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Jill Biden tests positive for COVID-19, has ‘mild’ symptoms
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — First lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID-19 and was experiencing “mild symptoms,” the White House announced Tuesday. President Joe Biden continues to test negative after recently recovering from the virus but will wear a mask indoors for 10 days as a precaution.
The Bidens have been vacationing in South Carolina since Aug. 10, and the 71-year-old first lady began experiencing symptoms on Monday. Jill Biden, like her husband, has been twice-vaccinated and twice-boosted with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. She has been prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and will isolate at the vacation home for at least five days.
“Close contacts of the First Lady have been notified,” her communications director, Elizabeth Alexander, said in a statement “She is currently staying at a private residence in South Carolina and will return home after she receives two consecutive negative COVID tests.”
The president tested negative for the virus on Tuesday morning, the White House said, but would be wearing a mask indoors for 10 days. He plans to return to Washington on Tuesday to sign Democrats’ landmark climate change and health care bill in the afternoon, before continuing to his home in Wilmington, Delaware.
He recovered from a rebound case of the virus on Aug. 7.
“Consistent with CDC guidance because he is a close contact of the First Lady, he will mask for 10 days when indoors and in close proximity to others,” the White House said. It said it would increase the president’s testing cadence and report those results.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/16/jill-biden-tests-positive-covid-19/ | 2022-08-16T14:37:21Z |
ZUG, Switzerland, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PraSaga™, a Swiss foundation building the next generation of Layer One blockchain, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the company a patent for its method of processing message passing transactions, which allows them to put a full operating system, SagaOS, onto the blockchain. The patent (number 20200348963) covers PraSaga's systemic extensible blockchain object model comprising a first-class object model and a distributed ledger technology.
PraSaga is fulfilling its vision for a limitless global infrastructure, enabling a system that will benefit users across the globe. Currently the blockchain ecosystem is limited by its scalability, of which transaction processing is a particularly challenging bottleneck. This is typified by the limitations of the smart contract, which enables the processing of just one transaction or action, at any time. PraSaga's technology will enable the execution of multiple actions simultaneously and in greater numbers.
"The award of this patent enables PraSaga to take another significant step in delivering the next evolution of blockchain architecture – by providing the ecosystem with a major building block in scalability," states Michael Holdmann, CEO and Founder of PraSaga. "Our technology fundamentally changes how a blockchain can scale by enabling SagaOS to execute operations and functions directly off of SagaChain, enabling much more complex problems to be solved and a globally hardened codebase."
The patent granted to the Swiss Foundation, with its 26 claims, which references the prior art of IBM's OS/2 operating system, a 1st class object model architecture (influenced by Parc Research's Smalltalk object-oriented language) is also the basis for OSX, Windows and Linux. SagaOS establishes an operating system that will run on the global network of the SagaChain and store the class trees and logic for Smart Assets saved into individual accounts on SagaChain.
"This is going to improve the ability for developers to create applications, manage their codebases and address real world challenges," said David Beberman, CTO and Co-Founder of PraSaga. "We set out to address parallel processing of transactions and in the process built a method for writing blockchain applications that more closely matches other applications environments."
PraSaga will be talking about the importance of this patent during a keynote speech at Crypto Valley Summit, which it will be sponsoring this year. The summit gathers investors, corporates, and high-profile individuals in one place, in order to examine how the present and future applications of blockchain technology can help optimize and evolve businesses, revolutionize healthcare, modernize governmental institutions, improve regulated industries and supply chains, and improve our daily lives as a whole. The Summit is being held in Zug, Switzerland on September 14 and 15. More information is at: CV Summit 2022 - Where blockchain meets the world (blockchainsummit.ch). If you'd like to connect with PraSaga at Crypto Valley Summit, please get in touch and we can arrange it.
About PraSaga
PraSaga is a Swiss Foundation building the next generation of Layer One blockchain. PraSaga's technology solution solves many of the limitations that plague first-generation Layer One blockchains. The SagaChain™ successfully addresses lowering transaction fees, extensibility for supply chains, and significantly lowers development costs.
Contact: PraSaga@mww.com
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SOURCE PraSaga | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/prasaga-awarded-patent-blockchain-first-class-object-model-operating-system/ | 2022-09-06T20:37:00Z |
SINGAPORE, July 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantage, an international multi-asset broker, is pleased to announce that it has partnered Supercar Blondie, in the launch of its global ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) programme.
This marks Vantage and Supercar Blondie's first collaboration into the ESG space. The partnership will focus on driving innovation for electric vehicle production, promoting gender equality, and putting a spotlight on climate change.
Supercar Blondie is a popular digital media publisher, best loved for their light-hearted videos on luxury supercars, with over 75 million social followers across their channels. Alexandra Mary 'Alex' Hirschi, from Supercar Blondie, will join Vantage in Sardinia, Italy, participating in Extreme E's Blue Carbon sustainability initiative to restore vital seagrass ecosystems, during the week of Sardinia's Extreme E race.
Vantage's own corporate ESG journey was driven by the passion demonstrated by its employees to make the world a better place. Its employees in different regions have been implementing localised ESG projects for their local community for years, from volunteer work and donations, to fundraising and education. Vantage's global ESG initiative will formalise these efforts, provide additional support and coordination, and allow teams to share resources and ideas to maximise impact.
This underpinned the company's decision to sponsor McLaren MX Extreme E in February.
In addition, the company will undertake several other ESG programmes including a worldwide blood donation drive, fundraising for refugees, and supporting free financial education initiatives in emerging markets to improve financial literacy and boost financial independence.
To steer this programme, Vantage has developed five guiding principles, and has also appointed an ESG ambassador, who will be coordinating the programme and making sure all resources deliver the most impact possible in the areas that people care about most.
Sofiia Starchevska, ESG Ambassador at Vantage, said, "For us, ESG is more than just a framework or an opportunity that companies and investors can jump on. Everyone has a responsibility to contribute to the world we live in in a positive way. We aim to make ESG a part of our daily lives by giving our employees the opportunity to contribute to ESG projects, and ultimately give back to the communities they live in. "
Marc Despallieres, Chief Strategy & Trading Officer at Vantage, said, "We are pleased to have the support of Supercar Blondie, Sofiia, and our employees as we embark on our ESG journey. It was clear that contributing to the world around us is something we really care about and the launch of the ESG programme, together with our collaboration with Alex, is a way to consolidate all these efforts and to encourage participation. The will is definitely there. The battle is just organising and mobilisation. These initiatives are just the start, and we are excited to see what this collective action can achieve."
For more information about our ESG programme, please visit: https://www.vantagemarkets.com/esg/
About Vantage
Vantage is a global, multi-asset broker offering clients access to a nimble and powerful service for trading CFDs on Forex, Commodities, Indices, and Shares.
With more than 10 years of market experience. Vantage now has over 1,000 employees/personnel across more than 30 global offices.
Vantage is more than a broker. It provides a trusted trading ecosystem, an award-winning mobile trading app, and a faster and simpler trading platform that enables clients to take advantage of trading opportunities. Download the Vantage App on App Store or Google Play.
Be empowered to better capitalise on winning market opportunities when you
trade smarter @vantage.
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SOURCE Vantage | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/08/vantage-partners-supercar-blondie-take-its-global-esg-journey-into-overdrive/ | 2022-07-08T09:38:53Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats on Wednesday accused oil companies of “ripping off the American people” and putting profits before production as Americans suffer from ever-increasing gasoline prices during the war in Ukraine.
“At a time of record profits, Big Oil is refusing to increase production to provide the American people some much needed relief at the gas pump,” said Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Oil executives, testifying before Congress for the second time in six months, responded that oil is a global market and that oil companies don’t dictate prices.
“We do not control the market price of crude oil or natural gas, nor of refined products like gasoline and diesel fuel, and we have no tolerance for price gouging,” said Chevron CEO Michael Wirth.
Facing sharp questions from Democrats, Wirth, ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods and other executives said their companies have no plans to halt payments of dividends to stockholders or to restrict stock buybacks that have enriched shareholders and company executives. The six companies at the hearing recorded $77 billion in profits last year, they testified.
The hearing comes as President Joe Biden has ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve for six months in a bid to control energy prices, which have spiked as the United States and its allies have imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The national average gas price was $4.16 a gallon for regular on Wednesday, up from $2.87 a year ago, according to AAA.
Biden and other Democrats have blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin and the U.S. oil industry for the increase, citing reports that oil companies have made record profits in recent months as prices have risen following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“This is the Biden price hike,” countered Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state, the committee’s top Republican.
Noting that prices were increasing before Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, McMorris Rodgers said Americans “are too smart and have not fallen for this” claim by Biden and other Democrats. She called the hearing “purely political.”
Woods said Exxon has halted investments in Russia and is withdrawing from operations there. The company is increasing production in the United States, Woods said, including in the oil-rich Permian Basin in New Mexico and Texas. Exxon also is increasing production outside the U.S., including “a world-class development in Guyana,” he said.
Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Wash., said gas prices are close to $5 per gallon in her Seattle-area district. Her constituents “are mad, and they should be,” she said, citing the record profits oil companies are reaping.
“This feels like gouging. It even feels like profiteering,” Schrier said. Prices at the pump have not gone down in recent weeks along with crude oil prices, she and other Democrats noted.
At a time of war and high prices, “oil companies should not be sending profits back to shareholders,” she said, urging oil executives to restore production to pre-pandemic levels.
Wirth, the Chevron CEO, said his company produced a record amount of oil in 2021, while also making sure to “return value to shareholders” through higher dividends and stock buybacks.
“They’re not mutually exclusive. We can do both,” he said.
Democrats have introduced bills in the House and Senate to impose a windfall tax on oil profits, although the idea has generated little momentum on Capitol Hill. West Coast senators, including Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell of Washington state, have called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate possible price manipulation on the West Coast, where prices in California top $6 per gallon.
“Americans have the right to know why one of our most important commodities doesn’t have the right amount of transparency and oversight,” Cantwell said at a hearing Tuesday. Targeting what she called the “mysterious middle of the supply chain,” Cantwell said lawmakers and the FTC should ensure that — as in the 2001 energy crisis spurred by Enron — “there aren’t a bunch of ‘smart guys in the room’ hurting consumers because they think we can’t figure out what is happening.”
Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., blamed Biden for high gas prices, citing cancellation of the Keystone XL oil pipelineand a moratorium on new drilling leases on federal lands. Walberg said he was disappointed that neither Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm nor any other administration official appeared at the House hearing “to answer for the administration’s failed policies.″
Biden has called on Congress to impose financial penalties on companies that lease public lands but don’t produce oil, a request that so far has been ignored. Biden also invoked the Defense Production Act to encourage mining of critical minerals for batteries in electric vehicles, part of a broader push to reduce use of fossil fuels and address climate change.
“The bottom line is if we want lower gas prices we need to have more oil supply right now,” Biden said last week in announcing the strategic oil release. Higher prices have hurt Biden’s approval domestically and added billions of oil-export dollars to the Russian government as it wages war on Ukraine.
Oil companies have pledged to boost domestic production, but it is growing slowly. Executives point to supply chain and labor constraints as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as investor demands for returns. They have called for more federal permits to allow additional leases.
Besides Exxon and Chevron, other companies represented at the hearing were Shell, BP, Pioneer Natural Resources and Devon Energy. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/democrats-accuse-oil-companies-of-rip-off-on-gas-prices/ | 2022-04-07T06:18:58Z |
WYALUSING, Pa., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Peoples Ltd. (OTC: PPLL). Anthony J. Gabello, President and Chief Executive Officer of Peoples Ltd., holding company for PS Bank, has announced results for the second quarter 2022. Net income for the second quarter of 2022 was $1,665,000 or $2.26 per share. Net income for the second quarter of 2022 represents a decrease of 6.09% from the second quarter 2021 net income of $1,773,000, primarily driven by an 89.92% decrease in gross mortgage sales and servicing rights income from $605,000 for second quarter 2021 to $61,000 for second quarter 2022, which was partially offset by improved net interest income levels.
Consolidated net income year-to-date was $3,206,000 or $4.35 earnings per share, a decrease of 5.43% from consolidated year-to-date income of $3,390,000 or $4.60 earnings per share for the first six months of 2021. This was primarily driven by an 80.46% decrease in gross mortgage sales and servicing rights income from $1,351,000 for first six months of 2021 to $264,000 for first six months of 2022. Reduced mortgage revenue was attributable to the sharp rise in mortgage interest rates in the first six months of 2022, experienced throughout the banking industry. Additionally, the bank recognized approximately $304,000 less in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fees year-to-date in 2022 versus same year-to-date 2021, and has substantially concluded its PPP program at this time.
Year-to-date return on assets was 1.30% as of June 30, 2022 compared to 1.47% for the same period in 2021. Year-to-date return on average equity was 14.55% as of June 30, 2022 compared to the prior year-to-date of 15.64%.
Total assets increased 6.19% to $506,820,000 from $477,295,000 as of December 31, 2021. Deposits increased 8.37% to $455,193,000 compared to $420,024,000 as of December 31, 2021. Loans increased 4.85% from $280,587,000 year-end 2021 to $294,197,000 as of June 30, 2022.
"During the second quarter of 2022, we were pleased to cross the threshold of $500 million in total assets for the first time, as we continued to grow both loans and deposits, experiencing solid balance sheet growth throughout the quarter.
We continued to perform well through the first six months of 2022, realizing significant core earnings growth due to the rising interest rate environment. Decreased net income for year-to-date 2022 is primarily attributable to our reduced mortgage sales and servicing rights of $1,087,000 and decrease in PPP fees recognized. The reduction in mortgage sales income and PPP fee income was anticipated, given the slowdown in the mortgage loan environment and our bank's historic mortgage loan performance in the prior two years, as well as the conclusion of the PPP program. Despite these reductions, growth in net interest income and cost control offset a large portion of these decreases. Our ROA and ROAE, although lower in 2022, remain above historic levels pre-pandemic. Our bank remains well positioned to benefit from a period of rising interest rates.
We are nearing completion of our PS Bank Business Center in South Abington Township in the third quarter and look forward to the opportunities for further growth and success it will provide for us moving forward", stated Gabello.
Note: This press release may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results and trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various factors. These factors include operating, legal and regulatory risks; changing economic and competitive conditions and other risks and uncertainties.
Peoples Ltd. is the holding company for PS Bank. PS Bank is an independent community bank, established 1914, with locations throughout Bradford, Sullivan, Wyoming, Lackawanna, and Susquehanna counties. Peoples Ltd. is traded in the Over-the-Counter market under the symbol PPLL. Learn more about PS Bank at PSBanking.com.
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SOURCE Peoples Ltd. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/peoples-ltd-announces-second-quarter-results/ | 2022-07-28T17:10:47Z |
Heavy rain from tropical system expected in parts of Florida, Cuba, Bahamas
MIAMI (AP) — Parts of Florida braced for heavy rain and wind Saturday as a storm system that battered Mexico moves across the state.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm once known as Agatha in the Pacific Ocean will be known as Alex in the Atlantic Ocean basin, once it reaches tropical storm status.
At 8 a.m. EDT, a tropical storm warning was in effect for the Florida Keys, Florida Bay, portions of the state’s East and West coast, Lake Okeechobee, the northwestern Bahamas and several Cuban provinces.
The storm’s center was located about 45 miles (70 kilometers) south-southwest of Ft. Myers, Florida, and about 160 miles (255 kilometers) southwest of Vero Beach. It was moving northeast at 18 mph (30 kph). The storm is expected to reach tropical storm strength off the Florida coast by Saturday night and is expected to strengthen through Monday as it moves away from Florida and into the Atlantic Ocean.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said most government services, such as bus routes and trains, planned to operate as normal over the weekend. Canal levels in South Florida have been lowered to minimize flooding from heavy rains.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially began Tuesday. This is an unusually early start to the storm season but not unprecedented for Florida.
The National Hurricane Center predicts that rainfall up to 10 inches is possible in South Florida, including the Florida Keys. The storm is not expected to produce huge winds or major storm surge. But local flooding is likely.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/04/heavy-rain-tropical-system-expected-parts-florida-cuba-bahamas/ | 2022-06-04T13:06:47Z |
Second quarter revenue of $903 million, up 6% year-over-year and up 9% when adjusted for foreign exchange*
Security and compute revenue represented the majority of total revenue in the second quarter and grew 26% year-over-year and grew 30% when adjusted for foreign exchange*
GAAP EPS of $0.74, down 21% year-over-year and down 15% when adjusted for foreign exchange*, and non-GAAP EPS* of $1.35, down 5% year-over-year and flat when adjusted for foreign exchange*
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cloud company that powers and protects life online, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
"Despite a continued challenging macro-economic environment and foreign exchange headwinds, Akamai delivered another quarter of solid results," said Dr. Tom Leighton, Akamai's Chief Executive Officer. "Our performance continued to be led by the strong growth of our security and compute product groups, which increased 26% year-over-year and increased 30% when adjusted for foreign exchange* and represented 54% of total revenue."
Akamai delivered the following financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022:
Revenue: Revenue was $903 million, a 6% increase over second quarter 2021 revenue of $853 million and a 9% increase when adjusted for foreign exchange.*
Revenue by solution:
- Security revenue was $381 million, up 17% year-over-year and up 21% when adjusted for foreign exchange*
- Delivery revenue was $417 million, down 11% year-over-year and down 8% when adjusted for foreign exchange*
- Compute revenue was $106 million, up 74% year-over-year and up 78% when adjusted for foreign exchange*
Revenue by geography:
- U.S. revenue was $477 million, up 6% year-over-year
- International revenue was $426 million, up 6% year-over-year and up 13% when adjusted for foreign exchange*
Income from operations: GAAP income from operations was $175 million, a 12% decrease from second quarter 2021. GAAP operating margin for the second quarter was 19%, down 4 percentage points from the same period last year.
Non-GAAP income from operations* was $262 million, a 3% decrease from second quarter 2021. Non-GAAP operating margin* for the second quarter was 29%, down 3 percentage points compared to the same period last year.
Net income: GAAP net income was $120 million, a 24% decrease from second quarter 2021. Non-GAAP net income* was $216 million, a 7% decrease from second quarter 2021.
EPS: GAAP EPS was $0.74 per diluted share, a 21% decrease from second quarter 2021 and a 15% decrease when adjusted for foreign exchange.* Non-GAAP EPS* was $1.35 per diluted share, a 5% decrease from second quarter 2021 and flat when adjusted for foreign exchange.*
Adjusted EBITDA*: Adjusted EBITDA* was $388 million, a 1% increase from second quarter 2021.
Supplemental cash information: Cash from operations for the second quarter of 2022 was $341 million, or 38% of revenue. Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities was $1.3 billion as of June 30, 2022.
Share repurchases: Akamai spent $165 million in the second quarter of 2022 to repurchase 1.6 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $100.80 per share. The Company had 159 million shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2022.
Quarterly Conference Call
Akamai will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET that can be accessed through 1-833-634-5020 (or 1-412-902-4238 for international calls) and using passcode: Akamai. A live webcast of the call may be accessed at www.akamai.com in the Investor Relations section. In addition, a replay of the call will be available for two weeks following the conference by calling 1-877-344-7529 (or 1-412-317-0088 for international calls) and using passcode: 6965820. The archived webcast of this event may be accessed through the Akamai website.
About Akamai
Akamai powers and protects life online. Leading companies worldwide choose Akamai to build, deliver, and secure their digital experiences – helping billions of people live, work, and play every day. With the world's most distributed compute platform – from cloud to edge – we make it easy for customers to develop and run applications, while we keep experiences closer to users and threats farther away. Learn more about Akamai's security, compute, and delivery solutions at www.akamai.com, blogs.akamai.com, or follow Akamai Technologies on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to providing financial measurements based on generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), Akamai provides additional financial metrics that are not prepared in accordance with GAAP (non-GAAP). Management uses non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, to understand and compare operating results across accounting periods, for financial and operational decision making, for planning and forecasting purposes, to measure executive compensation and to evaluate Akamai's financial performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per diluted share, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, capital expenditures and impact of foreign currency exchange rates, as discussed below.
Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect Akamai's ongoing business in a manner that allows for meaningful comparisons and analysis of trends in the business, as they facilitate comparison of financial results across accounting periods and to those of our peer companies. Management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures enable investors to evaluate Akamai's operating results and future prospects in the same manner as management. These non-GAAP financial measures may exclude expenses and gains that may be unusual in nature, infrequent or not reflective of Akamai's ongoing operating results.
The non-GAAP financial measures do not replace the presentation of Akamai's GAAP financial results and should only be used as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, Akamai's financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. Akamai has provided a reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure used in its financial reporting and investor presentations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. This reconciliation captioned "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures" can be found on the Investor Relations section of Akamai's website.
The non-GAAP adjustments, and Akamai's basis for excluding them from non-GAAP financial measures, are outlined below:
- Amortization of acquired intangible assets – Akamai has incurred amortization of intangible assets, included in its GAAP financial statements, related to various acquisitions Akamai has made. The amount of an acquisition's purchase price allocated to intangible assets and term of its related amortization can vary significantly and is unique to each acquisition; therefore, Akamai excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets from its non-GAAP financial measures to provide investors with a consistent basis for comparing pre- and post-acquisition operating results.
- Stock-based compensation and amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation – Although stock-based compensation is an important aspect of the compensation paid to Akamai's employees, the grant date fair value varies based on the stock price at the time of grant, varying valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions and the variety of award types. This makes the comparison of Akamai's current financial results to previous and future periods difficult to interpret; therefore, Akamai believes it is useful to exclude stock-based compensation and amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation from its non-GAAP financial measures in order to highlight the performance of Akamai's core business and to be consistent with the way many investors evaluate its performance and compare its operating results to peer companies.
- Acquisition-related costs – Acquisition-related costs include transaction fees, advisory fees, due diligence costs and other direct costs associated with strategic activities, as well as certain additional compensation costs payable to employees acquired from the Linode acquisition if employed for a certain period of time. The additional compensation cost was initiated by and determined by the seller, and is in addition to normal levels of compensation, including retention programs, offered by Akamai. Acquisition-related costs are impacted by the timing and size of the acquisitions, and Akamai excludes acquisition-related costs from its non-GAAP financial measures to provide a useful comparison of operating results to prior periods and to peer companies because such amounts vary significantly based on the magnitude of the acquisition transactions and do not reflect Akamai's core operations.
- Restructuring charges – Akamai has incurred restructuring charges from programs that have significantly changed either the scope of the business undertaken by the Company or the manner in which that business is conducted. These charges include severance and related expenses for workforce reductions, impairments of long-lived assets that will no longer be used in operations (including right-of-use assets, other facility-related property and equipment and internal-use software) and termination fees for any contracts cancelled as part of these programs. Akamai excludes these items from its non-GAAP financial measures when evaluating its continuing business performance as such items vary significantly based on the magnitude of the restructuring action and do not reflect expected future operating expenses. In addition, these charges do not necessarily provide meaningful insight into the fundamentals of current or past operations of its business.
- Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs and amortization of capitalized interest expense – In August 2019, Akamai issued $1,150 million of convertible senior notes due 2027 with a coupon interest rate of 0.375%. In May 2018, Akamai issued $1,150 million of convertible senior notes due 2025 with a coupon interest rate of 0.125%. The imputed interest rates of these convertible senior notes were 3.10% and 4.26%, respectively. This is a result of the debt discounts recorded for the conversion features that, prior to January 1, 2022, were required to be separately accounted for as equity under GAAP, thereby reducing the carrying values of the convertible debt instruments. The debt discounts were amortized as interest expense. On January 1, 2022, Akamai adopted the new guidance for accounting for convertible senior instruments. This new guidance eliminated separate accounting for the equity portion, and thus the amortization of the debt discount that was recorded as interest expense. Prior to January 1, 2022, Akamai excluded this non-cash interest expense from its non-GAAP results because it was not representative of ongoing operating performance. After January 1, 2022, this interest expense is no longer included in or excluded from GAAP or non-GAAP results. Additionally, the issuance costs of the convertible senior notes are amortized to interest expense and are also excluded from Akamai's non-GAAP results because management believes the non-cash amortization expense is not representative of ongoing operating performance.
- Gains and losses on investments – Akamai has recorded gains and losses from the disposition, changes to fair value and impairment of certain investments. Akamai believes excluding these amounts from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors as the types of events giving rise to these gains and losses are not representative of Akamai's core business operations and ongoing operating performance.
- Income and losses from equity method investment – Akamai records income or losses on its share of earnings and losses from its equity method investment. Akamai excludes such income and losses because it does not direct control over the operations of the investment and the related income and losses are not representative of its core business operations.
- Income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments and certain discrete tax items – The non-GAAP adjustments described above are reported on a pre-tax basis. The income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments is the difference between GAAP and non-GAAP income tax expense. Non-GAAP income tax expense is computed on non-GAAP pre-tax income (GAAP pre-tax income adjusted for non-GAAP adjustments) and excludes certain discrete tax items (such as recording or releasing of valuation allowances), if any. Akamai believes that applying the non-GAAP adjustments and their related income tax effect allows Akamai to highlight income attributable to its core operations.
Akamai's definitions of its non-GAAP financial measures are outlined below:
Non-GAAP income from operations – GAAP income from operations adjusted for the following items: amortization of acquired intangible assets; stock-based compensation; amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation; amortization of capitalized interest expense; acquisition-related costs; restructuring charges; and other non-recurring or unusual items that may arise from time to time.
Non-GAAP operating margin – Non-GAAP income from operations stated as a percentage of revenue.
Non-GAAP net income – GAAP net income adjusted for the following tax-affected items: amortization of acquired intangible assets; stock-based compensation; amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation; acquisition-related costs; restructuring charges; amortization of debt discount and issuance costs; amortization of capitalized interest expense; certain gains and losses on investments; income and losses from equity method investment; and other non-recurring or unusual items that may arise from time to time.
Non-GAAP net income per diluted share – Non-GAAP net income divided by weighted average diluted common shares outstanding. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding are adjusted in non-GAAP per share calculations for the shares that would be delivered to Akamai pursuant to the note hedge transactions entered into in connection with the issuances of $1,150 million of convertible senior notes due 2027 and 2025, respectively. Under GAAP, shares delivered under hedge transactions are not considered offsetting shares in the fully-diluted share calculation until they are delivered. However, the Company would receive a benefit from the note hedge transactions and would not allow the dilution to occur, so management believes that adjusting for this benefit provides a meaningful view of operating performance. With respect to the convertible senior notes due in each of 2027 and 2025, unless Akamai's weighted average stock price is greater than $116.18 and $95.10, respectively, the initial conversion price, there will be no difference between GAAP and non-GAAP diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.
Adjusted EBITDA – GAAP net income excluding the following items: interest income; income taxes; depreciation and amortization of tangible and intangible assets; stock-based compensation; amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation; acquisition-related costs; restructuring charges; foreign exchange gains and losses; interest expense; amortization of capitalized interest expense; certain gains and losses on investments; income and losses on equity method investment; and other non-recurring or unusual items that may arise from time to time.
Adjusted EBITDA margin – Adjusted EBITDA stated as a percentage of revenue.
Capital expenditures, or capex, excluding stock-based compensation and interest expense – Purchases of property and equipment and capitalization of internal-use software development costs presented on an accrual basis, which differs from the cash-basis presentation included in the statements of cash flows. The primary difference between the two is the change in purchases of property and equipment and capitalization of internal-use software development costs accrued for, but not paid, at period end versus prior periods.
Impact of foreign currency exchange rate – Revenue and earnings from international operations have historically been an important contributor to Akamai's financial results. Consequently, Akamai's financial results have been impacted, and management expects they will continue to be impacted, by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. For example, when the local currencies of our foreign subsidiaries weaken, our consolidated results stated in U.S. dollars are negatively impacted.
Because exchange rates are a meaningful factor in understanding period-to-period comparisons, management believes the presentation of the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on revenue and earnings enhances the understanding of our financial results and evaluation of performance in comparison to prior periods. The dollar impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates presented is calculated by translating current period results using monthly average foreign currency exchange rates from the comparative period and comparing them to the reported amount. The percentage change at constant currency presented is calculated by comparing the prior period amounts as reported and the current period amounts translated using the same monthly average foreign currency exchange rates from the comparative period.
Akamai Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
This release and/or our quarterly earnings conference call scheduled for later today contain statements that are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements about expected future financial performance, expectations, plans and prospects of Akamai. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors including, but not limited to, inability to continue to generate cash at the same level as prior years; failure of our investments in innovation to generate solutions that are accepted in the market; inability to increase our revenue at the same rate as in the past and keep our expenses from increasing at a greater rate than our revenues; effects of competition, including pricing pressure and changing business models; impact of macro-economic trends, including economic uncertainty, the effects of inflation, increasing interest rates, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, securities market volatility and monetary supply fluctuations; conditions and uncertainties in the geopolitical environment, including sanctions and disruptions resulting from the ongoing war in Ukraine; continuing supply chain and logistics costs, constraints, changes or disruptions; defects or disruptions in our products or IT systems, including cyber-attacks, data breaches or malware; failure to realize the expected benefits of any of our acquisitions or reorganizations; changes to economic, political and regulatory conditions in the United States and internationally; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; delay in developing or failure to develop new service offerings or functionalities, and if developed, lack of market acceptance of such service offerings and functionalities or failure of such solutions to operate as expected, and other factors that are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents periodically filed with the SEC.
In addition, the statements in this press release and on our quarterly earnings conference call represent Akamai's expectations and beliefs as of the date of this press release. Akamai anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause these expectations and beliefs to change. However, while Akamai may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Akamai's expectations or beliefs as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
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SOURCE Akamai Technologies, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/akamai-reports-second-quarter-2022-financial-results/ | 2022-08-09T21:15:49Z |
GetYourGuide shares survey results on travelers' behavior, concerns and needs
- U.S. booking volumes for GetYourGuide are up 100% more than pre-pandemic numbers in 2019
- Most travelers (68%) say they've decided against visiting attractions and excursions that are considered tourist traps
- Over half of U.S. travelers (55%) are craving to explore new and unforgettable experiences within their home country
NEW YORK, May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading travel booking platform GetYourGuide.com, announced today the results of a new survey[1]—aimed at uncovering what 'unforgettable' experiences mean to U.S. travelers in today's world—which revealed consumers are in search of authentic experiences, avoiding tourist traps when planning itineraries and opting for domestic destinations in 2022. These trends are expected to play out widely as travel bookings are increasing: GetYourGuide's U.S. booking volumes have more than doubled compared to pre-pandemic numbers in 2019.
"It's great to see a renewed desire to discover new and different experiences through travel," said Caroline Berger, Head of Brand, U.S. at GetYourGuide. "We've observed a sharp increase in our U.S. booking volumes as travelers are making up for time lost over the last few years—many of whom are more conscious than ever of avoiding the stereotypical tourist traps. As travelers become more discerning, we will be providing unforgettable experiences for them."
The report's results found common themes among those planning to travel and book experiences in 2022. Notable highlights include:
Travelers are going out of their way to avoid tourist traps
As many seasoned travelers know, popular destinations can often include 'tourist traps,' identified by survey respondents as attractions lacking in authenticity – inaccurately claiming to be unique and exclusive – with inflated prices, long lines, and/or large crowds. These 'traps' may act as a barrier for travelers when creating their travel itineraries, leading some to change plans or avoid a destination altogether.
- Two out of three (67%) travelers feel they have experienced tourist traps that led to inauthentic experiences
- More than two-thirds of travelers (68%) say they've decided against visiting an attraction or excursion because they were concerned it was a tourist trap, while four out of ten travelers (41%) say they've avoided a destination altogether due to concerns of tourist traps
"Doing your research and booking with a trusted provider is essential for those looking to escape the tourist traps," said Berger. "By visiting GetYourGuide.com or the GetYourGuide app, travelers not only have access to transparent pricing, flexible booking policies and real customer reviews – which have become table stakes to today's traveler – they also get a fully curated experience, one that has been vetted by us."
Travelers are craving to explore new and unforgettable experiences in their own backyard
On average, U.S. travelers take around 3 ½ leisure trips per year[2], and this year, many (55%) Americans are planning to spend their time off within the U.S., opting for beach getaways (44%) and road trips (36%). Among those with 2022 travel plans:
- Two-thirds of travelers say that experiencing new and different things (66%), as well as feeling recharged and relaxed (66%) are the main goals of their vacations
- Most travelers plan to go sightseeing (42%) and partake in family-friendly activities (39%)
- Travelers ranked favorable prices (54%), having a wide range of activities and experiences (34%) and avoiding big crowds (34%) as top priorities when booking travel experiences
- The top priorities for travelers are having a sense of freedom (38%) and taking part in authentic experiences (37%)
Travelers are valuing the 'who' in addition to the 'where'
Whether it is enjoying a new city's culinary scene, hiking the Grand Canyon or swimming with sharks, most travelers agree that it's the people they travel with that contribute to making an experience 'unforgettable.' Among the open-text comments requested in the survey, respondents echoed the importance of family, friends and loved ones when creating lasting memories.
- Close to two-thirds (58%) of travelers feel that creating beautiful memories with loved ones contribute to making a travel experience unforgettable, while four out of ten of travelers (38%) say that learning about the history of different sights and places also makes a trip unforgettable
- 'Beautiful' and 'fun' were the most mentioned words when asked to describe unforgettable experiences
Utilizing the survey results, GetYourGuide has launched an online quiz for travelers to discover their 'unforgettable' travel experience. For more information, please visit www.getyourguide.com.
About GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide is the booking platform for unforgettable travel experiences. Travelers use GetYourGuide to discover the best things to do in a destination — including walking tours by top local experts, local culinary tours, cooking and craft classes, skip-the-line tickets to the world's most iconic attractions, bucket-list experiences and niche offerings you won't find anywhere else. Since its founding in 2009, travelers from over 190 countries have booked more than 58 million tours, activities and attraction tickets through GetYourGuide. Powered by a global team of over 550 travel experts and technologists, the company is headquartered in Berlin, Germany and has offices in 15 countries around the world.
1 Survey issued to 2,000 U.S. adults who usually take at least one vacation per year, representative of the U.S. population based on age, gender and region; surveyed online between March 16-21, 2022
2 Based on years when there were no restrictions in place due to COVID-19 or anything else; includes anything from a 'weekend away' to a longer vacation
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SOURCE GetYourGuide | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/tourist-traps-among-biggest-travel-nightmares-us-consumers/ | 2022-05-04T17:15:21Z |
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tamika Farr, CEO of Pathways LA issued the following statement on The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
Upon review of the Inflation Reduction Act, I support the transformative investment in environmental protection and healthcare measures that the latest reconciliation package outlines. The Inflation Reduction Act allocates nearly $400 billion in transformational climate change proposals that will help reduce carbon emissions by approximately 40% by 2030 and includes enhancements in healthcare subsidies to the most vulnerable in our community. By any measure, the Inflation Reduction Act represents the most ambitious action taken by the federal government to combat climate change and mitigates the exorbitant cost of healthcare access. I applaud the monumental impact that these measures aim to achieve.
However, I am disheartened that our federal leaders have neglected to support child care providers and the millions of young children for whom they care for. Over the past 18 months, Congress and President Biden have deliberated on several iterations of a reconciliation package that promised to address the fractured child care sector and aid the countless families on the brink of poverty. Although Congress passed a Child Tax Credit provision in the American Rescue Plan ACT (ARPA) - a measure that temporarily lifted millions of children out of poverty – child care was omitted in this legislation by a handful of Congressional votes. As a result, a path forward - to build on similar regulations to support families and early care educators who cannot keep up with rampant inflation and the high prices for basic necessities - was obstructed. Despite the shortcomings on Early Childhood Education (ECE) policies, I commend President Biden and the supporting members of Congress for their unwavering convictions to support legislation that will help tackle our nation's most intractable economic challenges and position the country to lead in critical global policy initiatives.
Put simply, the ECE field faces a precarious fate without proper investments to help mitigate a ruptured infrastructure caused by decades of flawed policy-making across all sectors of government. Providers are indispensable to our nation's economy at large and to the families they provide care for; therefore, it's time all our leaders recognized them by implementing substantive investments for the ECE sector.
To this end, legislation akin to the ARPA bill is what the ECE sector and families across the country need. ARPA ensured that all children received adequate funds for day-to-day expenses and established child care stabilization grants. The Biden administration delivered key initiatives that benefited all American families and invested in the child care sector which is essential for a thriving U.S. economy. I'm hopeful the President will continue to prioritize these measures and ensure quality child care for all children and secure livable wages for all ECE workers.
I look forward to seeing subsequent proposals from Congress and the Biden Administration.
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SOURCE Pathways LA | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/pathways-la-statement-inflation-reduction-act/ | 2022-08-18T17:10:20Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The former warden of a California women’s prison, who is already facing federal charges alleging he sexually abused inmates and forced them to pose nude for him, was charged Tuesday with sexually abusing two other female prisoners, the Justice Department said.
Ray Garcia, 55, was the warden at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California. An Associated Press investigation revealed a culture of abuse and cover-ups that had persisted for years at the prison, a women-only facility called the “rape club” by many who know it.
The Justice Department announced a superseding indictment against Garcia on Tuesday charging him with a total of seven counts of sexually abusive conduct involving three female victims who were serving prison sentences at the federal prison in Dublin, California, and one count of making false statements to government agents.
The former warden, arrested last September, is accused of molesting an inmate as she tried to push him away. Garcia made her and another inmate strip naked as he did rounds and took pictures that were found on his personal laptop computer and government-issued cell phone when the FBI raided his office and home last summer, prosecutors said. The abuse happened on multiple occasions from December 2019 to March 2020 and ended when the pandemic exploded and women were locked in their cells, the Justice Department has said.
“If they’re undressing, I’ve already looked,” Garcia, 54, told the FBI in July 2021, according to court records. “I don’t, like, schedule a time like ‘you be undressed, and I’ll be there.’”
Garcia, who retired a month after his arrest, is also accused of using his authority to intimidate one of his victims, telling her that he was “close friends” with the person responsible for investigating staff misconduct and boasting that he could not be fired, prosecutors said.
Garcia pleaded not guilty to the initial charges against him, and his lawyer has declined the AP’s repeated requests for an interview. A message seeking comment was left with Garcia’s lawyer on Tuesday.
The new indictment also alleges that Garcia sexually abused two other female inmates between March 2020 and July 2021. The Justice Departments alleges Garcia touched the three women “in a sexual manner” and that he had “asked multiple inmates to undress for him at a specific time.”
The indictment alleges that he sexually abused one of the women in a prison bathroom next to a visitation room and in prison warehouse. Prosecutors say Garcia forced another woman to touch his genitals in the laundry room and grabbed the third woman’s buttocks in the prison’s electrical shop.
The indictment also alleges that Garcia lied to federal agents who asked him if he had ever asked inmates to undress for him or had inappropriately touched a female inmate.
Four other Dublin workers have been charged with sexual abuse of inmates since June 2021. Others include a food service foreman and a prison chaplain. Two of the arrested workers have pleaded guilty. One is scheduled to be sentenced next week.
___
On Twitter, follow Michael Balsamo at http://twitter.com/MikeBalsamo1 and Michael Sisak at http://twitter.com/mikesisak and send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/ | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/us-prison-warden-charged-with-sexually-abusing-2-more-women/ | 2022-08-24T20:33:53Z |
BENSALEM, Pa., June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd. ("FHS" or the "Company") (NYSE: FHS).
Class Period: March 2021 IPO
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 11, 2021
Investors suffering losses on their FHS investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in this class action at 888-638-4847 or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com.
The complaint filed alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that the new rules, regulations, and policies to be implemented by the Chinese government following the Two Sessions parliamentary meetings were far more severe than represented to investors and posed a material adverse threat to First High-School Education and its business; (2) that contemplated Chinese regulations and rules regarding private education were leading to a slowdown of government approval to open new educational facilities which would have a negative effect on First High-School Education's enrollment and growth; and (3) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com, or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Contacts
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
Howard G. Smith, Esquire
215-638-4847
888-638-4847
howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com
www.howardsmithlaw.com
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SOURCE Law Offices of Howard G. Smith | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/fhs-investors-have-opportunity-lead-first-high-school-education-group-co-ltd-securities-fraud-lawsuit/ | 2022-06-02T17:29:31Z |
OAK BROOK, Ill., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Health iPASS, a patient payment, intake, and check-in software company acquired by Sphere in late 2020 announces today its upgraded partnership with NextGen, a leading healthcare solutions provider with a focus on ambulatory care.
Health iPASS previously integrated with NextGen via a third-party application, but the most recent partnership enables a direct integration, which unlocks additional Health iPASS services and features for NextGen users. Health iPASS will now be available in the NextGen API marketplace, which focuses on application program interface (API) developer organizations compatible with NextGen for seamless integration.
Health iPASS offers a full product suite that boosts patient payments from pre-arrival to post insurance adjudication via a 100% mobile check-in platform. Health iPASS also offers in-office check-in options for those who prefer to check-in and pay in person. "Health iPASS is truly an end-to-end solution for providers looking to collect more from patients while also increasing patient engagement. We offer everything from patient self-scheduling to digital forms management, to innovative billing and collection tools. And now we can offer all these features to NextGen users directly," commented Rajesh Voddiraju, Founder and Group President at Health iPASS.
"Our existing relationship with NextGen has been fantastic," remarked Joseph Bush, VP of Business Development at Health iPASS. "However, we are excited to enter this new chapter with NextGen so that we can offer our full product suite with all of its features, such as discreet data writebacks and auto posting of patient payments, among others."
For more information, visit our website at healthipass.com.
Valerie Ray
Director of Growth Marketing
Valerie.ray@healthipass.com
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SOURCE HealthiPASS Inc | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/health-ipass-announces-upgraded-partnership-with-nextgen/ | 2022-07-28T15:44:10Z |
Which coffee carafe is best?
A coffee carafe is a container commonly found in a drip coffee machine, though some people also call the coffee pots that come with coffee makers carafes. Modern carafes have innovated on the original concept to be more durable, insulated and even portable.
The best option for coffee and tea lovers alike is the Tomakeit Airpot Coffee Carafe.
What to know before you buy a coffee carafe
Uses and benefits
One of the biggest benefits of traditional coffee carafes that come with drip coffee machines is that they help you prepare the right amount of coffee. You can use one to pour the exact amount of water needed to make the perfect cup of java.
Another benefit of these containers is their ability to store coffee for later consumption. If you have other coffee-making equipment, such as a handheld coffee press, you can use it over a coffee carafe to store the beverage.
Even though they’re primarily meant for coffee, carafes can also work with other liquids, such as black, white or herbal tea.
Design and material
Most carafes have a convenient carrying handle and a spout that lets you easily pour the liquid into a mug. The spout is usually narrow and designed to ensure nothing spills while tipping the container. It also makes it easy to pour the liquid gradually so you don’t risk overfilling a cup.
Coffee carafes designed to work with their respective coffee makers usually have a lid, too. It has a small opening that lets the coffee drip into the container until the machine is done.
In general, carafes are either glass or made from a combination of metal and plastic.
- Glass: Carafes meant for drip coffee machines usually consist of a thin layer of glass. They aren’t as durable as containers that are double-layered with a vacuum between both walls. Similar to thermal designs, double-layered carafes are less breakable and weigh more.
- Metal and hard plastic: Most thermal carafes are made from stainless steel and have two walls to trap heat. The outer wall often consists of hard plastic, rolled steel or powder-coated aluminum. The inner wall is usually stainless steel. Some of these also have a vacuum between the walls.
If you’re looking for a long-lasting carafe that will keep your coffee hot for hours and is easy to transport, consider getting a stainless steel or thermal one. But if you want something thinner and lightweight that you can use at home, glass is a good choice.
Regardless of the material, most carafes share the same general design. They usually have a rounded frame and come to a point at the top where the lid and spout are situated.
Care and cleaning
Generally, you should not put a coffee carafe in a dishwasher. If you do, it will probably crack or break. Instead, wash it by hand using either:
- Warm water and distilled vinegar: A 4:1 solution of water and vinegar can remove odors and clean the container
- Liquid dish soap and warm water: A few drops of liquid dish soap combined with tap water can handle most messes and help prevent stains.
Due to their design, coffee carafes can be difficult to open and clean inside. One way to make cleaning them easier is to use a brush or scrubber with a long handle, which can fit into small spaces such as carafes, baby bottles and narrow flower vases. Using one on a carafe can help ensure the container gets fully cleaned without having to disassemble it.
What to look for in a quality coffee carafe
Capacity
The overall capacity of a coffee carafe primarily depends on its size. They usually come with either even or odd cup sizes, such as:
- 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 cups
- 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11 cups
Each cup refers to a specific number of ounces per regular cup of coffee. For example, a single cup could produce either 12 or 16 ounces of coffee. Most manufacturers list how many ounces the carafe can hold. Traditional glass containers also usually have fine lines or other markings to indicate how many cups they can hold.
Temperature regulation
Some carafes, especially those made from stainless steel or thick glass, offer great temperature regulation and thermal control. This is particularly true for those that have a double-wall design with a vacuum between each wall. The vacuum separating the walls cuts down on heat transfer, since the air doesn’t circulate through the inner wall. This keeps the coffee hot for hours while protecting your hands from getting burned.
Carafes that don’t have a double wall or that are made from thin glass tend to become hot very quickly. If you get one of those, make sure it has a durable handle you can hold to avoid getting burned.
Pump
Some coffee carafes come with a pump. This extra feature can make it easier to pour the drink, since the container stays upright as you press the pump without you having to hold it.
Accessories
Popular accessories to get with a carafe include:
- A heating plate to help keep your coffee warmer for longer. Some come separately, while others are included with a drip coffee machine.
- A coffee grinder for those who like to prepare their coffee fresh from the bean.
- A specialized coffee cleaning kit with brushes and other accessories that make cleaning the container easier.
How much you can expect to spend on a coffee carafe
A simple glass or insulated coffee carafe costs $20-$50, on average. Larger containers or those with add-ons such as pumps are usually $50-$70.
Coffee carafe FAQ
How long can a carafe keep coffee hot?
A. This depends on how well the container retains heat, but most thermal ones can keep coffee warm for at least an hour or two after making it. If you use a heating plate, you can keep it warm even longer than that.
Does using a heating plate with a carafe burn coffee?
A. It can, but it depends on the heating plate and the carafe’s material. If you have a reliable thermal carafe, you shouldn’t need to use a heating plate with it.
What’s the best coffee carafe to buy?
Top coffee carafe
What you need to know: This large carafe consists of durable stainless steel that’s insulated with a double wall and vacuum, making it perfect for keeping beverages hot or cold for long periods.
What you’ll love: Capable of holding up to 102 ounces of liquid, it features a convenient lever that dispenses coffee and other liquids in controlled amounts. It also comes with a base that swivels around, making it easier to pour from any angle.
What you should consider: It can be difficult to clean inside.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top coffee carafe for the money
Cresimo Stainless Steel Thermal Coffee Carafe
What you need to know: This standard thermal carafe consists of high-quality stainless steel and can keep hot beverages at a consistent temperature for up to 12 hours.
What you’ll love: It can hold up to 68 ounces, or 2 liters, at a time. It’s also lightweight enough to pour using one hand. It has a durable handle and a button that opens the spout. Plus, it has a large mouth that makes cleaning it a breeze.
What you should consider: It might drip a little when pouring.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Fellow Stagg Double-Wall Coffee Carafe
What you need to know: This handblown glass carafe works well with manual coffee makers and fits on any kitchen counter.
What you’ll love: This 20-ounce, double-walled container can hold hot or cold beverages. It has a small lid and a convenient pouring spout. It also is more durable than other glass options.
What you should consider: It doesn’t keep coffee hot nearly as long as thermal designs.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/coffee-accessories-br/best-coffee-carafe/ | 2022-05-11T15:40:35Z |
SINGAPORE, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridgetek Pte Ltd. are introducing a new range of sensors and actuator devices to improve productivity, consistency of quality and yield, staff utilization, and ensuring efficient use of resources. Applications include industrial controls, smart farming, marine aquaculture, smart offices, laboratory instrumentation, and car parks among others.
The sensors and actuators are designed to work together on a shared network known as the Long-Distance Sensor Bus (LDSBus). This simplifies the cabling significantly by using standard interconnects and distributing power to the attached devices. It also removes the complexity of interconnecting different devices, protocols, networks, and software, allowing them to work together seamlessly. All sensor data and actuator commands on the LDSBus are relayed to and from the IoTPortal via the proprietary Bridgetek IoTPortal Gateways.
Key features of the Bridgetek LDSBus include:
- Easy installation: One CAT5/5e LDSBus cable with RJ45 connectors carries data and power
- Flexible: LDSBus connections are daisy-chained using HVT-junctions. Each HVT-junction has four RJ12 ports for sensor/actuator modules
- Long distance: Each bus can extend for up to 200m in each direction from the gateway
- Easy configuration: No programming experience needed to configure the system
- User-friendly: All sensors and actuators can all be monitored and controlled from the same intuitive app and dashboard
- Efficient: Alerts via email, SMS and push notification avoid the need to constantly monitor the data and free up staff for other tasks
Business owners and employees can connect to the system, both locally and remotely, via the smartphone app and browser-based dashboard, and receive alerts and notifications. The intuitive and user-friendly interface reduces the learning curve while providing easy system configuration with no code development required.
The adoption of Internet Of Things (IoT) continues to grow as more and more industries realize the advantages it brings. Alongside technological advances, IoT systems are also evolving with simpler installation, which is opening the door to many users who traditionally did not consider intelligent solutions and existing users.
For more information, visit www.brtchip.com.
For any queries, email to marketing@brtchip.com
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SOURCE Bridgetek Pte Ltd | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/bridgetek-introduces-new-sensors-actuators-simplify-iot-implementation-businesses/ | 2022-06-15T07:42:04Z |
- Genesis takes top rank overall and in premium segment for second consecutive year
- Study measures how well carmakers integrate advanced technology in user-friendly ways
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Aug. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, J.D. Power designated Genesis as its highest-ranked overall brand in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Tech Experience Index Study. Genesis earned the top Innovation Index score of 643, offering a significant number of advanced technologies across its product lineup. This is the brand's second consecutive year at the top of the list.
"Genesis is pleased to deliver the latest technologies to our customers with our award-winning lineup of vehicles," said Claudia Marquez, chief operating officer of Genesis Motor North America. "We are glad that the study's results recognize our commitment to implementing technologies focused on improving our customers' driving experience."
The J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study measures how effectively each automotive brand brings technologies to market, measured on a 1,000-point scale. The index combines the level of adoption of new technologies for each brand with excellence in execution. The execution measurement examines how much owners like the technologies and how many problems they experience while using them.
The TXI Study analyzes 35 technologies, which are divided into four categories: convenience; emerging automation; energy and sustainability; and infotainment and connectivity. Only technologies classified as advanced are award eligible.
The 2022 U.S. TXI Study is based on responses from 84,165 owners of new 2022 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study was fielded from February through May 2022. The TXI Study complements the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS)SM and the J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM by measuring how effectively each automotive brand brings new technologies to market.
At Genesis, we put the customer at the center of every decision we make. Genesis is a global automotive brand that delivers the highest standards of performance, design, safety, and innovation while looking towards a more sustainable future. Genesis designs customer experiences that go beyond products, embodying audacious, forward-thinking, and distinctly Korean characteristics within its unique Athletic Elegance design identity. With a growing range of award-winning models — including G70, G80, and G90 sedans, along with GV60, GV70, and GV80 SUVs — Genesis aims to lead the age of electrification, starting with its Electrified G80 and GV60 electric models. Genesis has stated its commitment to becoming an all-electric vehicle brand by 2030 and to pursuing carbon neutrality by 2035.
Please visit our media site for the latest news at www.genesisnewsusa.com (United States) and www.genesisnews.ca (Canada).
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SOURCE Genesis Motor America | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/25/genesis-ranks-highest-overall-tech-innovation-jd-power-2022-us-tech-experience-index-study/ | 2022-08-25T23:35:46Z |
The three-year project is being implemented in Ghana, Ethiopia, and Egypt to ensure the continuity and quality of learning under normal and crisis situations.
SHENZHEN, China, July 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A three-day cross-country seminar hosted in Accra, Ghana on the subject of the Technology-enabled Open Schools for All (TeOSS) project drew to a close on July 7.
Following the official launch of the TeOSS project on 25 November 2021, the seminar was co-organized by Huawei and UNESCO as part of the project's implementation phase. The event included a progress report on the first phase of the project, including results so far, and discussed the implementation of the second phase.
UNESCO is assisting the Ministries of Education and other partners in Egypt, Ethiopia, and Ghana with the delivery of the three-year TeOSS project, which will run until August 2023. Developed under the framework of the UNESCO-Huawei Funds-in-Trust, the project spans the design, pilot testing, and scaling-up of open technology-enabled school systems. Including curricula, teacher-student interaction, and social care, these systems will be accessible in schools, homes, and other venues, ensuring education continuity and quality even if a crisis such as the pandemic occurs.
"There three axes to steer the digital revolution, which are all reflected in this project: to ensure connectivity for all; to build free, public digital learning content and platforms; and to focus on how technology can enhance pedagogical innovation and change," said Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO.
Planned in close collaboration with the governments of Egypt, Ghana, and Ethiopia and aligned with their respective national strategies, each TeOSS project has been developed to meet specific local needs.
In Egypt, an ICT skills framework has been developed for teachers and students in K12 schools. Digital courseware development experts and primary and junior high school teachers will receive training, and a National Distance Learning Centre will be established for use by educators nationwide to ensure continuity in professional development.
"Since Egypt launched its new system, the President has provided unprecedented commitment to modernize the country's education model," said Dr. Hanem Ahmed, Head of International Cooperation for the Minister of Education and Technical Education of the Arab Republic of Egypt on behalf of H.E. Dr. Tarek Shawki, Minister of Education and Technical Education of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The TeOSS project in Ethiopia is focusing on ICT infrastructure build-out to connect pilot schools, train teachers and students, and build a Learning Management System integrated with a Teacher Training Platform.
"The project perfectly aligns with Ethiopia's national strategies regarding the need to use ICT and digital content in our system. We will also scale up this system by adopting and customizing all activities according to the local context," said Dr. Zelalem Assefa, CEO of ICT and Digital Education for the Ministry of Education of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
In Ghana, the focus is on creating digital content for all subjects, as well as providing training for teachers and students of primary and junior high schools. The project is also building an e-repository that teachers can use to upload content and which learners can access online and offline with little or no supervision.
"We need to be able to embrace technology to enhance our education delivery. If we want to be able to achieve SDG-4, we need digital platforms as an enabler and leverage to achieve that," said John Ntim Fordjour, Deputy Minister of Education, on behalf of H.E. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education of the Republic of Ghana.
TeOSS is aligned with the Tech4Education domain of Huawei's digital inclusion initiative TECH4ALL, which aims to drive education equity and quality with technology, and is working to enhance digital access, improve digital skills, and develop high-quality courses. Huawei ICT Academy program is designed to help cultivate ICT talent by improving digital skills.
"To achieve global education equity and share education resources, Huawei has launched the comprehensive one-stop service platform 'Huawei Talent'," said Zhang Jing, Senior Director of Huawei Education Talent Ecosystem, Huawei ICT Academy Development. "To bridge the gap between talent supply and demand in the digital era, Huawei is building talent alliances, improving skills, developing talent standards, and promoting the value of talent to help the world become more digital."
Technology is already demonstrating intrinsic value in transforming education, a value that will continue to grow in the future.
"Digital technology has become a new driver of productivity that supports innovation in education models, the transformation of education methodologies, and smarter education environments," said Kevin Zhang, CMO of ICT Infrastructure for Huawei. "We are exploring how to apply AI, such as computer vision, natural language processing, and speech processing, to education. Innovative technology can help solve the world's most pressing challenges. And we must continue working together to innovate."
The collaborative and innovative approach of the TeOSS project is helping to create inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all and underpin lifelong learning opportunities. It will empower nations to rethink education and underpin a new generation of digital schools and digital learners.
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SOURCE Huawei | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/unesco-huawei-technology-enabled-open-schools-all-project-progress-reviewed-cross-country-seminar/ | 2022-07-18T02:25:12Z |
Gift to support the Department of Neurology's Spine Oncology Program
BALTIMORE, Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Founder of Real Time Medical Systems, Provider Partners Health Plans, Mid-Atlantic Healthcare, and long-time healthcare entrepreneur Dr. Scott Rifkin and his wife Frances Rifkin, R.N. today pledged $5.7 million to The Johns Hopkins University and The Johns Hopkins Health System to support research and treatment in the institution's Neurology Spine Oncology program.
The gift, to be paid in full by June 30, 2024, is personal to Dr. and Mrs. Rifkin as a close family member has and continues to be treated in this program led by Dr. Nicholas Theodore, director of the Johns Hopkins Neurosurgical Spine Center with whom they now have a close relationship. The first $2.4 million dollars was remitted last week.
The capital funding portion of this gift at $2.3 million is earmarked for equipment for Dr. Theodore's lab located at Johns Hopkins Bayview, a part of the Johns Hopkins Health System. This equipment will be used in whole or in part for clinical patient care and/or research at the University. The balance of the gift of $3.4 million is designated for the University.
Dr. Theodore is a nationally recognized expert in brain and spinal cord injury, minimally invasive spine surgeries and robotics. He has written or co-authored 60 book chapters, over 300 peer-reviewed journal articles and is co-holder of 30 patents for medical devices and procedures. His research focuses on trauma, spinal cord injuries, robotics, and developing an understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of spinal diseases. Dr. Theodore treats patients with a variety of spinal disorders including trauma, Chiari malformations, spinal deformities, degenerative spine conditions and spinal cord tumors.
"I am deeply appreciative for the generous gift provided by Dr. Scott Rifkin and Frances Rifkin to support our efforts at Johns Hopkins Neurosurgery in making significant advances in spinal oncology," said Dr. Theodore. "Along with my colleague Dr. Daniel Lubelski we will be launching a robust research effort that will include imaging, robotics, radiation, digital phenotyping, development of bio-markers and ultimately novel chemotherapies. This gift will transform our ability to make inroads on many fronts and I look forward to our partnership," he added.
"Dr. Theodore's research and compassion has been integral in helping our family navigate serious medical issues, said Dr. Rifkin. "I am so grateful for his groundbreaking work in spinal disorders and honored that Fran and I can support his work with a significant gift that will continue to help move his research and treatments forward making a difference for patients today and well into the future," he added.
Dr. Scott Rifkin, an Internist who practiced for twenty years in Owings Mills, has spent his decades-long career focused on improving the health of vulnerable seniors in skilled nursing facilitates as the founder of Real Time Medical Systems and Provider Partners Health Plans. He is the former CEO of Mid- Atlantic Healthcare. Frances, a Registered Nurse, is committed to various animal welfare efforts.
Real Time's suite of Interventional Analytics solutions enables long-term and post-acute care facilities to seamlessly collaborate with their partner hospitals, health systems, accountable care organizations (ACOs), and managed care plans to improve care, reduce costs, and achieve a level of interoperability.
Provider Partners Health Plans (PPHP) is a Medicare Advantage HMO plan for individuals enrolled in Medicare who reside in long-term care facilities. In partnership with local care teams, PPHP provides improved and more coordinated care that keeps members healthier.
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SOURCE Mid-Atlantic Healthcare | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/23/dr-scott-rifkin-frances-rifkin-pledge-57-million-johns-hopkins-university-johns-hopkins-health-system/ | 2022-08-23T17:40:20Z |
FINDLAY, Ohio, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: MPC) issued the following statement from John Surma, chairman of the board of directors, on the passing last weekend of its long-serving board member Steve Davis.
"We are so saddened by Steve's passing and the loss of such a vibrant voice on our board. On behalf of our entire Marathon organization, we offer our sincerest and deepest sympathies to the Davis family. We will miss Steve's valuable contributions to our business, his friendship and his uplifting spirit."
Mr. Davis served as a member of the Marathon Petroleum Corporation Board of Directors for nine years.
About Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is a leading, integrated, downstream energy company headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. The company operates the nation's largest refining system. MPC's marketing system includes branded locations across the United States, including Marathon brand retail outlets. MPC also owns the general partner and majority limited partner interest in MPLX LP, a midstream company that owns and operates gathering, processing, and fractionation assets, as well as crude oil and light product transportation and logistics infrastructure. More information is available at www.marathonpetroleum.com.
Investor Relations Contacts: (419) 421-2071
Kristina Kazarian, Vice President
Brian Worthington, Manager
Kenan Kinsey, Analyst
Media Contact: (419) 421-3312
Jamal Kheiry, Communications Manager
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SOURCE Marathon Petroleum Corporation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/marathon-petroleum-corp-statement-passing-board-member-steven-davis/ | 2022-07-12T19:40:39Z |
NEW YORK, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Wells Fargo & Company.
Shareholders who purchased shares of WFC 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: This lawsuit is on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Wells Fargo common stock between February 24, 2021 and June 9, 2022.
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Wells Fargo had misrepresented its commitment to diversity in the Company's workplace; (ii) Wells Fargo conducted fake job interviews in order to meet its Diverse Search Requirement; (iii) the foregoing conduct subjected Wells Fargo to an increased risk of regulatory and/or governmental scrutiny and enforcement action, including criminal charges; (iv) all of the foregoing, once revealed, was likely to negatively impact Wells Fargo's reputation; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
DEADLINE: August 29, 2022 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/wells-fargo-loss-submission-form/?id=29531&from=4
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of WFC 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 August 29, 2022. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
The Gross Law Firm
15 West 38th Street, 12th floor
New York, NY, 10018
Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com
Phone: (646) 453-8903
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SOURCE The Gross Law Firm | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-wells-fargo-amp-company-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-august-29-2022-nyse-wfc/ | 2022-07-06T10:26:44Z |
Safety leader underscores the importance of electrical safety and other safety services & solutions designed to protect workers
CHICAGO, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With two years of the COVID-19 pandemic impacting how businesses evaluate employee safety and with 2,000 workers treated for arc flash related injuries each year, now is the time for businesses to consider protocols like electrical safety to further protect their workers. Today at the 2022 ASSP Safety Conference in Chicago, The Master Lock Company is highlighting its Arc Flash and Electrical Safety Services, an end-to-end offering that helps companies of all sizes mitigate electrical hazards and achieve regulatory compliance.
Master Lock's arc flash and electrical safety experts counsel businesses through the whole process with hands-on attention. The end-to-end services include arc flash assessments, infrared (IR) scanning, electrical safety training, and auditing. All of which help mitigate the hazards of a potential arc flash event and help businesses achieve compliance with NFPA 70E®, OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S and the National Electric Code.
"As facilities continue to operationally return to normal, it's important for businesses to reevaluate and reconsider potential safety hazards and risks that workers can be exposed to," said Bill Belongea, safety services program manager at The Master Lock Company. "Arc flash and other electrical injuries are a common hazard in many work environments – and while businesses can't avoid incidents all together, they can implement proven policies and procedures to significantly reduce the risk to their employees."
With services that follow OSHA and NFPA 70E standards, businesses can take a first step in achieving compliance with an arc flash risk assessment. The assessment includes collecting data to create an accurate one-line diagram representing the electrical distribution system for the entire plant or facility. Additionally, licensed professional electrical engineers follow the requirements of IEEE 1584 and NFPA 70E to perform short circuit and protective device coordination studies, calculate incident energy at each piece of equipment, identify opportunities to mitigate arc flash, and create and apply the arc flash warning labels.
The Master Lock Company enhances its arc flash risk assessment with comprehensive evaluation and guidance to implement effective electrical safety programs. Services include electrical safety policy development, IR thermography inspection, electrical audits and NFPA 70E compliance training.
Safety professionals at the 2022 ASSP Safety Conference can stop by The Master Lock Company booth (#616) from June 27-29 to learn more about Master Lock Electrical Safety Services and other end-to-end lockout products and services. For more information, visit the Arc Flash and Electrical Safety Services or Lockout Tagout Solutions sections on MasterLock.com.
About The Master Lock Company
For over 100 years, The Master Lock Company has been recognized around the world as the authentic, enduring name in padlocks and security products. The Master Lock Company offers a broad range of innovative security, safes and safety solutions for consumer, commercial, and industrial end-users. Master Lock Company LLC is an operating unit of Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc., a leading consumer brands company. Headquartered in Deerfield, Ill., Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc. (NYSE: FBHS), is included in the S&P 500 Index. For more information about Master Lock visit www.masterlock.com.
Media Contact:
Wes Richter
Zeno Group
(312) 826-3582
Wes.Richter@zenogroup.com
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SOURCE The Master Lock Company | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/master-lock-company-showcases-electrical-safety-amp-arc-flash-services-assp-safety-2022-conference/ | 2022-06-27T17:39:58Z |
Shareholders with $100,000 losses or more are encouraged to contact the firm.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Lottery.com Inc. f/k/a Trident Acquisitions Corp. ("Lottery.com" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: LTRY).
Class Period: November 15, 2021 – July 29, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 18, 2022
If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Lottery.com lawsuit, you can submit your contact information at www.glancylaw.com/cases/lotterycom-inc/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at shareholders@glancylaw.com to learn more about your rights.
The complaint filed alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the Company lacked adequate internal accounting controls; (2) the Company lacked adequate internal controls over financial reporting, including but not limited to those pertaining to revenue recognition and the reporting of cash; (3) the Company was not in compliance with state and federal laws governing the sale of lottery tickets; and (4) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Charles Linehan, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to shareholders@glancylaw.com, or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
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SOURCE Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/ltry-investors-have-opportunity-lead-lotterycom-inc-fka-trident-acquisitions-corp-securities-fraud-lawsuit/ | 2022-09-06T16:05:08Z |
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN), America's largest and most admired automotive retailer, today announced that it will release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022, on Thursday, April 21, 2022. AutoNation management will discuss these results and other information regarding the Company during a conference call and audio webcast that same day at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
The conference call may be accessed by telephone at 844-200-6205 (Conference ID: 813404) or on AutoNation's investor relations website at investors.autonation.com. The webcast will also be available on AutoNation's website following the call under "Events & Presentations." A playback of the conference call will be available after 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 21, 2022, through May 12, 2022, by calling 866-813-9403 (Conference ID: 687579).
About AutoNation, Inc.
AutoNation, a provider of personalized transportation services, is driven by innovation and transformation. As one of America's most admired companies, AutoNation delivers a peerless customer experience recognized by data-driven consumer insight leaders, Reputation and J.D. Power. Through its bold leadership and brand affinity, the AutoNation Brand is synonymous with "DRVPNK" and "What Drives You, Drives Us." AutoNation has a singular focus on personalized transportation services that are easy, transparent, and customer-centric.
Please visit www.autonation.com, investors.autonation.com, and www.twitter.com/AutoNation, where AutoNation discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations. Please also visit www.autonationdrive.com, AutoNation's automotive blog, for information regarding the AutoNation community, the automotive industry, and current automotive news and trends.
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SOURCE AutoNation, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/autonation-announces-first-quarter-2022-earnings-conference-call-audio-webcast-scheduled-thursday-april-21-2022/ | 2022-04-07T22:36:40Z |
- First firm contract for Embraer's P2F comes after an agreement announced in May with Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) for up to 10 conversion slots for E190F/E195F;
- Deliveries to start in 2024;
- E-Jets Freighters offer over 50% more volume capacity, three times the range of large cargo turboprops, and up to 30% lower operating costs than narrowbodies;
SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Embraer [B3: EMBR3, NYSE: ERJ] has signed a firm order for up to 10 Embraer E-Jets Passenger to Freight (P2F) conversions with an undisclosed customer. Aircraft for conversion will come from the customer's current E-Jets fleet, with deliveries starting in 2024. This is the first firm contract for Embraer's P2F, being the second agreement for this kind of operation. In May, Embraer and Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) announced an agreement in principle to take up to 10 conversion slots for E190F/E195F.
Combining under-floor bulk cargo and main deck, the maximum gross structural payload is 13,150kg for the E190F and 14,300kg for the E195F. Considering typical e-commerce cargo density, the net weights and volumes are also impressive: the E190F can handle a payload of 23,600lb (10,700kg) while the E195F a payload of 27,100 lb (12,300 kg).
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SOURCE Embraer S.A. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/24/embraer-signs-firm-contract-up-10-passenger-freight-conversions/ | 2022-06-24T22:56:19Z |
OSUN, Nigeria (AP) — As health authorities in Europe and elsewhere roll out vaccines and drugs to stamp out the biggest monkeypox outbreak beyond Africa, some doctors acknowledge an ugly reality: The resources to slow the disease’s spread have long been available, just not to the Africans who have dealt with it for decades.
Countries including Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, the United States, Israel and Australia have reported more than 500 monkeypox cases, many apparently tied to sexual activity at two recent raves in Europe. No deaths have been reported.
Authorities in numerous European countries and the U.S. are offering to immunize people and considering the use of antivirals. On Thursday, the World Health Organization will convene a special meeting to discuss monkeypox research priorities and related issues.
Meanwhile, the African continent has reported about three times as many cases this year.
There have been more than 1,400 monkeypox cases and 63 deaths in four countries where the disease is endemic — Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo and Nigeria — according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, sequencing has not yet shown any direct link to the outbreak outside Africa, health officials say.
Monkeypox is in the same family of viruses as smallpox, and smallpox vaccines are estimated to be about 85% effective against monkeypox, according to WHO.
Since identifying cases earlier this month, Britain has vaccinated more than 1,000 people at risk of contracting the virus and bought 20,000 more doses. European Union officials are in talks to buy more smallpox vaccine from Bavarian Nordic, the maker of the only such vaccine licensed in Europe.
U.S. government officials have released about 700 doses of vaccine to states where cases were reported.
Such measures aren’t routinely employed in Africa.
Dr. Adesola Yinka-Ogunleye, who leads Nigeria’s monkeypox working group, said there are currently no vaccines or antivirals being used against monkeypox in her country. People suspected of having monkeypox are isolated and treated conservatively, while their contacts are monitored, she said.
Generally, Africa has only had “small stockpiles” of smallpox vaccine to offer health workers when monkeypox outbreaks happen, said Ahmed Ogwell, acting director of the Africa CDC.
Limited vaccine supply and competing health priorities have meant that immunization against monkeypox hasn’t been widely pursued in Africa, said Dr. Jimmy Whitworth, a professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
“It’s a bit uncomfortable that we have a different attitude to the kinds of resources we deploy depending on where cases are,” he said. “It exposes a moral failing when those interventions aren’t available for the millions of people in Africa who need them.”
WHO has 31 million doses of smallpox vaccines, mostly kept in donor countries and intended as a rapid response to any re-emergence of the disease, which was declared eradicated in 1980. Doses from the U.N. health agency’s stockpile have never been released for any monkeypox outbreaks in central or western Africa.
Dr. Mike Ryan, WHO’s emergencies chief, said the agency was considering allowing rich countries to use the smallpox vaccines to try to limit the spread of monkeypox. WHO manages similar mechanisms to help poor countries get vaccines for diseases like yellow fever and meningitis, but such efforts have not been previously used for countries that can otherwise afford shots.
Oyewale Tomori, a Nigerian virologist who sits on several WHO advisory boards, said releasing smallpox vaccines from the agency’s stockpile to stop monkeypox from becoming endemic in richer countries might be warranted, but he noted a discrepancy in WHO’s strategy.
“A similar approach should have been adopted a long time ago to deal with the situation in Africa,” he said. “This is another example of where some countries are more equal than others.”
Some doctors pointed out that stalled efforts to understand monkeypox were now complicating efforts to treat patients. Most people experience symptoms including fever, chills and fatigue. But those with more serious disease often develop a rash on their face or hands that spreads elsewhere.
Dr. Hugh Adler and colleagues recently published a paper suggesting the antiviral drug tecovirimat could help fight monkeypox. The drug, approved in the U.S. to treat smallpox, was used in seven people infected with monkeypox in the U.K. from 2018 to 2021, but more details are needed for regulatory approval.
“If we had thought about getting this data before, we wouldn’t be in this situation now where we have a potential treatment without enough evidence,” said Adler, a research fellow at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Many diseases only attracted significant money after infecting people from rich countries, he noted.
For example, it was only after the catastrophic Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014-2016 — when several Americans were sickened by the disease among the more than 28,000 cases in Africa — that authorities finally sped up the research and protocols to license an Ebola vaccine, capping a decades-long effort.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, WHO’s Ryan said the agency was worried about the continued spread of monkeypox in rich countries and was evaluating how it could help stem the disease’s transmission there.
“I certainly didn’t hear that same level of concern over the last five or ten years,” he said, referring to the repeated epidemics of monkeypox in Africa, when thousands of people in the continent’s central and western parts were sickened by the disease.
Jay Chudi, a development expert who lives in the Nigerian state of Enugu, which has reported monkeypox cases since 2017, hopes the increased attention might finally help address the problem. But he nevertheless lamented that it took infections in rich countries for it to seem possible.
“You would think the new cases are deadlier and more dangerous than what we have in Africa,” he said. “We are now seeing it can end once and for all, but because it is no longer just in Africa. It’s now everybody is worried.”
_____
Cheng reported from London. Cara Anna in Nairobi and Mike Stobbe in New York contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/health/ap-health/africans-see-inequity-in-monkeypox-response-elsewhere/ | 2022-06-01T16:44:02Z |
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military said Thursday it has filed terror charges against a senior member of the Islamic Jihad militant group whose arrest in the occupied West Bank helped spark three days of heavy fighting in Gaza earlier this month.
Islamic Jihad had demanded the release of Bassam al-Saadi and another detained Palestinian who is on a prolonged hunger strike as part of the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire that ended the fighting. The indictment signals that those demands will not be met.
The military said al-Saadi, 62, stands accused of “committing crimes of affiliation with and activity in an illegal association” and receiving funds from Islamic Jihad in Gaza, as well as “impersonation, incitement and aiding contact with enemy elements,” the military said.
Islamic Jihad is an Iran-sponsored Palestinian militant group that is opposed to Israel’s existence and has carried out scores of deadly attacks over the years targeting Israeli civilians. It operates in both the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
Al-Saadi was arrested earlier this month during a night-time military raid in the West Bank city of Jenin. In response to his arrest, Islamic Jihad said it was going “on alert.”
Israel says the group was planning a revenge attack from Gaza. In response to what it said was an imminent threat, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes in Gaza that killed a senior Islamic Jihad commander. The militants began launching hundreds of rockets at Israel hours later.
The flare-up left 49 Palestinians dead, including the militant group’s top two commanders and 10 other fighters, before the cease-fire took effect. Gazan militants fired some 1,100 rockets, but no one on the Israeli side was killed or seriously wounded.
It was the deadliest exchange of fire since last year’s war between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that has ruled Gaza for the last 15 years — and which did not take part in the latest fighting.
Despite the lopsided toll, Islamic Jihad has held rallies across Gaza in recent days, including on Thursday, on the main road of Gaza’s Shijaiyah neighborhood. At a rally Wednesday in the southern town of Rafah, the militants displayed life-sized replicas of rockets.
Al-Saadi has spent a total of 15 years over several stints in Israeli jails for being an Islamic Jihad member. Israel killed two of his sons, who were also Islamic Jihad militants, in separate incidents in 2002, and destroyed his home during a fierce battle in Jenin that year.
Israeli forces have carried out regular operations into Jenin in recent months that the military says are aimed at dismantling militant networks in the wake of several deadly attacks inside Israel. The raids often ignite gunbattles with Palestinian militants.
Since seizing power in 2007, Hamas has fought four wars with Israel, often with support from Islamic Jihad fighters. In the past, Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza have challenged Hamas by firing rockets, often without claiming responsibility, to raise the group’s profile.
Israel and Western countries consider both Hamas and Islamic Jihad to be terrorist groups because they have carried out scores of deadly attacks over the years targeting Israeli civilians. Many Palestinians view the militants as freedom fighters resisting Israel’s 55-year military occupation of lands the Palestinians want for their future state. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-israel-indicts-militant-whose-arrest-fueled-gaza-tensions/ | 2022-08-26T19:42:48Z |
Washburn’s Mulvane ArtLab to reopen
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Washburn University’s Mulvane Art Museum’s ArtLab, an innovative center for hands-on arts education that had been closed due to the pandemic, will reopen on August 6th.
The ArtLab will be open to the public on Tuesdays from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. The museum said the ArtLab will be open for private educational group tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tours must be scheduled in advance and are limited to 30 people.
The Mulvane Art Museum’s ArtLab also recently hired an education curator. Jonathan Matteson, who has 10 years of experience in gallery programming, education, and working in museums will begin working at the Washburn Art Museum. Matteson has a bachelor of fine arts in studio art from Washington State University as well as a master of fine arts in studio art from the University of Idaho.
“As a curator of education, I will facilitate learning, particularly formal and non-formal art appreciation, while conducting outreaches that are fun and fascinating for all who participate,” Matteson said.
For more information about the museum’s programs and exhibitions, click here.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/03/washburns-mulvane-artlab-reopen/ | 2022-08-03T21:50:41Z |
In collaboration with Little Millie, new moms and influencers, Jessica Nickson (@thejessicanickson) and Noelle Downing (@noelledowning), put their spin on an assortment of apparel styles for newborns and moms
SEATTLE, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Online retailer Zulily debuts an exclusive capsule collection of apparel and soft goods for babies and moms featuring designs from fashion influencers, Jessica Nickson and Noelle Downing. Bringing their personal style and point-of-view to the project, Jessica and Noelle were uniquely qualified for this undertaking as they're also both new moms. So, while the collection is fun and fashionable, it's also steeped in versatility and quality that new moms crave. The result is an assortment, from sleepwear to bibs, and even robes for mom, that includes the essential items to make the first few months as a family more comfortable, day or night. The collection launches today and is available through September 29, with more than 170 styles ranging in price from $8.99 to $46.99.
"Zulily remains the go-to source for moms looking to find quality products, at an affordable price and from brands she loves. In collaboration with the fan favorite Little Millie brand, we were excited to add influencers, who are both real moms, to lend their authentic and diverse experiences with motherhood to the equation. This is a winning combination that's bringing exciting new offerings that have been designed and produced for real, everyday life with infants," said Kiki Lockwood, merchandising manager for kids' apparel at Zulily.
With the myriad of emotional and physical changes that take place throughout pregnancy and postpartum, moms and babies need products that can transition with them, meaning adaptability and functionality are imperative. "Those first few months after you bring your baby home are incredibly intense as you navigate everything from sleeping and feeding schedules, to acclimating as a new family. Finding products that fit into your life and can flex with you, and your baby's, ever-changing needs is what I love about this new collection," explains co-designer and influencer Noelle. Jessica adds, "The pieces can standalone but also work incredibly well together and they're so versatile and cute, precisely what a new mom, like myself and Noelle, is looking for during the first few months."
With more than 20 trends across 170 styles from woodland creatures, to hearts, stars and stripes, gingham and more, the exclusive collection, in collaboration with Little Millie, is full of styles for baby and some matching surprises for mom – making shopping that much easier. Now, moms can shop the exclusive Zulily x Little Millie Collection featuring Jessica Nickson and Noelle Downing's capsule collections through September 29 with free shipping on all orders of $89 and above.
For more information on the collection, visit Zulily's The Find.
About Zulily®
Zulily is an online superstore committed to delivering a fun shopping experience for moms everywhere, without breaking the bank. Through exclusive daily deals, brand names and on-trend styles, and everyday value on a wide selection of daily across clothing, footwear, homewares and more, Zulily helps moms discover great deals, create special moments for the family, and find the perfect unique items, guilt-free. At Zulily, shopping is a little different, a little better, and a lot more fun.
Zulily is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with locations in Nevada, Ohio, and China. With expertise in technology, merchandising, creative production, logistics, marketing, customer service, and more, Zulily team members work together to deliver a different kind of shopping experience for moms – one that's built on fun, discovery, and whimsy. For more information visit, www.zulily.com or The Find by Zulily, or follow @Zulily on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter. For vendors interested in selling on Zulily, visit www.sell.zulily.com.
Zulily, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qurate Retail, Inc. (NASDAQ: QRTEA, QRTEB, QRTEP).Qurate Retail Inc. is a Fortune 500 company that includes QVC®, HSN®, Zulily and the Cornerstone brands (collectively, "Qurate Retail GroupSM"), as well as other minority interests and green energy investments. Qurate Retail Group is dedicated to providing a more human way to shop. Qurate Retail Group is the largest player in video commerce (vCommerce), which includes video-driven shopping across linear TV, ecommerce sites, digital streaming and social platforms. For more information, visit www.qurateretailgroup.com, or follow @QurateRetailGrp on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, or follow Qurate Retail Group on YouTube or LinkedIn.
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SOURCE Zulily | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/zulily-announces-special-delivery-new-exclusive-baby-amp-mom-capsule-collection/ | 2022-09-06T14:37:27Z |
DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic strained his left calf in Dallas’ 130-120 win over San Antonio in what turned out to be a meaningless regular-season finale on Sunday night, putting the superstar’s status in question for the playoff-bound Mavericks.
Doncic wouldn’t have even been eligible for the game had the NBA not rescinded his 16th technical foul of the season two nights earlier against Portland. Without the NBA’s decision, Doncic would have served a one-game suspension.
The two-time All-Star had turned to run to the defensive end late in the third quarter when he pulled up after the first step and stopped.
Doncic, who led Dallas with 26 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, called for the medical staff while reaching for his calf after play was stopped and almost immediately went to the locker room.
Coach Jason Kidd said after the game he didn’t have any update on the injury, but Doncic’s status could be in doubt with fourth-seeded Dallas set to open the playoffs next weekend against Utah.
The Mavericks had a chance to move up the third seed, but needed New Orleans to beat Golden State when the Pelicans were resting several regulars. The Warriors won 128-107.
The Spurs were already locked into the final spot in the play-in tournament as the 10th seed in the Western Conference. Keldon Johnson scored 24 points for San Antonio, which will play ninth-seeded New Orleans on Wednesday. The winner plays the loser between No 7 seed Minnesota and the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 8 seed.
Kidd said before the game the club wanted to treat it as a dress rehearsal for the playoffs even if it didn’t mean moving up from the fourth seed.
Doncic had played his normal rotation, going the entire first quarter and part of the second. He was on the verge of playing all of the third quarter when he pulled up with the injury. He left with 2:24 remaining in the quarter.
Dorian Finney-Smith scored all of his 16 points in the third quarter, when Dallas broke a 59-59 halftime tie by outscoring San Antonio 38-23. The Mavericks held on in the fourth quarter with a lineup filled by players not in the rotation.
The Mavericks won all four games against San Antonio, sweeping the season series from their Texas rivals for the first time.
TIP-INS
Spurs: G Lonnie Walker IV sat with lower back tightness a night after leading the Spurs with 24 points in a loss to Golden State. … Dejounte Murray scored 17 points after missing the past five games with a non-COVID-19 illness. … Josh Richardson scored 18 points against his former team. … Jakob Poeltl had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Mavericks: C Dwight Powell set a club record with 18 consecutive shots made over four games. Coming into the season, Powell shared the previous record of 14 with DeAndre Jordan and Erick Dampier. He broke the record with his first bucket before the run ended on his fifth attempt when he couldn’t convert an alley-oop pass from Jalen Brunson. He finished 5 of 6 and scored 12 points. … F Maxi Kleber missed his fourth consecutive game with right ankle soreness, but Kidd said he would be ready for the playoffs.
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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/doncic-injury-puts-playoff-status-in-doubt-as-mavs-top-spurs/ | 2022-04-11T06:52:46Z |
Sports Invigorate the City
BEIJING, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On the morning of September 1st, the Sports Services Section of the China International Fair for Trade in Services 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the CIFTIS) was officially opened in Shougang Park, Beijing. As one of the nine themed sections of the CIFTIS, this Sports Services Section, themed as "Sports Invigorate the City", aims to promote the cooperation of sports services trade and build a bridge for international sports industry. The section consists of exhibitions, forums, trade matching and supporting activities around four highlights of internationalization, professionalization, marketization, and technologization. The 2022 CIFTIS Sports Services Section Fair will be hosted by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports and organized by ADG Exhibition.
As the largest themed exhibition of this CIFTIS, the Sports Services Exhibition is located in the indoor halls 6 and 7 and outdoor halls 14 and 15 of Shougang Park, with a total area of 22,200 square meters. It is composed of eight sub-exhibitions including services for international sports, Olympic achievements promotion, sports events, sports consumption, smart sports, sports integration, fitness for all and outdoor life. A total of 347 enterprises and institutions get involved in the exhibition online or offline, including 151 offline exhibitors, 101 offline international institutions and enterprises and 59 offline industry leading enterprises. The internationalization rate and industry leading enterprise ratio are 67% and 39% respectively, and raw space booths account for 94%.
This section includes one main forum and five parallel forums. On the morning of September 1st, the Main Forum of the International Sports Services Trade Conference & the World Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo was held at the No.3 Blast Furnace, Shougang Park, addressed by Li Yingchuan, deputy head of the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC), and Zhang Jiandong, vice mayor of Beijing and executive vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG).
The Sports Economy Department of the GASC and Asia Digital Group have successively released the Report on China's Sports Services Trade (2021) and the Research Report on China's Winter Sports Industry Development (2022). Five parallel forums including the Olympic City Development Forum, the Digital Sports Development Forum, the International Sports, Culture and Tourism Development Forum, the International Ice and Snow Industry Development Forum, and the Outdoor Living Forum was held one after another, together with the release of such reports as the Digital Sports Development Report (2022), the Report on International Sports, Culture and Tourism Industry (2022) and the Bulletin of Main Data on Beijing Sports Venues (2021).
Meanwhile, the Sports Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Competition, the Industry TOP Awards and the Fashion Show were staged. Besides, the experience area has been set up for emerging fashion sports such as camping, recreational vehicles, Frisbees and standup paddleboards in the outdoor exhibition halls 14 and 15. Visitors are welcome to get involved.
In order to facilitate more transaction for sports services projects, the Sports Services Section has made every effort to build a supply and demand docking platform with offline exhibitions, forums and related supporting activities.
Main Forum of the International Sports Services Trade Conference & the World Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo Held at the No.3 Blast Furnace, Shougang Park.
The Sports Services Section of the China International Fair for Trade in Services 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the CIFTIS) was officially opened in Shougang Park, Beijing on September 1st. This section includes one main forum and five parallel forums. On the morning of September 1st, the Main Forum of the International Sports Services Trade Conference & the World Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo, also the Main Forum of the Sports Services Section, was held at the No.3 Blast Furnace, Shougang Park, addressed by Li Yingchuan, deputy head of the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC), and Zhang Jiandong, vice mayor of Beijing and executive vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG).
According to Li Yingchuan, with the theme of "Sports Invigorate the City", the Sports Services Section of this CIFTIS, highlighting internationalization, professionalization, marketization, and technologization, is of great significance to the development of sports services trade and ice and snow industry in the post-Winter Olympics era. Let us take this Sports Services Section as an opportunity to jointly build a bridge of communication for international sports industry, promote the docking and cooperation of sports services trade, accelerate the release of the potential of this kind of trade, and contribute new strength to the high-quality development of the sports industry and ice and snow industry in the new era.
Zhang Jiandong pointed out that the Sports Services Section, a vital part of the CIFTIS, is a specific measure to promote the high-quality development of Beijing's sports. Since 2012, it has attracted over 400 sports services institutions in and out of China, guests and businessmen from more than 70 countries and regions, and 40,000 some professional visitors. Therefore, it has played a positive role in disseminating ideas, connecting supply and demand, and sharing business opportunities. The section went further this year, attracting more than 300 Chinese and foreign exhibitors, and becoming the largest themed exhibition of this CIFTIS. Furthermore, featuring internationalization, professionalization, marketization, and technologization, it will surely create more fruitful results with richer content and more novel form.
Zhao Wen, director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports, introduced the sports services industry in 2022. The Report on China's Sports Services Trade (2021) and the Research Report on China's Winter Sports Industry Development (2022) were released respectively by Peng Weiyong, deputy director of the Sports Economy Department at the GASC and Zhang Li, executive vice president of Asia Digital Group. British Trade Commissioner for China John Edwards gave an outlook on China-UK sports cooperation in a video.
In addition, focusing on hot topics of the sports industry, guests who "came" to the site offline or via online videos to jointly explore new trends of the sports industry include Minister Counsellor of the Department for International Trade at the British Embassy Beijing Sohail Shaikh, President of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association Jason Ferguson, President of the International Sports Press Association Gianni Merlo, Executive Director of the Olympic Games at the International Olympic Committee Christophe Dubi, President of the International Biathlon Union Olle Dahlin and Former Secretary-General of the International Ski Federation Sarah Lewis.
A round-table dialogue, themed as "Focus on the 'Post-Winter Olympics': China's Ice and Snow-the Future Can Be Expected" was held. Suggestions for the Olympic heritage, fitness for all and sustainable development of ice and snow industry were offered by such guests as Zhao Yinggang, chairman of the China Sled Association and deputy director of the Sustainable Development Committee at the BOCOG, Michael Berger, counsellor of the Commercial Office at the Austrian Embassy in China, Nico H. Schiettekatte, counsellor for Health, Welfare and Sports at the Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands in Beijing, Zeng Dechao, chairman of the Yulin City Committee of the CPPCC of Shaanxi Province, Li Yanqiu, general manager of Doppelmayr China and Shen Yumei, director of the Engo Division at TechnoAlpin Group.
Five parallel forums, including the Olympic City Development Forum and the Digital Sports Development Forum, were held on September 2nd-4th.
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SOURCE ADG Expo Group Co., Ltd. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/largest-themed-exhibition-ciftis-opens/ | 2022-09-07T11:54:04Z |
PITTSBURGH, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dollar Bank announced today that it is increasing its Prime Rate to 4.75% from 4.00% effective June 16, 2022. This increase is being made as a result of recent changes in market conditions.
Dollar Bank has assets of more than $11.5 billion. Today, Dollar Bank operates more than 90 locations throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia and has over 1,400 employees. For more than 166 years, Dollar Bank has grown to become the largest mutual bank in the United States, committed to providing the highest quality of banking services to individuals and businesses. Dedicated to aiding the communities it serves, Dollar Bank supports quality of life initiatives, financial literacy programs, and organizations devoted to helping individuals and families in need. Dollar Bank (www.dollar.bank) is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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SOURCE Dollar Bank | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/dollar-bank-increases-prime-rate/ | 2022-06-15T23:49:08Z |
CINCINNATI (AP) — Michael Chavis hit a tiebreaking two-run double, Diego Castillo homered and rookie Roansy Contreras allowed one run in six innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday.
Jason Delay drove in Ben Gamel from first base with a seventh-inning double for his first career hit and RBI as Pittsburgh sent the Reds to their third loss in four games and seventh of nine. Delay’s hit boosted Pittsburgh’s lead to 4-1.
“I’m happy for him,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “His first major league RBI, and it was a big RBI. It extended the lead.”
After getting rocked for five hits and seven runs in 1 2/3 innings during his last start on July 1 against Milwaukee, Contreras (3-2) allowed four hits and one run with one walk and seven strikeouts in his 12th appearance and ninth start of the season.
“I have to give credit to some adjustments I made this week,” Contreras said through a translator. “I’m grateful that the results came through. I always trust myself. I’ve learned how to move on. There’s always another new day.”
“He executed better,” Shelton said. “He had command of both of his breaking balls and his changeup. It was nice to see him bounce back.”
Duane Underwood Jr. and Wil Crowe followed from the bullpen before David Ednar worked the ninth for his 14th save.
Mike Minor (1-6) struck out a season-high eight over 6 1/3 innings on the way to his fourth straight loss. He allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and a hit batter.
With one out in the sixth inning, Ke’Bryan Hayes came up with a one-out infield hit and Bryan Reynolds was hit on his left foot by a pitch. Reynolds stayed in the game and scored when Chavis drilled a line drive to left-center that one-hopped the wall for a 3-1 Pittsburgh lead.
“I didn’t get the win or a quality start, but I got to the seventh inning,” Minor said. “I’ve pitched in doubleheaders before, so it was in the back of my mind a little bit. Most of those guys won’t say no to pitching twice in a day, even though you don’t want them to. You don’t want to go just four or five innings. You have to help them out in the bullpen.”
Minor held Pittsburgh hitless until Castillo led off the fifth with his ninth homer, a no-doubt line drive into Cincinnati’s left-center field bullpen.
“This was the best I’ve thrown all year,” Minor said. “Still, they came away with four runs. I thought my stuff was a lot better. I had a lot of swing-and-miss stuff. Balls in the gap with guys on base killed me. The solo home run, I’ll take it.”
The Pirates had gone 14 innings without scoring a run, including Wednesday’s 16-0 loss to the Yankees.
“We bounce back really well,” Shelton said. “I’d like not to have to. We have a resilient bunch.”
Donovan Solano matched Castillo with a drive to left-center leading off the bottom of the fifth, his first homer since coming off the injured list on June 21.
TWINBILLS
Thursday’s doubleheader was the fourth of at least five this season for the Pirates, the most for the team since it played nine in 2004. The Reds and Pirates are scheduled to play a third doubleheader in Cincinnati on September 13, the first time the teams have played three twinbills in one season since 1965.
WHOLESALE CHANGES
Between games, the Reds transferred RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (right forearm strain) to the 60-day IL, placed catcher Aramis Garcia (left middle finger) on the 10-day IL, promoted RHP Robert Dugger from Triple-A Louisville and recalled catcher Mark Kolozsvary from Louisville.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: RHP Luis Cessa left the game with an undisclosed injury while pitching to Reynolds in the seventh inning. He was placed on the 15-day IL between games. … C Tyler Stephenson (broken right thumb) was scheduled to catch Thursday and be the designated hitter on Friday for Triple-A Louisville before possibly being activated on Saturday, manager David Bell said. … RHP Alexis Diaz (right bicep) could be activated Friday, Bell said.
UP NEXT
Pirates: After a one-day stop in Cincinnati for Thursday’s doubleheader, Pittsburgh heads to Milwaukee, where RHP JT Brubaker (2-7, 4.28 ERA) will take the mound to begin a three-game series on Friday.
Reds: RHP Luis Castillo (3-4, 3.09) takes the mound in the opener of a three-game series against Tampa Bay on Friday.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/chavis-has-big-hit-contreras-solid-as-pirates-top-reds-4-2/ | 2022-07-08T07:22:36Z |
MIAMI, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Maasai Water Project, Inc. ("Maasai"), a local 501(c)(3) charity organization dedicated to improving access to sustainable safe water, food security, healthcare, economic opportunity and education of Africa's indigenous communities, has filed suit against Faena Rose, L.L.C. ("Faena"), a private members club located in Miami Beach, Fla. The suit was filed on December 16, 2021, in the Miami-Dade Circuit Court, Civil Action: 2021-027067-CA-01.
Maasai alleges non-payment of contracted charity donation revenue in an amount between $30,001 and $50,000 from Faena's new membership. According to the complaint, Maasai alleges that Faena promised to pay a portion of proceeds from the acquisition of new membership to Maasai as a donation. These funds have allegedly never been paid to Maasai, resulting in a breach of contract.
Maasai seeks remuneration in the amount of debt owed, as well as punitive damages from Faena.
"My client, under a number of alternative theories, has filed suit seeking remuneration of the donation it feels it was promised, but not paid, as a result of a costly membership referred by my client. It hopes to resolve this matter, as it always has, by way of realizing the promised donation." Jonathan Noah Schwartz, Esq., Counsel of Record for Maasai Water Project.
In the midst of these allegations, Maasai continues seeking to provide clean and safe drinking water to the indigenous tribes of Africa. The allegedly unpaid funds from Faena would make a significant difference in the lives of these tribal peoples.
As recently as early April 2022, Faena has requested mediation instead of a jury trial. A jury trial was originally requested in the complaint by Maasai.
Maasai is represented by Jonathan Noah Schwartz, Esq. of Jonathan Schwartz Law PLLC.
Maasai Water Project works to reinstate the basic human rights to Health, Education, Culture & Community. Working in close partnership with tribal leaders, their projects improve access to sustainable safe water, food security, healthcare, economic opportunity and education while carefully protecting and preserving the culture of indigenous communities. Maasai Water Project is a United States registered 501(C)(3) charity organization.
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SOURCE Maasai Water Project | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/nonprofit-organization-maasai-water-project-files-suit-against-faena-rose-llc-non-payment-donation-revenue-breach-contract/ | 2022-05-18T02:43:38Z |
Technology Learning Center and event designed to foster growth, optimize efficiency
CHICAGO, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LaSalle St., a family of wealth management firms encompassing independent broker-dealer and registered investment adviser (RIA) platforms, today introduced its Technology Learning Center. The firm's comprehensive set of learning resources, consisting of live webinars, recorded videos, written documentation and a LaSalle St. podcast, is designed to help its affiliated representatives and advisors evaluate and optimize their practices' technology platforms.
The Technology Learning Center will be formally introduced during the LaSalle St. Annual Growth Summit which focuses on bringing real-life practice management, business growth, peer-to-peer engagement and product idea brainstorming to a one-day event. More than 120 of LaSalle St.'s reps, advisors, home office staff and strategic sponsors will attend the summit at the Westin Yorktown Centre in Lombard, Illinois. The firm suspended its 2020 and 2021 Annual Growth Summits due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mark Contey, Senior Vice President of Business Development at LaSalle St. said, "We understand how daunting and time-consuming it can be for advisors to identify, integrate and learn how to use the right technology solutions for their businesses. And that does not include keeping up with changes custodians roll out on platforms that are mission-critical to their businesses. The Technology Learning Center will help our advisors explore what is available to them from LaSalle St. and others, stay up to speed on advancing technologies and determine how it can help grow their business."
The 2022 Annual Growth Summit will feature sessions on networking, capital markets investment themes, book-buying strategies and other growth strategies. Speakers include:
- John Cianciulli, President, Team Edge Consulting
- Taylor Hankins, CFA®, Fidelity Investments
- Amy Osborne, Senior Learning Consultant, Franklin Templeton
- Jim and Kim Steinbrenner, Steinbrenner Financial Group
- Lewin Williams, First Trust
- David Zoller, CFP®, co-owner, Streamline Financial Services
- Michael Graham, Peter Lewis and Todd Fennick, LaSalle St.
"We believe that offering more resources and customized integration and implementation assistance to our advisors will drive meaningful growth to their business and ours, enabling LaSalle St. reps and advisors to continue to deliver superior service and results to their clients," Mr. Contey said.
About LaSalle St.
LaSalle St. is a family of firms comprising LaSalle St. Securities, an independent broker-dealer; LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, a SEC-registered investment adviser; and LaSalle St. Insurance Services, a provider of annuity and insurance products. It has a singular mission of supporting the growth and success of independent financial advisors across the country. Founded in 1974 and based in Chicago, Illinois, LaSalle St. supports more than 300 financial advisors, has over $12 billion in total client assets and is registered in all 50 states. The LaSalle St. companies offer a wide range of services, including brokerage, advisory, investment and insurance. The firm clears primarily through National Financial Services, with custodial services through NFS parent Fidelity Investments. For more information, visit https://www.lasallest.com/.
Media Contact
Haven Tower Group
Donald C. Cutler/ Lorene Yue
dcutler@haventower.com/ lyue@haventower.com
424 317 4864 / 424 317 4854
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SOURCE LaSalle St. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/lasalle-st-uses-annual-growth-summit-formally-introduce-learning-center-evaluate-amp-integrate-technology-programs/ | 2022-05-12T10:34:58Z |
- Organic revenue growth of 13.5%1 results in revenue of $1,707.5 million, increase of 40.4%1
- Solid Waste price of 7.3% and surcharges of 1.9%, highest in company history
- Adjusted EBITDA2 of $453.3 million, increase of 34.2%1; Net income from continuing operations of $82.6 million; Adjusted Net Income from continuing operations2 of $89.6 million
- Adjusted EBITDA margin2 of 26.5%; Solid Waste Adjusted EBITDA margin2 of 29.4%
- Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities2 of $250.5 million; cash flows from operating activities of $231.2 million; Adjusted Free Cash Flow2 of $102.2 million
- Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations2 of $0.24; Earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.17
- Year-to-date completed acquisitions generating approximately $360.0 million in annualized revenue
VAUGHAN, ON, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE: GFL) (TSX: GFL) ("GFL", "we", "our" or the "Company") today announced its results for the second quarter of 2022.
"Our exceptional start to the year continued into the second quarter, thanks to the hard work and commitment of our over 19,000 employees," said Patrick Dovigi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GFL. "Solid Waste pricing of 7.3% was significantly above our original plan and a testament to our ability to respond to changing market conditions in real time. The strength of this pricing, together with continued positive trends in volume and contribution from M&A drove nearly 30% revenue growth in our Solid Waste segment, a result that was ahead of our expectations. The outperformance that we saw in our Environmental Services segment in the beginning of the year continued to accelerate in the second quarter, resulting in over 20% organic revenue growth and validating our rationale for bringing together the components of this segment late last year. Adjusted EBITDA grew by $115.5 million or 34.2% in the second quarter. We achieved these extraordinary results despite the current inflationary environment that has been more severe and persisted longer than expected, as well as the continuing impact of tight labour markets and supply chain constraints. Although current year margins will be impacted by labour shortages and the rapid rate of cost escalation, we believe that our disciplined pricing initiatives, together with the delayed impact of recent CPI pricing adjustments, will set up a highly favourable launch off point for 2023 and provide additional scope for margin expansion as inflationary pressures, labour markets and supply chain constraints begin to moderate."
Mr. Dovigi added, "We remain focused on executing on our strategy to create long-term value for all stakeholders. We have completed 28 acquisitions year-to-date, the majority of which were smaller tuck-in acquisitions, which have meaningfully densified our Solid Waste footprint within the markets we serve. Our outsized M&A activity during the first part of this year is expected to contribute annualized revenue of approximately $360.0 million and puts us on track to exceed the upside opportunity from M&A that we identified at the beginning of the year. We also continued to make progress on RNG projects at the five landfills, where we have agreements in place, with an additional seven sites under active negotiation and nine other projects in the request for proposal stage."
Mr. Dovigi concluded, "Our strong performance for the first half of the year, coupled with our expectation for the balance of the year, the resilience of our business model and the effectiveness of our growth strategies, are leading us to increase our 2022 full year guidance for the second time this year. We are increasing our guidance for revenue by $375 million, as well as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow, despite the current inflationary environment and rising interest rates. We continue to see upside opportunities ahead of us as result of our robust M&A pipeline and the contribution from any incremental M&A completed in the second half of the year would be additive to our updated guidance."
- Revenue increased by 40.4% to $1,707.5 million in the second quarter of 2022, compared to the second quarter of 2021. Solid Waste organic growth of 12.4%, including 7.3% from core pricing, 1.9% from surcharges and 2.4% from positive volume. In the second quarter of 2021, Solid Waste core pricing and surcharges was 4.1% and volume was positive 6.3%.
- Environmental Services revenue of $324.3 million, including organic growth of 21.6% driven by the strength of industrial collection and processing revenue, as well as the impact of higher used motor oil selling prices.
- Adjusted EBITDA2 increased by 34.2% to $453.3 million in the second quarter of 2022, compared to the second quarter of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA margin2 was 26.5% in the second quarter of 2022, compared to 26.9% in the second quarter of 2021 (27.8% as adjusted for the divestiture of GFL Infrastructure). Solid Waste Adjusted EBITDA margin2 was 29.4% in the second quarter of 2022, compared to 30.9% in the second quarter of 2021.
- Net income from continuing operations increased to $82.6 million in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $54.5 million in the second quarter of 2021.
- Adjusted Free Cash Flow2 was $102.2 million in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $162.2 million in the second quarter of 2021.
- Revenue increased by 34.3% to $3,108.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021. Solid Waste organic growth of 11.3%, including:
- Environmental Services revenue of $556.0 million, including organic growth of 20.6% driven by the strength of industrial collection and processing revenue, as well as the impact of higher used motor oil selling prices.
- Adjusted EBITDA2 increased by 27.1% to $807.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021. Adjusted EBITDA margin2 was 26.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to 27.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2021. Solid Waste Adjusted EBITDA margin2 was 29.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to 30.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
- Net income from continuing operations increased to $219.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to a net loss of $229.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
- Adjusted Free Cash Flow2 was $220.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $279.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
GFL also provided its updated guidance for 2022 assuming a CAD/US exchange rate of 1.28 for the remainder of the year (compared to 1.26 provided in our original guidance on February 9, 2022):
- Revenue is estimated to be between $6,425 million and $6,475 million (previously between $6,000 million and $6,100 million).
- Adjusted EBITDA3 is estimated to be between $1,710 million and $1,730 million (previously between $1,680 million and $1,720 million).
- Adjusted Free Cash Flow3 is estimated to be between $650 million and $680 million (previously between $645 million and $675 million).
The 2022 updated guidance includes the expected contribution of acquisitions already completed in 2022, net of divestitures completed to date, but excludes any impact from additional acquisitions not yet completed, refinancing opportunities and any potential redeployment of capital. Implicit in forward-looking information in respect of our expectations for 2022 are certain current assumptions, including, among others, no changes to the current economic environment and that none of the jurisdictions in which GFL operates institute additional COVID-19 emergency measures including shelter-in-place or similar orders. The updated 2022 guidance assumes GFL will continue to execute on its strategy of organically growing our business, leverage our scalable network to attract and retain customers across multiple service lines, realize operational efficiencies, and extract procurement and cost synergies. See "Forward-Looking Information".
GFL will host a conference call related to our second quarter earnings on July 28, 2022 at 8:30 am Eastern Time. A live audio webcast of the conference call can be accessed by logging onto our Investors page at investors.gflenv.com or by clicking here. Listeners may access the call toll-free by dialing 1-844-200-6205 (access code: 721283) approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
We encourage participants who will be dialing in to pre-register for the conference call using the following link: https://ige.netroadshow.com/registration/q4inc/11191/gfl-environmental-second-quarter-2022-earnings-call/. Callers who pre-register will be given a conference access code and PIN to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the live operator on the day of the call. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time. For those unable to listen live, an audio replay of the call will be available until August 11, 2022 by dialing 1-866-813-9403 (access code: 749052).
GFL, headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario, is the fourth largest diversified environmental services company in North America, providing a comprehensive line of solid waste management, liquid waste management and soil remediation services through its platform of facilities throughout Canada and in more than half of the U.S. states. Across its organization, GFL has a workforce of more than 19,000 employees.
For more information, visit our web site at gflenv.com. To subscribe for investor email alerts please visit investors.gflenv.com or by clicking here.
This release includes certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable U.S. and Canadian securities laws, respectively. Forward-looking information includes all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts and may relate to our future outlook, financial guidance and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding our financial performance, financial condition or results, business strategy, growth strategies, budgets, operations and services. Particularly, statements regarding our expectations of future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities or the markets in which we operate is forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "outlook", "forecasts", "projection", "prospects", "strategy", "intends", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", or "potential" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved", although not all forward-looking information includes those words or phrases. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections, guidance, potential or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts nor assurances of future performance but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances.
Forward-looking information is based on our opinions, estimates and assumptions that we considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such information is stated, is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to certain assumptions set out herein in the section titled "Updated Full Year 2022 Guidance"; our ability to obtain and maintain existing financing on acceptable terms; our ability to source and execute on acquisitions on terms acceptable to us; currency exchange and interest rates; the impact of competition; the changes and trends in our industry or the global economy; changes in laws, rules, regulations, and global standards; and the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, including variants, and its impact on the economy, the North American financial markets, our operations, our M&A pipeline and our financial results. Other important factors that could materially affect our forward-looking information can be found in the "Risk Factors" section of GFL's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2021 and GFL's other periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in Canada. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these risks carefully in evaluating our forward-looking information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. There can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Although we have attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors not currently known to us or that we currently believe are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. The forward-looking information contained in this release represents our expectations as of the date of this release (or as the date it is otherwise stated to be made), and is subject to change after such date. However, we disclaim any intention or obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable U.S. or Canadian securities laws. The purpose of disclosing our financial outlook set out in this release is to provide investors with more information concerning the financial impact of our business initiatives and growth strategies.
This release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measures. These measures are not recognized measures under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. Rather, these non-IFRS measures are used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. We also believe that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers. Our management also uses non-IFRS measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, to prepare annual operating budgets and forecasts and to determine components of management compensation.
EBITDA represents, for the applicable period, net income (loss) from continuing operations plus (a) interest and other finance costs, plus (b) depreciation and amortization of property and equipment, landfill assets and intangible assets, less (c) the provision for income taxes, in each case to the extent deducted or added to/from net income (loss) from continuing operations. We present EBITDA to assist readers in understanding the mathematical development of Adjusted EBITDA. Management does not use EBITDA as a financial performance metric.
Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental measure used by management and other users of our financial statements including our lenders and investors, to assess the financial performance of our business without regard to financing methods or capital structure. Adjusted EBITDA is also a key metric that management uses prior to execution of any strategic investing or financing opportunity. For example, management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure in determining the value of acquisitions, expansion opportunities and dispositions. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is utilized by financial institutions to measure borrowing capacity. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding and deducting, as applicable from EBITDA, certain expenses, costs, charges or benefits incurred in such period which in management's view are either not indicative of underlying business performance or impact the ability to assess the operating performance of our business, including: (a) (gain) loss on foreign exchange, (b) (gain) loss on sale of property and equipment, (c) mark-to-market (gain) loss on Purchase Contracts, (d) share of net income of investments accounted for using the equity method, (e) share-based payments, (f) impairment, (g) gain on divestiture, (h) transaction costs, and (i) acquisition, rebranding and other integration costs (included in cost of sales related to acquisition activity). We use Adjusted EBITDA to facilitate a comparison of our operating performance on a consistent basis reflecting factors and trends affecting our business. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, we deducted our share of net income of investments accounted for using the equity method and adjusted for an impairment charge related to assets that were destroyed in a fire during the quarter. As we continue to grow our business, we may be faced with new events or circumstances that are not indicative of our underlying business performance or that impact the ability to assess our operating performance.
Adjusted EBITDA margin represents Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. Management and other users of our financial statements including our lenders and investors use Adjusted EBITDA margin to facilitate a comparison of the operating performance of each of our operating segments on a consistent basis reflecting factors and trends affecting our business.
Acquisition EBITDA represents, for the applicable period, management's estimates of the annual Adjusted EBITDA of an acquired business, based on its most recently available historical financial information at the time of acquisition, as adjusted to give effect to (a) the elimination of expenses related to the prior owners and certain other costs and expenses that are not indicative of the underlying business performance, if any, as if such business had been acquired on the first day of such period ("Acquisition EBITDA Adjustments"), and (b) contract and acquisition annualization for contracts entered into and acquisitions completed by such acquired business prior to our acquisition. Further adjustments are made to such annual Adjusted EBITDA to reflect estimated operating cost savings and synergies, if any, anticipated to be realized upon acquisition and integration of the business into our operations. We use Acquisition EBITDA for the acquired businesses to adjust our Adjusted EBITDA to include a proportional amount of the Acquisition EBITDA of the acquired businesses based upon the respective number of months of operation for such period prior to the date of our acquisition of each such business.
Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities represents cash flows from operating activities adjusted for (a) operating cash flows from discontinued operations, (b) prepayment penalties for early note redemption, (c) transaction costs, (d) acquisition, rebranding and other integration costs, (e) M&A related net working capital investment, (f) tax refund from CARES Act, and (g) cash interest paid on TEUs. Management uses Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities to evaluate and monitor the ongoing financial performance of GFL. Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities is a supplemental measure used by investors as a valuation and liquidity measure in our industry.
Adjusted Free Cash Flow represents Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities adjusted for (a) proceeds from asset divestitures, (b) proceeds on disposal of assets, (c) purchase of property and equipment and intangible assets, and (d) investment in joint ventures and associates. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, proceeds from asset divestitures excluded proceeds received for the divestiture of GFL Infrastructure. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is a supplemental measure used by investors as a valuation and liquidity measure in our industry. Management uses Adjusted Free Cash Flow to evaluate and monitor the ongoing financial performance of GFL.
Adjusted Net Income (Loss) from continuing operations represents net income (loss) for continuing operations adjusted for (a) amortization of intangible assets, (b) ARO discount rate depreciation adjustment, (c) incremental depreciation of property and equipment due to recapitalization, (d) prepayment penalties for early note redemption, (e) amortization of deferred financing costs, (f) (gain) loss on foreign exchange, (g) mark-to-market (gain) loss on Purchase Contracts, (h) share of net income of investments accounted for using the equity method, (i) impairment, (j) gain on divestiture, (k) transaction costs, (l) acquisition, rebranding and other integration costs, (m) TEU amortization expense, and (n) the tax impact of the forgoing. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, we deducted our share of net income of investments accounted for using the equity method and adjusted for an impairment charge related to assets that were destroyed in a fire during the quarter. Adjusted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations is defined as Adjusted Net Income (Loss) from continuing operations divided by the weighted average shares in the period. We believe that Adjusted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations provides a meaningful comparison of current results to prior periods' results by excluding items that GFL does not believe reflect its fundamental business performance.
Net Leverage is a supplemental measure used by management to evaluate borrowing capacity and capital allocation strategies. Net Leverage is equal to our total long-term debt, as adjusted for fair value, deferred financings and other adjustments and reduced by our cash, divided by Run-Rate EBITDA.
Run-Rate EBITDA represents Adjusted EBITDA for the applicable period as adjusted to give effect to management's estimates of (a) Acquisition EBITDA Adjustments (as defined above) and (b) the impact of annualization of certain new municipal and disposal contracts and cost savings initiatives, entered into, commenced or implemented, as applicable, in such period, as if such contracts or costs savings initiatives had been entered into, commenced or implemented, as applicable, on the first day of such period. Run-Rate EBITDA has not been adjusted to take into account the impact of the cancellation of contracts and cost increases associated with these contracts. These adjustments reflect monthly allocations of Acquisition EBITDA for the acquired businesses based on straight line proration. As a result, these estimates do not take into account the seasonality of a particular acquired business. While we do not believe the seasonality of any one acquired business is material when aggregated with other acquired businesses, the estimates may result in a higher or lower adjustment to our Run-Rate EBITDA than would have resulted had we adjusted for the actual results of each of the acquired businesses for the period prior to our acquisition. We primarily use Run-Rate EBITDA to show how GFL would have performed if each of the interim acquisitions had been consummated at the start of the period as well as to show the impact of the annualization of certain new municipal and disposal contracts and cost savings initiatives. We also believe that Run-Rate EBITDA is useful to investors and creditors to monitor and evaluate our borrowing capacity and compliance with certain of our debt covenants. Run-Rate EBITDA as presented herein is calculated in accordance with the terms of our revolving credit agreement.
All references to "$" in this press release are to Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted.
For further information:
Patrick Dovigi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer,
+1 905-326-0101
pdovigi@gflenv.com
You should read the following information in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021 as well as our unaudited Interim Financial Statements and notes thereto for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.
The following tables summarize the revenue growth in our segments for the periods indicated:
The following table summarizes the components of our Solid Waste organic growth for the periods indicated:
The following tables summarize our operating segment results for the periods indicated, excluding the results of GFL Infrastructure which has been presented as discontinued operations:
The following table presents the calculation of Net Leverage as at the dates indicated:
The following table presents the total shares outstanding as at the date indicated:
The tables below set forth the reconciliation of our net income (loss) from continuing operations to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated, excluding the results of GFL Infrastructure which has been presented as discontinued operations:
The tables below set forth the reconciliation of our net income (loss) from continuing operations to Adjusted Net Income from continuing operations for the periods indicated, excluding the results of GFL Infrastructure which has been presented as discontinued operations:
The tables below set forth the reconciliation of our cash flows from operating activities to Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities and Adjusted Free Cash Flow for the periods indicated:
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SOURCE GFL Environmental Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/gfl-environmental-reports-second-quarter-2022-results-raises-full-year-2022-guidance-second-time-this-year/ | 2022-07-27T21:43:05Z |
NEW YORK, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. (NYSE: SWZ), a non-diversified registered closed-end investment company (the "Fund"), announced today a quarterly distribution of $0.1665 per share of the Fund's common stock pursuant to Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). The distribution is subject to the following record, ex-dividend and payment dates:
Record Date: June 21, 2022
Ex-Dividend Date: June 17, 2022
Payment Date: June 30, 2022
Pursuant to the Plan, the Fund's Board of Directors has approved the quarterly distribution of a fixed amount of $0.1665 per share of the Fund's common stock. The primary purpose of the Plan is to provide the Fund's stockholders with a more consistent, but not guaranteed, fixed minimum rate of distribution on a regular, quarterly basis. The Plan also may have the effect of narrowing the discount to net asset value per share at which the Fund's shares trade.
Distributions under the Plan may consist of net investment income, net realized short-term capital gains, net realized long-term capital gains and, to the extent necessary, return of capital (or other capital sources). With each distribution that does not consist solely of net investment income, the Fund will issue a notice to stockholders and an accompanying press release that will provide detailed information regarding the amount and composition of the distribution, as well as certain other related information. The Fund expects to issue any such notice and press release on or about the distribution payment date.
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in each notice will be estimated, are likely to change over time and are not provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for accounting and tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during its full fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send each stockholder a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell stockholders how to report distributions for federal income tax purposes.
The current distribution amount of $0.1665 per share of the Fund's common stock equates to an annualized distribution rate of 6.00% based on the Fund's net asset value per share, or NAV, as of October 31, 2021. The annualized rate is expected to change over time as the Fund's NAV varies. The Board will review periodically the terms of the Plan, including at least annually, to determine whether to adjust the amount or the calculation of the distribution rate, which may be affected by numerous factors, including changes in realized and projected market returns, Fund performance and other factors. The Board may amend the terms of the Plan or terminate the Plan at any time without prior notice to the Fund's stockholders. The amendment or termination of the Plan could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund's shares of common stock.
Unless a stockholder has otherwise elected, distributions declared pursuant to the Plan will be reinvested automatically in shares of the Fund's common stock as provided in the Fund's automatic dividend reinvestment plan.
The Fund (www.swzfund.com) is a non-diversified, closed-end investment company seeking long-term capital appreciation through investment in equity and equity-linked securities of Swiss companies. Its shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "SWZ." The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing generally in Swiss equity and equity-linked securities that are traded on a Swiss stock exchange, traded at the pre-bourse level of one or more Swiss stock exchanges, traded through a market maker or traded over the counter in Switzerland. The Fund also may invest in Swiss equity and equity-linked securities of Swiss companies that are traded on other major European stock exchanges.
Closed-end funds, unlike open-end funds, are not continuously offered. Typically, shares of closed-end funds are sold in the open market through a stock exchange. Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to net asset value. The price of the Fund's shares is determined by a number of factors, several of which are beyond the control of the Fund. Therefore, the Fund cannot predict whether its shares will trade at, below or above net asset value.
The Fund is managed by Schroder Investment Management North America Inc.
Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. and Schroder Investment Management North America Limited, investment advisors registered with the U.S. SEC, are units of Schroders plc (SDR.L), a global asset management company with approximately $990.9 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2021. Schroder's clients include major financial institutions including banks and insurance companies, as well as local and public authorities, public and private pension funds, endowments and foundations, intermediaries and advisors, as well as high net worth individuals and retail investors. The firm has built one of the largest networks of offices of any dedicated asset management company with more than 500 portfolio managers and analysts covering the world's investment markets, offering a comprehensive range of products and services.
Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. provides asset management products and services to clients in the U.S. and Canada. Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Schroders plc, a U.K. public company with shares listed on the London Stock Exchange.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Fund's shares in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction.
Contact:
Jennifer Brogadir
212-641-3863
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SOURCE The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/swiss-helvetia-fund-inc-declares-quarterly-distribution-01665-per-share/ | 2022-06-07T14:49:33Z |
Clinical and operational innovations better predict non-healing wounds and missed appointments
PITTSBURGH, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Further expanding its analytics capabilities and leadership position within the wound care marketplace, Net Health, a provider of specialty electronic health systems and advanced healthcare analytics, today announced the addition of two new predictive analytics resources to improve clinical and operational outcomes for wound care providers.
The new Pressure Injury Deterioration Risk indicator is built into Tissue Analytics, Net Health's AI-powered wound imaging and analysis solution, which was recently granted breakthrough device status by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Missed Visit Prediction indicator is available in Net Health® Wound Care, one of the nation's most widely used electronic health record (EHR) platforms for wound care. Both features are embedded in automated workflow processes and alert providers when risk is detected, enabling providers to intervene in real-time.
"Predictive analytics is transforming every aspect of healthcare and establishing new industry benchmarks for better outcomes, cost savings and other efficiencies every day," said Josh Pickus, CEO of Net Health. "These latest additions to our analytics portfolio highlight our commitment to clients to help them improve every aspect of their practices from clinical to operational with leading-edge predictive technologies."
The Pressure Injury Deterioration Risk indicator addresses a critical challenge for hospitals: managing and preventing hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs). Thousands of patients die each year from pressure injury-related complications. CMS identifies severe HAPIs (i.e., Stage III or IV) as "Never Events" and does not cover the costs of care for these injuries, leading to millions of dollars in uncompensated care for hospitals and nursing homes nationwide.*
The predictive models that power the Pressure Injury Deterioration Risk indicator were trained on over 4.7 million unique encounters in Net Health's robust wound care database, one of the largest in the world. Unlike subjective, incomplete assessment methods, the analytic provides a real-time, data-driven, and accurate assessment of the likelihood that a specific pressure injury will deteriorate to the next stage (e.g., from Stage II to Stage III). Early detection is vital in improving pressure injury rates and patient outcomes.
The Missed Visit Prediction indicator brings beneficial operational capabilities that improve workflow efficiencies and financial results. Patient no-shows and cancellations have real costs in terms of outcomes, quality of life and overall health. They cost healthcare organizations more than $150 billion annually in the U.S., and providers lose an average of $165-200 per unused time slot.
The Missed Visit Prediction feature is built on advanced machine learning. It makes predictions using data already captured as part of a provider's EHR, including socioeconomic data and past visit histories. The capability ensures the information provided is actionable and relevant. Additionally, the Predictor could help the average mid-size wound care practice increase revenue by 5%.
"We know how challenging it can be to provide wound care in today's marketplace," said Kevin Keenahan, VP for Strategy & Innovation and cofounder of Tissue Analytics. "I've talked to scores of wound care providers nationwide, and they tell us these features will help them better care for patients and ensure they run a more efficient and profitable practice. We look forward to continuing to provide real help and value to our clients and the industry."
Net Health's mission is to harness data for human health. Net Health solutions are trusted in over 23,000 facilities across the continuum of care. Our EHR software enables caregivers and their organizations to engage effectively with patients, streamline documentation, staff efficiently, secure maximum appropriate reimbursement and maintain regulatory compliance. Our unique approach to analytics seamlessly presents insights in clinical and operational workflows to improve care and business performance. Net Health is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, Level Equity and Silversmith Capital Partners. www.nethealth.com.
*For additional information and citations about the cost of HAPIs, see https://go.nethealth.com/costofwounds
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SOURCE Net Health Systems, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/net-health-expands-predictive-analytics-resources-wound-care-providers/ | 2022-07-07T12:25:08Z |
Proposal for Independent Civil Rights Audit Passes at Stericycle Shareholder Meeting
WASHINGTON, May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters won a crucial vote at yesterday's annual shareholders' meeting at Stericycle, Inc. (NYSE: SRCL). A majority of shareholders voted in support of the Teamsters' proposal for an independent civil rights audit following years of complaints by workers of colors in the private waste industry.
"For years, Stericycle has shown that they are not willing to let workers of color have a seat at the table. This proposal will hold the company accountable and provides the union with an excellent road map for future shareholder resolutions," said Chuck Stiles, Director of the Teamsters Solid Waste and Recycling Division. "I commend Stericycle shareholders for voting in favor of worker justice this morning."
Yesterday's vote at Stericycle follows the May 10 passage of another Teamsters-backed proposal to conduct an independent civil rights audit at Waste Management, Inc.
"The Teamsters are committed to fighting for justice on every front," said Sean M. O'Brien, Teamsters General President. "We will continue to hold private waste companies accountable when it comes to civil rights."
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.2 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.
Contact:
Daniel Moskowitz, (770) 262-4971
dmoskowitz@teamster.org
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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/27/stericycle-shareholders-vote-favor-teamster-backed-proposal-racial-accountability/ | 2022-05-27T16:47:06Z |
LOS ANGELES, April 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Volta Inc. ("Volta" or the "Company") (NYSE: VLTA).
Class Period: August 2, 2021 – March 28, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 31, 2022
If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.
The complaint filed alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Volta had improperly accounted for restricted stock units issued in connection with the Business Combination; (2) that, as a result, the Company had understated its net loss for third quarter 2021; (3) that there were material weaknesses in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that resulted in a material error; (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company would restate its financial statements; (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Legacy Volta's founders would imminently exit the Company; (6) that, as a result, the Company's financial results would be adversely impacted; and (7) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to info@frankcruzlaw.com, or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
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SOURCE The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/19/vlta-investors-have-opportunity-lead-volta-inc-securities-fraud-lawsuit/ | 2022-04-19T21:09:52Z |
Oklahoma governor signs law banning nonbinary birth certificates
By Paul LeBlanc and Andy Rose, CNN
Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday signed a new law that bans nonbinary gender markers on birth certificates in the state.
The legislation, which cleared the Oklahoma state legislature in recent weeks, states: “The biological sex designation on a certificate of birth issued under this section shall be either male or female and shall not be nonbinary or any symbol representing a nonbinary designation including but not limited to the letter ‘X’.” The law takes effect immediately because it was passed with an emergency designation.
Oklahoma’s measure is part of a broader effort by conservatives to make it more difficult for transgender and nonbinary Americans to receive gender-affirming health care, play sports or change their birth certificates and other identification documents to match their gender identity. LGBTQ advocates say that allowing people to use nonbinary gender markers can reduce the risk of harassment and discrimination they experience when their perceived physical appearances do not match the genders on their identification documents.
Transgender youths make up a tiny fraction of kids in the US — the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated less than 2% of high school students identify as transgender. Health care professionals have said the types of bills Republicans are pushing are likely to further ostracize transgender kids, a group who already struggle with higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide.
Oklahoma’s Department of Health first permitted nonbinary markers on birth certificates last year as part of a lawsuit settlement — a decision that was reversed by Stitt in November using an executive order.
“Governor Stitt and the anti-equality legislators in the Oklahoma State House have been relentless in their attack on LGBTQ+ rights, and particularly for transgender people,” Cathryn Oakley, state legislative director and senior counsel for the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement last week.
“Prohibiting non-binary identity markers is just another attempt to erase the identity of transgender and non-binary people. This goes against the views of the vast majority of Oklahomans, and people across the country.”
Earlier this month, the US State Department began giving US citizens the option to select “X” when identifying their genders on US passport applications, joining several other countries that allow such a marker on passports.
“Transgender people are some of the bravest Americans I know, and our Nation and the world are stronger, more vibrant, and more prosperous because of them. To transgender Americans of all ages, I want you to know that you are so brave. You belong. I have your back,” President Joe Biden said in a presidential proclamation last month marking Transgender Day of Visibility.
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™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
CNN’s Devan Cole contributed to this report. | https://localnews8.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2022/04/26/oklahoma-governor-signs-law-banning-nonbinary-birth-certificates/ | 2022-04-27T05:39:33Z |
Walnut Bend ISD strengthen campus security using different components
GAINESVILLE, Texas (KXII) -Walnut Bend ISD, comprised of an elementary and middle school, has worked all summer to strengthen campus security by adding new components.
Such as arming staff members and utilizing an app designed for emergencies.
Teri Taylor, a middle school math teacher at Walnut Bend says, “that is shocking, when I first started teaching, we didn’t even keep the doors locked.”
In the wake of Uvalde, Walnut Bend ISD reviewed its own security audits.
Superintendent Ken Kemp said, “bit of rework on our doors, we found that some of them didn’t work properly or like they should so we spent some funds to make sure they opened and closed properly, would lock behind students if they left out a door.”
And the district is also embracing technology.
“We implemented a new app for lockdowns and emergencies,” said Kemp.
The app is strictly for faculty and staff and can be used to check in, message staff, and will also inform law enforcement.
“The first thing I did was reach out to the emergency responder that is closest to this facility and that person has it installed on their personal device so if there is an emergency here, that person will be notified just like he was a staff member,” added Kemp.
The district has implemented a program allowing some faculty to voluntarily carry guns on campus.
“Anyone who is looked at for that program will undergo a psychological evaluation, two they will be trained by a group of trainers that are special sought out for training school defenders and that three will be approved by the board and myself”
According to Superintendent Kemp, parents seem receptive.
“We can focus on the learning and the teaching and I think the kids feel very secure and safe here and it’s just a really good environment,” Taylor added.
While the emergency app is unavailable to parents, Walnut Bend ISD has a community wide app.
In the app, parents have access to the latest information and there is even a tip-line where they can add any comments or concerns.
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/09/08/walnut-bend-isd-strengthens-campus-security-by-arming-staff-utilizing-mobile-app/ | 2022-09-09T00:00:43Z |
PITTSBURGH, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I thought there should be a convenient and comfortable way to enjoy a screen house in your backyard," said an inventor, from Haverhill, Mass., "so I invented the PULL OUT SCREEN HOUSE. My design would provide protection against pesky bugs and it could increase privacy."
The patent-pending invention provides a convenient way to erect a screen house outside a home. In doing so, it offers a private and insect-free space. As a result, it enhances comfort and it could make an outdoor space more enjoyable. The invention features a practical design that is easy to assemble and use so it is ideal for households.
The original design was submitted to the Boston sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-BMA-5624, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/inventhelp-inventor-develops-convenient-outdoor-screen-house-bma-5624/ | 2022-05-31T19:40:36Z |
Studies to be discussed at the 2022 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting
CHICAGO, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Two studies presented today at the 2022 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo reveal how SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels vary among recipients of COVID-19 vaccines and naturally infected individuals. These findings add to a growing body of knowledge that is essential for guiding public health initiatives, and that might one day enable clinicians to assess individuals' immunity to SARS-CoV-2.
Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Children and Adolescents Higher than Adults
Researchers led by PhD candidate Mary Kathryn Bohn of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, have found that children tend to have higher antibody levels against the SARS-CoV-2 virus following administration of mRNA vaccines than adults.
Bohn's study enrolled 644 vaccinated participants (312 adults and 332 children) who ranged in age from 6-79 years, along with a control group of 168 individuals with no history of SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. The researchers assessed participants' blood samples using two commercially available coronavirus antibody tests.
The results from this showed that the mean antibody level (± standard deviation) in pediatric participants was 2,037 ± 1,515 binding antibody units/mL, while in adult participants it was only 1,444 ± 1,277 binding antibody units/mL—a statistically significant difference. Overall, among participants who received two doses of an mRNA vaccine at the time of blood collection, antibody responses decreased over time after the most recent dose. However, among a subset of 60 participants who were followed over a five-month period, antibody levels increased 10-fold after a booster dose. Nearly all (98%) people with no history of vaccination or known exposure to the coronavirus had negative antibody results. It's possible the remaining 2% may have had exposures or asymptomatic cases, Bohn said.
It's not surprising that children would have higher antibodies as they are likely to have fewer comorbidities and more active immune systems, Bohn said. However, it's worth noting that significant variation in antibody levels was observed across participants of similar ages. In light of this, she added that, "future work is needed to relate antibody presence to functional immune response as well as breakthrough infections."
Prior COVID Infection, Lack of Hypertension Yield Higher Antibodies After mRNA Vaccines
Separate research led by Kimia Sobhani, PhD, of Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, studied characteristics associated with variable antibody responses to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Sobhani's team measured the blood antibody levels of 843 healthcare workers at the medical center for 10 months after participants completed a two-dose vaccine regimen. Participants submitted a health questionnaire and at least two blood samples for analysis.
For the duration of the study, 99.6% of individuals remained positive for vaccine-induced antibodies against the virus's spike protein. Those with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection had higher antibodies, as did females and younger participants (i.e., those below the median cohort age of 42 years). Additionally, those who did not have hypertension had persistently higher antibodies. However, prior SARS-CoV-2 infection modified the associations of hypertension—i.e., participants who had not been infected and who had hypertension had persistently lower antibodies, while prior-infected individuals who had hypertension exhibited relatively higher antibodies that remained higher over time.
The findings offer insights into factors that may influence "hybrid" immunity brought about by natural infection combined with vaccination, Sobhani said. "Everyone that we studied remained in the positive range for antibodies measured during the entire timeframe they were followed post-vaccination," she said. "Whether that level of positivity is correlated to some degree of protection remains to be determined, because thresholds have not yet been validated or agreed upon." She added that T cell responses also may provide insight, and are another area that her team plans to study.
Abstract Information
AACC Annual Scientific Meeting registration is free for members of the media. Reporters can register online here: https://www.xpressreg.net/register/aacc0722/media/landing.asp
Abstract A-077: Longitudinal analysis of characteristics associated with variable antibody response to BNT162b2 vaccination among healthcare workers over ten months will be presented during:
Scientific Poster Session
Tuesday, July 26
9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (presenting author in attendance from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.)
Poster Hall, Clinical Lab Expo show floor
McCormick Place Convention Center
Chicago
About the 2022 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo
The AACC Annual Scientific Meeting offers 5 days packed with opportunities to learn about exciting science from July 24-28. Plenary sessions will explore artificial intelligence-based clinical prediction models, advances in multiplex technologies, human brain organogenesis, building trust between the public and healthcare experts, and direct mass spectrometry techniques.
At the AACC Clinical Lab Expo, more than 750 exhibitors will fill the show floor of the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago with displays of the latest diagnostic technology, including but not limited to COVID-19 testing, artificial intelligence, mobile health, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, point-of-care, and automation.
About AACC
Dedicated to achieving better health through laboratory medicine, AACC brings together more than 70,000 clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists, and business leaders from around the world focused on clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, translational medicine, lab management, and other areas of progressing laboratory science. Since 1948, AACC has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing programs that advance scientific collaboration, knowledge, expertise, and innovation. For more information, visit www.aacc.org.
Christine DeLong
AACC
Senior Manager, Communications & PR
(p) 202.835.8722
cdelong@aacc.org
Molly Polen
AACC
Senior Director, Communications & PR
(p) 202.420.7612
(c) 703.598.0472
mpolen@aacc.org
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SOURCE AACC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/novel-research-sheds-light-antibody-responses-sars-cov-2-virus-vaccines/ | 2022-07-26T15:10:22Z |
Survivors dig by hand after Afghanistan quake killing 1,000
GAYAN, Afghanistan (AP) — Survivors dug by hand Thursday through villages in eastern Afghanistan reduced to rubble by a powerful earthquake that killed at least 1,000 people, as the Taliban and the international community that fled their takeover struggled to aid the disaster’s victims.
In Paktika province’s hard-hit Gayan district, villagers stood atop the mud bricks that once was a home there. Others carefully walked through dirt alleyways, gripping onto damaged walls with exposed timber beams to make their way.
The quake was Afghanistan’s deadliest in two decades, and officials said the toll could rise. An estimated 1,500 others were reported injured, the state-run news agency said.
The disaster inflicted by the 6 magnitude quake heaps more misery on a country where millions face increasing hunger and poverty and the health system has been crumbling since the Taliban retook power nearly 10 months ago amid the U.S. and NATO withdrawal. The takeover led to a cutoff of vital international financing, and most of the world has shunned the Taliban government.
How — and whether the Taliban allow — the world to offer aid remains in question as rescuers without heavy equipment dug through rubble with their bare hands.
“We ask from the Islamic Emirate and the whole country to come forward and help us,” said a survivor who gave his name as Hakimullah. “We are with nothing and have nothing, not even a tent to live in.”
The full extent of the destruction among the villages tucked in the mountains was slow in coming to light. The roads, which are rutted and difficult to travel in the best of circumstances, may have been badly damaged, and landslides from recent rains made access even more difficult.
While modern buildings withstand magnitude 6 earthquakes elsewhere, Afghanistan’s mud-and-brick homes and landslide-prone mountains make such temblors even more dangerous.
Rescuers rushed in by helicopter, but the relief effort could be hindered by the exodus of many international aid agencies from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover last August. Moreover, most governments are wary of dealing directly with the Taliban.
In a sign of the muddled workings between the Taliban and the rest of the world, the Taliban had not formally requested that the U.N. mobilize international search-and-rescue teams or obtain equipment from neighboring countries to supplement the few dozen ambulances and several helicopters sent in by Afghan authorities, said Ramiz Alakbarov, the U.N. deputy special representative to Afghanistan.
Still, officials from multiple U.N. agencies said the Taliban were giving them full access to the area.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on Twitter that eight trucks of food and other necessities from Pakistan arrived in Paktika. He also said Thursday that two planes of humanitarian aid from Iran and another from Qatar had arrived in the country.
Obtaining more direct international help may be more difficult: Many countries, including the U.S., funnel humanitarian aid to Afghanistan through the U.N. and other such organizations to avoid putting money in the Taliban’s hands.
In a news bulletin Thursday, Afghanistan state television made a point to acknowledge that U.S. President Joe Biden — their one-time enemy — offered condolences over the earthquake and had promised aid. Biden on Wednesday ordered “USAID and other federal government partners to assess U.S. response options to help those most affected,” a White House statement said.
The quake was centered in Paktika province, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) southwest of the city of Khost, according to neighboring Pakistan’s Meteorological Department. Experts put its depth at just 10 kilometers (6 miles). Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage.
The death toll reported by the Bakhtar news agency was equal to that of a quake in 2002 in northern Afghanistan. Those are the deadliest since 1998, when an earthquake that was also 6.1 in magnitude and subsequent tremors in the remote northeast killed at least 4,500 people.
Wednesday’s quake took place in a region prone to landslides, with many older, weaker buildings.
In neighboring Khost province’s Speray district, which also sustained serious damage, men stood atop what once was a mud home. The quake had ripped open its timber beams. People sat outside under a makeshift tent made of a blanket that blew in the breeze.
Survivors quickly prepared the district’s dead, including children and an infant, for burial. Officials fear more dead will be found in the coming days.
“It is hard to gather all the exact information because it is mountainous area,” said Sultan Mahmood, Speray district’s chief. “The information that we have is what we have gathered from the residents of these areas.”
___
Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Rahim Faiez and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/23/survivors-dig-by-hand-after-afghanistan-quake-killing-1000/ | 2022-06-23T07:03:43Z |
Back to school sales drew shoppers to local stores Friday as the sales tax-free weekend started.
Retailers won’t charge sales tax for school supplies, including clothes, purchased this weekend throughout the state, officials said.
Qualifying items can be purchased tax free from a Texas store or from an online or catalog seller doing business in Texas. In most cases, customers do not need to give the seller an exemption certificate to buy qualifying items tax free.
During the sales tax holiday, most footwear, clothing and general school supplies sold for less than $100 are tax free without an exemption certificate. However, any items purchased for $100 or more will not be tax-exempt. Delivery fees count towards the $100 total. For example, a $95 pair of jeans with a $10 delivery fee comes to $105, which is more than the $100 baseline.
In addition, specialty or protective gear, such as cleats or football pads, is not eligible for a tax exemption. Tennis shoes, jogging suits and swimsuits are eligible for a tax exemption as they “can be worn for other than athletic activity and qualify for the exemption,” according to the office Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.
The list of approved school supplies includes everything from binders to scissors.
Jewelry and other accessories, computers and software and other non-specific school supplies may not be eligible for the tax exemption.
As both cloth and disposable face masks count as articles of clothing, they are exempt from the sales tax during the upcoming holiday.
“With inflation driving prices higher on just about everything, this sales tax holiday provides Texas families some small relief managing the costs associated with kids heading back to the classroom. As the father of three school-aged children myself, I know how these expenses can add up,” Hegar said in a news release.
The sales tax exemption applies only to qualifying items you buy during the sales tax holiday. Items purchased before or after the sales tax holiday do not qualify for exemption, and there is and will not be a tax refund available for those items.
The Comptroller’s office estimates that shoppers will save $112 million in state and local sales tax during this sales tax holiday.
Apparel and school supplies that may be purchased tax-free are listed on the Comptroller’s website at TexasTaxHoliday.org. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_386634de-150e-11ed-986e-4f6b3b08cdd9.html | 2022-08-05T23:01:31Z |
The contract signed with the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation will initially provide the Government of Ukraine with the full capabilities for one of ICEYE's satellites already in orbit.
HELSINKI, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ICEYE, the global leader in persistent monitoring with radar satellite imaging, has signed a contract with the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation which will provide the Government of Ukraine with ICEYE's Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite imaging capabilities.
As part of the agreement, ICEYE will transfer full capabilities of one of its SAR satellites already in orbit for the Government of Ukraine's use over the region. The SAR satellite will be operated by ICEYE. In addition, ICEYE will provide access to its constellation of SAR satellites, allowing the Ukrainian Armed Forces to receive radar satellite imagery on critical locations with a high revisit frequency.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation has focused its efforts on fundraising money for the needs of Ukraine's Armed Forces, including the recent acquisition of four Bayraktar drones.
"ICEYE owns the most developed radar satellite imaging technology in the world as of today," says Serhiy Prytula, founder of the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation. "This agreement is a significant step in responding to the Government of Ukraine's urgent request for critical earth observation data and it will greatly benefit our Armed Forces."
"With this agreement, ICEYE further builds on its efforts to provide objective data and technological support to Ukraine," says Rafal Modrzewski, CEO of ICEYE. "We firmly believe SAR technology and its capabilities will continue to add significant value to the Government of Ukraine, now enabled by the work of the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation."
Owning the world's largest SAR satellite constellation, ICEYE delivers proven and reliable Earth Observation solutions and is the only organization in the world to offer the rapid delivery of high-precision SAR satellites and data to its customers, allowing them to take full control of their mission.
At any given time, most of the Earth is covered in clouds or darkness. Unlike traditional Earth observation satellites, ICEYE's small radar imaging satellites can form high-resolution images of areas of the Earth in daylight, at night, and through cloud cover. In other words, they can collect images and data from any part of the Earth multiple times a day, with the necessary reliability for critical decision making. ICEYE has successfully launched 21 spacecraft to date and operates the world's largest fleet of commercial SAR satellites.
ICEYE delivers unmatched persistent monitoring capabilities for any location on earth. Owning the world's largest synthetic-aperture radar constellation, the company enables objective, data-driven decisions for its customers in sectors such as insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, security, maritime monitoring and finance. ICEYE's data can be collected day or night, and even through cloud cover. For more information, please visit www.iceye.com.
Since 2014, Serhiy Prytula has been volunteering to supply the Ukrainian army. At the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, he expanded the efforts to the scale of the Charity Foundation to help the military. During the war, the Foundation raised more than 53 million USD (over 2 billion UAH) in donations. The Foundation is one of the biggest war effort charities in Ukraine. It purchases drones, optics, vehicles, communications equipment, and tactical medicine for the military on the front line as well as supplies humanitarian aid for the areas affected by Russian attacks. Since the start of the Foundation has helped supply hundreds of combat units.
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SOURCE ICEYE | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/iceye-signs-contract-provide-government-ukraine-with-access-its-sar-satellite-constellation/ | 2022-08-18T12:37:43Z |
Vuzix invited to highlight new Zoom X conferencing service at event
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vuzix® Corporation (NASDAQ: VUZI), ("Vuzix" or, the "Company"), a leading supplier of Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technology and products, today announced that the Company will be broadly showcasing its M400 smart glasses at Deutsche Telekom's ("DT") Digital X 2022 exhibition, taking place September 13-14 in Cologne, Germany. Digital X is DT's main event around digitization in the DACH region of Europe. Every year, the event transforms more than 100 popular locations in Cologne's city center into a hands-on experience around the latest in networking technology. The event brings together various DT groups, SMEs, start-ups, politicians, visionaries, and other top industry experts. This year, one spotlight is on AR-enhanced mobile workforce options, with DT and its key partner Zoom Video Communications ("Zoom") unveiling Zoom X, a new and highly secure video conferencing service.
Invited as the AR technology platform of choice by DT, Vuzix is proud to provide an extensive technology footprint to help attendees explore the potential of a fully connected workforce. The Company will be showcasing its workhorse M400 smart glasses at both the DT and Zoom exhibits and will feature several hands-on demonstrations that present the versatility of connected AR smart glasses across a variety of enterprise use cases. Vuzix smart glasses will be seen across the city center as specially equipped staff will be circulating throughout the event, interacting with exhibition-goers while staying interconnected using the Zoom X platform.
"We're honored to support DT's clear vision of the future, where they can extend their enhanced network capabilities to an even broader set of enterprise customers, fully connected through Vuzix smart glasses and the power of Zoom X," said Paul Travers, President and CEO of Vuzix. "Following the conclusion of Digital X, DT plans to integrate Vuzix connected workforce use cases into Customer Experience Centers across Germany and beyond. We look forward to helping DT's enterprise clients experience fully hands-free mobility anywhere within their expansive network."
About Vuzix Corporation
Vuzix is a leading supplier of Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies and products for the consumer and enterprise markets. The Company's products include personal display and wearable computing devices that offer users a portable high-quality viewing experience, provide solutions for mobility, wearable displays and augmented reality. Vuzix holds 252 patents and patents pending and numerous IP licenses in the Video Eyewear field. The Company has won Consumer Electronics Show (or CES) awards for innovation for the years 2005 to 2022 and several wireless technology innovation awards among others. Founded in 1997, Vuzix is a public company (NASDAQ: VUZI) with offices in Rochester, NY, Oxford, UK, and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, visit the Vuzix website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer
Certain statements contained in this news release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements contained in this release relate to Vuzix Smart Glasses and its current and future business relationships with Deutsche Telekom and Zoom and their customers and among other things the Company's leadership in the Smart Glasses and AR display industry. They are generally identified by words such as "believes," "may," "expects," "anticipates," "should" and similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based upon the Company's beliefs and assumptions as of the date of this release. The Company's actual results could differ materially due to risk factors and other items described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Reports and MD&A filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable Canadian securities regulators (copies of which may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). Subsequent events and developments may cause these forward-looking statements to change. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation or intention to update or revise these forward-looking statements as a result of changed events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law.
Vuzix Media and Investor Relations Contact:
Ed McGregor, Director of Investor Relations,
Vuzix Corporation
ed_mcgregor@vuzix.com
Tel: (585) 359-5985
Vuzix Corporation, 25 Hendrix Road, West Henrietta, NY 14586 USA,
Investor Information – IR@vuzix.com www.vuzix.com
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SOURCE Vuzix Corporation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/vuzix-smart-glasses-supporting-deutsche-telekoms-enhanced-telephony-connected-workers-digital-x-2022/ | 2022-09-09T14:35:30Z |
Following Armed Forces Day on May 21, 11,254 Active-Duty, Reservist, National Guard Members and Veterans to Receive APUS Degrees on June 17-18
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. , May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- American Public University System (APUS), which offers online degree and certificate programs through American Military University (AMU) and American Public University (APU), is proud to celebrate Armed Forces Day on May 21 to honor all of the men and women—including current students and alumni—who are serving across military branches, as well as all those who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
APUS will hold its 2022 Commencement on June 17 and 18 at the Gaylord Hotel in National Harbor, Md. The Class of 2022—which includes 11,254 military and veteran graduates—is continued validation that APUS remains dedicated year-round to providing accessible and affordable higher education for veterans, active-duty military, and beyond.
Armed Forces Day was originally introduced by United States Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson to create a single holiday that would celebrate all branches of the military. On May 20, 1950, Armed Forces Day was officially observed for the first time by President Harry Truman, marked by a speech where he praised military members serving at home and overseas, saying "it is vital to the security of the nation and to the establishment of a desirable peace." Today, the observance is marked as the third Saturday each May, amid National Military Appreciation Month.
"We at American Public University System are honored to count so many exemplary members of the military among our graduating student body in the Class of 2022—on Armed Forces Day and every day," said APUS Acting President Dr. Katherine Zatz. "We are committed to giving back to those who serve. This includes our dedication to partnerships such as 50strong, which helps connect transitioning U.S. service members to potential civilian employment opportunities."
This year's class features 2,616 veterans and 8,638 military members. Prestigious Latin Honors will be presented to 2,019 military graduates and 660 veteran graduates—2,679 in total. APUS has been recognized as the #1 provider of higher education to the U.S. military and veterans,* as well as the top choice for students using Tuition Assistance (TA), according to the most recent data published from Military Times.* APUS has offered VA benefits to qualified students for nearly 20 years, beginning in January 2003.
About American Public University System
American Public University System (APUS) delivers accessible and affordable online higher education to adult learners of all backgrounds. APUS, a five-time recipient of Online Learning Consortium's (OLC) Effective Practice Award, offers more than 200 online degree and certificate programs through American Public University as well as American Military University, the #1 provider of higher education to the U.S. military and veterans.* With over 114,000 alumni worldwide, APUS is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. APUS is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Public Education, Inc. (Nasdaq: APEI). For more information, visit www.apus.edu.
*Based on FY 2019 Department of Defense tuition assistance and Veterans Administration student enrollment data, as reported by Military Times, 2020.
Contact:
Kathleen Liebenberg
PR Manager, APEI
kliebenberg@apus.edu
908-858-0243
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SOURCE American Public University System | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/apus-celebrates-72nd-national-armed-forces-day-over-three-decades-continuous-military-support-with-2022-graduating-class/ | 2022-05-19T18:40:17Z |
Shift in war’s front seen as ships cleared to leave Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Four more ships carrying agricultural cargo held up by the war in Ukraine received authorization Sunday to leave the country’s Black Sea coast as analysts warned that Russia was moving troops and equipment in the direction of the ports to stave off a Ukrainian counteroffensive.
The body overseeing an international deal intended to get some 20 millions of grain out of Ukraine and to feed millions of impoverished people who are going hungry in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia said the loaded vessels were expected to depart Chornomorsk and Odesa on Monday.
Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations signed agreements last month to create a sea channel that would allow cargo ships to travel safely out of ports that Russia’s military had blockaded and through waters that Ukraine’s military had mined. Implementation of the deal, which is in effect for four months, has proceeded slowly since the first ship embarked last Monday.
For the last four months of the war, Russia has concentrated on capturing the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where pro-Moscow separatists have controlled some territory as self-proclaimed republics for eight years. Russian forces have made gradual headway in the region bordering Russia while launching missile and rocket attacks to curtail the movements of Ukrainian fighters elsewhere.
Over the past day, five civilians were killed in Russian and separatist firing on cities in the Donetsk region, the part of Donbas still under Ukrainian control, the regional governor, Serhiy Haidai, reported. He and Ukrainian government officials repeatedly have urged civilians to evacuate the province.
In a weekend analysis, Britain’s Defense Ministry said the Russian invasion that started Feb. 24 “is about to enter a new phase” in which the fighting shifting would shift west and south to a roughly 350-kilometer (217-mile) front line that extends from near the city of Zaporizhzhia to Russian-occupied Kherson.
Kherson, located on the Dnieper River near its mouth with the Black Sea, came under Russian control early in the war and Ukrainian officials have vowed to retake it. Kherson is located 227 kilometers (141 miles) from Odesa, home to Ukraine’s biggest port, so the conflict escalating there could have repercussions for the international grain deal.
The city of Mykolaiv, an important shipbuilding center that comes under daily rocketing from Russian forces, is even closer to Odesa. The Mykolaiv region’s governor, Vitaliy Kim, said an industrial facility on the regional capital’s outskirts came under fire early Sunday.
On Saturday, Russian forces launched airstrikes, fired artillery and redistributed other weaponry as part of attempts to defend their positions in occupied areas, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank.
Citing local Ukrainian officials, the institute said the Russians “are continuing to accumulate large quantities of military equipment” in a town across the Dnieper River from Kherson. The preparations appeared designed to defend logistics routes to the city and to establish defensive positions on the river’s left bank, the think tank said.
Ukrainian officials were initially skeptical of a grain export deal, citing suspicions that Moscow would try to exploit shipping activity to mass troops offshore or to send long-range missiles from the Black Sea, as it has done multiple times during the war. The agreements approved last month call for ships to leave Ukraine under military escort and to undergo inspections.
Under the agreements, ships leaving Ukraine are inspected by teams made up of officials from the three countries and the U.N. to make sure they carry only grain, fertilizer or food and not any other commodities. Inbound vessels are checked to ensure they are not carrying weapons.
The Joint Coordination Center, which is responsible for managing the deal, said three cargo ships that left Friday were expected to pass through Turkey’s Bosporus Strait on Sunday after clearing inspections. The Panama-flagged Navi Star, which is carrying 33,000 tons of grain to Ireland, completed its inspection and was preparing to sail.
The Turkish-flagged Polarnet, which was headed for Turkey, and the Maltese-flagged Rojen, bound for the United Kingdom were waiting to be checked. The ships carried over 25,000 tons of corn between them, were waiting to be checked.
The Joint Coordination Center said three of the carriers cleared to leave Ukraine on Monday – the Glory, the Star Helena and the Riva Wind, all flagged in the Marshall Islands – were transporting more than 171,000 tons of corn combined. The Glory is destined for Istanbul, the Star Helena to Nantong in China and the Riva Wind to Turkey’s Iskenderun port on the Mediterranean.
The fourth ship cleared for departure, the Liberia-flagged tanker Mustafa Necati is carrying more than 6,600 tons of sunflower oil to Monopoli, Italy.
The center also authorized the first inbound ship under the agreement, saying the Liberia-flagged Osprey S would head Monday to Ukraine’s Chornomorsk port. Marine traffic tracking sites showed the ship north of the Black Sea entrance to the Bosporus, where ships have waited for inspection teams to board.
___
Andrew Wilks contributed reporting from Istanbul.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/07/shift-wars-front-seen-ships-cleared-leave-ukraine/ | 2022-08-07T10:40:23Z |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Russian military said Thursday that more Ukrainian fighters who were making a last stand in Mariupol have surrendered, bringing the total who have left their stronghold to 1,730, while the Red Cross said it had registered hundreds of them as prisoners of war.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said that the registrations of Ukrainian prisoners of war, which included wounded fighters, began Tuesday under an agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
The Geneva-based humanitarian agency, which has experience in dealing with prisoners of war and prisoner exchanges, said however that its team did not transport the fighters to “the places where they are held” — which was not specified.
Ukrainian fighters who emerged from the ruined Azovstal steelworks after being ordered by their military to abandon the last stronghold of resistance in the now-flattened port city face an uncertain fate. Some were taken by the Russians to a former penal colony in territory controlled by Moscow-backed separatists.
While Ukraine said it hopes to get the soldiers back in a prisoner swap, Russia threatened to put some of them on trial for war crimes.
The Red Cross cited rules under the Geneva Conventions that should allow the organization to interview prisoners of war “without witnesses” and that visits with them should not be “unduly restricted.”
The organization did not specify how many prisoners of war were involved.
It’s also not clear how many fighters are left at the plant. Russia previously estimated that it had been battling some 2,000 troops in the waterside plant.
Denis Pushilin, a senior Russia-backed separatist official in a region that includes Mariupol, said that those Ukrainian soldiers who needed medical assistance were hospitalized while others were put in a detention facility. He also claimed that Red Cross representatives were allowed to inspect the detention facility, but that could not be immediately verified.
Amnesty International said earlier that the Red Cross should be given immediate access to the Mariupol fighters who surrendered. Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty’s deputy director for the region, cited lawless executions allegedly carried out by Russian forces in Ukraine and said the Azovstal defenders “must not meet the same fate.”
Despite the setback in Mariupol, Ukraine’s confidence has been growing after fighting the Russian offensive to an effective standstill and forcing Moscow to withdrawal from around Kyiv and narrow its military goals.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who was involved in several rounds of talks with Russia, said Thursday in a tweet that at this stage “do not offer us a ceasefire — this is impossible without total Russian troops withdrawal.”
“Until Russia is ready to fully liberate occupied territories, our negotiating team is weapons, sanctions and money,” he tweeted.
Ukraine’s military said in its morning briefing Thursday that Russian forces were still pressing their offensive on various sections of the front in the east, but were being successfully repelled.
Ukraine’s military made no mention of Mariupol in its early morning briefing Thursday, saying only that Russian forces were still pressing their offensive on various sections of the front in the east, but were being successfully repelled.
In the eastern Donbas region, which has been the center of recent fighting as Russian forces on the offensive have clashed with staunch Ukrainian resistance, four civilians were killed in the town of Sievierodonetsk in a Russian bombardment, Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said. Three other civilians were wounded in the attack Wednesday, and the shelling continued into early Thursday, Haidai said.
On the Russian side of the border, the governor of Kursk province said a truck driver was killed and several other civilians wounded by shelling from Ukraine. Separatist authorities in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine said two civilians were killed and five wounded also in Ukrainian shelling over the last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, in the first war-crimes trial held by Ukraine, a captured Russian soldier pleaded guilty on Wednesday of killing a civilian and faces a possible life in prison.
The plant was the only thing standing in the way of Russia declaring the full capture of Mariupol. Its fall would make Mariupol the biggest Ukrainian city to be taken by Moscow’s forces, giving a boost to Putin in a war where many of his plans have gone awry.
Military analysts, though, said the city’s capture at this point would hold more symbolic importance than anything else, since Mariupol is already effectively under Moscow’s control and most of the Russian forces that were tied down by the drawn-out fighting have already left.
Video showed the Ukrainian fighters carrying out their wounded on stretchers and undergoing pat-down searches before being taken away on buses escorted by military vehicles bearing the pro-Kremlin “Z” sign.
The U.S. has gathered intelligence that shows some Russian officials have become concerned that Kremlin forces in Mariupol are carrying out abuses, including beating city officials, subjecting them to electric shocks and robbing homes, according to a U.S official familiar with the findings.
The Russian officials are concerned that the abuses will further inspire residents to resist the occupation and that the treatment runs counter to Russia’s claims that its military has liberated Russian speakers, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment.
In the war-crimes case in Kyiv, Russian Sgt. Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old member of a tank unit, pleaded guilty to shooting an unarmed 62-year-old Ukrainian man in the head through a car window in the opening days of the war. Ukraine’s top prosecutor has said some 40 more war-crimes cases are being readied.
On the diplomatic front, Finland and Sweden could become members of NATO in a matter of months, though objections from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threaten to disrupt things. Turkey accuses the two countries of harboring Kurdish militants and others it considers a threat to its security.
Ibrahim Kalin, a foreign policy adviser and spokesman for Erdogan, said there will be “no progress” on the membership applications unless Turkey’s concerns are met. Each of NATO’s 30 countries has an effective veto over new members.
Mariupol’s defenders grimly clung to the steel mill for months and against the odds, preventing Russia from completing its occupation of the city and its port.
Mariupol was a target of the Russians from the outset as Moscow sought to open a land corridor from its territory to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014.
The city — its prewar population of about 430,000 now reduced by about three-quarters — has largely been reduced to rubble by relentless bombardment, and Ukraine says over 20,000 civilians have been killed there.
For Ukraine, the order to the fighters to surrender could leave President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government open to allegations it abandoned the troops he described as heroes.
“Zelenskyy may face unpleasant questions,” said Volodymyr Fesenko, who heads the independent Penta think tank in Kyiv. “There have been voices of discontent and accusations of betraying Ukrainian soldiers.”
A hoped-for prisoner swap could also fall through, he cautioned.
Russia’s main federal investigative body said it intends to interrogate the surrendering troops to “identify the nationalists” and determine whether they were involved in crimes against civilians.
Also, Russia’s top prosecutor asked the country’s Supreme Court to designate Ukraine’s Azov Regiment — among the troops that made up the Azovstal garrison — as a terrorist organization. The regiment has roots in the far right.
The Russian parliament was scheduled to consider a resolution to ban the exchange of any Azov Regiment fighters but didn’t take up the issue Wednesday.
___
McQuillan and Yuras Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Mstyslav Chernov and Andrea Rosa in Kharkiv, Elena Becatoros in Odesa, Lorne Cook in Brussels, Aamer Madhani in Washington and other AP staffers around the world contributed.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/battle-for-mariupol-draws-toward-close-after-surrender/ | 2022-05-19T08:46:18Z |
Best headphones for the beach
You can’t always rely on the people you’re with to bring enjoyable music to the beach. Often it’s a bit of a gamble, and you might be stuck there the whole day with terrible tunes. Or, you simply want to drown out the world while taking in the fresh ocean air.
Do you want to swim with your headphones, or do you simply need them when reading a book or catching a few rays? For whichever reason you want to listen to music at the beach, a few options are available.
Best headphones for the beach
Best waterproof earbuds
If thumping bass is what you look for in waterproof earbuds, the Endurance Peak II will have you dancing all day. Using JBL’s Pure Bass tuning system, you can feel every beat while taking to the ocean. In addition, these wireless in-ear earbuds provide 30 hours of music playback when charged through the included case. They also let you make and receive mobile phone calls and are compatible with virtual assistants.
Sold by Amazon
Otium Waterproof Stereo Earphones
With hooks over the lobes, these waterproof earbuds aren’t going anywhere. A battery charge of 1.5 hours gives you music playback of around 10 hours. Bluetooth connectivity lets you move around up to 30 feet away from your mobile device and receive phone calls.
Sold by Amazon
Swimbuds Flip Waterproof Short-Cord Headphones
These in-ear earbuds are made specifically for swimming and use special silicone tips and a goo that blocks any water from coming into your ears. When inserted into your ear canal, it sits flush against the canal at an angle to reduce water drag. The short cable is perfect for looping it around your head and fastening the music source onto the strap of your goggles. While it uses a 3.5-millimeter line to connect to your audio device, the source also needs to be waterproof. The earbuds are rated to be waterproof up to 10 feet.
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Best wireless headphones
Sony WH-CH510 Wireless On-Ear Headphones
By using Sony’s smart noise cancellation technology, you can read your book in peace or relax undisturbed at the beach. The wireless on-ear headphones use 30-millimeter audio drivers to produce clear sounds that can be paired with a mobile phone or tablet through Bluetooth. You get 90 minutes of playback from a 10-minute charge with the quick-charge function. The headphones feature a built-in microphone that lets you make and receive mobile phone calls. They’re available in three different colors.
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Skullcandy Riff Wireless On-Ear Headphones
For affordable headphones perfect for the beach, Riff is the wireless version of the hugely popular cabled model. From only a 10-minute charge, you get more than two hours worth of battery life, and the total battery capacity is enough for 12 hours of uninterrupted music listening. The durable headband is made from a robust plastic that can take some rough handling, and the ear cups are covered in thick foam. There are controls for volume, track selection and activating the voice assistant on the right ear cup.
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JBL Tune 510BT Wireless On-Ear Headphones
The sounds of being at the beach can be delightful, but sometimes you need some deep bass to set the mood. Using JBL’s Pure Bass tuning, the 510BT can certainly get you there. These headphones feature large audio drivers to deliver clear sounds, and the battery life can easily reach around 40 hours from a two-hour charge. Through Bluetooth connectivity, you can make phone calls, change the volume and select your favorite tracks.
Sold by Amazon
SoundCore by Anker Life Q30 Hybrid
An excellent solution for blocking out the sounds of children screaming and dogs barking at the beach, the SoundCore Life Q30 headphones use Anker’s hybrid noise-canceling system. The ear cups integrate dual microphones that use active noise canceling to block up to 95% of ambient sounds. But the best part of these is the significant 40-millimeter drivers that deliver crystal-clear audio for all music genres. In addition, the battery life is good enough for around 40 hours. Primarily sold as wireless headphones, they come with a 3.5-millimeter cable if you prefer a wired option.
Sold by Amazon
Best wired earbuds
Sony MDRXB50AP Extra Bass Earbuds
Sometimes you want to listen to music discreetly while at the beach. If big, over-ear headphones aren’t for you, then these small earbuds from Sony are a good option. Even though they feature 12-millimeter audio drivers, they still manage to deliver deep bass and clear sounds. The in-line volume control has a built-in microphone so you can take phone calls. The Y-type cable keeping the earbuds together won’t tangle, and there’s a slider if you want a tighter fit.
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Skullcandy Ink’d+ In-Ear Earbuds
For an affordable option that shouldn’t cause too much stress if they get wet or have a bit of beach sand in them, the Ink’d+ is the perfect pair to throw in a beach bag. They connect to a music source through a 3.5-millimeter cable, come with two different silicone tips and have in-line volume control and microphone. They’re available in nine different colors, and the cable is around 4 feet in length.
Sold by Amazon
Panasonic ErgoFit In-Ear Earbuds
Like most earbuds, these also come with three differently sized silicone tips to ensure a snug fit and block any ambient sounds. The cable is a generous 3.6 feet, and while there’s no in-line volume control or microphone, the 9-millimeter audio drivers produce excellent quality sound.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/headphones-br/which-headphones-are-best-for-the-beach/ | 2022-04-16T01:02:47Z |
Bank Director's New RankingBanking Study Ranks All 300 Of The Largest Publicly Traded Banks In The Country
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank Director, the leading information resource for directors and officers of financial institutions nationwide, released its RankingBanking study, sponsored by Crowe LLP. This study ranks the 300 largest publicly traded banks in the country by metrics that examine profitability, asset quality, capital adequacy and total shareholder return.
Bank Director identified the best banks overall and also ranked institutions by asset size, showcasing the best in each category. The top ranked banks are:
The Top 25 Banks
PCB Bancorp (PCB)
Los Angeles, California
$50 Billion and Above
Western Alliance Bancorp. (WAL)
Phoenix, Arizona
$5 Billion to $50 Billion
The Bancorp (TBBK)
Wilmington, Delaware
$1 Billion to $5 Billion
PCB Bancorp (PCB)
Los Angeles, California
"Since its inception in 1991, Bank Director has focused on what makes a strong bank. This ranking uncovers the institutions that were the best of the best for 2021 performance," says Emily McCormick, Bank Director's vice president of research. "While profitability can vary from year to year, affected by various initiatives and strategic moves, we find some perennial top performers float toward the top every year. These are the banks that we focus on in this report, along with the industry's best for the year."
The RankingBanking study examines public banks using calendar year 2021 data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The analysis was conducted by Piper Sandler & Co.
To review the full results of Bank Director's RankingBanking study, along with previous RankingBanking reports, please visit BankDirector.com.
Bank Director reaches the leaders of the institutions that comprise America's banking industry. Since 1991, Bank Director has provided board-level research, peer-insights and in-depth executive and board services. Built for banks, Bank Director extends into and beyond the boardroom by providing timely and relevant information through Bank Director magazine, board training services and the financial industry's premier event, Acquire or Be Acquired. For more information, please visit BankDirector.com.
Crowe LLP (www.crowe.com) is a public accounting, consulting and technology firm with offices around the world. Crowe uses its deep industry expertise to provide audit services to public and private entities. The firm and its subsidiaries also help clients make smart decisions that lead to lasting value with its tax, advisory and consulting services. Crowe is recognized by many organizations as one of the best places to work in the U.S. As an independent member of Crowe Global, one of the largest global accounting networks in the world, Crowe serves clients worldwide. The network consists of more than 200 independent accounting and advisory services firms in more than 130 countries around the world.
Source:
For more information, please contact Bank Director's Director of Marketing, Deahna Welcher at dwelcher@bankdirector.com.
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SOURCE Bank Director | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/bank-director-announces-top-25-banks-us/ | 2022-08-16T16:13:09Z |
PITTSBURGH, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a device to hold a combination-square tool in position on any rounded material edge," said an inventor, from Sturgeon Bay, Wis., "so I invented the TRI SQUARE BASE. My design would also ensure that measurements and markings could be achieved without repositioning or shifting the tool on the radius material edge."
The patent-pending invention provides an effective way to hold a combination-square. In doing so, it prevents rollover on rounded edge material surfaces. As a result, it increases efficiency and safety and it eliminates the need for assistance. The invention features a functional design that is easy to attach and use so it is ideal for contractors, trade workers, do-it-yourselfers, etc. 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-OSK-315, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/inventhelp-inventor-develops-convenient-holder-combination-square-osk-315/ | 2022-06-29T16:39:56Z |
For the first time in 50 years, a spacecraft is preparing to launch on a journey to the moon.
The uncrewed Artemis I mission, including the Space Launch System Rocket and Orion spacecraft, is targeting liftoff on August 29 between 8:33 a.m. ET and 10:33 a.m. ET from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Although there is no human crew aboard the mission, it's the first step of the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon and eventually land them on Mars.
The Orion spacecraft will enter a distant retrograde orbit of the moon and travel 40,000 miles beyond it, going further than any spacecraft intended to carry humans. Crews will ride aboard Artemis II on a similar trajectory in 2024, and the first woman and the next man to land on the moon are slated to arrive at the lunar south pole in late 2025 on the Artemis III mission.
The agency will share live views and coverage in English and Spanish before, during and after the Artemis I launch on its website and on NASA TV. The broadcast will begin at 12 a.m. ET as supercold propellant is loaded into the SLS rocket.
Appearances by celebrities like Jack Black, Chris Evans and Keke Palmer and performances of "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Josh Groban and Herbie Hancock and "America the Beautiful" by The Philadelphia Orchestra and cellist Yo-Yo Ma are also part of the program.
Once the launch has occurred, NASA will conduct a post-launch briefing, and later in the day, the agency will share the first Earth views from cameras aboard the Orion spacecraft.
Orion's journey will last 42 days as it travels to the moon, loops around it and returns to Earth -- traveling a total of 1.3 million miles (2.1 million kilometers). The capsule will splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on October 10.
Cameras inside and outside of Orion will share images and video throughout the mission, including live views from the Callisto experiment, which will capture a stream of a mannequin called Commander Moonikin Campos sitting in the commander's seat. If you have an Amazon Alexa-enabled device, you can ask it about the mission's location each day.
Here's everything you can expect before, during and after the launch.
Counting down to launch
The official launch countdown will begin on August 27 at 10:23 a.m. ET.
The call to stations will occur Saturday morning at Kennedy Space Center, as well as for teams offering support from various centers across the country. This is when all of the teams associated with the mission arrive at their consoles and report they're ready, kicking off a two-day countdown.
Over the weekend, engineers will power up the Orion spacecraft, the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (the upper part of the rocket) and core stage, charge batteries and conduct a final preparation for the engines.
Late Sunday night into early Monday morning, the launch team will conduct a briefing to discuss weather conditions and decide if they are "go" or "no go" to begin fueling the rocket.
If everything looks good, the team will begin fueling the rocket's core stage eight hours before launch. Five hours before, the upper stage will begin fueling. Afterward, the team will top off and replenish any of the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen that dissipates during the fueling process.
About 50 minutes before launch, the final NASA test director briefing will occur. A planned 30-minute countdown hold will start about 40 minutes before launch.
The launch director will poll the team to make sure that every station is "go" 15 minutes ahead of liftoff.
At 10 minutes and counting, things kick into high gear as the spacecraft and rocket go through the final steps. Much of the action takes place in the final minute, as the ground launch sequencer sends the command for the rocket flight computer's automated launching sequencer to take over about 30 seconds prior to launch.
In the last few seconds, hydrogen will burn off, the four RS-25 engines will start, resulting in booster ignition and liftoff at T minus zero.
Journey to the moon
After liftoff, the solid rocket boosters will separate from the spacecraft about two minutes into the flight and splash down in the Atlantic Ocean, with other components also jettisoning shortly after. The core stage of the rocket will separate about eight minutes later and fall toward the Pacific Ocean, allowing for Orion's solar array wings to deploy.
The perigree raise maneuver will occur about 12 minutes after launch, when the ICPS experiences a burn to raise Orion's altitude so it doesn't reenter the Earth's atmosphere. Shortly after that is the trans-lunar Injection burn, when the ICPS boosts Orion's speed from 17,500 miles per hour (28,163 kilometers per hour) to 22,600 miles per hour (36,371 kilometers per hour) to escape the pull of Earth's gravity and set off for the moon.
After this burn, the ICPS will separate from Orion.
Around 4:30 p.m., Orion will make its first outbound trajectory correction burn using the European Service Module, which provides the spacecraft with power, propulsion and thermal control. This maneuver will put Orion on a path to the moon.
The next few days after launch, Orion will venture out to the moon, coming within 60 miles (96 kilometers) during its closest approach of the lunar surface on day six of the journey -- or September 3 if the launch occurs as planned on August 29. The service module will place Orion in a distant retrograde orbit around the moon on day 10, or September 7.
Orion will surpass the distance record of 248,654 miles (400,169 kilometers) -- set by Apollo 13 in 1970 -- on September 8 when it loops around the moon. The spacecraft will achieve its maximum distance from Earth of 280,000 miles (450,616 kilometers) on September 23 when it ventures 40,000 miles (64,373 kilometers) beyond the moon.
This is 30,000 miles (48,280 kilometers) farther than Apollo 13's record.
Orion will make its second-closest approach of the lunar surface, coming within 500 miles (804 kilometers), on October 3. The service module will experience a burn that enables the moon's gravity to slingshot Orion back on its way to Earth.
Just before reentering Earth's atmosphere, the service module will separate from Orion. The spacecraft will hit the top of Earth's atmosphere moving at about 25,000 miles per hour (40,233 kilometers per hour), and its heat shield will experience temperatures of nearly 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius).
The atmosphere will slow Orion down to about 300 miles per hour (482 kilometers per hour), and a series of parachutes will slow it down to less than 20 miles per hour (32 kilometers per hour) before it splashes down in the Pacific Ocean at 11:53 a.m.
Splashdown will stream live from NASA's website, collecting views from the 17 cameras aboard the recovery ship and helicopters that will be waiting for Orion's return.
The landing and recovery team will collect the Orion capsule, and the data collected by the spacecraft will determine what lessons have been learned before humans return to the moon.
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Scenes from the Albany State University football scrimmage on August 21. Click for more. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/how-to-watch-the-artemis-i-mission-lift-off-to-the-moon/article_d91152cb-a74a-5f62-b269-52945e8a8b83.html | 2022-08-24T15:01:30Z |
Sunday shooting at Kickapoo Reservation leaves one fatality
Published: Jul. 17, 2022 at 12:06 PM CDT|Updated: 9 minutes ago
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) -According to Brown County Sheriff’s Office, around 7:30 a.m., the sheriff’s office received a call of a possible shooting at the Kickapoo Reservation.
When multiple law enforcement agencies arrived, one fatality was confirmed.
Sheriff John Merchant says one suspect is in custody in the Brown County Jail pending further investigation.
The investigation is still ongoing, we will provide updates as they become available.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/17/sunday-shooting-kickapoo-reservation-leaves-one-fatality/ | 2022-07-17T17:15:30Z |
New initiative will alleviate pressures of a tight labor market by bringing resources directly to job seekers through in-person and virtual events across the U.S.
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodwill Industries International announces its partnership with Indeed, a leading global hiring platform, as they launch their Ready to Work program, a series of free virtual and in-person events for job seekers in several cities across the U.S. from September 12 to October 8, 2022. Through Ready to Work, Indeed aims to connect 50,000 job seekers with employers looking to hire talent right now, supporting the company's goal of helping 100 million people get jobs globally by 2030, including 30 million facing barriers.
Ready to Work brings Indeed's full suite of resources directly to job seekers with virtual and in-person support, tools and tips to build the skills they need on their journey to better work. In addition to helping secure interviews for job seekers, the series of events will provide thousands of people with resources and guidance for a successful job search. This includes assistance with hiring, training and coaching to help make the job search simpler and faster.
"Job seekers and career advancers win when Indeed and Goodwill work together with employers," said Wendi Copeland, Chief Partnerships Officer of Goodwill Industries International. "Through the Ready to Work Program, we can connect local talent to some of the 11 million available jobs in the U.S. We are committed to helping everyone access the opportunity to thrive."
The Ready to Work program brings together a coalition of businesses, nonprofits and civic partners dedicated to providing talent with the resources they need for a successful job search. Indeed, along with Glassdoor, Lyft, Goodwill, Dunkin, Rework America, Care.com, and NBA teams, Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, will roll out a series of activations throughout the weeks' programming in Chicago, Detroit, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Dallas-Fort Worth. More information on the Ready to Work coalition of brand partners and their commitments can be found here.
"The last couple of years have brought new challenges and exacerbated existing ones for so many job seekers. This program is important because not only is it impacting entire communities, but deserving individuals who have the desire and the potential to do great work," said Abbey Carlton, Indeed VP of Social Impact. "The support from our partners will allow the Ready to Work initiative to reach as many job seekers as possible through both in-person and virtual events that will connect thousands of people with companies who need great talent now."
This program will provide thousands of job seekers with the support and guidance they need for a successful job search and work towards Indeed's goal of helping 100 million people get hired. Job seekers can visit indeed.com/readytowork for more details on the program and events in their area.
ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Goodwill Industries International is a network of 155 community-based, autonomous organizations in the U.S. and Canada with a presence in 12 other countries. Goodwill industries International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides people with opportunities and support to empower themselves and thrive through training, development and employment. Local Goodwill organizations provide career navigation, skills training, job placement and other community-based services funded in part by selling donated clothing and household items in nearly 3,300 stores and at ShopGoodwill.com®.
About Indeed
More people find jobs on Indeed than anywhere else. Indeed is the #1 job site in the world and allows jobseekers to search millions of jobs on the web or mobile in over 60 countries and 28 languages. More than 250 million people each month search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies on Indeed. For more information, visit indeed.com.
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SOURCE Goodwill Industries International | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/goodwill-indeed-announce-ready-work-program-connect-50000-job-seekers-with-employers-looking-hire-now/ | 2022-09-12T13:50:23Z |
Global markets rattled by Wall Street and China’s zero-Covid pledge
By Laura He and Mark Thompson, CNN Business
Global markets slid Friday after Wall Street suffered its worst day of the year.
Major European indexes dropped in early trading. They followed stocks in Asia, which sold off as China’s pledge to stick to its zero-Covid policy stoked concerns about the world’s second biggest economy.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index tumbled 3.8%, leading losses in Asian markets and logging its worst daily drop in more than a month. Tech stocks saw a sharp sell-off, with the Hang Seng Tech Index down 5.2%.
Mainland China’s benchmark Shanghai Composite Index and its tech-heavy peer Shenzhen Component Index both slid more than 2%. Japan’s Nikkei opened lower, but reversed losses later in the day. It ended up 0.7%.
In currency markets, the Chinese yuan declined against the US dollar, hitting its lowest level in one and a half years. It pared some losses in the afternoon to stand at 6.71 per US dollar.
In Europe, London’s FTSE 100 index fell more than 1%. Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 dropped 1.4% and 1.6%, respectively. The pound, which lost 2% against the dollar Thursday after the Bank of England predicted a hard landing for the UK economy, slipped to $1.23.
The losses came after the Dow dropped more than 1,100 points and the S&P 500 fell 3.7% Thursday, wiping out Wednesday’s gains as investors worried about the impact of rising US interest rates and the risk of a recession.
Investors in Asia are also jittery after the latest comments from China’s top leadership on its efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus.
President Xi Jinping said all levels of government must “resolutely” adhere to the country’s zero-Covid policy. He made the remarks during a meeting Thursday with the Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee — the nation’s top decision-making body.
Officials at all levels of government should “resolutely fight with any words and acts distorting, doubting and denying China’s Covid control policy,” Xi said.
“That may serve to dampen some hopes of any Covid-19 policy shift, which suggests that economic recovery will remain prolonged and uneven,” wrote Yeap Jun Rong, a market strategist at financial services firm IG Group, on Friday.
China’s zero-Covid policy has taken a heavy toll on the country’s economy. In April, the gigantic services sector contracted at the second sharpest pace on record as Covid lockdowns hit businesses hard. China’s manufacturing sector also shrank last month, sending the economy backward.
— Nicole Goodkind contributed to this report.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/money/cnn-business-consumer/2022/05/05/asian-markets-tumble-as-china-remains-fully-committed-to-zero-covid-policy/ | 2022-05-06T11:48:03Z |
Alerts Delivered Directly to Sapiens IDITSuite Users Speeds Identification and Investigation of Suspicious Claims
BOSTON and PARIS, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Shift Technology, a provider of AI-driven decision automation and optimization solutions for the global insurance industry, and Sapiens International Corporation , a leading global provider of software solutions for the insurance industry, today announced the two organizations have entered into a strategic partnership. As a result, users of Sapiens IDITSuite for P&C insurers will soon be able to have alerts generated from Shift Claims Fraud Detection delivered directly into the claims management environment they use every day.
It is estimated that claims fraud costs the insurance industry more than $80 billion per year in the U.S. alone. Empowering claims professionals to identify suspicious claims effectively and efficiently and quickly refer them for further investigation is a powerful value proposition. This allows insurers to avoid paying out on fraudulent claims, improve their combined ratio, and deliver an exceptional policyholder experience by paying claims as quickly, accurately and fairly as possible. Delivering fraud alerts from Shift directly into the Sapiens claims management solution insurance professionals use every day streamlines the fraud detection process for everyone involved, saving both time and money.
Shift Claims Fraud Detection has a demonstrated capability to detect suspicious claims in real-time or in scheduled workflows with a 3X detection hit rate when compared to manual or rules-based implementations. Its ability to incorporate third-party data, structured and unstructured data, along with carriers' claims and policy data is key to the solution's accuracy. Furthermore, Shift Claims Fraud Detection delivers clear and detailed rationale for all its conclusions as part of every alert. This allows investigators to make fraud decisions with speed, accuracy, and confidence. Working in conjunction with Sapiens IDITSuite, the two solutions create a powerful way to modernize the fight against insurance fraud.
"Insurance fraud costs the industry billions of dollars every year because fighting insurance fraud is not easy. Fraudsters are clever and traditional detection methods are inefficient," explained Drew Whitmore, global head of partnerships, Shift Technology. "Working together with Sapiens, we are replacing inefficiency with efficiency and empowering claims professionals by giving them a holistic view of the claims process."
About Shift Technology
Shift Technology delivers AI decisioning solutions to benefit the global insurance industry and its customers. Our products enable insurers to automate and optimize decisions from underwriting to claims, resulting in superior customer experiences, increased operational efficiency, and reduced costs. The future of insurance starts with Decisions Made Better. Learn more at www.shift-technology.com.
Contacts:
Rob Morton
Corporate Communications
Shift Technology
+1.617.416.9216
rob.morton@shift-technology.com
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SOURCE Shift Technology | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/shift-technology-partners-with-sapiens-streamline-fraud-detection-pampc-insurers/ | 2022-08-10T11:52:48Z |
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will hold a community town hall meeting with Associate Administrator for Science Thomas H. Zurbuchen and his leadership team at 12:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Aug. 17. The group will discuss updates to NASA's science program and share the status of agency activities.
Zurbuchen will highlight new Science Mission Directorate leadership team members, provide status updates on missions, including Webb and Psyche, and discuss an innovative program between NASA's science and space technology teams to help bring promising ideas to the marketplace.
Members of the science community, academia, media, and public are invited to join the discussion:
If prompted, please use event number: 2763 042 0454, followed by the password: X2ZncJGMM22 (92962546 from phones).
Users must provide their first and last name and organization and can submit their own questions or vote on questions submitted by others. The meeting leaders will try to answer as many questions as possible.
To ask a question, please go to: SMD Community Town Hall Questions.
This town hall will be recorded. Presentation materials for the meeting are available for download and a recording will be available later online at the same location.
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SOURCE NASA | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/nasa-science-leadership-hold-town-hall-meeting/ | 2022-08-15T20:30:28Z |
Wedding bells and shared accounts - financial advice for newlyweds
Experts say most important part of money management is to be a team
InvestigateTV - Following a pandemic slowdown the past two years, 2022 is expected to be a record year for marriages.
Nate Johnson, a wealth management advisor with Merrill Lynch, said along with budgeting for a wedding, couples should also plan for how they will budget their life together.
Johnson said the most important thing for couples is to be a team.
“Whether you do everything together or you keep your account separate, the most important thing is just to have some sort of game plan that both partners are comfortable with and open with and committed to sticking to,” Johnson advised.
Johnson had two other important tips for newlyweds:
Get into the habit of saving as much money as possible, as early in the marriage as possible: Johnson said he has never had a client regret saving too much money.
Don’t be afraid to deviate from your peer group: While some may be rushing to buy a new house or new car or expensive vacation, do what’s best for your family.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/30/wedding-bells-shared-accounts-financial-advice-newlyweds/ | 2022-08-30T20:55:21Z |
- Today's virtual global event sets the stage for the launch of DS Core – a cloud-based solution powered by the collaboration between Dentsply Sirona and Google Cloud.
- Dentsply Sirona also introduces two new service offerings: DS Core Create and DS Core Care. DS Core seamlessly integrates with devices, services and technologies in dental practices – bringing improved efficiency to workflows from diagnosis to final care or treatment.
- Dentsply Sirona also announces added services to recently launched device category: Primeprint Solution, a medical-grade 3D printing solution that combines dental intelligence with high automation, convenience, accuracy, and improved safety.
/PRNewswire/ -- Today in a virtual event, Dentsply Sirona has unveiled DS Core and other services and solutions, a new and open platform that integrates the whole workflow of digital dentistry – across its devices, services, and technologies. DS Core is developed in collaboration with Google Cloud and gives dentists the power to do more, so that they can focus on their patients and create easier ways to collaboratively work with labs, partners, and specialists.
Cord Staehler, Chief Technology Officer at Dentsply Sirona: "We are very proud that we are now ready to take the next step in our mission to make digital dentistry easy to integrate into dental offices. In line with our recently launched collaboration with Google Cloud, this enables seamless workflows and the highest level of connectivity with the ultimate goal in mind: the best treatment outcome for patients."
DS Core gives dentists the power to do more
DS Core, an open, cloud-based platform operated by Dentsply Sirona, is transforming digital dentistry. It is designed around the needs of dentists and modern dental practices and with a focus on security.
The digital platform is efficient, cost-effective, and easy-to-use – with automatic software updates that give dentists access to the latest version and features. DS Core makes running a dental practice easier, because it seamlessly connects to Dentsply Sirona equipment and is accessible across multiple devices. For dentists it means they can maximize the productivity of their practice by simplifying workflows and easily adding and integrating new ones. Practitioners can use DS Core to store different types of patient files and making them accessible from multiple locations, while collaborating with partners and colleagues outside their practice. DS Core supports GDPR and HIPAA-compliant file sharing and cloud storage for patient case files.
DS is also introducing two services that help dentists to get the most out of digital dentistry: DS Core Create and DS Core Care.
DS Core Create – with a few clicks to high-quality expert designs
DS Core Create is an excellent tool for next-level dental design services. With just a few clicks, dental practitioners can gain access to high-quality expert designs that are tailored for each patient's needs across a broad range of indications without having to use the software themselves. The cloud-based platform makes it easy to delegate the design workflow, which saves valuable time in the dental practice. The service integrates smoothly with Dentsply Sirona's new Primeprint Solution and will grow in the future.
DS Core Care – seamless service and support solution
DS Core Care is a comprehensive, integrated, and easy-to-understand equipment service and support solution that harmonizes equipment with service offerings to provide a seamless customer experience. This helps to increase equipment uptime and give dentists peace of mind so that they can focus on their patients.
Cord Staehler said: "By launching this digital universe with DS Core at its center and services like DS Core Create and DS Core Care, as well as solutions like Primeprint, we are positioning Dentsply Sirona at the forefront of digital dentistry. Most importantly, we help dental practitioners to unlock the full potential of their work so that they can focus on what matters most: treating patients and giving them healthy smiles."
Primeprint Solution – A medical-grade 3D printing system
Primeprint Solution is a highly automated, end-to-end, medical-grade 3D printing system for dentists and dental technicians who want to expand their treatment and service offerings. It is a smart hardware and software solution that is optimized for dental applications and can run the entire printing process including post-processing. The high level of automation helps reduce handling times, allows delegation, and enables maximized productivity. Primeprint Solution enables practitioners to print biocompatible applications with reproducible and accurate results*. The printing process has been developed in line with FDA guidelines for Additive Manufacturing (AM) medical devices and outputs from the device are medical products.
Dr. Mike Skramstad, dentist from Orono (Minnesota, USA), said: "3D printing has just taken the next leap forward with Primeprint. With the combination of complete integration, enclosed automated workflow, and industry defining efficiency, Primeprint gives me and most importantly my staff confidence that we are delivering very good and safe 3D printed parts to our patients. Furthermore, the automation supports that every application we 3D print is processed, cleaned and cured to a very high standard."
Due to various certification and registration periods, not all products are immediately available in all countries. In order to ensure an excellent customer experience DS Core will be launched in a phased rollout.
About Dentsply Sirona:
Dentsply Sirona is the world's largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies, with over a century of innovation and service to the dental industry and patients worldwide. Dentsply Sirona develops, manufactures, and markets a comprehensive solutions offering including dental and oral health products as well as other consumable medical devices under a strong portfolio of world class brands.
Dentsply Sirona's products provide innovative, high-quality and effective solutions to advance patient care and deliver better and safer dental care.
Dentsply Sirona's headquarter is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company's shares are listed in the United States on NASDAQ under the symbol XRAY.
Visit www.dentsplysirona.com for more information about Dentsply Sirona and its products.
References:
* Reich S, Berndt S, Kühne C, Herstell H. Accuracy of 3D-Printed Occlusal Devices of Different Volumes Using a Digital Light Processing Printer. Applied Sciences. 2022; 12(3):1576. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031576
Media Kit & Images are available for Download on the website.
Press Contact:
Marion Par-Weixlberger
Vice President Public Relations & Corporate Communications
T +43 (0) 662 2450-588
F +43 (0) 662 2450-540
marion.par-weixlberger@dentsplysirona.com
Julia Schroeder
Edelman GmbH
T +49 (0) 30 2218290
dentsplysirona@edelman.com
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SOURCE Dentsply Sirona | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/dentsply-sirona-opens-gateway-new-digital-universe-with-cloud-based-solution-ds-core/ | 2022-05-04T18:32:54Z |
TORONTO, April 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Global IT research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group has highlighted the key changes in Microsoft's new agreement type, the new commerce experience (NCE). Through expert analysis, the firm explains how this will impact licensing renewals and shift the landscape of how Microsoft will do business moving forward. Understanding these changes will be essential for organizations to negotiate upcoming renewals effectively.
"Customers renewing agreements with Microsoft will want to take the appropriate time and do the necessary due diligence to ensure there are no surprises waiting for them in their deals," says Research Director Aadil Nanji. "Microsoft will continue to institute changes like these. To be able to negotiate from a position of strength, customers must know what cards Microsoft is holding."
Info-Tech states that organizations with fewer than 2,400 licenses and those that require month-to-month flexibility will likely be migrated to this model. Along with pricing increases on its cloud subscription products, Microsoft has made changes to its Unified Support commercial terms.
New Commerce Experience
In late 2021, Microsoft unveiled the new commerce experience (NCE) as a successor to the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program. The general availability of the NCE started in January 2022, with promotions available to customers when migrating over from a CSP agreement.
The CSP channel was primarily used by customers for the flexibility it provided. For licenses purchased on a month-to-month basis, the CSP allowed customers to change quantities easily. Additionally, the CSP was the channel that customers were pushed toward since the shift in minimum quantities on the Enterprise Agreement (EA) changed from 250 to 500 licenses.
"With the NCE agreement, Microsoft's aim was to standardize purchasing transactions with Azure, which they later extended outward to Office 365, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Windows 365, and Power Platform transactions," adds Nanji.
There are three core differences between the CSP and NCE:
- Microsoft charges a 20% premium if a month-to-month agreement is desired in NCE.
- NCE reduces flexibility for midterm true-down.
- NCE agreements provide the ability to go from a one-year-only agreement to a three-year option.
Additional differences are listed in the table below:
"Microsoft may allow customers who are currently on a CSP agreement one final renewal term before migrating them over to the NCE agreement," explains Nanji. "This final renewal will be beneficial, as it will preserve month-to-month flexibility for organizations who require it. Customers who have already signed the overarching Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) will not have to sign it again to purchase through the NCE. However, similar to a CSP, an MCA agreement will be required to purchase from an NCE."
Pricing Increases
In September 2021, Microsoft announced pricing increases that would affect the productivity suite subscription products. These increases went into effect on March 1, 2022 and apply globally. The table below lists the old and new pricing.
"Microsoft has attributed the price changes to the addition of various applications and features, focusing in particular on security features such as email encryption, data loss prevention, and compliance requirements for eDiscovery and core litigation hold," states Nanji. "Additionally, Teams improvements and the addition of audioconferencing capabilities to all E3 SKUs contribute to the price increases."
The current recourse for customers to combat these price increases is to seek additional discounts. However, Microsoft has tied a product portfolio mix to any additional discounting. The desired product mix would include Azure, Dynamics, Power Platform, and E5 Security bundles.
Unified Support
"Microsoft has implemented an array of changes related to Unified Support that will have a significant impact on deals negotiated," explains Nanji. "Some of those changes relate to the services or levels of support offered and how these costs are calculated."
When signing a new deal or renewing, Info-Tech recommends that organizations examine the following key points:
- Beware of hyperlinks with information that could change at Microsoft's will.
- Ensure detailed information of the previous term's usage is provided.
- A new offering has been introduced called Unified Enterprise, which is separate from the Advanced and Performance support tiers. Unified Enterprise has redefined severity and response time levels.
- Multi-year deals are now available.
- Ask Microsoft to provide detailed breakdowns of any pricing provided.
- Discounts can be negotiated but are dependent on deal structure characteristics.
"The most impactful change Microsoft has made relates to repricing a Unified Support Agreement," shares Nanji. "In agreements that Info-Tech has reviewed, we've seen that Microsoft has begun including a clause within the Unified Support statement of work stating that, should the organization's Enterprise Agreement spend change by 5% or more than the preceding annual period, Microsoft can reprice the correlated Unified Support Agreement. This could cause many organizations heartburn throughout their agreements and unexpected spend. We at Info-Tech recommend that customers ask Microsoft to strike out that language."
Info-Tech adds that organizations considering purchasing additional Microsoft services, such as an E5, can experience significant and unexpected cost increases. Organizations that are growing or have merger activity are also at greater risk. The best course of action for customers is to negotiate with Microsoft to strike this clause since it has only recently been included in Unified Support Agreements.
"With the magnitude of the aforementioned cost impacts, a growing proportion of organizations are looking toward third-party Microsoft support," says Nanji. "Depending on the criticality of systems being supported, this may be a viable solution to reduce support fees by close to 50%."
Customers renewing agreements with Microsoft will want to take the appropriate time and do the necessary due diligence to ensure there are no surprises waiting for them in their deals.
"Microsoft will continue to institute changes like these, and to be able to negotiate from a position of strength customers must know what cards Microsoft is holding. A trusted partner like Info-Tech can aid in this process by reviewing and assessing inherent risks within Microsoft agreements and providing recommendations based on industry knowledge and deals seen daily.
To learn more on how to take control of Microsoft licensing, download and read Info-Tech's complete Modernize Your Microsoft Licensing for the Cloud Era blueprint.
To learn more about Info-Tech Research Group and to download all the latest research, visit www.infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
Media professionals are encouraged to register for Info-Tech's Media Insiders program for more research and insights. This program provides unrestricted, on-demand access to IT, HR, and software industry content and subject matter experts from a group of more than 200 research analysts. To apply for access, contact pr@infotech.com.
About Info-Tech Research Group
Info-Tech Research Group is the one of the world's leading information technology research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals. The company produces unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For 25 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with IT teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.
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SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/08/key-changes-that-will-impact-future-microsoft-licensing-renewals/ | 2022-04-08T17:59:36Z |
Canix, the industry leading cannabis ERP software, has continued to grow despite market downturn.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the start of 2022, Canix, the industry leading cannabis ERP software, has grown its team by over 20%. Despite the recent market downturn, the company remains strong. Canix has not done any layoffs or furloughs and they continue to hire and promote from within.
The cannabis industry has been hit hard this year and the price of cannabis continues to fall. Cannabis software companies have especially suffered the effects of that downturn; bootstrapped cannabis companies are returning to manual inventory management to cut costs.
Meanwhile, the opposite is true for many Canix users. They have found that the software is aiding their financial stability and key to their operations. The platform's all-in-one cannabis cultivation, manufacturing and distribution solution is proving too valuable to a cannabis operation.
Other software solutions in the cannabis industry have had to reduce or completely cut their employees as a cost saving measure.
Canix has been proactively hiring the entire year, and continues to hire despite the market conditions. Since December of 2021, the company has grown its staff by 20% and promoted several key individuals. The company recently brought on Alyson DeNardo as Head of People Operations to keep up with the hiring needs.
"By far, the best part of Canix is the people we have the honor of working with every day," said Stacey Hronowski, CEO and co-founder of Canix.
The company is most focused on growing the engineering team. Check out Canix's job listings here.
The company raised a Series A earlier in the year and has since used those funds to bring on the best engineers, customer support representatives and members of the leadership team.
Functionality offered by the software has also grown significantly. Canix now offers CRM features, forecasting, a better Metrc integration, granular business intelligence reporting and more. Learn more about Canix's features by visiting the website.
Along with this internal growth, the company's user base has blossomed. Today, Canix is used in 660 facilities across 15 states and 6 countries.
Canix is a cannabis ERP software and seed-to-sale platform for cannabis cultivators, manufacturers and distributors. Founded in 2019, the company serves both large commercial operations and standalone single-service operators. Canix provides a suite of tools for cannabis companies to operate efficiently and increase profit margins while remaining compliant with legislative authorities. With Canix, businesses have complete control over their real-time inventory and sales data. For more information about Canix, visit www.canix.com.
Media Contact:
Madison Hampton,
madison@canix.com
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SOURCE Canix | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/13/canix-continues-grow-despite-market-downturn/ | 2022-07-13T19:06:36Z |
Officials urged swimmers in Long Island, New York, to be cautious after at least four people were injured in suspected shark attacks this month.
"We are telling people that if they are swimming, they need to swim in lifeguard areas. They should only go waist deep and that they should be aware of their surroundings," Ocean Beach fire department chief Ian Levine told CNN on Thursday.
The warning comes after several shark attacks were reported since July 3 at beaches on Long Island, a large peninsula that stretches more than 120 miles to the east of New York City.
In the most recent attacks, a shark knocked a surfer off his paddleboard Wednesday morning at the Smith Point County Park beach, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said during a news conference. The surfer suffered a bite on his leg before punching the shark and riding a wave to shore.
The beach was temporarily closed for several hours while officials scanned area waters for additional shark presence with drones, Bellone added.
Hours later, a shark bit a 49-year-old man in waist-high water off Fire Island after lifeguards had left the beach for the day, police said. The man walked out of the water and was later taken to a hospital via helicopter.
"He stated that he felt on his side a large animal rubbing against him. He went to move it away and that's when his hand got bit," Levine said.
On Thursday, a Fire Island state beach was closed briefly due to a shark sighting and reopened after a drone survey found no sharks, according to officials.
Bellone said shark activity closer to shore might be a new reality for beachgoers and safety officials.
"I think it is an indication, however, that what we're looking at is something of a new normal in that the sharks are -- these Tiger sharks are just a little bit closer to shore than they've been," he said. "They've always been out there, of course, you're interacting with marine life whenever you are out in the ocean, but they're closer to shore now. And those contacts -- those interactions with humans and shark may increase," Bellone said.
Earlier this month, two lifeguards were attacked by sharks while role-playing as victims during safety training drills.
Officials temporarily closed Smith Point County Park beach after a shark bit a 10-year veteran lifeguard on his chest and hand on July 3 during a training exercise. The beach was reopened in time for the July Fourth holiday after drone-scanning measures cleared the waters, Bellone told reporters at the time.
Another man training for an upcoming lifeguard test was attacked during a training exercise on July 8, less than a mile from the site of Wednesday's shark encounter.
"He was actually playing the victim and he was coming out to be rescued and I guess all his thrashing around caused the disturbance," Levine told CNN.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/officials-urge-caution-after-several-shark-attacks-off-new-yorks-long-island-over-the-past/article_48eccbd0-9c86-5e61-b619-d7482515f7cb.html | 2022-07-15T09:01:29Z |
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara should reject GEICO's proposed $268 million auto insurance rate hike and its job- and education-based discriminatory rating system, wrote Consumer Watchdog in a petition filed with the California Department of Insurance (CDI) yesterday.
The increase falls hardest on working-class Californians. Drivers working in fields like custodial, construction, or food service will pay 25% higher premiums than drivers in GEICO's preferred "professional" occupations, including lobbyists, architects and financial analysts. They will pay almost 11% more than engineers, auditors, and judges.
Overall, the rate hike will impact 2.1 million GEICO policyholders who face an average $125 annual premium increase.
"Under GEICO's discriminatory discounts, investment bankers, consultants, surgeons, and attorneys will benefit on the back of low-income and blue-collar Californians," said Consumer Watchdog attorney Daniel L. Sternberg.
At the same time GEICO is seeking this rate hike, the company is closing its local offices in the state and laying off hundreds of employees. GEICO has also stopped selling insurance through telephone agents in the state, leaving online options through a computer or a mobile device as the only way to obtain a GEICO policy in California, and many other states.
"There should be little doubt that GEICO's actions will hurt California drivers. The lack of internet access risks California's most vulnerable communities being left behind in trying to secure home and auto insurance. Just as we saw with the COVID-19 vaccine, the digital divide can cause serious disparities in communities of color in their ability to access services," said Sternberg.
GEICO received two prior rate hikes in California in 2017 and 2018 before the pandemic took drivers off the road and claims plummeted.
The Insurance Commissioner has failed to act on a regulation to curb job- and education-based rate discrimination.
Consumer Watchdog called on Commissioner Lara to reject GEICO's use of job and education to overcharge working-class Californians in this rate filing, and move a regulation forward to make all insurance companies rate Californians fairly regardless of their job or education level.
Consumer Watchdog and 10 community and civil rights organizations challenged auto insurers' illegal and discriminatory use of job and education to set rates in February 2019. In September 2019, a Department of Insurance investigation confirmed those concerns, finding "wide socioeconomic disparities" created by insurance companies surcharging California drivers based on nothing more than their occupation or educational status. Three years later, Commissioner Lara has yet to adopt a regulation to stop the practice, and the last draft of a potential regulation was issued by the Department of Insurance nearly a year and a half ago.
Consumer Watchdog has recently filed challenges against Mercury Insurance Company's and Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club's ("Auto Club") rate hikes that also utilize a job- and education-based discriminatory rating system.
"Commissioner Lara needs to help working families and adopt regulations to stop occupation-based premium surcharges. Instead of rubber-stamping these discriminatory discounts, the Commissioner should use his voter-enacted authority under Proposition 103 to protect middle- and low-income families from being charged higher prices based on their jobs," said Sternberg.
Read Consumer Watchdog's Petition for Hearing and Petition to Intervene: https://consumerwatchdog.org/sites/default/files/2022-08/2022-08-08%20GEICO%20PFH.pdf
Read the community and civil rights groups' 2019 petition: https://consumerwatchdog.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/Job%26EducationPetition.pdf
Occupation has never been approved by regulation as a lawful rating factor under voter-enacted Proposition 103. GEICO's unfairly discriminatory occupation-based rating system means lower income and less-educated drivers continue to pay the highest premiums based solely on their job titles.
Voter-approved Proposition 103 requires auto insurance premiums be based primarily on three mandatory factors – driving safety record, annual mileage, and years driving experience – and prohibits unfairly discriminatory rates. Proposition 103 prohibits this kind of unfair rate discrimination based on income or race.
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SOURCE Consumer Watchdog | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/consumer-watchdog-challenges-268-million-geico-auto-insurance-rate-hike-amp-job-education-based-insurance-rate-discrimination/ | 2022-08-09T22:00:36Z |
Compliance certification strengthens Cribl’s role in cybersecurity use cases and expands its footprint in the enterprise
SAN FRANCISCO, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cribl, the leader in enabling open observability, today announced the completion of its Service Organization Control 2 (SOC 2) Type II security compliance attestation. SOC 2 ensures compliance with worldwide industry standards for data security and enables enterprises to be confident in using Cribl in their observability and cybersecurity environments. This announcement builds on Cribl's momentum, following its recent $150 million Series D funding round and announcement of its newest product, Cribl Search.
Today's cybersecurity landscape is increasingly complex and the range of tools in use generate an unprecedented amount of data. Cribl's approach to open observability allows cybersecurity teams to easily ingest, enrich, and redact data from across their security toolsets, ensuring teams never miss critical signals in a sea of noisy, high volume data.
SOC 2 standards are established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and address security controls such as organization and management, monitoring of controls, communications, risk management, and more. The Type II evaluation means brand manufacturers using Cribl Suite to collect, enrich, distribute, and search their observability and cybersecurity data can feel confident in the secure design and operating effectiveness of the Cribl Suite, having gone through a rigorous security verification process.
"From advanced, persistent threats to remote work and ransomware, the stakes for cybersecurity leaders have never been greater," said Clint Sharp, CEO and Co-Founder of Cribl. "Our users are finding that converging observability and cybersecurity practices and tools give them improved detection capabilities, more control over their security data, and better operational efficiencies."
Cybersecurity teams are already relying on observability practices and tooling to gain new insights. According to ESG's "Observability from Code to Cloud" survey, 41 percent of respondents are using observability tooling to improve their security posture and help with vulnerability detection and impact analysis. Fifty-two percent of respondents found observability solutions improved their ability to detect security-related signals in observability data.
Many of the industry's leading cybersecurity providers are also realizing how cybersecurity and observability can combine to enable greater protection across enterprise systems. The integration of an observability layer into an organization's security practice provides a full grasp of potential business risk, and allows teams to interrogate security data wherever it lives, which is critical to effectively combating threats in an ever-changing security landscape.
"Time is mission-critical in securing an organization's most valuable asset – its data," said Daniel Bernard, Chief Marketing Officer at SentinelOne. "With Singularity XDR, we've converged EPP and EDR, taking our platform beyond the traditional endpoint. Observability is the next link in the chain to transforming cybersecurity in the era of XDR, minimizing the time between detection and response."
To learn more about Cribl's leading observability architecture, visit booth 5469 at the 2022 RSA Conference in San Francisco. After the show on Tuesday, join Cribl and SentinelOne for a special concert at Metreon City View. Cribl will also be at Gartner's Security and Risk Summit in National Harbor at booth 1158.
Cribl makes open observability a reality for today's tech professionals. The Cribl product suite defies data gravity with radical levels of choice and control. Wherever the data comes from, wherever it needs to go, Cribl delivers the freedom and flexibility to make choices, not compromises. It's enterprise software that doesn't suck, enables tech professionals to do what they need to do, and gives them the ability to say "Yes." With Cribl, companies have the power to control their data, get more out of existing investments, and shape the observability future. Founded in 2017, Cribl is a remote-first company with an office in San Francisco, CA. For more information, visit www.cribl.io or our LinkedIn, Twitter, or Slack community.
Cribl Media Contact Kelly Engemoen media@cribl.io
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SOURCE Cribl | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/cribl-achieves-soc-2-certification-further-unifies-cybersecurity-observability/ | 2022-06-10T13:02:38Z |
Topeka leader chosen to serve on board of national chamber foundation
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - The Greater Topeka Partnership’s Glenda Washington has been chosen to help lead a national chamber foundation.
The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives says Glenda Washington, Chief Equity and Opportunity Officer for the Greater Topeka Partnership, has been elected to its board of directors for the ACCE Foundation.
“We are pleased to welcome Glenda to the ACCE Foundation Board of Directors,” said Sheree Anne Kelly, president and CEO of ACCE and the Foundation. “Chambers of commerce are local catalysts that work in so many vital areas. Glenda will play a critical role in the success of our industry through the work of ACCE Foundation, which seeks to strengthen chambers of commerce and affect change in our communities.”
ACCE said its Foundation was built to fund programming, peer-to-peer learning and leadership development for chamber professionals who seek to create positive change through addressing issues that challenge the long-term economic health and quality of life in the country’s cities and towns.
The organization said directors bring their knowledge and expertise to help the Foundation understand industry trends and the needs of members in their priority areas - including education and talent, diversity, equity and inclusion and economic and community development.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/24/topeka-leader-chosen-serve-board-national-chamber-foundation/ | 2022-08-24T15:41:08Z |
The Premium Tennessee Whiskey Distillery's Growth of 693% Lands the Brand in the Top 1000, Making it One of the Only Black-Owned Spirit Companies To Do So in the List's History
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the most-awarded American Whiskey or Bourbon of 2019, 2020, and 2021, has been ranked among the top 1,000 companies honored on the 2022 Inc. 5000 list. With growth of more than 3,000% since its first year, and nearly 700% during the capture period of this Inc. 5000 list, Uncle Nearest joins an illustrious group of honorees like Microsoft, Facebook, Under Armour, Chobani, Patagonia and many other behemoths who first gained national exposure on the Inc. 5000 list. Every year, Inc. releases the ranking of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America, based on percentage of revenue growth. Uncle Nearest is one of few spirit brands to ever be featured on the list.
In 2021, Uncle Nearest announced it had become the best-selling African American owned and founded spirit brand in history, selling 1.5 million bottles of its sought after super premium whiskey. The company has since gone on to sell more than three million bottles. Its whiskey portfolio, which ranges from $49.99 to $149 suggested retail price, is currently made up of its small batch whiskey, its Master Blend Edition, and its original aged whiskey offering, and is available in more than 25,000 U.S. locations.
"This year alone we are on track to sell more bottles than we did in our first three and a half years in business, and we've not even begun to scratch the surface," said Katharine Jerkens, Chief Business Officer of Uncle Nearest.
"When we entered the bourbon market, we had no idea we were making history as the first and only brand to commemorate an African American, and the first major spirit company to be founded and led by a leadership team of all women," said Fawn Weaver, Chairman, CEO and founder of Uncle Nearest. "The question on the mind of so many in the CPG and spirits industry was, could a brand with a story broaching American topics no one had ever attempted be embraced by consumers of every background, gender and race? That answer has become abundantly clear. The world had been waiting for Uncle Nearest for more than 160 years, they just didn't realize it until our bottles hit shelves."
Since its debut in 2017, the super-premium whiskey from Tennessee has swept major spirit competitions, garnering 509 awards, including 59 Best in Class, and 335 Gold, Double Gold and Platinum medals. In 2022 alone, the brand has so far won 116 medals including 12 Best in Class awards, and with an average critic score of 92 points, continues to solidify the brand's recognition as the most-awarded American whiskey or Bourbon for the fourth year in a row.
Nearest Green Distillery welcomes thousands of guests every weekend from all over the world. Its 323-acre property in Shelbyville, Tenn. is a masterclass in storytelling and purpose-driven marketing. "Our goal is to cement the legacy of Nearest Green in the history books and in the hearts and minds of people all over. We are grateful to the Inc. 5000 for this honor that reminds us we're on track to make him a household name," said Victoria Eady Butler, fifth generation Nearest Green descendant and Uncle Nearest Master Blender.
About Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey honors the world's first-known African American master distiller, Nearest Green. The portfolio is the Most Awarded American Whiskey or Bourbon of 2019, 2020 and 2021, with over 500 awards and accolades since the brand's 2017 launch, including 335 Gold medals or higher, 59 Best in Class honors and an average critic's score of 92. Uncle Nearest is currently sold in all 50 states and 12 countries, and is sold in more than 25,000 stores, bars, hotels, restaurants, as well as at its 323-acre Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tenn. The brand has sold more than three million bottles of its super premium Tennessee Whiskey and continues on pace to break all prior records for fastest-growing American whiskey company. For more information, please visit the Uncle Nearest website, and follow on Instagram and Facebook @unclenearest.
About Nearest Green Distillery
Nearest Green Distillery is the world's first distillery to commemorate an African American. Dubbed as "Malt Disney World," and named by Travel + Leisure as a "true whiskey destination," the 323-acre property has become known as a full-blown destination for whiskey lovers, history enthusiasts, and families. It is a master class in storytelling and history-making, paying tribute to the three things Tennessee is most known for: Tennessee Whiskey, Tennessee Walking Horses and Tennessee Music. For more information or to book a tour, please visit unclenearest.com/distillery.
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SOURCE Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/23/uncle-nearest-premium-whiskey-makes-powerful-inc-5000-list/ | 2022-08-23T14:48:25Z |
AUSTIN, Texas, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Storable, the leading technology company for self-storage operators, announced today that it has struck a deal with Columbia, MO-based StorageMart to provide facility management software and payment processing services.
StorageMart will use Storable's storEDGE management software across its entire portfolio, which currently spans 267 facilities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The company was previously using a custom-built software solution to manage its facilities.
"Our proprietary operating software has served us well over these past decades, but the time to upgrade our system is overdue," said Cris Burnam, CEO of StorageMart. "We set out to find a solution that would allow for our own customizations yet retain the expertise of a tech company that will keep technical debt low and innovations high."
StorageMart will also use Storable Payments as its payment processor. Storable Payments comes standard with Storable management software and is fully integrated within the FMS.
The deal builds upon the company's existing client relationship with StorageMart, which has been a valued customer of Storable's online marketplace and web development services for many years prior. Chuck Gordon, CEO of Storable, said the deal represents a major milestone for both companies.
"StorageMart is one of the most sophisticated storage operators in the world and Storable is very excited to partner with them on their software journey. Our innovative storEDGE platform will give Cris and his team a rock-solid technology foundation to take them into the next chapter of innovation for our industry," Gordon said.
StorageMart is the world's largest privately-owned self storage company, operating in the United Kingdom and Canada, and in the United States under StorageMart and Manhattan Mini Storage brands. The company is led by the Burnam family, which has been in the storage industry for four generations. The StorageMart company also owns and operates Manhattan Mini Storage properties in New York City. Through the "Store it Forward'' charitable giving program, StorageMart and Manhattan Mini Storage give back to the many communities it calls home. In recent years, the company donated more than half a million dollars to charities, in addition to donating storage space to charitable organizations throughout the US, UK, and Canada. Find out more at https://www.storage-mart.com.
Based in Austin, Texas, Storable is the world's leading provider of self-storage technology. The business exists to help storage operators do more using their fully integrated suite of products. Offering management software, websites, access control, insurance, payment processing and the internet's largest marketplace for renting self-storage units, Storable products power the storage industry. Backed by decades of experience leading innovation, the Storable family of companies includes SiteLink, storEDGE and Easy Storage Solutions among others. With a fully distributed workforce, Storable is proud to serve more than 37,00 facilities with at least one of their products and more than 27,000 facilities with their system of record software. To learn more visit www.storable.com.
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SOURCE Storable | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/storagemart-power-267-storage-locations-with-storable-software-payments/ | 2022-07-28T16:08:02Z |
Woman paralyzed and in ICU after a chiropractic visit
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WJCL) – A recent college graduate from Georgia is paralyzed and in intensive care after a chiropractic adjustment.
Caitlin Jensen’s brother, Caleb Johnson, said June 16 is a day the family won’t forget.
Jensen’s family said she visited a chiropractor for an adjustment and left with four dissected arteries.
“She’s able to open her eyes every now and then and wake up a little bit and kind of move her hands to squeeze a little -- but that’s it,” Johnson explained.
After a stroke, cardiac arrest and a loss of pulse for 10 minutes, her family said doctors at Memorial Health revived and stabilized Jensen.
Her family set up a GoFundMe to support current costs and long-term therapy when the time comes.
“It’s huge just to know that people are out there supporting as we get her into therapy,” Johnson said.
According to chiropractor, Dr. Steve Ranicki, Jensen’s condition is incredibly rare.
“Those dissections will often produce symptoms of headache and neck pain, which then typically drive people to a doctor’s office,” Ranicki said. “Once they’ve gone to the medical doctor or chiropractor the likelihood is, unfortunately, a stroke will occur.”
Ranicki said sometimes something as simple as going to a hair salon and having your neck tilted back in the bowl for an extended period of time can trigger a stroke if you have dissections.
Jensen’s family is focused on getting her out of the ICU and into rehab sometime in August.
Copyright 2022 WJCL via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/12/woman-paralyzed-icu-after-chiropractic-visit/ | 2022-07-12T22:03:38Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLP, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws and/or breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to:
Resolute Forest Products Inc. (NYSE: RFP)'s sale to Domtar Corporation. If you are a Resolute shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Meridian Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ: VIVO)'s sale to SD Biosensor, Inc. and SJL Partners LLC for $34.00 per share in cash. If you are a Meridian shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY)'s merger with TransGlobe Energy Corporation. Under the terms of the merger, VAALCO will acquire each TransGlobe share for 0.6727 of a VAALCO share of common stock. If you are a VAALCO shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Steel Connect, Inc. (NASDAQ: STCN)'s sale to Steel Partners Holdings L.P. Under the terms of the agreement, Steel Connect shareholders would receive $1.35 per share in cash and one contingent value right to receive their pro rata share of net proceeds, to the extent such net proceeds exceed $80 million plus certain related costs and expenses, if Steel Connect's ModusLink subsidiary is sold during the two-year period following completion of the proposed merger. If you are a Steel Connect shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Halper Sadeh LLP may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits on behalf of shareholders.
Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm free of charge to discuss their legal rights and options. Please call Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or email sadeh@halpersadeh.com or zhalper@halpersadeh.com.
Halper Sadeh LLP represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Halper Sadeh LLP
Daniel Sadeh, Esq.
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(212) 763-0060
sadeh@halpersadeh.com
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SOURCE Halper Sadeh LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/shareholder-investigation-notice-halper-sadeh-llp-investigates-rfp-vivo-egy-stcn/ | 2022-08-22T14:45:58Z |
IND accepted and first subject dosed in the Phase 1 Single-Ascending Dose (SAD) study of RGLS8429 for the treatment of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD)
RGLS8429 granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Scientific leadership strengthened with the appointment of Amin Kamel, Ph.D., as Vice President, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK)
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Regulus Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: RGLS), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines targeting microRNAs (the "Company" or "Regulus"), today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022 and provided a corporate update.
"This has been an exciting quarter, which culminated in the achievement of multiple milestones. We continue to make steady progress with RGLS8429, evidenced by the dosing of the first subject in our Phase 1 SAD study," commented Jay Hagan, CEO of Regulus. "Moreover, we are pleased to have Dr. Amin Kamel join the Regulus team at this pivotal moment. We are proud of the work our team is doing to advance our novel therapeutic candidate for ADPKD patients, and we look forward to providing additional updates on progress in the coming quarters."
Program Updates
RGLS8429 for ADPKD: In early June 2022, the Company announced the dosing of the first subject in its Phase 1 SAD study of RGLS8429 for the treatment of ADPKD. The study will assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of RGLS8429 in healthy volunteers. The Company subsequently plans to initiate a Phase 1b multiple ascending dose (MAD) study to assess safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of RGLS8429 in adult patients with ADPKD, and evaluate the efficacy of RGLS8429 treatment across three different dose levels measuring changes in polycystins, cystic kidney volume (htTKV), and overall kidney function.
In late June, the Company announced that FDA had granted ODD to RGLS8429 for the treatment of ADPKD. The FDA's Office of Orphan Products Development grants orphan designation status to drugs and biologics that are intended for the safe and effective treatment, diagnosis or prevention of rare diseases, or conditions that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. Orphan designation status is intended to facilitate drug development for rare diseases and may provide several benefits to drug developers, including financial incentives, to support clinical development and the potential for up to seven years of market exclusivity in the U.S. upon regulatory approval.
Corporate Highlights
Expanded Team: In June 2022, the Company announced the appointment of Amin Kamel, Ph.D., as Vice President, DMPK. Most recently, Dr. Kamel was the Scientific Director, DMPK at Takeda, where he also served as a scientific advisor. Prior to Takeda, Dr. Kamel held positions at Biogen, Novartis, and Pfizer.
Financial Results
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities: As of June 30, 2022, Regulus had $47.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.
Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: Research and development expenses were $4.7 million and $8.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to $4.2 million and $7.5 million for the same periods in 2021, respectively. These amounts reflect internal and external costs associated with advancing our pipeline.
General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $2.5 million and $5.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to $2.5 million and $5.0 million for the same periods in 2021, respectively. These amounts reflect personnel-related and ongoing general business operating costs.
Net Loss: Net loss was $7.3 million, or $0.50 per share (basic and diluted), and $14.0 million, or $0.96 per share (basic and diluted), for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $6.0 million, or $0.78 per share (basic and diluted), and $12.0 million, or $1.62 per share (basic and diluted), for the same periods in 2021.
Conference Call and Webcast Information:
The Company will host a conference call and live audio webcast today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time to discuss its second quarter 2022 financial results and corporate update. To access the call, please dial (866) 652-5200 (domestic) or (412) 317-6060 (international). To access the telephone replay of the call, dial (877) 344-7529 (domestic) or (412) 317-0088 (international) and refer to the entry replay code 5578933. The webcast and telephone replay will be archived on the Company's website at www.regulusrx.com following the call.
About ADPKD
Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), caused by mutations in the PKD1 or PKD2 genes, is among the most common human monogenic disorders and a leading cause of end-stage renal disease. The disease is characterized by the development of multiple fluid filled cysts primarily in the kidneys, and to a lesser extent in the liver and other organs. Excessive kidney cyst cell proliferation, a central pathological feature, ultimately leads to end-stage renal disease in approximately 50% of ADPKD patients by age 60. Approximately 160,000 individuals are diagnosed with the disease in the United States alone, with an estimated global prevalence of 4 to 7 million.
About RGLS8429
RGLS8429 is a novel, next generation oligonucleotide for the treatment of ADPKD designed to inhibit miR-17 and to preferentially target the kidney. Administration of RGLS8429 has shown robust data in preclinical models, where clear improvements in kidney function, size, and other measures of disease severity have been demonstrated along with a superior pharmacologic profile in preclinical studies compared to Regulus' first-generation compound. Regulus is currently conducting a Phase 1 single-ascending dose study in healthy volunteers to assess safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of RGLS8429. In June 2022, FDA granted ODD for RGLS849 for the treatment of ADPKD.
About Regulus
Regulus Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: RGLS) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines targeting microRNAs. Regulus has leveraged its oligonucleotide drug discovery and development expertise to develop a pipeline complemented by a rich intellectual property estate in the microRNA field. Regulus maintains its corporate headquarters in San Diego, CA.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this presentation regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements associated with the Company's RGLS8429 program, the expected timing for initiating a Phase 1 clinical study, the expected timing for reporting topline data, and the timing and future occurrence of data concerning the Company's preclinical programs. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "will," "goal," "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Regulus' current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks associated with the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs, and the risk additional toxicology data may be negative. In addition, while Regulus expects the COVID-19 pandemic to adversely affect its business operations and financial results, the extent of the impact on Regulus' ability to achieve its preclinical and clinical development objectives and the value of and market for its common stock, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence at this time, such as the ultimate duration of the pandemic, travel restrictions, quarantines, social distancing and business closure requirements in the U.S. and in other countries, and the effectiveness of actions taken globally to contain and treat the disease. These and other risks are described in additional detail in Regulus' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the "Risk Factors" heading of Regulus most recently quarterly report on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Regulus undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.
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SOURCE Regulus Therapeutics Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/regulus-therapeutics-reports-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-recent-updates/ | 2022-08-11T22:00:33Z |
DETROIT, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Alliance Plan, a Michigan-based nonprofit health plan, has added two executives to its board of directors. These industry leaders were chosen for their unique skills and backgrounds that will contribute to HAP's continued growth as a consumer-centric health plan.
HAP is governed by a volunteer board of directors that includes executives from the fields of health care, automotive/ manufacturing, financial services, education, professional services, consumer services and community planning. HAP's diverse board includes national and regional business leaders, ensuring that the organization has a strong line of sight into regional and national health care trends and issues.
HAP's new board members are:
Joni M.T. Davis, a second-generation owner-operator of four McDonald's restaurants in the metro Detroit area. She is also general counsel and managing partner of Jamjomar, Inc., the managing company for 30 McDonald's locations in southeast Michigan and Louisiana. Her extensive legal experience includes serving as senior attorney and diversity director at Detroit law firm Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone, PLC. She holds a law degree from Emory University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan. She is licensed to practice law in Michigan and California.
Meerah Rajavel, chief information officer, Palo Alto Networks, responsible for the organization's global information technology functions. She has a deep understanding of the IT challenges faced by industries and organizations of all sizes, having also served as CIO at Citrix and in leadership roles at McAfee, Forcepoint, Cisco and Infosys. Rajavel holds a master's degree in business administration from the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif., and a bachelor's degree in Computer Science & Engineering from the Thiagarajar College of Engineering at Anna University in Chennai, India.
In addition, two non-director committee members were added. Margaret Kennedy, a director in PwC's private audit practice, has been named to the HAP Finance Committee. And Cheryl Thompson Marsh, an executive management consultant and statewide representative for Oral Health Progress and Equity Network (OPEN), has been added to the Clinical and Service Quality Committee. Both bring extensive experience in their respective fields to these roles.
"HAP is committed to providing an exceptional consumer experience," said Michael Genord, M.D., president and CEO of HAP. "This includes enhancing our digital delivery capabilities as well as addressing the critical issues of health inequities, social disparities and rising health care costs, which disproportionately impact certain populations. We're thrilled that these new additions to our board and its committees bring expertise that will support and enhance our efforts as we continue to look for innovative ways to serve HAP members."
About Health Alliance Plan
Health Alliance Plan (HAP) is a Michigan-based, nonprofit health plan that provides health coverage to individuals and companies of all sizes. For 60 years, HAP has partnered with leading doctors and hospitals, employers, and community organizations to enhance the health and well-being of the lives it touches. HAP offers a product portfolio with six distinct product lines: Group Insured Commercial, Individual, Medicare, Medicaid (using the HAP Empowered name), Self-Funded and Network Leasing. HAP excels in delivering award-winning preventive services, disease management and wellness programs, as well as personalized customer service. For more information, visit www.hap.org.
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SOURCE Health Alliance Plan | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/hap-adds-industry-leaders-its-board-directors/ | 2022-06-08T15:09:52Z |
Wall of Remembrance dedicated at Korean War Memorial
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The names of those who lost their lives during the Korean War -- the so-called “forgotten war” -- will never be forgotten again.
On a hot summer’s day in Washington, exactly 69 years after combat ended on the Korean Peninsula, Korean War veterans, gold star families, and dignitaries came together for the dedication of a Wall of Remembrance.
The wall lists the names of 43,000 service members who gave their lives during the Korean War.
“It’s a lifelong dream come to fruition,” said Col. Rick Dean (Ret.) of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation.
Dean explained the symbolism in the wall’s design: 100 granite panels are broken up into different sections for each branch of the military. The names of 7,200 South Koreans (KATUSAs) who died are integrated with the 36,000 Americans’ names, because they fought alongside Americans in American military units. The names are also listed in order of rank.
“There are 24 panels of privates. There are 29 panels of private first classes. That makes 53% of this memorial men who were 17, 18, 19-years-old,” explained Dean.
Gray Television Washington News Bureau senior reporter Ted Fioraliso first reported on the plans to build the Wall of Remembrance six years ago. At that time, he had the opportunity to interview an esteemed Korean War veteran, Col. Bill Weber (Ret.).
Weber told him how the foundation wanted a Wall of Remembrance from the beginning, but it didn’t happen.
“At that point in time, there was this tremendous controversy about the Vietnam wall, because the soldiers who served in Vietnam and survived, felt that that memorial didn’t honor their service; it only honored the service of those who fell in battle,” Weber said in 2016.
Twenty-one years after the Korean War Memorial first opened, Weber was there for the bill signing, authorizing the wall’s construction.
But, Weber did not get to see Wednesday’s dedication. He died three months ago at the age of 96.
When Ted asked Weber six years ago what he wanted visitors to the memorial -- and now Wall of Remembrance -- to take away, he answered with the slogan that is etched into the memorial.
“Freedom truly is not free. It takes sacrifice, human sacrifice,” said Weber.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/27/wall-remembrance-dedicated-korean-war-memorial/ | 2022-07-27T21:34:47Z |
Which BenQ monitor is best?
There are plenty of monitors to choose from, whether for gaming, streaming content or everyday work at the office. But not all monitors are made equal. While BenQ might not be perceived to be up there with popular brands such as Samsung or LG, the company actually manufactures excellent products at more affordable prices.
A top choice for high-quality visuals is the BenQ PD3220U 32-Inch 4K Monitor. It is compatible with both Windows-based and Apple computers and has precise color-management options. Of course, there are other choices if you want to excel at gaming or are looking for an office workhorse.
What to know before you buy a BenQ monitor
Types of BenQ monitors
BenQ designs a variety of monitors for different tasks.
- Photo-editing monitors: Designed for creative-industry professionals, these are optimized for color performance and accuracy. When touching up images or color-correcting a video, the monitors display the true hues, contrasts and spectrum.
- Post-production monitors: Like the photo-editing monitors, these feature AQ Color technology to reproduce true colors and contrast. They also conform to the standards set out by the International Color Consortium and International Standard Organization.
- Monitors for the home office: These are great for everyday office or home use. They provide the perfect balance between color reproduction, a fast frame rate and high resolution.
- Gaming monitors: BenQ’s Zowie division takes care of gaming monitors and peripherals. While all of these monitors are compatible with a computer, there are two QHD monitors for Xbox Series X and two UHD monitors built for PlayStation 5.
- Multimedia monitors: If streaming, watching movies or playing video games is your thing, a multimedia monitor is a good choice. They come in 2K or 4K resolution, with multiple connections, and some have built-in speakers.
Curved vs. flat
A few years ago, getting a curved instead of a flat monitor meant forking out more money. As technology becomes more affordable, though, they’re roughly the same price. A flat BenQ monitor is best for office work or streaming content. On the other hand, a curved monitor (available in different curve angles) is better suited for video games, as more details fill your peripheral vision.
The panel type
Another consideration is the technology used to project the Liquid Crystal Display visuals. This is provided through several panel types.
- Twisted nematic: TN panels are the fastest display available, often reaching a refresh rate of 360 hertz. But it comes with a downside, as the panel isn’t suited for curved screens due to a narrow viewing angle.
- Vertical alignment: VA panels are the most common for monitors, as they have excellent color contrast, a fair refresh rate and a better viewing angle than TN panels.
- In-Plane Switching: If you are looking for a panel with the best color reproduction, an IPS panel is the best choice.
Modern Light Emitting Diode panels also come in different types, with the most common being Edge-Lit LED and Full-Array LED. Advanced panels with better color reproduction and deeper black points are OLED and QLED.
Size of the display
While you might think that going for the biggest monitor is best, that isn’t always the case. First, you must consider the space where you’ll use it. If the display is too big for the area, it can strain your eyes. Similarly, a too-small monitor won’t output at your desired resolution. An excellent middle ground is to look for a BenQ monitor between 24 and 27 inches.
What to look for in a quality BenQ monitor
A fast refresh rate for gaming
The refresh rate of a monitor isn’t that important if you’re using it for general office work or streaming. But it plays a vital role if your primary activity is video games. The refresh rate, measured in hertz, is how quickly the individual pixels can change color, creating a smoother playing experience. Most video games have a standard 60 frames per second (or 60 hertz), but you’ll get more enjoyment from playing at 120 or 144 frames per second.
Multiple connection methods
Depending on what you’re connecting the monitor to, you don’t want to be limited to one connection type. At least one HDMI port is non-negotiable, and it’s great if the monitor has a DisplayPort. Older connections such as DVI or VGA are rarely compatible with gaming consoles or modern computers. A USB-C connection is perfect for connecting your monitor to an Apple device.
High Dynamic Range for better visual quality
No matter what you’re doing on the monitor, it is important to have the correct color settings and reproduction. HDR is especially crucial for streaming content and video games. It gives you crisper color scales, better contrast between light and shadows, and can accurately mimic the changes in sunlight. Most of BenQ’s multimedia and gaming monitors feature HDR.
How much you can expect to spend on a BenQ monitor
The average price of a BenQ monitor largely depends on its capabilities and additional functions. A basic monitor with a 1080p display costs $150-$200, but a 32-inch gaming monitor compatible with Apple’s Mac costs $1,000-$1,200.
BenQ monitor FAQ
What’s BenQ’s background?
A. Based in Taiwan, the company was founded in 1984 and operates in more than 100 countries.
Are Zowie monitors part of BenQ?
A. Yes, the company acquired Zowie Gear in 2015 to form a new gaming division specializing in gaming monitors, mice and other gaming accessories. According to industry statistics, Zowie monitors are used by around 45% of professional esports players.
What’s the best BenQ monitor to buy?
Top BenQ monitor
BenQ PD3220U 32-Inch 4K Monitor
What you need to know: For the best visual experience when streaming content or video games, this 4K monitor has a resolution of 3840 x 2160. You can easily connect two of these monitors together to create an even bigger display.
What you’ll love: The generous 32-inch LED display has a refresh rate of 60 hertz, is wall-mountable and can connect to a Mac computer through a Thunderbolt 3 cable.
What you should consider: It is optimized for graphic designers to have excellent color accuracy, so it’s not the ideal choice for video game players.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top BenQ monitor for the money
What you need to know: An affordable monitor for everyday use, it has a resolution of 1080p, built-in speakers and a viewing angle of 178 degrees.
What you’ll love: It has a thin edge-to-edge bezel that is perfect for multi-monitor situations, is wall-mountable and has a refresh rate of 60 hertz.
What you should consider: Some users indicated that the speaker quality isn’t as good as you would expect.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
BenQ EX3501R Ultrawide Curved Gaming Monitor
What you need to know: This 34-inch ultrawide monitor has a 21:9 aspect ratio, making the maximum resolution of 3440 x 1440 the best way to work.
What you’ll love: It has a refresh rate of 100 hertz, a 1800R curvature that provides a maximum viewing distance of nearly 6 feet, and thin bezels on three sides. It supports USB-C, HDMI and DisplayPort connections.
What you should consider: It comes at a relatively steep price compared to flat monitors of the same size.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/computer-monitors-br/best-benq-monitor/ | 2022-05-31T08:02:27Z |
Moriah Wilson had shifted gears a number of times in her 25 years of life, but no matter her focus — collegiate ski racing, a career in logistics and, most recently, professional mountain bike and gravel racing — those who knew her described her as “exceptional in every way.”
The Vermont native’s life and promising cycling career were cut short May 11 — just a week before her 26th birthday — when she was shot to death in Austin. She was in Texas ahead of the 150-mile (240-kilometer) Gravel Locos race, which she was reportedly favored to win. Her killing has shaken the cycling world and other spheres, with tributes pouring in as the suspected shooter remains at large.
“Broken heart and spirit for the loss of this beautiful, grounded young woman who was so full of light and energy,” fellow cyclist and adventure athlete Rebecca Rusch said in a tweet. “She was exceptional in every way.”
Wilson had a busy racing schedule ahead of her. Her former employer Specialized said she had already won 10 events this year and her off-road racing career had just started to take off. Her last race, in San Diego, ended in a victory — with a 25-minute lead.
“Like many of you, we’re devastated by the tragic loss of a friend who exuded so much inspiration, determination, and joy,” Specialized, a bike and equipment company where Wilson had until recently worked in demand management, said in a post on Instagram.
Born Anna Moriah Wilson and widely known as “Mo,” she grew up in rural northern Vermont and was a lifelong athlete, lettering in cycling, alpine skiing and soccer at Burke Mountain Academy, according to her Dartmouth College athletics biography. At Dartmouth, Wilson majored in engineering and was a member of the alpine ski racing team — “fulfilling a childhood dream,” her family said.
The Burke Mountain Academy community was devastated to hear of her death, said Head of School Willy Booker, who described Wilson as dedicated student, compassionate friend and courageous athlete.
“Moriah was an inspiration to our community, and her death at a moment when her athletic star seemed so assuredly ascendant only amplifies the deep sense of loss associated with a beautiful life that ended far too early,” the school said in a statement.
Athletics were inextricable from Wilson’s life. She was born into an athletic family: Her parents, Eric and Karen Wilson, were on the U.S. ski team, according to Wilson’s Dartmouth bio, and her father, younger brother and aunt also went to Burke Mountain Academy. Eric Wilson later coached at the small, close-knit ski school, according to the academy.
Dannica Ashnault became close with Moriah Wilson while they were both recovering from knee injuries in high school. After having knee surgery, Ashnault tore her hamstring in her other leg and was really upset. She said Wilson encouraged instead to focus on getting better and “put me in a positive mindset through it all.”
“She was very supportive of anyone, no matter if you were competing directly against her or not. I’m sure that’s the way she was in biking as well,” Ashnault added.
Although she focused on skiing in college, her love of biking started early. She spent many hours on the Kingdom Trails in East Burke, Vermont, developing her skills, according to her obituary published in a local newspaper.
As a discipline, gravel racing is relatively new in popularity and hard to describe, according to the website bikeradar, which said the sport “sits somewhere between road, cyclocross and mountain bike racing, and tends to take place on open gravel roads, dirt double tracks and snaking singletrack, often with some stretches of paved road to link off-road segment.”
On Sunday, the Austin Cycling Community is holding a memorial and short ride to honor Wilson.
Her family said in a statement that while her tragic loss is unfathomable, they want everyone to join them “in celebrating her life, accomplishments, and love for others. Always pushing tirelessly to reach her goals, we knew she was pursuing that which she loved. We will miss her terribly and know that all mourn her with us.”
Her family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to fund “community organizations that help youth find self-confidence, strength, and joy through biking, skiing, and other activities that Moriah was passionate about.”
That’s in line with what Rusch described, in an Instagram post, as a new mission for those who knew her: “Now, what we must do is take her light, absorb it into ourselves and shine it on others as brightly as she did.”
“There was a bubble of positivity and joy around her, and we all wanted to be in her bubble,” Rusch added. “Mo was a former elite alpine ski racer turned endurance cyclist and was on a beautiful trajectory not just to win races but to win and open hearts.” | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/slain-cyclist-moriah-wilson-25-exceptional-in-every-way/ | 2022-05-25T08:12:05Z |
SAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP is investigating potential claims on behalf of certain shareholders of Faraday Future Intelligent Electric, Inc. ("Faraday") (NASDAQ: FFIE), formerly known as Property Solutions Acquisition Corp. ("PSAC") (formerly NASDAQ: PSAC), relating to possible false and misleading statements to investors.
Faraday was formed pursuant to a merger between PSAC, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), and FF Intelligent Mobility Global Holdings Ltd., which took effect on July 21, 2021. Faraday focuses on the development of electric vehicles.
On November 15, 2021, Faraday revealed that it had formed a special committee of independent directors to review allegations of inaccurate disclosures by Faraday to investors, as described in a report published by J Capital Research on October 8, 2021. On February 1, 2022, Faraday announced that the special committee issued findings that Faraday made "inaccurate statements" in connection with the merger, and that statements that it had received more than 14,000 reservations for its flagship vehicle were "potentially misleading" because only "several hundred" of the reservations were in fact paid. These disclosures caused the price of Faraday stock to substantially decline and it now trades at approximately $3 per share. Faraday has disclosed that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has launched a formal investigation into the matters that were the subject of the special committee investigation.
The Schubert Firm is investigating potential breaches of fiduciary duty by PSAC's officers and directors in connection with the merger.
If you owned stock of PSAC (now FFIE) on or prior to June 21, 2021 and wish to obtain additional information about your legal rights, please contact us today or visit our website at https://www.classactionlawyers.com/blog/faraday.
Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe represents shareholders, employees, and consumers in class actions against corporate defendants, as well as shareholders in derivative actions against their officers and directors. The firm is based in San Francisco, and with the help of co-counsel, litigates cases nationwide.
Contact
Willem F. Jonckheer
Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP
agreen@sjk.law
Tel: 415-788-4220
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SOURCE Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/shareholder-alert-former-directors-officers-property-solutions-acquisition-corp-now-known-faraday-future-intelligent-electric-inc-under-investigation-false-misleading-statements/ | 2022-06-06T14:18:06Z |
The state of Massachusetts reached a $56 million settlement with the plaintiffs of a class-action lawsuit regarding a deadly Covid-19 outbreak at a veteran's home roughly two years ago, officials announced.
At least 84 veterans at the facility died of Covid-19 related issues and many others -- residents and staff -- were infected, CNN affiliate WCVB reported. The outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home, a long-term health care facility for US military veterans, unfolded in the spring of 2020 and drew the ire of family members and state leaders.
The plaintiffs' lawyer, Tom Lesser, called the settlement "fair and just."
"There is no amount of money that can compensate our clients for the loss of their loved ones," Lesser said. "But our clients are grateful that the Commonwealth has acted to resolve this matter without the need for protracted litigation by agreeing to compensate both the families of those who died of COVID, as well as the veterans who survived."
CNN has attempted to reach the home for comment, as well as the state's Executive Office of Health and Human Services, which oversees the home.
In a statement on Thursday, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker called the outbreak a "terrible tragedy," and said he hopes "this settlement brings a sense of closure to the loved ones of the veterans."
Home was long plagued by systemic problems
An independent investigation into the facility in 2020 found a series of errors the home made including delays in testing and in closing common spaces, insufficient personal protective equipment and a general lack of compassion for veterans.
Among the biggest errors was a decision from leadership to move two units of veterans into one, including some people who tested positive for the virus and others who showed no signs of it, the report said.
The home had also been dogged by systemic issues, such as short staffing and lack of access to personal protective equipment, for years, CNN has previously reported.
Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia called the settlement "long overdue support," and said more work needs to be done to prevent anything similar from happening again.
"The brave Americans who died at the Holyoke Soldiers Home devoted their lives to making our country a better place, and they deserved better," the mayor said in a statement. "As we come through this trying time, we can't simply return to a pre-pandemic status quo. We must always push for and demand better."
'Some sort of justice'
Laurie Beaudette, whose 83-year-old father, James Mandeville, died during the outbreak, told WCVB the settlement shows the state "is finally taking responsibility for the poor decisions that the administrators and the leaders in state government made."
"I'm trying to smile right now and think of the good and happy times I had with him, and I'm trying to not lose it emotionally because I know he would want me to stay strong," Beaudette said. "It is some sort of justice."
Mandeville had served in the US Navy for four years during the Korean War, CNN previously reported. He died on April 14, 2020.
The settlement is subject to approval by the federal district court for Massachusetts.
The specific amount each party in the lawsuit is due will be determined by the settlement claims administrator based on the circumstances of each case, according to a news release from the governor's office.
Estates of veterans who died will receive a minimum of $400,000 and veterans who contracted the disease but survived will receive a minimum of $10,000, the release says. The sum awarded in the settlement will also pay for attorneys' fees, according to the release.
The governor plans to file legislation to seek the settlement amount in the coming weeks, the release added.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/massachusetts-reaches-a-56-million-settlement-for-a-deadly-veterans-home-covid-19-outbreak/article_52a631a7-5de2-5559-b695-e575f37ac716.html | 2022-05-13T22:51:46Z |
TEMPE, Ariz., Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The newest U.S. News & World Report rankings are out, and the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University kept its No. 23 ranking in the country for undergraduate business programs, ahead of University of Arizona, Purdue University, and Boston College. In addition, the school has 10 undergraduate disciplines or departments ranked in the top 20.
"The last several years have been brimming with change in higher education. These rankings show that W. P. Carey continues to lead that change and prepare students for success in a similarly changing business landscape," said Michele Pfund, senior associate dean of undergraduate programs at the W. P. Carey School of Business. "It's an honor to be recognized by our peers across the country."
The 10 undergraduate disciplines or departments ranked in the top 20:
- Accounting, No. 13
- Analytics, No. 8
- Finance, No. 16
- Management information systems, No. 10
- International, No. 18
- Entrepreneurship, No. 17
- Management, No. 13
- Marketing, No. 15
- Production operations, No. 11
- Supply chain management, No. 2
In spring and early summer, U.S. News asked deans and senior faculty members at the 516 undergraduate business programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business to rate the quality of all programs. Average peer assessment scores were used to calculate the rankings.
"The new U.S. News rankings demonstrate that W. P. Carey delivers something unique in business education," said Ohad Kadan, Charles J. Robel Dean and W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair. "As the largest business school in the country, we provide expansive access for students across Arizona, the United States, and the world — all while delivering truly excellent education."
In March, U.S. News also released the latest graduate school rankings. The school is ranked No. 13 nationwide for executive MBA programs and No. 18 for part-time MBA programs, while the school's Full-time MBA ranks in the Top 30. In total, U.S. News ranks 31 W. P. Carey programs and disciplines among the Top 25, the most of any business school in the country.
See the school's full list of rankings at wpcarey.asu.edu/rankings.
The W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University is the largest and one of the top-ranked business schools in the United States. The school is internationally regarded for its research productivity and its distinguished faculty members, including a Nobel Prize winner. Students come from more than 100 countries and W. P. Carey is represented by alumni in over 160 countries. Visit wpcarey.asu.edu.
Shay Moser, W. P. Carey School of Business
shay.moser@asu.edu
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SOURCE W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/asu-undergraduate-business-program-holds-no-23-spot-celebrates-10-top-20-disciplines-latest-us-news-amp-world-report-rankings/ | 2022-09-12T20:17:17Z |
BELTON — Bell County’s prohibition on outdoor burning will continue for at least one more week as officials decided against rescinding its burn ban Monday.
The Commissioners Court did not take any action on the burn ban at its Monday meeting after the suggestion of Fire Marshal Chris Mahlstedt. Mahlstedt recommended keeping the ban after taking into account current drought conditions.
Mahlstedt said he has kept an eye on various maps that detail local weather and moisture conditions.
“We are supposed to get some forecasted rain this week, but I will believe it when I see it,” Mahlstedt said. “My recommendation is that we continue as it is and I will watch those maps and see if there are any significant changes.”
While some of the eastern parts of the county have seen rain, Mahlstedt said the western side of the county is still a bit dry.
Mahlstedt said that drought conditions were improving, with some of the indicators he looks at slowly improving. This includes the amount of burnable materials in the county susceptible to fires.
“Everything is looking like we are getting more moisture,” Mahlstedt said.
The county’s burn ban is set to expire at noon on April 25 unless Commissioners approve an extension.
On Thursday the U.S. Drought Monitor showed more than two-thirds of Bell County experiencing some form of drought, from moderate to extreme. Only the far east side of the county, where it borders with Milam County, drought free with abnormally dry conditions.
A small section of west Bell County, according to the Drought Monitor, shows extreme drought conditions.
Officials at Fort Hood said they are waiting for a sustained rain locally to fully contain the Crittenberg Complex fire, which has remained at 95% containment for weeks. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_bcffe190-bf55-11ec-9553-33111b4b3538.html | 2022-04-18T23:04:12Z |
Over-the-counter birth control? Drugmaker seeks FDA approval
WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time, a pharmaceutical company has asked for permission to sell a birth control pill over the counter in the U.S.
HRA Pharma’s application on Monday sets up a high-stakes decision for health regulators amid legal and political battles over women’s reproductive health. The company says the timing was unrelated to the Supreme Court’s recent decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
Hormone-based pills have long been the most common form of birth control in the U.S., used by millions of women since the 1960s. They have always required a prescription, generally so health professionals can screen for conditions that raise the risk of rare, but dangerous, blood clots.
The French drugmaker’s application compiles years of research intended to convince the Food and Drug Administration that women can safely screen themselves for those risks and use the pill effectively.
“For a product that has been available for the last 50 years, that has been used safely by millions of women, we thought it was time to make it more available,” said Frederique Welgryn, HRA’s chief strategy officer.
An FDA approval could come next year and would only apply to HRA’s pill, which would be sold under its original brand name, Opill. The company acquired the decades-old drug from Pfizer in 2014, but it’s not currently marketed in the U.S.
Reproductive rights advocates want to see other prescription contraceptives move over the counter and, eventually, for abortion pills to do the same.
That potential for a precedent-setting decision once again places the FDA under an intense political spotlight.
Late last year, the agency was condemned by abortion opponents and praised by women’s rights advocates when it loosened access to abortion pills. The agency faced similar political pressures in 2006 when it approved over-the-counter use of the emergency contraception pill Plan B.
Many conservative groups stress they are only interested in curtailing abortion, and state bans often explicitly exclude contraception.
Even before Monday’s announcement, Democratic lawmakers were calling on the FDA to swiftly consider any such requests.
“We urge FDA to review applications for over-the-counter birth control pills without delay and based solely on the data,” said more than 50 members of the House’s Pro-Choice Caucus in a March letter.
Many common medications have made the switch from behind the pharmacy counter, including drugs for pain relief, heartburn and allergies.
In each case, companies must show that consumers can understand the drug’s labeling, evaluate its risks and use it safely and effectively without professional supervision. HRA spent seven years conducting the FDA-required studies, including a trial that followed 1,000 women taking its pill for six months.
Behind the company’s efforts is a coalition of women’s health researchers and advocates who have worked for nearly two decades to make contraceptives more accessible, especially to groups with less access to health care.
The Oral Contraceptives Over-the-Counter Working Group helped fund some of HRA’s research and is mobilizing support behind a media campaign dubbed Free the Pill.
“A lot of our research has been about making the case to help inspire and support a company to take this work on,” said Kelly Blanchard, president of Ibis Reproductive Health, a group member that supports abortion and contraceptive access.
Birth control pills are available without a prescription across much of South America, Asia and Africa. Last year, Paris-based HRA won U.K. approval for the first birth control pill available there without a prescription.
Advocates were particularly interested in HRA’s drug because they say it’s likely to raise fewer safety concerns.
The pill contains a single synthetic hormone, progestin, which prevents pregnancy by blocking sperm from the cervix.
Most birth control pills contain progestin plus estrogen, which can help make periods lighter and more regular. Progestin-only pills are generally recommended for women who can’t take the more popular combination pills due to health issues.
But estrogen also accounts for most of the blood clot risk associated with oral contraceptives. FDA’s labeling warns against their use in certain women already at risk for heart problems, such as those who smoke and are over 35.
For most women, the drugs are overwhelmingly safe. For every 10,000 women taking combination pills annually, three to nine will suffer a blood clot, according to FDA data. That compares with one to five clots among 10,000 women who aren’t taking birth control.
And medical professionals point out that blood clot rates are much higher in women who become pregnant, when hormone levels and reduced blood flow increase clotting risk.
“What I definitely see is a misunderstanding of the dangers of these pills. It is much safer to take the pill than to be pregnant” said Dr. Maura Quinlan, a Northwestern University physician and member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She was not involved in HRA’s application or research.
The medical association supports making all hormone-based contraceptives available over the counter. Last month, the nation’s largest physician groups, the American Medical Association, endorsed making birth control pills available over the counter.
Still, support is not universal.
Diana Zuckerman of the nonprofit National Center for Health Research says comparing the safety risks of the pills with pregnancy is not the right approach.
Many women take birth control pills to regulate their periods or reduce bleeding, said Zuckerman, whose group evaluates medical research. “Those are real benefits, but they are not worth the risk of potentially fatal blood clots,” she said.
The FDA has long monitored the safety of oral contraceptives, updating their warnings over the years.
Last year, the agency placed a hold on a study by drugmaker Cadence Health, which has also been working on an over-the-counter pill. The agency told the company to conduct additional blood pressure checks of trial participants. The company says it is “working to overcome this regulatory hurdle.”
The FDA is required to hold a public meeting to evaluate HRA’s application before making a decision. Safety considerations are likely to take center stage.
Executives at HRA, which is owned by Perrigo Co., expect a decision in the first half of 2023.
Advocates hope it will be the first of many.
“Once we see the approval of this product, it will demonstrate that it’s possible and that the data is strong,” Blanchard said. “Hopefully we’ll see the process speed up from here.”
___
Follow Matthew Perrone on Twitter: @AP_FDAwriter.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/11/over-the-counter-birth-control-drugmaker-seeks-fda-approval/ | 2022-07-11T11:16:38Z |
Initiatives expanded telehealth to California's most vulnerable residents; extended physical and mental health care to those without shelter; promoted healthy child development; and improved food access and education.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Net, one of California's longest serving and most experienced Medi-Cal partners, has been recognized by the Institute for Medicaid Innovation (IMI) for their various initiatives throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to address social determinants of health and to reduce inequities.
"The pandemic meant we needed to rapidly pivot how we do our work to continue meeting the needs of our members," said Dr. Pooja Mittal, Chief Health Equity Officer at Health Net. "We are proud of the work our teams have done to help members stay connected to care and services, whether through telehealth or community outreach. We will continue these efforts for years to come."
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, many providers halted outpatient care for days, weeks or longer to decrease the risk of transmitting the virus to patients or health care workers. But Californians continued to need food, information and support. Health Net stepped in and listened, adapting existing initiatives and developing new ones to meet the health and social needs of the communities they serve.
IMI hosted a webinar to examine and highlight initiatives that addressed social determinants of health and health inequities exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them, Health Net had four programs that were showcased to attendees, including their COVID-19 Telehealth Capacity Support, MLKCH Street Medicine Program, Family Hui Initiative and Los Angeles Food Bank Pilot.
COVID-19 Telehealth Capacity Support
As medical appointments quickly shifted to virtual visits during the pandemic, Health Net launched its COVID-19 Telehealth Capacity Support program to establish and expand telehealth services for Medi-Cal enrollees. In 2020, Health Net awarded 138 Telehealth Capacity grants, totaling $13.4 million, to Medi-Cal providers across California. Grantees identified the following benefits of providing telehealth services:
- 31% said funding allowed them to conduct routine checkups and wellness visits.
- 42% indicated that telehealth was an important tool for patient screenings.
- 17% provided health education, including nutrition, physical activity counseling, and smoking-cessation programs.
- 16% reported success in providing mental health services.
MLKCH Street Medicine Program
The effects of the pandemic have been particularly difficult for individuals who are experiencing homelessness. That's why Health Net funded the MLKCH Street Medicine program, a collaboration between Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital (MLKCH) and University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. The program engages experts in street medicine to help reduce disparities in health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness in South Los Angeles by achieving the following outcomes:
- Increased connection to primary and specialty medical care;
- Increased access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment;
- Improved sanitation and nutrition;
- Decreased avoidable hospital and emergency department visits;
- Reduced disparities in hypertension and diabetes control.
Family Hui Initiative
Recognizing the challenges of parenting throughout the pandemic, Health Net funded the community-based organization, Lead4Tomorrow, to provide Family Hui parental, peer-led support groups in Imperial, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Bernardino and San Joaquin counties. Named for the Hawaiian term "Hui" (hoo'ee), a cooperative group working together for a shared purpose, Family Hui aims to promote healthy child development. The program supports and empowers parents and caregivers in the joys of raising their children and addresses the challenges in healthy ways through providing:
- A trauma-informed parenting curriculum;
- Leadership training for peer facilitators;
- Resilience-building activities;
- Connections for parents to services to build a strong support community.
Los Angeles Food Bank Pilot
With inflation making food more costly, food banks and community organizations need help feeding families who struggle to put food on the table. Health Net awarded the Los Angeles (LA) Regional Food Bank a grant to assist members in managing their health through increased food access and nutrition awareness. The LA Food Bank Pilot program provided home-delivered groceries and went beyond food distribution to sponsor an interactive, educational webinar series on nutrition and its role in managing chronic illness. The pilot worked to accomplish the following objectives:
- Encourage a relationship between the health plan and its members;
- Promote healthy lifestyle changes;
- Provide education on healthy food options and practices;
- Provide healthy foods to individuals experiencing financial or transportation barriers.
With more than 40 years of experience providing care for the state's most vulnerable residents, Health Net continues to lead the charge to improve health equity with multi-faceted, collaborative and culturally relevant programs and interventions at the statewide and local level. To learn more about Health Net's industry-leading efforts to drive health equity, visit BridgingtheDivideCA.com and follow Health Net on Facebook and Twitter.
About Health Net:
Founded in California more than 40 years ago, Health Net believes every person deserves a safety net for their health, regardless of age, income, employment status or current state of health. That's why we provide health coverage for every stage of life and advance health equity with innovative approaches to care. Today, Health Net's 2,600 employees and 90,000 network providers serve three million members throughout California. We offer an array of health plans, including Medi-Cal, Medicare and individual and family plans. We offer these health plans and other services through Health Net, LLC and its subsidiaries: Health Net of California, Inc., Health Net Life Insurance Company and Health Net Community Solutions, Inc. These entities are wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a Fortune 25 company. For more information, visit www.HealthNet.com.
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SOURCE Health Net | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/health-net-initiatives-recognized-by-institute-medicaid-innovation-addressing-social-determinants-health-improve-health-equity/ | 2022-06-30T18:48:34Z |
School police chief a no-show at Uvalde City Council meeting
UVALDE, Texas (AP) — The school district police chief criticized for waiting too long before ordering law enforcement to confront and kill the gunman during a mass shooting at a Texas elementary school did not appear at a City Council meeting in Uvalde on Tuesday, despite being newly elected to the panel.
Mayor Don McLaughlin said he was unable to explain why district police Chief Pete Arredondo wasn’t at the brief meeting. Two weeks ago, 19 students and two teachers were killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Law enforcement and state officials have struggled to present an accurate timeline and details, and have stopped releasing information about the police response.
McLaughlin told reporters at the meeting that he was frustrated with the lack of information.
“We want facts and answers, just like everybody else,” the mayor said.
Steven McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, has said Arredondo, who was in charge of the multi-agency response on May 24, made the “wrong decision” to not order officers to breach the classroom more quickly to confront the gunman.
As the mayor spoke in Uvalde on Tuesday, lawmakers in Washington heard testimony from the son of a woman who was killed in a recent mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, as lawmakers work toward a bipartisan agreement on gun safety measures. And at a White House press briefing, actor Matthew McConaughey, a Uvalde native, spoke with passion about his conversations with the families of the children who were killed and the need for more stringent gun control.
The gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, spent roughly 80 minutes inside Robb Elementary, and more than an hour passed from when the first officers followed him into the building and when he was killed, according to an official timeline. In the meantime, parents outside begged police to rush in and panicked children called 911 from inside.
Arredondo has not responded to repeated interview requests and questions from The Associated Press.
After the City Council meeting, Alfred Garza III, whose 10-year-old daughter, Amerie Jo, was among the Uvalde students killed, told reporters that he attended the meeting to see what else he could learn about what happened that day.
“I have so many questions and not every one can be answered. They’re still collecting data, they’re still collecting information on what happened,” Garza said.
He said he had been curious as to whether Arredondo would attend the meeting, and said he had “mixed feelings” about the district police chief’s absence.
“He obviously didn’t show up for a reason,” Garza said, adding that he assumed Arredondo thought if he did appear he would get a lot of questions.
Garza said he doesn’t have “a lot of ill will” toward Arredondo, nor does he blame just one person for what happened, but he does think more could have been done that day.
“They did take a long time to get in there,” Garza said.
Since the shooting, there have been tensions between state and local authorities over how police handled the shooting and communicated what happened to the public.
The Texas Department of Public Safety has begun referring questions about the investigation to the Uvalde-area district attorney, Christina Mitchell Busbee. She hasn’t responded to repeated interview requests and questions from AP.
McLaughlin said he has asked officials for a briefing but “we’re not getting it.”
He said the city’s police chief was on vacation at the time of the shooting and that the acting city police commander was on the scene.
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More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting
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Stengle reported from Dallas.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/07/school-police-chief-no-show-uvalde-city-council-meeting/ | 2022-06-07T23:52:23Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Inc. revealed that Electronic Caregiver, a digital health technology and services company, is No. 968 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America.
The Inc. 5000 recognition puts Electronic Caregiver, based in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in the top .07 percent of all privately-owned companies in America in terms of multi-year growth and the top 20 percent of the Inc. 5000 list. Companies that made the list are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. Over the past three years, Electronic Caregiver experienced a nearly 300 percent increase in revenue growth due to expanding services and high demand for its digital health solutions.
"Recognition as an Inc. 5000 member is a monumental marker of validation," said Electronic Caregiver CEO and founder Anthony Dohrmann. "It confirms Electronic Caregiver has been able to sustain remarkable rates of growth consistently over several years. It's a testament to the confidence we've developed with our customers and our ability to attract capital to grow along with a highly skilled, loyal, and diverse workforce."
Inc. also revealed that Electronic Caregiver ranked No. 1 in Las Cruces and the state of New Mexico, as well as No. 55 in Health Services.
"To rank No. 55 in Health Services is amazing," said Electronic Caregiver President Joe Baffoe. "With our current customer contracts, we believe our growth over the next three years will only accelerate. Being No. 1 in New Mexico is near and dear to our hearts because our goal is to become the first Fortune 500 homegrown company based in New Mexico; this is a great start."
By making the 2022 Inc. 5000 list, Electronic Caregiver now stands among several well-known companies that gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000, such as Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and others.
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.
"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," said 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."
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Electronic Caregiver, continued to thrive and expand its services. It not only provided innovative telehealth solutions to the public but provided remote patient monitoring technology to hospitals in New Mexico and Tennessee, freeing up hospital beds and allowing Covid-19 patients to get the care needed from home. Electronic Caregiver has also never wavered in its dream to revolutionize the health care industry. It is currently developing a Virtual Caregiver, named Addison, designed to engage with and help monitor the health of aging and chronically ill clients, as well as child patients via an audio/visual console in patients' homes.
Additionally, the company has steadily increased its workforce over the years. What began as a handful of employees in 2009 has grown to nearly 300 today. Recently, Electronic Caregiver received state funding to add 770 jobs over the next five 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.
About Electronic Caregiver
Founded in 2009, Electronic Caregiver is a privately held digital health technology and services company headquartered in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Electronic Caregiver's mission is to design and deliver innovative, impactful telehealth products and services that bridge the chasm between the doctor's office and patient's home to improve outcomes, expand access, and optimize resource allocation. Electronic Caregiver has been qualified as a technology solution provider in the AWS Partner Network (APN). The company's solutions are available through health care organizations, physician practices, care management firms, homecare agencies, and senior housing providers to deliver hospital-at-home, chronic care management, and remote patient monitoring programs.
www.electroniccaregiver.com
More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000
Methodology
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 www.inc.com/inc5000.
About Inc.
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.
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SOURCE Electronic Caregiver | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/electronic-caregiver-ranks-no-968-among-fastest-growing-private-companies-2022-inc-5000-annual-list/ | 2022-08-16T11:37:52Z |
AUSTIN, Texas, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. (NYSE: INN) (the "Company") today announced that it will report financial results for the second quarter of 2022 on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, after the market closes.
The Company will conduct its quarterly conference call on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at 9:00 AM ET.
1. To access the conference call, please pre-register using this link. Registrants will receive a confirmation with dial-in details.
2. A live webcast of the conference call can be accessed using this link. A replay of the webcast will be available in the Investors section of the Company's website, www.shpreit.com, until October 31, 2022.
Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. is a publicly traded real estate investment trust focused on owning premium-branded hotels with efficient operating models primarily in the upscale segment of the lodging industry. As of July 7, 2022, the Company's portfolio consisted of 102 hotels, 61 of which are wholly owned, with a total of 15,323 guestrooms located in 24 states.
For additional information, please visit the Company's website, www.shpreit.com, and follow on Twitter at @SummitHotel_INN.
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SOURCE Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/summit-hotel-properties-announces-second-quarter-2022-earnings-release-date/ | 2022-07-07T21:35:10Z |
WAXAHACHIE, Texas, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors and management team of Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc. (NASDAQ: MEOA), the first minority-led special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market ("NASDAQ"), announced today that it had signed a definitive business combination agreement to merge with Digerati Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: DTGI) ("Digerati"), a Hispanic-led and founded provider of cloud services specializing in UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) solutions for the small to medium-sized business market.
Digerati and MEOA will merge to create a combined company listed on NASDAQ. The all-stock transaction forms a company with an initial equity value of approximately $228 million translating into an enterprise value of approximately $145 million, assuming no redemptions from MEOA's shareholders.
The current Digerati management team, led by Arthur L. Smith, will continue to run the Company. Corporate directors for the new entity are current Digerati directors and two new directors, including Shawn D. Rochester, President and CEO of MEOA.
"MEOA's merger announcement with Digerati personifies our mission, vision and purpose," Mr. Rochester said. "Digerati is a minority founded and led business with (1) a very diverse management team (with its CEO, CFO, and EVP of Sales being of Hispanic ethnicity) that has developed great products and solutions, and staked out a strong competitive position in the marketplace, (2) an employee base that is almost 50% minority and (3) a UCaaS platform that has the ability to help empower over 20 million minority and women owned small businesses through its first-class suite of communications products. In addition to our proposed business combination with Digerati, MEOA's deep commitment to equity, inclusion, diverse representation and maximizing shareholder value is further exemplified by our use of a diverse spectrum of extraordinary third-party service providers (and teams within service providers) that are owned and or led by African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Women."
"Our merger with MEOA positions Digerati for continued growth in a rapidly expanding and highly fragmented market," said Arthur L. Smith, CEO of Digerati. "We believe a business combination with MEOA will facilitate the acceleration of our M&A strategy in a market with a healthy pipeline of acquisition targets and contribute to the combined company's organic growth as we continue providing small to medium-sized businesses with solutions and superior customer service."
PGP Capital Advisors, LLC and Vaughan Capital Advisors, LLC acted as financial advisors to MEOA and Pryor Cashman LLP acted as legal counsel for MEOA. Maxim Group LLC acted as financial advisor and Lucosky Brookman acted as legal counsel to Digerati in connection with the transaction.
Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc. is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, organized under the laws of Delaware and formed to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with companies that are minority owned, led or founded.
Digerati Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: DTGI) is a provider of cloud services specializing in UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) solutions for the business market. Through its operating subsidiaries NextLevel Internet (NextLevelinternet.com), T3 Communications (T3com.com), Nexogy (Nexogy.com), and SkyNet Telecom (Skynettelecom.net), Digerati is meeting the global needs of small businesses seeking simple, flexible, reliable, and cost-effective communication and network solutions including, cloud PBX, cloud telephony, cloud WAN, cloud call center, cloud mobile, and the delivery of digital oxygen on its broadband network. Digerati has developed a robust integration platform to fuel mergers and acquisitions in a highly fragmented market. as it delivers business solutions on its carrier-grade network and Only in the Cloud™. For more information, please visit www.digerati-inc.com and follow DTGI on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
This communication 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.
This press release is being made in respect of the proposed business combination transaction involving MEOA and Digerati. The parties intend to file a registration statement on Form S-4 (or such other form as they might determine to be applicable) with the SEC, which will include a proxy statement for MEOA and Digerati shareholders and which will also serve as a prospectus related to offers and sales of the securities of the combined entity ("Pubco"). MEOA will also file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. A definitive proxy statement/prospectus will also be sent to the stockholders of MEOA and Digerati, seeking required stockholder approval. Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and security holders of MEOA and Digerati are urged to carefully read the entire registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus, when they become available, and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to these documents, because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction. The documents filed with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
In addition, the documents filed with the SEC may be obtained free of charge from MEOA's website at https://www.meoaus.com and from Digerati's website at https://digerati-inc.com.
MEOA, Digerati and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders, in favor of the approval of the merger. Information regarding MEOA's and Digerati's directors and executive officers and other persons who may be deemed participants in the solicitation may be obtained by reading the registration statement and the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available. Free copies of these documents may be obtained as described above.
This press release includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters.
These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the terms and conditions of the proposed business combination and related transactions disclosed herein, the timing of the consummation of such transactions, assumptions regarding shareholder redemptions and the anticipated benefits and financial position of the parties resulting therefrom. These statements are based on various assumptions and/or on the current expectations of MEOA or Digerati's management. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by any investor or other person as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of MEOA and/or Digerati. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; the amount of redemption requests made by MEOA's public shareholders; NASDAQ's approval of MEOA's initial listing application; changes in the assumptions underlying Digerati's expectations regarding its future business; the effects of competition on Digerati's future business; and the outcome of judicial proceedings to which Digerati is, or may become a party.
If the risks materialize or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Digerati and MEOA presently do not know or currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect expectations, assumptions, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Digerati and MEOA anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause these assessments to change. However, while Digerati and/or MEOA may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, each of Digerati and MEOA specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Digerati's or MEOA (or their respective affiliates') assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.
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SOURCE Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/minority-equality-opportunities-acquisition-inc-announces-merger-with-hispanic-led-founded-cloud-services-company-digerati-technologies/ | 2022-09-06T11:33:11Z |
movr Prescribe helps organizations provide personalized exercise recommendations at scale
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - movr (www.movewithmovr.com), a leading movement health company, announced today the launch of movr Prescribe, its exercise prescription technology. Following the release of movr Assess last month, movr is furthering its movement health offering to better serve fitness tech, health, tactical and high-performance organizations looking to connect movement assessments to personalized exercise recommendations and insights. movr Prescribe automates the process of recommending movements that measurably improve function, specific to the needs of an individual.
"Scaling personalized movement health solutions is a complex task and Prescribe as a product is many years in the making for us. The technology behind it combines the best assessment-based methodology and the experience of thousands of in-person client sessions with a scalable and individualized prescription element delivered digitally," said Aaron De Jong, movr Founder and CEO. "Coming to market with a proven, evidence-based solution at a time when individuals, companies, and technologies are realizing that step and rep counting doesn't solve for specific MSK dysfunction is important for us and our partners."
While movr Assess enables organizations to create unique movement health profiles for their people, movr Prescribe uses the assessment data to curate personalized movement protocols that improve feel and function for every individual. Working together, the two products enable the real-time and on-demand delivery of individualized corrective exercises and programming that until now has required in-person, one-on-one coaching.
"Missed workdays, pain, physical discomfort, unmet performance goals, MSK injuries and physical therapy spend are all pain points experienced by our partners and the markets we are in. We can now solve for the root causes associated with movement dysfunction, giving individuals and companies an easy-to-implement, actionable and effective way forward," continued De Jong. "One size fits all doesn't work with movement health. Personalized recommendations are needed, and with Prescribe, we can deploy these in any platform or alongside any technology with our platform-agnostic software. We are excited about the opportunity to grow through channel partners and direct integrations and are already in-market with Prescribe alongside several commercial partners in digital fitness, health and tactical."
Access to movr's library of corrective exercises is made available via its API and cross-platform mobile SDK to deliver dynamic and personalized exercise prescriptions. movr Prescribe also seamlessly integrates with any existing exercise library. To learn more about movr Prescribe or to book a free demo of the platform, please reach out: hello@movewithmovr.com.
movr measurably improves how people move, feel, and perform by providing personalized movement health assessments, recommendations and data insights. To learn more, please visit: www.movewithmovr.com.
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SOURCE movr Fitness Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/movr-announces-release-movr-prescribe-its-exercise-recommendation-engine-optimize-movement-health/ | 2022-08-09T16:46:30Z |
Appeals court: Florida law on social media unconstitutional
By CURT ANDERSON
Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A Florida law intended to punish social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter for allegedly discriminating against conservative thought is an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously concluded that it was overreach for Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the GOP-led Florida Legislature to tell the social media companies how to conduct their work. The ruling upholds a similar decision by a Florida federal judge on the 2021 law. It was part of an overall conservative effort to portray social media companies as hostile to conservative ideas. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/05/23/appeals-court-florida-law-on-social-media-unconstitutional/ | 2022-05-23T18:25:06Z |
BRISTOL, Pa., June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Robern has introduced the Murray Hill Medicine Cabinet Collection, two new sculptural designs to join the Robern portfolio of statement-making products created to transform bathrooms into luxury spaces of distinction. The artful forms are available in two elegant styles – the 20" W x 50 H" Pill Medicine Cabinet or 20" W x 40" H Arch Medicine Cabinet – iconic, architectural shapes evoking an air of understated sophistication that are alluring and timeless.
The Arch and Pill Murray Hill Medicine Cabinets are recessed designs engineered with a 4" depth, the hand-constructed mirrors surrounded by a 1" deep stainless steel frame presenting an almost seamless appearance against the supporting wall while providing an expansive interior for discreet storage. The frames are separated in three sections, the top and bottom partitions remaining static, while the center section opens to the interior cabinet, the thoughtful design accommodating even sweeping gooseneck faucets without interrupting the opening and closing of the door.
The cabinets are equipped with Blum slow-close hinges and are opened by an interactive, finger-push mechanism that smartly releases the door with ease or can be fitted with a stainless-steel handle as an optional upgrade. Murray Hill is available in Robern Polished Stainless Steel or Matte Black finished frames.
When opened, the medicine cabinets feature cantilever shelving that can be easily moved in small increments by a Robern-designed grid of almost imperceptible adjustment holes to accommodate incidentals of virtually any height.
In true Robern fashion, the Murray Hill Medicine Cabinets can be outfitted in an array of optional products to elevate the styles' bespoke nature and overall functionality. To keep essentials charged and coordinated, and medicines and valuables out of reach, Murray Hill offers an Electric Upgrade package that features a range of products in one comprehensive bundle and can also be equipped with the award-winning Robern IQ Digital Lock Box and glass organization bins to further customize the designs:
Electric Upgrade Package:
- USB Charging Ports/Electric Outlet: A strategically located unit in color-coordinated gray houses two built-in, customer configurable, USB charging ports and a tamper-resistant electric outlet to accommodate all electrical and recharging needs.
- Magnetic Strip: A discreet, left- or right-side configurable, magnetic strip designed to securely hold tweezers and other metal grooming necessities.
- Interior Lighting: A soft backlighting to illuminate the interior when the cabinet is opened and automatically shuts off when closed.
- Phone Holder: Designed with a conveniently placed shelf that sits above an electric outlet and port area to house your phone or keep it near for easy access at a moment's notice.
- Adjustable Magnification Mirror: An integrated-in-the-door 6-7/8" round, pivoting Adjustable Magnification Mirror has five times the magnification of a regular mirror, can be vertically moved up or down to accommodate varying heights, and lays flat when not in use.
- Quick Caddy: Offering a place to tuck smaller items, the caddy fits neatly between the door and the interior cabinet with two of the five compartments secured to the cabinet interior while the other three compartments swing out for easy access or can be removed for easy cleaning.
IQ Digital Lock Box: Whether to keep medicines secured, to find a discreet place for passports, or the perfect spot to tuck away creams and other personal items, the battery operated Robern IQ Digital Lock Box provides smart, safe, and protected storage within the medicine cabinets along with peace of mind within the home. The owner can access the lock box by the digital touch keypad, by using the IQ smart phone application – compatible with iOS or Android – or by using the back-up keys.
Glass Bins: These versatile, reusable frosted glass bins are available in small, medium, and large sizes, are non-toxic, 100 percent recyclable, and perfectly scaled to fit the interior cabinet shelves for a clean and uncluttered environment.
At Robern, the bathroom is our favorite room. It is our private space. It is our sanctuary. For more than 50 years, Robern has specialized in creating luxurious spaces with a powerful product portfolio that moves beyond the expected industry standard to transform rooms into interiors of impeccable elegance. By taking a more holistic approach to the bathroom and its importance, not only aesthetically, but to overall health and wellbeing, Robern has become a driving force within residential and commercial design with an artful blend of sophisticated form, innovative technology, impeccable craftsmanship, and quality materials.
Founded in 1968 in Bristol, Penn. by Rosa and Bernie Meyers, Robern's mission remains grounded in the Meyers' belief that individual style should be celebrated and fostered. Today, their pioneering approach, commitment to craftsmanship, quality, attention to detail, and utilization of the finest materials available, remains foundational to the Robern brand and is evident in every piece still hand-assembled on-site at its Bristol headquarters today.
In 1995, Robern joined the Kohler Co. family of businesses, building upon the breadth and depth of the brand's comprehensive and thoughtful approach to creating exceptional styling spaces. From its humble beginnings to a technological force within home design, Robern has become a leading choice for designers, architects, and consumers seeking out the finest in vanities, medicine cabinets, mirrors, and lighting. For additional information on Robern products, customers may call 1 (800) 877-2376 or visit www.robern.com.
Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, Kohler Co. is one of America's oldest and largest privately held companies comprised of more than 40,000 associates. With more than 50 manufacturing locations worldwide, Kohler is a global leader in the design, innovation and manufacture of kitchen and bath products; luxury cabinetry, tile and lighting; engines, generators, and clean energy solutions; and owner/operator of two, five-star hospitality and golf resort destinations in Kohler, Wisconsin, and St. Andrews, Scotland. Kohler's Whistling Straits golf course recently hosted the 43rd Ryder Cup. The company also develops solutions to address pressing issues, such as clean water and sanitation, for underserved communities around the world to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations. For more details, please visit kohlercompany.com.
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SOURCE ROBERN | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/robern-unveils-murray-hill-medicine-cabinet-collection/ | 2022-06-23T14:44:30Z |
In Profit from the Source, BCG Authors Issue a Wake-Up Call to CEOs Who Marginalize Their Suppliers and Procurement Function, Warning, "You're Taking an Existential Risk with the Future of Your Company"
BOSTON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Suppliers are the keys to corporate success not only now—in the midst of a global supply chain crisis, rampant inflation, and energy shortages—but also in the future. However, if CEOs are to maximize the value of these external providers of goods and services, they need to undertake a radical transformation of their business by putting suppliers at the heart of their company and empowering their procurement function, which owns the corporate relationship with vendors.
That is the view of four Boston Consulting Group (BCG) partners, whose convention-busting new book, Profit from the Source: Transforming Your Business by Putting Suppliers at the Core, offers CEOs a blueprint for how they can transform their company by extracting extraordinary value from their suppliers.
In their book, published by Harvard Business Review Press, Christian Schuh, Wolfgang Schnellbächer, Alenka Triplat, and Daniel Weise seek to overturn the traditional view of business leaders that suppliers are peripheral contributors to corporate success and that procurement is largely an administrative capability that focuses narrowly on delivering cost savings.
To make their case for radical change, the BCG authors point to research from Harvard Business School, which shows that prior to the current global supply chain crisis, CEOs spent an average of just 1% of their time with suppliers. According to the authors, this lack of attention makes no sense: "Given that spending on suppliers—the job of procurement—accounts for more than half of a typical company's total budget, it means that CEOs spend next to no time either thinking about or being actively involved in how their companies spend more than half of their budgets. That's a mismatch with potentially existential consequences for companies."
Also, the authors say that the limited time CEOs spend with suppliers means that their companies risk missing out on the enormous potential opportunities that these vendors offer for achieving profitable growth. They note that suppliers are not only a source of cost savings but also a source of resilience through their provision of mission-critical components, parts, and raw materials, as well as vital services such as manufacturing. Moreover, suppliers are a scalable source of competitive advantage, helping companies deliver world-beating products that are of high quality, innovative, sustainable, and fast to market.
In Profit from the Source, the authors feature BCG analysis showing that only 35% of the top 150 companies in the S&P 500 put the chief procurement officer (or equivalent) on the leadership team. Yet, those companies outperformed the market by 134% from 2000 through 2020—a turbulent 20-year period that saw the tech boom and bust, the global financial crisis, the US-China trade war, and the start of the global pandemic.
As the authors say, "This clearly demonstrates that CEOs really can steer their companies through challenging times and extract enormous value from their suppliers if they give their CPO a seat at the table and empower their procurement function."
They note that it is no coincidence that Apple, the first public company to reach a market capitalization that exceeds $3 trillion, is run by a CEO who was previously senior vice president of worldwide operations with responsibility for procurement: Tim Cook.
In Profit from the Source, the authors present a blueprint for radical change that comprises proven practical ways that business leaders can get all the potential benefits from their suppliers. In doing so, the authors draw on proprietary BCG research, as well as their firsthand experience and that of their colleagues of working with some of the world's leading companies.
The blueprint features three building blocks:
- How the CEO needs to change. Recommendations include:
- How the company needs to change. Recommendations include:
- How the company's ecosystem—or network of suppliers—needs to change. Recommendations include:
The authors contend that if CEOs follow this blueprint, they will be able to create companies that are stronger, more competitive, and more sustainable—and ready for the next generation.
Media Contact:
Megan Wilson
Assoc. Director of Publicity
Cave Henricks Communications
512-519-9875
megan@cavehenricks.com
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SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG) | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/companies-that-prioritize-suppliers-procurement-can-weather-todays-crises-win-tomorrows-postpandemic-opportunities-says-new-book-bcg/ | 2022-06-27T05:16:58Z |
The Beltonian Theatre, an entertainment hub that celebrated its 100th birthday on Tuesday, is the first business to receive a city of Belton historical marker.
“We’re honored to be a part of the downtown Belton community. We’ve been here, strong and proud, for 100 years now,” Zechariah Baker, who owns The Beltonian, told the Telegram. “I think mixing up and having many different kinds of content has allowed The Beltonian Theatre to appeal to many different people across multiple generations. It has allowed us to stay relevant and viable as a member of downtown Belton and the Central Texas community.”
Since the site, which was closed for a four-year period, reopened in 2017 under Baker’s ownership, it has screened countless classic movies, held numerous live events and offered rentals for private events.
Tina Moore, a planner for the city of Belton, emphasized how the city of Belton wanted to pay homage to that storied history.
“I reached out to Zachariah and once we received an application, it probably took us a month and a half to get it and the text for the placard approved,” she said. “We’re always looking to recognize local places, events and cultural features as part of its historic district identity … and we’re happy to have a local business that wanted to go through with the process.”
The city of Belton historical marker program, Moore said, was launched a few years ago.
“The city started this program a long time ago with some assistance from The Hamburger King Society … which is named after a restaurant that was located off of Central Avenue back in the 1900s,” she said. “They actually raised over $2,000 to get this started … so we’re hoping to use that money to help out with the program.”
Moore is hopeful that other businesses will follow The Beltonian’s lead.
“We’re hoping that other businesses — whether or not they are celebrating a 100-year anniversary — will be motivated to go through the process for that recognition,” she said.
Although an online application packet will eventually become available, applicants are currently encouraged to contact Moore by phone at 254-933-5891 or by email at TMoore@BeltonTexas.org.
“If they contact me, I can get them a copy of the application and let them know what the criteria are,” she said. “I’d like to talk to them and find out a little bit more about the business to see if it’s applicable for what we’re trying to accomplish.” | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/business/article_e41f0630-d0bb-11ec-961c-43a0a58eb71d.html | 2022-05-11T01:39:45Z |
NEW YORK (AP) — For years, Miguel and Carlos Cevallos made a living by drawing posters for neighborhood nightclubs, taco trucks and restaurants in Queens, painting in the businesses’ basements or on their tables and attracting clients by word of mouth.
Until an Instagram account changed a lot of that.
Now, hip Brooklyn ice cream shops and Manhattan retro diners wait their turn to get one of the brothers’ colorful signs. They’re in demand in San Francisco music stores, national restaurant chains, bars in Belgium and bakeries in South Korea.
It doesn’t matter that the brothers are more than 80 years old or that the two, born in Ecuador and raised in Colombia, speak limited English. They have embraced their new customers and draw all day in the Manhattan apartment they have shared for nearly 20 years.
“Destiny is like this. Sometimes one finds success later in life,” Carlos Cevallos said recently, while sipping a tea in an empty Manhattan diner. Dressed in suits and ties, as they are every day, the brothers shared a muffin.
Recent commissions have come from a bagel shop in Manhattan’s Little Italy neighborhood, a newsstand in Manhattan’s West Village, an Oregon-based restaurant chain and a Los Angeles pop-up veggie burger shop. NYCgo, the city’s official guide for tourists and New Yorkers, recently asked the brothers to draw Queens’ iconic Unisphere, the giant metal globe built for the 1964 World’s Fair.
“They have a special touch, so nice and colorful,” said Marina Cortes, manager of the West Village diner La Bonbonniere. The brothers’ “Breakfast All Day!” sign is displayed on the restaurant’s terrace.
“A Life Without Anything Good, Is Bad” reads a poster the brothers drew for Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. “Daily Special. Pick Any Two Sandwiches and Pay For Both!” reads another they did for Regina’s Grocery on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
Done with acrylic paints, the Cevallos brothers’ playful, childlike posters have big letters and a nostalgic look. Miguel does the drawings and Carlos the coloring, together crafting about six posters per week.
The brothers field five to 20 requests weekly for their work.
The family moved from Ecuador to Colombia to follow an uncle who was a Catholic priest and worked in Bogota. Used to drawing since they were kids, Carlos, Miguel and their oldest brother, Victor, opened an art studio and poster shop in Bogota’s Chapinero neighborhood.
Victor moved to New York in 1969, and Carlos joined him in 1974. For years, they worked at a studio in Times Square until rent increases prompted a shift to Queens.
In the 1980s, they drew posters that announced performances at a Queens club called La Esmeralda.
“They would pay so little per poster. It was sad,” Carlos said. The posters featured such artists as Mexican singer Armando Manzanero and Chilean Lucho Gatica.
Miguel, meanwhile, took care of their mother until she died at age 101. He moved to New York in 2005 to join his siblings. Victor, a mentor to his younger brothers, died in 2012.
Eventually, Aviram Cohen, who builds and installs audiovisual art at museums, saw the brothers’ posters in Queens and tracked them down to request one for his wife’s new yoga studio. In 2018, he opened their Instagram account, @cevallos_bros, which became a lifeline for the brothers after the coronavirus pandemic hit.
“I did it out of admiration for their work, and after meeting them, I understood that it would all disappear. Most of the businesses would throw away the posters,” said Cohen, 42. “I felt strongly that different kinds of people and subcultures could enjoy their art.”
He was right. The account now has more than 25,000 followers and has become an archive of their work, as well as a source of orders.
“I just love their story,” said Happy David, who manages the Instagram accounts of La Bonbonniere and Casa Magazines, a Manhattan newsstand for which she has also commissioned the brothers’ work. It reminds her of signs seen in her native Philippines.
In a digital world, “a lot of people are going back to craft,” David said. “We want to connect, and we want to feel that there are hands that made these.”
When asked whether they plan to retire soon, the Cevallos brothers answer with a quick “no.”
Where do they get their energy from?
“We eat healthy,” they respond with a smile. | https://cw33.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-octogenarian-brothers-make-popular-hand-drawn-posters/ | 2022-09-03T18:16:26Z |
Which marble end table is best?
Marble is an attractive natural stone that comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, from classic black and white to rustic brown and gray. It’s durable with a timeless beauty that makes it a favorite when it comes to decorating.
That said, marble can get expensive. If you want to add a little marble luxury to your home decor without spending a fortune, consider investing in an accent piece, such as a marble end table that uses less marble but can still make an impact.
Start your search with the Picket House Furnishings Caleb Espresso Marble-Top End Table, which gives you real marble and solid construction at a good price.
What to know before you buy a marble end table
Types of marble
Marble mostly comes from Italy, Spain, India and China. Four primary types of marble are used in designing countertops and tables.
- Carrara: This is the marble type most commonly recognized by name. It is from Italy and has a white or blue-gray background with fine gray veining.
- Statuary: It has a glossy surface and is best recognized for having bold, distinct veining. It is from Italy and usually comes in light gray tones.
- Calacatta: Similar to Carrara in color, the veining here is darker and thicker. It’s a rare type of Italian marble and therefore more expensive.
- Emperador: This comes in darker, warmer tones with light veining. It comes from Spain and is known for varied shades of brown and gray.
Marble alternatives
Faux marble alternatives are increasingly popular mostly because of how realistic contemporary alternatives look. Faux marble is most frequently made of resin or painted laminate. Resin is scratch-resistant, while laminate is cheaper and lightweight compared to real marble. Other artificial marbles combine natural and human-made materials, such as quartz and cement, adding weight and realism.
Care instructions
Marble is prone to staining and etching, so if something spills, clean it up right away. Don’t use acidic cleaners on a marble or faux marble tabletop — no vinegar, bleach or harsh chemicals. To clean marble, dust lightly with a soft cloth or wipe down with warm water. If you want to use soap, stick with mild dish soap. For faux marble, polish periodically to maintain shine.
What to look for in a quality marble end table
Veining
No two pieces of real marble have the same lines veined throughout. This distinct, intricate veining catches the eye and contrasts well with the stone’s primary tone. If you are looking at faux marble, the veining should still look distinct and natural without feeling repetitive. The lines shouldn’t be too straight or too thick. The more imperfect they are, the more real they look.
Drawers vs. shelves
It’s a major asset when an end table features storage space. Drawers are convenient for smaller items and don’t need to be well-organized, but they are less common. Most end tables are lean and compact, making shelving the preferred storage choice. Shelves offer more space for larger items but are also visible at all times, which means you have to dust and perhaps organize them regularly.
Sturdiness
Marble is a heavy stone, and since most marble end tables feature a sleek wood or metal frame, a sturdy base is important. Whether you’re looking at a four-legged base or a round pedestal base, you want a piece of furniture that balances well and distributes weight evenly. If a table is too top-heavy with a lightweight base, it’s more likely to tip over.
How much you can expect to spend on a marble end table
A single authentic or faux marble table costs $50-$600. A set of two or more authentic or faux marble tables cost $70-$700.
Marble end table FAQ
How tall is an end table?
A. They usually stand about 25-30 inches. It’s the same height as a nightstand but with a narrower frame.
What is tempered glass?
A. Tempered glass is popular in furniture, windows and shower doors. It is chemically treated to be tougher than normal glass. It is strong, and if it does break, it’s made to shatter into small pieces instead of dangerous shards.
What’s the best marble end table to buy?
Top marble end table
Picket House Furnishings Caleb Espresso Marble-Top End Table
What you need to know: It’s made from a square slab of brown-cream marble with four dark brown solid wood legs. It measures 24 by 22 by 24 inches in size.
What you’ll love: It’s well-made, strong and attractive. It features a low wooden shelf for storage. It’s easy to assemble.
What you should consider: The wood is beautiful, but it only comes in espresso brown.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
Top marble end table for the money
Convenience Concepts SoHo End Table
What you need to know: It’s made from a square piece of faux marble with a tempered glass base. It measures 15.75 by 16.5 by 23.75 inches in size.
What you’ll love: The top comes in white or gray. It features a V-shaped lower shelf in matching faux marble. The glass is sturdy.
What you should consider: The listing says assembly isn’t required, but in actuality, some assembly is required.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Roland Cream Marble Top End Table
What you need to know: It’s made from a round slab of cream-colored marble with a wraparound bronze iron frame. It measures 24 by 24 by 24 inches.
What you’ll love: The iron features a beautiful repeating curvy pattern, and it has four short iron posts for legs. It’s sturdy, well-made and easy to assemble.
What you should consider: Since it’s round and of average height, it ends up being a little wider than comparable end tables.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/home-br/tables-br/best-marble-end-table/ | 2022-06-30T17:41:05Z |
Topeka native Eddie Wakes returns to capital city for concert
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - It’s been a long and winding road for Topeka native Eddie Wakes, whose vocal music career has taken him around the world.
Now, Wakes is ready to come home for a concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at the historic Jayhawk Theatre at 720 S.W. Jackson in downtown Topeka.
“As far as I’ve gone, around the world, it’s been very organic,” Wakes said Wednesday afternoon while taking a break at the Jayhawk Tower, 700 S.W. Jackson. “I tell people all the time, I feel like Forrest Gump in many ways, because of all the incidental, seemingly ‘happenstantual’ encounters with destiny, and certainly historical moments.
“Yet it’s an organic thing that opened up many, many doors for me to go around the world from Topeka – all the way around the world and back.”
A graduate of Highland Park High School, Wakes and his brothers were well-known for singing as they walked down the hallways at the school.
Wakes has specialized in singing tunes from the Great American Songbook, which features artists such as Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Mel Torme.
Even when he was a youngster, Wakes said, he has always been attracted to music from the Great American Songbook.
“When I was in Highland Park – even before then – I was the only guy that checked out Frank Sinatra in the library,” he recalled. “But I just somehow intuitively knew that that music was very important, and it was the bedrock of the music that you see expressed by any other artist today, including hip-hop. A lot of the musicians that even do hip-hop sample from that music, and it actually adds longevity and timelessness to music.”
Wakes, who now lives in Las Vegas, is one of nine sons born to the late Rev. M.C. Wakes and Leola Wakes, who still lives in Topeka.
Throughout his musical career, Wakes says he has received encouragement from stars such as Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman and Michael Buble.
Wakes has had music featured in moves such as “La La Land,” a film released in 2016.
For his Topeka show, Wakes will be backed up by local musicians.
He says he’s hoping for a packed house when he returns to Topeka for what will be his first solo concert in the capital city.
“I hope everyone shows up. I hope that Topeka comes and gives me a great big hug – let ‘em know that I went away for a long time, but I’m bringing back some groceries,” he said with a laugh. “I hope they understand that I love this city, love what it taught me. I’m still using the lessons I learned here.
“The heritage is rich, the history is rich, and I hope to see them come together and help us to celebrate this next level of what we’ve been able to accomplish with music.”
Tickets for Wakes’ “Boundless Tour” concert start at $20.
For more details or to purchase tickets, visit www.jayhawktheatre.org.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/11/topeka-native-eddie-wakes-returns-capital-city-concert/ | 2022-05-12T00:46:26Z |
After home prices climbed by a record-setting 16.9% nationwide in 2021, the market was met with another stunning statistic in April 2022: 11 American metros now have a median home sold price of more than $500,000. The half-million dollar average sale price metric comes from an OJO Labs survey of March home sales. Nationwide, the median sales price of a home reached $392,750 as of mid-April 2022.
In historically wealthy cities and those with more modest home prices, the trajectory is the same: Prices keep going up even as mortgage rates spike. Causes for the price jumps are mirrored across the country. A long-term housing shortage that began after the Great Recession was exacerbated by supply chain disruptions that made it harder to source construction material, which affected virtually all housing markets. Another factor that has driven up prices is the rise of investors that have entered the market. In many regions including Charlotte, North Carolina, investment firms are buying up huge swaths of single-family homes.
In smaller cities and towns, traditionally lower population numbers were met with a swell of households moving away from big cities during the coronavirus pandemic, driving competition up for housing. Record-low mortgage rates were another reason for an exploding number of buyers, although rising rates don’t seem to be doing much to slow bidding wars in many metros.
Real estate platform ZeroDown analyzed its data on home listings to determine the most expensive neighborhood in Fort Worth, based on homes sold between March 18, 2022 and April 18, 2022. Neighborhoods are ranked by the median home price per square foot.
Read on to see your city’s most expensive neighborhoods or see the national story which features neighborhoods in 20 metros here.
#10. South Ridge East
– Median Home Price: $330,051 ($334 per square foot)
– Median Rent: $999
– Population: 2,589
– Walk Score: 46
– Bike Score: 39
– Transit Score: 28
#9. Mira Vista
– Median Home Price: $1,485,117 ($340 per square foot)
– Median Rent: $1,223
– Population: 3,687
– Walk Score: 10
– Bike Score: 21
– Transit Score: 13
#8. Colonial Hills
– Median Home Price: $975,791 ($348 per square foot)
– Median Rent: $1,303
– Population: 1,831
– Walk Score: 12
– Bike Score: 8
– Transit Score: 20
#7. Paschal
– Median Home Price: $704,331 ($353 per square foot)
– Median Rent: $1,249
– Population: 1,887
– Walk Score: 66
– Bike Score: 62
– Transit Score: 32
#6. Montserrat
– Median Home Price: $1,449,899 ($363 per square foot)
– Median Rent: $1,523
– Population: 124
– Walk Score: 4
– Bike Score: 18
– Transit Score: not available
#5. Westcliff West
– Median Home Price: $1,349,175 ($370 per square foot)
– Median Rent: $1,282
– Population: 1,637
– Walk Score: 24
– Bike Score: 38
– Transit Score: 23
#4. Edward Ranch
– Median Home Price: $1,548,821 ($379 per square foot)
– Median Rent: $940
– Population: 1,622
– Walk Score: 14
– Bike Score: 57
– Transit Score: 23
#3. University West
– Median Home Price: $379,650 ($420 per square foot)
– Median Rent: $1,235
– Population: 1,306
– Walk Score: 46
– Bike Score: 54
– Transit Score: 22
#2. East Lake Worth
– Median Home Price: $724,331 ($424 per square foot)
– Median Rent: $1,002
– Population: 377
– Walk Score: 17
– Bike Score: 5
– Transit Score: 21
#1. Wellington Point
– Median Home Price: $2,867,653 ($1,500 per square foot)
– Median Rent: $1,212
– Population: 222
– Walk Score: 5
– Bike Score: 29
– Transit Score: not available
This story originally appeared on ZeroDown and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. | https://cw33.com/news/local/neighborhoods-in-fort-worth-with-the-most-expensive-home-sales/ | 2022-06-03T17:08:41Z |
Mothers accuse pediatrician of crossing the line
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow/Gray News) – Several mothers have said their children’s doctor in Hawaii has tried establishing an inappropriate relationship with them.
They were all single moms at the time, and they say he crossed the line.
“He’s literally picking on vulnerable women, and it’s not OK,” Aila Umiamaka told Hawaii News Now.
After her daughter’s doctor’s appointment last Tuesday, Umiamaka — a single mom of two — said she received text messages from her daughter’s pediatrician.
He told her it “seems like she could use a friend” and if she’s interested, he could help.
The doctor then appeared to offer her money and texted the following, “Oh, we can match because I have money and you need money, laugh out loud.”
Umiamaka was offended by the text and took it as an insult.
“To me, that wasn’t harmless,” Umiamaka said. “That’s just him preying on me over my disadvantage.”
Umiamaka posted the conversation online and others reached out with similar stories.
“The first thing he made a point of saying was, like, how great I look, how great my figure was, and his tone and body language was like, he was looking me up and down,” Keakealani Iona said. “It was really uncomfortable.”
Kevi Ann Andrade said the doctor “started making remarks such as, ‘Well, if you’re not seeing anybody, maybe we should go out on a date.’”
Other moms said this has been going on as far back as 2014.
Gethsemane Reissig said the doctor offered her his house when she was 19 and living in a domestic violence shelter.
“I went for a doctor visit, he started asking me if I wanted to come stay with him, he had a big house and it was empty,” she said. “His daughter moved out and he wanted me to come stay there with my kids.”
Reissig said he complimented her, which made her feel uncomfortable.
Professor Will Weinstein, who teaches ethics courses at the University of Hawaii, said the doctor’s alleged actions aren’t acceptable.
“Most ethical issues are gray, this one’s black and white,” Weinstein said. “There’s no possibility that this is in any way ethical. And by the way, I think it’s not legal and the AMA, American Medical Association, strictly forbids things like this.”
Weinstein said if you think a doctor has crossed the line, you should reach out to an attorney.
Copyright 2022 Hawaii News Now via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/03/mothers-accuse-pediatrician-crossing-line/ | 2022-05-03T18:34:09Z |
VANCOUVER, BC, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL) (the "Company" or "WELL"), a company focused on positively impacting health outcomes by leveraging technology to empower practitioners and their patients globally, announced today that it has entered into an automatic share purchase plan ("ASPP") with a broker in order to facilitate repurchases of the Company's common shares ("Common Shares") under its previously announced normal course issuer bid ("NCIB").
WELL previously announced that it had received approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") to, during the 12-month period commencing June 1, 2022 and terminating May 31, 2023, purchase up to 5,555,386 Common Shares, representing approximately 2.5% of the 222,215,443 Common Shares issued and outstanding as of May 30, 2022, by way of a NCIB on the TSX or through alternative trading systems or by such other means as may be permitted under applicable law.
During the effective period of WELL's ASPP, WELL's broker may purchase Common Shares at times when WELL would not be active in the market due to insider trading rules and its own internal trading blackout periods. Purchases will be made by WELL's broker based upon parameters set by WELL when it is not in possession of any undisclosed material information about itself and its securities, and in accordance with the terms of the ASPP. Outside of the effective period of the ASPP, Common Shares may continue to be purchased in accordance with WELL's discretion, subject to applicable law. The ASPP has been entered into in accordance with the requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws.
Per: "Hamed Shahbazi"
Hamed Shahbazi
Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director
WELL is a practitioner focused digital healthcare company whose overarching objective is to positively impact health outcomes to empower and support healthcare practitioners and their patients. WELL has built an innovative practitioner enablement platform that includes comprehensive end to end practice management tools inclusive of virtual care and digital patient engagement capabilities as well as Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) and data protection services. WELL uses this platform to power healthcare practitioners both inside and outside of WELL's own omni-channel patient services offerings. As such, WELL owns and operates Canada's largest network of outpatient medical clinics serving primary and specialized healthcare services and is the provider of a leading multinational, multi-disciplinary telehealth offering. WELL is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "WELL" and is part of the TSX Composite Index. The Company also trades on the OTCQX Markets under the symbol "WHTCF". To learn more about the Company, please visit: www.well.company.
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SOURCE WELL Health Technologies Corp. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/well-health-enters-into-automatic-share-purchase-plan/ | 2022-06-15T12:14:18Z |
Kauffman Foundation's $10 million commitment will anchor vehicle investing in BIPOC fund managers
NEW YORK, May 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Living Cities, in partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, launched its $100 million Catalyst Fund III, an investment vehicle to confront and address underinvestment in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities.
The Kauffman Foundation committed to a $10 million anchor investment in the fund, which was announced at the annual Milken Institute Global Conference during a panel discussion on capital access. This investment follows Kauffman's $1.67 million seed grant to Living Cities to better understand the root cause of the country's racial disparities in income and wealth.
The fund will leverage a "Fund of Funds" approach to support the ecosystem for high-growth entrepreneurs and business owners of color, recognizing that business ownership is a proven pathway to closing the racial wealth gap.
"Entrepreneurship is fundamentally different for those who have access to capital," said Philip Gaskin, Vice President, Entrepreneurship, at the Kauffman Foundation. "To increase capital access for Black and brown entrepreneurs, we need to ensure that capital decision-makers are knowledgeable about the history and root causes of the country's racial wealth gaps. We must explore new ways of investing in fund managers of color."
The fund seeks to increase investment in BIPOC communities by:
- providing emerging fund managers of color access to seed capital and technical support;
- reducing the time it typically takes for fund managers of color to raise initial capital; and
- enabling the emerging fund managers of color to establish a track record, gain credibility, and be positioned for future rounds of funding.
The Kauffman Foundation's capital access research reports that 83% of entrepreneurs do not access bank loans or venture capital at the time of startup, which disproportionately impacts entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities. Living Cities' research shows that U.S. entrepreneurs in underrepresented populations face greater challenges with building wealth.
Research also suggests that although total gross receipts at firms owned by people of color are growing faster than white-owned firms, at least 77% of venture capital is invested in college-educated white men while just 1% of venture-backed founders are Black. These stark racial disparities are deepened by the relatively low percentage of people of color in capital allocation decision making positions.
"The Catalyst Fund III draws on Living Cities' more than 13 years of impact investing activity in financial intermediaries in both debt and equity capacities," said Demetric Duckett, Managing Director at Living Cities. "Our approach applies proven strategies working with capital managers focused on BIPOC needs, and we have the investing know-how and operational support to effectively deploy capital to generate strong returns for investors while achieving substantial impact with BIPOC communities."
About Living Cities
Founded in 1991, Living Cities is a collaborative of the world's largest foundations and financial institutions. Living Cities fosters transformational relationships across sectors to connect those who are willing to do the hard work of closing racial income and wealth gaps. The organization partners with cross-sector leaders in cities across the country to imagine and create an America in which all people are economically secure, building wealth and living abundant, dignified, and connected lives. To learn more about Living Cities and its member institutions, visit www.livingcities.org.
About the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation based in Kansas City, Mo., that seeks to build inclusive prosperity through a prepared workforce and entrepreneur-focused economic development. The Foundation uses its $3 billion in assets to change conditions, address root causes, and break down systemic barriers so that all people – regardless of race, gender, or geography – have the opportunity to achieve economic stability, mobility, and prosperity. For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect with us at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn.
Media Contacts
Jeff Raderstrong, Living Cities, jraderstrong@livingcities.org, 646-442-3236
Kim Wallace Carlson, Kauffman Foundation, kcarlson@kauffman.org, 816-932-1254
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SOURCE Living Cities | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/02/living-cities-ewing-marion-kauffman-foundation-launch-100-million-fund-grow-people-color-led-businesses-close-wealth-gaps/ | 2022-05-03T01:22:17Z |
Lawsuit outlines pattern of hostility toward business school's only Black woman Ph.D candidate, Announces HKM Employment Attorneys, LLC
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) is under fire again this week after a former graduate student filed a federal lawsuit against the university for racial discrimination and retaliation at the university's Kenan-Flagler Business School (KFBS).
Rose Brown, whose attorneys filed the suit Tuesday, was the only Black female in the KFBS Ph.D. program and was allegedly forced out of the program despite her exemplary coursework and research.
"Rose Brown was told she wasn't smart enough and didn't fit in, the code words brilliant young black people still hear even in the most progressive institutions. When she stood up for herself, her advisors actively tried to ruin her career", said Artur Davis, one of Brown's lead attorneys. "Brown was dismissed from the Ph.D. program roughly a month after filing a complaint with the university's Equal Opportunity Compliance Office complaining of a pattern of discriminatory and hostile treatment."
The filed complaint states some of her academic advisors even sought to weaponize sexual assaults she'd survived in August and September of 2020. They admonished her for attending a court hearing regarding her request for a Domestic Violence Protection Order instead of a non-mandatory seminar.
Also according to the lawsuit, Brown was written up for needing short extensions to deal with her domestic trauma, but her advisors granted white and male students routine excused extensions and scheduling accommodations for reasons like writer's block with no penalty or consequence.
This week's lawsuit is the latest in a long line of controversies at the university centered around race and gender including their 2021 decision to deny tenure to Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and academic Nikole Hannah-Jones and a 2020 incident where a group of undergrads demanded action to eliminate vestiges of racism and discrimination at UNC alleging that Black students accepted into the psychology program was steadily declining while the faculty remained monolithically white.
In addition, a report this year from the American Association of University Professors charged that political interference has created a hostile academic and racial climate on UNC's campuses.
Click HERE to view a copy of the lawsuit.
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SOURCE HKM Employment Attorneys, LLC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/former-grad-student-sues-unc-race-discrimination/ | 2022-08-31T16:26:47Z |
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce it served as exclusive advisor to Tower Fasteners (Tower) in its sale to All Integrated Solutions (AIS), a subsidiary of MSC Industrial Supply Co. (NYSE:MSM).
Tower is a second-generation value-added distributor of OEM fasteners and other components to a diverse set of industrial, medical equipment, aerospace, military, electronics, and security/fire & safety sectors. Founded in 1967, the company operates eight distribution centers along the East Coast and in the Southwestern regions of the United States, Mexico, and Europe. In 2018, Tower opened its first European distribution center in Dublin, Ireland. Tower will continue to operate under its current name after becoming an MSC company. Mark Shannon, President of Tower, will continue to lead the business, which has approximately 100 associates.
MSC's acquisition of Tower, made through its AIS subsidiary, expands the company's presence in the OEM fastener market, which it entered in 2018 with the acquisition of AIS, a leading value-added distributor of industrial fasteners and components, MRO supplies and assembly tools based in Wisconsin. Similarly, MSC will extend Tower's production fastener solutions to its manufacturing customers. Founded in 1941, MSC is a leading North American distributor of a broad range of metalworking and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products and services. As a $3.2 billion company with more than 6,500 associates and 3,000-plus suppliers, MSC helps its customers drive greater productivity, profitability and growth with approximately 2 million products, inventory management and other supply chain solutions.
"We could not have been more pleased with the job XLCS Partners did advising us during the sale of our business," said Bryan Shannon, Tower CEO. "From the introductory call with Anthony Contaldo to the final closing call, every person who worked with us was professional, thorough, and pleasant. This was our first experience in the M&A world and Anthony and his team guided us every step of the way. XLCS was the perfect advisory firm for the Shannon family."
XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to Tower and the transaction was led by Anthony Contaldo, Managing Partner and Jay Cremer, Vice President. The transaction was completed August 1, 2022.
XLCS Partners is an investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services to select clients globally. More information is available at www.xlcspartners.com.
Kendra Span
kspan@xlcspartners.com
615-379-7783
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SOURCE XLCS Partners, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/xlcs-partners-advises-tower-fasteners-sale-msc-industrial-supply-co/ | 2022-08-10T23:05:05Z |
Face masks are now required again at many Philadelphia-area schools
By Melissa Alonso, CNN
The School District of Philadelphia reinstated face masks in schools, a month after masks were made optional, due to an uptick in cases in the area, the district announced.
“Until further notice, all School District students and staff will be required to wear their masks during the school and work day and while riding on school buses and vans,” the Friday announcement said.
“As we’ve learned since the pandemic began, the coronavirus continues to evolve and so too will our response to it,” Superintendent William Hite said in the announcement. “To help protect everyone’s health and well-being as Covid-19 case counts continue to rise in the Philadelphia area, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) has recommended that we resume universal mask wearing.”
On Monday, Philadelphia Public Health reported “400 average new cases per day,” the agency said a tweet, and “142 hospitalizations as of last Wednesday.”
School districts in neighboring Montgomery County have also reinstated face mask policies after the county was “designated as high risk,” said a tweet from the Norristown Area School District. “NASD will require masks to be worn indoors by students, staff, and visitors,” the district said. “We appreciate everyone’s cooperation.”
The Cheltenham School District, in Montgomery County, has scheduled “a special board meeting on Tuesday” night, according to a Sunday letter to parents. The school board “will consider amending its current health and safety plan,” the letter said, “to make masks ‘strongly recommended,’ but not ‘required,’ in our buildings.”
“If approved, effective Wednesday, May 25, and for so long as Montgomery County remains in a ‘high’ level of community transmission, masks in our buildings will be strongly recommended,” said the letter.
The last day of classes for students in Philadelphia and Cheltenham schools is June 14, while the Norristown school district’s last day is scheduled for June 9, according to the district’s academic calendar.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2022/05/24/face-masks-are-now-required-again-at-many-philadelphia-area-schools/ | 2022-05-25T01:27:24Z |
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