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- Q2 revenue of $16.9 million compared with $23.2 million in Q2 2021
- Gross margin of 42%, level with Q2 2021
- Q2 EBITDA adjusted of $1.3 million, compared with $3.2 million in Q2 2021
- First-half 2022 revenue of $30.8 million, and EBITDA adjusted of $0.4 million
- SimSports revenue of $1.0 million in the first full quarter of sales
- Organizational rightsizing implemented to reduce operating costs and improve efficiency
- Temporary shift of development resources to drive SimSports product development
- Full year guidance temporarily suspended due to reduced visibility on customer demand as rising inflation and interest rates add to a continued uncertain and challenging business climate
AALBORG, Denmark, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Asetek reported second-quarter revenue of $16.9 million, compared with $23.2 million in the same period of 2021. First-half 2022 revenue was $30.8 million, compared with $48.2 million in the same period of 2021. The change in both periods mainly reflects fewer shipments of Gaming and Enthusiast products.
Gross margin was 42% for the second quarter and 40% in the first half of 2022 compared with 42% and 43% in the same periods of 2021. Second quarter margin improved from the first quarter due to the mix of product shipments and reduced cost prices. Margin for the first half was impacted by higher component costs due to continued shortages, changes to exchange rates, increased shipping costs from supply chain disruptions and changed product mix.
"We have taken steps to reduce costs and drive efficiencies in response to a prolonged challenging business climate for the Gaming & Enthusiast business and reduced short-term demand visibility amid rising inflation and interest rates, as reflected in the recent suspension of our full-year guidance," said André Sloth Eriksen, CEO and founder of Asetek.
"While the launch of our SimSports products has been impacted by the same challenges combined with inability to meet early demand because of Chinese lockdowns , we continue to receive strong feedback from the sim racing community, reflected in incoming orders. We aim to widen our product program with new launches in 2022 and 2023 and remain confident in the long-term growth potential as gamers and enthusiasts continue to demand new, improved equipment and experiences within traditional gaming and sim racing," Sloth Eriksen continued.
Operating income was $0.1 million and adjusted EBITDA was $1.3 million in the second quarter of 2022, compared with operating income of $1.9 million and adjusted EBITDA of $3.2 million in the second quarter of 2021. First-half 2022 operating loss was $1.8 million and adjusted EBITDA was positive $0.4 million, compared with operating income of $5.4 million and adjusted EBITDA of positive $7.9 million in the same period of 2021.
At June 30, 2022, Asetek had working capital of $11.8 million, of which $11.4 million was cash and cash equivalents. Long-term debt totaled $1.1 million. During the first half of 2022, the Company invested $7.0 million in property and equipment, including development of a new headquarters facility, and $2.0 million in capitalized costs for the development of new products. The Company drew $4.4 million on a construction credit line in the first half.
To reduce costs and drive efficiencies, the Company recently reduced headcount with an expected annual cost reduction of $4 to $5 million with full effect during the second half of 2022. Total reductions across all business lines amount to 52 employees the past year.
OPERATIONS
The Company announced that both Asus and EVGA will integrate Asetek's high performance liquid cooling technology into new products utilizing NVIDIA's latest Ampere GPU architecture. ASUS' new ROG Strix LC GeForce RTX 3090 Ti OC edition graphics card and EVGA's new GeForce RTX 3090 Ti FTW3 ULTRA HYBRID GAMING graphics card each provide extreme performance and near-silent operation for competitive gamers and enthusiasts.
In March, the Company began shipping orders for the first of its SimSports products - Invicta Sim Racing Pedals, along with its RaceHub software for quick and easy adjustments and calibration. This initial offering, which has received highly positive reviews, provides competitive SimSports gamers with full immersion and the feeling of a real racecar. In April, the Company introduced its new high-performance Forte Throttle and Brake Pedal Set for immersive racing at a lower price point. SimSports revenue totaled $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2022.
During the quarter, the Company formed a collaboration with Formula One racer Kevin Magnussen as a brand ambassador for Asetek SimSports. The Company also announced a sponsorship agreement with GetSpeed Race Team, a top contender in the 24-hour Nürburgring race.
OUTLOOK
The Company has temporarily shifted development resources from Gaming & Enthusiast to drive SimSports product development with the aim to introduce new products later in 2022.
Rising inflation and interest rates have recently added to the continued impact of pandemic lockdowns, supply chain disturbances and general geo-political tensions, delaying a normalization of the business climate. The effects are reduced discretionary consumer spending with decreased demand for the Company's Gaming & Enthusiast products. In addition, the Company is experiencing reduced visibility, caused by significantly increased volatility, in the forecasts provided by OEM customers for the second half of the year.
Due to the increased uncertainty, the Company has suspended its revenue and operating income guidance for 2022, beyond that revenue and operating income will likely be below previously communicated expectations. Previous guiding framed a revenue development in the range between a 5% decrease and 15% increase, and operating income in the range from -$1 to +$5 million. The Company will resume guidance when it has a more certain basis for providing full-year expectations.
Conference call and webcast today, Thursday, 11 August at 2:00 PM CEST
CEO André Sloth Eriksen, COO John Hamill and CFO Peter Dam Madsen will present the Company's results at 2:00 PM CEST and invites investors, analysts and media to join the presentation. The presentation is expected to last up to one hour, including Q&A, and can be followed via live webcast or conference call.
Webcast - audio and slide presentation:
Please join the results webcast via the following link: https://streams.eventcdn.net/asetek/2022q2
Conference call - audio only:
Please dial in 5-10 minutes prior using the phone numbers:
Material:
The second quarter 2022 earnings release, the half-year report and presentation will be made available online at www.asetek.com and www.newsweb.no, as well as through news agencies. A recorded version of the presentation will be made available at www.asetek.com approximately two hours after the presentation has concluded.
Q&A:
The conference call lines will be opened for participants to ask question at the end of the presentation. Questions can also be submitted through the online webcast during the presentation.
For questions or further information, please contact:
CEO and Founder André S. Eriksen, +45 2125 7076, email: ceo@asetek.com
CFO Peter Dam Madsen, +45 2080 7200, email: investor.relations@asetek.com
About Asetek:
Asetek (ASTK.OL), a global leader in mechatronic innovation, is a Danish garage-to-stock-exchange success story. Founded in 2000, Asetek established its innovative position as the leading OEM developer and producer of the all-in-one liquid cooler for all major PC & Enthusiast gaming brands. In 2013, Asetek went public while expanding into energy-efficient and environmentally friendly cooling solutions for data centers. In 2021, Asetek introduced its line of products for next level immersive SimSports gaming experiences. Asetek is headquartered in Denmark and has operations in China, Taiwan and the United States.
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE Asetek | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/asetek-q2-2022-prolonged-market-headwinds-focus-cost-optimization-product-development/ | 2022-08-11T09:41:44Z |
Premier Food Producer Joins Atlas' Family of Global Businesses
Donnie Smith, Industry Leader and Former CEO of Tyson Foods Named Chief Executive Officer
GREENWICH, Conn., June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlas Holdings ("Atlas") announced today that it has acquired Foster Farms, a family-owned provider of fresh, frozen, and prepared poultry products headquartered in Livingston, California from entities associated with the Foster Family. Founded in 1939 on a small farm, Foster Farms boasts a proud and distinguished history as the leading brand of fresh chicken in the West. With products available nationwide, the company employs approximately 10,000 skilled team members and operates major processing facilities in California, Washington, Louisiana, Oregon, and Alabama. The company, which generates revenues of approximately $3 billion annually, will continue to operate under the Foster Farms name. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Atlas also announced that longtime poultry industry leader Donnie Smith, former Chief Executive Officer of Tyson Foods, has been named Foster Farms' new Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Smith spent 36 years with Tyson in roles spanning all business functions. He was named CEO in 2009, a role he held until his retirement in 2016. Under his leadership, Tyson saw record growth, entered new markets and expanded its product offerings, staying true to Tyson's heritage while charting its path forward as one of the world's largest food companies.
"I love the poultry industry and am proud that Atlas has asked me to become the CEO of Foster Farms," said Donnie Smith. "I've long been an admirer of the Foster Family and the business they've built over the past eight decades. In this new era, we will maintain and further that legacy, rooted in animal welfare, superior product quality, customer service and community engagement."
"We are thrilled to welcome Foster Farms to the Atlas Family of great global businesses," said Atlas Partners Sam Astor, Ed Fletcher, and Mike Sher. "We have a long history of partnering with proud family-owned companies to honor their past while driving additional operational, environmental, and financial success for the next generation. Working closely with Donnie Smith, the Leadership Team, and our dedicated team members, that is precisely what we intend to do at Foster Farms."
Atlas brings decades of experience in the food industry through other businesses they have owned and operated, making them the ideal partner for Foster Farms.
Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisor and Mayer Brown LLP was legal advisor for Foster Farms. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as financial advisor and DLA Piper LLP was legal advisor for Atlas.
Since 1939, West Coast families have depended on Foster Farms for premium quality chicken and turkey products. Family-owned and operated until its acquisition by Atlas, the company continues its legacy of excellence and commitment to quality established by its founders, Max and Verda Foster. Foster Farms specializes in fresh, all-natural chicken and turkey products free of preservatives, additives or injected sodium enhancers. Based in California's Central Valley, with ranches also in the Pacific Northwest, the company's fresh chicken and turkey are produced in or near each region served. Foster Farms also produces delicious pre-marinated, ready-to-cook and fully cooked products that meet the quality and convenience needs of today's home cooks, retailers, warehouse clubs and foodservice customers. The company's commitment to excellence, honesty, quality, service and people is a source of great pride, and, a longtime family tradition. For more information, visit www.fosterfarms.com.
Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut and founded in 2002, Atlas and its affiliates own and operate 25 companies, which employ approximately 50,000 associates across more than 300 facilities worldwide. Atlas operates in sectors such as aluminum processing, automotive, building materials, capital equipment, construction services, food manufacturing and distribution, packaging, paper, power generation, printing, pulp, supply chain management and wood products. Atlas' companies together generate approximately $14.5 billion in revenues annually.
For Information, Contact:
Kekst CNC
Nathan Riggs / Shea Maney
Atlas@kekstcnc.com
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SOURCE Atlas Holdings LLC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/atlas-holdings-completes-acquisition-foster-farms/ | 2022-06-07T20:50:04Z |
TORRANCE, Calif., May 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. (OTCQX: EMMA), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company and leader in the treatment of sickle cell disease, today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and provided a business update.
Recent Highlights
- April 2022: Announced the launch of an innovative, full-service telehealth solution (https://www.endarirx.com/ask-physician) with strategic partners including Asembia LLC, US Bioservices Corporation and UpScript IP Holdings, LLC. The telehealth program capitalizes on the expansion of telemedicine in the U.S. to afford sickle cell disease patients and providers on-line access to Endari® an important benefit, given that such on-line access is not available for competing branded products.
- April 2022: Announced positive real-world data on Endari® in preventing acute complications from sickle cell disease and hemolysis in pediatric and adult patients in French Guiana and Qatar. The data was introduced by Dr. Mohamed Yassin and his co-authors at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the British Society for Haematology (BSH), which was held April 3-5, 2022, at the Manchester Central in Manchester, England and virtually.
- March 2022: Announced that the Florida Medicaid Pharmaceutical & Therapeutics Committee has added Endari® to the Florida Medicaid Preferred Drug List, effective April 1, 2022, eliminating the need for prior authorization for Medicaid patients.
- March 2022: Received full marketing authorization for Endari® from the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) Ministry of Health.
"During the first quarter, our team continued to focus on the expansion of market and patient access to Endari®," stated Yutaka Niihara, M.D., M.P.H., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Emmaus. "As a measure of the demand for this important therapeutic, immediately after the U.A.E. granted full marketing authorization in March, we received a significant order from one of our distributors in the country and expect to see a continuing flow of orders going forward. Additionally, the launch of our unique, full-service telehealth solution in April is expected to make a meaningful impact, as it gives both patients and providers on-line access to Endari®, allowing for same-day physician authorization and at-home delivery, if needed. Early indications from the uptake of the telehealth program are promising and should afford us a competitive advantage over other sickle cell treatments due to the fact that Endari®, which has proven to be safe and effective, is the only treatment able to be prescribed via telehealth because it does not require a blood test prior to or after treatment and is administered orally. Additionally, since a majority of sickle cell disease patients do not regularly see a doctor, we believe that our telehealth service will allow us to reach and capture a greater percentage of this unserved patient population."
Dr. Niihara added, "While the company's financial results for the first quarter were adversely affected by overstocking of Endari® by our distributors in prior periods -- impacted, in part by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic -- sell through of Endari® by distributors in the first three months of 2022 was substantially higher than in the same period in 2021 and we anticipate a possible uptick in sales in the U.S. and U.A.E, as well as additional marketing approvals in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries later this year. Domestically, our new telehealth solution should positively impact U.S. sales for the full year."
Financial and Operating Results
Net Revenues. Net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2022 were $3.2 million, compared to $5.3 million for same period in 2021. Although sell through by our distributors increased compared to 2021, net revenues were adversely affected by overstocking by distributors in response to discounts afforded by the company on bulk pre-orders in the first three months of 2022 as compared to the same period in 2020.
Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 were $5.3 million, compared with $6.5 million for the same period in 2021. Of the decreased expenses, $1.3 million was attributable to decreased research and development expenses primarily related to one time license fees paid to Kainos Medicine, Inc. in 2021 relating to Kainos' novel IRAK4 inhibitor in research. The company incurred a $0.2 million increase in selling expenses resulting from more frequent travel associated with the lifting of COVID-19 related travel restrictions in the U.S. and foreign countries.
Loss From Operations. Loss from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $3.1 million, compared with a loss of $1.6 million in the same period in 2021.
Other Income (Expense). Other income increased by $8.2 million, or 121%, to $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to other expense of $6.8 million in the same period in 2021. The increase in other expense in 2022 included a $5.4 million decrease in change in fair value of conversion feature derivatives, a $1.3 million decrease in change in fair value of warrant derivative liabilities and a lack of $1.2 million loss on debt extinguishment in 2022.
Net Loss. For the quarter, the company realized a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $1.5 million, or $0.03 per share, based on approximately 49.3 million weighted average basic and diluted common shares. This compares to net loss of $8.4 million, or $0.17 per share, based on approximately 49.1 million weighted average basic and diluted common shares, for the first quarter of 2021. The decreased net loss was primarily attributable to the increase in other income for the three months ended March 31, 2022, partially offset by an increased loss from operations discussed above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources. At March 31, 2022, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $0.8 million, compared with $2.3 million at December 31, 2021. In light of the lower than anticipated net revenues in the quarter and based on the company's cash and cash equivalents and anticipated future revenues and operating expenses, management believes the company's working capital is insufficient to meet its needs for 2022 without obtaining additional loans from related parties or debt or equity financing from third parties or curtailing certain operations or activities at its Japanese joint venture in Ube, Japan.
About Emmaus Life Sciences
Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company and leader in the treatment of sickle cell disease. The company currently markets and sells Endari® (L-glutamine oral powder), indicated to reduce the acute complications of sickle cell disease in adults and children 5 years and older, in the U.S. and in the United Arab Emirates, or U.A.E., and is pursuing marketing authorization for Endari® in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The company is also engaged in the discovery and development of innovative treatments and therapies for certain rare and orphan diseases as well as those affecting larger populations, such as diverticulosis and certain cancers. For more information, please visit www.emmausmedical.com.
About Endari® (prescription grade L-glutamine oral powder)
Endari®, Emmaus' prescription grade L-glutamine oral powder, is approved for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the U.A.E. Ministry of Health for treating sickle cell disease. Endari® is also available on a named-patient or early-access basis in France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait.
Indication
Endari® is indicated to reduce the acute complications of sickle cell disease in adult and pediatric patients five years of age and older.
Important Safety Information
The most common adverse reactions (incidence >10 percent) in clinical studies were constipation, nausea, headache, abdominal pain, cough, pain in extremities, back pain, and chest pain.
Adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation included one case each of hypersplenism, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, burning sensation, and hot flash.
The safety and efficacy of Endari® in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease younger than five years of age has not been established.
For more information, please see full Prescribing Information of Endari® at: www.EndariRx.com/PI.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding possible increased access to Endari® in the U.S. through telemedicine and potential increased sales of Endari® following full marketing authorization for Endari® in the U.A.E. and, possibly, other countries in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which change over time, including risks and uncertainties relating to the company's working capital and need for financing, risks inherent in the regulatory approval process and commercialization of Endari® in the MENA region, and other factors previously disclosed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2022, and actual results may differ materially. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Emmaus assumes no duty to update them, except as may be required by law.
Company Contact:
Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc.
Willis Lee
Chief Operating Officer
(310) 214-0065, Ext. 1130
wlee@emmauslifesciences.com
Investor Relations Contact:
Rx Communications Group
Michael Miller
(917)-633-6086
mmiller@rxir.com
(Financial Tables Follow)
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SOURCE Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/13/emmaus-life-sciences-reports-q1-2022-financial-results-provides-business-update/ | 2022-05-13T13:32:53Z |
New fiber internet option looks to connect North Canton
NORTH CANTON — A new broadband option is heading to North Canton, with the goal of getting new customers online in the next 12 months.
Windstream Communications, an internet company, is expanding its reach in Northeast Ohio to Stark County, with plans to lay fiber in North Canton and Canton as well as some surrounding townships.
Connected: In Carroll County and elsewhere in rural Ohio, many still lack broadband access
Chris Thomas, the company’s vice president for governmental affairs, approached North Canton City Council this month to inform the city of the company’s plans and to offer the possibility of collaboration with the city to expand broadband access.
“Cities and townships and counties have gotten hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions of dollars in American Rescue Plan funds – and there's probably more coming – that has to be used on infrastructure. And one of the permitted infrastructure usages is fiber networks," Thomas said.
"So to the extent that we're going to build up a certain percentage of the city and [if] they want a larger piece built and they are willing to help on construction costs in a partnership, that is something that we will be discussing if they're interested."
Thomas said that they'd like to have the first customers hooked up to the new fiber network in about 12 months. He said they should be able to cover the majority of North Canton, but areas for partnership with the city may come up if there are harder to reach pockets that require additional construction costs.
He said their company is focusing on fiber as part of a $2 billion project in multiple areas to replace old copper lines with fiber.
"As people use more and more data, fiber is going to be the probably the only way that they can get it at the very fastest multi gig speeds," Thomas said.
Broadband infrastructure expansion gained significant attention in the last two years, as the pandemic forced work and school to be conducted from home via internet connection. As such, federal, state and local governments have looked to shore up broadband connection where it may have been lacking, particularly in rural areas.
According to state broadband data, 39% of the populated areas of Stark County and 14% of households don't have access to 25/3 mbps, which is considered the minimum standard broadband speed. In North Canton, access to speeds in the 50-100 Mbps range is higher.
When Windstream comes online in North Canton, it will be one of several connection options already in place, including AT&T and Massillon Cable TV, which both offer fiber connection, as well as Spectrum, T-Mobile and others.
Sam Zern can be reached at szern@cantonrep.com or 330-580-8322. You can also find her on Twitter at @sam_zern. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/north-canton/2022/06/02/windstream-fiber-internet-option-coming-north-canton/7452113001/ | 2022-06-02T16:02:40Z |
- The collaboration leverages BlueSnap's next-generation payment processing platform as a backbone, for Splitit installments, across the globe.
- Splitit and Bluesnap will jointly target key verticals – services, luxury retail and B2B.
- Merchants, marketplaces and ISVs can easily implement Splitit's Installment-as-a-Service technology, which includes network installment options such as Visa Installment Services.
NEW YORK, May 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Splitit (ASX: SPT, OTCQX: SPTTY) and BlueSnap, a global payment orchestration platform committed to helping B2B and B2C businesses accept and optimize payments around the world, announced the companies are enhancing their existing relationship to elevate BlueSnap to Splitit's preferred processing partner, to simplify the buy now, pay later (BNPL) checkout experience and jointly target key verticals.
The collaboration provides added visibility and distribution for Splitit through BlueSnap's extensive network of mid-market and enterprise customers. BlueSnap's gateway and payment processing, which accounted for over $12 billion in charge volume, will support the processing of Splitit installments in all the countries and regions where BlueSnap operates. As part of the agreement, BlueSnap will be Splitit's preferred partner for processing installments for all joint and direct merchants.
The two companies are also working on a tight integration between Splitit's Installments-as-a-Service white-label BNPL platform and BlueSnap's All-in-One Payment Orchestration Platform to make offering installment payments as easy as toggling on the option in the BlueSnap merchant portal. The result will be an uncluttered, simplified experience embedded into the merchant's existing purchase flow. Splitit's use of global credit card networks also means merchants can easily add its service to new countries or regions through a single integration. The deep integration is expected to be completed by Q3 2022.
"We are excited to build on our relationship and invest in our future together by embedding Splitit's Installments-as-a-Service into such a high-growth and modern payment platform like BlueSnap," said Nandan Sheth, CEO of Splitit. "BlueSnap has done a phenomenal job supporting the global payment needs of mid-market and enterprise businesses. Our new integration will allow us to jointly go to market while cross-selling into the existing BlueSnap merchant base."
"The global growth of BNPL has our merchants looking for an embedded experience that does not require consumers to change behavior. The opportunity to leverage the strength of our mutual platforms, powering a true white-label BNPL option, to the forefront of our customer base is exciting," adds Ralph Dangelmaier, CEO of BlueSnap. "We are also excited that Splitit selected BlueSnap as its global payment processing partner for their direct business. This allows us to offer a fully integrated solution, reducing the complexity for our merchants."
Splitit's white-label installment plugin allows merchants to nurture and retain their customers, driving loyalty and promoting brand consistency on their terms. Splitit offers consumers a more responsible pay-later option without adding new debt or impacting their credit reports. Any consumer with the available balance on their credit card is automatically pre-qualified to use Splitit. There's no application, interest or hidden fees and no changes to their credit report, creating the least amount of consumer friction.
BlueSnap's All-in-One Payment Orchestration Platform helps businesses accept payments globally. The platform provides comprehensive back-end solutions that simplify the complexity of payments, managing the entire process from start to finish. With one integration and contract, businesses can sell in over 200 regions with access to local card acquiring in 47 countries, 100+ currencies and 100+ global payment types, including popular eWallets.
Merchants and partners wanting to take advantage of Splitit's Installments-as-a-Service can start today at www.splitit.com.
About BlueSnap
BlueSnap helps businesses accept global payments in a better way. Our All-In-One Payment Orchestration Platform is designed to increase sales and reduce costs for all businesses accepting payments. BlueSnap supports payments across all geographies through multiple sales channels such as online and mobile sales, marketplaces, subscriptions, invoice payments and manual orders through a virtual terminal. And for businesses looking for embedded payments, we offer white-labeled payments for platforms with automated underwriting and onboarding that supports marketplaces and split payments. With one integration and contract, businesses can sell in over 200 regions with access to local card acquiring in 47 countries, 100+ currencies and 100+ global payment types, including popular eWallets, automated accounts receivable, world-class fraud protection and chargeback management, built-in solutions for regulation and tax compliance, and unified global reporting to help businesses grow. BlueSnap is backed by world-class private equity investors, including Great Hill Partners and Parthenon Capital Partners. Learn more at BlueSnap.com.
About Splitit
Splitit powers the next generation of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) through its merchant-branded Installments-as-a-Service platform. Splitit is solving the challenges businesses face with legacy BNPL while unlocking BNPL at the point of sale for card networks, issuers and acquirers all through a single network API. Splitit's Installments-as-a-Service platform mitigates issues with legacy BNPL like the declining conversion funnel, clutter at the checkout and a lack of control of the merchant's customer experience, while putting the power back in the hands of merchants to nurture and retain customers, drive conversion and increase average order value. Splitit's white-label BNPL is the easiest installment option for merchants to adopt, integrate and operate while delivering an uncluttered, simplified experience embedded into their existing purchase flow. Headquartered in New York, Splitit has an R&D center in Israel and offices in London and Australia. Splitit is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) under ticker code SPT and also trades on the US OTCQX under ticker SPTTY (ADRs) and STTTF (ordinary shares).
Contact Information
Brian Blank, Splitit
brian.blank@splitit.com
+1 760 917 3321
Michael McMullan or Felicia Kane
Berns Communications Group on behalf of Splitit
mmcmullan@bcg-pr.com
fkane@bcg-pr.com
Kayla Perkins
5WPR on behalf of BlueSnap
bluesnap@5wpr.com
+1 978 870 3598
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SOURCE Splitit USA, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/24/splitit-bluesnap-announce-joint-payment-partnership-simplify-buy-now-pay-later-merchant-community/ | 2022-05-24T12:54:17Z |
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Activate your digital account | https://www.cantonrep.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cantonrep.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fhealthcare%2F2022%2F04%2F12%2Fjackson-student-raises-money-multiple-sclerosis-treatment-abroad%2F7152361001%2F | 2022-04-12T10:07:11Z |
Arenado’s 2-run HR in 9th gives Cards 2-0 win over Marlins
MIAMI (AP) — Nolan Arenado hit a two-run home run in the top of ninth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Miami Marlins 2-0. Arenado, who had struck out in his first three at-bats, launched a fastball from Miami reliever Anthony Bender (0-2) over the wall in left-center for his fifth home run. Tyler O’Neill reached on a one-out walk before Arenado’s blast. Genesis Cabrera (1-0) pitched the bottom of the eighth and Giovanny Gallegos pitched the ninth and earned his third save. St. Louis beat Miami for the ninth straight game and will try for its third consecutive three-game sweep against the Marlins on Thursday. Starters Sandy Alcantara of Miami and St. Louis’ Miles Mikolas combined to throw 13 scoreless innings in their outings. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/04/20/arenados-2-run-hr-in-9th-gives-cards-2-0-win-over-marlins/ | 2022-04-21T05:46:28Z |
Oklahoma originated group, BERC, sends emergency blood to Uvalde
ARDMORE, Okla. (KXII) - Following Tuesday’s shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, TX, hospitals in the area were in immediate need of blood and an blood network which began in Oklahoma helped fill that need.
When disaster strikes as it did on Tuesday blood becomes a vital resource and donations usually skyrocket in the affected area, but that isn’t always enough.
“When Austin had the mass shooting they actually depleted their blood supply, which happens when you have a mass trauma event,” said Ardmore’s Oklahoma Blood Institute executive director Susan Crews. “And when they put out the plea for more blood they didn’t really get any response.”
The lack of response caught the attention of OBI CEO John Armitage.
“Dr. Armitage, our CEO, thought we have to do something about that,” said Crews. “That is not an okay safety net, we have to have a safety net for these types of situations.”
So he created the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps, or BERC for short.
He hoped that it would create a network of emergency blood through donations from around the country.
“Put that blood, kind of ear tag it, for an emergency and then if emergency doesn’t happen that week it goes back into the normal inventory,” said Crews.
It didn’t take long for other blood centers to realize how necessary BERC was.
After just one year 30 blood centers have joined the corps.
Tuesday’s shooting in Uvalde is the exact situation BERC prepares for, 10 on-call partners have sent blood to Texas from states like Wisconsin and Louisiana.
“Its a comfort to know that if something happens we’ve got that safety net there,” said Crews.
But blood takes time to be ready to give which is why BERC is pleading for people to donate regularly instead of waiting for the next disaster.
“We want to make sure that its safe and labeled for use so you have to donate it prior to,” said Crews. “It can’t be donated after the event because then its too late.”
You can find a BERC partnered blood donation center near you on their website here.
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/25/oklahoma-originated-group-berc-sends-emergency-blood-uvalde/ | 2022-05-25T22:52:37Z |
Former major leaguer Bill Lee had stopped breathing after collapsing in the bullpen during an exhibition game, but paramedics and two shocks with a defibrillator helped resuscitate the 75-year-old pitcher, according to a witness at the scene.
“Without immediate intervention, I do not believe he’d be here today,” Town of Thunderbolt Administrator Bob Milie told The Associated Press on Saturday, a day after the cardiac episode during a game for the popular Savannah Bananas.
“He wasn’t breathing,” said Milie, who’s also a firefighter in the Georgia town a few miles from Savannah. “It was very, very dire.”
Bananas manager Eric Byrnes posted a picture to Twitter of himself with Lee — a member of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame — at Memorial Health University Medical Center on Saturday.
One of Lee’s daughters arrived in town and was at the hospital with him, team president Jared Orton said.
“She said he’s in good spirits and continues to be evaluated for next steps in recovery, but is certainly acting like himself,” Orton said in an email to the AP.
Orton said a member of the Bananas’ front office stayed with Lee at the hospital past midnight.
Milie was at Grayson Stadium to see the Bananas, an entertaining team known for its bright yellow uniform and its clowning antics on and off the field. The game against the Party Animals was on ESPN2.
Lee, fondly nicked “Spaceman” for his irreverent approach during his days with the Red Sox and Montreal Expos, had previously pitched for the Bananas. When he went down Friday night, some people in the ballpark thought for an instant that it might’ve been part of their team’s “Bananas Ball” act.
“You never know with the Bananas. It was like ’is this … Wait, this is definitely not part of the show,’” Milie said.
Milie, who wasn’t part of the team that treated Lee, praised all the EMTs, police, firefighters and rescue personnel at the scene for their swift action.
Milie said Lee was shocked twice with the defibrillator on the field.
“The second one, that seemed to do the trick, got the heart beating,” he said.
Lee was able to leave the field with assistance and the game later resumed.
In 14 seasons with Boston and Montreal, Lee went 119-90. An All-Star in 1973, the left-hander helped pitch the Red Sox into the 1975 World Series and started Game 7 against Cincinnati. Lee exited in the seventh inning and Boston later lost to Cincinnati 4-3.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/ex-mlber-bill-lee-wasnt-breathing-after-collapse-revived/ | 2022-08-21T13:50:51Z |
NEW YORK, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ActionIQ, the leader in customer experience (CX) solutions, today announced that it will host a webinar "Strategies for Efficient & Profitable CX in an Uncertain Economy" to explore how brands can cut costs and maximize value of existing customers as consumer demand slows.
"As market conditions change rapidly and the economy grows increasingly more unpredictable, it's more critical than ever to maintain an agile, adaptable approach to delivering customer experiences," said Justin DeBrabant, Senior Vice President of Product at ActionIQ. "Complex, brittle and outdated architectures can leave businesses inflexible and slow to differentiate, while composable technologies and solid CX strategies can help brands drive incremental revenue while controlling costs."
WHO: Speakers will include
- Justin DeBrabant, Senior Vice President of Product, ActionIQ
- Greg Shelly, Vice President of Enterprise Digital Marketing, Canadian Tire
- Chris O'Brien, Vice President of Digital Marketing Technology, M&T Bank
WHAT: A webinar discussion led by ActionIQ, which will also include a Q&A session.
WHEN: July 13, 2022, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM ET
WHERE: For more information and to register for the webinar, please visit the event page here.
AIQ brings order to CX chaos. Our Customer Experience Hub empowers everyone to be a CX champion by giving business teams the freedom to explore and action on customer data while helping technical teams extend and enhance existing technology investments to manage data governance, costs and performance. Enterprise brands such as Autodesk, M&T Bank, The New York Times, Neiman Marcus, Hertz and many more use our CX Hub to drive growth through extraordinary customer experiences. Learn more at actioniq.com.
Dusya Broytman
dusya.broytman@actioniq.com
+1-201-707-2334
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SOURCE ActionIQ | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/actioniq-mampt-bank-canadian-tire-discuss-customer-experience-strategies-an-unpredictable-economy/ | 2022-07-12T15:06:43Z |
MUIRFIELD, Scotland (AP) — After seeing a five-shot lead slip away in the final round, Ashleigh Buhai still managed to secure a first major title at the Women’s British Open.
Buhai kept her composure to beat In Gee Chun — and the setting sun — in a playoff at Muirfield on Sunday for her first career victory in an LPGA Tour event.
With the light fading, the South African golfer made a superb bunker shot on the fourth playoff hole to leave herself with a short par putt, while Chun settled for a bogey.
The 33-year-old Buhai calmly rolled in from less than three feet and then clutched her face in relief, before being drenched in water and other beverages by her entourage.
“I was surprisingly calm,” Buhai said about the clutch bunker shot that secured the victory. “My caddie said to me on the last one, I don’t want to brag, but she said ‘Show them why you’re No. 1 in bunkers this year.’ So, you know, she gave me the confidence. Maybe it’s got something to do with Muirfield and South Africans and bunker shots.”
Ernie Els also won the men’s British Open in a playoff at Muirfield in 2002 after a memorable bunker shot during the final round. This was the first time the Women’s British Open was played at Muirfield, a club that didn’t even allow female members until 2019 following a vote two years earlier.
Buhai made things a lot more difficult than they had to be, though.
She entered the final round with a commanding five-shot lead and was still three strokes ahead before a triple bogey on the par-4 15th that put her level with Chun.
Both players missed long birdie putts on the 18th as they settled for a playoff after finishing on 10-under 274.
“I know there are a lot of people in South Africa with lots of gray hairs right now after that 15th hole,” Buhai said. “But I’m very proud of myself, the way I dug deep and kept myself in it to get into that playoff.”
Buhai shot a 4-over 75 in the final round, while Chun carded a 70.
Hinako Shibuno of Japan, the 2019 champion, finished one shot back in third after missing a chip from just off the green that would have made it a three-way playoff.
Chun was in trouble on the first two playoff holes, but her short game bailed her out both times.
On the first, Chun sent her second shot into a bunker while Buhai found the heart of the green. But the South Korean hit a near-perfect bunker shot to within a few feet of the hole to salvage the par.
On the second, she needed to make an 8-foot bogey putt to stay in it after sending her second shot wide and then barely making it onto the green with a chip from the tall grass.
Buhai nearly won it on the third playoff hole, but her long putt for the win pulled up a few inches away from the hole.
For Buhai, the win more than made up for a near-miss at that 2019 Women’s British Open, when she led the event at the halfway stage at Woburn but finished fifth.
“Forgive me, there will be a few tears,” Buhai said during the trophy presentation. “Obviously there’s a lot of hard work and many years of dedication going into this.”
___
More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/ashleigh-buhai-wins-womens-british-open-after-playoff/ | 2022-08-08T19:08:15Z |
- Christopher Fikry, M.D. formally starts as Clario CEO on July 1, 2022
- Previous CEO, Joe Eazor, is retiring and transitioning to the Clario Board of Directors
- New CEO commits to collaborating with customers to shape the future of medicine and medical device development with Clario's technology and scientific expertise
PHILADELPHIA, July 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clario, a technology company that delivers the leading endpoint solutions for decentralized (DCT), hybrid and site-based clinical trials, announced that the company's new chief executive officer (CEO), Christopher (Chris) Fikry, M.D., previously introduced on June 7, 2022, begins his tenure today. Dr. Fikry's predecessor, Joe Eazor, is retiring from the CEO position and transitioning to a seat on the Clario Board of Directors.
Chris joins Clario during a trajectory of growth and innovation. Clario was formed from the 2021 merger of ERT and Bioclinica. Under the leadership of Joe Eazor, the combined organization refocused on customer success and a cultural transformation that interwove the organization's purpose and values with its business strategy. It achieved accelerated momentum in the market, substantially increasing organic net revenue. At the same time, Clario launched an integrated technology roadmap that set out an innovation pathway for the future.
"During this period of substantial change in the industry, I cannot think of a company better positioned to help bring the next generation of medicines and medical devices to market," said Dr. Fikry. "Clario is fueled by a culture of excellence and I am honored to lead the company as it continues to provide best-in-class customer service and technologies that have a tangible positive impact on our customers' goals and ultimately patients' lives. Joe Eazor helped the company transition into a new growth phase and I am grateful that we will work together as I acclimate."
Dr. Fikry brings to Clario extensive knowledge and decades of industry experience which make him ideally placed to lead Clario through the many issues confronting our industry, including the challenges of increasingly complex clinical trials and pandemic-related expectations for speed. He most recently acted as President of Analytical Services Division at Thermo Fisher Scientific and previously served as head of Global Lab Services for PPD and held senior executive roles at Novartis and Quest Laboratories. Dr. Fikry shares a commitment with biopharmaceutical R&D teams to deliver better healthcare options to patients as well as a pledge to provide high-quality service.
Clario is a leading technology company that generates the richest clinical evidence in the industry for our pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device partners. Across decentralized and site-based trials, our deep scientific expertise, global scale and the broadest endpoint technology platform in the industry allows our partners to transform lives. Clario's Trial Anywhere™ solutions have been powering hybrid and decentralized clinical trials (DCT) for over 15 years, enabling sponsors to collect high-quality endpoint data from any modality or location, all while improving the patient experience and diversity. Clario has the only technology platform that combines eCOA, cardiac safety, medical imaging, precision motion, and respiratory endpoints. With 30 facilities in nine countries, Clario's global team of science, technology and operational experts has helped deliver over 19,000 trials and 870 regulatory for over 5m patients in 120 countries. Our innovation has been transforming clinical trials for 50 years.
Clario Media Contact
Duncan Cantor
Sr. Director, Corporate Communications
media@clario.com
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SOURCE Clario | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/01/new-clario-ceo-christopher-fikry-md-lead-company-through-next-phase-growth-innovation/ | 2022-07-01T11:33:20Z |
Global Agreement Calls for Development and Commercialization of EarlySign LungFlag™ to Accelerate Earlier Identification and Treatment of Lung Cancer
TEL AVIV, Israel, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Medial EarlySign (earlysign.com), a pioneering company developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) based clinical predictive analytics, announced today the signing of a new partnership with Roche, which will focus on innovative, evidence-based solutions for early detection of lung cancer. In 2020, over 235,000 people in the US[1] and over 2.2 million people worldwide[2] were diagnosed with lung cancer. Lung cancer has the second largest incidence of all cancers and is the deadliest cancer for both men and women.
The goal of this new collaborative effort is to deliver validated clinical machine learning models to advance lung cancer identification which can lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment. Early identification of high-risk individuals has the potential to improve lung cancer survival rates by finding the disease at an earlier stage when it is more likely to be curable.
By using proven, highly accurate models based on variety of signals including basic demographic, medical, drug, and routine clinical lab data, EarlySign's LungFlag™ is designed to help providers focus additional effort on enriched sub-populations flagged by LungFlag and determine care pathways such that follow-up screenings can be more precisely prescribed in a cost-effective manner.
This new agreement builds on an already existing collaboration between Roche's Diagnostics division and EarlySign, which originally focused on a personalized health solution for early detection of gastric cancer. Structured to bring new clinical machine learning solutions to the global market, the collaboration further demonstrates the parties desire to transform healthcare delivery through digital solutions with smart algorithms that allow personalized preventive care to improve outcomes for patients while making care more affordable and sustainable.
"As the only company combining pharma and diagnostics solutions, as well as cutting-edge tech and data capabilities under one roof, we are working towards a future in which treatments are targeted to an individual's needs" commented James Sabry, Head of Roche Pharma Partnering. "To achieve this goal, we are eager to team up with innovative partners like EarlySign, who share our vision to enable better decision-making and ultimately improve patient outcomes."
"Our ongoing partnership with Roche's Diagnostics and now also the Pharmaceuticals division helps accelerate the development and deployment of transformational technologies that create new opportunities to ease the burden of serious disease for people throughout the world," commented Ori Geva, CEO and co-founder of EarlySign. "Our partnership with Roche continues to put patients first by seeking better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases. Our proven machine learning infrastructure and modeling capabilities provide vital insights that create clinical efficiencies allowing for more precise and personalized care."
About Medial EarlySign
Medial EarlySign helps healthcare stakeholders keep patients healthier longer. Their software solutions derive actionable and personalized clinical insights from health data. EarlySign's AlgoMarkers and predictive solutions can help clients select enriched subpopulations and more accurately identify and prioritize patients for multiple conditions for interventions to halt or prevent the serious complications from the onset of disease or optimize clinical trials design and recruitment. The company's machine learning purpose-built platform and development environment enables fast and high-quality development of custom models and adaptation or reuse of pre-built models supported by peer-reviewed research published by internationally recognized health organizations and hospitals.
Amongst numerous publications and studies, EarlySign was a named a winner of the CMS AI Health Outcomes Challenge. Founded in 2013, Medial EarlySign is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. For more information, please visit: https://earlysign.com/.
Follow Medial EarlySign on LinkedIn: Medial EarlySign
Media Contact:
Darrell Atkin
darrella@earlysign.com
+1.760.390.6036
[1] NIH Cancer Stat Facts: https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/lungb.html
[2] Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries - https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21660
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SOURCE Medial EarlySign | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/earlysign-announces-strategic-collaboration-agreement-with-roche-ai-solution-early-detection-lung-cancer/ | 2022-07-07T17:09:20Z |
Established industry professional will oversee the company's operational functions
DALLAS, April 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwestern Asset Management ("Southwestern" or "SwAM"), a Texas-based farm and farm-related real estate fund manager, announced today that Nick Davis, MBA, has joined the firm as a partner and its vice president of operations. In this role, Davis will manage all logistics associated with running the company and lead a team responsible for carrying out all of SwAM's essential duties.
Bringing more than a decade of financial services industry experience to his new role, Davis will work to ensure that the company's business plan and overall strategic vision is achieved. Partnering directly with Southwestern's executive management and staff, he will create, implement, and oversee the strategies for operational processes, internal infrastructures and other company policies that will continue to drive Southwestern forward as the organization expands.
"Nick and I have known each other since attending college together at Texas Tech," said Cole Gilliam Parks, president and managing member of Southwestern. "The trust and confidence that I have in him would typically take years to build, but Nick and I have already been through that before joining our firm. Pair that with Nick's history of operational success and track record of achieving clear and measurable results, and I am confident that he will play a pivotal role in helping to ensure Southwestern continues to provide innovative farm and agriculture investment opportunities to our investors."
Prior to joining Southwestern, Davis served as vice president for Oakwood Bank, where he oversaw the operations of a $100 million loan portfolio and worked to identify prospects for the organization's loan and deposit business. Davis also previously served as a senior associate for PrimaLend Capital Partners where he managed another sizable loan portfolio, along with Prosperity Bank where he was a senior credit analyst. Throughout his career, Davis has also served as a sales consultant at Invesco, Ltd and Resolute Investment Managers, where he received the "Top Gun" award for the highest overall sales of any two-person team.
Davis holds an MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Additionally, he is FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities licensed. He is also very active in the local community, working with non-profit groups such as Habitat for Humanity and Junior Achievement.
About Southwestern Asset Management
The Founders of Southwestern Asset management have deep roots in the agriculture industry, coming from at least six generations of farming, livestock production, and agribusiness services. The firm currently manages multiple limited partnerships and real estate investments. SwAM is a Southwestern Group subsidiary.
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SOURCE Southwestern Asset Management | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/25/southwestern-asset-management-adds-nick-davis-partner/ | 2022-04-25T16:38:38Z |
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s prime minister faced questions Wednesday over his purchase of 4.6 million zlotys (over $1 million) in Polish treasury bonds, amid suspicions he made an investment that traditionally offers protection against inflation at a time when authorities were officially saying the inflation risk was low.
Opposition lawmakers have demanded that Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki explain in parliament whether he bought the bonds in 2021 knowing that rising inflation was on the horizon despite government proclamations.
Prices in May soared almost 14% compared to a year ago, lowering the standard of living for ordinary Poles. Energy costs in particular have skyrocketed, while mortgage rates are rising as the central bank raises interest rates on loans much more than on deposits.
Donald Tusk, the leader of the main opposition party, said there’s something “deeply immoral” in the actions of Morawiecki, who for years served as chairman of the board for a large bank in Poland.
“A few months ago he did not tell the Poles that there would be inflation. But he took care of himself and bought treasury bonds that protected his money against inflation,” Tusk, leader of the pro-market Civic Platform, said this week.
Morawiecki declared the bond purchase in an obligatory yearly financial report.
The government has refused requests by Polish media to provide details of the investments. Morawiecki, facing reporters’ questions on Tuesday, said investing in state treasuries serves the good of the country.
But government spokesman Piotr Mueller acknowledged Tuesday that the bonds could offer some protection against inflation.
“Every citizen has the right to buy them. Bonds are constructed in such a way that you can use them to fight the effects of inflation,” Mueller said.
Morawiecki has blamed the high inflation on Russia’s war against Ukraine, but economists note that other factors are also at play, including shortages and supply problems resulting from pandemic lockdowns.
The Polish central bank had insisted for many months last year — despite rising prices — that inflation would not be a problem before finally moving in the fall to raise interest rates. Meanwhile the Polish government has also cut taxes on fuel and energy and offered cash bonuses to give some relief to citizens, but not enough to offset the level of inflation.
The investments of Morawiecki and his family have come under scrutiny before.
His wife, Iwona, earned over 14 million zlotys ($3.5 million) for selling plots of land that the couple had bought for 700,000 zlotys in 2002 from the Catholic Church, according to the TVN broadcaster. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/polish-leader-faces-questions-about-timing-of-bond-purchase/ | 2022-06-08T23:33:13Z |
BAODING, China, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, the "2022 PV Module Index Report " was released by Renewable Energy Test Center (RETC). Yingli won the "High Achiever" award for the year again with its excellent performance in three dimensions of quality indicators, performance indicators and reliability indicators, becoming one of the top six performers of the year.
As a leading provider of photovoltaic and renewable energy engineering services and certification testing, RETC publishes the "PV Module Index Report" every year, which summarizes the results of bankability and beyond- certification tests conducted at RETC's accredited PV Module Index Report laboratories over 12 months, spanning Q2 2021 through Q1 2022. Based on the results of the rigorous testing of IEC certification standards, it provides performance data for long-term application of PV modules, and provides decision-making basis for investors and customers. The indicators include 11 categories such as module efficiency, LID resistance, and dump heat test, etc. In addition to being recognized in all three dimensions, Yingli has also won 7 individual outstanding performance awards, and has been listed in the Top list for two consecutive years.
Yingli always attaches great importance to the control of product quality, and has invested in new highly automated production and quality management equipment in Baoding, Tianjin, Hengshui and other places to achieve whole-process and whole-system quality control, and built customer centers to provide technical support and consulting services in Europe, Latam and Australia.
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SOURCE Yingli Solar | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/yingli-won-high-achiever-award-retc-pmir-2022/ | 2022-07-05T06:58:20Z |
Hot Ticket: NASCAR hub gets sellout for Memorial Day weekend
By STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR is still alive and well in Charlotte. Charlotte Motor Speedway announced a complete sellout for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, meaning approximately 100,000 fans are expected to attend NASCAR’s longest race. Grandstands seats sold out earlier this week. Officials announced Saturday that all premium, reserved and standing-room-only seats have all been purchased as well. Kyle Larson won the race last year and is the favorite to win again. It will be the largest crowd for the Coca-Cola 600 since 2017, according to track officials. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/28/hot-ticket-nascar-hub-gets-sellout-for-memorial-day-weekend/ | 2022-05-28T20:31:36Z |
The Chisholm Trail Chorus of Sweet Adelines International did not let a virtual world halt their passion for performing choreographed classic and contemporary music in four-part barbershop harmony.
“Just as the world shut down in March 2020 because of the (COVID-19) pandemic, so did all singing organizations around the globe. We were only one week away from heading to regional contest,” Carol Mouché, the technology and marketing coordinator for the all-woman a capella group, said. “We didn’t want to lose our momentum so we switched formats and held rehearsals on Zoom. Everyone, even our 80-year-old members, jumped on board and learned the technology.”
However, chorus — which features singers from the cities of Temple, Belton, Harker Heights, Killeen, Troy, Rogers, Little River, Georgetown, Copperas Cove, Lometa, Hamilton and Conroe — faced a new challenge with the video communications software.
The video and sound would not always remain in sync.
“Director Carol Scherer decided to focus on music education by hiring ‘virtual’ guest coaches and showing videos to teach chorus members about vocal production, performance techniques, stamina building and other music-related topics,” Mouché said.
The Chisholm Trail Chorus followed this format of weekly Zoom meetings for nearly two years before it began rehearsing face-to-face again in May 2021.
“Strict (Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention) protocol was followed to keep everyone safe at in-person rehearsal,” Sheila Donahue, the chorus president, said. “We took temperatures, signed liability waivers, wore masks and had chairs spaced out six feet apart at our rehearsal hall at the Cultural Activities Center. It was so exciting to actually hear harmony in person again.”
That resiliency and drive recently paid off, as the chorus earned third place in the Small Chorus Division and fifth place overall during the Sweet Adelines International regional contest last March — a competition that was canceled in 2020 and 2021.
It was the 25th year that the Chisholm Trail Chorus placed in the top five.
“What a joy it was to sing with all of our Region 10 sisters again,” Belton resident Sheila Donahue, said. “Truly it was a ‘lovefest’ of the highest order.”
Now, the chorus is preparing for the “It Takes Courage (and a Great Pair of Shoes)” show that it has scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 19, at the Azalee Marshall Cultural Activities Center in Temple. The program also will feature other local choral groups.
The chorus is open to all women who enjoy singing. Anyone interested in joining may attend the group’s rehearsals, which are held on Thursday nights at the CAC, 3011 N. Third St. Auditions are held throughout the year. For information visit chisholmtrailchorus.org. | https://www.tdtnews.com/life/article_531ad7d6-ee3e-11ec-bf6f-2fecf3371fb8.html | 2022-06-19T08:11:17Z |
Morgan Spurlock directed and starred in the 2004 film “Super Size Me,” a documentary in which he ate only food from McDonald’s for 30 days. Over the course of a month, Spurlock, age 32, gained 24½ pounds and increased his body mass index by 13%.
Spurlock also experienced other changes in his body that weren’t particularly healthy. However, they’re way too complicated for someone like me who barely passed anatomy to even try to explain. So you’ll just have to trust me here.
Now, I’d like to take a moment to address Mr. Spurlock directly.
♦ ♦ ♦
Dear Mr. Spurlock,
Sir, there’s no doubt that what you did in your documentary was interesting and informative. But I have a news flash for you: You weren’t the first. Been there, done that.
By comparison, sir, you are merely an amateur. You’ll understand why I say that once you know my story:
When Cindy and I were married in the summer of 1977, I weighed 164 pounds, which seemed about right for someone a couple of inches shy of 6 feet. One year later, after our first two semesters of graduate school — I was 23 at the time — I spent the summer working at a fast-food joint serving far better burgers than McDonald’s: Burger King. (Incidentally, a king trumps a clown — seriously, Ronald? — every time.)
Burger King, as you know, is the home of the Whopper. A Whopper paired with an order of fries, the two together tip the scales at just over 1,100 calories. According to the USDA, that’s about half of my daily allotment. Add a vanilla milkshake — keep in mind that as a BK employee, I ate for free, so for a newlywed grad student, that was a pretty big deal — and we’ll call it an even 1,800 calories.
That’s the meal I had for lunch every single day — a Whopper, fries, and a shake — the entire time I worked there. Remember, your regimen lasted only a month. Mine lasted for three.
After work each day, I downed a beer or two because, well, I deserved it. According to the USDA, that left me with hardly any calories for anything else. Like breakfast, dinner, fruits or vegetables. Basically, anything with nutrition. I only had one chance of staying within my daily allotment of calories, and it was a fat one.
Speaking of fat, that’s exactly what happened. By the time classes picked up again in September, I was carrying around an additional 31 pounds and my waistline had grown six inches. I have no idea what my body mass index was at the time — I suck at anatomy — but I was well-aware that my weight had increased by 20%. At the rate I was going, in another year I would have doubled my original weight. (Unlike anatomy, I was good in math.) I can’t imagine what my waist would have looked like, but it probably would have been in the neighborhood of, say, Jackie Gleason.
Over the course of the summer, I turned into a super-duper-sized version of myself. In case I had any doubts, Cindy was there to remind me.
Toward the end of my 90-day Whopper-palooza, she pointed at my reflection in the mirror — specifically at my stomach that had done lapped over my belt. (That was the origin of the medical term Dunlap’s disease, incidentally. The more you know ...) Four words came out of her mouth: “You’re fat; go run.”
So I did. Over the next six months, I lost all of the pounds and inches that I had gained during the summer — and then some. Running shoes replaced the Whopper and fries in my daily regimen. Suddenly, instead of consuming a couple thousand calories a day, I was burning that many off.
It’s not like I had a choice. And it wasn’t only because I was overweight. I was also getting tired of hearing fat jokes. I imagine you heard your fair share as well, but I doubt they could hold a torch to some of the ones I heard.
I was at the beach and a lifeguard asked me to move so the tide could come in. A friend said to me, “I heard you wanted to lose 30 pounds — and you only have 40 to go.” A complete stranger once asked if it was true that when I got on the bathroom scale it read “One at a time, please.”
This was always my comeback: “I might weigh 200 pounds on earth, but I’d only weigh about 75 pounds on Mars. I’m not fat; I’m just on the wrong planet.”
OK, so it wasn’t the greatest. But there wasn’t a lot of material to work with.
Now that I haven’t been called fat for more than four decades, some people think of me as skinny. In some cases, too skinny. Occasionally, acquaintances who don’t see me on a regular basis ask me if I’ve been sick.
However, I never hear any jokes about being thin. “You’re so skinny you have to run around in the shower to get wet,” for example. I guess that’s because they’re not very funny.
But I’d rather be called skinny than hear even one more fat joke. I can’t tell you how many times people used to say to me, “You’re not fat, you’re just three feet too short.” (True confession: I thought that one was pretty funny.)
Now, Mr. Spurlock, you know my story. I think you’ll agree with my original assessment that you, sir, are merely an amateur.
Leave fat to the professionals.
Scott Ludwig is a retired businessman, a published author and a runner. His columns appear in The Albany Herald on Fridays.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/local/scott-ludwig-super-duper-size-me/article_b435f12a-1988-11ed-9c24-93632a46b57e.html | 2022-08-11T22:42:18Z |
WASHINGTON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bracewell LLP announced today that Catherine D. Little and Annie Cook, two of the nation's leading lawyers on pipeline and LNG safety matters, have joined Bracewell's Washington, DC office as partners in the energy regulatory practice. They come to the firm from Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP.
"I am thrilled to welcome Catherine and Annie to the firm," said Bracewell Managing Partner Gregory M. Bopp. "They are highly respected practitioners who bring additional expertise to our preeminent pipeline practice, further solidifying our position as the market leader in regulatory, transactional and enforcement matters involving oil and natural gas pipelines."
Little and Cook lead what is widely considered as the top pipeline safety practice in the United States. They advise oil and gas pipeline infrastructure on regulatory compliance and enforcement defense, from construction to operation, including incident response and security issues. They regularly counsel clients on litigation strategy, conduct large-scale, confidential investigations and compliance audits to assist companies in identifying legal risks and preparing defenses on pipeline safety enforcement matters.
"Catherine and Annie are a perfect addition to our market-leading pipeline team," said Mark K. Lewis, managing partner of Bracewell's Washington, DC office and chair of the firm's oil and gas regulatory practice. "Pipeline and LNG safety is a growing practice, with increased federal oversight and compliance requirements, including those for oil, natural gas, carbon dioxide and pipelines that move other products, such as hydrogen. With Catherine and Annie's arrival, Bracewell's pipeline practice has expanded our expertise into a growing area of increasing importance to our clients, furthering our position as the 'one-stop' legal shop for clients in the pipeline industry."
Bracewell is consistently recognized by Chambers USA, Chambers Global and Legal 500 US as having one of the world's leading oil and gas regulatory practices. The firm regularly advises midstream companies on the unique regulatory issues and disputes involving oil and gas pipelines and carbon capture utilization and storage projects that further the ongoing energy transition as well as traditional infrastructure.
"Bracewell has one of the top pipeline practices in the country. Annie and I are excited to join this highly regarded team. With colleagues in key locations such as Houston and Washington, DC, we will be able to better serve our clients, including across practice areas, while providing added pipeline and LNG safety expertise to existing Bracewell clients," said Little.
Little earned her B.A. from the University of Virginia and her J.D., cum laude, from Tulane University Law School. Cook received her B.A., magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Kenyon College and her J.D., with honors, from Emory School of Law.
Bracewell is a leading law and government relations firm primarily serving the energy, infrastructure, finance and technology industries throughout the world. Our industry focus results in comprehensive state-of-the-art knowledge of the commercial, legal and governmental challenges faced by our clients and enables us to provide innovative solutions to facilitate transactions and resolve disputes.
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SOURCE Bracewell LLP | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/leading-pipeline-safety-partners-catherine-little-annie-cook-join-bracewells-energy-regulatory-practice/ | 2022-06-27T16:12:41Z |
Spurred by conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election, activists around the country are using laws that allow people to challenge a voter’s right to cast a ballot to contest the registrations of thousands of voters at a time.
In Iowa, Linn County Auditor Joel Miller had handled three voter challenges over the previous 15 years. He received 119 over just two days after Doug Frank, an Ohio educator who is touring the country spreading doubts about the 2020 election, swung through the state.
In Nassau County in northern Florida, two residents challenged the registrations of nearly 2,000 voters just six days before last month’s primary. In Georgia, activists are dropping off boxloads of challenges in the diverse and Democratic-leaning counties comprising the Atlanta metro area, including more than 35,000 in one county late last month.
Election officials say the vast majority of the challenges will be irrelevant because they contest the presence on voting rolls of people who already are in the process of being removed after they moved out of the region. Still, they create potentially hundreds of hours of extra work as the offices scramble to prepare for November’s election.
“They at best overburden election officials in the run-up to an election, and at worse they lead to people being removed from the rolls when they shouldn’t be,” said Sean Morales-Doyle of The Brennan Center for Justice, which has tracked an upswing in voter challenges.
The voter challenges come as activists who believe in the election lies of former President Donald Trump also have flooded election offices across the country with public records requests and threats of litigation, piling even more work on them as they ready for November.
“It’s time-consuming for us, because we have to consult with our county attorneys about what the proper response is going to be,” said Rachel Rodriguez, an elections supervisor in Dane County, Wisconsin, which includes Madison, the state capital.
She received duplicate emails demanding records about two weeks ago: “It’s taking up valuable time that we don’t necessarily have as election officials when we’re trying to prepare for a November election.”
Michael Henrici, the Democratic commissioner of elections in New York’s Otsego County, received a single-line email last week warning of unspecified “election integrity” litigation, then a follow-up complaining he hadn’t responded.
“These aren’t people with specific grievances,” Henrici said. “They’re getting a form letter from someone’s podcast and sometimes filling in the blanks.”
Multiple investigations and reviews, including one by Trump’s own Department of Justice, found no significant fraud i n the 2020 presidential election, and courts rejected dozens of lawsuits brought by Trump and his allies. But Trump has continued to insist that widespread fraud cost him re-election. That has inspired legions of activists to become do-it-yourself election sleuths around the country, challenging local voting officials at every turn.
In Linn County, Iowa, which includes the city of Cedar Rapids, Miller said he and the auditors who run elections in the state’s other 98 counties have been deluged with both records requests and voter challenges.
“The whole barrage came in a two-week period,” Miller said, following the tour by Frank, who uses mathematical projections to make claims of a vast conspiracy to steal the election from Trump, “and it’s happening to auditors across the state.”
Election offices routinely go through their voter rolls and remove those who have moved or died. Federal law constrains how quickly they can drop voters, and conservative activists have long complained that election officials do not move swiftly enough to clean up their rolls.
The recent challenges stem from activists comparing postal change-of-address and other databases to voter rolls. Election officials say this is redundant, because they already take the same steps.
Sometimes the challenges come after election conspiracists go door-to-door, often in heavily minority neighborhoods, seeking evidence that votes were cast improperly in 2020.
Texas’ heavily Democratic Harris County, which includes Houston, received nearly 5,000 challenges from a conservative group that went door-to-door checking voter addresses. The election office said it dismissed the challenges it legally had to review before the election and will finish the remainder after Nov. 8.
Activists in Gwinnett County, which stretches across the increasingly Democratic northern Atlanta suburbs, spent 10 months comparing change-of-address and other databases with the county’s voter rolls. They submitted eight boxes of challenges last month. About 15,000, they said, were complaints that specific voters improperly received mail ballots in 2020. Another 22,000 were for voters they contend are no longer at their registered address.
There are so many challenges that election officials have yet to even count them all. But Zach Manifold, Gwinnett’s election supervisor, said that, in every single mail ballot complaint the office has sampled, the voter properly received a mailed ballot.
But if any of the address-challenged voters do try to cast a ballot in November, the county’s elections board will need to decide whether that vote should count. They’ll only have six days to make a decision, as they have to certify their vote total by the Monday after Election Day under Georgia law.
Manifold estimated his office has a month to log and research the challenges, before mail ballots go out for the November elections: “It is a tight window to get everything done,” he said.
Many of the large counties facing voter roll challenges are places where President Joe Biden beat Trump in 2020, including Gwinnett and Harris. Yet those behind the effort dispute the notion that they are targeting Democratic-leaning counties and say they’re working on behalf of all voters. In Florida’s Nassau County, for example, Trump won with more than 72% of the vote.
“They should be glad that the voter rolls are being cleaned up so they can make sure their votes count,” said Garland Favorito, a conservative activist who has teamed up with supporters of Trump’s election lies and is helping with voter challenges in Georgia.
Favorito said more challenges are coming in other Georgia counties.
Under legislation passed last year by the Republican-controlled Legislature, there are no limits on the number of voter challenges that can be filed in Georgia. Most states implicitly set restraints on challenges, said Morales-Doyle of the Brennan Center. They require a complainant to have specific, personal information about the voters they target and establish penalties for making frivolous challenges.
Florida is an example. Its voter challenge law only permits the filing of challenges 30 days before an election, requiring election officials to contact each voter challenged before Election Day. It is a misdemeanor to file a “frivolous” challenge. But voter challenges almost derailed Florida’s primary last month in heavily-Republican Nassau County, in the northeastern part of the state.
Two women who belonged to a conservative group, County Citizens Defending Freedom, dropped off the nearly 2,000 challenges at the county elections office six days before the Aug. 23 primary.
Luckily for the office, the challenges were filed in an incorrect format. Elections Supervisor Janet Adkins told the activists they would review them, anyway — after the primary.
“To take away a person’s right to vote is a very serious thing,” Adkins said.
—-
Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-voter-challenges-records-requests-swamp-election-offices/ | 2022-09-17T23:09:19Z |
IAR Systems is proud to announce its new v3.10 of IAR Embedded Workbench, and IAR Build Tools for Renesas RH850, a world-leading device often used to create groundbreaking solutions in the next generation vehicles by the automotive industry globally.
UPPSALA, Sweden, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The growing complexity of automotive applications require real-time control without sacrificing performance. This can only be achieved with modern multi-core RH850 Automotive MCUs from Renesas. IAR Systems® is the only tool vendor to deliver development tools for the entire line-up of Renesas MCUs, and the latest releases strengthen the long-standing collaboration.
The IAR Embedded Workbench for RH850 and IAR Build Tools for RH850 have been upgraded to the latest technology platforms, including the latest C/C++ language (library support for the C++17 language standard), which will allow developers to build far more advanced code to handle more complex tasks.
Today's release also includes 64-bit IDE & Editor enhancements with Dark Mode, and cross-platform IAR Build Tools streamlined for automated build and test processes in frameworks built on Ubuntu, Red Hat, or Windows.
The release also provides developers with extensions for Visual Studio Code to meet increasing customer demand. The extensions are compatible with the latest versions of IAR Embedded Workbench, and IAR Build Tools for RH850, made available seamlessly at Visual Studio Code Marketplace.
The latest version of IAR Toolchain for RH850 supports all the latest Renesas RH850 high-performance and scalable automotive multicore MCUs.
"Our investments in Embedded Development Solutions for RH850 in the latest technology platforms will improve our joint customers' ability to innovate by simplifying the move to - and use of - high-performance multi-core MCUs", said Rafael Taubinger, Senior Product Marketing Manager at IAR Systems.
The IAR Toolchain provides exceptional design flexibility for embedded developers working with the extensive Renesas product portfolio. It also delivers outstanding performance and enables customers to easily switch between different architectures and choose the one best suited for a specific application while using the same development tools. The products from IAR Systems are proven to simplify the reuse of code, shorten time to market, and reduce design time and project cost while improving productivity, allowing developers to focus on accelerated innovation.
Since the beginning, IAR Systems and Renesas have had a profound and robust relationship based on trust, thought leadership, and a mutual passion for innovation and customer success. As a Renesas Alliance Partner, IAR Systems are committed to continuing to supply high-end tools for all Renesas MCUs, beyond the +4000 Renesas devices already supported.
Find more information about the new products at https://www.iar.com/products/architectures/renesas/iar-embedded-workbench-for-renesas-rh850/ and https://www.iar.com/products/architectures/renesas/iar-build-tools-for-rh850/
IAR Systems Contacts
Rafael Taubinger, Senior Product Marketing Manager, IAR Systems
Tel: +46 18 16 78 00 Email: rafael.taubinger@iar.com
Jesper Andersson - Rydåker, CMO, IAR Systems
Tel: +46 18 16 78 00 Email: jesper.andersson-rydaker@iar.com
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE IAR Systems | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/iar-systems-enable-innovation-automotive-providing-full-support-renesas-rh850/ | 2022-07-05T10:01:46Z |
PITTSBURGH, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I noticed people struggling to hold their phones during video calls to show the caller what they're looking at, from working on a project to shopping at the store. I thought there should be a hands-free way to capture and share real-time video without the hassle of holding or propping up a smartphone," said an inventor, from West Chicago, Ill., "so I invented the DUCAM. My design enables the person on the other end of the call to see exactly what you're looking at while working, shopping, hiking, instructing, etc."
The patent-pending invention provides users with an improved pair of headphones and body-style camera with wired and wireless capabilities. In doing so, it enables you to share or send video recordings to a cell phone. As a result, it increases convenience and comfort. The invention features a simple design that is easy to use so it is ideal for individuals with cellular telephones. Additionally, it would not be directly cell service dependent and it is producible in design variations.
The original design was submitted to the Chicago sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-CHK-155, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/inventhelp-inventor-develops-hands-free-device-video-calls-chk-155/ | 2022-05-19T16:02:31Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — April 25 is World Penguin Day and Dallas Zoo is chiming in on the international holiday with pictures and an announcement of a major milestone.
Zoo officials tweeted, “Happy #WorldPenguinDay! At the Zoo, our penguins are currently off-habitat because of avian flu in Texas. To help protect endangered African penguins in the wild, we’ve partnered with Dyer Island Conservation Trust to install nearly 1,500 artificial nests across South Africa.” | https://cw33.com/lifestyle/dallas-zoo-says-its-help-install-nearly-1500-penguin-nests-in-south-africa/ | 2022-04-25T23:05:59Z |
DETROIT, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, two former Lake Michigan Credit Union (LMCU) loan officers accused the bank of violating federal and state labor laws. In a 57-page class action lawsuit filed by public interest powerhouse Clarkson Law Firm, P.C., Brad Cook and Hannah Ritzenhein detailed allegations against LMCU of exploiting current and former loan officers by withholding the loan officers' commissions unless they completed unpaid work outside their job duties. The pair allege that as much as half of their work was completed without pay on completing post-sale administrative tasks reserved for hourly paid loan processors.
According to the lawsuit, "LMCU's unlawful wage scheme works like this: (1) LMCU lures Loan Officers to their company under a compensation structure that is 100% commission-based…; (2) LMCU then piles on additional duties and responsibilities akin to those of a Loan Processor after the fact, which take up nearly 50% of the Loan Officer's time and energy; and (3) LMCU pays the Loan Officers zero dollars for nearly 50% of their work."
The former employees see irony in Michigan's fastest-growing credit union professing family values as its recipe for success: "Defendant falsely portrays company values of support, respect, and community. Ironically, Defendant states, 'Beyond the numbers, figures, and calculations, when you come to work for LMCU, you become part of a family. This is a family that values your efforts and treats you with respect, dignity, and fairness.' Defendant markets a supportive work environment, when in reality, Defendant exploits Loan Officers' time, energy, and ultimately, denies them their rightful compensation."
Cook and Ritzenhein are seeking unpaid wages and structural changes to the credit union's compensation system so that other loan officers receive the money and employment standards they deserve.
The case is pending before the Honorable Denise Page Hood in the United States Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Case Number 2:22-cv-12074-DPH-APP. Visit clarksonlawfirm.com for updates on this case.
Contact: media@clarksonlawfirm.com
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SOURCE Clarkson Law Firm, PC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/15/fast-growing-lake-michigan-credit-union-holds-hostage-loan-officer-pay/ | 2022-09-15T05:45:13Z |
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union moved Wednesday to lift visa requirements for people from Qatar and Kuwait to make it easier for them to enter many European countries for stays of up to 90 days.
The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, said it recommended allowing people from the two Mideast countries who hold biometric passports to enter without visas for short stays.
The proposal would apply to business, tourist and family-related travel and grant visa-free access to all EU member counteries except Ireland, as well as entry to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
EU lawmakers and member countries must first endorse the commission’s plan, and then an agreement would be drawn up with Qatar and Kuwait.
The European Commission said the two countries present a low risk of allowing unauthorized migrants to enter Europe. Kuwait and Qatar “are also important economic partners for the Union, in particular in the area of energy,” it said.
The EU has been talking to Qatar in recent months about ensuring gas supplies as concern mounted that Russia might cut supplies to Europe.
EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said the bloc “will continue engaging with the remaining visa-required Gulf countries that are interested in visa-free travel to the EU.” | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/eu-moves-to-lift-visa-rules-for-travelers-from-qatar-kuwait/ | 2022-04-27T18:56:08Z |
Experienced Government Technology and Healthcare Leaders Join Board of Directors
MCLEAN, Va., June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CNSI, a leading provider of innovative healthcare technology products and solutions, announced today the formation of its new Board of Directors, following the company's acquisition by investment funds affiliated with global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) in December 2021. The Board includes several industry leaders with extensive experience in government technology and healthcare, including: Donna Morea (Chair), Lawrence B. Prior III, Penny Thompson, and Tom Weston.
"As a Carlyle portfolio company, CNSI is very pleased to be working with the outstanding team of health and IT industry experts who have joined our new Board of Directors," said Todd Stottlemyer, CEO, CNSI. "I am excited for the journey ahead as we work together to further strengthen CNSI's market-leading products and solutions while also accelerating key investments that will help us bring even greater value and innovation for our state and federal healthcare clients."
Donna Morea serves as Board Chair; she is the former President of CGI, where her clients included many of the world's largest and most complex organizations in federal, state and local government, healthcare, and financial services. Since 2016, she has served as an Operating Executive with Carlyle, advising portfolio companies on strategic and growth initiatives. Morea also serves as a Trustee of Inova Health System, the largest healthcare system in Northern Virginia, and she is a Chair Emerita of the Northern Virginia Technology Council, which is the nation's largest technology council.
"Having worked with Todd Stottlemyer and other CNSI executive leaders throughout my career, I know the team's drive and commitment to be a trusted partner to their clients, a best place to work, and a good corporate citizen within the community," said Morea. She added, "With exceptional products, people, and processes already in place, CNSI is poised for tremendous growth, and I'm looking forward to helping them maximize their full potential."
In addition to Morea and Stottlemyer, CNSI's Board of Directors includes the following members:
- Dayne Baird – Managing Director at Carlyle, who leads the firm's efforts in the government services sector.
- Michael Echemendia – Vice President at Carlyle, with a focus on investments in the aerospace, defense, and government services sectors.
- Michael Gozycki – Managing Director at Carlyle, with a focus on a broad range of growth, middle market, and large cap technology investments.
- Lawrence B. Prior III – Carlyle Operating Executive, with a focus on government services, and the former CEO of CSRA Inc.
- Penny Thompson – Healthcare Advisor and former Chair, MACPAC Commission; former CMS Deputy Director, Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services.
- Tom Weston – Former Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, ECS Federal, LLC.
Read their full bios under "About" at www.cns-inc.com.
CNSI delivers a broad range of health information technology enterprise solutions and customizable products to a diverse base of state and federal agencies in the United States. CNSI aligns, builds, and manages innovative, high-quality, cost-effective solutions that help clients achieve their mission, enhance business performance, reduce costs, and improve the health of individuals and communities. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia with a major technology center in Chennai, India, CNSI employs a world-class team of technologists, program managers, and subject matter experts with large-scale, mission-critical information technology implementation experience. Learn more at www.cns-inc.com.
Contact:
Janice Moore
Janice.Moore@cns-inc.com
703-214-3552
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SOURCE CNSI | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/13/cnsi-announces-new-board-directors-following-carlyle-acquisition/ | 2022-06-13T13:57:26Z |
Multi-Biomarker Approach Achieves 61 Percent Sensitivity for Cancer at an Overall Specificity of 98.2 Percent in Robust Case-Control Study Including Nearly 600 Cancer Samples
Data will Inform the Largest Registrational Multi-Cancer Early Detection Study Ever Conducted in the United States to Support Another Leading Test in Exact Sciences' Screening Portfolio
MADISON, Wis., Sept. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Exact Sciences Corp. (Nasdaq: EXAS), a leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, today announced data from a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) biomarker validation study was presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress. The study rigorously assessed the performance of four distinct biomarker classes found in the blood and known to signal the presence of cancer regardless of its location in the body.
"Cancer releases a diverse set of biomarkers into the blood that can be harnessed to detect the devastating disease at earlier stages," said Tom Beer, M.D., F.A.C.P., chief medical officer and vice president, multi-cancer early detection, Exact Sciences. "These data demonstrate in a large, well-designed case-control study that combining different cancer biomarkers improves cancer detection, especially in stages I and II, when treatment may be more effective for patients. This is a major step forward in our mission to detect cancer earlier before signs and symptoms appear."
Four biomarker classes, discovered through years of collaboration with Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic and analyzed together for the first time in this study, demonstrated the ability to detect cancer signal from 15 organ sites with a mean sensitivity of 61% and mean specificity of 98.2%. The multi-biomarker approach, including aneuploidy, proteins, and DNA methylation and mutations, provided encouraging cancer detection in stages I and II, with a combined sensitivity of 38.7%.
Sensitivities by Cancer Stage for Four-Biomarker Class Set
The retrospective, case-control study included cancers from 11 organ sites with no recommended screening option today and 15 organ sites and tissue in total, including breast, bladder, colon, esophageal, kidney, liver, lung, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, stomach, and uterine. The non-cancer control cohort included age-matched, presumably healthy individuals and samples from individuals with non-cancer diseases to represent the intended use population more effectively.
Many cancers can be cured if detected early and treated effectively.i Yet cancer remains the second leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for approximately 1 in every 6 deathsii, with no recommended screening tests available for 70 percent of cancer diagnoses.
"Being able to screen patients for multiple cancers with a blood test, especially those that don't have a current screening option, is extremely exciting," said Anne Marie Lennon M.B.B.Ch., Ph.D. Director, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine. "Robust studies like this one are important in understanding the potential effectiveness of a multi-biomarker approach to MCED. This study shows encouraging signs that cancers, including early-stage cancers, can be detected, providing us the opportunity to improve patient outcomes by treating the disease when it is typically most responsive to therapy."
The study presented at ESMO builds on the insights and experience gained from earlier versions of the MCED test used in the DETECT-A study. DETECT-A, the first and only prospective, interventional study of 10,000 women to screen for multiple cancers, demonstrated the ability of an MCED test to more than double the number of screening-detected cancers compared to standard-of-care screening methods alone.iii
A larger case-control study is underway to further validate the results shared at ESMO and determine the final design of the MCED test. Exact Sciences will then begin recruiting patients for the FDA registrational Study Of All comeRs (SOAR) trial in MCED during 2023. The SOAR trial will be the largest prospective, interventional MCED trial ever conducted in the United States. Exact Sciences plans to leverage its leading presence in primary care and cancer screening to accelerate the availability of MCED and deliver this powerful innovation to patients in need.
About Exact Sciences Corp.
A leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, Exact Sciences relentlessly pursues smarter solutions providing the clarity to take life-changing action, earlier. Building on the success of Cologuard and Oncotype tests, Exact Sciences is investing in its product pipeline to support patients before and throughout their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Exact Sciences unites visionary collaborators to help advance the fight against cancer. For more information, please visit the company's website at exactsciences.com, follow Exact Sciences on Twitter @ExactSciences, or find Exact Sciences on Facebook.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements concerning our expectations, anticipations, intentions, beliefs or strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that we have made as of the date hereof and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, conditions and events to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance as that future studies will successfully validate the data from the retrospective, case-control study discussed in this news release or that Exact Sciences will be able to successfully develop or market any multi-cancer early detection tests. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may affect our forward-looking statements are described in the Risk Factors sections of Exact Sciences' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in Exact Sciences' other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Exact Sciences undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Media Contact:
608-852-9877
Media (Canada, Europe, Asia, Latin America):
Federico Maiardi
+41 79-138-1326
Investors:
Megan Jones
+1 608-535-8815
i World Health Organization; February 2022 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer
ii American Cancer Society, Global Facts and Figures 2022 https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/global.html
iii Science, April 2020 Feasibility of blood testing combined with PET-CT to screen for cancer and guide intervention
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SOURCE EXACT SCIENCES CORP | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/10/exact-sciences-demonstrates-power-multi-cancer-early-detection-approach-with-data-presentation-2022-european-society-medical-oncology-congress/ | 2022-09-10T09:46:32Z |
WASHINGTON, June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) commends the House and Senate for swiftly passing the "Bipartisan Safer Communities Act" to help address the public health issue of firearms violence. We are especially grateful for the leadership of Sens. Murphy, Cornyn, and the bipartisan Senate workgroup for developing a reasonable commonsense compromise on firearm injury prevention legislation.
"Every day, emergency physicians shoulder the honor of being on the front lines while bearing the responsibility of treating the victims of firearms violence. We bear witness to this public health crisis and see firsthand how deeply it affects the lives of our patients, their families, and the communities we serve," said Gillian Schmitz, MD, FACEP, president of ACEP.
"We thank Congress for taking these concrete steps to improve the safety and well-being of all Americans, including our children and victims of domestic abuse.
"We recognize there is no cure-all that will prevent all firearms violence and that we still have much work to do, but this is a critical first step that, above all, will save lives," said Dr. Schmitz.
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is the national medical society representing emergency medicine. Through continuing education, research, public education, and advocacy, ACEP advances emergency care on behalf of its 40,000 emergency physician members, and the more than 150 million people they treat on an annual basis. For more information, visit www.acep.org and www.emergencyphysicians.org.
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SOURCE American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/24/acep-commends-passage-firearm-injury-prevention-legislation/ | 2022-06-24T19:33:26Z |
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Unity Software Inc. ("Unity" or the "Company") (NYSE: U).
Class Period: March 5, 2021 – May 10, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 6, 2022
If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Unity lawsuit, you can submit your contact information at www.glancylaw.com/cases/unity-software-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) deficiencies in Unity's product platform reduced the accuracy of the Company's machine learning technology; (2) the foregoing was likely to have a material negative impact on the Company's revenues; (3) accordingly, Unity had overstated its commercial and/or financial prospects for 2022; 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.
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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.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/u-investors-have-opportunity-lead-unity-software-inc-securities-fraud-lawsuit/ | 2022-08-30T16:28:28Z |
ST. LOUIS, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Christian Horizons, a leader in older adult living and support services, is proud to announce the appointment of its own Cathy Krewer, RN, MS, vice president of clinical professional development, to the Global Review Panel (GRP) of Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) in London. In this new role, Krewer will support Alzheimer's training programs through ADI's new accreditation scheme, across the globe. Krewer is the second U.S. citizen appointed to the GRP and the first U.S. citizen to be from the senior living and housing industry to serve in this role.
ADI provides accreditation to organizations offering professional and family training programs for caring for people living with dementia. Organizations which receive accreditation are considered to have met the high quality of care standards provided by appropriately trained professionals. Organizations submit their existing curriculums to the GRP, along with an extensive application, demonstrating that the training program reflects contemporary best practices. Programs can be sponsored by colleges and universities, Alzheimer's societies, and other public and private institutions. Accreditation can be obtained by programs aimed at family care partners, in-home workers, day center teams, and workers in senior housing settings.
"At Christian Horizons, we're deeply committed to offering comprehensive approaches to support older adults experiencing memory loss and Alzheimer's disease. Associate training and education is a key component to that," said Jennifer Knecht, Christian Horizons chief sales and marketing officer. "We're incredibly proud of Cathy's appointment and know her expertise will bring great value to the Global Review Panel."
Cathy Krewer, RN, MS, LNHA, BF-CMT practices as a community health nurse specialist with a focus on nursing care for the older adult. She has spent more than 30 years working in the long-term care industry in a variety of roles and settings. With a particular passion for the care of individuals with Alzheimer's and related dementias, she is certified master trainer for the Best Friends™ approach to memory care. More recent professional efforts have included a focus on development of education support training programs for direct care associates working in memory support. She earned her BSN from Southern Illinois University – Edwards and graduated cum laude from Northern Illinois University with a masters in Community Health Nursing. She currently resides in Florida with her family.
"We are so pleased to welcome Cathy to this international group," said Amalia Fonk-Utomo, head of accreditation for ADI. "Her work as a nurse with dementia expertise, along with her program and curriculum development experience, will be invaluable as ADI works to strengthen training programs around the world."
"Cathy's work has already transformed lives for Christian Horizons and their residents, associates and families. Her new role will support families and public health staff working in high-, middle- and low-income countries, and will globally impact care and services," said David Troxel, co-author of The Best Friends Approach to Dementia Care and a member of the GRP.
Alzheimer's Disease International is the international federation of Alzheimer and dementia associations around the world. In official relations with the World Health Organization, the organization's vision includes risk reduction, timely diagnosis, care and inclusion today, cure tomorrow. For more information about ADI and the accreditation process see Information and guidance | Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) (alzint.org)
Christian Horizons is a Dementia Friendly Ministry™ committed to fighting stigma surrounding dementia, offering community education, and providing contemporary residential, home, and hospice services focused on dignity, engagement and quality of life. Christian Horizons associates receive training on dementia and many of their communities now offer Pathway Memory Support® programming, a comprehensive approach to care that focuses on activity and engagement. Developed in partnership with Troxel, the Pathway Memory Support program involves friends and family and creative approaches from expertly trained health support professionals.
As a faith-led, person-first organization, Christian Horizons is in service to a mission of empowering older adults in mind, body and spirit through faith-led service. Based in St. Louis, Mo., the organization owns and operates a portfolio of seven life plan campuses and five stand-alone older adult communities offering a mix of independent, assisted and supportive living; memory support; long-term healthcare centers and short-term rehabilitation. The organization also serves older adults through CareLink Home Care and Safe Haven Hospice in central Illinois; Senior Care Pharmacy Services; and New Horizons PACE® (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) in St. Louis, Mo. Learn more at https://christianhorizonsliving.org/.
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SOURCE Christian Horizons | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/christian-horizons-leader-appointed-alzheimers-disease-international-global-review-panel/ | 2022-06-29T18:08:31Z |
New law requires daily recess for all elementary students in Georgia
(Gray News) – Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a bill into law Monday afternoon that will make daily recess mandatory for all public elementary schools across the state.
The law will go into effect starting next school year and applies to all students, kindergarten through fifth grade. Previously, Georgia only required schools to offer recess once a week.
Under the new law, school employees will not be allowed to withhold recess from students for disciplinary or academic reasons. However, the law states recess will not be required on school days in which a student has gym class.
The bill, known as the Quality Basic Education Act, was authored by Rep. Demetrius Douglas, a democrat.
“It is time for our students to get moving and learn how to play with each other again,” Douglas said in a press release. “Before HB 1283 was signed into law, our state only required schools to offer recess once a week; however, many elementary school students spend the majority of their school day in one classroom, which limits their ability to make new friends and build social skills. Recess is a crucial part of a child’s learning experience, and this legislation ensures that elementary school students can have a chance to enjoy recess.”
Douglas said he is passionate about getting kids active because he was a defensive linebacker at the University of Georgia. According to his website, he then played football for the New York Jets, Washington Redskins (now the Washington Commanders), and the Calgary Stampeders.
According to the press release, Douglas has worked on this issue for several years.
“WE DID IT!!!” Douglas wrote in a Facebook post, following Kemp’s signing of the bill into law.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/11/new-law-requires-daily-recess-all-elementary-students-georgia/ | 2022-05-11T21:06:39Z |
AFP Partners with GIANT to Donate Avocados to Philadelphia's Largest Food Bank
WASHINGTON, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- National Avocado Day is fast approaching, and Avocados from Peru (AFP) is celebrating America's favorite superfood by giving back to local communities and unveiling the ultimate demo machine – the AFP Food Truck.
To celebrate National Avocado Day on July 31, AFP kicked off its week of festivities in Philadelphia. For the second year in a row, AFP teamed up with GIANT to donate 50,000 avocados to Philabundance, the city's largest food bank and an affiliate organization of Feeding America. The donation was announced at the 2nd Annual Top Guac Championship, hosted by AFP, GIANT, and Philabundance, where amateur chefs competed to make the best guacamole in Philadelphia. The event was attended by leaders in the city's food scene and representatives from AFP, GIANT, Philabundance and Feeding America.
A special guest at the event, the brand-new AFP Food Truck, in partnership with the Peruvian Brothers, made its official debut in the city of Philadelphia. The food truck was used as a backdrop and a GIANT trailer to haul the 50,000 avocados donated to charity.
"Avocados hold a special place in our hearts and our culture, so celebrating them for National Avocado Day is easy. Moreover, giving back to communities in need makes the celebration even more special," said Xavier Equihua, President of the Peruvian Avocado Commission, "We are proud to support such impactful philanthropies as Philabundance and Feeding America, and what better way to do that than through avocados and bringing the community together."
"We are so grateful that Avocados from Peru chose to support our organization and the important work we do to impact our community. The avocados will go a long way in supporting and feeding those in need," said Loree D. Jones, Chief Executive Officer at Philabundance, "These contributions will help many in need throughout the communities we serve."
"The GIANT Company is committed to eliminating hunger in the communities we serve," said Emine Boz, Community Impact Coordinator at The GIANT Company, "Together with Avocados from Peru and Philabundance, we're able to do just that and make a difference in the lives of our neighbors facing food insecurity."
The National Avocado Day celebrations do not stop there! AFP was invited by FOX 5 D.C. to participate in their Zip Trips programming – a weekly series that highlights the best spots to visit around the D.C. region. On Friday, July 29, AFP will be live at the Port City Brewing Company in Alexandria, Virginia (3950 Wheeler Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304) until 11:00 AM. The series will highlight the AFP Food Truck as the Peruvian Brothers dish out avocado toast to members of the public. In addition to the food truck, the event will feature the AVO Tesla, the prize of the AFP – Lidl Food Markets Summer Sweepstakes Giveaway.
"It's an honor to join and work alongside Avocados from Peru on our signature food truck to celebrate our home country's number one superfood export, the avocado," said Giuseppe and Mario Lanzone, known as the Peruvian Brothers, "It has always been our goal to bring the taste of Peru to our new home and Avocados from Peru is helping us accomplish just that."
About the Peruvian Avocado Commission
The Peruvian Avocado Commission (PAC) is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was established in 2010 to increase the consumption/demand for Avocados from Peru through advertising, retail promotion and public relations. The PAC's promotional activities are conducted under the guidelines of the federal promotion program for Hass avocados, which is under the oversight of the USDA. Detailed information regarding these programs will be announced throughout the season. Avocados from Peru will be available in the U.S. from June through September. For more information about the PAC, please visit www.avocadosfromperu.com or email info@avocadosfromperu.com.
MEDIA FILES:
Xavier Equihua, President of the Peruvian Avocado Commission, saying a few words at the closing ceremony of the 2nd Annual Top Guac Championship charity event: https://we.tl/t-ddZDGwkFlP
Jessica de Rivera, Development and Engagement Manager of Billy Penn at WHYY/PBS Philadelphia, the leading public media organization in the greater metropolitan area, and the winner of the 2022 Top Guac Championship, cutting a Peruvian avocado: https://we.tl/t-CztnlWMjwL
Competitors from the 2022 Top Guac Championship are joined by representatives from GIANT to take a picture in front of the AFP Food Truck: https://we.tl/t-RTdqvBHfob
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SOURCE Peruvian Avocado Commission | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/avocados-peru-celebrates-national-avocado-day-by-giving-back-local-communities/ | 2022-07-28T16:03:19Z |
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut released data Thursday for the first time showing the race of people subjected to police use of force, a reporting practice that many states are beginning to adopt in the wake of nationwide calls for more police accountability.
The data from 2019 and 2020 appeared to show Connecticut police used force on Black people at disproportionate rates compared with white people, but the analysts who released the data cautioned that there were limitations in the reporting, saying it was “insufficient” and could not be used for a comprehensive assessment.
The state is just the second in the country, after New Jersey, to publicly report statewide police use-of-force data, officials said. Several other states have passed similar requirements in recent years and will soon be reporting their results. The changes have come in response to fatal shootings and other uses of force by police officers against Black people that sparked outrage and protests across the country.
Several cities in the U.S., including New York, have been reporting use-of-force data for years. The FBI has been gathering data nationally but has not yet released the raw data or analyses.
The Connecticut report said that of the more than 1,300 people reported to have been subjected to police use of force in 2019 and 2020, 38% were Black, 33% were white and 20% were Hispanic.
The Connecticut population is 13% Black, 65% non-Hispanic white and 18% Hispanic, according to U.S. Census data.
Analysts and police officials said comparing use of force data to the Census data was neither valid nor fair for a host of reasons.
The bulk of use of force reports came from police departments in the state’s largest cities, which have much higher minority populations, said analysts in the report by the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy at the University of Connecticut.
Ken Barone, associate director of the institute, said it may be better to compare the use-of-force data with arrest data. In 2019 and 2020, about 34% of people arrested in Connecticut were Black, 44% were white and 21% were Hispanic. The number of use-of-force incidents was just 1% of the number of arrests.
“A disparity still appears to exist in reported incidents of force involving Black individuals when compared to available arrest data,” the report said.
Scot X. Esdaile, president of the state chapter of the NAACP, said the racial demographic data was troubling.
“It’s not something that I think I’m surprised about because we see on a regular basis the heavy hand of law enforcement on Black communities, and we’ve seen it for decades,” he said. “This kind of validates that something seriously needs to be done.”
David McGuire, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, also said he found some of the data disturbing,
Of the more than 1,300 people subjected to police use of force over the two years, police reported that 31% were said to be emotionally disturbed, 9% were said to be suicidal and more than 40% were said to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the report says. And about a third of the people subjected to police force were fleeing at the time.
“It is another clear indication that there needs to be a very intentional move by government … to move money out of policing and into services people need,” McGuire said.
According to the report, 1,058 officers used force on 650 people in 2019, and 977 officers used force on 663 people in 2020. Some incidents involved multiple officers. There are about 7,250 police officers in Connecticut.
Bridgeport, the state’s largest city, led all departments that reported data with 264 use-of-force incidents over the two years. Waterbury reported 229 incidents, followed by state police with 181, New Haven with 161 and Hartford with 91.
Connecticut has more than 100 police agencies. The data included incidents reported by 60 departments. Other agencies reported they had no use of force incidents or did not submit data.
The data included the use of guns, stun guns, pepper spray, fists and physical restraining. Most of the uses of force were physical restraining — more than 800 incidents over the two years — while incidents involving deadly force and firearms totaled nearly 280. In most cases involving police drawing guns, officers only displayed them and did not fire, the report said.
In 2019 and 2020, 11 people were killed by police officers’ deadly use of force. Most of the people subjected to police force were unarmed — 90% in 2019 and 85% in 2020, the report said.
Officials believe a standardized form for all departments that was rolled out in July 2022 for use of force will take care of some of the inconsistencies in reporting.
Cheshire Police Chief Neil Dryfe, president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, said police leaders will be closely watching future reports that include better data, including race and ethnicity numbers, to see if any changes in policing are warranted.
“The big takeaway I think, for me and many other chiefs, is that force is used in just a small, tiny fraction of police community interactions,” he said. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/connecticut-releases-police-use-of-force-data-for-1st-time/ | 2022-08-19T15:06:10Z |
The frozen Mandu products will be sampled for the first time to the public at the upcoming Specialty Food Association's Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, N.Y.
NEW YORK, June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Daesang America, Incorporation's global brand, O'Food, is a provider of traditional condiments to ready-to-serve meals, will be exhibiting at the Speciality Food Association's annual Summer Fancy Food Show. The company will be launching their first frozen food offering, Mandu, at the event which takes place June 12 through June 14 at Javits Center in New York City.
Mandu are classic Korean dumplings that are steamed, boiled or pan-fried. The Mandu products are made with thin wrappers and filled with traditional Korean ingredients. O'Food is releasing two different types, Kimchi and Plant-Based Mandu. The Kimchi Mandu starts with the global leading kimchi from sister brand Jongga. Combined with a perfect blend of spicy heat, sweet and savory meat, and assorted vegetables, the Kimchi Mandu will satisfy any meat-lovers appetite. Try the meatless Plant-Based Mandu available in Gochujang, sweet and spicy fermented condiment popular in Korean cooking or opt for the savory flavors of K-BBQ.
"In recent years, consumers are increasingly seeking food adventures, particularly ethnic foods that have for years received less recognition in the US, such as Korean foods; Gochujang, Kimchi, and others. Mandu are these fantastic Korean style dumplings and now is a great time to bring them to market with these same authentic flavors" said Brian Tompkins, Vice President of Sales.
Packed with Korean-inspired flavors, these dumpling provide an answer to a void in the freezer aisle - hearty, satisfying meals that consumers can feel good about enjoying. O'Food dumplings offer 10 or more grams of protein, delivering meals bursting with flavor.
Korean-inspired ready meals continue to make a culinary impact on consumers. People are making an active choice to discover new flavors and incorporate more plant-based meals into their diets, while occasionally eating meat. Mandu products are available across the country in select stores including Associated Supermarkets, Jungle Jims and many more. They are the perfect option for consumers looking for convenient and meat-free options from a brand they know and trust.
Visit O'Food's booth on the third floor at #1958 to sample the Kimchi Mandu and Plant-Based Mandu. In addition, O'Food will have two promininate O'Food chefs on hand to create Kimchi-style grilled cheese and Vegan Kimchi Canape. For more information, visit the O'Food website at www.ofoodusa.com.
About O'Food
O'Food is the global brand of Korea's leading food brand, Chung Jung One. Since 1956, Chung Jung One | O'Food's Korean pantry staples including Korean chili pepper paste, Gochujang, and Doenjang, fermented soybean paste, are still produced in the province of Sunchang, widely renowned for its quality peppers, ideal climate, and reputation as the historical "Village of Gochujang. Located globally throughout China, Japan, Russia, Europe, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines, O'Food is now spreading the love of Korean food across the United States from its headquarters in California and New Jersey.
About Daesang America, Inc.
Founded in 1956, Daesang Group has grown to one of the world's largest producers of fermented food products for everyday consumers. Headquartered in South Korea, the company boasts sales and manufacturing subsidiaries—from the East in Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam, to the West in the United States—exceeding $2.6 billion in sales revenue. Daesang's American branch now includes three leading brands of specialized products—O'Food, Jongga and Chung Jung One—available on shelves nationally, as well as online at Amazon. Look for Daesang to continue to expand on these efforts as well as to bring new products from Korea and beyond. For more information, visit the website and check out recipes, photos, and more on their Instagram, LinkedIn.
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SOURCE O'Food | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/ofood-launches-companys-first-frozen-food-item/ | 2022-06-10T14:24:20Z |
RADNOR, Pa., Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Missfresh Limited ("Missfresh") (NASDAQ: MF). The action charges Missfresh with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the company's business, operations, and prospects. As a result of Missfresh's materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, Missfresh investors have suffered significant losses.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR MISSFRESH LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/missfresh-limited?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=missfreshx&mktm=r
TO VIEW OUR VIDEO, PLEASE CLICK HERE
LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
CLASS PERIOD: PURSUANT AND/OR TRACEABLE TO MISSFRESH'S JUNE 2021 IPO THROUGH JULY 12, 2022
CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:
James Maro, Esq. (484) 270-1453 or Toll Free (844) 887-9500 or Email at info@ktmc.com
Kessler Topaz is one of the world's foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field individually and our firm is both feared and respected among the defense bar and the insurance bar. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent.
MISSFRESH'S ALLEGED MISCONDUCT
In June 2021, Missfresh conducted its initial public offering (IPO), selling 21 million American Depository Shares ("ADSs") at $13.00 per ADS.
On April 29, 2022, after trading hours, Missfresh filed a Notification of Late Filing on a Form 12b-25, which announced that Missfresh "will not be able to file its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 … by the prescribed filing deadline of April 30, 2022." Missfresh explained that "[t]he independent Audit Committee of [Missfresh]'s board of directors, with the assistance of professional advisors, is in the process of conducting an internal review of certain matters, including those relating to transactions between [Missfresh] and certain third-party enterprises." Following this news, Missfresh ADSs fell 13% to close at $0.448 per ADS on May 2, 2021, the next trading day.
Then, on May 24, 2022, after trading hours, Missfresh issued a press release entitled "Missfresh Announces Receipt of Nasdaq Notification Regarding Late Filing of Form 20-F" announcing "that it received a notification letter dated May 19, 2022 . . . from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. ("Nasdaq"), indicating that [Missfresh] is not in compliance with the requirements for continued listing." Following this news, Missfresh ADSs fell 9% over the next two trading days to close at $0.167 per ADS on May 26, 2021.
Finally, on July 1, 2022, Missfresh issued a press release entitled "Missfresh Announces the Substantial Completion of the Audit Committee-Led Independent Internal Review." In the press release, Missfresh disclosed that "certain revenue associated with these reporting periods in 2021 may have been inaccurately recorded in [Missfresh]'s financial statements." As of the date the complaint was filed, Missfresh ADSs closed at $0.389 per ADS, well below Missfresh's IPO price of $13.00 per ADS.
WHAT CAN I DO?
Missfresh investors may, no later than September 12, 2022seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Missfresh investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE
WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?
A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.
ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.
CONTACT:
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
James Maro, Jr., Esq.
280 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
(484) 270-1453
info@ktmc.com
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SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/kessler-topaz-meltzer-amp-check-llp-announces-securities-fraud-class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-missfresh-limited/ | 2022-08-04T16:34:40Z |
Solution will help company attain greater supply chain transparency, boost operational efficiency and continue to improve customer satisfaction
NEW YORK, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Infor®, the industry cloud company, today announced that Mount Franklin Foods – a leading manufacturer of branded, contract and private-label confectionary, nuts, snacks, and food service products – has chosen Infor's CloudSuite Food & Beverage solution to support rapid business growth and help accelerate its digital transformation efforts.
Mount Franklin Foods, headquartered in El Paso, Texas, serves major retailers, wholesalers, co-manufacturing customers and food service distributors through its Sunrise Confections & Azar Nut divisions and affiliates.
As Mount Franklin Foods emerged from the pandemic and continued to grow at an exponential rate, the company recognized that it needed more agility to respond to a rapidly changing market and take advantage of new opportunities.
The company chose to partner with Infor and plans to deploy its CloudSuite Food & Beverage solution, supply chain planning, Infor Factory Track, dynamic Enterprise Performance Management (dEPM), and warehouse mobility to attain greater supply chain transparency, boost logistical and operational efficiency, meet and exceed quality and compliance requirements, and continue to improve customer satisfaction.
According to Mayela Soto, chief financial officer at Mount Franklin Foods, "Infor's cloud solutions will help us be more proactive in the way that we serve internal and external customer needs and accelerate our larger, organizational transformation initiatives. We now have the tools and insights to make better decisions faster."
"Infor is providing us with the tools and resources to help take our company to the next level," she said.
With Infor CloudSuite Food & Beverage, Mount Franklin Foods will integrate its systems into one platform – a single source of truth for real-time, reliable data. As the company continues to grow, and supplement its organic growth with acquisitions, this will minimize the time and costs associated with system integrations. The company also will have access to near real-time financial data for business insights and financial reporting.
Infor's cloud solution will help the company maintain higher levels of security and risk management. And with higher levels of supply chain visibility and transparency, the company can continually improve food safety and minimize waste.
Learn more about Infor's solutions for food & beverage manufacturers: https://www.infor.com/industries/food-beverage
Mount Franklin Foods, LLC is a leading North American manufacturer of high-quality confections, nut products, mints, culinary plant-based proteins, bake mixes, powdered beverages and ingredients headquartered in El Paso, Texas. The company proudly serves major retailers, wholesalers, co-manufacturing customers and food service distributors through its Sunrise Confections & Azar Nut divisions, as well as through affiliates: Hospitality Mints and Element Food Solutions. For more information, please visit www.mountfranklinfoods.com.
Infor is a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry. Infor's mission-critical enterprise applications and services are designed to deliver sustainable operational advantages with security and faster time to value. We are obsessed with delivering successful business outcomes for customers. Over 60,000 organizations in more than 175 countries rely on Infor's 17,000 employees to help achieve their business goals. As a Koch company, our financial strength, ownership structure, and long-term view empower us to foster enduring, mutually beneficial relationships with our customers. Visit www.infor.com.
Media contact:
Steve Bauer
Infor
steven.bauer@infor.com
(650) 670-7135
Copyright ©2022 Infor. All rights reserved. The word and design marks set forth herein are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Infor and/or related affiliates and subsidiaries. All other trademarks listed herein are the property of their respective owners. www.infor.com
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SOURCE Infor | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/mount-franklin-foods-selects-infor-cloudsuite-food-amp-beverage-solution-meet-its-appetite-business-growth-amp-digital-transformation/ | 2022-06-28T16:40:20Z |
In a community survey, 54% of respondents said they would use technology to improve operations in preparation
SAN FRANCISCO, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In a new survey of its customers and community, OpenSpace, the global leader in 360° jobsite capture and AI-powered analytics, found that 74% of respondents are concerned about a potential economic downturn affecting the construction industry. To prepare, 60% said they wanted to improve project efficiency. Few are looking to freeze or cut jobs (16%) to adapt, while more than half (54%) said that they'd look to technology to optimize operations in order to weather any slowdowns.
In fact, 74% of survey respondents said they thought technology would help their company by improving efficiency, thereby saving time and money. Other popular responses included technology helping to decrease errors or mistakes (62%) and reducing the time spent coordinating among stakeholders or traveling to the site (59%).
One example of technology saving builders time and money today is OpenSpace Capture. According to the survey, 67% of customers reported saving thousands of dollars on average on project costs thanks to OpenSpace, while 74% saved multiple hours per week. These savings are a result of OpenSpace Capture's ability to increase site coordination, reduce rework costs, and provide a trusted, complete record of site status. Customers like RG Construction, a specialty drywall contractor based in Chicago, have seen the benefits of OpenSpace for more efficient construction.
"OpenSpace is the single best tool we've had in terms of jobsite information," RG Construction Principal Brian Garcea said. "Having real-time insight into our progress that lets us quickly adjust how we're working in the field is what lean is all about. It's an invaluable tool for our company."
With OpenSpace Capture, builders attach an off-the-shelf, consumer 360° camera to their hardhat and walk the site as they normally would. Once the video from the walk is uploaded to the cloud, OpenSpace's computer vision technology stitches images together and pins all the images to the floor plan, creating a trusted visual record of site status. Powered by the company's Vision Engine, the site image map is typically ready to view about 15 minutes after upload. The resulting 360° visual document of the construction site aids in coordination among stakeholders—making change orders easier, catching errors before they spiral into huge losses, and reducing the need for project managers to travel to the site, among other benefits.
"Throughout the pandemic, we've seen firsthand how technology can advance projects and reduce delays or errors, even when site access is limited," said OpenSpace CEO and co-founder Jeevan Kalanithi. "As the industry continues to evolve, we're focused on finding ways to empower builders with technology to keep projects on time and costs low, in order to help builders adapt amid any larger market shifts."
To learn more about how OpenSpace Capture can help create more efficient projects and decrease costs, visit https://www.openspace.ai/products/capture/.
Founded in 2017, OpenSpace is an AI technology company on a mission to bring new levels of transparency and efficiency to construction and real estate. With our platform, builders automatically capture a complete visual record of the jobsite, providing a single source of truth that increases coordination, drives accountability, and simplifies dispute resolution. To date, our customers have used OpenSpace to capture more than eight billion square feet of imagery from active construction projects across thousands of sites in over seventy-five countries.
Contact:
openspace@bulleitgroup.com
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SOURCE OpenSpace | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/openspace-survey-builders-looking-improve-efficiency-74-worry-about-potential-economic-downturn/ | 2022-07-12T16:42:01Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate fell below 5% for the first time in four months, days after the Federal Reserve jacked up its main borrowing rate in an aggressive effort to get inflation under control.
The 30-year rate tumbled to 4.99% from 5.3% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday. A year ago, the rate was 2.77%.
The average rate on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, popular among those refinancing their homes, fell to 4.26% to from 4.58% last week.
“Mortgage rates remained volatile due to the tug of war between inflationary pressures and a clear slowdown in economic growth,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “The high uncertainty surrounding inflation and other factors will likely cause rates to remain variable, especially as the Federal Reserve attempts to navigate the current economic environment.”
Last week, the Fed ratcheted up its main borrowing rate by three-quarters of a point, the second such increase in less than two months. The central bank also raised its benchmark rate by a half-point in May, beginning its aggressive pivot to try to stifle four-decade high inflation.
Consumer prices have soared 9.1% over the past year, the biggest yearly increase since 1981. The Labor Department’s producer price index — which measures inflation before it reaches consumers — rose by 11.3% in June compared with a year earlier.
Rapidly hiking rates risks pushing the U.S. economy into a recession, but it’s the Fed’s most powerful tool to get price increases back to its 2% annual target.
The government reported last week that U.S. economy shrank from April through June for a second straight quarter, contracting at a 0.9% annual pace and raising fears that the nation may be approaching a recession.
The decline that the Commerce Department reported in the gross domestic product — the broadest gauge of the economy — followed a 1.6% annual drop from January through March. Consecutive quarters of falling GDP constitute one informal, though not definitive, indicator of a recession.
Higher borrowing rates have discouraged house hunters and cooled a housing market that’s been hot for years. The National Association of Realtors reported last month that sales of previously occupied U.S. homes slowed for the fifth consecutive month in June.
Home prices have kept climbing — albeit at a slower pace than earlier this year —- even as sales slowed. The national median home price jumped 13.4% in June from a year earlier to $416,000. That’s an all-time high according to data going back to 1999, NAR said.
Layoffs in the housing and lending sectors have already begun. Among those reporting job cuts in recent months are the online mortgage company loanDepot, online real estate broker Redfin, and Compass.
The nation’s largest bank by assets, JPMorgan Chase, laid off hundreds from its mortgage unit and reassigned hundreds of others. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/long-term-mortgage-rates-under-5-for-1st-time-in-4-months/ | 2022-08-05T13:11:12Z |
Naturepedic's EOS® Classic Organic Mattress received an esteemed award for its customizable design and personalized sleep options.
CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio, June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Naturepedic, leading GOTS-certified organic, MADE SAFE-certified nontoxic mattress and bedding brand, is thrilled to announce its EOS® (Ergonomic Organic Sleep) Classic Organic Mattress has been selected as the "Cutting Edge Customization" winner in the Incomparable Mattress category for Good Housekeeping's 2022 Best Bedding Awards. This is the second year in a row that a unique EOS customizable organic mattress has received a prestigious bedding award from Good Housekeeping.
Good Housekeeping scientists, material engineers and home editors evaluated hundreds of bedding items in the GH Lab, testing for aspects like quality, innovation, convenience, value and sustainability. Outside the Lab, more than 500 at-home sleep testers evaluated the products this year. Consumer testers scored products on comfort, support, temperature regulation, ease of use, and appearance.
The Naturepedic EOS® Classic Organic Mattress was picked for its unique, customizable design, its use of organic, nontoxic materials, and because of the modular design that conveniently arrives in multiple boxes for assembly. Its innovative, multi-layered zipper design adds convenience, flexibility, and longevity, allowing customers to swap out firmness layers for a different sleep experience at any point in time as preferences and lifestyles change. The EOS® Classic can be customized on each side of the bed to suit individual comfort preferences, ranging from extra firm to plush, giving the consumer five choices on one side, and five different choices on the other side. Additionally and designed never to be replaced, the inventive EOS® mattress concept is ultimately the most sustainable on the market, saving a significant number of discarded mattresses from landfills.
Good Housekeeping's testers loved the personalization and motion isolation that the EOSÒ Classic offered. One tester noted, "I love that it's organic and I'm not sleeping on a bed of chemicals."
Made with certified organic cotton, latex and wool along with adhesive-free encased coils and plant-based PLA, the EOS® Classic is handcrafted in the USA, utilizing healthier, safer materials. This eliminates the need for flame retardant chemicals or barriers while still passing all government flammability requirements, along with other questionable chemicals and materials found in conventional mattresses such as polyurethane foam, formaldehyde, GMOs, glues/adhesives, and other questionable materials or chemicals that do not meet their standards.
In a study conducted earlier this year with 800 adults to determine how sleeping separately or together impacts their relationship, over 40% of couples who share a bed reported that sleep issues, like mattress comfort and motion transfer, have caused them to question their relationship.
"The EOS® Classic, part of the Naturepedic EOS Series, changes people's lives," comments Arin Schultz, Sr. Director of Sales and Marketing for Naturepedic, "Being able to take control of their own sleep comfort, independently of their sleep partner certainly reduces stress and improves sleep quality," he adds, "To have our EOS® organic mattresses recognized by Good Housekeeping, one of the most reputable and prestigious organizations in the country, two years in a row is especially gratifying."
Leading the organic mattress revolution for over 18 years, all Naturepedic mattress products for babies, kids, and adults, are certified organic by GOTS and certified non-toxic by MADE SAFE. They are also certified to the GREENGUARD Gold and UL Formaldehyde-Free standards and eliminate questionable materials and chemicals found in most conventional mattresses while meeting and exceeding the highest level of certifications available in the marketplace. All Naturepedic products meet organic (and non-toxic) standards.
To learn more about Naturepedic's EOS® Organic Mattress Series, featuring the Classic, Pillowtop and Trilux models, visit: https://www.naturepedic.com/adult/mattresses/eos
To learn more about the Good Housekeeping 2022 Bedding Awards:
For media inquiries, please contact Giselle Chollett at giselle@adinnyc.com or 917.386.7116
Since 2003, Naturepedic has been on a mission to protect the lives of families through safer, healthier organic-based products that have a positive impact on the environment. A brand with purpose, transparency and ethical practices, Naturepedic is the recipient of many certifications and is highly respected by numerous health and environmental organizations (https://www.naturepedic.com/certifications) and is an EPA Green Power Partner. Since its inception, Naturepedic has been a consistent and generous advocate and supporter of NGO's and nonprofits advocating for "Right to Know" about what is in the products that people bring into their homes.
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SOURCE Naturepedic | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/naturepedic-wins-good-housekeeping-2022-bedding-award/ | 2022-06-14T14:51:18Z |
RADNOR, Pa., April 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed against PLAYSTUDIOS, Inc. ("PLAYSTUDIOS") (NASDAQ: MYPS; MYPSW) f/k/a Acies Acquisition Corp. ("Acies") (NASDAQ: ACAC; ACACW). The action charges PLAYSTUDIOS with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the company's business, operations, and prospects. The lawsuit also includes claims relating to a merger transaction with Acies and asserts claims on behalf of investors who held Acies common stock as of May 25, 2021, were eligible to vote at Acies' June 17, 2021 special meeting, and who exchanged their shares of Acies stock for PLAYSTUDIOS stock in connection with the merger. As a result of PLAYSTUDIOS' materially misleading statements to the public, PLAYSTUDIOS' investors have suffered significant losses.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR PLAYSTUDIOS LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/playstudios-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=playstudios
TO VIEW OUR VIDEO, PLEASE CLICK HERE
LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: JUNE 6, 2022
CLASS PERIOD: JUNE 22, 2021 THROUGH MARCH 1, 2022
CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:
James Maro, Esq. at (484) 270-1453 or via email at info@ktmc.com
THE CLASS INCLUDES: Investors who (1) purchased or acquired PLAYSTUDIOS securities between June 22, 2021 and March 1, 2022, including, but not limited to, those who purchased or acquired PLAYSTUDIOS securities pursuant to the offering of the private investment in public equity; (2) held Acies common stock as of May 25, 2021, and were eligible to vote at Acies' June 17, 2021 special meeting who exchanged their Acies stock for PLAYSTUDIOS stock; or (3) purchased or acquired PLAYSTUDIOS common stock pursuant or traceable to the Acies' Registration Statement and Proxy Statement issued in connection with the June 2021 merger.
Kessler Topaz is one of the world's foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field individually and our firm is both feared and respected among the defense bar and the insurance bar. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent.
PLAYSTUDIOS' ALLEGED MISCONDUCT
On February 1, 2021, Acies, a special purpose acquisition company, announced that it had reached a merger agreement with "Old Playstudios," a privately-held gaming company (the "Merger"). PLAYSTUDIOS' flagship game was Kingdom Boss. PLAYSTUDIOS told investors that "Kingdom Boss, which began development in 2020, will launch as expected in the second half of 2021."
On June 17, 2021, Acies held a General Meeting where Acies shareholders were asked to approve
the Merger. The Merger closed on June 21, 2021, and on June 22, 2021, PLAYSTUDIOS stock and warrants began publicly trading on NASDAQ.
The truth began to be revealed on August 11, 2021, when PLAYSTUDIOS released its financial results for the second quarter of 2021 wherein PLAYSTUDIOS revealed for the first time that the Kingdom Boss launch was being delayed until later in the year and that investors should expect decreased revenues and profits during the year as a result. These quarterly financial results were finalized on June 30, 2021, just nine days after the Merger closed. Thus, defendants knew or recklessly disregarded prior to the merger close (June 21, 2021) and prior to the merger vote by the Acies shareholders (June 17, 2021), that Kingdom Boss would not be ready to launch within just a matter of weeks. Following this news, PLAYSTUDIOS stock price fell $.66 to close at $5.09 per share on August 12, 2021, a decline of 13%.
Then, on February 24, 2022, during an earnings call for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2021, PLAYSTUDIOS' CEO, much to investors' surprise, disclosed that Kingdom Boss would not be launched at all. Following this news, PLAYSTUDIOS stock price fell $.24 to close at $4.86 per share on February 25, 2022, a decline of 5%. Two days later, on February 26, 2022, PLAYSTUDIOS' CEO attributed the failure to meet the projections made for revenue and earnings to the failure to launch Kingdom Boss, and revealed that Kingdom Boss was not only delayed, but indefinitely "suspended."
WHAT CAN I DO?
Current PLAYSTUDIOS investors and/or former Acies shareholders may, no later than June 6, 2022 seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages PLAYSTUDIOS investors and/or former Acies shareholders who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE
WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?
A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.
ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.
CONTACT:
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
James Maro, Jr., Esq.
280 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
(484) 270-1453
info@ktmc.com
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SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/23/myps-class-action-kessler-topaz-meltzer-amp-check-llp-reminds-playstudios-inc-shareholders-securities-fraud-class-action-lawsuit/ | 2022-04-23T21:38:44Z |
PHOENIX (AP) — The NBA’s long regular season can be tedious, but make no mistake, it matters.
Just ask the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns — two teams who have home-court advantage in Game 7 of their respective second-round NBA playoff series on Sunday thanks to superior regular-season records.
The Celtics host the Milwaukee Bucks a few hours before the Suns host the Dallas Mavericks in what could be a drama-filled day.
“It means everything,” Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said of getting Game 7 in Boston. “The best atmosphere in the NBA. Game 7s are the biggest and best games. Looking forward to it, truly.
“It’s basketball – biggest moments, biggest stage. What it boils down to is now go out there and just have fun.”
Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker echoed those sentiments.
“We worked all season to have home-court advantage and get the last game in our house,” Booker said. “It’s exciting. It’s Game 7. I’ve never been in a Game 7, so this will be fun.”
The Mavericks have a particularly difficult task in their game against the Suns. The home team has won each of the first six games of the series, and many of those games have been blowouts.
“Our fan base is great for us, their fan base is great for them,” Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson said. “Home-court advantage is a real thing. Respect to both fan bases making it difficult for the away team.”
It’s the second consecutive year the Mavericks have played a Game 7. Dallas lost to the Clippers in Los Angeles in last year’s contest after the visiting team won the first six games of the series.
The Celtics and Bucks have alternated victories throughout their series. By that pattern, it should be the Bucks’ turn to get the win. But there’s little doubt Boston’s home court will be loud and hostile on Sunday.
“For me, I’ve just got to go play,” Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “I want my teammates to enjoy the moment.”
BUCKS AT CELTICS
Series tied 3-3. Game 7, 3:30 p.m. EDT, ABC
—NEED TO KNOW: These teams have alternated victories throughout the series, with the Bucks winning the odd-numbered games and the Celtics taking the even-numbered ones. The road teams are 4-2 and have won each of the last three games. Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo have been spectacular. Antetokounmpo is averaging 35.3 points, 13.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists in this series, while Tatum is averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5 assists. Tatum had 46 points and Antetokounmpo 44 in the Celtics’ 108-95 Game 6 victory in Milwaukee, marking just the fifth time opponents have scored at least 44 points in the same playoff game. The Celtics are 24-9 all-time in Game 7s, compared to 3-8 for the Bucks.
—KEEP AN EYE ON: The 3-point comparison. In Boston’s three victories, the Celtics have shot 41.5% from 3-point range and have outscored the Bucks 153-57 from beyond the arc. In the Celtics’ three losses, they have a much narrower 111-102 advantage from 3-point range and have made just 32.5% of their attempts.
—INJURY WATCH: Bucks F Khris Middleton has missed nine straight playoff game with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Celtics F/C Robert Williams III has missed three straight games with soreness in his surgically repaired left knee and is questionable for Game 7. “It’s a pain-tolerance thing,” Boston coach Ime Udoka said. “Soreness, swelling is down. It’s just a matter of extension, inflexion and if the pain is gone basically with the bone bruise. Nothing structural. It’s legitimately day to day.”
—PRESSURE IS ON: Bucks G Grayson Allen: After delivering a 22-point outburst and a 27-point performance in back-to-back games when the Bucks beat the Chicago Bulls in the first round, Allen hasn’t been nearly as effective in this series despite moving into a starting role in Game 3. He has scored a total of 23 points over his last five games and has shot 2 of 14 from 3-point range during that stretch. Allen shot 1 of 7 overall and scored three points in Game 6.
MAVERICKS AT SUNS
Series tied 3-3. Game 7, 8 p.m. EDT, TNT
—NEED TO KNOW: The home team has won each of the first six games in this series, which now moves back to Phoenix for the final game. Though the series has been close, the individual games often have been blowouts: Three of the six have been decided by at least 20 points. Mavs star Luka Doncic has averaged more than 32 points per game in the series despite shooting just 29.6% from 3-point range. Doncic has been productive, but his supporting cast has struggled on the road against the Suns. Phoenix is shooting nearly 50% for the series but has struggled with turnovers. Devin Booker leads the Suns with 25.5 points per game.
—KEEP AN EYE ON: Suns PG Chris Paul. The 12-time All-Star is having a difficult series, averaging just 6.5 assists, which is well below his regular-season average. The 37-year-old has had a handful of spectacular performances in the postseason over the past two years and the Suns might need another one on Sunday.
—INJURY WATCH: Doncic appears to have a left thigh injury but he has downplayed the severity. It’s something that bears watching in Game 7. Said Doncic: “I just felt like a little pop in the beginning and then when I was warming up it was kind of OK. Now it’s a little bit worse. But it’s nothing serious.”
—PRESSURE IS ON: Suns. Phoenix is trying to make it back to the NBA Finals for a second straight season and had the league’s best regular-season record. Losing in the second round of the playoffs would be a major disappointment. Dallas doesn’t have nearly as great expectations.
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AP Sports Writers Schuyler Dixon, Steve Megargee and Kyle Hightower contributed to this story.
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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/pair-of-7s-boston-celtics-phoenix-suns-happy-to-be-home/ | 2022-05-15T06:07:33Z |
Doctor who sexually abused patients kills himself in jail, sources say
NEW YORK (AP) — A once-prominent neurologist convicted last month of sexually abusing patients killed himself Monday at a New York City jail, two people familiar with the matter said.
Dr. Ricardo Cruciani, 68, was found unresponsive in a shower area at the Eric M. Taylor Center, a jail at the notorious Rikers Island complex, the people said. They were not authorized to speak publicly and did so on condition of anonymity.
Cruciani’s lawyer, Frederick Sosinsky, confirmed in a statement that his client had died, but not the manner of death.
“Ricardo’s attorneys and family are shocked and saddened beyond belief to have learned of his violent death while in city custody this morning,” he said.
Sosinsky called for “an immediate and objective investigation” into the circumstances of Cruciani’s death, including whether jail officials complied with a court order, at the time of his conviction, to place him in protective custody and under suicide watch.
“Neither of these conditions were, to our knowledge, ever complied with,” Sosinsky said. “Had they been, we would not be having this terrible discussion.”
Cruciani died while awaiting sentencing next month in a New York state case in which he was convicted of 12 counts, including predatory sexual assault, rape and sex abuse, and acquitted on two other counts. He faced up to life in prison.
He was also scheduled to go on trial next January on federal charges accusing him of abusing multiple patients over 15 years at his offices in New York City, Philadelphia and Hopewell, New Jersey.
Prosecutors said Cruciani groomed vulnerable patients by overprescribing pain killers, sometimes to treat serious injuries from car wrecks and other accidents.
Six women testified the sexual abuse often occurred behind closed doors during appointments in 2013 at a Manhattan medical center, where the doctor would expose himself and demand sex.
“I take comfort knowing he now faces another judge,” said Terrie Phoenix, one of six women who testified against Cruciani at trial.
The AP does not typically identify people who say they are survivors of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Phoenix has done.
Cruciani denied abusing women. In court, his lawyer questioned the credibility of his accusers.
The fire department said it responded to a call of an inmate unconscious at the jail around 5:50 a.m. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate the inmate but were unable, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, the fire department said.
The city’s Department of Correction, which runs Rikers Island, confirmed that an inmate at the Eric M. Taylor Center died Monday, but did not release his name, citing pending family notification. The cause of death is under investigation, the Department of Correction said.
Jails commissioner Louis Molina said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened” to learn of the inmate’s death, and promised “a preliminary internal review to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.”
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones,” Molina said.
Cruciani is at least the 11th person to die in a city jail this year. Last year, 16 people died in city jails — the most since 2013.
The Daily News was first to report Cruciani’s death.
Messages seeking comment were left with lawyers for women who say they were abused by him. A message was also left with the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which prosecuted the case that ended in his July 29 conviction.
Cruciani was out on bail during the trial but was sent to Rikers Island after the verdict.
The complex, troubled by years of neglect, has spiraled into turmoil since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with a spike in inmate deaths, violence, self-harm and staff absences. The city has said it will close Rikers Island by 2027, replacing it with four smaller jails located elsewhere.
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Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania.
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On Twitter, follow Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Michael Rubinkam at twitter.com/michaelrubinkam
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/15/doctor-who-sexually-abused-patients-kills-himself-jail-sources-say/ | 2022-08-15T19:12:36Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The week before the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Missouri’s Josh Hawley became the first Republican senator to announce he would object to the certification of the 2020 election.
Texas’ Ted Cruz came next, dashing off his own plan on a flight from Houston to Washington days before the joint session of Congress to certify the election results.
In all, a dozen GOP senators initially planned to challenge Joe Biden’s victory. But unlike their House GOP counterparts who have been subpoenaed for testimony before the Jan. 6 committee, the Republican senators have largely escaped the reach of the investigation.
While the committee did share highlights about the senators, including Hawley’s raised-fist salute to the rioters that day — an image seared in history, and now on coffee mugs the senator sells — it has made the surprising, if pragmatic, decision not to call the senators for testimony. One dramatic video showed Hawley sprinting from the Senate chamber later that day as rioters swarmed.
Amid wider public scrutiny of Jan. 6, the senators have been left to explain their actions on their own terms, and have often done so defiantly.
“I do not regret it,” Hawley said to applause at Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit in Tampa, Florida, after he strode to the stage Friday to a standing ovation.
As the summer hearings of the Jan. 6 committee come to a close, Chairman Bennie Thompson has indicated that the panel is looking elsewhere. As work continues, the investigation is moving closer to the top ranks of the White House and the defeated president’s inner circle.
“We continue to receive new information every day,” Thompson, D-Miss., said last week, announcing the next round of hearings in September. “We are pursuing many additional witnesses for testimony.”
The House committee is investigating not only the grisly attack on the Capitol, but Trump’s extraordinary effort to overturn the presidential election by submitting “fake” slates of electors from the battleground states to vote for him, not Biden, when Congress convened Jan. 6 to tally the 2020 presidential election results.
The senators could provide information about the run-up to Jan. 6, including any conversations they may have had with Trump and his lawyers who were putting together the plan for the fake electors, said Norm Eisen, a senior fellow at Brookings and former top adviser to Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee.
In one dramatic screenshot of a text exchange, the committee told the story of how a top aide for GOP Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin attempted to hand off a slate of false, pro-Trump electors to then-Vice President Mike Pence as he was presiding in his ceremonial role of certifying the election. Johnson has said he was not involved in that effort.
But having interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses and having issued rare subpoenas to fellow House lawmakers, Eisen said the panel is trying to preserve its political capital by declining to compel senators to testify in what would be seen as an unusual House challenge to the upper chamber.
The Jan. 6 committee’s decision to issue subpoenas to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Andy Biggs of Arizona and Mo Brooks of Alabama was a show of force by the nine-member panel. And it came after much deliberation among the lawmakers, who for weeks considered whether taking the unprecedented step of subpoenaing members of their own chamber would be worth further inflaming partisan tensions over the 2021 attack.
“They only have so much committee time,” said Eisen.
Cruz declined to say Tuesday if he would have appeared had the Jan. 6 panel asked for his testimony. Hawley’s office has similarly said he wouldn’t want to address a hypothetical situation.
But in recent conversations, the Republicans have stood by their efforts to challenge Biden’s victory.
“This country would have been much better off” if Congress had taken up his plan, Cruz recently told The Associated Press.
Cruz had proposed forming a commission to audit voter fraud in the disputed states, even though Trump’s own Justice Department said there was no voter fraud on a scale that could have tipped the 2020 election. Dozens of court cases claiming fraud had been rejected or gone unheard.
Cruz said he did not recall conversations with Trump ally John Eastman, the conservative lawyer who was the architect of the alternative electors plan. Last month, federal authorities seized Eastman’s phone and issued subpoenas to electors in states nationwide allegedly involved in the scheme.
“I wrestled for a long time with what was the best approach to take with regard to the certification on Jan. 6,” Cruz said. He said he alone drafted the statement he put out with 11 senators, which he said he dashed off on the flight back to Washington.
Hawley has brushed off questions about the committee’s work, and declined last month to comment about Eastman’s plans for the alternative electors.
One police officer testified to the committee that Hawley’s raised fist on Jan. 6 “riled up the crowd” that day, said Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va. During last week’s hearing, she played the video showing how Hawley “fled after those protesters he helped to rile up stormed the Capitol.”
Johnson has downplayed his aide’s attempt to pass a fake slate of electors to Pence. The handoff never took place, but the moment showed how close the plan came to fruition. If it had been successful, the electoral votes for Michigan and Wisconsin could have gone to Trump, not Biden, the rightful winner in those states.
After police cleared the Capitol of rioters that night, seven Republican senators led by Cruz and Hawley stuck with the plan to challenge the election results. Several of the other GOP senators who had initially signed on backed out.
At least one Republican who voted to challenge the election results after the rioting, Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, said Tuesday he would talk to the committee if they asked for his testimony,
“I’d go,” said Tuberville, who took a phone call from Trump as senators were being swept to safety. Tuberville was also among senators who had received a voicemail from Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani that night, the committee has said.
Tuberville said he hasn’t been watching the hearings. “There’s nothing, anything, that I’ve seen that would change my mind on anything that I’ve voted on,” he said.
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Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in Tampa, Florida, contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/hawley-cruz-escape-jan-6-probe-have-no-regrets-over-role/ | 2022-07-27T18:01:08Z |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Society for Preventive Cardiology (ASPC) is announcing a new CE education program hosted in conjunction with their annual scientific sessions: ASPC 2022 Congress on CVD Prevention. The Imaging MasterClass, titled "Imaging Techniques to Assess Global CVD and CVD Risk", is scheduled for July 28-29, 2022, in Louisville, KY. Information on both programs can be found on www.aspconline.org.
The Imaging MasterClass will aim to provide simple principles and techniques for various cardiology imaging studies. The course will be highly engaging and interactive, including practical clinical tips and a debate on the "The Best Strategy for Chest Pain Evaluation in 2022"!
Program co-chairs, Dr. Harold Bays and Dr. Alison Bailey, designed this new ASPC MasterClass to give both cardiologists and non-cardiologists alike a unique opportunity for a comprehensive discussion and updates on imaging techniques essential for clinicians engaged in preventive cardiology.
The program agenda includes the following topics and faculty lecturers:
- Cardiac Imaging from a cardiologist and a non-cardiologist perspective; Alison Bailey, MD (Centennial Heart at Parkridge Health System) and Harold Bays, MD (Louisville Metabolic and Atherosclerosis Research Center, Inc.)
- Coronary Artery Calcium, CCTA, FFR-CT; Matthew Budoff, MD (UCLA Medical Center)
- Role of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular MRI in CVD Risk Assessment; Dinesh Kalra, MD (University of Louisville School of Medicine)
- Cardiac Catheterization, IVUS, OCT; Vikas Singh, MD (University of Louisville School of Medicine)
- Treadmill, Nuclear Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI), Cardiac PET; Ty Gluckman, MD (Providence Heart Institute, Providence St. Joseph Health)
- Practical Clinical Tips for both the cardiologist and non-cardiologist; Alison Bailey, MD and Harold Bays, MD
- Debate: What's the Best Strategy for Chest Pain Evaluation in 2022?
The ASPC encourages all to join their esteemed faculty to discuss all things related to Cardiovascular Imaging at this brand-new pre-Congress MasterClass. Attendees of the Imaging MasterClass will earn approximately 8 CE/MOC/AAPA credits.
About the American Society for Preventive Cardiology (ASPC)
The ASPC is a national organization of healthcare providers and researchers dedicated to the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The mission of the ASPC is to promote the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, advocate for the prevention of cardiovascular health, and disseminate high-quality, evidence-based information through education of clinicians.
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SOURCE The American Society for Preventive Cardiology | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/aspc-announces-new-pre-conference-masterclass-cardiovascular-imaging-techniques/ | 2022-06-02T21:52:40Z |
Hearing aids should get cheaper and possibly even better due to a long-awaited rule change that the US Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday.
Instead of getting a prescription, visiting a hearing health professional and having a custom fitting, people with mild to moderate hearing loss will be able to buy hearing aids directly from a store or online.
This move will make hearing aids much more widely available across the country, FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said.
If hearing loss were officially considered a disability by the government, it would be the largest disability class in the country.
About 1 in 8 people in the US ages 12 and older has hearing loss in both ears, and the rate increases significantly with age. About a quarter of people 65 to 74 have hearing loss, and that goes up to 50% around age 75.
But only about 16% of the tens of millions of people with hearing loss use a hearing aid.
The new devices won't be free, but the FDA estimates that the new rule could mean savings of about $2,800 a pair. And people could see over-the-counter hearing aids on the market as early as October, Califf said.
"Today's action will not only help adults who have perceived mild to moderate hearing loss gain access to more affordable an innovative production options, but we expect that it will unleash the power of American industry to improve the technology in a way that it will impact the enormous burden of disability from hearing loss affecting the world," he said Tuesday.
The rule's long journey
Congress passed legislation to create a category of OTC hearing aids with wide bipartisan support, and President Trump signed it into law in 2017.
But no action was taken, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a sponsor of the bill, gave the FDA until August 2020 to issue the regulations. She and co-sponsor Sen. Chuck Grassley sent several letters urging the FDA to take action.
In July 2021, President Biden signed an executive order created in part to speed things along.
The FDA initially said the pandemic delayed the implementation of the rule. The agency said Tuesday that it also had a lot of public comments to wade through.
During the public health comment period, some hearing health associations submitted concerns about the proposed changes, suggesting that devices would still require the help of a professional.
On Tuesday, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association praised the FDA's action.
"ASHA fully supports the creation of this new category of over-the-counter hearing devices, which will increase the availability and affordability of hearing aids for many Americans," said Janice R. Trent, vice president for audiology practice for the group's Board of Directors. "It is important the public understands these devices are only for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, and to strongly consider getting a hearing assessment by a certified audiologist as a first step before they purchase anything."
An expensive medical device
The rule doesn't change how hearing aids are covered. While private insurers pay for treatment after the loss of a limb or even cover the cost of Viagra, most do not cover hearing aids. Basic Medicare doesn't pay for them either, and only about half of state Medicaid programs do.
Hearing aids aren't cheap. On average, people spend at least $4,000 out of pocket for devices for both ears, according to a 2020 study published in JAMA. Prices can vary: Large retailers may offer a pair for about $1,400, but some can cost as much as $6,000 per ear, depending on the technology.
Five large companies now control 90% of the global marketplace for hearing aids. That kind of consolidation meant there was little price competition, and high prices may be a big reason why most people who need hearing aids don't have them.
With the change, many more companies are expected to enter the market.
Experts believe that existing manufacturers will also develop lower-cost over-the-counter devices in addition to their current offerings.
"Reducing health care costs in America has been a priority of mine since Day One and this rule is expected to help us achieve quality, affordable health care access for millions of Americans in need," Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement Tuesday.
How the new rule will work
Currently, people can get hearing aids only with an expensive medical exam or prescription from a professional who will fit the device for the individual. Audiologists can also adjust it over its lifetime if someone's hearing gets worse.
With an over-the-counter device, buyers may be able to adjust them on their own.
The new rule applies only to certain kinds of hearing aids, the FDA said. People with severe hearing loss and those under the age of 18 will still need a prescription.
To be allowed on the market, the new rule says, over-the-counter hearing aids will need to meet the FDA's high standards for safety, labeling and manufacturing protection like all other medical devices.
"I think today's a standout day," Becerra said. "Americans who need help with their hearing aids -- and that includes my mom -- help is on the way. So over-the-counter hearing aids -- get ready, folks, you're going to get to save a lot of money, and we're all going to benefit."
Why hearing aids matter
Hearing aids aren't just nice to have so people can hear; they are also essential for physical and mental health.
People with hearing loss who did not have hearing aids are more likely to report poor health overall, and they are less likely to leave home or exercise, studies have found.
There's a link between hearing loss and general frailty and an increasing risk of falls, which are the second leading cause of unintentional deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Association.
Several studies have also found an link between hearing loss and poorer mental health and psychosocial health.
Hearing loss can lead to depression, loneliness and isolation, and even dementia.
With hearing aids likely to become easier to access, "I have a big smile on my face right now," said Dr. Frank Lin, director of the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health. He has been consulting with the government on this issue for eight years.
Lin said there has been little innovation in this space because of the way the market is regulated.
"In 1977, because of the technology at the time, the only way for hearing aids to be safe and effective is if they were programmed and fitted and professionally adjusted by a licensed provider," Lin said. "Fast-forward 45 years later, those rules are still in the books, but the market and that technology has changed dramatically.
"This will allow companies like Samsung, Apple, Google, companies that are already making innovative earbuds, they can now enter the market. They really couldn't before."
He believes that if companies can sell earbuds for $200, they could easily sell hearing aids for a similar price.
The new rule is a good thing for patients, he said, because it shows the government can take action that improves health.
"This was a true bipartisanship. This is how government should work," Lin said. "This really, really restores my faith in government."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/features/health/help-is-on-the-way-fda-finalizes-rule-that-should-usher-in-cheaper-hearing-aids/article_d5eda21e-7502-5f93-909e-e5278452b492.html | 2022-08-16T22:11:36Z |
American Red Cross Blood Drive to feature a prize for participants
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - To help address the ongoing blood shortage, the American Red Cross has a blood drive with chance to win a prize.
The American Red Cross will host a blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. Monday, July 11, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, located at 2401 SW Kingsrow Dr. in Topeka.
According to the Red Cross, anyone who donates blood through them before July 31 will be entered for a chance to win a “Shark Week” merchandise package meant for outdoor adventures. Based on the release, the package includes nine ft. paddleboard, a portable smokehouse fire pit, a one-seater kayak, and a $500 gift card that cam be used for accessories.
The contest is open for legal residents in the U.S. and DC for ages 18 and up. No donation is necessary to participate.
The Red Cross says it will continue social distancing, while donors are no longer required to wear a face mask, individuals can choose to wear a mask for any reason.
You can make an appointment at the Red Cross website.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/08/american-red-cross-blood-drive-feature-prize-participants/ | 2022-07-08T23:36:41Z |
GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — The rolling prairie lands of northeastern Wyoming have been a paradise of lush, knee-deep grass for sheep, cattle and pronghorn antelope this summer.
But it’s a different green — greener energy — that geologist Fred McLaughlin seeks as he drills nearly two miles (3.2 kilometers) into the ground, far deeper than the thick coal seams that make this the top coal-mining region in the United States. McLaughlin and his University of Wyoming colleagues are studying whether tiny spaces in rock deep underground can permanently store vast volumes of greenhouse gas emitted by a coal-fired power plant.
This is the concept known as carbon storage, long touted as an answer to global warming that preserves the energy industry’s burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity.
So far, removing carbon dioxide from power plant smokestacks and pumping it underground hasn’t been feasible without higher electricity bills to cover the technique’s huge costs. But with a $2.5 billion infusion from Congress last year and now bigger tax incentives through the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress on Friday, researchers and industry continue to try.
One goal of McLaughlin’s project is to preserve the lifespan of a relatively new coal-fired power plant, Dry Fork Station, run by Basin Electric Power Cooperative. State officials hope it will do the same for the whole beleaguered coal industry that still underpins Wyoming’s economy. The state produces about 40% of the nation’s coal but declining production and a series of layoffs and bankruptcies have beset the Gillette area’s vast, open-pit coal mines over the past decade.
While the economics of carbon storage remain uncertain at best, McLaughlin and others are confident in the technology.
“The geology exists,” McLaughlin said. “It is a resource we’re looking for — and the resource is pore space.”
HOW IT WORKS
By pore space, McLaughlin doesn’t mean skin care but microscopic spaces between grains of sandstone deep underground. Countless such spaces add up: Enough, he hopes, to hold 55 million tons (50 million metric tons) of carbon dioxide over 30 years.
McLaughlin and his team used the same drill rigs as the oil industry to bore their two wells almost 10,000 feet (3,000 meters), taking core samples from nine geological formations in the process. The researchers will study how injection at one well, using saltwater as a stand-in for liquid carbon dioxide, could affect fluid behavior at the other.
“It’s basically like a call and response, if you want to think of it that way,” McLaughlin said. “We can ground truth our simulations.”
McLaughlin’s team also does a lot of lab work on carbon sequestration back at the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources in Laramie, studying on a microscopic scale how much carbon dioxide different sandstone layers can hold. They model on computers how much carbon dioxide, well by well, could be pumped underground north of Gillette.
Eventually they want to advance to carbon dioxide captured from the smoke plume at nearby Dry Fork Station, using a technique developed by California-based Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
WYOMING’S CARBON DREAMS
With an eye toward carbon storage, Wyoming in 2020 became one of just two states, along with North Dakota, to take over from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency primary authority to issue the kind of permit McLaughlin and his team will need to pump large volumes of carbon dioxide, pressurized into a high density “supercritical” state, underground.
Besides the permit, the geologists will also need more funding. The U.S. Department of Energy Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) program is funding 24 carbon capture and storage projects nationwide, and this is one of the furthest along.
Such projects were likely already eligible for some of the roughly $2.5 billion in last year’s infrastructure bill. Now the new Inflation Reduction Act will boost the “45Q” tax credit for electricity producers who sequester their carbon from $50 to $85 per ton.
Pumping carbon dioxide underground is nothing new. For decades, the oil and gas industry has used carbon dioxide, after it’s separated from the methane sold for fueling stoves and furnaces, to recharge aging oil fields.
UNTIL NOW, FAILED EXPERIMENTS
Critics, however, point out the process is expensive to use at power plants and provides a lifeline of sorts to the coal, oil and natural gas industries when the world, in their view, should stop using fossil fuels altogether.
To date, only one commercially-operational, large-scale project in the U.S. has pumped carbon dioxide from a power plant underground. But to defray costs, NRG Energy’s Petra Nova coal-fired power plant outside Houston sold its carbon dioxide to increase local oil production.
After three years in operation, Petra Nova closed in 2020, when low oil prices made using the gas to recharge a nearby oil field unprofitable.
In December, a U.S. Government Accountability Office review found that Petra Nova was the only one of eight carbon capture and storage projects at coal-fired plants to actually go into operation, after getting $684 million in Department of Energy funding since 2009.
Some communities that have dealt for years with industrial air pollution also worry that companies will use promises of carbon storage as a way to expand.
For Massachusetts Institute of Technology research engineer Howard Herzog, a carbon capture and storage pioneer, the question isn’t whether the technique is technically feasible at scale. He’s certain that it is. But whether it can be economically feasible is a different matter.
“People are starting to take it more seriously even though fundamentally changing our energy systems is not an easy task,” Herzog said. “It’s not something you do in the short term. You’ve got to really set the policy in place and we still haven’t really done that.”
It may be expensive, said Herzog. But doing nothing when it comes to climate, “may be much more expensive.”
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Follow Mead Gruver at https://twitter.com/meadgruver | https://cw33.com/technology/ap-technology/new-climate-deal-spurs-hopes-of-more-carbon-storage-projects/ | 2022-08-16T00:54:22Z |
The woman suspected of fatally shooting elite cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson in Texas last month was seen at Newark Liberty International Airport just one day after Austin police obtained a warrant for her arrest, according to the US Marshals Service.
Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, 34, was at the airport on May 18, the US Marshals said in a news release Monday -- four days after she departed Austin, where Wilson was killed.
However, no reservations were made under her name, the Marshals said, citing a search of outbound flights at the Newark airport.
Armstrong is wanted in connection to Wilson's death in Austin on May 11, which authorities suggest was motivated by jealousy: Wilson had previously dated Armstrong's boyfriend.
"Kaitlin Armstrong is accused of a very serious crime that she needs to answer for," Susan Pamerlau, US Marshal for the Western District of Texas, said in a statement.
"The best thing she can do at this point, wherever she is, is surrender to authorities, so she can return safely to Austin and answer the charges against her. She needs to know the Marshals are not going to stop looking for her."
Investigators previously learned Armstrong was at the Austin International Bergstrom Airport early in the afternoon of May 14. There, she boarded a flight to Houston Hobby Airport, where she took a connecting flight to LaGuardia Airport in New York.
A homicide warrant was issued for Armstrong on May 17, with an affidavit pointing in part to surveillance video that purportedly shows a vehicle similar to Armstrong's near the scene of the fatal shooting shortly before Wilson's body was found.
Wilson had told a friend she was going for a swim with Colin Strickland -- a professional cyclist who said he had been in a romantic relationship with Wilson while he and Armstrong were briefly separated -- that afternoon, which he confirmed in an interview with police. They had dinner together afterward and he then dropped her off at her friend's home around 8:36 p.m., Strickland said. He did not go inside.
Officers responded to the home shortly before 10 p.m. to find Wilson suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Austin police. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the hours after Wilson's killing, Armstrong was taken into custody for an unrelated misdemeanor warrant and questioned about her vehicle being near the scene of the crime. But Armstrong ended the interview, police said, and she was released from custody because of a discrepancy between the birth date listed on the warrant and the police computer system, police said.
Authorities separately obtained a federal warrant for Armstrong on May 25 for "unlawful flight to avoid prosecution," the US Marshals said.
The US Marshals Service has upgraded the search for Armstrong to "major case status," it said in a news release Monday. The agency is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to her arrest.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/woman-suspected-of-killing-cyclist-anna-moriah-wilson-was-dropped-off-at-newark-airport-authorities/article_4081aa78-269b-54bc-9793-4e7b2ccba1f7.html | 2022-06-07T20:11:22Z |
NEW YORK, June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kudu Investment Management, LLC (Kudu), an independent provider of permanent capital solutions to asset and wealth managers, today announced that Ben Ruffel has joined the firm as director of distribution strategies, a new position, effective June 13.
Ruffel is responsible for supporting Kudu's 18 partner firms, which collectively manage $70 billion in assets, as they explore and develop opportunities in new and existing market segments. He is based in New York.
Before joining Kudu, Ruffel was a vice president and account manager for PIMCO. Earlier, he was senior analyst, client services at NISA Investment Advisors.
"Our goal with Kudu has always been to build a like-minded community of the finest independent boutique asset and wealth managers," said Rob Jakacki, CEO. "Ben, with his innovative ideas and experience at world-class managers, will be a dedicated resource, offering advice and support on growth strategies and competitive positioning."
Ruffel is a CFA charterholder and has an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He holds a bachelor's degree in European and Russian history from Washington and Lee University.
About Kudu Investment Management
Kudu provides long-term capital solutions—including generational ownership transfers, management buyouts, acquisition and growth finance, as well as liquidity for legacy partners—to asset and wealth managers globally. Kudu was founded in 2015 and is backed by capital partners White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: WTM) and MassMutual. For more information, please visit www.kuduinvestment.com
Media Contacts
Richard Chimberg/Margaret Kirch Cohen
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SOURCE Kudu Investment Management, LLC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/asset-management-distribution-executive-ben-ruffel-joins-kudu-investment-management/ | 2022-06-14T13:33:23Z |
Pushpraj Shukla to lead enterprise AI platform development and innovation of next-gen applications as company growth continues
PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SymphonyAI, a leader in high-value enterprise AI SaaS for strategic industries, announced today that Pushpraj (Raj) Shukla has joined the company as vice president of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) and head of incubation.
Shukla will lead the advancement of the enterprise AI platform, Eureka, that supports SymphonyAI's applications in key vertical industries. These include retail, CPG, financial crime, manufacturing, media, IT, and the public sector. Shukla will also lead the incubation of next-gen applications providing predictive AI analytics and insights to new use cases and business processes.
"Raj brings more than 15 years of leadership in applied AI/ML engineering for enterprise AI and ML-focused SaaS offerings at a global scale," said SymphonyAI CTO Vijay Raghavendra. "Our strong combination of technologies, capabilities, and heritage of innovation and recent advances collectively put us at the forefront of enterprise AI. Raj's expertise will further accelerate our leadership position in applied AI/ML and our unique underlying AI platform."
"SymphonyAI is the leader in enterprise AI," said Shukla. "The intersection of advanced AI and deep, vertical industry domain expertise is a unique combination in the industry today and is one of the things that most excites me about this role. The AI/ML platform also accelerates the incubation of 'startup' capabilities within SymphonyAI so we can deliver tangible impacts in complex businesses and strategic industries faster."
Shukla joins SymphonyAI from Microsoft, where he served as partner director of AI and ML for business applications and platforms. He led one of the most extensive applied AI and ML groups for Azure, including developing ML models to power low- or no-code elements for the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform suite of products. Shukla's work included developing "prediction startups" within Microsoft for business, media, and entertainment.
Shukla's appointment comes on the heels of multiple executive announcements. To see recent executive announcements, please refer to https://www.symphonyai.com/news/.
SymphonyAI is building the leading enterprise AI SaaS company for digital transformation across the most critical and resilient growth industries, including retail, consumer packaged goods, finance, manufacturing, media, IT/enterprise service management, and the public sector. SymphonyAI has many leading enterprise customers in each of these industries. Since its founding in 2017, SymphonyAI has grown rapidly, thanks to the work of 2,000 talented leaders, data scientists, and other professionals. SymphonyAI is a SAIGroup company, backed by a $1 billion commitment from successful entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Romesh Wadhwani.
Media Contact: Megan Duero, megan@galestrategies.com
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SOURCE SymphonyAI | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/symphonyai-appoints-vice-president-artificial-intelligence-machine-learning/ | 2022-08-02T11:17:55Z |
WASHINGTON — As U.S. intelligence agencies ramp up their efforts against China, top officials acknowledge they may also end up collecting more phone calls and emails from Chinese Americans, raising new concerns about spying affecting civil liberties.
A new report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence makes several recommendations, including expanding unconscious bias training and reiterating internally that federal law bans targeting someone solely due to their ethnicity.
U.S. intelligence agencies are under constant pressure to better understand China’s decision-making on issues including nuclear weapons,geopolitics and the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic — and have responded with new centers and programs focusing on Beijing. While there’s bipartisan support for a tougher U.S. approach to China, civil rights groups and advocates are concerned about the disparate effect of enhanced surveillance on people of Chinese descent.
As one example, people who speak to relatives or contacts in China could be more likely to have their communications swept up, though intelligence agencies can’t quantify how often due in part to civil liberties concerns.
There’s a long history of U.S. government discrimination against groups of citizens in the name of national security. Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps during World War II, Black leaders were spied upon during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and mosques were surveilled after the Sept. 11 attacks. Chinese Americans have faced discrimination going back to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the first law to explicitly ban immigration from a specific ethnic community.
Aryani Ong, co-founder of the advocacy group Asian American Federal Employees for Non-Discrimination, noted that people of Asian descent are sometimes “not fully trusted as loyal Americans.” She said the report, published May 31, would be useful to conversations about what she described as the conflation of civil rights and national defense.
Ong and other advocates pointed to the Justice Department’s “China Initiative,” created to target economic espionage and hacking operations by Beijing. The department dropped the name of the program after it had come to be associated with faltering prosecutions of Asian American professors at U.S. college campuses.
“Often we hear responses that we cannot weaken our national security, as if protecting constitutional rights of Asian Americans (is) contrary to our defense,” said Ong, who is Indonesian and Chinese American.
But in trying to produce demographic data on the impact of surveillance, the intelligence agencies say there’s a paradox: Examining the backgrounds of U.S. citizens whose data is collected requires more intrusion into those people’s lives.
“To try to find out that type of information would require additional collection that would absolutely not be authorized because it isn’t for the foreign intelligence purpose for which the intelligence community gets its authorities,” Ben Huebner, the chief civil liberties officer for Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, said in an interview.
But, Huebner added, “I think the fact that we can’t analytically get to those types of metrics doesn’t mean that we get to sort of drop the ball on this.”
One potential disparity highlighted by the report is what’s known as “incidental collection.”
In surveilling a foreign target, intelligence agencies can obtain the target’s communications with a U.S. citizen who isn’t under investigation. The agencies also collect phone calls or emails of U.S. citizens as they sweep for foreign communications.
The National Security Agency has vast powers to surveil domestic and foreign communications, as revealed in part by documents leaked by Edward Snowden. Under NSA rules, two people have to sign off on putting any new foreign target under surveillance. The NSA masks the identities of U.S. citizens under federal law and intelligence guidelines and turns over potential domestic leads to the FBI.
The FBI can access some of the NSA’s collection without a warrant. Civil rights advocates have long argued that searches under what’s known as Section 702 disproportionately target minority communities.
The ODNI report notes that there “may be an increased risk of such incidental collection” for Chinese Americans as well as people not of Chinese ancestry who have business or personal ties to China. The report recommends a review of artificial intelligence programs to ensure they “avoid perpetuating historical biases and discrimination.” It also suggests agencies across the intelligence community expand unconscious bias training for people who handle information from incidental collection.
ODNI is also studying delays in granting security clearances and whether people of Chinese or Asian descent face longer or more invasive background investigations. While there is no publicly available data on clearances, some applicants from minority communities have questioned whether they undergo extra scrutiny due to their race or ethnicity. According to the report, U.S. intelligence assesses that “neither race nor ethnicity is the primary criterion utilized by the PRC’s intelligence services in their recruitment of intelligence assets.”
Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that he welcomed the recommendations “to increase awareness of existing non-discrimination prohibitions and improve transparency around the security clearance process.”
But Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who is the committee’s vice chairman, said requiring new training on unconscious bias and cultural competency was a distraction.
“The Chinese Communist Party likes nothing more than when we are distracted by divisive, internal politics,” Rubio said in a statement.
The ODNI report highlights FBI training on race and ethnicity as a “best practice” in the intelligence community. In a statement, the FBI said that there was “no place for bias and prejudice in our communities” and that law enforcement “must work to eliminate these flawed beliefs in our agencies to best serve those we are sworn to protect. The FBI said its agents are trained in “obedience to the Constitution” and in “treating everyone with dignity, empathy and respect.”
A senior NSA official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters, said the agency currently requires unconscious bias training for managers and hiring officials, but not all employees. The NSA does train intelligence analysts on rules that prohibit the collection of intelligence for suppressing dissent or disadvantaging people based on their race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, and is reviewing ODNI’s recommendations.
The CIA late last year issued new instructions to officers discouraging the use of the word “Chinese” to describe China’s government. The guidance suggests referring to the leadership as “China,” “the People’s Republic of China” or “PRC,” or “Beijing,” while using “Chinese” to refer to the people, language or culture.
“It’s important to be clear that our concern is about the threat posed by the People’s Republic of China, the PRC — not about the people of China, let alone fellow Americans of Chinese or Asian descent,” CIA Director William Burns said in a recent speech at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “It is a profound mistake to conflate the two.” | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/article_d9442a50-ecfa-11ec-a6f2-e73f11f003d0.html | 2022-06-16T01:51:05Z |
GRAPHIC: Amber Heard’s friend says she saw bruises inflicted by Depp
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — A friend of actor Amber Heard testified Wednesday that she saw the bruises and cuts left in the aftermath of multiple incidents of abuse inflicted by Heard’s ex-husband, Johnny Depp.
GRAPHIC WARNING: This story may contain disturbing content.
In a recorded deposition played for jurors, Raquel Pennington said she never personally witnessed Depp strike Heard. But she said she saw the injuries, and she took photos of Heard’s face in December 2015 after a fight in which Heard says Depp head-butted her and perhaps broke her nose.
The photo shows a swollen nose, a cut lip, and two moderately black eyes on Heard’s face.
She also took a photo of strands of hair that she said were ripped from Heard’s scalp.
Heard “often had to cover bruises and injuries on her face” with makeup, Pennington said in the January 2022 deposition.
Pennington said she doesn’t really consider herself a current friend of Heard, and that the two grew apart in the last year.
Depp is suing Heard for libel in Virginia’s Fairfax County Circuit Court over a December 2018 op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post describing herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” His lawyers say he was defamed by the article even though it never mentioned his name. The trial is now in its fifth week.
Depp says he never struck Heard and that he was the victim of abuse inflicted by Heard.
The December 2015 fight is one of several that were disputed. While jurors have seen the photos taken by Pennington documenting the injuries, they have also seen video of Heard’s appearance on a late-night talk show the next day in which those injuries aren’t visible.
Heard has said the injuries were just covered by makeup.
Pennington’s testimony comes after Heard wrapped up her time on the witness stand, including two grueling days of cross-examination in which Depp’s lawyers questioned Heard about the truthfulness of her allegations of physical and sexual abuse.
Pennington’s testimony provides corroborating evidence to several of the alleged assaults. In addition to the December 2015 incident, Pennington said she saw cuts on Heard’s feet when she returned from a trip to Australia in March 2015. Heard testified that Depp sexually assaulted Heard with a liquor bottle on that trip and that she cut her feet on broken glass from the attack.
And Pennington, who lived for a time in a suite of penthouses along with Depp and Heard, said she was the first person to see Heard during a final fight between the couple in May 2016 that precipitated the couple’s divorce.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/18/graphic-amber-heards-friend-says-she-saw-bruises-inflicted-by-depp/ | 2022-05-18T16:43:55Z |
DUBLIN, July 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Endo International plc (NASDAQ: ENDP) today announced top-line results from its Phase 2 study of Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum (or "CCH") in participants with adhesive capsulitis (AC) of the shoulder, commonly known as "frozen shoulder." While Phase 2 study participants receiving up to three doses of CCH showed some improvement in the change from baseline in the adapted American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Standardized Shoulder Form composite score for the affected shoulder at the Day 95 visit, the difference compared to those study participants receiving placebo was not statistically significant. The safety profile of CCH in the Phase 2 study was consistent with the known safety profile from other studies. Most treatment-emergent adverse events were of mild to moderate severity with the most common events following treatment with CCH being injection site bruising, arthralgia, injection site pain, injection site swelling and contusion.
"We are disappointed in the study outcome, and based on these data, we will be reevaluating our path forward for CCH for the treatment of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. We will continue focusing on our pipeline, including with respect to other potential CCH indications," said James P. Tursi, M.D., Executive Vice President, Global Research & Development at Endo. "We are committed to advancing our strategic priority of expanding and enhancing our portfolio for growth."
The Phase 2 trial enrolled 198 participants with unilateral idiopathic AC of the shoulder with restricted range of motion (ROM) and function in the affected shoulder. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive CCH or placebo administered by ultrasound-guided injection. Participants received up to 3 injections separated by a minimum of 21 days. Participants completed standard home exercises and received physical therapy at designated time points during the study.
The Phase 2 trial's primary endpoint was the change from baseline in the adapted American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Standardized Shoulder Form composite score for the affected shoulder at the Day 95 visit. This adapted scale measures pain and function parameters of the shoulder. Secondary endpoints included measures of passive and active range of motion improvement (PROM and AROM respectively).
About Adhesive Capsulitis
Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is characterized by a painful and gradual loss of active and passive shoulder motion resulting from fibrosis and contracture of the joint capsule. It is a specific pathologic entity in which chronic inflammation of the joint capsule produces thickening and fibrosis. Patients typically present with pain of insidious onset of several months' duration.1 AC is believed to affect from 3% to 5% of the U.S. general population with an incidence of up to 20% in those with diabetes.2
Treatment options include a range of conservative and potentially even surgical measures. Oral and intra-articular corticosteroids have been shown to have a limited benefit in reducing pain and increasing ROM in AC. Physical therapy (PT) to the limit of pain is widely accepted as part of the management of AC, commonly in the early stages of the disease.3 More invasive management options include nerve blocks, a variety of injection options with varying degrees of efficacy demonstrated and ultimately, hydrodilatation or manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) may be required. Arthroscopic capsular release has also been used to treat AC often as a last resort, with the associated risks of postoperative pain, recurrent postoperative AC, and axillary nerve damage, as well as the risks associated with general anesthesia.3
About Endo
Endo (NASDAQ: ENDP) is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to helping everyone we serve live their best life through the delivery of quality, life-enhancing therapies. Our decades of proven success come from passionate team members around the globe collaborating to bring the best treatments forward. Together, we boldly transform insights into treatments benefiting those who need them when they need them. Learn more at www.endo.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information in this press release may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and any applicable Canadian securities legislation including, but not limited to, the statements by Dr. Tursi and any statements relating to clinical trials or studies, potential treatments or indications, future research, portfolio growth, timelines or expectations. Statements including words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "plan," "will," "may," "look forward," "intend," "future," "potential" or similar expressions are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release reflect Endo's current expectations of future events based on existing trends and information and represent Endo's judgment only as of the date of this press release. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from current expectations based on a number of factors affecting Endo's businesses, including, among other things, the following: the outcome of our strategic review, contingency planning and any potential restructuring; the timing, impact or results of any pending or future litigation, investigations, proceedings or claims, including opioid, tax and antitrust matters; actual or contingent liabilities; settlement discussions or negotiations; the impact of competition including loss of exclusivity and generic competition; our ability to satisfy judgments or settlements or to pursue appeals including bonding requirements; our ability to adjust to changing market conditions; our inability to maintain compliance with financial covenants and operating obligations which would expose us to potential events of default under our outstanding indebtedness; our ability to incur additional debt or refinance our outstanding indebtedness; a significant reduction in our short-term or long-term revenues which could cause us to be unable to fund our operations and liquidity needs; the performance of and consumer and physician acceptance of our products; the impact that known and unknown side effects may have on market perception and consumer preference; the effectiveness of advertising and other promotional campaigns; and our ability to develop products and our pipeline of products. The occurrence or possibility of any such result has caused us to engage and may result in further engagement in strategic reviews that ultimately may result in our pursuing one or more significant corporate transactions or other remedial measures, including on a preventative or proactive basis. Those remedial measures could include a potential corporate reorganization, restructuring or bankruptcy filing involving all or a portion of our business, asset sales or other divestitures, cost-saving initiatives, corporate realignments or strategic partnerships. Some of these measures could take significant time to implement and others may require judicial or other third-party approval. Any such actions may be complex, could entail significant costs and charges or could otherwise negatively impact shareholder value, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to accomplish any of these alternatives on terms acceptable to us, or at all, or that they will result in their intended benefits. Therefore, the reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. Endo expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required to do so by law. Additional information concerning risk factors, including those referenced above, can be found in press releases issued by Endo, as well as Endo's public periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and with securities regulators in Canada, including the discussion under the heading "Risk Factors" in Endo's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
References:
- Neviaser AS, Neviaser RJ. Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2011 Sep;19(9):536-42. doi: 10.5435/00124635-201109000-00004. PMID: 21885699.
- Le HV, Lee SJ, Nazarian A, et al. Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: Review of pathophysiology and current clinical treatments. Shoulder & Elbow 2017;9(2):75-84.
- Cho C-H, Bae K-C, Kim D-H. Treatment strategy for frozen shoulder. Clin Orthoped Surg 2019;11:249-257.
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SOURCE Endo International plc | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/01/endo-provides-top-line-results-phase-2-study-collagenase-clostridium-histolyticum-cch-participants-with-adhesive-capsulitis-shoulder/ | 2022-07-01T11:47:33Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — Is it your turn to cook dinner tonight and you want to impress that special person in your life? Here is a salmon ceviche recipe for you from Fort Worth restaurant Toro Toro.
“Toro Toro is a celebration of Latin American gastronomic culture that integrates fresh ingredients with techniques and flavors of the two richest cuisines in Latin America: Mexican and Peruvian,” as their website states.
Ingredients
- 100 grams salmon diced (3.5 oz)
- 20 grams leche de tigre SUB (.70 oz)
- 30 grams ponzu nikkei sauce SUB (1.05 oz)
- 10 grams shaved red onion (.35 oz)
- 5 grams shaved radish (.17 oz)
- 20 grams orange sweet potato diced SUB (.70 oz)
- 10 grams of shaved baby cucumber (.35 oz)
- 2 grams of kosher salt (.07 oz)
- 50 grams of plantain chips
- 50 grams of corn tortilla chips
In a mixing bowl mix the salmon with leche de tigre and salt, then add the ponzu nikkei sauce and taste for flavor, place the salmon in the small round white plate and garnish with shaved red onion, shaved fresno chili, orange sweet potato, shaved baby cucumber and micro cilantro leaves, to finish put crushed ice in to a bigger plate in order to keep to the salmon cold,
Ponzue nikkei SUB
First step: make a “ponzu reduction”
- 6 liter mirin (202 fl oz)
- 28 grams crushed red pepper flakes (1 oz)
- 90 grams kombu cut into half (3.17 oz)
- 750 grams piloncillo (Mexican molasses) or brown sugar (26 oz)
Mix all the ingredients in the pot, place the pot on the stove and make sure do not boil, always has to be at medium heat, reduce the liquid amount until you get 2 liters, which means you need to reduce 70% of the liquid amount; cool down in the ice and do not strain, reserve cold
Secon step: make the “ponzu nikkei sauce”
- 2 liters ponzu reduction
- 4 liters of soy sauce
- 2 liters of rice vinegar
- 1.5 liters mirin
- 2.5 liters sake
- 4 liters yuzu
- 170 grams kombu
Combine all the ingredients in plastic container (avoid the stainless steel) and let them rest for 10 days minimum
Leche de Tigre
- 500 grams lime juice
- 250 grams white fish
- 70 grams ice
- 50 grams celery
- 20 grams salt
- 4 grams garlic
- 20 grams ginger
- 1 gram black pepper
Mix all the ingredients in a blender and pulse. Do not blend otherwise you can’t strain and it will become foamy consistency. Strain through a fine strainer and chill. Leche de Tigre has to be made on a daily basis. This will yield 500 grams
Corn Tortilla Chips
- 11.5 kilograms tortillas
- 170 grams salt
- 7.5 liters canola oil
Cut the tortilla into 8 triangular pieces, use the tortillas from the previous day because they absorb less oil, then cook in the fryer at 180 degrees centigrade for a few minutes until crispy, season with salt and let drain and cool on absorbent paper. Reserve and store in a cool and dry place
Plantain Chips SUB
- 11.5 kilograms green plantain
- 170 grams salt
- 7.5 liters canola oil
Make sure the plantain is unripe (if it is green and hard it’s better). Slice the plantain along with the skin into the slicing machine, make sure each slice is thin and large, add the plantain slices into cold water until you finish all the plantain. Strain and add into the deep fryer at 160C for a few minutes until crispy. Season with salt and let drain and cool on absorbent paper. Reserve and store in a cool and dry place
Orange sweet potato diced SUB
- 500 grams sweet potato diced
- 800 grams orange juice
- 2 grams black peppercorns
- 1 gram bay leaf
- 5 grams kosher salt
Cut the sweet potato (make sure to get it diced), then in a sauce pan put all the ingredients and cook, make sure to not boil or overcook the sweet potato, cook down the sweet potato inside the juice and store it with the juice. | https://cw33.com/news/inside-dfw/check-out-this-delicious-salmon-ceviche-recipe-from-fort-worth-restaurant-toro-toro/ | 2022-07-06T16:57:47Z |
Residents Have Been Able to Self-Certify Need Since July 6, Meaning No Healthcare Practitioner Recommendation Needed
Now Residents Can Get Temporary Cards Almost Immediately Upon Submitting Application and Make Purchases At A Legally Licensed Dispensary
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The DC Cannabis Trade Association (DCCTA) announced that DC residents 21+ may now purchase medical cannabis immediately upon applying for a medical cannabis card, according to the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA).
Once an application is submitted, a temporary registration card is issued which can be used to make purchases at any of DC's legal dispensaries while an application is under review. Temporary cards are valid for 30-days. Registration fees are currently being waived until September 30. To apply, click here.
DC residents whose applications are then approved will be sent a permanent digital and physical registration prior to the expiration of their temporary registration. The registration number included in both the temporary and permanent registrations will be identical.
DC residents can also walk into any DC-licensed medical dispensary, apply, receive a temporary card and immediately make purchases. Below are the four DCCTA-affiliated dispensaries in the District.
Ward 1 Ward 4
Capital City Takoma Wellness Center
1115 U Street NW 6925 Blair Road NW
Washington, DC 20009 Washington, DC 20012
(202) 292-5071 (202) 465-4260
capitalcitycare.com takomawellness.com
Ward 2 Ward 8
National Holistic Healing Center Anacostia Organics
1636 Connecticut Avenue NW 2022 Martin Luther King Jr Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20009 Washington, DC 20020
(202) 234-0780 (202) 845-8574
nationalholistic.com anacostiaorganics.com
Purchasing at a legal medical dispensary is the ONLY way to legally purchase cannabis in the District of Columbia. It is also the ONLY way to ensure the product is grown and cultivated locally in inspected facilities. All medical cannabis facilities and cultivation centers in the District of Columbia comply with ABRA's high standards to ensure sustainability, sanitation, and production of safe and tested products.
ABRA is currently waiving registration fees through September 30, 2022, meaning no cost for patients. Medical cannabis patients may purchase up to eight (8) ounces of cannabis within a rolling 30-day period and possess up to eight (8) ounces at any time.
Non-resident patients may purchase medical cannabis from DC dispensaries if their jurisdiction has been extended reciprocity and must present their digital or physical government-issued medical cannabis registration. Medical cards or documents issued by private companies, even if issued by a healthcare practitioner, are not eligible.
The DC Cannabis Trade Association (DCCTA) is a coalition of legally licensed cannabis businesses. For more information on DCCTA, you can visit our website at dccta.org.
For more information about DC's medical cannabis program, please visit ABRA's website.
CONTACT: Eric Feldman, efeldman@octanepublicrelations.com
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SOURCE DCCTA | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/district-residents-21-can-now-use-temporary-medical-cannabis-cards-immediately-upon-submitting-application/ | 2022-08-16T18:00:09Z |
PRAGUE (AP) — A record amount of cocaine was seized in a shipment for supermarkets in the Czech Republic, police said Friday.
They said 840 kilograms (1,852 pounds) of cocaine were discovered in cardboard boxes with bananas by employees in supermarkets in northern towns of Jicin and Rychnov nad Kneznou. Officers are now searching other stores in the country where banana boxes from the same shipment abroad were delivered.
Police said they were cooperating on the case with their counterparts from other unspecified countries.
Jakub Frydrych, the head of the police anti-narcotics unit, told the Czech public radio the cocaine likely originated in Central America.
The street value of the drug is estimated to be more than 2 billion Czech crowns ($86 million).
In a similar case in 2015, over 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of cocaine was discovered in a Prague supermarket. In 1999, police seized 117 kilograms (258 pounds) of cocaine in a warehouse north of Prague packed among dry fruit. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/czechs-seize-record-amount-of-cocaine-in-banana-shipment/ | 2022-06-10T20:41:36Z |
The Lott City Council plans to dissolve its two-officer police department Monday after finding it fiscally unnecessary.
Lott Mayor Sue Tacker said dissolving the department would help the town come out of a deficit carried over the last three years.
“We do have money,” she said. “So far, we have been able to (pay) our things. This is deleting our (reserves). It has to be brought into hand, or within three years, we will be broke. If we can get this in hand, we will make money in a couple of years. The budget had to be taken care of one way or the other.”
Tacker said the police department, which consists of a patrolman and a police chief, was operating at a deficit of about $247,786 a year.
The dissolution of the police department will take effect Monday after the next council meeting. The council voted on the matter on July 11 in a 3-2 vote.
“It has voted on that we had to do something about it,” Tacker said. “It will stop completely on Monday. We had to put in our agenda.”
Chief’s response
Lott Police Chief Michael Hamilton has led the department for 13 years. He believes the disbanding was an attack on him regarding a letter he submitted to the Falls County District Attorney’s Office raising concerns about Tacker.
Hamilton referred all questions about the issue to Waco-based attorney David Schlei- cher, who is representing him on the matter.
“The chief turned a letter … about the mayor’s noncompliance with some laws earlier on the day that they voted to eliminate the police department,” Schleicher said. “We’d like for the city to rescind the elimination of the police department and allow Chief Hamilton to resume work.”
Falls County District Attorney Kathrin Gilliam did not return a call from the Telegram.
Tacker maintained the only reason for the decision was fiscally motivated.
“The only reason we are doing this is because of budget,” Tacker said. “We are a small town, and our police department has just got out of hand as far as cost. This is the only way that we can (survive). We can’t do without sewer. We can’t do without water. This is the one department that we can cut on.”
Schleicher said he and his client would fight the dissolution of the department.
“There is a whistleblower law in Texas that prohibits taking an adverse action against a government employee in retaliation for them reporting illegal conduct,” he said. “Hopefully, the city will undo their action, and we won’t have to go that route.”
City finances
Lott, with a population of about 650 residents, operates on a total budget of about $2.18 million to manage the town yearly.
“Other than a Cefco, we don’t have a whole lot of businesses here,” Tacker said. “We have very little sales tax and property taxes. This town is probably 100 years old. There’s a lot of stuff that needs to be done.”
The Falls County town has a large senior population.
“We’re not a very big town,” the mayor said. “We mostly have elderly residents. We have 48 units of the housing authority, and most of those are elderly people or people that can’t take care of themselves.”
Public safety
The Falls County Sheriff’s Department is planning to take over policing for the town, which has a relatively low crime rate.
“It’s not like we have shootings or killings or anything like that,” Tacker said. “As far as a crime, we don’t have that. I have talked to the sheriff’s department, and they said that they would help.”
Falls County Sheriff Joe Lopez did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
The volunteer fire department at Lott would continue to receive support from the city, Tacker said.
“We have to try to take care of them, too,” she said. “We need to provide vehicles and stuff like that. We have to more or less be on their notes or lend them the money.”
Once the city’s finances improve, Tacker said, reinstating the police department would be considered.
“We’re hoping (to bring the police department back),” she said. “We just got to do what we have to do right now. We’re not really thinking about that right now. Here in Falls County, Rosebud is the only town that has a police department.
“Your smaller towns can’t afford to have that anymore.” | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_e8add35c-0577-11ed-9555-6b1958b1bae4.html | 2022-07-17T04:02:10Z |
Astros’ 11-game winning streak ends, Nationals romp 13-6
By HARVEY VALENTINE
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Yadiel Hernandez and Maikel Franco homered and the Washington Nationals ended the Houston Astros’ 11-game winning streak with a 13-6 romp. Manager Dusty Baker and the Astros fell one game short of matching the franchise-record 12-game winning string achieved in 1999, 2004 and 2018. The Houston staff fashioned a 0.91 ERA during this recent run, but Nelson Cruz and the Nationals collected 14 hits and five walks against five pitchers. Starter Cristian Javier was tagged for seven runs and eight hits over 3 2/3 innings — the Astros had allowed a total of four runs over their past five games. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/14/astros-11-game-winning-streak-ends-nationals-romp-13-6/ | 2022-05-15T06:33:21Z |
NISHINOMIYA, Japan, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., a global provider of the most accurate timing devices headquartered in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, is pleased to announce a new generation of time synchronization GNSS receiver modules compatible with all GNSS systems in the world. The modules deliver best-in-class nanosecond precision for 5th generation (5G) mobile systems, radio communications systems, smart power grids and grand master clocks.
Image:
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M101991/202209096234/_prw_PI1fl_DFFOGd3J.jpeg
Superior Accuracy / Advanced Robustness
GNSS receivers for time synchronization are used extensively in critical infrastructure such as mobile base stations and RAN equipment, commercial and defense radio communications, broadcasting, financial trading, smart power grids and more, where there are ever-increasing needs for high robustness, reliability and security.
Three new products being released include GT-100, GT-9001 and GT-90, designed to suit different applications based on frequency bands and output signals supported. All models boast the world's highest level of time stability of 4.5ns (1 sigma) and offer superior features and performance.
- Unrivaled performance for 5G, radio communications, time servers, smart grids
- Dual band, supporting all constellations (GT-100)
- Highly precise time & ultra-low-jitter 1pps synchronized with UTC
- High robustness -- guaranteed performance even if only L1 or only L5 signals are used (GT-100)
- Programmable frequency clock outputs synchronized with UTC (GT-9001 & GT-100)
- Excellent performance even in harsh environments and urban canyons
All models are equipped with the leading Dynamic Satellite Selection (TM) (DSS) multipath mitigation technology developed by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) that minimizes degradation of time performance even when the antenna is installed in urban areas or near a window.
GT-100 is the company's first timing multi-GNSS receiver module supporting concurrent L1 and L5 reception. This mitigates the effects of solar flares, which can lead to time errors, and strengthens measures against GNSS vulnerabilities such as jamming and spoofing. GT-100 delivers three outputs including 1 pulse per second (1PPS) synchronized with UTC as well as user-programmable frequencies. The outputs can be set as required to 10MHz, 2.048 MHz, 19.2 MHz, etc., commonly used in a variety of wireless communications systems. This drastically reduces the time from development to market launch for these systems as well as cost savings through reduced component needs.
Please visit Furuno's website for more information:
https://www.furuno.com/en/products/gnss-module/GT-100
Evaluation kits for all three products are available now. Please contact relevant Furuno sales representatives for more details.
Contact: https://www.furuno.co.jp/en/contact/cnt_gps_e01.html
About FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Furuno has been dedicated to development, manufacturing, and maintenance of highest-quality marine electronic equipment for navigation and communication as well as high-precision GNSS devices, life-saving medical equipment, wireless LAN systems and much more. The Furuno group incorporates an international workforce of approximately 3,000 employees with subsidiaries in over 30 countries and regions, who are all prepared to fulfill the needs and expectations of its customers. Furuno will relentlessly pursue its tradition of developing core technologies that empower customers in critical infrastructure and other fields to build robust time synchronization systems with the highest precision and reliability.
European Microwave Exhibition, Milan, Italy (September 27-29, 2022)
Please visit Furuno at EuMW's European Microwave Exhibition where the company will introduce its new products. EuMW is the largest trade and technology exhibition providing access to initiatives in the RF & microwave sector.
For more information about EuMW:
https://www.eumweek.com/conferences/general_info.html
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SOURCE FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/furuno-announces-most-advanced-global-timing-solutions-supporting-l1-l5-gnss-signals/ | 2022-09-14T08:24:49Z |
New group compensation functionality added for growing Provider Performance Management Technology™ platform
MINNEAPOLIS, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clinician Nexus, a clinical workforce technology company, announced enhancements to its innovative Provider Performance Management Technology™ (PPMT™) that allow for unique insight into the composition of physician pay arrangements within academic practice settings. PPMT is a comprehensive physician compensation software solution that engages the clinical workforce and informs leaders through transparent performance-based compensation administration, reporting, and analytical capabilities.
PPMT currently allows organizations utilizing group compensation models to automate the aggregation of the group's total earned compensation and then distribute pay to physicians based on client-defined rules such as full-time equivalent status, individual contributions, and other factors. Building on this existing functionality, PPMT now permits authorized stakeholders such as Department Chairs and Division Leaders to adjust recommended pay distribution under a specified set of parameters. This provides physician leaders in academic medical centers with added flexibility to help better support the tripartite mission of education, research, and high-quality patient care while also rewarding physicians based on special circumstances.
"These critical enhancements help to streamline decision-making and provide greater flexibility within an automated system to easily implement necessary adjustments each pay cycle. More importantly, it improves transparency and reinforces the unique mission of academic medical centers – where managing departmental compensation can be highly complex – through an improved review and approval process across multiple leadership levels," said Jason Tackett, a managing principal in SullivanCotter's Physician Workforce Practice. SullivanCotter is a leading independent consulting firm in the assessment and development of total rewards programs, workforce solutions, and data products for the health care industry and not-for-profit sector.
PPMT helps health care organizations to improve and engage their physician and advanced practice provider workforce through a greater understanding of overall departmental compensation while also combining this with detailed analysis and reporting at the individual provider level.
"With customizable solutions designed to support each stage of the clinical workforce lifecycle – from planning and training to measuring, rewarding, and driving performance – Clinician Nexus is focused on helping clients to deliver best-in-class patient care. PPMT is a critical piece of the puzzle as organizations look to align provider compensation with performance and drive meaningful results, and we continue to make vital system improvements in order to help clients achieve these goals," said David Schwietz, chief information officer, Clinician Nexus.
For more information on these enhancements or our entire suite of Provider Performance Management Technology, visit www.cliniciannexus.com or contact us at 888.254.3503.
Clinician Nexus enables health care organizations to build thriving clinician teams with industry-leading technology products, workforce and compensation analytics, and automated workflow solutions. Backed by extensive technical expertise and industry-leading data, we deliver innovative approaches to help clients to plan, educate, and engage their clinical workforce at every stage of the lifecycle. We are committed to providing our clients with outstanding guidance and support as they focus on shaping the future of health care.
Contact: Becky Lorentz
beckylorentz@sullivancotter.com
314.414.3719
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SOURCE Clinician Nexus | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/clinician-nexus-makes-it-easier-manage-complex-physician-compensation-arrangements-within-academic-practice-settings/ | 2022-07-26T12:02:23Z |
LAVAL, QC, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc. ("Neptune" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: NEPT) (TSX: NEPT), a diversified and fully integrated health and wellness company focused on plant-based, sustainable and purpose-driven lifestyle brands, today announced that it has closed on the previously announced registered direct offering with several institutional investors for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 1,945,526 common shares (or common share equivalents) of the Company, and accompanying two series of warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 3,891,052 common shares per series of warrants, at an offering price of $2.57 per share and accompanying warrants. Each series of warrants have an exercise price of $2.32 per share and are immediately exercisable upon issuance. One series of warrants will expire two years following the date of issuance and one series of warrants will expire five years following the date of issuance.
H.C. Wainwright & Co. acted as the exclusive placement agent for the offering.
The gross proceeds from the offering were $5 million, prior to deducting placement agent's fees and other offering expenses payable by Neptune and assuming none of the warrants issued in the offering are exercised for cash. Neptune intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
A registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-262411) relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and was declared effective by the SEC on February 9, 2022. The offering of the securities was made only by means of a prospectus supplement filed with the SEC that forms a part of the registration statement. The offering was made in the United States only and no securities were offered in any jurisdiction of Canada or to, or for the benefit of, residents in any jurisdiction of Canada. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained by visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or by contacting H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, 430 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, New York 10022, by email at placements@hcwco.com or by telephone at (212) 856-5711.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.
For the purposes of TSX approval, the Company relied on the exemption set forth in Section 602.1 of the TSX Company Manual available to "Eligible Interlisted Issuers", since the common shares are also listed on the Nasdaq and had less than 25% of the overall trading volume of its listed securities occurring on all Canadian marketplaces in the twelve months immediately preceding the date on which the application was made to the TSX to approve the offering.
Headquartered in Laval, Quebec, Neptune is a diversified health and wellness company with a mission to redefine health and wellness.
Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. securities laws and Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other unknown factors that could cause the actual results of Neptune to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements labeled with the terms "believes", "belief", "expects", "intends", "projects", "anticipates", "will", "should" or "plans" to be uncertain and forward-looking. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and the "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information" section contained in Neptune's latest Annual Information Form (the "AIF"), which also forms part of Neptune's latest annual report on Form 40-F, and which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Neptune does not undertake to update any such forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The forward-looking statements contained herein include, without limitation, statements about the expected closing of the offering; anticipated use of proceeds of the offering; the Company's ability to obtain the requisite approvals and confirmations noted herein; and other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in Neptune's public securities filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities commissions. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained in the AIF under "Risk Factors".
Neither Nasdaq nor the TSX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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SOURCE Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/neptune-wellness-solutions-inc-closes-5-million-registered-direct-offering/ | 2022-06-23T19:14:31Z |
Mexico totally bans sales of e-cigarettes
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador signed a decree Tuesday outlawing the sale of e-cigarettes, continuing the government’s anti-vaping policy.
Mexico had already prohibited imports of the devices since at least October. And even before that, consumer protection and other laws had been used to discourage sales.
Despite Tuesday’s decree, many Mexicans import or buy vaping cartridges or fluid under the table or online domestically.
Assistant Health Secretary Hugo López Gatell lashed out at industry claims that vaping is safer than smoking, calling it “a big lie.”
The government’s own figures estimate that at least 5 million Mexicans have tried vaping at least once.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/31/mexico-totally-bans-sales-e-cigarettes/ | 2022-05-31T20:25:07Z |
Woman arrested for keeping 93-year-old mom’s body in freezer, police say
Published: Jul. 9, 2022 at 10:40 AM EDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
(CNN) - Authorities in Florida said they’ve arrested a woman for hiding her mother’s body in a deep freezer so she could keep her disability payments.
Michele Hoskins in being held in the Indian River County Jail with a $10,000 bond.
Police arrested her on Thursday, but investigators said they found the body of 93-year-old Marie Hoskins in April during a wellness check.
The elder Hoskins died of natural causes two weeks before being placed in the chest freezer.
The daughter is accused of failing to report her mother’s death and tampering with evidence.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/09/woman-arrested-keeping-93-year-old-moms-body-freezer-police-say/ | 2022-07-09T16:12:56Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — This North Texas nonprofit is providing North Texas families with children with special needs access to free quality care.
They are called Rays of Light and they offer a safe haven for children to enjoy a special evening several times a month, while their parents, who often don’t get a break due to the specialized care their kids require, get a night out.
Many of these children are in a realm where they don’t get invited to birthday parties or perhaps don’t have someone to invite to theirs, so Rays of Light also does a birthday program.
The organization hosted a fundraising gala in late April, where they raised money for arts and crafts, games, therapy dogs and other fun items to bring joy to the children and families they serve.
For more information on Rays of Light, visit raysoflightdallas.org. | https://cw33.com/news/inside-dfw/dfw-community-shoutout-rays-of-light/ | 2022-05-20T15:49:54Z |
PGA shaping up as much different from previous 4 in Tulsa
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Southern Hills proudly displays the slogan for this PGA Championship as “First to Five.” No course has hosted the PGA as many times. And it’s surely going to be different from the other four. Tiger Woods is playing and defending champion Phil Mickelson is not. Nobody would have guessed that a year ago. Woods played the back nine on Monday during the first official day of practice. Even for some of the Oklahoma players, Southern Hills might seem new. The course has gone through a restoration that makes it play differently from the last PGA in 2007. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/16/pga-shaping-up-as-much-different-from-previous-4-in-tulsa/ | 2022-05-17T01:52:38Z |
Jessie Leigh preliminary hearing enters day 2
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) - Day two of the preliminary hearing for Jessie Leigh is underway Wednesday at the Bannock County Courthouse.
The day started with testimony via Zoom from Ada County Coroner Dr. Christina Di Loreto who did the autopsies on Jennifer Leigh and Timothy Hunt.
She said Jennifer died of a single gunshot wound to the head, and Timothy died of multiple gunshots to the chest, back and arm, some of the bullets piercing his heart.
Leigh is charged with two counts of first degree murder in the deaths of his estranged wife and her boyfriend.
Also on the stand Wednesday, police officers and detectives who talked about the crime scene investigation and the arrest of Leigh at his parent's home after the murders.
You can view more about the case HERE. | https://localnews8.com/news/crime-tracker/2022/04/13/jessie-leigh-preliminary-hearing-enters-day-2/ | 2022-04-13T17:09:27Z |
STAMFORD, Conn., June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ReneSola Ltd ("ReneSola Power" or the "Company") (www.renesolapower.com) (NYSE: SOL), a leading fully integrated solar project developer, today announced that its management team will participate at the Roth 8th Annual London Conference on June 21-23, 2022, in London, UK.
Management will participate in one-on-one and group meetings with institutional investors on Wednesday, June 22 and Thursday, June 23, 2022. For more information about the conference or to request a one-on-one meeting, please contact a Roth sales representative.
About ReneSola Power
ReneSola Power (NYSE: SOL) is a leading global solar project developer and operator. The Company focuses on solar power project development, construction management and project financing services. With local professional teams in more than 10 countries around the world, the business is spread across a number of regions where the solar power project markets are growing rapidly and can sustain that growth due to improved clarity around government policies. The Company's strategy is to pursue high-margin project development opportunities in these profitable and growing markets; specifically, in the U.S. and Europe, where the Company has a market-leading position in several geographies, including Poland, Hungary, Minnesota and New York. For more information, please visit www.renesolapower.com.
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SOURCE ReneSola Ltd. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/renesola-power-participate-roth-8th-annual-london-conference/ | 2022-06-10T11:33:23Z |
PITTSBURGH, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "It is difficult to find individuals who are in need of medical assistance at night," said the inventor from Cleveland, Tenn. "I thought of this idea to help save lives and help emergency vehicles get to residents faster."
He created God's Light that would help emergency personnel quickly find a specific home in an emergency. This can help save time and may even save lives for those waiting for emergency assistance at home. This could also spare ambulance personnel and police officers unnecessary aggravation and uncertainty where street addresses on homes are difficult to read at night. Additionally, the device would be lightweight and weatherproof and could also be used while camping, at children's birthday parties and with roadside breakdowns.
The original design was submitted to the Charlotte sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-KXX-328, 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/2022/06/27/inventhelp-presents-emergency-location-light-kxx-328/ | 2022-06-27T18:33:40Z |
A Belton High School murder suspect was freed from the Bell County Jail Friday afternoon after posting a reduced bond.
At about 2:15 p.m., Caysen Tyler Allison, 18, walked out of the jail wearing a white T-shirt and denim jeans, accompanied by his parents.
He did not comment to Telegram reporters as he walked to a vehicle and left the parking lot.
Allison, a former BHS senior, is charged with murder, a first-degree felony, for the May 3 stabbing death of Jose Luis Ramirez Jr. His initial $1 million bond at the jail was reduced to $175,000 Wednesday by visiting state District Judge Robert Stem of Falls County.
Allison also had a $15,000 bond for a misdemeanor assault case in which he was placed on deferred adjudication last year.
Amigo Vasquez Bail Bonds posted the $190,000 commercial bonds.
Conditions of Allison’s release include he wears an ankle monitor, stay on house arrest, and undergo random drug testing, according to an order of bail reduction filed with the Bell County District Clerk.
The judge also added an additional provision on the order stating that the place of residence for Allison be disclosed only to the Bell County District Attorney’s Office and not be made public, according to the order.
During the bond reduction hearing Tuesday, the defendant’s mother, Denice Allison, testified that the family had received threats and bounty for their address was offered on social media.
She told the judge that Allison would be sent to a family member’s residence outside Bell County for his protection.
Allison’s charge stems from a May 4 stabbing death at Belton High School, 600 Lake Road.
Allison allegedly stabbed Jose Luis Ramirez Jr. in a campus restroom, then fled the school before police arrested him at his West Temple home.
“When police arrived on the scene (at BHS), life-saving measures were being performed on a student later identified as Jose Luis Ramirez Jr. who police observed (had a) large puncture wounds to his chest,” an arrest affidavit said.
Ramirez was transported to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Temple, where he succumbed to multiple stabs and slash injuries to his chest, back, legs, and arms, the affidavit said.
Allison was identified as the suspect through school surveillance video, the affidavit said.
“Police later obtained video footage showing Allison brandish a knife and stab Ramirez during a fight inside a school restroom before the video ended abruptly,” the affidavit said.
Officers noted on the affidavit finding Allison at his home, where he was arrested and taken to the Belton Police Department for interrogation.
“He provided police with a sworn statement he provided after being informed of his rights and waiving them,” the affidavit said. “In that statement, Allison stated he stabbed Ramirez Jr. once during a fight between them.”
Allison’s house was searched as part of the investigation, and officers “recovered a folding knife covered with what they suspected was blood,” the affidavit said.
The stabbing prompted class cancellations and extra supervision and security at the campus for the remainder of the school year.
Allison is expected to be in court on July 27 for a pretrial hearing, records show. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_a4df80c0-0492-11ed-bb38-db54d44cb46a.html | 2022-07-15T23:54:09Z |
ANJI, China, June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NaaS Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: NAAS) ("NaaS", the "Company"), announced that it has successfully listed and begun trading on the NASDAQ, becoming China's first listed pure play electric vehicle ("EV") charging service company.
NaaS is one of China's largest and fastest growing new energy service companies. The Company's digital solutions connect both upstream and downstream players, providing charger manufacturers, station operators, EV OEMs, and other industry participants with a single one-stop shop solution - enabling energy transactions to become more efficient. NaaS is focused on promoting carbon neutrality and ESG, and according to SGS, a leading global assessment company, in SGS' "Assessment Report of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions on Alternative Traveling by NaaS Electric Vehicles," - NaaS helped reduced carbon emissions by nearly 900,000 tons annually.
According to publicly reported information, at the end of 2021, NaaS' business covered 288 cities in China, with 290,000 charging piles, of which over 200,000 were fast charging, representing 51% of all of China's public fast charging piles. In 2021, total orders on NaaS reached 55 million, with 1,233 GWh charged, accounting for 18% of all of China's public charging volume, and an increase of 8.2 times versus 2019. In January 2022, NaaS successfully completely a Pre-IPO fundraising round, raising USD87 million from investors including Anji Asset Administration, Real Fund, CICC Capital, Bain Capital, GSR United Capital, and Sino Pacific Capital.
"Carbon neutrality is the mission of our generation, and a new chapter in global energy has already begun – with new energy vehicles being at the center," said Ms. Yang Wang, NaaS' founder and CEO. "Having been able to successfully list on the NASDAQ, I'd like to thank our shareholders and partners for their faith and confidence in us. This is a gift from today but also a test for tomorrow. We hope that NaaS' presence will make energy smarter, the earth greener, and the skies bluer. Carbon neutral energy is NaaS' aspiration, and the common dream of all humanity. We will continue to strive to achieve this goal."
"Bain Capital has a long term focus on the global energy industry, and in particular the world's largest energy market – China." said Mr. Zhongjue Chen, Bain Capital's managing director and a director of NaaS, "We are fortunate to be an investor in a leading company like NaaS, and to be able to facilitate the merger with Rise Education, creating the first successful overseas listing of a leading Chinese electric vehicle charging and new energy company. This is a landmark transaction, which will serve as a new beginning for NaaS' future endeavors. We hope, and have confidence that NaaS will continue to achieve new milestones in the future."
About NaaS Technology Inc.
NaaS Technology Inc. (the "Company") is one of the largest and fastest growing electric vehicle ("EV") charging service providers in China. The Company's vision is to power the world with carbon neutral energy. The Company's EV charging services began in 2019, and the Company has established and maintains the largest EV charging network in China in terms of the charging volume transacted through its charging network for third-party charging station operators, and the number of public DCFCs (meaning direct current fast charger with 30kW power output or more) connected to its network, according to China Insights Industry Consultancy Limited, an independent research firm.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates" and similar statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.
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SOURCE NaaS | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/naas-technology-inc-announces-successful-nasdaq-listing-becoming-chinas-first-listed-pure-play-electric-vehicle-charging-service-company/ | 2022-06-14T09:43:56Z |
Bell County Commissioner John Driver hasn’t forgotten about the Confederate soldier statue on the northwest corner of the historic Belton courthouse grounds.
Now — 19 months after the Commissioners Court delayed action on the possible relocation of the statue — Driver is bringing the issue up again. Commissioners are expected to discuss the statue at their 9 a.m. meeting today at the Bell County Courthouse, 101 E. Central Ave. in downtown Belton.
The item is listed as No. 5: “Consider relocation of Confederate Monument,” according to the meeting agenda. The meeting will be livestreamed at www. bellcountytx.com/cc/Video.
Driver — the only Democrat and black member of the county’s decision-making body — voted against a proposal to keep the monument in place until state law is changed to allow for a countywide referendum on the matter. Bell County Judge David Blackburn and Commissioners Russell Schneider, Bill Schumann and Bobby Whitson approved the measure in September 2020.
Texas lawmakers have not passed legislation for public referendums on public statues, including Confederate monuments such as the Belton soldier memorial that still dot the state.
Driver said he is bringing the statue relocation issue up again because it was intended as a temporary measure to see if the state would address the matter.
“That didn’t pass so we are right back to where we were two years ago, waiting for a decision to be made,” said Driver, a Killeen resident who made county history with his election in 2018 but is not seeking reelection to the court this year.
“It needs to be voted on,” he told the Telegram Friday evening. “We tabled it two years ago and now we are cleaning up the table.”
Public opinions
Bell County residents expressed their opinions about the Confederate statue during a September 2020 Commissioners Court meeting at the Expo Center that lasted more than 10 hours. Many voiced opposition to the removal of the statue, while others either support its removal or a countywide vote on the issue.
At the time, Schumann said Texas counties with fewer than 25,000 residents can call for a referendum on what to do with county government-owned property, but that doesn’t apply to Bell with a population nearing 400,000.
“I really do think it is a matter that should be decided by more than three people and three votes,” Bell County Judge David Blackburn said, referring to the majority vote needed to approve any item before the five voting members of Commissioners Court. “My position is that we need to work on getting this question on the ballot for a countywide election at the earliest possible date. … But I think the people of Bell County deserve the opportunity that was not afforded to them in 1916: The opportunity to give voice where they believe is an appropriate place for this monument.”
Residents are mixed on what to do with the statue.
Belton resident David Glasco told Commissioners he believed the statue should stay where it was to honor Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War.
“That statue out there hasn’t been bothering nobody in 103 years,” Glasco told Commissioners in 2020. “A lot of people in the Confederacy had no choice but to fight, you either agreed to a side or you got sort of shot in the trees.”
Harker Heights resident Philemon Brown has advocated moving the statue as a way to be a good neighbor and understand the lingering Confederate issues that affect all residents.
“We understand history, we understand Belton had soldiers who fought in the Civil War,” Brown said. “The Civil War was about states’ rights but it was also about the rights of Southern states to own human beings. There were some men who died, yes, but put it in an appropriate place with the context that will inspire and educate the community to say ‘Yes, that was a part of our history and that is not how we are today.’”
Belton’s stance
Residents have pointed out that the county’s inaction stands in stark contrast to the Belton City Council’s recent decision to rename Confederate Park and the adjacent road.
The Council rejected calls for a public vote and instead unanimously agreed to change the name of the park — which, as the original deed states, was intended only for the use of white people. Liberty Park is the site’s new name with the road now called Veterans Way Drive.
“We all come to our own personal convictions,” Councilman David K. Leigh said in July 2020. “And if these personal convictions are not in line with those who vote for us, we may be voted out.”
Court’s decision
Commissioners have authority by state law to make decisions on all county-owned property.
Money may play a factor in the body’s decision as the county estimates it would cost at least $100,000 to move the 7-foot-tall statute that stands on a marble base. Among the things the county would have to do, the commissioners have said, include receiving approval from the Texas Historical Commission because the courthouse is a historic site; hiring architects and engineers; acquiring permits; and getting a crane.
“So $100,000 is not an outrageous number to move that statue,” Schumann said in 2020. “It’s not cheap.”
Driver has said the county should make a unified decision “to not disrupt the unity in Bell County.”
Regarding today’s meeting, expect a lot more discussion on the statue, Driver said.
“We will see what happens Monday,” he said.
Telegram staff writer Shane Monaco contributed to this report. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_7c974326-c443-11ec-b35f-03058e73027f.html | 2022-04-25T04:47:51Z |
SEATTLE , June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of George H. Weyerhaeuser Sr., long-time former leader and great-grandson of founder Frederick Weyerhaeuser. Weyerhaeuser served as president and CEO from 1966 to 1991 and continued to serve as Board chairman through 1999. He oversaw significant growth of the company, including a number of major timberland acquisitions, and had an enduring impact on the evolution of forest management at Weyerhaeuser and across the industry. He was 95.
"George was an extraordinary person and leader — one of the most influential in the history of the industry," said Devin Stockfish, president and chief executive officer. "Over his many years as president and CEO, he brought transformational changes to our company, including important advances in sustainable, high-yield forestry and wood products research, as well as expansion into overseas markets, among many other achievements. He left a tremendous legacy and will be greatly missed by everyone in the greater Weyerhaeuser family and community."
The Weyerhaeuser family is planning a memorial service for later this summer.
Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900. We own or control approximately 11 million acres of timberlands in the U.S. and manage additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada. We manage these timberlands on a sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized forestry standards. We are also one of the largest manufacturers of wood products in America. Our company is a real estate investment trust. In 2021, we generated $10.2 billion in net sales and employed approximately 9,200 people who serve customers worldwide. Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WY. Learn more at www.weyerhaeuser.com.
For more information contact:
Analysts – Andy Taylor, 206-539-3907
Media – Nancy Thompson, 919-861-0342
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SOURCE Weyerhaeuser Company | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/weyerhaeuser-mourns-passing-george-h-weyerhaeuser-sr/ | 2022-06-14T17:56:25Z |
TOKYO, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nippon Express Holdings, Inc. on July 1 launched the Global Business Headquarters (hereinafter abbreviated as GBHQ) to consolidate and strengthen global business governance.
Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202207073511-O1-OGUEKru3
Photo: GBHQ executive members
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202207073511/_prw_PI2fl_dlFLju91.jpg
In pursuit of its Long-term Vision of becoming a "logistics company with a strong presence in the global market," the NX Group will increase Group sales to 3.5-4 trillion yen and achieve an overseas sales ratio of 50% by 2037, the Group's 100th anniversary.
GBHQ will oversee the NX Group's global logistics business and lead the Group in fulfilling the "core business growth strategy" set forth in the Group's Business Plan, promptly putting in place the necessary functions and management resources and bolstering logistics functions to provide solutions that optimize complexly changing customer supply chains.
With the aim of becoming a truly global logistics company, the NX Group will continue striving to maximize its value by pursuing Group-wide optimization and improving its competitiveness in the global market.
Nippon Express website: https://www.nipponexpress.com/
NX Group's official LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/
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SOURCE Nippon Express Holdings, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/12/nippon-express-holdings-launches-gbhq-consolidate-strengthen-global-business-governance/ | 2022-07-12T08:05:22Z |
Sommer Thornton, told CNN that local news reports were advising the community to stay away from the Walmart because someone had stolen a small plane and was threatening to crash it there.
A small plane that circled for hours over Tupelo, Mississppi, and surrounding areas landed in a field in Ripley, Mississippi, the FAA said. A source told CNN the pilot, who police said threatened to crash the stolen plane into a Tupelo Walmart, is in custody.
Sommer Thornton, told CNN that local news reports were advising the community to stay away from the Walmart because someone had stolen a small plane and was threatening to crash it there.
Sommer Thornton
A small plane that circled for hours over Tupelo, Mississppi, and surrounding areas landed in a field in Ripley, Mississippi, the FAA said. A source told CNN the pilot, who police said threatened to crash the stolen plane into a Tupelo Walmart, is in custody.
A worker at an airport who stole a twin-engine plane Saturday morning and threatened to crash it into a Mississippi Walmart was arrested after he eventually landed in a field, police said.
In a news conference Saturday, Tupelo Police Chief John Quaka identified the arrested pilot as Cory Wayne Patterson, an employee with Tupelo Aviation for the past 10 years.
Quaka said that at 5:08 a.m. local time, Patterson, of Shannon, Mississippi, stole a Beechcraft King Air C90 twin engine aircraft and took off from Tupelo Regional Airport.
“We do know Patterson has some flight instruction,” Quaka said. “We do not believe he is a licensed pilot. That is still ongoing, to discover that.”
As a lineman, Quaka said, Patterson is responsible for fueling aircraft. The chief said the plane was fully fueled the night before.
Around 5:23 a.m., Patterson called Lee County 911 from the aircraft and said he was going to crash the plane into the West Main Walmart in Tupelo, Quaka said. Soon thereafter, the store and surrounding areas were evacuated. Numerous major streets in Tupelo were shut down as well, according to the chief.
The Tupelo Walmart store was “closed and evacuated,” Charles Crowson, director of the Walmart Press Office, told CNN earlier, while the plane was airborne.
Quaka said negotiators from Tupelo Police contacted the pilot and convinced him to land the plane at Tupelo airport. A private pilot assisted police in helping Patterson, but upon final approach the pilot aborted the landing and traveled northwest, Quaka said. Several counties were notified of what was going on, Quaka said.
More than four hours later, Patterson made a Facebook post. “In essence, it said goodbye. At this point, we knew he was getting close to running out of fuel,” Quaka said.
After police lost and then re-established radar contact with the plane, Patterson confirmed he had landed in a field, according to the chief.
Soon thereafter, Patterson was taken into custody and charged with grand larceny and making terroristic threats, the chief said.
Quaka said he anticipated the federal government will proceed with federal charges.
The FAA says it is investigating the incident. The FBI field office in Jackson, Mississippi, also was involved in the incident response, a spokesperson said.
Roxanne Ward, 42, told CNN the plane landed behind the Gravestown Fire Department near her home about 10:20 a.m.
“He landed pretty hard,” she said.
Video she shared with CNN shows the small plane largely intact in a field with law enforcement surrounding the pilot.
Ward heard the plane coming and ran over to her father-in-law’s house to hide in the basement, she said. “That’s when we heard the thud.”
In response to a reporter’s question, Quaka said he has been in contact with the pilot’s family, who is “very concerned” about Patterson’s well-being.
“Thankful the situation has been resolved and that no one was injured,” Gov. Tate Reeves said in a tweet. “Thank you most of all to local, state, and federal law enforcement who managed this situation with extreme professionalism.”
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/pilot-arrested-after-threatening-to-crash-plane-into-mississippi-walmart-and-eventually-landing-in-a/article_2547b8df-c274-5afd-b6a2-cdddb6d124f7.html | 2022-09-03T20:12:22Z |
The Money Vehicle platform is now being used by LSU athletics, as well as at colleges in southern California, and at fraternities nationwide.
MIAMI, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Money Vehicle, a leading EdTech company dedicated to closing the U.S. financial literacy gap, is announcing that its virtual financial literacy course has officially launched with the Louisiana State University (LSU) Athletic Department, the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), and national Greek organizations Tau Kappa Epsilon, Alpha Tau Omega, and Delta Sigma Phi.
Money Vehicle is officially in use on the campuses of LSU, Chapman University, Occidental College, the California Institute of Technology, Pomona College, University of Redlands, Whittier College, California Lutheran University, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, and the University of La Verne.
The schools are each taking a unique approach to implementing the Money Vehicle curriculum, with LSU's athletic department allowing each specific team to dictate how and when students take the course, the members of the SCIAC conference signing up for a nine-month program, and the Greek organizations giving members on-demand access.
"Students are overwhelmingly concerned with the price of their college education. Money Vehicle is out to show students that this investment in themselves won't be a burden, but instead will empower them to employ their paycheck!" said Jedidiah Collins CFP®, founder of Money Vehicle.
All college graduates, regardless of major or eventual profession, will need to learn to manage their finances. That challenge has become even more apparent with the advent of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules for student-athletes, and growing entrepreneurial opportunities and endeavors for members of fraternities and sororities. With many student-athletes now earning a significant income while still in school, schools and on-campus groups have turned to Money Vehicle as a turnkey solution to get students up to speed on handling personal finances.
The Money Vehicle course walks students through the initial steps of building a financial plan, including opening bank accounts, managing cash, handling taxes or insurance, even cybersecurity and investing.
Money Vehicle is a team of former financial advisors, educators, and instructional designers, with a mission to close the financial literacy gap. With decades of collective experience, Money Vehicle has developed an interactive textbook, a standards-based curriculum, and the resources for in-classroom instruction.
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SOURCE Money Vehicle LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/money-vehicle-roars-onto-university-campuses-lsu-sciac-conference-greek-organizations/ | 2022-08-31T16:46:11Z |
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian voters opted for a dramatic change in presidential politics, choosing a leftist former rebel and an outsider populist businessman to advance to a runoff election in June amid hopes a new face can pull them out of the economic damage from the pandemic.
Leftist Sen. Gustavo Petro led the field of six candidates Sunday with just over 40% of the votes, while real estate tycoon Rodolfo Hernández, who has no close ties to any political parties, finished second with more than 28%, election officials reported.
Both are far different from the conservatives and moderates that have long governed the South American country.
Petro, the front-runner throughout the campaign, could become Colombia’s first head of state from the left, which for years has been marginalized for its perceived association with the nation’s armed conflict. Hernández, whose showing surprised many, has been compared to former U.S. President Donald Trump for his anti-establishment rhetoric.
They will face off June 19 in the same polarized environment and growing discontent over increasing inequality and inflation that shadowed the election’s first round. A candidate needed 50% of the votes to win outright in the opening round.
There has been a series of leftist political victories in Latin America, where voters have been dissatisfied with the economic situation. Chile, Peru and Honduras elected leftist presidents in 2021, and in Brazil, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is leading the polls for this year’s presidential election. Mexico elected a leftist president in 2018.
A victory by Petro could pose challenges to the U.S., which has backed Colombia’s fight against leftist rebels and drug traffickers for decades.
Petro wants to renegotiate a free trade agreement with the U.S. that has boosted imports of American products like powdered milk and corn. and instead favor local producers.
He also promises to change how Colombia fights drug cartels that produce around 90% of cocaine currently sold in the U.S. The senator often criticizes U.S. drug policy in the hemisphere, saying it focuses too much on eradicating illegal crops and arresting kingpins. He wants to boost help for rural areas, to give farmers alternatives to growing coca, the plant used to make cocaine.
Hernandez, meanwhile, won in some of Colombia’s most traditionally conservative departments. “The rejection of the status quo even among many of the most conservative Colombians … really does show a disgust with the traditional workings of Colombian politics,” said Adam Isacson, an expert on Colombia at the Washington Office on Latin America think tank.
Hernandez surged at the campaign’s end to slip past Federico Gutierrez, a former mayor of Medellin who was seen as the continuity candidate and ran on a pro-business, economic growth platform.
Petro has promised to make significant adjustments to the economy, including tax reform, and to change how Colombia fights drug cartels and other armed groups. Hernández promises to reduce wasteful government spending and to offer rewards for people who report corrupt officials.
“What is in dispute today is change. The political parties allied to the government of (incumbent Ivan) Duque, his political project, has been defeated in Colombia,” Petro told his supporters as they celebrated at his campaign headquarters in Bogotá. He said the vote sends “that message to the world: A period is ending; an era is ending.”
Hernández, in a livestream after early results showed he advanced to the runoff, said he remains committed to end “corruption as a system of government.”
“These next few days will be decisive in determining the future of the country,” he said.
This was the second presidential election held since the government signed in 2016 a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC for its initials in Spanish. But the divisive agreement was not a main issue during the campaign, which focused on poverty, inflation and other challenges exacerbated by the pandemic.
It is Petro’s third attempt to become president. He was defeated in 2018 by Duque, who was not eligible to seek reelection.
In a sign of the resistance to a leftist government, Gutierrez endorsed Hernández shortly after he failed to advance to the runoff.
“Knowing that our position is decisive for the future of Colombia, we have made a decision … We do not want to lose the country,” Gutierrez said, adding that he would support Hernández because he does not want to put Colombia “at risk.”
Petro was once a rebel with the now-defunct M-19 movement and was granted amnesty after being jailed for his involvement with the group.
Some see comparisons to Trump in Hernandez, the former mayor of the north-central city of Bucaramanga.
“They share that they have speeches against the establishment, against that traditional policy, not only seen from the government, but from the traditional opposition,” said Johan Caldas, a political analyst at Universidad de la Sabana. He said their freedom from traditional party ideology and structure convinces people “who find an option for change that is just far from the traditional left or right.”
A Gallup poll conducted earlier this month said 75% of Colombians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction and only 27% approve of Duque.
The pandemic set back the country’s anti-poverty efforts by at least a decade. Official figures show that 39% of Colombia’s 51.6 million residents lived on less than $89 a month last year, which has a slight improvement from 42.5% in 2020.
Inflation reached its highest levels in two decades last month, hitting 9.2%.
“The vote serves to change the country and I think that this responsibility falls a lot on young people who want to reach standards that allow us to have a decent life,” said Juan David González, 28, who voted for the second time in a presidential election.
The new president will have to decide whether to resume peace talks, suspended by Duque, with the National Liberation Army, a guerrilla group founded in the 1960s. The president will also have to deal with violence from FARC dissidents who rejected the peace accord as well as the Gulf Clan cartel.
And corruption is on many Colombians’ minds.
“Corruption in state entities is the main problem in the country,” said voter Édgar González in Bogotá. “… A very big change is taking place in the country’s politics and if we all exercise the right we are going to achieve that change.”
___
Garcia Cano reported from Caracas, Venezuela. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/ex-rebel-businessman-to-vie-in-colombia-presidential-runoff/ | 2022-05-30T19:07:44Z |
USPS to request rate increase due to inflation, DeJoy says
WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation is going to add over $1 billion to the U.S. Postal Service budget, necessitating a request for another rate increase in January, but the service is well prepared for the November election, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said Tuesday.
The Postal Service has already delivered about 40 million ballots to and from voters along with a total of 550 million COVID-19 test kits, DeJoy said.
“Americans should be confident that the United States Postal Service is well prepared and will provide extraordinary services in these coming November elections,” he told the Board of Governors.
Third quarter results for the first time reflected a sweeping congressional overhaul — leading to a non-cash benefit of nearly $59.6 billion. But DeJoy cautioned against reading too much into the one-time benefit, without which the Postal Service would’ve suffered an adjusted loss of $459 million.
“The fact of the matter is that we have a long road and a lot of hard work ahead in our 10-year transformation to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the Postal Service,” DeJoy said.
The quarterly results were the first to reflect an overhaul signed into law by President Joe Biden in April.
The Postal Service Reform Act lifted requirements that contributed to the agency’s red ink, like prepaying future retiree health benefits — an obligation that private companies and federal agencies do not face. It also cemented a requirement for mail delivery six days a week.
Several members of the public who spoke at the meeting implored governors to increase the number of electric next-generation delivery vehicles and to ensure that union workers build them.
The first of those new vehicles will begin rolling next year, with half the first batch of 50,000 vehicles being powered by electricity.
As for postal rates, DeJoy previously warned that they’re going to be necessary, especially in the face of inflation.
Rates last went up in July with the cost of a first-class Forever stamp increasing by 2 cents to 60 cents.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/09/usps-request-rate-increase-due-inflation-dejoy-says/ | 2022-08-09T23:30:30Z |
ROSEBUD — Services for Guadalupe Wallace Jimenez, 77, of Temple will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Cook-Gerngross-Green-Patterson Funeral Home in Rosebud with Randy Salazar officiating.
Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Rosebud.
Mr. Jimenez died Thursday, May 5, at a Temple hospital.
He was born May 17, 1944, in Caldwell to Navarro and Manuela Valdez Jimenez. He married Irma Lugo. He retired from the Santa Fe Railroad.
He was preceded in death by his wife and a grandchild.
Survivors include two sons, Isais Jimenez and Michael Jimenez, both of Temple; two daughters, Jasmine Jimenez and Sunshine Knopp, both of Temple; two brothers, John Paul Jimenez of Temple and Joe Jimenez of Hutto; five sisters, Lucy Garcia, Delores Babcock and Mary Jane Williams, all of Temple, Martina Torres of Salado and and Susie Razo of Rockdale; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. | https://www.tdtnews.com/obituaries/article_657e74cc-d00d-11ec-a27a-1bd71366f7ff.html | 2022-05-10T05:31:20Z |
NEW YORK, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Dingdong (Cayman) Ltd. (NYSE: DDL) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
This lawsuit is on behalf of persons who purchased, or otherwise acquired, Dingdong American Depository Shares pursuant or traceable to the F-1 registration statements and related prospectus on Form 424B4 issued in connection with Dingdong's June 2021 initial public stock offering.
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 24, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in DDL:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/dingdong-class-action-loss-submission-form?id=31355&from=4
Dingdong (Cayman) Ltd. NEWS - DDL NEWS
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: According to the filed complaint, the registration statement and prospectus used to effectuate the Company's initial public offering misstated and/or omitted facts concerning Dingdong's so-called commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of the food it distributes to the market. For example, despite claiming that it applies "stringent quality control across [its] entire supply chain to ensure product quality to [its] users," Dingdong sold food past its sell-by date. Consequently, Dingdong was, in fact, no better at providing or assuring access to "fresh" groceries than the supermarkets, traditional Chinese wet markets, or traditional e-commerce platforms it repeatedly claimed to be displacing. Moreover, the foregoing conduct subjected Dingdong to an increased risk of regulatory and/or governmental scrutiny and enforcement, all of which, once revealed, were likely to negatively impact Dingdong's business, operations, and reputation.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Dingdong you have until October 24, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Dingdong securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the DDL lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/dingdong-class-action-loss-submission-form?id=31355&from=4.
ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM
J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
J. Klein, Esq.
Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
59th Floor
New York, NY 10118
jk@kleinstocklaw.com
Telephone: (212) 616-4899
www.kleinstocklaw.com
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SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/ddl-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-october-24-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-dingdong-cayman-ltd-shareholders/ | 2022-09-06T17:33:25Z |
Authorities in Alabama are searching for a corrections officer and an inmate charged with murder after they went missing on Friday.
Vicki White, assistant director of corrections for Lauderdale County, took Casey White, the inmate, from jail Friday morning, saying she was taking the prisoner to the county courthouse.
The two, who officials said are not related, have not been seen since. Here's what we know.
The officer and the inmate left the jail
Vicki White said she was taking Casey White for a mental health evaluation when she checked him out of the jail. After dropping the inmate off at the courthouse, she said, she was going to get medical care because she wasn't feeling well.
Authorities found out later that day that no such evaluation -- or any court hearing -- was scheduled for Casey White that day, and Vicki White never made it to the place where she was to get medical attention, according to Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton.
That afternoon, concerned officers at the jail tried to reach Vicki White, but her phone went straight to voice mail. It was then that they found out that Casey White had not been returned to the jail.
Authorities are looking at all possibilities, including whether the corrections officer helped Casey White escape.
"Knowing the inmate, I think she's in danger whatever the circumstances," Singleton said Friday.
"He was in jail for capital murder, and he had nothing to lose. Whether she assisted him or not we don't know, and we won't address that until we have absolute proof that that's what happened. We are assuming at this point that she was taken against her will unless we can absolutely prove otherwise. But regardless, even if she did assist him, we think she's in danger," Singleton said.
Vicki White's 2013 Ford Taurus patrol car was spotted in a shopping center parking lot Friday morning, according to the sheriff.
Singleton's office has looked at all video security footage in the area where the car was spotted, but there is no evidence yet that shows the two getting in another vehicle.
The officer went against policy
In her job as assistant director of corrections, Vicki White coordinates all transports from the detention center to the court, so she knew that protocol called for two sworn deputies to be with Casey White at all times, as he was an inmate with capital murder charges, according to Singleton.
"All precautions were in place," Singleton said. "The questions we have for Director White is why she violated policy."
Vicki White is an 'exemplary employee,' sheriff said
The corrections officer had been with the sheriff's office for about two decades and "does a tremendous job," Singleton told CNN's Fredricka Whitfield Saturday morning
"All of her co-workers, all the employees in the sheriff's office, the judges, all have the most utmost respect for her," Singleton said. "She has an unblemished record. She's an exemplary employee. So we're very concerned for her safety."
Vicki White had recently talked about retiring, Singleton said Friday.
Casey White considered 'armed and dangerous'
Casey White was serving 75 years for a series of crimes he committed in Limestone County in 2015.
In 2020, he confessed to the 2015 killing of a woman in Rogersville, Alabama, according to Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly. White then pleaded not guilty to that crime and was being held at the detention center awaiting trial.
The inmate intended to escape and take a person hostage in 2020, Singleton said, but his plan was discovered and a policy was put in place mandating that two sworn deputies should be with him at all times, including during transportation to court.
Because Vicki White had a 9mm handgun, authorities assume that Casey White, who is 6' 9", is now armed and should be considered dangerous, Singleton said.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/an-alabama-inmate-and-a-corrections-officer-are-missing-heres-what-we-know/article_fdca2728-5049-569f-85a2-4e4d96c8e77a.html | 2022-05-01T14:55:59Z |
Happsy makes customers happy every day!
CLEVELAND, May 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Certified organic bed-in-a-box, Happsy honors Memorial Day with 15% off their certified organic mattress plus free pillows, sold online, starting today, Friday, May 13th. No code necessary, the discount will be applied at checkout.
Happsy only makes certified organic mattresses, (GOTS) Global Organic Textile Standard certified organic, and MADE SAFE certified non-toxic, with the manufacturing process following strict environmental standards. Having chosen to use better materials such as organic cotton, latex, and wool. Happsy's comfort inspired by nature" design provides excellent comfort for nearly every body type.
Happsy is a trusted solution for anyone looking to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle and a better night's sleep. Recognized for its high-quality materials, highly comfortable design, and affordable price,
Happsy is also a good choice for the environment, as a proud member of 1% for the Planet donating one percent (or more) of their annual gross mattress sales to approved environmental organizations. And a member and supporter of The Conservation Alliance, a coalition of more than 250 like-minded businesses that pool resources to fund and advocate for the protection of North America's wild places.
For more information on Happsy, visit https://www.happsy.com. For media inquiries, please get in touch with Janelle Dunbar at jd@womensmarketinggroup.com or 516.242.7677.
About Happsy:
Happsy is an online mattress brand focused exclusively on offering high-quality, certified organic mattresses and bedding at affordable prices. Recognized by Good Housekeeping as the "Best Organic Boxed Mattress" to Buy Online in 2021, all Happsy mattresses, toppers, and other bedding products are certified to the rigorous organic and non-toxic standards of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and MADE SAFE. Produced in the U.S. using the highest quality domestic and imported materials approved by GOTS and MADE SAFE without ever using polyurethane foam, formaldehyde, pesticides, GMO's, adhesives, flame retardants, or other toxic or questionable chemicals. In addition, all Happsy mattresses are GREENGUARD Gold certified and UL Formaldehyde Free Validated, and all Happsy latex is GOLS or FSC Preferred by Nature Rainforest Alliance certified. Happsy is also a member and supporter of One Percent for the Planet, Women's Voices for the Earth, and American Sustainable Business Network. Learn more at Happsy.com
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SOURCE Happsy | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/13/happsy-announces-2022-memorial-day-sale-with-15-discount-their-organic-bed-in-a-box-mattress-free-pillows/ | 2022-05-13T18:38:28Z |
Leading conversion rate optimization firm joins leading marketing innovation firm
CHICAGO, Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fusion92, a Chicago-based marketing innovation company with offices in Chicago, Detroit and Austin, announced it has acquired Conversion Fanatics, a leader in conversion optimization services. The acquisition broadens Fusion92's capabilities and further helps clients increase marketing performance and lower the cost of acquisition through timely, data-driven experimentation and optimization that removes friction from user experiences and helps businesses make more money, faster.
Conversion Fanatics launched in 2014 in Austin, Texas, and has optimized over 250 sites for brands across multiple industries, including e-commerce, health, financial, SaaS, apparel, home furnishings, beauty, fitness, professional services and more. Through their continuous experimentation, Conversion Fanatics improves marketing effectiveness, delivering actionable data, more conversions and higher customer value.
"Adding Conversion Fanatics further enhances Fusion92's already robust media and activation services, allowing us to provide better, faster returns for our clients with an integrated performance marketing solution with optimization that move as quickly as the market," said Matt Murphy, CEO and founder of Fusion92. "Additionally, we're pleased to continue to grow with more good people, like-minded in culture, complementing our strategic growth plan.
The acquisition supports the growth strategy of both firms, and the integration of teams delivers an all-encompassing, client-focused offering through strategy and insights; data and analytics; creative services and content; technology and innovation; media and activation; and Web3/NFT capabilities.
"Fusion92 has a shared culture and high integrity team that we're excited to bring our superpowers to so we can apply our conversion magic to help more organizations see exponential results," said Manish Punjabi, co-founder and CEO of Conversion Fanatics. "It's thrilling for us when our optimization helps clients see a quick, noticeable shift in leads, conversions and revenue. Whether it's a 1% or 2,000% shift, we've seen firsthand the doors this opens for advertisers and the value it brings to clients. We're excited to get to work and do our part to contribute to Fusion92's growing roster of happy clients."
This is the second acquisition for Fusion92 this year after scaling the firm through acquisition of Detroit's 100 plus person agency DP+ in April. Fusion92 has acquired three additional companies since 2016, broadening its capabilities and expertise now through five total acquisitions. With the addition of capital partners Serata Capital Partners and Landon Capital Partners in 2021, Fusion92 continues to seek additional acquisition opportunities with specific interest in data science, relevant SaaS and consultative marketing solutions.
Founded in 1999, Fusion92 is a Chicago-based independent marketing innovation company with offices in Chicago, Detroit and Austin forming a powerhouse that helps growth stage and enterprise brands thrive. The firm's comprehensive stack of services and products helps bring exponential returns to companies in virtually every industry and vertical. Fusion92 collaboratively partners and serves as a trusted adviser to clients on B2B and consumer engagements that span traditional and digital media, leveraging the firm's expertise to innovatively solve business challenges. Fusion92's dynamic technology, integrated content lab (Studio440), media and activation capabilities, AdTech and premium NFT studio (Mint Werx) provide a lineup of differentiated solutions that deliver data-driven results. Learn more at www.Fusion92.com.
CONTACT:
Brian Werger
b.werger@fusion92.com
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SOURCE Fusion92 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/13/fusion92-acquires-conversion-fanatics-bolster-its-integrated-offerings/ | 2022-09-13T16:08:05Z |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers ace Walker Buehler was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right forearm strain, and the team awaited MRI results to determine the severity,
Buehler left Friday night’s start at San Francisco after four innings when his elbow began bothering him. After the game, Buehler said he’s dealt with occasional soreness in his elbow in recent years, and he expressed concern.
The 27-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in 2015, shortly after Los Angeles selected him from Vanderbilt with the 24th overall pick in the amateur draft. A two-time All-Star, Buehler is 6-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 12 starts.
“He’s our opening day starter, so to lose him in any capacity is a blow,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Hopefully, we’ll get him back sooner than later.”
Left-hander Clayton Kershaw was activated from the 15-day IL to start against San Francisco after missing a month with a back injury. The Dodgers recalled right-hander Michael Grove from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned lefty Justin Bruihl to the Pacific Coast League team.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/dodgers-ace-walker-buehler-goes-on-il-with-forearm-strain/ | 2022-06-12T11:29:12Z |
A lot of smiling school-age children Saturday filled the hallways of Heights Baptist Church, 1222 S. 49th St., for the distribution of about 480 pairs of shoes.
The Rev. Billy Koinm, church pastor, said the church was giving out the shoes in conjunction with First Blessing Shoe Ministry, led by Glenn Lackey of Temple. They have done this since 2018, Koinm said, skipping 2020 due to COVID-19.
“I’m thankful to have the opportunity to give back to our community and our kids,” he said. “The simple message we want them to get from all of this is Jesus loves them and they matter to Him. All people matter to Him.”
Little notes reading “Jesus Loves You” were tacked on the wall throughout the church.
“Jesus shows us that He loves us through the hands and feet of His people,” Koinm said.
Don Graves, a deacon at the church, headed up the shoe distribution and had a lot of helpers. He said everyone receiving shoes was pre-registered online, with the times staggered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. He said about 60 families signed up.
“I greet them in the parking lot,” he said. “They have to be school students. The idea is kids in need.”
The family groups checked in at the church sanctuary. Then someone escorted them to the fellowship hall for hot dogs, drinks, chips and candy bars.
“Then they’ll sit down at a table with individuals from our church,” Graves said. “We try to find out more about their family and any issues. Then we’ll attempt to find out if they have a relationship with Christ. Then we’ll pray with them about their needs.”
Next stop was a classroom where the children got their feet measured and received a pair of socks. After that, the boys went into one room and the girls into another — every child accompanied by at least one adult — where they picked out their shoes.
On their way out, the children received hugs from June Knight, 83, who has been a member of the church since she was 12.
“I was here at the beginning,” Knight said. “I saw the hole dug for the first building, which isn’t even here anymore.”
Farther down the hall, Rhonda Scott, a relatively new member, gave out Spanish and English Bibles and New Testaments.
At the checkout table, everybody got a bag for their shoes, Graves said.
“Then, if they want one, we’ll take them into the sanctuary for a photo,” he said. “We’ll put all the photos on the church website. Then we’ll email them out.”
He’s helped with the previous distributions, he said, and the children and parents are always thrilled about getting the shoes.
“For us it’s being a better participant in community involvement,” he said.
Another longtime member of the church, Connie Whitesell, helped in the food line. She’s been with the church for more than 60 years, she said, and is the director of the children’s ministry for grades 1-5.
“Oh, I love it,” she said of the event. “We’re very blessed to be able to do this.” | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_bea4eb5e-20fc-11ed-b90c-4fa0b71982f8.html | 2022-08-21T07:09:59Z |
ATLANTA, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Park 'N Fly, the nation's leading off-site airport parking provider, announces the launch of a brand-new website that makes it easier than ever to book while providing airport-specific travel information for customers.
Designed to serve as an extension of the top-notch, in-person service Park 'N Fly customers are accustomed to, the latest version of PNF.com has an entirely new look and enhanced features that take the user experience to the next level. In addition to a quick, five-step process that allows customers to make reservations in seconds, the dynamic homepage also highlights Park 'N Fly's latest services and promotions.
The site also allows customers to compare prices for the company's different parking types (i.e. valet, covered self-park spots and uncovered self-park spots) as well as the pricing for similar options at the airport to demonstrate the savings Park 'N Fly offers. Other customer-friendly features include the ability to view additional services (such as car washes, car detailing, pet boarding, oil changes and electric car charging) at each location, and fans of the "Park 'N Fly Guy" can now view the viral commercial without leaving the site.
The new PNF.com and the online booking system has been built by Chauntry, a leading provider of e-commerce systems to parking operators and airports across the world. Theresa Hughes, Managing Director of Chauntry added "We are delighted to be Park 'N Fly's technology partner in this exciting new venture. The project has been a great collaboration between Chauntry, Oak Creative our sister company and Park 'N Fly. The new Park 'N Fly website has resulted in new and innovative ways of delivering a great customer experience." Vice President of the PNF Network Brett Bodenan is especially excited about the new reservation interface. "The new interface provides the ability to expand our product offers while also allowing us to implement a greater array of dynamic pricing scenarios".
Park 'N Fly's new PNF.com was built via the Wordpress content management system, which allows the Park 'N Fly marketing team to easily update content and add videos that will establish Park 'N Fly as a source of important travel information and keep customers coming back. Beyond simplifying the booking process and increasing Park 'N Fly branding across the entire site, the new website will also inform and educate customers about travel and the airports they frequent most. To check out Park 'N Fly's new website visit www.pnf.com
About Park Holding, Inc.
Park Holding, Inc., a BCD Group company was founded in 1967 as the first off-airport parking company specifically geared toward the business traveler. Today, Park 'N Fly operates 15 facilities in 14 markets nationwide. Additionally, Park 'N Fly offers a network of off-airport parking services in more 80 U.S. markets through its internet-based reservation system at PNF.com. Park 'N Fly's goal is to make customers' lives easier by providing more than just parking. The company offers an array of unique services, including car washing and detailing, pet boarding with Pet Paradise Resort®, electric car-charging stations and valet parking. These service offerings and outstanding customer service make Park 'N Fly the first choice in airport parking. For more information, visit www.pnf.com.
About BCD Group
BCD Group is a market leader in the travel industry. A privately-owned company founded in 1975 by John Fentener van Vlissingen, the group includes BCD Travel (a global corporate travel management company and its subsidiary global meetings and events agency, BCD Meetings & Events), Park 'N Fly (off-airport parking), and Airtrade (a consolidation and fulfillment company). For more information, visit www.bcdgroup.com.
Media Contact
Anne Edwards
VP of Marketing
Park 'N Fly
(404) 364 -8157
aedwards@pnf.com
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SOURCE Park 'N Fly | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/12/park-n-fly-launches-robust-new-website-enhance-customer-experience/ | 2022-04-12T13:40:49Z |
COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CF Bankshares Inc. (NASDAQ: CFBK) (the "Company"), the parent of CFBank, released a slide presentation in conjunction with its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 1, 2022, to provide additional information regarding the Company's 2021 and first quarter 2022 financial performance and condition. The slide presentation illustrates the growth in the Company, its continued strong credit quality and its key strategic initiatives. Some highlights include:
- Strong loan growth leading to an annualized Loan CAGR of 31% from 12/31/2017-3/31/2022.
- Continuous growth in franchise value as proven by a 5-year tangible book value CAGR of 16%.
- Strong Credit Quality as evidenced by a steady decline in Criticized and Classified Loans as a percentage of Total Loans from 1.96% at 12/31/2017 to 0.32% at 3/31/2022.
The Company encourages you to view the complete slide presentation, which is available at: https://investor.cfbankonline.com/news-events/presentations/default.aspx
About CF Bankshares Inc. and CFBank
CF Bankshares Inc. (the Company) is a holding company that owns 100% of the stock of CFBank, National Association (CFBank). CFBank is a nationally chartered boutique Commercial bank operating primarily in Four (4) Major Metro Markets: Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana. The current Leadership Team and Board recapitalized the Company and CFBank in 2012 during the financial crisis, repositioning CFBank as a full-service Commercial Bank model. Since the 2012 recapitalization, CFBank has achieved a CAGR of nearly 25%.
CFBank focuses on serving the financial needs of closely held businesses and entrepreneurs, by providing comprehensive Commercial, Retail, and Mortgage Lending services presence. In all regional markets, CFBank provides commercial loans and equipment leases, commercial and residential real estate loans and treasury management depository services, residential mortgage lending, and full-service commercial and retail banking services and products. CFBank is differentiated by our penchant for individualized service coupled with direct customer access to decision-makers, and ease of doing business. CFBank matches the sophistication of much larger banks, without the bureaucracy.
CFBank ranked #7 on American Banker's listing of Top 200 Publicly Traded Community Banks based on 3-year average return on equity as of December 31, 2021 and has been recognized as a Small Cap All-Star performer by Piper Sandler in 2021, 2020, and 2019. CFBank is the only Ohio-based bank and one of only four banks in the country that have achieved this award for the past three consecutive years (2019, 2020 and 2021). In addition, CFBank was ranked #4 in Performance and #2 in Growth Strategy by Bank Director magazine based on 2020 performance and growth.
Additional information about the Company and CFBank is available at www.CF.Bank
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SOURCE CF Bankshares Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/cf-bankshares-inc-parent-cfbank-na-provides-2022-annual-stockholders-presentation/ | 2022-06-06T21:10:22Z |
Kurt Busch takes Jordan Brand to victory lane at Kansas
By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kurt Busch was slowly driving his Jordan Brand-styled ride toward victory lane at Kansas Speedway on Sunday when car owner Denny Hamlin stopped him in his tracks, ducked his head through the window and said: “We did it.”
Did they ever.
Busch survived a weary day of tire attrition, then pinched his way past Kyle Larson for the lead with eight laps to go, before driving away from the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion to win for the first time at Kansas — and give the up-and-coming 23XI Racing team owned by Hamlin and NBA great Michael Jordan its second win ever.
“That’s the most gratifying part, helping these guys win,” Busch said. “It’s all about team work. I don’t do this alone.”
Larson had the dominant car, riding the top line around the mile-and-a-half oval, but Busch was able to put his Toyota just about anywhere he wanted. That paid off when the two were side-by-side with eight to go and Busch squeezed by Larson, who brushed the wall and lost just enough momentum to surrender the lead — and the win.
Busch pulled his No. 45 car — one of the numbers that Jordan wore during his career — to a stop at the start-finish line and climbed out the window before throwing his arms up in triumph, the familiar Jumpman logo splashed across his fire suit.
It was the second win for 23XI after Bubba Wallace triumphed last year at Talladega, and it came at the most unexpected of times; neither of the team’s drivers had finished in the top 10 this season.
“You know, we as an organization kind of let these guys down — I’m talking about Bubba and Kurt, all the mistakes we’d made on pit road and whatnot,” Hamlin said. “But lets talk about the positives. I can’t thank Kurt enough. The Jordan Brand’s first race, so jealous he gets to drive that car, and then to have that thing so fast there, yeah, it’s just — I’ve never had this kind of feeling, even for a win for me, much less when I didn’t win. It’s different.”
There were no hard feelings about the way Busch raced to the finish, either.
“He never got into me. I’m trying to squeeze throttle to get position on him and just got tight,” Larson said. “That was fun racing with Kurt the last half of the race. I was trying hard the whole time.”
No kidding. At one point with 85 to go, Larson went nearly sideways while racing with Busch for the lead off Turn 2.
“Just hard racing for the win,” Larson said. “I was struggling in traffic a little bit, he was able to get by and from there. I just wanted to hold onto second. Just fought really hard today.”
One of the dominant storylines early in the week was how tires would fare under the Next Gen car during its Kansas debut, especially after several drivers — including Joey Logano — had problems with their rear going down in practice.
The problems began again during Sunday’s second stage.
William Byron, who was bumped out of the way by Logano in last week’s contentious finish at Darlington, was running near the front when his tire went away. Just as Byron limped down pit road, outside pole sitter Tyler Reddick had a rear go down and touched the wall. Martin Truex Jr. had the same tire problem on the stage’s final lap.
“Our engineers were out talking to everyone who had issues in practice,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing, who had advised teams prior to the weekend to increase rear air pressures to account for the loads.
“We wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the situation.”
Erik Jones had a different tire problem entirely: His team couldn’t get a rear lug nut off. It tried all manner of saws, torches and wrenches to no avail, a tough blow for a Petty GMS Motorsports team hanging outside the playoff fringe.
Kyle Busch, who earlier this week welcomed daughter Lennix Key into the world, managed to avoid the tire trouble and hold off Ross Chastain and Chase Elliott to win the first stage Sunday. His older brother, Kurt, beat him to the line to take the second stage with Elliott again coming across in third.
Then the same tire problem caught up to Elliott, whose rear went down and sent him spinning across the track with 70 laps to go. Elliott was fortunate to keep his No. 9 out of the wall before coming to rest in the muddy infield.
Kyle Busch had hoped to take home a trophy to his new baby girl, which he welcome along with wife Samantha after a long and public battle with infertility. But despite a strong car all day, he wound up settling for third place.
Maybe her uncle can bring that trophy by sometime.
“I finally conquered this track,” Kurt Busch said. “I can’t believe it.”
BEST OF THE REST
Christopher Bell parlayed his third pole of the season into a fifth-place finish. Truex bounced back from his tire issue to finish sixth with Chastain, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Alex Bowman and Wallace rounding out the top 10.
SLAVA UKRAINI
Josh Bilicki had the colors of the Ukrainian flag on his No. 77 car for Spire Motorsports to show support of humanitarian efforts going on in the war-torn country. Several cities in Ukraine, including Kyiv and Mariupol, also were incorporated in the paint scheme along with the insignia of the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council.
UP NEXT
The series takes a regular-season break before the Coca-Cola 600 and heads to Texas for next weekend’s All-Star race.
___
More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/15/kurt-busch-takes-jordan-brand-to-victory-lane-at-kansas/ | 2022-05-16T04:52:30Z |
Transformational Anti-Aging and Wellness Franchise Poised for Growth Following Success of Flagship Location
WINDERMERE, Fla., June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Serotonin Centers, the wellness and anti-aging/longevity franchise established last year by nationally-recognized fitness industry entrepreneur Eric Casaburi, will expand its regional presence after having a franchisee secure $6.5 million in funding for five additional locations throughout the Orlando market. The investment comes from Anti-Aging Holdings Orlando, an Orlando-based holding company seeking to fuel the thriving brand's growth within the booming wellness industry.
Through its investment, Anti-Aging Holdings Orlando will be opening locations in the fall of 2022, starting with its next center in Dr. Phillips, followed by additional locations in Winter Park, Lake Mary, Clermont, Lake Nona, and Horizon West. They plan to open additional sites upon completion of the initial 5-center development.
As the nation's first franchise brand to enter the anti-aging and hormone treatment space, the flagship location of Serotonin Centers in Windermere, Fla. has attracted not only a loyal base of local clients, but also those flying in from around the country to receive the brand's groundbreaking services. With its vast lineup of next-level wellness and longevity treatment options and membership tiers and one-stop shop offering cutting edge hormone restoration, aesthetic enhancement, weight control and immunity response treatments, Serotonin Centers is well-poised to amass multi-unit franchise development agreements across the country.
"The real aim of our centers is to empower men and women with the ability to optimize their health and performance and overall sense of well-being," said Casaburi, Founder and CEO of Serotonin Centers. "Whether it's hormone restoration, boosting your immune system, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, or tackling weight control, Serotonin Centers has the resources to help anyone become their best self, inside and out. Scaling our business model will help to make this a reality for more people."
As a crusader for health and wellness his entire career, Casaburi is best known for founding and growing a nationally-recognized gym franchise that now has 170 gyms open or in development. With Serotonin, Casaburi says he's excited to share the ground-floor opportunity with additional like-minded investors who want to make an impact on human health and life span.
To find out more information on Serotonin Centers and its franchise opportunities, you can visit https://www.serotonincenters.com/franchising/.
ABOUT SEROTONIN
Aptly named after the hormone that's function is to stabilize human's feelings of well-being and overall happiness, Serotonin's wellness and anti-aging concept provides members the road map for maximizing wellness and longevity. The anti-aging brand intersects the expertise of both medical practitioners and health coaches in a concierge eco-system under one roof to slow down the human biological clock and extend the prime years of looking and feeling your best. Those interested in investing in a Serotonin Center can visit serotonincenters.com/franchising/ for more information.
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SOURCE Serotonin Centers | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/serotonin-centers-franchisee-raises-65m-funding-open-5-locations-orlando-market/ | 2022-06-23T14:57:23Z |
NEW YORK, June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE: WM).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/waste-management-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=29060&from=4
This lawsuit is on behalf of all purchasers of certain Waste Management redeemable senior notes between February 13, 2020 and June 23, 2020.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until August 8, 2022 to petition the court. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
According to a filed complaint, Waste Management, Inc. issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the U.S. Department of Justice had indicated to Waste Management that it would require Waste Management to divest significantly more assets than the $200 million indicated in the merger agreement between the Company and Advanced Disposal Services; (ii) as a result, the merger would not be completed by July 14, 2020, the end date under the merger agreement; and (iii) the Waste Management redeemable senior notes would be subject to mandatory redemption at 101% of par.
Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
JAKUBOWITZ LAW
1140 Avenue of the Americas
9th Floor
New York, New York 10036
T: (212) 867-4490
F: (212) 537-5887
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SOURCE Jakubowitz Law | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/24/wm-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-waste-management-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-august-8-2022/ | 2022-06-24T10:17:28Z |
HOUSTON, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI) announced it expects to issue a press release with financial results for the second quarter 2022 on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. A conference call will be hosted by SCI Management on Wednesday, August 3, 2022. Details of the conference call are as follows:
About Service Corporation International
Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is North America's leading provider of funeral, cemetery and cremation services, as well as final-arrangement planning in advance, serving more than 600,000 families each year. Our diversified portfolio of brands provides families and individuals a full range of choices to meet their needs, from simple cremations to full life celebrations and personalized remembrances. Our Dignity Memorial® brand is the name families turn to for professionalism, compassion, and attention to detail that is second to none. At June 30, 2022, we owned and operated 1,459 funeral service locations and 488 cemeteries (of which 300 are combination locations) in 44 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information about Service Corporation International, please visit our website at www.sci-corp.com. For more information about Dignity Memorial®, please visit www.dignitymemorial.com.
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SOURCE Service Corporation International | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/service-corporation-international-announces-schedule-its-second-quarter-2022-earnings-release-conference-call/ | 2022-07-19T21:11:48Z |
80% of companies' wireless activity consists of undiscovered devices and shadow networks, creating the next attack surface
TEL AVIV, Israel, July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AirEye, the leader in Network Airspace Control and Protection (NACP) solutions, announced today its free offering of a laborless, hardware-less and immediate network airspace security posture analysis.
Using AirEye's technology, companies can now, at no cost, immediately receive 100% wireless asset visibility, all unauthorized connections generated by IT, IoT, IoMT, and OT, discovery of shadow networks and shadow devices, wireless network entry points that can be used by remote attackers, misconfigurations of wireless devices, and all other activity in the corporate network airspace.
In addition to the network airspace security posture report, network security teams can also obtain a free user account with AirEye.
"We opened our service to all companies at no cost including a network airspace posture analysis in response to the new emerging attack surface," said Shlomo Touboul co-founder and CEO at AirEye. "Using cloud to cloud integration, corporate network security teams can immediately view unmanaged devices, shadow networks, unauthorized wireless connections, and gain full control over the network airspace. Therefore, customers can now eliminate data leakage, ransomware, device hijacking, and company security policy breaches that occur over the wireless networks."
Sarb Sembhi, CISO, Office of the CISO at AirEye noted, "The world has moved on from wired connectivity to wireless, so much so that in most enterprises, wired devices account for 20% or less of all networked devices. Some of this has been led by staff personal devices, but also includes industrial, medical, smart building and other operational security devices. The fact that every new device produced often has more than one way for users to connect to it means that network airspace can no longer be ignored."
According to Bryan Kissinger, VP and CISO at Trace3, "Wireless communications at healthcare organizations have grown exponentially over the last three years. This gave rise to shadow networks, peer to peer networks and networks created by unmanaged devices - all of these are out of their security team's sight. However, AirEye is the only solution to now provide visibility, control and protection to those assets that would have otherwise flown under the radar of the security team."
To register for a free company account, please visit: https://aireye.tech/get-free-account/
About AirEye
AirEye is the leader in Network Airspace Control and Protection (NACP). The corporate network may be purposefully or unintentionally compromised by Antenna for Hire - any wireless device not under the corporate's control, but within its proximity - resulting in unauthorized network access, device hijacking or data leakage. AirEye enforces wireless security policy and prevents attacks that leverage the Antennae for Hire that are broadcasting in the corporate network airspace.
AirEye's SaaS solution monitors all wireless communications broadcasting in the corporate airspace in real-time, prevents violations of corporate wireless security policy and blocks attacks automatically. Its technology seamlessly complements existing corporate network security infrastructure, without the need for architectural changes or messy integrations.
The solution is deployed in various industries, including finance, banking, telecom, healthcare, manufacturing, retail and aerospace. The company was founded by veterans of the security and wireless industries, Shlomo Touboul, Ohad Plotnik, Amichai Shulman and Roi Keren.
For more information, visit https://www.aireye.tech
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SOURCE AirEye | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/25/aireye-delivers-free-network-airspace-security-posture-report/ | 2022-07-25T11:32:33Z |
RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Markel Corporation (NYSE:MKL) today reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2022. The Company also announced today it has filed its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The following tables present summary financial data for the quarters and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.
Highlights of results from the quarter and six months include:
- Earned premiums grew 17% for both the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2022, reflecting continued growth in gross premium volume from new business, more favorable rates and expanded product offerings.
- The higher combined ratio for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period of 2021 was driven by the impact of less favorable development on prior accident years loss reserves.
- The combined ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2022 included $35.0 million, or one point, of net losses and loss adjustment expenses, as well as $12.3 million of additional reinsurance costs, attributed to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The combined ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2021 included $67.9 million, or two points, of net losses and loss adjustment expenses from Winter Storm Uri.
- Net investment losses in 2022 reflected a substantial decrease in the fair value of our equity portfolio resulting from significant declines in the public equity markets.
- Growth in operating revenues from our Markel Ventures operations reflected contributions from our acquisitions in the second half of 2021 and the impact of increased demand and higher prices across many of our businesses.
- Comprehensive loss to shareholders in 2022, for both the quarter and six months, was a result of unrealized losses on our fixed maturity and equity portfolios.
"Results for the first half of 2022 reflect the benefits of our diversified, three-engine architecture of insurance, investments, and Markel Ventures. Within our insurance engine, new business opportunities, an attractive pricing environment and solid portfolio construction contributed to strong top line growth and, when combined with continued expense management efforts, resulted in a 90% combined ratio for the first six months of 2022," said Thomas S. Gayner and Richard R. Whitt, Co-Chief Executive Officers. "Our Markel Ventures engine provided additional thrust with another record-setting quarter for both revenues and EBITDA."
"Within our investments engine, our results were impacted by the sharp decline in the equity markets, as well as rising interest rates in the bond market, during the first half of 2022. Given our focus on long-term performance and investing discipline, we are confident in the durability of our portfolio and understand that periodic volatility is to be expected," Gayner and Whitt remarked. "Looking forward to the remainder of 2022, we are well-positioned to execute on our business objectives and remain focused on building long-term shareholder value."
We believe our financial performance is most meaningfully measured over longer periods of time, which tends to mitigate the effects of short-term volatility and also aligns with the longer-term perspective we apply to operating our businesses. We generally use five-year periods to measure our performance. Over the five-year period ended June 30, 2022, the compound annual growth in book value per common share was 7%. Over the five-year period ended June 30, 2022, our share price increased at a compound annual rate of 6%.
A copy of our Form 10-Q is available on our website at www.markel.com or on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Readers are urged to review the Form 10-Q for a more complete discussion of our financial performance. Our quarterly conference call, which will involve discussion of our financial results and business developments and may include forward-looking information, will be held Wednesday, August 3, 2022, beginning at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Time). Investors, analysts and the general public may listen to the call free over the Internet through our website at www.markel.com in the "For investors" section. Any person needing additional information can contact Markel's Investor Relations Department at IR@markel.com. A replay of the call also will be available on our website from approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call until Monday, August 15, 2022.
About Markel Corporation
Markel Corporation is a diverse financial holding company serving a variety of niche markets. The Company's principal business markets and underwrites specialty insurance products. In each of the Company's businesses, it seeks to provide quality products and excellent customer service so that it can be a market leader. The financial goals of the Company are to earn consistent underwriting and operating profits and superior investment returns to build shareholder value. Visit Markel Corporation on the web at www.markel.com.
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SOURCE Markel Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/markel-reports-2022-second-quarter-six-months-results/ | 2022-08-02T21:01:31Z |
Gas prices dropping in Texoma, how long will that last?
SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) - If you’ve been to the gas pump lately, you might have had a small sigh of relief when looking at the total, the question is: how long will that last?
The national average gas prices in America are currently $4.77 but Texas and Oklahoma are both cheaper than that.
“The question going forward is will these price drops remain the trend,” Spokesperson for Texas AAA Daniel Armbruster said.
In a one week span, gas in Sherman has gone down nearly $.20, but for Oklahoma, that price drop wasn’t as drastic, at $.64 of a drop.
“Gas prices are something that we focus on just because it is a key indicator of how pricing overall is changing,” Spokesperson for Oklahoma AAA Leslie Gamble said.
News 12 spoke to local drivers on how the increase in gas prices these past months have impacted their lives.
“It was isolating to be honest, I mean as experience as it was we live in rural Sherman so we are a little bit from town but not too far we definitely were choosing when to come to town, how much grocery to buy,” Sherman Driver Andrea Stout said.
“I hope it keeps going down because you know I had to get rid of my corvette and buy a Volkswagen and I’d like to get my corvette back,” Sherman Driver Dustin Monroe said.
Both Texas and Oklahoma AAA said there have been an increase in supplies regionally causing the demand in gas to decrease.
“Gas prices are an indication of what’s expected to occur in the future in the term of supply,” Gamble said.
A year ago in Texas gas was $2.80.
“I don’t think we are going to see that anytime soon just given the fact that we are still dealing with global supply and demand tightness and so given that Russia is still invading Ukraine and likely there will be more moves to cut off Russian oil from the global market that is going to create a tighter global market as far as supplies go,” Armbruster said.
Armbruster said the month of July is typically the busiest travel month out of the year.
“You know gas prices right now are just, even for going out on the lake for the weekend there just a little too expensive for enjoying a good summer,” Monroe said.
News 12 created a poll asking if the rise in continual gas prices has impacted their summer plans, you can find that poll here.
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/06/gas-prices-dropping-texoma-how-long-will-that-last/ | 2022-07-07T00:06:46Z |
Free roadmap timeline tool to stay accountable in build in public projects
LONDON, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Having started off as a sidekick project in early 2022, Goosly is quickly finding its way to people's hearts. A simple, online roadmap tool designed for build-in-public projects, Goosly is free and can be used by anyone to copy, customize, embed and share project and product plans with a community; in the form of a good looking roadmap timeline.
Now, with all of the roadmapping tools available online, why would anyone be interested in an app like Goosly? Jexo CEO and co-founder, Biro Florin had this to say: "as the internet moves towards decentralization, where the truth lies in open ledgers, newly launched products and projects will inevitably need a tool to openly communicate plans with communities".
If ideas are everywhere and competition ever so powerful, how can one differentiate? Well it so happens that today, small brands and founders face the opportunity to act as their own media channel; as long as they're able to openly share who they are and why they're in it, with a community that will hopefully stick around. The focus is shifting to those things you cannot copy like culture, brand and community.
Goosly, which was first introduced in February of this year, has since had stellar upgrades. It's a simple platform, with a simple process and an increasing number of cool features like swimlanes, colors, emojis, images, even zoom level, that allow you to customize your roadmap whichever way you want. You can also copy it from the public or get inspired.
The focus for Goosly remains unchanged: help quickly sketch and communicate plans with the world. "Creating public roadmaps to keep yourself accountable to your own plans, while allowing others to replicate your success is at the very foundation of building in public. If you can show the community how true you are to the work you're committed to, then you've gained their trust for life" says Nikki Zavadska, CPO and co-founder at Jexo.
About Jexo
Jexo is a lean startup company founded in 2018 that builds simple, plug&play apps for Jira Cloud. The company is home to a global team of SaaS-enthusiasts who are relentless about turning work management into an effortless, fun and accessible process for everyone, thanks to the next generation of B2B project management apps.
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1850172/Goosly_Roadmapping.jpg
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SOURCE Jexo | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/goosly-art-planning-public/ | 2022-06-30T14:04:07Z |
The Ideal Tool for Back-to-School
TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - ParagraphAI Inc., a leading developer of advanced AI-powered productivity tools, today announced the release of their natural language processing ("NLP") AI Writing Assistant. ParagraphAI instantly drafts original and accurate paragraphs of text on any topic with proper grammar and tone correction. The productivity tool is now available to download for free in Google's Chrome Web Store and is the first AI Writing Assistant powered by GPT-3 to launch in Apple's App Store.
ParagraphAI can generate essays, articles, emails, messages and more with perfect spelling, grammar, tone and vocabulary. Its release comes just in time for the back-to-school season with an NLP model and integration that generates 99% original plagiarism-free drafts. Still, in order to get the best results from ParagraphAI, they recommend that users incorporate their own edits and perform both plagiarism checks and fact checks once the text has been generated. ParagraphAI currently offers an indefinite "Free Forever" plan that enables users to write 20 paragraphs a day for personal use, with no credit card required. There are also a variety of affordable payment plans–including a student discount–for those wishing for a more robust service.
Shail Silver, the company's Co-founder and Executive Chair, put the tool's efficiency into perspective: "On average, it takes around 50 minutes to handwrite 1,000 words. ParagraphAI can write 1,000 original words in seconds – by collaborating with AI a writer becomes more like an editor, reviewing the AI-generated text and fine-tuning their message." ParagraphAI is poised to change the way we think about writing.
Built on top of GPT-3 technology from OpenAI, an AI research lab co-founded by Elon Musk, ParagraphAI is one of the most powerful AI productivity tools on the market for both students and professionals. ParagraphAI prioritizes the end-user experience, and it has been designed with dyslexic and visually impaired users in mind. ParagraphAI is accessible to users of all comfort levels and is easy to integrate into pre-existing routines.
"Our mission is to ethically and productively make AI accessible to everyone," said Kevin Frans, a graduate student of AI at M.I.T. and Co-Founder/CTO of ParagraphAI.
For more information, contact ParagraphAI's Communications Manager, Lauren Murillo at lauren@paragraphai.com, (917) 768-9144 or visit their website at www.paragraphai.com.
Other Contact - Carlin Domi of DOMI Co
+1 647-968-6113
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SOURCE DOMI Co. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/worlds-first-ai-writing-assistant-powered-by-gpt-3-launches-app-store/ | 2022-08-24T15:50:14Z |
PARIS (AP) — There is an elevated threat of terror attacks on French soil by Islamic extremists coming from Iraq and Syria, France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor warned Friday.
Jean-Francois Ricard said in an interview on French news broadcaster BFM TV that terrorist acts carried out “by individuals coming from areas where terrorists are operating, especially the Iraqi-Syrian area” cannot be ruled out.
Ricard’s comments come ahead of the opening of the trial of eight suspects in connection with the 2016 Bastille Day truck attack in Nice that left 86 people dead.
Ricard said the extremist threat has increased since 2020. “For two years, we’ve been able to see how the Islamic State group was regaining some pieces of territory, was restructuring itself” in Iraq and Syria.
He pointed to the January attack in Syria by Islamic State militants of a prison holding suspected extremists in the northeastern city of Hassakeh.
Individuals convicted in France on terror-related charges and are set to be released pose another threat, Ricard said.
“Very often they have abandoned none of their convictions,” he said, adding however that France’s judicial and intelligence services will keep a close watch on that released inmates.
The prosecutor said French authorities will “need to do everything we can” to prevent determined terrorists from committing attacks.
“It’s a true problem that we must certainly not deny,” he said.
The Islamic State group had claimed responsibility for the July 14, 2016 attack in Nice. The attacker, Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, who plowed a 19-ton truck into a crowd assembled for the fireworks display, was shot dead by police.
French authorities said Bouhlel, a Tunisian with French residency, was inspired by the extremist group’s propaganda, but they say no evidence has been found that IS orchestrated the attack. The trial is to take place at a special court for terrorist cases in Paris.
In June, 20 men were convicted in connection with the 2015 Paris terror attacks on the Bataclan theater, Paris cafes and the national stadium that resulted in 130 deaths. Most attention had focused on the lone surviving member of the Islamic State attack team, Salah Abdeslam. The other suspects were found guilty of assisting in the preparation of the attacks or hiding Abdeslam from police. Some are presumed dead in Syria and were tried in absentia. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-french-prosecutor-warns-of-elevated-terror-attack-threat/ | 2022-09-03T02:53:45Z |
MEXICO CITY, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Genomma Lab Internacional, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: LABB) ("Genomma Lab" or "the Company"), one of the leading pharmaceutical and personal care product companies in Mexico with an expanding international presence, informs that the Company filed a Notice of Rights with the Mexican Stock Exchange (Bolsa Mexicana de Valores) declaring a cash dividend on its common stock of $ 0.381679389 Mexican pesos per share, or a total amount of $ 400,000,000.00 M.N. (four hundred million pesos 00/100 National Currency), payable to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 2, 2022. This amount represents the total LABB shares currently in circulation.
This payment is in addition to the prior dividend paid on December 10, 2021 and therefore represents the total dividend approved at the Company's Ordinary and Extraordinary Annual General Shareholders Meeting held on April 27, 2017 which delegated to the Board of Directors the faculty to determine the payment dates of said dividends. This also signaled the conclusion of the investment phase related to Genomma's manufacturing plant in the State of Mexico and underscored the Company's continued focus on cash flow generation.
The Company has reported that its initial manufacturing plant lines are currently in operation and additional lines are in the ramp up process to begin operations. Genomma's Board of Directors, exercising the powers delegated at said Extraordinary Annual General Shareholders Meeting, have therefore deemed it appropriate to make today's announced second payment, also signaling the next phase of shareholder value generation. Genomma Lab and its Board of Directors express its continued appreciation for the trust of its shareholders and financial providers, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
It's important to note that the above dividend payment is derived from the Net Tax Profit Account (CUFIN) prior to 2014.
Genomma Lab Internacional, S.A.B. de C.V. is one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical and personal care products companies in Latin America. Genomma Lab develops, sells and markets a broad range of Premium branded products, many of which are leaders in the categories in which they compete in terms of sales and market share. The Company has a sound business model through a unique combination of a new product development process, consumer oriented marketing, a broad retail distribution network and a low‐cost, highly flexible supply chain operating model. For more information visit: www.genommalab.com
Genomma Lab's shares are listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the ticker "LABB" (Bloomberg: LABB:MM).
Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This report may contain certain forward-looking statements and information relating to the Company that reflect the current views and/or expectations of the Company and its management with respect to its performance, business and future events. Forward looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain words like "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "envisages," "will likely result," or any other words or phrases of similar meaning. Such statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in this presentation and in oral statements made by authorized officers of the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks related to the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, such as the scope and duration of the outbreak, government actions and restrictive measures implemented in response, material delays, supply chain disruptions and other impacts to the business, or on the Company's ability to execute business continuity plans as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic factors, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; competition, including technological advances, new products attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development; the ability of the Company to successfully execute strategic plans; the impact of business combinations and divestitures; manufacturing difficulties or delays, internally or within the supply chain; significant adverse litigation or government action, including related to product liability claims; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including tax laws; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of products and services; financial instability of international economies and legal systems and sovereign risk. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found within the Company's related filings with the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores. Any forward-looking statement made in this release speaks only as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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SOURCE Genomma Lab Internacional, S.A.B. de C.V. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/genomma-lab-internacional-announces-second-dividend-payment/ | 2022-05-31T16:43:34Z |
Letter to the editor: Push toward better mental health
I am not as young as I used to be. And a lot has changed since I moved to Canton 40 years ago. But one thing hasn’t changed: the stigma that comes with the label "mental illness."
No one cares for that classification, but some have it in their DNA, or were unfortunate in their circumstance. Like it or not, there are always going to be mental health services available and plenty of clientele utilizing those services.
Statistics show that severe and persistent mental illnesses can be treated. The National Advisory Mental Health Council reports that those suffering from bipolar disorder have an 80% successful treatment rate. And the World Health Organization says that one out of three persons is fully able to recover from schizophrenia.
Depression and anxiety, whether acute or chronic, are common labels today. The National Mental Health Association reports more than 80% of people who receive treatment for depression say it helps. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S. and only 36.9% suffering with it receive treatment.
I have found innately there is a reward for those who are positive, are quick to forgive, and ultimately, there is a taste of heaven for those who carry an attitude of gratitude. There is hope.
So, stand up to the task at hand by showing kindness to people in your life and stay positive, forgiving and grateful. You may never have a rose garden, but you will never be hopeless. And you will find fulfillment in life!
Joy Hostetler, Canton | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/opinion/2022/05/06/letter-editor-push-toward-better-mental-health/9648706002/ | 2022-05-06T10:38:33Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate will vote next week on legislation that would codify abortion rights into federal law as Democrats mount their response to the Supreme Court’s leaked draft decision that would overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.
The procedural vote, scheduled for Wednesday, will mostly be symbolic and once again show the limits of the Democratic majority in the 50-50 Senate. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., does not have the necessary 60 votes to overcome a Republican filibuster and move ahead with the bill, which means the effort is certain to fail. But he said members of both parties need to go on record about where they stand.
“Next week’s vote will be one of the most important we ever take,” Schumer said Thursday. “Because it deals with one of the most personal and difficult decisions a woman ever has to make in her life.”
He insisted that bringing a bill to the Senate floor, after a similar measure failed in February, is “not an abstract exercise.” The House passed legislationprotecting abortion rights in September.
The Democratic leader is hoping to put every single member of his conference, as well as Republicans, on record on abortion rights as both parties deal with the political fallout from the leaked draft opinion that would overturn the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. A final ruling, in a case from Mississippi, is expected this summer.
Democratic leaders, lacking the support needed to change Senate rules and pass an abortion bill on a majority vote, have signaled they intend to take the fight to voters during the campaign leading to the November election. Schumer noted that Republicans have been working for decades to bring about the end of Roe v. Wade.
“Come next week, Senate Republicans will have to answer for everything they’ve done over the years to embolden the hard right’s hostility against a woman’s choice,” Schumer said. “The vote will tell next week, America will be watching.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who joined pro-abortion activists in protest on the Supreme Court steps Tuesday, reiterated how crucial it was — not just for her colleagues across the aisle, but for those in her party — to face voters on whichever decision they choose to make next week.
“It’s about pressing everyone at every level of government, federal, state and local, to acknowledge what it will mean if women have to resort to back-alley abortions or to taking off days off work that they can’t afford to get access to a medical procedure that has been guaranteed as a matter of constitutional right for nearly half a century,” Warren said Thursday.
Republican lawmakers have long been laser-focused on the high court, installing conservative justices intent on revisiting abortion and other social issues, including three ushered to confirmation by Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky during Donald Trump’s presidency to build the court’s solid 6-3 majority.
GOP lawmakers have focused their ire on the rare leak of the draft opinion, calling it a brazen attempt to pressure the justices into changing the ruling.
Urging the justices to stick to their process, McConnell promised that senators would “have their backs, no matter what.”
___
This story has been corrected to reflect that a measure to protect voting rights, similar to one scheduled to be voted on next week in the Senate, failed in February, not in March. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/senate-to-vote-next-week-on-protecting-abortion-rights/ | 2022-05-05T22:55:20Z |
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