester City.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-europe-mideast-africa/2022/05/13/uae-president-sheikh-khalifa-bin-zayed-al-nahyan-dies-aged-73-2/ | 2022-05-13T14:47:11Z |
Families of Uvalde, Buffalo victims to testify in Congress
WASHINGTON (AP) — Parents of victims and survivors of the mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde will appear before a House committee next week in an effort to bring home the devastation of America’s gun violence epidemic.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the chairwoman of the Oversight Committee, said Friday the hearing will examine the human impact of gun violence and the urgency for lawmakers to enact gun control legislation.
“It is my hope that all my colleagues will listen with an open heart as gun violence survivors and loved ones recount one of the darkest days of their lives,” Maloney said in a statement. “This hearing is ultimately about saving lives, and I hope it will galvanize my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass legislation to do just that.”
The panel for Wednesday’s hearing will include testimony from the mother of a 20-year-old man who was shot in a racist mass shooting last month in a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, as well as the parents of a 10-year-old girl shot and killed in her elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, 12 days later.
The panel will also hear from Miah Cerrillo, a fourth-grader who covered herself in her dead classmate’s blood and played dead to survive the shooting rampage in Uvalde. The committee said the testimonies will take place either in person or virtually.
The announcement of the hearing comes days after the Oversight Committee launched an investigation into five leading manufacturers of the semi-automatic weapons used in both recent shootings. The committee, controlled by a Democratic majority, is no stranger to examining gun violence in America. But the recent spate of killings has reached a boiling point on Capitol Hill and around the country.
It also comes a day after President Joe Biden issued his strongest appeal yet for Congress to take action on guns as bipartisan talks are intensifying among a core group of senators.
The private discussions in the Senate, which is split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, are not expected to produce the kinds of sweeping reforms being considered by the Democratic-led House — which has approved expansive background checks legislation and will next turn to an assault weapons ban.
A House package debated Thursday — and approved by a committee, 25-19 — is less sweeping but includes a provision raising the required age for buying semi-automatic firearms to 21. It still faces slim chances in the Senate.
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Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/03/families-uvalde-buffalo-victims-testify-congress/ | 2022-06-03T17:39:21Z |
Hydrant heist: Strong couple steals Louisville fire equipment in broad daylight
LOUISVILLE – Police are searching for two people who walked off with a city fire hydrant.
Police posted a Ring video on Facebook Wednesday showing two people ― apparently a man and a woman ― loading up a red fire hydrant into the trunk of their car along Baier Avenue. A German shepherd's head is poking out of one of the back windows of their vehicle.
The fire hydrant is heavy, as they strain to get it into the trunk.
The hydrant had been struck by a vehicle earlier and had been sitting on its side.
The Police Department's Facebook post has left many people wondering how you go about stealing a fire hydrant in the first place.
"Who the hell steals a fire hydrant in broad daylight? Wow," one commenter said.
Police couldn't immediately be reached Wednesday for comment.
Anyone who knows about the theft is asked to contact detective John Pilla at 330-875-2871 or e-mail him at Jpilla@louisvilleohio.org. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/crime/2022/08/24/fire-hydrant-stolen-in-louisville-police-asking-for-publics-help/65418627007/ | 2022-08-24T22:35:39Z |
Man found guilty of asking 11-year-old relative to record him having sex
WACO, Texas (KWTX/Gray News) – A Texas man who asked an 11-year-old family member to record him having sex with his girlfriend was convicted Tuesday.
Jurors deliberated for about two hours before finding Joshua David Orler, a 35-year-old construction worker, guilty of 10 counts of indecency with a child by exposure.
The punishment phase of the trial began Wednesday morning. He faces up to 10 years in prison on each count for a total of 100 years.
Orler was also found guilty of showing the young girl a tattoo of Hello Kitty on his genitalia when she inquired about it after watching him have sex with his girlfriend multiple times.
Orler denied the allegations during testimony Tuesday afternoon, but could not offer a reason why the girl would make up the story.
The girl said she was hesitant to come forward because she didn’t want Orler to get in trouble. However, she said as the pressure intensified to keep his secret, she could no longer hide it and reported it to her mother.
Orler’s girlfriend, Cristina Marsh, 27, also has been charged and is under indictment on five counts of indecency with a child by exposure.
The girl said the inappropriate sexual conduct started two years ago when she was spending the night at Orler’s home. She said she fell asleep on the couch and woke up and saw Orler and Marsh having sex in the bedroom. She said she watched for a while, apologized and then went back to sleep.
Orler, who spent a year in a state jail after his probation for methamphetamine possession was revoked, told her not to tell anyone what she had seen or he would go back to prison, she testified.
“That brought a lot of pressure on me,” the girl, now 13, told the jury.
On another visit, she woke up again in the middle of the night to find Orler and Marsh having sex again, she said. However, this time, Orler said she could come in and watch their sexual encounter. She said she asked questions about what they were doing, and they taught her the slang terms for the sex acts they were performing.
Assistant District Attorney Tara Avants, who is prosecuting the case with Will Hix, asked the girl how many times she watched Orler and Marsh have sex.
“I don’t really know,” she said. “A lot of times.”
She said she saw them have sex at Marsh’s house and they took her to a hotel in Waco once, where they also had sex there.
The girl said Marsh caught her watching porn videos on an iPad, and Marsh offered to answer any questions she might have about what she was seeing. She told the jury that Orler asked her to use the iPad to record him and Marsh and gave her instructions about how to keep the camera still so it would look like it was sitting on a table.
Attorneys did not play the sexually explicit videos for the jury of four men and eight women. However, the prosecutors showed photos of Orler’s genitalia that features the Hello Kitty tattoo.
Orler got the tattoo in prison because he said inmates have too much time on their hands and “there is nothing else to do when you are locked up.”
He told the jury he did not knowingly have sex in front of the girl or ask her to record him. He said she learned about his Hello Kitty tattoo because members of the family wanted to know if he got any tattoos in prison and mentioned it frequently.
“I’m not that kind of person,” he said. “I don’t like people like that. That’s just not who I am.”
Two members of Orler’s family and a family friend all testified for the defense that Orler is not the kind of person to do what he is charged with.
Copyright 2022 KWTX via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/25/man-found-guilty-asking-11-year-old-relative-record-him-having-sex/ | 2022-05-25T18:19:08Z |
The beta is a continuation of AskGrowers' mission to keep the cannabis community informed of the ever-growing selection of сannabis product offerings available and the stories behind the people innovating the space
NEW YORK and UKRAINE, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Launched in 2019 by Irene Stepanenko and Igor Dunaevsky, AskGrowers began as a website providing helpful information about cannabis to beginners and blossoming consumers and growers through product information and original profiles. Having grown significantly since then, AskGrowers now curates a selection of cannabis products for its over 100,000 users per month. The beta version includes the ability to sell and showcase THC and CBD products by brands, dispensaries, and deliveries in states where it is legal.
"There is clearly a large demand for cannabis products. AskGrowers now offers its audiences a unique experience for discovering and shopping for THC and CBD products," says Irene Stepaneko, CEO of AskGrowers. "For brand partners, AskGrowers' expansion provides an opportunity to reach our engaged audience of cannabis customers."
With more than 250,000 page views per month, AskGrowers is the go-to place for information about cannabis and the surrounding culture. Partner brands will be able to create a business page and its content, SEO optimization by AskGrowers specialists, and assistance in integrating the product feed. As a thought leader in the industry, users search for cannabis-related information on AskGrowers before purchasing products. Brands will gain exposure by being there when consumers are ready to make that purchase. The end goal is to connect the website's readers to the brands that best fit their needs.
"This beta version allows us to collect feedback from cannabis businesses about their needs quickly. AskGrowers will take their feedback to create and customize the platform's capabilities," says Denys Svirepchuk, Product Manager at AskGrowers. "The end result is an increase in the number of satisfied buyers."
Brands can enjoy the following benefits:
- Feature on the homepage brand section
- Product page with up-to-date information
- Integrated product feed to dispensaries and cannabis deliveries
- Highlight your brand with strains based on visitors' geolocation.
For brands looking to learn more, visit business@askgrowers.com.
Contact
Karen Laverty
pr@askgrowers.com
781.697.0514
About AskGrowers
AskGrowers.com is a cannabis resource portal specializing in the gathering and providing of detailed brand and product information from legal cannabis businesses across the United States. Operating entirely online, AskGrowers offers in-depth product reviews and brand profiles designed to keep consumers well-informed and confident of their online cannabis purchases. Founded in New York in 2019, AskGrowers operates offices in New York and Ukraine, and focuses on states with either legal, recreational or medical programs. It is a member of the National Cannabis Industry Association and Cannabis Marketing Association.
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SOURCE AskGrowers | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/askgrowers-launches-beta-website-connecting-cannabis-consumers-their-favorite-brands/ | 2022-05-18T12:35:23Z |
The Top Corporations honored by WBENC have demonstrated a dedicated commitment to the survival and success of women-owned businesses during 2020 and 2021
ATLANTA, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is proud to announce that 18 corporations have been named to the America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises Hall of Fame and 63 corporations have been honored with the prestigious America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises (WBEs): Resiliency Edition award.
WBENC applauds the Top Corporations Hall of Fame honorees for their dedication to successfully implementing world-class diversity and inclusion programs that enable growth and innovation, while breaking down barriers for women entrepreneurs. The WBENC Hall of Fame distinction of the Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises exemplifies exceptional leadership in corporate supplier diversity programs and supply chains. These companies set the highest standards and a sustained commitment to leading practices and innovation in their support for women-owned businesses.
Additional recognition goes to the America's Top Corporations: Resiliency Edition, which have shown an intensified commitment to supporting and working with women-owned businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the ongoing challenges that the world has faced.
Supplier diversity leadership efforts by the Top Corporations Hall of Fame and Top Corporations: Resiliency Edition awardees throughout 2020 and 2021 include:
- Involvement and contributions to WBENC COVID-19 initiatives, such as focused problem-solving sessions around the crisis related to Supplier Diversity, procurement and supply chains.
- Support for enhanced WBENC virtual programming, including WeTHRIVE, an executive education and development program delivered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, and participation in industry-specific engagement opportunities with WBEs.
- Commitment to the development of a Financial Resource Center, the WBENC Financial Center of Excellence, providing financial support and educational resources.
- Grant programs through WBENC Women of Color, WBENC Pitch, NextGen, and WBENC Certification providing much-needed funds to women entrepreneurs, particularly Women of Color.
- Increased engagement with WBENC-Certified suppliers where possible, through a WBENC COVID-19 Suppliers and Resource Center, for products and/or services needed ranging from supplies and testing services, to PPE and sanitation and cleaning products.
All of the Top Corporations Hall of Fame and Top Corporations: Resiliency Edition were honored during the 2022 WBENC National Conference June 7 – 9, 2002 in Atlanta, Georgia, the first large scale event for the WBENC network since 2019.
The America's Top Corporations Hall of Fame for Women's Business Enterprises are (in alphabetical order):
AT&T
Bank of America
BP
Bristol Myers Squibb
Capital One
Chevron
Exxon Mobil
EY
IBM
General Motors Company
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Marriott International
Shell
TOYOTA
UPS
Walmart
Wells Fargo
The America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises: Resiliency Edition are (in alphabetical order):
AARP
Adient
Allstate Insurance Company
Altria Group, Inc.
AT&T
Bristol Myers Squibb
Bank of America
BP America, Inc.
Caesars Entertainment
Capital One
Chevron
Cummins Inc.
Cushman & Wakefield
CVS Health
Dell Technologies
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
DTE Energy
Exxon Mobil Corporation
EY
FedEx
Ford Motor Company
General Motors Company, LLC
Google (Alphabet Inc.)
GSK
Hilton
The Home Depot, Inc.
Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC.
IBM Corporation
Johnson & Johnson
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Kellogg Company
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Macy's Inc.
ManpowerGroup
Marriott International
MassMutual
Medtronic
Merck & Co.
Meta Platforms, Inc.
Nissan North America, Inc.
Office Depot, Inc.
Procter & Gamble
PepsiCo, Inc.
Pfizer Inc.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Raytheon Technologies
Robert Half
Southern California Edison
Shell USA, Inc.
Stellantis
Target Corporation
The Coca-Cola Company
T-Mobile US Inc.
TOYOTA
UPS
Verizon
VISTRA
Walmart Inc.
The Walt Disney Company
Waste Management
Wells Fargo
To learn more about the WBENC National Conference and America's Top Corporations for WBEs, visit https://www.wbenc.org/.
WBENC is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled, and operated by women in the United States. WBENC partners with 14 Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs) to provide its world-class standard of certification to women-owned businesses throughout the country. WBENC is also the nation's leading advocate of women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, supported by more than 450 Corporate Members, most of which are in the Fortune 500. Throughout the year, WBENC provides business development opportunities for member corporations, government agencies and more than 18,000 certified women-owned businesses at events and other forums. Learn more at www.wbenc.org
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SOURCE Women's Business Enterprise National Council | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/womens-business-enterprise-national-council-announces-americas-top-corporations-womens-business-enterprises-hall-fame-americas-top-corporations-resiliency-edition/ | 2022-06-16T17:26:37Z |
BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Wednesday that his government remains committed to phasing out nuclear power despite concerns about rising energy prices and possible future shortages due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Germany shut down half of its six nuclear plants in December and the remaining three are due to cease production at the end of this year as part of the country’s long-running plan to phase out conventional power plants in favor of renewable energy.
But the war in Ukraine has renewed fears that Germany’s power-hungry economy might be badly battered if Russia decides to suddenly cut natural gas supplies.
Opposition parties have called for the lifetimes of Germany’s nuclear plants to be extended, a proposal that Finance Minister Christian Lindner from the pro-businesses Free Democrats has said should be discussed in a “non-ideological” way.
Scholz, who leads a three-party coalition, dismissed the idea, saying a decision had been made to end the use of nuclear power.
“We also know that building new nuclear power plants makes little sense,” he said at a news conference with foreign correspondents in Berlin.
“If someone decides to do so now they would have to spend 12-18 billion euros on each nuclear power plants and it wouldn’t open until 2037 or 2038,” said Scholz. “And besides, the fuel rods are generally imported from Russia. As such one should think about what one does.”
“That’s why the government, all the governing parties unanimously, are counting on (…) the massive expansion of renewable energy,” he added.
According to Germany’s Economy Ministry, nuclear power currently provides only 5% of the country’s electricity.
Still, in an effort to stave off possible electricity shortages, the German government announced measures Wednesday to temporarily keep additional coal-fired power plants on stand-by for almost two years.
A draft law agreed upon by Cabinet would ensure that coal-fired plants in Germany previously scheduled for closure remain in functional condition.
Germany already has several other coal and oil-fired plants on stand-by that can be activated in an emergency.
Government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann said the decision was important “in light of the Russian attack on Ukraine and the tense situation on the energy markets.”
But she insisted that won’t affect Germany’s long-term energy plans.
“The goal of completing the phaseout of coal in Germany ideally by 2030, and the climate targets, remain in place,” Hoffmann said.
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Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
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Follow all AP stories on climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate. | https://cw33.com/health/ap-health/germany-to-keep-more-coal-plants-on-hand-in-case-of-gas-cuts/ | 2022-06-08T23:35:35Z |
HOUSTON (KIAH) — As the baby formula shortage continues to spread throughout the U.S., moms and families here in Houston, as well as Texas, are seeing the impacts as well.
Texas is at the top of the list of states experiencing a mass shortage of baby formula supply.
In fact, The Motherhood Center in Houston says families are driving across state lines looking for milk and formula. Some parents are ordering from other countries.
Texas isn’t the only state facing this problem. Iowa, North and South Dakota, Missouri, and Tennessee are also experiencing a widespread shortage. Aside from those states, 26 others are also running low on baby formula.
This issue started back in February when the FDA recalled three brands of powdered formula due to potential bacterial infections.
Now, companies are struggling to meet the current demand. Mothers are turning to other alternatives. However, health officials are warning mothers about the dangers of diluting formula or attempting to make their own.
“Because the nutrition value, it’s hard to recreate. And so – and some parents are even trying to dilute the formula with some water and that’s again not good and healthy for babies,” said Gabriela Gerhart, Founder, and President of the Motherhood Center.
Some local stores are limiting customers on the number of formula cans they can buy at one time. The Motherhood Center says their limit is five cans per week.
“If you don’t need it, don’t stack up. Because it’s really – there are other families which ruly need it. And now they are not able to provide for their children,” said Gerhart.
As the out-of-stock rates continue to rise, parents are starting to worry.
“We literally have traveled hundreds of miles. But, now we’re stuck with they only have the big cans so we’re stuck paying double the price than we normally would,” said one mother.
In July of 2021, the rate was between two and eight percent. From November 2021 to April 2022, the rate increased to 31 percent. Within the last three weeks, the out-of-stock rate has jumped up to 40 percent.
The Motherhood Center says manufacturers are producing at full capacity.
Baby formula alternatives
If your family is running low on supplies, here are a few things you can do at home.
- Freeze the formula
- Seek donations from a milk bank
- Purchase from overseas. Europe to be specific.
The organization also recommends checking with your local milk bank or using social media groups to connect with other moms in need. For additional resources, you can contact The Motherhood Center.
That number is 713-963-8880. Their facility is located at 3701 W. Alabama Ste 230,
Houston, TX 77027. | https://cw33.com/news/texas/baby-formula-recall-leads-to-widespread-shortage-in-texas/ | 2022-05-10T15:32:59Z |
WASHINGTON, June 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As the first tropical storm system of the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season threatens South Florida, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to be prepared for power outages and to take steps now to keep their families safe from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, fire, and electric shock risks after the storm passes.
Loss of Power—Using a Generator Safely
Consumers need to be especially careful when storms knock out electrical power. Gasoline-powered portable generators can create an increased risk of CO poisoning that can kill in minutes. CO is called the invisible killer because it is colorless and odorless. CO poisoning from portable generators can happen so quickly that exposed persons may become unconscious before recognizing the symptoms of nausea, dizziness or weakness.
CPSC estimates that approximately 80 people die each year from CO poisoning caused by portable generators in the United States. The latest CPSC report shows that African Americans are at higher risk, accounting for 22 percent of generator-related CO deaths from 2010 through 2020, nearly double their estimated 13 percent share of the U.S. population.
Consumers who plan to use a portable generator in the case of a power loss should follow these tips:
- Never operate a portable generator inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace, shed or on the porch. Opening doors or windows will not provide enough ventilation to prevent the buildup of lethal levels of CO.
- Operate portable generators outside only, at least 20 feet away from the house, and direct the generator's exhaust away from the home and any other buildings that someone could enter.
- Check that portable generators have had proper maintenance, and read and follow the labels, instructions and warnings on the generator and in the owner's manual.
- Ask retailers for portable generators that shut off automatically when high levels of CO are present. Some models with CO shut-off also have reduced emissions. These models may or may not be advertised as certified to the latest safety standards for portable generators - PGMA G300-2018 and UL 2201.
Check CO and Smoke Alarms
- Install battery-operated CO alarms or CO alarms with battery backup on each level and outside separate sleeping areas at home.
- Make sure smoke alarms are installed on every level and inside each bedroom at home.
- Test CO and smoke alarms monthly to make sure they are working properly and replace batteries, if needed. Never ignore an alarm when it sounds. Get outside immediately. Then call 911.
Dangers with Charcoal and Candles
- Never use charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal in an enclosed space can produce lethal levels of carbon monoxide. Do not cook on a charcoal grill in a garage, even with the door open.
- Use caution when burning candles. Use flashlights instead. If using candles, do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire. Never leave burning candles unattended. Extinguish candles when leaving the room and before sleeping.
Dangers with Wet Appliances:
- Look for signs that your appliances have gotten wet. Do not touch wet appliances that are still plugged into an electrical source.
- Before using your appliances, have a professional or your gas or electric company evaluate them for safety. Replace all gas control valves, electrical wiring, circuit breakers and fuses that have been under water.
Dangers with Gas Leaks:
- If you smell or hear gas leaking, leave your home immediately and contact local gas authorities from outside the home. Do not operate any electronics, such as lights or phone, before leaving.
Remember, it takes only one storm to wreak havoc causing mass destruction and loss of life. Stay informed, be prepared and keep safe!
CPSC resources:
Link to broadcast quality video for media:
- Hurricane Safety b-roll: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/XtFQ7YqK0x
- Flood safety b-roll: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/thCBWTX157
CPSC spokespeople are available for interviews. Email nnye@cpsc.gov or call 240-204-4410 to arrange for an interview.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
For lifesaving information:
- Visit CPSC.gov.
- Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC.
- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
- Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).
- Contact a media specialist.
Release Number: 22-150
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SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/03/cpsc-issues-life-saving-tips-millions-florida-path-tropical-storm-system/ | 2022-06-03T23:45:08Z |
Analytics leader recognized as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion
CARY, N.C., July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Workplace culture and analytics leader SAS received a top score of 100 in the 2022 Disability Equality Index®, which is acknowledged as the most robust disability inclusion assessment tool in business. The top score recognition highlights that SAS adheres to many of the leading disability inclusion practices featured in the survey, including culture, leadership and employment practices.
The index is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation's largest disability rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities.
This year's survey included questions about:
- Culture and leadership.
- Enterprise-wide access.
- Employment practices (including benefits, recruitment, employment, education, retention and advancement, accommodations).
- Community engagement.
- Supplier diversity.
- Non-US operations.
- Leadership.
"SAS has always taken pride in fostering an inclusive and welcoming work environment where all employees are equipped and enabled to do their jobs without barriers and can achieve their full potential," said Jenn Mann, SAS Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. "This distinction recognizes our inclusivity and accessibility practices and commitment to being a great workplace for all employees. As a company, we will continue to strive for progress, even if that doesn't mean perfection, and raise more opportunities to advance disability inclusion."
At SAS, disability inclusion is not the responsibility of one group within the company. All employees have a responsibility to create environments that enable all people to do their jobs without barriers. Through strengthening cross-functional partnerships, SAS has worked diligently to enhance its focus on accessibility and disability inclusion.
In 2022, 415 corporations, including 69 Fortune 100, 188 Fortune 500, and 227 Fortune 1000, utilized the Diversity Equality Index to benchmark their disability inclusion efforts.
"Disability inclusion is a rapidly expanding aspect of corporate culture, and it's gratifying to partner with 415 companies on the 2022 Disability Equality Index," said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN. "These top-scoring companies not only excel in disability inclusion, many are also adopting emerging trends and pioneering measures that can move the disability agenda from accommodation to inclusion and, ultimately, genuine belonging."
In addition to recently receiving the top score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Foundation's 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) and annually being ranked as one of the World's Best Workplaces, SAS has also received distinctions as a top place to work for millennials, parents, women and for diversity.
Learn more about the SAS culture and its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
About the Disability Equality Index®
The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality. Each company receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion." The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation's largest disability rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities. The organizations are complementary and bring unique strengths that make the project relevant and credible to corporations and the disability community. The tool was developed by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates. Learn more at: www.DisabilityEqualityIndex.org.
About SAS
SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW®.
SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. ® indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright © 2022 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.
Editorial Contact:
Kara Roberts
919-531-5449
sas.com/news
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SOURCE SAS | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/sas-receives-top-score-disability-equality-index/ | 2022-07-20T12:36:25Z |
Tax exemption/reduction bundle signed into law
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - The governor has signed a property tax bill that passed through the legislature with overwhelming support.
Among several tax-related provisions included in the legislation, House Bill 2239 increases the residential property tax exemption; provides additional tax exemptions for disabled veterans; and provides certain tax credits for teachers and aviation graduates.
“We have the opportunity to help Kansans who are feeling the impact of pandemic-induced inflation. With the largest budget surplus in decades, we can do both – provide property tax relief and finally eliminate the state sales tax on food,” Gov. Laura Kelly said.
The bill also eliminates the sales tax on supplies needed to repair farm fencing destroyed by storms and other disasters, an especially important measure in light of the recent wildfires across the state.
The bill passed unanimously through the Senate and received over a hundred votes in the House.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/14/tax-exemptionreduction-bundle-signed-into-law/ | 2022-04-14T22:17:16Z |
ATLANTA, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sharecare (Nasdaq: SHCR), the digital health company that helps people manage all their health in one place, today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. In addition, the company announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding for a multi-year strategic partnership with Carelon to integrate Sharecare's advocacy capabilities into Carelon's Health Guide services that currently support hundreds of thousands of members. Sharecare has also initiated a strategic review of its non-enterprise businesses to enhance shareholder value, which management and the board of directors do not believe is currently reflected in the share price. The company's $50 million share repurchase program previously announced on May 12, 2022, remains in place.
"Sharecare delivered solid second quarter results exceeding revenue and EBITDA guidance with continued progress on deploying our digital first strategy to drive enhanced engagement, increased access, and improved outcomes for our clients," said Jeff Arnold, chairman and CEO of Sharecare. "We remain confident in our ability to execute on our strategy given the continued demand and momentum in new business opportunities and client wins along with retaining our current customer base, which will support accelerated revenue growth and operating performance in 2023."
Mr. Arnold added, "Sharecare provides a comprehensive digital health navigation platform supporting a significant number of top payors and employers to deliver value to more than 11 million members every day. We are committed to continuing to improve operating performance while advancing innovative solutions for our customers. One example of the value Sharecare continues to bring to its customers is the successful launch of Sharecare+, a digital first advocacy platform developed in partnership with Elevance Health. Our partnership with Carelon will be the next step in driving significant scale of our solution."
Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results
All comparisons, unless otherwise noted, are to the three months ended June 30, 2021.
- Revenue of $103.8 million compared to $98.5 million, an increase of $5.3 million, or 5%.
- Net loss attributable to Sharecare of $29.0 million compared to net loss attributable to Sharecare of $20.2 million, an increase of $8.8 million. Adjusted net loss attributable to Sharecare of $6.8 million compared to adjusted net loss attributable to Sharecare of $3.6 million in the prior year period.
- Adjusted EBITDA of $2.1 million compared to $6.6 million, a decrease of $4.5 million, which reflects increased investments in people, most importantly, as well as sales force expansion to support growth, a sunset of the high-margin health security product, and the additional costs of being a public company.
- Net loss per share of $0.08 compared to $0.09, a decrease to net loss per share of $0.01, which reflects the aforementioned items impacting net loss.
- Adjusted loss per share of $0.02 for both periods, which excludes the impact of non-cash and non-operational amounts.
There is no definitive timeline for the company's strategic review, nor has the board of directors made any decisions related to any actions or potential strategic alternatives to fully unlock value of the company's assets and potential that are not fully reflected in the market today; therefore, the company does not intend to comment further until it determines that additional disclosure is appropriate or necessary.
Financial Outlook
In light of a delayed start date for a large enterprise client, the initiation of the strategic review, changing macro-economic environment affecting life sciences, and certain cost initiatives being undertaken by the company, Sharecare is suspending financial guidance for 2022. The company will hold an analyst day in Q4 2022.
Conference Call
The company will host a conference call to review the second quarter results today, Wednesday August 10, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. EDT. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (833) 636-1352 for U.S. participants, or (412) 902-4148 for international participants, and referencing the Sharecare call; or via live audio webcast, also available online at https://investors.sharecare.com. A webcast replay of the call will be available for on-demand listening at the same link and will remain available for approximately 90 days.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to our financial results determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we believe the non-GAAP measures adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), and adjusted earnings (loss) per share ("adjusted EPS") are useful in evaluating our operating performance. We use adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), and adjusted EPS to evaluate our ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures, when taken together with the corresponding GAAP financial measures, provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of our business, results of operations, or outlook. In particular, we believe that the use of these non-GAAP measures is helpful to our investors as these metrics are used by management in assessing the health of our business and our operating performance. However, non-GAAP financial information is presented for supplemental informational purposes only, has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate similarly titled non-GAAP measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of our non-GAAP financial measures.
The calculations and reconciliations of historic adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), and adjusted EPS to net income (loss), the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP, are provided below and in the accompanying financial tables. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliations and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.
We have not reconciled adjusted EBITDA guidance to net income (loss) because we do not provide guidance for net income (loss) or for items that we do not consider indicative of our ongoing performance, including, but not limited to, the impact of significant non-recurring items, as certain of these items are out of our control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. Accordingly, reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA guidance to the corresponding U.S. GAAP measures are not available without unreasonable effort.
Adjusted EBITDA
We calculate adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) adjusted to exclude (i) depreciation and amortization, (ii) interest income, (iii) interest expense, (iv) income tax (benefit) expense, (v) other (income)/expense (non-operating), (vi) share-based compensation, (vii) severance, (viii) warrants issued with revenue contracts, (ix) net costs associated with exiting contracts, and (x) transaction and closing costs. We do not view the items excluded as representative of our ongoing operations.
Adjusted Net Income (Loss)
We calculate adjusted net income (loss) as net income (loss) attributable to Sharecare, Inc. adjusted to exclude (i) amortization of acquired intangibles, (ii) amortization of deferred financing fees, (iii) change in fair value of warrant liability and contingent consideration, (iv) share-based compensation, (v) severance, (vi) warrants issued with revenue contracts, (vii) net costs associated with exiting contracts, (viii) transaction and closing costs, and (ix) the related income tax adjustments. We do not view the items excluded as representative of our ongoing operations.
Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share
We calculate adjusted EPS as adjusted net income (loss), as defined above, divided by the number of weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted.
About Sharecare
Sharecare is the leading digital health company that helps people – no matter where they are in their health journey – unify and manage all their health in one place. Our comprehensive and data-driven virtual health platform is designed to help people, providers, employers, health plans, government organizations, and communities optimize individual and population-wide well-being by driving positive behavior change. Driven by our philosophy that we are all together better, at Sharecare, we are committed to supporting each individual through the lens of their personal health and making high-quality care more accessible and affordable for everyone. To learn more, visit www.sharecare.com.
Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: "outlook," "target," "reflect," "on track," "foresees," "future," "may," "deliver," "will," "shall," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "project," "potential," "continue," "ongoing" or the negative of these terms, other comparable terminology (although not all forward-looking statements contain these words), or by discussions of strategy, plans, or intentions. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections of the future, about which we cannot be certain.
Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding a potential strategic review, our ability to realize the expected benefits of partnerships or other relationships with third parties or customers on our future growth objectives, our use of the share repurchase program and the statements under the caption "Financial Outlook."
We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. Descriptions of some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the Risk Factors section of the Company's Annual Report of Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022. Furthermore, if the forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
Media Relations:
Jen Martin Hall
jen@sharecare.com
Investor Relations:
Evan Smith, CFA
evan.smith@sharecare.com
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SOURCE Sharecare | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/sharecare-announces-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-operational-highlights/ | 2022-08-10T11:47:33Z |
The expanded capabilities of the combined company make it easier for businesses to achieve their best outcomes
KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SupplyLogic and WebbMason Marketing announced today that they have reached an agreement to merge the two entities. Combining the brands provides an unmatched portfolio of tech-enabled marketing services and solutions for print, digital, point of sale and branded merchandise program execution. WebbMason's creative and omni-channel solutions combined with SupplyLogic's technology, supply chain and execution capabilities offer businesses end-to-end national and local marketing execution that produces greater reach and revenue. Effective immediately, Phil Schoonmaker, CEO, will lead the combined entity, which will be named SupplyLogic WebbMason.
"I am excited to lead the company through this next step in our journey. This merger with WebbMason Marketing creates greater opportunities for our people, clients, and partners. By combining our solutions, we can solve the entire spectrum of marketing challenges from creative strategy through distribution. My top priorities are to provide a culture of inclusion and growth for our people and to be an innovative partner for our clients. I am looking forward to leading the company through this transformation and know that together, we will achieve great things."
- Phil Schoonmaker | CEO, SupplyLogic WebbMason
"The opportunity to combine two organizations with complimentary expertise is very exciting. SupplyLogic has proven they are the premier managed services provider in the US. WebbMason Marketing has been helping marketers succeed using technology and creative solutions for over 30 years. Together we cover the spectrum of what today's marketers are looking for. And we both have a client first culture."
- Doug Traxler | Former CEO, WebbMason Marketing and active Advisory Board Member, SupplyLogic WebbMason
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, SupplyLogic is a leader in technology-enabled managed services for complex brands, optimizing marketing effectiveness and procurement of the print, point of sale and branded merchandise categories. SupplyLogic is dedicated to helping organizations find more time and resources to strengthen their business.
For more information, please visit SupplyLogic's website at www.supplylogic.com and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/supplylogic/
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland, WebbMason Marketing is a leading full-service marketing firm focused on helping activate brands at the local level through engaging content, material and merchandise — providing upstream strategy, creative services and technology, connected to downstream production and distribution, both physical and digital.
For more information, please visit WebbMason's website at www.webbmason.com and on LinkedIn at (99+) WebbMason Marketing: Overview | LinkedIn
Contact
SupplyLogic
Phil Schoonmaker
CEO
pschoonmaker@supplylogic.com
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SOURCE SupplyLogic, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/supplylogic-amp-webbmason-marketing-merge-form-leading-comprehensive-marketing-solutions-organization/ | 2022-07-07T21:35:24Z |
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Police are investigating after a man robbed a Providence strip club at gunpoint Monday afternoon.
Cadillac Lounge manager Ed Imondi was counting money in his office as he prepared to open the strip club when the suspect walked in and pointed a gun at his head.
“At first, I thought it was a joke,” he recalled. “He said, ‘This is a robbery.’ I said, ‘What?’ and he said, ‘I’m going to rob the place.'”
Imondi said he had one of the club’s two safes open and roughly $3,500 in his hand at the time, which the man took.
The man then demanded Imondi open the other safe, which contained $22,000 in $1 bills.
“He took all the ones, I could hear him stacking them into the big bag he had,” Imondi recalled. “Obviously, he knew we had a lot of money in there.”
“He loaded up the bag and said, ‘That’s it, don’t turn around. I’m leaving,'” he continued.
The man then left the club through a back door, hopped a fence and ran across the nearby train tracks, according to Imondi.
Imondi said the suspect knew the layout of the building, including which safe had the most money inside.
That’s one of the reasons why he and owner Dick Shappy believe it may have been an inside job.
“Why would you not care about the [safe] that I already have open? You can see there’s money in there,” Imondi said. “He said, ‘No, not that safe. I want the money that’s in that one.’ … What does that tell you? Somebody knows something here.”
Police detained a person of interest at a nearby Walgreens a couple of hours after the robbery. So far, no charges have been filed. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/man-robs-strip-club-takes-22k-in-1-bills-from-safe/ | 2022-07-19T13:30:56Z |
LAS VEGAS, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vestin Realty Mortgage I, Inc. ("Vestin") today announced the completion of its acquisition by Suncrest Holdings, LLC, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $3.4 million.
About Vestin Realty Mortgage I, Inc.
Vestin Realty Mortgage I, Inc., formerly Vestin Fund I, LLC, invests in loans secured by real estate through deeds of trust or mortgages and as defined in our management agreement as mortgage assets. In addition, we invest in, acquire, manage, or sell real property and acquire entities involved in the ownership or management of real property, as well as securities. We commenced operations in June 2001. Vestin Realty Mortgage I, Inc. is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For additional information regarding Vestin Realty Mortgage I, please visit www.vestinrealtymortgage1.com.
About Suncrest Holdings, LLC
Suncrest Holdings, LLC is a privately held firm recently formed to hold the share ownership in Vestin Realty Mortgage I. Inc. as described above. It has no prior operating history.
Contact
Damon Elder
Spotlight Marketing Communications
949.427.1377
damon@spotlightmarcom.com
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SOURCE Vestin Realty Mortgage I, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/suncrest-holdings-llc-completes-acquisition-vestin-realty-mortgage-i-inc/ | 2022-07-05T16:09:50Z |
3rd day of deliberations ends with no verdict yet in Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — The third day of deliberations ended Wednesday without a verdict in a trial that centers on a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker urged jurors to keep their thoughts about the case private when away from the courthouse.
“We’re obviously at a delicate time,” he said. “You’re in the midst of deliberations. You now know a lot more about the case than you ever expected to know and a lot more about each other’s views than you ever expected to know.”
Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr., Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta are charged with a kidnapping conspiracy. Three of them also face additional charges, including conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, namely an explosive.
The trial has covered 18 days since March 8, including 13 days of testimony.
Prosecutors said the conspiracy against Whitmer was fueled by anti-government extremism and anger over her COVID-19 restrictions. The men trained with a crudely built “shoot house” to replicate her vacation home in September 2020, according to testimony.
Fox and Croft, traveled to Elk Rapids, Michigan, that same weekend to see the location of the governor’s lakeside property and a nearby bridge, evidence showed. Harris and Caserta have been described as “soldiers” in the scheme.
Another man, Ty Garbin, who pleaded guilty, said the goal was to get Whitmer before the fall election and create enough chaos to create a civil war and stop Joe Biden from winning the presidency.
Defense lawyers attacked the government’s investigation and the use of a crucial informant, Dan Chappel. They claimed Chappel was the real leader, taking direction from the FBI and keeping the group on edge while recording them for months.
Croft is from Bear, Delaware, while the others are from Michigan.
Whitmer, a Democrat, rarely talks publicly about the plot, though she referred to “surprises” during her term that seemed like “something out of fiction” when she filed for reelection on March 17.
She has blamed former President Donald Trump for fomenting anger over coronavirus restrictions and refusing to condemn right-wing extremists like those charged in the case.
___
Find AP’s full coverage of the Whitmer kidnap plot trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/whitmer-kidnap-plot-trial
___
White reported from Detroit.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/04/06/jury-deliberations-enter-3rd-day-gov-whitmer-kidnap-plot/ | 2022-04-07T05:54:09Z |
SAINT HELIER, Jersey, June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CoinShares International Limited (Nasdaq First North Growth Market: CS; US OTCQX: CNSRF) ("the Company"), Europe's largest and longest standing digital asset investment firm, hereby makes public the following information received from persons discharging managerial responsibilities in the Company and/or persons closely related with them.
On Tuesday 7 June 2022, Mr Daniel Masters, the Chairman of the Company, purchased a net total of 2,143 shares via open market purchases.
- Name: Mr Daniel Masters (purchase)
- Holdings before transaction (no. of shares): 15,287,245
- Transaction (no. of shares): 2,143
- Holdings after transaction (no. of shares): 15,289,388
About CoinShares
CoinShares is Europe's largest and longest standing digital asset investment firm, managing billions of assets on behalf of a global client base. Our mission is to expand access to the digital asset ecosystem by pioneering new financial products and services that provide investors with trust and transparency when accessing this new asset class. CoinShares is publicly listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market under ticker CS and the OTCQX under the ticker CNSRF.
For more information on CoinShares, visit: https://coinshares.com
Investor Relations Contact
Jared Demark
203-722-9925
jdemark@coinshares.com
Company
+44 (0)1534 513 100
enquiries@coinshares.com
Certified Advisor
Mangold Fondkommission AB
+46 (0)8 503 015 50
ca@mangold.se
This information is information that CoinShares International Limited is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014. The information in this press release has been published through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 08:00 pm BST on Friday, 10 June 2022.
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SOURCE CoinShares Group | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/coinshares-group-directorpdmr-dealing/ | 2022-06-10T20:20:11Z |
CHICAGO, April 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Portage Point Partners, LLC (Portage Point), a business advisory, interim management and financial services firm that partners with companies and their stakeholders during periods of complexity, transition and underperformance, announced today that Jason Cohen has joined the firm as Managing Director & Head of Investment Banking.
Jason brings 25 years of experience in corporate finance and restructuring, spending the last 15 years in the Restructuring Group at Lazard. Jason's work focuses on recapitalizations, financings, liability management, restructurings and sales across a myriad of industries.
"There has been a consistent and growing demand from our middle market clients to provide high performance investment banking execution capabilities alongside our performance improvement, business transformation, interim management and restructuring services", said Matthew Ray, Founder & Managing Partner of Portage Point. "While we have begun providing investment banking services to meet client demand, Jason's leadership will supercharge our capabilities and further our goal of building an elite boutique practice focused exclusively on serving middle market stakeholders. Having focused primarily on the middle market while at Lazard, including running the middle market restructuring practice, Jason's pedigree and capabilities are a natural addition to our growing platform of high-performance talent."
Prior to joining Lazard, Jason spent nearly a decade practicing law in the Financial Restructuring department of the law firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. While at Cadwalader, Jason represented various parties in interest in numerous restructurings across a variety of industries. Jason received his undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut and his law degree from Brooklyn Law School.
"Expanding our service offerings into investment banking provides an additional tool in identifying, preserving and creating value for our clients. The team at Portage Point understands the financial and operational needs of middle market businesses and will continue to provide a best-in-class service offering," Mr. Cohen said. "It's a tremendous and unique opportunity to join this growing team. I look forward to building the practice, building the firm and bringing these services to an eager middle market client base."
About Portage Point Partners
Portage Point is a business advisory, interim management and financial services firm that partners with companies and their stakeholders navigating complexity, transition and underperformance. The firm is comprised of an operationally oriented team encompassing a broad range of expertise built to maximize value and align stakeholder interests while guiding businesses through the most urgent and complex challenges ranging from performance improvement to accelerated transformation to complex financial restructuring.
Since its founding in 2016, industry-leading organizations have honored Portage Point with numerous firm, transaction and individual awards. For more information, please visit www.portagepointpartners.com.
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SOURCE Portage Point Partners | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/21/portage-point-taps-lazard-veteran-build-middle-market-investment-banking-practice/ | 2022-04-21T07:51:47Z |
DUBLIN, Calif. (AP) — For months, inmates and staff say, their calls for help were ignored. And in this aging prison of deep despair — a place where sexual abuse has been rampant, authorities acted with utter indifference and the workforce was deeply demoralized — the cries for help had been many and varied.
Just weeks earlier, an Associated Press investigation had revealed a culture of abuse and cover-ups that had persisted for years at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, a women-only facility called the “rape club” by many who know it. Because of AP reporting, the head of the federal Bureau of Prisons had submitted his resignation in January. Yet no one had been named to replace him, so he was still on the job.
Now he was responding to the problems in Dublin — but only after an angry congresswoman had called him to complain.
So early March found the lame-duck administrator, flanked by a task force of senior agency officials, arriving at the prison after flying in to meet inmates and staff in person. According to Dublin inmates, this was how he faced them as he toured the facility:
“You wanted my attention,” Michael Carvajal said, “so here I am.”
___
‘TRUST HAS BEEN BROKEN’
“It’s horrible. It’s absolutely horrible. I’ve never experienced anything like this. In my career, I’ve never been part of a situation like this. This is really unprecedented.”
Those words, spoken about the troubled Dublin facility, come not from an activist or inmate advocate, not from any elected official, not from anywhere outside the prison walls. They come from Thahesha Jusino, its newly installed warden.
Her predecessor, Ray J. Garcia, is one of five Dublin employees who have been charged since last June with sexually abusing inmates.
“We’ve really lost a lot of credibility through all of this, which is understandable, because it’s appalling what has happened,” Jusino said in an interview with the AP.
This story is based on interviews with more than a dozen people familiar with the visiting task force’s work, the prison’s operations and the abuse crisis. They include current and former inmates, employees, lawyers, government and union officials. Many spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation or because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
The AP visited Dublin, about 21 miles (34 kilometers) east of Oakland, during the same time as the task force’s visit, the week of March 7. Lawmakers, disturbed by reports of abuse, also traveled there shortly after. Carvajal and some task force members returned to Dublin in April. In one sign of progress, the agency replaced both of the prison’s associate wardens.
Carvajal, a Trump administration holdover, submitted his resignation Jan. 5 but said he would stay on until a successor is named. He joined the task force for the first three days of its weeklong first visit to Dublin.
But even as the task force was arriving, and as scrutiny from the outside appeared finally to be at hand, things did not seem to be proceeding in a positive direction.
Officials moved inmates out of the special housing unit so it wouldn’t look as full when the task force got there. And they lied to Carvajal about COVID-19 contamination so inmates in a certain unit couldn’t speak to him about abuse.
Those who managed to get to Carvajal didn’t hold back. In one emotional scene, a woman who said she was abused by prison officials tearfully confronted him in a recreation area as he and members of the task force were meeting with inmates.
The woman shared graphic details of her alleged abuse. She spoke for about 15 minutes and grew increasingly upset, calming down only after prison officials brought her tissues. She was eventually taken out of the room and brought to a prison psychologist, where she was offered immediate release to a halfway house.
She objected. She wanted to wait so she could tell her story publicly to congressional leaders expected at the prison. But people at the prison say she wasn’t able to thoroughly express her concerns.
Bureau of Prisons and Justice Department officials told the woman that because she was a potential witness, she couldn’t talk about the investigation, the people said. The woman was moved to a halfway house soon after the tour.
In another charged moment, a group of Dublin workers lashed out at Carvajal for putting Garcia in charge of a women’s prison when he’d already had a reputation in prison circles as a misogynist.
“You created this monster,” one worker told Carvajal. Asked another: “Why did you create this toxic environment? Why did you pick Garcia as the warden?”
Garcia is accused of molesting an inmate on multiple occasions from December 2019 to March 2020 and forcing her and another inmate to strip naked so he could take pictures while he made rounds. Investigators said they found the images on his government-issued cellphone. His lawyer refused an interview request.
Garcia is also accused of using his authority to intimidate one of his victims, telling her that he was “close friends” with the person investigating staff misconduct and boasting that he could not be fired. He has pleaded not guilty.
Carvajal promoted Garcia from associate warden to warden at Dublin in November 2020, after Garcia’s alleged misconduct but before the agency said it knew about it. Carvajal told the workers that if he had known about Garcia’s reputation or alleged abuse, he would’ve chosen a different warden.
Speaking to inmates about Garcia, however, Carvajal said something a bit different — that he believed in “innocent until proven guilty.”
___
AN UNEASY HISTORY
FCI Dublin is one of just six women-only facilities in the U.S. federal prison system. As of Wednesday, Dublin had about 785 inmates, many serving sentences for drug crimes.
It opened in 1974 as a federal youth center in which men and women ages 18 to 26 lived in a campus-like setting. The concept was later abandoned.
In 1977, the Bureau of Prisons converted the facility into a traditional adult prison — first for female inmates like the high-profile heiress Patty Hearst and then, in 1980, for men and women. It went back to being a women’s prison in 2012.
Throughout FCI Dublin’s existence, it has been troubled by sexual abuse.
In 1996, three female inmates sued the Bureau of Prisons, alleging they were “sold like sex slaves” by correctional officers who placed them in a male unit, unlocked their cells and allowed male inmates to rape them. No one was arrested; the agency agreed to settle the lawsuit for $500,000.
Separately, in the late 1990s, four officers were charged with engaging in sexual conduct with inmates. And in the early 2010s, about a dozen Dublin employees were quietly removed for sexually abusing inmates. None was arrested, according to a person working there at the time. One worker was allowed to retire after videotapes were found in his locker of him having sex with inmates.
More recently, two of the five employees charged since last June with sexually abusing inmates have pleaded guilty, and the investigation continues: On March 20, a food service foreman was arrested for allegedly touching an inmate’s breasts, buttocks and genitals in October 2020.
Since March, nine other workers have been placed on administrative leave by the Bureau of Prisons. New inmate sexual abuse and staff employment discrimination complaints were filed during the task force’s visit. FBI agents conducted searches at the prison and an employee’s home in mid-April, and at least six internal affairs investigators have been on site investigating claims.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, who is being briefed regularly on issues in the beleaguered federal prison system, said the Justice Department was committed to “holding BOP personnel accountable, including through criminal charges.” Said Monaco: “Staff misconduct, at any level, will not be tolerated, and our efforts to root it out are far from over.”
Attorney General Merrick Garland, asked about Dublin at a U.S. Senate budget hearing Tuesday, said it was Monaco’s idea — not Carvajal’s — to form a task force “to investigate and determine the procedural failures” at the prison. He cited the prosecution of accused employees, an ongoing internal investigation and the selection of Jusino as warden as steps toward improving conditions.
“This is another really terrible set of events,” Garland said.
Justice Department spokesperson Kristina Mastropasqua said the task force that visited Dublin had reported allegations of misconduct to the prison system’s internal affairs office, where investigators “opened a case file for each allegation.”
Also during the task force’s visit, numerous complaints were filed by inmates and staff members alleging sexual harassment, misconduct and violations of the Prison Rape Elimination Act and federal Equal Employment Opportunity laws.
How many complaints were received? Asked by the AP, the Bureau of Prisons said it couldn’t say.
___
REAL CHANGE, OR PERFORMANCE?
For all the disturbing details the March task force took in, it was hardly the whole truth — partly because inmates and prison workers do not trust the leadership and refused to speak candidly, and partly because officials hid some of Dublin’s problems.
Inmates who’d been in the special housing unit for disciplinary issues were returned to the general population so the place wouldn’t look nearly as full. Officials also lied to Carvajal and told him he couldn’t visit a particular housing unit where inmates wanted to talk to him about abuse. They claimed, falsely, that it was contaminated with COVID-19.
Carvajal did seem taken aback by the lack of security cameras in critical areas — an issue the prison’s union had been raising for six years — and pledged to speed the process for installing them.
Though Dublin does have some cameras, there were none in some of the hallways and rooms that Carvajal toured, including areas where some inmates were sexually abused. Several times the director asked, “Where are the cameras?”
On a recent afternoon, inmates from Dublin’s minimum-security prison camp could be seen congregating on a walking track outside the prison’s fences with no visible supervision and no perimeter cameras. The Bureau of Prisons has faced scrutiny in the last few years after dozens of inmates escaped from its prisons, with many simply walking away from low-security areas.
“Making infrastructural improvements, such as adding additional cameras, to protect the safety and security of inmates and staff is a priority,” the Bureau of Prisons said in response to questions about Carvajal’s visit.
But seven weeks later, not one new camera has been installed.
Precisely what actual progress the task force’s visit produced — and who ultimately had access to its members while they were there — is not entirely clear.
Susan Beaty, a lawyer for Dublin inmates, said advocates had information to share with the task force but were shut out of the visit. Beaty said several abused inmates were immigrants and that predatory prison employees were targeting women facing deportation.
The Bureau of Prisons “is never proactive. They’re reactive. They’re only doing this because Congress is on their ass and they know they have to act,” Dublin union president Ed Canales said.
Canales said the prison’s staff was “not impressed” with the visit and wasn’t expecting any changes, in part because some senior managers who ignored or encouraged abuse are still working at the prison.
Beaty said correctional officers staged a charade during the visit, exhibiting their best behavior while the task force was present and cursing at inmates as soon as the visitors left the room.
Some inmates saw the task force’s visit not as an actual, good-faith way to fix Dublin but as window-dressing ahead of U.S. Rep Jackie Speier’s return to the prison with two other members of Congress on March 14.
One inmate asked: “Is this just for show so that you can say you came before the Congress comes back?” Observed another: “It is just as I thought. The task force was here to head them off and tell them that they were on top of issues that were raised.”
___
CONGRESS IS WATCHING
Congress has been increasingly critical of the Bureau of Prisons, an agency plagued by myriad problems in recent years, including many revealed by AP reporting.
The bureau formed its Dublin task force after the AP investigation in February revealed a toxic culture of sexual misconduct and cover-ups at the prison. Carvajal announced the task force in an internal memo on March 2, just days before its work began. But he did not disclose it publicly until the AP asked about it.
Carvajal wrote that the group — 18 women, including a warden and officials from human resources and internal affairs — was being sent to “observe and assess the climate of the institution” and “assist the agency in redressing identified issues and increasing performance.”
Speaking to inmates, Carvajal acknowledged that pressure from Congress prompted him to act.
He said Speier, D-Calif., had called him after she visited Dublin in the wake of the AP’s reporting. Speier, Carvajal said, was upset with how inmates were being treated and complained that prison officials stonewalled her when she tried to speak with them directly.
Dublin’s union and inmate advocate groups said the bureau and Justice Department had ignored their earlier cries for help. The union said it had been begging agency leaders to visit Dublin since FBI agents raided the former warden’s office last July.
In February, more than 100 inmate advocacy organizations sent a letter to the Justice Department calling for “swift, sweeping action” to address abuse at Dublin, including an independent investigation and the release of victimized inmates to prevent further trauma, but never got a response.
Speier and Reps. Karen Bass and Eric Swalwell, two other California Democrats, visited the facility after the task force and said they were encouraged by its work but still had concerns, including a lack of adequate medical and psychological services at the facility.
They applauded recommendations to add more security cameras and a dedicated email address for inmates to report abuse. They also called for special training for employees in women’s prisons.
“There is literally a culture there that is toxic and one that needs to be addressed,” Speier said in an interview.
Bass, Speier and Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced legislation last month to improve the treatment of women in federal prisons such as Dublin, including providing adequate medical care and examining efforts to retain female officers.
Among other things, the Women in Criminal Justice Reform Act would require minimum standards of care and conditions for federal prison facilities where women are held, temporary release of inmates for medical services such as care from a sexual assault nurse examiner and training for federal prison workers in trauma-informed screening and care.
Each one of those changes would improve conditions at Dublin. Together, they could begin to overhaul it entirely.
___
WILL ANYTHING HAPPEN?
As the crisis continues at Dublin, questions remain about whether the Bureau of Prisons is serious about fixing it — or even capable of doing so. And the wake of the task force’s visit offers little in the way of optimism.
After the visitors left in March, Dublin officials started enforcing more exacting prison uniform rules and cracking down on inmates’ few luxuries.
Blankets, issued to keep inmates warm in drafty cells, were confiscated. Robes purchased from the prison commissary were banned. Inmates were told to wear bras, cover their bodies and avoid tight pants. Some felt they were being punished to keep prison workers from leering at them.
Inmate advocates say the task force ignored them entirely. Local union officials, seeing the whole trip as a smokescreen to placate Congress, said they’d been begging agency leaders to visit for months, to no avail. Prison workers came away from the week doubting anything would change.
Does the new person in charge offer any hope? Perhaps it’s too soon to tell. Jusino, Dublin’s first permanent warden since Garcia was put on administrative leave prior to his arrest, started a week before Carvajal and the task force arrived.
The daughter of a former federal prison warden, she has worked in federal prisons since 1998. She was an associate warden at two prisons and was the warden at a federal prison in Victorville, California, about 71 miles northeast of Los Angeles, before being assigned to Dublin.
She is adamant that change will come — that it must.
“The trust has been broken with our inmate population, which is beyond unacceptable. It’s been broken with our staff, and it has been broken with the public,” Jusino says. “We need to show that we’re committed to this.”
___
On Twitter, follow Michael Sisak at http://twitter.com/mikesisak and Michael Balsamo at http://twitter.com/MikeBalsamo1 and send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/ | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/abuse-clouded-prison-gets-attention-but-will-things-change/ | 2022-05-05T22:54:18Z |
——Ningbo, Setting Sail to Embrace the World Docks at New York City
NINGBO, China, April 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A news reported from NBGD:
The reporting team of Ningbo, Setting Sail to Embrace the World, a global cross-media journalism campaign, recently visited New York City, where we spoke with Bethann Rooney, Deputy Director for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Bao Ronggang, Acting Chairman of the San Kiang Charitable Association Inc. N.Y.C.
"Ningbo is our third-largest trading partner in the world, so we really appreciate the partnership that we have with Ningbo. The port and the people of Ningbo are very, very important to the Port of New York and New Jersey," said Rooney. "That word, 'partnership', which I used before, is very important. Another one I would say is 'collaboration'. So, it is important, as Ningbo moves forward with this new vision (of becoming a modern coastal metropolis), to reach out to all of the various constituents, businesses, residents, trade groups, and all sorts of partners to ensure that they are brought into the planning process in order to develop a vision that meets as many needs as possible, including the needs of all the various ports. Parts of this vision are met by coordinating, partnering, and communicating clearly with everybody in terms of reaching that goal and seeing the vision come to fruition."
The San Kiang Charitable Association Inc. N.Y.C. was founded in June 1929 as one of the first non-profit organizations in the Chinese-American community. Its Acting Chairman Bao Ronggang pointed out that Ningbo's port, manufacturing prowess, and booming private sector mean huge potential and opportunities.
In recent years, the San Kiang Charitable Association has been leveraging its networks to organize China-US people-to-people exchanges in culture, tourism, talent sharing, investment, and trade. With opportunities brought about by the BRI and China's national strategy to boost the ocean economy, Ningbo, the aspiring modern coastal metropolis, will surely reach new heights, said Bao.
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SOURCE NBGD | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/21/bringing-future-development-opportunities-across-pacific-through-cooperation/ | 2022-04-21T11:09:51Z |
SUNDSVALL, Sweden, July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) on May 8, 2018 established a Medium Term Note program (MTN) with a loan framework amounting to SEK 8 billion. Up to and including July 15, 2022 SCA has issued SEK 6.2 billion under the MTN program, of which SEK 4 billion is outstanding.
In relation to the MTN program, SCA on May 8, 2018 prepared and published a base prospectus, which will be updated annually. For this reason, SCA has updated the base prospectus which today, July 15, 2022, has been approved by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen). The updated base prospectus will be available via the web sites of the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (www.fi.se) and SCA (www.sca.com). Hard copies may be obtained at SCAs headoffice in Sundsvall.
For further information, please contact:
Anders Edholm, Svp Sustainability and Communications, +46 60 19 32 12, anders.edholm@sca.com
Andreas Ewertz, CFO, +46 60 19 31 97, andreas.ewertz@sca.com
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE SCA | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/15/sca-updates-mtn-program-publishes-prospectus/ | 2022-07-15T13:13:17Z |
Maryland Care, Inc. d/b/a/ Maryland Physicians Care MCO (MPC), a Maryland Managed Care Organization (MCO) contracted with SS&C for comprehensive investment accounting, reporting and statutory statement preparation services
WINDSOR, Conn., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSNC) today announced that MPC has chosen SS&C Singularity to support the operational, accounting and regulatory reporting needs of its investment portfolios. MPC will be transitioning from its current service provider to Singularity™, SS&C's innovative cloud-based investment accounting platform supported by an experienced team of professionals who have unmatched expertise in a wide range of asset classes, accounting treatments and insurance reporting requirements.
"The knowledge and responsiveness of SS&C's insurance team coupled with their proven control process gives us confidence that we will receive timely, accurate deliverables, especially at critical times," said John Walega, Chief Financial Officer of Maryland Care, Inc. "Through SS&C's flexible and transparent technology platform and dedicated service model, we expect to improve automation and operational efficiency, while streamlining our month-end close and statutory filing process."
SS&C has a 36-year track record providing software and outsourcing services to the global insurance and asset management market. Singularity automates middle/back office processes using evolving technologies like AI and Natural Language Processing to deliver a centralized view of all public and private assets. As the world's largest fund administrator for alternative investments, SS&C also has deep expertise to support complex asset classes like private equity, real estate, commercial & residential mortgages, syndicated bank loans, private credit and derivatives.
"Singularity has significant momentum in the insurance space and we are delighted to welcome Maryland Care to SS&C's growing family of insurance clients," said Stan Szczepanik, Managing Director and Head of Insurance Solutions at SS&C. "Our unique ability to combine industry-leading technology with subject matter experts allows us to deliver a tailored and scalable solution for our insurance clients."
About Maryland Care
Maryland Care, Inc. is a Linthicum Heights, MD-based Managed Care Organization. Founded in 1996, MPC believes in helping its members make good decisions about their health through free, quality health care services. MPC is a Managed Care Organization in Maryland participating in the Maryland Department of Health, Health Choice program.
About SS&C Technologies
SS&C is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, and has offices around the world. Some 18,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world's largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale and technology.
SOURCE: SS&C
Additional information about SS&C (Nasdaq: SSNC) is available at www.ssctech.com.
Follow SS&C on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
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SOURCE SS&C | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/maryland-care-inc-selects-ssampc-enhanced-insurance-investment-accounting/ | 2022-07-14T13:28:10Z |
LOS ANGELES and SAN FRANCISCO, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- King & Spalding today announced that Dale Giali, Keri Borders and Michael Resch have joined as partners on its FDA and Life Sciences team. Giali and Borders will be based in the firm's Los Angeles office, and Resch will be resident in the San Francisco office.
Giali, Borders and Resch focus on representing food and beverage companies in consumer deception litigation matters, including defending false advertising claims associated with nutrition labeling, ingredients and marketing claims. Giali and Borders join from Mayer Brown, where they co-led the food and beverage practice, and they are reuniting with Resch, a former Mayer Brown partner who most recently served as general counsel at Amy's Kitchen, a leader in the frozen food and soup categories. Together, they further enhance King & Spalding's industry-leading food and beverage focus area, within the firm's renowned FDA and Life Sciences team.
"Further enhancing our outstanding food and beverage practice with high caliber, specialized litigation strength has long been a high priority for the firm," said Mark Brown, chair of King & Spalding's FDA and Life Sciences team. "In recent years, the plaintiff's bar has increasingly targeted the food and beverage industry with false advertising and consumer deception class actions. To successfully defend against these actions, defense counsel require a deep understanding of food science, regulatory issues and consumer protection requirements. Dale, Keri and Mike bring this combination of skills, and we are thrilled they have joined us."
Giali has represented many of the world's largest multinational corporations in complex food, beverage and consumer packaged goods false advertising counseling and litigation, including defending consumer class actions and prosecuting and defending competitor lawsuits. Ranked nationally in Chambers USA and Legal 500, Giali is also recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a Litigation Star for class actions, and by BTI as a Super All-Star. The National Law Journal recognized him as a Litigation Trailblazer, and Law360 named him an MVP in the field of class action litigation in the United States. Giali, who co-led his previous firm's food & beverage group, received his undergraduate degree from University of California, Los Angeles, and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Borders concentrates her practice on defending food, beverage and consumer packaged goods manufacturers, retailers and distributors in complex false advertising, competitor, and consumer class action litigation. Borders co-led her previous firm's food and beverage practice. She is ranked nationally in Chambers USA and was recognized by Law360 as a Product Liability MVP. Borders received her undergraduate degree from University of California, Los Angeles, and her J.D. from the University of California Hastings College of the Law. Following law school, she clerked for Judge Robert J. Timlin in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Resch has substantial litigation and regulatory experience in the food and beverage industry, including as general counsel, as well as in other industries. His practice has focused on defending false advertising class actions, representing clients before FDA and USDA, and handling complex matters involving trade secret misrepresentation, accountant liability and white-collar criminal defense, with an emphasis on cases involving accounting and financial issues. Resch received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, graduating in two years from Pepperdine University, and his J.D. from Washington & Lee University School of Law.
"King & Spalding's unmatched reputation on FDA and life sciences issues, its global platform and its longtime commitment and standing in the food and beverage industry, combined with its efforts to strategically grow its food litigation prowess, made this a clear decision for Keri, Mike, and myself," Giali said. "We're eager to join forces here and to work with our esteemed King & Spalding colleagues."
Celebrating more than 130 years of service, King & Spalding is an international law firm that represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, with 1,200 lawyers in 23 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm has handled matters in over 160 countries on six continents and is consistently recognized for the results it obtains, uncompromising commitment to quality, and dedication to understanding the business and culture of its clients. More information is available at www.kslaw.com.
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SOURCE K&S | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/king-amp-spalding-broadens-fda-life-sciences-team-with-addition-three-partners/ | 2022-06-28T16:31:59Z |
NEW YORK, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tandym Group ("Tandym" or the "Company"), a leading national recruitment, contract staffing, consulting, and workforce solutions company announced today that Dave Muller has been promoted to Executive Vice President of the Company's technology vertical, Tandym Tech. Muller previously served as Senior Vice President, Technology, and is a key member of the Executive Leadership team.
In his new role, Muller will oversee the growth of Tandym Tech through a focus on organic growth and strategic acquisitions. "As we scale Tandym Tech, we will continue to add key local leaders in new tech markets to expand our footprint," said Muller. "We take a highly consultative approach and work with our clients to find the right solution for their technology needs. If we can identify additional ways to create value through our services, our team is here to deliver the right resources."
Tandym Group Chief Executive Officer Larry Dolinko said, "Dave is an exceptional leader and has made a tremendous impact to Tandym since he joined us. I look forward to his continued leadership driving growth in Tandym Tech." Dolinko added, "All clients at Tandym Group have the potential to be a Tandym Tech client, leveraging our deep domain knowledge and vast consultant resources. Incremental growth will be achieved through targeted M&A activity to expand our geographic footprint and bolster technology competencies to our clients."
Muller is a recognized leader in the staffing industry with more than twenty years of experience. Prior to joining Tandym Group, he held operational and sales leadership roles in several technology and general staff augmentation firms. Throughout his career, Muller has been involved in developing and servicing customers across various end markets, consistently delivering top-tier results to his clients.
Tandym Group (formerly The Execu|Search Group) is a leading national recruitment, contract staffing, consulting, and workforce solutions company with offices throughout the U.S. The company serves clients across a broad range of verticals, including Healthcare, Technology, Life Sciences, and Professional Services (which includes Accounting, Financial Services, HR/People & Operations, and Legal). For more information, please visit: tandymgroup.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: Stephanie Klemperer, (212-871-0607), stephanie.klemperer@tandymgroup.com
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SOURCE Tandym Group | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/dave-muller-named-executive-vice-president-tandym-groups-technology-vertical/ | 2022-07-12T12:41:30Z |
Borussia Dortmund reappoints Edin Terzić as coach
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund is reappointing Edin Terzić as coach for next season, entrusting the former interim manager to take charge on a permanent basis following Marco Rose’s dismissal last week. Dortmund says the 39-year-old Terzić will sign a contract on Tuesday to take over as first-team coach through June 2025. Terzić spent last season as the club’s technical director. Terzić led Dortmund to the German Cup title and Champions League qualification the previous season after he took over on an interim basis from the fired Lucien Favre. But Dortmund had agreed a deal for then Borussia Mönchengladbach coach Rose to take over after the season and Terzić stepped aside. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/05/23/borussia-dortmund-reappoints-edin-terzic-as-coach/ | 2022-05-23T15:59:27Z |
NEW YORK (AP) — Attorneys representing Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Wednesday he intends to challenge a subpoena compelling him to testify before a special grand jury in Georgia investigating former President Donald Trump and his allies’ actions after the 2020 election.
Graham was one of a handful of Trump confidants and lawyers named Tuesday in petitions filed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as part of her investigation into what she alleges was “a multi-state, coordinated plan by the Trump Campaign to influence the results of the November 2020 election in Georgia and elsewhere.”
Graham attorneys Bart Daniel and Matt Austin said in a statement Wednesday that the Republican senator “plans to go to court, challenge the subpoena, and expects to prevail,” and they slammed the probe as politically motivated.
“This is all politics. Fulton County is engaged in a fishing expedition and working in concert with the January 6 Committee in Washington,” they wrote, adding that, “As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Graham was well within his rights to discuss with state officials the processes and procedures around administering elections.”
“Should it stand, the subpoena issued today would erode the constitutional balance of power and the ability of a Member of Congress to do their job,” they went on. They also said they had been informed by Fulton County investigators that Graham “is neither a subject nor target of the investigation.”
“Should witnesses choose to challenge an order that they testify before the Special Purpose Grand Jury, the District Attorney will respond in the appropriate court to compel their appearance,” Fulton County district attorney’s office spokesperson Jeff DiSantis said in an email.
In the petition submitted Tuesday, Willis wrote that Graham, a longtime Trump ally, made at least two telephone calls to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and members of his staff in the weeks after the November 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden. During those calls, Graham asked about reexamining certain absentee ballots “to explore the possibility of a more favorable outcome for former President Donald Trump,” she wrote.
Willis also filed petitions to compel cooperation from former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was one of Trump’s primary lawyers during the failed efforts to overturn the result of the election, as well as lawyers Kenneth Chesebro, Cleta Mitchell, Jenna Ellis, John Eastman and Jacki Pick Deason.
Giuliani was recovering Tuesday after undergoing surgery to have two heart stents put in, his son, Andrew Giuliani, said while filling in for him as co-host on radio’s “The Rudy Giuliani Show.”
Because she is trying to compel testimony from people who live outside of Georgia, Willis had to submit petitions for a judge’s approval. The judge overseeing the special grand jury signed off on her petitions.
The next step is to deliver the documents to a prosecutor wherever each potential witness lives so that they can be presented to a local judge to hold a hearing. If that judge determines that the person is a “material and necessary witness” and that the trip to Atlanta to testify would not be an undue burden on the potential witness, the judge would issue a subpoena to compel the person to testify before the special grand jury. Someone who fails to comply with a subpoena can be found in contempt.
____
Associated Press writer Kate Brumback in Atlanta contributed reporting. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/sen-graham-to-fight-georgia-election-subpoena-lawyers-say/ | 2022-07-06T17:32:53Z |
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More than 100 Coachella shuttle drivers sick from food poisoning
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) - An investigation continues after more than 100 Coachella shuttle drivers fell ill due to food poisoning.
At least 46 of them were assessed in local hospitals.
“Some of those people who didn’t go to the hospital apparently didn’t feel they needed to, but they probably sought their own medical attention. We want to, we would like to speak to them as well, not just those that were hospitalized,” Riverside County Health spokesperson Jose Arballo said.
Officials say it happened at an off-site dinner for the transportation employees Sunday night.
The exact source of the food poisoning is being investigated however, the county confirmed a pasta dish and pre-packaged salad tossed with other ingredients were served to the drivers.
“We did do some inspections of the facilities when food was served beforehand. As far as I know, everything went well there,” Arballo said.
Officials are actively working with other jurisdictions to speak with as many people as possible with hopes to pinpoint the source.
“Be able to test the food, you know, and without getting too many details, when people get stomach cramps and have diarrhea, that, you know, that would also provide some, if we could get samples there,” Arballo said.
This means that the county will conduct hundred of interviews to narrow down the cause.
Arballo says they are getting a list of all employees and with that information as well as medical records, they will be able to reach many who were at the dinner.
Copyright 2022 KESQ via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/27/more-than-100-coachella-shuttle-drivers-sick-food-poisoning/ | 2022-04-27T13:11:20Z |
TORONTO, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Think Research Corporation (TSXV: THNK) (OTCQB: THKKF) ("Think" or the "Company"), a healthcare technology company focused on transforming healthcare through knowledge-based digital health software solutions, is pleased to announce it has signed a contract to provide Care Pathways nursing content to St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, a major teaching hospital in London, England and part of the largest public healthcare system in the world.
Through the partnership, Think will deliver customized care plans to St. George's that will standardize nursing care and documentation across the hospital, ensuring the delivery of best-practice and evidence-supported care to at-risk patients and leading-edge preventive interventions. Think will also assist with building the care plans into St. George's electronic patient record (EPR) system, Cerner Millennium, which shares the same instance of Cerner with two other Trusts in the South West London Integrated Care Partnership (ICP), Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, and Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Cerner is a major EPR provider in the UK, with its Millennium platform used in 22 Trusts and is the largest electronic health record (EPR) provider in the world, with its solutions deployed in over 27,000 facilities around the globe.
Funding for the project comes from the NHS's United Tech Frontline Digitization Fund, which supports the digital transformation and digitization of healthcare across NHS locations.
Jenny Muir, ICT Chief Nursing Informatics Officer said, "Ensuring every patient receives the highest quality of evidence-based care is paramount at St. George's. This partnership will help ensure we deliver. Having access to evidence-based, custom care plans will provide essential guidance to our nursing staff, enhance efficiencies, and most importantly, improve patient outcomes."
Sachin Aggarwal, Think, CEO said, "Standardizing care has countless proven benefits. We are incredibly proud our solution has been selected to provide the latest evidence-based knowledge and information that St. George's nursing staff require to assess and treat patients with confidence. We are delighted that this is our company's first foray into the world's largest publicly funded healthcare system, the NHS, and doing so will result in our evidence-based content being deployed in the world's largest EPR provider, Cerner."
Think Research Corporation is an industry leader in delivering knowledge-based digital health software solutions. The Company's focused mission is to organize the world's health knowledge so everyone gets the best care. Its evidence-based healthcare technology solutions support the clinical decision-making process, standardize care, and improve patient outcomes. For over a decade, Think's cloud-based, EMR- agnostic digital tools have empowered clinicians around the world and positively impacted millions of patients across the continuum of care – including primary physician care, acute care hospitals and surgical suites as well as community and seniors care. Think is proud to serve as a trusted health system partner to a rapidly growing, global client base that spans five continents across more than 13,000 healthcare facilities, with a clinical audience of over 300,000 doctors, nurses and pharmacists. Visit www.thinkresearch.com
For more information: https://www.thinkresearch.com/ca/investors/
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SOURCE Think Research Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/think-research-announces-contract-with-st-georges-university-hospitals-nhs-foundation-trust-deliver-nursing-care-plans/ | 2022-07-06T12:02:33Z |
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