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RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CAPTRUST Financial Advisors (CAPTRUST) today announced the addition of Reynolds Investment Management (RIM), based in Greenville, South Carolina. Established in 1989, RIM provides wealth management services to individuals and families, business owners, medical professionals, and retirees. The RIM team also offers investment advisory services to retirement plan sponsors, endowments, and foundations.
The firm is led by Tom Reynolds and oversees more than $600 million in assets from several hundred clients. A total of eight new colleagues will be joining CAPTRUST.
"As we continued to grow, we didn't want to recreate the wheel," said Reynolds. "We got to know the folks at CAPTRUST and saw the robust systems in place, from technology and compliance to HR and marketing. We believe that joining CAPTRUST will relieve us of many administrative functions to allow us to spend more time with our clients."
RIM has a close relationship with the former Nachman Norwood & Parrott Wealth Management (NNP), also based in Greenville, which joined CAPTRUST last year.
"I've known a couple of the principals at NNP for many years," said Reynolds, "and it was a natural fit to partner with the existing Greenville office, based on the similar clients we work with. We are excited to build a powerhouse here."
"The team at RIM aligns with CAPTRUST in many ways, and we look forward to growing our footprint in South Carolina," said Rush Benton, CAPTRUST's senior director of strategic growth. "Tom and his colleagues are enthusiastic about the growth opportunity for their advisors, and we know joining CAPTRUST will set them up for success."
This is the 58th deal for CAPTRUST since 2006. Consistent with other transactions, RIM will take on the CAPTRUST brand and work alongside the team in Greenville, South Carolina.
About CAPTRUST
CAPTRUST is an independent registered investment advisor founded in 1997 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The firm provides investment management, financial planning, estate planning, and tax advisory and compliance for individuals and families. For retirement plan sponsors, endowments, foundations, and religious entities, CAPTRUST offers investment advisory services, fiduciary support, plan design, provider analysis/fee benchmarking, and employee advice programs. With more than 1,100 employees across 70 locations nationwide, CAPTRUST oversees more than $100 billion in assets under management and more than $750 billion in assets under advisement (as of March 31, 2022). For more information, visit www.captrust.com.
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SOURCE CAPTRUST Financial Advisors | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/captrust-bolsters-greenville-sc-presence-with-addition-reynolds-investment-management/ | 2022-08-11T13:50:24Z |
NEW YORK, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attention Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. ("Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc.") (NASDAQ: SDIG) shareholders:
The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that a class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of investors. This lawsuit is on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Stronghold Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus issued in connection with the Company's October 2021 initial public offering.
If you suffered a loss on your investment in Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc., contact us about potential recovery by using the link below. There is no cost or obligation to you.
ABOUT THE ACTION: The class action against Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. includes allegations that the Company made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) contracted suppliers, including MinerVa Semiconductor Corp., were reasonably likely to miss anticipated delivery quantities and deadlines; (2) due to strong demand and pre-sold supply of mining equipment in the industry, Stronghold would experience difficulties obtaining miners outside of confirmed purchase orders; (3) as a result of the foregoing, there was a significant risk that Stronghold could not expand its mining capacity as expected; (4) as a result, Stronghold would likely experience significant losses; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
DEADLINE: June 13, 2022
Aggrieved Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. investors only have until June 13, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. You are not required to act as a lead plaintiff in order to share in any recovery.
Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
Vincent Wong, Esq.
39 East Broadway
Suite 304
New York, NY 10002
Tel. 212.425.1140
E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com
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SOURCE The Law Offices of Vincent Wong | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/class-action-alert-law-offices-vincent-wong-remind-stronghold-digital-mining-inc-investors-lead-plaintiff-deadline-june-13-2022/ | 2022-05-16T10:53:29Z |
FOSTER CITY, Calif., May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcellx, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACLX), a biotechnology company reimagining cell therapy through the development of innovative immunotherapies for patients with cancer and other incurable diseases, today announced the appointment of Michelle Gilson as Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Gilson joins Arcellx from Canaccord Genuity, where most recently she served as Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst covering biotechnology companies. Ms. Gilson will oversee the company's finance function and will play a key role in overall corporate strategy.
"Michelle's vision, leadership, and experience as a research analyst, which included covering companies in the oncology space, will be an invaluable addition to the existing breadth of talent on our management team," said Rami Elghandour, Arcellx's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Michelle brings a depth of knowledge in capital markets and biotechnology and represents the values we look for in our leaders that made her an ideal fit for Arcellx. On behalf of our organization and Board of Directors, we welcome Michelle to our team. I look forward to the impactful role I know she will play as we continue towards our mission of bringing our cell therapy to market to help as many patients as possible."
Most recently, Ms. Gilson served as a Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst at Canaccord Genuity, covering biotechnology companies. Prior to joining Canaccord, Ms. Gilson held biotechnology equity research roles at Jefferies, LLC; Instinet, LLC (Nomura Securities); Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.; and Goldman Sachs. Ms. Gilson earned her B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.
About Arcellx, Inc.
Arcellx, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company reimagining cell therapy by engineering innovative immunotherapies for patients with cancer and other incurable diseases. Arcellx believes that cell therapies are one of the forward pillars of medicine and Arcellx's mission is to advance humanity by developing cell therapies that are safer, more effective, and more broadly accessible. Arcellx's lead product candidate, CART-ddBCMA, is being developed for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM) in an ongoing Phase 1 study. CART-ddBCMA has been granted Fast Track, Orphan Drug, and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Arcellx is also advancing its dosable and controllable CAR-T therapy, ARC-SparX, through two programs: a Phase 1 study of ACLX-001 for r/r MM, initiated in the second quarter of 2022; and ACLX-002 in relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome, expected to enter the clinic in the second half of 2022.
Visit www.arcellx.com for more information.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based upon Arcellx's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including risks that may be found in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in documents that Arcellx files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Arcellx assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Investor Contact:
Myesha Lacy
Arcellx, Inc.
ir@arcellx.com
510-418-2412
Media Contact
Andrea Cohen
Sam Brown Inc.
andreacohen@sambrown.com
917-209-7163
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SOURCE Arcellx, Inc | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/23/arcellx-appoints-michelle-gilson-chief-financial-officer/ | 2022-05-23T20:33:51Z |
Orbic Journey V Features Classic Style, Web Browser, Texting and Camera for Under $100
Spectrum Delivers Industry Best Unlimited Voice and Text, By the Gig Starting at $14/Month with No Added Taxes, Fees or Contracts
STAMFORD, Conn., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Spectrum Mobile announced a partnership with U.S. smartphone manufacturer Orbic to add the Journey V 4G LTE flip phone to its lineup of devices. The Orbic Journey V is an easy-to-use mobile flip phone with web-browsing capability, texting and camera for under $100. Customers can pair the Journey V with Spectrum Mobile's converged mobile broadband service, which includes access to the best networks, By the Gig plans starting at $14/month and unlimited talk and texting, for the best value in mobile*.
"Spectrum Mobile is revolutionizing the wireless experience for millions of customers by combining the best internet, WiFi and cellular networks with the best devices and simple, affordable plans – a combination that is truly better together," said Danny Bowman, Chief Mobile Officer for Charter Communications, Inc., which operates the Spectrum brand of connectivity services. "The addition of the Orbic Journey V phone to our lineup of devices is ideal for customers and families looking for a budget-friendly option to enjoy Spectrum Mobile's seamless, superior connectivity at home and on the go, while saving money along the way."
Orbic Journey V Offers a Classic Flip Phone for Spectrum Mobile Customers
The Orbic Journey V is a classic flip phone, featuring a well-spaced keypad, a long-lasting 1400 mAh battery, a 2.8-inch internal color display screen that supports text font adjustment, a 1.77-inch external display that shows messages and notifications, and a front-facing 2 megapixel camera. The phone also connects to the internet via a built-in web browser.
"Partnering with Spectrum Mobile allows Orbic to continue to deliver on our growth strategy to being a leader in multiline, innovative, mobile products, delivered with affordability and meaningful features in mind," said Mike Narula, President and CEO, Orbic. "The Journey V gives current and future Spectrum customers the best in service and product value."
The Orbic Journey V is available from Spectrum Mobile for $95.99 or $4/month for 24 months – with 0% interest on device payment plans – and customers can take advantage of Spectrum's $100 trade-in credit for qualified devices. Additionally, the Journey V pairs perfectly with Spectrum Mobile's By the Gig data plan for $14/Gig, and as an option for customers who want to combine a flip phone with Spectrum's multiline pricing on Unlimited data plans, starting at $29.99/month for two or more lines. All plans include access to Spectrum's converged WiFi, internet and cellular delivering the fastest overall data speeds**; access to nationwide 5G at no extra cost; unlimited talk and texting; and no added taxes, fees or contracts – for a potential monthly savings of up to 60% off customers' existing mobile bills***.
More information about Spectrum Mobile is available at www.SpectrumMobile.com, by calling 1-833-657-0388, or by visiting a Spectrum Store.
*Spectrum Internet required. Auto-pay required. For Unlimited, speeds are reduced after 20 GB of usage per line. Restrictions apply. For details, refer to Spectrum.com/policies/mobile-terms.
**Fastest Overall Speeds claim based on Global Wireless Solutions' combined cellular and WiFi speed test results in Spectrum service area where WiFi is available. Cellular speeds vary by location.
*** Savings based on 2-line comparison of unlimited plans among major national carriers as of 09/2021; prepaid excluded; data usage limits vary by carrier. Spectrum Internet required. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. ©2021 Charter Communications.
About Charter
Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) is a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than 32 million customers in 41 states through its Spectrum brand. Over an advanced communications network, the company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet®, TV, Mobile and Voice.
For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business® delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach® delivers tailored advertising and production for the modern media landscape. The company also distributes award-winning news coverage, sports and high-quality original programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks and Spectrum Originals. More information about Charter can be found at corporate.charter.com.
About Orbic
Orbic is a leader in the development and manufacturing of innovative mobile products. The company offers customized products that feature the latest technologies, to support connected lives 24/7 and people's most passionate moments in time. With agility and speed-to-market, Orbic gets customers the mobile products and features they want and need with affordability in mind. Orbic is a women owned minority business, based in the U.S. with manufacturing operations in India.
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SOURCE Charter Communications, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/spectrum-mobile-adds-orbic-journey-v-flip-phone-device-lineup/ | 2022-04-11T17:13:31Z |
BEIJING, May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Weibo Corporation (NASDAQ: WB and HKEX: 9898), a leading social media for people to create, share and discover content, today announced that it has changed the date to announce its unaudited financial results for the first quarter 2022 from May 30, 2022 to June 1, 2022, due to a public holiday in the United States on May 30, 2022.
Weibo's management team will host a conference call from 7 AM – 8 AM Eastern Time on June 1, 2022 (or 7 PM – 8 PM Beijing Time on June 1, 2022) to present an overview of the Company's financial performance and business operations.
Please register in advance of the conference call using the link provided below. Upon registering, you will be provided with dial-in numbers, passcode and unique registrant ID by email. To join the conference, please use the conference access information provided in the email received at the point of registering.
PRE-REGISTER LINK: http://apac.directeventreg.com/registration/event/3399110
A telephone replay will be available from 22:00 China Standard Time on June 1, 2022 to 21:59 China Standard Time on June 9, 2022. To access the recording, please use the following dial-in information listed below:
United States: 1 855 452 5696
Hong Kong: 800 963 117
Mainland China: 400 820 9035
International: +61 2 8199 0299
Replay PIN: 3399110
Additionally, a live webcast of the call will be available through the Company's corporate website at http://ir.weibo.com.
About Weibo Corporation
Weibo is a leading social media for people to create, share and discover content online. Weibo combines the means of public self-expression in real time with a powerful platform for social interaction, content aggregation and content distribution. Any user can create and post a feed and attach multi-media and long-form content. User relationships on Weibo may be asymmetric; any user can follow any other user and add comments to a feed while reposting. This simple, asymmetric and distributed nature of Weibo allows an original feed to become a live viral conversation stream.
Weibo enables its advertising and marketing customers to promote their brands, products and services to users. Weibo offers a wide range of advertising and marketing solutions to companies of all sizes. The Company generates a substantial majority of its revenues from the sale of advertising and marketing services, including the sale of social display advertisement and promoted marketing offerings. Designed with a "mobile first" philosophy, Weibo displays content in a simple information feed format and offers native advertisement that conform to the information feed on our platform. To support the mobile format, we have developed and continuously refining our social interest graph recommendation engine, which enables our customers to perform people marketing and target audiences based on user demographics, social relationships, interests and behaviors, to achieve greater relevance, engagement and marketing effectiveness
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements that relate to, among other things, Weibo's expected financial performance and strategic and operational plans (as described, without limitation, in the "Business Outlook" section and in quotations from management in this press release. Weibo may also make forward-looking statements in the Company's periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange"), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology, such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "confidence," "estimates" and similar statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. 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, Weibo's limited operating history in certain new businesses; failure to grow active user base and the level of user engagement; the uncertain regulatory landscape in China; fluctuations in the Company's quarterly operating results; the Company's reliance on advertising and marketing sales for a majority of its revenues; failure to successfully develop, introduce, drive adoption of or monetize new features and products; failure to compete effectively for advertising and marketing spending; failure to successfully integrate acquired businesses; risks associated with the Company's investments, including equity pick-up and impairment; failure to compete successfully against new entrants and established industry competitors; changes in the macro-economic environment, including the depreciation of the Renminbi; and adverse changes in economic and political policies of the PRC government and its impact on the Chinese economy. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Weibo's annual report on Form 20-Fs and other filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date hereof, and Weibo assumes no obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
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SOURCE Weibo Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/27/weibo-corporation-changes-date-report-first-quarter-2022-financial-results-june-1-2022/ | 2022-05-27T10:42:53Z |
MILWAUKEE, July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating Resolute (NYSE: RFP) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with the Paper Excellence Group.
Click here to learn how to join the action: https://www.ademilaw.com/case/resolute-forest-products-inc or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.
Ademi LLP alleges Resolute's financial outlook and prospects are excellent and yet Resolute holders will receive only $20.50 per share, together with a contingent value right entitling the holder to a share of future softwood lumber duty deposit refunds. Each share, on a fully diluted basis at closing, will be entitled to receive one CVR. The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for Resolute by imposing a significant penalty if Resolute accepts a superior bid. Resolute insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.
We are investigating the conduct of Resolute's board of directors, and whether they are (i) fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders, and (ii) obtaining a fair and reasonable price for Resolute.
If you own Resolute common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at gademi@ademilaw.com or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/resolute-forest-products-inc.
We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Contacts
Ademi LLP
Guri Ademi
Toll Free: (866) 264-3995
Fax: (414) 482-8001
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SOURCE Ademi LLP | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/shareholder-alert-ademi-llp-investigates-whether-resolute-forest-products-inc-has-obtained-fair-price-its-transaction-with-paper-excellence-group/ | 2022-07-06T16:36:16Z |
MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — Alex Morgan never gets tired of winning championships, even after so many titles already.
Morgan converted on a penalty in the 78th minute and the U.S. women’s national team won the CONCACAF W Championship 1-0 over Canada on Monday night to secure one of the region’s spots in the 2024 Olympics.
“It just always feels good to be called the champion, and this game just, like, means a lot to us. It’s always going to mean a lot,” Morgan said. ”Obviously against Canada, they gave us a run for our money, but we prevailed and feel good about the performance.”
As FIFA President Gianni Infantino watched from a private box, the United States finally broke a stalemate when Rose Lavelle was fouled in the box and Morgan fooled Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan on the penalty. It was Morgan’s 118th overall career goal.
“Alex is a big player, and big players are born for big moments,” U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “And that’s what makes her special.”
Jamaica defeated Costa Rica 1-0 in overtime earlier Monday to claim third place in the tournament.
The four semifinalists all earlier earned spots in the 2023 World Cup next summer in Australia and New Zealand. Runner-up Canada will play Jamaica in a playoff for the region’s other Olympic bid in September 2023.
The United States is now 33-0 in World Cup or Olympic qualifying matches since losing to Mexico 2-1 in advance of the 2011 World Cup.
The game was a rematch of the Olympic semifinal a year ago in Tokyo. Canada edged the United States 1-0 on a late penalty kick to advance to the final, its first victory over the Americans in 20 years.
The Canadians went on to win the gold medal on a penalty shootout with Sweden. The U.S. team finished with the bronze.
Alyssa Naeher was in goal for the United States instead of Casey Murphy, who started the last game at the tournament. Defender Emily Fox also returned to the lineup from COVID-19 protocol.
The United States has changed since the Olympics, and Morgan is now one of the older players on the roster surrounded by up-and-coming talent like forward Sophia Smith and Mallory Pugh.
But the team has clearly benefitted from the steady veteran presence of Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Becky Sauerbrunn. All three are veterans of two World Cup titles and know what it takes to perform on the big stage.
Temperatures hovered in the low 90s at the start of the match at Estadio BBVA. Sheridan had a big save in the 31st minute when Pugh made a break down the right side and took a hard shot at the goal.
She made another in the 45th, with an assist from teammate Kadeisha Buchanan, on Smith’s scramble to score at the goal line. Smith had another chance in the 64th, but it went wide.
Canada had a flurry of late opportunities, including a header from Jordyn Huitema that went wide.
“I think what I was most pleased with is, after you get that penalty call, the bounce back from the group after that, they showed that they were willing to do anything to get the result back. So we gave it everything and that’s all you can ask,” Canada coach Bev Priestman said.
Kalyssa van Zanten scored in the 102nd minute to give Jamaica the edge in the earlier game. Van Zanten, who plays for Notre Dame, came into the game as a substitute in the 99th minute and scored on a well-placed pass from Drew Spence.
“I talked to her before she goes in and told her there’s a goal in those boot and she nodded to me and it gave her some confidence,” said Jamaica coach Lorne Donaldson, who just took over the Reggae Girlz early last month amid upheaval.
Costa Rica had perhaps the best opportunity in the first half when Melissa Herrera faced Jamaica goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer alone, but her shot when wide left.
Rocky Rodriguez, who plays for the Portland Thorns in the National Women’s Soccer League, hit the post with a shot in stoppage time, and the game went to overtime.
Costa Rica fell to the United States 3-0 in the semifinals, while Jamaica lost to Canada 3-0. Jamaica and Costa Rica have each been to the World Cup once before.
The United States has been to every World Cup since the tournament started in 1991. The Americans have four titles, including the last two in 2015 and 2019.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/us-beats-canada-for-w-championship-title-24-olympic-berth/ | 2022-07-20T01:21:13Z |
BEIJING, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After winning the fight against absolute poverty and completing the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the phrase "common prosperity" has gained prominence as China is determined to better the lives of more people.
"Chinese-style modernization is modernization featuring common prosperity and happiness for all, not just a few," President Xi Jinping said in his recent inspection in northeast China's Liaoning Province.
During his two-day visit which started Tuesday, President Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, called for coordinating the COVID-19 response with economic and social development, balancing development and security imperatives, fully and faithfully implementing the new development philosophy, and firmly promoting high-quality development.
China's northeast – comprising the three provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning – was once a thriving powerhouse on the back of traditional industries including steel, automobile and aircraft manufacturing, shipbuilding and petroleum refining. However, afflicted by deep rooted problems including an aging population, dwindling investment and talent outflow, the region gradually showed a sharp decline in its economic performance indicators.
In 2003, the CPC Central Committee launched a revitalization strategy for the region and in 2016, renewed an action plan of focused supportive measures.
Efforts should be made to promote common prosperity for all, advance the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance, and deepen the Party's full and rigorous self-governance, to set the stage for the 20th National Congress of the CPC, Xi told Liaoning officials during the visit.
Innovation-driven development
While visiting a robotics company on Wednesday in Shenyang, the provincial capital of Liaoning, President Xi pounded extra importance on independent innovation, which will facilitate the change of China from an economy of quantity to an economy and manufacturer of quality.
Xi called for immediate efforts to promote self-reliance in science and technology and a greater boost to secure the country's grip on core technologies in key fields and equipment manufacturing, while affirming the progress made by the company in independent innovation and industrialized development.
He highlighted the efforts to create a new pattern of development that is focused on the domestic economy but features a positive interplay between domestic and international economic flows, stressing that China would continue opening up to the world.
"We have full confidence in the revitalization of the northeastern region," he said on Tuesday in Jinzhou City, calling for accelerating industrial restructuring and meeting the requirements of reform and development in the new era.
In 2020, Liaoning Province, along with the other two northeastern provinces, achieved positive economic growth, a sign of the country's economic resilience against the backdrop of the world's worst pandemic in decades.
A sound business environment has also been formed. Official data in Liaoning shows that the number of market entities in the province reached 4.58 million, up 9.1 percent year-on-year. The number of scientific and technological small and medium-sized enterprises reached 18,158, up 34.6 percent year on year.
Xi: CPC is always with the people
President Xi also paid a visit to a local community in Huanggu District of Shenyang City, where he called for the renovation of old residential communities an important work to improve the quality of people's life, not just the living environment and amenities, but of community services as well.
More efforts should be made so that the people feel the CPC serves the people wholeheartedly and is always with the people, Xi said on Wednesday.
Considering China's aging population and increasing life expectancy of the elderly, aged care services should continue to expand, Xi said.
Xi also called for enhanced child care and development.
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SOURCE CGTN | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/cgtn-china-highlights-revitalizing-northeast-drive-common-prosperity/ | 2022-08-18T18:43:28Z |
Deeplite, Raven Connected, Sensor Cortek and Wedge Networks will have access to BlackBerry IVY to deliver high-impact transportation use cases leveraging in-vehicle data
WATERLOO, ON and OTTAWA, ON, July 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB) (TSX: BB) and L-SPARK, Canada's largest software-as-a-service accelerator, today announced the four winning companies that will make up the third cohort of their joint accelerator program, which aims to grow Canadian technology companies that are focused on connected vehicle technologies.
New this year, the accelerator has provided select companies with access to BlackBerry's Intelligent Vehicle Data Platform – BlackBerry IVY™, enabling them to deliver next-generation connected vehicle use cases leveraging in-vehicle data with a view to improving driver and passenger experiences. BlackBerry IVY is a scalable, cloud-connected software platform that allows automakers to provide a consistent and secure way to read vehicle sensor data, normalize it, and create actionable insights from that data both locally in the vehicle and in the cloud.
The companies that make up the third cohort of the program include:
Deeplite, Montreal – Deeplite provides an AI inference optimization platform for the millions of developers struggling to deploy edge-AI to products in vehicles, smart cities, 5G IoT, and the things we use every day by making smaller, faster and more energy efficient AI.
Raven Connected, Ottawa – Raven Connected provides a comprehensive video telematics platform that incorporates an array of sensors, communication modules and direct connection to the vehicle's onboard computer to capture images, video and other data elements. These components are incorporated into ML and AI models to generate real-time insights into vehicle performance, driving behaviors, road conditions and pedestrian safety.
Sensor Cortek, Ottawa – Sensor Cortek uses deep neural networks to develop advanced embedded AI-based perception systems enabling reliable understanding of real-world environments. The company creates intelligent software solutions with a focus on advanced driver-assistance and autonomous vehicles.
Wedge Networks, Calgary – Wedge Networks is a cybersecurity software vendor specializing in intelligent real-time threat prevention. With numerous patents, awards, and peer-reviewed machine learning publications, Wedge's intelligent, constantly evolving and learning threat prevention platform protects millions of connected devices - including connected and autonomous vehicles and intelligent transportation systems.
"The four companies selected for this very special BlackBerry IVY focused accelerator program with L-SPARK represent the very best of the Canadian smart mobility ecosystem. Each brings with them a wealth of talent, innovative technology and a drive to deliver high-impact, data-driven services and solutions that will one day transform the in-car experience," said Peter Virk, Vice President of IVY Product and Ecosystem, BlackBerry. "We look forward to working with them in the weeks and months ahead and are confident that their offerings will resonate with OEMs as we continue to build out the breadth and depth of our BlackBerry IVY ecosystem."
"The BlackBerry L-SPARK Accelerator has not only propelled connected vehicle technology forward, but has also paved the way for collaboration and partnership between the participating companies and BlackBerry," said Leo Lax, Executive Managing Director at L-SPARK. "We are thrilled to be at the forefront of innovation in the connected vehicle technology space alongside the incredible team at BlackBerry for the third consecutive year."
L-SPARK will, once again, turn to the expertise of the National Research Council of Canada-Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), to support the companies involved in this program.
BlackBerry (NYSE: BB) (TSX: BB) provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world. The company secures more than 500M endpoints including 215M vehicles. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety and data privacy solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint security, endpoint management, encryption, and embedded systems. BlackBerry's vision is clear - to secure a connected future you can trust.
BlackBerry. Intelligent Security. Everywhere.
For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow @BlackBerry.
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L-SPARK is Canada's leading accelerator for the Connected Cars (AV) industry as well as Software as a Service (SaaS) companies. The accelerator offers programs focused on future innovative B2B and B2B/B2C companies, as well as targeted programs which partner with leading corporations in Connected Medtech, IoT and CyberSecurity.
Since the launch of their first cohort in January 2015, L-SPARK has accelerated 95 companies across Canada who collectively have raised over $115M in follow-on funding. With over 10,000 investors, corporate partners and startups now in their network, L-SPARK has curated a dynamic Canadian tech community for participating companies to join.
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SOURCE BlackBerry Limited | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/13/blackberry-l-spark-announce-four-companies-their-blackberry-ivy-connected-car-accelerator-program/ | 2022-07-13T12:32:31Z |
BOZEMAN, Mo., July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Credova, a Bozeman Montana based Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) provider for the outdoor recreation market is attending iCast, the American Sportfishing Association's (ASA) trademark tradeshow July 19th through July 22nd. From the iCastfishing.org website, "ICAST, the world's largest sportfishing trade show, is the premier showcase for the latest innovations in gear, tackle, accessories and apparel. ICAST is the cornerstone of the sportfishing industry, helping to drive recreational fishing product sales year round." Credova will exhibit at booth 742, and will provide Credova's ASA member benefit information and show specials throughout iCast.
Recently, Creodva announced a new endorsement by the ASA as the preferred BNPL provider for the organization. "We are pleased to create payment technology solutions for the outdoor recreation and farm/ranch markets, and look forward providing our technology to ASA members," says Dusty Wunderlich, Credova CEO.
About The American Sportfishing Association (ASA): ASA is a national, non-profit trade association whose member companies and organizations share a stake in promoting sportfishing as part of a diverse, multi-billion-dollar industry that is global in scope. Our industry contributes to the economic strength and stature of our nation with a $129 billion impact on the nation's economy creating employment for 825,000 people in communities throughout the U.S. Our leadership and financial investments in conservation make all manner of outdoor experiences possible and support a healthy environment for everyone.
Since 1933, when ASA was formed, we've grown from a consortium of tackle manufacturers, to include every sector of the industry - independent dealers and distributers, rep groups, media companies, federal and state agencies and other non-profit organizations. ASA also produces ICAST, the world's largest international sportfishing trade show that encompasses the entire outdoor experience.
About Credova: Credova is a group of like-minded individuals who love the outdoors and the adventures it provides. We hold the special bonding among friends and family created while experiencing the outdoors as one of the greatest joys in life, and have made a business of helping Americans experience this joy. Outdoor adventures such as fishing, hiking, skiing, hunting, camping and motorsports (to name a few) require equipment. This equipment is often expensive and Americans sometimes need help spreading the payments for these enablers of joy over time. This is Credova's mission.
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SOURCE Credova | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/15/credova-bringing-buy-now-pay-later-icast/ | 2022-07-15T21:09:20Z |
North Korea imported more than 1 million facial masks and 15,000 pairs of rubber gloves from China in July, shortly before declaring victory over Covid-19, Chinese trade figures show.
Pyongyang last week declared victory over the coronavirus, ending a little-detailed fight against "fever" cases that had risen to 4.77 million in the country of around 26 million people. It has registered no new such cases since July 29.
Still, China exported 1.23 million facial masks to North Korea in July, worth $44,307, surging from 17,000 the previous month, according to data released by Chinese customs at the weekend.
From January to July, the last month for which data is available, the North bought more than 11.93 million masks from China, data showed.
North Korea did not import any Covid-19 prevention and control products from China in May, the data showed.
China's overall exports to North Korea surged to $59.74 million in July from $19.05 million in June.
Top exports were semi- or wholly milled rice, cigarettes, disodium carbonate and smoked sheets of natural rubber.
North Korea bought $5.16 million worth of semi- or wholly milled rice, $1.98 million of soybean oil and fractions, and $1.21 million of granulated sugar in July, the Chinese customs data showed.
China suspended cross-border freight train services with North Korea following consultations due to Covid-19 infections in its border city of Dandong, China's Foreign Ministry said on April 29.
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Venezuela plans stock sale in break from socialist model
By REGINA GARCIA CANO
Associated Press
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s government is seeking private investors to pump funds into vital but crippled state-run companies, decades after seizing them in the name of socialism.
The government on Monday intends to offer 5% to 10% stakes in companies ranging from telephone and internet service providers to a petrochemical producer. In another country, those industries might be attractive targets for investors, but questions remain as to who would be willing or able to take a minority position in the Venezuelan companies that have suffered from years of neglect and mismanagement.
Adding to the mystery is lack of details provided by the government about the sale, including what price it is seeking for shares in the companies and on what stock market they might be listed. Some are speculating the move could be a first step toward returning the companies to private hands.
“We need capital for the development of all public companies,” Maduro said during a televised event Wednesday. “We need technology. We need new markets, and we are going to move forward.”
It’s a marked departure from Maduro’s predecessor, the late President Hugo Chávez, who nationalized many companies in his bid to transform the South American country into a socialist state. Among the companies Maduro mentioned are CANTV and its subsidiary Movilnet, petrochemical producer Petroquimica de Venezuela and a conglomerate focused in the mining sector.
Interest, however, may be limited to investors with ties to the government or those with an appetite for risk.
The country is still under economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. and other countries that prevent investors from being able to funnel money to Venezuela’s state-owned companies. And the percentages Maduro announced would not give private investors decision-making powers to undertake much-needed changes within the corporations.
At the turn of the century, Chávez carried out a series of takeovers in the electricity, telecommunications, natural gas and oil sectors. But the government made minimum investments in some of these companies, which have left them providing substandard services.
Days-long power outages are common across the country. Millions of households either do not have access to water or the service is intermittent. Internet and phone services are deficient.
Government supporters and opponents alike complain about poor basic services across the country even if an election is not approaching. But economists point out that Venezuelan’s government needs to improve some of those services even if it is slightly ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
“We are no doubt seeing a paradigm shift that is largely forced by the circumstances but also largely fueled by political survival,” Luis Prato, senior economist with the firm Torino Capital. “Since June 2014, with this significant drop in oil prices, the Maduro administration began to see a drop in oil revenues. Then, we went through a period from 2014 to 2019 of price controls, of a more intervening state. But to the extent that the state began to lose incidence in the ability to generate wealth and growth, it began to make room for participation of the private sector.”
Venezuela is still under a protracted social, economic and humanitarian crisis credited to plummeting oil prices, economic sanctions and two decades of mismanagement by socialist governments. But the government has taken steps to relieve some of the economic pressures, including by giving up its long and complicated efforts to restrict transactions in U.S. dollars in favor of the local bolivar, whose value has been obliterated by inflation.
Some shares of CANTV have long traded on the Stock Exchange of Caracas, the country’s oldest exchange. Maduro during this week’s announcement said the state-owned companies would be listed in the country’s “various stock exchanges” without specifying.
But by Friday, Gustavo Pulido, president of the Stock Exchange of Caracas, had not received any information of the planned stock sales. He said the process to register the other companies and eventually list them is lengthy and requires the disclosure of financial documents.
“It takes as long as you want to take to make the placement successful. I couldn’t tell you a certain time,” Pulido said, adding that an offering on the Stock Exchange of Caracas could not be structured by Monday.
The government established its own exchange in 2010. A government spokesman did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press regarding the exchanges it intends to use.
Prato said the government is likely to use its own exchange or a separate digital system for now but that it would have limited results.
Henkel Garcia, director of the Caracas-based firm Econometrica, said the companies require significant investments to improve the quality of their services, which were much better before they were nationalized. But he warned that the country lacks a mechanism to oversee the accounting and financial reporting procedures of the companies, making it impossible to guarantee the private investment in the state companies would be appropriately spent.
That missing component, he said, creates an scenario similar to post-Soviet reforms in which a large number of state-owned companies were privatized.
“If this really is the beginning of the total sale or the total handing over of these companies, which for me is a probable scenario, one would have to ask to whom they would be handed over because we have episodes like the Russian one, in which these companies that once belonged to the state ended up in the hands of people who were close to the government,” Henkel said. “So, it is a complex phenomenon that one could say opens the door to something positive, but with the institutional weakness that we have and with the lack of credible referees, well, it might not end in the best way.” | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/05/14/venezuela-plans-stock-sale-of-state-owned-companies/ | 2022-05-14T17:19:09Z |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — First, Ja Morant gave the Memphis Grizzlies and their fans a much-needed energy boost by flying through the air for a big dunk at the end of the third quarter.
Then the All-Star guard took over the game’s final two minutes.
Morant scored the last 13 points for Memphis, and his layup with a second left capped the Grizzlies’ big rally from 11 points down in the fourth quarter to edge the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-109 on Tuesday night and grab a 3-2 lead in their first-round Western Conference series.
“Go get a bucket. Ja,” Morant said of the game-winning play.
Morant, named the NBA’s most improved player on Monday, struggled mightily much of the game. But he turned it on in the fourth quarter, scoring 18 points — including 9 of 10 at the free-throw line. His lone 3 of the game came with 1:03 left, giving Memphis its first lead since the first quarter.
“Obviously, he had a brilliant fourth quarter,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said.
The Grizzlies point guard came from the low post as the Grizzlies inbounded the ball with 3.7 seconds left and lost Anthony Edwards at the top of the key. That left him an open lane into the paint he’s so rarely had in this series, beating Jarred Vanderbilt with his left hand on an underhanded layup.
Edwards said he wanted to try to steal the ball.
“Dumb mistake,” Edwards said.
Morant finished with 30 and had 13 rebounds and nine assists. Desmond Bane added 25 points, and Brandon Clarke had 21 off the bench for Memphis, and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 12 before fouling out.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 28 points and 12 rebounds. Anthony Edwards had 22, and D’Angelo Russell added 12 and Taurean Prince 10.
Game 6 is Friday night back in Minnesota with the Wolves now trying to force a seventh game Sunday back in Memphis.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” Towns said. “You feel like you got it after all the mistakes made and everything like that. We hit a big 3 to tie the game up with 4 seconds (left). You feel good. You feel good about going into overtime and having a chance to win the game. Just a learning experience.”
The Timberwolves led 99-88 with 6:58 left after three free throws by Towns, and Jackson fouling out for a second straight game. The Grizzlies responded with a 10-0 run to set up a thrilling finish to what had been an ugly, poor-shooting game, and outscored Minnesota 37-24 in the fourth.
Edwards tied it up at 109 for Minnesota with a 3 with 3.7 seconds left. That set up Morant for the final drive to the basket for the game-winner to start the celebration.
Clarke said he told Morant during the hug he thanked God the Grizzlies have him on their team.
“Thank God that you’re as good as you are because we had just fought so hard,” Clarke said. “And hit a really tough 3. And I was just like, it’s fine, though, because we got 12 and we got a player that can make a really, really big-time finish. And I was like, ‘Yeah, thank God that we got you, man.’”
Jenkins was fined $15,000 Monday for criticizing the officiating after Game 4, a 119-118 win by Minnesota. On Tuesday, his Grizzlies got to the free-throw line more than Minnesota — they just didn’t shoot well once there, making 26 of 39 compared to Minnesota’s 21 of 24.
The Grizzlies opened the game on a 13-2 run and looked liked the team that earned the highest seed in franchise history.
Then Jackson got his second foul on Patrick Beverley’s 3 and went to the bench. The Timberwolves, the NBA’s best 3-point shooting team in the regular season, started knocking down shots, going 7 of 11 outside the arc and leading 31-28 at the end of the first quarter.
Minnesota was up 55-53 at halftime, then outscored Memphis 30-21 in the third. But Morant capped the quarter with a windmill dunk that helped give the Grizzlies some much-needed energy.
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: Russell came in 17 of 55 overall and 9 of 24 from beyond the arc in this series. He knocked down his first two shots Tuesday, a pair of back-to-back 3s, and finished 2 of 4 from 3 and 4 of 10 from the floor. … Beverley had their first four-point play in the postseason at 8:14 of the first quarter.
Grizzlies: Memphis outrebounded Minnesota 53-42, including 18-6 on the offensive glass. That led to 23 second-chance points for the Grizzlies. Bane got a technical in the second quarter for shoving Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. Bane also opened the game with his 20th 3-point in this series. … Ziaire Williams played four minutes and did not finish the game with a sore right knee.
ON THE BOARDS
Memphis outrebounded Minnesota 53-42, including 18-6 on the offensive glass. That led to 23 second-chance points for the Grizzlies. Clarke had 15 rebounds, nine offensive.
“He’s always in the right spot at the right time,” Towns said of Clarke. “You go up for a block, and he magically around right at the exact spot where the ball is coming off.”
IN THE CROWD
Pau Gasol and Zach Randolph were former Grizzlies in attendance along with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Kentucky coach John Calipari sat near the Timberwolves’ bench. Alex Rodriguez, a Minnesota co-owner, also was in attendance, and Usher was on hand as well sitting next to Morant’s father Tee.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/morants-last-second-layup-gives-grizzlies-3-2-series-lead/ | 2022-04-27T13:46:23Z |
NEW YORK, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Prime Number Acquisition I Corp. (the "Company"), a newly organized blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation and led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dongfeng Wang, today announced the closing of its previously announced initial public offering of 6,450,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, which includes 450,000 units issued pursuant to the partial exercise of the underwriter's over-allotment option, for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $64,500,000. Each unit consists of one share of Class A Common Stock, one-half of one redeemable warrant, and one right. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock, and each eight rights entitle the holder thereof to receive one share of Class A Common Stock upon consummation of an initial business combination. The exercise price of the warrants is $11.50 per full share. The units began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market ("Nasdaq") under the ticker symbol "PNACU" on May 13, 2022. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A Common Stock, warrants and rights are expected to be traded on Nasdaq under the symbols "PNAC," "PNACW," and "PNACR," respectively. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will be traded.
Prime Number Capital, LLC and WestPark Capital, Inc. were Joint Book Running Managers for the Offering.
A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-262457) relating to the securities sold in the initial public offering was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on May 12, 2022. The offering has been made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by accessing the SEC's website, www.sec.gov.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
About Prime Number Acquisition I Corp.
Prime Number Acquisition I Corp.is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, provided that it will not undertake its initial business combination with any entity being based in or having the majority of the company's operations in China (including Hong Kong and Macau). None of its founders or the Company is affiliated with Prime Number Capital LLC.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the Company's initial public offering ("IPO") and search for an initial business combination. No assurance can be given that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of Prime Number Acquisition I Corp., including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of Prime Number Acquisition I Corp.'s registration statement and prospectus for the IPO filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Prime Number Acquisition I Corp. undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.
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SOURCE Prime Number Acquisition I Corp. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/prime-number-acquisition-i-corp-announces-closing-645-million-initial-public-offering/ | 2022-05-17T21:20:47Z |
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Thrive Aviation was awarded the coveted Platinum safety rating in an upgrade to their longtime Gold status, after completing an on-site audit with ARG/US' standards team. The review is an in-depth, historical safety-analysis of planes, pilots, and procedures, as well as a validation of enhanced standards in the operation's SMS and Emergency Response Plans.
Known as the industry's most respected, unbiased, and detailed third-party safety analysis, the ARG/US Platinum designation is another impressive milestone in Thrive's emergence as one of the country's premier, luxury jet operators.
Thrive's Director of Safety, Brian Harlan, has led the company's pursuit of elevating its safety-first culture and operating procedures over the past two years. Brian comments on the achievement: "ARG/US Platinum has become the standard by which other standards are set. This is not just a stamp of approval in process, but a reflection of our team's hard work and commitment to a superior culture of safety before anything else!"
Co-Founder and Thrive's acting Director of Operations, Stuart Edenfield adds: "We've always been a safety-first organization, but with our rapid growth over the past few years, we knew that we needed to invest heavily in scaling that culture. The recent audit by ARG/US and resulting Platinum designation was a great validation in our team's ability to meet and maintain the highest safety standards in the industry!"
As they prepare to expand their operational footprint globally with the addition of a new Gulfstream G600, Thrive also achieved IS-BAO Stage 1 certification through a simultaneous audit of international operating standards. The new designations place Thrive Aviation among an elite population of the Nation's top rated charter operators.
Thrive Aviation is a private aviation company dedicated to providing proactive service and elevated flight experiences for its guests and partners across North America. With corporate headquarters at Henderson Executive Airport, Thrive Aviation's main operational footprint in Las Vegas includes a large-scale expansion of over 30,000 square feet which includes a private hangar along with a separate dedicated maintenance facility; all at Harry Reid International Airport. Thrive Aviation doubled its owned/operated fleet of light, mid, super-mid and large cabin aircraft during 2021 with additional super-mid and long-range acquisitions scheduled through 2023.
Learn more at: www.flythrive.com
Contact: News@flythrive.com
ARGUS International (ARGUS), a member of the SGS Group, is the leader in Aviation Data, Software, Audits, and Certification Services. ARGUS Market Intelligence is the premier Aviation Forecasting service worldwide and have emerged as a leader among market intelligence service providers. ARGUS PROS is one of the 1st accredited audit organizations in the United States and involved in the development of the IOSA Auditing Program. We continue to be the leading provider of on-site safety audits nationwide. ARGUS PRISM is the worldwide leader in safety management systems and a pioneer in FAA Accreditation Consulting for UAS service providers. ARGUS was founded in 1995 and headquartered in Colorado. To learn more about ARGUS international, please visit www.ARGUS.aero
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SOURCE Thrive Aviation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/12/private-jet-operator-thrive-aviation-earns-prestigious-argus-platinum-safety-rating/ | 2022-08-12T09:44:57Z |
Wonder of the Seas Godmother to be Named this Summer Ahead of December Ceremony in Port Canaveral, Florida
MIAMI, May 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Family cruise line Royal Caribbean International is looking for the Godmother of the world's newest wonder, Wonder of the Seas, and the search begins today on TikTok. U.S. users of the popular video-sharing platform can now take part in the #SearchForWonderMom contest by nominating a mom who inspires those around them to discover, wonder and make memories. The call for submissions is open through Monday, May 16, at 11:59 p.m. ET, and the winner will be announced on Royal Caribbean's TikTok this summer.
"The role of a Godmother is an important and longstanding maritime tradition, and it began with naming prominent public figures to now recognizing everyday heroes like moms," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "With a combination of brand-new adventures and signature favorites across entertainment, thrills, dining and nightlife, Wonder of the Seas is designed to inspire wonder and awe in children and travelers of all ages. Moms do just that and more day in and day out."
Wonder's Godmother will have the honor of bestowing a blessing of safekeeping on the ship, its crew and the millions of guests who will sail in the years to come during the new ship's naming ceremony in Port Canaveral, Florida, in December. Plus, the honoree and their family will set sail on an exclusive cruise to the cruise line's private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, which features 13 waterslides – including the tallest in North America, Daredevil's Peak – private overwater cabanas at the Coco Beach Club escape and the sky-high helium balloon adventure, Up, Up & Away.
What is also in store for the Wonder Mom and their loved ones is an epic vacation, including a 7-night Caribbean sailing on board Wonder in the one-of-a-kind Ultimate Family Suite, first-class flights, three nights in a five-star hotel before the cruise and up to $1,000 in spending money. In addition, four finalists can enjoy all Wonder has to offer on a 7-night cruise in a balcony stateroom for up to four guests.
Entry Guidelines:
- Users must follow @RoyalCaribbean on TikTok.
- Submissions must be posted on TikTok and share why their nominee would be the ideal Godmother for the world's largest cruise ship.
- Uploaded videos must use Royal Caribbean's original #SearchforWonderMom contest audio track pinned on the cruise line's profile.
- Entries must tag @RoyalCaribbean and include #SearchForWonderMom and #Contest
The world's largest cruise ship and Royal Caribbean's latest in the lineup of revolutionary Oasis Class ships, Wonder is primed for memory making with a thoughtfully crafted combination of new adventures and fan favorites across eight unique neighborhoods – a Royal Caribbean first. Highlights include the Suite Neighborhood, the new, eighth neighborhood that welcomes Royal Suite Class guests to an elevated experience; and a brand-new underwater-themed play area for kids, Wonder Playscape, with slides, climbing walls, interactive features, puzzles and more.
Wonder also features more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges, including The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar that serves up Southern staples and classics with a twist for brunch and dinner with loved ones, and in the late night, along with live country music and more. Plus, returning favorites like The Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; the FlowRider surf simulator; rock climbing walls, The Perfect Storm racing waterslides, newly designed areas just for kids and teens; and original entertainment across four "stages": air, ice, water and theater.
Beginning November 2022, Wonder returns stateside to its new year-round home in Port Canaveral, Florida, after a summer in Europe sailing in the Mediterranean. The action-packed ship will set course to idyllic destinations on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, including Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Mexico and Honduras.
Full details on the #SearchForWonderMom TikTok contest are available on Royal Caribbean's contest webpage.
About Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International, owned by Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has been delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel that features the latest technology and guest experiences for today's adventurous traveler. The cruise line continues to revolutionize vacations with itineraries to 240 destinations in 61 countries on six continents, including Royal Caribbean's private island destination in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the first in the Perfect Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has also been voted "Best Cruise Line Overall" for 19 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards.
Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers can call their travel advisor; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.
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SOURCE Royal Caribbean International | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/06/calling-all-moms-royal-caribbean-launches-tiktok-search-godmother-worlds-largest-cruise-ship/ | 2022-05-06T14:30:49Z |
Your good friends may be able to help you get out of a jam. They may be good listeners and they may be good at keeping you company over a meal or drink. But they are decidedly not good at keeping you from getting sick with Covid-19, new research shows.
A study published Thursday found that while people in the friend zone are good for your mental health, when it comes to an infectious disease like Covid, your friends might make you even more vulnerable to it. It's what two scholars who happen to be BFFs found with the five studies they published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology. Hyunjung Crystal Lee and Eline De Vries are assistant and associate professors and marketing specialists who specialize in consumer behavior and business psychology in the Department of Business Administration at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
It's long been known that friendship, while psychologically beneficial, can warp a person's perception of risk. Risk perception comes from a person's ability to judge the severity and probability of a negative outcome. Past studies have shown people tend to feel safer when they have a close relationship with someone, and that can lead them to make emotional rather than rational decisions.
The researchers showed this through five different experiments with a wide variety of people throughout the course of the pandemic.
Lee said she and De Vries were interested in the work because as they were living through the pandemic, they started wondering what makes people take risks and what conditions would make people feel vulnerable or invulnerable.
"And then we went down the rabbit hole," De Vries added.
It's what they call the "friend shield effect."
"The idea was that we perceive our friends like a shield. We feel safe when Covid-19 is associated with friendship," De Vries said -- even if we shouldn't.
The first experiment involved junk food. The professors divided up participants into two groups. One was asked to think about a close friend. The other group was asked to think about a distant acquaintance. Both wrote down memories of those people. Then they were given an article that argued eating unhealthy snacks could increase a person's risk to develop severe Covid. The article also mentioned that hand sanitizers and masks were protective.
The groups were then allowed to shop online from a store that offered travel-size hand sanitizer and masks and Cheez-Its and king-size Twix bars and Mars bars. The group that thought about their close friends first were much more likely to buy junk food than protective items, despite the warnings.
A second experiment divided participants into three groups. None had ever had Covid. They then were told to imagine that they had been infected by a friend, an acquaintance or a stranger. Then they were asked how much they would spend on health protection in the next couple of months. Those who imagined they got sick from strangers or people that they weren't close to planned to buy about the same amount. Those who got sick from friends planned to spend half as much. The experiment confirmed that "positive emotions can make people relatively oblivious to risks and likely engage in risky behavior," the study said.
A third experiment involved people who had Covid-19 at one point in the pandemic and knew how they got sick after being exposed to Covid. Those who were exposed by a friend or family member were much less likely to think that they'd get it again when compared to those who got sick after exposure by an acquaintance or stranger.
The fourth study compared how people with a strong sense of boundaries felt about their risk of catching Covid when visiting a favorite burger joint. Those who clearly categorized others into a friend or acquaintance category were less hesitant to go out to eat with a friend rather than an acquaintance. Those with blurrier boundaries -- whether the person was a friend or an acquaintance -- didn't have their choice to dine indoors impacted in this kind of risky situation.
The fifth experiment looked at people's friendships and factored in political ideology. Earlier research has shown that politically conservative people draw sharper distinctions between who is a friend and who is an acquaintance.
In that experiment, people were asked to imagine going to a favorite coffee shop by themselves, with a close friend or an acquaintance. They were asked how crowded they thought the coffee shop would be and how likely they thought they'd get sick after being exposed to someone there. They were also asked how they would describe themselves politically. Conservatives thought the coffee shop would be less crowded and they'd be less likely to get sick if they were going with a friend rather than if they were going with an acquaintance.
"The people who had the clearest boundaries of who is a close friend and who they are distant from show the greatest friend shield effect and feel more invulnerable to Covid," De Vries said.
In total, these studies repeatedly seem to show that people just aren't good at perceiving risks when friends are involved, even if the risk was beyond this person in their social circle. This is what the study called an "irrational potentially dangerous bias," since limited interaction with others is the most protective behavior in a pandemic.
Kaileigh Angela Byrne, who did not work on these studies but has conducted research on risk taking in the pandemic, said these experiments made "really interesting reading" and build on work that shows "when trust is high, risk perception is low."
"Risk seems less threatening when it's associated with something positive, like a friend or friends, so it makes sense that going to a favorite coffee shop with friends, even in the height of a pandemic, would feel okay, even if it really isn't," said Byrne, an assistant professor of psychology at Clemson University.
Byrne's research has also found that people who identify as conservatives have a decreased perceived risk for engaging in social activities during the pandemic. In part, she said, this is because the pandemic was politicized, and their strong sense of boundaries about who is a friend further reduces their perceived risk.
The studies, she said, seemed to create realistic scenarios, and while they are experiments, "there is a fair connection between intention and actual behavior."
Byrne believes the designers of public health campaigns should keep this research in mind. It's good for people's mental health to stay connected with friends, but people should be encouraged to meet in safer spaces such as at a park or some other outdoor venue, she said.
"I think it is certainly possible to maintain social interaction in a pandemic, while still making efforts to reduce the risk of infection," Byrne said.
Some public health guidance encouraged people to limit interaction to close circles of friends, but De Vries and Lee hope their study will inform public health policy going forward. People should be reminded to be careful even with close friends.
"We would like a more holistic response," Lee said. "Risk perception was more neglected in the current pandemic strategy."
"Hopefully, we will never need this information in the future and we won't have another pandemic, but if we do, we should take this into account. Perception matters," Lee added.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/features/health/people-believe-their-friends-will-protect-them-from-covid----but-the-opposite/article_2dce1116-08f4-5074-97c4-8740ea57e6e9.html | 2022-04-07T19:49:03Z |
NCUA Chairman Attends a Meeting On Credit Unions Assistance to War-Torn Ukraine
BROOKLYN, N.Y., May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chairman of National Credit Union Administration, the Honorable Todd M. Harper, visited the headquarters of the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union on Friday, May 13, 2022. Mr. Harper, who was accompanied by NCUA Deputy Director of the Office of External Affairs and Communications, Samuel Schumach, attended a meeting devoted to the discussion of the current situation in the war-torn Ukraine and the way credit unions could assist the country and its population.
Meeting attendees included representatives of the PSFCU Board of Directors and Executive Management, and representatives of Ukrainian and Ukrainian-American credit unions: Anatoli Murha, SVP of Ukrainian Self Reliance FCU in Philadelphia. Andrew Horbachevsky, Chairman of SUMA FCU & NY and Ukrainian American Credit Union Association, Bohdan Kurczak, President/CEO of Self Reliance FCU in New York, and Svitlana Savchenko, Representative of the Ukrainian National Credit Union Association. Consuls General of the Republic of Poland and Ukraine, Adrian Kubicki and Oleksii Holubov were also in attendance, as were Vadim Tkachuk, Economic Affairs Consul of Ukraine, Michael E. Fryzel, former Chairman and Board Member of NCUA and Bruce Foulke, President/CEO of American Heritage FCU in Philadelphia.
The meeting attendees discussed the difficult situation Ukraine found itself in following the unprovoked Russian aggression, especially the tragic loss of life, the destruction of the infrastructure and its effect on the country's economy. They stressed the continuous need for efficient support and assistance both on the part of people and on the part of organizations such as the credit unions. They also praised PSFCU for the humanitarian efforts in response to the outbreak of war in Ukraine.
In his remarks, Mr. Harper, who underscored his Polish ethnic heritage ties, commented on the success of PSFCU and its support of the Polish-American community. He also praised PSFCU's efforts to provide assistance to Ukrainian refugees. "The Polish and Slavic Federal Credit Union exemplifies the proud tradition of credit unions, which from their beginning in the U.S. more than a century ago, have been based on the principle of people helping people," he said. "I was deeply impressed when I heard the Polish and Slavic Federal Credit Union, in partnership with the John Paul II Foundation, has raised more than $330,000 to provide direct assistance to Ukrainian refugees in Poland."
During the discussion that followed, Mr. Harper was asked to what credit unions should pay special attention in the current situation. He underscored the particular need of cybersecurity and the threat of cyberattacks on credit union infrastructure on the part of the Russian hackers. "We have now put out a couple of alerts to credit unions. We're urging them to be hyper vigilant at this time because attacks are potentially imminent." He also encouraged credit unions to take full advantage of NCUA's Automated Cybersecurity Examination Tool (ACET) framework.
About the PSFCU
Founded in 1976 by a group of Polish immigrants to help other ethnic Poles obtain mortgages, the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union now has 21 branches in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois, Pennsylvania, a Mortgage Center in New Britain, CT and an operations center in Fairfield, NJ. In addition, PSFCU offers mortgage loans on properties located in the state of Florida. Credit union members can access our services through our Online Banking, accessible on our www.psfcu.com website, or through our mobile app or utilize a Mobile Branch, a specially equipped vehicle used during special events, providing all services available at a traditional brick-and-mortar location. Through its scholarship program, PSFCU has thus far granted over six million dollars to over 5,100 students. The 45-year-old credit union has over $2.6 billion in assets and serves over 108,000 members.
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SOURCE Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/hon-todd-m-harper-visits-polish-amp-slavic-fcu/ | 2022-05-18T19:36:20Z |
The bacteria that causes a rare, serious disease called melioidosis has been detected in water and soil samples in Mississippi, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.
Burkholderia pseudomallei was found in the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi, the first detection of the bacteria in the environment in the US.
"It is unclear how long the bacterium has been in the environment prior to 2020 or how widespread the bacterium is in the continental United States; modeling suggests that the environmental conditions found in the Gulf Coast states are conducive to the growth of B. pseudomallei," the CDC said in a Health Alert Network Advisory.
The agency asked health care providers across the country to consider melioidosis as a possible diagnosis when people have symptoms, "as melioidosis is now considered to be locally endemic in areas of the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi.
Symptoms of melioidosis depend on where someone is infected but may include fever, pain or swelling, ulcers, coughing, chest pain, trouble breathing, weight loss, muscle or joint pain, disorientation, headache and seizures. These can progress to conditions such as pneumonia, abscesses and blood infections. It's deadly in 10% to 50% of cases.
B. pseudomallei is typically found in tropical regions, and US cases are usually connected to travel. The CDC says an average of 12 cases are reported to the agency each year.
The latest discovery came about after two people who lived close to each other in southern Mississippi but who had no recent history of international travel were diagnosed with the same bacterial strain in July 2020 and May 2022, the CDC said, prompting sampling of their household products, their properties and nearby areas. The patients were hospitalized but recovered after taking antibiotics.
The risk to the general population in the US "continues to be very low," the agency said in a news release, and there are few documented cases of person-to-person transmission.
People who live in or visit coastal Mississippi, especially those with certain chronic conditions, are urged to protect open wounds, cuts or burns with waterproof bandages; avoid contact with soil or muddy water; and do not drink water from shallow wells, lakes, rivers, ponds and streams. Get medical care right away if you notice possible melioidosis symptoms.
Melioidosis was connected to contaminated aromatherapy sprays late last year. One person died of a B. pseudomallei infection in October that was traced to the sprays.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/features/health/bacteria-that-causes-rare-serious-illness-melioidosis-is-endemic-in-parts-of-mississippi-gulf-coast/article_1d84ae54-5001-5192-b25d-3b46c413a287.html | 2022-07-28T00:59:33Z |
WASHINGTON, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Reparations Task Force is making a decisive step forward on the road to reparations. The Interim Report Detailing Harms of Slavery and Systemic Discrimination on African Americans is extensive and details the horrors that descendants of Africans in the United States have endured. However, we hope that the California Reparations Task Force strongly reconsiders their current limitation of eligibility "determined by an individual being an African American descendant of a chattel enslaved person or the descendant of a free Black person living in the US prior to the end of the 19th century."
Reparations experts, historians, organizations (including the National African American Reparations Commission and the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America), and anti-racism educators stress that while tracing direct enslaved ancestry is possible for some African Americans, it is not feasible for all harmed families or communities. Additionally, extensive ancestry tracing measures can be time-consuming, expensive, traumatic, and create additional barriers to access. Thus, direct "enslaved ancestry" tracing should not be a determinant for eligibility.
For large-scale reparative justice initiatives among local governments, states, and national levels, eliminating barriers to access is essential for reaching and repairing Black communities. An alternative to lineage-based reparations is harms-based reparations which recognize that Black communities have endured centuries of dehumanizing delays and barriers to reparative justice. Thus, harms-based reparations reject false and invasive purity standards and redirect focus on documented harms done to our communities. So-called lineage-based reparations place the onus of proof and belonging back on African Americans that have experienced centuries of varying injuries depending on location, socio-economic status, etc.
"Requiring extensive genealogical background checks (even those promoting the concept of negative proof) would delay and or serve as additional time-consuming or costly barriers (potentially millions of dollars) used to further deny communities in need. However, harms-based reparations focus on repairing harms and do not punish Black communities for lack of slavery documentation by focusing on continual harms for historical accuracy and accessibility. To best remedy harms and protect the future of Black communities, eligibility requirements for reparative justice should focus on harms and include not only chattel slavery but also Jim Crow and systemic racism that is currently harming Black communities," said Jessica Ann Mitchell Aiwuyor, founder of the National Black Cultural Information Trust, Inc.
Additionally, harms-based reparations uplift that Descendants of Africans Enslaved in the United States or descendants of free Black communities are owed reparations, and people of African descent residing in the United States that were also harmed by the vestiges of slavery and Jim Crow, regardless of national origin, are also owed forms of reparative justice. The injuries against African descendants in America have always been multi-ethnic. Thus, reparative justice for these harms must include remedies for all persons of African descent who were harmed by the vestiges of slavery and Jim Crow.
We hope that the California Reparations Task Force will reconsider the impact of overly strict determinants for eligibility on Black communities in dire need of reparative justice.
We sincerely appreciate the work of every California Reparations Task Force member and celebrate this historic moment as the struggle for reparations continues.
Contact: info@nbcit.org
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SOURCE National Black Cultural Information Trust | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/national-black-cultural-information-trust-celebrates-california-reparations-task-forces-interim-report-hopes-changes-eligibility-requirements/ | 2022-06-02T13:23:59Z |
CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With prices of both consumer and business goods and services on the rise, many software companies are debating whether they, too, should implement price increases. For companies struggling with that question, industry consulting firm Software Pricing Partners offers key insights.
"This is a tricky time for software companies regarding their pricing," said Chris Mele, managing partner at Software Pricing Partners. "While other industries can leverage commodity shortages and cost increases to raise their own prices and, in some cases, generate additional profits, software companies can't exploit such factors,"
U.S. software companies are seeing a rise in the wages of experienced software engineers, architects and developers–a Robert Half survey suggests a 3.8% increase in average salaries for software engineers in 2022. "But wages aren't a commodity, and the disparity in how they affect individual software companies—due to differences in geography, work structure or even willingness to subsidize growth—makes using them as the basis for raising prices especially difficult," said Mele.
Many software companies have added great value to their solution over time but have resisted, neglected, or had no mechanism to determine price increases. They may view the current environment as an opportunity to catch up.
"But underpinning a company's price increase with an inflation bump is like setting its initial pricing model based on how its competitors do. It's a trap—a shortcut with no foundation in actual performance," said Mele.
Instead, companies need to evaluate the right time and the right way to do a price increase. Here are the key factors to consider:
1. Software pricing must reflect the value of the company's solution.
a. It is not a game of, "how much can we get away with", but rather the company's pricing model must align with how companies and customers use the product and generate value from it. For more information on this, visit the article: An Introduction to Successful Software Pricing.
2. Timing is a key consideration when increasing prices, specifically:
a. For whom will prices increase and when? Choosing to increase prices only for low-probability-to-churn customers is risky, and violates important Market Fairness principles.
b. Will the price for existing customers and new customers go up at the same point or will companies start with new customers only?
c. Will all legacy customers get the price increase at the same time, or will companies stratify based on length of relationship or some other criteria?
How companies handle the timing can have a large impact on customer churn and must be well-planned.
3. Communication is the most impactful consideration of all.
Achieving a successful price increase, with minimal customer churn, requires effective communication to customers. Companies will need to clearly and thoughtfully explain the rationale—why they are increasing prices—and the process—how and when companies are going to go about it. The process component will address decisions companies make about the roll-out timing and phase-in or all-at-once elements above. Moreover, the communication edict also extends to each company's internal marketing, sales and customer service staff, as they must be able to understand and convey the rationale and the process.
4. When it comes to price increases, a "soft-land" approach is key to the company's overarching objective.
Not only will careful planning, open communication, and fair-minded implementation help companies accomplish that, but they will also protect companies from using inflation as the excuse to claw back revenue from past pricing mistakes. And in the end, companies will be able to minimize customer churn and sales friction and even strengthen customer relations.
For more information, please visit: softwarepricing.com
Founded in 1982, Software Pricing Partners (SPP) was the world's first global software pricing consulting firm. Since then, SPP has worked with clients, including Bamboo HR, Mission Cloud, Gartner, OSIsoft, Tune, Sun Microsystems and Wordstream to leverage their tested and proven pricing strategies to help emerging and enterprise clients expand with profitable growth.
With a focus on the impact effective licensing, packaging and pricing strategies can make on the most essential software company metrics, revenue, profit and valuation, SPP's team of consultants have launched some of the software industry's most transformative monetization strategies. For more information, visit softwarepricing.com
Contact:
Jessica Hover
Communica
419-308-4174
jhover@thinkcommunica.com
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SOURCE Software Pricing Partners | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/software-pricing-partners-provides-key-pricing-strategies-during-this-time-high-inflation/ | 2022-06-23T19:27:55Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attention Unity Software Inc. ("Unity") (NYSE: U) shareholders:
The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that a class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of investors who purchased between March 5, 2021 and May 10, 2022.
If you suffered a loss on your investment in Unity, contact us about potential recovery by using the link below. There is no cost or obligation to you.
ABOUT THE ACTION: The class action against Unity includes allegations that the Company made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) deficiencies in Unity's product platform reduced the accuracy of the Company's machine learning technology; (ii) the foregoing was likely to have a material negative impact on the Company's revenues; (iii) accordingly, Unity had overstated the Company's commercial and/or financial prospects for 2022; (iv) as a result, the Company was likely to have to reduce its fiscal 2022 guidance; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
DEADLINE: September 6, 2022
Aggrieved Unity investors only have until September 6, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. You are not required to act as a lead plaintiff in order to share in any recovery.
Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
Vincent Wong, Esq.
39 East Broadway
Suite 304
New York, NY 10002
Tel. 212.425.1140
E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com
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SOURCE The Law Offices of Vincent Wong | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/class-action-alert-law-offices-vincent-wong-remind-unity-investors-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-6-2022/ | 2022-08-22T10:16:59Z |
CRANBURY, N.J., April 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ophthalmology Times® and Optometry Times®, the leading news and information platforms for eye-care professionals, are thrilled to announce new members to their extensive Strategic Alliance Partnership (SAP) networks.
"During the past quarter, we formed new partnerships in the world of eye care with educational institutions, hospitals, state societies, associations and non-profit organizations," said Mike Hennessy Jr., president and CEO of MJH Life Sciences™, parent company of Ophthalmology Times® and Optometry Times®. "I look forward to seeing the collaboration that will come from the addition of this broad list of new partners to our Strategic Alliance Partnership network."
New partners include the following:
- University of Pikeville, the Kentucky College of Optometry
- Orbis International
- NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry
- Moffitt
- Black Eye Care Perspective
- Corporate Optometry
- Corporate Vision Consulting
- Grande Financial Services, Inc.
- Wills Eye Hospital
- OWL, Ophthalmic World Leaders
- UCI Health
- Cleveland Eye Bank Foundation
- Tennessee Academy of Ophthalmology
- Dean McGee Eye Institute
- NYU Langone
The SAP program brings together leading medical associations, health plans, advocacy groups, and medical institutions for national reach and visibility. By utilizing the MJH Life Sciences™ communication platform, these groups can showcase cutting-edge initiatives, content, research, and thought leadership. The SAP program also fosters collaboration and an open exchange of information among trusted peers for the benefit of patients and their families.
For a full list of Ophthalmology Times® SAP partners, click here.
For a full list of Optometry Times® SAP partners, click here.
About Ophthalmology Times®
Ophthalmology Times® is a multimedia platform that offers ophthalmology professionals digital resources they can use to help provide the best patient care, positively affect the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of eye diseases, and promote progressive eye health. Ophthalmology Times® is a brand of MJH Life Sciences™, the largest privately held, independent, full-service medical media company in North America dedicated to delivering trusted health care news across multiple channels.
About Optometry Times®
The leading source of breaking news, news analysis, emerging research reports in optometry, Optometry Times® is an optometry-driven publication that disseminates news and information of a clinical, socioeconomic, and political nature in a timely and accurate manner. Optometry Times®'s practical content by optometrists for optometrists can be immediately applied to improve the clinical experience. Optometry Times® is a brand of MJH Life Sciences™, the largest privately held, independent, full-service medical media company in North America dedicated to delivering trusted health care news across multiple channels.
Media Contact
Michael Altmann
2153130278
maltmann@mjhlifesciences.com
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SOURCE Optometry Times; Ophthalmology Times | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/08/ophthalmology-times-optometry-times-welcome-new-strategic-alliance-partnership-sap-members-2022/ | 2022-04-09T06:35:56Z |
Buyers? Sellers? Marlins aren’t sure as trade deadline looms
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins haven’t decided yet if they’ll be sellers or buyers at this year’s trade deadline. Marlins general manager Kim Ng said she’s been making and fielding calls in advance of Tuesday’s deadline, but that no moves are pending, yet. Miami’s scheduled starter on Sunday against the New York Mets is right-hander Pablo Lopez, who has been the subject of many trade rumors. Ng made it clear: The Marlins aren’t shopping Lopez. But she also made clear that the Marlins are listening to everyone. They started Saturday six games out of the third NL wild-card spot. Analytics website FanGraphs calculated their playoff odds at 1.7%. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/07/30/buyers-sellers-marlins-arent-sure-as-trade-deadline-looms/ | 2022-07-31T03:02:26Z |
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a convenient and comfortable way to collect tennis balls from the court when practicing," said an inventor, from Cumming, Ga., "so I invented the WHEEL SPRING OPERATED TENNIS BALL PICKER. My design would eliminate the need to manually gather the balls and bend over to pick them up."
The patent-pending invention provides a quick and easy way to retrieve tennis balls from the court. In doing so, it offers an improved alternative to traditional tennis ball pickers. As a result, it saves time and effort and it helps to reduce physical stress and strain. The invention features a practical design that is easy to use so it is ideal for tennis players, coaches, instructors, etc. Additionally, a prototype model is available upon request.
The original design was submitted to the Atlanta sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-ALL-2831, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/29/inventhelp-inventor-develops-improved-tennis-ball-picker-all-2831/ | 2022-08-29T15:20:29Z |
Teen dead, second teen injured in Mission double-shooting
Published: Apr. 10, 2022 at 10:07 PM CDT|Updated: 12 hours ago
MISSION, KS (KCTV) --- A teenager was shot and killed Sunday night in Mission.
Police say the double-shooting happened in the 5100 block of Foxridge Drive.
A male teenager was declared dead on scene and a female juvenile has been hospitalized.
Her condition is unknown.
“It’s a sad day here,” Mission Police Chief Dan Madden said. “We’re having too much violence with young kids in this community. Any violence is bad, but when it involves kids, it’s too much.”
There’s no immediate information about a suspect.
Police say there’s no immediate threat to the surrounding area.
Copyright 2022 KCTV. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/11/teen-dead-second-teen-injured-mission-double-shooting/ | 2022-04-11T15:53:00Z |
ROSH HA'AYIN, Israel, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Partner Communications Company Ltd. ("Partner" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: PTNR) (TASE: PTNR) , a leading Israeli communications operator, reports that, further to the Company's report dated April 4, 2022, the Company has been informed that on June 1, 2022, Zela Holdings Ltd., a company wholly owned by Mr. Avi Gabbay, the Company's CEO, has joined Amphissa Holdings Limited Partnership (the "Partnership") as one of the two general partners (in equal parts with the other general partner, Israel Lighterage and Supply Co. Ltd.), and Zela Investments Ltd., controlled by Mr. Avi Gabbay, also joined the Partnership as a limited partner (at a total level of 10.2% of the Partnership).
About Partner Communications
Partner Communications Company Ltd. is a leading Israeli provider of telecommunications services (cellular, fixed-line telephony, internet and television services). Partner's ADSs are quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market™ and its shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (NASDAQ: PTNR) (TASE: PTNR).
For more information about Partner see: http://www.partner.co.il/en/Investors-Relations/lobby
Contact:
Tamir Amar
Deputy CEO & Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +972 (54) 781 4951
Amir Adar
Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Projects
Tel: +972 (54) 781 5051
E-mail: investors@partner.co.il
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SOURCE Partner Communications Company Ltd. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/partner-communications-announces-that-mr-avi-gabbay-has-joined-amphissa-holdings/ | 2022-06-02T08:19:29Z |
Elon Musk aims to quintuple Twitter’s revenue to $26.4 billion by 2028, NYT says
Reuters
Elon Musk is aiming to increase Twitter’s annual revenue to $26.4 billion by 2028, up from $5 billion last year, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing a pitch deck presented by the world’s richest man to investors.
Advertising will fall to 45% of total revenue under Musk, down from about 90% in 2020, generating $12 billion in revenue in 2028, while subscriptions are expected to pull in another $10 billion, according to the report.
The head of electric-vehicle maker Tesla also aims to increase Twitter’s cash flow to $3.2 billion in 2025 and $9.4 billion in 2028, the newspaper reported, citing the presentation.
Musk clinched a deal last month to buy Twitter for $44 billion in cash, in a move that will shift control of the social media platform populated by millions of users and global leaders to the Tesla chief.
The billionaire has promised to revitalize the company and expand the number of users by cracking down on spam bots and reducing the amount of moderation to facilitate more “free speech.”
After the closure of the deal, Musk is expected to become Twitter’s temporary CEO, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
Among his other goals, Musk expects the social media company to bring in $15 million from a payments business in 2023 that will grow to about $1.3 billion by 2028, the NYT cited the document as saying.
Musk anticipates he can increase Twitter’s average revenue per user to $30.22 in 2028 from $24.83 last year, it added. He also expects Twitter to have 11,072 employees by 2025, up from around 7,500.
Revenue from Twitter Blue, the company’s premium subscription service launched last year, is expected to have 69 million users by 2025, the NYT reported.
Musk, in a now deleted tweet last month, suggested a raft of changes to the social media giant’s Twitter Blue premium subscription service, including slashing its price.
On Thursday, Musk listed a group of high-profile investors who are ready to provide funding of $7.14 billion for his Twitter bid, including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and Sequoia Capital.
Musk has increased the financing commitment to $27.25 billion, which includes commitments from 19 investors, and reduced a margin loan from Morgan Stanley tied to his Tesla stock to $6.25 billion. He has already secured commitments for $13 billion in loans against Twitter shares.
Musk could not be reached for comment. Twitter did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/money/cnn-business-consumer/2022/05/07/elon-musk-aims-to-quintuple-twitters-revenue-to-26-4-billion-by-2028-nyt-says-2/ | 2022-05-07T17:04:15Z |
WASHINGTON, July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (U.S. CPRI) eased by 0.1% in June following gains of 0.5% in May and 1.0% in April, according to the American Chemistry Council (ACC). Chemical output was mixed across regions. The U.S. CPRI is measured as a three-month moving average (3MMA).
On a 3MMA basis, chemical production within segments was mixed in June. There were gains in the production of synthetic rubber, industrial gases, coatings, manufactured fibers, synthetic dyes and pigments, adhesives, other organic chemicals, crop protection chemicals, other specialty chemicals, and fertilizers. These gains were offset by lower production of plastic resins, organic chemicals, and consumer products.
As nearly all manufactured goods are produced using chemistry in some form, manufacturing activity is an important indicator for chemical demand. Manufacturing output eased by 0.1% in June (3MMA). The 3MMA trend in manufacturing production was mixed, with gains in the output of motor vehicles, aerospace, iron and steel, oil and gas extraction, and rubber products.
Compared with June 2021, U.S. chemical production was ahead by 2.5%, a slower rate of growth than last month. Chemical production was higher than a year ago in all regions except the Gulf Coast, which was 0.5% lower.
The U.S. CPRI was developed to track chemical production activity in seven regions of the United States. The U.S. CPRI is based on information from the Federal Reserve, and as such, includes monthly revisions as published by the Federal Reserve. The U.S. CPRI includes the most recent Federal Reserve benchmark revision released on June 28, 2022. To smooth month-to-month fluctuations, the U.S. CPRI is measured using a three-month moving average. The reading in June reflects production activity during April, May, and June.
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the multibillion-dollar business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products, technologies and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health, safety and security performance through Responsible Care®; common sense advocacy addressing major public policy issues; and health and environmental research and product testing. ACC members and chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development, and are advancing products, processes and technologies to address climate change, enhance air and water quality, and progress toward a more sustainable, circular economy.
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SOURCE American Chemistry Council | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/us-chemical-production-fell-slightly-june/ | 2022-07-21T15:59:10Z |
Comey, McCabe faced ‘rigorous’ audit by the IRS
(Gray News) - Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is questioning the actions of the Internal Revenue Service.
McCabe, now a CNN law enforcement analyst, said he wants an investigation into why he and former FBI Director James Comey were both chosen by the IRS for tax audits.
McCabe said the audit process was “incredibly rigorous.”
Comey told the New York Times his audit in 2019, when former President Donald Trump was in office, determined that he and his wife overpaid their federal income taxes in 2017, and he got a refund.
McCabe’s 2021 audit on his 2019 return uncovered a small “oversight” that they paid.
Comey told the Times that an investigation into the audits would be warranted.
The New York Times reported the chances of a person being picked for such an audit is nearly one out of every 31,000 people.
That raised questions among some analysts about how McCabe and Comey, both critics of former President Donald Trump who were fired during the Trump administration, were selected at around the same time.
Trump fired Comey as FBI director in May 2017, which led to the appointment of a special counsel.
McCabe led an FBI probe of Trump’s advisers’ connections to Russia. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired him two days before he was set to retire in March 2018.
The IRS is led by Trump appointee Charles Rettig, but the agency told the Times that he plays no factor in who is audited.
A Trump spokesman told the Times that Trump had no knowledge of the audits for Comey and McCabe.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. CNN Newsource contributed to this report. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/07/comey-mccabe-faced-rigorous-audit-by-irs/ | 2022-07-07T14:00:11Z |
The Award Comes on the Heels of the Company's One-Year Anniversary Since the App's Launch
LOS ANGELES, May 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bitcoin IRA, the world's first and most trusted digital asset IRA technology platform, today received the Best New Mobile App platinum award for the business and finance category by Best Mobile App Awards.
The Best Mobile App Awards recognizes the latest apps and developers behind the product. Winners are selected via a committee of highly experienced app designers, expert developers and publishers who are dedicated to uncovering the next big player in mobile applications.
"We are thrilled to be recognized by the Best Mobile App Awards," said Bitcoin IRA Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer, Chris Kline. "Next month, we'll be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the launch of our mobile app. As the crypto market continues to grow, we will strive to give our clients the best tools to engage in this exciting and emerging asset class."
Available on both Apple and Android devices, Bitcoin IRA's mobile app is the first cryptocurrency retirement app of its kind, allowing users to easily buy, sell and swap cryptocurrencies inside their self-directed retirement accounts. Earlier this year, the company announced that they had increased their offering to more than 60 types of cryptocurrencies, including Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL), and Polkadot (DOT). The platform provides a wide array of services, such as IRA Earn, which gives users up to 6%1 monthly interest on their crypto assets and provides world-class security2 with up to $7003 million in custody insurance.
For more information, visit www.bitcoinIRA.com or speak with our team of specialists at 866-333-4307.
Bitcoin IRA, available at bitcoinira.com, is the world's first and most trusted digital asset IRA technology platform that allows users to purchase cryptocurrencies for their self-directed retirement accounts.
They provide a secure self-trading platform for self-directed retirement accounts. Users can set up a qualified digital asset IRA, transfer funds from an existing IRA custodian, execute self-trades in real-time 24/7 through a US-based exchange, and store funds in industry-leading multi-signature digital wallets. Users can also earn up to 6%1 interest on their cash and crypto assets with IRA Earn.
Bitcoin IRA has processed billions of U.S. dollars in transactions and has over 150,000 users with more than 3,500 5-star user reviews. The platform has been featured extensively in the media, with coverage in Forbes, CNBC, CoinDesk, and The Wall Street Journal, among other leading publications.
Bitcoin IRA is a financial services technology provider, and as such, is not a financial adviser, cryptocurrency exchange, custodian, wallet provider, initial coin offering (ICO), or money transmitter. Bitcoin IRA is privately funded and based in Los Angeles.
Learn more about Bitcoin IRA at bitcoinira.com or call 866-333-4307.
1Interest rates may vary. See details at bitcoin.com/earn
2Security may vary based on asset chosen and custody solution available.
3Insurance may vary based on asset chosen and custody solution available.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jordan Bieber, bitcoinira@5wpr.com
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SOURCE Bitcoin IRA | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/20/bitcoin-ira-named-winner-best-new-mobile-app/ | 2022-05-20T14:19:48Z |
‘I have my guard up now’: Woman says man stole $4K while borrowing phone
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA/Gray News) - An Alabama woman said she was a victim of a phone scam when she tried to help a man make a call to his father.
On Monday, Kasey Johnston was shopping at Target with her son when a man asked to use her phone. She said the man told her he needed to call his dad to help him find the phone he’d lost in the store.
WALA reports the man did make a call, but Johnston said he also took $4,000 from her bank account.
“He locked my phone and then said, ‘Hey, I accidentally locked your phone.’ So, when I entered my passcode, he watched me,” Johnston said. “He then went to my banking account app, and when Face ID didn’t work, he entered in the passcode and gained access to my accounts.”
Johnston said she felt targeted because she was trying to care for her son, and the man used that to his advantage.
“I have my guard up now. I don’t trust people anymore, and I’ve always tried to help,” Johnston said. “I got burned in a big way.”
The Better Business Bureau said Johnston’s story serves as an important warning, especially since many of these situations go unreported.
The agency shared that its best advice to avoid such a scam is to require a Face ID and pin to access the phone and banking applications.
Mobile police said they are investigating the situation, and representatives with Venmo also said they are checking the incident.
Copyright 2022 WALA via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/01/i-have-my-guard-up-now-woman-says-man-stole-4k-while-borrowing-phone/ | 2022-06-02T00:42:09Z |
Partnership with media startup will enable readers to access paywalled McClatchy content
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- McClatchy announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Zette, an online subscription platform that enables consumers to access premium content from participating news publishers. Through this agreement, Zette subscribers will have access to paywalled McClatchy content on an article-by-article basis.
Zette, a media startup founded in 2020, enables readers to easily pay for the articles they want. Each month, Zette subscribers pay $9.99 and receive 30 article credits, which they can spend through Zette's downloadable browser extension. Readers browse the news normally until a paywall appears, at which point they can spend an article credit for Zette to unlock the paywall.
Following McClatchy's partnership with Zette, the platform now boasts access to over 80 premium newspapers, most of which are local, community-focused publications.
"We are thrilled to be among the early adopters of this exciting and potentially game-changing platform," said McClatchy Chief Revenue Officer Tony Berg. "By offering article-level access to our paywalled content, we will have the opportunity—and the ability—to offer readers the exact news experience that they want, across all of our publications."
"Zette's mission is to democratize access to high quality journalism, and McClatchy offers some of the best local reporting in the country," said Zette Founder and CEO Yehong Zhu. "From the Miami Herald to the Sacramento Bee, we're bringing the value of local news to Americans everywhere. It's an honor to work with McClatchy's Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists."
Zette is a venture-backed media startup that gives readers pay-per-article access to paywalled publications, all while sharing revenue with newsrooms. Download the Zette browser extension to open, read, and share quality journalism behind paywalls; a single $9.99 subscription unlocks 30 paywalled articles each month. Zette was founded in 2020 by 26-year-old Yehong Zhu, a former Forbes journalist, Twitter product manager, and Harvard philosophy graduate. Learn more at zette.com.
We help people and communities thrive. Through our deeply-rooted commitment to the role of local journalism, McClatchy is a catalyst for informed engagement, greater understanding, and deeper community connections. We ensure delivery of news and information essential to enhancing individual lives and improving the 30 distinct communities that are home to our journalists and iconic brands, including the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star, The Sacramento Bee, The Charlotte Observer, The (Raleigh) News and Observer, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. We extend our unique local and regional reach, relevance and resources to our advertising partners through fully-integrated marketing solutions.
Zette Contact:
Yehong Zhu
y@zette.com
McClatchy Contact:
Susan Firey
sfirey@mcclatchy.com
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SOURCE Zette | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/14/zette-enters-content-access-agreement-with-mcclatchy/ | 2022-08-14T12:24:58Z |
ROCKVILLE, Md., June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest lodging franchisors, has been named a Bronze Award winner for the Non-Broadcast: General Recruitment category at the 43rd Annual Telly Awards. Honoring excellence in video and television across all screens, the Telly Awards are judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks and production companies including Adobe, Netflix, Dow Jones, Complex Networks, A&E Networks, Hearst Media, Nickelodeon, ESPN Films, RYOT, and Vimeo. This year's edition received more than 11,000 entries and saw an increase in global submissions from Australia, Mexico, across Europe (Germany, Spain, France), and Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan).
The accolade, which distinguishes organizations that exemplify all aspects of talent development, recognizes Choice for its dual-focused talent management programs. To create the recruitment video, Ideas for Success: Navigating Your Business in Challenging Times, Choice Hotels collected data from nearly 50 regional business meetings with franchisees. Intended to support the learning and performance of both corporate associates and the company's more than 65,000 franchisees located worldwide, the video is located on the award-winning training platform, Choice University.
"At Choice Hotels, we've made a concerted effort to move to a video-based platform of learning that allows us to meet the needs of our franchisees where they are, when they want it, and in bite-sized pieces to accommodate their busy schedules," said Timothy Tobin, vice president, franchise onboarding and learning at Choice Hotels. "Over the last few years, the Choice University team has refined their video producing capabilities. This award is evidence of their hard work and our ability to continually improve and expand our learning resources to help the success of our franchisees."
The 43rd Annual Telly Awards caps off a year-long celebration of creators producing work with "A New POV," reflecting an ever-changing landscape. The Telly Awards honors the many outstanding ways video is being used by introducing a suite of new categories, including Workplace Culture, Hybrid Events, Education & Training, Recruitment, and Sustainability. These new categories celebrate the companies using video at a time when the culture of a company has never been so critical to attract and retain talent.
"Now, more than ever, it is necessary to celebrate video work that reflects the top tier of the non-broadcast industry, such as work produced by Choice Hotels," said The Telly Awards' executive director, Sabrina Dridje. "This year's submissions reflect an industry that has returned to the important work of storytelling, one that has returned with a new perspective that values innovation, agility, equity, and tenacious creativity."
Entries were assessed by The Telly Award Judging Council, comprised of more than 200 industry experts and prior award winners. The councilmembers represent leading professionals from top advertising and production companies, networks, and content studios.
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.
About The Telly Awards:
The Telly Awards is the premier award honoring video and television across all screens. Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receives over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Council—an industry body of over 200 leading experts including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks, reflective of the multi-screen industry The Telly Awards celebrates. Partners of The Telly Awards include NAB, Stash Media, Production Hub and We Are Parable.
© 2022 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.
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SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/telly-awards-recognizes-choice-hotels-with-bronze-award-non-broadcast-general-recruitment/ | 2022-06-30T14:41:30Z |
SEATTLE (AP) — The Houston Astros ended the Seattle Mariners’ winning streak at 14 games, with Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez homering in a 5-2 victory Friday night.
Seattle scratched breakout rookie Julio Rodríguez from the lineup moments before first pitch with left wrist soreness, then lost their first game since July 1. The club was one win shy of matching the 2001 Mariners for the longest winning streak in franchise history.
Houston stretched its AL West advantage over second-place Seattle to 11 games.
“The crowd was into it,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “They were trying to urge them on for No. 15. But I’m just glad that we held on and won the game.”
Altuve led off the game with a homer against starter Marco Gonzales, Alvarez added another solo shot in the fourth, his 28th of the year, and Martin Maldonado connected in the fifth for a 3-0 lead.
Alvarez scored Altuve with a sacrifice fly later in the fifth, and Jake Myers had an RBI single in the sixth for a 5-0 advantage.
Gonzales (5-10) was charged with all five runs over 5 2/3 innings, with nine hits allowed.
Ty France hit a solo homer for Seattle in the sixth inning against Jose Urquidy (9-4).
Urquidy threw 105 pitches over six innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with three strikeouts.
Baker was happy to get six innings out of Urquidy against the Mariners, who had already beaten him three times this season.
In his last start against Seattle on June 8, Urquidy allowed seven hits and five runs over 4 1/3 innings in a 5-3 loss.
“He gave us six innings, and it didn’t look like it there for a while, because his pitch count got kind of high,” Baker said. “So yeah, that was big for Urquidy and us.”
Urquidy has now thrown seven straight quality starts.
Eugenio Suarez drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth to pull the Mariners within three, but shortstop Jeremy Peña made a leaping grab to take away a hit from Kyle Lewis, and Houston pitcher Ryne Stanek struck out Cal Raleigh to end the threat.
“I thought, ‘He has no chance,’” Altuve said of Peña’s leaping grab. “I think that was the play of the game. If that ball goes through, it’s probably a different story.”
The Mariners left nine runners on base.
“Tonight was a ton of intensity,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “I loved our at-bats throughout the course of the game. We put a ton of pressure on them, we just couldn’t quite get the big hit.”
J-ROD SITS
The 21-year-old Rodríguez was pulled from the lineup days after a breakout show at the All-Star Home Run Derby.
Servais said that Rodriguez jammed his wrist on a stolen base attempt against Texas on Sunday, and his status is day-to-day.
LEWIS UP, UPTON OUT
Seattle activated outfielder Kyle Lewis from the seven-day injured list after he recovered from a concussion and optioned outfielder Justin Upton to Triple-A. Upton refused the assignment and elected free agency.
Lewis was hit in the head by a pitch from Urquidy on May 28.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: OF Mitch Haniger (ankle) began a rehab assignment Friday with Class A Everett. Seattle placed Haniger on the IL on April 30, when he suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain in a game against the Marlins. Haniger has played in just nine games this season.
Astros: OF Michael Brantley (shoulder) could start hitting this week, according Baker. Brantley was placed on the IL on June 28 with shoulder discomfort.
UP NEXT
Astros RHP Justin Verlander faces Mariners RHP Logan Gilbert on Saturday. Verlander has an MLB-best 12 wins this season and a 1.89 ERA. Gilbert’s most recent start came against Texas on July 16, when he allowed four hits and one earned run over five innings.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/astros-end-mariners-winning-streak-at-14-j-rod-scratched/ | 2022-07-23T12:25:58Z |
DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla., May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As Covid loosens its grip on the world and travel begins to rebound, Elite Island Resorts is excited to work with Reggae luminary Causion on a song about Antigua that will inspire a new generation of travelers to visit the enchanting Caribbean island that is back stronger than ever. The home-grown star, Antigua's Reggae Ambassador, is a highly respected Reggae artist, having toured with Third World, Rita Marley, and Freddie McGregor, and his love for the island comes through with every breath.
"Personally growing up in Antigua was the greatest experience I can imagine. I grew up on the water in English Harbour, and most of my childhood was on the water, sailing and fishing, and the freedom to do that was phenomenal," he beams during an interview shortly before the song's worldwide release on May 13. "Antigua is a place I have loved from the bottom of my heart, and there is no place I would rather be. As a musician and writer, when you go to Antigua the words keep coming, the artistry and creation keep coming because you find that place of peace."
The song, titled Antigua Me Come From, refers to the phrase commonly spoken by locals on this Leeward island when they proudly proclaim their heritage. Causion's gently lilting, melodic harmonies and uplifting lyrics showcase the best of the island through vivid, captivating imagery. The black of the flag represents the people and their strength and unity, while its blue connotes the sea. Causion urges listeners to forget their troubles, to come take a load off their shoulder and feel the energy when their feet touch the ground. And most seductively, he sings about the island's 365 beaches, amazing variety of food, and sweet cool breezes. The video, shot entirely on Antigua, brings the words to life with footage of the island's jagged coastline home to countless coves, the crystal-clear turquoise water (shot from above and below), sugary sandy beaches populated with palm trees, and heritage buildings filled with stories.
"Words can't explain what it feels like to be here, and how I embrace that. This is a beautiful island to come and spend time, everyone knows almost everyone else, it's a close-knit environment with a strong sense of community." Causion's music is unfailingly upbeat, filled with positivity, embodying the spirit found on Antigua. "The things we write today will outlive us, these words are going into the next generation, so think about what this body of work is going to do for the next generation, how will they receive it. I want to help the next generation to better their lives, I have always gravitated toward what will bring a positive outcome for them."
His sense of hope is especially remarkable given his recent, ongoing battle with cancer that sees him shuttling between Antigua and Florida on a monthly basis, an illness that has afforded him the chance to see his home in a new light whenever he returns. "I go on hikes to experience the country in a way I didn't before. It's an enormous feeling, seeing it from a different perspective for the past two years, and I have found a new love for the country."
Rob Barrett, Elite Island Resorts' Chairman, shares similar sentiments. "I wanted to give the people of Antigua and Barbuda something that shares the beauty and spirit and Antigua with the world for years to come. This amazing collaboration between Elite Island Resorts and Causion captures the essence Antigua and is a project we can all be very proud of."
Elite Island Resorts has five luxury properties across the island that offer guests a variety of styles and ambience, but share the common bond of being all-inclusive. From the adults-only Hammock Cove Antigua and Pineapple Beach Club, and family oriented The Verandah Resort & Spa, all on the east of the island close to Devil's Bridge National Park, to Galley Bay Resort & Spa in the west and St. James's Club & Villas in the south, there is a resort for everyone.
Causion hopes that through the undeniable power of music, his song and will inspire people to visit Antigua, so they can appreciate his passion for the island. "Music has a way of touching us and bringing us closer to where we want to be." Exploring the concepts of happiness, and what fuels it, he compares the joy from acquiring material things with the lasting power of memories. "A lot of the things I experienced in Antigua when I was younger, those fond memories are still with me today. You can't buy that kind of happiness. My mission is to introduce you to 365 beaches and 108-square-miles of joy and happiness and create memories that will last forever. And hopefully you will enjoy the music too!"
While the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the world, he notes that it has helped people to re-gauge their priorities. "Covid has brought the rest of the world and the Caribbean into a frame of mind to open up their eyes and respect each other more. To appreciate each other and what we bring to the table. We also appreciate that people are coming to our shores. Now more than ever, in this world when nothing can be assumed, we are learning to appreciate, respect, embrace, and welcome each other."
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SOURCE Elite Island Resorts | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/musical-collaboration-between-elite-island-resorts-caribbean-reggae-star-causion-spotlights-multifold-charms-antigua/ | 2022-05-16T16:42:04Z |
The Company will accelerate the commercial deployment of its Artificial Intelligence reading solution for 2D/3D mammography, with a focus on the United States
PARIS, NICE, France and CHICAGO, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Therapixel, designer and supplier of MammoScreen® an Artificial Intelligence software reading aid for mammography, announces today fundraising of 15 M€ in series B.
This operation was led by Crédit Mutuel Innovation and CapHorn, joined by Verve, Sham Innovation Santé and historical investors Omnes, IT-Translation, M-Capital and Région Sud Investissement. This fundraising will enable Therapixel to accelerate its commercial presence in the United States, launch more unique features for MammoScreen, and push even further the boundaries of its intelligent reading aid for mammography.
Armed with two FDA regulatory clearances in the United Stated for both 2D and 3D (tomosynthesis) mammography, MammoScreen is already being deployed across large networks of breast cancer screening clinics. MammoScreen uses a unique score, MammoScreen Score™ to signal at a glance the level of suspicion of a mammogram. This makes it possible to confirm the lesions that are certain and to save precious time with a faster reading of benign cases. Radiologists can thus feel more confident in their decision and spend more time on difficult cases that require more attention.
Matthieu Leclerc-Chalvet, Chief Executive Officer of Therapixel states: "We are very satisfied to close this new round of financing with investors active in the field of digital health. These funds will allow us to grow our American team with new sales and support people and to ramp up our commercial activities. With an already strong pipeline, Therapixel is poised for significant growth and will have a decisive impact on breast cancer screening."
Pierre Fillard, Chief Scientific and Technology Officer and Founder of Therapixel continues: "This is a major step for Therapixel and I am proud of the achievements of our teams in collaboration with radiologists partners. We will accelerate the launch of a new generation of AI that will allow women to benefit from an earlier detection with less anxiety and radiologists to be assisted in the ever-growing demand for imaging. We will also advance the regulatory and clinical developments that will solidify our leading position as the AI solution of choice for radiologists reading mammography"
Jérôme Féraud, Director of healthcare investments and Tanguy Besson, Associate at Crédit Mutuel Innovation, continue :
"Beyond the technological performance of the solutions developed by Therapixel, it became obvious for us to support the deployment of MammoScreen that helps improve breast cancer detection, at a time when women are in a particularly stressful situation. The overall ergonomic of the solution brings the radiologists a valuable image analysis tool that allow them to optimize their time and focus their expertise on the specifics of the case."
François Santi, Principal at CapHorn continues :
"We are very pleased to support Therapixel in this new round of strategic investment, in collaboration with several experienced investors in the field of digital health. We followed Therapixel for several months and were impressed by the capability of execution of the team and their achievements during this period. We are very happy to support Therapixel's commercial expansion in the United States, and help the company establish a new standard in breast cancer detection."
With this new round, Therapixel has raised more than 20 M€ since its founding in 2013.
The following council and advisor helped with this round:
Legal counsel: JonesDay – Renaud Bonnet
Financial advisors: Fraser Finance – Olivier Koechlin and Deborah Herst
Press contacts:
Neliya Tumbeva (Therapixel) - media@therapixel.com
Louisa Mesnard (IT-Translation) - lmesnard@elaia.com
Véronique Richez-Lerouge (Crédit Mutuel Innovation) - v.richez-lerouge@reso-media.com
Aurélie Blanchard-Massoni (Omnes Capital) aurelie.blanchard-massoni@omnescapital.com
Valérie Roché-Melin (Région Sud Investissement) – v.roche@regionsudinvestissement.com
About :
Therapixel is a French company specialized in the design and commercialization of AI-powered medical imaging software, with the goal of delivering pertinent information at the right time to healthcare professionals. Winner of the Digital Mammography DREAM Challenge in 2017, the global competition on breast cancer detection with AI, Therapixel has developed MammoScreen®, a software that helps with the interpretation of screening 2D and 3D mammograms. With MammoScreen, even experienced radiologists can improve their performance, feel more confident in their judgment, and reassure women quicker. Find more at www.mammoscreen.com
CapHorn is a Paris-based VC firm investing in innovative companies across Europe, focusing on Healthtech, Sustainability, and Enterprise software. We partner with outstanding entrepreneurs and commit investments from € 1M to € 15M in high growth companies, from early to late stage. CapHorn has an active portfolio of 50 companies and supports their development by leveraging its extensive network of business leaders. The firm, established in 2011, is part of the Anaxago Group.
CAPHORN: TRUST, FUNDING, NETWORK. Find more on: caphorn.vc
Crédit Mutuel Innovation is Credit Mutuel Equity (3.5 B€ managed capital) subsidiary specialized in venture capital investments. Crédit Mutuel Innovation invests its own funds in tickets of 1 to 20 M€, in innovative digital, life science and deeptech companies.
Crédit Mutuel Innovation allows entrepreneurs to develop their growth potential by connecting them to other companies in their ecosystems. Because it takes more than 5 years to create a global leader, Crédit Mutuel Innovation invests in the long term its own funds and builds long term relationships with the entrepreneurs it supports www.creditmutuel-equity.eu
Omnes is a leading private equity and infrastructure investor. With over €5 billion in assets under management, it provides companies with the capital they need to fund their growth, in three key areas: venture capital, growth & buyout capital and infrastructure. Omnes is wholly owned by its employees. It is committed to ESG factors and has founded the Fondation Omnes to fund initiatives in favor of children and young people. It is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). www.omnescapital.com
IT-Translation is now part of Elaia. Elaia is a European top-tier VC firm with a strong tech DNA. We back tech disruptors with global ambition from early stage to growth development. For the past 20 years, our commitment has been to deliver high performance with values. We are proud to have been an active partner in over 100 startups including success stories such as Criteo (Nasdaq), Orchestra Networks (acquired by Tibco), Volterra (acquired by F5), Mirakl (valued $3.5B in Series E) and Shift Technology (valued $1B+ in Series D). Learn more http://www.elaia.com • @Elaia_Partners
M/Capital Partners is a French asset management company which mobilizes mixed, private, and governmental funding to invest into companies and into real estate to foster the creation of new growing, resilient and inclusive values. M/Capital believes that entrepreneurs are in a unique position to transform the world we live in. Therefore, M/Capital backs men and women who work to empower people, to foster cohesion and to preserve our planet. M/Capital Group has more than €800 millions under management across four divisions (Real Estate, Venture Capital, Private Equity and Private Debt) and relies on 65 talents located in Paris, Toulouse, Marseille, Montpellier and Nice (France). www.mcapital.fr
Région Sud Investissement is the regional investment company created in 2010 by the South Region to support the emergence and development of growth companies. Région Sud Investissement, with a capital of €146M, receives 42% of its capacity from the European Union through the ERDF fund. It has invested in 335 companies so far and plans to launch a new equity fund called "RSI React Eu" for growth companies who were impacted by the sanitary crisis. www.regionsudinvestissement.com
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1816085/Therapixel_Mammoscreen.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1418252/Therapixel_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE Therapixel | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/therapixel-announces-close-15-m-series-b-financing-deploy-mammoscreen-2d3d/ | 2022-05-12T10:38:06Z |
- Seoul booth be operated from May 29 to June 2
- Joint marketing programs with Seoul MICE Alliance (SMA)
- Signal of Seoul's preemptive international marketing to boost the recovery of the MICE industry
FRANKFURT, Germany and SEOUL, South Korea, May 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Seoul Tourism Organization (CEO/president KIL Ki-Yon) announced participation in IMEX, the world's largest MICE exhibition to be held in Frankfurt, Germany, for three days from May 29 to June 2 this year. In line with the full-scale resumption of international tourism and MICE, STO plans to come out strong with preemptive marketing activities to attract international MICE delegates attending IMEX Frankfurt 2022.
IMEX, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is an exhibition specifically designed for MICE industry which draws 14,000 visitors from 170 countries and more than 70,000 business meetings. Expectations for this year are very high as attention is being paid to how different or similar international events, which have been canceled for the past two years due to the pandemic, will be this year comparing to the previous years.
The Seoul Tourism Organization prepared joint marketing activities with the participating Seoul MICE Alliance members, including group presentation sessions to expand potential clientele to come to Seoul for their MICE events. Buyers can reserve a PSA meeting with eight SMA members- Channel K, Euras Tech, People & Value, Grand Hyatt Seoul, Lotte Hotels Seoul, Sofitel Ambassador Seoul, VIAGEM, Communistar -beforehand through the official website or drop in during the event.
Also, STO prepared fun and engaging events created from globally popular K-contents, such as drama series including Squid Game to attract the attention of MICE organizers: Dalgona carving time, chimaek (chicken + beer) networking time, writing Korean names on traditional Korean fans, and taking photos with K-pop stars who lead Hallyu culture worldwide.
PARK Jin hyeok, director of the Seoul Convention Bureau said, "We expect our participation in this year's IMEX exhibition will be a meaningful rebooting of Seoul's standing as a complete MICE venue. With experienced and knowledgeable Seoul MICE Alliance members, we will continue our overseas marketing to enhance its position as the best MICE city in the world."
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SOURCE Seoul Tourism Organization(STO) | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/25/seoul-tourism-organization-launches-marketing-attract-mice-imex-worlds-largest-exhibition-mice/ | 2022-05-25T08:07:42Z |
DENVER (AP) — The online marketplace Letgo is facing a wrongful death lawsuit after the parents of five children were fatally shot and robbed while using the app to try to buy a used SUV in suburban Denver in 2020.
The lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday on behalf of the victims’ family claims Letgo, which has been acquired by OfferUp, was negligent because it allowed the alleged shooter to become a “verified seller” using a fake name and despite his criminal history.
The lawsuit, which also names OfferUp as a defendant, argues that while Letgo advertises working with law enforcement agencies to keep its tens of millions of users safe, the only requirement to become a “verified seller” is a working email address.
“The Letgo App provides an illusion that these alleged ‘verified’ accounts can and should be trusted above their online ‘marketplace’ competition,” according to the lawsuit. “However, it has become increasingly clear that Letgo falsely advertises itself as a safe online marketplace for verified sellers without having any sort of legitimate verification process.”
A spokesman for OfferUp, based in Bellevue, Washington, said Thursday he was looking into the lawsuit but declined further comment.
The Letgo app was incorporated into a similar OfferUp app shortly after the Colorado shooting but still exists independently outside the U.S.
In August 2020, Joseph Roland was looking for a vehicle for his teenage daughter and found a Toyota RAV4 advertised by a “verified seller” on Letgo named James Worthy, who was really an 18-year-old named Kyree Brown. Roland agreed to meet Brown in a parking lot near a mall in the Denver suburb of Aurora.
“What was supposed to be a brief and safe transaction through Letgo — turned into a tragic nightmare,” according to the lawsuit, which comes as law enforcement agencies across the country are encouraging buyers and sellers to meet in safer locations like police station parking lots.
When Roland and his wife, Jossline, arrived, Brown told them he had accidentally brought the wrong vehicle title and asked the couple to meet him elsewhere, according to the lawsuit.
They agreed and followed the man to the address, “unsuspecting of any danger, since James Worthy was a Letgo ‘verified seller,’” the lawsuit said.
Brown is accused of pulling a handgun and shooting the couple to death after Joseph Roland tried to wrestle the weapon away. Investigators say the teen then fled with the $3,000 in cash the Rolands had brought with them to pay for the SUV, which had been reported stolen a few days before the Aug. 14, 2020, encounter.
Brown was arrested about two weeks after the shooting and has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
“It is outrageous conduct that Letgo led customers to believe the App had any legitimate verification process when, any user, (let alone Mr. Brown – who had a criminal record), could use fictitious names and sell stolen vehicles as ‘verified’ by simply providing an e-mail address,” the lawsuit says.
It also contends that had Letgo implemented stricter verification policies, it would not have taken police two weeks to track down the suspect.
In the “Terms of Service” section on OfferUp’s website, the company encourages third-party meetup spots like police stations to be placed in well-lit, busy areas with surveillance cameras, but says users acknowledge there are risks when buying and selling on an internet-based marketplace.
“It is possible that other users may attempt to physically harm or defraud you or obtain information from you for fraudulent purposes,” according to the terms, which also note that OfferUp does not investigate or verify any user’s criminal background.
In addition to negligence, Thursday’s lawsuit accuses Letgo and OfferUp of fraud, misrepresentation and deceptive and unfair trade practices. It is seeking damages to be determined by a jury.
Jossline Roland used to work for the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya in Denver. That office filed the lawsuit along with Geragos & Geragos, another firm based in Los Angeles. | https://cw33.com/technology/ap-technology/online-marketplace-letgo-sued-after-denver-area-slayings/ | 2022-04-15T07:45:49Z |
Rating recognizes SitusAMC's commitment to the highest environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards and position as a leading global firm.
NEW YORK, May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SitusAMC, the leading provider of innovative, trusted solutions supporting the entire lifecycle of real estate finance, has been recognized for the firm's commitment to the highest environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards with a Bronze Sustainability Rating from EcoVadis, the world's largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings. The rating recognizes SitusAMC's commitment and ongoing efforts to:
- minimize the firm's environmental impact while upholding business integrity;
- promote the professional and personal growth of its employees;
- improve the social and economic well-being of the communities the firm operates in.
The EcoVadis rating is a globally recognized approach, with ratings based on a firm's environmental impact including carbon emissions, human rights and labor practices, ethical business conduct, and approach to sustainable procurement. To date, EcoVadis has provided ratings on more than 90,000 companies.
"At SitusAMC, we recognize the importance of incorporating environmental, social, and governance best-practices into the fabric of our organization," stated Michael Franco, Chief Executive Officer at SitusAMC. "We have prioritized initiatives across the firm to ensure that SitusAMC is at the forefront of ESG standards and is setting the bar for our industry."
About SitusAMC
SitusAMC is the leading independent provider of technology, strategic outsourcing, talent and advisory solutions to the commercial and residential real estate finance industries. The company helps clients identify and capture opportunities in their real estate businesses through industry-leading services and innovative technologies that drive operational efficiency, increase business effectiveness, and improve market agility across the entire lifecycle of their global real estate activity. For more information, visit www.situsamc.com.
Press Contact:
Andy Garrett
Head of Marketing
andygarrett@situsamc.com
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SOURCE SitusAMC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/23/situsamc-awarded-bronze-sustainability-rating-ecovadis/ | 2022-05-23T10:54:24Z |
Hires Industry Veteran to Lead Community Solar Customer Origination & Revenue Management Business
NEW YORK, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Energywell, LLC ("Energywell"), an energy technology company powering the sustainable energy transition, announces the launch of its community solar business offering customer origination and revenue management services to community solar developers and asset owners in the United States.
Through its Shift Community Solar and SolarStreet brands, Energywell will offer community solar products integrated with and alongside its innovative suite of renewable electricity products, which will be available in the Fall of 2022. Energywell will have a competitive advantage versus other players in the community solar customer origination and revenue management industry given its proprietary Proton™ technology platform, which enables a seamless digital experience for customers and a robust feature set built to service community solar developers and asset owners.
"The community solar market is set to experience rapid growth in the coming years as the U.S. Department of Energy announced a new National Community Solar Partnership target to power the equivalent of five million households by 2025," said Michael Fallquist, Director & Co-Chief Executive Officer of Energywell. "We view our entry into the community solar market as aligned with our mission to be a catalyst for the sustainable energy transition."
Energywell has hired Stephen Condon, a solar industry veteran with more than 14 years of experience, to grow its community solar business. Mr. Condon has a substantial track record in the community solar industry with over 250MW of community energy assets contracted across 7 states.
Project owners interested in learning more about Energywell customer origination and revenue management services can contact us at info@energywell.com or info@mysolarstreet.com.
Energywell is an energy technology company powering the sustainable energy transition. Energywell combines the financial strength of funds and accounts managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and capital and commodities expertise from Hartree Partners L.P. with proprietary technology and a seasoned team of energy industry veterans. For additional information, please visit Energywell's website at http://www.energywell.com.
Contact
Michael Fallquist
Director & Co-Chief Executive Officer
917-975-3638
mike@energywell.com
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SOURCE Energywell, LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/energywell-announces-launch-its-community-solar-business/ | 2022-06-07T20:51:16Z |
ALBANY – Maybe it was a sign that helped push the Albany and Dougherty County commissions to come to an agreement on the split of proposed special-purpose local-option sales tax figures after weeks of sometimes contemptuous negotiations.
On Wednesday evening, from 5:32 p.m. to 8:37 p.m., only hours before the city and county governments reached an agreement that will, among other things, allocate funding for an overhaul of the city's sewer system, the city experienced a sanitary sewer overflow.
The overflow was upstream of Lift Station 4 into the stormwater detention pond at Elm Street and Gordon Avenue. It occurred following a power loss at the station. An estimated 15,570 gallons of sewage was discharged into the Percosin Canal system via the pond located at 701 Elm St.
As soon as the power was restored, the overflow ceased, city officials said.
Residents should avoid contact with water in the canal system for the next 30 days as a precaution. No city of Albany drinking water systems were affected by the leak.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/local/city-experiences-sewer-overflow-hours-before-splost-vote/article_b225e946-1b16-11ed-86c0-37b9d4b83fb2.html | 2022-08-13T16:00:19Z |
LVIV, Ukraine (AP) — Complaining that the West is “stuffing Ukraine with weapons,” Russia pounded railroad stations and other supply-line points across the country, as the European Union moved to further punish Moscow for the war Wednesday by proposing a ban on oil imports, a crucial source of revenue.
Heavy fighting also raged at the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol that represented the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the ruined southern port city, according to the mayor. But a Russian official denied Moscow’s troops were storming the plant, as Ukrainian commanders claimed a day earlier.
The Russian military said Wednesday it used sea- and air-launched missiles to destroy electric power facilities at five railway stations across Ukraine, while artillery and aircraft also struck troop strongholds and fuel and ammunition depots.
The flurry of attacks comes as Russia prepares to celebrate Victory Day on May 9, marking the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany. The world is watching for whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will use the occasion to declare a victory or expand what he calls a “special military operation.”
A declaration of all-out war would allow Putin to introduce martial law and mobilize reservists to make up for significant troop losses.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the speculation as “nonsense.”
As areas across Ukraine came under renewed attack, Belarus, which Russia used as a staging ground for its invasion, announced military exercises starting Wednesday. A top Ukrainian official said the country will be ready to act if Belarus joins the fighting.
The attacks on rail infrastructure were meant to disrupt the delivery of Western weapons, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the West is “stuffing Ukraine with weapons.”
Western weaponrypouring into Ukraine helped its forces thwart Russia’s initial drive to seize Kyiv and seems certain to play a central role in the growing battle for the Donbas, the eastern industrial region that Moscow now says is its main objective.
Ukraine has urged the West to ramp up the supply of weapons ahead of that potentially decisive clash. Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, which had been slow at first to help arm Ukraine, said his government is considering supplying howitzers, in addition to Gepard anti-aircraft guns and other equipment it has agreed to send.
The governor of the eastern Donetsk region, which lies in the Donbas, said Russian attacks left 21 people dead on Tuesday, the highest number of known fatalities since April 8, when a missile attack on the railway station in Kramatorsk killed at least 59.
In addition to supplying weapons to Ukraine, Europe and the U.S. have sought to punish Moscow with sanctions. The EU’s top official called on the 27-nation bloc on Wednesday to ban Russian oil imports.
“We will make sure that we phase out Russian oil in an orderly fashion, in a way that allows us and our partners to secure alternative supply routes and minimizes the impact on global markets,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
The proposals need unanimous approval from EU countries and are likely to be the subject of fierce debate. Hungary and Slovakia have already said they won’t take part in any oil sanctions. They could be granted an exemption.
The EU has also started talking about a possible embargo on Russian natural gas. The bloc has already approved a cut-off of Russian coal.
Russia’s economy, including funding for its military, is heavily dependent on oil and natural gas exports.
Von der Leyen also proposed that Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, and two other major banks be disconnected from the SWIFT international banking payment system.
On Tuesday, in one of the most crucial battles of the war, Ukrainian fighters said Russian forces began storming the bombed-out steel mill in Mariupol. But the Kremlin said that was not true.
“There is no assault. We see that there are cases of escalation due to the fact that the militants take up the firing positions. These attempts are being suppressed very quickly,” Peskov said.
Over the weekend, more than 100 people — including women, the elderly and 17 children — were evacuated from the plant during a cease-fire in an operation overseen by the U.N. and the Red Cross. But the attacks on the plant soon resumed, and no further evacuations were organized.
It was unclear how many Ukrainian fighters were still inside, but the Russians put the number at about 2,000 in recent weeks, and 500 were reported to be wounded. A few hundred civilians also remained there, the Ukrainian side said.
Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said that Russian forces were targeting the plant with heavy artillery, tanks, aircraft, warships and “heavy bombs that pierce concrete 3 to 5 meters thick.”
“Our brave guys are defending this fortress, but it is very difficult,” he said.
His claims could not be independently verified, and he said he had lost contact with the fighters at Azovstal.
“Unfortunately, today the connection with the guys in order to understand what is happening there, whether they are safe or not, disappeared,” Boychenko said.
Mariupol, and the plant in particular, have come to symbolize the misery inflicted by the war. The Russians have pulverized most of the city in a two-month siege that has trapped civilians with little or no food, water, medicine or heat.
The city’s fall would deprive Ukraine of a vital port, allow Russia to establish a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014, and free up troops to fight elsewhere in the Donbas.
___
This story has been updated to correct that von der Leyen was speaking Strasbourg, not Brussels.
___
Anna reported from Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Associated Press journalists Yesica Fisch in Zaporizhzhia, Inna Varenytsia and David Keyton in Kyiv, Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, and AP staff around the world contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/ukraine-hopes-for-more-evacuations-from-besieged-steel-mill/ | 2022-05-04T16:52:35Z |
Hosting Q1 Call at 5pm ET on Thursday, June 2, 2022
Virtual Annual Meeting to be Held on June 6th at 2pm ET (1pm CT)
TULSA, Okla., May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ClearSign Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: CLIR) ("ClearSign" or the "Company"), an emerging leader in industrial combustion and sensing technologies that improve energy, operational efficiency and safety while dramatically reducing emissions, announces that on Thursday, June 2, 2022 the Company will host a conference call at 5:00 PM ET. The Company will file its quarterly report on form 10-Q with the SEC later today and will issue a summary of its financial and operating results for the quarter ending on March 31, 2022 in a press release on the day of the call.
Investors interested in participating on the live First Quarter call can dial 1-866-372-4653 within the U.S. or 1-412-902-4217 from abroad. Investors can also access the call online through a listen-only webcast at https://app.webinar.net/kGyrnlQ0VPX or on the investor relations section of the Company's website at http://ir.clearsign.com/overview.
The webcast will be archived on the Company's investor relations website for at least 90 days and a telephonic playback of the conference call will be available by calling 1-877-344-7529 within the U.S. or 1-412-317-0088 from abroad. The conference ID is 5976170.The telephonic playback will be available for 7 days after the conference call.
Investors are also invited to attend the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders of ClearSign Technologies Corporation (the "Annual Meeting") on June 6, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. Central Daylight Standard Time. In order to protect the health and safety of our shareholders and employees, the Annual Meeting will be completely virtual conducted live via the Internet. You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting online. To participate in the Annual Meeting, visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CLIR2022 and enter the 16-digit control number included on your Notice of Internet Availability, proxy card, or voting instruction form. You may begin to log into the meeting platform beginning at 12:45 p.m. that day. Shareholders will also have the opportunity to submit questions during the Annual Meeting through the same link. A technical support telephone number will be posted on the log-in page of www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CLIR2022 you can call if you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during the meeting.
About ClearSign Technologies Corporation
ClearSign Technologies Corporation designs and develops products and technologies for the purpose of improving key performance characteristics of industrial and commercial systems, including operational performance, energy efficiency, emission reduction, safety and overall cost-effectiveness. Our patented technologies, embedded in established OEM products as ClearSign Core™, and ClearSign Eye™ and other sensing configurations, enhance the performance of combustion systems and fuel safety systems in a broad range of markets, including the energy (upstream oil production and down-stream refining), commercial/industrial boiler, chemical, petrochemical, transport and power industries. For more information, please visit www.clearsign.com.
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SOURCE ClearSign Technologies Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/clearsign-technologies-corporation-announces-first-quarter-2022-conference-call-virtual-annual-meeting/ | 2022-05-16T12:56:10Z |
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, June 5, 2022, Jason T. Smith was called to become Pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, in Newport Beach, CA. After an 11-month nation-wide search process, the nine-member St. Andrew's Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) evaluated well over 100 candidates, and unanimously presented Jason T. Smith to the congregation as their selected candidate. After Jason delivered his candidate sermon Sunday morning, a congregational meeting took place and members of the church overwhelmingly voted in favor to call Jason as their new Pastor. Jason T. Smith succeeds Gary J. Watkins, who has served as Transitional Pastor since Chap Clark's retirement from St. Andrew's last fall.
Jason T. Smith comes to St. Andrew's after spending 15 years pastoring the congregation of Forest Hill Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. There, he served as a Life Groups Director, Campus Pastor, and Lead Pastor of Direction, and helped develop two church plants and facilitated the leadership teams for six Forest Hill campuses.
Regarding the experience Sunday and the call to St. Andrew's, Jason felt "overwhelmed and overjoyed." He continued, "Today was amazing. This congregation has been one of the most welcoming, gracious, warm places I've ever seen." With a rich, 75-year history, St. Andrew's is known for its hospitality as the Smith family experienced. The church campus is located between two neighborhoods, Ensign Intermediate School and Newport Harbor High School, and many students, families, and individuals of all ages step foot onto the campus to enjoy community and life with one another on a daily basis.
Jason, Jessica, and their three daughters—Savannah, Eden, and Charlotte—look forward to building a new life in Southern California. Jason is excited about two things in particular, "I think what I'm most excited about," he says, "is finding where God has been working through St. Andrew's in the community. You can see evidence of it, and you can see how poised this church is. Getting to discern that together is beyond exciting to Jessica and me." Anticipating a significant change in weather and culture, the second exciting factor for Jason is, "learning how to be a Californian!"
Gary J. Watkins, Transitional Pastor at St. Andrew's, states, "I'm excited for St. Andrew's. God has called Jason, a man with a pastor's heart who loves Jesus, with great experience, to lead the church into the future." In a video message sent to the St. Andrew's congregation and community, Jason says in regards to his start date, "We should be joining you in a couple months, and we're so looking forward to it. We will be praying for you, and ask you to pray for us. We can't wait to start out this very next chapter with you."
For more information on Jason T. Smith and St. Andrew's, visit www.sapres.org, or contact Jon Batarse, 949.574.2291.
St. Andrew's has been in the Newport Beach community for 75 years. St. Andrew's is located at 600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach, CA 92663. www.sapres.org 949.574.2291.
Jon Batarse
949.574.2291
jonb@sapres.org
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SOURCE ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/jason-t-smith-called-pastor-st-andrews-presbyterian-church-newport-beach-california/ | 2022-06-07T19:16:37Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bill Richardson, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a frequent emissary in hostage negotiations, said Tuesday he was hopeful about the chances of a two-for-two prisoner swap that could result in Russia’s release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan.
In cases like this, Richardson said in an interview with The Associated Press, “it’s proportional — two-for two.”
Richardson, who traveled to Russia in advance of the release by Moscow of Marine veteran Trevor Reed in an April prisoner swap, declined to discuss the current status of negotiations with Russia over Griner or Whelan or to explain what role he may be playing in the talks.
But he said he felt “relatively positive” for several reasons. For one, the conclusion of the criminal case against Griner last week — she was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges — provides an opening for diplomatic negotiations to begin in earnest. Plus, he said, the U.S. and Russia have already shown a willingness to carry out prisoner swaps, as evidenced by the Reed exchange. And Griner’s strategy of expressing contrition before a Russian court was important.
“And that is why I think a two-for-two deal is hopefully a likely outcome,” Richardson said.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken took the unusual step of revealing publicly last month that the U.S. in June made a “substantial proposal” to get Griner and Whelan home. He did not elaborate, but the AP and other news organizations have reported that the U.S. has offered to free Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. and once earned the nickname the “Merchant of Death.”
Russia made a counteroffer that the U.S. did not regard as serious, the White House has said.
It is not clear which other Russian could be included in a two-for-two deal, assuming it happens.
Griner, the most prominent American jailed by a foreign government, has acknowledged there were vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage when she was arrested at a Moscow airport in February. But she insisted that she had no criminal intent and that the canisters ended up in her luggage because she was packing hastily. Griner played for a Russian women’s basketball team in the WNBA off-season.
Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan, was sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in prison on espionage-related charges he and his family say are manufactured. The U.S. government regards both him and Griner as wrongful detainees.
Though Richardson said he was cautiously optimistic, and even though there is recent precedent for prisoner swaps, such deals aren’t easy.
“The relationship between the United States and Russia is quite toxic,” he said. “The geopolitical differences many times override the humanitarian issues that we need to deal with.”
_____
Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/veteran-emissary-richardson-hopeful-for-griner-whelan-swap/ | 2022-08-09T18:04:45Z |
LOS ANGELES, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Primestor Development is pleased to announce and welcome Target as the anchor retail tenant of the mixed-use development, Evermont, to support the reinvigoration of 4.2 acres of what has been vacant land for over 30 years at the intersection of Vermont and Manchester Avenue in South Los Angeles.
Target will cover 40,000 sq ft of the mixed-use development and will be positioned next to 180 affordable homes for seniors and families, and retail stores, a landscaped public transit plaza, a Metro training facility, plus improved pedestrian and cycling connections to other community facilities; addressing the needs of a neighborhood that has been historically marginalized and underserved of resources.
"We are proud to welcome Target to Evermont where they will provide permanent jobs and strategic partnerships to uplift local small businesses. Target is coming to the table ready to learn, innovate, and build with our local community partners to ensure that this location is helping to meet the neighborhood need for access to healthy foods along with job opportunities." – Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair, Holly J. Mitchell, representing the Second District.
The Evermont project will support the community with an estimated 155 full-time jobs, and during the construction of Evermont itself, provide an estimated 120 new job and training opportunities for the local workforce. Evermont is located along the Vermont Corridor and is home to the second busiest transit stop in the entire L.A. Metro system, making it accessible to many surrounding communities. Target will be located at 8500 S Vermont Ave LA, CA 90044.
Arturo Sneider, CEO, Primestor – " At the heart of this dynamic and proud community, with Target as its anchor, Evermont will provide essential services, stimulate the local economy by creating local jobs, facilitating workforce development, connecting public transportation and sponsoring year-round activities for its residents."
Since 2018, Primestor has engaged with the community to create a shared vision for the site, including its name: "Evermont." The name was chosen to honor the evolving legacy of South Los Angeles and celebrate a future of new possibilities. The build-out commenced earlier this year with the development of SEED LA, a public boarding school. Construction at Evermont is anticipated to be complete in 2024.
For more information on Evermont, visit www.evermontsouthla.com follow on social media @evermontsouthla on Instagram and Facebook, or contact Community Outreach Director, Claudia Cardenas at ccardenas@primestor.com
Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell currently serves as Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. As the daughter of parents who were public servants and a third-generation Angeleno, Mitchell leads with a deep understanding of the vital safety net LA County provides to millions of families and is committed to ensuring that all residents can thrive.
Culver City-based Primestor Development, is a purpose-driven developer with a mission to unite, empower, and inspire communities to achieve their highest potential. Established in 1991, Primestor has become a retail sector leader that focuses on leasing, property management, development, construction management, rehabilitation, and acquisitions.
Media Contact:
Shajira Hope
323.806.3235
SHope@primestor.com
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SOURCE Primestor Development | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/20/primestor-development-excited-welcome-leading-national-retailer-its-evermont-anchor-retail-tenant/ | 2022-06-20T15:46:46Z |
Wyoming defamation lawsuit against Alec Baldwin is dismissed
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit over online harassment filed against actor Alec Baldwin by the family of a Marine who was killed in Afghanistan, saying the Wyoming court did not have jurisdiction over the case.
An attorney for the family said the case would be refiled elsewhere, the Casper Star-Tribune reported Wednesday.
The sisters and widow of Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum alleged Baldwin subjected them to online harassment after he posted and commented on a photo shared online by one of McCollum’s sisters, Roice McCollum, who had been in Washington during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.
Baldwin had donated $5,000 to the family after learning of the death of Rylee McCollum in a bombing at the airport in Kabul in August 2021, just weeks before his daughter was born. Baldwin had contacted Roice McCollum via Instagram, according to the lawsuit.
In January 2022, Baldwin saw that Roice McCollum posted a nearly year-old picture of demonstrators from former President Donald Trump’s rally taken on the day Congress counted the Electoral College votes from the 2020 presidential election, the complaint stated.
Baldwin sent her a private message and confirmed she had organized the fundraiser for her brother, the lawsuit said. She responded that her participation in the protest was “perfectly legal,” according to court documents.
Baldwin told Roice McCollum he would share her photo with his 2.4 million Instagram followers and wrote: “Good luck,” according to the lawsuit.
Roice McCollum said in the lawsuit that she received hundreds of hateful messages in response to his post. The complaint, which also names her sister Cheyenne McCollum and Rylee’s wife, Jiennah McCollum, as plaintiffs, sought $25 million in damages.
Baldwin asked for the case to be dismissed, saying he was expressing his political opinion, that he had not been in Wyoming and that claims by Cheyenne and Jiennah McCollum should be dismissed because he did not make any statements about them.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal said Wednesday that the case could not be brought in Wyoming because Baldwin made the posts from New York and because they were not directed specifically at a Wyoming audience. Her decision did not address the veracity of the allegations in the complaint.
“We are pleased with this victory,” said Baldwin’s attorney Luke Nikas. “This is a significant step toward the complete dismissal of the lawsuit, which seeks to punish Mr. Baldwin for expressing his political opinion.”
Dennis Postiglione, an attorney for the McCollums, said that the case would probably be refiled in New York, where Baldwin lives, or in California, where he works. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-wyoming/2022/05/05/wyoming-defamation-lawsuit-against-alec-baldwin-is-dismissed/ | 2022-05-05T18:17:01Z |
SEATTLE, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ACT Capital Advisors is pleased to announce that its client, OnSite PRO, Inc. ("OnSite") – the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of FloodStop™ products – has been acquired by IPS Corporation, a portfolio company of Centerbridge Partners.
FloodStop™ is a line of point-of-use leak detection devices for residential and light commercial applications. Under IPS' ownership, FloodStop™ has been integrated into its Diversified Products organization and is currently inventoried in IPS' master distribution centers.
"FloodStop is the market leader in leak detection and adds another strong brand to the IPS offering," said Nick Casella, Diversified Products President at IPS. "This acquisition further advances our strategy to bring new and innovative solutions to our customers."
"We can't imagine a better fit for the FloodStop line than to be paired with IPS' product lines and distribution capability," said Scott and Ruth Ann Walter, owners of OnSite Pro. "Great people on all sides helped get this sale completed, and we couldn't be happier."
"It was a privilege to work with Scott and Ruth Ann, and the team at IPS to complete this transaction," said Michael Seeley, ACT Vice President. "We are very pleased with the outcome and confident that it will prove to be a win for all parties."
ACT's Michael Seeley (Vice President), Trevor Hill (Managing Director), and Kevin Outcalt (Managing Director) advised OnSite with respect to the transaction.
About OnSite PRO, Inc.
Founded in 2000, OnSite Pro, Inc. is based in Modjeska Canyon, California. OnSite manufactures and distributes the FloodStop™ family of leak protection and water shut-off products for use with water heaters, washing machines, ice makers, sinks, dishwashers, and other applications. More information at http://www.getfloodstop.com/.
About IPS Corporation
Founded in 1954 and headquartered in Compton, California, IPS Corporation is a leading manufacturer of plumbing and roofing products, solvent cements, and adhesive for residential, commercial, and industrial use. More information at https://ipscorp.com/plumbing/.
About ACT Capital Advisors
ACT Capital Advisors is a premier Mergers & Acquisitions firm representing middle-market companies across all industries. ACT has a 30-year history of deal-making, closing 250+ transactions, and unlocking over $1.5 billion in wealth for its clients. For more information, visit https://actcapitaladvisors.com/.
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SOURCE ACT Capital Advisors | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/12/act-capital-advisors-represents-onsite-pro-inc-its-sale-floodstop-ips-corporation-portfolio-company-centerbridge-partners/ | 2022-04-12T19:39:45Z |
Second Quarter 2022 Highlights:
- Operated all ten owned and operated ships providing expeditions across Alaska, the Arctic, the Galápagos Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and the Baltic and North Seas
- Total revenue of $90.9 million increased $75.6 million versus 2021 and $14.3 million, or 19%, compared with the second quarter of 2019
- Strong reservations for future travel with bookings for 2023 26% ahead of bookings for 2020 at the same point in 2019
- Further increased financial flexibility through extension of leverage covenant waivers on export credit agreements through the end of 2022
NEW YORK, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIND; the "Company" or "Lindblad"), a global provider of expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
Dolf Berle, Chief Executive Officer, said "We are very excited to have all ten of our owned ships once again immersing guests in the amazing geographies Lindblad has been visiting for decades. The nature of our ships and the remote locations we explore has enabled us to ramp our operations quickly, and the response from our guests as they return to experiencing the thrill of exploration has never been more rewarding. At the same time, our land businesses have also swiftly returned to operations and the strategic investments we have made to expand our product offerings is already resulting in positive earnings contributions from these businesses. The demand for unique and authentic travel experiences remains strong, and we certainly expect it to grow even further as we continue to emerge from the pandemic. While some short-term headwinds remain, we are poised to begin delivering on the increased earnings power of the Company and deliver additional shareholder value in the months and years ahead."
RAMP OF FLEET OPERATIONS AND COVID-19 BUSINESS UPDATE
Ramp in Operations
Lindblad continued to ramp its operations during the second quarter of 2022, providing immersive expeditions across all ten of its owned vessels including trips to Alaska, the Arctic, the Galápagos Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and the Baltic and North Seas. Due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus and the effects of travel restrictions around the world, the Company suspended or rescheduled the majority of its expeditions departing between March 16, 2020 through May 31, 2021. Travel restrictions related to COVID-19 have diminished dramatically, and the Company continues to work with local authorities on plans to operate itineraries in additional geographies during 2022 and 2023. Where travel restrictions remain, which now also includes a limited number of itineraries impacted by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Company is working with guests to reschedule travel plans and refund payments or issue future travel certificates, as appropriate.
The Company believes there are a variety of strategic advantages that enable it to deploy its ships safely and quickly, while mitigating the risk of COVID-19 as travel restrictions are lifted. The most notable is the size of its owned and operated vessels which range from 48 to 148 passengers, allowing for a highly controlled environment that includes stringent cleaning protocols. The small nature of the Company's ships also allows it to efficiently and effectively test its guests and crew prior to boarding, or as otherwise needed. Additionally, all guests are required to be fully vaccinated, and the majority of expeditions take place in remote locations where human interactions are limited, so there is less opportunity for external influence.
Booking Trends
The Company has substantial advance reservations for future travel despite some continued short-term impact from the COVID-19 virus, including elevated cancellations and softness in near-term demand, as well as itinerary changes on a few upcoming voyages due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Bookings for 2023 are 26% ahead of the bookings for the full year 2020 at the same point in 2019, which was prior to the pandemic.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
As of June 30, 2022, the Company had $126.9 million in unrestricted cash and $48.8 million in restricted cash, primarily related to deposits on future travel originating from U.S. ports and credit card reserves.
As of June 30, 2022, the Company had a total debt position of $578.2 million and was in compliance with all of its applicable debt covenants. During May 2022, the Company further amended its export credit agreements to extend the waiver of its net leverage coverage ratio from March 2022 through December 31, 2022.
During February 2022, the Company issued $360.0 million of 6.75% senior secured notes, maturing 2027 and entered into a new $45.0 million revolving credit facility, including a letter of credit sub-facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $5.0 million. Proceeds from the senior secured notes were used primarily to pay the outstanding borrowings under the Company's previously existing credit agreement, including the term facility, Main Street Loan and revolving credit facility. The senior secured notes are guaranteed on a senior secured basis by the Company and certain of the Company's subsidiaries and are collateralized by certain of the Company's assets.
As the Company continues to ramp up operations, its monthly cash usage will increase as the Company incurs costs in operating expeditions, prepares additional ships for return to service and spends to advertise upcoming expeditions and trips. The Company also anticipates a significant increase in guest payments as it receives final payments for upcoming expeditions and trips as well as deposits for new reservations for future travel. However, there can be no assurance that cash flows from operations will be available to fund future obligations or that it will not experience delays or cancellations with respect to the resumption of our operations.
SECOND QUARTER RESULTS
Tour Revenues
Second quarter tour revenues of $90.9 million increased $75.6 million as compared to the same period in 2021. The increase was driven by a $57.3 million increase at the Lindblad segment and a $18.3 million increase at the Land Experiences segment, primarily due to the ramp in expeditions and trips compared with the second quarter a year ago. The Land Experiences segment also includes a full quarter of results for Classic Journeys, LLC ("Classic Journeys") which was acquired during the fourth quarter of 2021.
Net Income
Net loss available to stockholders for the second quarter was $30.0 million, $0.59 per diluted share, as compared with net loss available to stockholders of $36.6 million, $0.71 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2021. The $6.6 million improvement primarily reflects the ramp in operations, partially offset by a $3.7 million increase in interest expense due to additional borrowings and higher rates, a $3.0 million increase in depreciation and amortization, primarily due to the addition of the National Geographic Resolution to the fleet in September 2021, and $1.4 million lower income tax benefit due to the improved operating results.
Adjusted EBITDA
Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA loss of $6.2 million improved $16.8 million as compared to the same period in 2021. The increase was driven by a $14.4 million improvement at the Lindblad segment and a $2.4 million increase at the Land Experiences segment.
Lindblad segment Adjusted EBITDA loss of $7.5 million improved $14.4 million as compared to the same period in 2021, as increased tour revenues were partially offset by higher cost of tours and increased personnel costs from the ramp in operations, higher commissions related to the revenue and bookings growth and increased marketing spend to drive future growth.
Land Experiences segment Adjusted EBITDA of $1.3 million increased $2.4 million as compared to 2021, primarily due to additional trips, partially offset by higher cost of tours and increased personnel costs related to the ramp in operations and increased marketing costs to drive future bookings. The Land Experiences segment also includes a full quarter of results for Classic Journeys which was acquired during the fourth quarter of 2021.
LINDBLAD FLEET ACTIVITIES
In November 2021, the Company acquired a ship which is currently undergoing renovations and will replace the National Geographic Islander in the Galápagos Islands during the third quarter of 2022. The renovated ship has been named the National Geographic Islander II and will provide immersive and authentic expeditions to 48 guests who will enjoy all suite accommodations, indoor-outdoor dining options and diverse expedition tools and amenities.
STOCK REPURCHASE PLAN
The Company currently has a $35.0 million stock repurchase plan in place. As of July 25, 2022, the Company had repurchased 875,218 shares and 6.0 million warrants under the plan for a total of $23.0 million and had $12.0 million remaining under the plan. As of July 25, 2022, there were 53.1 million shares common stock outstanding. The Company has suspended all stock repurchases due to restrictions related to the Main Street Expanded Loan Facility program.
FINANCIAL OUTLOOK
The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the Company's financial position and results of operation. Given the continued uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company is not providing a full year outlook regarding results of operations at this time and will update its expectations when it has more clarity around the timing and extent of future operations.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
The Company uses a variety of operational and financial metrics, including non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, Occupancy, Net Yields and Net Cruise Costs, to enable it to analyze its performance and financial condition. The Company utilizes these financial measures to manage its business on a day-to-day basis and believes that they are the most relevant measures of performance. Some of these measures are commonly used in the cruise and tourism industry to evaluate performance. The Company believes these non-GAAP measures provide expanded insight to assess revenue and cost performance, in addition to the standard GAAP-based financial measures. There are no specific rules or regulations for determining non-GAAP measures, and as such, they may not be comparable to measures used by other companies within the industry.
The presentation of non-GAAP financial information should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The definitions of non-GAAP financial measures along with a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial information to GAAP are included in the supplemental financial schedules.
Conference Call Information
The Company has scheduled a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on August 1, 2022, to discuss the earnings of the Company. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (844) 200-6205 (United States), (833) 950-0062 (Canada) or (929) 526-1599 (outside the U.S.). The access code is 618427. A replay of the call will be available at the Company's investor relations website, investors.expeditions.com.
About Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. is an expedition travel company that focuses on ship-based voyages through its Lindblad Expeditions brand and on land-based travel through its subsidiaries, Natural Habitat Adventures, Off the Beaten Path, DuVine and Classic Journeys.
Lindblad Expeditions works in partnership with National Geographic to inspire people to explore and care about the planet. The organizations work in tandem to produce innovative marine expedition programs and promote conservation and sustainable tourism around the world. The partnership's educationally oriented voyages allow guests to interact with and learn from leading scientists, naturalists and researchers while discovering stunning natural environments, above and below the sea, through state-of-the-art exploration tools.
Natural Habitat partners with the World Wildlife Fund to offer and promote conservation and sustainable travel that directly protects nature. Natural Habitat's adventures include polar bear tours in Churchill, Canada, Alaskan grizzly bear adventures and African safaris.
Classic Journeys is a luxury cultural walking tour company that operates a portfolio of curated tours centered around cinematic walks led by expert local guides. Classic Journeys offers active small-group and private custom journeys in over 50 countries around the world.
DuVine designs and leads luxury bike tours in the world's most amazing destinations, from Italy's sun-bleached villages and the medieval towns of Provence to Portugal's Douro Valley and the vineyards of Napa, California. Guests bike, eat, drink, and sleep their way through these regions and many more while sampling the finest cuisine, hotels, and wine.
Off the Beaten Path is an outdoor, active travel company offering guided small group adventures and private custom journeys that connect travelers with the wild nature and authentic culture of their destinations. Off the Beaten Path's trips extend across the globe, with a focus on exceptional national park experiences in the Rocky Mountains, Desert Southwest, and Alaska.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include the Company's financial projections and may also generally be identified as such because the context of such statements will include words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe the Company's financial guidance or future plans, objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those expected. Many of these risks and uncertainties are currently amplified by, and will continue to be amplified by, or in the future may be amplified by, the COVID-19 outbreak. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. There may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) suspended operations and disruptions to our business and operations related to COVID-19; (ii) the impacts of COVID-19 and/or the Russia-Ukraine conflict on our financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows, employees, plans and growth; (iii) the impacts of COVID-19 and/or the Russia/Ukraine conflict on future travel and the cruise and airline industries in general; (iv) unscheduled disruptions in our business due to travel restrictions, weather events, mechanical failures, pandemics or other events; (v) changes adversely affecting the business in which we are engaged; (vi) management of our growth and our ability to execute on our planned growth; (vii) our business strategy and plans; (viii) our ability to maintain our relationship with National Geographic; (ix) compliance with new and existing laws and regulations, including environmental regulations and travel advisories and restrictions; (x) compliance with the financial and/or operating covenants in our debt arrangements; (xi) adverse publicity regarding the cruise industry in general; (xii) loss of business due to competition; (xiii) the result of future financing efforts; (xiv) delays and costs overruns with respect to the construction and delivery of newly constructed vessels; (xv) the inability to meet revenue and Adjusted EBITDA projections; and (xvi) those risks described in the Company's filings with the SEC. Stockholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More detailed information about factors that may affect the Company's performance may be found in its filings with the SEC, which are available at http://www.sec.gov or at http://www.expeditions.com in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website.
Operational and Financial Metrics
Adjusted EBITDA is net income (loss) excluding depreciation and amortization, net interest expense, other income (expense), income tax (expense) benefit, (gain) loss on foreign currency, (gain) loss on transfer of assets, reorganization costs, and other supplemental adjustments. Other supplemental adjustments include certain non-operating items such as stock-based compensation, executive severance costs, the National Geographic fee amortization, debt refinancing costs, acquisition-related expenses and other non-recurring charges. We believe Adjusted EBITDA, when considered along with other performance measures, is a useful measure as it reflects certain operating drivers of the business, such as sales growth, operating costs, selling and administrative expense, and other operating income and expense. We believe Adjusted EBITDA helps provide a more complete understanding of the underlying operating results and trends and an enhanced overall understanding of our financial performance and prospects for the future. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a measure of liquidity or cash flows from operations or a measure comparable to net income as it does not take into account certain requirements, such as unearned passenger revenues, capital expenditures and related depreciation, principal and interest payments, and tax payments. Our use of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other companies within the industry.
The following metrics apply to the Lindblad segment:
Adjusted Net Cruise Cost represents Net Cruise Cost adjusted for Non-GAAP other supplemental adjustments which include certain non-operating items such as stock-based compensation, the National Geographic fee amortization and acquisition-related expenses.
Available Guest Nights is a measurement of capacity available for sale and represents double occupancy per cabin (except single occupancy for a single capacity cabin) multiplied by the number of cruise days for the period. We also record the number of guest nights available on our limited land programs in this definition.
Gross Cruise Cost represents the sum of cost of tours plus selling and marketing expenses, and general and administrative expenses.
Gross Yield per Available Guest Night represents tour revenues divided by Available Guest Nights.
Guest Nights Sold represents the number of guests carried for the period multiplied by the number of nights sailed within the period.
Maximum Guests is a measure of capacity and represents the maximum number of guests in a period and is based on double occupancy per cabin (except single occupancy for a single capacity cabin).
Net Cruise Cost represents Gross Cruise Cost excluding commissions and certain other direct costs of guest ticket revenues and other tour revenues.
Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel represents Net Cruise Cost excluding fuel costs.
Net Yield represents tour revenues less commissions and direct costs of other tour revenues.
Net Yield per Available Guest Night represents Net Yield divided by Available Guest Nights.
Number of Guests represents the number of guests that travel with us in a period.
Occupancy is calculated by dividing Guest Nights Sold by Available Guest Nights.
Voyages represent the number of ship expeditions completed during the period.
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SOURCE Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/lindblad-expeditions-holdings-inc-reports-2022-second-quarter-financial-results/ | 2022-08-01T13:19:43Z |
OKLAHOMA CITY, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Adaptation Financial launched its first official internship program in June of 2022. The program kicked off June 6th, 2022, with Sarah Hall joining the firm. The program then grew on June 27th, 2022, when the team welcomed Rosella "Jojo" Roberson back from a trip to Greece, Italy, and Paris. Adaptation's goal for the program is to provide our interns with hands-on experience and to help them expand their knowledge of sales and the financial sector.
Sarah Hall will be an Oklahoma State University Fall 2023 graduate as a Psychology major with a Business Emphasis and a Minor in Spanish - while also pursuing a Professional Certification in Sales and Service Excellence.
"I chose to work at Adaptation because of the people and the values. Strong values in the workplace are very important to me. They are vital in everything from the big decisions of the company to the attitude someone has when they come in to work each day. Often, companies say they have core values, but they are nothing more than pleasant words used for recruiting. However, at Adaptation it is quite the opposite. When I came home from the intern mixer the first thing I told my family was how impressed I was by the character and honesty of everyone I met. Adaptation truly lives its values, and it is apparent in the day-to-day environment. They made me feel welcome and wanted on my first day, and they continue to do so every day. Each person here is so kind and supportive and will not hesitate to help with anything. They have created an environment to help me excel and continue to provide me with new and exciting opportunities, and I am excited to see what the future has in store!" – Sarah Hall
Rosella "Jojo" Roberson will be an Oklahoma State University Spring 2023 graduate as a Finance major and a member of the Equestrian team.
"I chose Adaptation because of several reasons, but most importantly, their opportunities for growth along with their core values. Adaptation is unlike many other companies in that they truly want to set you up for success in your career. When I joined their open house intern mixer in May, Alan Niemann, the Founder and CEO, explained the training and hands on experience we would have as their interns. Not only that, but he talked about how important work-life balance was to Adaptation. Simply observing everyone interact and tell stories during the mixer, I could see their care and concern for one another was genuine. I knew after meeting some of the employees that this was a company I would love the opportunity to work for. During the short time I have been here, it has been everything I thought and hoped it would be." – Jojo Roberson
About Adaptation Financial
Adaptation Financial, Inc is a Hybrid Independent Registered Investment Advisory firm with over $750MM of client assets under management. The firm currently has 6 office locations across 3 states and caters to individual investors. Securities are offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research Inc., a broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services are through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Financial planning services are through Adaptation Financial Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Adaptation Financial Advisors are not affiliated.
Visit www.adaptfa.com or call 800-522-8727 to connect with an advisor in your area.
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SOURCE Adaptation Financial | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/adaptation-financial-summer-internship-program/ | 2022-07-07T21:45:18Z |
Chicago-based marketing agency is recognized for excellence with an American Digital Design Award
CHICAGO, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- c|change (pronounced "sea change"), a strategy-driven B2B marketing agency, was recognized as one of the top 10% of nearly 2,400 entrants by winning the 22nd annual American Digital Design Awards™ for their new website.
The new website is part of the agency's recent rebrand. c|change has successfully rebranded hundreds of clients over the twenty-one years they've been in business, but this time focused the expertise inward to keep its brand in sync with the company's image, values, and personality.
c|change's rebrand is visually inspired by the layering of everyday objects to build new worlds and captures dreamlike images that suggest endless creativity. In addition to the new brand itself, c|change developed a website that incorporates the new look and feel, and streamlines the user experience (UX).
"Since we started c|change in 2001, we've worked hard to keep creativity at the center of everything we do," said Hugh Schulze, CEO. "And I'm proud to say that the latest evolution of our brand is evidence of that aspiration continuing to come to life."You can view the award-winning website and learn more about c|change's work by visiting https://cchangeinc.com/.
c|change is a strategy-driven marketing agency based in Chicago since 2001. c|change's strategists, designers, developers, and writers are driven to deliver the greatest return on a marketing investment in the most thoughtful and meaningful ways possible. Their actions are guided by the agency's core values of Radical Optimism, Compassionate Collaboration, and Mindful Creativity and the agency's status as a Certified B Corp.
CONTACT: Adrian Gershom, agershom@cchangeinc.com, 3128299794
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SOURCE c|change | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/marketing-firm-wins-accolades-innovative-new-website/ | 2022-06-30T15:47:18Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner of the class action firm Monteverde & Associates PC (the "M&A Class Action Firm"), a national securities firm rated Top 50 in the 2018-2021 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report and headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating Professional Holding Corp. (PFHD), relating to its proposed acquisition by Seacoast Banking Corp of Florida. Under the terms of the merger, RBCN shareholders are expected to receive 0.8909 shares of Seacoast per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/professional-holding-corp. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
We are a national class action securities litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders from corporate wrongdoing. We were listed in the Top 50 in the 2018-2021 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. Our lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions. Mr. Monteverde is recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013, 2017-2019, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017-2021 Top Rated Lawyer. Our firm's recent successes include changing the law in a significant victory that lowered the standard of liability under Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act in the Ninth Circuit. Thereafter, our firm successfully preserved this victory by obtaining dismissal of a writ of certiorari as improvidently granted at the United States Supreme Court. Emulex Corp. v. Varjabedian, 139 S. Ct. 1407 (2019). Also, in 2019 we recovered or secured six cash common funds for shareholders in mergers & acquisitions class action cases.
If you own common stock in PFHD and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.
Contact:
Juan E. Monteverde, Esq.
MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
The Empire State Building
350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4405
New York, NY 10118
United States of America
jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
Tel: (212) 971-1341
Attorney Advertising. (C) 2022 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
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SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/shareholder-alert-mampa-class-action-firm-announces-investigation-professional-holding-corp-pfhd/ | 2022-08-09T19:09:11Z |
An effort to be more inclusive or the federal government being too nosy? Democrats and Republicans took starkly contrasting views Tuesday of proposed legislation that would put voluntary questions about sexual orientation and gender identity on federal demographic surveys.
The Democratic-controlled U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform approved a bill requiring federal agencies that collect demographic data through surveys to ask about sexual orientation and gender identity, but no one would be required to give the information nor would they be penalized for refusing to do so.
Supporters of the legislation said it could help provide much better data about the LGBTQ population nationwide at a time when views about sexual orientation and gender identity are evolving and as right-wing extremists are firing up anti-LGBTQ rhetoric online.
U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, the committee’s Democratic chair, said the measure would help make data collection as inclusive as possible.
“By including this, we can ensure that our policies are more equitable and inclusive of the constituents we serve,” said Maloney of New York.
Republican committee members called the measure government intrusion and overreach at its most personal.
“We should be alarmed by this attempt by the federal government to gather such sensitive data,” said Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona.
Republican committee members proposed amendments that would require the legislation to offer a definition of sex, only allow people to answer such questions about themselves and would limit the questions to adults only. Biggs also proposed an amendment that would require data collection of people in the U.S. illegally, in a discussion that referenced then-President Donald Trump’s failed effort to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.
All of the Republican amendments were voted down.
The legislation was debated at a time when the Census Bureau separately is requesting $10 million to study over several years the best ways to ask about sexual orientation and gender identity for its annual American Community Survey, and as President Joe Biden declared June as LGBTQ “Pride Month.” It also is taking place as some Republican-dominated state legislatures have restricted what can be discussed about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools and banned transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports.
Some federal agencies already ask about sexual orientation and gender identity, but they are limited primarily to health and criminal justice surveys. The once-a-decade census and several Census Bureau surveys give same-sex couples a chance to answer if they are in a marriage or domestic partnership. But that omits LGBTQ people who are single or not living in the same household with their partner, and for the gender question, “male” and “female” are the only options.
The online Household Pulse Survey is the only Census Bureau survey that asks these questions, but it is categorized as experimental and may not meet some of the quality standards for the nation’s largest statistical agency.
Several Democratic House members on Tuesday also urged the directors of the Office of Management and Budget and the Census Bureau to add a category of Middle Eastern and North African, also known as MENA, for the once-a-decade census and other federal surveys.
The Census Bureau recommended adding a MENA category to the 2020 census, but the idea was dropped by the Trump administration.
Decades-old Office of Management and Budget standards have designated Middle Eastern and North African residents as white. Adding a separate MENA category would help guarantee that residents with roots from this region get federal resources and produce more accurate data, said the letter to OMD Director Shalanda Young and Census Bureau Director Robert Santos.
“Since members of the MENA community trace their roots to either the Middle East or North Africa, OMB’s standards fail to capture the lived experience of many community members,” the letter said.
___
Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/democrats-gop-take-contrasting-views-on-lgbtq-survey-bill/ | 2022-06-15T01:08:09Z |
HOUSTON , July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital once again ranks No. 2 among the country's top rehabilitation hospitals in the U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospital rankings for 2022-2023, which were released today. TIRR Memorial Hermann was previously ranked No. 2 in the 2021-2022 rankings and has been included in the prestigious rankings since the report's inception in 1989.
"Last year we saw the ranking process modified to include aspects of quality in addition to reputation. TIRR Memorial Hermann's ranking consistency this current year supports that our teams and affiliated physicians have been able to continue giving the unprecedented level of care that TIRR is known for," said Rhonda Abbott, Senior Vice President and CEO of TIRR Memorial Hermann. "We plan to relentlessly pursue our focus on improving patient outcomes and innovating quality care for all of our patients in their rehabilitation journey as we build bridges across the domains of clinical care, education, research and ultimately advocacy."
In addition to TIRR Memorial Hermann, several other Memorial Hermann campuses and service lines ranked in the 2022-2023 report:
- Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital ranked as the No. 4 Best Children's Hospital in Texas, and No. 5 in the Southwest Region. Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital also ranked in the top 50 children's hospitals in the nation for the following specialties:
- Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center (TMC) ranked as the No. 3 hospital in the Houston metro area and No. 5 hospital in Texas.
- Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital ranked as the No. 4 hospital in the Houston metro area and No. 7 hospital in Texas.
- Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center ranked as the No. 5 hospital in the Houston metro area and No. 9 hospital in Texas.
The annual Best Hospitals rankings and ratings, now in their 33rd year, are designed to assist patients and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive quality care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.
U.S. News evaluated each hospital's performance using a variety of measures such as survival rates, complication rates, patient experience and level of nursing care. The Best Hospitals methodology factors in data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, American Hospital Association, professional organizations, and medical specialists.
For the 2022-2023 rankings and ratings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 hospitals across 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions. For the first time, U.S. News rated eligible hospitals in Ovarian Cancer Surgery, Prostate Cancer Surgery and Uterine Cancer Surgery. In the 15 specialties, 164 hospitals were ranked in at least one specialty. State and metro area rankings reflect the highest performing hospitals in the area across multiple areas of care.
Media Contact:
Media.Relations@memorialhermann.org
Media Hotline 713-984-6804
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SOURCE Memorial Hermann Health System | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/memorial-hermann-once-again-earns-top-recognition-by-us-news-amp-world-report/ | 2022-07-26T15:09:08Z |
PITTSBURGH, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "Traditional masks block faces and your ability to read lips. I wanted to create a face mask to assist those with hearing impairments," said an inventor, from Torrance, Calif., "so I invented the SMART PRO MASK. My design would facilitate communication for everyone, especially those who heavily rely on visual communication."
The invention provides an effective mask for individuals who rely on lip reading. In doing so, it increases communication when wearing a face mask. As a result, it enhances safety and convenience and it could help to prevent frustration and misunderstandings. The invention features an innovative design that is easy to wear and use so it is ideal for deaf/mute people and other individuals who rely on lip-reading. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.
The original design was submitted to the Los Angeles sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-LAX-1423, 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/2022/06/30/inventhelp-inventor-develops-face-mask-enhance-communication/ | 2022-06-30T14:37:41Z |
CHARLES TOWN, W.V., Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Potomac Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") (OTC: PTBS), the one bank holding company for Bank of Charles Town (BCT), for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, earned $1.605 million or $0.39 per share compared to $1.732 million or $0.42 for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, and $1.669 million in the first quarter of 2022 or $0.40 per share.
Net income was $3.274 million for the first six months of 2022 or $0.79 per share compared to $3.510 million or $0.85 per share for the same period in 2021.
Selected Highlights
- Total assets were $739.4 million as of June 30, 2022, compared to $672.0 million as of June 30, 2021, an increase of $67.4 million or 10.0%.
- Pre-tax pre-provision net income excluding PPP fees and interest income, was $3.873 million for the six months ending June 30, 2022, compared to $3.383 million for the six months ending June 30, 2021, or a 14.5% increase.
- Loans were $572.2 million as of June 30, 2022, up $56.0 million over the $516.2 million as of June 30, 2021, a 10.8% increase. Excluding Paycheck Protection Program loans (PPP), loan growth was $91.4 million or 19.1% since June 30, 2021. Loan growth excluding PPP loans in the first six months of 2022 was $67.6 million or 13.5% growth since December 31, 2021.
- Credit quality remains pristine with non-performing assets at 0.01% of total assets.
- Total deposits grew to $662.9 million as of June 30, 2022, an increase of $65.3 million or 10.9% over the June 30, 2021, total of $597.6 million. Deposits increased $33.8 million, or 5.4% since December 31, 2021.
- Net interest income increased $1.0 million, or 10.1%, to $11.0 million for the six months ending June 30, 2022, compared to $10.0 million for the same period in 2021. Excluding PPP income, net interest income increased $1.6 million, or 17.8%, to $10.5 million for the six months ending June 30, 2022, compared to $8.9 for the same period in 2021.
- Net interest margin was 3.19% for the six months ending June 30, 2022, compared to 3.17% for the six months ending June 30, 2021. Net interest margin increased to 3.33% for the second quarter 2022 compared to 3.04% for the linked prior quarter.
- Return on Assets (ROA) for the six months ending June 30, 2022, was 0.92% compared to 1.08% for the six months ending June 30, 2021.
- Return on Equity (ROE) for the six months ending June 30, 2022, was 11.07% compared to 12.62% for the six months ending June 30, 2021.
"The best way to congratulate our entire BCT team this year is to highlight the results of their hard work," stated Alice P. Frazier, President and CEO. "Our assets have organically grown by 10%, our loans and deposits each grew nearly 11%, and our fee income continues to grow. Our goal remains consistent even during times of market turmoil: to stay focused on our employees, customers, and communities to create shareholder value. Most gratifying is knowing how we continue to positively impact the communities we serve."
Q2 2022 Compared to Q2 2021
- Excluding PPP loans, total loans increased to $570.0 million as of June 30, 2022, compared to $478.6 million as of June 30, 2021, a 19.1% increase. An increase in the commercial business line with net growth of $73.2 million or 23.8%, and mortgage portfolio loans with a net increase of $18.3 million drove the overall loan portfolio increase.
- Deposit accounts increased to $662.9 million as of June 30, 2022, increasing $65.3 million or 10.9% over June 30, 2021. Noninterest-bearing deposits grew $25.2 million since June 30, 2021, or 19.0% while interest bearing deposits were up $40.1 million or 8.6% over June 30, 2021.
- The Tier 1 leverage capital ratio for BCT was 10.18% as of June 30, 2022, compared to 10.20% as of June 30, 2021. The tangible equity / tangible assets ratio for the Company was 7.80% as of June 30, 2022, and 8.47% as of June 30, 2021.
- Net interest margin was 3.33% for the three months ending June 30, 2022, compared to 3.12% for the three months ending June 30, 2021. Excluding PPP income net interest margin was 3.19% for the three months ending June 30, 2022, compared to 3.05% for the three months ending June 30, 2021.
- A loan loss provision of $242 thousand was recorded in the quarter ending June 30, 2022, driven by the growth in the loan portfolio. There was no loan loss provision recorded in the quarter ending June 30, 2021.
- Non-interest income for the quarter ending June 30, 2022, decreased $183 thousand or 10.9% over the quarter ending June 30, 2021. See Table 2 for additional details.
- Non-interest expense increased to $5.0 million for the quarter ending June 30, 2022, an increase of $550 thousand or 12.2% above the quarter ending June 30, 2021. Year over year increase in salaries and benefits are the primary driver of this increase. Continued investments in growth include the hiring of our SBA team in May 2021, additional commercial bankers in Northern Virginia in 2022, and raising the minimum hourly wage in late fourth quarter of 2021 in response to the competitive workforce environment all contributed to the increase. See Table 2 for additional details.
- The allowance for loan losses was 1.01% of total loans outstanding as of June 30, 2022, and 1.05% as of June 30, 2021. Excluding PPP loans, the allowance for loan losses was 1.02% as of June 30, 2022, compared to 1.13% as of June 30, 2021. Management considers the current balance of the allowance for loan losses adequate for the inherent risks and uncertainties associated with the current environment.
- Non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets including OREO was 0.01% as of June 30, 2022, compared to 0.02% as of June 30, 2021.
- Net loan recoveries for Q2 2022 were 0.033% compared to net loan recoveries in the same period in 2021 of 0.015%.
Linked Quarter Q2 2022 Compared to Q1 2022
- Total assets increased $20.2 million to $739.4 million as of June 30, 2022, compared to March 31, 2022, or 11.2% annualized growth.
- Excluding PPP loans, loans increased $54.7 million in the quarter ending June 30, 2022, or a 10.6% increase since March 31, 2022. Commercial loans increased $33.1 million, or 9.5% and portfolio mortgage loans increased $22.0 million, or 15.5%.
- Deposits increased $27.3 million in the quarter ending June 30, 2022, or a 4.3% increase since March 31, 2022. Noninterest bearing deposits increased $8.3 million, or 5.5% in the quarter ending June 30, 2022, and interest-bearing deposits grew $19.0 million, or 3.9% in the quarter ending June 30, 2022.
- The Tier 1 leverage capital ratio for BCT was 10.18% as of June 30, 2022, compared to 10.24% as of March 31, 2022. Both are above the regulatory minimum for a well-capitalized bank. Tangible equity/ tangible assets ratio (non-regulatory measure) for the Company was 7.80% as of June 30, 2022, and 8.24% as of March 31, 2022. The total capital of $57.686 million as of June 30, 2022, reflects a decrease of $1.563 million from $59.249 million as of March 31, 2022. The decrease in total capital during the second quarter of 2022 is primarily due to a $2.795 million decrease in other comprehensive income due to changes in fair value of available-for-sale investment securities, dividends paid of $373 thousand, and offset by net income of $1.605 million for the quarter.
- Net interest margin for the quarter was up 29 bps to 3.33% from 3.04% for the quarter ending March 31, 2022. PPP interest and fee income positively impacted both quarters. Excluding the impact from PPP in the second quarter 2022 and first quarter 2022, the net interest margin was 3.19% compared to 2.93%, respectively.
- A loan loss provision of $242 thousand was recorded in the quarter ending June 30, 2022, driven by the growth in the portfolio. There was no loan loss provision recorded in the quarter ending March 31, 2022.
- Non-interest income was down $181 thousand to $5.0 million for the quarter ending June 30, 2022, or 10.8% compared to the quarter ending March 31, 2022. See Table 2 for additional details.
- Non-interest expense for the quarter was $5.0 million, an increase of $340 thousand compared to the three months ending March 31, 2022. Increases in salaries and benefits, and other operating expenses primarily drove the increase. Incentive expenses increased as certain business units had higher production in Q2 2022. Other operating expenses were up across several categories. Included are $59 thousand of nonrecurring expenses. See Table 2 for additional details.
- The allowance for loan losses was 1.01% of total loans outstanding as of June 30, 2022, and 1.05% as of March 31, 2022. Excluding PPP loans, the allowance to loans was 1.02% as of June 30, 2022, and 1.07% as of March 31, 2022.
- Non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets including OREO was 0.01% as of June 30, 2022, and March 31, 2022.
- Net loan recoveries in the quarter ending June 30, 2022, were 0.033% compared to 0.002% in the quarter ending March 31, 2022.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Update
- BCT participated in Round 1 and Round 2 of the PPP loan programs and, as of June 30, 2022, outstanding balances net of fees were $2.2 million. Remaining net fees to be recognized totals $134 thousand.
Dividend Announcement
At our July Board meeting, Potomac Bancshares, Inc. Board of Directors declared a $0.09 per share dividend payable to shareholders of record as of August 4, 2022, for payment on August 11, 2022.
About the Company
Founded in 1871, BCT-Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community's Bank, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Potomac Bancshares, Inc. (OTC:PTBS). The Company conducts operations through its main office, an additional eight branch offices, and two loan production offices. BCT's offices are in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties (WV), Washington County (MD), and Loudoun and Stafford Counties (VA). The Bank provides various banking products and services including free access to over 55,000 ATMs through the All point® network plus online and mobile banking for individuals, businesses, and local governments. The Bank also offers commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction, commercial real estate loans and agricultural loans. The Residential Lending division offers secondary market and portfolio mortgage loans, one-time close construction to perm loans, as well as home equity loans and lines of credit. For over 65 years, BCT Wealth Advisors has provided financial management, investment, trust, and estate services to its clients. In 2021, 2020 and 2019, the Bank was named a "Best Bank To Work For" by American Banker. In 2018, Forbes named BCT a "Best In State Bank" for Maryland.
The Company's shares are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheet marketplace under the symbol "PTBS." For more information about Potomac Bancshares, Inc., and the Bank, please visit our website at www.mybct.bank.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that include projections, predictions, expectations, or beliefs about events or results or otherwise are not statements of historical facts, such as statements about the Company's growth strategy and deployment of capital. Although the Company believes that its expectations with respect to such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its existing knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
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SOURCE Potomac Bancshares, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/potomac-bancshares-inc-reports-2022-second-quarter-results/ | 2022-08-02T13:57:03Z |
The Ignore No More: ACTe Now! Campaign to address vast health disparities by seeking more inclusive approach to recruiting Black American patients for clinical trials and research
CHICAGO, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) is proud to announce the launch of the Ignore No More: ACTe Now! (Advance Clinical Trials for Equity in Sarcoidosis) campaign. The goals of this campaign are to increase representation of Black American sarcoidosis patients in clinical trials, raise awareness of disparities that exist in sarcoidosis, identify the challenges and barriers that contribute to lower participation by Black Americans in clinical trials, and to provide recommendations that foster a more inclusive approach to recruiting patients for clinical trials and research.
To ensure Black American sarcoidosis patients are at the forefront of this discussion, FSR collaborated with sarcoidosis experts and patients, known as Patient and Clinical Advisory Committees, to create a survey to provide a platform for Black Americans to share their experiences and insights. Black Americans at least 18 years of age and older, who live in the U.S., are encouraged to take the survey at www.stopsarcoidosis.org/ACTNow to help inform recommendations for improving care and increasing representation in clinical trials. The survey is available now through November 30, 2022, and will culminate in a Congressional Briefing in April of 2023, Sarcoidosis Awareness Month.
Black Americans are 2.5 times more likely to have sarcoidosis and are 12 times more likely to die from sarcoidosis than White Americans. While Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by chronic illnesses and diseases across the spectrum, they are significantly underrepresented in clinical trials and research. According to the FDA, only 7% of clinical trial participants, globally, and 16% domestically, are Black, while White participants represent 76% and 78% respectively.
"It is imperative to increase representation of Black Americans in clinical trials and research efforts in order to close the gap in care and improve patient outcomes for Black Americans with sarcoidosis," said Mary McGowan, Chief Executive Officer for FSR. "Ignore No More: ACTe Now! will focus on identifying the barriers and growing representation of Black Americans in clinical trials to provide more comprehensive data on their experiences, leading to more effective protocols, treatments, and equitable outcomes. We believe the learnings from this survey will lead to increased enrollment of Black Americans in clinical trials for sarcoidosis, as well as other chronic illnesses more broadly."
In 2021, FSR launched Phase I of the Ignore No More Campaign to raise awareness of the disproportionate impact sarcoidosis has on Black American women reaching over 500,000 individuals through awareness events, media, and an educational public service announcement video featuring celebrity spokesperson, Jeryl Prescott Gallien. The campaign was featured in media outlets such as The Roland Martin Show, The Tavis Smiley Show, USA Today and Yahoo! News. Phase II, ACTe Now!, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, Kinevant Sciences, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, is the next step in addressing health disparities in the sarcoidosis community, including Black American men.
We are calling on all patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, and the wider community to support this campaign and raise awareness of the survey. The FSR ACTe Now! Social Media Toolkit and educational infographic are located on the campaign website to make sharing messaging easy. FSR is also calling all providers, researchers, and clinicians to commit to having discussions with your patients about clinical trials and research participation.
There are more sarcoidosis clinical trials than ever before, so the time to ACTe is Now! Learn what you can do to support at www.stopsarcoidosis.org/ACTNow.
About Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a rare inflammatory disease characterized by the formation of granulomas—tiny clumps of inflammatory cells—in one or more organs of the body. Despite increasing advances in research, sarcoidosis remains difficult to diagnose with limited treatment options and no known cure. Approximately 175,000 people live with sarcoidosis in the United States.
While Black American women experience the worse outcomes, as a group, Black Americans in general have a higher incidence of sarcoidosis and have poorer outcomes and experiences compared to other groups, have a hospitalization rate nine times higher than White Americans, and are twelve times more likely to die from sarcoidosis and at a younger age than White Americans.
About the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research
The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) is the leading international organization dedicated to finding a cure for sarcoidosis and to improving care for sarcoidosis patients through research, education, and support. Since its establishment in 2000, FSR has fostered over $6 million in sarcoidosis-specific research efforts. For more information about FSR and to join our community, visit: stopsarcoidosis.org.
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SOURCE Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/15/foundation-sarcoidosis-research-launches-its-first-ever-clinical-trial-equity-initiative-black-african-americans/ | 2022-09-15T21:25:11Z |
Cool and dry Sunday, much warmer for the workweek
Published: Apr. 10, 2022 at 5:39 AM EDT|Updated: 3 hours ago
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Our cool and dry weather pattern continues for Sunday. We start in the low 50s, highs are only in the 70s, and dew points dip into the 30s and 40s for a very comfortable day. Winds Sunday are back to Northeast at 10-15 mph. After the weekend, our cool High Pressure moves east and warmer air returns quickly. Wednesday and Thursday push to the mid-60s and dew points near 70° for that humid Florida feel we know and love! Rain chances stay low even with the heat and higher humidity by the end of the week. A cold front drops into northern Florida by Friday, and that gives us a slight chance of an afternoon thunderstorm.
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/04/10/cool-dry-sunday-much-warmer-workweek/ | 2022-04-10T15:35:26Z |
NEW YORK, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Advertising-- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Wells Fargo & Company ("Wells Fargo" or "the Company") (NYSE: WFC) and certain of its officers, on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased, or otherwise acquired Wells Fargo securities between February 24, 2021 and June 9, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/wfc.
This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws.
The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Wells Fargo had misrepresented its commitment to diversity in the Company's workplace; (2) Wells Fargo conducted fake job interviews in order to meet its Diverse Search Requirement; (3) the foregoing conduct subjected Wells Fargo to an increased risk of regulatory and/or governmental scrutiny and enforcement action, including criminal charges; (4) all of the foregoing, once revealed, was likely to negatively impact Wells Fargo's reputation; and (5) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint you can visit the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/wfc or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss in Wells Fargo you have until August 29, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Contact:
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Peretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson
212-697-6484 | info@bgandg.com
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SOURCE Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/bronstein-gewirtz-amp-grossman-llc-notifies-wells-fargo-amp-company-wfc-investors-class-action-encourages-investors-contact-firm/ | 2022-07-05T14:36:36Z |
This acquisition empowers UL Solutions to help wire and cable customers optimize their product development and manufacturing processes while enhancing product safety and compliance.
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UL Solutions, a global leader in applied safety science, today announced its acquisition of Cimteq Limited ("Cimteq"), a leading design support and manufacturing software provider for the global wire and cable manufacturing industry based in the U.K.
"Emerging technologies within smart cities, Industry 4.0, mobility and communications industries all rely on wire and cable to serve as the delivery backbone for new service offerings," said Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO, UL Solutions Inc. "We are confident the acquisition of Cimteq allows us to help wire and cable customers continue to evolve and succeed as these technologies introduce new challenges and opportunities."
The acquisition of Cimteq strengthens UL Solutions' software capabilities to better serve small and large wire and cable customers across the product life cycle. Powered by state-of-the-art technology, Cimteq's innovative enterprise-level software enables manufacturers across the globe to be more efficient through improved productivity and streamlining of product development and manufacturing processes.
Cimteq's technology also helps simplify the complex management of cable design data, from the initial concept to delivering a full bill-of-materials directly to enterprise resource planning systems. With Cimteq software, UL Solutions is now able to provide wire and cable manufacturers tools to effectively plan, manage and control every aspect of the development and manufacturing process by utilizing the latest industrial Internet of Things (IoT) technology to optimize cable manufacturing operations.
"Process excellence throughout the research and development cycle is increasingly crucial to safe product deployment, especially as the complexity of design requirements increases," said Weifang Zhou, executive vice president and president of Testing, Inspection and Certification, UL Solutions. "Cimteq will enable UL Solutions to help customers optimize operations while enhancing product safety and compliance."
"Cimteq was founded to develop software solutions for the wire and cable industry and help manufacturers achieve their digital transformation ambitions while developing safe and compliant products," said Michael Braddock CEO of Cimteq. "We share UL Solutions' mission-centric safety culture and are proud to join them to help advance innovations for the wire and cable industry."
Cimteq was co-founded in 1998 by software industry veterans Ali and Amanda Shehab and is headquartered in Wrexham, Wales, approximately 35 miles south of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. In 2018, Cimteq received an equity investment from listed private equity and infrastructure investment manager, Foresight Group.
The transaction closed on September 9, 2022.
About UL Solutions
A global leader in applied safety science, UL Solutions transforms safety, security and sustainability challenges into opportunities for customers in more than 100 countries. UL Solutions delivers testing, inspection and certification services, together with software products and advisory offerings, that support our customers' product innovation and business growth. The UL Certification Marks serve as a recognized symbol of trust in our customers' products and reflect an unwavering commitment to advancing our safety mission. We help our customers innovate, launch new products and services, navigate global markets and complex supply chains and grow sustainably and responsibly into the future. Our science is your advantage.
UL Solutions offers a broad portfolio of services to companies. UL Solutions maintains separate legal entities for conformity assessment and consultancy services and has processes in place to identify and mitigate potential conflicts of interest and maintain impartiality.
Press contact:
Amy Patti
UL Solutions
ULNews@UL.com
1+847.664.8480
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SOURCE UL Solutions | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/ul-solutions-acquires-cimteq-limited/ | 2022-09-12T16:41:15Z |
TORONTO, May 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Emmy Award-winning screenwriter of Netflix series "Love, Death + Robots" Phil Gelatt has joined the development of the first animated series produced by Spice DAO, a collective of 800+ pop culture enthusiasts that crowdfunded $12M to win the auction of the Dune Bible at Christie's Paris in November 2021 for $3M.
Spice DAO is a Web3 production studio publishing sci-fi animation and NFTs from established writers and artists. Operating as a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) on the Ethereum blockchain, members develop proposals and create consensus by voting on projects with the governance token $SPICE.
In January Spice DAO held a Writing Competition open to any contributor to create a series bible for our animated series. Members voted for the Top 3 entries in February. Phil Gelatt will adapt the underlying material to create the official series bible for an as-yet-untitled science-fiction story to be produced as an animated series of six episodes each twenty-two minutes in length. Spice DAO will executive produce the series.
"We are thrilled to partner with Phil who brings a bold vision and industry experience to our group of dreamers. We are excited to pioneer decentralized storytelling as a new form of collaborative media that is directed, steered and owned by the community itself," said Kortelin, a member of the core team.
Philip Gelatt is an American film screenwriter, director, and producer. In 2021, he received an Emmy Award for his work on an episode of the second season of the Netflix series "Love Death + Robots." Also in 2021, his adult animated dark fantasy film "The Spine of Night" premiered at South by Southwest to rave reviews. It was released theatrically by RLJE and made its streaming premiere on Shudder. In 2016 he won a Writers Guild of America's Outstanding Achievement in Video Game Writing for his contributions to Square Enix's "Rise Of The Tomb Raider." He is represented by WME.
Spice DAO is a Web3 production studio publishing sci-fi animation and NFTs from established writers and artists. The DAO was founded by 800+ pop culture enthusiasts that crowdfunded $12M to win the auction of the Dune Bible at Christie's Paris in November 2021 for $3M.
We are currently producing an original animated limited series to be distributed by a streaming service and are opening an NFT studio that provides white glove service to high profile creators to develop strategy and concepts; design and build technology products; and advise on marketing campaigns to onboard the next million users to Web3.
The DAO has been featured in The Guardian, The New Yorker, Financial Times, Business Insider, Wired Magazine and more mainstream news outlets. We have a combined following of 10K+ on social media.
Media Contact
Twitter: @TheSpiceDAO
Website: spicedao.xyz
Email: team@spicedao.xyz
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SOURCE Spice DAO Animation Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/07/spice-dao-working-with-emmy-award-winning-screenwriter-phil-gelatt-animated-series/ | 2022-05-08T03:07:44Z |
Complimentary offer enables residential HVAC and related home improvement businesses to improve conversion ratio and lower cost of obtaining new leads
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MTA360, a 2021 Top Google Marketing provider serving the home improvement, HVAC and related industries, announced today a free, limited-time offer that enables prospective customers to try two of its industry-leading online tools: Artifical Intelligence (AI) Chat and Review Software.
Customers who sign up for the offer will gain complimentary access to these distinct, proven MTA360 technologies for a 12-month period. The AI Chat technology enables 24/7 engagement for website inquiries with instant, customized, brand-aligned scripted responses. With MTA360's innovative chat technology, 60% of chats, on average, are converted to leads. MTA360's Review Software links to any Google My Business profile and makes it easy for happy customers to post positive reviews, which improve search engine optimization and lead generation.
"Our fully engaged clients enjoy an average cost per lead in the $25 range, a massive savings compared with the industry average of $300," said Jack Nagy, president of MTA360. "This leading technology works so well, especially for home improvement-related businesses, we want to share it with more organizations for a full-year free test run. These digital marketing tools are well-suited for the HVAC and other home improvement industries, which are looking for easy-to-deploy proven technologies to drive awareness, consideration, and business."
MTA360 designs and develops highly effective SEO-ready websites from scratch using proprietary technology with no templates or themes, which can get in the way of search engine rankings. The company's SEO strategies are industry-specific with built-it natural backlink creation, which is a significant factor in enhancing site ranking, especially on Google. The firm uses a proprietary technology to easily drive updates across its customers' websites and provides full-service hosting and support with quick-turn content updates.
Thousands of home improvement contractors use the AI Chat and Review Software tools to improve conversion ratios and generate new leads. The two technologies go hand-in-hand, but can be utilized independently if desired. The review software makes it easy to generate positive customer reviews, which are important to SEO and increasing website traffic. The software integrates with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms and payment/bookkeeping systems to deliver a unified customer journey. The AI Chat feature enables 24/7 customer support, allows for easy human interruption when desired, and, on average, converts 60% of chats to leads.
The MTA360 offer is available for a limited time, represents a $5,000 value and is available to all home improvement contractors.
To sign up for the free offer, click here.
MTA360 delivers proven digital marketing technologies that drive business. As a leading full-service digital marketing, training and advertising agency focused on the home improvement industry and related businesses, the firm was recognized by MarTech magazine as the 2021 Top Google Marketing provider for its ablity to create SEO-ready websites that rank prominently on top search engines. The company has headquarter offices in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Tampa, Fla., and is staffed with a team of digital marketing and technology experts. The firm has thousands of clients across HVAC, plumbing, solar and roofing sectors that are reaping the benefits of the MTA360 technology and approach, deploying digital marketing technologies that work and driving an average cost per lead of $25 and as low as under $10.
Media Contact:
Mardi Larson
Amendola Communications (for MTA360)
mlarson@acmarketingpr.com
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SOURCE MTA360 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/digital-marketing-leader-mta360-unveils-free-limited-time-offer-ai-chat-google-review-software/ | 2022-06-21T20:58:30Z |
After three years of virtual performances, the orchestra returns to the United States on a national tour that includes a concert at New York's Carnegie Hall and a dinner and benefit gala.
NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The celebrated Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) will perform at Carnegie Hall on Monday, November 14 under the baton of Music Director Lahav Shani. Today, tickets for the concert and the following dinner and gala at The Plaza Hotel officially went on sale. The benefit dinner and gala support the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (AFIPO).
Music Director Lahav Shani makes his highly anticipated United States debut with the Philharmonic after two incredible years conducting performances across Israel. The musicians will perform celebrated classical compositions, including Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D major and Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5.
"We are excited to welcome the Philharmonic to New York, a city rich with cultural history, both to perform for long-time enthusiasts of classical music and to inspire a new generation of listeners," said AFIPO CEO Danielle Ames Spivak. "The orchestra continues to uplift audiences and young musicians from all areas of the world."
Tickets are now on sale through the Carnegie Hall Box Office and CarnegieCharge. The concert, which takes place at the Stern Auditorium's Perelman Stage, marks the orchestra's return to New York after three years of virtual concerts in the face of the pandemic. More information can be found on the AFIPO website.
The Music Director position is generously endowed by The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation.
About American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra supports the world-class Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, enabling the Orchestra to enrich diverse audiences around the world in its role as Israel's preeminent cultural ambassador. AFIPO's vision is to inspire the human spirit through transformative music education programs and extraordinary performances that celebrate Israel and the arts.
About the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is the leading orchestra in Israel and globally recognized as a world-class symphonic ensemble. Founded in 1936 by famed Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman, the Orchestra performs regularly in Tel Aviv and across Israel. Since its inception, the Orchestra has enjoyed long-lasting relationships with renowned soloists and conductors which have kept it at the forefront of the classical music world.
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SOURCE American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/world-class-israel-philharmonic-performs-iconic-carnegie-hall/ | 2022-08-08T18:26:06Z |
MENLO PARK, Calif., May 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Skan, a leader in the Process Intelligence solution industry that provides unprecedented insights into how organizations get work done, has appointed Vinaykumar (Vinay) Mummigatti as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Customer Transformation. A world-renowned expert in process automation, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation, Vinay brings over 20 years of experience in building enterprise business transformation and process automation centers of excellence for some of the world's largest financial services, healthcare, consulting, and information services organizations. Vinay graduated from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, with a MS in Data Science and Analytics. He also attained his MBA in finance and systems and Bachelor of Engineering in electronics and communications.
In this role reporting to the CEO, Vinay and his team will be responsible for working cross functionally to enhance how Skan's customers and partners realize value with the company's ground-breaking solution.
Vinay's career began in building one of the world's largest and most successful process automation and digital transformation practices at Tech Mahindra and Virtusa, where he led multi-million-dollar programs for automating complex enterprise-wide automation initiatives at Fortune 500 banking, healthcare, and insurance companies. He then went onto lead the Business Process Management Centers of Excellence (Coe) at United Healthcare transforming much of the claims and customer service operations. Subsequently, Vinay was recruited by Bank of America to become the Enterprise Head of Automation and Process Management – where he built and ran the CoE (centers of excellence) for the full cycle of automation programs from ideation to execution for the bank. Most recently, he was the Chief Automation Officer at Lexis Nexis, a multibillion-dollar leader in legal and regulatory and business information services. While at Lexis Nexis, Vinay was responsible for the enterprise-level organization to deliver digital transformation and automation across data, process intelligence, and content automation for 14 business units spanning multiple geographies.
"Skan provides the missing link in the evolution of automation and digital transformation. The ability to gather real time process metrics and an end-to-end view of business processes before and after technology driven transformations is an immense value to both technology and operations leaders," said Vinaykumar Mummigatti, "I was impressed with the technology and the team while a customer of theirs and am pleased to have the opportunity to help Skan's customers realize the full value of the solution faster."
"Vinay's experience in successfully leading enterprise level transformation programs and being a Skan user brings a customer's view to the way we deliver maximum benefits to the rest of our client base." said Avinash Misra, Founder and CEO for Skan.
Skan has been recognized by leading analysts including Nelson Hall, IDC, and HFS for its innovative and transformative approach of leveraging AI and computer vision.
Skan also recently announced its $40M series B funding led by Dell Technologies Capital to help fuel its growth and meet market demand.
Skan helps organizations be greater at business by helping them improve the way they operate. With the power of AI driven computer vision, Skan continuously observes work as it happens and captures the true nuance of business processes as they actually are. Skan is a global organization headquartered in Menlo Park, CA with employee centers in Seattle, Bangalore, Boston, Ottawa and more.
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SOURCE Skan | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/20/intelligent-automation-ai-amp-operational-excellence-leader-joins-process-intelligence-platform-leader-skan/ | 2022-05-20T14:33:45Z |
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. (WFRV) – Police are trying to identify a man who attempted to break a glass display in a southern Wisconsin jewelry store last month.
The Menomonee Falls Police Department reports the man tried breaking the glass with a brick at a Kay Jewelers in early June.
In video released by the police department, the man can be seen throwing the brick at the case nine times. The brick repeatedly cracks the glass and bounces off, but doesn’t break through until his final attempt. By then, a store employee can be seen walking toward the man.
The man then turns, kicks open the door, and runs out of the jewelry store. The employee then chases the man out of the store with some sort of store fixture and momentarily follows his car through the parking lot.
Police are still searching for the man. As the video shows, the man was wearing a red T-shirt, a black baseball hat, tan cargo shorts, and red/white Jordan shoes. He is described as being between 5’07”- 6′ tall, medium build with tattoos on his right arm/forearm, and a beard.
Images courtesy Menomonee Falls Police
The video shows the man got into a tan, 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu that didn’t have registration on it. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/video-man-tries-repeatedly-to-smash-wisconsin-jewelry-store-case-with-brick/ | 2022-07-20T00:06:40Z |
Leading Pop-Up Consignment Franchise Launches Social Media Contest and Community School Supply Donations
TULSA, Okla., Aug. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Just Between Friends, North America's largest and leading children's and maternity pop-up consignment community marketplace, continues to provide a resource for families to help ease the financial burden of increased cost of living and rising inflation. With monthly costs reaching unprecedented highs, the consignment franchise is prioritizing helping families save through a national social media contest and localized community giveback as parents look to stretch their budgets and amp up their children's wardrobes this back-to-school season.
Parents are expected to spend an average of $864 this year on school supplies for elementary to high school children, with 75% of parents worried about the cost. While back-to-school shopping minds may go right to school supplies, other items such as clothing, extracurricular accessories, and backpacks end up being more costly.
With inflation reaching a new record-high, and the increasing cost of back-to-school shopping weighing on families, Just Between Friends is helping their local sale communities navigate the expenses of back-to-school season with a social media photo contest that includes money-saving prizes and nonprofit school supply donations.
CONTEST DETAILS*:
- Just Between Friends (JBF) is calling on parents to share photos of their children 'Ready for the first day of school,' dressed for success, feeling confident in their consignment finds. From August 15- 31, parents who post their photos on Facebook and Instagram, tagging @JBFsale and using the hashtags #DressForSuccessWithJBF, will be entered into weekly and grand prize submissions.
- Throughout the campaign, Just Between Friends will announce two weekly winners on social media who will be selected to win $100 vouchers for their nearby upcoming Just Between Friends sale. The grand prize winner will be announced on Instagram and will receive a family backpack of resources to help combat the all-too-common pain points brought on by inflation – including a VISA gift card for essentials like clothing, gas and extracurricular accessories and a meal box.
COMMUNITY DONATION DETAILS: Just Between Friends franchisees from coast-to-coast will be supporting local community partners this back-to-school season. Area shoppers are encouraged to bring in school supply donations that will benefit these local organizations in exchange for free admittance to the sale. See details below:
- Just Between Friends – Indianapolis, IN
- Just Between Friends – Elk Grove, CA
- Crayons, Colored Pencils, Highlighters, Dry-Erase Markers + Washable Markers
- #2 Pencils (Ticonderoga), Pencil sharpeners + Erasers
- Binder Paper (wide-ruled and college), Spiral Notebooks, Composition Books
- Backpacks, 1-inch and 2-inch binders (D-ring) + Dividers
- Student Scissors, Glue sticks (large and small) + Rulers
- Just Between Friends – Reading, PA
- Pencils, Pens, Markers + Crayons
- Folders, Binders, Lined Paper + Backpacks
- Erasers, Glue Sticks, Scissors + Calculators
- Just Between Friends – North Richland Hills, TX
"Shopping for the family has been hard this year," said Shannon Wilburn, CEO and Co-Founder of Just Between Friends. "With back-to-school season hitting amid increased inflation and rising cost of living, families are looking for new ways to save on essentials. Just Between Friends is happy to be a resource as our fall sale season begins, and we want to help local families and our communities as we continue navigating these unprecedented economic times."
For details on the contest and to submit a photo, visit @JBFSale on Facebook and @JBFSale on Instagram. To find a JBF sale near you, visit http://jbfsale.com/stateLocations.jsp as fall sales continue to pop up across the country.
At a Just Between Friends sale, parents and grandparents can shop rows and rows of baby and children's shoes, toys, clothing, maternity, and baby equipment at 50 - 90% off retail prices, and as a consignor, they can sell items and earn from 60 - 70% on item sales. At the end of each Just Between Friends sale, items are donated to local organizations which help local women, children and families, serving groups that provide clothing closets, crisis centers, transitional emergency care, food banks and many other services.
*See contest landing page for official rules and restrictions.
Just Between Friends (JBF) is North America's largest and leading children's and maternity pop-up consignment community marketplace and is the only franchise in this vertical to employ an industry-leading safety and recall expert. Just Between Friends provides a resource for families shopping or selling items for a variety of reasons – from saving money on a strict budget to family trips – as well as providing a sustainable resource in the consignment sale space. What began as a sale between a few mom friends, including CEO and Co-founder Shannon Wilburn in 1997, has grown into a nationwide phenomenon with more than 150 franchises in 32 states.
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SOURCE Just Between Friends Franchise System, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/20/just-between-friends-consignment-kicks-off-back-to-school-helping-families-stretch-budgets-this-season/ | 2022-08-20T15:01:00Z |
3-year-old boy dies after fall from 29th floor NYC apartment
Published: Jul. 2, 2022 at 3:56 PM CDT|Updated: 10 minutes ago
NEW YORK (AP) — A 3-year-old boy has died after falling from a 29th floor balcony of a New York City apartment building in Harlem.
A police spokesperson said responding officers found the injured toddler on Saturday morning lying on a 3rd floor scaffolding.
The boy was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A police spokesperson said police believe the child exited through a window, but exactly how that occurred is under investigation.
Police are speaking with two individuals who were in the apartment at the time of the child’s fall.
The case remains under investigation.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/02/3-year-old-boy-dies-after-fall-29th-floor-nyc-apartment/ | 2022-07-02T22:24:45Z |
IRVINE, Calif., May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Performio, the leading enterprise-grade sales commission software solution, has announced that it has expanded its executive team with the addition of two seasoned software executives, Neil Graham, Chief Revenue Officer, and Dmitri Korablev, Chief Technology Officer.
"We are delighted to welcome two experienced leaders to the Performio executive team," said Grayson Morris, CEO, Performio. "Neil's proven track record of building high performing sales teams and scaling successful software companies is exactly the kind of leadership that Performio will benefit from as we enter this next phase of growth. In addition, Dmitri's deep technical background, experience managing large distributed global engineering and product management teams, along with his strategic product vision make him the ideal choice to lead Performio's product innovation as we experience rapid global customer adoption."
Neil Graham has been leading and inspiring disruptive world-class SaaS revenue organizations to exceptional results for over two decades, including delivering on two successful IPO's. Neil served in executive leadership positions most recently with Salesforce.com, Tealium, PayIt, and Jive. Early in his career Neil worked in various sales roles at Oracle Corporation. Neil is known for creating a hardworking, high integrity, and customer-obsessed culture, and for delivering record growth through improved process, technology, and people skills.
"The Performio platform brings the potential to transform how midmarket businesses manage and deliver their incentive compensation programs," said Neil Graham. "After evaluating a number of new opportunities, Performio stood out due to its rock solid technology, rapid disruptive global growth, and its world-class team of employees and investment partners. I'm excited to join the company and help significantly build, scale, and grow the go-to-market operation."
Dmitri brings decades of experience leading engineering and product management teams at companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 organizations. Most recently, Dmitri was VP of Engineering at Datometry, a database virtualization platform. Prior to Datometry Dmitri led IoT platform services at GE Digital and served as VP Engineering at Deem, and General Manager at Informatica.
"I am thrilled to be joining Performio at this point in the company's growth," said Dmitri Korablev. "Performio has demonstrated the scale of its product offering and the ability to deliver great time to value and ease of use for our customers. With a scalable business strategy, best in class product, and a talented global team, Performio is positioned for amazing success."
About Performio
Performio is a new breed of incentive compensation management software that combines enterprise-grade functionality with the ease of use required of modern software applications. Their product is used by large global enterprises and growing mid-market companies worldwide such as Abbott Laboratories, Atlantic Broadband, Contentful, Cybereason, Johnson & Johnson, Nexstar, Optus, Service Express, Vodafone, Wedbush Securities, and WP Engine. Performio's feature-rich cloud application enables enterprises to automate their sales compensation calculations, provide increased transparency to their sales reps, and adapt to changing market conditions with confidence. For more information, visit www.performio.co.
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SOURCE Performio | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/performio-expands-executive-bench-with-cro-cto-hires/ | 2022-05-04T10:36:43Z |
As authorities piece together the final moments before fugitive officer Vicky White was fatally shot following a chaotic car chase Monday, newly released audio of what officials say is a 911 call she made during the pursuit provides more insight into the minutes leading up to the capture of her and inmate Casey White. But it also adds to the many questions that remain unanswered.
The audio reveals a frantic scene inside the pair's escape car as they fled, but it also offers little clarity about how Vicky White sustained a gunshot wound to the head before officers were able to pull her from the car. She died from her injuries at a hospital later that day.
The chase ended when authorities forced the car Casey White was driving to wreck and roll into a ditch, the US Marshals Service has said. Authorities preliminarily believe Vicky White shot herself in the head when the car crashed, but an official cause of death has not been announced.
In the 911 audio released by officials in Evansville, Indiana, Wednesday, the caller does not appear to address the dispatcher, who says, "911" and "hello" seemingly without being answered.
Instead, a woman's voice -- which authorities say is Vicky White's -- is heard saying things including, "wait, stop ... airbags going to go off and kill us."
Soon, a loud noise is heard -- the first of at least four loud noises to happen in about 15 seconds. It's unclear in each instance what the noises represent, and it's unclear from the audio when the car was rammed, when it rolled over, and when a gun was fired.
"God," the woman says after the first noise. "Airbags are going off. Let's get out and run." She mentions a hotel.
The second noise is heard, and the woman shrieks. At least two more noises come, followed by another shriek. Sirens can be heard and a little more than a minute later, someone says repeatedly "got a gun in her hand," and "she is breathing."
The line stays open as officers work to get the pair out of the vehicle.
Vicky White, 56, was transported to a hospital, the US Marshals said. Casey White, 38, was taken into custody and transported back to Alabama.
The escaped inmate and corrections official fled from Lauderdale County, Alabama, on April 29. Authorities say Vicky White, who was then the assistant director of corrections at the county jail, checked Casey White out of the detention center under the pretense of taking him to the courthouse.
Investigators believe the two fostered a romantic relationship while Casey White, who was normally housed in a state prison, was periodically transferred to the Lauderdale County jail to attend hearings related to the 2015 stabbing death of Connie Ridgeway, for which White is facing capital murder charges. The county sheriff has said the two maintained communication when he was transferred back to state prison.
Their escape together ignited an 11-day manhunt which spanned multiple states and captured widespread national attention. Though the search for them has ended, questions remain about the circumstances of Vicky White's death and the future Casey White now faces.
How was Vicky White shot?
It's unclear from the 911 audio how Vicky White sustained the gunshot injury and a coroner's report has yet to be released.
In dispatch audio from Evansville police, the dispatcher can be heard advising law enforcement units that "we could hear her on the line saying she had her finger on the trigger."
The 911 recording does not appear to reveal Vicky White mentioning a gun or her finger on a trigger. However, other people in the recording -- apparently responding officers -- can be heard saying her finger was on the trigger when they found her.
No law enforcement officers fired any shots during the chase, according to Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton.
When officers pulled Casey White out of the car and took him into custody, he reportedly told them to help "his wife" who had shot herself in the head and insisted he didn't do it, according to US Marshal Marty Keely, who said to their knowledge, the pair was not married. Authorities previously said the officer and inmate were not related.
If Vicky White did shoot herself, it is not yet clear if she did it intentionally or if she accidentally fired the gun in the chaos of the chase.
Casey White indicated he intended to have a shootout with law enforcement if his car had not been rammed into a ditch, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, Sheriff Dave Wedding said Tuesday, citing White's interviews with investigators after his capture.
"(Casey White) said he was probably going to have a shootout, at the stake of both of them losing their lives," Wedding said.
What will happen to Casey White?
Casey White was returned to Alabama Tuesday night to attend an arraignment in Lauderdale County.
Judge Ben Graves told White at the hearing that he will be charged with escape in the first degree, in addition to capital murder charges he was already facing related to Ridgeway's death. White allegedly confessed to killing her but later pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, authorities said.
After the hearing, White was transferred directly to the William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility, a state prison in Bessemer, Alabama, a little more 100 miles south of Lauderdale County.
White was already serving a 75-year sentence for a series of crimes he committed in 2015, including a home invasion, carjacking and police chase, according to the US Marshals Service.
White's murder trial is currently set for June. During Tuesday's court appearance, White's attorney, Jamy Poss, said he would be filing a change of venue motion, which the judge said he would consider.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/heres-what-911-audio-reveals-about-vicky-whites-final-moments-before-being-captured--/article_89955b05-5950-50e0-a9f2-84f3ddf638ee.html | 2022-05-12T08:35:40Z |
DENVER, June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TTEC Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTEC), one of the largest global CX (customer experience) technology and services innovators for end-to-end digital CX solutions, was presented a bronze Stevie Award for achievement in diversity and inclusion.
This year's award is credited to the innovative initiatives created by the TTEC Diversity Council, a global institution that infuses the company's culture with programs that activate the principles of tolerance and inclusion.
The American Business Awards is a premier business awards program that is open to all organizations operating in the U.S. and features a wide variety of categories to recognize achievement in every facet of the workplace. Awards were presented to winners at a gala ceremony on June 13.
"Being recognized as a global leader in diversity and inclusion is gratifying for TTEC," said Colleen Ritchie, TTEC Senior Vice President for Global Operations Support and the Chairperson for TTEC's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council. "Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is deeply woven into our values, beliefs, and culture leading to improved employee and customer experiences."
The TTEC Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council aspires to create diverse teams at all levels of the organization. TTEC worked with a series of diversity experts to develop our patent-pending AI-powered Humanify® DEI+ BOT and curriculum. TTEC supports diversity through mentorship, open dialog, and opportunities for professional development. Some initiatives include Pride Month, PWD Awareness Campaign, and Women in Leadership.
This year, more than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and various industries were submitted for consideration in a variety of categories. More than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year's Stevie Award winners.
In addition to the bronze Stevie Award win, TTEC also earned four additional awards:
- Most Valuable Technical Innovation – Vaccinate NOW, Grand award
- Customer Service Team of the Year – TTEC Healthcare Solutions, Inc., Silver award
- Most Valuable Service – Vaccinate NOW, Silver award
- Thought Leadership Campaign of the Year - Business Services – TTEC Wage and Labor Thought Leadership 2022, Bronze award
About TTEC:
TTEC Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTEC) is one of the largest, global CX (customer experience) technology and services innovators for digital CX transformation. The Company delivers leading CX technology and operational CX orchestration at scale through its proprietary cloud-based CXaaS (Customer Experience as a Service) platform. Serving iconic and disruptive brands, TTEC's outcome-based solutions span the entire enterprise, touch every virtual interaction channel, and improve each step of the customer journey. Leveraging next gen digital and cognitive technology, the Company's Digital business designs, builds, and operates omnichannel contact center technology, conversational messaging, CRM, automation (AI / ML and RPA), and analytics solutions. The Company's Engage business delivers digital customer engagement, customer acquisition & growth, content moderation, fraud prevention, and data annotation solutions. Founded in 1982, the Company's singular obsession with CX excellence has earned it leading client NPS scores across the globe. The Company's nearly 62,000 employees operate on six continents and bring technology and humanity together to deliver happy customers and differentiated business results. To learn more, visit us at https://www.ttec.com/apac.
Investor Contact
Paul Miller
paul.miller@ttec.com
303-397-8641
Media Contact
Tim Blair
tim.blair@ttec.com
303-397-9267
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SOURCE TTEC Holdings, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/ttec-wins-stevie-award-achievement-diversity-inclusion/ | 2022-06-30T11:02:26Z |
Twitter users are exposing pro-Russian sentiment in China, and Beijing is not happy
By Simone McCarthy
Anonymous Twitter users are exposing the extreme nationalism and pro-Russian sentiment circulating online in China — and Beijing is not happy about it.
Scores of screen-grabbed posts from China’s most popular social media platforms have been translated and shared on Twitter in recent weeks, making revealing reading for Western audiences who typically don’t access these sites.
Among those posts: a prominent military blog falsely claiming a Russian attack on a train station in Kramatorsk was actually carried out by Ukraine, a well known media commentator dismissing the atrocities in Bucha, and a vlogger with hundreds of thousands of followers using a misogynistic term for Ukraine.
The posts appear courtesy of anonymous Twitter users who say their aim is to expose Western audiences to true extent of pro-Russian or nationalistic content on China’s heavily censored platforms.
They often come under the hashtag of “The Great Translation Movement,” or shared by account with the same name run by a decentralized, anonymous team that crowdsources the collection and translation of popular posts on Ukraine and other hot topics, according to an administrator interviewed by CNN. Many, but not all, appear to have been widely liked or shared within China — selection criteria cited by the administrator.
Since the account’s launch in early March it has already made plenty of friends and enemies — attracting both 116,000 followers (and counting) and a slew of criticism from China’s state-run media.
The movement was formed in response to China’s alleged hypocrisy in portraying itself as neutral on Ukraine, even while its state and social media circulated pro-Russian narratives, the administrator told CNN.
“We want the outside world to at least know what is going on inside, because we don’t think there could be any change made from inside,” said the administrator, who requested anonymity due to security concerns.
In bad faith?
China’s state media has lashed out against what it decries as “cherry picked content.” The overseas arm of the People’s Daily — the mouthpiece of China’s ruling Communist Party — has claimed the translators behind the movement are guilty of attributing the “extreme remarks” of some netizens to the “whole country.”
The nationalistic Global Times newspaper has accused the group of being “Chinese speaking bad faith actors” and one of its opinion writers claimed the group included “foreign hostile forces” perpetuating “psychological warfare against China.”
Outside China, media experts caution the posts do not show a holistic view of public opinion in China — though could still be valuable in bringing these elements of China’s media sphere to light. Critics also say the group’s tweets show evidence of its own bias — such as in posts that use a term comparing China to Nazi Germany.
Posts which gain traction on China’s social media must be seen in light of its highly censored environment, where nationalistic voices thrive and liberal ones have largely retreated or been censored, experts say.
But the administrator who spoke to CNN said the point was to highlight the visibility of such posts — some coming from popular influencers, comments receiving thousands of likes or from prominent commentators, and even government-backed news outlets.
“Our goal is to raise awareness about the state of public opinion in China, whether it is purely the result of spontaneous interactions (or) the result of government censorship,” the administrator said.
“We want to counter the effort of the Chinese state-affiliated media by showing the West some content they do not want to show.”
Dual messaging
The resistance against the group from China’s state media highlights the sensitivities around how China wants to present itself on the world stage, especially at a time when it has been attempting to walk a diplomatic tightrope between Russia and the West over Ukraine.
China has often sought to present two different narratives — one for domestic audiences and another for those overseas. This is made possible through both a language barrier and an online ecosystem that bans apps like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Great Translation Movement breaks down both of these barriers.
“Even before the social media era, the way China talks internally through its state media is something it doesn’t appreciate being parsed and translated for the world,” said David Bandurski, director of the China Media Project, a research program in partnership with the Journalism & Media Studies Center at the University of Hong Kong.
And when it comes to Ukraine, China has sought to portray itself — at least to overseas audiences — as unaligned and invested in calling for peace. But its media coverage back home tells a different story, Bandurksi said.
“If you just look at (state) media coverage, it’s really hard to talk about neutrality … Everything they have said is amplifying disinformation and aligning with Russia in terms of narratives.”
While the tone of state-backed media is clear, experts say it is difficult to gauge public opinion in China simply by looking at social media, even when it comes to popular influencers or viral posts.
Like anywhere in the world, views on social media can be extreme. In China, heavy manipulation and censorship often amplifies select voices.
“The authorities certainly have an interest in promoting their preferred narrative online, and they have the technical and political means to unapologetically ‘guide public opinion,'” said Florian Schneider, director of the Leiden Asia Center in The Netherlands.
“We should also not underestimate the power of social media algorithms: as pro-Russia statements become mainstream, they receive ever more likes and shares, which makes them more visible,” he said.
Suppressed voices, echo chambers
The situation is complicated: Beijing too has reason to be wary of ultra nationalist voices, which platforms sometimes censor. And while nationalist rhetoric has become more dominant online in recent years, the loudest voices may not show a majority.
Bandurski said that an analogy would be looking at ultra-conservative voices in the US media environment, and assuming that was representative of the American perspective.
“So the danger is this kind of echo chamber of content that we might assume is representative of China and its perspective, and it’s really a lot more complicated than that,” he said.
Maria Repnikova, director of the Center for Global Information Studies at Georgia State University, said when it comes to Ukraine there have been “alternative voices talking about the war…but they’re not as dominant or as loud or as visible.” Their posts may either be censored or hard to detect as social media users may express dissenting views through code and allusion.
She also asks if things would be different if images of bombarded cities of Ukraine or the atrocities in Bucha were not restricted in China.
“If people could see all of those images and scenes, would that be a different story? Would different voices pick up?”
The Great Translation Movement administrator said he hoped that the movement could help push Beijing to tone down the rhetoric on these platforms so that there would be room for more voices.
“In today’s Chinese mainstream discourse there is a very limited space for people who have a rational mind to speak,” the administrator said.
“Even if you speak out and if it doesn’t get deleted, you are still going to be spammed…and people are going to say you are a spy… the dignity of people themselves are destroyed.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
CNN’s Beijing bureau contributed to this story. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/04/13/twitter-users-are-exposing-pro-russian-sentiment-in-china-and-beijing-is-not-happy-2/ | 2022-04-13T08:05:53Z |
Twitter bans ads that contradict science on climate change
BERLIN (AP) — Twitter says it will no longer allow advertisers on its site who deny the scientific consensus on climate change. The company said in a statement outlining its new policy Friday that “ads shouldn’t detract from important conversations about the climate crisis.” The announcement coinciding with Earth Day came hours before the European Union agreed a deal requiring big tech companies to vet their sites more closely for hate speech, disinformation and other harmful content. Twitter said it would provide more information in the coming months on how it plans to provide “reliable, authoritative context to the climate conversations” its users engage in. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/04/23/twitter-bans-ads-that-contradict-science-on-climate-change/ | 2022-04-23T10:12:37Z |
LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kent Eikanas, CEO of Summit Healthcare REIT, Inc. ("Summit") will be a panelist at the invitation only 15th Annual Healthcare Dealmakers Conference in Dallas, Texas. "Catalysts · Capital · Change" is the theme of this year's live conference, where the panel will lend its expertise to discuss market trends in healthcare real estate and lending and opportunities in acquisition financing, current markets for debt and equity.
About Summit Healthcare REIT, Inc.
Summit is a publicly registered non-traded REIT that is currently focused on investing in seniors housing real estate located throughout the United States. The current portfolio includes interests in 53 facilities in 14 states. Please visit our website at: http://www.summithealthcarereit.com
For more information, please contact Chris Kavanagh at (800) 978-8136.
This material does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy Summit Healthcare REIT, Inc.
This release may contain forward-looking statements relating to the business and financial outlook of Summit Healthcare REIT, Inc. that are based on our current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on any such statements. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements contained in this release. Such factors include those described in the Risk Factors sections of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the quarterly report for the period ended March 31, 2022. Forward-looking statements in this document speak only as of the date on which such statements were made, and we undertake no obligation to update any such statements that may become untrue because of subsequent events. We claim the safe harbor protection for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
CONTACT
Chris Kavanagh
(800) 978-8136
ckavanagh@summithealthcarereit.com
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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The countdown is on for a rocket launch to the moon — again.
NASA will make a second attempt to launch its Artemis rocket on Saturday after technical issues delayed it the first time. NASA official Jeremy Parsons says all signs look good for an upcoming launch.
“If the conditions with weather and the hardware align, we’ll absolutely go,” Parsons said.
Engineers had to call off a planned launch on Monday because of a fuel leak and engine problems. Since then, they’ve been working to address the issues.
“Team has really just done a fantastic job getting us out of launch attempt number one, repairing all the issues and getting us into a safe configuration to proceed,” Parsons said.
If the launch is successful, this will be the first time America has sent a capsule to the moon since Apollo 17, which was 50 years ago. Former Astronaut Jefferey Hoffman says it’s long overdue.
“We went there and then we stopped and we threw it all away,” Hoffman said. “So I’m excited that we’re getting ready to go to the moon again.”
NASA’s eventual goal with this mission is getting astronauts back on the moon and establishing a permanent presence there. Dr. Hoffman says that could be important for scientific discovery.
“We’ve only just scratched the surface with Apollo, you know, bringing back samples of the moon. And we’ve learned incredible amounts about the history of the solar system, how the Earth was formed,” Hoffman said.
Billions of dollars have been poured into the project. But Dr. Hoffman says Artemis could unlock access to natural resources and give us a competitive edge globally.
“Someday the moon is going to be a part of the economic sphere of the Earth. Whoever establishes their bases first is in a good position,” Hoffman said. | https://cw33.com/news/washington-dc-bureau/return-to-moon-long-overdue-former-astronaut-says/ | 2022-09-03T02:56:59Z |
India’s Gautam Adani joins Elon Musk and Warren Buffett in the centibillionaires club
By Diksha Madhok, CNN Business
India’s Gautam Adani has joined what is probably the most elite club in the world.
The infrastructure tycoon’s wealth hit $100 billion over the weekend, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, making him the richest person in Asia. He joins nine other men in the centibillionaires club, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett.
French businessman Bernard Arnault — the chairman of luxury goods group LVMH — and Adani are the only non-Americans with fortunes worth at least $100 billion.
As stock markets boomed around the world during the pandemic, many billionaires saw their wealth skyrocket, but Adani’s gains have been exceptional.
The 59-year-old founder of the Adani Group controls companies ranging from ports and aerospace to thermal energy and coal, and has seen his fortune soar by nearly $90 billion over the last two years.
Shares of some Adani companies have jumped more than 1,000% since June 2020, a sign that investors are optimistic about the billionaire industrialist’s ability to bet on sectors such as infrastructure and renewable energy, which are key to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic development goals.
Adani is now the 10th richest man in the world, just ahead of fellow countryman Mukesh Ambani, who is worth $99 billion, according to Bloomberg.
Ambani, who controls Reliance Industries, has also moved his focus from oil to newer ares such as green energy and technology.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/money/cnn-business-consumer/2022/04/04/indias-gautam-adani-joins-elon-musk-and-warren-buffett-in-the-centibillionaires-club/ | 2022-04-04T10:57:37Z |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Four European leaders expressed their support for Ukraine on Thursday while meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, vowing to back Kyiv’s candidacy to eventually join the European Union and offering more weapons to fend off Russia’s invasion.
French President Emmanuel Macron promised Ukraine six more truck-mounted artillery guns, the latest in a new round of Western arms pledges as the war grinds on in the Donbas region in the east.
France, Germany, Italy and Romania “are doing everything so that Ukraine alone can decide its fate,” Macron said at a news conference with Zelenskyy and the others.
“My colleagues and I have come here to Kyiv today with a clear message: Ukraine belongs to the European family,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Amid Ukrainian fears that Western resolve could wane, the visit carried heavy symbolism. France, Germany and Italy have all faced criticism for continuing to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin — and failing to give Kyiv the weaponry it says its needs.
With Scholz beside him, Macron defended earlier comments that riled Ukrainians about not humiliating Russia, solemnly noting how the end of World War I had sown the seeds of World War II.
“We are side by side today with Chancellor Scholz. One hundred years ago, we were at war and allies helped France win. France committed a historic mistake. It lost the peace because it wanted to humiliate Germany. The question of humiliation I always placed in a context to come, not the current context,” he said.
“Today, this war must be won, France clearly supports Ukraine so it prevails,” Macron said. “Germany, like France, will never be in situations where they negotiate on Ukraine’s behalf with Russia. Moreover, we have never done that.”
In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said it was important for him to hear that European leaders “agree the end of the war and peace for Ukraine should be as Ukraine sees them.” He said Ukrainians will continue to fight for all of their land.
Ukrainians and some of their European neighbors have been afraid that Western powers might press for territorial concessions for the sake of peace.
Scholz reiterated that there is no such intent to dictate anything to Ukrainians, and that only they “can decide what is right in terms of an agreement on a peace which we are unfortunately very, very far away from.”
Italian Premier Mario Draghi expressed concern about millions of tons of grain backed up in Black Sea ports by the war, saying it could bring “worldwide catastrophe.” Italy has been a first destination for African migrants and could find itself overwhelmed as a result of largescale hunger in the Southern Hemisphere.
“We want the atrocities to stop and we want peace,” Draghi said. “But Ukraine must defend itself, and it will be Ukraine that chooses the peace it wants.”
The leaders also visited Irpin, a Kyiv suburb that saw intense fighting and where many civilians were killed. They decried the destruction there, with Macron saying he saw signs of “war crimes.”
While shocking images of such devastation have rallied Western support, Ukrainian officials have expressed concern that “war fatigue” could eventually erode that — particularly as rising prices and upcoming U.S. elections increasingly dominating public concerns.
The U.S. and its European allies have given billions of dollars in weaponry to Ukraine, and Germany and the U.S. recently announced new arms shipments. Such arms have been crucial in preventing the Russians from taking the capital, but Kyiv has said much more will be needed.
“Russia is only looking for new ways to scare Europe and seize more and more of our land,” Zelenskyy said at the news conference. “The goal of Russia in this war is to break Ukraine and through this break the whole of Europe.”
While the European leaders were in Kyiv, NATO defense ministers were meeting in Brussels to discuss plans for strengthening the military alliance’s eastern borders to dissuade Russia from planning any further aggression.
Many in Ukraine hope the visit could open the way to significant new arms supplies. It also comes as EU leaders prepare to decide next week on Ukraine’s request to become a candidate for membership in the bloc.
The war has increased pressure on EU governments to fast-track Ukraine’s candidate status, and Thursday’s pledge to support candidacy status for Ukraine and neighboring Moldova pushes the whole 27-nation union closer to doing so. But the process still is expected to take years, and EU members remain divided over how quickly and fully to open their arms to new members.
European allies have sent increasingly powerful weapons and rallied around Ukraine more than many expected, approving waves of unprecedented sanctions against Russia that also are badly squeezing Europe’s economy.
Ukrainians say more is needed as Russia presses an offensive in the Donbas, slowly but steadily gaining ground on the outmanned and outgunned Ukrainian forces.
After the news conference, Zelenskyy made a digital appearance at technology shows in Paris, Amsterdam, London and Stockholm as what organizers called a 3D avatar, with his image on a large screen. Wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with futuristic fighters and the text “Come to the Dark Side” and “Dominate or Die,” he urged countries to support what he called a “digital Lend Lease” for Ukraine to bounce back from the war with a “global digital revolution.”
Macron, Scholz and Draghi, representing the EU’s three largest economies, traveled to Kyiv together on a special overnight train. They had been criticized for not visiting sooner. Soon after they arrived, air raid sirens wailed.
Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president who is now deputy head of the Kremlin Security Council, dismissed the European leaders as “connoisseurs of frogs, liver and pasta” and said their visit brought no benefit.
“Again they promised EU membership and old howitzers, slammed down some vodka and, like 100 years ago, took the train home,” he tweeted. “And that’s all good. It’s just that this doesn’t bring Ukraine any closer to peace. And the clock is ticking. … “
President Klaus Iohannis of Romania, which borders Ukraine and has been a key destination for its refugees, arrived on a separate train. He said at the news conference that Romania is facilitating the transit of Ukrainian exports, including grain.
A number of other European leaders have already made the trip to show their solidarity with Ukraine, even when the fighting raged closer to the capital than it does now.
Scholz had long resisted traveling to Kyiv, saying he didn’t want to “join the queue of people who do a quick in-out for a photo opportunity,” adding that a trip should focus on doing “concrete things.”
Tamara Malko, a resident of the Donetsk region, which is part of the Donbas, said Macron and Scholz had been “very cold” toward Ukrainians so far and hoped their visit would bring change.
“We want peace very much … and have high hopes for Macron and Scholz,” she said. “We want them to see and understand our pain.”
___
Corbet reported from Paris. Associated Press journalists David Keyton in Irpin, Ukraine, Srdjan Nedelikovic in Pokrovsk, Ukraine, Colleen Barry in Milan and Frank Jordans and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/french-german-italian-leaders-on-their-way-to-kyiv/ | 2022-06-16T22:18:27Z |
Q2 2022 revenues of $24.1 million, up 0.03% year-over-year
Delivers positive adjusted EBITDA of $0.6 million
Pro customer revenue increases to 82.6% of second quarter revenues,
up 6% quarter-over-quarter and up 21.9% year-over-year
BuildDirect reports in US dollars and in accordance with IFRS
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - BuildDirect.com Technologies Inc. (TSXV: BILD) ("BuildDirect" or the "Company") a growing omnichannel building material retailer, today announced its financial results for the Second Quarter 2022 ("Q2 2022").
"I am pleased to report that BuildDirect continues to grow its Pro Customer base, increasing Pro revenue 6% quarter over quarter, and improving its overall profitability" said David Lazar, interim CEO of BuildDirect. "Our strategic execution is delivering value with revenues reaching $24.1 million, of which 82.6% are Pro-based. We also achieved positive adjusted EBITDA, largely due to our push to reallocate resources to Pro and drive acquisition synergies. Further, at the end of Q2 2022 and subsequent to quarter end, the Company made further cost reductions that will allow the Company to recognize approximately US $2 million in annualized operating expense savings. The cost reductions were primarily focused within the BuildDirect ecommerce business as the Company continues to shift its focus to the Pro market segment. Looking forward to the third quarter, we will continue to invest in the Pro market, extract financial and operational synergies from our acquisitions, and leverage our heavyweight omnichannel business model."
- Q2 2022 revenues reaching $24.1 million, decreasing 1.4% quarter-over-quarter and increasing slightly year-over-year. The decrease QoQ is as a result in a change in strategy as part of which the Company is spending less on digital marketing and focusing more on the Pro business.
- Q2 2022 Pro revenue reached $19.9 million, representing 82.6% of total revenue at the quarter end. Pro revenues grew 6% quarter-over-quarter and 21.9% year-over-year due to increased strategic focus on driving Pro market share.
- Gross profit at $8.4 million in Q2 2022, a decrease of 3.4% over the previous quarter, and 3.8% year-over-year
- Gross margin in Q2 2022 decreased slightly by 80bps to 35% compared to Q1 2022.
- Adjusted EBITDA in Q2 2022 reached $0.6 million. BuildDirect achieved improvements in the adjusted EBITDA primarily by reallocating resources to the Pro market.
- In June 2022, the Company closed a secured debt financing pursuant to which it issued, via its wholly owned subsidiary BuildDirect Operations Limited, secured notes to Pelecanus Investments Ltd., Lyra Growth Partners Inc., and Beedie Investments Ltd. in an aggregated amount of US $1.5 million.
Actual results may differ materially from BuildDirect's financial outlook as a result of, among other things, the factors described under "Forward-Looking Statements" below.
BuildDirect's unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, and the Management's Discussion and Analysis, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 are available on the Company's website at www.BuildDirect.com. and on the Company's SEDAR profile available at www.sedar.com.
Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results Conference Call
BuildDirect will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the Company's financial results at 5:30 pm EDT on Monday, August 29, 2022. To access the telephonic version of the conference call, participants can dial (888) 664-6392 (North America Toll-Free) or (416) 764-8659. Upon entering the confirmation ID: 01990687, participants will be entered directly into the conference.
Alternatively, the webcast will be available live on the Investor Relations section of BuildDirect's website at https://ir.builddirect.com/events-and-presentation
Among other things, BuildDirect will discuss long-term financial outlook on the conference call and webcast, and related materials will be made available on the Company's website at https://ir.builddirect.com/events-and-presentation. Investors should carefully review the factors, assumptions, risks and uncertainties included in such related materials concerning such long-term financial outlook.
An audio replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the live call until 8:59 pm EDT on September 5, 2022. The audio replay will be accessed by dialing (888) 390-0541 (North America Toll-Free) or (416) 764-8677 (Toronto) with entry code: 990687#. In addition, an archived webcast will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://ir.builddirect.com/events-and-presentation.
BuildDirect (TSXV: BILD) is a growing omnichannel building material retailer. BuildDirect connects North American home improvement B2B and B2C organizations, and homeowners with quality building materials and services through its robust global supply chain network. BuildDirect's growth trajectory, strong product offering, and proprietary heavyweight delivery network are delivering value today, solidifying its position as an innovative player in the home improvement industry. For more information, visit www.BuildDirect.com.
This press release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and expectations and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.
Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, without limitation, statements relating to the impact of resource reallocation, growth in BuildDirect's Pro customer base and continued investment in and strategic focus on the Pro customer market, annualized operating expense savings and the impact of cost reductions, financial and operational synergies from BuildDirect's acquisitions, overall profitability and improvement thereof, BuildDirect's heavyweight omnichannel business model and the maintenance of positive adjusted EBITDA.
Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Among those factors are changes in consumer spending, inflation, availability of mortgage financing and consumer credit, changes in the housing market, changes in trade policies, tariffs or other applicable laws and regulations both locally and in foreign jurisdictions, availability and cost of goods from suppliers, fuel prices and other energy costs, interest rate and currency fluctuations, retention of key personnel and changes in general economic, business and political conditions and other factors referenced under the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of our MD&A. These forward-looking statements may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of the Company and general market conditions, including COVID-19.
These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect the Company's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and BuildDirect assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.
Reference is made in this press release to the following non-GAAP measures: Adjusted EBITDA. These non-GAAP measures are commonly used by investors and other interested parties to evaluate our financial performance and are employed by the Company to measure its operating and economic performance and to assist in business decision-making. These non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. These measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of the results of operations from management's perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of the financial information reported under IFRS. Refer also to appendix tables, "Second Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights" and "Q2 2022 Highlights" of this press release as well as our Management's Discussion and Analysis for definitions and reconciliations of non-IFRS measures to the nearest IFRS measures.
Ethan Rudin, CFO
BuildDirect IR
1-778-382-7748
ir@builddirect.coms
Neither 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.
We define EBITDA as net income or loss before interest, income taxes and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA removes fair value adjustment of convertible debt and warrants, fair value adjustment of inventory, restructuring expenses, non-recurring bad debt expense, foreign exchange gains and losses, and share-based compensation items from EBITDA. We are presenting these measures because we believe that our current and potential investors, and many analysts, use them to assess our current and future operating results and to make investment decisions. Management uses these measures in managing the business and making decisions. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not intended as substitutes for IFRS measures.
Condensed Consolidated Interim Statement of Financial Position
(Unaudited)
(Expressed in United States dollars)
Condensed Consolidated Interim Statement of Financial Position
(Unaudited)
(Expressed in United States dollars)
Condensed Consolidated Interim Statement of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(Expressed in United States dollars)
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DELAWARE, Ohio, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Greif, Inc. (NYSE: GEF, GEF.B), a global leader in industrial packaging products and services, today announced webcast details for the Investor Day that will be hosted on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at Convene, 75 Rockefeller Plaza 31st Floor in New York City. The presentation will start at approximately 8:30 am EDT, conclude at approximately 11:30 am EDT and will include live question and answer sessions.
Investor Day 2022 will feature in-depth discussion of Greif's Build to Last strategy led by new President & Chief Executive Officer Ole Rosgaard, as well as an overview of the Global Industrial Packaging and Paper Packaging & Services business segments and a discussion of Greif's financial position and outlook by Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Larry Hilsheimer.
Please utilize this link to participate in the webcast. Alternatively, the webcast and presentation will be available on Greif's website at http://www.investor.greif.com and can be viewed under the "events calendar." To dial in please call 833-490-0898, for international calling +1 2132179332, and use the conference ID 9256917. The webcast will open at 8:00 am EDT on June 23, 2022. The event replay will be available at the above links shortly following the live presentation.
About Greif
Greif is a global leader in industrial packaging products and services and is pursuing its vision: to be the best performing customer service company in the world. The Company produces steel, plastic and fibre drums, intermediate bulk containers, reconditioned containers, containerboard, uncoated recycled paperboard, coated recycled paperboard, tubes and cores and a diverse mix of specialty products. The Company also manufactures packaging accessories and provides filling, packaging and other services for a wide range of industries. In addition, Greif manages timber properties in the southeastern United States. The Company is strategically positioned in over 35 countries to serve global as well as regional customers. Additional information is on the Company's website at www.greif.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "aspiration," "objective," "project," "believe," "continue," "on track" or "target" or the negative thereof and similar expressions, among others, identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, expectations and other information currently available to management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those forecasted, projected or anticipated, whether expressed or implied. The most significant of these risks and uncertainties are described in Part I of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Investor Relations contact information
Matt Leahy, Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations
740-549-6158 Matthew.Leahy@Greif.com
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Did you lose money on investments in Oscar Health? If so, please visit Oscar Health, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com to discuss your rights.
NEW YORK, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired the common stock of Oscar Health, Inc. ("Oscar" or the "Company") (NYSE: OSCR) pursuant to and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with the Company's March 2021 initial public offering ("IPO" or the "Offering"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933.
Oscar is a health insurance company that claimed to be the first such company "built around a full stack technology platform" which will "allow [Oscar] to continue to innovate like a technology company and not a traditional insurer."
In March 2021, Oscar conducted its IPO, selling 36,391,946 shares of Class A common stock at a price of $39.00 per share. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $1.3 billion from the Offering which were purportedly to be used to repay in full outstanding borrowings, including fees and expenses, under Oscar's Term Loan Facility ($167 million), and the remainder proceeds were to be used for general corporate purposes.
Plaintiff alleges that Defendants' statements in the Registration Statement were materially false and misleading when made because: (1) Oscar was experiencing growing COVID-19 testing and treatment costs; (2) Oscar was experiencing growing net COVID costs; (3) Oscar would be negatively impacted by an unfavorable prior year Risk Adjustment Data Validation (RADV) result relating to 2019 and 2020; and (4) Oscar was on track to be negatively impacted by significant SEP membership growth.
On August 12, 2021, Oscar disclosed that the Company's Medical Loss Ratio ("MLR") for the second quarter of 2021 was 82.4%, an increase of 2170 basis points year-over year. The Company claimed that "[t]he MLR increased to 82.4% in 2Q21 from 60.7% in 2Q20, primarily driven by meaningfully lower utilization in 2Q20 as a result of COVID-19, as well as higher COVID-19 testing and treatment costs and a return to more normalized utilization in 2Q21." The Company also disclosed that its net loss for the quarter was $73.1 million, an increase of $32.1 million year-over-year.
On November 10, 2021, Oscar disclosed that its third quarter 2021 MLR increased 920 basis points year-over-year, to 99.7%. The Company claimed that the MLR increase was "primarily driven by higher net COVID costs as compared to the net benefit in 3Q20, an unfavorable prior year Risk Adjustment Data Validation (RADV) result, and the impact of significant SEP membership growth." The Company also disclosed that its net loss for the quarter was $212.7 million, an increase of $133.6 million year-over-year.
Since the IPO, the price of Oscar Health's stock has fallen over 85%, closing as low as $5.72 per share on May 12, 2022.
If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than July 11, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.
If you purchased or otherwise acquired OSCR common stock, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Oscar Health, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com.
Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2022 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
Contact Information:
Peter Allocco
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
https://www.bernlieb.com
(212) 951-2030
pallocco@bernlieb.com
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SOURCE Bernstein Liebhard LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/oscar-health-inc-nyse-oscr-shareholder-class-action-alert-bernstein-liebhard-llp-reminds-investors-deadline-file-lead-plaintiff-motion-securities-class-action-lawsuit-against-oscar-health-inc-nyse-oscr/ | 2022-06-29T22:46:10Z |
‘Emmanuel, don’t do it’: iPhone-hating emu makes a name for himself in viral videos
(CNN) – An iPhone-hating emu is cracking up the internet and coining a catchphrase.
Emmanuel is an emu who’s made a name for himself.
Whenever Taylor Blake tries to make a video at Knuckle Bump Farms in Florida, where they raise miniature cattle, she’s always getting bumped by the bird.
Blake said the emu is a natural on camera. He’s now gone viral, and he probably thinks his name is “Emmanuel, don’t do it.”
However, after he’s “done it,” the question is:
“Why do you gotta be such a menace, dude?” Blake asks the bird.
Blake said Emmanuel has always had a hatred of two things: phones and buttons.
She said she has even had to resort to the tactic all moms try the dreaded three names: Emmanuel Todd Lopez.
“And he stops in his tracks and kind of looks,” Blake said.
She said she has somehow not lost an iPhone over this yet.
It could be worse. A woman named Amanda at Useless Farm has been pecked repeatedly, suffering minor injuries from their emu, Karen.
“That is some scary stuff she puts up with so all the love and all the props to her,” Blake said.
Speaking of love, Emmanuel is actually crazy about Blake. It’s just the phone he can’t stand.
And with all of the viral Tiktok videos, at least he gets his fill of hearing his name.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/19/emmanuel-dont-do-it-iphone-hating-emu-makes-name-himself-viral-videos/ | 2022-07-19T21:01:41Z |
Online shopping prices are dropping fast, report says
Published: Aug. 9, 2022 at 9:29 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
(CNN) - Consumers who shop online are getting a break.
E-commerce prices dropped 1% in July on a year-over-year basis, according to Adobe.
Researchers there also say that online prices fell 2% in July on a month-over-month comparison.
Although analysts say these findings could result in the easing of concerns about a recession, they say it could be a while before overall inflation returns to normal.
Adobe says a lack of consumer confidence, less spending and overstocked retailers are the likely factors in falling prices.
A report due Wednesday is expected to show U.S. inflation was 8.7% last month. While that would be down from the 9.1% reported in June, it still remains higher than usual.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/09/online-shopping-prices-are-dropping-fast-report-says/ | 2022-08-09T15:49:54Z |
Supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, Redis, and MongoDB databases
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cloud company that powers and protects life online, today launched a managed database service powered by Linode with support for MySQL, PostgreSQL, Redis, and MongoDB. Akamai's Linode Managed Database simplifies database deployment, helping developers reduce risk, increase efficiency, and minimize the complexity that comes with manual management of production database clusters.
Managed databases have been the most requested product by Linode customers. The launch of Linode Managed Database service marks Akamai's first product launch in its compute line of business following its acquisition of Linode in March of this year, reinforcing its mission to develop the world's most powerful and distributed compute platform from cloud to edge.
"Every web application needs a database," said Will Charnock, Senior Director of Engineering, Akamai, Compute. "Being able to automate aspects of database management is critical for applications that need to be scalable, highly performant, and resilient. Linode Managed Database continues the important work, which began with Linode Kubernetes Engine – our managed Kubernetes service – of supporting developers, businesses, and partners by managing the day-to-day tasks of of mission critical components of their applications, allowing them to focus more on innovation and less on daily infrastructure management. With the click of a button, developers can have a fully managed database deployed and ready to be populated."
Databases are the most essential component to any application, but manually managing them in production is a labor and resource-intensive process. With Akamai's Linode Managed Database service, users can defer common deployment and maintenance tasks to Linode and elect high availability configurations to ensure that database performance and uptime are never affected. The result: less hands-on management expertise is required to deploy applications and a decreased risk of downtime compared to manual management.
At launch, Akamai will offer Linode Managed Database for MySQL in all of Linode's 11 global data centers, with support for PostgreSQL, Redis, and MongoDB to follow in the second quarter of 2022. With each supported managed database, customers can take advantage of features such as flat-rate pricing, security and recovery measures, flexible deployment options, and high availability cluster options.
Learn more about Akamai's new Linode Managed Database features and pricing at https://www.linode.com/products/databases/ or follow Linode on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Akamai
Akamai powers and protects life online. Leading companies worldwide choose Akamai to build, deliver, and secure their digital experiences — helping billions of people live, work, and play every day. With the world's most distributed compute platform — from cloud to edge — we make it easy for customers to develop and run applications, while we keep experiences closer to users and threats farther away. Learn more about Akamai's security, compute, and delivery solutions at akamai.com and akamai.com/blog, or follow Akamai Technologies on Twitter and LinkedIn.
CONTACT: Mike Maney, 215-589-5443, mmaney@akamai.com
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SOURCE Akamai Technologies, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/25/akamai-launches-linode-managed-database/ | 2022-04-25T11:56:36Z |
Reports record second-quarter gross profit, net income and Adjusted EBITDA1
Repurchased 639,000 shares of Class B Common Stock and $2 million of Preferred Stock
Announced formation of Sunlight Energy Investments to invest in commercial, community and utility-scale solar projects
NEWARK, N.J., Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Genie Energy, Ltd. (NYSE: GNE, GNEPRA), a leading retail energy and renewable energy solutions provider, today announced results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
"The drivers of our record first quarter results carried over into the second quarter, leading to very strong profitability metrics despite the second quarter's traditional weakness in the US," said Michael Stein, chief executive officer. "Overall, given the continued market uncertainty, we employed a conservative customer acquisition and retention strategy in our US and international retail operations, allowing us to deliver strong profitability. Our international results were impacted by a mark-to-market increase in the value of our hedge book. Finally, we complemented our strong operational performance by returning $8.8 million in capital to shareholders via repurchases of common and preferred stock and payments of our regular quarterly common and preferred stock dividends."
Second Quarter 2022 Highlights (versus 2Q21 unless otherwise noted)
- Revenue decreased 1.8% to $75.0 million;
- Gross profit increased 218.2% to $67.5 million, and gross margin increased to 89.9% from 27.8%, due in large part to gains related to the international forward hedge book;
- Income from operations increased to $48.5 million from 4.5 million;
- Adjusted EBITDA1 increased to $49.1 million from $5.5 million;
- GRE generated income from operations and Adjusted EBITDA of $14.4 million and $14.7 million, compared to $5.5 million and $5.8 million, respectively;
- Net income attributable to GNE common stockholders increased to $33.9 million, and diluted income per share (EPS) increased to $1.30, compared to a $5.0 million and $0.19, respectively;
- Declared a $0.075 quarterly dividend for class A and B common stockholders;
- Repurchased 639,000 shares of Class B common stock and redeemed $2 million of preferred stock.
Segment Highlights
GRE
GRE delivered record second quarter levels of gross profit, income from operations and Adjusted EBITDA highlighted by strong margins in its retail book. Electric per meter consumption declined moderately versus the year-ago quarter but remained solidly above pre-COVID levels. As in prior quarters, GRE moderated its customer acquisition efforts to maximize the value of its portfolio given the ongoing market volatility.
Sequentially, RCEs increased slightly to 263,000 while meters served decreased by 6,000 to 280,000 as of June 30, 2022. Average monthly churn increased to 4.4% from 3.8% in the year ago quarter and decreased from 4.5% in the first quarter of 2022.
GRE will continue to monitor the retail energy markets for customer acquisition opportunities. As volatility either moderates or becomes more palatable to customers, GRE expects to recalibrate its customer acquisition and retention programs to generate growth in the customer book.
GREI
Energy price volatility in Europe resulted in mark-to-market gains in our forward hedge book of $35.8 million. After the quarter close, GREI took initial steps to optimize its forward position. The company has sold its Swedish book of approximately 6,000 meters and is evaluating additional actions for the remaining customers.
Genie Renewables
Genie continued building solar projects for large commercial customers and is on track to continue recognizing additional revenue from its current backlog of projects. The company made strides in the community solar and utility scale solar space as well, and expects to share more about these verticals in Q3. Q2 revenue strength came from the segment's CityCom Solar business which markets community solar energy solutions.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights
On June 30, 2022, Genie Energy reported $239.2 million in total assets, including $67.2 million in cash, restricted cash and marketable equity securities. Liabilities totaled $86.0 million, and working capital (current assets less current liabilities) totaled $125.8 million. Non-current liabilities were $10.7 million.
During the quarter ended June 30, 2022, net cash provided by operating activities was $9.2 million compared to $4.1 million a year ago.
Strategic Update and Commentary on the Balance of 2022
Michael Stein commented, "In light of the continued volatility in energy markets as well as global economic and political uncertainty, we took steps to enhance our position through the sale of our Swedish book of business to another market participant. We are continuing to evaluate ways in which to reduce our obligations in Europe and will provide further updates on our third-quarter earnings call.
"We also recently announced a significant expansion of our solar strategy, transforming Genie into a developer and financier of commercial, community and utility-scale solar projects. To facilitate equity financing, we formed Sunlight Energy Investments with Genie as the general partner. Sunlight Energy will seek to participate in projects originated by both Genie and by other solar developers, and will bring in other investors to participate alongside Genie.
"Looking ahead to the remainder of 2022, we anticipate that energy price volatility will continue to impact our domestic retail provider business in the near term. Until we return to a normalized environment, we will focus on maximizing margins and cash flow while moderating our investment in customer acquisition."
Dividend on Genie Energy Common Stock
Genie Energy's Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $0.075 per share of Class A and Class B common stock with a record date of August 18, 2022. The dividend will be paid on or about August 26, 2022. The distribution will be treated as an ordinary dividend for income tax purposes.
Earnings Announcement and Supplemental Information
At 8:30 AM Eastern today, Genie Energy's management will host a conference call to discuss financial and operational results, business outlook, and strategy. The call will begin with management's remarks followed by Q&A with investors.
To participate in the conference call, dial 1-888-506-0062 (toll-free from the US) or +1-973-528-0011 (international) and provide the following participant access code: 955827.
Approximately three hours after the call, a call replay will be accessible by dialing 1-877-481-4010 (toll-free from the US) or +1-919-882-2331 (international) and providing the replay passcode: 46224. The replay will remain available through August 22, 2022. A recording of the call also will be available for playback on the "Investors" section of the Genie Energy website.
About Genie Energy Ltd.
Genie Energy Ltd., (NYSE: GNE, GNEPRA) is a provider of energy services. The Genie Retail Energy division supplies electricity, including electricity from renewable resources, and natural gas to residential and small business customers in the United States. The Genie Retail Energy International division supplies customers in selected markets in Europe. Genie Renewables comprises Genie Solar Energy, a provider of end-to-end customized solar solutions primarily for commercial customers, Diversegy, a commercial energy consulting business, CityCom Solar, a provider of community solar energy solutions and Genie's interest in Prism Solar, a supplier of solar panels and solutions. For more information, visit Genie.com.
In this press release, all statements that are not purely about historical facts, including, but not limited to, those in which we use the words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "plan," "intend," "estimate, "target" and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While these forward-looking statements represent our current judgment of what may happen in the future, actual results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these statements due to numerous important factors, including, but not limited to, those described in our most recent report on SEC Form 10-K (under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations"), which may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports on SEC Forms 10-Q and 8-K. We are under no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update the forward-looking statements in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure for the Second Quarter 2022
In addition to disclosing financial results that are determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), Genie Energy disclosed Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis and for its Genie Retail Energy segment. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure.
Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position, or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
Genie Energy's measure of consolidated Adjusted EBITDA starts with net income and adds back interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation and impairment of assets and subtracts out equity in the net loss of equity method investees, net. Genie Energy's measure of segment level Adjusted EBITDA starts with income (loss) from operations, and adds back depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation and subtracts out impairment of assets and equity in the net loss of equity method investees, net.
Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or superior to, revenue, gross profit, income from operations, cash flow from operating activities, net income, basic and diluted earnings per share or other measures of liquidity and financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, Genie Energy's measurement of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
Management believes that Genie Energy's measure of Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses that may not be indicative of Genie Energy's or GRE's core operating results. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA, among other measures, as a relevant indicator of core operational strengths in its financial and operational decision-making.
Management also uses Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate operating performance in relation to Genie Energy's competitors. Disclosure of this non-GAAP financial measure may be useful to investors in evaluating performance and allows for greater transparency to the underlying supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision-making. In addition, Genie Energy has historically reported Adjusted EBITDA and believes it is commonly used by readers of financial information in assessing performance. Therefore, the inclusion of comparative numbers provides consistency in financial reporting at this time.
Management refers to Adjusted EBITDA as well as the GAAP measures revenue, gross profit, and income (loss) from operations, as well as net income (loss), on a consolidated level to facilitate internal and external comparisons to Genie Energy's historical operating results, in making operating decisions, for budget and planning purposes, and to form the basis upon which management is compensated.
Although depreciation and amortization are considered operating costs under GAAP, they primarily represent the non-cash current period allocation of costs associated with long-lived assets acquired or constructed in prior periods. Genie Energy's operating results exclusive of depreciation and amortization are therefore useful indicators of its current performance.
Stock-based compensation recognized by Genie Energy and other companies may not be comparable because of the various valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions and the variety of types of awards that are permitted under GAAP. Stock-based compensation is excluded from Genie Energy's calculation of Adjusted EBITDA because management believes this allows investors to make more meaningful comparisons of the operating results of Genie Energy's core business with the results of other companies. However, stock-based compensation will continue to be a significant expense for Genie Energy for the foreseeable future and an important part of employees' compensation that impacts their performance.
Impairment of goodwill is a component of (loss) income from operations that is excluded from the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA. The impairment of goodwill is primarily dictated by events and circumstances outside the control of management that trigger an impairment analysis. While there may be similar charges in other periods, the nature and magnitude of these charges can fluctuate markedly and do not reflect the performance of Genie Energy's continuing operations.
Following are the reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis to its most directly comparable GAAP measure. Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to net income for Genie Energy on a consolidated basis and for the Genie Retail Energy (GRE) segment.
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SOURCE Genie Energy Ltd. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/genie-energy-announces-second-quarter-results/ | 2022-08-08T13:17:58Z |
ATLANTA, May 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.075 per share of common stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 15, 2022. The dividend is payable on July 5, 2022.
About Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is committed to providing consumer packaging that makes a world of difference. The Company is a leading provider of sustainable fiber-based packaging solutions for a wide variety of products to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies. The Company operates on a global basis, is one of the largest producers of folding cartons and paper-based foodservice products in the United States, and holds leading market positions in coated recycled paperboard, coated unbleached kraft paperboard and solid bleached sulfate paperboard. The Company's customers include many of the world's most widely-recognized companies and brands. Additional information about Graphic Packaging, its business and its products is available on the Company's web site at www.graphicpkg.com.
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SOURCE Graphic Packaging Holding Company | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/24/graphic-packaging-holding-company-declares-quarterly-dividend/ | 2022-05-24T21:53:33Z |
ARLINGTON, Texas (KDAF) — Here is a heartwarming update for you this Wednesday, North Texas has raised even more money to support Ukrainian refugees, around $32,000.
City of Arlington officials said in a Tweet, “Huge thanks to our #ArlingtonTX community for raising $32,000+ in the Sister Cities United campaign! All proceeds will go to support Ukrainian refugees who have fled violence in their home country and are staying in Bad Königshofen, Germany, our longtime Sister City.”
They are still accepting donations, you can donate at arlingtontx.gov/supportukraine. | https://cw33.com/news/local/arlingtons-sister-cities-united-raises-more-than-32000-to-support-ukrainian-refugees/ | 2022-04-21T02:55:06Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — In this episode of Watch Party, entertainment host J-Kruz gives all the details about two movies expected to hit theaters soon: The Bob’s Burgers Movie and Top Gun: Maverick.
Official synopsis: The Belchers try to save the restaurant from closing as a sinkhole forms in front of it, while the kids try to solve a mystery that could save their family’s restaurant.
Official synopsis: After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.
To get your tickets, visit fandango.com. | https://cw33.com/lifestyle/inside-dfw/watch-party-with-j-kruz-the-bobs-burgers-movie-top-gun-maverick/ | 2022-05-09T17:45:43Z |
“It’s a wonderful parish carnival,” Theresa Mireles, event coordinator, said Sunday afternoon about the annual festival of St. Mary Catholic Church, 1019 S. Seventh St.
Held two weeks after Easter, the festival covered the church and school campus. It opened with an outdoor Mass at 10 a.m., followed by a procession to the gymnasium. Outdoor activities included face and body painting, children’s games, a volleyball tournament and a petting zoo. Carnival rides started at 4 p.m.
For the auction inside the gymnasium, Mireles said there were more than 40 live auction items and 60 silent auction packages, a lot of them donated by parishioners and community partners.
The barbecue plates and hamburger plates sold out by early afternoon, she said. Crayfish and shrimp were still available.
“We have food trucks and dessert trucks for backup,” she said.
The Rev. Kurtis Wiendenfeld, the parish priest, said the proceeds will benefit the school and the church.
“We are very happy with the results,” he said. “We have had a lot of people come out, and we’ve had good weather. We’ve had people come from everywhere, so we’re very happy with that response from the local community.”
Bill Keller of Temple, who with his wife, Deborah, has been a parish member for almost 22 years, was taking photos of the event for the church. He had photos of the crayfish boil, one of the live music bands, and of couples waltzing.
Ryan Colburn of Temple said he’s been a member for about three years and is on the parish council.
“I’m active,” he said. “I love my church. I directed traffic, moved and set up tables and chairs, hauled ice. I’m trying my best to help out however I can.” | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_ad67076a-c9d0-11ec-a79c-b30e225443e1.html | 2022-05-02T06:09:15Z |
Former Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director of Invitation Homes Inc. to Provide Guidance as AvantStay Continues Accelerated Growth
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AvantStay, the premier hospitality platform transforming short-term rentals for the way people travel and invest today, announces that Fred Tuomi, former CEO of Invitation Homes Inc. and a preeminent investor, board member, and leader in the real estate industry, has joined its board. Tuomi will work with AvantStay to provide leadership and capital market guidance to help the company bring institutional capital to short-term rentals (STRs) as the next disruptive asset class.
"Fred's breadth of experience and impact on real estate & PropTech over the last 15 years has been foundational to our industry," says Sean Breuner, CEO and Founder of AvantStay. "His leadership in the institutionalization of SFRs as a true asset class, leading the merger of Invitation Homes and Starwood Waypoint Homes, and direct involvement in multiple businesses that are spearheading the digital transformation of our industry has driven meaningful change in the real estate industry. We are proud that Fred has recognized the value of AvantStay's business model, and his appointment to our board signals the strong future of the short-term rental market."
Tuomi served as Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director of Invitation Homes Inc, the nation's largest single-family rental company with a total market capitalization in excess of $23 billion, from 2017 until 2019. Prior to its merger with Invitation Homes, Tuomi served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Starwood Waypoint Homes. He also served as Co-President and Chief Operating Officer of Colony American Homes, Inc. and as Executive Vice President and President—Property Management for Equity Residential, one of the nation's largest multi-family REIT, leading the growth of its property management group while helping to pioneer its leading operational platform.
"I firmly believe STRs are the next market for institutional investment and growth in the real estate sector," said Tuomi. "I have looked at a number of players in this space and I'm impressed by AvantStay's focus on building the leading hospitality brand in the industry with a true commitment to the consumer. Its proprietary end-to-end technology platform underlying the entire business enables the company to scale a fragmented industry nationally. As the first STR company to raise institutional capital for the asset class, AvantStay is poised to transform how both investors and consumers think about STRs."
Throughout his career, Tuomi has lent his expertise to numerous real estate industry boards and executive committees, serving on National Rental Home Council, National Multi-Housing Council, California Housing Council, California Apartment Association, Atlanta Apartment Association, the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, and the Audit and Compensation Committees of Tejon Ranch Co.
Tuomi currently serves as a Venture Partner with Real Estate Technology Ventures, and as the Lead Independent Director of SmartRent, the Non-Executive Chairman of Volumetric Building Company, a modular construction firm serving the multi-family and lodging sectors and as a Director for Lessen, a technology enabled property services provider. Mr. Tuomi also serves as an affiliate partner for the private equity firm Lindsay Goldberg as an advisor to Second Avenue, an integrated SFR platform. He also serves as board member for Cure Violence Global, which is dedicated to reducing violence through innovative intervention programs and rated 9th in the world among non-government organizations.
For more information on AvantStay, please visit: www.avantstay.com.
AvantStay is the premier next generation hospitality platform redefining the way in which people travel, transact, and invest. AvantStay delivers a highly curated experience customized to guests' needs, using a proprietary tech platform to power bookings, seamlessly operationalize in-field and remote management, and activate authentic and elevated consumer touch points. AvantStay currently operates in over 100 cities, with a drive-to market approach, including 1,500+ premier properties across their diversified portfolio, and an AUM of more than $2B. In 2019, AvantStay became one of the initial twelve partners of Homes & Villas by Marriott International, and currently offers distribution on more than 60 OTAs. AvantStay was founded by experienced real estate and technology entrepreneurs Sean Breuner and Reuben Doetsch.
Contact: AvantStay@quinn.pr
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SOURCE AvantStay | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/sfr-industry-veteran-fred-tuomi-joins-avantstays-board/ | 2022-08-16T18:03:13Z |
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tom Brady was excused from training camp on Thursday, the first day of what Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said was a planned, 11-day absence from the team to address “personal things.”
Bowles said the 45-year-old quarterback’s break from practice was arranged before camp began, adding that Brady won’t return until after the Bucs’ preseason game at Tennessee on Aug. 20.
“Tom has been excused today. … He’s going to deal with some personal things. This is something we talked about before training camp started. We allotted this time because he wanted to get in and get chemistry with the guys with two weeks of training camp, knowing he wasn’t going to play the first two (preseason) games,” Bowles said after the Bucs concluded two days of controlled scrimmages against the Miami Dolphins.
Tampa Bay opens the preseason Saturday night against the Dolphins. The Bucs will also travel to Nashville for two days of practice ahead of their game against the Titans.
Backup quarterbacks Blaine Gabbert, Kyle Trask and Ryan Griffin will share snaps during Brady’s absence.
“He didn’t want to take away reps from Blaine, Kyle, as well as Griff, as far as going into these next two games. That’s something he can handle,” Bowles said. “We trust him. We talked about it. It was scheduled way before training camp.”
Brady, who retired in February only to change his mind six weeks later, was also excused from practice for personal reasons last Friday — two days after getting a scheduled day off for his 45th birthday.
Bowles said his confidence level is “pretty high” that Brady will be in the lineup for next month’s regular-season opener at Dallas.
“Per our conversation, I’m not worried,” Bowles said.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/tom-brady-taking-11-day-break-from-bucs-for-personal-reasons/ | 2022-08-12T03:29:23Z |
Acquisition of battery distributor enables a new last-mile delivery platform for Valvoline and an enhanced customer experience for service centers and installers
LEXINGTON, Ky., May 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV), a global leader in vehicle care powering the future of mobility through innovative services and products, announced today that it has purchased the outstanding 50 percent interest in its VCA Solutions joint venture from its former joint venture partner. VCA Solutions is a distributor of top-tier automotive batteries and battery testing equipment. The purchase was finalized, effective May 1.
Today, nearly all of the 290 million vehicles on U.S. roads have lead-acid batteries*. By acquiring VCA Solutions, Valvoline is uniquely positioned to help Valvoline Instant Oil ChangeSM (VIOC) locations, Valvoline Express Care™ stores, and installers meet the needs of consumers who come to automotive service centers for preventive maintenance services beyond a traditional oil change.
"Batteries play a critical role in vehicle reliability both in vehicles today and in the future," said Jamal Muashsher, President, Global Products. "Automotive installers, including VIOC service centers, have a continuous need to service consumers' vehicles beyond oil changes. The acquisition of VCA Solutions adds to our robust offering of preventive maintenance products and solutions designed to meet our customers' needs."
VCA Solutions was created in 2019 through an exclusive partnership between Valvoline and Club Assist, a leading global supplier of automotive lead-acid and AGM batteries. Today, nearly 1,300 VIOC company-operated and franchise-owned service center locations use VCA for their battery solutions. Prior to the acquisition, Valvoline had 50 percent ownership of VCA. Moving forward, it will oversee full strategic direction and operations.
"VCA Solutions will continue to support and grow the superior standard of Valvoline products and offerings," says Chris Eckert, General Manager, Head of VCA Business. "We will operate at the same high-level of service as we did before. The VCA Solutions team is thrilled to fully join Valvoline, a business that is aligned with the quality-focused culture we pride ourselves on."
The acquisition enables new efficiencies and automotive solutions for installers, Valvoline Retail Services company-owned, franchise-owned and independently operated service centers, while growing the product portfolio for hybrid and electric vehicles in the future. Further, Valvoline customers will now have expanded access to top-tier vehicle maintenance services, including battery purchase, maintenance, and testing.
"VCA has delivered added customer value and business expansion with their high-touch battery solution for the Valvoline service center ecosystem," continues Muashsher. "With this business as part of our offering, it enables us to service more customers now and into the electrified future."
Learn more about how Valvoline is preparing customers, installers, and franchisees for the future of mobility.
*Waste360.com, 2022.
About Valvoline
Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV) is a global leader in vehicle care powering the future of mobility through innovative services and products for vehicles with electric, hybrid and internal combustion powertrains. Established in 1866, the Company introduced the world's first branded motor oil and developed strong brand recognition and customer satisfaction ratings over the years across multiple service and product channels. The Company operates and franchises approximately 1,600 service center locations and is the No. 2 and No. 3 largest chain in the U.S. and Canada, respectively, by number of stores. With sales in more than 140 countries and territories, Valvoline's solutions are available for every engine and drivetrain, including high-mileage and heavy-duty vehicles, and are offered at more than 80,000 locations worldwide. Creating the next generation of advanced automotive solutions, Valvoline has established itself as the world's leading supplier of battery fluids to electric vehicle manufacturers, offering tailored products to help extend vehicle range and efficiency. To learn more, or to find a Valvoline service center near you, visit valvoline.com.
About Club Assist
As the North American division of a global roadside and automotive support services company, Club Assist is the preferred supplier of industry-leading automotive lead-acid and AGM batteries, state-of-the-art battery testing and diagnostic equipment, and tools related to battery replacement for trusted motoring clubs and automotive services companies throughout the U.S. and Canada. Owned and supported by the strength and resources of Australian motoring clubs, Club Assist is synonymous with automotive battery technology expertise. By maintaining relationships with an international array of strategic suppliers, Club Assist sources the highest quality automotive battery products, which meet ISO9001 quality systems and ISO14001 environment system accreditation. With a global presence, Club Assist is committed to providing clients with advanced products and services to keep them ahead of the rapidly evolving automotive industry. To learn more, visit clubassist.com.
™ Trademark, Valvoline or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries
SM Service mark, Valvoline or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries
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SOURCE Valvoline Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/24/valvoline-announces-purchase-partners-interest-vca-solutions-joint-venture/ | 2022-05-24T21:57:44Z |
The brand's latest innovation brings ease of enjoying classic diner dishes for delivery, pick-up, and catering to South End
TAMPA, Fla., June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Metro Diner, known for serving craveable and classic diner food, has expanded their Charlotte footprint with the recent opening of their first Metro Diner To-Go location on June 6 at 3440 St Vardell Lane, Suite G.
With the tap of a button, guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and brunch by ordering online or through third-party apps for pick-up or delivery any day of the week. Serving up Metro Diner's legendary indulgent dishes, this to-go only location is the perfect spot for a grab-and-go breakfast before work. They also offer a variety of catering packages to feed any office lunch or at-home gathering across the city with award winning food.
"Our guests have always loved the variety and generous portions of our menu, and we wanted to make it even easier for them to enjoy it," said Brittany Losh, Metro Diner To-Go Managing Partner. "As the manager for both the Huntersville diner and this new Metro Diner To-Go in South End, we thank our neighbors for their continued support, and we're excited to broaden our hospitality across Charlotte."
Metro Diner To-Go is the latest innovation for the diner that has been the go-to spot for comfort food since it was founded in Jacksonville, Florida, by Master Chef Mark Davoli and his family. Metro Diner has won awards for its breakfast, burgers, and overall excellence as a favorite local diner, even catching the eye of celebrity chef Guy Fieri, who featured it on his Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
Metro Diner To-Go serves breakfast and lunch options featuring the bold flavors that the diner is famous for, like the Fried Chicken & Waffle served complete with half a fried chicken and a Belgian waffle, topped with powdered sugar and sweet, strawberry butter. Additional signature dishes include the Steak & Scramble Bowl, a variety of pancakes, waffles, and egg dishes, stacked sandwiches and 100% Angus burgers, salads and more. Kids dishes are also available for several menu items.
Charlotte residents are just a tap away from enjoying Metro Diner on the go:
- Order online at metrodiner.com/charlotte-southend/ or through the third-party delivery apps DoorDash, GrubHub, and UberEats
- Pick-up address: 3440 St Vardell Lane, Suite G, Charlotte, NC 28217
- Hours: 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. daily. Dinner hours to come in the near future.
About Metro Diner
Established in 1992 by the Davoli family with a single eatery in Jacksonville, Metro Diner is among the nation's fastest growing locally owned and operated family dining concepts, with 59 locations across the country. Metro Diner is known for its warm, welcoming service, large portion sizes and serious diner food. Metro Diner has received many accolades including features on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Cooking Channel's Cheap Eats.
Media Contact:
Mariah Kulkin
mkulkin@tilsonpr.com
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SOURCE Metro Diner | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/metro-diner-expands-charlotte-footprint-with-new-to-go-location/ | 2022-06-09T17:12:39Z |
XINING, China, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "Qinghai in the Past Decade" media tour got underway recently. On August 7, some 60 reporters from domestic media outlets visited the Qinghai section of Qilian Mountain National Park to learn about Qinghai's progress of ecological civilization construction, according to Qinghai Provincial Administration of Qilian Mountain National Park. The Qilian mountain range is an essential water source in NW China and the snow-capped mountains, glaciers, forests and grasslands are habitats for many rare wild animals.
In 2017, a government plan was passed to pilot the construction of a national park in the mountains. Since then, forest rangers have become a vital force in environmental protection. Li Shunshan, 40, has been engaged in forest protection for several years in the Qilian Mountains. The former herder spends his days patrolling the mountains by motorcycle, horse, or foot. His base, Sigou Management and Protection Station, sits at an altitude of 2,450 meters and is in charge of an area of 500,484 mu in the Qilian Mountains. Walking an average of 15 kilometers each day. "We usually set out for the forest at 7 am and return at around 4 pm," Li said. "We patrol the region for 22 days a month. The main purpose of patrolling forests is to stop those who dig and hunt illegally. Meanwhile, we need to check for forest fires and carry out education on nature."
The Qinghai section of Qilian Mountains National Park has 40 management and protection centers or stations. There are currently 1,265 rangers who devote their time to protecting the local environment. The construction of the national park has boosted animal populations and biodiversity in the Qilian Mountains, which lie on the border of Qinghai and Gansu provinces. "The improved environment has seen the revival of the population of some endangered species. Images of snow leopard, Chinese desert cat and blue sheep, have been captured by infrared cameras several times in recent years," Li said.
Building on his some years in the company of wildlife, the mountains, grasslands and rivers, Li said he loved working as a forest ranger.
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SOURCE Qinghai Provincial Administration of Qilian Mountain National Park | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/rangers-work-keep-parks-forests-safe-nw-chinas-qinghai/ | 2022-08-17T09:53:23Z |
Pride parades march on with new urgency
NEW YORK (AP) — Parades celebrating LGBTQ pride kick off in some of America’s biggest cities Sunday amid new fears about the potential erosion of freedoms won through decades of activism.
The annual marches in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and elsewhere take 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.
That warning shot 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 pride parades to return to their roots — less as blocks-long street parties but 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’s, 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.”
Dan Dimant, a spokesman for Heritage of Pride, the nonprofit that organizes New York City’s parade, said this year’s march will still be festive, with floats and “people dancing and celebrating.”
“Pride is many things to many people. And for many people, it’s a protest. And to many people, it’s a celebration. We create experiences for members of our community to experience pride and the way that resonates with them,” Dimant said.
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.
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, including in New York City, holding their own 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.”
More of that spirit could rub off on the major parades this year, though many fans of the marches see them as a combination of activism and celebration.
New Yorker Vincent Maniscalco, 40, who has been married to his husband for five years, said he thought the marches are an opportunity to both spotlight civil rights issues and bring “individuals together of all walks of life to celebrate their authentic self. And I think the New York City Pride Parade does a very excellent job of that.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/26/pride-parades-march-with-new-urgency/ | 2022-06-26T12:23:45Z |
Industry veteran brings depth of operational expertise to critical leadership position
PLANO, Texas , May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aimbridge Hospitality, a leading global hospitality company, has welcomed travel and tourism industry veteran Mark Tamis to the role of President, Global Operations. The addition of Tamis represents Aimbridge's commitment to and investment in providing an elevated management experience to hotel owners and creating memorable experiences for guests.
"Adding a seasoned leader with the breadth and depth of experience Mark brings to the team is an opportunity to continue to elevate our operational excellence," said Michael J. Deitemeyer, Aimbridge President & CEO. "As Aimbridge continues to evolve, Mark's expertise and leadership will empower our global operations team to further define industry best practices, partner with brands, ultimately add greater value for our owners and set new standards in the hospitality industry."
Tamis joins Aimbridge with more than 35 years of hospitality leadership experience, including a diverse background in hotel, resort and cruise operations. Most recently he served as Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations at Royal Caribbean International, overseeing every aspect of hotel services across the global cruise line's fleet and its private destinations, including all onboard revenue operations and food, beverage and entertainment offerings.
Prior to joining Royal Caribbean, Tamis served in a number of progressive roles across the travel and tourism industry with key industry leaders, including Carnival Cruise Line, Setai Hotels and Resorts, Ian Schrager Hotels, Morgans Hotel Group and Ian Schrager Company.
He began his career at Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas after graduating from Cornell. During his 15-year tenure with the company, Tamis rose through Four Seasons' leadership ranks and received awards and accolades for his contributions, including the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award at Four Seasons Properties in Newport Beach and Santa Barbara, California, and Nevis, West Indies.
"Beginning my career as a housekeeping supervisor 35 years ago, I've learned no detail is too small to overlook in the pursuit of operational excellence," said Tamis. "The experiences I've had have allowed me to get to this moment and I look forward to applying my diverse skill sets and acumen for Aimbridge and its industry leading global operations team."
To learn more about Aimbridge Hospitality, visit aimbridgehospitality.com.
About Aimbridge Hospitality
Aimbridge Hospitality is a leading, global hospitality company offering best-in-class hotel management services across a broad spectrum of franchised branded full service, select service, luxury hotels, destination resorts, convention centers and lifestyle hotels. Aimbridge's premium portfolio represents over 1,500 properties in 50 states and 23 countries, inclusive of pipeline. With the most robust brand diversity in the industry, Aimbridge operates 84 lodging brands, in addition to more than 90 independent boutique/lifestyle hotels in the portfolio. As the world's largest third-party operator, Aimbridge is dedicated to its mission to leverage its scale to add value for owners and opportunities for associates better than any other hotel operator. Aligned with a concentrated focus, agility, and expertise for each vertical, Aimbridge drives market success for hotels and optimizes investment returns for owners. Aimbridge Hospitality's global headquarters is based in Plano, Texas, with additional corporate offices in Atlanta, Calgary, Fargo, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. Evolution Hospitality, Aimbridge's Lifestyle Division, is based in San Clemente, California. Aimbridge's International Division, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, has supporting offices across Europe in Amsterdam, Birmingham, and Glasgow. The company's division in Mexico, Group Hotelero Prisma, has offices in Monterrey and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.aimbridgehospitality.com and connect with Aimbridge on LinkedIn.
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SOURCE Aimbridge Hospitality | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/aimbridge-hospitality-appoints-mark-tamis-president-global-operations/ | 2022-05-17T13:38:43Z |
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — LSU quarterback Myles Brennan has decided to end his college football career after five seasons with the Tigers.
The 23-year-old Brennan, who announced his decision on Monday, spent his first three years at LSU as a backup. He was named the starter in 2020, only to have that season cut short by an abdominal injury after three starts in which he passed for 1,112 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Brennan then missed all of last season because of a non-football arm injury that occurred during a fishing outing at the end of August camp.
“Over the last five years, I have given all of my body, heart and soul to LSU football,” Brennan said in a statement posted on social media. “I am forever grateful for every opportunity I have been given, every obstacle I’ve overcome and every second I’ve been a Tiger.
“However,” Brennan added, “it is time for me to start a new chapter in my life.”
The former prized recruit out of St. Stanislaus High School in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, briefly entered the transfer portal last offseason before deciding to return to LSU in hopes of competing for a starting job once more. However, he fell out of the early running for that spot in recent days, behind redshirt freshman Garrett Nussmeier and Arizona State transfer Jaden Daniels.
“Myles is a great leader who has made a tremendous impact on this program, and he has earned the respect of everyone here,” first-year LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “Myles has always embodied the traits required to fulfill our mission to graduate champions, and we have full confidence those traits will help him succeed at every step in his journey as he moves forward.”
Brennan appeared in 20 career games for LSU, passing for 1,712 yards and 13 touchdowns. He appeared in eight games as Joe Burrow’s backup during the Tigers’ 2019 national championship season, when they went 15-0 — the winningest campaign in the 128-year history of the program.
He graduated from LSU with a degree in sports administration in May 2021.
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/lsu-qb-brennan-ends-college-career-before-6th-season/ | 2022-08-16T00:53:13Z |
Contractors will pay for damage to car hit by debris at the 911 N. Kansas Ave. demolition site
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Topeka Interim City Manager Bill Cochran said Topeka police immediately informed him of equipment sending a wall falling into NOTO’s main road Wednesday.
A fence is around the site but that doesn’t stop walkers and drivers from going up and down the strip.
13 News has obtained two videos from people who witnessed the top part of a wall fall showing the debris hit a parked car and nearly hit one driving by.
Cochran said the car sustained substantial damage. The contractors, Koenig Excavation and Grading, will pay for the damage as part of their insurance. He said the event has nothing to do with the structure’s safety but with how the contractors acted.
He doesn’t know the amount or who owns the vehicle. The city will work with the vehicle’s owner to get them reimbursed.
“At this point, the majority of the wall is down and so we won’t have to worry about it again fortunately for this particular situation but those are things now we will definitely take into consideration when we do certain demolitions in certain areas.”
Cochran stands by the decision to hire Keonig to take down the building.
Building co-owner Dave Jackson fought the demolition saying the structure was stable and asked the city to work with him to save the building, but Cochran said again -- it took years to get to this point.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/21/contractors-will-pay-damage-car-hit-by-debris-911-n-kansas-ave-demolition-site/ | 2022-04-22T00:50:15Z |
- Strong balance sheet of ~$324 million cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2022 is anticipated to fund planned operations into 2025
- Initiated IDE397 Phase 2 monotherapy expansion cohorts and Phase 1 combination dose escalation cohorts in solid tumors with MTAP deletion
- Entered into Clinical Trial Collaboration and Supply Agreement with Amgen to clinically evaluate IDE397 MAT2A inhibitor in combination with AMG 193, Amgen's investigational small molecule MTA-cooperative inhibitor of PRMT5, in MTAP-null solid tumors
- Retained worldwide rights to IDE397, following GSK waiver of its option to an exclusive license to further develop and commercialize IDE397
- Targeting interim Phase 2 clinical data update for darovasertib and crizotinib synthetic lethal combination in MUM in September 2022, including ORR, mPFS, mDOR, and AEs
- Tracking to submit an IND in Q4 2022 for PARG development candidate IDE161
- Selected potential first-in-class Pol Theta Helicase development candidate with GSK, and targeting Phase 1 initiation in H1 2023 for solid tumors with HRD
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDYA), a synthetic lethality focused precision medicine oncology company committed to the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics, provided a business update and announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
"The IDE397 program is at a key inflection point, and as a wholly-owned program, is uniquely positioned for value accretion as we initiate monotherapy expansion and combination cohorts. Our clinical trial collaboration with Amgen enables clinical evaluation of IDE397 in combination with AMG 193, Amgen's investigational MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor, a potential first-in-class combination inhibiting two complementary synthetic lethal nodes within the MTAP pathway. The clinical ctDNA molecular response data from the IDE397 monotherapy dose escalation demonstrates target engagement and tumor pharmacodynamic modulation, and provides additional data on clinical activity," said Yujiro S. Hata, President and Chief Executive Officer, IDEAYA Biosciences.
"We look forward to providing the interim Phase 2 clinical data update for darovasertib and crizotinib synthetic lethal combination in first-line and any-line MUM patients in September 2022. This clinical data update will include, confirmed ORR by RECIST, median PFS, median duration-of-response, and an adverse event summary. We will also provide an update on a potential registrational path in MUM, and share observations supporting clinical proof of concept for potential use of darovasertib in the (neo)adjuvant UM setting," continued Mr. Hata.
"We have a pipeline of potential first-in-class synthetic lethality therapeutics advancing toward the clinic. We are targeting an IND in Q4 2022 for IDE161, our PARG inhibitor, for patients having tumors with HRD. In collaboration with GSK, we are targeting first-in-human clinical evaluation in H1 2023 for our Pol Theta Helicase development candidate in combination with niraparib for patients having tumors with HRD, and our Werner Helicase program with GSK continues to be on track for development candidate nomination in 2023," said Michael White, Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of IDEAYA Biosciences.
Program Updates
Key highlights for IDEAYA's pipeline programs include:
IDE397 (MAT2A)
IDEAYA is clinically evaluating IDE397, a potent and selective small molecule inhibitor targeting methionine adenosyltransferase 2a (MAT2A), in patients having solid tumors with methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) deletion, a patient population estimated to represent approximately 15% of solid tumors. IDEAYA is continuing clinical development of IDE397 in its Phase 1/2 clinical trial, IDE397-001 (NCT04794699). Highlights:
- Patients are being identified by next generation sequencing (NGS) or by MTAP immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay with confirmatory NGS
- Initiated monotherapy expansion cohorts with enrollment open for NSCLC and esophagogastric tumors with MTAP deletion
- Initiated combination dose escalation cohorts with enrollment open for combinations with docetaxel in NSCLC, paclitaxel in esophagogastric cancer, and with pemetrexed in NSCLC and potentially other solid tumors
- Entered into Clinical Trial Collaboration and Supply Agreement with Amgen to clinically evaluate IDE397 MAT2A inhibitor in combination with AMG 193, Amgen's investigational small molecule MTA-cooperative inhibitor of PRMT5, in MTAP-null solid tumors
- Delivered IDE397 option data package to GSK comprising preclinical data and clinical data from the monotherapy dose escalation study of the Phase 1 clinical trial, including safety and tolerability data, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data
- Retained and fully own all right, title and interest in and to IDE397 and the MAT2A Program, following receipt of notice from GSK waiving its rights to exercise its option to obtain an exclusive license to further develop and commercialize IDE397, as well as other IDEAYA compounds, if any, directly targeting MAT2A
- Demonstrated IDE397 clinical tumor pharmacodynamic modulation based on ctDNA Molecular Responses observed in thirteen evaluable patients with liquid biopsy samples available at baseline and after first treatment cycle, including:
Darovasertib (PKC)
IDEAYA continues to advance its Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating darovasertib (IDE196), a potent and selective PKC inhibitor, in combination with crizotinib, a cMET inhibitor, in metastatic uveal melanoma (MUM). The company is also clinically evaluating darovasertib as a combination with crizotinib in GNAQ/11 mutant skin melanoma in an ongoing arm of the current clinical trial, and in (neo)adjuvant uveal melanoma (UM) as monotherapy through an investigator sponsor clinical trial (IST).
IDEAYA is planning to initiate a company-sponsored clinical trial to evaluate darovasertib in (neo)adjuvant uveal melanoma. The company is also evaluating other potential darovasertib expansion opportunities, including in cMET driven tumors and in KRAS-mutation tumors.
Darovasertib / Crizotinib Combination Therapy in Metastatic Uveal Melanoma (MUM)
IDEAYA is continuing patient enrollment into the darovasertib / crizotinib combination arm of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial under clinical trial collaboration and supply agreements with Pfizer. Highlights:
- IDEAYA presented preliminary darovasertib and crizotinib clinical combination data in December 2021. The reported preliminary data, based on an unlocked database, showed robust clinical activity, including 31% ORR (n=4 of 13 evaluable) in heavily pre-treated MUM patents, with manageable side effect profile
- Historical % ORR and median PFS by other therapies in MUM have been low, including ranging from 0% to 5% ORR and 2 to 3 months median PFS
- Prioritizing enrollment of additional first-line MUM patients based on observed early clinical partial responses
- Targeting interim Phase 2 clinical results for darovasertib and crizotinib synthetic lethal combination in first-line and any-line MUM patients in September 2022, including:
- In April 2022, the FDA designated darovasertib as an Orphan Drug in Uveal Melanoma, including MUM
- Collaborating with Pfizer under a clinical collaboration and supply agreement to support clinical evaluation of darovasertib and crizotinib combination in a potential registration-enabling clinical trial in MUM, subject to FDA feedback and guidance
Darovasertib – (Neo)Adjuvant Uveal Melanoma (UM)
IDEAYA is evaluating the potential for darovasertib in neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant uveal melanoma. Highlights:
- (Neo)adjuvant UM represents a significant expansion opportunity – with a potential annual incidence of approximately 6,400 patients aggregate in US and Europe
- IDEAYA has initiated an Investigator Sponsored Trial with St. Vincent's Hospital Sydney Limited to evaluate darovasertib as monotherapy in a neo-adjuvant and/or adjuvant setting in uveal melanoma patients
Darovasertib – Other Potential Indications
IDEAYA is evaluating the potential for darovasertib in other oncology indications, including in cMET-driven tumors and RAS-mutation tumors. Highlights:
- Collaborating with Pfizer under a clinical collaboration and supply agreement for clinical evaluation of darovasertib and crizotinib combination therapy in cMET-driven tumors, such as NSCLC or HCC; targeting initiation of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in the first quarter of 2023
- Evaluating darovasertib in combination with a KRAS inhibitor in preclinical studies in KRAS-driven solid tumors
PARG
IDEAYA is advancing preclinical research for an inhibitor of poly (ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) in patients having tumors with a defined biomarker based on genetic mutations and/or molecular signature. PARG is a novel target in the same clinically validated biological pathway as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). IDEAYA owns or controls all commercial rights in its PARG program. Highlights:
- Ongoing IND-enabling studies for IDE161, a potential first-in-class PARG inhibitor development candidate for patients having tumors with homologous recombination deficiencies (HRD), including BRCA1 and BRCA2, and potentially other alterations
- Targeting IND for IDE161 in the fourth quarter of 2022
- Considering potential development approaches based on observed activity of IDE161 in PARPi resistant and/or platinum-resistant tumors, differentiated sensitivity relative to PARP inhibitors, and improved preliminary safety profile relative to PARP inhibitors
Pol Theta
IDEAYA's DNA Polymerase Theta, (Pol Theta) program targets tumors with BRCA or other homologous recombination (HR) mutations or homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). IDEAYA and GSK are collaborating on ongoing preclinical research, including small molecules and protein degraders, and GSK will lead clinical development for the Pol Theta program. Highlights:
- Selected a potential first-in-class Pol Theta Helicase development candidate in collaboration with GSK
- Observed complete responses in preclinical combination studies of Pol Theta Helicase DC with niraparib in multiple in vivo PDX and CDX HRD models
- Targeting first-in-human clinical evaluation of Pol Theta Helicase DC combination with niraparib in H1 2023 for patients having tumors with HRD
- IDEAYA is eligible to receive future development and regulatory milestones of up to $485 million aggregate from GSK:
Werner Helicase
IDEAYA is advancing preclinical research for an inhibitor targeting Werner Helicase for tumors with high microsatellite instability (MSI). IDEAYA and GSK are collaborating on ongoing preclinical research, and GSK will lead clinical development for the Werner Helicase program. Highlights:
- Targeting selection of a Werner Helicase development candidate in 2023
- Potential for up to $20 million in aggregate milestone payments from GlaxoSmithKline for advancing a Werner Helicase inhibitor from preclinical to early Phase 1 clinical
Other Synthetic Lethality Pipeline Programs
IDEAYA is advancing additional preclinical research programs to identify small molecule inhibitors for an MTAP-synthetic lethality target, as well as for multiple potential first-in-class synthetic lethality programs for patients with solid tumors characterized by proprietary biomarkers or gene signatures.
General
IDEAYA continues to monitor Covid-19 and its potential impact on clinical trials and timing of clinical data results. Initiation of clinical trial sites, patient enrollment and ongoing monitoring of enrolled patients, including obtaining patient computed tomography (CT) scans, may be impacted for IDEAYA clinical trials evaluating IDE397 and darovasertib; the specific impacts are currently uncertain.
Corporate Updates
IDEAYA's net losses were $22.1 million and $14.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and March 31, 2022, respectively. As of June 30, 2022, the company had an accumulated deficit of $212.8 million.
As of June 30, 2022, IDEAYA had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $323.8 million. IDEAYA believes that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund its planned operations into 2025. These funds will support the company's efforts through potential achievement of multiple preclinical and clinical milestones across multiple programs.
Our updated corporate presentation is available on our website, at our Investor Relations page: https://ir.ideayabio.com/.
Financial Results
As of June 30, 2022, IDEAYA had cash, cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities totaling $323.8 million. This compared to cash, cash equivalents and short-term and long-term marketable securities of $346.2 million at March 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to cash used in operations.
Collaboration revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2022 totaled $5.9 million compared to $11.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Collaboration revenue was recognized for the performance obligations satisfied through June 30, 2022 under the GSK Collaboration Agreement.
Research and development (R&D) expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2022 totaled $22.8 million compared to $19.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher personnel-related expenses, clinical trial expenses and outside services.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2022 totaled $5.6 million compared to $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to lower personnel-related expenses and outside services.
The net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was $22.1 million compared to $14.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Total stock compensation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was $3.0 million compared to $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.
About IDEAYA Biosciences
IDEAYA is a synthetic lethality focused precision medicine oncology company committed to the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics for patient populations selected using molecular diagnostics. IDEAYA's approach integrates capabilities in identifying and validating translational biomarkers with drug discovery to select patient populations most likely to benefit from its targeted therapies. IDEAYA is applying its research and drug discovery capabilities to synthetic lethality – which represents an emerging class of precision medicine targets.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to (i) the extent to which IDEAYA's existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities will fund its planned operations, (ii) the timing and content of an additional clinical data update for the darovasertib and crizotinib combination, (iii) the timing of submitting an IND for PARG inhibitor, IDE161, (iv) the timing of identification of initiating first-in-human clinical evaluation of Pol Theta inhibitor with niraparib, (v) the initiation of an IST to evaluate ID196 in a neo-adjuvant / adjuvant setting, (vi) the timing of initiation of a Phase 1/2 darovasertib and crizotinib clinical trial in cMET-driven tumors, (vii) the timing of identification of a development candidate for a Werner Helicase inhibitor, and (viii) the impact of COVID-19. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause IDEAYA's preclinical and clinical development programs, future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in the drug development process, including IDEAYA's programs' early stage of development, the process of designing and conducting preclinical and clinical trials, the regulatory approval processes, the timing of regulatory filings, the challenges associated with manufacturing drug products, IDEAYA's ability to successfully establish, protect and defend its intellectual property, the effects on IDEAYA's business of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and other matters that could affect the sufficiency of existing cash to fund operations. IDEAYA undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of IDEAYA in general, see IDEAYA's recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 15, 2022 and any current and periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
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SOURCE IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/ideaya-biosciences-inc-reports-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-provides-business-update/ | 2022-08-15T11:14:23Z |
House to vote on same-sex marriage, push back against court
WASHINGTON (AP) - The House is set to vote to protect same-sex and interracial marriages, a direct confrontation with the Supreme Court, whose conservative majority in overturning Roe v. Wade abortion access has sparked concerns that other rights enjoyed by countless Americans may be in jeopardy.
Tuesday’s vote in the House is part political strategy setting up an election-year roll call that will force all lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats, to go on the record with their views on the high-profile social issue. It’s also part of the legislative branch asserting its authority, pushing back against an aggressive court that appears intent on revisiting many settled U.S. laws.
“As this Court may take aim at other fundamental rights, we cannot sit idly by,” Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.
While the Respect for Marriage Act is expected to pass the House, it is almost certain to stall in the Senate, where most Republicans would surely block it. It’s one of several bills, including those enshrining abortion access, that Democrats are pushing to confront the court’s conservative majority. Another bill, guaranteeing access to contraceptive services, is set for a vote later this week.
The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal a leftover law still on the books from the Clinton era that defines marriage as a heterogeneous relationship between man and woman. It would also provide legal protections for interracial marriages by prohibiting any state from denying out-of-state marriage licenses and benefits on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.
The 1996 law, the Defense of Marriage Act, had basically been sidelined by Obama-era court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, which established the rights of same-sex couples to marry nationwide, a landmark case for gay rights.
But last month, in doing away with the Roe v. Wade constitutional right to an abortion, the conservative court majority put in place during the Trump era left critics concerned there may be more to come.
In writing for the majority overturning Roe, Justice Samuel Alito argued for a more narrow interpretation of the rights guaranteed to Americans, saying the right to an abortion is not spelled out in the Constitution.
“We therefore hold that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion,” Alito wrote.
In a concurring opinion, conservative Justice Clarence Thomas went further, saying other rulings similar to Roe, including those around same-sex marriage and the right for couples to use contraception, should be reconsidered.
While Alito insisted in the majority opinion that “this decision concerns the constitutional right to abortion and no other right,” others have taken notice.
Jim Obergefell, the plaintiff in the landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage and now running as a Democrat for the Ohio House, said after the court’s ruling on abortion, “When we lose one right that we have relied on and enjoyed, other rights are at risk.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/19/house-vote-same-sex-marriage-push-back-against-court/ | 2022-07-19T10:36:22Z |
Kitten born with two faces in Arkansas
HARRISON, Ark. (KY3/Gray News) - A pet owner in Arkansas has a cat that just gave birth to baby kittens, one of which was born with two faces.
“I went to go do laundry, I’d seen my cat was like meowing, and then all of the sudden babies started coming out, and I started yelling for my husband,” said Ariel Contreras, the owner of the kitten. “This is the second one, so whenever he came out, my husband said, ‘Honey, it has two heads!’ And I went, ‘No way!’”
Harvey is named after the fictional Batman villain Two Face, aka Harvey Dent. A Janus cat is a rare genetic mutation caused by excess protein production while in the womb.
“It has one of everything except for the extra skull,” said Dr. Tim Addis, a veterinarian with Alley Cat Animal Rescue. “Its odds of making it are just as good as its siblings’ if you’re feeding it with a bottle.”
Addis has more than 60 years of experience working with animals and says he’s never seen a mutation so rare.
“Well, they seem to be operating together, you can feed either mouth, and it takes nourishment through either mouth. It’s really different,” he said.
And different is right. Janus cats are extremely rare, with only a few known cases in the modern era.
“It’s actually bigger than the other ones, and it’s doing great. It’s absolutely doing great,” Conteras said.
Although there is little data, Janus cats historically have a low survival rate. Many are unable to live past the first 12 hours. But Harvey may already be defying the odds, born Wednesday and showing all signs of a healthy newborn kitten.
“There was one that made it 12 years and one that made it 15 years, so I’m really praying this one makes it that long, and we will do whatever it takes,” Contreras said.
“Well, the little kitten has the chance,” Addis said. “What the odds are, I don’t know. They’re hard to raise. But, it will make it if the Lord’s willing.”
Copyright 2022 KY3 via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/19/kitten-born-with-two-faces-arkansas/ | 2022-08-19T22:50:43Z |
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