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Defending champ Canada, US win openers at ice hockey worlds
HELSINKI, Finland (AP) — Pierre-Luc Dubois scored twice and led defending champion Canada to a 5-3 victory over Germany in their opening game at the world ice hockey championship in Helsinki. The United States cruised past Latvia 4-1 in their opener in Group B. U.S. captain Seth Jones had a power play goal and added an assist on a shorthanded goal. In another Group B game, last year’s runner-up Finland blanked Norway 5-0. Slovakia defeated France 4-2 in Group A. It is the first world championship without any Russian representation since 1962. After Russia invaded Ukraine, organizers excluded Russia and its ally Belarus and replaced them with France and Austria. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/13/defending-champ-canada-us-win-openers-at-ice-hockey-worlds/ | 2022-05-13T22:36:11Z |
FRISCO, Tx (KDAF) — Looking for a way to beat the heat? Much to no one’s surprise, North Texas has you covered.
Why not take a trip down to Frisco? According to city officials, there are plenty of opportunities to get outside, 49 to be exact.
Spanning 1,600 acres, parks include dog parks, disc golf parks, spray parks, recreational sports parks and did we mention the largest skate park in Texas.
To look through all the facilities Frisco has to offer, click here. | https://cw33.com/news/local/fun-fact-there-are-49-parks-in-frisco-to-enjoy-as-the-summer-heat-kicks-in/ | 2022-05-11T21:15:44Z |
Comprehensive New Senior Center to Open
LAKEHURST, N.J., Sept. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Beacon of LIFE PACE Center Ocean County will celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, September 29 from 2 pm to 5 pm. The Center offers eligible seniors support services to allow them to comfortably age at home. It is located at 800 Route 70, Lakehurst, NJ 08733.
Lakehurst Mayor Harry Robbins and other special guests will attend the ribbon cutting followed by refreshments, giveaways, and tours of the facility. The event is open to seniors, caregivers, community organizations, neighbors, and job seekers. For planning purposes, attendees are asked to RSVP by calling (732) 716.4600 or emailing kcollins@beaconpace.com.
"Beacon of LIFE PACE Center Ocean County is an outstanding alternative to nursing home care," said Greg Pulley, Center Director. "We are a reliable, professional, senior-friendly drop-in center dedicated to helping our participants be independent in their homes for as long as possible. We give them and their caregivers critical support."
Eligible individuals must live in Ocean County, be 55-years of age or older, eligible for nursing home care, and able to live safely in the community alone or with caregivers.
Participants can choose from a wide range of preventive, primary, acute, and long-term care. "We offer a team of healthcare professionals who get to know you and your goals," said Bobbi Runyon, Executive Director for Beacon of LIFE PACE's Monmouth County and Ocean County locations. "There is a day center with activities and meals, and also social services, physical, occupational, and speech therapies, hairdressers, and much more."
An enrollment specialist from Beacon of LIFE PACE will assess the needs of participants in their homes. Services may include housekeeping, meals, and assistance with showers or bathing. Caregivers may also turn to Beacon of LIFE for respite, as needed.
An Interdisciplinary Team considers the participant's and caregiver's needs, recommends services, and creates an ongoing relationship with the participant. Medicaid completely covers the cost of the program; Medicare covers a portion, including Medicare Part D drug coverage. Private pay is also an option to join PACE. Beacon of LIFE provides all transportation to the PACE Center for activities or medical appointments.
"We're excited that the Grand Opening September 29 coincides with National PACE month," said Mary Austin, CEO of BoldAge, which operates Beacon of LIFE PACE in New Jersey as well as PACE programs in three other states. "Beacon of LIFE is helping older adults live happily and healthfully in their own homes for as long as possible."
PACE programs serve approximately 60,000 participants across the U.S. More than 96 percent of family caregivers of older adults report they are satisfied with the support they receive through PACE, and 97.5 percent would recommend PACE to someone in a similar situation.
Program of All-Include Care for the Elderly (PACE), is an integrated, person-centered model of care dedicated to helping participants maintain independence to live at home instead of a nursing facility. It is centered on the belief that it is better for the well-being of seniors with chronic care needs and their families to be served in the community whenever possible. PACE programs are governed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Beacon of Life PACE Ocean County joins Beacon of Life PACE Monmouth County, NJ, as its second location, and is the seventh PACE Center in New Jersey. It is part of BoldAge, which operates PACE Centers in several states. For more information, call 888-25-BEACON or visit BeaconPACE.com.
More info: Bobbi Runyon, Executive Director,
Beacon of LIFE PACE's Monmouth County and Ocean County
732-716-4600, BRunyon@beaconpace.com
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SOURCE Beacon of LIFE | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/16/grand-opening-beacon-life-pace-center-ocean-county-september-29/ | 2022-09-16T14:10:47Z |
BEIJING, June 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For President Xi Jinping, words and deeds of his father Xi Zhongxun (1913-2002) are a great family heirloom that runs deep in his outlook on life, work and philosophy, prompting him to solemnly honor his duties to the nation and the people.
Over the years, Xi Zhongxun taught his son many important lessons on life, work and governance through his words and deeds, especially to maintain close ties with the people and practice thrift and hard work.
Xi Zhongxun was a leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the state. Like his father, Xi Jinping is also a staunch supporter of the Party's values and beliefs that CPC officials and members must prioritize the interests of the people and persist in representing them and working on their behalf.
The father once told him: "No matter what your job title is, serve the people diligently." Xi Jinping always bears his father's words in mind.
When in Liangjiahe Village, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, starting from 1969, just one of the tens of millions of urban educated youths who went to live and work in the countryside, Xi Jinping ran literacy classes to teach villagers to read.
While serving as Party chief of the county of Zhengding in north China's Hebei Province in the 1980s, Xi worked for farmers to reduce and exempt their annual agricultural tax.
When working as secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee in the early 1990s, Xi vigorously promoted the approach of "knocking on the door of local residents to learn their worries and helping them find solutions."
When he became the Party and state leader, Xi introduced himself as "a servant of the people".
What else Xi Jinping learned from his father is thrift and hard work. The Xi family has a tradition of being strict with children and living a simple life.
Xi Jinping carried on his family tradition. He has reiterated the importance of "being diligent and thrifty" and has stressed the idea that "honor to frugality and shame to extravagance" should be promoted.
Xi is practicing thrift himself and said the spirit of hard work should be upheld although the living conditions have greatly improved nowadays.
Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/pnHpoUxjQZc
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SOURCE CCTV+ | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/19/fathers-day-xi-bears-fathers-words-mind-honor-duties-nation-people/ | 2022-06-19T14:08:54Z |
NPHM's long-anticipated physical home will help it intensify nationwide efforts to illuminate public housing's formative role in the American experience and addresses housing inequities for all U.S. residents
CHICAGO, Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With grants of $1 million from the Builders Initiative and Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundations, and a Community Development Grant through the Chicago Recovery Plan, the National Public Housing Museum has reached its $14.5 million Power of Place Campaign goal. It will be able to break ground on its long-anticipated physical home, an adaptive reuse of the last remaining building of the former Jane Addams Homes at 1322-24 W. Taylor St., this fall.
Dedicated to the belief that all people have the right to a home, NPHM is the nation's first cultural institution founded to preserve and interpret the role of public housing in advancing this essential yet unfulfilled aspiration. Using oral histories, art and material culture, the museum will archive and share stories of hope, achievement, struggle, resistance, resilience and entrepreneurship from a diverse group of former and current public housing residents. By doing so, knowledge gained from the public housing experience can be used to shape and inform innovative public policy reform to reimagine our future communities and society, and the places we call home.
"Housing insecurity is one of the preeminent issues of our time. When people lose their homes, their lives, families, health and finances are disrupted. This cuts across class, race and location. And while public housing has had an enormous and often controversial impact on our nation's history, it has also shaped the way we look at what's essential for the public good," NPHM Executive Director Lisa Yun Lee, Ph.D., explained.
"The Museum draws on the power of place and memory to preserve, promote and propel the right of all people to have a place where they can live and prosper—a place to call home. This mission is grounded in social justice and human rights, and we are tackling it with a multifaceted approach that encompasses culture, activism and entrepreneurship. It's a groundbreaking undertaking, and we wouldn't be here or able to undertake it without our visionary founders and funders."
In the late 1990s, a group of public housing residents dreamt of creating a museum that preserved the collective voices, experiences and histories of public housing residents nationwide. In 2006, Chicago Housing Authority Commissioner Deverra Beverly, also chair of the CHA's Central Advisory Council for all public housing developments, a CHA resident and a local historian, and community activist Peter Pero, connected with the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation's Executive Director Sunny Fischer, who was also a former public housing resident, for potential funding.
Recognizing the potential of the public housing residents' dreams, and its potential to reframe the public housing narrative, Fischer joined their effort to create NPHM. With the Chicago Community Trust as fiscal sponsor, the Driehaus Foundation provided seed money, staffing and continued funding. This allowed the museum to incorporate in 2007 and continue its fundraising efforts. Additional grants came from the Ford and Alphawood Foundations. Civic and cultural leaders, scholars, preservationists, city planners and housing advocates joined public housing residents and activists as board members and advisors.
Since its inception, the museum has also received substantial capital donations from the Alvin H. Baum and Lehman Stamm Family Funds; the Conant Family Foundation: the Boeing, Joyce, Pierce Family, Lohengrin and B&D Foundations; the Terra Foundation for American Art; the National Endowment for the Humanities; and Lucia Woods Lindley. Generous program funders have included the Kresge, Mellon, Field and Laudau Family Foundations; the Illinois Arts Council and Illinois Humanities; the MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; a City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events City Arts Grant; and Leonard C. Goodman.
Today, NPHM is also proud to note that many housing authorities nationwide have supported this effort. They are driven by the belief that the story of public housing in America, which encompasses residents of every race, ethnicity, age and creed, can have a positive and formative influence on our nation's future.
Former residents, grateful for their experiences in public housing, are among NPHM's most committed supporters. Thoughtfully built projects such as the Jane Addams Homes, designed by acclaimed Chicago architect John Holabird, offered them stable, nurturing and inclusive communities and fulfilling family homes.
"Our family of 10 lived in the Jane Addams Homes from 1960 to 1974. Most of the residents there were Black, and it was a wonderful, economically integrated neighborhood where everybody knew each other. Our lives would have been very different without it," Rev. Marshall Hatch, senior pastor of Chicago's New Mount Pilgrim Church and adjunct professor at the McCormick Theological Seminary, recalled.
"Whenever we came in on a cold day, my mother would always say 'it's so nice to come back to a nice, warm home.' Those were her exact words the night she had a heart attack in 1967 at just 44 years old, right after a record-breaking snowstorm. No one could get through the snowdrifts to help her, and she passed. But the community really pulled together to help my father as my youngest sister was just two at the time," he said.
When Ned Lufrano's family of five lived in the Jane Addams Homes from 1938 to 1952, "almost everyone was Jewish or Italian and we were all very poor. But none of us thought there was anything wrong with being poor. I always considered living there an asset, not a hindrance. Life was good. It was a wonderful, family-oriented place," said Lufrano.
"You learned early on that no one was going to give you anything and if you wanted to make something out of yourself you had to get to work." A basketball star at Marshall High School and Ripon College, Lufrano left public housing when he was a sophomore in college. Years later, he sought out a similar environment to the one he experienced in public housing for his own family. He found that kind of community in Chicago's Lakeview, where he raised two sons and still lives today.
Pamela J. Phillips' 21 years in two New York City public housing projects, accrued during stints as a child growing up with her mother and three siblings and as an adult raising her own two children, taught her the meaning of community. "I learned about sharing and caring in a 'village' to create a safe, healthy environment where we all looked out for one another, including each other's kids," she said.
"We kept each other safe, provided each other with essentials when needed and the younger ones ran errands for the elders while they looked after us. It was our 'village.' Many of the moms worked and those who didn't made sure kids got to and from school or got snacks. We very much minded each other's business," Phillips said. "It also provided my mom and me with opportunities for upward mobility—opportunities we may not have had without being in a place where the rents were affordable."
Stories of nurturing communities and successfully launched lives are a major part of public housing's legacy, and the preservation of these stories is critical to the future of housing in America. "For so many people like myself, who lived there for many years, it offered us a true home and gave us a rich history. It's important to preserve those memories, build on the legacy public housing has given our nation and explore what it can offer future generations," Hatch said.
Though NPHM has lacked an official physical home since its inception, it has cultivated and engaged a robust and inclusive community committed to its mission. This diverse group of artists, historians, activists and museum staffers have developed and presented constructive and often transformative educational programs and exhibitions to help visitors connect public housing's multifaceted and historically significant past with the social justice and human rights issues America faces today.
Chief among these programs have been the NPHM Oral History Archives and Corps, which features a recording studio named in honor of revered activist, historian and scholar Dr. Timuel Black, an annual Artist as Instigator residency, an Entrepreneurship Hub and Cooperative Museum Store run by national group of current and former public housing residents and and a series of events and exhibits focusing on issues related to the museum's mission. All have been designed to help visitors understand housing inequities and inspire engagement in innovative public policy reform by reimagining the future of U.S. communities, society and the places Americans call home.
"For the past 14 years, we have been a vibrant museum with award-winning, mission-driven programs despite the lack a permanent home. Our building is designed to teach people about housing and social justice issues in equally innovative ways. As an inventive fusion of didactic and experiential features, it will always be the jewel of our collection when it opens next year," NPHM Board Chair and Cofounder Sunny Fischer said.
"One of its most compelling aspects is that it was once vibrant public housing designed by a world class architect, John Holabird. It is being impeccably restored, complete with its Animal Court, a sculpture garden created by Chicago artist Edgar Miller, and enhanced with new features by equally inspiring artists. The building serves as a reminder not only of the significant architecture and community many public housing residents enjoyed but also of the thousands of public housing units across the U.S. that have been demolished and never replaced," Fischer added.
The last standing structure from the Jane Addams Homes, transferred to NPHM in 2018 by the Chicago Housing Authority, will undergo extensive rehabilitation to become the museum's physical home. It will include the addition of 15 mixed income apartments in the back of the building in a unique partnership with the Chicago Housing Authority and Related Midwest.
Once completed, NPHM will offer engaging programs and exhibits that feature historically significant objects and art. These offerings will present provocative ideas from internationally renowned contemporary thought leaders ranging from academics to artists. The museum's mission will continue to be presenting inclusive, diverse and balanced portrayals of the public housing experience on America and addressing its past, present and future. The Museum will also be an African American Historic Site.
Among the museum's permanent exhibitions will be the Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation Storytelling and Everyday Objects Gallery featuring a rotating collection of objects from public housing residents nationwide; the Public Art Entrance designed by internationally acclaimed artists Amanda Williams and Olalekan Jeyifous; a music room to showcase the many significant works created by public housing residents; and three apartments, restored with historic artifacts, to portray period life for a Jewish family during the birth of public housing, an Italian family adapting to a changing neighborhood and a Black family during the civil rights era. After NPHM's physical home is built, public housing entrepreneurs will also collectively own and operate a retail space onsite.
Over the past century, more than 10 million people across the nation, from all races, ethnicities and creeds, have called public housing home. The breadth and depth of public housing's impact on our nation and to the public good has gone unrecognized. For example, former Americans whose lives were shaped by public housing include public officials such as Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and President Jimmy Carter; corporate leaders such as former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, Starbucks founder Howard Schultz and former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns; performers like Barbra Streisand, Lily Tomlin, Diana Ross, Elvis Presley, Angela Bassett, Thelonius Monk, Ramsey Lewis, Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah, Jay-Z and Chaka Khan; and sports stars like the NBA's Tony Allen and baseball star Kirby Puckett.
The museum's new home is being designed to encourage the public to discover, learn and build a more just nation through a robust civic life. Ultimately, the exhibitions and programs in NPHM's new home add to the ongoing struggle to achieve social justice. It invites those who believe in the human right to housing to join in preserving history, fostering dialogue and creating change.
About the National Public Housing Museum: The NPHM is the first cultural institution in the United States dedicated to interpreting the American experience in public housing. Its mission is to preserve, promote and propel the right of all people to a place where they can live and prosper—a place to call home. Using art, oral histories and material culture, the museum will archive and share public housing stories of hope and personal achievement, as well as stories of struggle, resistance and resilience. These stories create opportunities for visitors to understand and engage in innovative public policy reform to reimagine the future of our communities, our society and the places we call home. Its physical structure is currently in development and will be an adaptive reuse of the last remaining building of the former Jane Addams Homes on Chicago's Near West Side. When completed, visitors will interface with compelling, historically significant exhibits and engage with the provocative ideas of internationally renowned contemporary artists.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Beshanda Owusu
Purpose Brand
bowusu@purposebrand.com
773-398-9194
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SOURCE National Public Housing Museum | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/major-new-awards-enable-national-public-housing-museum-reach-145-million-begin-construction-its-long-awaited-permanent-home/ | 2022-08-04T17:50:02Z |
SINGAPORE, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Binance Pool, the comprehensive cryptocurrency mining platform of Binance, announced its partnership with UltimusPool, a full-featured mining pool solution designed to provide easy-to-use, reliable, greener, and compliant services for global professional cryptocurrency miners.
As a technical services provider for Binance Pool, UltimusPool will provide a convenient pool servicing platform that is attractive for miners and will give users access to reasonable mining rewards and daily payouts.
Denny Wu, Director of Binance Pool, said, "UltimusPool team consists of industry experts with deep understanding and experience in the pool industry. Rather than competing with the players in the industry, the UltimusPool team focuses on building a better product and we are excited to collaborate with the industry's future leader."
Sofia Li, CEO of UltimusPool, said, "To fulfill our long-term goal of making mining accessible to everyone and providing users with a seamless mining experience, UltimusPool will keep expanding the tech team to focus on building the product. Furthermore, we would like to bring the greener Bitcoin future to the world."
In aiming for a green mining future, UltimusPool offers pool fee discounts and other incentives for miners who use renewable energy sources or try to lower their carbon footprint. As part of an ongoing commitment to reducing the environmental impact of the pool industry, UltimusPool as also partnered with CCA and the Energy Web Blockchain.
UltimusPool has native functionality for in-demand features, including user-created external wallets, sub-account and main account features, and easy pool fee adjustments. It has launched a BTC mining pool and plans to release the following pools of cryptocurrencies BCH, ETH, LTC, ETC, DOGE, and many more.
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SOURCE Binance | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/binance-pool-announces-partnership-with-ultimuspool/ | 2022-06-29T10:26:27Z |
Leading Bathroom Remodeling Franchise Earns the Top Spot in its Category for Quality Renovation Services
PHOENIX, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Re-Bath, the nation's largest complete bathroom remodeling franchise, earns the No. 1 spot for "Best Bathroom Renovations" by the most trusted name in all things home improvement, Bob Vila, on its 2022 Best Home Improvement Contractors of 2022 Ranking.
Bob Vila's team of experts researched and vetted dozens of contractors that offer nationwide renovation and remodeling services for this lineup. Criteria for the ranking include service coverage area—some are nationwide, while others service large geographic regions—whether they offer warranties, and whether the companies also offer financing.
Re-Bath earned the No. 1 spot in the bathroom remodeling category as it has grown into a trusted and respected service provider known for expert, affordable, and effortless bathroom remodeling solutions that transform homeowners' bathrooms in days, not weeks. Whether seeking a tub or shower area update, better accessibility and safety in your bathroom, or a complete bathroom remodel, Re-Bath makes bathroom remodeling easy. The company's exclusive remodel process removes old materials and fixtures and replaces them with beautiful new options in a wide variety of colors and styles. Re-Bath also offers a lifetime warranty on its products and provides financing options to its customers.
In addition to standard bathroom renovations, Re-Bath offers tub-to-shower conversions, shower-to-tub conversions, and compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act provisions to incorporate the best bathing facilities for mobility-challenged family members. Re-Bath incorporates universal design principles that allow aging residents to stay in their homes longer rather than moving to long-term care facilities.
"We are honored to be recognized by Bob Vila as the top-ranked company in the bathroom remodeling space," said Brad Hillier, CEO of Re-Bath. "Our brand is experiencing exponential growth. Thanks to our national TV advertising presence and close relationships with the largest big-box home improvement stores in the country, we're able to continue growing our loyal customer base while our franchisees and installers deliver an effortless customer experience – something that truly sets this company apart. We also owe a big thank you to our customers for trusting Re-Bath with their bathroom remodeling needs, we are honored that you chose us."
Re-Bath's remarkable customer service has led to an overall, combined 4.7-star rating across all review sites including Google Facebook, Better Business Bureau, Houzz, Consumer Affairs, and Yellow Pages.
As demand for bathroom remodeling projects continues to soar, and market share gains drove nearly an 80% YOY increase in systemwide sales, existing and new franchisees are flocking to the franchise opportunity.
Per Re-Bath's Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees with territories between 500,000 and 1.25 million had average revenues of over $2.35 million in 2021, up 9.5% from 2020*.
As the largest bathroom remodeling company in the United States, Re-Bath has established a proven business model, unparalleled franchise office support, and an infrastructure for growth as it continues to seek strategic franchise partners to expand its footprint nationwide.
This top ranking adds to Re-Bath's growing list of accolades, recently earning the No. 2 spot on Qualified Remodeler's Top 500 Nationals List and being recognized by Entrepreneur's Franchise 500®, the world's first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. Re-Bath closed out 2021 with record high performance in regard to same-store-sales growth and franchise openings. The franchise is building off this momentum for repeated success in 2022, with a goal of awarding 18 franchise agreements.
For more information on Re-Bath and franchise opportunities, visit www.rebathfranchise.com or call 888-454-8842.
For more information on Re-Bath and to find your local provider, visit www.rebath.com.
*The figures reflect average and median sales revenue and average gross profits for 30 Re-Bath franchised businesses with territories of between 500,000 and 1.25 million residents, and which were in operation for at least one year. These averages and medians are based on a 52-week fiscal period from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. Of these 30 franchised businesses, 14 (or 47%) attained or exceeded the average sales revenue and 15 (or 50%) attained or exceeded the average gross profit. Some outlets have sold this amount. Individual results may vary. There is no assurance that you will sell as much as the average. See the Re-Bath 2022 Franchise Disclosure Document for details.
About Re-Bath
Re-Bath is the nation's largest complete bathroom remodeling franchise that has grown to more than 100 locations across the country. The parent company's first entry in the bathroom remodeling industry occurred in 1978 and focused on the hospitality sector. In 1991, Re-Bath launched its first franchise location to focus on the residential market. The company offers complete bathroom remodels, tub and shower updates, plus aging and accessibility solutions. From simple bathtub replacements to complete bathroom redesigns, Re-Bath makes bathroom remodeling effortless, convenient and affordable, all with professional, friendly and factory-trained installers. Re-Bath is a one-stop service that covers the entire process – from design to done – in three easy steps: consultation, removal, and installation. Re-Bath assembles its own exclusive line of products at its headquarters located in Phoenix, Ariz., and offers best-in-class products from national brands for its customers. For more information, please visit www.rebath.com or www.rebathfranchise.com for more details on the franchise opportunity.
Media Contact: Kelly McNamara, Fishman Public Relations, (847) 945-1300 or KMcNamara@fishamanpr.com
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SOURCE Re-Bath | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/bob-vila-ranks-re-bath-best-bathroom-renovations/ | 2022-06-07T16:13:08Z |
Upscale brand brings modern, design-forward accommodations to another premier vacation destination
ROCKVILLE, Md., June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its rapid expansion into popular markets across the country, Cambria Hotels, an upscale brand franchised by Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), officially started construction on the Cambria Hotel Lake Placid - Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid, New York on June 9, 2022. Expected to open in fall 2023, the new 185-room Cambria will be the brand's fourth hotel in New York and adds to Cambria's growing portfolio of properties in travelers' favorite leisure destinations.
Representatives from Choice Hotels and developer, Bhavik Jariwala, of Matrix Hotels, along with Town Supervisor, Derek Doty, attended a formal groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the development milestone and express their excitement about the brand's entrance into the Lake Placid community.
"Cambria has always been committed to growing in highly sought-after markets, and the groundbreaking of the Cambria in Lake Placid – a thriving village in the heart of Adirondack Park, and an enchanting year-round destination for the millions of travelers who visit today – represents a natural progression of this strategy," said Mark Shalala, senior vice president of development, upscale brands, Choice Hotels. "Whether they take part in the Adirondack's unparalleled outdoor recreation or soak in the town's deeply entrenched history and cultural heritage tied to the Winter Olympics, we know upscale guests will appreciate the sense of space and sense of place this new, design-forward Cambria hotel offers."
Located on the lakefront of 2125 Saranac Avenue, the Cambria hotel in Lake Placid is ideally situated at the base of the Adirondack Mountains – the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States – positioning future guests near picturesque hiking trails and world-class skiing. The new upscale hotel is also near the popular Whiteface Mountain, several Winter Olympics venues and iconic historical sites, and is just a short drive from the nearby towns of Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake and Plattsburgh as well as the Canadian province of Québec.
The Cambria Hotel Lake Placid - Lakeside Resort will feature upscale amenities and approachable indulgences that appeal to modern travelers, including:
- Multi-purpose indoor and outdoor spaces for productive work or relaxation, including an indoor pool, as well as an expansive outdoor patio featuring a hot tub and views of the surrounding mountains and lake.
- Area inspired design and décor, as well as a local art collection reflecting the unique history of Lake Placid and the surrounding community.
- Contemporary and sophisticated guest rooms, complete with design forward fixtures, abundant lighting and plush bedding.
- Immersive, spa-style bathrooms with Bluetooth mirrors.
- Onsite dining featuring freshly made food, local craft beer, wine and specialty cocktails, as well as to-go options.
- 5,000 square feet of multi-function meeting and event spaces.
- State-of-the-art fitness center.
The Cambria Hotel Lake Placid - Lakeside Resort was developed by Matrix Hotels, a New York-based, full-service hotel development and management firm.
There are currently 60 Cambria hotels open across the U.S. in popular cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, New Orleans and Phoenix, with nearly 70 hotels in the pipeline.
For more information on Cambria Hotels development opportunities, visit choicehotelsdevelopment.com/cambriahotels.
All Choice-branded hotels are participating in Commitment to Clean, an initiative that builds upon the strong foundation of Choice franchisees' long-standing dedication to cleanliness with enhanced training and best practices for deep cleaning, disinfecting and social distancing. Additionally, Cambria guests can limit their interactions with hotel staff by using the Cambria Contactless Concierge Service, a text messaging service for housekeeping requests, to-go food orders, meeting room requests and more.
About Cambria® Hotels
The Cambria Hotels brand is designed for the modern traveler, offering guests a distinct experience with simple, guilt-free indulgences allowing them to treat themselves while on the road. Properties feature compelling design inspired by the location, spacious and comfortable rooms, flexible meeting space, and local, freshly prepared food and craft beer. Cambria Hotels is rapidly expanding in major U.S. cities, with hotels open in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. There are over 130 Cambria properties open or in the pipeline across the United States, with 60 currently open. To learn more, visit www.choicehotels.com/cambria.
About Choice Hotels®
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With nearly 7,000 hotels, representing nearly 600,000 rooms, in 35 countries and territories as of March 31, 2022, the Choice® family of hotel brands provides business and leisure travelers with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upscale, midscale, extended-stay and economy segments. The award-winning Choice Privileges® loyalty program offers members benefits ranging from everyday rewards to exceptional experiences. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
This communication includes "forward-looking statements" about future events, including anticipated hotel openings. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including construction delays, availability and cost of financing and the other "Risk Factors" described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, any of which could cause actual results to be materially different from our expectations.
Addendum
This is not an offering. No offer or sale of a franchise will be made except by a Franchise Disclosure Document first filed and registered with applicable state authorities. A copy of the Franchise Disclosure Document can be obtained through contacting Choice Hotels International at 1 Choice Hotels Circle, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20850, development@choicehotels.com.
© 2022 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/cambria-hotels-breaks-ground-lake-placid-new-york/ | 2022-06-10T14:11:45Z |
Zing Health has selected the Availity electronic data interchange system for providers to check eligibility, submit claims and get payment information
CHICAGO, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zing Health has selected Availity, the nation's largest real-time health information network, to give healthcare providers an easy and secure way to exchange information. The health plan-sponsored portal frees providers from burdensome phone calls and faxes to check eligibility and benefits and resolve claims-related issues. Availity's electronic data interchange solution gives Zing Health members more timely and accurate answers from providers on their health plan coverage and payments.
Providers use Availity to simplify the exchange of administrative, clinical and financial information. Practitioners in the Zing Health provider network will be able to share information to close clinical care gaps, removing the silos between the providers and the health plan and ultimately improving members' well-being.
EDI Solution Supports Zing Health Provider Network
Zing Health has already reduced its prior authorization requirements and shortened its payment turnaround to increase its value to healthcare providers. Availity Essentials builds on Zing Health's provider support initiatives, empowering secure and effective transactions to drive collaboration, cost savings, workflow efficiencies and better patient care.
"Availity enables doctors to check benefits and claims quickly," said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, Zing Health founder and CEO. "Availity also delivers critical insights regarding care coordination and care gaps, such as missing vaccinations or health screenings. EMR integration enables more collaboration among providers to improve patient care."
With Availity Essentials and the Availity Gateway, the exclusive network for Availity's health plan customers, Zing Health's Medicare Advantage HMO plans can work more efficiently with providers. Zing Health can connect to Medicare payers and securely transmit data.
"We're excited to include Zing Health as part of our broad payer network on Availity Essentials bringing our proven data management and network connections to a greater number of providers," said Russ Thomas, Availity's CEO. "We look forward to working with Zing Health as they continue to broaden their reach and grow their provider network."
Data Access Improves Claims Management
Zing Health and other payers sponsor Availity Essentials, which allows direct data entry to establish eligibility, secure authorizations, file claims, check claim status and file remittances. Millions of providers use Availity Essentials to electronically exchange financial and administrative data with hundreds of health plans.
"Availity Essentials is a real time, multi-payer engagement platform, which makes it easier for providers to collaborate with Zing Health," said Vrajesh Shah, Zing Health's chief information officer. "This will provide a consistent workflow and improve their services, so a doctor can check eligibility and benefits very quickly."
Advanced data solutions empower Zing Health providers to streamline workflows and focus on member outcomes. The secure, HIPAA-compliant EDI solution is an entry point for providers to submit administrative transactions. Its simplified access saves time and unnecessary phone calls.
"The foundation of a cost-effective, patient-centered health ecosystem is the ability to standardize and adopt electronic data exchange among health plans, providers and patients," said Thomas. "Efficiencies and innovations in the healthcare industry today will come by making data more accessible, more actionable and more contextual."
About Zing Health
Founded in 2019, Zing Health Holdings Inc. is a physician-founded-and-led insurance company making Medicare Advantage the best it can be for eligible beneficiaries. Zing Health's community-based approach addresses the social determinants of health to keep individuals and communities healthy while returning the physician and the member to the center of the healthcare equation. This gives each member personalized care and service tailored to their singular needs. Members also receive individualized assistance to make their transition to Zing Health as easy as possible. They have the ability to personalize their plans, access to facilities designed to help them better meet their healthcare needs and a dedicated care team. For more information on Zing Health, visit getzinghealth.com.
About Availity
Availity is the place where healthcare finds the answers needed to shift focus back to patient care. Availity works to solve communication challenges in healthcare by creating a richer, more transparent exchange of information among health plans, providers, and technology partners. As one of the nation's largest health information networks, Availity facilitates billions of clinical, administrative and financial transactions annually. Its products suite enables real-time collaboration for success in a competitive, value-based care environment. For more information, visit www.availity.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kyle Foehner
Purpose Brand
630-270-7291
kfoehner@purposebrand.com
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SOURCE Zing Health | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/zing-health-simplifies-claims-authorizations-with-availity/ | 2022-05-17T17:58:25Z |
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Workers of U.S. small businesses continue to benefit from higher wages, according to the latest Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch. Average hourly earnings growth increased to 5.18 percent, matching a record set in May 2022. Meanwhile, the pace of job growth at small businesses moderated from the previous month, slowing -0.20 percent. The Small Business Jobs Index stands at 99.94.
"Small business job growth continued to slow in August as the Fed fought inflation with higher interest rates," said James Diffley, chief regional economist at IHS Markit.
"Our August jobs index results reveal a continuation of last month's trend: the demand for workers at U.S. small businesses is high and the supply is low, making it more difficult for small businesses to fill many open positions," said Martin Mucci, Paychex chairman and CEO.
In further detail, the August report showed:
- At $30.71 per hour, hourly earnings increased by $1.51 in the last 12 months.
- At 99.94, the national jobs index fell below 100 for the first time since September 2021.
- The South's Job Index lead continued as it was the only region to top 100 (100.55). The South also led in hourly earnings growth, at 5.53 percent, and weekly earnings growth, at 5.00 percent.
- Small business employment growth in the West slowed 0.30 percent in August and ranked last among regions for the first time since 2020, with West Coast metros San Francisco, San Diego, Riverside, and Seattle all dropping more than two percent during the past quarter.
- North Carolina remained the top state for small business job growth; Florida was once again the top state for worker hourly earnings growth (6.45 percent).
- Dallas continues to lead U.S. metros in small business job growth and hourly earnings growth for workers.
- At 102.89, other services (except public administration) remained the top sector for job growth for the third consecutive month.
Note: The other services (except public administration) industry category includes religious, civic, and social organizations, as well as personal services, including automotive and household repair, salons, drycleaners, and other businesses.
Paychex solutions reach 1 in 12 American private-sector employees, making the Small Business Employment Watch an industry benchmark. Drawing from the payroll data of approximately 350,000 Paychex clients with fewer than 50 employees, the monthly report offers analysis of national employment and wage trends, as well as examines regional, state, metro, and industry sector activity.
The complete results for August, including interactive charts detailing all data, are available at www.paychex.com/watch. Highlights are available below.
- The national jobs index fell below 100 for the first time since September 2021 following moderations in small business employment during the spring and summer.
- At 99.94, the jobs index slowed each of the past six months. It slowed by 0.20 percent in August and by 1.37 percent since February.
- Hourly earnings growth improved to 5.18 percent in August, matching its May 2022 record. At $30.71 per hour, hourly earnings increased $1.51 from this time last year.
- Though the gains have been modest, weekly earnings growth increased for six straight months, from 3.95 percent in February to 4.54 percent in August.
- The South widened its lead among regions, moderating -0.11 percent in August. At 100.55, the South was the only regional index above 100.
- At 99.54, the jobs index in the West slowed 0.30 percent in August, ranking last among regions for the first time since 2020.
- By slowing just 0.08 percent in August to 99.59, the Midwest increased its position to third among regions. It was the first time the Midwest moved from the lowest spot in 13 months.
- The South led in hourly earnings growth at 5.53 percent. Weekly earnings growth in the region reached 5 percent in August, a new record since reporting began in 2011.
- For the fourth straight month, the Northeast was the only region with hourly earnings growth below five percent (4.58 percent) and weekly earnings growth below four percent (3.92 percent).
- At 102.92, North Carolina widened its lead among states, gaining 0.24 percent in August. North Carolina, Illinois, and Tennessee were the only three states to have a positive three-month change rate.
- At 101.59, Texas slowed 0.45 percent in August and 1.33 percent over the past three months, falling below 102 for the first time in more than a year.
- Arizona showed August's steepest decline (-0.86 percent) as its index dropped below 100 for the first time since March 2021.
Note: Analysis is provided for the 20 largest states based on U.S. population.
- At 6.45 percent, Florida ranked first among states for hourly earnings growth. Six of the 20 states analyzed had hourly earnings growth above 6 percent.
- Texas and Indiana ranked second and third, respectively, among states in both hourly and weekly earnings growth.
- Georgia's weekly hours worked slowed quickly in recent months. The state's one- and three-month annualized growth rates were down 2.71 and 3.78 percent, respectively, both weakest among states.
Note: Analysis is provided for the 20 largest states based on U.S. population.
- At 103.07, Dallas continued to lead metros despite two consecutive decreases in July (-1.34 percent) and August (-0.91 percent). Dallas saw the largest decrease among all metros in August.
- The four weakest metros were all located on the West coast (San Francisco, San Diego, Riverside, and Seattle). Each of their indexes dropped more than 2 percent during the past quarter.
- Up 1.08 percent in August, Denver had the largest one-month gain among metros by far, boosting its index to 100.70.
Note: Analysis is provided for the 20 largest metro areas based on U.S. population.
- Dallas led metros in hourly earnings growth at 7.60 percent, increasing for the 20th consecutive month.
- Hourly earnings growth topped 4 percent for all 20 metros analyzed. Washington ranked last (4.03 percent), followed closely by New York (4.07 percent).
- Though Detroit reported strong small business employment growth, weekly earnings growth (3.04 percent), and weekly hours-worked growth (-1.09 percent) were last among metros.
Note: Analysis is provided for the 20 largest metro areas based on U.S. population.
- Other services (except public administration) remained the top sector in August for the third straight month. The sector had slowed over the past five months, but the pace of job gains remained strong at 102.89.
- Leisure and hospitality slowed for the seventh consecutive month (from 107.25 in January to 100.59 in August).
- At 98.04, manufacturing fell two spots, becoming the second weakest sector analyzed after decelerating 1.70 percent over the last quarter.
Note: Analysis is provided for seven major industry sectors. Definitions of each industry sector can be found here. The other services (except public administration) industry category includes religious, civic, and social organizations, as well as personal services, including automotive and household repair, salons, drycleaners, and other businesses.
- Other services (except public administration) led hourly earnings growth among industries at 7.48 percent in August. One- and three-month annualized growth rates were higher at 8.07 percent and 7.84 percent, respectively.
- Hourly earnings growth in leisure and hospitality slowed for the seventh straight month to 6.37 percent, though the July to August decrease was not as sharp as in previous months.
Note: Analysis is provided for seven major industry sectors. Definitions of each industry sector can be found here. The other services (except public administration) industry category includes religious, civic, and social organizations, as well as personal services, including automotive and household repair, salons, dry cleaners, and other businesses.
For more information about the Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch, visit www.paychex.com/watch and sign up to receive monthly Employment Watch alerts.
*Information regarding the professions included in the industry data can be found at the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
The Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch is released each month by Paychex, Inc., a leading provider of integrated human capital management software solutions for human resources, payroll, benefits, and insurance services, and IHS Markit, a world leader in critical information, analytics, and expertise. Focused exclusively on small business with fewer than 50 employees, the monthly report offers analysis of national employment and wage trends, as well as examines regional, state, metro, and industry sector activity. Drawing from the payroll data of approximately 350,000 Paychex clients, this powerful tool delivers real-time insights into the small business trends driving the U.S. economy.
Paychex, Inc. (Nasdaq: PAYX) is a leading provider of integrated human capital management solutions for human resources, payroll, benefits, and insurance services. By combining innovative software-as-a-service technology and mobility platform with dedicated, personal service, Paychex empowers business owners to focus on the growth and management of their business. Backed by 50 years of industry expertise, Paychex serves more than 730,000 payroll clients as of May 31, 2022 in the U.S. and Europe, and pays one out of every 12 American private sector employees. Learn more about Paychex by visiting www.paychex.com and stay connected on Twitter and LinkedIn.
IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO) is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information, analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions. IHS Markit has more than 50,000 business and government customers, including 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500 and the world's leading financial institutions. Headquartered in London, IHS Markit is committed to sustainable, profitable growth.
IHS Markit is a registered trademark of IHS Markit Ltd. and/or its affiliates. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners © 2021 IHS Markit Ltd. All rights reserved.
Media Contacts
Lisa Fleming
Paychex, Inc.
+1 585-387-6402
lfleming@paychex.com
@Paychex
Kate Smith
IHS Markit
+1 781-301-9311
katherine.smith@ihsmarkit.com
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SOURCE Paychex, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/worker-hourly-earnings-growth-increases-record-level-august-pace-small-business-hiring-moderates/ | 2022-08-30T13:27:28Z |
LOS ANGELES, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Oak Capital Markets, LLC, an alternative investment distributor, announced today that financial services industry veteran Hans Henselman has rejoined the company as CEO, where he will be responsible for overall firm strategy and providing strategic and tactical guidance to the organization. Henselman previously served as the chief compliance officer of Pacific Oak Capital Advisor and Pacific Oak Capital Markets.
"Hans' previous service in the role of CCO combined with his passion for the value that alternative investments bring to investment portfolios make him an ideal choice to lead this organization," said Keith Hall, co-founder of Pacific Oak Capital Advisors. "We see significant growth ahead, and are confident that his intuition and understanding of the retail marketplace will further enhance sales across our offering platform."
In his new role, Henselman will focus on product development, distribution, business planning, compliance, operations and oversight of the firm's wholesaling operations and activities. Henselman was an instrumental part of the leadership team that formed Pacific Oak Capital Markets in 2019, and he brings more than 25 years of experience in compliance, operations, sales, financial distribution, broker-dealer formation and team building to his role.
"My decision to return to Pacific Oak Capital Markets to be its CEO is one that was easy to make," said Henselman. "The alternative investment arena is compelling and dynamic and there are a host of exciting opportunities that we are eager to capitalize on. I am excited to work with our talented team and to lead them into a future filled with optimism and opportunity."
Henselman graduated from California State University Long Beach with a degree in finance and an emphasis in investments. He holds his FINRA Series 7 and Series 24 licenses.
With the addition of Henselman as CEO, Jeff Kremin continues in his role as managing director of distribution and has accepted the additional responsibility of president of Pacific Oak Capital Markets.
About Pacific Oak Capital Advisors
Pacific Oak Capital Advisors is an alternative investment company that sponsors and manages quality real estate-based investment opportunities for clients of financial advisors and registered investment advisors as well as institutional investors. Formed in 2018, the company is advisor to Pacific Oak Strategic Opportunity REIT and Keppel-Pacific Oak REIT, and sponsor to numerous private real estate investment programs. In total, Pacific Oak Capital Advisors and its affiliated companies currently manage a diverse portfolio of real estate valued in excess of $4 billion. For additional information, please visit PacificOakCapitalAdvisors.com.
About Pacific Oak Capital Markets
Pacific Oak Capital Markets is a wholesaler and managing broker-dealer for alternative investment offerings. Pacific Oak Capital Markets is committed to representing products where financial professionals can match capital with opportunity for their clients. The Pacific Oak Capital Markets team focuses on providing financial solutions to financial advisors and registered investment advisors. Its investment professionals are dedicated to delivering offerings that produce compelling risk-adjusted returns through real estate, private equity, and other alternative investments, including a qualified opportunity zone fund, Delaware Statutory Trust, and other private and public offerings such as SmartStop Strategic Storage Trust VI (SST VI). For additional information, please visit PacificOakCapitalMarkets.com.
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SOURCE Pacific Oak Capital Markets | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/hans-henselman-rejoins-pacific-oak-capital-markets-chief-executive-officer/ | 2022-07-06T16:41:40Z |
SEGUIN, Texas, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lennar, one of the nation's leading homebuilders, announced today the grand opening of Guadalupe Heights, a beautiful new community of single-family homes situated just outside of Northeast New Braunfels, 14 miles from downtown San Marcos and conveniently located between San Antonio and Austin.
"Guadalupe Heights offers it all – thoughtfully-designed homes, small-town charm and close proximity to all the conveniences of San Antonio and Austin metro areas," said Lennar Division President Brian Barron. "We are delighted to introduce our beautiful Lennar Homes to this unique setting."
Located in southeast Seguin near the Guadalupe River, Guadalupe Heights offers homes from the Watermill and Barrington collections, which range from 1,047 to 1,874 square feet, with 3 to 5 bedrooms and 2 to 3.5 baths. Pricing at Guadalupe Heights begins in the upper $200,000s.
All homes feature thoughtfully designed floorplans that include generous living spaces, gourmet kitchens and resort-style owner's suites. The homes also offer technology upgrades that meet the needs of the most contemporary homebuyer. The exterior styles of the homes feature low-maintenance fiber-cement siding, a selection of exterior design options and sodded yards.
Guadalupe Heights features Lennar's signature Everything's Included® program, where the homebuilder's most popular options and upgrades are built into the base price of the home, including granite countertops and backsplashes, designer cabinetry, GE® stainless steel appliances, low-VOC interior paint and a host of other carefully curated interior touches and designer fixtures.
Guadalupe Heights welcome home center is located at 159 Wolf Crest Blvd., within the Guadalupe Heights master planned community, offering trails, open spaces, picnic areas and immediate access to the Guadalupe River. Residents will enjoy local shopping and eateries and quick access to New Braunfels, the popular Gruene Historic District and the 227-acre Max Starcke Park, which offers fishing, trails, picnic areas, sport courts, playgrounds, a wave pool and an 18-hole golf course. For commuting residents, Guadalupe Heights is adjacent to State Highway 46 and just minutes from Interstates 10 and 35.
Children living at Guadalupe Heights are served by the Seguin Independent School District. Seguin is also home to Texas State University, providing a broad postsecondary curriculum.
For more information on these new communities, call (210) 393-8095, visit www.lennar.com or visit the Guadalupe Heights community website.
Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title and closing services primarily for buyers of Lennar's homes and, through LMF Commercial, originates mortgage loans secured primarily by commercial real estate properties throughout the United States. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. LENX drives Lennar's technology, innovation and strategic investments. For more information about Lennar, please visit lennar.com.
Contact: Danielle Tocco
Vice President Communications
Lennar Corporation
Danielle.Tocco@Lennar.com
Direct Line: 949.789.1633
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SOURCE Lennar Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/lennar-debuts-guadalupe-heights-seguin-tx-northeast-san-antonio/ | 2022-06-27T23:43:49Z |
RCPD officers honored for aid in I-70 crash
SALINE CO., Kan. (JC Post) - Two Riley County Police department officers are being recognized for assisting at the scene of a semi accident on Interstate 70.
On Thursday, RCPD Sgt. Brian London and Officer Matthew Pfrang were traveling back to Manhattan with two other civilian employees after visiting another agency, according to a social media report from the agency.
They came across an overturned semi on Interstate 70 in Saline County. Strong winds toppled the 2017 Freightliner. The two from the RCPD immediately stopped since no other first responders had yet arrived on the scene.
Ultimately, the Kansas Highway Patrol and local officers arrived on scene snd took over. The driver of the tractor-trailer rig identified as Curtis L. Musgrove, 62, of Beloit was able to walk away but was transported to Salina Regional Health Center for an examination, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
While not in uniform or on-duty in their normal capacities, the two from the RCPD saw a need to help and responded without hesitation.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/09/rcpd-officers-honored-aid-i-70-crash/ | 2022-04-09T23:19:20Z |
LAVAL, QC, April 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. ("Couche-Tard" or the "Corporation") (TSX: ATD) announced today that the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") has approved the renewal of its share repurchase program (the "Program"), authorizing Couche-Tard to repurchase up to 79,703,614 Class A Multiple Voting Shares (the "Shares"), representing 10% of the 797,036,143 Shares comprising Couche-Tard's "public float" (as such term is defined in the TSX Company Manual) as at April 20, 2022 (or 7.7% of the 1,035,691,455 issued and outstanding Shares as at April 20, 2022). Based on the current share price the completion of the Program would represent a total investment of approximately US $3.7B or CDN $4.6B.
The average daily trading volume for the six-month period preceding March 31, 2022 represents 1,557,609 Shares. In accordance with TSX requirements, Couche-Tard is entitled to purchase, on any trading day, up to a total of 389,402 Shares representing 25% of this average daily trading volume.
Couche-Tard believes that the purchase of up to 79,703,614 Shares under the Program is an appropriate use of its funds and a desirable investment for Couche-Tard and, therefore, would be in the best interests of Couche-Tard. By making such repurchases, the number of Shares in circulation will be reduced and the proportionate interest of all remaining shareholders in the share capital of Couche-Tard will be increased on a pro rata basis.
Couche-Tard may repurchase up to 79,703,614 Shares on the open market through the facilities of the TSX as well as through other alternative Canadian trading systems, from time to time, over the course of twelve months commencing April 26, 2022 and ending at the latest on April 25, 2023.
The actual number of Shares purchased under the Program, the timing of purchases and the price at which the Shares are bought will depend upon management discretion based on factors such as market conditions. All Shares repurchased under the Program will be cancelled upon their repurchase.
Couche-Tard's current Program will expire on April 25, 2022, authorizing Couche-Tard to repurchase for cancellation up to 46,806,328 shares. During the period ended April 20, 2022, Couche-Tard repurchased for cancellation a total of 45,550,816 shares under its current Program through the facilities of the TSX and alternative Canadian trading systems for an approximate total cost of US $1.8 billion and at a weighted average price paid per share of approximately US $40.08.
In connection with the Program, Couche-Tard has established an automatic securities purchase plan with a designated broker whereby shares may be repurchased at times when such purchases would otherwise be prohibited pursuant to regulatory restrictions or self-imposed blackout periods. Under the automatic securities purchase plan, before entering a self-imposed blackout period, Couche-Tard may, but is not required to, ask the designated broker to make purchases under the Program. Such purchases will be made at the discretion of the designated broker, within parameters established by Couche-Tard prior to the blackout periods. Outside the blackout periods, purchases will be made at the discretion of Couche-Tard's management. The automatic securities purchase plan will constitute an "automatic plan" for purposes of applicable Canadian securities legislation and has been pre-cleared by the TSX.
Couche-Tard is a global leader in convenience and fuel retail, operating in 26 countries and territories, with more than 14,100 stores, of which approximately 10,800 offer road transportation fuel. With its well-known Couche-Tard and Circle K banners, it is one of the largest independent convenience store operator in the United States and it is a leader in the convenience store industry and road transportation fuel retail in Canada, Scandinavia, the Baltics, as well as in Ireland. It also has an important presence in Poland and Hong Kong SAR. Approximately 124,000 people are employed throughout its network.
For more information on Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. or to consult its quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis, please visit: https://corpo.couche-tard.com.
Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation, including those with respect to the repurchase transaction. Positive or negative verbs such as "believe", "can", "shall", "intend", "expect", "estimate", "assume" and other related expressions are used to identify such statements. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Couche-Tard and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties outside of Couche-Tard's control. Couche-Tard would like to point out that, by their very nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties such that its results, or the measures it adopts, could differ materially from those indicated in or underlying these statements, or could have an impact on the degree of realization of a particular projection. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Couche-Tard disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information in this release is based on information available as of the date of the release.
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SOURCE Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/22/alimentation-couche-tard-renews-share-repurchase-program/ | 2022-04-22T11:43:29Z |
GOP’s new midterm attack: Blaming Biden for formula shortage
By PAUL J. WEBER
Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republicans aiming to retake control of Congress have already sharpened a message centering around blaming Democrats for high inflation, expensive gas, migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and violent crime in some cities.
But GOP leaders landed on an issue this week that it hopes could prove even more potent: tying President Joe Biden to a shortage in baby formula.
Parents are suddenly running into bare supermarket and pharmacy shelves in part because of ongoing supply disruptions and a recent safety recall. But in an election year that was already shaping up to be rocky for Democrats, Republicans sense that the shortage could prove to be an especially tangible way to argue that Biden is incapable of quickly solving problems confronting the U.S.
“This is not a Third World country,” said GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, the chair of the House Republican conference. “This should never happen in the United States of America.”
The administration has sometimes been slow in responding to sudden political threats, perhaps most notably when signs of inflation began to surface last year. The White House appears determined not to repeat that mistake, announcing on Friday that formula maker Abbott Laboratories committed to give rebates through August for a food stamp-like program that helps women, infants and children called WIC.
Biden insisted there’s “nothing more urgent we’re working on” than addressing the shortage.
Asked if his administration had responded as quickly as it should have, Biden said, ”If we’d been better mind readers, I guess we could’ve. But we moved as quickly as the problem became apparent.”
But the defense by the White House illustrates how finger-pointing at the Biden administration has already spread far and wide among Republicans in Washington, on television and on social media. It’s a new issue for the GOP to hammer at and a way to address families at a time when Democrats believe outrage over the U.S. Supreme Court possibly ending the right to an abortion could galvanize women and other key voters, and thwart or at least lessen a Republican wave in November.
The full-court press by Republicans included linking the formula shortage with the rising number of migrants coming into the U.S. — one of the biggest issues they have sought to lay at the feet of an unpopular president. On Thursday, Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Florida, shared an image of a shelving unit at a U.S. Border Patrol facility in Texas that showed a single shelf with four boxes full of baby formula containers, and a half-dozen more baby formula containers on that shelf.
Cammack said Thursday that a border patrol agent sent her the image. The AP has not independently verified the photo’s authenticity or when exactly it was captured. Some conservative pundits and news outlets have since spun even greater tall tales from the photo, with some claiming that they show Biden is shipping “thousands” of pallets of baby formula to the border while parents in the U.S. struggle to find formula. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called the images “shameful.”
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that Border Patrol is “following the law” that requires the government to provide adequate food, specifically formula for children under the age of one, who are detained at the border.
GOP political consultants nonetheless call it a ready-made issue that resonates with voters.
“It’s just another one of those consumer issues that pop up from time to time that are very easy for people understand,” said Matt Mackowiak, a Republican strategist based in Texas. “They’ve got to figure out a solution and they’ve got to do it soon.”
In Washington, lawmakers are responding to the shortage by scheduling hearings and demanding information from the FDA and formula makers as part of sweeping investigations. Democratic leaders of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform wrote formula makers seeking information that includes what steps they are taking to increase supplies and prevent price gouging.
“The national formula shortage poses a threat to the health and economic security of infants and families in communities across the country—particularly those with less income who have historically experienced health inequities, including food insecurity,” said a letter to Chris Calamari, the president of Abbott Nutrition.
The letter seeks all documents related to the closure of Abbott Nutrition’s plant in Sturgis, Michigan. Abbott Nutrition recalled several major brands of powdered formula and shut down the factory when federal officials began investigating four babies who suffered bacterial infections after consuming formula from the facility.
Abbott is one of only a handful of companies that produce the vast majority of the U.S. formula supply, so their recall wiped out a large segment of the market.
Democrats are framing the shortage as an example of how Americans are harmed when a few big companies control the market. But like inflation or high gas prices, their challenge is explaining the contributing factors to the public.
Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, one of the most vulnerable Democrats up for reelection this year, said the supply chain problems with formula, microchips, gasoline and other products have complex roots, many that stretch back to the pandemic.
“It’s up for us in Congress to address these, to try to figure out where to go, how do we overcome these bottlenecks in the supply chains,” Kelly said. “But not because of an election. Because this affects people’s lives.”
___
Associated Press writers Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix and Joshua Boak, Kevin Freking and Amanda Seitz in Washington contributed to this report. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/05/13/gops-new-midterm-attack-blaming-biden-for-formula-shortage/ | 2022-05-14T06:41:17Z |
Clearer skies and temperatures in the 90s
More rain chances look to return next week
Texoma skies are clearing up and drying out the ground after a wet set of days. There are still some big clouds in the sky and some of them have a 10% chance of producing a brief shower between Wednesday and Thursday evening. For most Texomans, it’s drier and warmer temperatures heading into the weekend. Expect lower 90s for the high.
Similar to last week, starting Sunday evening rain will attempt a return performance in Texoma. Another low pressure system will move down into Texoma to stir up some more rain. Unlike last week, there will be no threat for flooding. The better chances for rain look to be Monday and Tuesday with some potential to carry over into Wednesday. A more exact start time will become clearer by Friday.
Check back Thursday for the updated drought report to see how helpful this week’s rain was for Texoma.
Brady Blackstock
Weekend Meteorologist
News 12 / KXII-TV
Copyright 2021 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/24/clearer-skies-temperatures-90s/ | 2022-08-24T22:59:21Z |
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii lawmakers passed legislation Tuesday that would hike the state’s minimum wage to $18 an hour by 2028, potentially the highest in the nation.
Advocates say the raise is badly needed in a state that routinely tops lists for most expensive housing and cost of living. But some businesses are warning they will have to cut staff or even close because they won’t be able to afford the greater pay.
The $18 minimum would be the highest dollar amount among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. However, some states automatically boost their minimum wage when the cost of living increases, which means places like California, which currently has a $15 minimum wage, could have a higher wage in six years time given inflation.
The House and Senate, both controlled by Democrats, approved the measure by wide margins. The bill now goes to Hawaii Gov. David Ige, who has said he supports an $18 minimum wage.
Hawaii’s minimum wage is currently $10.10 an hour. The bill would raise the rate in increments over the next several years, starting with $12 on Oct. 1.
House Speaker Scott Saiki saida study showing that 42% of Hawaii households struggle to make ends meet was a big factor behind his support for the increase. The Hawaii State AFL-CIO also endorsed going to $18.
Saiki said he wanted the minimum to rise in tandem with the consumer price index, but lawmakers didn’t reach a consensus on that.
A state analysis published in December showed a single person working 40 hours a week would need to earn $18 an hour to pay for housing and other necessities in Hawaii.
“People should be able to afford their basic needs on 40 hours a week,” said Nate Hix, the director of Living Wage Hawaii, an advocacy group that has been pushing for a higher minimum wage. “Otherwise people are forced to work multiple jobs or sacrifice their basic necessities like food, shelter, clothing.”
The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii said in written testimony that many of its members say they will lay people off and some will close shop with the rate hike. The business group said Hawaii’s unique-in-the-nation requirement that employers provide health insurance to those working more than 20 hours a week already adds $3-4 to the hourly compensation of workers.
Michael Miller, the director of operations at Tiki’s Grill and Bar, a Waikiki restaurant, favors gradually hiking the rate to $15 by 2027. He said costs for everything involving labor will go up with the higher wage.
“Who then pays for that? The consumer pays for that,” Miller said.
The legislation expands the tip credit to $1.50 by 2028, allowing employers to subtract that amount from the wage they pay if the workers earn enough in tips.
The bill makes the earned income tax credit permanent and refundable, which will help low- to moderate-income workers cut the taxes they owe and potentially increase their tax refund. Hawaii’s existing earned income tax credit expires this year and is not refundable, meaning many low-income taxpayers can’t use it because their earnings are too low to require significant taxes.
Gerard Dericks, an economics professor at Hawaii Pacific University, said raising the minimum wage to boost living standards focuses on the symptom of the problem and not the underlying cause.
He said it would be better for Hawaii to reduce its cost of living, for example by increasing housing by allowing the construction of taller and more numerous residential towers in Honolulu. Or by repealing the Jones Act, a 1920 law that requires shipping between U.S. ports to be handled by U.S.-flagged ships. Backers of the law say it’s important for national security because it helps maintain the U.S. shipbuilding industry. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-u-s-headlines/hawaii-legislature-passes-bill-raising-minimum-wage-to-18/ | 2022-05-04T16:53:52Z |
ALBANY — Evans Fuller is about as active a 9-yesar-old as you’ll find. She takes dance classes, plays piano, sings, and plays tennis and soccer.
Oh yeah, and she likes to act as well.
ALBANY — Evans Fuller is about as active a 9-yesar-old as you’ll find. She takes dance classes, plays piano, sings, and plays tennis and soccer.
Oh yeah, and she likes to act as well.
“I think acting and maybe dance are my favorite things to do,” the Deerfield-Windsor fourth-grader said.
Dianne Giddens is glad. Giddens, who is directing her fourth show for Theatre Albany after years of teaching theater and directing plays and musicals at Deerfield-Windsor School, needed a dedicated young actress to play the lead in “Matilda the Musical,” which starts Friday and runs through the next two weekends.
“The kids are the stars of this production,” Giddens said. “We’re fortunate that they’ve picked things up so quickly. We have a cast of 30, and 21 of them are kids from fourth grade-up.”
That includes Evans, who has performed in “Peter Pan” with Ballet Theatre South and in the Theatre Albany productions of “James and the Giant Peach” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
“My mom asked me once if I wanted to try acting, and I said I’d give it a try,” the “Matilda” lead actress said. “It’s sorta scary when you know there are people out there in the audience watching, but it’s hard to see them. I just try to make sure I’m prepared.
“I just came home from summer camp and a (family) trip to Europe a few days ago, so I’m a little behind. I’ve memorized all my English lines, but I still have to learn my Russian.”
Russian?
“We ask a lot of the kids,” Giddens said. “But you just don’t get a lot of stage fright with this bunch. They’ve already sang for us and read lines during auditions, so we know what they can do.
“We’ve really focused on getting that next generation into the theater, and plays like this help. It’s something the kids can relate to.”
Matilda tells the story of a small girl who wasn’t wanted. She has develops magic powers and tells a fantastic story that everyone thinks she’s made up. But has she?
Tickets for “Matilda” are on sale online at www.theatrealbany.com. The box office will open from 2-5 p.m. starting Wednesday and will be open the days of performances.
Shows are scheduled Friday, Saturday and Sunday and Sept. 23-25. Curtain drops on Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
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A receipt was sent to your email. | https://www.albanyherald.com/entertainment/kids-are-the-stars-in-theatre-albanys-matilda-the-musical/article_c8dd7a98-339c-11ed-a035-0ffdd06c06df.html | 2022-09-13T21:35:24Z |
VANCOUVER, BC, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Pan American Silver Corp. (NASDAQ: PAAS) (TSX: PAAS) ("Pan American" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has officially been confirmed as a signatory to the Voluntary Principles ("VPs") on Security and Human Rights. The VPs are a set of guidelines by which companies in the extractive sector can maintain the safety and security of their operations while ensuring respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Since late 2020, Pan American has been implementing the VPs at all its operations, including the Escobal site in Guatemala that is on care and maintenance. As of January 2022, all of the Company's operations were compliant with the VPs on Security and Human Rights. Training and audits will be performed on an annual basis and progress reported upon in Pan American's annual sustainability report.
"Pan American has always been committed to sustainable corporate practices and social responsibility," said Michael Steinmann, President and CEO. "Implementing standards, such as the VPs on Security and Human Rights, provides assurance to our stakeholders that our practices are aligned with global best practices."
"We welcome this opportunity to be part of a constructive dialogue on industry challenges and the future of security and human rights in the extractive sector," said Brent Bergeron, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability. "Pan American's admission by government, NGOs and corporate participants to the VPs reinforces our strong commitment to implement and advance these important human rights principles."
Pan American is also pleased to announce that it has been accepted as Observers of the International Code of Conduct Association ("ICoCA") for Security Providers. Pan American has requested that all our contracted security providers qualify as a member of good standing of ICoCA, and the Observer status allows us to monitor the implementation of procedures and practices by our contracted security providers to comply with ICoCA's International Code of Conduct. Pan American's Communities and Sustainable Development Committee of the Board of Directors regularly reviews security matters, incidents, and activities across the Company.
For further information on Pan American's efforts and performance in the areas of environment, social and governance, please see our 2021 Sustainability Report at panamericansilver.com. Pan American is also planning to host its annual ESG call on September 22, 2022 at 11:00 am ET (8:00 am PT). Further details will be provided closer to the date.
About Pan American Silver
Pan American owns and operates silver and gold mines located in Mexico, Peru, Canada, Argentina and Bolivia. We also own the Escobal mine in Guatemala that is currently not operating. Pan American provides enhanced exposure to silver through a large base of silver reserves and resources, as well as major catalysts to grow silver production. We have a 28-year history of operating in Latin America, earning an industry-leading reputation for sustainability performance, operational excellence and prudent financial management. We are headquartered in Vancouver, B.C. and our shares trade on NASDAQ and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "PAAS".
Learn more at panamericansilver.com.
View original content:
SOURCE Pan American Silver Corp. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/pan-american-silver-joins-voluntary-principles-security-human-rights/ | 2022-06-01T02:03:49Z |
HAVANA (AP) — Marylín Álvarez seemed to be just the sort of person that eased American sanctions on Cuba were meant to help.
With the aid of money sent by a cousin living in the United States, she began transforming the entrance to her ground-floor apartment into a tiny cafe about four years ago. It was one of myriad small private businesses blossoming on the Communist-led island as U.S. President Barack Obama’s opening to Cuba led to more money and visitors from the north.
She bought a freezer, a juicer and some cups. She installed a new water faucet and was about to add a sink to go with it, as well as chairs and ingredients for the food she was going to sell at her doorway in Havana.
And then it all fell apart. Former President Donald Trump tightened the six-decade-old embargo of Cuba and sharply restricted money transfers to Cuba in late 2020, shutting down the system that made them relatively easy: Western Union transfers to a government-owned Cuban exchange house.
Álvarez abandoned her application for a small business license.
Now the administration of new President Joe Biden is once again making it legal for Americans to send larger amounts of money to Cuba, saying it hopes to stimulate private enterprise there.
But so much has changed over the past two years that Álvarez is wary of reviving her plans — an example of the caution with which many Cubans are greeting the new measures and confusion about how they may work.
Cuba’s economy has been devastated by the loss of tourism caused by the pandemic and by Trump’s tougher sanctions. Fewer people would have money to buy the coffee and snacks Álvarez hoped to sell.
The government’s lack of hard currency has hit imports, so it’s extremely difficult to get reliable supplies of the flour, coffee and cheese Álvarez would need for her products — and prices for those scarce goods have been soaring.
That crisis also collided with the local government’s effort to fix deep-rooted problems by eliminating an old two-currency system while raising pay and prices last year. That coincided with the emergence of a black market for foreign currencies and sharply added to inflation. While the new peso is supposed to be valued at 24 per dollar, people on the street sometimes offer 100.
“You earn very little with this. It doesn’t give me enough to make an investment,” said Álvarez, who has turned to a less costly form of making money for her family — giving manicures.
There are no official figures on how much money family and friends abroad send to Cubans, but the Miami-based Havana Consulting Group estimated it reached $3.7 billion in 2019 — with a similar value arriving in the luggage of visitors bringing food, household supplies, small appliances, tires and the like.
About 400,000 Cuban-Americans visited the island in 2018 and more than 500,000 in 2019. In addition, a half million other U.S. visitors came in 2018.
By 2021, remittances had fallen to about $1 billion, the Consulting Group calculated, and overall U.S. visitors dropped to just 60,000, according to government figures — partly due to Trump’s tighter restrictions on travel but even more to the pandemic shutting off flights.
The impact of remittances far predates Obama, however. Cuban economist Pavel Vidal of Javerian Pontifical University in Cali, Colombia, said they averaged about $2.1 billion over he whole period from 2005 to 2020.
Much arrived in the wallets and handbags of travelers. But for years, Cuban-Americans also could send Western Union transfers to relatives on the island. That ended in November 2020 when U.S. officials barred dealings with a Cuban government agency, Fincimex, that distributed those transfers at hundreds of branches across the island.
The Biden opening removes many limits on transfers — but didn’t specify how they can be made.
The old Western Union method through official channels may have been made obsolete in the meantime anyway due to Cuba’s new single currency. With the street value of those pesos only a quarter of the official rate, few people would want to trade dollars for pesos at a state-run exchange house.
So Cubans are finding other ways.
“The flow of remittances never ceased to arrive. The Cuban, with his creativity, has invented excellent mechanisms” to send money, said Erich García, a 35-year-old programmer and specialist in cryptocurrencies.
Some people have used those virtual currencies like Bitcoin to shift money to Cubans electronically. Garcia estimated that about 100,000 have cryptocurrency accounts. But those, too, have complexities and drawbacks. Commonly used cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin have lost more than half their dollar value since November.
Visitors to the island sometimes bring in dollars for their own relatives, or those of friends. Some do it for those they barely know, and charge a commission.
Others send in packages of food and personal care products, and recipients trade what they don’t need to neighbors.
Some websites even let people pay Cuban cellphone bills from abroad — credits that Cuban recipients sometimes trade.
“We have to wait to see what solutions are offered by these measures,” Garcia said.
During his campaign, Biden promised to undo many of the new restrictions Trump had imposed, though the tough Cuban government crackdown on an outburst of protests last year may have made that politically impossible for Washington.
Still, the measures announced this month, in addition to relaxing limits on transfers, also call for resuming the processing of visas for Cubans in Havana, as well as a family reunification program to let some people on the island join relatives in the U.S.
“The measures that President Biden has taken are going to have a not-insignificant impact in the short and above all in the medium term,” said economist Arturo López-Levy, a professor of international relations at Holy Names University in Oakland, California, “Given the precarious situation of the Cuban economy, that should be considered a space for relief.
___
Andrea Rodríguez is on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ARodriguezAP | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/in-cuba-caution-and-confusion-meet-eased-us-sanctions/ | 2022-05-25T08:03:03Z |
Biden says monkeypox cases something to ‘be concerned about’
PYEONGTAEK, South Korea (AP) - President Joe Biden said Sunday that recent cases of monkeypox that have been identified in Europe and the United States were something “to be concerned about.”
In his first public comments on the disease, Biden added: “It is a concern in that if it were to spread it would be consequential.”
The president was asked about the disease as he spoke to reporters at Osan Air Base in South Korea, where he visited troops before taking off for Japan to continue his first trip to Asia as president.
“They haven’t told me the level of exposure yet but it is something that everybody should be concerned about,” Biden said. He added that work was underway to determine what vaccine might be effective.
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, told reporters aboard the flight to Tokyo that the United States has a supply of “vaccine that is relevant to treating monkeypox.”
“We have vaccine available to be deployed for that purpose,” he said. Sullivan said Biden was getting regular updates on the outbreak.
Monkeypox is rarely identified outside of Africa, but as of Friday, there were 80 confirmed cases worldwide, including at least two in the United States, and another 50 suspected ones.
Although the disease belongs to the same virus family as smallpox, its symptoms are milder. People usually recover within two to four weeks without needing to be hospitalized, but the disease occasionally is deadly.
The virus originates in primates and other wild animals and causes fever, body aches, chills and fatigue in most patients. People with severe cases can develop rash and lesions on the face, hands and other parts of the body.
—-
Megerian reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington contributed reporting.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/22/biden-says-monkeypox-cases-something-be-concerned-about/ | 2022-05-22T10:50:26Z |
After a few teasing showers last week, Bell County has moved from little hope to no hope as far as rainfall is concerned.
“Unfortunately it’s not looking like it’s going to rain,” Juan Hernandez, meteorologist with the Fort Worth office of the National Weather Service, said Sunday. “We’re looking at a dry forecast, it looks like, for the next seven days.”
All current weather systems are moving across the northern U.S.-Canadian border, Hernandez said. There is a high pressure system affecting the Texas region, he said, deflecting any chances of rain.
“And we’ll continue to see the high pressure system through the next seven days at least,” he said.
La Nina conditions are still contributing to the heat and lack of precipitation, he said.
“La Nina usually brings drier-than-normal and warmer-than-normal conditions, and that’s exactly what we’re experiencing here,” he said.
Hernandez said La Nina has to do with the water temperature along the equator. The water temperatures there are below normal on the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean, he said, which affects the weather in the U.S.
Hernandez pegged Sunday’s temperature at 102 degrees. Through Thursday, he said, the daily high would run 101 to 104 degrees.
“There’s no indication that we’re going to see a break in the heat any time soon,” he said.
Record June
Bell County recorded its driest June on record over the past 128 years, at 2.1 inches below normal, the U.S. Drought Monitor said in its weekly report Thursday. This has been the county’s driest year, at 8.36 inches below normal, over the same period of January through June.
Meanwhile, water levels at Bell County’s two reservoirs keep dropping.
Lake Belton was 82.7% full Sunday, down a percentage point since the same time last week, according to state water data reports. The lake was at 587.43 feet above sea level, compared to a normal of 594 feet above sea level.
The level of Stillhouse Hollow Lake has dropped a similar amount over the past week, now at 82.5% full. Stillhouse was at 615.30 feet above sea level, compared to a normal of 622 feet above sea level, according to U.S. Corps of Army Engineers data.
Both lakes were 100% full a year ago. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_91efa2b2-0652-11ed-976f-13eeb23148c3.html | 2022-07-18T07:16:48Z |
In a pickle: meet the 94-year-old dominating Sherman Pickleball courts
SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) - With almost 5 million players in the U.S., pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country.
The sport is a mix of tennis, badminton, and ping pong.
“A good tennis player is a good pickleball player generally,” said Tom Wilson, Sherman’s pickleball legend. “It’s been my life now since 2014.”
Wilson is 94 years old.
“I almost past pickleball playing, but I love to get out here, and they tolerate me.”
But his opponents warn, don’t let his age fool you.
“It’s really humiliating at times when he schools you,” said Karen Tooley, a pickleball player. “And not only does he command the court, but he’s a real consummate trash talker. If you make a mistake, he calls it out and it’s hilarious.”
Before pickleball became a smashing hit, Tooley built a court in her backyard without ever playing.
“Or seeing a game,” said Tooley. “And we didn’t even know that there were Youtube videos out there that would have been helpful if we had seen it, but anyway it worked out really well.”
Now, it’s the spot for a group of regulars to play.
“I’ve been in sports all my life,” said Ken Carr, a pickleball player. “I was a sports editor, a sports writer, an instructor. I just love sports, and to be able to do it at 88, it’s a real thrill.”
Even if you get “pickled,” also known as losing 11 to zero.
Wilson said the game is a win-win, both physically and socially.
“It’s a good sport. Good for the body,” said Wilson. “I’ve made some of the best friends that I’ve known in my life.”
They said it’s the perfect sport to take a swing at, no matter your age.
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/09/07/pickle-meet-94-year-old-dominating-sherman-pickleball-courts/ | 2022-09-07T23:58:45Z |
ASHBURN — When some voters head to the polls in a few weeks, they will have the chance to answer Yes or No to specific questions.
The state Democratic and state Republican parties pose these non-binding questions to voters. The results will help guide both parties and their legislative agendas. Nonpartisan voters will not get these questions. Also, Democrats will not get Republican questions and vice versa.
Here are the questions and explanations.
Democratic Questions
Should the United States remove obstacles to economic advancement by forgiving all student loan debt?
Federal-level student debt incurred when going to college or trade school stands at $1.61 trillion. This is federally guaranteed loan money only. Those in favor say forgiving the debt will help economically. They reason eliminating the debt will let these people have more money to spend or save. Those opposed say taxpayers should not write off debts for people who never graduated or used the student loans for vehicles, apartments and non-school-related expenses. The opposition also points to those who paid off their debt without help.
Should all Georgians have access to paid parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child?
As written, this applies to men and women, single parents and same-gender couples. The idea requires government and businesses to provide paid leave when welcoming a new member of the family. As posed, the question makes no exceptions for very small companies.
Should every 3- and 4-year-old in Georgia be given the opportunity to attend a high-quality preschool free of charge?
Georgia public preschool is done on a lottery basis. In some counties, public preschool has a waiting list. Preschool in Georgia includes pre-kindergarten and HeadStart as well as private preschool programs. The question does not say how to pay for preschool nor does it define “high-quality.”
Should Georgia voters have the right to gather signed petitions to directly place questions on the ballot, whether to change the law or poll the public?
Individual Georgians cannot put ballot initiatives in front of voters. Questions for the ballot have to come from the General Assembly or, as in this case, one of the political parties. Georgia is one of 24 states that does not allow citizen-led initiatives to get on the ballot, no matter how many signatures are obtained.
Should families earning less than $150,000 per year receive an expanded tax credit to help cover the costs of raising children?
It appears this question is aimed at families with children. As written, this appears to increase the tax deduction available for families with children.
Should the state of Georgia expand access to health care for over half a million Georgians by utilizing federal funds to expand Medicaid?
Georgia refused to expand Medicaid when the Affordable Care Act was approved. At the time, the federal government would pick up most of the cost at first. Over the following years, more of the costs shifted to the state. This is still the case. Georgia is one of 12 states that has not expanded Medicaid.
Should the state of Georgia expand voter access by increasing early voting opportunities, allowing same-day voter registration, removing obstacles to voting by mail, and installing secure ballot drop boxes, accessible at all times, through Election Day?
Georgia changed early voting and voting recently. Some of the changes made voting easier, such as allowing the elections superintendent to open new precincts for overcrowded areas. Some of the changes, which are not addressed by this question, irritated some voting rights advocates. Otherwise, this question is self-explanatory.
Should marijuana be legalized, taxed, and regulated in the same manner as alcohol for adults 21 years of age or older, with proceeds going toward education, infrastructure, and health care programs?
As more and more states legalize weed, Georgia is also grappling with the same question. Medical use is legal in the Peach State, but that is all. In a sign of what is coming, drug-detecting dogs are often not trained to find marijuana. The U.S. House of Representatives has twice approved a bill to make it legal. That bill died in the US Senate. Opposition to legal marijuana is generally found in older folks with younger people wanting it legalized.
Should the state of Georgia incentivize the development of clean, renewable energy sources to support America’s energy independence?
Incentivize can mean different things. It can mean tax credits or direct grants. Renewal energy is solar, wind and other non-consumptive power generating ideas. Georgia does get some power from electricity-generating dams along the Chattahoochee River.
Republican Questions
The Biden administration has stopped building the border wall, and illegal border crossings have dramatically increased. Should securing our border be a national priority?
President Trump started building a border wall with taxpayer funds, despite promising to make Mexico pay for the wall. President Biden stopped construction. Proponents say we must do more to stop illegal immigration. Opponents say the wall is a waste of money and won’t have a significant effect.
Education is the largest line item in the state budget. Should education dollars follow the student to the school that best fits their need, whether it is public, private, magnet, charter, virtual or homeschool?
In Georgia, public schools receive local, state and federal money for education. This question appears to discuss state money. Full Time Enrollment money is sent to public schools based on the number of children in the school and the education needs of the children. For instance, a special education student has a higher FTE weight and brings in more state education dollars than a student who is in honors classes. If the student does not attend a public school, the FTE money never leaves the state’s coffers.
Florida has passed a law to stop social media platforms from influencing political campaigns by censoring candidates. Should Georgia pass such a law to protect free speech in political campaigns?
This is a bill aimed at stopping companies like Facebook and Twitter from shutting down or eliminating accounts that support or oppose candidates for office and issues pending before elected leaders. The First Amendment to the Constitution prevents the government from shutting down free speech. At the same time, it allows private companies to decide what speech they will allow on their platforms and premises. In other words, freedom of the press belongs to the person who owns the press. Government cannot make a business provide open access to anyone with something to say.
Two of the three current federal work visa programs are lottery-based. Should federal work visas instead be issued on job skill?
Currently, most immigrants to the U.S. apply for a work visa. If their number gets picked, they are in, regardless of their work ability. If the visas are based on job skills, then immigrants have to prove they can do the job they want to come to the U.S. to do.
Biological males who identify as females have begun competing in female sports. Should schools in Georgia allow biological males to compete in female sports?
Transgender athletes are creating controversy in the sports world. The controversy is when these people decide to transition to female. Some feel the years of being male give these athletes an unfair advantage over born female athletes who compete as females. In most sports, men do outperform women, and male world records are typically more significant than women’s records.
To prevent ballot tampering, state law prohibits political operatives from handling absentee ballots once they have been marked by the voter. To protect the integrity of elections, should the enforcement of laws against ballot tampering be a priority?
This question asks if the state should more vigorously enforce laws already on the books.
Absentee drop boxes are vulnerable to illegal ballot trafficking. Should absentee ballot drop boxes be eliminated?
Georgia has absentee ballot boxes at polling locations. Anyone can drop a ballot into one of these boxes. Some feel this makes elections less secure and opens the door for fraud. Others say it opens voting to more people, especially those who do not have time to stand in line at the polls or otherwise do not want to enter the polling location and vote in person.
Crime has dramatically increased throughout the country including in our capital city of Atlanta. Should the citizens of residential areas like the Buckhead community of Atlanta be allowed to vote to create their own city governments and police departments?
This question is aimed specifically at Atlanta. Atlanta covers many neighborhoods, like the aforementioned Buckhead. This idea would split the capital city into smaller cities. Whatever is left of Atlanta would remain the state capital.. | https://www.albanyherald.com/features/democrats-republicans-can-respond-to-issues-on-primary-ballots/article_e69f2fc8-bb50-11ec-aa26-d73bbc71c2ec.html | 2022-04-13T22:20:26Z |
SCRANTON, Pa., May 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Peoples Financial Services Corp., a $3.4 billion community bank based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, today announced that Craig Best, Chief Executive Officer, will present at the D.A. Davidson 24th Annual Financial Institutions Conference on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 11am (Mountain).
Presentation Materials: Peoples Financial Services Corp. will present its current Investor Presentation, which will be available on the Investor Relations section of Peoples' website (psbt.com) prior to the conference.
Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements:
We make statements in this press release, and we may from time to time make other statements regarding our outlook or expectations for future financial or operating results and/or other matters regarding or affecting Peoples Financial Services Corp., Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company, and its subsidiaries (collectively, "Peoples") that are considered "forward-looking statements" as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of such words as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "planned," "estimated," "intend" and "potential." For these statements, Peoples claims the protection of the statutory safe harbors for forward-looking statements.
Peoples cautions you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated in any forward-looking statement. Such factors include, but are not limited to: prevailing economic and political conditions, particularly in our market area; the unfolding COVID-19 crisis and the governmental responses to the crisis; the impact on financial markets from geopolitical conflicts such as the military conflicts between Russia and Ukraine; credit risk associated with our lending activities; credit risk associated with our lending activities; changes in interest rates, loan demand, real estate values and competition; changes in accounting principles, policies, and guidelines; changes in any applicable law, rule, regulation or practice with respect to tax or legal issues; our ability to identify and address cyber-security risks and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technological factors affecting Peoples' operations, pricing, products and services and other factors that may be described in Peoples' Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.
In addition to these risks, acquisitions and business combinations, present risks other than those presented by the nature of the business acquired. Acquisitions and business combinations may be substantially more expensive to complete than originally anticipated, and the anticipated benefits may be significantly harder-or take longer-to achieve than expected. As regulated financial institutions, our pursuit of attractive acquisition and business combination opportunities could be negatively impacted by regulatory delays or other regulatory issues. Regulatory and/or legal issues related to the pre-acquisition operations of an acquired or combined business may cause reputational harm to Peoples following the acquisition or combination, and integration of the acquired or combined business with ours may result in additional future costs arising as a result of those issues.
The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and, except as may be required by applicable law or regulation, Peoples assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
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SOURCE Peoples Financial Services Corp. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/02/peoples-financial-services-corp-ceo-craig-best-present-da-davidson-24th-annual-financial-institutions-conference/ | 2022-05-03T01:24:00Z |
FORT WAYNE, Ind., July 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Corsica Technologies, recognized as one of the top managed IT and cybersecurity providers, is delighted to announce the joining of Kyle Nix as the new Director of Professional Services.
Kyle joins Corsica Technologies with over 25 years of experience in building and leading Professional Services teams and organizations. Before joining Corsica Technologies, Kyle served as Director at CBI Cybersecurity Solutions, a cybersecurity advisor.
Nix holds extensive certifications in IT and project management. He is a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE), Certified Identity Management Professional (CIMP), and is currently completing his certification as a PMP. He is also ITIL v3 certified.
Peter Rodenhauser, COO at Corsica Technologies, said "Kyle's proven track record of building and leading Professional Services teams made him a great fit for Corsica. I look forward to Kyle's leadership providing high impact and secure services to Corsica's growing customer base."
Corsica Technologies offers a highly-skilled and certified team knowledgeable in both IT and cybersecurity to help organizations create a secure foundation and leverage technology so their businesses can thrive. Using innovation technology, the dedicated experts at Corsica Technologies protect clients and respond to cyber incidents 24x7x365 from two Security Operations Centers (SOC), as well as provide a full suite of IT management and digital transformation solutions.
Kyle Nix, the new Director of Professional Services for Corsica Technologies, said "In today's increasingly complex world of technology (and assorted challenges/threats), it is an invaluable asset for companies to have a trusted IT and Cybersecurity partner to help navigate those challenges, drive strategic objectives and deliver optimal outcomes, and maximize business potential. Corsica Technologies is that trusted partner and MSP of choice for businesses across all verticals."
He added "It is an honor to join the Corsica Technologies Professional Services team, and to provide our clients with world-class service and technology leadership!".
Consistently recognized as one of the top managed IT and cybersecurity service providers, Corsica Technologies helps organizations leverage technology as a competitive business advantage. Our integrated IT and cybersecurity services protect companies and enable them to succeed.
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SOURCE Corsica Technologies | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/08/accomplished-technology-leader-kyle-nix-joins-corsica-technologies-director-professional-services/ | 2022-07-08T13:14:33Z |
Official: US gave intel before Ukraine sank Russian warship
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. says it shared intelligence with Ukraine about the location of the Russian missile cruiser Moskva prior to the strike that sank the warship, an incident that was a high-profile failure for Russia’s military.
An American official said Thursday that Ukraine alone decided to target and sink the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet using its own anti-ship missiles. But given Russia’s attacks on the Ukrainian coastline from the sea, the U.S. has provided “a range of intelligence” that includes locations of those ships, said the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The Biden administration has ramped up intelligence sharing with Ukraine alongside the shipment of arms and missiles to help it repel Russia’s invasion. The disclosure of U.S. support in the Moskva strike comes as the White House is under pressure from Republicans to do more to support Ukraine’s resistance and as polls suggest Americans question whether President Joe Biden is being tough enough on Russia.
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion in February, the White House has tried to balance supporting Ukraine, a democratic ally, against not doing anything that would seem to provoke a direct war between Putin and the U.S. and NATO allies. As the war has gone on, the White House has ramped up its military and intelligence support, removing some time and geographic limits on what it will tell Ukraine about potential Russian targets.
The official who spoke Thursday said the U.S. was not aware that Ukraine planned to strike the Moskva until after they conducted the operation. NBC News first reported on the American role in the sinking of the ship.
Speaking earlier Thursday after a New York Times report about the U.S. role in supporting Ukraine’s killing of Russian generals, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said American agencies “do not provide intelligence on the location of senior military leaders on the battlefield or participate in the targeting decisions of the Ukrainian military.”
“Ukraine combines information that we and other partners provide with the intel that they themselves are gathering and then they make their own decisions and they take their own actions,” Kirby said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/06/official-us-gave-intel-before-ukraine-sank-russian-warship/ | 2022-05-06T06:18:08Z |
NEW ORLEANS, April 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until June 24, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (NYSE: IIPR, IIPR-PA), if they purchased the Company's securities between May 7, 2020 and April 13, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
What You May Do
If you purchased securities of Innovative Industrial and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-iipr/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by June 24, 2022.
About the Lawsuit
Innovative Industrial and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.
The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) the Company's focus is to be a cannabis company lender rather than a real estate investment trust (REIT); (ii) the true values of the Company's properties are significantly lower than represented; (iii) the Company's top customers experienced significant issues; (iv) as a result, its top customers may not be able to continue making payments to the Company and it would face significant issues replacing these customers; and (v) as a result of the foregoing, the Company's financial statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
When the true details entered the market, the price of the Company's shares fell, damaging investors.
The case is Mallozzi v. Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc., et al., No. 22-cv- 2359.
About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients – including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors – in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.
To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.
Contact:
Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner
lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com
1-877-515-1850
1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200
New Orleans, LA 70163
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SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/30/innovative-industrial-shareholder-alert-by-former-louisiana-attorney-general-kahn-swick-amp-foti-llc-reminds-investors-with-losses-excess-100000-lead-plaintiff-deadline-class-action-lawsuit-against-innovative-industrial-properties-inc-iipr-iipr-pa/ | 2022-04-30T11:16:13Z |
NEENAH, Wis., July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Menasha Packaging Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Menasha Corporation, announced it has finalized the acquisition of Color-Box, a business unit of Georgia-Pacific, LLC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Like Menasha Packaging, Color-Box is a corrugated packaging manufacturer specializing in high-graphic packaging solutions. Founded in 2000, Color-Box employs 550 and operates plants in Richmond, Indiana; Pelahatchie, Mississippi; and Madera, California.
"Our two organizations are going to be an excellent fit. By joining forces, we will be able to offer both an expanded geographic footprint, as well as enriched capabilities in the area of high-end graphic packaging solutions for our customers," said Mike Riegsecker President of Menasha Packaging. Menasha helps over 1,500 leading brands, from global leaders to bold new startups, go-to-market every day.
Menasha Packaging Company is the nation's largest independent, retail-focused packaging and merchandising solutions provider with a network of design centers, manufacturing plants, contract packaging, and fulfillment service centers. Menasha designs, prints, and produces high-end graphic packaging, displays and merchandising products for in-store and online. Menasha Packaging also provides repacking, assembly, and fulfillment services, and collaborates with the world's leading retailers and consumer packaged goods companies to deliver the greatest measurable value across the entire integrated omnichannel supply chain. Menasha Packaging is headquartered in Neenah, Wis., and operates over 50 facilities across North America.
Menasha Corporation is a leading corrugated and plastic packaging manufacturer and supply chain solutions provider specializing in retail merchandising packaging and displays, plastic reusable containers and pallets, protective packaging interiors, and packaging supply chain and fulfillment services. Menasha Corporation's products and services are used by major food, beverage, consumer products, industrial/automotive, health and beauty, over-the-counter pharmaceutical, and electronics companies. Established in 1849, Menasha Corporation is one of America's oldest privately held, family-owned manufacturing companies. Headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin, the company employs approximately 7,000 employees in 112 facilities in North America and Europe. For more information, visit www.menashacorporation.com.
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SOURCE Menasha Packaging Company, LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/11/menasha-packaging-finalizes-acquisition-georgia-pacifics-color-box-business/ | 2022-07-11T18:23:52Z |
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TSI Healthcare, a national leader in the sales and support of customized, specialty specific NextGen® Practice Management and Electronic Health Records software, has announced the reorganization and expansion of their Marketing department. Victoria Giambattista, a seasoned Marketing professional with a proven track record of success has joined TSI Healthcare and will be responsible for all Marketing efforts including brand recognition, developing additional client retention programs, and streamlining and scaling departmental growth.
"TSI's mission is heavily focused around the satisfaction of our clients and employees. A positive, encouraging and creative company culture is held at the highest standard and that's what solidified my decision to make this move," said Ms. Giambattista. "Our customer service is unmatched, and it shows in our client retention rate, which speaks volumes about this organization."
"We are thrilled to have Vicky on our team. As we begin our 26th year of operation, our Marketing department efforts need to be reflective of the advances in our technology and services. We are confident Vicky will help us continue our growth, and strengthen our footprint in each of our specialties we serve," said David Dickson, Jr., President/CEO and Founder of TSI Healthcare.
Prior to TSI Healthcare, Ms. Giambattista led Marketing teams for CareRev, a SaaS-based marketplace platform that empowers nursing professionals, and SRC, a nonprofit, patient safety-centered surgical accreditation body. At TSI Healthcare, she will be a member of the Senior Management Team and will report directly to the CEO.
TSI Healthcare® is a national leader in the sales and support of customized NextGen® Practice Management and Electronic Health Record software. Our solutions are designed to meet the unique needs of specialty practices through EHR content, top-ranked service, and award-winning software. In addition to core products powered by NextGen, TSI Healthcare also offers Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Solutions, Patient Portal, Population Health Management, Cloud Hosting and more. Our support and service teams include NextGen Certified Professionals, clinicians, and former practice administrators throughout the US, and we provide top-quality services to more than 3,000 ambulatory providers nationwide.
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SOURCE TSI Healthcare Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/tsi-healthcare-welcomes-victoria-giambattista-vice-president-marketing-part-their-growing-leadership-team/ | 2022-07-26T15:16:56Z |
Straight Talk: Rental cons take advantage of stressed out movers
Better Business Bureau serving Canton Region and Greater West Virginia offers tips and advice for consumers to avoid fraudulent practices.
Finding a new place to live is stressful! Scammers know that people in the midst of moving don’t always have time to do the necessary research. Avoid scams by watching out for these latest tricks.
How this scam works
You respond to an online rental listing that touts a beautiful home, low rent, and great amenities. It looks legitimate; con artists often use real photos and descriptions stolen from other websites. The “landlord” replies to your message claiming to be unable to show the property. In the newest BBB Scam Tracker reports, con artists pretend to be out of town for work or in the hospital with a health emergency.
The scammer will then create a false sense of urgency, telling you that others are interested, so you must act immediately. They will ask for a security deposit and/or the first month’s rent to reserve the property. The scammer may claim that you can see the property through a rental agent – only after you pay the deposit. In some versions, the “landlord” will require prospective tenants to complete an application form, which asks for personal details like a Social Security number.
One renter reported this experience, “I saw a house for rent on Facebook and reached out… They sent me an application link and requested $50 per adult through CashApp. I sent $100 for 2 adults and got a confirmation link saying that they received the application. After that they requested $400 to be sent to them to hold the property. I refused since I had not met them in person or seen the house.”
No matter the details, once you send the money, the result is the same. The “landlord” will stop responding to messages and disappear. Renters reported to BBB Scam Tracker they have lost thousands after paying fees to hold an apartment, make a deposit, and pay the first month’s rent.
How to avoid rental scams
Watch out for deals that sound too good to be true. Scammers lure you in by promising low rents, extra amenities, and a great location. If the price seems much better than elsewhere, it may be a scam.
Search online for similar properties. Do a quick search for the listing, scammer’s email address, or phone number. If you find the same ad listed in other cities, that’s a huge red flag.
See the property in person. Don’t send money to someone you’ve never met for an apartment you haven’t seen. If you can’t visit an apartment or house yourself, ask someone you trust to go and confirm that it is what was advertised.
Don’t pay a stranger with cash transfer apps. Many scammers now ask for payments through peer-to-peer apps instead of wired funds or prepaid debit/gift cards. Only use these apps with people you know. It's okay to pay a landlord you trust with Venmo, Zelle, or another P2P app, but don't use this payment method to secure an apartment or pay a deposit.
For more information
Read tips and scam alerts on our moving page at BBB.org/moving. For additional tips, review the BBB Scam Alert: Avoid peer-to-peer payment scams at bit.ly/TipsDigitalWallets. If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim to scams.
For BBB information
Visit bbb.org/canton or call 330-454-9401 to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, read tips, find our events, follow us on social media, and more! | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/lifestyle/2022/07/17/straight-talk-rental-cons-take-advantage-stressed-out-movers/10050068002/ | 2022-07-17T15:54:02Z |
ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Strategic Investment Group ("Strategic") is pleased to announce that Nathalie Cunningham has joined the firm as a Managing Director on the Client Portfolio Management team. Nathalie joins a team of five senior professionals with an average of 27 years of industry experience and 12 years with Strategic dedicated to partnering with Strategic's 30 clients.
"We are very excited to welcome Nathalie, who joins us with two decades of investment expertise and a keen understanding of institutional investors," said Brian A. Murdock, Strategic's President and CEO. "Her experience working in the investment offices of two large endowments and her solid track record of executive leadership position her well to deliver the world-class client service that has helped Strategic build enduring partnerships with clients."
Most recently, Nathalie was a Senior Investment Officer at Cornell University where she was responsible for a range of traditional and alternative asset classes in the university's $10+ billion endowment. Prior to that, she served as Director of Public Market Investments for the University System of Maryland Foundation. Before transitioning to endowment management, she served as Partner and Portfolio Manager for Terrapin Asset Management, LLC. Nathalie serves on the Pensions & Investments Committee of the American Chemical Society in Washington, D.C. and as a member of the Board of Directors for The Dapper McDonald Foundation.
Nathalie holds an M.B.A. from New York University's Stern School of Business and a B.A. from McGill University. She is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA®) charterholder.
Presidio Search Group assisted Strategic with the search.
About Strategic
Strategic Investment Group®, a pioneer in dedicated Outsourced CIO (OCIO) solutions since 1987, has built enduring partnerships with institutional investors as an outsourced chief investment officer, providing its clients with active portfolio management, rigorous risk management, and open architecture manager selection.
Strategic functions as our clients' investment partner and co-fiduciary, effectively becoming an extension of their resources. Clients are then free to focus on their core missions, while we focus on providing the highly specialized portfolio management expertise that clients need to meet their investment goals. Depending on a client's needs and preferences, Strategic can orchestrate the management of an entire portfolio comprising multiple asset classes, focus on specific asset classes, such as alternatives (e.g., venture capital/private equity, real estate, and/or hedge funds) or international investments, or manage strategies with high potential for adding value. Customized liability-driven investing (LDI) solutions, whether through an integrated total portfolio approach or a targeted long-duration strategy, are also available, as are solutions that address mission-related investment objectives.
We strive to build enduring partnerships with our clients by strengthening their investment programs through a dynamic, value-enhancing investment process, sound governance framework, and world-class client service. Our mission is to empower investors through experience, innovation, and excellence.
Strategic had $26.3 billion in discretionary assets under management as of March 31, 2022. Staff information is as of June 30, 2022.
For further information contact:
Nikki Kraus, Chief Client Officer
703-243-4433
nkraus@strategicgroup.com
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SOURCE Strategic Investment Group | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/nathalie-cunningham-caia-joins-strategic-investment-group/ | 2022-08-02T15:55:23Z |
LONDON, July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BNY Mellon and Goldman Sachs International ("Goldman Sachs") have successfully completed the industry's first agency securities lending transactions using the HQLAX Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform.
As part of the combined series of 35-day term transactions with a total size in the hundreds of millions of US dollars, HQLAX created ISIN-level securities trackers called Digital Collateral Records (DCRs) from loaned securities it received from BNY Mellon, giving Goldman Sachs a digital copy of those trades.
The ISIN-level DCRs are the first of their kind, representing specific ISIN quantities held in custody. Those records will enable holders and agents to transfer ownership of any security on the HQLAX distributed ledger, without the need for conventional settlement mechanisms.
It also paves the way for eligible clients to reuse ISIN-level DCRs in onward collateral obligations at one or more Triparty Agents.
"We are delighted to be partnering with HQLAX on this milestone. The potential to enhance collateral and inventory mobility is very exciting and something that has been a key industry focus for a number of years," said Bill Kelly, Head of Securities Finance at BNY Mellon.
"This represents another key step in our adoption of DLT to facilitate traditional financial activity in order to unlock efficiency gains across market participants. We are looking forward to growing volumes with our counterparts over the coming months," said Amar Amlani, Head of EMEA Digital Assets at Goldman Sachs.
"Agency securities lending activity represents the single biggest source of liquidity for the collateral upgrade market, so welcoming BNY Mellon as a liquidity provider to our platform represents a tipping point for recurring, scalable volumes on our platform," commented Guido Stroemer, co-founder and CEO of HQLAX. "We are very proud to collaborate closely with strategic partners like Goldman Sachs and BNY Mellon to develop and implement innovative industry solutions like this one."
About BNY Mellon
BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment and wealth management and investment services in 35 countries. As of June 30, 2022, BNY Mellon had $43.0 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $1.9 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at www.bnymellon.com/newsroom for the latest company news.
About Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs is a leading global financial institution that delivers a broad range of financial services across investment banking, securities, investment management and consumer banking to a large and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world.
About HQLAX
HQLAX is a financial technology innovation firm that specialises in delivering liquidity management and collateral management solutions for institutional clients in the global securities lending and repo markets. www.hqla-x.com
Contacts:
BNY Mellon
Nina Truman
nina.truman@bnymellon.com
+1 212 815 2006
Goldman Sachs
Sebastian Howell
sebastian.howell@gs.com
+ 44 (20) 7552 5821
Elisa Poutanen
elisa.poutanen@hqla-x.com
+352 621 562 920
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SOURCE BNY Mellon | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/bny-mellon-goldman-sachs-settle-first-hqlax-agency-securities-lending-transactions/ | 2022-07-20T10:43:01Z |
Which all-terrain truck tires are best?
All-terrain truck tires are designed to be used on- and off-road every day. They adapt to the standard paved road but can navigate sand, dirt, mud, gravel and other similar off-road conditions with relative ease. All-terrain truck tires fit and perform the best on trucks and SUVs with four-wheel drive and all-wheel drivetrains.
All-terrain truck tires benefits
All-season truck tires are specifically made to grip street pavement the majority of the time you drive, while off-road/mud-terrain truck tires land on the other end of the spectrum, manufactured for mostly off-roading and mudding. All-terrain tires fall right in the center of the spectrum — they are tires that will handle both extremes when you need them to, but they are best suited for conditions somewhere in the middle. That means you can pack your camping gear, take the highway to an off-road trail access point and still safely make it through muddy and rocky conditions to the trailhead, where your true adventure begins.
Can I use all-terrain truck tires in the winter?
Keep in mind that while you can drive all-terrain truck tires in winter conditions, winter tires will provide up to 50 percent more traction than all-season tires, still making them the best choice over all-terrain tires when temperatures consistently drop below 40 degrees.
Winter tires are made from a soft rubber compound that resists becoming rigid despite falling temperatures. They remain flexible in frigid temperatures, allowing for more traction between tire and road. What’s more, their unique tread patterns of wide grooves provide tiny escape channels for slush, snow and ice. The friction between rubber and road melts the winter elements on the rubber’s surface and flows through the crevasses along the tire until it’s dispelled onto the road. Small, deep slits in winter tires, called sipes, cut through water and slush to avoid hydroplaning.
Although there are parallels between off-road and snow tire design, including rubber treads with wide and grip-enhancing grooves, snow tires are the best option for all winter road conditions.
Are all all-terrain truck tires designed to perform the same?
Not all all-terrain tires are designed for the same purposes. There are various brands and models suited for an equally diverse spectrum of driving conditions and driver demands. Nonetheless, due to all-terrain truck tires being more durable than all-season truck tires, they have thicker sidewalls. Also, they can be larger and wider than standard tires, making them better suited for your towing and hauling needs compared to all-season treads. For hauling heavy debris, a camper or even multiple cars, all-terrain truck tires offer a more aggressive tread and are the heaviest, most durable all-terrain tires available, making them the best tire and tread types to buy for such purposes.
What can I expect to pay for a set of all-terrain truck tires?
You can expect to pay $400-$900 for the smallest set of four all-terrain truck tires.
The best all-terrain truck tires
Best for off-roading
What you need to know: A tire designed to be used almost exclusively off-road, except for when traveling to the off-roading location on paved roads, is a must.
What you’ll love: There are 90 available variations under this model for 16-24-inch wide rims, giving you any option you need for your off-road and towing needs. Their lateral Z-shaped treads and shoulder grooves clear mud from the tread, keeping your grip strong.
What you should consider: These tires will wear down faster when most miles are driven on smooth pavement. Consider how far you have to drive to your off-roading excursions on paved roads.
Where to buy: Amazon
What you need to know: The Geolandar X-AT has 39 design variations for rims ranging from 15-22 inches wide.
What you’ll love: A three-layer sidewall provides extra durability in jagged off-road conditions. Zigzag grooves with deep sipes allow water to channel through the tread back onto the terrain.
What you should consider: Although it offers tire sizes for smaller rims, they do not go as large as some all-terrain tires. The heaviest duty all-terrain tires come in the largest sizes.
Where to buy: Amazon
What you need to know: There are 60 variations for rim sizes 15-24 inches wide.
What you’ll love: Open scalloped shoulder blocked treads dig into the snow, in addition to sand, mud, gravel and the likes. The sidewall on each side of the tire has a different design, allowing you to customize your truck’s aesthetic. A 45,000-mile limited warranty keeps you on the road.
What you should consider: With the widest range of tire rim sizes, there aren’t as many variations as its competitors.
Where to buy: Amazon
Best for daily commuting
Continental TerrainContact A/T
What you need to know: There are 34 variations for rim sizes 16-22 inches wide.
What you’ll love: The tires are designed with traction grooves made for snow and have sipes for improved resistance to slipping in wet, snowy conditions. A 60,000-mile limited warranty for up to 72 months is offered, as well as a customer satisfaction trial for up to 60 days with a complete set of tires.
What you should consider: This tire is a bit pricier than its competitors but comes with many perks.
Where to buy: Amazon
Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus
What you need to know: Rim width ranges from 16-20 inches with 25 variation options to choose from.
What you’ll love: These Pirelli tires have a tire tread pattern specifically designed to allow for water and mud to funnel out the grooves while you drive on the pavement. Tread sipes deliver grip on slick slopes as well. A reinforced sidewall for tough off-road environments and a 50,000-mile warranty make this all-terrain tire the most well-rounded of the three commuters.
What you should consider: If you consistently work or travel in destinations with equally rough terrain as smooth pavement, then this is your best bet.
Where to buy: Amazon
What you need to know: The most comprehensive all-terrain commuter tire with 57 variations for 15- to 22-inch rims.
What you’ll love: A micro-grooved tread makes for a dependable grip in rain and light snow. This Nexen tire model has a wide shoulder block and reinforced edges that bite deep into abrasive terrain. With a warranty for normal wear up to 50,000 miles, this is the best off-roading commuter all-terrain tire.
What you should consider: This tire is best used for people who spend most of their time commuting to work or traveling in more off-road conditions but still need to get where they need to go on a paved road when the day is done.
Where to buy: Amazon
Best for the value
What you need to know: Rim sizes span from 15-20 inches with 36 variations to choose from.
What you’ll love: The tire tread offers deep, wide grooves for enhanced off-road grip as well as control in rain and snow.
What you should consider: There are fewer size options available than other best value all-terrain tires, but they are the cheapest.
Where to buy: Amazon
What you need to know: This Yokohama possesses the largest variety of rim sizes spanning from 15-22 inches with 110 variations.
What you’ll love: You are bound to find the right tire for your truck. Parallel grooves circumnavigate the tire to reduce the chance of hydroplaning.
What you should consider: So many sizes available means they are not specialized tires. These are general-use tires for a wide range of situations.
Where to buy: Amazon
What you need to know: The Terra Grappler G2 has a more heavy-duty tire profile while offering 92 variations of rims 17-24 inches wide.
What you’ll love: A variable pitch pattern with deep sipes makes way for a quieter ride while driving, giving you a more peaceful drive home after a long day of off-roading. With a warranty of up to 65,000 miles and large tires up to 35.51 inches wide, the G2 makes for a great off-road tire that doubles as a construction vehicle tire for heavy tow loads.
What you should consider: Larger-sized tires are for larger loads.
Where to buy: Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/automotive-br/tires-wheels-br/best-all-terrain-truck-tires/ | 2022-07-18T18:22:13Z |
(The Hill) — Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Thursday that Democrats will try to pass a bill that would expand health care coverage for veterans exposed to toxins and burn pits a second time on Monday after Senate Republicans blocked the bill from moving forward on Wednesday.
All Democrats and eight Republicans voted to advance the Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act, but the legislation only received 55 of the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster. Three senators did not vote.
Schumer said at a press conference that Democrats will “give our Republican friends another opportunity” to vote on the bill on Monday. He said Democrats offered Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) an opportunity to propose an amendment to the bill after he announced his opposition to the measure because he said it would create $400 billion in unrelated spending, which he called a “budgetary gimmick.”
Schumer said Toomey could have proposed the amendment after the bill received the 60 votes necessary to advance but insisted on the amendment being in the bill beforehand.
Schumer said he stands by his offer to Toomey and will give him the right to bring the amendment to the Senate floor and try to get the votes to support it.
The House and Senate previously passed the bill overwhelmingly, but the Senate needed to take it up again because the House made some minor changes in its version.
The bill would expand care for Vietnam War-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange and post-9/11 veterans who were exposed to burn pits and add 23 toxic and burn pit exposure conditions to the Department of Veterans Affairs database.
Veterans groups slammed Toomey and other Senate Republicans for opposing the bill, saying they blocked essential care that veterans need. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/democrats-tee-up-another-vote-on-burn-pits-bill-for-monday/ | 2022-07-29T17:26:56Z |
KATY, Texas, April 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SLCA) announced today that its Industrial and Specialty Products business will increase prices for most of its non-contracted silica sand, aplite, diatomaceous earth and clay products used primarily in glass, foundry, paints, coatings, elastomers, roofing, chemicals, recreation, building products, agricultural, pet litter and other applications.
Price increases will range from 8% to over 25%, depending on the product and grade, and go into effect for shipments beginning June 1, 2022.
These price increases are necessary to help offset significant and continuing cost increases in energy, labor, transportation, materials and manufacturing costs.
U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. is a global performance materials company and is a member of the Russell 2000. The Company is a leading producer of commercial silica used in the oil and gas industry and in a wide range of industrial applications. Over its 122-year history, U.S. Silica has developed core competencies in mining, processing, logistics and materials science that enable it to produce and cost-effectively deliver over 600 diversified products to customers across our end markets. U.S. Silica's wholly-owned subsidiaries include EP Minerals and SandBox Logistics™. EP Minerals is an industry leader in the production of products derived from diatomaceous earth, perlite, engineered clays, and non-activated clays. SandBox Logistics™ is a state-of-the-art leader in proppant storage, handling and well-site delivery, dedicated to making proppant logistics cleaner, safer and more efficient. The Company currently operates 24 mines and production facilities and is headquartered in Katy, Texas.
Investor Contact
Patricia Gil
Vice President, Investor Relations
281-505-6011
gil@ussilica.com
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SOURCE U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/27/us-silica-announces-price-increases-industrial-specialty-products/ | 2022-04-27T23:26:04Z |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces attacked along a broad front in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday as part of a full-scale ground offensive to take control of the country’s eastern industrial heartland in what Ukrainian officials called a “new phase of the war.”
Ukraine’s General Staff said Russian forces are focusing their efforts on taking full control of the Donbas region. “The occupiers made an attempt to break through our defenses along nearly the entire frontline,” the General Staff said in a statement early Tuesday.
The stepped-up assaults began Monday along a front of more than 300 miles (480 kilometers), focused on the Donbas regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, with the Russian forces trying to advance in several sections, including from the neighboring Kharkiv region.
In southern Donetsk, the General Staff said the Russian military has continued to blockade and shell the strategic port city of Mariupol and fire missiles at other cities.
On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address that a “significant part of the entire Russian army is now concentrated on this offensive.”
Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces for eight years in the mostly Russian-speaking Donbas and have declared two independent republics that have been recognized by Russia. Russia has declared the capture of the Donbas to be its main goal in the war since its attempt to seize the capital, Kyiv, failed.
“No matter how many Russian troops are driven there, we will fight,” Zelenskyy vowed. “We will defend ourselves.”
Troops battled in the streets of Kreminna on Monday before Russia was able to gain control of the city, according to Serhiy Haidai, Luhansk regional military administrator.
Haidai said that before advancing, Russian forces “just started leveling everything to the ground.” He said his forces retreated to regroup and keep fighting.
The breakthrough at Kreminna brings the Russians closer to the city of Slovyansk, which is seen as a key target in the Russian offensive. Slovyansk was seized by pro-Russian fighters in 2014, only to be retaken by Ukrainian forces months later following intense fighting.
Russian troops have already seized the city of Izyum, which sits along a highway north of Slovyansk, and they are poised to push toward the city from the north and the east. Slovyansk lies just north of another key city, Kramatorsk, where an earlier Russian attack on a train station killed more than 50 people.
On Monday morning, Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s national security council, told Ukrainian media that the defensive line had not been broken elsewhere.
“Fortunately, our military is holding out,” Danilov said.
In Mariupol, Denys Prokopenko, commander of the Azov Regiment of the Ukrainian National Guard, said in a video message that Russia had begun dropping bunker-buster bombs on the Azovstal steel plant where the regiment was holding out.
The sprawling plant contains a warren of tunnels where both fighters and civilians are sheltering. It is believed to be the last major pocket of resistance in the shattered city.
Russia has Mariupol surrounded and has been fighting a bloody battle to seize it. If Russia takes Mariupol, it would free up troops for use elsewhere in the Donbas, deprive Ukraine of a vital port, and complete a land bridge between Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, seized from Ukraine from 2014.
In western Ukraine near the Polish border, at least seven people were reported killed Monday in missile strikes on Lviv.
Lviv has been a haven for civilians fleeing the fighting elsewhere. And to the Kremlin’s increasing anger, the city has also become a major gateway for NATO-supplied weapons.
The attack hit three military infrastructure facilities and an auto shop, according to the region’s governor, Maksym Kozytskyy.
A hotel sheltering Ukrainians who had fled the fighting in other parts of the country was also badly damaged, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said.
“The nightmare of war has caught up with us even in Lviv,” said Lyudmila Turchak, who fled with two children from Kharkiv in the east.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, was hit by shelling Monday that killed at least three people, according to Associated Press journalists on the scene. Shelling could be heard overnight and into Tuesday morning in the major eastern city, which has been struck numerous times but remains firmly in Ukrainian control.
Moscow said its missiles struck military targets in eastern and central Ukraine including ammunition depots, command headquarters, and groups of troops and vehicles. It reported that its artillery hit hundreds of Ukrainian targets, and that warplanes conducted 108 strikes on troops and military equipment. The claims could not be independently verified.
Gen. Richard Dannatt, a former head of the British Army, told Sky News that Russia was waging a “softening-up” campaign ahead of the Donbas offensive.
A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the Pentagon’s assessments of the war, said there are now 76 Russian combat units, known as battalion tactical groups, in eastern and southern Ukraine, up from 65 last week. That could translate to around 50,000 to 60,000 troops, based on what the Pentagon said at the start of the war was the typical unit strength of 700 to 800 soldiers.
___
Associated Press journalists Felipe Dana in Kharkiv; Nico Maounis and Philip Crowther in Lviv, Ukraine; and Robert Burns in Washington contributed to this report, as did other AP staff members around the world.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/russia-launches-fight-for-industrial-heartland-ukraine-says/ | 2022-04-19T10:52:18Z |
TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AXDX) today announced financial results for the second quarter for the period ended June 30, 2022.
"In addition to a solid quarter, I am pleased to announce that we will be joining forces with Becton Dickinson to commercialize our products globally," commented Jack Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. "Our global commercial partnership with BD comes at a time when the hospital selling environment is improving, we are firing on all cylinders in R&D and are taking meaningful steps to improve our balance sheet. These are exciting times for our company."
Second Quarter 2022 Highlights
- Added 8 contracted instruments and brought 3 instruments live in the U.S. in the quarter.
- Ended the second quarter with 316 U.S. clinically live and revenue-generating instruments, with another 78 U.S. contracted instruments in the process of being implemented and not yet revenue-generating.
- Net sales were $3.9 million, compared to $2.8 million in the second quarter of the prior year, or a 39% increase. Growth was driven by increases in both capital and recurring revenues.
- Gross margin was 28% for the quarter, compared to 38% in the second quarter of the prior year. The decline in gross margins resulted from inflation to manufacturing costs and other factors.
- Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) costs for the quarter were $11.5 million, compared to $12.9 million from the same quarter of the prior year. SG&A costs for the quarter excluding non-cash stock-based compensation were $8.3 million, compared to $7.7 million from the same quarter of the prior year. This decrease was driven by continued benefit from cost cutting efforts.
- Research and development (R&D) costs for the quarter were $7.6 million, compared to $5.7 million from the same quarter of the prior year. R&D costs excluding non-cash stock-based compensation expense for the quarter were $7.0 million, compared to $4.4 million from the quarter of the prior year. This increase was the result of investment in our next generation AST platform.
- Net loss was $17.8 million in the second quarter, resulting in $0.23 net loss per share. Net loss excluding non-cash stock-based compensation expense for the second quarter was $13.8 million.
- Net cash used in the quarter excluding financing was $13.6 million.
- Signed an agreement in August 2022 to exchange $50 million of convertible debt due March 2023 for a term loan due in five years with no cash interest due during the term. After this transaction, approximately $56 million of the original $172 million convertible debt remains due.
Year-to-date 2022 Highlights
- Net sales were $6.8 million year-to-date, compared to $5.3 million from the same period of the prior year, or a 28% increase. Growth was driven by increases in both capital and recurring revenues.
- Gross margin was 28% year-to-date, compared to 37% from the same period of the prior year. The decline in gross margins resulted from ongoing pandemic-related impacts to manufacturing costs and other factors.
- Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) costs year-to-date were $22.2 million, compared to $26.9 million from the same period of the prior year. SG&A costs excluding non-cash stock-based compensation were $16.5 million year to date, compared to $15.8 million from the same period of the prior year. This small increase was the result of higher professional services fees paid in the first quarter, partially offset by a decrease in the second quarter driven by cost savings efforts.
- Research and development (R&D) costs were $13.6 million year to date, compared to $12.6 million from the same period of the prior year. R&D costs excluding non-cash stock-based compensation expense were $12.7 million year to date, compared to $8.6 million from the same period of the prior year. This increase was the result of investment in our next generation AST platform.
- Net loss was $32.0 million year to date, resulting in $0.44 net loss per share. Net loss excluding non-cash stock-based compensation expense was $25.0 million.
- Net cash used excluding financing was $26.8 million
- Ended the quarter with total cash, investments, and cash equivalents of $36.8 million.
Full financial results for the quarter ending June 30, 2022 will be filed on Form 10-Q through the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) website at http://www.sec.gov.
Audio Webcast and Conference Call
To listen to the 2022 second quarter financial results, call by phone, +1.877.883.0383 and enter Elite Entry Number: 8181593. International participants may dial +1.412.902.6506. Please dial in 10–15 minutes prior to the start of the conference. A replay of the call will be available by telephone at +1.877.344.7529 (U.S.) or +1.412.317.0088 (International) using the replay code 5773022 until September 6, 2022.
This conference call will also be webcast and can be accessed from the company's website at ir.axdx.com. A replay of the audio webcast will be available until November 15, 2022.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release contains certain financial measures that are not recognized measures under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), which include SG&A, R&D, and Net income (loss) amounts excluding stock-based compensation expenses.
Our management and board of directors use expenses excluding the cost of stock-based compensation to understand and evaluate our operating performance and trends, to prepare and approve our annual budget and to develop short-term and long-term operating and financing plans. Accordingly, we believe that expenses excluding the cost of stock-based compensation provides useful information for investors in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and our board of directors. Expenses excluding the cost of stock-based compensation is a non-GAAP financial measure and should be considered in addition to, not as superior to, or as a substitute for, SG&A expenses, R&D expenses, and net income (loss) reported in accordance with GAAP. The following tables present a reconciliation of SG&A expenses, R&D expenses and net income (loss) excluding stock-based compensation to comparable GAAP measures for the periods indicated:
About Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc.
Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. is an in vitro diagnostics company dedicated to providing solutions for the global challenges of antibiotic resistance and sepsis. The Accelerate Pheno® system and Accelerate PhenoTest® BC kit combine several technologies aimed at reducing the time clinicians must wait to determine the most optimal antibiotic therapy for deadly infections. The FDA cleared system and kit fully automate the sample preparation steps to report phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility results in approximately 7 hours direct from positive blood cultures. Recent external studies indicate the solution offers results 1–2 days faster than existing methods, enabling clinicians to optimize antibiotic selection and dosage specific to the individual patient days earlier.
The "ACCELERATE DIAGNOSTICS" and "ACCELERATE PHENO" and "ACCELERATE PHENOTEST" and diamond shaped logos and marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc.
For more information about the company, its products and technology, or recent publications, visit axdx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain of the statements made in this press release are forward looking or may have forward looking implications, such as, among others, Mr. Phillip's statements regarding the hospital selling environment improving and the productivity of our research and development activities. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Information about the risks and uncertainties faced by Accelerate Diagnostics is contained in the section captioned "Risk Factors" in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2022, and in any other reports that the company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company's forward-looking statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions. Except as required by federal securities laws, the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events, uncertainties or other contingencies.
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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SOURCE Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/accelerate-diagnostics-reports-second-quarter-2022-financial-results/ | 2022-08-15T12:45:07Z |
As part of the cooperation, Check Point security software will be embedded in BBT.Live's secure connectivity package developed for service providers globally
TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BBT.Live (Be Broadband Technologies), founded by entrepreneur Moshe Levinson, and Security titan Check Point announced a cooperation agreement. As part of the cooperation, Check Point will strengthen and protect BBT.Live's communications components.
BBT.Live has developed an innovative software that enables service providers to offer cloud-based broadband connectivity packages as part of a secure range to business clients distributed across multiple offices, branches and remote home offices. In a world that increasingly relies on digitization, cloud-computing and work from anywhere, there is a growing demand from service providers for an all-inclusive solution that includes reliable, simple to operate and secure network communications.
To date, service providers have been forced to offer clumsy solutions that require multiple vendors and are difficult to deploy, resulting in low profitability. BBT.Live's technology is an all-in-one solution, providing network connectivity that integrates with any hardware or cloud environment with the highest level of security. The simplicity of the system and the ease of deployment that can be deployed remotely and within minutes, allow service providers to deliver excellent customer experience while significantly reducing IT, customer service and technical teams costs.
Check Point is a world leader in cyber security, offering security solutions across networks, computers, cloud environments, mobile devices and IoT devices. Under the cooperation agreement with BBT.Live, Check Point will deploy Quantum IoT Embedded as part of BBT.Live's software. Quantum IoT Embedded combines its innovative Nano-Agent® technology that monitors the activity of a device, identifies anomalies indicative of complex cyber-attacks and blocks them in real time.
Miri Ofir, R&D Director, Check Point: "The broad distribution of IoT devices in enterprises enables cyber attackers to enter organizational networks through them. In our experience, routers and communication devices provide attackers with an entry point into the organizational network. At present, a widespread cyber-attack named ZuoRAT is taking place on routers that are usually found in small organizations, branches and homes. It is estimated that thousands of organizations have been affected by this attack. The Nano Agent® that we embed in IoT devices identifies and blocks attack attempts in real time, including exploitation of Zero-Day vulnerabilities. We thank BBT.Live for their cooperation and are confident that their clients will be secured at the highest level".
Moshe Levinson, Founder and CEO, BBT.Live: "The cooperation with Check Point brings us great pride and is a vote of confidence in the product we have developed. There is no match to Check Point's capabilities in the field of security and we are delighted to have been chosen as their partner and for their assistance in delivering a complete and wholesome product to our customers."
About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is a leading provider of cyber security solutions to corporate enterprises and governments globally. Check Point's portfolio of solutions (Infinity) protects enterprises and public organizations from 5th generation cyber-attacks with an industry leading catch rate of malware, ransomware and other threats. Infinity comprises three core pillars delivering uncompromised security and 5th generation threat prevention across enterprise environments: Check Point Harmony, for remote users, Check Point CloudGuard, to automatically secure clouds, Check Point Quantum, to protect network perimeters and data centers. All controlled by the industry's most comprehensive, intuitive and unified security management. Check Point protects over 100,000 organizations of all sizes.
About BBT.Live
BBT.live has developed a unique, software-based solution to provide cloud-based secure connectivity to service providers and their customers in Israel and in the world. BBT.Live seeks to provide a simple and high-quality solution to service providers, enabling them to deliver excellent service to their clients while significantly increasing their average revenue per client. The company, founded in August 2020, has already signed contracts with communications giants such as Cellcom and its partners, as well as with global companies such as Intel, Dell and Advantech, which integrate BBT.Live's system into their products. The company is led by an experienced and highly skilled team, including Prof. David Hay, head of the Cyber Security Research Center at the Hebrew University (HUJ), Dani Harari, Brig. General (res.) and formerly head of 8200 Unit, as well as a team of experts in the field of communications and security.
Contact:
Rubi Alfi-Nissan
rubi@grow-pr.co.il
+972 (0)542554594
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SOURCE BBT.live; Check Point | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/bbtlive-check-point-are-delivering-an-innovative-secured-connectivity-package-service-providers/ | 2022-08-16T15:37:47Z |
NEW YORK (AP) — Pride parades kicked off in New York City and around the country Sunday with glittering confetti, cheering crowds, fluttering rainbow flags and newfound fears about losing freedoms won through decades of activism.
The annual marches in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and elsewhere are taking place just two days after one conservative justice on the Supreme Court signaled, in a ruling on abortion, that the court should reconsider the right to same-sex marriage recognized in 2015.
“We’re here to make a statement,” said 31-year-old Mercedes Sharpe, who traveled to Manhattan from Massachusetts. “I think it’s about making a point, rather than all the other years like how we normally celebrate it. This one’s really gonna stand out. I think a lot of angry people, not even just women, angry men, angry women.”
Thousands of people — many decked in pride colors — lined the parade route through Manhattan, cheering as floats and marchers passed by.
In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot called the top court ruling a “momentary setback” and said Sunday’s events were “an opportunity for us to not only celebrate Pride, but be resolved for the fight.”
“We will not live in a world, not in my city, where our rights are taken from us or rolled back,” said Lightfoot, Chicago’s first openly gay mayor, and the first Black woman to hold the office.
The warning shot from the nation’s top court came after a year of legislative defeats for the LGBTQ community, including the passage of laws in some states limiting the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity with children.
As anti-gay sentiments resurface, some are pushing for the parades to return to their roots — less blocks-long street parties, more overtly civil rights marches.
“It has gone from being a statement of advocacy and protest to being much more of a celebration of gay life,” Sean Clarkin, 67, said of New York City’s annual parade while enjoying a drink recently at Julius’, one of the oldest gay bars in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village.
As he remembers things, the parade was once about defiance and pushing against an oppressive mainstream that saw gays, lesbians and transgender people as unworthy outsiders.
“As satisfying and empowering as it may be to now be accepted by the mainstream,” Clarkin said, “there was also something energizing and wonderful about being on the outside looking in.”
New York’s first Pride March, then called the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, was held in 1970 to mark the first anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion, a spontaneous street uprising triggered by a police raid on a gay bar in Manhattan.
San Francisco’s first march was in 1972 and had been held every year since, except during the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Celebrations are now global, taking place throughout the year in multiple countries, with many of the biggest parades taking place in June. One of the world’s largest, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, was held June 19.
In the United States, this year’s celebrations take place amid a potential crisis.
In a Supreme Court ruling Friday striking down the right to abortion, Justice Clarence Thomas said in a concurring opinion that the court should also reconsider its 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage and a 2003 decision striking down laws criminalizing gay sex.
New York City parade spectator Jackie English said she and her fiancee Dana had yet to set a wedding date, but have a new sense of urgency.
“Now we feel a bit pressured,” she said, adding they might “jump the gun a little sooner. Because, what if that right gets taken away from us?”
More than a dozen states have recently enacted laws that go against the interests of LGBTQ communities, including a law barring any mention of sexual orientation in school curricula in Florida and threats of prosecution for parents who allow their children to get gender-affirming care in Texas.
Several states have put laws in place prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in team sports that coincide with the gender in which they identify.
According to an Anti-Defamation League survey released earlier this week, members of LGBTQ communities were more likely than any other group to experience harassment. Two-thirds of respondents said they have been harassed, a little more than half of whom said the harassment was a result of their sexual orientation.
In recent years, schisms over how to commemorate Stonewall have opened, spawning splinter groups events intended to be more protest-oriented.
In New York City, the Queer Liberation March takes place at the same time as the traditional parade, billing itself as the “antidote to the corporate-infused, police-entangled, politician-heavy Parades that now dominate pride celebrations.”
Despite the criticism of growing commercialism, a strong streak of activism was apparent among attendees this year.
“The recent overturning of Roe v. Wade has caused a very strong uproar about what went down,” said Dean Jigarjian, 22, who crossed the river from New Jersey with his girlfriend to take part in the New York City parade. “So as you can see here, the crowd seems to be very energized about what could be next.”
___
Associated Press writer Sara Burnett contributed from Chicago. | https://cw33.com/news/ap-top-headlines/pride-parades-march-on-with-new-urgency/ | 2022-06-26T19:00:26Z |
The conference helps health and wellness brands grow their client lists and revenue.
PHOENIX, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FITposium connects health and wellness entrepreneurs to media outlets so they can get published, get booked and get hired.
Founded in 2015 by Arizona-based award-winning photographer, marketing expert and business coach James Patrick, FITposium was created to provide fit entrepreneurs with stand-out assets for their portfolios, along with media training and direct contacts to digital and print publication editors, podcast host, and television producers.
Fitness entrepreneurs and brands truly can get published at FITposium.
Past attendees have been featured on the covers of national fitness publications, made lasting connections in the industry that have allowed them to be booked over and over again and have seen an impressive influx of clients and cash flow in their businesses.
"Every single year I attend FITposium, I have an additional growth of $20-30K in my business. My first-year attending, I was striving to be a six-figure fitness business entrepreneur, and this year, I'm on track to be a multiple six-figure fitness business owner," says Ashley Wiens, published fitness entrepreneur.
FITposium takes place October 13-16, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. Passes are available in-person or virtually at https://fitposium.com
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SOURCE James Patrick Photography | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/15/fitposium-teaches-fitness-entrepreneurs-how-get-published/ | 2022-09-15T19:29:52Z |
ARLINGTON, Va., May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cynalytica Inc., a leading provider of innovative cybersecurity solutions for Industrial Control Systems (ICS), today announced that the company will be exhibiting and Richard Robinson, CEO & Founder, will be presenting at Infosecurity Europe 2022, taking place on 21-23 June 2022 at ExCel in London, UK.
Infosecurity Europe is the most influential security event in Europe and its biggest gathering of the information security community. Cynalytica will be exhibiting as part of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) booth, which will be located at stand R65.
Richard will be presenting "Detecting and Mapping MITRE ATT&CK® for ICS Techniques in Industrial Critical Infrastructure" at Tech & Strategy Talks Wednesday 22 June 2022 at 10:45am – 11:10am. He will be discussing how you can gain secure and accurate situational awareness of your legacy Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and industrial physical processes, the criticality of Level 0/1 serial communications data and how it can reveal stealthy cyber-physical attacks, as well as how and where serial network monitoring aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK® for ICS Framework.
"The MITRE ATT&CK® for ICS knowledgebase and framework has become an exceptional tool for ICS and OT Operators as well as ICS cyber-physical security vendors", said Richard Robinson, CEO of Cynalytica. "The framework has aided in eliminating many of the ambiguities and difficulties in identifying whether a particular vendor's technology can directly identify and address a specific adversarial technique or tactic. This is resulting in security vendors working together more effectively in identifying and complimenting each other's capabilities to address the needs of our collective customers".
Register for Infosecurity Europe 2022 and come see us at booth 65!
About Cynalytica
Cynalytica, Inc. develops sensor & software machine learning analytics platforms that provide fully passive, fail-safe monitoring and analysis of physical layer communications in Industrial Control Systems (ICS/SCADA). Giving control system operators the ability to securely provide visibility and unique situational awareness to high-risk, high-impact cyber-physical assets such as Energy Systems, Water/Wastewater Treatment Facilities, Manufacturing, Nuclear Power, Defense Systems and Building Facilities. Visit us at https://cynalytica.com.
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SOURCE Cynalytica Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/05/cynalytica-will-be-presenting-how-detect-mitre-attampck-ics-techniques-critical-infrastructure-infosecurity-europe-2022/ | 2022-05-05T20:10:00Z |
Temple College will hold a grand opening ceremony for its newly-completed SkillsUSA Prototype Lab at 10:30 a.m. on Monday.
The facility, which is located in Room 545 of the Watson Technical Center on campus, was funded by a $15,000 grant from Lowe’s Home Improvement last year.
“This amazing opportunity through Lowe’s provides our SkillsUSA chapters with more resources to support CTE and hands-on learning,” Chelle Travis, SkillsUSA’s executive director said in a news release. “These grants remove financial barriers to excellence and ensure that SkillsUSA chapters have quality resources for the betterment of our CTE programs and projects.”
Students in Temple College’s SkillsUSA Science Technology Engineering and Math Club authored the grant proposal with Sandra Melendez, who serves as chair of Temple College’s Department of Engineering Technology.
“We are very thankful to Lowe’s for supporting these students and their efforts,” Melendez said. “This new lab will be integral to Temple College and the communities we serve as we grow our engineering technology programs.”
Although all of the SkillsUSA projects that are funded by Lowe’s are student-led and centered around the development of personal, workplace and technical skills, the SkillsUSA Prototype Lab will be unique.
It will feature six stations for designing, engineering and building prototypes, and will be equipped with new hand and power tools — equipment that includes band saws, scroll saws, table saws and drill presses.
“In our new engineering technology degree plans, we will integrate and utilize the lab in the students’ creation of new products,” Melendez said. “We plan on offering ‘invent-it’ classes for the community in the future.”
However, members in the Temple College SkillsUSA STEM Club, which was named a Gold Chapter of Distinction, have already had several opportunities to showcase their innovations.
During the SkillsUSA Texas College/Post-Secondary Competition last month in Houston, Jennifer Ognibene, the club’s president, and her team won a first place award for their “Handibat” design — a device that would allow children with disabilities to play baseball.
The engineering technology student developed the idea after watching several family members, including her son, were diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
“Due to my background, having three brothers and one son with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, I have a true passion for making adaptations for people with disabilities,” Ognibene said. “All of our hard work paid off and … we will continue to improve the Handibat design as we advance to the SkillsUSA National Conference Competition (this summer) in Atlanta.” | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_e3e2c24c-d881-11ec-a782-7797e9c0c1aa.html | 2022-05-21T00:04:43Z |
WASHINGTON — A senior U.S. defense official said Friday the Russian offensive is going much slower than planned in part because of the strength of the Ukrainian resistance.
“We also assess that because of this slow and uneven progress, again, without perfect knowledge of every aspect of the Russian plan, we do believe and assess that they are behind schedule in what they were trying to accomplish in the Donbas,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the U.S. military’s assessment.
He said the U.S. believes the Russians are “at least several days behind where they wanted to be” as they try to encircle Ukrainian troops in the east.
As the troops try to move north out of Mariupol so they can advance on Ukrainian forces from the south, their progress has been “slow and uneven, and certainly not decisive in any, in any event,” the official said.
— By Lolita C. Baldor
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KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— Ukraine cracks down on anyone suspected of aiding Russian troops
— A former U.S. Marine became the first known American to die fighting for Ukraine
— Ukraine slams Kyiv attack amid new Mariupol rescue effort
— Ukraine says Russian offensive in east picks up momentum
— NATO chief says Finland, Sweden could join quite quickly
Follow all AP stories on Russia’s war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of trying to destroy the Donbas and all who live there.
“The constant brutal bombardments, the constant Russian strikes on infrastructure and residential areas show that Russia wants to empty this territory of all people. Therefore, the defense of our land, the defense of our people, is literally a fight for life,” he said late Friday in his nightly video address to the nation.
He said the cities and towns of the Donbas will survive only if Ukraine remains standing. “If the Russian invaders are able to realize their plans even partially, then they have enough artillery and aircraft to turn the entire Donbas into stones. As they did with Mariupol.”
Zelenskyy said Mariupol, once one of the most developed cities in the region, was now a “Russian concentration camp among the ruins.”
In Kharkiv, a major city to the north, the situation was “brutal” but Ukrainian troops and intelligence agents “have had important tactical successes,” he said without elaborating.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said about 20% of the city’s residential buildings have been so badly damaged that it will be impossible to restore them.
Zelenskyy said rescuers were still going through the rubble in Kyiv after Thursday’s missile strikes. He expressed his condolences to the family of Vira Hyrych, who was killed in the bombardment. He said she was the 23rd journalist killed in the war.
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov appears to have dismissed the need for the United Nations to help secure humanitarian corridors out of Ukraine’s besieged cities, striking a tough line a day after the U.N. chief toured war-wracked Kyiv with that very aim.
As an interviewer at Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV tried to ask Lavrov about U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ proposals for humanitarian assistance and evacuation of civilians, Lavrov cut him off.
“There is no need. I know, I know,” an irritated Lavrov said. “There is no need for anybody to provide help to open humanitarian corridors. There is only one problem … humanitarian corridors are being ignored by Ukrainian ultra-nationals,” he said.
“We appreciate the interest of the secretary-general to be helpful,” he added. “(We have) explained … what is the mechanism for them to monitor how the humanitarian corridors are announced.”
During the hourlong interview, Lavrov also accused the West of sabotaging Russia’s peace talks with Ukraine. He claimed that thorny negotiations in Istanbul last month had been progressing on issues of Russian territorial claims and security guarantees until Ukrainian diplomats backtracked at the behest of the West.
“We are stuck because of their desire to play games all the time,” Lavrov said. “Because of the instructions they get Washington, from London, from some other capitals, not to accelerate the negotiations.”
When asked about the risks of war spilling into neighboring Moldova after a series of explosions rattled a breakaway border region within the country, Lavrov struck an ominous tone.
“Moldova should worry about their own future,” he said. “Because they’re being pulled into NATO.”
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KHARKIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian authorities are cracking down on anyone suspected of aiding Russian troops under laws enacted by Ukraine’s parliament and signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the Feb. 24 invasion.
Offenders face up to 15 years in prison for acts of collaborating with the invaders or showing public support for them.
Not all Ukrainians oppose the invasion, and pro-Moscow sentiment is more common among Russian-speaking residents of the Donbas, an industrial region in the east.
Although the Zelenskyy government has broad support, even among many Russian speakers, not all Ukrainians oppose the invasion. Support for Moscow is more common among some Russian-speaking residents of the Donbas, an industrial region in the east. An eight-year conflict there between Moscow-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces had killed over 14,000 people even before this year’s invasion.
Some businessmen, civic and state officials and members of the military are among those who have gone over to the Russian side, and Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigations said more than 200 criminal cases on collaboration have been opened. Zelenskyy has even stripped two SBU generals of their rank, accusing them of treason.
A “registry of collaborators” is being compiled and will be released to the public, said Oleksiy Danilov, head of Ukraine’s Security Council. He refused to say how many people have been targeted nationwide.
With martial law in place, authorities have banned 11 pro-Russian political parties, including the largest one that had 25 seats in the 450-member parliament – the Opposition Platform For Life, which was founded by Viktor Medvedchuk, a jailed oligarch with close ties to Putin.
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KHARKIV, Ukraine — Hundreds of people have been evacuated to Kharkiv from the nearby village of Ruska Lozava that had been under Russian occupation for more than a month.
Almost half the village has escaped on buses, in shrapnel-ridden cars or on foot after fierce battles saw Russian troops pushed back and Ukrainian forces take full control of the village, according to the Kharkiv regional governor.
A video posted by the Azov battalion shows troops raising the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag over the government building in the center of the village although fighting continues on the outskirts.
Upon arrival to Kharkiv less than 12 miles (20 kilometers) away, those who fled have described to Associated Press reporters the dire conditions they faced while living in basements with little water and food and no electricity.
“We were hiding in the basement, it was horror. The basement was shaking from the explosions, we were screaming, we were crying and we were praying to god,” said Ludmila Bocharnikova.
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WASHINGTON — A former U.S. Marine was killed while fighting alongside Ukrainian forces, according to his relatives, making his the first known death of an American citizen while fighting in the war against Russia.
Willy Joseph Cancel, 22, was killed Monday while working for a military contracting company that sent him to Ukraine, his mother, Rebecca Cabrera, told CNN. Cancel joined the Marines after graduating from Newburgh Free Academy in New York and served from 2017-21. He more recently worked as a corrections officer in Tennessee.
Cabrera said her son signed up to work with the private military contractor shortly before fighting began in Ukraine on Feb. 24 and that he agreed to go to Ukraine. She said he flew to Poland on March 12, entered Ukraine shortly thereafter and had been fighting alongside men from a number of countries.
“He wanted to go over because he believed in what Ukraine was fighting for, and he wanted to be a part of it to contain it there so it didn’t come here, and that maybe our American soldiers wouldn’t have to be involved in it,” she said.
Cabrera said her son’s body hasn’t been recovered.
Cancel had also served as a volunteer firefighter in New York and leaves behind a wife and 7-month-old son, according to an online fundraising page set up by a man identifying himself as Cancel’s father. Cancel’s wife received the call informing her of his death on Tuesday, the page said.
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KYIV, Ukraine — A leading Ukrainian political analyst says Russia’s missile strike on Kyiv signaled its intention to keep fighting despite international efforts to mediate an end to the hostilities.
Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Kyiv-based Penta Center think tank, said Thursday’s strike on Kyiv while U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was visiting the city indicated Moscow’s intention to press its attack.
“Russia is sending a clear signal about its intention to continue the war despite the international pressure,” Fesenko told The Associated Press.
“With this missile strike, the Kremlin is sending a warning to all international structures and organizations trying to influence or contain Russia’s aggressive military plans,” Fesenko noted. “While Russia has so far failed to score any significant gains in Ukraine, it intends to continue its offensive and keep striking cities with missiles.”
The attack reportedly killed at least one person and wounded at least 10 others, and was the first on Kyiv since Russia refocused its efforts on the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Guterres and his team were not injured.
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LVIV, Ukraine — The mayor of the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol says those hiding at a massive steel mill are running out of food, water and medicine.
Vadym Boichenko described the situation at the Avozstal steel plant as dire. The steel mill is the last position held by Ukrainian fighters, who also are with civilians.
The Soviet-era facility has a vast underground network of bunkers able to withstand airstrikes. But the situation has grown more extreme after the Russians dropped a series of so-called “bunker buster” bombs and unguided munitions.
“Locals who manage to leave Mariupol say it is hell, but when they leave this fortress, they say it is worse,” Boichenko said, according to a translator. “They are begging to get saved.”
He added: “There, it’s not a matter of days, it’s a matter of hours.”
Boichenko said he hoped a cease-fire would allow those inside the steel mill to safely leave. Russia earlier offered a truce that was rejected by Ukrainians, who said Moscow previously broke other agreements.
“We hope there’s a slight touch of humanity in the enemy,” the mayor said.
Boichenko spoke Friday in a government-organized video conference.
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MOSCOW — The head of the Russian Central Bank says the outlook is “extremely uncertain” as the country’s economy is expected to contract by up to 10% this year.
International sanctions and falling consumer demand are squeezing the economy as inflation rises.
The Central Bank cut its key interest rate from 17% to 14% on Friday and predicted the economy would shrink by between 8% and 10% this year.
“The current situation is extremely uncertain. Simultaneously, supply trends and the factors driving aggregate demand are also changing dramatically,” Central Bank head Elvira Nabiullina said.
The Central Bank said annual inflation was 17.6% as of April 22 and forecast it would rise to between 18% and 23% by the end of the year.
“After a temporary surge, consumer demand is decreasing in real terms, accompanied by a rise in households’ propensity to save. The decline in imports due to the introduction of external trade and financial restrictions is outstripping the decline in exports,” the Central Bank said in a statement.
“Despite the gradual change in the country and commodity structure of exports and imports as new suppliers and sales markets emerge, businesses are experiencing considerable difficulties in production and logistics.”
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WARSAW, Poland — Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, said the war hasn’t changed her husband and has only revealed his qualities to the world, including his determination to prevail.
Zelenska, speaking in an interview with the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita published Friday, also said she has not seen her husband President Volodymr Zelenskyy since Russia invaded Ukraine.
“Since Feb. 24, I have been seeing my husband just like you — on TV and on video tapes of his speeches,” she said.
She accused Russia of trying to carry out a genocide against the Ukrainian people and expressed her sympathy with all those who have been forced to flee their homes.
“I wish I could hug each of them. It is easy to imagine the difficult path they went through, escaping from basements or bunkers in Mariupol, from firing from Kharkiv, from the occupied Kyiv region, and even from Lviv or Odesa, which were also under fire from Russian missiles,” she said.
The newspaper, making clear that it interviewed Zelenska remotely and not revealing her location, asked her if the war had changed her husband.
“The war has not changed him,” she replied. “He has always been a man you can rely on. A man who will never fail. Who will hold out until the end. It’s just that now the whole world has seen what may not have been clear to everyone before.”
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LONDON — Tens of thousands of troops from NATO and other north Atlantic nations will take part in a series of military exercises across Europe in the coming weeks as western countries seek to deter Russian aggression.
The exercises, backed by aircraft, tanks, artillery and armored assault vehicles, will take place in Finland, Poland, North Macedonia and along the Estonian-Latvian border. They will include troops from NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force, which includes non-NATO members Finland and Sweden.
“The scale of the deployment, coupled with the professionalism, training and agility of the British Army, will deter aggression at a scale not seen in Europe this century,” Lt. Gen. Ralph Wooddisse, commander of the U.K.’s field army, said in a statement.
The deployments will begin this week in Finland, where troops from the U.S., Britain, Estonia and Latvia will participate in Exercise Arrow to improve their ability to work alongside Finnish forces.
Also this week, some 4,500 troops will take part in Exercise Swift Response, which will include parachute drops and helicopter-borne assaults in North Macedonia. The operation will include forces from U.S., Britain, Albania, France and Italy.
Next month, 18,000 NATO troops, including forces from Britain, France and Denmark, will take part in Exercise Hedgehog along the Estonia-Latvia border.
In late May, about 1,000 British soldiers will join troops from 11 other nations for Exercise Defender in Poland.
“The security of Europe has never been more important,” U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said. “These exercises will see our troops join forces with allies and partners across NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force in a show of solidarity and strength in one of the largest shared deployments since the Cold War.”
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The US-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty says one of its journalists was killed by a Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, Thursday night.
Vira Hyrych died when the building she lived in was hit and her body was found in the building’s rubble Friday, Radio Free Europe said. Hyrych had worked for the broadcaster’s Ukrainian-language service since 2018, Radio Free Europe said in a statement.
Ten people were wounded in the attack, including at least one who lost a leg, according to Ukraine’s emergency services.
Describing the attack, Russia says it “destroyed production buildings” at a defense factory in Kyiv. Russia used “high-precision, long-range weaponry” to hit the Artem factory in the Ukrainian capital, the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said Friday.
The spokesman appeared to be referring to strikes on Kyiv that took place on Thursday evening, shortly after a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said cruise missiles were used in the attack and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said one person was killed and four hospitalized when a residential building was hit.
Konashenkov also said Russia had destroyed a missile launch site that Ukraine had used to strike the Russia-held Ukrainian city of Kherson.
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LVIV, Ukraine — A British aid group says it believes two Britons have been abducted by Russian forces in southeastern Ukraine.
The British Foreign Office said it is “urgently seeking more information” about the two men’s case.
Dominik Byrne, the co-founder and chief operating officer of the Presidium Network, told the AP on Friday that the men were last heard from on Monday.
Byrne said the men were taken while trying to carry out an independent evacuation in Dniprorudne, near the city of Zaporizhzhia, some 470 kilometers (290 miles) southeast of Kyiv.
Byrne said the family that the two men had been trying to evacuate later were interrogated by Russian forces, who asked them about the “British spies.” Bryne said the family later escaped to Poland.
Byrne identified the men as Paul Urey and Dylan Healy. He said they had been operating on their own in the war zone and hadn’t been associated with any aid group.
The British Foreign Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia hasn’t acknowledged taking the men.
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COPENHAGEN, Denmark — A 25-year-old Dane was allegedly killed in Mykolajiv on April 26 while fighting with the International Legion Ukraine, a unit for foreigners who want to join the fight against Russia, according to Danish broadcaster TV2. The man’s name was not given.
In a statement to Danish media, the Foreign Ministry in Copenhagen said it could not confirm the report and was in contact with Ukrainian authorities.
“It may therefore take time before the details are clarified” because the war creates “extremely difficult conditions,” the statement read.
The Jyllands-Posten daily, one of Denmark’s largest newspapers, said up to 100 Danes have traveled to Ukraine to fight Russia, citing Ukraine’s Embassy in Denmark.
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LVIV, Ukraine — The British Defense Ministry says Russia’s focus in its war on Ukraine remains the Donbas region.
In an update Friday, the British military said heavy fighting had been seen around Lysychansk and Severodonetsk. The British said they believe Russia is trying to attempt an advance south from Izium toward Slovyansk.
The British military said in a tweet: “Due to strong Ukrainian resistance, Russian territorial gains have been limited and achieved at significant cost to Russian forces.”
The British military has been offering daily public reports on the fighting since the start of the war in February. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/live-updates-britain-russias-focus-remains-donbas-region/ | 2022-04-30T00:41:20Z |
Shohei Ohtani makes history on MLB Opening Day in loss to Astros
By CNN Sports staff
Shohei Ohtani had a bittersweet MLB Opening Day.
The 27-year-old Ohtani made history on Thursday as he became the first player in the history of the American and National Leagues to throw his team’s first pitch of the season and face his team’s first pitch as a hitter.
However the Japanese star’s efforts, which included throwing seven pitches measured at 99 miles per hour, were in vain as the Los Angeles Angels lost 3-1 to the Houston Astros at a sold-out Angel Stadium.
The new “Ohtani rule,” introduced ahead of the 2022 season, meant the two-way star stayed in the game as the designated hitter after he was done pitching.
“My splitter was a little bit all over the place, but I felt good about my fastball, curveball and slider,” Ohtani said, according to MLB.com
“I had a chance in my last at-bat to tie the game, but I couldn’t come through, which was disappointing. On the pitching side, I felt like the pitch count was high and it didn’t allow me to stay in the game longer.”
Despite his historic feat, Ohtani was outshone by Framber Valdez, who threw 54 of 84 pitches for strikes as the Astros claimed a record-equaling 10th consecutive Opening Day win.
Valdez threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings and retired 15 batters in a row during the course of Thursday’s game.
“I made adjustments during Spring Training and the biggest thing was attacking the zone, getting ahead in the count and attacking the batters,” he said.
Back in November, Ohtani was unanimously voted the 2021 American League Most Valuable Player.
The MVP award was in recongition of his feats starring on both the mound and at the plate for the Angels, a feat that has drawn comparisons to the Hall of Famer Babe Ruth.
He is the second Japanese-born player to be voted MVP, following on Ichiro Suzuki, who was voted the AL MVP in 2001 when he played for the Seattle Mariners.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/sports/cnn-sports/2022/04/08/shohei-ohtani-makes-history-on-mlb-opening-day-in-loss-to-astros/ | 2022-04-08T12:36:58Z |
- CHMP positive opinion is based on results from the Phase 3 SELECT-AXIS 2 study showing upadacitinib (RINVOQ®) met the primary endpoint of ASAS40 response at week 14 versus placebo1
- Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) is part of the axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) spectrum and causes inflammation in the spine, leading to back pain and stiffness2,3,4
- The EC decision is expected in the third quarter of 2022
NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) today announced the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended the approval of upadacitinib (RINVOQ® 15 mg, once daily) for the treatment of active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr‑axSpA) in adult patients with objective signs of inflammation as indicated by elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), who have responded inadequately to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).*
"Patients with axSpA often experience delayed diagnosis and once they do receive a diagnosis, there are limited therapies available to help control disease symptoms, such as inflammation, back pain and stiffness," said Neil Gallagher, M.D., Ph.D., vice president, development, chief medical officer, AbbVie. "The CHMP's recommendation to approve upadacitinib for patients with nr-axSpA is an important milestone in providing a new treatment option to patients in need."
The CHMP positive opinion is a scientific recommendation for marketing authorization to the European Commission (EC), which will review it and issue a Commission decision that will be valid in all member states of the European Union (EU), as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Northern Ireland and Norway.
AbbVie's application for the approval of upadacitinib in nr-axSpA is supported by results from the Phase 3 SELECT-AXIS 2 study, for which AbbVie disclosed topline results in 2021. In the Phase 3 clinical study, the SELECT-AXIS 2 nr-axSpA study met the primary endpoint of Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society 40 percent response criteria (ASAS40), and the first 12 of 14 ranked secondary endpoints.1 Safety data were previously reported with no new risks identified compared to the known safety profile of upadacitinib.1
Upadacitinib is currently approved for use in the EU in patients with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis, active psoriatic arthritis, active ankylosing spondylitis, and moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.5
The use of upadacitinib in nr-axSpA is not approved in the U.S. or EU. Its efficacy and safety remain under review.
About the SELECT-AXIS 2 program
SELECT-AXIS 2 (NCT04169373) was conducted under a master protocol and includes two separate studies (SELECT-AXIS 2 AS (bDMARD-IR) study, or Study 1 and SELECT-AXIS 2 nr-axSpA study, or Study 2).
More information on the SELECT-AXIS 2 program is available at https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ (2019-003229-12) in the EU, and at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04169373) in the U.S.
Study 1: SELECT-AXIS 2 AS (bDMARD-IR) study6
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of upadacitinib compared with placebo, in 420 patients with a clinical diagnosis of AS who fulfilled the modified New York criteria, had BASDAI score ≥4 and total back pain score ≥4 (based on a numerical scale of 0-10), and had an inadequate response to bDMARD therapy.
Study 2: SELECT-AXIS 2 nr-axSpA study1
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 trial which evaluated the efficacy and safety of upadacitinib compared with placebo, in 314 patients with a clinical diagnosis of nr-axSpA. Patients enrolled in the study had active signs of inflammation as indicated by MRI + sacroiliac joint inflammation, and/or high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) >upper limit of normal (2.87 mg/L) at screening, and who had BASDAI score ≥4 and a total back pain score ≥4 (based on a numerical scale of 0-10).
About Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA)
Axial spondyloarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the spine, causing back pain, limited mobility, and structural damage.4 It consists of two subsets that have been clinically defined as radiographic axial SpA (ankylosing spondylitis) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA).4 In ankylosing spondylitis, patients have definitive structural damage of the sacroiliac joints visible on X-rays.4 Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis is clinically defined by the absence of definitive X-ray evidence of structural damage to the sacroiliac joint by plain X-ray.4
About RINVOQ® (upadacitinib)5
Discovered and developed by AbbVie scientists, RINVOQ is a selective JAK inhibitor that is being studied in several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. In human cellular assays, RINVOQ preferentially inhibits signaling by JAK1 or JAK1/3 with functional selectivity over cytokine receptors that signal via pairs of JAK2.5
In the EU, RINVOQ is approved for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs; for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in adult patients who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more DMARDs; for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in adult patients who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy; and for adults (15 mg and 30 mg) and adolescents (15 mg) with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.5
Phase 3 trials of RINVOQ in axial spondyloarthritis, Crohn's disease, giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis are ongoing.7,8,9,10 Use of RINVOQ in nr-axSpA is not approved and remains under review by regulatory authorities.
EU Indications and Important Safety Information about RINVOQ® (upadacitinib)5
Indications
Rheumatoid arthritis
RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). RINVOQ may be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate.
Psoriatic arthritis
RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more DMARDs. RINVOQ may be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate.
Ankylosing spondylitis
RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy.
Atopic dermatitis
RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adults and adolescents 12 years and older who are candidates for systemic therapy.
Important Safety Information
Contraindications
RINVOQ is contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to the active substance or to any of the excipients, in patients with active tuberculosis (TB) or active serious infections, in patients with severe hepatic impairment, and during pregnancy.
Special warnings and precautions for use
Immunosuppressive medicinal products
Use in combination with other potent immunosuppressants is not recommended.
Serious infections
Serious and sometimes fatal infections have been reported in patients receiving upadacitinib. The most frequent serious infections reported included pneumonia and cellulitis. Cases of bacterial meningitis have been reported. Among opportunistic infections, TB, multidermatomal herpes zoster, oral/esophageal candidiasis, and cryptococcosis have been reported with upadacitinib. As there is a higher incidence of infections in patients ≥65 years of age, caution should be used when treating this population.
Viral reactivation
Viral reactivation, including cases of herpes zoster, was reported in clinical studies. The risk of herpes zoster appears to be higher in Japanese patients treated with upadacitinib.
Vaccinations
The use of live, attenuated vaccines during or immediately prior to therapy is not recommended. It is recommended that patients be brought up to date with all immunizations, including prophylactic zoster vaccinations, prior to initiating upadacitinib, in agreement with current immunization guidelines.
Malignancy
The risk of malignancies, including lymphoma is increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Malignancies, including nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), have been reported in patients treated with upadacitinib. Consider the risks and benefits of upadacitinib treatment prior to initiating therapy in patients with a known malignancy other than a successfully treated NMSC or when considering continuing upadacitinib therapy in patients who develop a malignancy.
Hematological abnormalities
Treatment should not be initiated, or should be temporarily interrupted, in patients with hematological abnormalities observed during routine patient management.
Diverticulitis
Upadacitinib should be used with caution in patients with diverticular disease and especially in patients chronically treated with concomitant medications associated with an increased risk of diverticulitis.
Cardiovascular risk
RA patients have an increased risk for cardiovascular disorders. Patients treated with upadacitinib should have risk factors (e.g., hypertension, hyperlipidemia) managed as part of usual standard of care.
Lipids
Upadacitinib treatment was associated with dose-dependent increases in lipid parameters, including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Hepatic transaminase elevations
Treatment with upadacitinib was associated with an increased incidence of liver enzyme elevation compared to placebo.
Venous thromboembolisms
Events of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) have been reported in patients receiving JAK inhibitors, including upadacitinib. Upadacitinib should be used with caution in patients at high risk for DVT/PE.
Adverse reactions
The most commonly reported adverse reactions in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis clinical trials (≥2% of patients in at least one of the indications) with upadacitinib 15 mg were upper respiratory tract infections, blood creatine phosphokinase (CPK) increased, alanine transaminase (ALT) increased, bronchitis, nausea, cough, aspartate transaminase (AST) increased, and hypercholesterolemia.
The most commonly reported adverse reactions in atopic dermatitis trials (≥2% of patients) with upadacitinib 15 mg or 30 mg were upper respiratory tract infection, acne, herpes simplex, headache, CPK increased, cough, folliculitis, abdominal pain, nausea, neutropenia, pyrexia, and influenza. The most common serious adverse reactions were serious infections.
The safety profile of upadacitinib with long term treatment was generally similar to the safety profile during the placebo-controlled period across indications.
Overall, the safety profile observed in patients with psoriatic arthritis or active ankylosing spondylitis treated with upadacitinib 15 mg was consistent with the safety profile observed in patients with RA. In atopic dermatitis, dose-dependent increased risks of infection and herpes zoster were observed with upadacitinib. Based on limited data, there was a higher rate of overall adverse reactions with the upadacitinib 30 mg dose compared to the 15 mg dose in patients aged 65 years and older.
The safety profile for upadacitinib 15 mg in adolescents was similar to that in adults. The safety and efficacy of the 30 mg dose in adolescents are still being investigated. Dose-dependent changes in ALT increased and/or AST increased (≥ 3 x ULN), lipid parameters, CPK values (> 5 x ULN), and neutropenia (ANC < 1 x 109 cells/L) associated with upadacitinib treatment were similar to what was observed in the rheumatologic disease clinical studies.
This is not a complete summary of all safety information.
See RINVOQ full summary of product characteristics (SmPC) at www.ema.europa.eu/en.
Globally, prescribing information varies; refer to the individual country product label for complete information.
About AbbVie in Rheumatology
For more than 20 years, AbbVie has been dedicated to improving care for people living with rheumatic diseases. Our longstanding commitment to discovering and delivering transformative therapies is underscored by our pursuit of cutting-edge science that improves our understanding of promising new pathways and targets in order to help more people living with rheumatic diseases reach their treatment goals. For more information on AbbVie in rheumatology, visit https://www.abbvie.com/our-science/therapeutic-focus-areas/immunology/immunology-focus-areas/rheumatology.html.
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some statements in this news release are, or may be considered, forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. AbbVie cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, failure to realize the expected benefits from AbbVie's acquisition of Allergan plc ("Allergan"), failure to promptly and effectively integrate Allergan's businesses, competition from other products, challenges to intellectual property, difficulties inherent in the research and development process, adverse litigation or government action, changes to laws and regulations applicable to our industry and the impact of public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, such as COVID-19. Additional information about the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect AbbVie's operations is set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of AbbVie's 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as updated by its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. AbbVie undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law.
References
1 Deodhar, A, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib in Patients with Active Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis: a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Trial. EULAR 2022 Congress; 2534.
2 Crossfield SSR, Marzo-Ortega H, Kingbury SR et al. Changes in ankylosing spondylitis incidence, prevalence and time to diagnosis over two decades. RMD Open 2021;7:e001888. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-001888.
3 Mayo Clinic. Ankylosing Spondylitis 2019. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ankylosing-spondylitis/symptomscauses/syc-20354808. Accessed April 2022.
4 Deodhar AA, Understanding Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Primer for Managed Care. Am J Managed Care. 2019;25:S319-S330.
5 RINVOQ [Summary of Product Characteristics]. AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG; May 2022. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/rinvoq-epar-product-information_en.pdf. Accessed June 14, 2022.
6 Van der Heijde, D, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib in Patients With Active Ankylosing Spondylitis Refractory to Biologic Therapy: a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Trial. EULAR 2022 Congress; 2518.
7 A Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib in Adult Participants With Axial Spondyloarthritis (SELECT AXIS 2). ClinicalTrials.gov. 2021. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04169373. Accessed on April 1, 2022.
8 A Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib (ABT-494) in Participants With Moderately to Severely Active Crohn's Disease Who Have Inadequately Responded to or Are Intolerant to Biologic Therapy. ClinicalTrials.gov. 2021. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03345836. Accessed on April 1, 2022.
9 A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Upadacitinib in Participants With Giant Cell Arteritis (SELECT-GCA). ClinicalTrials.gov. 2021. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03725202. Accessed on April 1, 2022.
10 A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib in Subjects With Takayasu Arteritis (TAK) (SELECT-TAK). ClinicalTrials.gov. 2021. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04161898. Accessed on April 1, 2022.
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SOURCE AbbVie | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/chmp-recommends-approval-upadacitinib-rinvoq-treatment-adults-with-active-non-radiographic-axial-spondyloarthritis/ | 2022-06-27T06:51:09Z |
California has $600M in unclaimed can, bottle deposits
By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration is proposing to temporarily double California’s typical nickel refunds for bottles and cans to boost recycling. It would also help spend down a roughly $600 million surplus built up during the coronavirus pandemic. The proposal to state lawmakers Friday would match the dime offered for bottles and cans by the highest-paying programs in other states as California tries to regain the leadership position it held 35 years ago when it started its cash refund program. Such permanent programs have worked in Oregon and Michigan, where the dime refunds have been enough for consumers to recycle at least nine of every 10 containers. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/04/01/california-has-600m-in-unclaimed-can-bottle-deposits/ | 2022-04-02T03:13:27Z |
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Kootenay Silver Inc. (TSXV: KTN) (the "Company" or "Kootenay") announces the successful amendment to the option agreement for 100% of the Columba High-Grade silver project in Chihuahua State, Mexico. The Company has successfully amended the schedule on the final payment for the property due in November 2022. The amended agreement splits the final November 2022 payment into a series of payments due in August, November, December 2022 and January, April, and May of 2023. Payments range from US$215,000 (August 2022 and May 2023) to US$480,000 (November 2022) and US$430,000 (December 2022, January, and April 2023).
President and CEO James McDonald states "We are very pleased with the willingness of our option holder to amend the option agreement and look forward to announcing drill results from the 2022 program."
The company expects the first set of assay results from the 2022 drill program aimed at expanding on the numerous high-grade hits in multiple veins. Thus far drilling in the F and D veins have all hit veining as reported August 4th, 2022, with good widths seen in very large 75 to 100 meter step outs in the D Vein.
Results will be released once final assays are received and compiled. Assay turnaround time has been longer than anticipated.
A comprehensive list of drill results completed on the Columba Property since 2019 can be viewed here: Columba Drill Results.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Qualified Persons
The Kootenay technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) and reviewed and approved on behalf of Kootenay by James McDonald, P.Geo, President, CEO & Director for Kootenay, a Qualified Person.
About Kootenay Silver Inc.
Kootenay Silver Inc. is an exploration company actively engaged in the discovery and development of mineral projects in the Sierra Madre Region of. Supported by one of the largest junior portfolios of silver assets in Mexico, Kootenay continues to provide its shareholders with significant leverage to silver prices. The Company remains focused on the expansion of its current silver resources, new discoveries and the near-term economic development of its priority silver projects located in prolific mining districts in Sonora, State and Chihuahua, State, Mexico, respectively.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
The information in this news release has been prepared as at August 10, 2022. Certain statements in this news release, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", constitute "forward-looking statements" under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expected", "may", "will" or similar terms.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Kootenay as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by law, Kootenay expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in Kootenay's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
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SOURCE Kootenay Silver Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/kootenay-announces-option-agreement-amendment-columba-high-grade-silver-project-mexico/ | 2022-08-11T13:53:54Z |
SAN FRANCISCO , June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagens Berman urges Inotiv, Inc. (NASDAQ: NOTV) investors who suffered significant losses to submit your losses now.
Class Period: Sept. 21, 2021 – June 13, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Aug. 22, 2022
Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/NOTV
Contact An Attorney Now: NOTV@hbsslaw.com
844-916-0895
Inotiv, Inc. (NASDAQ: NOTV) Securities Fraud Class Action:
The litigation challenges Inotiv's claims regarding its Envigo business, which the company acquired in Sept. 2021, including that Envigo maintained "high standards of animal welfare" at its Cumberland, Virginia facility and other animal testing sites.
Defendants misrepresented and concealed that: (1) the Cumberland facility engaged in widespread and flagrant violations of the Animal Welfare Act ("AWA"); (2) Envigo and the Cumberland facility continuously violated the AWA; (3) Envigo and Inotiv didn't properly remedy issues with regard to animal welfare at Cumberland; (4) as a result, Inotiv was likely to face increased scrutiny and government action; (5) Inotiv would imminently shut down Cumberland; and, (6) Inotiv didn't perform proper due diligence of Envigo.
On May 20, 2022, Inotiv announced that on May 18 federal and state law enforcement conducted a search and seizure warrant on the Cumberland facility. The company also announced the DOJ sued Envigo for violations of the ACA.
On May 21, 2022, the court in the DOJ's case ordered a halt to violations of the AWA at Cumberland. The court's order observed that hundreds of beagle puppies died in the Cumberland facility (many of which were not given anesthesia before they were euthanized by intracardiac injection), nursing female beagles were denied food, and many puppies died from cold exposure. About 3 weeks later, Inotiv announced it was closing Cumberland.
These events sent the price of Inotiv shares crashing lower.
"We're focused on investors' losses and proving Inotiv misled investors about its adherence to animal welfare standards," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.
If you invested in Inotiv and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.
Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Inotiv should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email NOTV@hbsslaw.com.
About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895
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SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/notv-alert-hagens-berman-national-trial-attorneys-encourages-inotiv-inc-notv-investors-with-significant-losses-contact-firms-attorneys-securities-fraud-case-filed/ | 2022-06-29T15:10:44Z |
#HotelsToIndulge pays homage to the brand's strong roots in the culinary arts, while also fostering meaningful connections through food and drink, and transporting guests into the realms of culture, pleasure, and social change
PARIS, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is excited to unwrap its new global campaign, Hotels to Indulge, designed to expertly blend the guest experience with the transformative power of food, create connections through culture, and encourage guests to consciously indulge. Steeped in the brand's heritage and philosophy of culinary excellence and human connection, the "indulgence done right" campaign features chocolate-inspired creative, playful imagery, and local gastronomy-themed guest experiences thoughtfully curated to feed and enrich the soul.
The new campaign was inspired by and crafted using recent consumer research, which indicates travelers around the world describe luxury as "having time to relax and enjoy oneself."* The data and findings show that consumers are increasingly searching for unique experiences and are consciously looking at how to balance health and wellness with the unapologetic satisfaction of enjoying food and beverages. This type of simple indulgence is at the heart of the Mövenpick ethos and the Hotels to Indulge campaign. By combining wholesome pleasures and a healthy dose of self-indulgence, Mövenpick is passionate about creating elevated guest experiences that provide innate joy and transform the world into a realm of endless, playful possibilities.
"Hotels to Indulge will inspire travelers to visit, stay, and enjoy Mövenpick along their journeys, where indulgence is deftly woven into every element of the guest experience," said Alexander Schellenberger, Chief Brand Officer, Accor. "The campaign feeds off the brand's philosophy of indulgence done right, which includes everything from the daily Chocolate Hour ritual at Mövenpick hotels to the brand's planet-loving initiatives that nourish our world. It's a wholehearted invitation to experience a hotel stay that satisfies the appetite – for love, connection, exploration, and life."
The brand's heritage and philosophy of "indulgence done right" originated from Mövenpick founder Ueli Prager's vision and his belief that, "We don't do anything that's really extraordinary. We are successful because we simply do ordinary things in an extraordinary way." With Hotels to Indulge, Mövenpick will be "the" destination for food culture that brings people together, enables connections, stirs emotions, and creates magical culinary moments travelers and locals aspire to experience.
The new campaign underpins a vital part of the brand's strategic plan to elevate brand awareness, strengthen its premium positioning, enhance relevancy with core and younger audiences, and deepen engagement and advocacy through elevated, unpretentious and authentic experiences. Hotels to Indulge launches in September 2022 with a strategic media plan focused on engaging audiences across social and digital channels.
"Mövenpick does premium hotels but also delicious chocolate, ice cream, coffee and wine. Conceptually, the campaign is whimsical and fairy-tale like, representing places where you take a piece off the wall and it is made of something sweet. Going back to the very roots of the brand, we found a lot of humour, hedonism, culinary moments and bon vivants. The hotels really do have indulgence at their core, an indulgence done right, like the Swiss expertly know how to do. Take the chocolate and cream staircase of Dubai, the honey drop from Marrakesh or the raspberry macaroon from Zürich. Those are clear invitations to a yummy tucked up stay," said Jean-Guilhem Lamberti, Chief Creative Officer, Accor.
As part of the campaign kick-off, Mövenpick has partnered with famed pâtissier Eric Lanlard, affectionately known as 'Cake-Boy,' for exclusive culinary moments in select markets, beginning with the Middle East. This fall, Mövenpick will invite influencers and content creators to participate in a Weekend of Indulgence with Eric Lanlard at Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island. This will be the first in a series of events at Mövenpick properties worldwide that will feature experiences such as chocolate master classes, custom amenities, chocolate-inspired social hours, and sensational dinners. An exclusive Mövenpick Chocolate Hour concept designed by Eric Lanlard will also be offered across 15 hotels and resorts in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey that will surely surprise and delight guests.
In addition to on-property events, the Hotels to Indulge campaign will feature a social media contest encouraging individuals to share unexpected, unscripted moments of joy. These could range from random acts of kindness or serendipitously running into a favorite football player to capturing a child's reaction to their first bite of chocolate cake or seeing snow-capped mountains for the first time. Though times are uncertain, the social campaign is one-way Mövenpick is taking action to remind people that life is full of small moments of joy and that we must all strive to embrace and celebrate them. To participate, fans of the brand can simply post photos or videos on Instagram using the hashtag #HotelsToIndulge. Mövenpick will work in collaboration with a curated group of select partners to encourage their online community to share unexpected stories that move them the most for a chance to win exciting prizes. The contest will launch on 01 October 2022 and conclude on 30 December 2022. See Mövenpick Hotels-to-Indulge Terms & Conditions for further details.
"Mövenpick, deeply understands the pleasure that a touch of culinary artistry can bring," said Eric Lanlard, aka Cake-Boy. "It is a joy to work with Mövenpick and help create those magical, unexpected moments that happen when a guest participates in a culinary creation they've never experienced before, or a taste that will forever connect them to a special place and time. It is undeniable that food experiences while traveling create powerful memories."
Moreover, Mövenpick is furthering its brand promise to nourish the world and promote social change with its annual Kilo of Kindness charitable campaign. Launching in October, the seventh annual Kilo of Kindness campaign will invite guests, visitors and the Mövenpick community to donate food, clothing or educational supplies to disadvantaged communities worldwide. More than 45 Mövenpick hotels across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East are set to support the campaign and distribute donations in partnership with local charities.
Having originated in 1948 as a restaurant aimed at demystifying fine dining, Mövenpick possesses a rich expertise in gastronomic innovation. The brand's culinary history remains a key source of inspiration for its hospitality vision and is brought to life in the Hotels to Indulge campaign imagery – through the use of food as a visual metaphor for indulgent yet accessible experiences offered at Mövenpick properties around the globe.
For more information, please visit movenpick.com.
*Insights sourced from Foresight Factory 2022 Wellness Survey
In Switzerland, in 1948, Ueli Prager created Mövenpick, a revolutionary dining concept where anyone could enjoy a taste of good wine, good times and the good life. Today, that same brand of welcoming hospitality lives on in every Mövenpick hotel, where everyone can appreciate life's essential pleasures, through moments of true indulgence. With more than 110 hotels and resorts around the world and another 50 planned by 2025, Mövenpick remains true to its Swiss heritage and rich culinary legacy, honoring its founder's promise to do things well by doing things right. In recognition of the brand's holistic approach to sustainability, and its deep commitment to local environments and communities, Green Globe has named Mövenpick the world's most sustainable hotel company every year since 2017. Mövenpick is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,300 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL - Accor Live Limitless – a lifestyle loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services, and experiences.
movenpick.com | all.accor.com | group.accor.com
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SOURCE Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/mvenpick-unveils-new-global-campaign-hotels-indulge-inspiring-consumers-delight-indulgence-done-right/ | 2022-09-14T11:56:30Z |
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The DecisionNext Price List feature gives users access to all their finished goods pricing and the raw material inputs that drive them.
DecisionNext has announced the release of their Price List module within their commodity analytics software, aimed at connecting the procurement and pricing functions at meat processing organizations.
The Price List module instantly shows expected gross margin for each pricing alternative and empowers users to build a historical log of all pricing details and the risk profiles associated with each price quote.
Michael Farrand, DecisionNext Food & Ag Lead remarked "DecisionNext's ability to bring proprietary analytics power to the protein industry, across the supply chain from procurement to sales, allows our customers to be on the leading edge of today's technology. Our new Price List feature is the latest in a growing stable of solutions DecisionNext brings to market which will help set the bar for the next generation of innovative industry leaders to be successful in any market condition."
Powered by machine learning algorithms, DecisionNext allows market experts to bring together the best of human and machine intelligence to improve market visibility and forecast accuracy through transparent, interactive software. By having the ability to not just forecast markets, but simulate outcomes, decision-makers can more effectively evaluate options in high value, high frequency decisions across sourcing, operations, and sales. Reference customers of DecisionNext include Sysco, Johnsonville, Topco, Teys, and other leading names in the food and agriculture space.
For more information, watch this video.
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SOURCE DecisionNext | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/decisionnext-unveils-new-tool-finished-goods-price-forecasting/ | 2022-08-10T22:28:28Z |
HERRIMAN, Utah, July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Velosimo, the next generation of government technology integration that enables government agencies to meet citizens' expectations of modern and uninterrupted digital services, announced it has secured an $11 million Series A investment led by Macquarie Capital Principal Finance, with participation from Valor Equity Partners. This funding will enable the company to accelerate sales and expand its best-in-class integration platform. Funding comes on the heels of the company's remarkable growth since launching in 2018.
"At Velosimo, we believe our online experiences with government agencies should be as easy as with retail providers," said Kris Trujillo, Founder and CEO of Velosimo. "Broken integration between government software platforms has hindered agencies in providing this level of online customer experience. Velosimo solves this challenge for agencies. We are thrilled to have reached this milestone. Partnering with Macquarie Capital and Valor will allow us to quickly scale our sales and product teams to meet the increasing demand for our platform."
Velosimo's vision is to transform our virtual engagements with government by revolutionizing systems integration. Traditional system integrations are unworkable and too complex for most agencies. Seeing this need, Kris Trujillo founded Velosimo and launched the industry's first integration platform for government. Unlike other integration platforms, Velosimo targets government and has a team of industry veterans and a groundbreaking platform with self-healing transactions and no-code connectors uniquely built for government. These differentiators have led to over 70 state and local government customers, including San Diego, CA, El Paso, TX, Washington DC, and the State of California, and strategic partnerships with leading government software companies such as Accela, Cityworks, Cartegraph, and Laserfiche.
"We are excited to partner with Velosimo, as they build the preeminent IPaaS solution for the government sector," said Larry Handen, Senior Managing Director at Macquarie Capital. "Government agencies are looking for fast and efficient means of interconnecting their systems. They want these solutions to be self-managing and future-proof. Velosimo's solution and team are uniquely positioned to deliver on this demand."
Before this raise, early angel investors included industry leaders Maury Blackman, former CEO of Accela and current CEO of Premise Data; Daniel Kim, former Accela board member and investor, and current partner at HKW; and Stephen Davis, managing partner at Banneker Partners.
Macquarie Capital Principal Finance's investment in Velosimo represents its sixth investment in government technology companies since the beginning of 2019.
Read our blog post (https://www.velosimo.com/newsroom/funding) for more information.
Velosimo provides cloud-native, off-the-shelf technology connectors explicitly built for government and the distinct scenarios of inner-system use by staff and citizens, with connector management and deep insight into all connected systems transactions on the Velosimo Connect Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS). Velosimo also provides a revolutionary, low-code environment for rapid custom connector development by Government Technology Companies, System Integrators, and government agencies. The Velosimo Marketplace showcases the burgeoning collection of quickly enabled, ready-made, certified connectors from Velosimo and their partners.
Government agencies are turning to Velosimo as their move towards online, touchless service drives the need for predictable systems interoperability and modern, uninterrupted user experiences.
Macquarie Capital is the advisory, capital markets, and principal investment arm of Macquarie Group. It encompasses corporate advisory, a full spectrum of capital solutions, including capital raising services from equity, debt, and private capital markets and principal investments from Macquarie's balance sheet. Macquarie Capital has deep sector expertise in the aerospace, energy, defense and government services, consumer, gaming and leisure, financial institutions, healthcare, industrials, infrastructure, resources, software and services, technology, telecommunications, and media sectors. Macquarie Capital Principal Finance, the financing and principal investing arm of Macquarie Capital makes investments from Macquarie's balance sheet and provides flexible primary financing and secondary market investing solutions for corporate and commercial real estate clients across North America, Europe, and Australasia.
Media Contact: info@velosimo.com
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SOURCE Velosimo | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/velosimo-raises-11-million-series-led-by-macquarie-capital-principal-finance-transform-government-integrations/ | 2022-07-21T18:48:26Z |
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., April 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ministry Brands, the leading provider of software, services and information platforms for churches, ministries and those they serve, is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Bacon as Chief Operations Officer and Holly McGiboney as Senior Vice President of Human Resources.
Bacon brings 25 years of experience in operational and executive leadership to Ministry Brands. He will guide strategic growth and cross-functional alignment to support the mission of advancing faith-based organizations through technology. Bacon joins Ministry Brands from Fiserv where he served as Head of Open Solutions overseeing processing, cyber security and depository solutions for financial institutions.
McGiboney's 20 years of experience in human resources and talent acquisition will continue to drive cohesion around the mission while fostering employee growth, supporting team expansion and elevating the people experience. Her past roles include leadership positions at FLEETCOR and Newport Group.
"Chris Bacon and Holly McGiboney are filling critical roles that will enhance our ability to rally around innovation as a unified team and drive digital engagement forward for our ministry partners," said Pat O'Donnell, CEO of Ministry Brands. "We look forward to their combined experience and expertise supporting the growth of the company, our customers and associates."
"The strong foundation Ministry Brands has built through its expanding software solutions and high-performing, mission-driven team sets the stage for promising growth opportunities, and I am thrilled to be a contributor," said Bacon.
"It is a privilege to join this collaborative team of forward-thinkers who have a true sense of a greater purpose in the work they do every day," said McGiboney. "I look forward to aligning our people strategy with our culture of innovation and excellence."
About Ministry Brands
Serving more than 95,000 customers, Ministry Brands is the leading provider of SaaS platforms for churches, parachurch ministries and other faith-based organizations in the United States and Canada. Under the leadership of a mission-driven management team, the company seeks to equip the 21st-century church with technology that empowers pastors, church executives, technology professionals and administrators to proactively carry out their mission with excellence, reverence, and efficiency. Ministry Brands' suite of solutions includes church management, online giving, accounting, mobile applications, website development, background checks, content, streaming, and messaging. Learn more at www.ministrybrands.com.
Contact: Pam Junot
Telephone: 888-400-1451 x 1158
Email: pam.junot@ministrybrands.com
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SOURCE Ministry Brands | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/25/ministry-brands-welcomes-new-chief-operations-officer-senior-vice-president-human-resources/ | 2022-04-25T16:41:17Z |
NEW YORK, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RippleMatch, the recruitment automation platform changing how Gen Z finds work, is proud to announce the winners of its 2022 Campus Recruiting Choice Awards.
From hundreds of nominations submitted by recruiting and HR professionals, RippleMatch narrowed down the top names in campus recruiting and talent acquisition and highlighted the rising stars, innovators, and exceptional leaders across 18 categories. Now, after more than 15,000 votes cast by the public, RippleMatch is excited to announce the winners who are making their mark on campus recruitment, innovating in their fields, and leading with empathy.
"We are excited to announce the winners of the 2022 Campus Recruiting Choice Awards, who were part of an impressive class of nominees," said RippleMatch CEO Andrew Myers. "These individuals have gone above and beyond in the early talent space, and we are thrilled to recognize their accomplishments and contributions."
Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 Campus Recruiting Choice Awards!
View the list of first place winners below, and all winners here:
Exceptional Leader Award Winners
B2B Technology: Lauren Terrill, Lumen Technologies
Consumer Technology: Jennifer Newbill, Dell Technologies
CPG & Retail: Megan Umberger, Sleep Number
Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Logistics, and Transportation: Sherry McCaskill, Toyota Motors North America
Finance, Business, Professional & IT Services | Large Companies: Malini Agarwal, Blackstone
Finance, Business, Professional & IT Services | Small-to-Midsize Companies: Ashley Silva, Global Atlantic Financial Group
Talent Innovator Award Winners
CPG & Retail: Taryn Thompson, Walmart Inc.
B2B Technology: Aliyah Fulton, DocuSign
Consumer Technology: Kallen Mobley, Viasat
Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Logistics, and Transportation: Jenna Roland, Schneider Electric
Health, Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices/Technology: Lindsey Daniels, UnitedHealth Group
Marketing, Advertising, Media & Entertainment: Ashley Marks, Electronic Arts
Finance, Business, Professional & IT Services | Large Companies: Andrew Jones, Navy Federal Credit Union
Finance, Business, Professional & IT Services | Small-to-Midsize Companies: Daniel Fu, Bill.com
Rising Star Award Winners
2 or Less Years of Work Experience: Jessica Lane, SRS Distribution
3-5 Years Work Experience | Large Companies: Treyce Simmons, Navy Federal Credit Union
3-5 Years Work Experience | Midsize Companies: Amanda Ballesteros, Affirm, Inc.
3-5 Years Work Experience | Small Companies: Waverly Heurtelou, Cockroach Labs
RippleMatch is the recruitment automation platform changing how Gen Z finds work. By replacing job boards with matching and automation, RippleMatch eliminates the most time-intensive parts of the recruitment process for both employers and job seekers.
CONTACT: Kate Beckman, kate@ripplematch.com
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SOURCE RippleMatch | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/ripplematch-announces-winners-its-2022-campus-recruiting-choice-awards/ | 2022-07-26T13:44:21Z |
Ross Stores, Applied Materials fall; Palo Alto, Deckers rise
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Friday: Ross Stores, Applied Materials fall; Palo Alto, Deckers rise.
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Friday: Ross Stores, Applied Materials fall; Palo Alto, Deckers rise. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/05/20/ross-stores-applied-materials-fall-palo-alto-deckers-rise/ | 2022-05-20T22:32:23Z |
Which robot vacuum and mop is best?
One of the easiest ways to keep a home clean is with the help of a robot vacuum. For those with carpeted floors and hardwood floors, having a robot vacuum that also works as a mop can be a major help. Robot vacuum and mop combinations work comfortably on multiple surfaces without any issues. There are several high-quality robot vacuums and mops available on the market that offer several great features. Choosing the right robotic vacuum and mop is a difficult decision with so many different choices and different prices.
What to look for in a quality robot vacuum and mop
Battery life
One of the biggest factors to think about before choosing a robot vacuum and mop is how long the battery lasts. Battery life for robotic vacuum and mop devices can vary drastically depending on the brand. Several options have battery lives of 200 minutes or more while others last for no more than an hour.
Wireless connectivity
Several robotic vacuum and mop devices come with connected apps that allow users to schedule times for the device to clean. Additionally, many have cleaning histories and provide options to clean room by room with fully mapped out areas.
Mapping technology
Most robot vacuum and mop devices come with obstacle avoidance technology to prevent any damage. Higher quality devices come with mapping technology that will gain a full understanding of the floor space and then fully clean each corner. Several will then categorize by room and then work each space individually.
Water tank
For the mopping portion of the device, robot vacuums and mops require a water tank. The capacity of the water tank determines the amount that the user will need to refill it between cleanings. Several devices come with two separate water tanks to separate clean water from dirty water.
How much you can expect to spend on a robot vacuum and mop
The price range for robotic vacuum and mop devices can vary wildly, with lower-end models between $100-$200 and high-end models between $700-$1,000.
What are the best robot vacuums and mops to buy?
Top robot vacuum and mop
Roborock S7 Robot Vacuum and Mop Cleaner
What you need to know: This is a high-quality robot vacuum and mop that comes with an app and voice control.
What you’ll love: The robot vacuum and mop is designed with sonic vibration technology that removes dry stains easily. The device also lifts the mopping portion when vacuuming on the carpet.
What you should consider: Some users report that the suction on the carpets is not as strong as its power on hard floors.
Sold by Amazon
Top robot vacuum and mop for money
ILIFE V5s Pro, 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop
What you need to know: This is an affordable robot vacuum and mop that keeps quiet even in full operation.
What you’ll love: This robotic vacuum and mop comes with remote control for easily scheduling settings and cleaning modes. The device also comes with a 110-minute battery life, which makes it easier to cover full spaces in less time.
What you should consider: Some users report issues after a few months of use.
Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Dreametech D9 Pro Robot Vacuum and Mop Cleaner
What you need to know: This is a powerful robot vacuum and mop cleaner built with mapping technology and a connected app for additional features.
What you’ll love: The robot vacuum and mop has a 270 ml water tank for all-day mopping without needing to be refilled. The device also comes with 150-minute battery life so it can easily clean full rooms at once.
What you should consider: The mapping technology only works for one floor, which makes it difficult to use in multi-story homes.
Sold by Amazon
Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO 920 2in1 Mopping Robotic Vacuum
What you need to know: This is a high-quality device built to handle carpet and hard surfaces with ease.
What you’ll love: The robot vacuum and mop comes with a connected app that can schedule times of operation and set certain rooms off-limits once the device has mapped out the space. The device also has multiple water flow settings to control how much is used when mopping.
What you should consider: The battery life of the device is shorter than several others around the same price point.
Sold by Amazon
yeedi Vac Station Robot Vacuum and Mop
What you need to know: Another great robot vacuum and mop that comes with additional features that make it easier to use.
What you’ll love: The device has a self-emptying charging center which allows users to not have to empty the dust bin after every cleaning. The robot vacuum and mop can also detect carpet and automatically stop mopping.
What you should consider: Some users report that the self-emptying features do not fully clear out the dust bin.
Sold by Amazon
Coredy R750 Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mopping System
What you need to know: This is a solid robot vacuum and mop that comes with 150-minute battery life and several additional vacuum and mopping attachments.
What you’ll love: The device is also equipped with a connected app and several features for water flow and length of cleaning. The device also automatically boosts suction when moving from wood to carpet.
What you should consider: The brushes have a more difficult time picking up pet hair.
Sold by Amazon
Ultenic T10 Robot Vacuum and Mop with Self Emptying Station
What you need to know: This is a high-quality robot vacuum and mop that comes with a self-emptying and charging station.
What you’ll love: The device can map multiple levels of a house to work easily on every floor. The vacuum can also run for up to 280 minutes without needing to charge.
What you should consider: Some users report difficulty connecting the device wirelessly.
Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/home-br/vacuums-br/best-robot-vacuum-and-mop/ | 2022-05-09T07:22:09Z |
(The Hill) – Maintaining the status quo for greenhouse gas emissions could risk the extinction of up to 90 percent of marine species, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change.
Researchers, led by ecologist Daniel Boyce of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Nova Scotia, looked at some 25,000 species, including animals, plants, protozoans and bacteria. Under a high-emission scenario, they determined that nearly 90 percent of those species will be at high-to-critical risk across 85 percent of their distribution. This scenario involves an increase of three to five degrees Celsius in global ocean temperatures by the end of the century.
About 10 percent of the ocean overall features ecosystems that are considered high-risk based on a combination of endemism, climate risk and the threat of local species’ extinction, according to the study.
In addition to the threat this poses to biodiversity, it presents a major threat to people in the global south, with the biggest danger to species native to low-income countries that rely heavily on fisheries in the tropics and subtropics, according to Boyce and his colleagues.
Meanwhile, reduced emissions — those consistent with the Paris Climate Agreement’s goals of keeping warming below 2 degrees — would cut the risk for about 98.2 percent of the analyzed species, according to the study.
The analysis is based on a combination 12 climate risk factors. Boyce and his team grouped them under the broader categories of sensitivity, exposure and adaptivity.
“Our findings show a reduced climate risk for virtually all species and ecosystems under the low emissions scenario,” Boyce wrote in a blog post for Carbon Brief. “Thus, sticking to the goals of the Paris Agreement would have substantial benefits for marine life, with the disproportionate climate risk for ecosystem structure, biodiversity hotspots, fisheries and low-income nations being greatly reduced or eliminated.” | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/nearly-all-marine-species-face-extinction-if-greenhouse-emissions-dont-drop-study/ | 2022-08-22T20:56:09Z |
Star-studded event will raise funds for life-saving health and education programs in Africa
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The GEANCO Foundation will hold its annual Hollywood Gala on Friday, September 30 at The 1 Hotel to raise funds for programs focused on vulnerable women and children in Nigeria.
Event proceeds will support GEANCO's David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship for Girls, which provides full tuition, housing, healthcare, and social care to young female victims of terrorism and gender inequality in Nigeria. This special scholarship uplifts and empowers brilliant girls in volatile, challenging circumstances. Donations will also underwrite the Foundation's November 2022 minimally-invasive surgical mission to Nigeria.
As said by Gala Co-Chair David Oyelowo: "With our help, these bright and resilient girls can blossom into Nigeria's most inspiring leaders in government, education, business, entertainment, and so much more. That is what these Leadership Scholarships are all about. We seek to nurture a generation of strong female trailblazers whose positive impact will be felt across Africa and around the world."
The Gala is supported by leading figures in the entertainment industry, such as Benedict Cumberbatch (Honorary Chair), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Gala Chair), David Oyelowo (Gala Chair), and previous Gala Honorees and Oscar winners Charlize Theron and Forest Whitaker. Previous Gala guests include actors Scott Eastwood (Wrath of Man), Ava DuVerney (director and Oscar-nominated writer) and Sam Adegoke (Dynasty). For a full list of past attendees, please see here.
"I am deeply honored by the strong support those both inside and outside of the entertainment industry have given us over the years," says Afam Onyema, GEANCO's Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "Our Hollywood Gala is critical to our efforts to save vulnerable mothers and infants and to educate and inspire young girls affected by terrorism. Our generous GEANCO family of supporters continues to make a powerful impact on the disrupted communities throughout Nigeria."
2022 GEANCO GALA DETAILS
While mingling with influential figures in the entertainment industry, guests will enjoy lively Nigerian music, a premium open bar featuring Nigeria's renowned Star Beer, and Africa-inspired gourmet hors d'oeuvres.
When: Friday, September 30 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: The Hotel 1 - 8490 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Register here: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTUxODkx
Sponsors include Netflix, Creative Artists Agency, Zegar Family Fund, Rush Imhotep (Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual), Gafni & Levin LLP, Star Beer USA, Amplify Africa, Round Hill Legal Search, and Graphic Design Partner Misfit.
About The GEANCO Foundation
An LA-based nonprofit, GEANCO saves and transforms lives in Africa. It organizes surgical missions and runs innovative maternal and infant health programs in Nigeria. Its David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship for Girls provides full tuition, healthcare, and social & psychological support to young female survivors of terrorism and gender inequality in the country.
For more information on The GEANCO Foundation, visit Geanco.org, and connect with the organization on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
@SOURCE The GEANCO Foundation
Media Contact
Noelle Amos / Allison McLarty
Edelman Smithfield
310-991-0067 / 646-270-6797
GEANCO@edelman.com
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SOURCE The GEANCO Foundation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/hollywood-luminaries-gather-geanco-foundation-gala/ | 2022-09-06T14:32:49Z |
Built to win championship, Lakers won’t even make playoffs
By DAVID BRANDT
AP Sports Writer
PHOENIX (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers made no secret they were a team built to win a championship this season. Instead, they won’t even make the playoffs. The Lakers were eliminated from the playoff race on Tuesday night after a 121-110 loss to the Phoenix Suns. Russell Westbrook scored 28 points, Antony Davis added 21 and LeBron James watched from the bench, nursing a sore ankle that kept him out for a second straight game. It remains to be seen if the Lakers’ star trio of Westbrook, Davis and LeBron James will all return for next season. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/04/06/built-to-win-championship-lakers-wont-even-make-playoffs/ | 2022-04-06T08:53:24Z |
ATLANTA — Outgoing State Rep. Winfred Dukes, D-Albany, has prevailed in a challenge to his eligibility to seek the office of Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture. Based on the evidence presented, the court concludes that Dukes is qualified to be a candidate for Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture.
In the recent hearing, Dukes was represented by Robert T. Trammel Jr.
“This is a great day for Georgia and for Georgians who seek to serve the people in elective office,” Dukes said in response to the ruling in his favor. “I believe the court has sent a clear message that candidates do not decide who can or cannot run for office in this state.”
In Juhan-Arnold v. Dukes, a petition before the State of Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings, Katherine Juhan-Arnold challenged Dukes’ qualification to be a candidate for the Commissioner of Agriculture office.
Pertaining to the order issued April 21, the decision by Administrative Law Judge Stephanie M. Howells states that, based upon the findings of facts and conclusions of law in this case, Dukes is qualified to be a candidate for Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture, and his name will remain on the ballot.
“I more than meet all the qualifications for this office,” Dukes said. “I am moving forward with a dynamic campaign team, great endorsements and strong community support. We look forward to serving the people of Georgia.
“Our goals are to create good-paying jobs with benefits, protect small- and mid-size farmers, expand markets, grow a healthy agribusiness sector, protect the environment, provide educational opportunities for youth, end food deserts (through sustainable agriculture, urban farming and providing access to healthy, locally grown food), and focus on the safety of foods on your tables.”
The best of the best from southwest Georgia were on hand at Pretoria Fields Brewing on Sunday for the annual Albany Herald Reader's Choice Awards. Click for more.
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Man charged in random Detroit shootings that killed 3
DETROIT (AP) — A 19-year-old man was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in a series of apparently random shootings over roughly two hours last weekend in Detroit that left three people dead and a fourth wounded.
Dontae Ramon Smith was expected to be arraigned later in the day in 36th District Court on the three murder counts as well as other charges, the Wayne County prosecutor’s office said. It wasn’t immediately known if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.
“It is not an overstatement to say that on Sunday morning ... this alleged defendant reigned real terror on the citizens northwest Detroit,” Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement while announcing charges. “Normal, everyday life was brought to a standstill as he moved east to his next victim.”
Police spent 12 hours searching for the man and peacefully arrested him Sunday at his home following a tip from someone close to him. Police said a gun was found that matched shell casings at the shooting scenes.
Detroit Police Chief James White has said the man may have a mental illness and “terrorized our community.”
Mayor Mike Duggan told reporters Monday that the man also may have been emboldened after not encountering officers following the first shooting about 4:45 a.m. Sunday when a 28-year-old man was slain less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from a police station. At that early hour, no calls were made to 911, Duggan said.
The prosecutor’s office said police found the man’s body in the doorway of a church.
About 30 minutes later someone called 911 after finding a woman shot about three blocks from the first shooting. She has not yet been identified.
Another woman, Lari Brisco, a 43-year-old single mother of five children, was waiting nearby for a city bus when she was shot multiple times. Both women died from their wounds.
Then, about 7:10 a.m., 76-year-old John Palik was shot in the leg while walking his dog. The dog was shot in a paw. Both survived.
Wallace Pleasant told WXYZ-TV that an armed bystander saw the fourth shooting and fired his own weapon at the suspect who then fled.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/31/man-charged-random-detroit-shootings-that-killed-3/ | 2022-08-31T16:33:28Z |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff said his conference is far from finished, despite the defections of Southern California and UCLA.
Kliavkoff confirmed the Pac-12 is actively exploring expansion and lobbed several feisty jabs at the Big 12 during an eventful opening speech at his conference’s football media day Friday — likely its last in the nation’s second-largest media market.
While painting a promising picture of the league’s future even after USC and UCLA leave for the Big Ten in 2024, Kliavkoff said the Pac-12 intends to keep its current members while entertaining new additions.
The commissioner also acknowledged frustration with the upheaval created by the defections, saying he had spent the past month “trying to defend against grenades being lobbed in from every corner of the Big 12 trying to destabilize our remaining conference.”
Kliavkoff responded to Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark’s recent declaration that his league was “open for business” in expansion by suggesting those moves could include Big 12 schools coming his way, instead of the opposite assumption.
“With respect to the Big 12 being open for business, I appreciate that,” Kliavkoff said. “We haven’t decided whether we’re going shopping there or not.”
“I understand why they’re doing it, when you look at the relative media value between the two conferences,” Kliavkoff added later. “I get it. I get why they’re scared, why they’re trying to destabilize it. I was just tired of that. That’s probably not the most collegial thing I’ve ever said.”
The Pac-12 has lost its Los Angeles flagships after nearly a century of history, and Kliavkoff acknowledged the widespread speculation about the long-term health of his comparatively underfunded West Coast conference. The commissioner insisted the Pac-12 will have a stronger base after its new media rights deal, and that footing could lead to expansion.
Kliavkoff understandably didn’t identify specific schools as candidates for expansion, although San Diego State has been repeatedly mentioned by others. He reiterated the league’s determination to keeping a football presence in the talent-rich, heavily populated end of California.
“Southern California is really important to us,” Kliavkoff said. “I think there are different ways of approaching staying part of Southern California. We may end up playing a lot of football games in LA.”
Kliavkoff speculated that the remaining Pac-12 schools are likely to get a significant boost in recruiting fertile Southern California in every sport except football, given that many Olympic sport athletes aren’t going to want to fly off to the Midwest and East Coast regularly for competition.
He reiterated that the Pac-12 expects to keep its remaining members despite widespread speculation about both the Big 12 and the Big Ten looking to expand. Oregon and Washington were linked to a future move to the Big Ten immediately after USC and UCLA announced their departures, while the Big 12 has been linked to many of the Pac-12 schools.
Kliavkoff is confident after holding “two board meetings a week for the last four weeks” with his members.
“Looking my colleagues in the eye, understanding their commitment, that their first priority is making sure that the Pac-12 survives, thrives and grows and is successful,” Kliavkoff said. “They’re committed to the conference.”
He also held open the door to a highly improbable return for UCLA: The public school has been ripped by California Gov. Gavin Newsom for the move, and the UC Board of Regents has ordered a review of the decision in a hearing scheduled for Oct. 17.
“I’d say UCLA is in a really difficult position,” Kliavkoff said. “There are a lot of constituents related to UCLA who are very, very, very unhappy with the decision. Student-athletes, the families of student-athletes. The faculty, the staff. The politicians, the fans, the alumni. … I can’t give you a percentage chance. I think it’s unlikely. But if they came back, we’d welcome them back.”
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/pac-12s-kliavkoff-jabs-big-12-touts-future-after-usc-ucla/ | 2022-07-29T17:51:42Z |
PITTSBURGH, June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a system for keeping track of personal items such as your keys or phone," said an inventor, from West Jordan, Utah, "so I invented the RILAK. My design helps to prevent lost and misplaced items."
The invention provides a quick and easy way to locate lost personal belongings. It can be used with keys, wallets, phones, remote controls or other items. As a result, it saves time and effort and it reduces the hassle and frustration associated with searching for lost items. The invention features a compact design that is easy to use so it is ideal for households and the general population.
The original design was submitted to the Salt Lake City sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-SGJ-148, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/24/inventhelp-inventor-develops-locating-system-lost-items-sgj-148/ | 2022-06-24T16:23:17Z |
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Chipmaker Micron’s planned $15 billion investment in a new factory in the company’s hometown of Boise will help protect the United States from the vulnerabilities of a globalized semiconductor market, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said Monday.
“It is time to get America making things again, with American parts and American labor,” Granholm told a crowd of about 250 guests and Micron workers invited to a tent-covered dirt field for a ceremonial groundbreaking. The event included setting off a ground-clearing explosion far from the crowd that emitted red, white and blue smoke.
The U.S. and Europe are pushing aggressively to build chipmaking capacity and reduce reliance on producers that are now mostly based in Asia. Semiconductor businesses have also been trying to diversify their operations to avoid bottlenecks caused by problems — such as a natural disaster or pandemic lockdown — in a specific region.
Micron officials said that the high desert, sagebrush steppe area east of Boise is expected to have the largest chipmaking cleanroom, or fab, in the U.S. by the end of the decade, covering 600,000 square feet (55,000 square meters) and creating 17,000 jobs. Construction is expected to start in 2023, with some cleanroom working space ready by 2025 and expanding in phases.
Micron is among the nation’s largest chipmakers, with product development sites in five other states and eight countries. Research and development is centered in Boise.
Sanjay Mehrotra, Micron’s president and chief executive officer, said the company is committed to investing in the Idaho community — with an emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education in both K-12 and higher education. He said the company would focus on reaching underrepresented and rural school populations.
Micron “will inspire young minds to build the STEM skills they need to succeed in our technology-based world,” he said.
In recent years, state Republican lawmakers have caused dismay among Idaho’s business community by launching attacks on public education spending, which succeeded in 2021 with a $2.5 million cut to universities despite a budget surplus.
Micron officials late last year announced plans to build a 500-worker, memory design center in Georgia, partly to take advantage of that area’s education system. That sent tremors through Idaho’s business and political landscape.
But earlier this year, lawmakers approved a record $300 million boost to education. And earlier this month, lawmakers added another $410 million from a budget surplus in a legislative special session that was called due to high inflation.
“We really needed this (semiconductor plant) in the U.S. and not overseas,” said Republican state Sen. Scott Grow, who attended Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony and has helped push through legislation beneficial to Micron. “To get a big outfit like this, and to get enough workers, we have to do all we can here in Idaho to help provide that kind of education so this can continue to grow, and they don’t have to just bring in people from out of state.”
Several chipmakers last year signaled an interest in expanding their American operations if the U.S. government is able to make it easier to build chip plants. Samsung said in November it plans to build a $17 billion factory outside of Austin, Texas, and Intel broke ground last week on a $20 billon new computer chip facility in Ohio.
Micron’s $15 billion investment was made possible by last month’s passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, a $280 billion bill aimed at bolstering U.S. competitiveness against China and avoiding another chip shortage like the one that derailed the auto and tech industries during the pandemic. The law sets aside $52 billion to bolster the semiconductor industry that, due to COVID-related supply chain constraints, has struggled to manufacture the chips.
Besides the CHIPS law, Micron also benefits from property tax breaks in Idaho. And lawmakers earlier this year passed legislation, signed by Republican Gov. Brad Little, that eliminates sales taxes on expensive equipment Micron will have to buy to produce the chips.
Of the 17,000 expected jobs, 2,000 will be employed directly by Micron, and 15,000 are expected to come from other companies working in support of the new plant.
LaMarr Barnes, chief executive officer of Tokyo-based Kurita, said this company will bid to help create the supply of ultra-pure water needed for chipmaking. If successful, he expects to hire several hundred workers for the Boise area.
“We’d love to be able to do the work for this new fab, and if we do, we’d have to hire quite a bit of engineering staff,” he said. | https://cw33.com/technology/ap-technology/ap-official-idaho-computer-chip-plant-makes-us-more-resilient/ | 2022-09-12T23:58:53Z |
Man in GoFundMe scam gets 27-month federal prison sentence
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey man who conspired with his then-girlfriend to cook up a feel-good story about a helpful homeless man and then used the lie to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations online was sentenced in federal court Friday to more than two years in prison.
Mark D’Amico will also have to serve three years probation once he completes his 27-month term. He also must pay restitution and undergo gambling, drug and mental health counseling.
Before being sentenced, D’Amico told U.S. District Judge Noel Hillman that he was a changed man, devoted to his family.
“The person that did the things that led us here no longer exists,” D’Amico said.
He had pleaded guilty before Hillman in Camden in November to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. An indictment unsealed in January 2020 charged D’Amico with a total of 16 counts of conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.
He had already pleaded guilty to charges in state court last year. His former girlfriend, Katelyn McClure, and homeless veteran Johnny Bobbitt Jr. previously pleaded guilty to state and federal charges. Bobbitt was sentenced to five years’ probation on state charges in 2019. Both are scheduled to be sentenced on the federal charges this year.
The trio made up a story in late 2017 about Bobbitt giving $20 to help McClure when her car ran out of gas in Philadelphia, according to prosecutors. D’Amico and McClure solicited donations through GoFundMe, purportedly to help Bobbitt, and conducted newspaper and television interviews. Investigators said D’Amico was the plot’s ringleader.
They eventually raised more than $400,000 in donations over about a month, according to investigators, who said almost no part of the tale was true. The group had met near a Philadelphia casino in October 2017 shortly before they told their story, prosecutors said.
Authorities began investigating after Bobbitt sued the couple, accusing them of not giving him the money. The federal criminal complaint alleged all of the money raised in the campaign was spent by March 2018, with large chunks spent by McClure and D’Amico on a recreational vehicle, a BMW and trips to casinos in Las Vegas and New Jersey.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/04/01/man-gofundme-scam-gets-27-month-federal-prison-sentence/ | 2022-04-02T13:50:33Z |
NEW YORK, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- INX Limited today announced the calculation of its cumulative Adjusted Operating Cash Flow as of December 31, 2021 and the pro rata portion of the Distributable Amount per INX Token.
These calculations are based on unaudited results of operations of the INX Limited and its subsidiaries.
Subject to the conditions described in the INX Token Purchase Agreement, commencing in calendar year 2021, each INX Token held by parties other than the Company, shall entitle its holder to receive a pro rata portion of an aggregate amount which equals 40% of INX Limited's cumulative Adjusted Operating Cash Flow, net of Adjusted Operating Cash Flows that have already formed a basis for a prior distribution (such amount, the "Distributable Amount").
The distribution to holders of the INX Tokens will be based on a final calculation of our cumulative Adjusted Operating Cash Flow and the pro rata portion of the Distributable Amount per INX Token. These final calculations will be provided at the same time that we file our annual report containing our audited financial statements, which may be provided up to 120 days after the last day of our fiscal year (December 31). We will publicly disclose the final calculations by filing such information on a Form 6-K, including such information within our Form 20-F or other annual report, issuing a press release and including the information on our website.
The distribution to INX Token Holders is a contractual obligation of the Company and a right of each INX Token holder of record as of March 31 of a year following a year end for which there was positive cumulative Adjusted Operating Cash Flow. However, the pro rata distribution of our cumulative Adjusted Operating Cash Flow is not self-executing and requires that our board of directors approve the Company's financial statements and calculate such distribution in good faith. Further, although the annual calculation of our cumulative Adjusted Operating Cash Flow will be based on information provided in the audited consolidated financial statements of INX Limited and its subsidiaries, neither the calculation of the cumulative Adjusted Operating Cash Flow nor any pro rata distributions thereof to token holders will be audited at the time of any distribution.
About INX:
INX Limited aims to provide a regulated trading platform for digital securities and cryptocurrencies, combining traditional markets expertise with a novel fintech approach. INX is led by an experienced team of business, finance, and blockchain technology experts unified by the vision of redefining the world of capital markets via blockchain technology and innovative regulatory approach.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "project," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "intends," or "continue," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our objectives, plans, and strategies; statements that contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition; statements relating to the research, development, and use of our products; and all statements (other than statements of historical facts) that address activities, events, or developments that we intend, expect, project, believe, or anticipate will or may occur in the future. Forward- looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties. We have based these forward-looking statements on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments, and other factors they believe to be appropriate. These statements are only current predictions and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. We discuss many of these risks in greater detail in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ending December 31, 2020, filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on April 29, 2021, including under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements." You should not rely upon forwardlooking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. Except as required by law, we are under no duty to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact:
Investor Relations
Email: investorrelations@inx.co
Douglas Borthwick
Chief Business Officer
Email: douglas.borthwick@inx.co
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SOURCE INX Limited | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/01/inx-reports-q4-2021-cumulative-adjusted-operating-cash-flow-pro-rata-portion-distributable-amount-per-inx-token/ | 2022-04-01T12:07:15Z |
10 states offering big incentives for filmmaking
guruXOX // Shutterstock
10 states offering big incentives for filmmaking
Creating a film is one of the most expensive expressions of art, with the average short film costing $700 to $1,500 per minute to make. Of course, feature films cost even more. Many times, movies are financed from various sources such as bank loans, private financing, and grants. Becoming familiar with tax credits can help save productions money, making a large film project a bit more attainable.
In order to boost in-state movie productions—which often help the local economy—each state across the U.S. offers tax benefits to filmmakers. The incentive packages vary from state to state, but many include production rebates, which reduce the costs of making movies, TV shows, and commercials, in some states. For independent filmmakers, the incentives also help entice potential investors. Soft money (funds that don’t need to be paid back) is oftentimes more appealing to investors as the risk of a low return on investment is a possibility.
California recently took efforts to bolster its film tax incentives when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that grants the state’s TV and film industry a surplus of $330 million in tax credits. This is in addition to the $330 million that the state already shells out to Hollywood for its current incentives program.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 saw a low volume of films in production between June 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021. Film release dates got pushed back and film crews were forced to adapt to new ways of working—and quickly. The industry however is bouncing back and in full force with some states expanding their film incentive tax credits.
Giggster researched filmmaking incentives state-by-state—from minimum spending per production to resident and nonresident tax incentives—and listed 10 of the states that are most financially beneficial to the filmmaking industry. Incentives in each state may include TV, commercial, or music video productions, which were taken into account when building this list.
John Dvorak // Shutterstock
California
Hollywood has long been considered the film mecca of the U.S. as its mild climate and diverse landscapes are ideal for outdoor filming. Filmmaking is one of the state’s biggest, most profitable industries, supporting over 700,000 jobs and close to $70 billion in wages for California employees. In the past five years, the state generated close to $21.9 billion in economical contributions, with an estimated cost of $1.5 billion to taxpayers through California’s Film and Television Tax Credit 2.0 Program.
Although there are efforts to focus on filming in the Los Angeles area, California’s Film and Television Tax Credit 3.0 Program includes an additional tax credit for nonindependent film projects that film beyond Los Angeles’ “30-mile studio zone.” In 2006, San Francisco created its own film incentive program called the “Scene in San Francisco” rebate program, which offers eligible productions a refund of up to $600,000 on fees paid to the city for scripted or nonscripted TV episodes, documentaries, or feature films.
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
Georgia
Georgia may be known for being one of the biggest international airline hubs in the nation, but another industry is becoming a profitable industry for the Peach State. In 2020 alone, despite worldwide production shutdowns, Georgia still managed to produce 234 TV and film productions. Georgia was the first state to develop a “best practices” outline during the COVID-19 pandemic for TV and film production, an effort created by the Georgia Film Office. Some popular productions filmed in Georgia include “Avengers: Endgame,” “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” and “Black Panther.”
Raymond Boyd // Getty Images
Illinois
A solid selection of cast and crew members, diverse location options for filming, and a recently expanded tax incentive program makes Illinois an ideal state for filmmakers. The Illinois Film Production Tax Credit program will expand to a $500,000 cap for eligible candidates, including both resident and nonresident compensation. Previously, the incentive only covered $100,000 for resident filmmakers. The new legislation goes into effect in July 2022.
This legislation could catapult Illinois’ film market into a billion-dollar industry. The Illinois Film Production Tax Credit Act was created in 2008 with a credit offer of 30% for eligible spending. Over the years, several productions have been filmed in Illinois including 2022’s “The Batman,” where parts of the Gotham City scenes were shot in Chicago.
Rotorhead 30A Productions // Shutterstock
Kentucky
When it comes to shooting a film in Kentucky, the state offers advantageous film incentives, making it one of the most affordable places in the U.S. for filming. Kentucky’s film incentive program was created in 2009, and at the time, film incentives were approved for 20% of spending. In 2015, lawmakers increased the amount to 35% for Kentucky residents and 30% for out-of-state workers. Over the years, productions such as “Mom and Dad” starring Selma Blair and Nicholas Cage and “The Stand-In” with Drew Barrymore have been filmed in Kentucky.
Trina Barnes // Shutterstock
Louisiana
Louisiana’s mild temperatures and high-value tax incentives have helped the state’s film industry to create new jobs and businesses. Louisiana also provides diverse filming locations in addition to massive soundstages and several post-production facilities. There’s even an additional 5% incentive for payroll for Louisiana residents, which is advantageous to the workers as well as the local economy. From Shreveport to New Orleans, some productions that have been filmed in Louisiana include “Queen Sugar,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” and “Girls Trip.”
MediaNews Group/Boston Herald // Getty Images
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts film tax credit, which provides a 25% tax credit on production costs, is scheduled to expire at the end of 2022. Productions that spend $50,000 or more in the state meet eligibility requirements for a 25% tax credit. And if filmmakers spend more than $50,000 on a production, they will receive an additional 25% payroll tax credit. Despite the proposed changes to the program, those in favor of the tax credit are pushing to make it permanent as many claim it brings jobs to the local economy. Over the years, Massachusetts has been a hidden gem for filmmakers. Movies filmed in the state include Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” and “CODA,” which took home the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2022.
Janelle Lugge // Shutterstock
New Mexico
New Mexico has become a booming destination for filming, with millions of dollars pouring into the state’s economy with generous tax incentives. Filmmakers can qualify for 25% tax rebates when they shoot projects in New Mexico. The Land of Enchantment also scored a huge win when Netflix announced plans to expand the state’s Albuquerque studio. Although infrastructure plans are still being finalized, there’s been documented reports that it’s a goal to have the studio completed by 2023. Netflix’s upcoming action-thriller “Trigger Warning,” starring Jessica Alba, is one of the latest films shot in New Mexico. The “Breaking Bad” spin-off “Better Call Saul” saw its sixth season also filmed in the state.
Education Images // Getty Images
New York
New York has often been a booming place for filmmakers. The state sets aside $420 million per year specifically to entice filmmakers. Up until 2026, if a film production budget exceeds $500,000, it is eligible for a 10% tax credit on labor expenses in most counties. Production companies may also be eligible for a 30% tax credit for production costs in New York state, but they can receive 5% more in tax credit if post-production took place outside of the city in upstate New York.
Large production companies are taking notice. In September 2021, streaming giant Netflix opened a 170,000-square-foot studio in Brooklyn, which includes six soundstages in addition to editing suites. Other companies scheduled for construction of new facilities include Broadway Stages and Steiner Studios, which would lead to more employment opportunities and boost business for local restaurants that would benefit from additional diners in the areas.
True Touch Lifestyle // Shutterstock
Washington
Washington state may have one of the smallest film incentive programs in the country but lawmakers are hoping to change that. Senate Bill 5760 would boost the Motion Picture Competitiveness Program funding from its annual $3.5 million to $15 million. This bill would also allow businesses to support Washington’s creative economy and promote film, commercial, and TV projects. Several filmmakers worked in Washington state to round out their productions, including titles such as “10 Things I Hate About You” and “The Ring.”
Real Window Creative // Shutterstock
West Virginia
West Virginia may not exactly evoke images of Hollywood glam, but it’s one of the states in the nation that’s becoming more appealing to filmmakers. This is partly due to the House Bill 2096, which provides financial incentives to filmmakers working on productions in the state, such as bringing back West Virginia’s film tax credit. With this tax credit, filmmakers could recoup up to 27% of funds spent on films, TV shows, and music videos in West Virginia that cost $50,000 or more to create. West Virginia previously had a tax credit that ended in 2018 after a government audit concluded the credit provided “minimal economic impact.” Supporters of the incentives, however, have expressed there are economic development benefits that can be brought to communities. Parts of the Oscar-winning classic “Silence of the Lambs” was filmed in West Virgina.
This story originally appeared on Giggster
and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. | https://localnews8.com/stacker-entertainment/2022/04/27/10-states-offering-big-incentives-for-filmmaking/ | 2022-04-28T07:14:04Z |
Telematics innovation comes as rising claim volumes seen across the insurance industry.
SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, USAA announced it is among the first auto insurance carriers to implement crash detection technology, an innovation that simplifies and expedites the claims process. This technology comes at a critical time as auto accidents have surged past pre-pandemic levels, exacerbating supply chain issues and delays being felt by consumers across the nation.
The crash detection technology, integrated in USAA's SafePilot® app, has generated more than 36,000 crash notifications since its November 2021 launch. The technology leverages smart phone sensors within the app to detect a possible collision and prompts the member to verify if an accident has occurred. Once verified, the app immediately offers helpful information, including safety guidance for the accident scene, the option to file a claim via a streamlined process, or the ability to dial 911 directly from the app.
"Ultimately this comes down to making sure our members are safe and helping them get back on their feet faster," says Luke Harris, USAA's Vice President of Innovation. "We're constantly looking for innovative ways to make our members' lives easier, something that USAA has been focused on for over 100 years. By using telematics and crash detection technology, we can provide a more seamless member experience and faster resolution to claims."
Collision Claims Surging to Pre-Pandemic Levels
As innovations in telematics improve the claims process, the insurance industry continues to deal with an increase in volume, severity and cost of auto accidents. USAA handled 500,000 more claims in 2021 than in 2020, a trend felt broadly as pandemic restrictions were lifted and more cars returned to the roads.
The severity of accidents is also on the rise. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced a 16-year high in traffic fatalities, raising concerns of increasing danger on roadways. With an increase in severe accidents, the cost of repairs has also risen significantly. In 2021, USAA saw collision repair costs rise 38% over 2020 and is currently on pace to see an additional 30% increase in 2022. Additionally, as inflation has impacted the price of goods and services, insurers are seeing increases in the cost to repair vehicles stemming from supply chain issues and parts and labor shortages.
Among these changes, telematics-based insurance plans have surged in popularity with USAA members as they search for ways to save money on their insurance premiums:
- SafePilot®, USAA's behavior-based insurance (BBI) plan, rewards safe-driving behaviors with premium discounts. Members who enroll are eligible for initial policy discounts up to 10% for signing up, and continued policy discounts up to 30% for safe driving behaviors. Driver enrollment is more than 200% higher than in 2021 for SafePilot® which is now available in 43 states plus Washington D.C., with plans to expand to nearly all states in 2023.
- USAA is also now offering pay-as-you-drive, a usage-based insurance (UBI) option that determines rates based on how much and how safely you drive. USAA acquired the product from Noblr, Inc. in 2021, and it is currently available in 10 states, with plans to expand to the majority of states in 2023. This product is becoming popular for members now working from home or who use other forms of transportation (i.e., bike, public transportation) as a primary means of travel.
To learn more about these offerings, visit USAA.com/drive.
About USAA
Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking, and investment and retirement solutions to more than 13 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, USAA has offices in eight U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs more than 38,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com.
Contact: USAA Media Relations
External_communications@usaa.com
210-498-0940
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SOURCE USAA | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/usaa-among-first-insurers-introduce-crash-detection-technology/ | 2022-08-17T17:35:16Z |
NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 5W Public Relations, one of the largest independently-owned PR firms in the U.S., announced today its expansion in the Israeli market making the agency one of the leading providers of PR services in the US, specifically for the Israeli tech community.
5W's Israeli client roster experience includes established global companies ironSource and SodaStream. In addition, 5W has represented dozens of high-growth companies including HiBob, JVP, PICO Partners, SparkBeyond, Kaltura, SOSA, Granulate, Kryon, BioCatch, Homeis, Ubimo, AuraAir, Dragontail Systems and MySizeID.
"Business growth in Israel is booming, especially in the tech community, which is an area we have been a leading specialist in for years," said Ronn Torossian, CEO and Founder at 5WPR. "We're proud of the impressive growth of our Israeli client roster and being the agency, our clients trust to promote their brands, not only in the North American market, but globally. Our team has done a phenomenal job of publicizing our client's often complex technologies, while simultaneously elevating their brand image and helping them through strategic moments such as funding rounds, acquisitions and customer expansion."
5W's team of experts have developed a specialty in high-growth tech communications campaigns. The teams handle major milestones, from launching products, developing strategic campaigns around mergers and acquisitions, fundraising and IPO's, through to building layered programs that bring clients into mainstream conversations.
About 5WPR
5W Public Relations is a full-service PR agency in NYC known for cutting-edge programs that engage with businesses, issues, and ideas. With more than 150 professionals serving clients in B2C (Beauty & Fashion, Consumer Brands, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Travel & Hospitality, Technology, Nonprofit), B2B (Corporate Communications and Reputation Management), Public Affairs, Crisis Communications and digital strategy, 5W brings leading businesses a resourceful, bold and results-driven approach to communication.
Media Contact
mcaiola@5wpr.com / 212.999.5585
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SOURCE 5W Public Relations | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/13/5wpr-expands-israel-practice-area/ | 2022-09-13T21:44:46Z |
Dave Chappelle donates show’s proceeds to mass shooting victims in Buffalo
Published: Jun. 7, 2022 at 10:37 AM CDT|Updated: 37 minutes ago
(CNN) - Comedian Dave Chappelle is donating all proceeds from his latest show to mass shooting victims in Buffalo, New York.
Shea’s Performing Arts Center says Chappelle performed stand-up there on Sunday.
The money from that show is going to the family members of the victims of the Tops Supermarket shooting, where 10 people were killed when a gunman opened fire May 14.
Three people were injured in the shooting.
The suspect in the shooting is facing 25 charges. If convicted, he could spend life in prison without parole.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/07/dave-chappelle-donates-shows-proceeds-mass-shooting-victims-buffalo/ | 2022-06-07T16:15:25Z |
SAN FRANCISCO, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Canix, a market-leading cannabis ERP seed-to-sale platform, has raised $10 million in funding from venture capitalists.
Canix launched in 2019 from Y Combinator and, in 2020, won TechCruch Disrupt Startup Battlefield. Both founders were also featured in Forbes 30 Under 30. Since then, Canix has expanded to serve 2,300 licenses across 15+ states and 6 countries.
Armed with the data, customer feedback, seasoned product team, and funding, Canix now has the tools to build the preeminent cannabis ERP. Recently built integrations such as Sage Intacct, product costing tools, and multi-facility management, have made Canix a must-have for large operations.
"This is a huge milestone for us. Our goal has always been to help businesses in the cannabis industry thrive," said Stacey Hronowski, Co-Founder and CEO of Canix. "The industry will experience unprecedented growth over the next 12 months. With that growth comes supply chain and logistical challenges. This backing allows us to keep up with that growth; further developing our product and providing operators with the best tools to run a profitable cannabis business."
This capital raise will spur the development of features for cultivation forecasting, material resource planning (MRP), warehouse management, and procurement. Additionally, it will provide a war chest for market expansion considering a number of states have recently passed legislation allowing recreational or medical cannabis, and several more are expected to pass this year.
"Software will have a profound impact on the trajectory and pace of the industry," said Artem Pasyechnyk, Co-Founder and CTO of Canix. "Our continued investment into innovative solutions to solve the unique problems of the cannabis space will allow us to unlock the full potential of the critical compliance and operational data that our customers have been gathering for years. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to turn all these data points into actionable insights and forecasts for the industry at large, and empower us all to thrive in the era of legalization."
Compliance in the cannabis industry is a nightmare for many producers creating inefficiencies across the supply chain. Canix simplifies compliance workflows to help scale operations and calculate profit-per-gram to give operators visibility into their businesses profit margin.
Additional features included in the platform are: live inventory management for sales teams, sales and invoice creation, harvest yield tracking, open API for data integrations, RFID scanning tools, non-cannabis inventory management, purchase order placement, manufacturing batch tracking, custom label creation, Task Management, and extensive reporting.
Visit https://www.canix.com/ to learn more about the industry-leading seed-to-sale platform today.
Canix is a cannabis ERP software and seed-to-sale platform for cannabis cultivators, manufacturers and distributors. Founded in 2019, the company serves both large commercial operations and standalone single-service operators. Canix provides a suite of tools for cannabis companies to operate efficiently and increase profit margins while remaining compliant with legislative authorities. With Canix, businesses have complete control over their real-time inventory and sales data. For more information about Canix, visit www.canix.com
Media Contact
Madison Hampton
Director of Marketing at Canix
Madison@canix.com
239-289-8618
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SOURCE Canix | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/canix-seed-to-sale-software-raises-10-million-series-funding-round/ | 2022-06-08T18:15:01Z |
MEXICO CITY, Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clip, Mexico's leading digital payment platform, today announced that it was named to Fast Company's 2022 Best Workplaces for Innovators list. The company earned the position of number 70 on the list of 100 companies.
Each year, Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators list recognizes companies from across the globe who empower employees at all levels to improve processes, create new products, or invent new ways of doing business. Winners are companies with measurable, visible results in their efforts to cultivate internal innovation that creates external impact.
"We are thrilled to be named to this year's list and honored to be recognized as a company that fosters a culture of innovation," said Victor Velazquez Patron, VP of People and Organization Development at Clip. "Clip is a company where ordinary people do extraordinary things, and this recognition from Fast Company is a testament to our rich company culture and strong company leadership."
Clip's spot on the list was determined based upon the company's measurable internal innovation; its investments to encourage and support internal innovation; efforts made to invest in human capital and bolster the innovation infrastructure in key markets; and the steps taken to foster a workplace culture where all employees feel empowered to innovate.
Submissions for the 2022 Best Workplaces for Innovators were individually evaluated by a team of Fast Company editors and reporters. Finalists were then reviewed by a panel of judges comprising editors, business leaders and other innovators, who recommended the winners for the final list.
Clip is the leading commerce and digital payment platform that is empowering businesses in Mexico to interact and transact with its consumers more effectively through innovative technologies, best-in-class customer service, and the ability to accept all payment methods digitally. The company has more than 800 employees with offices in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Salt Lake City, and Buenos Aires. For more information, visit www.clip.mx.
Social Media:
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram
Contact:
pr@payclip.com
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SOURCE Clip | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/clip-named-fast-companys-2022-best-workplaces-innovators-list/ | 2022-08-02T13:20:33Z |
Atlas expands its wind portfolio by acquiring a project from Voltalia in Brazil. This acquisition follows the recent announcement by the company of its proposed Alpaca wind portfolio in Chile. With this acquisition, Atlas continues to broaden its market offering to provide clients with a full suite of clean energy solutions.
SAO PAULO, June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlas Renewable Energy, an international renewable energy generator, acquired a wind project in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais from the French energy producer and provider Voltalia. The project, named Juramento, will have a generation capacity of 378 MW and will be composed of 63 wind turbines.
Juramento is Atlas Renewable Energy's second wind project, after the company announced the signing of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Enel Energía Chile last month for the development of the Alpaca wind portfolio (417 MW). Unlike Alpaca, Juramento does not have a PPA, and is open to any off-takers seeking renewable power in Brazil.
"With Juramento we continue to expand and diversify our product offering across all the regions where we operate," said Luis Pita, General Manager for Atlas Renewable Energy in Brazil. "This project is currently available for any large energy consumer looking for a PPA to transition from conventional sources of energy to renewable."
Juramento will generate 1,650 GWh per year, which is equivalent to benefiting 799,524 Brazilian families, preventing 123,750 tons of CO2 (est.) which could be compared to removing 49,500 cars from the streets of Sao Paulo. The structure of the transaction will be reviewed and finalized through Brazil's Administrative Council of Economic Defense (CADE) in the upcoming days.
About Atlas Renewable Energy
Atlas Renewable Energy is an international renewable energy generation company that has been developing, financing, constructing, and operating renewable energy projects throughout the Americas since early 2017. Atlas Renewable Energy includes an experienced team with the longest track record in the renewable energy industry in Latin America. The company is recognized for its high standards in the development, construction, and operation of large-scale projects.
Atlas Renewable Energy's growth is focused on the most stable markets in the region, using its proven expertise in development, marketing, and structuring to accelerate the transformation to clean energy. By actively engaging with the community and stakeholders at the heart of its strategy, the company works every day to deliver a cleaner future.
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1839397/Atlas_Renewable_Energy.jpg
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SOURCE Atlas Renewable Energy | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/atlas-renewable-energy-broadens-market-offering-by-acquiring-its-first-wind-project-brasil/ | 2022-06-14T14:46:57Z |
These modern additions give designers even more options to create sophisticated metal designs in commercial environments
CINCINNATI, July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Formica Corporation announces the expansion of its popular DecoMetal® Laminates line with seven new designs. As designers continue to give a nod to Art Deco styling by using luxe metal looks in commercial projects, these new additions add even more unique metal finishes for use in vertical surface applications, expanding the possibilities of metal surfacing designs.
"From reception desks and bars to entire statement walls, we've loved seeing the beautiful applications designers have found for our well-loved DecoMetal® collection," said Renee Hytry Derrington, managing principal, North American Design, Formica Corporation. "These new additions were designed to make the collection even more versatile to help fulfill the increasingly elegant and unique visions of the future."
The new designs include four printed solid metal options – solid aluminum sheets artistically detailed and textured with a protective finish – as well as three metal laminate designs that use metal foils as the decorative surface.
Zinc Patina and Oxidized Silver Patina: Channeling the beautiful natural effects of weathering and age on metals, the two Patina series additions are usable in both modern and traditional environments. Zinc Patina offers a warm silver-gray finish and Oxidized Silver Patina brings a bolder and dramatic de-silvered, blackened visual.
Platinum Linework and Black Linework: Finely detailed with rippling vertical line weights, the Linework design emulates the ribbed panel trend. This design is available in a warm silver look or with a popular blackened effect.
Antique Rubbed Copper: A timeless metal visual, the Rubbed effect utilizes a decorative, hand-rubbed oil technique on real copper foils for a classically crafted finish.
Woven Argent and Woven Brass: The linen-like fabric texture of the Woven series brings a rich tactile experience to silver and brass foils.
For more information about the latest DecoMetal® Laminate designs, visit formica.com/decometal2022.
Founded in 1913, Formica Corporation, part of the Formica Group of companies, is a leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of innovative surfacing products for commercial and residential applications. For more information about Formica Corporation, its products, special programs and promotions, visit www.formica.com or call 1-800-FORMICA™.
Formica Group is a global group of companies consisting of Formica Canada Inc., Formica Corporation, Formica de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Formica IKI Oy, Formica Skandinavien AB, Formica Limited, Formica S.A., Formica S.A.S., Formica Taiwan Corporation, Formica (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Formica (Asia) Ltd., Formica Decorative Materials (China) Co., Ltd. and Homapal GmbH, among others.
Please Note:
Formica®, Formica® Laminate, DecoMetal® and the Formica® Anvil Logo are registered trademarks of The Diller Corporation. 1-800-FORMICA™ is a trademark of The Diller Corporation. All rights reserved. ©2022 The Diller Corporation.
Media Contact:
Owen Serey
Formica Corporation
513-786-3121
owen.serey@formica.com
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SOURCE Formica Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/formica-corporation-expands-decometal-laminates-with-seven-new-designs/ | 2022-07-18T16:21:39Z |
$1,000,000 donation continues to move 22-year collaboration forward
CASCO, Maine, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Camp Sunshine is pleased to announce a $1,000,000 gift from the New Balance Foundation. This donation will endow one entire session at Camp Sunshine in perpetuity. The funds will forever provide families with the opportunity to meet others on similar journeys and to re-group, re-energize and restore hope for the future. Camp Sunshine is a free, year-round retreat in Casco, Maine for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Each New Balance Foundation session will host as many as 40 families, which equates to approximately 80-100 children and 150-170 total family members. This year's New Balance Foundation session at Camp Sunshine was hosted September 2-5.
This generous gift is the latest in what has been a longstanding relationship between Camp Sunshine and the New Balance Foundation that began two decades ago. "This is one of Camp Sunshine's longest-standing collaborative efforts and it continues to be a motivator for all of us here at Camp to be aligned with a corporate foundation that is so invested in giving back," said Anna Gould, Camp Sunshine's Founder & Board Chair.
The Foundation's support of Camp Sunshine began in 2000 when it sponsored two families to attend the program as part of the Miracle Marathon and grand opening of Camp Sunshine's Anna & Larry Gould Campus. Soon after, factory and outlet store associates began to volunteer at Camp on an annual basis. In 2006, the Foundation committed $250,000 to Camp Sunshine's Endowment and in 2009, an additional $250,000 Brick Walkway Matching Challenge was completed, and the walkway named in the New Balance Foundation's honor. The New Balance Foundation later matched donations up to $300,000 to celebrate Camp Sunshine's 30th Anniversary in 2014. To date, the New Balance Foundation has donated nearly $2,000,000 to Camp Sunshine.
"Our goal at Camp Sunshine is to create communities of support for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, and the continued support of the New Balance Foundation ensures that families will be able to experience the magic of Camp Sunshine for years to come," said Michael Katz, Camp Sunshine's Executive Director.
"Camp Sunshine is a pillar of strength in our Maine communities. The Camp's commitment to families, patients and communities is unprecedented and New Balance and New Balance Foundation is proud to stand by Camp Sunshine's vision. The Camp's programs continue to grow, and their ability to host families facing a wide range of serious illnesses is tremendous. New Balance Foundation is proud to invest in Camp Sunshine's future with a meaningful gift that will benefit families for years to come," said Anne Davis, managing trustee, New Balance Foundation.
Founded in 1984, Camp Sunshine provides retreats combining respite, recreation and support, while enabling hope and promoting joy, for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families through the various stages of a child's illness. www.campsunshine.org
The New Balance Foundation mission is to drive change in our global communities with an enduring commitment to preventing childhood obesity and championing the future success of today's youth. Since 1981, New Balance Foundation has granted more than $120M to charity, investing in research, and clinical, educational and community programs that promote healthy lifestyles, children's fitness and nutrition, and overall community wellness. www.newbalancefoundation.org
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SOURCE Camp Sunshine at Sebago Lake, Inc | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/new-balance-foundation-provides-one-million-reasons-celebrate/ | 2022-09-14T11:56:50Z |
Confirm your spot now to learn how to create content worth sharing with step-by-step guidance from MKBHD
SAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MasterClass, the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world's best across a wide range of subjects, today announced that Marques Brownlee is joining Sessions by MasterClass, a structured, 30-day curriculum where members learn meaningful skills through hands-on experience, step-by-step demonstration and an engaged community. From ideation to filming, lighting and performing for the camera, Brownlee's session will teach members how to create engaging videos that connect with their viewers on any platform. Enrollment for Brownlee's session is available starting today; the class goes live on June 10.
"With over 15 million followers and 3 billion views, Marques' reviews and tutorials have awarded him the title Creator of the Decade," said David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass. "Whether members want to learn video creation as a side hustle or up the quality of their existing videos, this session will give them the tools to create engaging content. Marques demos equipment options for every budget and skill level, creating sample videos to guide members along the way."
MasterClass members will be able to follow Brownlee's process on producing epic videos, from idea to execution, and complete hands-on assignments. The session is broken down into five sections:
- Starting Your Process: After a brief recap of his career making videos, Brownlee will guide members through how to pick their next video idea and complete the preproduction planning.
- Creating the Best Videos: Members will practice the tactical skills they will need to produce high-class videos, including lighting techniques, framing and composition.
- Connecting With Your Audience: Brownlee will teach members how to create content that engages their audience. They will practice finding ideal eyelines, learn how to utilize microphones and capture on-camera performances.
- Creating Better Visuals: Members will discover how to source and incorporate stock footage to further tell their story and shoot sample B-roll. Then they will learn the basic editing skills needed to bring visuals to life in their videos.
- Packaging Your Videos: Brownlee will provide pro tips on choosing titles and thumbnails that pull in viewers. Members will walk away from this section with a final packaged video that is ready to post to any platform.
"I believe making videos, especially independent creation, is the best medium for expressing the most engaging story possible," Brownlee said. "As a self-taught video creator, my class teaches members both the fundamentals and nuances of making engaging videos that will both build a following and empower them to create video content that they love."
Brownlee, also known as MKBHD, is a highly successful YouTuber and tech video creator with more than 15 million subscribers and almost 3 billion views. Brownlee made his first technology video at age 14 and began posting his videos as a hobby in high school. Since, he has grown one of the most subscribed-to technology-focused YouTube channels where he shares product reviews, explainer videos and interviews. Over the years, he has interviewed a variety of high-profile people, including Elon Musk, Bill Gates and President Barack Obama to discuss their perspectives on the latest in tech. In 2018, Brownlee was named the Creator of the Decade at the Shorty Awards.
Embed & view the trailer here: https://youtu.be/vlWBa7iqEZg
Download stills here: https://brandfolder.com/s/7975p9npgkfp6rfh9j27
Credit: Courtesy of MasterClass
MasterClass is the streaming platform where the world's best come together so anyone, anywhere, can access and be inspired by their knowledge and stories. With an annual membership, members get unprecedented access to 150+ instructors and classes across a wide variety of fields, including Arts & Entertainment, Business, Design & Style, Sports & Gaming, Writing and more. Step into Nas' recording studio, Gordon Ramsay's kitchen and go behind the big screen with James Cameron. Design your career with Elaine Welteroth, get ready to win with Lewis Hamilton, perfect your pitch with Shonda Rhimes and discover your inner negotiator with Chris Voss. Each class features about 20 video lessons, at an average of 10 minutes per lesson. You can learn and discover at a pace that best serves your lifestyle—in bite-size pieces or in a single binge, on mobile, tablet, desktop, Android™ TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku® players and devices. Cinematic visuals and close-up demonstrations make you feel like you're one-on-one with the instructors, while the downloadable class guides help reinforce your learning. For those looking to learn by doing, Sessions by MasterClass offers a structured, 30-day curriculum where members can roll up their sleeves, get hands-on and learn meaningful skills through step-by-step guidance from world-class instructors and an active community of peers. With MasterClass at Work, companies can keep their employees engaged and boost morale and motivation with immersive, short-form lessons from the world's best.
Twitter @masterclass
Instagram @masterclass
Facebook @masterclassofficial
Twitter @mkbhd
Instagram @mkbhd
Facebook @mkbhd
YouTube @mkbhd
Media Contact:
Tawnya Bear, MasterClass
press@masterclass.com
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SOURCE MasterClass | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/masterclass-announces-content-creator-marques-brownlee-teach-how-make-compelling-videos-that-go-viral/ | 2022-06-06T14:15:30Z |
Chris Rock didn’t want Will Smith removed after awards show slap, Oscars producer Will Packer says
By Lisa Respers France, CNN
Like many people who watched the encounter that ended with Will Smith slapping Chris Rock on stage Sunday at the Academy Awards ceremony, Oscars lead producer Will Packer thought it was a planned bit.
But as Smith — angered by a joke Rock told about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith — yelled obscenities from the audience before he walked on stage to confront Rock, Packer realized it was real.
“Once I saw Will yelling at the stage with such vitriol, my heart dropped,” Packer told ABC’s “Good Morning America’s” TJ Holmes in an exclusive interview that aired Friday. “And I just remember thinking, ‘Oh no. Oh, no. Not like this.'”
“And Chris was keeping his head when everybody else was losing theirs.”
Packer gave insight into what swiftly has become one of the most famous and controversial moments in Academy Awards history.
Right after the incident, Academy leaders asked Smith to leave by way of his publicist, but he refused, it has said. Packer was told Smith was about to be physically removed, and he went to Academy leaders on site and told them Rock didn’t want that to happen, the producer told “GMA” on Friday.
“I said, ‘Rock has made it clear that he does not want to make a bad situation worse,'” Packer said. “That was Chris’ energy. His tone was not retaliatory, his tone was not aggressively angry, and so I was advocating what Rock wanted in that time, which was not to physically remove Will Smith at that time.”
Stage encounter left producer ‘devastated’
The first-time Oscars producer had “never felt so immediately devastated like I did in that moment,” as he watched Smith slap Rock, Packer said, then rushed to Rock as he exited the stage to confirm Smith indeed had struck him.
“I said, ‘Did he really hit you?'” Packer recounted. “And he looked at me, and he goes ‘Yeah.’ He goes, ‘I just took a punch from Muhammad Ali,’ as only Chris Rock can. He was immediately in joke mode, but you could tell that he was very much in still shock.” Smith portrayed the famed boxer in the 2001 film “Ali.”
The show was going well up until the point of the slap, Packer said, and he credited Rock’s composure with having helped salvage the remaining portion of the show.
“Because Chris handled the moment with such grace and aplomb it allowed the show to continue,” Packer said. “Because Chris continued the way he did, he completed the category [best documentary], he handed the trophy to [winner] Questlove – who is somebody else I feel was really robbed of their moment – it gave us license in a way to continue the show which is what we were trying to do.”
Los Angeles Police Department officers soon came into Packer’s office, he told “GMA,” and said to Rock: “This is battery” and that they were prepared to arrest Smith that night.
Police said, “‘We will go get him. We are prepared. We are prepared to get him right now. You can press charges. We can arrest him,'” Packer said. “As they were talking, Chris was … being very dismissive of those options. He was, like, ‘No, I’m fine.’ He was, like, ‘No, no, no.'”
There has been controversy over the standing ovation Smith received for winning the best actor award for “King Richard” moments after he slapped Rock.
But Packer said he has a different perspective and believes that people were celebrating Smith, not the action he had just taken.
“I think that the people in that room who stood up stood up for somebody who they knew,” Packer said. “Who was a peer, who was a friend, who was a brother who has a three-decades-plus long career of being the opposite of what we saw in that moment.”
Smith publicly apologized to Rock the next day via social media. Smith also reached out the next morning to Packer, apologized and expressed his embarrassment, the producer said.
The Academy has initiated “disciplinary proceedings” against Smith.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/entertainment/cnn-entertainment/2022/04/01/chris-rock-didnt-want-will-smith-removed-after-awards-show-slap-oscars-producer-will-packer-says-2/ | 2022-04-01T15:13:13Z |
- Company heightens vegetation management practices to protect endangered wildflower, threatened lizard in Marion County
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its commitment to support the vitality of a healthy ecosystem, Duke Energy Florida has aligned efforts with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), among other agencies, to protect a population of federally endangered wildflowers in central Florida.
Earlier this spring, Duke Energy environmental scientists joined various agencies and stakeholders to maximize the preservation and protection of the federally endangered clasping warea (Warea amplexifolia) and the federally threatened sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) found in an unincorporated community in Marion County, near Ocklawaha.
The annual wildflower occurs nowhere else in the world other than the central ridges in Florida, with the Ocklawaha population being among one of the largest of identified populations. By protecting the plant's habitat, the team is supporting other species that depend on it, like the sand skink.
"Powering the lives of our communities extends far beyond keeping the lights on for our customers," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "Duke Energy is proud to work alongside our community allies to protect Florida's most-treasured species and the habitats they depend on."
A first for Duke Energy in Florida, the company is installing "sensitive habitat" management signage within its rights-of-way corridors to alert contractors and crews working in these areas. The company has also shifted its vegetation management practices to limit mowing and lower the volume of herbicide used in targeted areas to help the plants grow and flourish.
"Duke Energy Florida's willingness to support management of the endangered clasping warea on its lands alongside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program speaks volumes," said USFWS' Partners for Fish and Wildlife/Coastal Program Coordinator Chad Allison. "The cooperation inspires and engages a network of state and federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and private landowners alike proving conservation and industry can not only coexist but can ultimately thrive."
The collaboration furthers Duke Energy and Duke Energy Foundation's commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement. Since 2015, the Duke Energy Foundation has provided more than $188,000 in grants to the Rare Plant Conservation program at Bok Tower Gardens to establish new populations of the clasping warea through seed preservation, habitat quality improvements, biological research and increasing plant numbers in the wild.
Among the project team leading these efforts are Duke Energy Florida, USFWS, Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS), Bok Tower Gardens, FNPS-Marion Big Scrub Chapter, Putnam Land Conservancy, as well as volunteers and private landowners.
The team will continue to engage landowners in the area, bringing awareness to the ways they can support and protect the species now and in the future.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at facebook.com/usfwssoutheast, follow our tweets at twitter.com/usfwssoutheast, watch our YouTube channel at youtube.com/usfws, and download photos from our Flickr page at flickr.com/photos/usfwssoutheast.
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000 people.
Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business and at least a 50% carbon reduction from electric generation by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The 2050 net-zero goals also include Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 emissions. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2022 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Duke Energy media contact: Audrey Stasko
Cell: 315.877.3031
Media line: 800.559.3853
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service media contact: Renee Bodine
Phone: 352.451.8126
Email: renee_bodine@fws.gov
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SOURCE Duke Energy | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/duke-energy-ramps-up-environmental-efforts-joins-forces-protect-vulnerable-wildlife-florida/ | 2022-07-21T18:44:42Z |
IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Motor Corporation has just unveiled its Collaborative Adventure Mobility Platform (CAMP) featuring Rolling Stone Korea, Free & Easy, DMOS Collective Inc., Equipt Expedition Outfitters, Onyx Coffee Lab, KC Lights, and Black Rhino Wheels alongside the Adventure Series REX™. Watch the unveiling of The Alpha CAMP at https://youtu.be/qUQWrbxPdyg.
CAMP is a result of Alpha's unique automotive process that opens new ways to experience products and builds upon the Move Humanity™ culture of community innovation. It creates an engaging platform to streamline sharing of ideas, complete technical development, and contribute to finding solutions in sustainability.
Digital twin is a virtual creation that is identical to an existing physical object or experience in real-time. The origin of a digital twin speaks to Alpha's initiative to make industrialization more efficient, responsible, and sustainable through virtual validation.
Alpha has been leading EV development through Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) and CAMP is an industry first virtual experience of amazing brands that are collaboratively shaping the future of mobility culture. Throughout the CAMP site, featured brands showcase a digital twin of physical products that are available for purchase at each respective online store.
Rolling Stone Korea (https://rollingstone.co.kr) - Global Entertainment Network
"CAMP by Alpha Motors is an innovative platform that represents the future of 'Move Humanity' culture. This digital creation goes beyond the EV industry and creates new possibilities through virtual travel. We are excited for this collaboration and look forward to people enjoying the CAMP experience," said Ray Yeom, Founder and CEO of e.L.e Media.
Umbrella SS Tee by Free & Easy (https://www.freeandeasy.com) - LA Fashion Icon
"Alpha motors' vision for the future and emphasis on forward-thinking sustainability is a breath of fresh air for the automotive industry and the world. By entering the outdoor recreational space, Alpha makes a natural progression from their already innovative approach to EVs. Nothing sounds better than experiencing the beauty of nature without leaving a heavy footprint," said Kevin Circosta, Founder of Free and Easy.
Delta Pro Shovel by DMOS Collective (https://dmoscollective.com) - 2022 SEMA Launchpad Semifinalist
"We are delighted to work with Alpha Motor and the CAMP platform. It gives us a chance to work with some of the best in automotive aftermarket in a co-creative space which accelerates our design thinking to better achieve our mission to make people their own hero with mission-ready gear that is always at hand and never in the way," said Susan Pieper, Founder and CEO of DMOS Collective, Inc.
Alubox by Equipt Expedition Outfitters (https://www.equipt1.com) - Equipment Built Better with Exceptional Craftsmanship
"Equipt is thrilled to be participating in the Alpha CAMP Project. We are one of the oldest US importers of premier overlanding equipment, including Alubox aluminum storage cases from Denmark. Alubox is a great example of elegant form and function, and fits perfectly with the Adventure Series REX," said Paul May, Founder and Owner of Equipt Expedition Outfitters.
Move Mug by Onyx Coffee Lab (https://onyxcoffeelab.com) - Finding the Best Coffee, Never Settle for Good Enough
"We are always looking for innovative partnerships that align with our sustainable values and quest for unmatched quality," said Jon Allen co-founder of Onyx Coffee Lab. "We strive to push the boundaries of coffee, producing the best of the best, and we see the same pursuit in what Alpha Motors is creating."
Gravity® Pro6 by KC Lights (https://www.kchilites.com) - Defy Limits and Adventure Further®
"At KC, our heritage is deeply rooted in off-road racing since the 1970s and our products continue to defy the limits of engineering norms. Sometimes that works in our favor and sometimes it fails, but we learn. Our Gravity® Pro6 initially failed in trial runs, but it ultimately set the standard for branded circular LEDs and linkable light bars. In the spirit of this, we are excited to be part of Alpha Motor Corporation's CAMP as we continue to Defy Limits in the digital world and IRL," said Randy Wimenta, Marketing Activation Manager
All New Fuji Wheels by Black Rhino Wheels (https://www.blackrhinowheels.com) - Engineered to Explore
"We are excited to continue our partnership with Alpha Motor Corporation with another collaborative build effort. Given Black Rhino Wheels' strong history in the overland market, the CAMP is a perfect platform to showcase the all-new Black Rhino Fuji wheel design and engineering," said Scott Chu, Marketing Manager Wheel Pros
Adventure Series REX™ (www.alphamotorinc.com) - Move Humanity in Utility, Adventure, and Sport EVs
"The Adventure Series REX™ is an electric car that brings people and nature together," said Alpha Motor Corporation.
The Adventure Series REX™ pure electric SUV stands 1720mm (68in) tall, 1900mm (78in) wide, and 4828mm (190in) long on BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM3 Tires mounted on 17-inch Black Rhino Fuji Wheels.
Traditional doors are replaced with two full-sized tubular doors mounted with a stunning Racing Red DSMO Delta Pro Shovel, which complements the Adventure Series REX™ - unveiled in Kings Canyon Ivory, inspired by Kings Canyon National Park located in Fresno, California.
The rear cabin of the adventure-seeking electric SUV is removed driving and reinforced with a rigid triangular bed bar to enjoy open car driving. A large cargo basket is installed on the rooftop which can store up to two beautiful 42L Alubox aluminum cases by Equipt Expedition Outfitters while the front is equipped with a line of GRAVITY LED® PRO6 Lights that will further guide adventures.
The REX™ interior features four passenger bench configuration seating with foldable and rears seats which are removable to accommodate over-sized cargo. Spacious storage compartments are located both underneath the hood and rear hatch of the vehicle which features an estimated 14 cubic feet of storage. The vehicle interior also integrates several advanced features, including a driver-centric digital speedometer, a digital center display, optional haptic interior climate and audio controls, digital sound system, dual 63mm diameter (2.5in) center console integrated cup holders, and AC power plugs amongst other features.
Alpha's modern teardrop form trailer is attached behind the pure electric 400V all-wheel drive REX™ platform. The trailer doors open to a spacious mattress and plaid seat cushions that provide additional comfort. A closed upper storage bin flows into the ceiling and utility hooks are installed around the inner structure to easily store your favorite Free and Easy apparel, backpacks, and other outdoor gear.
The front interior wall of the trailer is mounted with a slim folding shelf for convenient placement of items including the Move Mug by Onyx Coffee Lab that preserves hot or cold brew on the go. Modular LED lanterns are positioned for easy access and can be assembled vertically to create a tall standing lamp for nighttime visibility. Above the trailer is a lightweight rooftop tent with a side ladder entry that can comfortably accommodate 4 people.
Outside the SUV trailer assembly is a grille set, foldable picnic table, and a yurt with textiles matching the roof top tent. The fabric walls of the yurt are removable which opens the inner space to nature. Inside the airy yurt is a plush California King Size platform bed and a relaxing environment to browse the latest in global entertainment news from Rolling Stone Korea.
CAMP communicates a balance of art and science by digitally reimagining Summer inspired by outdoor adventure. Alpha also tells this story through digital creation of memorabilia.
"We featured a special guitar in CAMP to represent cars and music live together. The digital twin of my grandfathers' old 1938 Gretsch guitar symbolizes the influence of music in my life. Alpha's virtual counterpart is authentic to the original and I am hoping to pass this one-of-a-kind guitar on to my kids someday knowing that my grandfathers' legacy will live on forever," said Joshua Boyt, Head of Business Development at Alpha Motor Corporation.
"Sharing valuable memories is an emotional experience and plays an important role in Alpha's industrialization process. We express human artistry in a more sustainable way to further automotive technology. It is the new generation's responsibility to push boundaries and honor people who have contributed to industrial innovation in the past. This is the soul and DNA of Alpha," said Alpha Motor Corporation.
"Alpha's advanced application of virtual validation vertically integrates the automotive value chain. It goes beyond producing beautiful cars, it improves safety, optimizes process, and saves resources to enable access to high quality EVs for the mass market. We are excited to collaborate with forward-thinking brands to revolutionize the industry and bring focus to a healthier and more sustainable future," said Alpha Motor Corporation.
Additional information on the Adventures Series REX™ are available at https://www.alphamotorinc.com.
Please contact pr@alphamotorinc.com for more information.
SOURCE: Alpha Motor Corporation
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SOURCE Alpha Motor Corporation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/alpha-motor-corporation-unveils-camp-collaborative-adventure-mobility-platform-an-innovative-digital-twin-experience/ | 2022-08-08T16:51:30Z |
UVALDE, Texas (KXAN) — More calls to fire the Uvalde school district’s police chief came during Monday night’s school board meeting.
A handful of people made their appeals to school board members, including family members of those murdered during the mass shooting.
“We were failed by Pete Arredondo. He killed our kids, teachers, parents and city, and by keeping him on your staff, y’all are continuing to fail us,” said Brett Cross, identifying himself as a father of a murdered student.
Cross added he still has kids in the school district, and all of them are scared. So is he.
“Having Pete still employed, knowing he is incapable of decision-making that saves lives, is terrifying,” he said. “Do what is right. Remove Pete from employment.”
A few days after the attack, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw said Arredondo made the wrong call when, acting as commander on the scene, he told officers to wait to breach the shooter’s classroom.
“I find it shameful that we had almost 100 officers on the scene, and I had to leave work and save my own,” said another parent, Angeli Gomez.
Another man said he was there on behalf of friends and family.
“How is Mr. Arredondo still with the program? How is he still employed?” he said. “It’s an insult to injury, because people are in pain, and you allow this to happen.”
It’s the second meeting since the May 24 tragedy, when an 18-year-old killed 19 students and two teachers.
At the last meeting, the superintendent announced no one would return to Robb Elementary, the site of the massacre, and UCISD was working on another location to send students.
Javier Cazares, the father of murdered student Jacklyn Cazares, pointed out security protocols on Monday he said he had gotten from UCISD in the past and pointed to what he thought were flaws in them.
“Every campus has a team to identify and address potential threats,” Cazares read. “Who was that team and when was the last time they came?”
Another man, who identified himself as victim Amerie Jo Garza’s father, cried as he recounted trying to convince officers to let him inside Robb Elementary.
“I had officers from the department look me in the eye, because I was trying so hard to get in there and ask me to trust them,” he said. “How are we supposed to continue our lives here, knowing that those people that are supposed to protect us let down our family?”
He said he and other families want accountability.
“There are so many questions that everybody obviously has, you know, if he was in charge, why didn’t he have a master key? Why didn’t they go in?” said Garza’s father.
“Most of these parents don’t want to be here. But we’re here because we have to speak for our children, because they can’t speak for themselves, anymore. So please, just do us a favor, and do what you know is right, and make these people accountable for what happened,” he said.
UCISD school board members went into a closed session around 8:15 p.m. Items listed for discussion on the agenda included security personnel, security devices and a possible security audit. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/he-killed-our-kids-families-call-for-uvalde-schools-police-chiefs-termination-during-meeting/ | 2022-06-21T17:23:12Z |
Ed Tech company expresses disappointment with flawed ruling and will continue to pursue justice.
CHANDLER, Ariz., June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- (Nasdaq: ZVO) Zovio, an education technology services company that partners with higher education institutions and employers, announced today it has filed a notice of appeal of the March 2022 decision of the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego awarding statutory penalties in favor of the California Attorney General.
Zovio is appealing because it believes the trial court's decision is flawed and the penalties ordered by the court are excessive. The court's assessed penalty amounts were based on a questionable statistical extrapolation of a scant 126 phone calls from millions of calls that were made. The court also failed to make any findings on Zovio's net worth, and we believe the penalties awarded are grossly disproportionate and excessive under both statutory and constitutional standards.
"While we work to ensure the truth about our record is brought to light, Zovio continues to move forward with our plans to turnaround the company and maintain our focus on serving our clients and their students," said Vickie Schray, Zovio's Chief External Affairs Officer.
About Zovio
Zovio (Nasdaq: ZVO) is an education technology services company that partners with higher education institutions and employers to deliver innovative, personalized solutions to help learners and leaders achieve their aspirations. The Zovio network, including Fullstack Academy, leverages its core strengths to solve priority market needs through education technology services. Using proprietary advanced data analytics, Zovio identifies the most meaningful ways to enhance the learner experience and deliver strong outcomes for higher education institutions, employers, and learners. Zovio's purpose is to help everyone be in a class of their own. For more information, visit www.zovio.com.
Contact: Vickie Schray
vickie.schray@zovio.com
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SOURCE Zovio | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/zovio-announces-filing-appeal-california-case/ | 2022-06-10T21:55:07Z |
SAN DIEGO, June 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The first lawsuit was filed today in the Superior Court of California in San Diego County, against FreshKampo, a foreign corporation: Meridian Fine Foods, LLC, on behalf of David Arthur and Michelle Brown, and their daughter. The Arthur-Brown family became ill with hepatitis A after consuming FreshKampo branded strawberries. The plaintiffs are represented by Marler Clark, a Seattle based food safety law firm, and local counsel, Frederic L. Gordon. Confirmation #26754167.
The Arthur-Brown family purchased and later consumed FreshKampo strawberries on April 16, 2022, and April 25, 2022. Michelle Brown began to experience symptoms of a hepatitis A infection on or about May 5, 2022, and her daughter followed soon after on May 8, 2022. They both suffered from diarrhea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and digestion issues.
David Arthur began to experience symptoms related to his infection on or about May 8, 2022. His initial symptoms included clammy skin, stomach upset, and body aches and progressed to lethargy, pain, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, dark urine, and jaundice. While Michelle and their daughter recovered, on May 19, 2022, David's symptoms worsened, and his medical condition progressed to acute liver failure. David was hospitalized, and fortunately, with significant medical testing and intervention, he was discharged from the hospital on May 20, 2022.
"Strawberries grown outside the United States have been a source of hepatitis A infections in the past," said William Marler, managing partner at the food safety law firm Marler Clark. "The FDA and retailers need to do a far better job of inspecting so we can avoid human fecal contamination," added Marler.
On May 27, 2022, the FDA, CDC, Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced that they are investigating 27 outbreak-associated cases of hepatitis A in Canada and the United States. The agencies will consider these hepatitis A illnesses linked to organic strawberries, branded as FreshKampo and HEB, and purchased between March 5, 2022, and April 25, 2022.
Victims of hepatitis A outbreak in the United States and Canada
Total United States Illnesses: 17 – Canada 10
United States Hospitalizations: 12 – Canada 4
Illness onset dates range from March 28 – April 30, 2022.
States with Cases: California (15), Minnesota (1), North Dakota (1) – Provinces with Cases: Alberta (4) and Saskatchewan (6)
Hepatitis A is a food borne virus that can be passed by infected food handlers to consumers. The virus attacks the liver, and symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, dark urine, fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, loss of appetite, and jaundice. In extreme cases, liver failure can result. The virus has a long incubation period, and symptoms may not appear for fifteen to fifty days. More information on Hepatitis A can be found at www.about-hepatitis.com.
Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation's leading law firm representing victims of Hepatitis A outbreaks. The Hepatitis A lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of Hepatitis A and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $700 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation. The law firm has brought Hepatitis A lawsuits against such companies as Costco, Subway, McDonald's, Red Robin, Chipotle, Quiznos and Carl's Jr.
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SOURCE Marler Clark, The Nation's Food Safety Law Firm | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/04/marler-clark-files-first-lawsuit-against-freshkampo-strawberry-hepatitis-outbreak/ | 2022-06-04T04:29:03Z |
2 children, woman killed by gunman at Russian kindergarten
Published: Apr. 26, 2022 at 6:21 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
MOSCOW (AP) — A lawmaker says a gunman has killed two children and a staff member at a kindergarten in Russia.
Citing “preliminary information,” federal lawmaker and former governor Sergei Morozov wrote on the VK social network that a man had entered the kindergarten in the town of Veshkayma in central Russia and shot a female staff member and children, before shooting himself.
Local health officials say one other staff member was wounded.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/26/2-children-woman-killed-by-gunman-russian-kindergarten/ | 2022-04-26T12:38:48Z |
BEIJING, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sohu.com Limited (NASDAQ: SOHU) ("Sohu" or the "Company"), China's leading online media, video, and game business group, today reported unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022.
First Quarter Highlights
- Total revenues were US$193 million[1], down 13% year-over-year and flat quarter-over-quarter.
- Brand advertising revenues were US$24 million, down 23% year-over-year and 29% quarter-over-quarter.
- Online game revenues were US$158 million, down 11% year-over-year and up 10% quarter-over-quarter.
- GAAP net income[2] attributable to Sohu.com Limited was US$3 million, compared with net income of US$32 million in the first quarter of 2021 and net income of US$4 million in the fourth quarter of 2021.
- Non-GAAP[3] net income attributable to Sohu.com Limited was US$9 million, compared with net income of US$37 million in the first quarter of 2021 and net income of US$0.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Dr. Charles Zhang, Chairman and CEO of Sohu.com Limited, commented, "In the first quarter of 2022, despite the negative impact of COVID-19 and a challenging macroeconomic environment, we continued to focus on product refinements and improving operational efficiency. Thanks to the excellent performance of our online game business, we delivered better-than-expected bottom-line performance and achieved profitability for the quarter. For Sohu Media Portal, we carried out product upgrades and improvements in the overall quality of our news and content, all of which continued to draw users to our platforms and keep them engaged. For Sohu Video, with the continuous execution of our "Twin Engine" strategy, we proactively extended our live broadcasting to a greater number of scientific fields. We also focused on user acquisition for our key mobile products and explored ways to improve monetization for both Sohu Media Portal and Sohu Video. For Changyou, our online games performed well during the quarter, with revenue exceeding the high-end of our prior guidance."
First Quarter Financial Results
Revenues
Total revenues were US$193 million, down 13% year-over-year and flat quarter-over-quarter.
Brand advertising revenues totaled US$24 million, down 23% year-over-year and 29% quarter-over-quarter. The decrease was mainly due to a decrease in portal advertising revenues.
Online game revenues were US$158 million, down 11% year-over-year and up 10% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year decrease was mainly due to the natural decline of TLBB Vintage. The quarter-over-quarter increase was mainly due to improved performance of TLBB PC, as a result of content updates and promotional activities launched during the quarter.
Gross Margin
Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin were 75%, compared with 79% in the first quarter of 2021 and 73% in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin for the brand advertising business were 2%, compared with 20% in the first quarter of 2021 and 28% in the fourth quarter of 2021. The margin decrease was mainly due to the decrease in brand advertising revenues.
GAAP gross margin for online games was 86%, compared with 89% in the first quarter of 2021 and 84% in the fourth quarter of 2021. Non-GAAP gross margin for online games was 86%, compared with 90% in the first quarter of 2021 and 84% in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Operating Expenses
For the first quarter of 2022, GAAP operating expenses totaled US$132 million, up 6% year-over-year and down 9% quarter-over-quarter. Non-GAAP operating expenses were US$130 million, up 6% year-over-year and down 9% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to increases in traffic and user acquisition cost. The quarter-over-quarter decrease was mainly due to decreases in salary and benefits expenses.
Operating Profit/(Loss)
GAAP operating profit was US$13 million, compared with an operating profit of US$51 million in the first quarter of 2021 and an operating loss of US$3 million in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Non-GAAP operating profit was US$14 million, compared with an operating profit of US$53 million in the first quarter of 2021 and an operating loss of US$3 million in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Income Tax Expense
GAAP income tax expense was US$17 million, compared with income tax expense of US$23 million in the first quarter of 2021 and income tax expense of US$9 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. Non-GAAP income tax expense was US$17 million, compared with income tax expense of US$23 million in the first quarter of 2021 and income tax expense of US$6 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. Income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2021 included a one-time tax benefit of US$7 million recognized by Changyou after pre-adjustment of its income tax due for 2021.
Net Income
GAAP net income attributable to Sohu.com Limited was US$3 million, or net income of US$0.07 per fully-diluted ADS, compared with net income of US$32 million in the first quarter of 2021 and net income of US$4 million in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Sohu.com Limited was US$9 million, or net income of US$0.26 per fully-diluted ADS, compared with net income of US$37 million in the first quarter of 2021 and net income of US$0.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2022, cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and long-term time deposits totaled approximately US$1.54 billion.
Supplementary Information for Changyou Results
First Quarter 2022 Operating Results
- For PC games, total average monthly active user accounts[4] (MAU) were 2.0 million, a decrease of 13% year-over-year and 1% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year decrease was mainly due to the natural decline of Changyou's older games. Total quarterly aggregate active paying accounts[5] (APA) were 1.0 million, an increase of 4% year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter.
- For mobile games, total average MAU were 2.4 million, an increase of 16% year-over-year and a decrease of 6% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year increase was mainly from Bright Stars, a game designed for female players launched during the quarter, and Little Raccoon: Heroes launched during the third quarter of 2021. The quarter-over-quarter decrease was mainly due to the natural decline of Changyou's older games, including Little Raccoon: Heroes. Total quarterly APA were 0.5 million, an increase of 14% year-over-year and 6% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter increases were mainly from Bright Stars.
First Quarter 2022 Unaudited Financial Results
Total revenues were US$160 million, a decrease of 11% year-over-year and an increase of 10% quarter-over-quarter. Online game revenues were US$158 million, a decrease of 11% year-over-year and an increase of 10% quarter-over-quarter. Online advertising revenues were US$2 million, a decrease of 37% year-over-year and an increase of 1% quarter-over-quarter.
GAAP and non-GAAP gross profit were both US$137 million, a decrease of 14% year-over-year and an increase of 13% quarter-over-quarter.
GAAP operating expenses were US$54 million, a decrease of 11% year-over-year and 21% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year decrease was mainly due to a decrease in bonus expenses, partially offset by an increase in marketing and promotional spending for online games. The quarter-over-quarter decrease was mainly due to a decrease in bonus expenses, as well as a decrease in marketing and promotional spending for online games.
Non-GAAP operating expenses were US$53 million, a decrease of 10% year-over-year and 21% quarter-over-quarter.
GAAP operating profit was US$83 million, compared with an operating profit of US$99 million for the first quarter of 2021 and US$53 million for the fourth quarter of 2021.
Non-GAAP operating profit was US$85 million, compared with a non-GAAP operating profit of US$101 million for the first quarter of 2021 and US$55 million for the fourth quarter of 2021.
Business Outlook
For the second quarter of 2022, Sohu estimates:
- Brand advertising revenues to be between US$22 million and US$25 million; this implies an annual decrease of 32% to 40%, and a sequential decrease of 7% to a sequential increase of 5%.
- Online game revenues to be between US$150 million and US$160 million; this implies an annual decrease of 1% to an annual increase of 6%, and a sequential decrease of 5% to a sequential increase of 1%.
- Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Sohu.com Limited to be between US$15 million and US$5 million; and GAAP net loss attributable to Sohu.com Limited to be between US$18 million and US$8 million.
For the second quarter 2022 guidance, the Company has adopted a presumed exchange rate of RMB6.59=US$1.00, as compared with the actual exchange rate of approximately RMB6.46=US$1.00 for the second quarter of 2021, and RMB6.35=US$1.00 for the first quarter of 2022.
This forecast reflects Sohu's management's current and preliminary view, which is subject to substantial uncertainty, particularly in view of the potential ongoing impact of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, which remains difficult to predict.
Non-GAAP Disclosure
To supplement the unaudited consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), Sohu's management uses non-GAAP measures of gross profit, operating profit, net income, net income attributable to Sohu.com Limited and diluted net income attributable to Sohu.com Limited per ADS, which are adjusted from results based on GAAP to exclude the impact of share-based compensation expense; changes in fair value recognized in the Company's consolidated statements of operations with respect to equity investments with readily determinable fair values; and interest expense recognized in connection with the Toll Charge imposed by the U.S. TCJA. These measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results.
Sohu's management believes excluding share-based compensation expense; changes in fair value recognized in the Company's consolidated statements of operations with respect to equity investments with readily determinable fair values; and interest expense recognized in connection with the Toll Charge from its non-GAAP financial measure is useful for itself and investors. Further, the impact of share-based compensation expense; changes in fair value recognized in the Company's consolidated statements of operations with respect to equity investments with readily determinable fair values; and interest expense recognized in connection with the Toll Charge cannot be anticipated by management and business line leaders and these expenses were not built into the annual budgets and quarterly forecasts that have been the basis for information Sohu provides to analysts and investors as guidance for future operating performance. As the impact of share-based compensation expense and changes in fair value recognized in the Company's consolidated statements of operations with respect to equity investments with readily determinable fair values does not involve subsequent cash outflow or is reflected in the cash flows at the equity transaction level, Sohu does not factor this impact in when evaluating and approving expenditures or when determining the allocation of its resources to its business segments. As a result, in general, the monthly financial results for internal reporting and any performance measures for commissions and bonuses are based on non-GAAP financial measures that exclude share-based compensation expense, changes in fair value recognized in the Company's consolidated statements of operations with respect to equity investments with readily determinable fair values, and also excluded the interest expense recognized in connection with the Toll Charge.
The non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance investors' overall understanding of Sohu's current financial performance and prospects for the future. A limitation of using non-GAAP gross profit, operating profit, net income, net income attributable to Sohu.com Limited and diluted net income attributable to Sohu.com Limited per ADS excluding share-based compensation expense; changes in fair value recognized in the Company's consolidated statements of operations with respect to equity investments with readily determinable fair values; and interest expense recognized in connection with the Toll Charge is that these excluded items have been and will continue to be significant recurring expenses in Sohu's business for the foreseeable future. In order to mitigate these limitations Sohu has provided specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables include details on the reconciliation between the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to the non-GAAP financial measures that have been presented.
Notes to Financial Information
Financial information in this press release other than the information indicated as being non-GAAP is derived from Sohu's unaudited financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. It is currently expected that the Business Outlook will not be updated until release of Sohu's next quarterly earnings announcement; however, Sohu reserves right to update its Business Outlook at any time for any reason. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Sohu's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, instability in global financial and credit markets and its potential impact on the Chinese economy; exchange rate fluctuations, including their potential impact on the Chinese economy and on Sohu's reported U.S. dollar results; recent slow-downs in the growth of the Chinese economy; the uncertain regulatory landscape in the People's Republic of China; fluctuations in Sohu's quarterly operating results; the possibilities that Sohu will be unable to recoup its investment in video content and that Changyou will be unable to develop a series of successful games for mobile platforms or successfully monetize mobile games it develops or acquires; Sohu's reliance on online advertising sales and online games for its revenues; the impact of the U.S. TCJA; the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy in China in general and on Sohu's business in particular; and the possibility that, unless an accommodation is reached between the SEC and the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and rules of the SEC thereunder may cause the SEC to prohibit trading of Sohu's ADSs on NASDAQ, any other U.S. stock exchange, or the U.S. over-the-counter markets beginning in 2024 or, if currently pending legislation becomes law, 2023. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Sohu's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021, and other filings with and information furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Conference Call and Webcast
Sohu's management team will host a conference call at 7:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time, May 16, 2022 (7:30 p.m. Beijing/Hong Kong time, May 16, 2022) following the quarterly results announcement. Participants can register for the conference call by navigating to http://apac.directeventreg.com/registration/event/5725798. Once preregistration has been completed, participants will receive dial-in numbers, an event passcode, and a unique registrant ID.
To join the conference, please dial the number you receive, enter the event passcode followed by your unique registrant ID, and you will be joined to the conference instantly. Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin.
A telephone replay of the call will be available after the conclusion of the conference call at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time May 16 through May 23, 2022. The dial-in details for the telephone replay are:
The live Webcast and archive of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of Sohu's Website at http://investors.sohu.com/.
About Sohu.com
Sohu.com Limited (NASDAQ: SOHU) was established by Dr. Charles Zhang, one of China's internet pioneers, in the 1990s. As a mainstream media platform in China, Sohu is indispensable to the daily life of millions of Chinese, providing a network of web properties and community based products which continually offer a broad array of choices regarding information, entertainment and communication to the vast number of Sohu users. Sohu has built one of the most comprehensive matrices of Chinese language web properties, consisting of the leading online media destinations Sohu News App, mobile news portal m.sohu.com, PC portal www.sohu.com; online video website tv.sohu.com; and the online games platform www.changyou.com/en/.
Sohu provides online brand advertising services as well as multiple news, information and content services on its matrix of websites and also on its mobile platforms. Sohu's online game business, conducted by its subsidiary Changyou, develops and operates a diverse portfolio of PC and mobile games, such as Tian Long Ba Bu ("TLBB"), one of the most popular PC games in China. Changyou also owns and operates the 17173.com Website, a game information portal in China.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
In China:
In the United States:
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SOURCE Sohu.com Limited | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/sohucom-reports-first-quarter-2022-unaudited-financial-results/ | 2022-05-16T06:33:23Z |
...HIGH FIRE DANGER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...
High fire danger conditions are expected today over Southwest and
South Central Georgia. This will be due to several factors,
including near-record triple digit temperatures, unseasonably low
relative humidity values of 18-25 percent, and an unstable air
mass characterized by very high mixing heights. Afternoon winds
will be north to northeast at 5 to 10 mph.
Dead fuels will dry quickly. Live fuels will become stressed and
wilty.
Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities whether
you may burn outdoors. If you do burn outside, use extreme
caution.
Weather Alert
...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM EDT THURSDAY...
* WHAT...Air temperatures of 101 to 103 expected this evening. On
Thursday, Air temperatures of 102 to 104 expected.
* WHERE...Portions of south central and southwest Georgia.
* WHEN...For the first Heat Advisory, until 8 PM EDT this
evening. For the second Heat Advisory, from 10 AM to 8 PM EDT
Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
&&
Weather Alert
...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM EDT THURSDAY...
* WHAT...Air temperatures of 101 to 103 expected this evening. On
Thursday, Air temperatures of 102 to 104 expected.
* WHERE...Portions of south central and southwest Georgia.
* WHEN...For the first Heat Advisory, until 8 PM EDT this
evening. For the second Heat Advisory, from 10 AM to 8 PM EDT
Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
&&
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: No kid should go through the summer hungry
Summer is right around the corner, and for kids it’s often the most joyful time of the year. But many parents and caregivers may be worrying about how they’ll stretch their budget to replace the meals their kids usually eat at school
To the Editor:
During the school year, kids can rely on school programs like breakfast, lunch and after-school meals. But when school is out, many of those critical meals disappear, making summer a hungry time for many children.
Luckily, summer meal programs run by local schools and community groups can help fill that gap by providing healthy meals at no cost to kids and teens at familiar places like parks, pools, libraries and rec centers.
No Kid Hungry’s summer meals texting service makes it quick and easy for families to find their nearest summer meal site. Parents, grandparents and caregivers can simply text ‘FOOD’ or ‘COMIDA’ to 304-304 to find free summer meals in their community.
All Georgia kids deserve to enjoy a happy, hunger-free summer so they can return to school in the fall fueled and ready to learn.
Eleni Towns
Washington, D.C.
Eleni Towns is associate director of No Kid Hungry.
The club of self-made billionaires’ used to be the sole dominion of men. Stacker examines the 25 richest self-made women in America who have defied that tradition in recent years. Click for more.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/opinion/letter-to-the-editor-no-kid-should-go-through-the-summer-hungry/article_38161bc2-f252-11ec-93c6-d7c7da633071.html | 2022-06-22T21:00:06Z |
Production Teams Discuss the Achievements and Challenges Behind Blockbuster Films Such as Encanto, The Batman, and Dune; Dialogues from Talks Include Race, Gender, and Preserving History
CHICAGO, July 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SIGGRAPH 2022 accentuates the advances of technology in computer graphics as part of its Production Sessions and Talks programs. Industry leaders from the film, VFX, and animation sectors will share their behind-the-scenes stories for their projects in the Production Sessions program. Another program that allows creators to impart successes and trials of their work is with the SIGGRAPH 2022 Talks. The Talks program includes conversations from a variety of subjects that affect the SIGGRAPH community and address important topics, such as race and gender. The 49th annual conference will run 8–11 August in person, with on-demand talks from participants available virtually 25 July–31 October 2022.
"The Production Sessions Program covers the growth and progress made in computer graphics technology across the industry," said SIGGRAPH 2022 Production Sessions Chair Stephanie Eisenberg. "This year is no different, and I'm excited to have these production teams share their stories, especially how new techniques advanced their work on films such as Dune, Lightyear, and Encanto. The SIGGRAPH 2022 Production Sessions program allows creators to showcase their work and discuss the highs and lows that happen during the production process."
Highlights from Production Sessions program include:
The VFX of Dune: Bringing an Iconic Story to Life [in-person]
Contributor: Stephen James, DNEG
'Dune: Part One' is the remarkable science fiction epic and the introduction of Denis Villeneuve's vision of Frank Herbert's Dune universe to viewers. DFX Supervisor Stephen James holds an eye-opening discussion of the pivotal role that DNEG played in bringing Villeneuve's immersive vision to life. He will share enthralling behind-the-scenes details of the project, and dive into the meticulously detailed VFX work, and impressive creatures that played a climactic role in the creation of an iconic film.
Lightyear: Beyond the Infinite [virtual]
Contributors: Nathan Fariss and Chris Wiggum, Pixar Animation Studios
'Lightyear,' Pixar's sci-fi action adventure, is the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy. In this Production Session, Nathan Fariss and Chris Wiggum trace their challenging journey to create a cohesive visual look that was both stylistically unique yet referential to the Toy Story world. This includes sets, characters, shading, tailoring & simulation, effects, compositing, and lighting. Their mission was one of ultimate complexity as they faced technological and artistic challenges all while racing against the clock to finish the film.
Weta FX Presents: The Batman [in-person]
Contributors: Beck Veitch and Dennis Yoo, Wētā FX
The Batman is the 19th appearance of the Caped Crusader in film, and as such, director Matt Reeves needed to find a new angle for the titular hero. The result is a brooding, ominous tone befitting the Gotham City setting and reflective of Reeves' emotionally complicated version of the Batman. Compositing Supervisor Beck Veitch presents the work alongside Animation Supervisor Dennis Yoo. Beck and Dennis will also talk through the production of two major environments--the Batcave, an abandoned neo-gothic subway, and the City Hall, where the mayor's funeral is gate-crashed by an unlucky victim.
We Don't Talk About Bruno – An Encanto Musical Sequence Unveiled [in-person]
Contributors: Michelle Robinson and Tad Miller, Walt Disney Animation Studios
Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Encanto" tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. In this session, the filmmakers break down their collaborative process in creating the iconic song sequence, "We Don't Talk About Bruno," as well as discussing the work and tight focus that went into creating this large, diverse, magical family. From building characters for a musical set in Colombia to a deep dive into the cinematography process, the discussion will cover the theatrical inspiration and partnerships between choreography, layout, and animation.
The Champion: Neural Render Case Study [virtual]
Contributor: Mike Seymour, University of Sydney
The Champion of Auschwitz is the first full-length feature film that was neural rendered in order to allow the actors to be converted from performing in German to performing in English. In this Polish film, set in WW2, the entire production was filmed and finished in German. Using advances in AI and machine learning, the actors' faces have been replaced by inferred versions, visually built from English re-performances of the original dialogue. This production session discusses the important issues involved in doing professional neural rendering on a large scale - hundreds of shots, often with multiple characters in the same frame. Based on new technology, The Champion used only the footage already edited for the final German version of the film, combined with a robust and non-intrusive recording of the actors delivering the lines in English. The panel will discuss innovations in technology and provide insights into further advances that the team is working on, as well as the lessons learned and the advances in ML that allowed the wide-scale adoption of this technology in place of traditional dubbing or subtitles.
"For the Talks program, we're excited to discuss the latest techniques and technological innovations that are being implemented today," stated SIGGRAPH 2022 General Submissions Chair Chris Redmann. "The SIGGRAPH community continues to develop solutions to advance the computer graphics industry. From user solutions that can be applied to common workflows to unique practices that can assist in preserving history, our industry continues to evolve. These are conversations that I believe this year's participants and attendees will appreciate and value."
Highlights from the Talks Program include:
Sex and Gender in the Computer Graphics Research Literature [in-person]
Contributors: Ana Dodik, MIT; Silvia Sellan, University of Toronto; Theodore Kim, Yale University; Amand Phillips, Georgetown University
A discussion around a survey of the treatment of sex and gender in the computer graphics research literature from an algorithmic fairness perspective, which reveals scientifically incorrect and potentially harmful assumptions. The talk proposes ways of addressing these as technical limitations and pose open questions.
Fast and Robust Solution for Cubic and Higher-Order Polynomial [virtual]
Contributor: Cem Yuksel, University of Utah
Demonstration that shows cubic and higher-order polynomials can be solved easily and efficiently. A presentation of a fast and robust method for finding real roots of cubic and higher-order polynomials. It provides guaranteed convergence and satisfies the given error bound.
Modular Scene Filtering via the Pixar Hydra 2.0 Architecture [virtual]
Contributors: Tom Cauchois and Steve LaVietes, Pixar
A conversation about the design of the Hydra 2.0 architecture and how it enables modular pipeline- or workflow-specific scene transformations. The discussion includes two examples: configurable material network transformations, and fine-grained scene data merging for application integration and supporting proxy object workflows.
How We Reconstructed the Neighborhood Destroyed by the Tulsa Race Massacre [virtual]
Contributors: Yuliya Parshina-Kottas and Anjali Singvi, The New York Times
The New York Times used archival materials, data, and maps to make a 3D visualization of the African American neighborhood of Greenwood (Tulsa, Oklahoma), before it was destroyed in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. This discussion will be around the use of geo-spatial data analysis, 3D, and machine-learning to recreate the lost neighborhood.
Building an Illustrated World in The Bad Guys [virtual]
Contributors: Jeff Budsberg, Pablo Valle, and Paolo de Guzman, DreamWorks Animation
The artistic style of "The Bad Guys" is inspired by the strong and simplified details of 2D illustration with its hand-drawn imperfections. Similar to traditional artists, the film needed techniques to selectively apply detail and thoughtfully deconstruct objects, focusing on artistic flexibility while maintaining scalability.
Access to the SIGGRAPH 2022 Production Sessions and Talks programs is available at varying registration levels. Learn more and register for the conference at s2022.SIGGRAPH.org/register.
About ACM, ACM SIGGRAPH, and SIGGRAPH 2022
ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, is the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting educators, researchers, and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources, and address the field's challenges. ACM SIGGRAPH is a special interest group within ACM that serves as an interdisciplinary community for members in research, technology, and applications in computer graphics and interactive techniques. The SIGGRAPH conference is the world's leading annual interdisciplinary educational experience showcasing the latest in computer graphics and interactive techniques. SIGGRAPH 2022, the 49th annual conference hosted by ACM SIGGRAPH, will take place as a hybrid event, with live events 8–11 August at the Vancouver Contention Centre and virtual content available starting 25 July through 31 October. Click here for news from the conference and its partners.
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SOURCE SIGGRAPH | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/08/production-sessions-talks-programs-siggraph-2022-emphasizes-technological-advances-evolution-computer-graphics-techniques/ | 2022-07-08T20:20:43Z |
Which ingrown hair products are best?
Unsightly ingrown hairs are more than just a pesky problem. They can itch and irritate your skin as well as affect your health if they get infected. While adopting a better shaving routine can help you address the issue, there are also myriad ingrown hair products on the market that can reduce occurrences.
A top pick is the Jack Black Bump Fix, which acts as a safe but effective ingrown hair exfoliant that also soothes your skin.
What to know before you buy ingrown hair products
What are ingrown hairs?
Ingrown hairs can occur when you shave, wax or pluck the hair on your body. Instead of growing up to the skin’s surface, the hair turns and grows back under your skin, where it causes a bump.
While this doesn’t typically require medical attention, the red, itchy bumps can get infected if you scratch them. If you believe that some of yours have become infected, see your dermatologist. Otherwise, you can treat them yourself at home.
Proper shaving routine for ingrown hairs
If you regularly struggle with ingrown hairs, your shaving routine should be aimed at helping you manage them. Using the Mayo Clinic’s shaving recommendations as a guide, there are four standard steps for reducing ingrown hairs.
- Exfoliate: Use an exfoliant to remove dead skin surrounding the ingrown hairs.
- Wash: Wash the area with a warm washcloth and let it sit on the affected area for a few minutes to soften the skin.
- Shave: Use a sharp razor and shave in the same direction your hair grows.
- Rinse: Rinse your skin thoroughly and apply a cool, wet washcloth for several minutes when you finish.
The Mayo Clinic also suggests three tips as you follow your shaving routine.
- Avoid shaving too closely — don’t pull your skin tight as you shave.
- Don’t let your shaving cream dry as you shave. Keep the area moist.
- Run your shaver under fresh water after each stroke.
Where do ingrown hairs occur?
While not everyone gets ingrown hairs in the same areas, they can occur in five commonly shaved regions.
- Face
- Armpits
- Legs
- Chest
- Groin
What to look for in quality ingrown hair products
Exfoliating
Exfoliants prevent dead skin cells from building up and promote new cell turnover. As a result, they release trapped hairs and prevent more from forming.
There are three types of exfoliants.
- Chemical: Enzymes and acid-based products enlist ingredients such as salicylic, lactic and glycolic acids to remove dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin.
- Physical: Typically seen in granular scrubs, they wear down the buildup of dead cells as you rub the solution into your skin.
- Mechanical: This is when a professional uses a device such as a laser to remove dead skin from affected areas.
Soothing
Because ingrown hairs irritate your skin, ingrown hair products can offer some relief with ingredients that reduce their menacing side effects.
There are six common ingredients that soothe your skin.
- Witch hazel
- Aloe
- Allantoin
- Green tea extract
- Chamomile extract
- Willow herb extract
Easy to use
The most effective ingrown hair products are the ones you can see yourself adopting into your regular skincare routine. So even if a product or system seems promising, ensure that it is easy to implement into your current routine. The only ingrown hair products that could work for you are the ones you will use, as the manufacturer recommends.
How much you can expect to spend on ingrown hair products
Depending on the brand and product’s details, you can expect to see prices of $20-$50 for most ingrown hair products. However, many highly rated solutions are between $20-$30.
Ingrown hair products FAQ
Should you pull your ingrown hairs out with a pair of tweezers?
A. No. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should insert a sterile needle under the ingrown hair’s loop and lift its tip to the surface of your skin.
Should you pop ingrown hair cysts?
A. No. Popping your ingrown hairs can increase the risk of getting an infection and could even leave a scar.
What are the best ingrown hair products to buy?
Top ingrown hair product
Jack Black Bump Fix Razor Bump and Ingrown Hair Solution
What you need to know: Its chemical exfoliants and soothing ingredients treat ingrown hairs and acne-prone skin.
What you’ll love: It enlists popular chemical exfoliants such as salicylic and lactic acids to rid the area of dead skin and decrease the occurrence of ingrown hairs. To soothe your red, itchy bumps, it uses aloe leaf, green tea extract, chamomile extract and willow herb, making it an ideal treatment.
What you should consider: Check with your doctor before using this product on your pubic area, as its chemicals might be too harsh.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Dermstore, Macy’s, Sephora and Ulta Beauty
Top ingrown hair product for the money
First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads
What you need to know: Don’t let the affordable price fool you — this highly rated product has all the right ingredients for an ideal ingrown hair treatment.
What you’ll love: These convenient single-use pads combine chemical exfoliants such as salicylic and glycolic acids with soothing ingredients such as witch hazel. They’re also gentle enough to use anywhere you get ingrown hairs, such as your bikini area and your face.
What you should consider: Limit sun exposure when using products that contain alpha hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid. They increase your sensitivity to the sun.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Dermstore, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Sephora and Ulta Beauty
Worth checking out
Fur Ingrown Concentrate: Exfoliating Oil Kit for Your Hair and Skin
What you need to know: This is an excellent all-natural solution for those with sensitive skin.
What you’ll love: This product skips the chemical exfoliants by treating ingrown hairs with all-natural ingredients, such as coconut and tamanu oils to soften the skin. It also uses tea tree oil to promote healing and chamomile extract to calm inflamed areas.
What you should consider: If you have severe ingrown hairs, you might need chemical exfoliants, which this brand also sells.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Dermstore and Ulta Beauty
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/best-ingrown-hair-product/ | 2022-09-07T16:59:43Z |
The mass exodus of an entire police department after the hiring of a Black town manager in North Carolina has opened a conversation about public safety and race relations in a small town of just over 1,500 residents.
Last week, the entire police department in Kenly, North Carolina, resigned, citing a "hostile" work environment less than two months after Justine Jones, a Black woman, began her role as the town's newly selected city manager.
Joy Wright, a local business owner, said the community is concerned about what the collective police retreat means for the future of the town. Wright also said she was mostly frustrated because the town hadn't been keeping residents in the loop with any developments.
"It's just weird, and for us to not have any information as to what to expect," Wright said. "Are we going to have police? Are we going to have a town manager?"
Following an emergency, closed-door meeting last week, the Kenly town council released a statement this week saying, "The prudent course of action is to find out what happened and not make any rash decisions."
Alan "Chip" Hewett, Kenly's town attorney, told CNN that he will oversee an investigation conducted by an outside firm starting next week when all the resignations take effect. Technically, the police chief and officers are still on the job through the beginning of next week. The police chief's resignation is effective Tuesday.
CNN obtained eight resignation letters in total, consisting of longtime police chief Josh Gibson, four full-time officers, one part-time officer and two town clerks. The letters are similar in language, with most referencing a stressful work environment, though they don't provide any details about the allegedly "hostile" workplace, nor do they explicitly blame Jones.
However, Gibson has placed blame on Jones for the resignation -- both in a Facebook post that has since been made private and in an exclusive interview with Fox News.
Gibson told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that Jones had written him up multiple times in her short time on the job.
"She came in, first of all, to start giving us tasks and all these projects all the time. And unfortunately, we are -- we only have five officers and I was working double shifts at the time to try to keep up officer safety and be there with the officers in case something happened," said Gibson, who claimed the manager wrote him up for being late if he wasn't sitting at his desk, among other things "She wrote me up for going to businesses and talking with businesses. She wrote me up for talking with council members I've known for 20 years."
CNN has not seen any of the disciplinary records referenced by Gibson and therefore cannot verify the write-ups. The town said it was unable to turn over any documents right now that were requested by CNN this week.
Jones started as Kenly's town manager on June 2, according to an announcement from the town that notes she was unanimously approved by the council and touted her 16 years of experience working in "progressively responsible positions with local governments" in multiple states.
Residents split on whether it's a 'race issue'
Brittney Hinnant, a Kenly resident, said she feels like the situation is a "race issue" given that Jones is Black, while the entire Kenly Police Department is White. Hinnant also said she doesn't think the police department supports Black people and she feels they often harass Black residents.
"I feel like they don't want a Black woman over top of them, basically managing them or telling them what to do," Hinnant said.
Studies show people in organizations often think Black women are more likely to have angry personalities, with studies also suggesting that this negative perception is a unique occurrence for Black women, according to the Harvard Business Review.
Jones told CNN that since this is a personnel matter, she can't comment on the police resignations.
Others in the community say they believe there is not a racial component to the situation due to the fact the previous town manager was a Black man. Some residents also cautioned against jumping to conclusions, saying they've always had a good relationship with the police department.
Wright, who owns the Granny Barn, an embroidery and vinyl gift shop located two doors down from Town Hall, said she doesn't think the situation was a "Black vs White thing."
"I've never seen that being a problem," she said when asked if she thought race played a role in the situation.
"I think there are too many jumping to conclusions, we really don't know what is going on. I know I have never met this town manager, I have never had any problems with the police, so I really don't know what dynamic could have led to these types of decisions," Wright said.
Michelle Dawes, who's from Kenly and used to work for the town, told CNN that she thought the situation was complicated. She said it's possible that race and gender played a role in the resignations, but issues of accountability are really at the center of the situation.
"I have never had any personal problems with [Police Chief Josh] Gibson, but as a former employee of the town, I know how it works there," said Dawes. "I immediately knew, this is someone new. She doesn't know what, I call them, the 'off the books rules' are. Basically, when she came and got hired, she poked the bear by making him accountable."
The Johnston County Sheriff's Office, which already serves Kenly, will increase its presence in the town now that the police department will effectively disband.
Denise Bennett, a Kenly native, said the timing of everything makes her suspicious, adding that the situation seems to be more about power rather than resolving work-related issues. Bennett also said some residents have stated the resignations are not about racism, but she doesn't think race-related issues can be completely thrown out as an explanation.
"When I realized the short amount of time that she had been on the job, and the drastic decision that was made, it just did not compute in my head," Bennett said. "With the fact that there are so many things one can do if they think they have a nightmare supervisor, there's so many things that can be done. But for an entire police staff to make the choice to quit when they have agreed to protect and serve, rather than to use all of the things in front of them to change the situation... it just didn't make sense to me."
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Company expands musculoskeletal oncology portfolio with device to treat pediatric bone cancer
PARSIPPANY, N.J., June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Onkos Surgical, Inc., a rapidly growing, leading innovator of solutions for musculoskeletal oncology and complex orthopaedic conditions, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Stryker to acquire the Juvenile Tumour System (JTS). The system enables limb stabilization and growth in pediatric patients affected by bone cancers, severe arthropathy, severe trauma, revisions, oncology and malignant diseases.
Onkos is a specialty MedTech company that is focused on developing solutions for surgeons who specialize in musculoskeletal oncology and other complex orthopaedic conditions.
The JTS is a device that allows for non-invasive lengthening of the implant post-surgery over time in a clinical setting. The design eliminates the need for multiple lengthening surgeries, anesthesia, or sedation, and therefore helps reduce the risk of complications and cost associated with limb reconstruction surgery.
"This is a significant day for Onkos Surgical and the musculoskeletal oncology community," said Patrick Treacy, Co-Founder and CEO. "Our 'Why' has always driven us to specifically address the many clinical challenges this community of surgeons and patients face on a daily basis. Pediatric cancer surgery and limb lengthening are complex and challenging procedures, and the JTS extendible prosthesis is a solution in service of this mission. We are committed to being good stewards of the technology. We are proud to collaborate with this dedicated surgeon community and excited to create a bright future for the technology as we continue this meaningful work for pediatric musculoskeletal cancer patients."
About Onkos Surgical
Onkos Surgical is a leader in innovative solutions for musculoskeletal oncology and complex orthopaedic conditions. With our Precision Orthopaedics solutions, surgeons are better informed about patient-specific clinical challenges and are able to plan and implement a more precise reconstruction. Our personalized approach supports improved patient outcomes and experiences using the latest innovations in virtual surgical planning, 3D anatomic modeling and printing, implant design, and workflow optimization. More than 350 of the leading academic medical institutions in the US choose Onkos Surgical Precision Orthopaedics. For more information on Onkos Surgical and its products and services, please visit www.onkossurgical.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "future," "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "potential," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.
Forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions and current expectations but are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, market trends and demand, supply chain interruptions and other potential effects of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results. The forward-looking statements included are made only as the date of this release. The company assumes no obligation to update any information or forward-looking statement contained herein, save for any information required to be disclosed by law.
Media Contacts:
Sean Curry
SVP, Commercial Operations
Onkos Surgical, Inc.
scurry@onkossurgical.com
973.264.5400
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SOURCE Onkos Surgical | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/13/onkos-surgical-announces-definitive-agreement-acquire-jts-extendible-prosthesis/ | 2022-06-13T12:30:04Z |
Crocs, Inc. Reports Record Second Quarter Revenues, Up 51%
Published: Aug. 4, 2022 at 6:00 AM CDT|Updated: 45 minutes ago
Second Quarter Operating Margin of 26% and Adjusted Operating Margin of 30%
Diluted EPS of $2.58 and Adjusted Diluted EPS Rose 45% to $3.24
BROOMFIELD, Colo., Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX), a world leader in innovative casual footwear for women, men, and children, today announced its second quarter 2022 financial results.
"I am very proud of our second quarter results," said Andrew Rees, Chief Executive Officer. "I am particularly excited by record revenues for the Crocs Brand and the strong growth internationally. HEYDUDE continues to outperform our expectations and we now expect nearly $1 billion in pro forma revenues this year."
"We have two incredibly strong brands that are well positioned to meet the needs of our core consumer with our value and comfort proposition. The consumer demand for both our brands is exceptional and we expect both brands to gain market share in this dynamic environment. We remain incredibly confident in our long term growth and our ability to generate best-in-class profitability."
Second Quarter 2022 Highlights
Consolidated revenues of $964.6 million increased 50.5%, or 55.6% on a constant currency basis, as compared to 2021.
Crocs Brand record quarterly revenues of $732.2 million increased 14.3%, or 19.4% on a constant currency basis, as compared to 2021.
HEYDUDE Brand revenues were $232.4 million for the second quarter of 2022, up approximately 96% compared to 2021.
Crocs Brand digital sales grew 16.8%, or 20.8% on a constant currency basis, to represent 37.2% of Crocs Brand revenues versus 36.4% in prior year. HEYDUDE Brand digital penetration was 31.5% of HEYDUDE Brand revenues.
Operating margin was 25.7% and adjusted operating margin was 30.1%.
Diluted earnings per share was $2.58, a decrease as a result of a favorable, discrete impact of a tax legislation change in the prior year. Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 45.3% to $3.24 compared to $2.23 in 2021.
Second Quarter 2022 Operating Results
Amounts referred to as "adjusted" or "non-GAAP" are non-GAAP measures and include adjustments that are described under the heading "Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures." A reconciliation of these amounts to their GAAP counterparts are contained in the schedules below.
Revenues were $964.6 million, an increase of 50.5% from the same period last year, or 55.6% on a constant currency basis. Direct-to-consumer ("DTC"), which includes retail and e-commerce, grew 22.8%, and wholesale grew 80.6%.
Gross margin was 51.6% compared to 61.7% and adjusted gross margin was 55.2% compared to 61.8% in the same period last year. Adjusted gross margin excludes $35.1 million of costs, of which $34.3 million is a HEYDUDE inventory fair value step-up related to the acquisition. Crocs Brand gross margin was 57.7%, 400 basis points lower than prior year driven primarily by 445 basis points of freight headwinds, including 340 basis points of air freight, and 105 basis points of currency, partially offset by increased prices and product mix.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses ("SG&A") of $249.8 million increased from $199.9 million in the same period last year, and SG&A as a percent of revenues improved to 25.9% from 31.2% in prior year. Adjusted SG&A improved to 25.1% of revenues versus 31.2% for the same period last year. Adjusted SG&A excludes $7.5 million of costs, primarily related to the HEYDUDE integration.
Income from operations increased 27.0% to $248.0 million and operating margin was 25.7% compared to 30.5% for the same period last year due to increased air freight and HEYDUDE acquisition and integration expenses. Adjusted income from operations rose 47.9% to $290.6 million and adjusted operating margin was 30.1%. Incremental air freight costs negatively impacted adjusted operating margin by 240 basis points and currency impacted by 80 basis points.
Diluted earnings per share were $2.58, a decrease as a result of a favorable, discrete impact of a tax legislation change in the prior year. Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 45.3% to $3.24 compared to $2.23 in 2021.
Second Quarter 2022 Brand Summary
Crocs Brand: Revenues increased 14.3%, or 19.4% on a constant currency basis, to $732.2 million. Wholesale revenues increased 27.7%, or 35.2% on a constant currency basis. DTC comparable sales increased 7.5%.
HEYDUDE Brand: Revenues during the second quarter were $232.4 million. Wholesale revenues were $162.5 million and DTC revenues were $69.9 million.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Cash and cash equivalents were $187.4 million as of June 30, 2022, compared to $213.2 million as of December 31, 2021.
Inventories increased to $501.5 million as of June 30, 2022, compared to $213.5 million as of December 31, 2021 and $209.1 million as of June 30, 2021. This increase was driven primarily by the addition of HEYDUDE and increased in transit inventory for the Crocs Brand.
Capital expenditures during the six months ended June 30, 2022 were $56.7 million, compared to $21.3 million for the same period last year.
Borrowings were $2.77 billion as of June 30, 2022 compared to $771.4 million as of December 31, 2021, an increase driven primarily by borrowings used to finance a portion of the HEYDUDE acquisition. Our liquidity position remains strong with $187.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and $475.8 million in available borrowing capacity as of June 30, 2022.
Financial Outlook
Full Year 2022
With respect to 2022, we expect:
Consolidated revenues to be approximately $3.395 to $3.505 billion, representing growth between 47% and 52% compared to 2021.
Gross margin to still include $75 million of air freight in 2022.
Adjusted operating income of approximately $880 to $945 million and adjusted operating margin to still be approximately 26% to 27%. This excludes non-GAAP adjustments primarily related to the HEYDUDE acquisition and integration of $75 million in cost of sales and $55 million in SG&A.
GAAP tax rate still of approximately 25% and non-GAAP effective tax rate still of approximately 22%.
Adjusted diluted earnings per share to now be between $9.50 and $10.30.
Capital expenditures to still be approximately $170 to $200 million, primarily for supply chain investments to support growth.
Gross leverage to still be below 2.0x by mid-year 2023 following strong earnings and cash flow expectations for 2022.
Third Quarter 2022
With respect to the third quarter of 2022, we expect:
Consolidated revenues to be approximately $915 to $955 million, implying approximately 46% to 53% growth compared to third quarter 2021 revenues of $626 million.
Adjusted operating margin of approximately 25% to 26%, including approximately $15 million impact from air freight and excluding non-GAAP adjustments of $10 million in SG&A primarily related to the HEYDUDE integration.
Conference Call Information
A conference call to discuss second quarter 2022 results is scheduled for today, Thursday, August 4, 2022, at 8:30 am ET. To receive conference call details, please register at the Investor Relations section of the Crocs website, investors.crocs.com. The webcast will also be available live and on replay through August 4, 2023 at this site.
About Crocs, Inc.
Crocs, Inc. (Nasdaq: CROX) is a world leader in innovative casual footwear for women, men, and children, combining comfort and style with a value that consumers know and love. The Company's brands include Crocs and HEYDUDE and its products are sold in more than 85 countries through wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels. For more information on Crocs, Inc. please visit investors.crocs.com. To learn more about our brands, please visit www.crocs.com or www.heydudeshoesusa.com or follow @Crocs or @heydudeshoes on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes estimates, projections, and statements relating to our business plans, commitments, objectives, and expected operating results that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding potential impacts to our business related to our supply chain challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic, our financial condition, brand and liquidity outlook, and expectations regarding our future revenue, margins, non-GAAP adjustments, tax rate, earnings per share and capital expenditures, the acquisition of HEYDUDE and benefits thereof, Crocs' strategy, plans, objectives, expectations (financial or otherwise) and intentions, future financial results and growth potential, statements regarding full year and third quarter 2022 financial outlook and future profitability, cash flows, and brand strength, anticipated product portfolio and our ability to deliver sustained, highly profitable growth. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: our expectations regarding supply chain disruptions; the COVID-19 pandemic and related government, private sector, and individual consumer responsive actions; cost inflation; current global financial conditions, including economic impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic; the effect of competition in our industry; our ability to effectively manage our future growth or declines in revenues; changing consumer preferences; our ability to maintain and expand revenues and gross margin; our ability to accurately forecast consumer demand for our products; our ability to successfully implement our strategic plans; our ability to develop and sell new products; our ability to obtain and protect intellectual property rights; the effect of potential adverse currency exchange rate fluctuations and other international operating risks; and other factors described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading "Risk Factors" and our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are encouraged to review that section and all other disclosures appearing in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
All information in this document speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.
Category:Investors
CROCS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
In addition to financial measures presented on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), we present "Non-GAAP cost of sales," "Non-GAAP gross profit," "Non-GAAP gross margin," "Non-GAAP gross margin by brand," "Non-GAAP selling, general, and administrative expenses," "Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses as a percent of revenues," "Non-GAAP income from operations," "Non-GAAP operating margin," "Non-GAAP income tax expense (benefit)," "Non-GAAP effective tax rate," "Non-GAAP net income," and "Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per common share," which are non-GAAP financial measures. We also present future period guidance for "Non-GAAP operating margin," "Non-GAAP operating income," "Non-GAAP effective tax rate," and "Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share." Non-GAAP results exclude the impact of items that management believes affect the comparability or underlying business trends in our condensed consolidated financial statements in the periods presented.
We also present certain information related to our current period results of operations through "constant currency," which is a non-GAAP financial measure and should be viewed as a supplement to our results of operations and presentation of reportable segments under GAAP. Constant currency represents current period results that have been retranslated using exchange rates used in the prior year comparative period to enhance the visibility of the underlying business trends excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.
Management uses non-GAAP results to assist in comparing business trends from period to period on a consistent basis in communications with the board of directors, stockholders, analysts, and investors concerning our financial performance. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors and other users of our condensed consolidated financial statements as an additional tool for evaluating operating performance and trends. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, management believes it is helpful to evaluate our results excluding the impacts of various adjustments relating to special or non-recurring items. Investors should not consider these non-GAAP measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/crocs-inc-reports-record-second-quarter-revenues-up-51/ | 2022-08-04T11:45:57Z |
HELENA, Mont. (NEXSTAR) — Major flooding swept away at least one bridge, washed away roads and set off mudslides in Yellowstone National Park on Monday.
Officials closed all five entrances and began evacuating visitors from the northern part of the park, issuing an alert that the park was being temporarily closed due to “extremely hazardous conditions.”
Park officials said roads going in and out of the community of Gardiner, Montana, just north of the park are impassable. Superintendent Cam Sholly said the northern loop of the park could be closed for a substantial amount of time.
Park officials planned to start evacuating visitors from the southern loop of the park on Monday afternoon because more rain is in the forecast.
Predictions of flooding at higher levels, along with water and wastewater concerns, prompted the decision, Sholly said.
Helicopter video shared by the park shows a road completely washed out in several places by the river next to it. Park officials said in a statement that “unprecedented amounts of rainfall” caused the flooding.
The park entrances will remain closed at least through Wednesday.
“We will not know timing of the park’s reopening until flood waters subside and we’re able to assess the damage throughout the park,” Sholly said. “I appreciate the efforts of the Yellowstone team and partners to safely evacuate areas of the park and of our gateway community partners who are helping us through this major event.”
For updated conditions, visit Park Roads or receive Yellowstone road alerts by texting “82190” to 888-777.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/video-yellowstone-closes-due-to-extremely-hazardous-conditions-from-flooding-mudslides/ | 2022-06-14T01:08:42Z |
ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cirrus Dx, Inc. ("CirrusDx"), an infectious disease diagnostics and laboratory company, announces the acquisition of Dascena Inc.'s Houston-based laboratory business, Dascena Labs, LLC ("Dascena Labs").
Through the acquisition CirrusDx will enhance its current services by further expanding its national laboratory footprint, while strengthening its sequencing capabilities. Dascena Labs is a state-of-the-art CLIA laboratory capable of high-volume specialized testing.
"We are pleased to continue to drive growth" said Kyle Armantrout, Managing Partner at CirrusDx. "Acquiring the expertise and technology of Dascena Labs aligns with our services, allowing us to build on our current offerings and our mission to support long-term care centers, regional hospitals, and healthcare providers."
CirrusDx operates as a vertically integrated diagnostic company comprised of a CLIA High Complexity laboratory offering advanced diagnostics assays and diagnostic instrumentation. CirrusDx is the commercial companion company to Tetracore, a biotechnology company specializing in the development and manufacture of infectious disease diagnostic assays. For more information visit: www.cirrusdx.com
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SOURCE CirrusDx | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/cirrusdx-acquires-dascenas-texas-laboratory-business-expanding-infectious-disease-portfolio/ | 2022-08-03T20:33:22Z |
ATLANTA — Police are searching for at least one armed suspect in connection with the killing of the owner of a gun range in Georgia and his wife and grandson, authorities said Saturday.
The Grantville Police Department said via Facebook that the robbery occurred Friday evening. When officers arrived at the scene around 8 p.m., they discovered the bodies of the owner of Lock Stock & Barrel Shooting Range, along with his wife and grandson.
According to WSB-TV, Grantville Police identified the victims as the gun range owner, Thomas Hawk, 75; his wife, Evelyn, 75; and their grandson, Luke, 17.
Police Chief Steve Whitlock said the Hawk family was well-known and well-respected in their small, tight-knit community. The Hawks had operated Lock Stock & Barrel for nearly 30 years. Their grandson was on spring break, helping his grandparents at the shop.
“This is just a shock to everybody in the community,” Whitlock told The Associated Press. “We’re trying to do the best that we can to figure this out.”
Whitlock said investigators believe the robbery and shooting happened around 5:30 p.m. Friday, which is when the range normally closes. He said Hawk’s son, Richard, came by the business and was the person who found the victims.
There are no suspects as of early Saturday, and no arrests have been made, he said. Investigators said that as many as 40 guns and the range’s surveillance camera were also stolen.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating, but when contacted Saturday referred all inquiries to Grantville Police. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was also called in due to the amount of weapons taken. Whitlock said he’s grateful for the help from other law enforcement agencies in the investigation.
“We’re just a small town, 12 officers. I’ve been here eight years and have never had to investigate anything like this. It’s been kind of hard on us. The crime rate is really, really low,” he said.
A reward of $15,000 has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer or killers in the case, according to the ATF Atlanta office’s Twitter feed.
“ATF and our law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to bring the killer(s) to justice,” ATF Atlanta Field Division Special Agent in Charge Benjamin P. Gibbons said in a statement. “The brutality of these senseless murders along with the fact that these killer(s) have acquired additional firearms makes solving this case our top priority.”
A message left with the ATF office in Atlanta was not immediately returned.
Police are asking any witnesses to come forward. Whitlock said they don’t have any video evidence to work with right now.
“Anyone having driven by the shooting range during the time frame of 530pm to 630 pm that may have seen vehicles other than a white Ford dually truck and a black Ford expedition are asked to contact the police department,” Grantville police said in their Facebook statement.
The shooting range is in rural Coweta County, about 50 miles (about 80 kilometers) southwest of Atlanta.
Coweta County Sheriff Lenn Wood said in a statement on Facebook that the entire community was forever broken by the “senseless and tragic” killings of the Hawk family members.
“I am also fervently praying that God will use our law enforcement community and the Coweta Community,” he said, “to bring justice swiftly.” | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/article_40e2586a-b855-11ec-be10-9b05e93c3246.html | 2022-04-10T01:43:02Z |
G-7 leaders mark VE Day stressing unity, support for Ukraine
LONDON (AP) — Leaders from the Group of Seven developed democracies pledged Sunday to phasing out or banning the import of Russian oil, as they met with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for online talks to stress their support and to display unity among Western allies on Victory in Europe Day, which marks Nazi Germany’s surrender in 1945.
Cutting out Russian oil supplies “will hit hard at the main artery of (President Vladimir) Putin’s economy and deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war,” the G-7 countries, which include the U.S., Britain, Canada, Germany, France and Italy and Japan, said in a statement.
“We will ensure that we do so in a timely and orderly fashion, and in ways that provide time for the world to secure alternative supplies,” they added.
Casting a look back at World War II, the leaders stressed unity in their resolve that Putin must not win.
“We owe it to the memory of all those who fought for freedom in the Second World War, to continue fighting for it today, for the people of Ukraine, Europe and the global community,” they said.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s call with the G7 leaders and Zelenskyy lasted about an hour.
The U.S. also announced new sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. They include cutting off Western advertising from Russia’s three biggest television stations, banning U.S. accounting and consulting firms from providing services to any Russian, and piling additional restrictions on Russia’s industrial sector, including cutting off Moscow from wood products, industrial engines, boilers, bulldozers and more.
The White House announced the new sanctions ahead of the May 9 Victory Day, when Russia traditionally celebrates Nazi Germany’s defeat in 1945 with huge military parades.
Putin is expected to talk about what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine and address troops on Red Square on Monday.
The U.S. and European allies were seeking to offer counter-messaging that Putin is further isolating Russia from the rest of the world and doing enormous harm to the Russian economy.
The new round of U.S. sanctions will hit three of Russia’s most popular television stations in Russia – Channel One Russia, Russia-1, and NTV — that the U.S. has said have been at the forefront of spreading misinformation about Russia’s prosecution of the invasion.
The Biden administration said the new sanctions prohibiting U.S. accounting and consulting firms from doing business in Russia will help thwart Russian companies and elites from getting help to obscure their wealth and evade an avalanche of sanctions that have already been enacted.
The U.S. also said it imposed some 2,600 visa restrictions on Russian and Belarusian officials and issued a new visa restriction policy that applies to Russian military officials and authorities.
The U.S. sanctioned 27 executives from Gazprombank, a bank that facilitates sales by Russia’s Gazprom, one of the largest natural gas exporters in the world, with Europe. The sanctions are the first time that the U.S. has hit the bank that plays a critical role Russia’s considerable gas exports, but the move stops well short of the full blocking sanctions that the U.S. has hit other big Russian banks.
Ahead of the call, U.K. officials said Britain will provide an extra 1.3 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) in military support to Ukraine to help the nation defend itself against Russian forces.
The funding, which comes from British government reserves, includes 300 million pounds of military kit promised by Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this week, such as radar systems to target Russian artillery, GPS jamming equipment and night vision devices.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to Ukraine Sunday, touring the northern town of Irpin, which had been heavily damaged by Russia’s attempt to take the capital of Kyiv at the start of the war. The mayor on Sunday posted images of Trudeau on social media, saying that the Canadian leader was shocked by the damage he saw at civilian homes.
Trudeau’s office later said “the prime minister is in Ukraine to meet with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm Canada’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people.”
Jill Biden also made an unannounced visit on Sunday, holding a surprise Mother’s Day meeting in western Ukraine with first lady Olena Zelenska. Biden traveled under the cloak of secrecy, becoming the latest high-profile American to enter Ukraine during its 10-week-old war with Russia.
“I wanted to come on Mother’s Day,” the U.S. first lady told Zelenska. “I thought it was important to show the Ukrainian people that this war has to stop and this war has been brutal and that the people of the United States stand with the people of Ukraine.”
In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a televised address that Sunday was “a May 8th like no other.”
He said Germany has worked hard to own up to its actions during World War II, reconciling with both Russia and Ukraine and committing itself to the concept of “never again.” But Russia’s “barbaric” invasion of Ukraine in February has brought war back to Europe, Scholz said, a prospect that once seemed unthinkable.
“Freedom and security will prevail -- just as freedom and security triumphed over lack of freedom, violence and dictatorship 77 years ago,” Scholz said in his address.
German Bundestag President Bärbel Bas, the second highest-ranking German official after the president, met Sunday with Zelenskyy in Kyiv and attended a memorial event honoring the anniversary of the end of World War II.
“We really appreciate that on the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation itself, and in what for us is such a trying time of war, the President of the German Bundestag Bärbel Bas came to support Ukraine,” said a post published Sunday on Zelenskyy’s Telegram channel.
___
Madhani reported from Wilmington, Delaware. Emily Schultheis in Berlin contributed to this report.
___
Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/08/g-7-leaders-mark-ve-day-stressing-unity-support-ukraine/ | 2022-05-08T18:53:22Z |
One person injured and another missing after McCurtain County crash
Published: May. 8, 2022 at 10:54 PM CDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
MCCURTAIN COUNTY, Okla.(KXII) -One person was injured and another missing after a crash in McCurtain county.
According to troopers, the crash happened around 11 Saturday evening on Oklahoma State Highway 3 near Wright City.
Troopers said a car was heading west on Highway 3, when it failed to make a curve and drifted off the road, hitting a road sign, rolling, then crashing into a tree.
Passenger, 57-year-old Rita Ann of Wright City told troopers there was a man driving, but no one else was on the scene.
She was flown to St Michael in Texarkana, Texas, and admitted in critical condition with internal and head injuries.
Troopers are still investigating the cause of the crash.
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/09/one-person-injured-another-missing-after-mccurtain-county-crash/ | 2022-05-09T05:33:40Z |
MUNICH, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The summer season has officially arrived, and getting outside is a great way to refresh the mind, body, and soul. Yadea, a leading player in the electric scooter industry, aims to help provide a safe and enjoyable riding experience with its intelligent two-wheelers during these warmer months, as tourists and outdoor enthusiasts alike are readying themselves for summer vacations and trips.
"We are aware that the public is now keen to get back on the road and travel again, and safety has always been our priority," said Aska Zeng, General Manager of Yadea. "Our mobility solutions can play a key role as facilitators of such travel. With our products, we are providing our users with the highest-quality and safest tools available to help them to visit friends and family, return to work, and take trips in general."
Boasting innovative intelligent technology, Yadea ensures its vehicles run more stably with robust power. The use of intelligent algorithms allows for efficient power enhancement when combined with Yadea's self-developed mid-motor, built-in triple sensing technology, and sports car-class smart chip, which is delivering consistent performance and making them perfect for outdoor sports enthusiasts.
Battery technology is a hot topic among users of electric mobility solutions and has long been high on Yadea's list of priorities. The company's intelligent battery management system boasts nine levels of safety protections, including protection against overcurrent and overcharged.
Yadea's products use TTFAR carbon fiber 2.0 lithium (48V48Ah) as well as lead-acid for their various power cells. A sophisticated structural design and assembly process improvements internally allow the products to achieve a more balanced temperature control function.
The whole system is backed up with an explosion-proof valve as standard. Should thermal runaway on the battery core occur, any byproducts are discharged in a timely manner to prevent any disruption to the consumers' leisurely ride.
Yadea's products also boast a long service life. For example, the Yadea TTFAR graphene-3 generation battery can be charged up to 1,000 times in a single lifecycle, thanks to its use of groundbreaking graphene material. This lifespan is three times longer than normal batteries.
In terms of the structure, the two-wheelers are also designed and built with safety as a key priority, from the body and frame to the hydraulic braking system and crystal-clear lights. The display screen console that comes as standard also includes various smart safety features.
"We firmly believe that the biggest responsibility of an enterprise is its responsibility to its users," said Aska Zeng. With such philosophy, Yadea has also exerted great efforts to raise awareness of safety in every market in which it operates with major events and safety gear giveaways.
In the last two years, Yadea has held nearly 1,000 safety events across over 700 cities, with more than 50 million customers attended and over 800,000 safety helmets provided.
About Yadea
Yadea is a global leader in developing and manufacturing electric two-wheel vehicles including electric motorcycles, electric mopeds, electric bicycles and electric kick scooters. To date, Yadea has sold products to 60 million users in over 90 countries, and has a network of 40,000+ retailers worldwide. With a mission to help people "Electrify Your Life", Yadea continues to invest in R&D, production and global expansion to build a shared and sustainable future for mankind.
For more information, visit our:
Official Website: https://www.yadea.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yadea.Official
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/YADEA.GLOBAL/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/YadeaGlobal
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SOURCE Yadea | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/enjoy-safe-smooth-trip-with-yadea-this-summer/ | 2022-08-03T11:18:40Z |
Norman Mineta, transportation secretary in 9/11 era, dies
By BRIAN WITTE and TERENCE CHEA
Associated Press
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Norman Mineta, who broke racial barriers for Asian Americans serving in high-profile government posts and ordered commercial flights grounded after the 9/11 terror attacks as the nation’s federal transportation secretary, died Tuesday. He was 90.
John Flaherty, Mineta’s former chief of staff, said Mineta died peacefully at his home surrounded by family in Edgewater, Maryland, east of the nation’s capital.
“His cause of death was a heart ailment,” Flaherty added. “He was an extraordinary public servant and a very dear friend.”
Mineta broke racial barriers for Asian Americans in becoming mayor of San Jose, California early in his political career. He later became the first Asian American to become a federal Cabinet secretary, serving under both Democratic President Bill Clinton and Republican George W. Bush.
Bush went on to award Mineta the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In a statement, the former president said Mineta was “a wonderful American story about someone who overcame hardship and prejudice to serve in the United States Army, Congress, and the Cabinet of two Presidents.”
“As my Secretary of Transportation, he showed great leadership in helping prevent further attacks on and after 9/11. As I said when presenting him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Norm has given his country a lifetime of service, and he’s given his fellow citizens an example of leadership, devotion to duty, and personal character,” the former president said.
The son of Japanese immigrants who spent two years of his childhood at a World War II internment camp, Mineta began his political career leading his hometown of San Jose before joining the Clinton administration as commerce secretary and then crossing party lines to serve in Bush’s Cabinet.
As Bush’s transportation secretary, Mineta led the department during the crisis of Sept. 11, 2001, as hijacked commercial airliners barreled toward U.S. landmarks. After a second plane crashed into the World Trade Center, Mineta ordered the Federal Aviation Administration to ground all civilian aircraft — more than 4,500 in flight at the time. It was the first such order given in U.S. aviation history.
Mineta was subsequently tasked with restoring confidence in air travel in the aftermath of the terror attacks. He oversaw the hasty creation of the Transportation Security Administration, which took over responsibility for aviation security from the airlines.
Within a year, the TSA had hired tens of thousands of airport screeners, put air marshals on commercial flights and installed high-tech equipment to screen air travelers and their luggage for bombs.
The effort was derided at the time for wasteful spending and causing long lines at airports. But Mineta, widely liked and respected in Washington for his deep knowledge of transportation issues, managed to escape the brunt of that criticism.
In 2006, he resigned at age 74 after 5 and 1/2 years in his post, making him the longest-serving transportation secretary since the agency was created in 1967.
Born on Nov. 12, 1931, Norman Yoshio Mineta was 10 and wearing his Cub Scouts uniform when he and his parents were transported to be incarcerated in Wyoming after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.
He went on to graduate from the University of California, Berkeley, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and served as an Army intelligence officer in Korea and Japan. After three years with the military, he returned to San Jose to run his father’s Mineta Insurance Agency.
Mineta’s foray into politics came in 1967, when San Jose’s mayor tapped him to fill a vacant seat on the city council. He won re-election and served four more years on the council before winning the city’s top seat in 1971, making him the first Asian-American mayor of a major city. It now has an airport that bears his name.
Mineta was elected to Congress in 1974 and served 10 terms representing Silicon Valley. During his tenure, he pushed for more funding for the FAA and co-authored a landmark law that gave state and local governments control over highway and mass transit decisions.
The co-founder of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus also scored a personal victory when he helped win passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which required the U.S. government to apologize to the 120,000 Japanese Americans forced to live in wartime internment camps. Former internees also received reparations of $20,000 each.
In 1993, Mineta became chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee — another first — but he quickly lost that job after Republicans won control of the House in 1994.
Mineta resigned from Congress in 1995 to join Lockheed Martin Corp. as senior vice president of its transportation division, which built and operated electronic toll collection systems.
But Washington came calling again five years later when Clinton, in the final months of his presidency, appointed him to replace William Daley as commerce secretary.
Mineta then became the first cabinet secretary to make the switch directly from a Democratic to Republican administration. He was the only Democrat in Bush’s cabinet.
As transportation secretary, Mineta successfully promoted private investment in roads and bridges such as the Chicago Skyway and Indiana Toll Road and helped secure passage of a $286 billion highway spending plan after almost two years of wrangling with Congress.
After overseeing the rapid launch of the TSA, Mineta had his department downsized by almost two-thirds when the TSA and Coast Guard were moved to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003 in the biggest government reorganization in nearly six decades.
After retiring from public service, he joined the public relations firm Hill & Knowlton as vice chairman and settled with his wife, Danealia, in Maryland near the Chesapeake Bay.
___
Chea reported from San Francisco. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/05/03/norman-mineta-transportation-secretary-in-9-11-era-dies/ | 2022-05-04T03:32:50Z |
France’s Le Pen warns against sending weapons to Ukraine
PARIS (AP) — French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has warned against sending any more weapons to Ukraine. She also called for a rapprochement between NATO and Russia once Moscow’s war in Ukraine winds down. Le Pen is an outspoken French nationalist who has long ties to Russia. She is seeking to unseat President Emmanuel Macron in France’s April 24 presidential runoff. On Wednesday, Le Pen pledged to pull France out of NATO’s military command and dial back French support for the whole European Union. Her domestic critics and France’s EU partners both worry that a possible Le Pen presidency could undermine Western unity as the U.S. and Europe seek to support Ukraine and end Russia’s ruinous war against its neighbor. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/04/13/frances-le-pen-warns-against-sending-weapons-to-ukraine/ | 2022-04-13T19:11:27Z |
NASA still hopes to launch moon mission in June despite two scrubbed trials
By Madeline Holcombe, CNN
NASA is still aiming for a June launch after a second attempt at a final test for its Artemis I mission to the moon was scrubbed on Monday.
“We’re not ready to give up” on the June launch window, Artemis mission manager Mike Sarafin told reporters in a Tuesday news conference.
On Monday, NASA made its second attempt at what it calls a wet dress rehearsal, which simulates every stage of launch without the rocket actually leaving the launchpad. The rehearsal is a crucial step in the first phase of NASA’s Artemis program, which is expected to return humans to the moon and land the first woman and the first person of color on the lunar surface by 2025.
The test was stopped Monday before it was completed because of an issue with a panel on the mobile launcher that controls the core stage vent valve, said Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director for NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems program. The valve relieves pressure from the rocket’s core stage while tanking of the propellant is underway, according to NASA.
The team attempted to resolve the issue by trying both the primary and secondary valves, but they were unable to fix it.
Due to the time of day, officials decided to stop operations so a team could look at the panel, Blackwell-Thompson said.
“This was a test, and the purpose of the test is to fully understand our systems in a day-of launch configuration,” she said. “Our team accomplished quite a bit.”
There is no word yet on when the next attempt at a wet dress rehearsal will take place, but Sarafin said he expects it “in short order.”
The test was originally scheduled to be completed on Sunday but was put on hold before the propellant was loaded. That was due to problems with two fans used to provide pressure to the mobile launcher — the movable tower which the rocket sits upon before it lifts off.
NASA said Monday it was able to resolve the malfunction of the fans, which are needed to pressurize enclosed areas inside the launcher and keep out hazardous gases.
The results of the wet dress rehearsal will determine when the uncrewed Artemis I will launch on a mission that goes beyond the moon and returns to Earth.
During the flight, the uncrewed Orion spacecraft will launch atop the SLS rocket to reach the moon and travel thousands of miles beyond it — farther than any spacecraft intended to carry humans has ever traveled. This mission is expected to last for a few weeks and will end with Orion splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
Artemis I will be the final proving ground for Orion before the spacecraft carries astronauts to the moon, 1,000 times farther from Earth than where the International Space Station is located.
After the uncrewed Artemis I flight, Artemis II will be a crewed flyby of the moon, and Artemis III will return astronauts to the lunar surface. The time line for the subsequent mission launches depends on the results of the Artemis I mission.
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CNN’s Katie Hunt and Ashley Strickland contributed to this report. | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-world/2022/04/05/nasa-still-hopes-to-launch-moon-mission-in-june-despite-two-scrubbed-trials/ | 2022-04-06T01:14:54Z |
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