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STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
The NBA is not even a week into its postseason, and there's been plenty of drama, great basketball and some booing. NPR's Tom Goldman is here to talk about all that. Hey there, Tom.
TOM GOLDMAN, BYLINE: Hi, Steve.
INSKEEP: OK, Boston Celtics against the Brooklyn Nets - Game 2 was last night. What happened?
GOLDMAN: The Celtics won and took a two-games-to-none lead in a series that feels like it's gone on for a lot longer because each of the games has been really intense - tough and physical, a lot of fouls called. Boston, again, played great defense last night, especially against the Nets stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who shot a combined 8 for 30. That's not good. Durant, in particular, considered the best scorer in the NBA, has struggled offensively in both games. The rotten thing about this series - both teams are good enough to go very deep in the tournament, so it's too bad they have to play in the first round. Feels like every game in this best-of-seven series is going to be filled with drama.
INSKEEP: Well, let's talk about the drama of the booing in Game 1. What was the situation with Irving?
GOLDMAN: Well, the history behind it - he played for Boston, said he wanted to stay and then left for Brooklyn. And Boston fans didn't like that. They felt betrayed. It's not helped by Irving, last year in the playoffs, stomping on the Boston logo at half court. That's not a way to endear yourself. So Kyrie has long been an interesting and controversial character. Last night, early in the game. he was seen apparently breaking his Ramadan fast. That's the interesting part. The controversy this season has been his decision not to get vaccinated against COVID, meaning he had to sit out a bunch of home games because of New York City laws. And critics said he was being selfish, putting himself above his team. So he's heard it from the Boston fans for two games, some saying very abusive things, according to Irving. And in Game 1, he decided to fight fire with fire, giving the crowd the middle finger several times and getting fined $50,000 for it.
INSKEEP: Wow, $50,000 for the middle finger. I hope that was satisfying. But he's frustrated with the crowd. Are there are a lot of instances of that?
GOLDMAN: There have been in recent years. Last season's playoffs, for instance, there were incidents with players getting spit on, having popcorn dumped on them. A fan threw a water bottle at Irving. And, Steve, an interesting take this week from an NBA insider, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, known as Woj to hoop fans - he talked about the growth in legal sports gambling. You see commercials for sportsbooks and casinos constantly on game telecasts now. It's making money for leagues and for players, and fans are betting on their phones during games. Woj says it's also potentially fueling more of the belligerence.
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ADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI: People gambling on almost everything, and they're drinking - and when people are losing money in real time and they're pointing to a player on the court that said, hey, I bet you to score more points in the second quarter than somebody else and I lost.
GOLDMAN: Gambling and drinking, Steve. I, for one, am shocked. But, yeah, some athletes say they are feeling the abuse ramping up. It's too bad.
INSKEEP: Yeah, it is. It's not good. So if we turn our eyes back to the court, what other first-round series caught your attention?
GOLDMAN: The Golden State Warriors are looking like the team that dominated the NBA just a few years ago. And suddenly, the No. 1 seed in the West, Phoenix, against No. 8 New Orleans is must-watch. Phoenix lost in the NBA finals last year, had the best regular season this year and seemed ready to make another finals run. But then in Game 2, the Suns best player, guard Devin Booker, strained a hamstring. New Orleans played great and won. The series is tied 1-1. Suddenly, it's interesting.
INSKEEP: NPR sports correspondent Tom Goldman, thanks so much.
GOLDMAN: You're welcome.
(SOUNDBITE OF SARAH, THE ILLSTRUMENTALIST'S "DRACO") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-21/the-nba-playoffs-are-in-full-swing-and-packed-full-of-action | 2022-05-12T15:04:40Z |
A MARTINEZ, HOST:
Drug overdose deaths are at a record high - more than a hundred thousand in a single year. The Biden administration is out today with a plan to slow that epidemic by emphasizing harm reduction. Reporter Martha Bebinger of WBUR joined us earlier to explain what that means.
MARTHA BEBINGER, BYLINE: A, harm reduction includes all of the tools that help drug users stay alive. That's naloxone, the drug you can squirt into someone's nostril if they overdose to revive them. It's also syringe exchange programs to limit the sharing of needles and the spread of infection. It's fentanyl test strips so drug users can find out if this deadly opioid is in the drug that they're about to inject or snort. It's a lot of tools that critics claim enable drug use.
MARTINEZ: All right, so then why is the White House prioritizing this?
BEBINGER: Well, because these tools do save lives. The people who advocate for harm reduction stress you can't treat someone after they've died of a fatal overdose. And White House drug czar Dr. Rahul Gupta insists that harm reduction is an approach that can cut across ideological lines.
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RAHUL GUPTA: This is not a red state issue or a blue state issue. This is America's issue.
BEBINGER: And Dr. Gupta stresses a recent bipartisan congressional report that did recommend adoption of more harm reduction strategies when he was explaining the Biden administration's plan to, as he says, beat the overdose epidemic.
MARTINEZ: Got to be clear - this is a federal plan, but access to harm reduction efforts varies a lot from state to state.
BEBINGER: Yeah, that's true. There are states that right now restrict access to naloxone, and you've probably seen some of the stories about needle exchange programs closing in some cities and towns around the country. That's even happening in states like West Virginia that have the highest rate of overdose deaths in the country. Robin Pollini is an associate professor at West Virginia University. She studies injection drug use and harm reduction efforts.
ROBIN POLLINI: Whether you have access to these services largely depends on where you live.
BEBINGER: And Pollini says there are still federal obstacles, too, like a federal ban on paying for syringes distributed to drug users. And that's going to make expanding needle exchange programs more difficult.
MARTINEZ: Martha, what else is in the Biden administration's plan?
BEBINGER: The White House says harm reduction is only part of a larger effort to tackle the two drivers of the overdose crisis - a lack of treatment and drug trafficking. So the other elements include a call to double the number of people in treatment with a focus on people leaving prisons or jails or those who don't have stable housing. Those are some of the people most at risk. Then, to slow the drug supply, the Biden administration is proposing sanctions on drug traffickers, tighter border controls and more international cooperation. The Biden plan also spells out the need for better real-time data on who is most at risk for an overdose. Now, all of these proposals will be sent to Congress today for debate and review.
MARTINEZ: That's Martha Bebinger of WBUR. Martha, thanks.
BEBINGER: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-21/the-white-house-has-a-strategy-for-reducing-drug-overdose-deaths | 2022-05-12T15:04:46Z |
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
President Joe Biden is traveling to the Pacific Northwest tomorrow to mark Earth Day. His most ambitious climate proposals are stalled in Congress. Today the White House announced a new initiative. Among other things, this plan lets states develop plans for using federal money to reduce emissions and encourage clean energy. Gina McCarthy is the White House's national climate adviser. Welcome to the program.
GINA MCCARTHY: Thank you. It's great to be here, Ari.
SHAPIRO: This carbon reduction program lets states decide how best to use federal transportation dollars to reduce emissions. And a line from The Washington Post article about this initiative struck me. It says states plans are not binding and the money will flow regardless of whether they achieve their objectives. So if that's the case, why do you expect this to move states any farther or faster than they would have gone on their own anyway?
MCCARTHY: Well, there's two ways of looking at it. These are budget allocations that are made routinely to states, but states at their highest level don't generally make these decisions. And we have a lot of priorities where we can couple expenditures at the state level like this with also grant programs and other investments by the bipartisan infrastructure law that can really make this money go further.
So we have full expectation that we should be providing guidance on how they should do this work, opportunities they have to advance it with other goals. And we're going to work closely and hand in hand with them to make sure that they look at things like labor standards, made in America, equitable investments to advance environmental justice. These are these things that states generally would work with us on, and we ought to tell them what we think our values are in this country and how to advance them.
SHAPIRO: So you're offering guidance, describing values, you know, collaboration. But if you look at a state like Florida, where the Republican governor and the legislature are taking steps right now to undo clean energy incentives, will this new federal initiative changed the direction of emissions in a state like Florida?
MCCARTHY: Well, I believe that it will, because, as I said before, the governors don't generally sit and make determinations on projects. And a lot of these projects are supported not just by this resource, but also by other bipartisan infrastructure, which are investments that make sure they're done in a way that's resilient, that make sure they're done by identifying the risks and looking at the opportunities and alternatives to make the money go farther and advance the transportation options for each of these states.
So there are real opportunities here not just to do business as usual but to guide it in a way that that really provides incentives for it to be done right. That's what the bipartisan infrastructure law provides us with is resources that will really provide the needed incentives to take a close look at how we're looking at infrastructure and ensuring it meets the needs today and tomorrow, given the climate impacts we expect to see.
SHAPIRO: To look at the big picture, on Earth Day last year, President Biden set a goal of reducing greenhouse gases 50% by 2030 compared to 2005 emissions levels. Now, as I said, the administration's most ambitious climate programs are put on hold. They couldn't get through Congress. And so is the U.S. on track to hit that goal the president said a year ago?
MCCARTHY: Well, I think we need to be clear that there is an opportunity already through the bipartisan infrastructure law to heavily invest in climate, to heavily invest in environmental justice issues, to make sure that we're providing resources smartly in resilience. So we already have opportunities like environmental, like electric vehicle charging stations, closing up some of the methane exposure that we have in old abandoned wells. We're looking at getting the lead out of water systems.
SHAPIRO: Is that going to get the U.S. to 50% reduction?
MCCARTHY: Well, a lot of it will, because we both have regulatory authority, and we're exercising that on methane and HFCs, which are super-polluting. But we also have access to a breadth of whole-of-government approach. All of the agencies are looking to integrate climate impacts and risks and opportunities into the way in which they're running their programs. So we're not simply relying on Congress to dictate. We have great regulatory authority and we're willing to use it, and we are using it every single day.
SHAPIRO: As you know, there's also a lot of political pressure right now to lower gas prices. And people in the oil and gas industry are arguing that there should be more drilling. The administration itself just greenlit more drilling in federal lands. How do you square that with the climate goals that the administration has set?
MCCARTHY: Well, the recent drilling in public lands for oil and gas was court ordered. So we're going to have some setbacks. But we're fighting that like crazy because we know that the path to clean energy is actually the only one that's going to keep us secure. So, yes, the president is addressing the immediate emergency challenge from Putin's war, but he's also recognizing that that is not going to stall or slow down our effort to move towards clean energy. We're advancing offshore wind. We're looking at electric vehicles moving forward. We're looking at energy efficiency standards in housings and new appliances.
We're using every tool in the toolbox, including ensuring we have critical minerals that we need to advance clean energy and manufacturing and all throughout. We're focusing on environmental justice. We're focusing on job growth. And we're going to make sure that families pay less. And so one of the ways in which we're going to get Congress to act is make sure they're acting in the best interests of people and saving them money while we produce a great future for our kids.
SHAPIRO: Just in our last minute, I have to ask about news reports that have said you're planning to step down from your White House role, at least in part out of frustration at the slow pace of climate progress. Are those reports accurate?
MCCARTHY: No, they aren't. And they also said I sold my house in Alexandria when I don't own a house in Alexandria.
SHAPIRO: (Laughter) Duly noted.
MCCARTHY: There's a lot of things that were said. Look. I'm here to do the work of the president, and it's not done yet. We have a lot of opportunity moving forward. We're going to take advantage of that. And, frankly, we're not frustrated at all. We recognize the challenge of climate is a serious one. And we have to move forward every step of the way with every tool available, and that's what the president's doing.
SHAPIRO: White House Climate Adviser Gina McCarthy. Thank you very much.
MCCARTHY: Thanks. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-21/the-white-houses-new-initiative-aims-to-reduce-carbon-emissions-from-transportation | 2022-05-12T15:04:52Z |
A MARTINEZ, HOST:
All right. At this moment, travelers can choose whether or not to wear a mask on most public transportation, but which is the right move for you? Here to tell us about the science of safer travel in the age of COVID is NPR health correspondent Maria Godoy. Maria, planes, trains, buses, rideshares - are the different types of transportation that much different from each other when it comes to the risk of getting infected?
MARIA GODOY, BYLINE: Well, yes, because it's all about the air we share with others and how it circulates. And that can be quite different depending on the mode of transportation.
MARTINEZ: All right. So which one should we start with?
GODOY: Airplanes.
MARTINEZ: Because we're all jammed together in that plane.
GODOY: Well, yeah, it's counterintuitive because you are in a small enclosed space. But every researcher I've spoken with agrees that the air filtration and ventilation on an airplane is really about the best it can be for an indoor environment. That cabin gets replenished with new air a lot. But there's a big caveat to that. Here's Dr. David Freedman. He's president-elect of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
DAVID FREEDMAN: I think it's important to remember that this phenomenal ventilation is only phenomenal when the airplane is in the air with the wheels up, with both engines running fully.
GODOY: When you're in the crowded jetway, getting ready to board or even just sitting in your seat on the runway, that ventilation system isn't always running at full blast, and infectious aerosols can accumulate all around you. But when those systems are running, they're quite effective. Linsey Marr studies airborne virus transmission at Virginia Tech. She says airplanes filter the air every few minutes. But if someone sitting close to you is infectious...
LINSEY MARR: There's still a risk, though, of transmission with those immediately nearby, like, next to or the row in front or row behind.
GODOY: Or if you're standing in the aisle waiting for the bathroom. Marr says even if others aren't wearing masks, she's going to keep wearing an N95 on flights because those masks really do protect the wearer.
MARTINEZ: Me, too. All right. So after planes, what's next?
GODOY: Trains and buses. Marr says the data she's seen from the subway systems in New York City and San Francisco show they have good air ventilation. But if you are standing shoulder to shoulder with other riders, that ventilation alone won't be enough. And as for buses, the situation is worse. Jesse Capecelatro of the University of Michigan has researched how air flows on urban buses.
JESSE CAPECELATRO: What we found was if the windows are closed due to sort of the recirculation of the air in the bus, whatever someone breathes out, in about 45 seconds, everyone in the bus is breathing in a portion of that.
GODOY: Opening windows can make a big difference, but you can't always do that on buses. Capecelatro's modeling shows when everyone on a bus is wearing a mask, that dramatically reduces transmission risks. You know, I also spoke with Neil Siegel. He's a health policy researcher at the University of Maryland, and he says bad bus ventilation raises real equity concerns.
NEIL SIEGEL: Hispanic and Black people are more than twice as likely to take public transit than white people. And people with lower incomes are also disproportionately more likely to take public transit than people with higher incomes.
GODOY: Siegel says people with fewer options for safer travel are now facing increased risk.
MARTINEZ: One more thing really quick - a lot of people take rideshares. What should they know?
GODOY: Keep the windows open. If you're stuck in traffic, have the AC at full blast too to help clear the air.
MARTINEZ: That's NPR's Maria Godoy. Maria, thanks.
GODOY: My pleasure. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-21/to-wear-a-mask-or-not-on-public-transportation-which-is-the-right-move-for-you | 2022-05-12T15:04:58Z |
Public transit systems in the U.S. are struggling. Ridership plummeted during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the numbers are still only 61% of what they were before the pandemic.
This is partly because commuters have been slow to return to in-person work. Another factor, though, is wariness.
"I would say safety is absolutely a reason why we see a decline in ridership," says Yasha Zarrinkelk, coalition manager with the advocacy group Transit Forward Philadelphia. "There's a hesitancy for riders to get back on the transit system."
Some of that hesitancy is based on high-profile violent crimes, such as the mass shooting in a subway station in Brooklyn last week or the alleged rape in front of multiple witnesses on a train in Philadelphia last fall.
But homelessness and drug use play a role, too. With fewer commuters on trains and buses and the suspension of fare enforcement on many systems during the pandemic, it has become harder to ignore the presence of what transit officials euphemistically refer to as the "vulnerable population."
"These are the complaints we get every day from our riders," says Thomas J. Nestel III, the chief of the police department of SEPTA, the transit system for the Philadelphia region.
"[Riders say] it's unsafe because that person is sleeping in a seat, because that person is laying on the floor. Neither of those people is often a threat, but their anti-social behavior creates that sense that the area is not safe when they're there," Nestel says.
Various local solutions to a national problem
Some systems have responded by stepping up fare enforcement again. In Denver, officials recently announced plans to allow access to a key bus terminal to paying passengers only.
In other cities, transit police are being told to hold back. The Seattle-area Sound Transit system is moving toward lighter fare enforcement, relying more on civilian "fare ambassadors," instead of sworn police officers. The move is a response to allegations of inequity because a disproportionate number of passengers caught by the enforcement are Black.
A similar approach has been proposed in Los Angeles, where LA Metro is funding "alternative" public safety efforts for trains and buses, although it also extended its contracts with the law enforcement agencies that patrol the system through the end of this year.
Nestel, Philadelphia's transit police chief, says the 2020 George Floyd protests changed attitudes nationally. "That eagerness to focus on quality-of-life issues using the police is no longer as palatable as it was before," he says.
Philadelphia transit devises a way to save those who are struggling
SEPTA's solution is to pair its transit officers with civilian social workers. In a pilot project started last fall called Serving a Vulnerable Entity (SAVE), police and "outreach specialists" — social workers — patrol trains together, looking for the people they call "vulnerables" and offering them services.
Alexander Bires is one of the SAVE officers. At the end of a train line, he goes through the cars, evicting men with bundles who'd rather stay — and sleep — on board. But he's gentle about it.
"We gotta get our stuff and clear off the trains, all right, buddy?" he says to one older man, adding, "We got outreach specialists out here today. You need outreach? Anything like that?"
The idea is to have officers enforce the rules while at the same time connecting people with services such as temporary shelters or drug treatment. At another station, near an open-air drug market, a man who has apparently just taken drugs appears on the platform, knees buckling. Police on the system call people in this state "dippers."
Bires and a civilian social worker, Nicole Polit, escort him back to the street.
"Open your eyes for me," Polit tells the man. "I can't have you falling down the steps or falling over into the tracks."
They stay with him, and as he sobers up, they offer to get him help. Most people say no, but in this case, he agrees. Within minutes, a car from the social services contractor arrives to take him to drug treatment.
"[Vulnerable people] trust them more now," Polit says of the transit officers. "Because they don't see them as just a uniform. We needed them to believe that the officers cared about the people on the street."
Polit says she would be less willing to do this job without the presence of sworn transit cops. "You don't ever know when something's just going to pop off. So it makes zero sense to take the officers away and add social workers."
Some activists would rather see fewer transit police
But activist groups across the country continue to call for just that — services, without police.
"We come from an abolitionist framework," says Transit Forward Philadelphia's Zarrinkelk. "We believe that the presence of police aboard public transit and any public space is not going to be the solution or answer to this public health and safety issue."
He would prefer to see safety efforts delivered by civilians and people from surrounding neighborhoods. But he acknowledges that some of the people his organization has surveyed in those same neighborhoods disagree. He recalls an older woman he talked to about this.
"Even though she was fully aware, right, of the systemic issues around police brutality, she still felt like that without police presence, she wouldn't necessarily be able to ride the system," he says.
There's also a limit to how far to take responses like the SAVE program.
"Cities have to make decisions — Philadelphia isn't the richest city in the United States," says Jerry Ratcliffe, a professor of criminal justice at Temple University who's studying the SAVE program and the effectiveness of this kind of outreach by police and civilian social workers.
The study will track outcomes, as measured by the number of "vulnerable people" who accept services. The question is whether it's enough to have police who are trained to connect people with services, or whether to team them up with social workers.
Ratcliffe says the results could be instructive for transit systems across the country as they try to recover from the pandemic.
"It's a balance between treating people with that level of compassion, but not abandon and sacrifice public space," he says. "Because Philadelphia needs a workable transit system. And we shouldn't abandon that system and turn it into a de facto homeless shelter."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-21/transit-riders-are-worried-about-safety-police-in-philly-are-trying-a-new-approach | 2022-05-12T15:05:04Z |
The Republican primary in the high-stakes Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race has been reshaped since former President Donald Trump offered a coveted endorsement.
Mehmet Oz, the celebrity TV doctor who received Trump's backing earlier this month, has cited the endorsement as proof of his conservative credentials.
And the campaign of Oz's chief rival, former hedge fund CEO David McCormick, has responded by quickly launching ads designed to blunt the endorsement. One uses archival video to question Oz's conservative beliefs. Another has McCormick surrounded by fellow motorcyclists who are holding Trump flags.
Both GOP candidates had lobbied hard for the former president's endorsement.
Trump's decision surprised and angered some conservatives. But Trump, a former reality TV star himself, made it clear that Oz's celebrity was a big factor in his choice.
"Tremendous, tremendous career," Trump said at a recent rally. "And they liked him for a long time. That's like a poll. You know, when you're on television for 18 years, that's like a poll."
He's also said he thinks Oz is more likely to win over a swath of Pennsylvania voters.
"Women, in particular, are drawn to Dr. Oz for his advice and counsel," Trump said in a statement announcing his endorsement. "I have seen this many times over the years. They know him, believe in him, and trust him."
The open Senate race is likely to be crucial for whichever party controls the chamber. Democrats, too, are locked in a crowded primary.
A fight over conservative credentials
Oz and McCormick — both ultra-wealthy, first-time candidates — have been introducing themselves to voters, while trying to bat away any critiques.
On the campaign trail, McCormick touts his successful business career, his West Point pedigree and his family's seven generations in the state.
"I grew up with a family farm," he said on a small stage in front of a giant American flag at a firehouse in Lititz, Pa. "I bailed hay, I trimmed Christmas trees, I was a busboy. I had a paper route. I hunted the first Monday after Thanksgiving, and I played football and I wrestled in places like Shickshinny and Shikellamy."
More recently, McCormick has lived in Connecticut where he was CEO of one of the world's largest hedge funds, Bridgewater Associates. Prior to that he worked in the administration of President George W. Bush.
In the Senate contest, McCormick has faced tough questions about his Wall Street ties and pro-China comments.
For Oz it's an immigrant story. His parents came to the U.S. from Turkey, settling in Ohio. Now he's a celebrity doctor worth millions.
"I attended great universities, raised a family and became a successful surgeon," he said in his campaign kickoff video. "I invented a heart valve that saves thousands of lives. Then I started TV show to advocate for you taking control of your health, and took on the medical establishment."
But Oz's campaign faced some immediate criticism: that he had until recently been a resident of New Jersey. And there were controversies from his time on TV, including that he dispensed questionable medical advice to his audience.
And Oz has also been targeted by many conservatives for his past praise of liberal figures like Hillary Clinton, and his past statements on issues such as abortion, gun laws and the use of masks to combat the coronavirus.
Does Trump sway voters' minds?
Professor Berwood Yost of Franklin & Marshall College says Oz has very high name recognition — something candidates crave — but also has high unfavorability scores in primary polls.
"I think Oz's larger problem is that he's not well-liked among Republicans," Yost said. "And that's why I think President Trump's endorsement of Oz is a bit risky."
One question in the race's final weeks, before the May 17 primary, is whether Trump's endorsement now changes Oz's numbers with conservatives.
There are other candidates to note, including political commentator Kathy Barnette, businessman Jeff Bartos and former Trump administration Ambassador Carla Sands.
And polls show that the Senate primary also has a high percentage of voters still undecided.
Another question is whether the Trump endorsement will have an effect on those who've not yet made their choice.
At the McCormick event at the firehouse, 71-year-old Bob Rapp said he was still trying to make up his mind. But he did say he won't vote for Oz. Rapp is a big Trump supporter, but he's not looking for Trump's guidance on this.
"You don't agree with your leaders 100% of the time," he said, before adding a flat "no" to whether the former president's endorsement could sway his opinion.
But Gina Sanguinetti, who works in health care, said she would give Oz a new look because of Trump, even though she's not sure Oz is strong enough in opposing abortion. She said she's seeking out all the information she can get.
"I'm just going to pay attention to everything right now, but I put a heavy weight on what Donald Trump has to say," she said.
Still, Sanguinetti is undecided and liked what she heard from McCormick.
The endorsement of Oz is actually Trump's second in the primary.
He backed Sean Parnell, an Army veteran who dropped out of the race after allegations of physical abuse against his wife and children emerged. (Parnell has denied those accusations.)
Parnell is now backing McCormick and said he was "disappointed" by Trump's new endorsement.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-21/trumps-endorsement-of-oz-reframes-the-pennsylvania-gop-senate-contest | 2022-05-12T15:05:11Z |
U.S. Capitol Police say an "extremely unusual" gap in communications led to the evacuation of the Capitol campus for an air threat on Wednesday evening, part of a chain of events now under review by federal authorities.
The agency evacuated the Capitol around 6:30 p.m. ET Wednesday after an unidentified plane - which it described as a single engine airplane - was spotted in a restricted airspace. The plane was part of a military flyover of nearby Nationals Park for a baseball game that evening. Other federal officials were aware of the planned flyover but not Capitol Police.
The last time the Capitol was evacuated for a potential air threat was June 2014, the agency said.
"Every week the USCP is made aware of hundreds of authorized flights in the restricted airspace. It is extremely unusual not to be made aware of a flight in advance," Capitol Police said in a statement on Thursday.
The agency said without advance notice of the approved flight, it had to immediately evacuate the Capitol complex. The plane carried members of the U.S. Army's Golden Knights Parachute Team to be featured at Nationals Park for a military appreciation night.
The evacuation came while Congress was in recess and so much of its members and staffers were away. But it has raised alarm for federal law enforcement officials and Congress.
The Capitol was evacuated out of an abundance of caution this evening.
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) April 20, 2022
There is no threat at the Capitol.
More details to come. pic.twitter.com/7qqxqQyzlD
Soon after the incident, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lauded the Capitol Police's bravery, while also slamming the Federal Aviation Administration for the apparent lack in communication.
"The Federal Aviation Administration's apparent failure to notify Capitol Police of the pre-planned flyover Nationals Stadium is outrageous and inexcusable," Pelosi said. "The unnecessary panic caused by this apparent negligence was particularly harmful for Members, staff and institutional workers still grappling with the trauma of the attack on their workplace on January 6th."
Pelosi said Congress looks forward to the results of an after-action review to determine what went wrong and "who at the Federal Aviation Administration will be held accountable for this outrageous and frightening mistake."
The FAA said it is looking into the matter.
"The FAA takes its role in protecting the national airspace seriously and will conduct a thorough and expeditious review of the events yesterday and share updates," the agency said in a statement late Wednesday. "We know our actions affect others, especially in our nation's capital region, and we must communicate early and often with our law enforcement partners."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-21/u-s-capitol-police-say-an-extremely-unusual-oversight-triggered-capitol-evacuation | 2022-05-12T15:05:17Z |
DANIEL ESTRIN, HOST:
CNN+ is shutting down on April 30. That's just over one month after it started. The streaming service launched with a slate of well-known journalists hired to lead original shows, including former Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, former MSNBC anchor Kasie Hunt and our former colleague Audie Cornish. Here to discuss why the service is shutting down and what it might mean for streaming TV in general is NPR TV critic Eric Deggans. Hi, Eric.
ERIC DEGGANS, BYLINE: Hi.
ESTRIN: So I understand one reason why CNN+ is going away this quickly is that it was developed by one company but shut down by a slightly different company. What's that about?
DEGGANS: Sure (laughter) I can explain it. So CNN+ was developed by CNN's former parent company, WarnerMedia, and CNN's former president, Jeff Zucker. Now, they spent many millions and lots of time developing the service, which was positioned as the next great evolution for CNN. But Zucker resigned his job at CNN in February after admitting that he had failed to disclose a personal relationship with another senior CNN employee. Earlier this month, WarnerMedia officially merged with Discovery to become a new company called Warner Bros. Discovery.
And this new company features new leadership that apparently didn't support CNN+. They want all the company's brands, including HBO, TNT and the Discovery Channel, on the same streaming platform. And as the merger was finalized, there were rumors that this new leadership wasn't enthusiastic about CNN+. But I think industry watchers were still surprised that they shut it down so quickly.
ESTRIN: Yeah, it is a surprise. And CNN+, you know, also hired a lot of new people to create original programming. So do we know what's going to happen to those people or their shows?
DEGGANS: Well, so far, I haven't heard anything about what will happen to specific shows or stars. I mean, the shutdown happened so quickly that the program that was supposed to be hosted by our former colleague, Audie Cornish, hadn't even really debuted yet. CNN's new president, Chris Licht, he's a former executive producer of "CBS This Morning" and "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert." He sent out a memo to staffers earlier today saying some programming will migrate to CNN and the company's other networks. But still, it is possible hundreds of employees might lose their jobs. Andrew Morse, CNN's chief digital officer and the head of CNN+, has already announced he's leaving. Now, CNN is also reporting that current CNN+ customers will get prorated refunds for their subscription fees.
ESTRIN: OK. Now, all this comes just one day after Netflix saw its stock price fall 35%. It's lost 200,000 subscribers in its first quarter. Does the end of CNN+ mean that there's a deeper problem in streaming TV?
DEGGANS: It's wild. Even Quibi lasted, you know, several months.
ESTRIN: Yeah.
DEGGANS: I think this indicates that even big media companies are taking a close look at their streaming strategies and the competition for subscribers. They're making sure they have a unified strategy. And it seemed that the former management of CNN and WarnerMedia tried to get CNN+ launched before the new leaders could have any input. And that was always risky. In fact, Licht's memo complimented staffers for, quote, "flawlessly launching" CNN+ but also noted the change allowed them to focus on, quote, "further enhancing CNN's journalism." So we're hearing rumors that Licht and the new leadership are interested in more news-driven, less opinion-oriented coverage. So the question remains whether further changes are coming at CNN.
ESTRIN: And we'll stay tuned. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans. Thank you, Eric.
DEGGANS: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-21/what-the-shutdown-of-cnn-might-indicate-about-the-future-of-streaming-tv | 2022-05-12T15:05:23Z |
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
For the moment, the CDC cannot order you but does advise you to mask up on public transit. That's the most the agency can do while the Justice Department appeals a ruling against a mask mandate. Many airlines and public transportation systems have made masks optional this week. So what is the effect on public health? We're going to talk it through with Dr. Tom Frieden, who was the CDC director from 2009 to 2017 and is now the president of the health organization Resolve to Save Lives. Good morning.
TOM FRIEDEN: Good morning.
INSKEEP: So the Justice Department is appealing because the CDC says we really need a mask mandate. Do you agree with your former colleagues at the CDC that the mandate is essential?
FRIEDEN: It's certainly essential that public health maintain the authority to do things that protect us, whether in society we protect your kid from getting run over by a drunk driver or make sure that you don't get a deadly infection from your local restaurant or that the medicines you pick up at the local pharmacy aren't contaminated. It's really important that we preserve the ability of the government to protect you.
INSKEEP: Oh, that's interesting. So you're saying that this is not, in your mind, a case about this particular mandate that a lot of people were ignoring anyway? It's about the principal for future cases.
FRIEDEN: I think there's certainly a specific issue here. And the reality is that we're at relatively low rates of COVID and low rates of hospitalization from COVID. So on an individual basis, if you're immunosuppressed, if you're older or medically vulnerable or you live with someone who is, you probably want to continue to mask up and, in fact, up your mask game to an N95 and make sure you're up to date with vaccination and, if you do get sick, get promptly treated. On the other hand, the bigger issue, I do think, is whether we may lose the tools we need to protect ourselves, not just now but against a future variant or a future health threat.
INSKEEP: Because you mentioned a better mask, an N95, can better masks truly make this an individual choice? If I'm worried, I can wear an N95, and it protects me for quite a long time, even if I'm in the room with somebody who's infected.
FRIEDEN: The safest thing, if there's a lot of COVID around, is for everyone to be masked. This greatly reduces the concentration of infectious virus in the environment. But the next best thing, if people around you aren't masked, is to up your mask to a tightly, snuggly fitting N95 mask, which is much more protective than other types of face mask.
INSKEEP: I want to ask, Dr. Frieden, about the situation the U.S. government is in now. The CDC has taken multiple steps against the virus over the past couple of years and has been knocked down multiple times in multiple ways by conservative judges and justices, and, of course, there's so much political and partisan opposition. Could the agency have accomplished more by doing less, taking less sweeping measures that would generate less opposition and could be applied more consistently?
FRIEDEN: Steve, there's an underlying reality here, which is that we are all connected, though some people don't like to recognize that. Your right to swing your fist does not extend to someone else's nose. And we do have a special responsibility to protect the vulnerable among us. I am quite concerned that public health is essentially getting a one-two punch here. On the one hand, we're seeing funding drying up and the real risk that we're not going to fund things that are crucially needed, not just to fight this pandemic but to give us a much stronger reboot of our public health system. And second, not only less money but less authority, less ability to protect the public.
And there are times when it is essential to use public health authority. I think some of the other measures - immigration, housing - CDC was asked by both administrations to do something that was, you know, a gray-zone issue because Congress hadn't acted. And I think that is something that has clouded the waters sometimes. But it is really important to be clear that there are certain clear cases where public health has not just the authority but the absolute responsibility to take measures that protect you from an infectious disease.
INSKEEP: I'm just wondering if public health is in trouble in part because two administrations took these steps without building the necessary political support. And maybe it was impossible in this partisan environment to build the necessary political support with so many conspiracy theories out there. But they went beyond what the body politic seemed willing to go along with.
FRIEDEN: Ultimately, whatever the laws and regulations, there has to be some consent of the governed; people have to agree with it. And what we've seen over the past few years is partisanship infecting individual measures like vaccination and masking and, more broadly, public health measures. I'm concerned, Steve, not just about CDC; I'm concerned about state, city and local health departments all over the country, where you're seeing attacks on public health officials, state laws that undermine fundamental authorities to ensure vaccination and the safety of our kids in schools. There's a broader issue here, and it is - will we give public health the funds and the authority needed to protect us against this virus, future strains of this virus and future health threats? Or will we lose some of the most powerful tools we have, not just to save lives but to keep our economy and our educational system and our society moving forward?
INSKEEP: Dr. Tom Frieden is a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thank you so much, sir.
FRIEDEN: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-21/while-the-transporation-mask-mandate-ruling-is-appealed-is-public-health-at-risk | 2022-05-12T15:05:29Z |
A MARTINEZ, HOST:
More than 5 million Ukrainians have fled their country since Russia invaded in late February. Tens of thousands are in Estonia. Estonia shares a border with Russia, and it's a place where people remember what it was like to be occupied by the former Soviet Union. NPR correspondent Jenna McLaughlin is on board a cruise ship in the harbor of Estonia's capital city, Tallinn, a ship that's now housing some of those refugees. Jenna, what's it like on board?
JENNA MCLAUGHLIN, BYLINE: So - hi. Good morning, A. We arrived this morning on board the Isabelle in the Port of Tallinn. Normally, this ship takes people overnight between Riga in Latvia to Stockholm, Sweden. But in March, the Estonian government asked the cruise company to host refugees, who were overflowing from downtown hotels. And they said, yes. They canceled the summer's cruise service for this ship. Ukrainian families are temporarily living on the ship, mostly women and children. They arrived with almost nothing from different parts of Ukraine. But they've been welcomed by Estonians, who are donating toys, clothes, even household goods like lamps. Today, many people are working on computers or relaxing in the sun. The kids have been adjusting pretty well. But it's been difficult for women, particularly at night.
I spoke to Ylena Chovgun (ph) and her sister Ana (ph) who's 16. Ylena's 30. They came here with their mother, who is already at work at a sewing factory in Tallinn. They've been spending their days looking for more permanent housing in Tallinn and sightseeing. Her sister's actually an artist at a local art school. But things are really uncertain for them. They came from Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, where war has been raging for eight years already. Their grandparents are still there. They talk on the phone every day. And they really want to return because to them, it's home.
MARTINEZ: We know so many of these refugees fled to Estonia. Any sense of what the numbers are?
MCLAUGHLIN: Absolutely. The Estonian government actually estimates that around 30,000 Ukrainian refugees have come through Estonia, and on this ship, there are about 1,500. It's kind of mind-blowing.
MARTINEZ: Yeah. Any other sense of what else Estonia is doing?
MCLAUGHLIN: A lot, actually. The Estonian government is giving Ukraine a huge stockpile of weapons and defense equipment, more than a lot of countries several times its size in Europe. I actually spoke to permanent secretary of defense earlier this week, Kusti Salm. Here's what he said about Estonia's support for Ukraine.
KUSTI SALM: Up to date, we have sent lethal aid north of 230 million euros.
MCLAUGHLIN: That's about $250 million. There are also a ton of Estonian volunteers, particularly in the flourishing tech sector. We spoke to several who are sending convoys of vehicles, drones and even more to Ukraine. And they're helping relocate refugees using job relocation software, for example.
MARTINEZ: So why is this so important to Estonians to extend this kind of welcome?
MCLAUGHLIN: It's really because the war in Ukraine is deeply emotional for Estonians. This tiny Baltic nation gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and everyone we've spoken to says they never want history to repeat itself again. They're honestly surprised and pleased that the West has finally started to show some real unity and strength against Russian aggression, something that they've been fearful of, many for their whole lives. Estonians really feel a kinship with Ukrainians. We were even told the flag factory is working overtime to print Ukrainian flags. We're seeing them everywhere.
MARTINEZ: That's NPR correspondent Jenna McLaughlin. Jenna, thanks a lot.
MCLAUGHLIN: Thank you, A. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/a-cruise-ship-in-tallinn-estonia-is-housing-ukrainian-refugees | 2022-05-12T15:05:35Z |
A MARTINEZ, HOST:
A decade ago, federal property in Oregon was set on fire in protest. Yesterday, an environmental and animal rights activist pleaded guilty to those charges after years on the run. Here's Conrad Wilson with Oregon Public Broadcasting.
CONRAD WILSON, BYLINE: Federal prosecutors say Joseph Mahmoud Dibee was a member of the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front. The U.S. Department of Justice has held those groups responsible for what it describes as acts of domestic terrorism. Prosecutors say Dibee was part of a group known as The Family, which caused more than $45 million in damages in a series of arsons between 1995 and 2001.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
SCOTT ASPHAUG: No matter the agenda, using violence to advance a social or political cause is a serious crime.
WILSON: Scott Asphaug is Oregon's U.S. attorney. In a recorded statement, he said that Dibee and others damaged government properties and private businesses. Those businesses were targeted because the group thought that they harmed animals or contributed to habitat destruction. Just before he was indicted in 2006, Dibee fled the country, first to Syria, where he had family, and later to Russia. He spent more than a decade as an international fugitive. He worked on large-scale environmental projects, like a biofuels facility and a desalination plant. Dibee was detained by Cuban authorities in August 2018 and arrested by the FBI. At the time, the Justice Department called Dibee, quote, "a domestic terrorism suspect." That description wasn't used yesterday when Dibee entered his guilty plea - again, Asphaug.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
ASPHAUG: After many years on the run, Mr. Dibee admitted to his role in these schemes and will finally face justice.
WILSON: The government called Dibee an extremist and an arsonist, but they did not use the word terrorist. Dibee pleaded guilty to several arson-related charges in California and Oregon. He admitted in California he assisted others who burned a barn at a Bureau of Land Management wild horse facility in 2001. He also admitted to starting a fire in Oregon that destroyed a slaughterhouse in 1997. It was called Cavel West and processed and sold horsemeat to Europe. Matt Schindler is Dibee's attorney.
MATT SCHINDLER: Mr. Dibee was involved with the arson at Cavel West. And so it was important that he take responsibility for that.
WILSON: A federal judge will sentence Dibee in July. The government has recommended more than seven years in prison. Dibee is expected to ask for a lighter sentence.
For NPR News, I'm Conrad Wilson in Portland.
(SOUNDBITE OF HAKAISU'S "CONNECTION") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/activist-pleads-guilty-in-oregon-to-decades-old-federal-arson-charges | 2022-05-12T15:05:41Z |
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
Things are quiet now at one of Jerusalem's holiest sites for both Jews and Muslims. But earlier today, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, was the scene of violence between Palestinians and Israeli riot police. It's a scene that's all too familiar.
My colleague, Daniel Estrin, who has been co-hosting ALL THINGS CONSIDERED this week, covers the ongoing violence between Palestinians and Israelis day in and day out. And this week, he's been bringing us a story that takes us behind the headlines and shows us how this simmering conflict shapes everyday life, even when there is no violence.
And, Daniel, this story you've been telling us takes place in Gaza, which is home to 2 million Palestinians.
DANIEL ESTRIN, HOST:
Yeah, Ari. In Gaza, it is just so many aspects of life - routine life - that are affected by the ongoing conflict, including the health care system, and it's all the way down to the story of one father, named Yousef al Kurd, and his quest to get heart bypass surgery that could save his life.
SHAPIRO: And you've reported this week on why his case is too complicated for Gaza's health system, which has been degraded by war and a blockade by Israel and Egypt since Israel's enemy, Hamas, took over 15 years ago.
ESTRIN: Yeah, they can't do his surgery in Gaza, and his condition is getting worse. He's been waiting for more than two months. And finally, he gets his Israeli security clearance to leave Gaza and to go to a Palestinian hospital in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
So today, we have the final chapter of our story. I travel with him on his journey from Gaza, through Israel, to the West Bank Hospital.
(SOUNDBITE OF BORDER CROSSING AMBIENCE)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Non-English language spoken).
ESTRIN: The Erez Crossing is one of the world's most heavily fortified border crossings. It's Israel's one civilian crossing with Gaza. Hamas, committed to armed conflict with Israel, is contained on the other side. So are 2 million Palestinian civilians. Israel's policy is to keep the Palestinian territories divided to seal Gaza off from the West Bank.
I'm on the Israel side of this crossing, waiting for 70-year-old Yousef al Kurd, who's waited for months for this moment. A Palestinian lawyer pleaded with Israeli authorities to give him security clearance to get heart surgery. And finally, he is allowed to cross with his wife, Fayeza.
YOUSEF AL KURD: (Non-English language spoken).
ESTRIN: "I'm weak," he says.
At 5:30 a.m., he said goodbye to his children and left home - waited hours at the Hamas checkpoint leaving Gaza. Then, at the Israeli crossing, he had to raise his arms in a full-body scanner, and he crumpled to the floor. Israeli attendants rushed him a wheelchair. No one told his family they could arrange an ambulance.
But there is a driver here, and he's Israeli. He volunteers with a peace group called Road to Recovery. They're Israelis who drive Palestinian patients to their medical appointments. This driver is named Arnon Avni. He is nearly 70 years old. He's a graphic designer and a political cartoonist.
ARNON AVNI: OK. Let's get them in.
ESTRIN: And we are ready to go.
(SOUNDBITE OF CAR DOOR OPENING)
ESTRIN: Should we pull the car - the seat up a little bit? OK.
KURD: (Non-English language spoken, moaning).
ESTRIN: Yousef al Kurd is in pain.
(SOUNDBITE OF CAR DOOR SHUTTING)
AVNI: (Non-English language spoken).
ESTRIN: (Non-English language spoken).
AVNI: (Non-English language spoken).
ESTRIN: The Israeli volunteer driver puts the destination in his navigation app - a checkpoint in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
(SOUNDBITE OF KEYS BEING PUT INTO IGNITION AND CAR STARTING)
ESTRIN: Do you speak any Arabic, Arnon?
AVNI: I know a few words - not really speaking it.
ESTRIN: (Speaking Arabic)? Do you speak English?
FAYEZA: Half-half.
ESTRIN: And, Yousef, (speaking Arabic)? Do you speak English?
KURD: Deutsch.
ESTRIN: Deutsch?
FAYEZA: Deutsch.
ESTRIN: Oh.
He studied to be an audio engineer in Germany decades ago. He and Avni don't share a language, but they do have some things in common. They're about the same age, and Avni's father died of a heart attack.
KURD: (Speaking Arabic).
FAYEZA: (Speaking Arabic).
KURD: (Speaking Arabic).
FAYEZA: (Speaking Arabic).
ESTRIN: Oh, he's complaining about his chest.
AVNI: It's - I can't help.
KURD: (Speaking Arabic).
ESTRIN: "The pain is severe," he says.
KURD: (Speaking Arabic).
FAYEZA: (Speaking Arabic).
ESTRIN: Kurd's wife, Fayeza, is in Israel for the first time in her life. She's 58. She says it's another world. It's clean. It's wide. It's open. It's not everyone is squished together, like in Jabalia refugee camp, where she lives.
AVNI: I see the eyes of all of my passengers on my travels. They - all of them feel the same.
ESTRIN: (Speaking Arabic)?
FAYEZA: (Speaking Arabic)?
ESTRIN: She asks, "what's that bridge?" She's never seen an overpass before.
FAYEZA: (Speaking Arabic, laughter).
ESTRIN: Her husband is one of thousands each year who have to reschedule their surgery and treatments over and over until Israel grants them a security clearance to leave Gaza for the hospital. Advocates have raised this issue for years, and volunteers like this Israeli driver try to help.
FAYEZA: (Speaking Arabic).
ESTRIN: She said, "bless you - it's humanitarian action, what you're doing."
AVNI: I guess it's important for me that the people in Gaza will know that there are people like me in Israel.
ESTRIN: Avni lives right next to Gaza. Mortar shells landed outside his home last year. And five decades ago, a Palestinian from Gaza planted explosives in their kibbutz, and his own brother died. Avni drives Gaza patients to the hospital to try to make things better.
AVNI: Some people call me a traitor.
ESTRIN: A traitor.
AVNI: We are in minority, but I believe that we do the right thing for Israel.
ESTRIN: An Israeli road sign warns Israelis not to enter the Palestinian territory, so Avni can't take them all the way to the hospital. We drop them off just on the other side of the checkpoint.
KURD: (Speaking Arabic, moaning).
ESTRIN: Yeah, the speed bumps at the crossing are a little - are hurting him.
AVNI: Yes, yes. He is suffering.
ESTRIN: We flag down a Palestinian driver and then help Kurd get out of the Israeli driver's car and into the Palestinian van. We say our goodbyes before they drive off to the hospital in the West Bank city of Hebron.
AVNI: Tell them I wish them all the best.
ESTRIN: (Speaking Arabic).
FAYEZA: (Speaking Arabic).
ESTRIN: She's happy to meet you, and she wishes you all the best.
(SOUNDBITE OF CAR ENGINE STARTING)
ESTRIN: But this moment of hope quickly fades. Kurd doesn't end up getting the surgery he's been waiting for. Hours after he arrives in the hospital, he has multiple-system failure. Two days later, his son Ibrahim, in Gaza, gets a phone call from the hospital.
UNIDENTIFIED DOCTOR: (Speaking Arabic)?
ESTRIN: "Ibrahim, how are you?" the doctor says.
IBRAHIM: (Speaking Arabic).
ESTRIN: "Oh, God," the son replies.
UNIDENTIFIED DOCTOR: (Speaking Arabic).
IBRAHIM: (Speaking Arabic).
ESTRIN: "I'm with your mother now," the doctor says.
UNIDENTIFIED DOCTOR: (Speaking Arabic).
ESTRIN: "Your father, may he rest in peace."
UNIDENTIFIED DOCTOR: (Speaking Arabic).
ESTRIN: He played this phone call for me when we were visiting the family in December, a few weeks after the funeral. For the first time, I see Fayeza cry.
FAYEZA: (Crying).
ESTRIN: I'm so sorry.
FAYEZA: (Crying).
ESTRIN: I turn to her son.
I'm so sorry about your father. I was so hopeful that he would get the treatment he needed and that this would be a happy ending.
IBRAHIM: (Through interpreter) I was just like you, Daniel. I was hoping for the happy ending.
ESTRIN: As we gather our belongings to leave, his 24-year-old son, Raji - who's been silent nearly the whole time - speaks.
RAJI: (Through interpreter) I just want to ask you - put yourself in my shoes. Would you like to face those circumstances? Would you like to see one of your beloved facing those circumstances?
ESTRIN: And since we reported this story, there have been more patients who have died going through the same ordeal as his father.
SHAPIRO: Reporting there from my co-host, Daniel Estrin.
Daniel, this is such a tragic case. Could anything have been done to get him out of Gaza sooner and save him?
ESTRIN: I asked health experts about that, and no one can really say for sure. There were a lot of factors. Kurd had diabetes. He was a smoker. He went a year without getting the surgery his doctor had ordered. Then, the medical system in Gaza is poor. There was very little patient follow-up when his condition got worse.
His son thinks it's the Palestinian doctor's fault - that the doctor should have marked the case as urgent, and then Israel would have let him in immediately. But when I asked the World Health Organization about that, they said even some urgent cases get delayed and denied by Israel.
What we do know, Ari, is that, in general, these kinds of delays can be deadly. The W.H.O. studied Gaza cancer patients and found that they have died at a higher rate when their Israeli permits were delayed or denied.
SHAPIRO: This system clearly fails a lot of patients. What can be done to fix it?
ESTRIN: Well, the World Health Organization says Israel can do a lot. Israel does let in thousands of Palestinian patients every year, but the W.H.O. says the permit process can be sped up, the criteria can be made clearer, and it says Israel should end its restrictions - which Israel says it needs for security - on importing some medical equipment into Gaza. The W.H.O. also says the Palestinian Authority can also help. It can get more medical supplies into Gaza.
And in my own reporting, Ari, I heard accusations of corruption in how Palestinian officials select patients for travel. So there are very, very specific things that can be fixed.
SHAPIRO: But the W.H.O. has been documenting these problems for years. Why hasn't the system changed?
ESTRIN: Well, each side blames the other. You know, if only Israel would end the blockade of Gaza, or if only Hamas would stop attacking Israel and cede control, then it wouldn't be this way. But you see, the system is just resistant to change.
What I learned following this one man's story is that, on a person-to-person level, you can bend the rules. You know, Palestinian advocates can send frantic WhatsApp messages to Israeli border authorities. They send photos of sick patients to Israelis and get their sympathy. And Israeli advocates even petition their own courts and manage to get patients through. So it's easier to win an exception to the rule than to change the rule. Really, Ari, it's just one way to summarize the entire dynamic between Israelis and Palestinians.
SHAPIRO: Daniel Estrin, thank you for your reporting.
ESTRIN: Thank you, Ari.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/after-months-of-obstacles-a-gaza-man-reaches-a-hospital-in-the-west-bank-for-surgery | 2022-05-12T15:05:47Z |
A MARTINEZ, HOST:
Do Russian atrocities in Ukraine amount to genocide? Human rights organizations point to a slaughter 18 years ago when the world failed to intervene. Hutu militias in Rwanda used machetes and clubs to murder their fellow countrymen, mostly Tutsis. Nearly a million people were killed. Philip Gourevitch writes for The New Yorker. He's also the author of "We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories From Rwanda." Gourevitch spoke with our co-host, Leila Fadel.
PHILIP GOUREVITCH: The killing began on April 6, 7, and within weeks, hundreds of thousands had been killed. Rwanda's small. It's important to keep in mind that Rwanda is about the size of, say, West Virginia. And it had a population of about 7 1/2 million people when this started. So you had a complete decimation within a very short period of time.
LEILA FADEL, BYLINE: And yet the world did nothing in these weeks. I mean, there were Belgian forces and UN peacekeepers in Rwanda at the time, if you could just talk about what happened to them.
GOUREVITCH: One of the very first moves was that - the perpetrators of the genocide are generally known as Hutu Power. That was sort of the name of the movement. They killed some Belgian peacekeepers in the first days. And Belgium's response was to withdraw the force. And the United States, which, of course, is always a very big power on the Security Council - the Clinton administration was smarting from its debacle in Somalia.
FADEL: With "Black Hawk Down."
GOUREVITCH: "Black Hawk Down," the Somalia killing of American soldiers in the streets - and this - and there was this idea that Clinton had come in saying, we're going to be robust post-Cold War peacekeepers and had completely reversed course to saying, we don't want to get involved in any of this sort of thing. But also, therefore, because we also want to lead the world, nobody else should unless we do. So it became a kind of stalling by all the global powers. And, you know, when people debate whether there's a genocide in Ukraine...
FADEL: Right.
GOUREVITCH: ...The terminology was defined after the Holocaust in a UN resolution. And it was always understood that if you saw a genocide happening, that it carried a burden and an obligation to take preventative action. Now, that doesn't always mean military, but it certainly means very, very, very intense response.
FADEL: Right.
GOUREVITCH: Right? And for that reason, America went - and many others were very reluctant to call it genocide.
FADEL: And that's so different than what we're seeing today when the U.S. speaks about Ukraine. There has been military aid being funneled into Ukraine, although many saying it's not enough. Why the difference?
GOUREVITCH: There are a lot of reasons. I would say that it is as geostrategically off everybody's radar as Ukraine is on it - on the front lines of NATO and Putin's power. You have a nuclear power with a person who is dedicated to destabilizing the post-Cold War order. There was no sense that, like, we get involved in wars in Africa except as proxy wars during the Cold War, which was now over.
FADEL: I also am curious about your take on the media coverage of these two very different moments - obviously, one an invasion, one a civil war. But my producer, Marc Rivers, looked through NPR's archives and found only 19 stories related to the killings in Rwanda from April to August 1994. I mean, on MORNING EDITION alone, we've already exceeded that amount on Ukraine by a lot as we enter month two of the war. Does that number surprise you, the difference?
GOUREVITCH: It always shocks me because it is one of the defining events in the late 20th century. It was very much underreported. The way I see it is the attention that's being given Ukraine is merited.
FADEL: Right.
GOUREVITCH: And it should be that way...
FADEL: Right.
GOUREVITCH: ...Elsewhere.
FADEL: When I was in Ukraine, I was struck by the same thing, how merited the coverage was but how different it is, and how merited it is in other places for other people and isn't the same or hasn't been the same.
GOUREVITCH: The really striking thing to me is when you have mass atrocity and communal violence and sort of systematic killing of civilians and so forth in an African civil war or conflict, you have people sort of saying, my goodness, this is what happens in these places.
FADEL: Right.
GOUREVITCH: And when I hear about Ukraine, I hear so many people saying, I cannot believe in the 21st century...
FADEL: Right.
GOUREVITCH: ...We are seeing such a thing in Europe. What did I miss that happened since the last time this happened in Europe and the time before that and the time before that...
FADEL: Right.
GOUREVITCH: ...And the time before that in this century? What makes people think that this is not something European people do?
FADEL: Yeah. I want to ask you about the impact. You mentioned the way that Ukraine has been covered, seen as central in a battle with Russia and NATO. And at the time, there was a sense in the U.S. that the Rwandan genocide didn't affect the average American, while today we often hear of the global impact of the war in Ukraine. What was, in fact, the impact of the Rwandan genocide worldwide?
GOUREVITCH: Once the immediate violence of extermination inside Rwanda in those months was over, you had a massive movement. Basically, Hutu Power changed its sort of orders to the Hutu population that it could influence from kill to flee. So they basically bolted and said, we're going to come back after regrouping in refugee camps. And the world then went in to support these camps and to support the refugees, leaving the survivors really quite untended.
But then you have more than a decade of wars that mostly took place outside of Rwanda. The war continued inside Rwanda with infiltrations from Congo. And those wars continued for a long time at terrible cost and suffering, mostly to the Congolese people. And there also was a kind of geopolitical consequence, which was this realization that there was this delinking of a certain sense of obligation to atrocity. Many people say, oh, the lesson of Rwanda must be that we will respond better next time. But really, what - the lesson was clear, was that in much of the world, people who depend on the West, anyway, for protection are unprotected.
FADEL: Philip Gourevitch is a writer for The New Yorker. He's also the author of "We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda." Thank you so much for joining us.
GOUREVITCH: Thanks for having me.
(SOUNDBITE OF BRIAN MCBRIDE'S "TOIL THEME PART 1") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/as-the-war-in-ukraine-continues-a-look-back-at-the-1994-rwandan-genocide | 2022-05-12T15:05:53Z |
Updated April 22, 2022 at 12:55 PM ET
U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy had planned to get former President Donald Trump to resign after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, The New York Times revealed in an audio recording Thursday.
In the recorded conversation, McCarthy, a Republican, reportedly told a group of GOP leaders that he didn't believe Trump would voluntarily step down, and contemplated rallying Congress to have him impeached a second time, saying that he believed the measure would pass both the House and Senate.
"I'm seriously thinking of having that conversation with him tonight," McCarthy said. "From what I know of him — I mean, you guys know him too — do you think he would ever back away?"
McCarthy said he would alert the former president of his plans to begin an impeachment trial if he did not resign.
"I think this will pass, and that would be my recommendation you should resign," McCarthy said. "That would be my take, but I don't think he would take it, but I don't know."
McCarthy had previously denied having the conversation, saying that an earlier New York Times report was "totally false and wrong." However the audio, which seems to corroborate the story, was later released by NYT journalists Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns, authors of new book This Will Not Pass, an account of the 2020 election.
My statement on the New York Times pic.twitter.com/PWi2WkoWzh
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) April 21, 2022
In the recording, the then-No. 3 House Republican Liz Cheney can be heard asking McCarthy about whether a 25th Amendment succession plan could be triggered and about Trump's possible resignation.
A Cheney spokesman said Friday morning that the House select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol attack "has asked Kevin McCarthy to speak with us about these events but he has so far declined. Representative Cheney did not record or leak the tape and does not know how the reporters got it."
In January, the committee asked McCarthy to appear and share more about his interest to have Trump resign. However, McCarthy swiftly rejected the idea of testifying.
Trump eventually faced an impeachment charge for inciting an insurrection a week after the riot. During that time, a majority of senators voted to convict Trump — 57 to 43, including seven Republicans. But two-thirds, or 67 votes, was needed to convict. It was the second time Trump was acquitted in an impeachment trial.
In 2019, articles of impeachment were brought against Trump for the first time for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, but he was also acquitted.
Another recording emerged on Friday
The New York Times published another tape on Friday it says was recorded during a private House GOP meeting on Jan. 11, 2021, in which McCarthy said Trump acknowledged some responsibility for the attack.
"I asked him personally today, does he hold responsibility for what happened?" Mr. McCarthy said, according to the Times. "Does he feel bad about what happened? He told me he does have some responsibility for what happened and he'd need to acknowledge that."
Earlier this year, McCarthy denied knowledge of those comments at a press conference.
From January 13, 2022:
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 22, 2022
Q: "Did you tell House Republicans on their January 11 phone call that President Trump told you he agreed that he bore some responsibility for January 6th?"@GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy: "I'm not sure what call you're talking about." pic.twitter.com/rkZsy8QLYZ
The question of Trump's responsibility for the attack is central to the investigation by the House select committee.
Tensions had been high between McCarthy and Trump on Jan. 6
McCarthy and Trump had a shouting match during a phone call during the Jan. 6 attack, where McCarthy pleaded with Trump to take notice that the rioters were Trump supporters. However, Trump responded, "Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are."
Days later, McCarthy took to the House floor later to say Trump "bears responsibility" for his role in the attack. The rift appeared it would stay — until McCarthy flew to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida within weeks of the attack and appeared in a photo with Trump, seemingly mending this feud between them.
The recording puts McCarthy in a tough position with his party. In the wake of the news, he received mixed reviews from his rank and file.
"@GOPLeader - you should have trusted my instincts, not your own," Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz tweeted Friday.
However, Trump likely remains the ultimate judge on McCarthy's ambitions. And with mended fences in their past already, it's very possible McCarthy can survive a new controversy.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/audio-reveals-kevin-mccarthy-planned-to-urge-trump-to-resign-after-capitol-riot | 2022-05-12T15:05:59Z |
President Biden will sign an executive order to inventory and protect old-growth forests while visiting Seattle later Friday.
The order requires the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture to come up with a shared definition of mature and old-growth forests and gives them a year to take stock of their numbers in the U.S. After collecting that data, the agencies must come up with new policies to manage and conserve these wooded areas, with an eye towards threats like wildfires.
The carbon stored by forests, harvested wood products, and urban trees offsets around 14% of carbon released each year in the U.S., according to a 2020 Forest Service report. Older, wider trees tend to store more carbon, although there is some scientific debate over how much carbon they continue to take out of the atmosphere as they age.
While definitions of old-growth and mature trees vary depending on the type of forest, the term was initially applied to stands containing trees that are 150 years old.
The executive action does not take steps to limit logging of old growth forests on federal lands, as a coalition of environmental groups have been calling on the administration to do. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, "conserving our remaining older forests and trees on federal public lands is one of the country's most straightforward, impactful and cost-effective climate solutions," they wrote.
"It's a very good start on the things that we've been asking for," said Kirin Kennedy, director of people and nature policy at the Sierra Club, one of the members of that coalition. She said her group is not necessarily calling for a moratorium on logging old-growth trees, but for a science-based approach to managing them.
"We want to protect old trees, but we also want to make sure communities are protected," said Kennedy.
In press briefing, senior administration officials said wildfire risk reduction is an important tool for protecting not only old trees but the people living near them.
The new executive action also directs federal agencies to:
The Earth Day push comes after a halting year for the White House's climate agenda. After failing to garner enough support for the Build Back Better Act, which contained $555 billion in funding for investments in climate initiatives, Biden pivoted to calling for more fossil fuel extraction to support European allies weaning off of Russian oil and gas.
In the lead up to Earth Day, the White House touted climate investments made through other legislation, such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which includes funds for energy efficiency and green transit infrastructure, as signs he is making progress towards the goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% before the decade is out.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/biden-will-order-a-study-of-old-growth-forests-in-an-earth-day-executive-action | 2022-05-12T15:06:06Z |
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
AB-3121 is a bit of an unassuming title for an incredibly complex effort in California. It's the bill that created a task force to study reparations for slavery in the state. Right now, the task force is preparing the first in a series of reports. It will look at the impact of racism on Black Americans. Lisa Holder is a task force member and civil rights attorney.
LISA HOLDER: So it's a report that looks at inequity in employment, in health care, in housing, in wealth accumulation starting from the inception of the slave economy all the way up to the present.
SHAPIRO: The report's release in June will be the next milestone for the task force. The most recent milestone has come with a lot of contention.
(SOUNDBITE OF MONTAGE)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: All Black people in California should receive reparations 'cause they were judged by...
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: Let's not strip away the humanity of freedmen by making their history and culture a prop for every one, quote-unquote, "African person."
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: How are we confused on who should receive this repair?
SHAPIRO: After a series of public hearings, the task force voted in March 5-4 to exclude some Black residents. Only those who can trace their lineage to enslaved or freed Black people in the U.S. before the end of the 19th century will be eligible for reparations. We wanted to hear how some Black Californians are feeling about the plan now.
TAIWO KUJICHAGULIA-SEITU: My name is Taiwo Kujichagulia-Seitu, and under the current plan, I would be eligible.
DERIKA DENELL GIBSON: My name is Derika Denell Gibson, and I am eligible under the current AB-3121 eligibility motion.
KAELYN SABAL-WILSON: My name is Kaelyn Sabal-Wilson, and under the current plan, I would be ineligible.
SHAPIRO: My co-host Ailsa Chang sat down with this group to talk about California's reparations plan as it stands, starting with how the history of slavery impacts each of their lives today.
KUJICHAGULIA-SEITU: I can get a DNA test and trace my ancestry back on these shores, but I can't necessarily say where in Nigeria or Benin or Mali my ancestors are from. Our families were literally torn apart. And I'm doing the piecework now of trying to put that puzzle back together. But were it not for enslavement or colonization, I wouldn't have to do all that footwork.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Yeah. What about you, Derika? And I do realize I'm asking an enormous question, but how do you still feel, in your everyday life, the legacy of enslavement?
GIBSON: I know that I can draw a line starting from today all the way back to Reconstruction and slavery given the inhumane treatment that we've sustained that's been allowed and, in some cases, amplified. We can look at the current homeownership or the lack of Black homeownership and businesses and so forth.
CHANG: What about you, Kaelyn? - because, you know, your family has roots in Trinidad and Belize, but you were born here in the U.S. And I'm curious, and this may be the key question in this debate about who is entitled to reparations in the state of California. Do you think that you as an individual - that you are impacted differently by the legacy of racism and slavery in this country compared to someone whose ancestors were enslaved or freed in the U.S.?
SABAL-WILSON: Yes. I think that I have a very different reference point and experience. Much like Taiwo was mentioning, being able to sort of trace your lineage - I can trace my family in Trinidad. I can trace my family in Belize. I can sort of get back to some of those connections that have been severed and lost by bondage and by slavery.
CHANG: I want to talk specifically about the criteria that the task force in California laid out. They decided that only Black Californians who are descendants of enslaved Black people or descendants of freed Black people living in the U.S. prior to the end of the 19th century - that only those Black Californians will be eligible for reparations. How does that set of criteria sit with each of you?
GIBSON: I believe that reparations is only owed to African Americans who descend from persons enslaved in the United States.
CHANG: So what do you say to the argument that all Black people in this country are suffering at some level from the layers of impacts that flowed out of slavery regardless of whether their descendants were enslaved or freed during the 19th century?
GIBSON: I do believe that all people who were considered Black peoples in the United States have been subjugated to some type of inhumane treatment. However, in terms of reparations, as defined, it is a very distinctive repair for a specific group that has a unique and specific history here in this country.
CHANG: Well, let me turn to Kaelyn. I mean, listening to Derika lay out her argument, do you believe that, when it comes to specifically reparations from the state of California - that there should be a distinction among Black Californians?
SABAL-WILSON: I agree with Derika. I think that makes sense. And looking at the specific parameters of reparations as a whole, like, considering this experience, absolutely I agree.
CHANG: So you feel fine, as a Black Californian, not being entitled to reparations from the state of California at this moment. You're OK with that.
SABAL-WILSON: I feel that I am not owed anything in this particular context. I am OK with some of us getting something in what we are owed than for none of us to get anything.
CHANG: Yeah. What about you, Taiwo? Do you think that this distinction the task force is drawing is a fair one?
KUJICHAGULIA-SEITU: I'm going to say that, within this context, it is an understandable one. If it's about trying to pinpoint who is owed what and make it a process that is formulaic, I think the primary concern with some people is that this decision should not be prohibitive for people who cannot trace their family history due to lack of resources or due to lack of information.
CHANG: I want to ask each of you, what would it ultimately mean to you and to your families if you were to receive reparations?
KUJICHAGULIA-SEITU: This is Taiwo. For me, it would mean an opportunity to build wealth, to leave a positive net worth for my children. My oldest daughter is a senior in high school this year - to be able to actually pay for her to go to college so she doesn't have to, you know, have student loan debt like I do because my parents couldn't afford for me to go to college, right? So it would mean a lot in terms of setting us up economically, financially, some financial stability.
CHANG: Kaelyn.
SABAL-WILSON: I think for me personally, it would be about the ability and the sustainability to thrive rather than to just survive. I think that ultimately, because of the ways in which Black people have been left out of the wealth ladder and have been left out of the economic sector and even have been left out of the health care system, to just be able to exist freely would be what it would mean for me.
CHANG: What about you, Derika?
GIBSON: Reparations would be - it means everything to me. Reparations would mean that I would be able to not only receive and collect what my great-great-grams and those before them - what they were denied and to also be able to have an inheritance and have something to pass down to my children thereafter in addition to being made fully American because, you know, given the gravity of wealth extraction and inhumane subjugation, reparations means living a full American life and living the life that my ancestors were not able to live and not just freely but purely.
(SOUNDBITE OF TURNA'S "DUCKY")
SHAPIRO: That was Derika Denell Gibson, Kaelyn Sabal-Wilson and Taiwo Kujichagulia-Seitu in conversation with Ailsa Chang.
(SOUNDBITE OF TURNA'S "DUCKY") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/black-californians-discuss-the-possibility-of-reparations-in-their-state | 2022-05-12T15:06:12Z |
A MARTINEZ, HOST:
Good morning. I'm A Martinez.
A rumbling from underneath your house could mean old pipes or troublesome supports. Some California homeowners heard odd noises - rumbling, snoring even - but decided to ignore it. Then spring arrived, and they found that a bear had chosen their crawl space for hibernating. BEAR League animal rescuers were called and found four more bears - four yearlings, including one that had been adopted by the mama bear. Five bears? That house must have been just right.
It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/calif-homeowner-heard-odd-noises-over-the-winter-but-didnt-investigate | 2022-05-12T15:06:18Z |
DANIEL ESTRIN, HOST:
Chinese tech stocks are having a rough year. The e-commerce giant JD.com, for example, is down 25%. Its competitor, Alibaba, is down 60. There are several reasons why, but one reason is firmly in the Chinese government's control. Darian Woods and Adrian Ma with our daily economics podcast The Indicator explain.
DARIAN WOODS, BYLINE: Rui Ma is a tech investor in China, and she has her own podcast called "Tech Buzz China."
RUI MA: If you were investing in listed companies, then you probably had a pretty crappy year, actually (laughter). And there's still a lot of uncertainty going forward.
WOODS: And we wanted to know, why are these tech stocks in China having such a bad year? Rui told us about a phrase that was first used in China in the 1950s when China was led by Chairman Mao, but it has gained traction as this new buzzword in political circles in China over the past year. It's called common prosperity.
R MA: Common prosperity contains with it a lot of ideas. The main goal is actually to double GDP per capita by 2035 and become what's called a middle-developed country.
ADRIAN MA, BYLINE: Even though China is the world's second-largest economy overall, when you divide that by its 1 1/2 billion people, the average Chinese person is still pretty poor by American standards.
WOODS: And that said, China has grown production enormously over the last four decades. It's done that by investing heavily in manufacturing and infrastructure. But China's growth formula has been associated with massive income inequality.
R MA: China is focused on trying to make sure that the next stage of development is more equal across the board.
WOODS: The banner common prosperity is a sprawling, multifaceted set of aims, and, yes, reducing inequality is part of it. But even here, it's also about reasserting the role of state power. It's this big shift back towards a more state-dominated economy after decades of China opening up its markets. And one of the ways that the state has been reasserting its power is by cutting certain big Chinese companies down to size through regulation.
Now, it is worth mentioning that China is not clamping down on all tech companies, just the tech which isn't aligned with its strategic goals. But this crackdown has really decimated a lot of publicly traded Chinese companies. And there's always the risk that this downturn could spread into the wider Chinese economy, which would have ripple effects all around the world. And that leads us to a turning point. The government may have hinted that it thinks that it's gone too far in the taming of tech platforms.
A MA: Yeah. You can get a sense of how it's changing its messaging based on a comment from China's vice premier, Liu He, just last month. And he said the government will, quote, "actively release policies favorable to markets," unquote. He also said that the government would better coordinate regulations that might affect capital markets.
WOODS: One person who is especially looking for stability is President Xi Jinping. He's widely expected to be making a case for a third term as leader later in the year. That's something that hasn't happened in a half century. And it'd be a lot easier of a sell if the financial markets in China were not in chaos.
A MA: Adrian Ma.
WOODS: Darian Woods, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/chinas-tech-crackdown-has-disrupted-its-financial-markets | 2022-05-12T15:06:24Z |
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
President Biden says we will speak softly and carry a large javelin. He's playing off a line by Theodore Roosevelt, speak softly and carry a big stick. Biden made that remark while discussing $800 million in weapons shipments to Ukraine, including Javelin anti-tank missiles. Some of the weapons may arrive this weekend as Ukrainians await a further Russian offensive. We've been watching for that assault in the eastern part of the country, but we also have some news this morning - indications of a Russian advance in the south near Russian-occupied Crimea.
One of our correspondents has been watching civilians get out of the way of that apparent assault. NPR's Brian Mann is in Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine.
BRIAN MANN, BYLINE: Things are tense today. We spoke to several military sources here this morning who say Russian ground troops are now active about 15 miles from the city. When we arrived, we found a fleet of city buses lined up in the center of Mykolaiv, surrounded by crowds of people with suitcases and garbage bags full of clothes, many of them carrying children and pushing strollers.
IRYNA MATVIYISHYN: They're evacuating children and women and elderly people.
MANN: That's Iryna Matviyishyn, a Ukrainian journalist and translator who's working with me here, Steve, for NPR. And together, we spoke with a woman named Ina who was leaving her home in Mykolaiv with her teenage daughter, Polina. They were carrying their little dog. Like a lot of people here, Ina said she's afraid Mykolaiv could turn into another Mariupol, a war zone crowded with civilians.
INA: (Non-English language spoken).
MANN: "I have a small kid, and to save her life, I have to leave to go to Odesa," she told us. So while these people flee, the battle for Mykolaiv is considered to be crucial here in the south. If this city does fall, Russians would be positioned to threaten Odesa, which is, of course, Ukraine's major port on the Black Sea. And that's also a place where a lot of refugees are now staying.
INSKEEP: Brian, I'm interested to hear you say people don't want to be trapped in the city where you are because they don't want it to be like another Mariupol with a lot of civilians in the crossfire. We have evidence - or we're hearing stories of mass graves in Mariupol. What is the evidence?
MANN: Yeah, there are new satellite images that appear to show mass graves on the outskirts of that city. NPR hasn't been able to independently confirm exactly what's happened there, but again, it's clearly troubling. And meanwhile, we have Vladimir Putin publicly calling off the assault on the remaining Ukrainian fighters. But I have to say, there are reports that heavy shelling of those positions does continue.
INSKEEP: Yeah, Russia has not said it will stop the offensive in Mariupol, just that they're not going to go in directly into that steel plant where Ukrainians are holding out. What are Ukrainians saying about this new supply of weapons from the United States?
MANN: You know, over and over, I hear gratitude from soldiers for Western aid, but also an appeal for more. Some of the Ukrainian soldiers I talked to here today say they still lack basic supplies - you know, ammunition and other essentials. And top Ukrainian officials say what they really need are those heavier weapons, like the artillery that's on its way. They also want tanks and aircraft.
INSKEEP: Which is something that the United States would conceivably have. Is this enough to make a difference, though?
MANN: You know, so far, Ukrainians have held the line as Russian bombardments and airstrikes and probes have escalated on the ground. Military officials in Ukraine and defense experts I've been speaking to say if Ukraine can quickly build up their firepower, it could make a difference as this Russian offensive escalates.
INSKEEP: NPR's Brian Mann, thanks so much.
MANN: Thank you, Steve. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/civilians-in-southern-ukraine-are-trying-to-get-away-from-the-assault-in-mykolaiv | 2022-05-12T15:06:30Z |
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
In a matter of weeks, the cable TV network CNN dove into internet streaming and then climbed back out. It is shutting down CNN+. The company attracted big-name talent from NBC, Fox and NPR, among others - Chris Wallace, Audie Cornish, Kasie Hunt. But then a new corporate parent had other ideas. Carol Costello joins us now. She's a former CNN anchor who now teaches journalism.
Welcome.
CAROL COSTELLO: (Laughter) Oh, nice to be with you this morning. You know, that all sounded so painful for me, and I don't even work there anymore.
INSKEEP: (Laughter) Oh, my goodness. Well, what did you think about when you heard the news?
COSTELLO: Well, first of all, I was sad because here it goes again, CNN taking another hit on its reputation. And this time, it's so not deserved. And I'm really disappointed that this new venture in delivering news was not given time to work.
INSKEEP: That does surprise me as well. Building an audience on the internet - sometimes things are instant hits. But sometimes it takes years to build an audience. And they gave it weeks.
COSTELLO: (Laughter) I know, weeks. You know, the sad thing is, it isn't often that, like, tens of millions of dollars is invested in an experimental venture, one that, you know, the company bigwigs expect to lose money in the short term in order to gain in the long term. That doesn't happen very often. But they were willing to do that in this big news experiment. It was big. It was risky. It was flashy. And it would have been a great test for the future of the news industry.
INSKEEP: Was it just a matter of the change in corporate parents here, new management with new priorities? Or was something else going wrong?
COSTELLO: No. I just think it came down to Discovery. They didn't want to gamble on something that would take a long minute to work. And they didn't think there were enough people willing to pay - what? - six bucks for a video news service.
INSKEEP: And that was the business model here. There are other internet streaming services that provide live news. CBS has one. ABC has one. But in this case, they wanted people to pay - a subscription service. Put people up front. That was a risk, I suppose.
COSTELLO: That was a risk. But again, this was an experimental, big, new venture, and maybe they would have adjusted in the future, you know, if it wasn't working. But to just cancel it after a few weeks - it just doesn't seem that they gave that model a chance to work. And that's sad.
INSKEEP: Now, this is something that the old CNN management described as the future of the company, the future of news. Do you think that internet streaming is, in fact, the future of the news?
COSTELLO: Yes. I absolutely think it's the future of news. They're still figuring it out, though, right? It's going to take a minute. And, you know, the way we consume news is changing every single day. But there's no doubt that people are moving their attention online. So news organizations like CNN have to figure it out. And this was their big idea.
INSKEEP: I'm thinking about the way this can be used. I know the CBS internet streaming thing - I can just bring it up on my television. It's just regular TV. It just happens to be over the internet. Is that what you envision happening? Is this something that people would consume in smaller bites, on smaller screens? What does the future look like to you?
COSTELLO: Talking specifically about CNN, you know, people watch CNN for its live coverage. They really love that - and breaking news. That's hard to duplicate, I think, on a smaller screen online. That will be a big challenge for the CNNs of the world, right? But again, they need time to figure it out. And maybe they were on their way with CNN+, but now we'll never know.
INSKEEP: Carol Costello is a former CNN anchor and journalism lecturer at Loyola Marymount University.
Thanks so much.
COSTELLO: Thanks.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/cnn-pulls-the-plug-on-the-networks-streaming-platform-after-only-a-month | 2022-05-12T15:06:36Z |
After a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, Coachella roared back for the first of two weekends. The music festival's lineup included Billie Eilish, Danny Elfman and The Weeknd. One of the many stages set up in the California desert is a perennial fan favorite: the Do LaB.
Under the Do LaB's 200-by 200-foot wide tent made of colorful, lightweight triangular fabrics held together with tension wires and cables, DJs spun pulsating beats and musicians serenaded with House, R&B and electronic music. Aerial dancers floated down from colorful fabrics. The Do LaB space was a shady spot under the hot Coachella sun, with water misters to cool off the crowds. Every so often, someone would come on stage to spray the audience with water guns decorated with flowers.
"Amazing people, amazing vibes, everyone's here for a good time," is how 27-year-old Branden Robbers put it. He came to Coachella in fishnet stockings and chaps.
He and his 24-year-old friend Scott Wasierski camped out at Coachella last weekend. "It's good to be back," Wasierski said. "For so long, we've just been cooped up by the pandemic."
At night, laser lights, confetti and streamers enhanced the party mood and the Do LaB crowd swelled to 10,000. The first weekend's lineup included surprise guests such as the 11-piece techno marching band MEUTE, Rebecca Black and Diplo.
"Our history at Coachella has been very renegade," said Josh Flemming, who oversees the design and structure of the Do LaB stages, which evolve every few years. His twin Jesse curates the music, and their younger brother Dede manages the logistics. They've been a presence at Coachella since 2004, when they snuck in some speakers after hours. One of their DJ friends started spinning music.
"People started coming into our dome and dancing," recalls Dede. "Then we were like, wow, how are we getting away with this? No one's stopping us!"
They also set up an unofficial art sculpture and 60-foot geometric dome draped with fabric. "We look at it today and we roll our eyes. It was just, well, ridiculous," Dede said.
"But it's not just about the visual for us, it was about the experience. So we had this dome and we built a waterfall fountain out front," Dede said. "It was 110 degrees. And people would just be dying of heat. And we would walk around and hand out trays of sliced orange peels. It was about 'come on in to our oasis.' That's what we called it. An oasis."
The 43-year-old twins grew up DJing middle and high school dances in Pennsylvania. After college, Jesse moved to California and began working on a TV show. He met a friend there who invited him to a rave in the Angeles Crest mountains outside L.A.
"Somebody gave us some ecstasy and boom! That was it. We started raving every weekend," Jesse said. "I called my brother and was like, bro, you got to come out here and we got to do one of these parties for our birthday."
Josh said followed Jesse to California to record audio for the ABC show 20/20. And they made that birthday party happen. "We got some speakers and a bunch of cheap Christmas lights and paper lanterns, whatever we could get our hands on and we threw the best party we could in the woods," he said. "Every year we kept doing it, more people kept coming."
Soon, Dede joined his brothers and worked as a production assistant for a slew of reality TV shows.
The brothers began calling their gatherings "Lightning in a Bottle." Inspired by Burning Man and Coachella, they quit their TV production jobs to host parties full time. They convinced their parents to co-sign the lease for a warehouse in downtown Los Angeles. They lived upstairs and threw massive underground dance parties and fashion shows below. In the warehouse, they had an art gallery and rehearsal space for the avant-garde circus troupe Lucent Dossier.
"We were part of this underground Burning Man music scene," said Jesse. "A scene that included The Glitch Mob and other musicians who were up and coming."
Jesse said when they found out the warehouse had once been a meth lab, they decided to name their group the Do LaB "because we were always doing stuff."
Eventually, their underground party house got shut down by the police and fire department. Josh said it was a wake-up call.
"Having been busted was a blessing in disguise because it forced us to start doing things by the book," he said. "It forced us to learn how to be above ground and do proper events so we could grow without being illegal."
The Do LaB stages have morphed over the years, and the brothers have turned their enterprise into a small, independent, family-run business. Dede said it was gut-wrenching when Lightning in a Bottle was canceled in 2020.
"My brothers and I had to tell everyone that we didn't have the money to give back to them because we had spent that money to throw the festival," Dede said. "We didn't spend that money on ourselves. We spent it to create the magical show that we always provide to them. I think we were a little naïve in thinking that they'd understand. But you know, this was at a time when people were losing their jobs, there's so much uncertainty in the world. They were outraged. And all of a sudden we were the villain."
Dede said they scraped up whatever they could to offer partial refunds and prepayments for future festivals. "Some people still feel shafted, and I get it," he recalls. "But we did right by as many people as we could."
Josh, Jesse and Dede said they're happy to be back on the scene, and that Coachella has always given them the freedom to create interactive experiences with an underground vibe.
"It would be hard to imagine Coachella without the brothers involved," said Paul Clemente, who manages the festival's large-scale art program. "They're still doing it all these years later and really have created a whole, very unique vibe and culture and tribe and just an energy that people really want to be around."
This weekend, the Do LaB continues its party with The Glitch Mob and others. And in a month, they host their own ongoing festival, called Lightning in a Bottle.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/coachellas-music-fan-fave-do-lab-is-back | 2022-05-12T15:06:42Z |
Since the U.S. imposed sanctions in March, American refineries have stopped welcoming tanker ships laden with Russian oil. But Russian crude exports to other parts of the world have been increasing.
The American sanctions aim to cut the hard-currency revenues that feed the Russian economy and its war effort: 36% of Russian federal budget revenues came from oil and gas last year, according to Russia's Finance Ministry. But while the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia have formal embargoes, most countries around the world don't, and oil refineries from India to Spain are still purchasing Russian crude.
A drop-off in Russian oil exports was minimal and has strongly rebounded in April, despite fears of supply shortages driving recent high oil prices, says Matt Smith, lead oil analyst at Kpler, a data analytics firm. Russia has earned more than $12 billion from oil exports since its invasion of Ukraine, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, an international research group. A month into the U.S.-led sanctions, the flow of Russian petroleum to the world, as well as the revenues from it, remains strong.
Much of this oil trade is facilitated by a highly efficient and sometimes controversial group of middlemen: oil trading firms. Oil traders act as global matchmakers between the countries and companies that pump oil and the refineries that process crude into gasoline and other fuels.
"We're merchants," says Saad Rahim, chief economist of Trafigura, a commodity trading firm that handles about 7 million barrels of oil and products a day. "In a sense, it's the oldest business in the world."
Trafigura is one of a handful of companies in Switzerland that handles about a quarter of the world's oil each day. For decades, these firms have sourced much of their oil from Russia. About 80% of Russian commodities are traded in Switzerland, according to a 2021 report from the Swiss Embassy in Moscow. Some oil traders also have stakes in Russia's state oil company and its assets, including in a megaproject in an environmentally fragile part of the Russian Arctic.
In the weeks following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, many trading firms have said they are reviewing their holdings in Russia. Yet traders continue to facilitate the flow of Russian oil and, last month, even increased their Russian oil trading activity, says Oliver Classen, spokesperson for Public Eye, a commodity trading watchdog group in Switzerland.
"We're just looking at data that suggests that key traders working out of Switzerland have significantly stepped up their activities in the war month of March," Classen says.
Some of the trading firms that handle the most Russian oil say they're legally bound to fulfill preexisting contracts to lift Russian crude and are complying with all sanctions. Trafigura and the commodity trading firm Gunvor tell NPR that they condemn the war in Ukraine. Another trader, Glencore, directed NPR to its website, where it also condemns the war. The firm Vitol announced last week that it would stop trading Russian oil by the end of this year.
But for now, the traders' continued loadings have big implications for Russia's ability to wage war in Ukraine, says Alexandra Gillies, an adviser at the Natural Resource Governance Institute, an organization focused on extractive industries.
"In this situation," Gillies says, "they're offering a financial lifeline to Vladimir Putin and his government."
March was busy for traders loading Russian crude
The International Energy Agency has predicted that starting this month, global markets could lose as much as 3 million barrels a day of Russian oil because of sanctions and skittish buyers. The European Union says it is considering oil sanctions. But with the current limited sanctions led by the U.S. in place, oil traders in London and Geneva tell NPR that while some Russian crude is getting rerouted, so far the majority of cargoes are making their way to market.
Traders manage a complex global web of oil, says Giacomo Luciani, an energy economist and professor at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, or Sciences Po. "They're middlemen, so their job consists in matching the most appropriate crude with the most appropriate refinery," he says. Crude oil varies based on qualities such as weight and sulfur content. "It's like wine. Each crude oil is different."
Across the supply chain, traders are valued for their logistical know-how. "They do not own tankers, but they know where the tankers are, they know how to rent a tanker," Luciani says.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, these trading companies have been putting their know-how to work to help keep oil flowing out of Russia. A recent report from Reuters using shipping data shows that March was Trafigura's busiest month of loading cargoes of Russian oil since June 2021. Vitol maintained about the same level of Russian cargoes in March as it did in January and February, and both these companies are still lining up tankers to lift Russian oil this month and next, according to Reuters.
Rahim, of Trafigura, says because the traders aren't sending Russian oil to the U.S. or other countries that have sanctioned Russian oil, their business is legal. "The barrels are not sanctioned that any of the trading houses are touching today," Rahim says. "We have to ensure that that flow continues."
Commodity traders have a checkered history
For decades, the commodity traders in Switzerland have been deeply intertwined with Russia, Luciani says.
Gunvor was co-founded by Putin ally Gennady Timchenko. He sold his Gunvor shares in 2014, just before the U.S. placed sanctions on him following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea. Gunvor has a minority, noncontrolling stake in an oil products terminal on the Baltic Sea. A Gunvor spokesperson said in an email to NPR, "The terminal is being reviewed for divestiture."
Vitol and Trafigura each have minority stakes in state oil producer Rosneft's Vostok Oil project in the Russian Arctic. Both companies have announced that they are reviewing their stakes.
Glencore, which owns a small stake in Rosneft as well as a part of a Russian state aluminum project, says on its website that "there is no realistic way to exit these stakes in the current environment."
Litasco, a Swiss oil trading company owned by Russian state oil company Lukoil, and Petraco, a Swiss trader that also has contracts for Russian production, did not reply to requests for comment.
But the traders' ties to Putin's Russia only add to persistent ethical questions that have long haunted the industry, going back to the so-called godfather of oil trading, Marc Rich. Rich, the founder of Glencore, was a notorious sanctions-buster, trading oil with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's Iran and apartheid South Africa. He was indicted in the 1980s for tax evasion, wire fraud and other crimes, and he fled to Switzerland.
In recent years, commodity trading companies have faced renewed scrutiny for their oil deals. In 2020, Vitol admitted to paying millions of dollars in bribes for oil contracts in Brazil, Ecuador and Mexico, and it paid over $135 million to resolve a U.S. Justice Department probe. In 2019, Swiss courts found Gunvor criminally liable for bribery in oil deals in the Republic of Congo and Ivory Coast. Glencore is currently involved in corruption probes in the U.S., the U.K. and Brazil, and it has set aside $1.5 billion for settlements this year for what its chief executive has described as historic misconduct. Brazilian authorities have named Trafigura in investigations into oil deals, but the company denies the allegations.
Rahim says new transparency measures around payments to foreign governments and a move away from agents have changed the culture of the trading industry: "People probably who were in this industry even in the early 2000s would probably not recognize kind of how it is today."
As for the current limited sanctions on Russian oil, Rahim says trading firms are constantly monitoring new regulations to figure out what is allowable. "Across the physical trading houses, I'll tell you that probably the busiest people at those companies are the people in compliance right now," he says.
"A duty of care"
For oil traders, Russia is a key, and not easily replaceable, source in global energy markets. At the recent FT Commodities Global Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland, CEOs of Vitol and Gunvor said that Russia supplies about half of Europe's diesel. Europe now faces diesel shortages, and Rahim says if trading firms were to suddenly stop handling Russian barrels, there would be many more energy shortages all around the world. "We have sort of a, almost a duty of care to make sure that the system maintains itself," he says.
In late March, the economic adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote a letter to the heads of Vitol, Trafigura, Glencore and Gunvor. According to the Financial Times, which first reported the letter, Oleg Ustenko asked the companies to stop trading Russian energy products, which are financing Putin's invasion.
For the trading companies, it is getting harder to find ships willing to pick up cargoes of Russian crude and find banks to provide letters of credit. But while Vitol has announced its plans to stop trading Russian oil by the end of the year, for now it and other key traders are continuing to operate in Russian ports. A Trafigura spokesperson told NPR that the company expects to load lower volumes after May 15. Trading arms of international oil companies like Shell and TotalEnergies also still have long-term contracts to lift Russian oil.
Gillies, of the Natural Resource Governance Institute, says leaving the oil traders to make their own decisions about pulling out of Russia is a mistake. "Commodity traders for years have shown a willingness to do business with almost everybody," Gillies says. "And so it's not an ideal situation to have these commodity trading companies making those policy decisions about whether they should be continuing to buy Russian oil or not."
"These are some of the most economically important transactions to the Russian state right now," she adds, "so any steps to make those transactions more difficult, I think, is really important."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/despite-u-s-sanctions-oil-traders-help-russian-oil-reach-global-markets | 2022-05-12T15:06:48Z |
DANIEL ESTRIN, HOST:
It's Orthodox Easter this weekend, a weekend that would normally fill Ukraine with celebrations. But this year, Easter Sunday finds millions of Ukrainians displaced and seeking refuge in neighboring countries due to the Russian invasion. More than 40,000 are in Bulgaria, and NPR's Meghan Collins Sullivan spoke with a few about how the holiday will be different this year.
MEGHAN COLLINS SULLIVAN, BYLINE: At a small, noisy cafe in downtown Sofia, a group of moms and kids sit in chairs or on the floor drinking coffee and warm milk. This is not where they hoped to find themselves heading into Easter weekend, but they are relieved to be here. Tetyana Olefir and her daughters, 13-year-old Elizabeth and 10-year-old Alexandra, arrived in Bulgaria's capital just days ago.
TETYANA OLEFIR: I wish to go back for Easter because we have our tradition to make it - we have this Easter bread called paska.
SULLIVAN: Easter is one of the most important and joyous holidays in Eastern Europe.
OLEFIR: Everybody - we're painting eggs and drawing on eggs. And also, we make lot of sweets.
SULLIVAN: Instead, today they are enjoying the company of others displaced from Ukraine and finding some solace in sharing their stories. These moms and kids have left husbands, dads, sons and brothers behind. Men aged 18 to 60 have to stay to fight.
Irina Darbakova escaped with her daughter and two grandchildren three weeks ago after their home in Mariupol was destroyed. She had to leave her 20-year-old son Yuli behind and has since lost contact with him. Tetyana explains.
IRINA DARBAKOVA: (Non-English language spoken).
OLEFIR: She doesn't think it going to be holiday for her because her son is still in Mariupol - is fighting for Mariupol.
SULLIVAN: Pamela Della Toffola helped organize today's gathering. She hands out little cloth bags decorated with bunnies and filled with Easter treats to all the kids. She says she's trying to offer some moments of happiness for them.
PAMELA DELLA TOFFOLA: Actually, we try to organize things for them to forget sometimes - what the tragedy that they're leaving.
SULLIVAN: For others, this Easter may not be filled with the usual traditions, but they're finding meaning in safety and the kindness of strangers.
JOSEPH FEN: Actually, everyone helps us (laughter) because - yes, we're really thankful for those who are helping us.
SULLIVAN: That's 26-year-old Joseph Fen. He arrived in Bulgaria from Kyiv earlier this month with his friends, Anet and Natasha, and Natasha's 10-year-old twin girls, Alesandra and Yulia. His mom is Bulgarian, so he has a passport that allowed him to leave Ukraine. He says he feels torn but that he thinks he can be most helpful making connections for Ukrainians in Bulgaria.
FEN: My feelings are, like, mixed (laughter) because I know I can go back and be there with all of my friends because every day I think, it's like I left them there.
SULLIVAN: The friends will attend their church's online service Sunday. Joseph says they'll focus on the religious aspects of the holiday.
FEN: Like, meaning of this holiday changed for us because we survived something in our life. So we can say to kids and other people - we can give not traditions, but something bigger.
SULLIVAN: Meghan Collins Sullivan, NPR News, Sofia. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/displaced-ukrainians-in-bulgaria-are-finding-ways-to-mark-orthodox-easter | 2022-05-12T15:06:54Z |
DANIEL ESTRIN, HOST:
We've all been there - the dreaded call to a customer service line.
AUTOMATED VOICE: Please hold while your call is being transferred.
ESTRIN: Can I please just speak to a live human being? Well, there are ways to get what you want. In this encore, Meghan Keane of NPR's Life Kit explains a game plan.
MEGHAN KEANE, BYLINE: Chances are if you're calling a customer service line, you're dealing with a problem. I know it's tempting to come in hot and just really lay into the customer service representative, but just remember...
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)
CRAIG DOS SANTOS: Behind every rule, there's a person who has to apply that rule, and that person often has some leeway. And they're only going to change things if you can reach them.
KEANE: That's Craig dos Santos. He's a consultant who specializes in negotiation, which makes him pretty incredible at dealing with customer service. He's done seemingly impossible tasks, like successfully returning three new iPads after the return period and negotiating a $16,000 medical bill to $0. But he didn't do any of this by yelling or demanding to speak to the manager.
DOS SANTOS: It's tempting to think of these as transactions, but there's a real human there. And if you treat them as a transactional being, then they will also treat you that way.
KEANE: A big tip from dos Santos - make the customer service representative your ally. You want to signal to the rep you're separating them from the problem.
DOS SANTOS: What I'll tell them is like, look, I know that you didn't have anything to do with this; I know you're trying to help me, but I want to tell you what happened.
KEANE: Let's say you ordered some sneakers. The company says they were delivered weeks ago, but you haven't seen them arrive yet - a total hypothetical here. Instead of saying, hey, jerk, you need to fix this; your company shouldn't be losing sneakers; this is unacceptable, take a deep breath.
DOS SANTOS: Just tell them, look, I'm really frustrated. I just want to tell you what's been my experience so far and separate that out. I think that is one way to, like, bring reality into the conversation without making it about them.
KEANE: Again, separating the person from the problem. So it's more like, I know the tracking information for these shoes say they've been delivered, but I've already checked with my neighbors if they picked it up by mistake, and no one has, and I'm just confused as to why they're still missing. It should go without saying, but here's your reminder to be kind. Use the representative's name and just be patient.
Another easy way to get someone on your side during a customer service interaction - ask them for advice. What would you do in my situation?
DOS SANTOS: Or I'll just state the situation. Like, you know, I woke up today, and I was just not expecting to get a bill for $145. Like, I don't know what to do - silence. You know, let them contemplate that situation, and then see what they say. And oftentimes they'll be like, yeah, that would be crappy. If I woke up in the morning and had a $145 bill, I would not be happy either.
KEANE: The key to getting good customer service is preemptively de-escalating the situation. Dos Santos does this with what he calls caretaking statements. It's essentially showing your appreciation.
DOS SANTOS: I appreciate you, like, being patient with me as we figure this thing out.
KEANE: Or say, thank you so much for sticking with me on this, or I've dealt with a few people today on this issue, and you've been so quick to sort this out.
DOS SANTOS: You can always insert one of these little what I call caretaking statements to reduce the tension, but you're not releasing the request.
KEANE: All of this - making the customer service representative your ally, separating the person from the problem, showing your appreciation - helps set policies and rules aside so you can solve the problem with another human.
DOS SANTOS: Now you're talking about something that actually impacts people emotionally. And when you need to move somebody emotionally, then you can move what their decisions are.
KEANE: So much better than just asking for the manager.
For NPR News, I'm Meghan Keane.
ESTRIN: For more Life Kit, go to npr.org/lifekit. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/encore-how-to-talk-to-customer-service-and-actually-get-what-you-want | 2022-05-12T15:07:00Z |
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
Florida lawmakers have been busy this week in a special legislative session. Among other things, the legislature passed a bill revoking Walt Disney World's status as an independent special district. Governor Ron DeSantis signed it into law today. The state gave Disney that status more than 50 years ago. It grants the company self-governing authority and exempts it from nearly all state regulations. Republicans in Florida decided to revoke it after Disney criticized the new law that limits discussion of LGBTQ issues in the classroom, the law that opponents describe as Don't Say Gay. I spoke earlier today with Nick Papantonis, a reporter with WFTV in Orlando, and I asked him what the special status actually does for Disney.
NICK PAPANTONIS: The way to think about a special district is like thinking about it like a city. It has the same functions almost to the T, where this is a place, is an extra layer of government that Disney has that allows it to control the functions on its own property. The district has a planning department. The district has a sewer plant. It runs the fire stations.
In return, instead of Disney approaching the county planning department or going to the county staff for services, Disney essentially controls the district that it's in. So it gets to ask itself for permission to do things, and it gets to direct itself, in a sense, for other things. On the flip side, the district also collects the taxes, an extra layer of taxes like your municipal taxes, that Disney in a sense pays itself.
SHAPIRO: So if that gets undone and suddenly the surrounding counties, Osceola and Orange counties, are responsible for everything from sewer to permitting to filling potholes, what does that actually mean?
PAPANTONIS: What that basically means is that the revenue that this district collects goes away. And that's our big issue here. This extra layer of tax that the district has is illegal outside of the district, and the counties can't replace it. The counties are now going to be responsible for picking up all the services the district provides. So that sewer plant, those fire departments, that planning department, they're going to have to do all of the work. They're also going to have to take on all of the debt that the district currently has, the municipal bonds that it's been issuing or it has issued, to do the big projects like build a road.
SHAPIRO: Is this a popular move? I mean, Governor Ron DeSantis has been pretty clear that it is punishment, full stop.
PAPANTONIS: The intention was to punish Disney for speaking out against the Parental Rights and Education bill, which more popularly known as the Don't Say Gay bill. Within the counties, it's hard to get a gauge, obviously, on every single citizen's opinion. Overwhelmingly, though, this is not a popular move in the counties itself.
While a lot of people would like Disney to get fewer tax breaks, for example, they understand that the district is a net benefit to the area. This just is services that Disney is essentially paying for that the counties don't have to provide in that area. So hearing that when the consequences of this hearing, that the property taxes for Orange County, for example, might have to go up 20% to 25% next year, nobody wants that.
SHAPIRO: The special district isn't scheduled to fully dissolve until June of next year. Is there a chance that this gets renegotiated, that a deal gets cut before then?
PAPANTONIS: So everyone's looking at the two possible moves forward because we don't know how Disney is going to respond right now. And we also don't have insight into the minds of every single legislator. One of the avenues that could happen is that Disney chooses to sue the state government. The other path forward - and this is the one that attorneys think is the most likely scenario at this point - is that the legislature gave themselves time to get this done, right? June of 2023, that's 15 months from now. And that is after, importantly, the next legislative session, which is supposed to be starting up in January.
There's a very good possibility, based on what Republicans and Democrats are saying in the chambers right now, as well as all the legal experts, that Disney uses lobbying power to come back, sit down at the table with the officials, and hash out a modified agreement that maybe strips some of the powers that Disney has that it doesn't really use right now and maintains a lot of the things that the company really cares about.
SHAPIRO: That's Nick Papantonis, reporter with WFTV in Orlando. Thanks for speaking with us today.
PAPANTONIS: No problem. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/florida-is-ending-disneys-special-tax-district-heres-what-comes-next | 2022-05-12T15:07:07Z |
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
You know, when I was a kid, our family sometimes would drive all night from Indiana to Disney World in Florida. We loved Disney, and we learned all sorts of facts about it, like that Disney is its own little country, has its own government under Florida law. Now, after generations, the Florida Legislature has voted to revoke that status. And the bill now goes to Governor Ron DeSantis. This is a culture war punishment. The government is cracking down on Disney after the company criticized Florida legislation. Danielle Prieur of member station WMFE in Orlando has looked into Disney's special status now at risk.
DANIELLE PRIEUR, BYLINE: Basically, it has its own little mini government in an area known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District. And that's about a 25,000-acre area that includes all the theme parks and water parks and hotels and restaurants that we all love going to. And it controls everything in that area from water and policing and road maintenance to, you know, paying taxes and issuing bonds. So it has really complete autonomy. And that's allowed the company to expand over the years.
INSKEEP: Why would it be that after more than half a century, the Florida legislature would decide this is the moment to get rid of that?
PRIEUR: Yeah. So basically, it goes back to a few weeks ago, if you remember the Parental Rights in Education or what opponents have called the Don't Say Gay law here in Florida, which will restrict some conversations around gender identity and sexual orientation in the younger grades. When that was kind of being debated, Disney CEO Bob Chapek strongly opposed it. And in response, our governor, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, basically introduced the idea, we need to dissolve this special district now. And then this week, during the special session here in Florida, we saw the Republican-led legislature really support him in that. And the bill to dissolve the district moved relatively easily through the Florida Senate and now through the Florida House. And so the measure is now on the governor's desk, and he is expected to approve it by May 6.
INSKEEP: But let's figure this out. So they're punishing Disney for an opinion. They dissolved this special governing status. But doesn't that special district bring in tax revenue to local authorities?
PRIEUR: It does. And so now the problem is there's this huge windfall and about a billion dollars in debt that most experts say Orange County and Osceola County residents are going to have to make up for in their taxes. Steve, I was speaking with the Orange County tax collector, Scott Randolph, yesterday. And he said homeowners here could see property taxes jump by 20% to make up the difference. And even then, it probably wouldn't be enough to cover all the money that would be lost. And he's really concerned that that means businesses won't want to come to this area after they see what happened to Disney. And Disney might not bring those 2,000 high-paying jobs from California over here to Florida.
INSKEEP: I'm just trying to get my brain around this. Does this mean Disney's taxes go down because they're being punished? I mean, I'm baffled.
PRIEUR: Well, basically, you know, what will happen, - right? - is that they pay taxes right now on this district (laughter).
INSKEEP: OK.
PRIEUR: And so basically, the taxes now will be paid for by local residents, who already have some of the highest taxes in the country.
INSKEEP: Will visitors to Disney notice any change at all?
PRIEUR: They might because, obviously, Disney was in charge of ambulance services and fire services. So if, you know, someone has a heart attack or a car accident, now it's up to the county to figure out how to handle that and how to foot the bill. And also, Disney now will need approval before it expands on all of its wonderful theme parks, hotels, restaurants, new rides. There's a lot of red tape now involved.
INSKEEP: Danielle, thanks for the insights. Really appreciate it.
PRIEUR: Thank you, Steve.
INSKEEP: Danielle Prieur of member station WMFE in Orlando. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/florida-moves-to-scrap-disney-worlds-special-regulatory-status-in-the-state | 2022-05-12T15:07:13Z |
DAVE DAVIES, HOST:
This is FRESH AIR. I'm Dave Davies, in for Terry Gross. Today we're rebroadcasting Terry's interview with pianist Jeremy Denk. When it aired originally in March, it was preempted on many stations by coverage of the Supreme Court nomination hearings of Ketanji Brown Jackson. Here's Terry.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)
TERRY GROSS: My guest is pianist Jeremy Denk. If you've ever taken music lessons or if you appreciate the insights musicians share about the music they play, I think you'll enjoy what he has to say. He's an acclaimed classical pianist who's also a fine writer with a gift for explaining the structure of the pieces he performs and what makes them technically and emotionally exciting. He's written a new memoir called "Every Good Boy Does Fine: A Love Story, In Music Lessons." The title refers to a phrase children learn when they first start to read music to help them memorize the notes on the five lines of the treble clef. Those notes, E-G-B-D-F, correspond to the first letter of each word in every good boy does fine. The book is about how he learned to play, the teachers who shaped him and what it was like to be a classical prodigy in a world where few kids cared about classical music and some truly hated it.
Denk received a MacArthur Fellowship, aka the genius award, and the Avery Fisher Prize. His recording of the "Goldberg Variations" reached No. 1 on the Billboard classical chart. His album of compositions by Beethoven and Ligeti was named one of the best discs of the year by The New Yorker, NPR and The Washington Post. In The New York Times, music critic Steve Smith wrote that Denk is a pianist you want to hear, no matter what he performs and that his interpretations conveyed the sense of composers grappling with the ineffable, inventing new vocabulary to express the inexpressible.
Jeremy Denk, welcome back to FRESH AIR. It's such a pleasure to have you back on our show. You have a really interesting album from a couple of years ago in which you play piano music from 1300 to 2000. So the album is aptly called "c.1300-c.2000" (laughter). So I want to start with a Bach piece from that album. This is Bach's "Chromatic Fantasy And Fugue In D Minor" (ph). Can you just say a little bit about why you love this piece and why you chose it for this album?
JEREMY DENK: You know, I love all the pieces of Bach where you get a taste of him maybe improvising and his virtuosity, both as a composer, of course, you know, but as a performer, the sense of touching the keyboard at the beginning, playing some scales to sort of hear how it sounds, you know, hearing how the harmonies play against each other and then beginning to explore the world of harmony bit by bit, you know? And it's called "Chromatic Fantasy" because it explores not just the notes of the normal D minor scale but all the naughty notes in between, you know? And he really makes a point of visiting the weirdest chords that he can and trying to make harmonic sense of them, something he loved doing. So, yeah, I guess I feel like I'm slightly channeling Bach a little bit when you play this piece, the demonic elements of Bach and then the really sublime parts of him, too.
GROSS: Well, let's hear it. This is Jeremy Denk at the piano.
(SOUNDBITE OF JEREMY DENK PERFORMANCE OF BACH'S "CHROMATIC FANTASIA AND FUGUE IN D MINOR")
GROSS: That was Jeremy Denk playing the "Bach: Chromatic Fantasia And Fugue In D Minor." So, Jeremy, that's why you have to learn to play scales, right? That's where all (laughter)... -
DENK: (Laughter).
GROSS: ...All of your work, like, learning scales, learning scales, playing them over, over and over again really pays off because you can just - that is such a complicated piece. But it's built on scales.
DENK: It's built on scales. And then there's all these kind of whorls and curls and curlicues and, you know, kind of devilish turns within the scales. But, yes, there was a reason why you had to suffer all those years of piano lessons.
GROSS: Your book is so much about piano lessons. Did you hate it when you had to spend hours and hours earlier in your life playing scales and when - like, some of your teachers didn't even want to play music with you, you know, have you play music for them until you mastered, like, the basics, the scales.
DENK: Yeah, my teacher when I was in my, you know, early teens - we spent summers basically only on technique with very little music, right? And those were his moments to sort of have me under his control and build a foundation. And I admit, I didn't love those summers, although I would probably not be a pianist without them. I think one of the real problems when you're practicing, at least for me when I was a kid, is you just don't know what the point of all that time is. You repeat something over and over, you know, hundreds of times. And at a certain point, there's a futility, and you're not sure what you're doing, what you're changing, what the job is you're really engaged in. And that's one of the hardest tasks for a teacher, I think, is to make it clear to the student what practicing is about.
GROSS: How did they make it clear to you in a meaningful way?
DENK: Well, a lot of it, of course, is like you would do with a tennis coach - right? - or whatever. You have to pay attention to physical changes that you have to make. And you have to kind of try to build certain physical habits and get rid of others. And lately, I've come up with a little bit of a formula that I use, which is every time you try to play something again, you explain to yourself what the physical changes you're going to make to make it better the next time. And that slows you down.
GROSS: Physical, like in your hands?
DENK: Yeah. Are you going to raise your thumb more? Are you going to bring your second finger down more slowly? Are you going to use your wrist more? Are you going to engage the arm? You know, it could be a lot of different things. But, for me, anyway, it - often it - you really have to remember the role of the body in making the music sing.
GROSS: In the piece that we heard - the Bach piece - it's a very complicated piece. You're playing lots of notes in each hand at a rapid speed. And you also have to breathe. And, you know, speaking for myself, when I'm doing something really complicated, I don't think I actually breathe (laughter). Or if I do breathe, it's really shallow breathing. Did you have to learn how to breathe while playing?
DENK: Yeah. Most definitely, I did. And I still do. And one of the beautiful things that Sebok explained that I maybe didn't put in the book - my teacher, Gyorgy Sebok, in Bloomington - was that there is a beautiful parallel between, you know, breathing with your lungs, as we all do and must do, and the kind of breathing of the muscles in the act of piano playing, you know, releasing your wrist or elbow or whatever it is. And he would often show, you know, his arms like a bellows kind of, allowing the sound to blossom because you let the muscles release the energy that you put into the piano. And that is a lesson that I keep having to teach myself, especially, you know, in nervous situations 'cause your body begins to breathe less - right? - by the nature of adrenaline - or breathe differently. And that's a whole other study to figure out how to cope with that in front of a public.
GROSS: So you mentioned your teacher, Gyorgy Sebok, who was your teacher when you were at Oberlin in your final year there. And he was a pianist from Hungary who'd performed with the top musicians and conductors and would tell you stories about them. What did he teach you about breathing? - 'cause he talked to you about different composers' breaths. I'm not really sure what that means. What did that mean to you?
DENK: Well, each - for him, it was very important that each composer kind of spoke his or her own language. And those languages relied on different kinds of breaths. For example, Bach, you know, loves to elide. He loves to create these kind of endless rivers of notes, you know? And there are very few rests in Bach. But by the time you get to Mozart, you know, 70 years later or whatever, almost everything is about little clipped phrases with tiny commas and punctuation between them, right? And the way that you hear those little silences and the way that you think about them often change in character from one thing to another - you know, from the imperious Count or whatever, to the, you know, pleading Susanna or whatever.
The way that you thought about the punctuation changed everything, yeah? And so you had to think about the breaths between the phrases as much as anything else 'cause they indicated when you changed from one person to another, in a way. And Schumann breathes quite differently. You know, he's full of this ardent romantic (laughter), you know, often palpitating, you know, incredibly intense music. And you have to figure out how to find repose within his, you know, romantic frenzy.
GROSS: So I want to play another piece. And this piece earlier than the Bach piece that we heard. And this is by Henry Purcell. It's called "Ground In C Minor." It's very beautiful. And it's much more spare than the Bach that we heard. Can you talk about this piece and what it represents in music history and why you love it?
DENK: Well, I think, first of all, it's beautiful on its own account, right (laughter)? And I was creating a program sort of chaining, you know, musical style from the earliest, you know, medieval times, classical - Western classical musical style, that is. And I was interested in this sort of proto-baroque time, you know, sort of what we consider to be tonality and harmony beginning to evolve out of a totally different language. And this piece seemed to me a kind of wonderful, plaintive representation of that, and also the sort of joy of the ground bass. I was interested in the (laughter) - you know, this sort of walking bass in relation to some earlier madrigal that I had played on the album. So I don't know if that explains your - it - I think partly I chose it just because I love it also.
GROSS: Yeah. It's beautiful. So this is Henry Purcell's "Ground In C Minor" performed by my guest, Jeremy Denk.
(SOUNDBITE OF JEREMY DENK PERFORMANCE OF HENRY PURCELL'S "GROUND IN C MINOR")
GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. Let's get back to my interview with Jeremy Denk, the great pianist who has written a new memoir called "Every Good Boy Does Fine: A Love Story, In Music Lessons."
Let's talk about your parents and your early lessons. Your mother would be in another room kind of hollering out (laughter) her critique of your playing. You're not the only - people far less talented than you (laughter) experience that, too. So tell us what your mother would yell out to you while you were practicing.
DENK: Well, for her, there was a two-tier grading system. Either the music danced, or it didn't dance, you know? So I'd be there in the middle of, you know, practicing something probably for the 10th time and completely, you know, losing interest in whatever piece I was playing. And she'd, like - it's not dancing. It's not dancing. And she'd be in the kitchen, you know, smoking or whatever. And this was, you know, as you can imagine, completely infuriating to me, you know? And I thought often to myself, well, why don't you come here and play it if it - if you want it to be better? - or stuff like that, right? Unfortunately, I think my mom's instincts were often reasonably good for someone who had no real music education. But she knew when the music was charming and when it was not.
GROSS: While we're talking about your parents' feedback, what did your father have to say about your music when you were young?
DENK: Well, my father, he'd - both of them loved music, you know? He always wanted me to play this one Bach chorale - one very sad Bach chorale. He - it was called "Come, Sweet Death." And he kept begging me, you know, every time he came home from work. Jeremy, play "Come, Sweet Death." And I would often want to play it a little bit - I was often impatient and just wanted to play it and get it over with. And he's like, no, no, with feeling. But he didn't want to impose so much in the details of my practicing. He just wanted me to practice more all the time. And he wanted to be sure that I was being responsible to my talent, you know, that that was the most important thing in, you know, how I spent my time and how I - if I had a gift, I had to devote work. And so I always had the - you know, he was a very - you know, both of them were very work-ethic parents, you know?
GROSS: You call Beethoven your nemesis when you were (laughter) - when you were learning to play. Why was he your nemesis?
DENK: Well, Beethoven's very hard, you know? (Laughter) I was pretty good up through the "Pathetique" sonata, which, you know, I played when I was, whatever, 13, 14. And then I came to the "Waldstein." And, you know, the "Waldstein," I think most pianists would say, is about as hard as anything that any pianist would have to play. And I didn't really appreciate that. You know, I didn't realize at 15 that I'd come to the - you know, the top of Mount Everest, and I was (laughter) trying to climb it without any crampons or whatever. So, you know, I kept bashing my head against the wall of all the impossible things in that piece. And it wasn't until really Sebok, you know, many years later, and he began to show me, you know, what there was to love about Beethoven and to show me how to also use my body better to surmount some of these obstacles, you know, not to make mountains out of mole hills.
GROSS: Well, you have a Beethoven piece, the "Piano Sonata No. 32 In C Minor" on your album of 700 years of music. How would you rate that? And it's a beautiful piece. It's a very percussive and emotional piece. But how would you rate it in terms of Beethoven being your nemesis? Is this a nemesis kind of piece, or is this a relatively easy one for you?
DENK: (Laughter) I've played it a lot. It still has some places that are a little nemesis for me because they're very awkward. And I think Beethoven's somewhat specialized in awkward. And that particular piece is a kind of a limit piece for him. It's his last sonata. He's reached the end of the line. And in a way, the first movement of that sonata is about impossibility, about music that can no longer be written, styles that don't quite mix together. And it's constantly searching for something that it never quite finds. So I think the difficulty, the technical difficulty, luckily in this case, matches up with the sense of what the music is supposed to feel like, whereas in the "Waldstein," you know, in the last movement of the "Waldstein," you're supposed to create this unbelievable, serene, glorious sense of unfolding, you know? And technical struggle is not really useful to the musical expression (laughter).
GROSS: What do you love about this "Piano Sonata In C Minor"?
DENK: Partly also that - it says it's in C minor, but it's really in C minor, then it becomes a C major for the second two-thirds of itself. And, you know, it's like a piece where you have a problem in the first movement and its solution in the second movement. And the solution is so far removed - you know, this unbelievable unfolding of time that happens in the second movement, the patient and bizarre unfolding and the sense of the kind of space around the notes and, you know? He never - I don't think he ever again wrote anything quite as amazing as - for me, you know - as that, in terms of a vision of what piano music could be.
GROSS: Well, let's hear it. This is Jeremy Denk at the piano playing Beethoven's "Piano Sonata No. 32 In C Minor."
(SOUNDBITE OF JEREMY DENK PERFORMANCE OF BEETHOVEN'S "PIANO SONATA NO. 32 IN C MINOR")
DAVIES: That's Jeremy Denk at the piano from his album "c.1300-c.2000" - 700 years of music. His new memoir is called "Every Good Boy Does Fine." We'll hear more of his interview with Terry after a break. Also, John Powers reviews the new CNN documentary "Navalny" about the Russian dissident who was nearly murdered and is now in prison. And Kevin Whitehead pays tribute to Charles Mingus on the 100th anniversary of his birth. I'm Dave Davies, and this is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF JEREMY DENK PERFORMANCE OF MOZART'S "PIANO SONATA NO. 16 IN C MAJOR, K. 545: II. ANDANTE")
GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. I'm Terry Gross. Let's get back to my interview with pianist Jeremy Denk, who is an award-winning pianist, has played with the top orchestras and performers around the world. And he's also a great writer. And he's been published in The New Yorker. He has a blog. And now he has a new memoir, which is called "Every Good Boy Does Fine: A Love Story, In Music Lessons." And it's from his childhood through the age of around 26, when he was studying piano.
The first piano you had was from a burlesque house in Atlantic City. Can you describe the piano and how your family ended up owning it?
DENK: Of course. Actually, my first piano was my mom's heirloom. You know, it was, like, a little brown spinet, you know, that just sat in the corner of our den for many years. And that's what I started on for the first year. But then - you're right. My teacher - my new teacher, Lillian Livingston, who was an amazing and serious teacher in New Jersey with lots of kids - she said to my parents that I had to have a better instrument. So Lillian put my parents in touch with some piano technician, and he had been rebuilding (laughter) this piano that he found, that he got, you know, basically for free from a burlesque house in Atlantic City. And it was covered with graffiti - filthy graffiti, honestly.
GROSS: (Laughter).
DENK: It had been (laughter) carved and, you know - various letters - R.F. loves T.K. or whatever and then ladies like it and some other things that I probably shouldn't say on the air. And also, it didn't have wheels, you know? It just was on these, like, little blocks that were - that he'd built to sort of keep the piano in place. So once you got the piano in a place in the house, there was no moving it, you know? So it came into the middle of the den, more or less disrupting the entire TV-watching area. And that was how I practiced, you know, from age 6 or 7 on - as in the middle of everyone's lives on this hideous instrument.
GROSS: You write about something called key speed. And you say it's the most important and infuriatingly subtle variable of piano playing. I don't know what it is. What is it?
DENK: The speed at which your finger enters the key. And it's even more complicated than that because most often - right? - you don't enter at a uniform speed. You're either speeding up or slowing down, right? And as Sebok said at one point or another, every piano, no matter the most dismal piano, if you find the right key speed, it has a beautiful voice, a beautiful singing voice in it. And you can find it. It's such a fascinating and beautiful part of piano playing, is you have this big machine in front of you, which seems completely unyielding and (laughter) awkward and hard to move and mechanical, in many ways. And yet, it responds if you caress it a certain way or just a little bit more urgently, or you play as if you're - as if the key was a hot potato and you want to drop it, you know? All these things create vastly different sounds and feelings, you know? And if I - you know, key speed sounds like a really abstract thing. But I think it's one of the really important parts of piano playing. And varying the speed with which you play into the key is one of our best tools for telling a story as a musician, for shaping a melody, for example, or anything, you know?
GROSS: You've had so many different teachers over the years. And some of them seem more mean, and some of them seemed more warm in their approach. What were you most receptive to? Like, what kind of feedback did you find helpful, and what kind of feedback did you find just kind of intolerable and would maybe even make you cry?
DENK: You know, I think I needed different kinds of teachers at different points in my life. I think, you know, one of the reason that I had such difficulty - one of the reasons I had such difficulty with, you know, my teacher at Oberlin when I got there, Joseph Schwartz, who was a wonderful teacher and a wonderful pianist - still is - he was so much like my father in many ways, you know? He was a little bit - you know, he didn't want to go overboard emotionally. He didn't want to micromanage. Every so often, he would lose his patience. And those moments, I think they resonated so much from my past that I began to tune Joseph out.
And definitely even by the, you know, middle of my sophomore year, I barely remember my lessons with him as if there was something, you know, deliberate in my mind that I was kind of - and I had met all these other teachers, you know, like I said, Norman Fischer. And Norman was the, you know, diametric opposite of Joe. He was the ultimate kind of hugger and overtalker. And he wanted to go wild with every musical gesture and really get into the nitty-gritty of every single thing, you know? And he always wanted more, more, more - more character, more involvement, right? And that was the kind of teaching that I desperately needed. He was the first teacher in a way that encouraged me to rely on my own emotional life for interpreting.
GROSS: Is he the teacher who told you to think about the saddest moment in your life for one piece?
DENK: That's right. We were playing a Beethoven cello sonata, some movement, and we weren't able to play it together. And he said to me, Jeremy, think of the saddest thing that you've ever felt in your life. But don't - he said, don't tell anyone. Don't say it. Just hold it in your mind. And then play the music as if that sadness was a baby you don't want to wake, you know. That's a pretty amazing image, actually, when I think about it. And indeed, it helped me to play at this slow, desperate tempo and to keep the spell. And then, of course, I put it in the book as - I was in tears then. Even now talking about it, I find it emotional to remember him saying that to me.
GROSS: It sounds like the kind of advice you'd give an actor.
DENK: He was very much an actor - yeah, like, a method actor kind of teacher, and I think still is, you know? He's a very active teacher to this day. And he was way too much in a way. He kind of violated my sense of dignity and privacy at the piano, which I think is what I needed.
GROSS: How did he violate it?
DENK: Well, he'd get up in your face, you know, just, like, scream in your face, you know? - more. Or he would just, like, give you this demonic expression when you were trying to play a really difficult passage. And that - there I was trying to nail all the notes of the difficult passage, whereas what his face was telling me was just let loose, you know? Stop trying to be the good boy, the teacher's pet, and start trying to create some kind of great emotional drama here.
GROSS: Well, it's really been a pleasure to talk with you. And I thank you very much for coming back to our show and for your music.
DENK: Thank you, Terry, what a pleasure.
GROSS: We should end with some Mozart. You have an album of Mozart. That's your most recent album. Do you want to just choose a passage that you especially love?
DENK: I think I'd choose the sort of middle of the last movement of 503. This is one of the - for me, one of the most beautiful passages that Mozart ever wrote, the middle of the rondo of his concerto in C major, 503. And it's basically a love sextet between the piano and the winds with a simple melody, just "Three Blind Mice" - three blind mice - over and over again but with amazing and ravishing harmonies.
GROSS: Thank you.
(SOUNDBITE OF JEREMY DENK AND THE SAINT PAUL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCE OF MOZART'S "PIANO CONCERTO NO. 25 IN C MAJOR, K. 503: III. ALLEGRETTO")
DAVIES: That's Jeremy Denk at the piano from his album "c.1300-c.2000" - 700 years of music. His new memoir is called "Every Good Boy Does Fine." Terry spoke with him last month, but the interview was preempted on many stations for coverage of the confirmation hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson. Coming up, John Powers reviews the new CNN documentary "Navalny" about the Russian dissident who was nearly murdered and is in prison now. This is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF DAVID ROSE'S "LIKE YOUNG") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/for-classical-pianist-jeremy-denk-life-is-like-a-series-of-music-lessons | 2022-05-12T15:07:19Z |
DAVE DAVIES, HOST:
This is FRESH AIR. One hundred years ago today, the great jazz bassist, composer and bandleader Charles Mingus was born in Nogales, Ariz. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says Mingus was a larger than life and often difficult figure, a complicated man of deep feeling whose music reflected his outsized personality.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLES MINGUS' "MINGUS FINGERS")
KEVIN WHITEHEAD, BYLINE: "Mingus Fingers," 1948. Charles Mingus always thought big. He had big passions and appetites he exaggerated in his zingy, autobiographical novel "Beneath The Underdog." A virtuoso bass player with a forceful sound, he liked big gestures and had big ambitions. In the 1940s, idolizing Duke Ellington, he'd record as Baron Mingus. Duke's example showed him how to blend a rich ensemble fabric with vivid solo voices. And the jazz art songs Billy Strayhorn wrote for Ellington left their mark on Mingus ballads like 1946's "Weird Nightmare."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "WEIRD NIGHTMARE")
UNIDENTIFIED SINGER: (Singing) Weird nightmare. Take away this dream you've born. Weird nightmare. Mend a heart that's torn and has paid the cost of love a thousand fold. Bring me a love with a heart of gold.
WHITEHEAD: That was recorded in Los Angeles, where Charles Mingus came up. In New York in the 1950s, he had a breakthrough, reconciling divergent strains and contemporary jazz. He liked a busy texture, and flirted with a polite brand of improvised counterpoint practiced by cool jazz musicians.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLES MINGUS' "PURPLE HEART")
WHITEHEAD: Also in the '50s, a new wave of hard boppers flavored their jazz with proudly African American shouts, blues and gospel strains. That was just what Mingus needed. Now he wrote pieces with titles like "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" that caught the rollicking call-and-response dynamics of the Black church. On 1959's "Moanin'," Pepper Adams's baritone sax preaches as five other horns murmur or shout support.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLES MINGUS' "MOANIN'")
WHITEHEAD: To coax such sounds from his players, Mingus would sing them their parts. The horns mirrored the timbre of his voice. The bassist made that connection between voices and instruments explicit in dialogues with bass clarinetist Eric Dolphy.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLES MINGUS' "WHAT LOVE? (LIVE)")
WHITEHEAD: Charles Mingus live on the French Riviera in 1960. By then, he was a bona fide jazz star. In 1962, he played himself in the jazz movie "All Night Long," recorded a gloriously combative trio album with Duke Ellington and Max Roach and played a famously chaotic concert-slash-open rehearsal at New York's Town Hall with an overstuffed band. That show ended when stagehands closed the curtains during an encore, but it yielded some unforgettable music.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "FREEDOM")
CHARLES MINGUS AND UNIDENTIFIED SINGERS: (Singing) Freedom for your daddy. Freedom for your momma. Freedom for your brothers and sisters. But no freedom for me.
WHITEHEAD: Mingus didn't shy away from politics. He wrote a lyric denouncing segregationist Governor Orval Faubus that the major label Mingus recorded for wouldn't touch. He gave pieces polemical titles - "Prayer For Passive Resistance," "Remember Rockefeller At Attica." In the 1960s and '70s, Mingus toured extensively in Europe, and it only seems like every concert he ever played there has been issued or bootlegged. Those recordings are still coming out. His bustling little band sounded bigger than they were. His orchestral projects were that much more sprawling. This is "Don't Be Afraid, The Clown's Afraid Too" from 1971.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLES MINGUS' "DON'T BE AFRAID, THE CLOWN'S AFRAID TOO")
WHITEHEAD: Charles Mingus died of neurodegenerative disease in 1979 at age 56. His music has been played often since then, much but not all a credit to his widow Sue Mingus, who assembled repertory groups like the Mingus Big Band. His centenary has prompted a bumper crop of reissued and rare recordings and an impressive array of tribute albums and concerts. Mingus music's continued currency makes sense - it's bluesy, heartfelt, intricate and infectious. The high spirits and passion are built in.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLES MINGUS' "REMEMBER ROCKEFELLER AT ATTICA")
DAVIES: Kevin Whitehead is the author of the book "Play The Way You Feel: The Essential Guide To Jazz Stories On Film."
On Monday's show, we speak with actress Michelle Yeoh. She's starring in the new film "Everything Everywhere All At Once," a sci-fi mind- and time-bending adventure comedy. It's her first lead in a Hollywood movie. She started her career in the mid-'80s in action and martial arts films and was in the movies "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," the James Bond thriller "Tomorrow Never Dies" and "Crazy Rich Asians." Hope you can join us.
FRESH AIR's executive producer is Danny Miller. Our senior producer today is Roberta Shorrock. Our technical director and engineer is Audrey Bentham, with additional engineering support from Joyce Lieberman, Julian Herzfeld and Tina Callique (ph). Our interviews and reviews are produced and edited by Amy Salit, Phyllis Myers, Sam Briger, Lauren Krenzel, Heidi Saman, Therese Madden, Ann Marie Baldonado, Thea Chaloner, Seth Kelley and Joel Wolfram. Our digital media producer is Molly Seavy-Nesper. For Terry Gross, I'm Dave Davies.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLES MINGUS' "REMEMBER ROCKEFELLER AT ATTICA") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/fresh-air-marks-the-centennial-of-jazz-great-charles-mingus | 2022-05-12T15:07:25Z |
In 1964, Funny Girl debuted on Broadway, making a star out of 21-year-old Barbra Streisand. On Sunday, the show, a fictionalized account of the life of comedian Fanny Brice, opens in a new production starring Beanie Feldstein.
"I don't think there's another musical that is as well-known and also as unknown than Funny Girl," said Michael Mayer, the new production's director.
Many of the songs are well known,, including "People" and "Don't Rain on My Parade." But it hasn't been revived on Broadway, likely because the original production, and the much better-known movie, were centered around Streisand's singular talent.
Interestingly, she was far from the first choice for the role. Lots of names were bandied about to play Fanny Brice in the original production – Mary Martin, Anne Bancroft, Carol Burnett – but the late composer Jule Styne went down to a nightclub in Greenwich Village and became enchanted with Streisand, he recounted in a radio interview in 1970. "I think I went there 14 nights in a row, just knocked me out," the songwriter recalled. "And here I am in the middle of writing this score. And I hear this voice and I said, 'I must have this voice.'"
"It was an alchemical thing that while they were making it, they were also creating with Barbra, the Barbra of legend," said Mayer. "So, the show was continually becoming more and more about Barbra's own personal story and less and less about Fanny Brice."
Mayer grew up with grandparents who regaled him with stories about seeing Fanny Brice perform in the Ziegfeld Follies, doing unapologetically Jewish humor. "She knew she didn't look like the other girls. She knew she didn't sound like them," Mayer said.
"She sort of made herself into a character that could accommodate both low comedy, high comedy, very hilarious songs and shtick." Everything she did, he said, came out of character. "And these characters were all facets of her experience growing up as a kid in the Jewish part of Brooklyn."
Brice became one of the highest-paid and most popular Broadway entertainers of her time. Mayer said he believes that without Fanny Brice having lead the way, there'd be no Joan Rivers or Sarah Silverman or...Barbra Streisand.
So, while Michael Mayer was familiar with Fanny Brice, he'd only seen Funny Girl once and thought it fell apart in the second act. When he was asked to direct a revival in London seven years ago, he enlisted playwright Harvey Fierstein to do revisions.
"The point of my job was to give you the Funny Girl of your memory," Fierstein said, "even though it's almost got nothing to do with it."
Fierstein's hand is present throughout the show, but he particularly provides more focus in the second act to the disintegrating marriage between Fanny Brice and con artist Nick Arnstein, giving their relationship more heft. "We put back in two songs from elsewhere," he said, "and we took out a little here and reused something else and gave it more modern motivations."
Fanny is played by Beanie Feldstein in this new production; she's best known for the well-regarded film Booksmart and for playing Monica Lewinsky in Impeachment: American Crime Story.
Mayer said she was cast because she has a sensibility for the times: "She felt very modern and fresh and Jewish and hilariously funny and a brilliant actress and a lovely singer and an unlikely but fantastic dancer."
"I mean it quite genuinely when I say this is like my dreams coming true, this is my lifelong dream," said the 28-year-old Feldstein. She said she watched Funny Girl on a continuous loop when she was a small child – so much so that she begged her mother for a Funny Girl-themed birthday party when she was 3. And she's all in for the revised version, which was changing even a week before opening night.
"Those songs are in your soul," Feldstein said, "but as far as the character and the story and the script . . . I wanted to approach it with brand new eyes, and as if we were creating a brand-new story."
But even with a revised script, Feldstein said she noticed something as soon as the music starts. "We have a group of people that sing along, know every word, have loved it for almost 60 years," she said. Which makes her feel like one of the luckiest people in the world.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/from-fanny-to-barbra-to-beanie-funny-girl-comes-back-to-broadway | 2022-05-12T15:07:31Z |
Just how likely are you to pick up a case of COVID-19 on that upcoming flight, bus commute or train ride?
This is what many Americans are trying to gauge after a Florida judge's ruling halted the federal requirement to wear a mask on most forms of public transit.
The Biden administration is appealing the court's decision, but for now masking has become entirely optional for U.S. travelers – leaving them to decide how risky travel is for themselves.
"This was a legal decision — not a scientific decision," says Joshua Santarpia, a microbiologist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center who studies aerosol transmission of disease. "People should not take this as a sign that something has magically changed overnight."
Infectious disease experts tell NPR they generally plan to keep covering their faces regardless of what the rules are. It's not as though all public transit poses the same risk, though. Scientists say certain forms of transportation are more worrisome than others, and different legs of a journey can also present different risks.
"It's very important to distinguish travel as a continuum," says Dr. David Freedman, president-elect of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Wherever you go, pay attention to how many passengers there are, how close together they are, and how well the air is moving through the space. Understanding these differences can guide your own personal decisions about what risks you can and cannot afford to take.
Airplanes can be safe spaces, but there's a catch
It may seem counterintuitive, but flying in a small, enclosed metal tube can actually be safer from a COVID standpoint than many other indoor activities like eating in restaurants, or going to stores.
"It's considerably better than those spaces," says Santarpia. In fact, the air gets exchanged every few minutes in airplane cabins like those of the Boeing 767s and 777s — even putting them ahead of the standards for operating rooms.
This means that tiny respiratory particles, or aerosols, that can carry the virus get sucked away quite quickly. Santarpia has actually studied this by sampling air while a plane is in flight.
"The particles are not dispersed widely in the cabin, so your exposure level to people, even in your immediate area by aerosols alone, is not particularly high," he says.
This finding is supported by other research, including a review of the evidence undertaken by Canada's health agency and updated in November 2021, which concluded that "the risk of infection during a flight is low."
Freedman, who also reviewed the evidence of in-flight transmission in late 2020, says major outbreaks are "relatively uncommon" and that they tended to happen on the flights without masking requirements.
"The number of flights with larger outbreaks did seem to go down once there was universal masking," says Freedman; however, he notes it's hard to truly quantify the risk because these studies are challenging to do.
Still, this lines up with an assessment by Harvard researchers that also found, when people wear masks, flying can be safer than going to the grocery store.
Danger areas when flying
Air travel would be fairly safe if passengers were magically transported into their seats mid-flight, wore a well-fitted mask and stayed put during the entire flight.
Of course, we all know this is a fantasy.
"It's not just the airplane — airports are a nightmare," says Freedman. "Airports have done very little to change any of their procedures at all."
There are innumerable opportunities to catch the virus while hauling your luggage from the curb through security and onto the plane, among a crowd of other travelers.
And even once you're onboard, the risk can be higher while the plane is taxiing or sitting on the runway, because the ventilation systems may not be fully running, says Freedman.
Boeing says its guidance to airlines is to keep the air flow system turned on with HEPA filters and air circulating at all times while passengers are on board, but several experts have pointed out this doesn't always happen.
Even on the flight, you can still be at risk if you're seated close to someone who's infected and unmasked. Research generally shows that people seated within two to three rows from an infected person are at the highest risk of catching the virus, says Freedman. But even people seated farther away can be infected according to some studies.
Given all of this, Santarpia recommends continuing to wear a high-quality respirator, like an N95 or K95, when flying and while in the airport.
Even if cases are generally low where you live, air travel could expose you to people from other regions where more virus might be circulating. And remember: the longer the flight, the greater the risk.
Buses and subways: Risk for you and those around you
Data from the subway systems in New York City and San Francisco show they have good ventilation, says Linsey Marr, an airborne disease transmission researcher at Virginia Tech.
But even that isn't enough to prevent transmission in a situation where riders are packed tightly together in each other's faces.
Marr says if a subway car is crowded, she's keeping her mask on. But if there's "fewer than 10 people on a train, I probably wouldn't."
Several experts said ventilation is more of a concern on city buses, where "you're really breathing in what almost everyone else is breathing out," says Jesse Capecelatro, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan who studies the flow physics of particles and droplets.
Capecelatro has researched how air flow affects disease transmission on urban buses. "What we found was if the windows are closed, due to the recirculation of the air in the bus, whatever someone breathes out, in about 45 seconds, everyone in the bus is breathing in a portion of that," he says.
He and his colleagues published models, using data from earlier in the pandemic, that showed when everyone on a bus is wearing a high-quality mask – assuming they're wearing it without big gaps around the nose and mouth – that dramatically reduces transmission risks. If no one was wearing a mask, and there was a highly contagious person on board, the modelling found that under certain conditions, about half the passengers on the bus could potentially get infected within 15 minutes.
He says opening windows on a bus can make a big difference, but that's not always possible.
The fact that buses tend to have less ventilation than other means of public transportation raises real equity concerns, says Neil Sehgal, an assistant professor of health policy at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.
"Hispanic and Black people are more than twice as likely to take public transit than white people, and people with lower incomes are also disproportionately more likely to take public transit than people with higher incomes," he says.
Seghal says the end of mask mandates on buses means that people with fewer options for safer travel are now facing increased risk – including people who are medically vulnerable. For instance, people with cancer might need to ride a bus to their chemotherapy or oncology appointments.
"We've increased the level of risk for these people without consideration that their risk tolerance may not be the same as ours," he says.
Cabs and ride-sharing: Get some air in there
If you've ever been in a passenger car with a smoker, you know that the cabin will quickly fill up with smoke when the windows are up. (Some people call this hotboxing, with cigarettes and ahem, other substances.) Infectious aerosols behave like smoke, so in an enclosed car, they're also going to build up quickly.
When you consider the fact that ride-share drivers are picking up different passengers all day long, it's hard to predict what kinds of viral particles you might be breathing.
So if you're in a cab or ride-sharing vehicle, research has found that your best bet to is to open the windows all the way to clear the air and lower your risk of transmission. If you're cruising along at a good clip, "partially open windows also do a lot more than you might think," says Varghese Mathai, an assistant professor of physics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, who has studied aerosol transmission in passenger car cabins.
His research has found that when you're stuck in traffic, in addition to opening windows, turning the AC on at full blast will allow for more air circulation.
And remember, shorter rides are better. "The longer the time you spend [in the car], the more aerosols you risk inhaling," Mathai notes.
Mathai says his research was inspired in part by his own use of ride-sharing services, and he plans to keep on masking.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/heres-why-you-might-still-want-to-wear-masks-on-public-transport | 2022-05-12T15:07:37Z |
A MARTINEZ, HOST:
Twenty years ago this week, a group of plus-sized guys walked onto the basketball court during a break in a Dallas Mavericks playoff game. They performed a dance routine, and they're still dancing today. The Mavs ManiAACs are a group of self-proclaimed beefy guys.
ROB MAIDEN: You have JJ.
DANIEL JACOB: Chunky D.
MAIDEN: Pork Chops.
JACOB: Wonder Bread.
MAIDEN: Well, I just called him Bread.
JACOB: I just called him Wonder.
MAIDEN: We're so lazy. If your name has more than two syllables, we're not going to use 'em.
MARTINEZ: That's "Big Rob" Maiden and Daniel "Boy Ain't Right" Jacob, two members of The ManiAACs. At StoryCorps, they talked about how it all got started.
MAIDEN: I'll never forget - going from the ninth grade to the 10th, I went from 5'6" to 6'3" over the summer. It was so bad that my mom thought something was wrong with me, but my dad loved football. So he would say to me, man, if I would've known you were going to be this big, I would have made you play. You should be a tight end right now. I should be at the games. I said, well, I wasn't really into a lot of people hitting me. Nah, I was good. I'll pass.
The ManiAACs - we're just big guys dancing.
JACOB: And it's all good-natured...
MAIDEN: Yeah.
JACOB: ...But it's pushing the envelope.
MAIDEN: We'll start out fully dressed, but we kind of end with some exposed bellies and...
JACOB: We have half shirts, which shows off a little more skin.
MAIDEN: A lot more skin if you're my size.
But my father is a man's man, so he didn't get any of that stuff. I would invite him to games all the time, and he'd give me a million excuses as to why - like, I have to get up early tomorrow. Well, I don't want to drive at night. But I will never forget - he came, and he met me after the game, and he's watching all these folks come up to us. We're signing autographs, and a fan had my face on his shirt. I looked at my dad, and I said, can you believe that? That guy said, did you say that's your father? And I said, yeah. And he said, sir, would you sign this? My father never signed an autograph in his life. I won't ever forget the look on my father's face. And he did not stop talking about it - you know, how much he just respected me as a man because he said, you look like you really were born to do this.
And it really stuck with me because now, when I'm raising my kids, I'm not as hard on them about what they're trying to do with their life because I just have this belief that it's going to work out. And, you know, so far (laughter), life has worked out pretty good. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/how-one-man-found-his-calling-as-a-mavs-maniaac | 2022-05-12T15:07:43Z |
DANIEL ESTRIN, HOST:
French voters will cast their ballots Sunday for president. Polls show the incumbent president, Emmanuel Macron, beating his rival, populist candidate Marine Le Pen, but with a slimmer margin than five years ago. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley visited a town in a working-class region of France to look at why.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHURCH BELL)
ELEANOR BEARDSLEY, BYLINE: The northern French town of Arras was on the western front during World War I. It was also once part of the region's booming coal mining industry. That, too, is in the past.
Last night, hundreds of people lined up to get into Marine Le Pen's final campaign rally before Sunday's vote. Nathalie and Frank Herblin both work in a factory nearby. They say Le Pen has the workers' best interests at heart.
NATHALIE HERBLIN: (Speaking French).
BEARDSLEY: "We are sick of Macron and his globalization," they say. "The rich are getting richer, but the working class is struggling. Marine will do everything to help the working class."
Le Pen has moderated her party's image, drawing thousands of new supporters. Her mainstream makeover was enhanced by the presence of a candidate even further to the right. Eric Zemmour talked anti-immigration while Le Pen stuck to bread-and-butter economic issues.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHURCH BELL)
BEARDSLEY: In front of Arras' ornate town hall, I meet 67-year-old Evelyn. She says Le Pen may have changed, but she's still divisive.
EVELYN: (Through interpreter) With everything that we've been through these last five years, the pandemic and this nightmare war between Russia and Ukraine, it's Macron who's calmly guided us through, listening to scientists and economists. He's young and didn't have much experience, but he's been amazing. I didn't vote for him last time, but I'm so proud to have such a president.
BEARDSLEY: In Arras' cobbled medieval square, 24-year-old Marie Belmont is having a drink with her sister. She voted for far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon in the first round. She says she'll hold her nose and vote for Macron in the second.
MARIE BELMONT: (Through interpreter) We're not voting for a president so much as voting against Marine Le Pen, to block her.
BEARDSLEY: Belmont is continuing the French tradition known as Fair Barrage, or build a dam, against the far right. The dam was most notably erected in 2002, when millions of left-wing voters crossed over to support conservative Jacques Chirac to block Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marine's father. But analysts say the daughter today is nothing like her father, and the stigma of voting for Le Pen's party has diminished.
ADRIEN D’ANGLETERRE: The beginning of the battle was the 9 of April, 1917.
BEARDSLEY: Adrien d’Angleterre works in the tourist office, where he tells visitors about the World War I Battle of Arras. D’Angleterre is into history, but says he's not very political.
D’ANGLETERRE: Yeah, obviously I'm going to vote, but I still don't know who I'm going to vote for.
BEARDSLEY: Analysts say abstention could be high among young voters, which could help Le Pen, as could Macron's perceived arrogance that has created a deep well of resentment, especially among working class voters.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MARINE LE PEN: (Speaking French).
BEARDSLEY: At her rally, Le Pen called on the French to vote for her, reject Macron's vision of a globalized France, and preserve the soul of the country.
Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Arras, France. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/macron-is-beating-le-pen-in-frances-polls-but-not-by-as-much-as-5-years-ago | 2022-05-12T15:07:49Z |
As a Russian general reveals Kremlin plans to take Ukraine's Donbas region to the east as well as all of the country's south, we look at the situation out a village near the frontlines of the war.
Copyright 2022 NPR
As a Russian general reveals Kremlin plans to take Ukraine's Donbas region to the east as well as all of the country's south, we look at the situation out a village near the frontlines of the war.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/many-ukrainians-arent-optimistic-about-peace-with-russia | 2022-05-12T15:07:56Z |
A MARTINEZ, HOST:
A court hearing is underway in Georgia right now. Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is slated to take the stand, becoming the first member of Congress to testify in court about the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Greene has denounced the violence that day, but a group of voters alleges that she backed the insurrection, and they plan to argue before a special judge that a provision of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution makes her ineligible for office. Georgia Public Broadcasting's Stephen Fowler joins us now. Stephen, can you explain this hearing and the grounds for this challenge to Marjorie Taylor Greene's spot on the ballot?
STEPHEN FOWLER, BYLINE: So Georgia has a law that gives voters a way to challenge the eligibility of candidates running for office. It's an administrative procedure that goes to a special administrative law judge who then recommends findings to the secretary of state, who then makes that ultimate decision. Now, typically, A, we've seen this used when people don't live in the district they want to represent or don't have other proper qualifications to be eligible to serve, and typically, the person being challenged is the one that has to prove they're eligible. Now, in this case, the administrative law judge says the ones challenging Marjorie Taylor Greene have to prove she should be disqualified and prove why they claim she violated a section of the 14th Amendment that bars people who have, quote, "engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the U.S."
MARTINEZ: Now, hundreds of people have been charged in connection with January 6. Congresswoman Greene, though, has not. So what's the goal, then?
FOWLER: Well, this challenge, filed by a group of voters and a nonpartisan group called Free Speech for People, will aim to question Greene about things related to January 6, objections to the Electoral College results, statements she made calling it, quote, "our 1776 moment" and other things they say helped to plan the insurrection. There's comments like this one.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE: Just finished with our meetings here at the White House this afternoon. We got a - had a great planning session for our January 6 objection. We aren't going to let this election be stolen by Joe Biden and the Democrats.
FOWLER: Now, we've been told Congresswoman Greene will testify under oath, and the challengers hope to glean new information related to the Capitol attack that could be disqualifying for her or other Republicans. It's also the first time we've seen a Republican lawmaker publicly testify and answer questions about what went down before, during and after the insurrection. And cynically, most everyone comes out a winner here. Democrats have been using Greene's extremist language to attack Republicans and paint the party in a negative light. Greene, who is very popular with pro-Trump conservatives, gets to attack Democrats in the media, like she did on a far-right outlet earlier this week.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
GREENE: This is a precedent - sets a very dangerous precedent. I cannot believe that I'm being forced to do this. I can't believe this judge has not thrown this case out and seen it for what it is, as nothing but a big, funded scam for the Democrats trying to control our elections.
FOWLER: And even former President Trump has weighed in, using the hearing as an opportunity to attack incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in his attempts to defeat them in a primary. Unlike Greene, these two Republicans resisted his push to overturn the 2020 election results.
MARTINEZ: So what kinds of outcomes can be expected? I mean, is it actually likely that Greene would be removed from the ballot?
FOWLER: The short answer - no. Greene sued in federal court to try and block this administrative law process, saying it violated her rights, but a judge ruled that the administrative law process was allowed to continue. But it's still going to be an incredibly high burden to make this unprecedented judgment Greene should be struck from the ballot. Other efforts against Republican members of Congress, like Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina, have failed. A Trump-appointed judge there said that section of the 14th Amendment is narrowly written to bar former Confederates from holding office and is not applicable today. And remember, A; the judge in this case writes a recommendation which goes to the secretary of state, which is Brad Raffensperger, who's facing his own Trump-backed primary challenge, and in-person early voting beginning in a couple of weeks means he's unlikely to rock the boat and remove Greene while his own political future hangs in the balance.
Now, Greene represents one of the most conservative House districts in the country, so even if she were to be removed from the ballot, it's still a safely Republican seat. And this negative attention will likely not hurt her in a primary, either. She's a top fundraiser and wildly popular across the country with the pro-Trump base.
MARTINEZ: Stephen Fowler with Georgia Public Broadcasting. Stephen, thanks.
FOWLER: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/marjorie-taylor-greene-to-testify-as-group-seeks-to-disqualify-her-from-running-again | 2022-05-12T15:08:02Z |
DANIEL ESTRIN, HOST:
In their forthcoming book, New York Times reporters Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns offer new details about how Republican congressional leaders Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell privately supported removing Donald Trump from office for his role in helping foment the January 6 attack on the Capitol. McCarthy yesterday called the report, quote, "totally false and wrong." And then the reporters offered up their receipts late last night by releasing audio they obtained from a January 10 phone call. It backs up their reporting and makes clear McCarthy lied. Here's the key portion of that tape.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
KEVIN MCCARTHY: Again, I mean, the only discussion I would have with him is that I think this will pass, and it would be my recommendation you should resign.
ESTRIN: Trump, of course, did not resign, and McCarthy quickly realigned himself as a loyalist to the former president. NPR congressional correspondent Susan Davis joins us now. Hi, Sue.
SUSAN DAVIS, BYLINE: Hey there.
ESTRIN: So it's rare to catch any politician so clearly in a lie. How is this reverberating on Capitol Hill?
DAVIS: Well, I think what matters most for McCarthy here is what Republicans make of it. And in that sense, it hasn't made a ton of waves. You know, privately, a lot of Republican lawmakers felt the exact same way McCarthy did in those immediate days after the attack. But McCarthy has since repeatedly and consistently proven that he's going to be loyal to former President Trump, even clearly over his own personal moral objections.
So while both McCarthy and McConnell were horrified by Trump's actions that day - and, in many ways, they said so publicly at the time - it became pretty clear to both of them that their members did not share that horror and they wouldn't have the support to move forward with any kind of punitive actions against Trump. McCarthy famously flew to Mar-a-Lago and was photographed with Trump just weeks after the attack. McConnell flirted with voting to convict Trump in the impeachment trial but ultimately didn't because, as they also report in their book, McConnell told a friend, quote, "I didn't get to be leader by voting with five people in the conference."
ESTRIN: Now, Trump and McCarthy have had a pretty rocky relationship. McCarthy was not originally a Trump supporter back in 2016. They had a falling out immediately after January 6. But they are right now seen as close allies. And McCarthy is on the path to become speaker if Republicans win the House in November. So do you think this tape could hurt McCarthy's chances?
DAVIS: It seems unlikely, and here's why. You know, President Trump values loyalty to him above all else. And what this episode illuminates very brightly is that McCarthy's going to be loyal no matter what. I mean, why would Trump not want that man to be speaker? You know, it's not like lying to The New York Times is a disqualifying act to Donald Trump or, honestly, to most House Republicans. So as long as Trump wants McCarthy to be speaker, it's hard to see how these revelations change much.
There's no one else angling for the job among House Republicans, and the lawmakers who would most likely be troublemakers for McCarthy are the Trump loyalists. So if it's OK by Trump, it's going to be OK by them. You know, that being said, if Trump were to publicly pull support for McCarthy, then, yes, he would have a problem on his hands.
ESTRIN: Briefly, Sue, Republicans are very well-positioned in the midterms. Trump has not ruled out running again in 2024. Is it fair to conclude here that the events of January 6 did absolutely nothing to dim his power within the party?
DAVIS: Yeah. I mean, the big picture here is next year, Congress could be led by two men who will clearly set aside any personal objections to Trump's actions because they don't have the support from within to do otherwise. McCarthy's already said he would shut down the committee investigating the January 6 attack. And McConnell's already said if Trump wins the nomination, he will support him for president again.
ESTRIN: OK. NPR's Susan Davis, thank you.
DAVIS: You're welcome. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/newly-released-audio-reveals-that-kevin-mccarthy-supported-ousting-trump-after-jan-6 | 2022-05-12T15:08:08Z |
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
President Biden says, we will speak softly and carry a large Javelin.
A MARTINEZ, HOST:
Yeah, he's playing off of a line by Theodore Roosevelt - speak softly and carry a big stick. Biden made the remark while discussing $800 million in weapons shipments to Ukraine. Some of the weapons may arrive this weekend, as Ukrainians await a Russian offensive.
INSKEEP: And, of course, Javelins are missiles that can be used to destroy tanks. One of our correspondents has been watching civilians get out of the way of that possible assault. NPR's Brian Mann is in Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine. Hi there, Brian.
BRIAN MANN, BYLINE: Hey, Steve.
INSKEEP: What's it like where you are?
MANN: Boy, things are tense today. We spoke to several military sources here this morning who say Russian ground troops are now active about 15 miles from the city. When we arrived, we found a fleet of city buses lined up in the center of Mykolaiv surrounded by crowds of people with suitcases and garbage bags full of clothes, many of them carrying children and pushing strollers.
IRYNA MATVIYISHYN: They're evacuating children and women and elderly people.
MANN: That's Iryna Matviyishyn, a Ukrainian journalist and translator who's working with me here, Steve, for NPR. And together, we spoke with a woman named Ina who was leaving her home in Mykolaiv with her teenage daughter Polina. They were carrying their little dog. Like a lot of people here, Ina said she's afraid Mykolaiv could turn into another Mariupol, a war zone crowded with civilians.
MATVIYISHYN: (Speaking Ukrainian).
INA: (Speaking Ukrainian).
MANN: "I have a small kid, and to save her life, I have to leave to go to Odesa," she told us. So while these people flee, the battle for Mykolaiv is considered to be crucial here in the south. If this city does fall, Russians would be positioned to threaten Odesa, which is, of course, Ukraine's major port on the Black Sea. And that's also a place where a lot of refugees are now staying.
INSKEEP: Brian, I'm interested to hear you say people don't want to be trapped in the city where you are because they don't want it to be like another Mariupol, with a lot of civilians in the crossfire. We have evidence or we're hearing stories of mass graves in Mariupol. What is the evidence?
MANN: Yeah, there are new satellite images that appear to show mass graves on the outskirts of that city. NPR hasn't been able to independently confirm exactly what's happened there, but again, it's clearly troubling. And meanwhile, we have Vladimir Putin publicly calling off the assault on the remaining Ukrainian fighters, but I have to say, there are reports that heavy shelling of those positions does continue.
INSKEEP: Yeah, Russia has not said it will stop the offensive in Mariupol, just that they're not going to go in directly into that steel plant where Ukrainians are holding out. What are Ukrainians saying about this new supply of weapons from the United States?
MANN: You know, over and over, I hear gratitude from soldiers for Western aid but also an appeal for more. Some of the Ukrainian soldiers I talked to here today say they still lack basic supplies, you know, ammunition and other essentials. And top Ukrainian officials say what they really need are those heavier weapons, like the artillery that's on its way. They also want tanks and aircraft.
INSKEEP: Which is something that the United States would conceivably have. Is this enough to make a difference, though?
MANN: You know, so far, Ukrainians have held the line as Russian bombardments and airstrikes and probes have escalated on the ground. Military officials in Ukraine and defense experts I've been speaking to say if Ukraine can quickly build up their firepower, it could make a difference as this Russian offensive escalates.
INSKEEP: NPR's Brian Mann. Thanks so much.
MANN: Thank you, Steve.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
INSKEEP: Disney World may lose some of the magic in Florida.
MARTINEZ: The giant theme park is a little like its own country and even has its own government under Florida law, but the Legislature has voted to strip Disney of its self-governing status. Lawmakers are considering taking away the company's tax benefits. Disney had criticized Governor Ron DeSantis over his legislation labeled Parental Rights in Education, which opponents have dubbed the Don't Say Gay law.
INSKEEP: Danielle Prieur of member station WMFE in Orlando is here to untangle this. Good morning.
DANIELLE PRIEUR, BYLINE: Good morning, Steve.
INSKEEP: OK, so as someone who got to go to Disney World as a kid...
PRIEUR: Yes.
INSKEEP: ...I learned a little bit about this self-governing thing. But maybe not everybody knows this. Maybe not everybody's obsessed with Disney World. So what is Disney's special self-governing status?
PRIEUR: Yeah. So basically, it has its own little mini government in an area known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, and that's about a 25,000-acre area that includes all the theme parks and water parks and hotels and restaurants that we all love going to. And it controls everything in that area from water and policing and road maintenance to, you know, paying taxes and issuing bonds. So it has, really, complete autonomy, and that's allowed the company to expand over the years.
INSKEEP: Why would it be that after more than half a century, the Florida Legislature would decide this is the moment to get rid of that?
PRIEUR: Yeah. So basically, it goes back to a few weeks ago, if you remember the Parental Rights in Education or what opponents have called the Don't Say Gay law here in Florida, which will restrict some conversations around gender identity and sexual orientation in the younger grades. When that was kind of being debated, Disney CEO Bob Chapek strongly opposed it, and in response, our governor, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, basically introduced the idea, we need to dissolve this special district now. And then this week during the special session here in Florida, we saw the Republican-led Legislature really support him in that, and the bill to dissolve the district moved relatively easily through the Florida Senate and now through the Florida House. And so the measure is now on the governor's desk, and he is expected to approve it by May 6.
INSKEEP: But let's figure this out. So they're punishing Disney for an opinion. They dissolved this special governing status. But doesn't that special district bring in tax revenue to local authorities?
PRIEUR: It does. And so now the problem is there's this huge windfall and about $1 billion in debt that most experts say Orange County and Osceola County residents are going to have to make up for in their taxes. Steve, I was speaking with the Orange County tax collector Scott Randolph yesterday, and he said homeowners here could see property taxes jump by 20% to make up the difference, and even then, it probably wouldn't be enough to cover all the money that would be lost. And he's really concerned that that means businesses won't want to come to this area after they see what happened to Disney, and Disney might not bring those 2,000 high-paying jobs from California over here to Florida.
INSKEEP: I'm just trying to get my brain around this. Does this mean Disney's taxes go down because they're being punished? I mean, I'm baffled.
PRIEUR: Well, basically, you know, what will happen - right? - is that they pay taxes right now on this district (laughter).
INSKEEP: OK.
PRIEUR: And so basically, the taxes now will be paid for by local residents...
INSKEEP: OK.
PRIEUR: ...Who already have some of the highest taxes in the country.
INSKEEP: Will visitors to Disney notice any change at all?
PRIEUR: They might because, obviously, Disney was in charge of ambulance services and fire services, so if, you know, someone has a heart attack or a car accident, now it's up to the county to figure out how to handle that and how to foot the bill. And also, Disney now will need approval before it expands on all of its wonderful theme parks, hotels, restaurants, new rides. There's a lot of red tape now involved.
INSKEEP: Danielle, thanks for the insights. Really appreciate it.
PRIEUR: Thank you, Steve.
INSKEEP: Danielle Prieur of member station WMFE in Orlando.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
INSKEEP: A hearing in Atlanta today decides if Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia should be disqualified from office.
MARTINEZ: A group of voters allege that Greene helped facilitate the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, arguing that it makes her ineligible to be on the ballot this May.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE: Just finished with our meetings here at the White House this afternoon. We got a - had a great planning session for our January 6 objection. We aren't going to let this election be stolen by Joe Biden and the Democrats.
MARTINEZ: That was a clip of Greene in December of 2020. Now, we know she's denounced the violent acts of the January 6 insurrection, but as you just heard there, she was in on organizing the Save America rally that day, which eventually led to that march on the Capitol.
INSKEEP: Georgia Public Broadcasting's Stephen Fowler is covering this story. Stephen, welcome back.
STEPHEN FOWLER, BYLINE: Thanks for having me.
INSKEEP: So what is the basis for which people have brought her into court in the first place?
FOWLER: So, Steve, a Georgia law allows voters to challenge candidates running for office. It has a special process and a special judge that gives recommendations to the secretary of state, who makes the final decision about who can be on the ballot. Now, it's typically used for residency challenges, and typically, the candidate themselves has to be the one to prove they're eligible. In this case, there's an administrative law judge that says the ones that are challenging Marjorie Taylor Greene have to prove she should be disqualified and prove why they claim she violated a section of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that bars people who have, quote, "engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the U.S."
INSKEEP: Well, a court proceeding like this, I suppose one goal is to throw the person off the ballot, but the other is to find facts. What is the objective here?
FOWLER: Well, this challenge, filed by a nonpartisan group called Free Speech for People, will aim to question Greene about things related to January 6, objections to the Electoral College results, statements she made calling it, our 1776 moment, and other things that they say helped to plan the insurrection. We've been told Congresswoman Greene will testify under oath. This is the first time we'll be hearing testimony from a Republican lawmaker about the Capitol insurrection. And these challengers hope to glean new information that could be disqualifying. Now, cynically, Steve, most everyone comes out a winner here. Democrats have been using Greene's extremist language to attack Republicans, and Greene gets to attack Democrats in the media, like she did on a far-right outlet earlier this week.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
GREENE: And so this is a precedent - sets a very dangerous precedent. I cannot believe that I'm being forced to do this. I can't believe this judge has not thrown this case out and seen it for what it is, as nothing but a big, funded scam for the Democrats trying to control our elections.
FOWLER: Even former President Trump has weighed in, using the hearing as an opportunity to attack incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp.
INSKEEP: Oh, that's right. Trump was not happy with Kemp because Kemp told the truth about the 2020 election. Is it possible, though, that Greene could actually be thrown off the ballot?
FOWLER: Well, the short answer is no. A federal judge did rule that this complaint process could continue, but it'll be a high bar to meet to remove Greene. Also, remember; the final decision rests with the secretary of state. That's Brad Raffensperger, who's facing a Trump-backed primary challenge next month, too.
INSKEEP: Interesting times. Stephen, thanks so much.
FOWLER: Thank you.
INSKEEP: Stephen Fowler of Georgia Public Broadcasting. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/news-brief-russian-attacks-marjorie-taylor-green-hearing-florida-vs-disney | 2022-05-12T15:08:14Z |
Blue Ridge Foster Love using new funds to help more Valley families
DAYTON, Va. (WHSV) - Last month was the 5th Annual Great Community Give which saw 1.7 million dollars raised for 125 nonprofits in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.
With May being National Foster Care Month, one of those nonprofits has been using the $7,000 it raised to help more families.
Blue Ridge Foster Love in Dayton provides free items like clothes, toys, and care items to parents and kids in the foster care system. It has helped 200 families since its opening in January.
“We just had a few newborns in that the foster parents didn’t have car seats so being able to purchase those car seats that have to be new for them is what we’re gonna use the money for we’ve been able to bless them and they are so thankful,” CEO of Blue Ridge Foster Love Christine Costello said.
She says the nonprofit also wants to provide free experiences like art classes or other activities to foster children in the Valley. If you’re interested in helping out, click here.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/12/blue-ridge-foster-love-using-new-funds-help-more-valley-families/ | 2022-05-12T15:08:15Z |
The Ukrainian military escort says Russians were pushed out of the village of Mala Rohan at the end of last month.
But then, Tatiana, the military public affairs officer, who only uses her first name because of Ukrainian military policy, points to the middle of a field, to the carcasses of a tank and a helicopter. Both are tagged with the letter "Z," which the Russians have used to represent their military offensive in Ukraine.
The vehicle and aircraft, she says, were shot down just a few days ago. In the distance, the sound of artillery echoes through the farm land. A plume of smoke rises. The battle for this town, just east of Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, and under an hour's drive from the Russian border, was intense.
Tatiana won't reveal exact numbers, but she says "many" civilians and Ukrainian soldiers died. Some of the dead Russian fighters, she says, were buried in a mass grave on the side of a hill.
The scenes in Mala Rohan are emblematic of the kind of fighting that has raged in Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February. According to residents and soldiers interviewed by NPR, the Russian and Ukrainian militaries are engaging in few direct firefights. Instead, they say, Russians are lobbing shells, mortars and unguided missiles in the general direction of Ukrainian positions.
Second Lt. Dmitrii says this war has become a battle of artillery.
"The Russians are not very good at fighting," he says. "They are good at shelling and sending rockets, but when they are close, they have a lot of casualties."
The fighting has left the village destroyed. Most of its people have fled. But 67-year-old Natalia Blizniuk is sitting on a wall near the main road. Her house is in tatters — the roof is blown; the windows are broken; she has no heating, no water — but she says she has nowhere to go. She says she can't make sense of this war.
"I don't understand who is right and whose fault it is," she says. "We need peace. That's the only thing we need."
On the other side of the village, Ukrainian soldiers walk into a bombed out warehouse. Russian soldiers had turned it into temporary barracks. A Ukrainian rocket smashed through the walls and into the basement, leaving everything coated in a black soot.
Capt. Daniil looked through the spoils. The Ukrainian military moved in fast and the Russians fled in hurry, leaving behind medicine, food and rubber boots. Daniil stops in front of a table full of unused bullets. He uses the flashlight on his cellphone to inspect each one.
"The irony of fate," he says, as he methodically picks up the bullets and puts them into his bag. "Now," he says, "these bullets will kill the people who brought them here."
Hanna Palamarenko contributed reporting to this story.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/photos-russian-forces-were-driven-out-of-this-village-outside-kharkiv-ukraine | 2022-05-12T15:08:20Z |
CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Good Samaritans help driver having medical emergency
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (CNN) - Authorities are hoping to identify and honor several people that sprang into action to help a driver that was suffering a medical emergency.
It happened May 5 in Boynton Beach, Florida.
Video shows a group of people swarming a car that was rolling through an intersection.
Together they were able to get into the car and pull it to safety at a nearby gas station, where the driver received medical attention.
The Boynton Beach Police Department released the video in the hopes of identifying all the strangers that aided the woman. They hope to bring them back together at the police department to recognize them and meet the woman they rescued.
Police posted an update to Twitter on Wednesday night, saying they have been in touch with several people seen in the video.
The driver later spoke about what happened. She said she felt dizzy and tried to pull over to a gas station but started to convulse before hitting a curb. She didn’t wake up until the next day.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/05/12/caught-camera-good-samaritans-help-driver-having-medical-emergency/ | 2022-05-12T15:08:21Z |
A MARTINEZ, HOST:
Charles Mingus would have turned 100 today. The jazz bassist is often mentioned in the same sentence as Duke Ellington as one of America's greatest composers.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLES MINGUS' "BETTER GET HIT IN YO SOUL")
RUSSELL HALL: He figured out how to internalize the entire expression of human emotion in music.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Russell Hall is a bassist and composer in New York City.
HALL: I feel like a descendant of Charles Mingus, like a direct descendant.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLES MINGUS' "HAITIAN FIGHT SONG")
HALL: If I had to describe what his playing is like, it's like a dragon or a lion or the kraken. It's like this wild mythological beast.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLES MINGUS' "HAITIAN FIGHT SONG")
HALL: He's just somebody that sees the music on a pan-dimensional level. So they always pin Charles Mingus as the angry man of jazz. But to me, this is somebody that felt every single emotion there is to feel as an artist and translated that through music.
MARTINEZ: Mingus was full of contradictions. The same man who once punched his trombonist in the mouth also wrote a manual for toilet training a housecat. He called it a CAT-alog.
INSKEEP: A 1968 documentary reveals how, when threatened with eviction, he picked up a gun and shot a hole in his own ceiling.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
CHARLES MINGUS: Well, I'm going to shoot it.
(SOUNDBITE OF GUNSHOT)
C MINGUS: A gun.
INSKEEP: But his widow, Sue Mingus, told Fresh Air in 2002 there was more to Mingus than his angry man of jazz persona.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)
SUE MINGUS: He spent hours at the piano. It was where he found the center of his being. He was a very sensitive artist in a society that did not accept who he was, either as an artist or a musician or as a man with the skin color that wasn't approved. And he fought back.
MARTINEZ: Charles Mingus died of ALS in 1979. He was 56.
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLES MINGUS' "MODE D, MODE E, MODE F") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/remembering-jazz-great-charles-mingus-who-was-born-100-years-ago | 2022-05-12T15:08:26Z |
LOUISVILLE, Colo., May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX) honored the recipients of its 21st annual GHXcellence Awards during the company's annual GHX Summit awards ceremony yesterday evening in Hollywood, Florida. For more than two decades, the GHXcellence Awards have recognized provider and supplier organizations, and individuals, that are advancing the business of healthcare through complex problem solving, relentless innovation and supply chain leadership.
"The 2021 GHXcellence Award winners embody healthcare at its best by exhibiting and encouraging a spirit of innovation, leadership, creativity and collaboration," said Bruce Johnson, president and CEO, GHX. "We are proud to recognize the individuals and organizations that are steadfast in their commitment to transforming the business of healthcare for the benefit of many."
2021 Organizational Award Recipients and Key Contributors:
- Collaboration: Abbott Laboratories and the American Diabetes Association
- Community Impact: Ochsner Health
- Innovation: Stanford Health Care
- Innovation: Medtronic
- Commitment to Safety & Security: Providence
- Achieving Financial Agility: Trinity Health, Duke Health and GE Healthcare
- Elevating the Clinically Integrated Supply Chain: Scripps Health
- U.S. Healthcare Provider of the Year (Large – 1,000+ beds): RWJBarnabas Health
- U.S. Healthcare Provider of the Year (Medium – 500-1,000 beds): UC Davis Health
- U.S. Healthcare Provider of the Year (Small – less than 500 beds): UCI Health
- U.S. Healthcare Supplier of the Year (Large): Medline Industries, Inc.
- U.S. Healthcare Supplier of the Year (Mid-Size): Hologic
- Canadian Healthcare Supplier of the Year: Stryker Corporation
- Canadian Healthcare Provider of the Year: Transform Shared Service Organization
2021 Individual Award Winners:
- Healthcare Hero: Jack Koczela, Director of Services, Supply Chain, Froedtert Health
- Healthcare Hero: Mark Van Sumeren, Managing Director, Health Industry Advisor
- Supply Chain Leadership: Richard Bagley, Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer, Penn State Health
"While the healthcare industry experienced myriad challenges in the past year, it also launched incredible ingenuity and collaboration. This year's GHXcellence winners represent an industry working together through unprecedented difficulties toward the common goal of optimizing the value and quality of care for the patient and our communities," said Jimmy Chung, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, Advantus Health Partners and member of the GHXcellence Selection Committee.
The top-performing provider and supplier organizations were evaluated based on GHX performance metrics. Winners in the other award categories were selected based on submitted nominations and a combination of strategic performance metrics that were evaluated by a selection committee made up of GHX executives and leading healthcare influencers including Randy V. Bradley, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Information Systems & Supply Chain Management, University of Tennessee; Kristine Russell, Executive Vice President, Endeavor Business Media and Publisher/Executive Editor, Healthcare Purchasing News & Medical Laboratory Observer; and Jimmy Chung, MD, MBA. This year, GHX added three new awards to honor those elevating the clinically integrated supply chain, excelling in safety and security and demonstrating keen financial agility.
More details about the award criteria can be found on the GHX award program page.
About GHX
Building on decades of collaboration among providers, manufacturers, distributors and other industry stakeholders, Global Healthcare Exchange, LLC (GHX) is leading the charge in helping organizations run the new business of healthcare. By automating key business processes and translating evidence-based analytics and data into meaningful action, GHX is helping the healthcare ecosystem to move faster, operate more intelligently and achieve greater outcomes. With the support of GHX, healthcare organizations have removed billions of dollars of wasteful healthcare spend. For more information on GHX's suite of cloud-based supply chain solutions, visit www.ghx.com and The Healthcare Hub.
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SOURCE GHX | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/2021-ghxcellence-award-winners-represent-supply-chain-excellence-among-healthcare-providers-suppliers/ | 2022-05-12T15:08:27Z |
DANIEL ESTRIN, HOST:
"Saturday Night Live" alum Bill Hader returns to TV on Sunday. He stars in the third season of his hit HBO comedy "Barry." NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says the new season takes Hader's character to places fans might not be ready to go.
ERIC DEGGANS, BYLINE: It may sound odd to say this about a character like Bill Hader's Barry Berkman, a third-rate hitman who turned his life around when he followed a potential victim into an acting class, but the third season of HBO's "Barry" presents a far darker vision of him than fans have seen before. As the season opens, Barry is lost emotionally. He can't get work as a hitman or an actor. He's having bloody visions, and he turns to a man he once nearly framed for murder, Chechen gangster NoHo Hank, played by Anthony Carrigan.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "BARRY")
ANTHONY CARRIGAN: (As NoHo Hank) You frame me using pin I gave you for being great dude, and now you come here asking me for a job?
BILL HADER: (As Barry Berkman) I don't know what to do, man. I'm in a bad spot. I'm, like - I'm kind of losing my mind, man, and I need help. I need a purpose, Hank.
CARRIGAN: (As NoHo Hank) Forgiveness is something that has to be earned. It's like that line in "Shawshank Redemption" - get rich or die trying.
DEGGANS: It's been almost three years since new episodes of "Barry" hit HBO. Fans may not remember - the second season ended with Barry's acting teacher, Gene Cousineau, learning a devastating fact - Barry killed Cousineau's girlfriend, a police detective close to uncovering his life as a hitman. Riddled by guilt, Barry decides his purpose will be to get acting work for Cousineau, played with a clueless self-absorption by Henry Winkler. But that may be tough, given his teacher's reputation as a terrible person, which Barry learns when asking two producers to give him the part.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "BARRY")
HADER: (As Barry Berkman) I need you to cast my acting teacher.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #1: (As character) There's a process here.
HADER: (As Barry Berkman) His name is Gene Cousineau.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #1: (As character) Gene Cousineau? That's your acting teacher?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #2: (As character) Is that the guy that brought the loaded gun to the "Full House" audition?
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #1: (As character) Yeah. When Allison didn't cast him on "Family Ties," he called her a donkey witch.
HADER: (As Barry Berkman) Everybody deserves a second chance.
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #2: (As character) That's not how it works.
DEGGANS: This is a theme that "Barry" has continually danced around. Is redemption possible for someone who's spent a lifetime doing terrible things? We've already seen Barry kill an old friend and a building full of Chechen and Bolivian gangsters. But there's still something more unpredictable and brutal about him this time around. Now he's threatening the show's most important characters, including Barry's girlfriend Sally, played by Sarah Goldberg, who hesitates to hire Cousineau for a streaming show she's producing.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "BARRY")
SARAH GOLDBERG: (As Sally Reed) But we threw his name out for a part, and casting said no. I think the direct quote was, life's too short.
HADER: (As Barry Berkman) I'm worried about him.
GOLDBERG: (As Sally Reed) So am I. We're saying the same thing.
HADER: (As Barry Berkman) We are not saying the same thing. We are not saying the same thing.
DEGGANS: Barry also threatens Cousineau. The assassin is torn between guilt over what he's done and the impulse to kill him.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "BARRY")
HENRY WINKLER: (As Gene Cousineau) You did a horrible thing, but I see your pain. Not only did I teach you to be a good actor, I taught you to be a good human being. And this is how you repay me? By killing me?
HADER: (As Barry Berkman) I love you, Mr. Cousineau.
DEGGANS: Hader and his producers are clearly pushing the envelope, testing whether audiences will stay connected to Barry as he grows more dangerous and unstable.
There are other comedic touches here. As Sally makes her show, we see clever jokes about the vapid nature of streaming, TV executives and Hollywood entertainment reporters. But the core of the story comes down to two questions - how far will Barry go to keep his secret, and can he keep his humanity, and the show's audience, while he does it?
I'm Eric Deggans. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/review-the-3rd-season-of-barry-shows-a-far-darker-vision-of-him-than-seen-before | 2022-05-12T15:08:32Z |
NEW YORK, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, actor, designer and skateboarder Evan Mock announced the creation of $MAHCOIN, his own proprietary cryptocurrency, or social token, developed with P00LS, the leading social token platform. Mock, star of HBO Max's Gossip Girl, and renowned skateboarder, surfer and serial-collaborator for culture-defining brands, is among the earliest wave of creators stepping into Web3 by debuting a comprehensive social token strategy with P00LS, including soccer legend Ronaldinho, fashion photographer and artist Hugo Comte, and DJ and producer Aluna. This social token infrastructure will inform all of Mock's future projects, including his forthcoming fashion collection, Wahine, empowering both Mock and his community to unlock value in perpetuity. The token will be available to earn for free on the P00LS platform as of 12 PM ET today.
With the launch of $MAHCOIN— a play on slang from his native Hawaii as well as his last name— Mock is transforming his avid fan base into a global, integrated community aligned around his creative universe, projects and vision. From the skate community, to fashion aficionados, to fans of Gossip Girl, Mock's followers now have a common platform that affords them unprecedented access to Mock himself and his community with a host of utilities and perks exclusive to token holders. These include behind-the-scenes content from the Gossip Girl set, early access to his forthcoming fashion collection, access to his "close friends" story on Instagram, tickets to premieres, and access to"MAH WORLD," Mock's hybrid metaverse-IRL creative universe, among others.
In conjunction with this first-of-its-kind social token strategy, Mock has also announced his new clothing collection, entitled "Wahine," in collaboration with stylist Donté McGuine, launching later this month. While the limited edition items will be available to all for purchase, holders of the $MAHCOIN token will have early access to purchase all the items of the collection and to an exclusive Wahine t-shirt giveaway, as well as discounts on the collection.
Evan Mock has partnered with social token platform, P00LS, for the launch of $MAHCOIN. As part of the P00LS protocol, Mock's day-one fans and famous friends alike have the opportunity to secure their place in his community by earning his tokens for free on the P00LS launchpad. Through completing various actions—i.e., streaming his videos, learning about Mock's vision and creative projects, as well as sharing his work and interacting with Mock directly—community members earn tokens without ever having to pay for them. In this way, Mock has pioneered a new, highly innovative Web3 creative strategy that brings his community closer to his projects, drawing them into his larger creative world. $MAHCOIN is an ERC-20 token and will be listed on the P00LS decentralized exchange later this year, where it can be earned and traded on Ethereum.
Mock is the latest creator to launch with P00LS, the premier tool for accessing creator and community value. Founded in 2021 by French crypto entrepreneur, Hugo Renaudin, P00LS is the leading community-first Web3 protocol for creator cryptocurrencies. P00LS partners with talent and brands to launch their own social token, distribute it to their communities and list it on the P00LS decentralized exchange, where it can be earned and traded on Ethereum.
About Evan Mock: A pink-haired multihyphenate hailing from Hawaii, Mock has created a brand that extends to almost every corner of culture, from fashion weeks to skate parks to surf beaches around the globe. As an in-demand model, Mock has starred in numerous campaigns and most notably walked the runway in Paris for Virgil Abloh's Louis Vuitton Men's Spring-Summer 2020 Show. Evan Mock is a creative force, renowned actor, fashion designer and serial collaborator with culture-defining brands such as RVCA, Pandora, Mattel and many more in addition to the launch of his own streetwear brand Sorry in Advance.
About P00LS: P00LS is the leading community-first, decentralized protocol for creator cryptocurrencies. We enable creators and brands to launch their proprietary token, distribute it to their communities, and list it on the P00LS decentralized exchange, where it can be earned and traded on Ethereum. Partnering with P00LS means incentivizing audiences and fanbases to consume creator and brand content, while empowering them to promote, share, and scale it. With P00LS—the premier tool for accessing creator value—money is no longer the only currency.
Press Contact:
Harrison Vail
harrison@p00ls.io
+1 203-858-9609
LINK TO PRESS-APPROVED IMAGES HERE
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE P00LS | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/actor-designer-skater-evan-mock-steps-into-web3-launches-social-token-with-p00ls/ | 2022-05-12T15:08:38Z |
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
Nicolas Cage is not just the star of his latest movie, he's also its main character. In the comedy "The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent," Nicolas Cage plays an actor named Nicolas Cage. Critic Bob Mondello says he's certainly well cast.
BOB MONDELLO, BYLINE: We meet a Nick Cage who's very much like the Nick Cage we know, but struggling a bit, even when he auditions.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT")
NICOLAS CAGE: (As Nick Cage) What did he say?
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS: (As Richard Fink) He says he loves you, but he went in a different direction.
CAGE: (As Nick Cage) I'm done. I'm quitting acting.
HARRIS: (As Richard Fink) I'm driving through the hills. I'm sorry. One more time?
MONDELLO: Bills are piling up, alimony after a recent divorce. Then finally, his agent mentions an offer from a fan that would involve some acting.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT")
CAGE: (As Nick Cage) What's it about?
HARRIS: (As Richard Fink) You head to southern Spain, and you attend a wealthy gentleman's birthday party.
CAGE: (As Nick Cage) I would never do that.
HARRIS: (As Richard Fink) It's a million bucks, Nick.
CAGE: (As Nick Cage) I'll take it.
MONDELLO: The fan's name is Javi, a hero-worshipping superfan - as played by Pedro Pascal - with a screenplay he's hoping Nick will read and plans for a whole weekend of bonding, maybe even acting out a scene or two. As much as Cage tries to preserve boundaries once he gets to southern Spain, even saying he's giving up acting, Javi is like an eager puppy.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT")
PEDRO PASCAL: (As Javi Gutierrez) You can't quit acting. You can't.
CAGE: (As Nick Cage) That's none of your business.
PASCAL: (As Javi Gutierrez) Whether you like it or not, you have a gift.
MONDELLO: The way to a star's heart is through his ego, and Cage's has needed stroking. What's a star to do? Disappoint his biggest fan?
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT")
PASCAL: (As Javi Gutierrez) We have to go now. We have to jump.
MONDELLO: They're standing in a clearing overlooking water as Nick Cage looks Javi in the eye and becomes Nicolas Cage.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT")
CAGE: (As Nick Cage) You're in an untenable situation. You know that, right?
MONDELLO: Javi's eyes light up.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT")
CAGE: (As Nick Cage) And let's get you out of here alive.
MONDELLO: With Javi close behind, he runs towards the water, and he drops a lot higher than he expected.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT")
PEDRO PASCAL AND NICOLAS CAGE: (As Javi Gutierrez and Nick Cage, screaming)
MONDELLO: It is sometimes said that actors contain multitudes - all the parts they've ever played, are playing, will play. This is truer of some actors than others, but this movie references a lot of the multitudes Nicolas Cage contains. Like the Nick Cage from "Leaving Las Vegas," there's a bottom of a swimming pool bit; "Guarding Tess" - a heartwarming story; "National Treasure" - a race to safety. And when a couple of CIA agents who've been tailing Javi spot Cage, they run through a half dozen more.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT")
TIFFANY HADDISH: (As Vivian) He was so good in "The Rock."
IKE BARINHOLTZ: (As Martin) What about "Gone In 60 Seconds"?
HADDISH: (As Vivian) Have you seen "Croods 2"?
BARINHOLTZ: (As Martin) No. I'm 44 years old. Why would I see "Croods 2"? I've seen "Face/Off" and "Con Air."
MONDELLO: This doesn't remotely rise to the level of homage, but it'll be fun for fans. Director Tom Gormican and his co-screenwriter Kevin Etten mostly settle for quick nods in the general direction of Cage's previous films. Their story is so busy chasing its own tail that trying to do more than namecheck epics like "Army Of One" and "Ghost Rider" would likely be the kiss of death. That said, it takes "Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent" a good hour and some dropped acid before it builds up a comic head of steam, the LSD fueling a paranoid escape over a wall...
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT")
CAGE: (As Nick Cage) Grab my hand. Grab it.
MONDELLO: ...When nobody is actually chasing them. Theirs is a bromance marked by total commitment...
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT")
PASCAL: (As Javi Gutierrez) So you let go. You let go.
MONDELLO: ...Just 24 hours after they've met; star and fan united in devotion to Nick Cage and the Hollywood-ness of it all.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT")
PASCAL: (As Javi Gutierrez) Goodbye, Nicolas Cage.
CAGE: (As Nick Cage) I'll never forget you, Javs (ph).
PASCAL: (As Javi Gutierrez) Now, you get the hell out of here. You go. Turns out we could have just walked around.
CAGE: (As Nick Cage) Yeah, I guess so.
PASCAL: (As Javi Gutierrez) Whatever.
MONDELLO: There's not a lot in "The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent" for those hoping for something as meta as that title. Where "Being John Malkovich" used its real-life star not just for laughs but for a weirdly profound examination of consciousness, no one associated with this film is interested in examining much of anything. They mean their movie to be just a goof.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT")
CAGE: (As Nick Cage) I'm Nick freaking...
MONDELLO: Its memory gone in 60 seconds once the lights come up.
I'm Bob Mondello.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT")
CAGE: (As Nick Cage) ...Woo - Cage.
(SOUNDBITE OF MOBY SONG, "FLOWER") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/review-the-unbearable-weight-of-massive-talent-references-nick-cages-multitudes | 2022-05-12T15:08:39Z |
A MARTINEZ, HOST:
Russia could default on its foreign debt for the first time in a century. It's a consequence of economic sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. Wailin Wong and Adrian Ma from NPR's daily economics podcast, The Indicator from Planet Money, explain Russia and its creditors may be headed for a long legal showdown.
WAILIN WONG, BYLINE: Elina Ribakova is deputy chief economist at the International Institute of Finance.
ELINA RIBAKOVA: Russia's outstanding debt is about 17% of GDP. Seventeen percent of GDP is almost ridiculously low number.
ADRIAN MA, BYLINE: And just for comparison, the U.S., France, Canada - their ratios of government debt to GDP are over 100%. Elina says Russia wanted to insulate itself from global capital markets, so it kept borrowing to a minimum.
WONG: But Russia did sell government bonds to raise money, and some of that was foreign debt - bonds issued in dollars or euros, typically held by institutional investors around the world who collect regularly scheduled interest payments.
MA: Even with sanctions freezing Russian accounts at international banks last month, Elina says the U.S. Treasury made an exception. They let Russia's interest payments to bondholders go through. So the foreign bondholders - they got their money.
WONG: But then on April 4, when Russia had $650 million in bond payments coming due...
RIBAKOVA: Russian authorities tried to do the same in terms of paying from the existing frozen accounts. Then that's where the U.S. Treasury said, no, you cannot do that. Then the Russian authorities said, look, if we cannot do this, we're going to try to pay you in rubles.
MA: This was a problem because the contracts for the bonds say the payments have to be made in U.S. dollars. So for credit-rating agencies like Standard & Poor's, those rubles that the Russian government had sitting in local accounts - they don't count as payment.
WONG: This back-and-forth took a couple of days to play out, but when the dust settled, S&P declared Russia to be in selective default. That means they're in default on just those bonds.
MA: Russia right now is in this 30-day grace period to make those payments in dollars, and that period ends in early May. That means Russia would officially be in default when the grace period ends.
WONG: The fallout from a default would be relatively contained, given how small Russia's foreign debt load is. But it would cement Russia's status as an economic pariah, cut it off from global financial markets and make the cost of future borrowing really high.
MA: Now, normally, when a borrower defaults on their obligations, it is because they don't have the money. But that's not exactly the case here.
RIBAKOVA: This is unwillingness to pay, rather than inability to pay. They're currently generating every day significant inflows - so foreign exchange from their large sales of energy. So Russia does have the money. The issue of unwillingness is sort of tit for tat. You took our money with sanctions, and therefore, look, we cannot do anything. We're going to pay you in rubles.
WONG: Russia's finance minister told local media the country would take legal action if Western countries forced it into default. He didn't really offer more details, but sovereign debt experts are bracing themselves for a long, messy showdown in the courts. The last time the country defaulted on its foreign debt was after the Bolshevik Revolution. In 1918, the new Russian government under Vladimir Lenin repudiated the debt that had been borrowed by the czar. Most of those foreign creditors are still waiting to get their money back.
MA: Adrian Ma.
WONG: Wailin Wong, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/russia-could-default-on-its-foreign-debt-for-the-first-time-in-a-century | 2022-05-12T15:08:45Z |
Partners recognized for outstanding contributions and performance as ADP Marketplace expands client reach globally
ROSELAND, N.J., May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ADP, a leading global technology company providing human capital management (HCM) solutions, today announced winners of several awards presented to key partners at the fourth annual ADP Marketplace Partner Summit. Held in Orlando, Florida, the event shared best practices, vision, client insights, technology roadmaps and more to help continue to advance the ADP Marketplace partner ecosystem. This year's Summit caps a strong year for ADP Marketplace with expansion into Europe with the launch of a marketplace in France, the formation of the first ADP Marketplace Partner Advisory Board, continued personalization, improved search and product recommendation through AI, and a new e-commerce in-product experience for ADP clients to discover and buy solutions directly from their ADP HCM platform experience.
"We are focused on innovating, expanding, and bringing digital solutions to our clients in a meaningful way. With the ever-changing needs of today's HR leaders, ADP is poised to provide new technology to our clients quickly and easily with choice and flexibility," said Anthony Maggio, Vice President and General Manager of ADP Marketplace. "In addition, our newly launched storefront in France enables ADP and our partners to continue to expand our client reach and better serve clients, globally."
This year, ADP is recognizing great partner contributions and performance with key awards including Top Closer, Rising Star, Best E-Commerce Solution, Sales Choice, Best Vertical Solution, Best Marketing and PR, Best Service and Support, and Top International Partner. Headlining the event, Globalization Partners will be honored as Partner of the Year, for the outstanding value they bring to clients.
ADP Marketplace Partner Award winners include:
- Partner of the Year: Globalization Partners. The Partner of the Year award is presented to the partner that provides the greatest client contributions and increases to sales and volume.
- Top Closer: GoodHire. The Top Closer award is presented to a partner with the best lead conversion rate, including both sales and free trial conversions.
- Rising Star: ZayZoon. The Rising Star award recognizes the contributions, commitment and accomplishments of a partner who has joined ADP Marketplace within the past year.
- Best E-Commerce Solution: OrgChart Now by OfficeWork Software. This award is given to a partner with the most e-commerce sales, as measured by number of units within ADP Marketplace, including free trials converted to purchase.
- Sales Choice: HealthEquity. The Sales Choice award is given to a partner selected by the ADP sales team, based on the solutions that resonate most with ADP clients and prospects.
- Best Vertical Solution: Points North and ClockShark. The Best Vertical Solution awards go to the partners that craft a vertically focused offering, drive relevant leads and successfully close leads within that vertical.
- Best Marketing and PR: DailyPay. The Best Marketing and PR award is for the partner that produces exceptional marketing assets, such as case studies, thought leadership articles, blogs, external media coverage, social media programs and other efforts.
- Best Service and Support: Modulus Data. The Best Service and Support Award is given to a partner that provides the best service and support to ADP clients.
- Top International Partner: Elevo. The Top International Partner Award is given to a partner selected by the ADP Employer Services International (ESI) team, based on their integration, number of integrated clients, and potential for international expansion.
As the largest digital one-stop shop for people management solutions, ADP Marketplace enables employers to build a more flexible HR ecosystem based on solutions that fit their needs. With over 1.4 million unique visitors to our storefront, ADP Marketplace has processed over 10,000 transactions and processes 2 billion API calls per year. Clients can get access to key products from ADP and third-party providers like Globalization Partners, GoodHire, ZayZoon, OfficeWork Software, HealthEquity, Points North, ClockShark, DailyPay, Modulus Data, Elevo, and more. ADP Marketplace is home to over 800 solutions globally, from more than 275 unique partners, with apps serving many vertical markets with solutions for compliance and consulting, recruiting and onboarding, time and labor management, financial wellness, benefits, and much more. Users can browse by industry or solution category to find apps that help solve their biggest challenges and through our AI and machine learning, we help clients discover best-fit solutions by serving personalized product recommendations.
Along with the Partner Awards, this year's event marked the launch of the newly formed Partner Advisory Board, a group of 12 partner representatives who will serve as the voice of ADP Marketplace partners. The board will help shape our roadmap, pilot new features, and provide valuable insights for strategic planning.
"The growth of ADP Marketplace has been driven through our commitment to technology innovation and a strong connection between ADP and our global marketplace partners," said Chris D'Ambrosio, Chief Strategy Officer at ADP. "ADP Marketplace delivers a critical client need with the ability to integrate with solutions from ADP and our partners, enabling a more seamless experience, both for their organization and for their employees."
Forrester Research recognized ADP Marketplace as "…a strong choice for anything related to HR, especially adjacent to ADP." The Forrester New Wave™: SaaS Marketplaces, Q1 2022 report identifies ADP as strong performer and said "ADP is a giant in HR, with hundreds of thousands of clients. Its marketplace is very much designed to serve these customers, with a smaller, but highly relevant, set of applications."
ADP Marketplace helps companies of all sizes effortlessly integrate best-of-breed HR solutions from ADP and third-party partners with their ADP platform, all with the simplicity of single sign-on, single data input and single billing. By building a highly customized, fully integrated HCM ecosystem, businesses can simplify HR processes, eliminate manual and duplicative data entry, and free up valuable time to focus on strategic initiatives while taking care of their people.
To learn more about ADP Marketplace, visit apps.adp.com.
About ADP (NASDAQ – ADP)
Designing better ways to work through cutting-edge products, premium services and exceptional experiences that enable people to reach their full potential. HR, Talent, Time Management, Benefits and Payroll. Informed by data and designed for people. Learn more at ADP.com
ADP, the ADP logo, and Always Designing for People are trademarks of ADP, Inc.
Copyright © 2022 ADP, Inc. All rights reserved.
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ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
It's been nearly two months since Russia launched what the Kremlin calls its special military operation in Ukraine. And it's been nearly two months since the U.S. and its allies responded with unprecedented sanctions. From Moscow, NPR's Charles Maynes has been tracking their impact and finds the worst is still to come.
CHARLES MAYNES, BYLINE: In a small Moscow antique shop, owner Sergei holds up an unexpected piece of the global economy.
SERGEI: ...Which is a first press in Japanese - Michael Jackson.
MAYNES: Michael Jackson's 1982 album "Thriller" on Japanese vinyl.
SERGEI: Perfect condition.
MAYNES: It's not an easy thing to come by in Moscow in normal times. But Sergei, who declined to give his last name out of fear of the authorities, says soon it may be impossible because overseas suppliers are refusing to do business with him because of where he's from.
SERGEI: (Through interpreter) Yes, I'm from Russia. But what have I personally done against another country? We don't make the decisions. Why should we suffer for someone else's ambitions?
MAYNES: In the weeks since President Vladimir Putin launched his so-called special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian leader has repeatedly painted the mission as a necessary battle to demilitarize Ukraine and protect the Russian homeland. But as Western sanctions have piled on, Putin has also sought to assure a nervous public that Russia's economy cannot only survive but thrive amid whatever comes next.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: "We can already say with certainty that the politics of sanctions against Russia have failed," said Putin in a televised address to his cabinet this week. The Russian leader went on to argue Western governments had harmed their own economies while spurring on Russia's economic development.
MAXIM MIRONOV: The main thing - they just want to create a picture that everything is normal. And if you talk about propaganda, it's working. But reality - not.
MAYNES: That's economist Maxim Mironov. He says Putin and his government have tried to push a rosy narrative that sanctions are a gift to Russia's domestic producers and that Russia can redirect its trade towards rising powers like China. But there's a catch, says Mironov.
MIRONOV: It's going to destroy the economy completely in terms of how it was.
MAYNES: That's starting with an exodus of major global companies - McDonald's, Starbucks, IKEA and others. There's also the quirks of life under sanctions, like a run on sugar or the soaring cost of office copy paper.
But the national currency, the ruble, rebounded to its original value after an early collapse thanks to moves by the central bank. Produce and goods are still on supermarket shelves, and even credit cards and cash machines still work inside the country. If that sounds more disruptive than crushing, analysts say that's because it's merely pain delayed.
NATALYA ZUBAREVICH: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: "Sanctions don't kick in immediately," says Natalya Zubarevich, an expert on Russia's regional economy with Moscow State University.
ZUBAREVICH: (Through interpreter) The people have been promised that if they wait two months, things will go back to normal. They don't yet understand. This crisis is here to stay.
MAYNES: Zubarevich warns Russia will soon find itself felled by a feature of most modern economies. It doesn't produce much on its own. Soon, she says, major industries from auto and aviation to oil and gas will find they're missing key imported parts that will stop production and jobs in their tracks.
ZUBAREVICH: (Through interpreter) For the economy and the Russian people, it's now simply about survival. You can forget about the word growth and development altogether.
MAYNES: Some in Russia's government acknowledged the harder road ahead.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
ELVIRA NABIULLINA: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: In a speech before lawmakers this week, Russia's central bank chief Elvira Nabiullina warned that what had been until now a crisis in the markets would soon be felt throughout the economy. Russia had no choice, said Nabiullina, but to embrace what she called a structural perestroika, a full restructuring of the economy and a new way of doing everything.
ASATUR ANDREEV: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: With a drag on his cigarette, Asatur Andreev, the owner of a small supermarket, says he's seen some version of this before. Having lived through the collapse of the Soviet Union, the free-for-all capitalism of the early '90s and the sanctions of the Putin era, he's used to starting over. In fact, he spent his whole morning trying to find new suppliers for goods in his shop.
ANDREEV: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: "The politicians make decisions, and then they boomerang back on us," he says. In a lifetime of crises, he's learned one key lesson. The survivors are the ones who put their heads down and keep doing the work.
Charles Maynes, NPR News, Moscow.
(SOUNDBITE OF ANIMAL LIBERATION ORCHESTRA SONG, "COWBOYS AND CHORUS GIRLS") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/russians-are-feeling-the-impact-of-sanctions-but-the-worst-is-still-yet-to-come | 2022-05-12T15:08:51Z |
NEW YORK, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AION Partners, a leading national real estate owner and operator of workforce multifamily housing, announced today the final closing of AION Value Add II LP (the "Fund"). The Fund will focus on creating value by investing in under-capitalized and under-managed multifamily properties across the Eastern half of the United States.
The Fund reached its hard cap of $225 million in total commitments, along with a parallel vehicle investment of $50 million over a sixteen-month fundraising period and was oversubscribed. In addition, the Fund is now fully allocated across 26 assets, totaling over $1,700,000,000 of real estate. AION Value Add II LP is AION's second discretionary fund vehicle and follows an over ten-year track record of delivering superior, risk-adjusted returns to its investor group.
"AION launched the Fund in November 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was significant uncertainty in the economy and capital markets. However, we remained confident that workforce housing would be an even more essential part of life moving forward. With that confidence in mind, we launched the Fund with a fundraising target of $100,000,000" said Michael Betancourt, co-founder and managing partner of AION Partners. "We are thrilled to announce that we far exceeded our goal as a result of strong investor demand, favorable market conditions, and a robust pipeline of investment opportunities. The general macro themes that we have experienced thus far this year—single family home inflation, increased household formation, rising interest rates, and undersupply of apartments—all point towards continued demand for workforce housing apartments."
About AION Partners
AION Partners is a vertically integrated real estate platform that invests in workforce multifamily housing properties throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West. Since 2011 AION has acquired over 29,000 units representing total capitalization of over $3,900,000,000 with deployed investor equity of $1,300,000,000. Of that AION has sold 10,649 units with realized returns of a gross IRR of 29.0% gross equity multiple of 2.38x and annual current yields generally between 6-8%. AION differentiates itself by leveraging strong long-term relationships, industry partnerships, a vast rolodex of contacts, and a sterling reputation. AION is often the beneficiary of "first look" and off-market opportunities within its core markets which allows them to capitalize on a wide range of investment opportunities.
For more information, please visit www.aionpartners.com.
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A MARTINEZ, HOST:
Over the course of the pandemic, many states helped restaurants and bars by temporarily relaxing the rules for selling alcohol. In some places, those changes are becoming permanent. From member station WKAR in Lansing, Mich., Sarah Lehr reports.
SARAH LEHR, BYLINE: The Cellar Peanut Pub in Iowa is known for its bloody marys. But when the state shut down indoor dining to curb the spread of COVID-19, the pub's owner, Marty Duffy, worried his tomato juice cocktails wouldn't be the only thing in the red. The bar got a reprieve when an emergency order allowed businesses with liquor licenses to temporarily sell cocktails for carryout or delivery. So Duffy started packing up those drinks using a hand-operated machine that makes aluminum cans.
MARTY DUFFY: I would can for 14 hours a day just to, basically, save my business.
LEHR: At the height of the pandemic, 39 states allowed cocktails to go, at least in the short term. Iowa became the first state to make the change permanent in 2020. Now Mike Whatley with the National Restaurant Association says at least 17 other states have followed suit with their own laws to permanently allow carryout cocktails. Whatley calls it one of the biggest shifts in American liquor laws since the end of prohibition.
MIKE WHATLEY: Honestly, without the pandemic, it would have taken 5 to 10 years or more to have this many states pass laws that change alcohol policy so significantly.
LEHR: Jarrett Dieterle is a researcher with the R Street Institute, a think tank supporting free markets. Even though drinks to go are popular with customers, he says the highly regulated liquor industry can be tough to reform.
JARRETT DIETERLE: It creates this patchwork and a lot of kind of vested interest. And it's made change just really, really difficult in the industry.
LEHR: In some states, wholesalers and liquor stores are lobbying against more permissive laws. They worry they'll lose business as restaurants get more leeway. Massachusetts is extending its policies, letting restaurants and bars sell alcohol for carryout and delivery until early 2023. Robert Mellion lobbies for liquor stores through a group called the Massachusetts Package Stores Association. He argues the relaxed rules make it harder to police underage drinking.
ROBERT MELLION: During, you know, the first year and a half of the pandemic, it was understood we needed to make restaurants whole. Restaurants are whole now. Now it's about additional profitability. And it's additional profitability at the expense of somebody else, the mom-and-pop liquor store across this country.
LEHR: In Michigan, a pandemic relief measure is letting bars and restaurants offer mixed drinks to go until the end of 2025. And lawmakers here recently voted to permanently enact another COVID-era policy. Now local governments can designate outdoor social districts where people can schmooze and booze on public streets so long as the drinks are purchased from nearby businesses. Lansing City Councilman Peter Spadafore says the open container zones let people socialize more safely at a distance while the coronavirus was raging. But as he sipped a vodka with lemon and lime in Michigan's capital city, Spadafore argued the benefits of social districts will outlast the pandemic.
PETER SPADAFORE: I think the pandemic really caused us to reevaluate our beliefs and sort of mores around drinking. You can see people out and about with a drink in their hand or just window shopping and, really, kind of a different set of folks coming to this destination.
LEHR: If you like being able to carry out a margarita or to stroll downtown with a drink in your hand, you may have the pandemic to thank. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Lehr in Lansing.
(SOUNDBITE OF ALLAH-LAS' "HOUSTON") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/several-states-make-moves-to-permanently-allow-cocktails-for-delivery | 2022-05-12T15:08:57Z |
SHANGHAI, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arctech, the world's leading tracking, racking, and BIPV solutions provider, announced it has attended the Intersolar 2022 in Munich (Germany) from May 11th to 13th with the latest effort to include the 1P multi-point drive mechanism technology in its product portfolio, SkyLine II. Intersolar Europe is one of the most important, anticipated events in the international solar energy arena, bringing together key companies in the industry.
The SkyLine II has been Arctech's technology flagship at the Messe München exhibition center, venue for this event. As PV modules have been designed in a larger format for increased power, which enlarged both tracker chord and length, posing a stability challenge to traditional single-axis trackers. As the new modules are no longer fully compatible with traditional flexible trackers, Arctech launched a new solution, SkyLine II.
Featuring a pentagonal torque tube and the synchronous multi-point drive mechanism, SkyLine II is the new-generation rigid horizontal single-axis tracker with an independent row and 1P architecture. Unlike the traditional flexible trackers that rotate excessively during wind events and have to be stowed at steep angles, the very stiff Skyline II safely stows at 0 deg without torsional distortion. The design allows the solar tracker for the highest stability at all tracking tilts. Additionally, the unique design with many fixed points generates independent "construction blocks", enabling the most versatile modularity to accommodate all panel sizes and the number of strings per tracker. Moreover, Skyline II only triggers wind stows at 22m/s, which leads to up to 2% more energy yield per year, hence a lower LCOE. These advantages, together with its structure, make SkyLine II one of the best trackers in terms of financial performance and environmental adaptability. Read the whitepaper on Increasing PV Energy Yield with Superior Stow Parameters to get to know more.
"Every year, we relish the opportunity of Intersolar to connect with our worldwide solar colleagues and partners. We welcome them to visit booth A6.370 to get to know Arctech's advanced solar tracker solutions. For us, Intersolar is about face time with our customers. We are helping move the industry forward and love being a part of this clean energy growth trajectory." Remarked Allen Cao, General Manager of International Business at Arctech.
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STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Good morning. I'm Steve Inskeep. Van Halen made music that parents once worried about their kids hearing. Turns out the late guitarist Eddie Van Halen had an interest in passing on music skills to kids. He worked with a group supporting school music programs in low-income communities. And they now say his will leaves them a seven-figure donation. Eddie Van Halen once said, if you just want to be famous, run naked down the street. But if you want music to be your livelihood, play, play, play. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/the-late-eddie-van-halen-left-a-big-donation-to-mr-hollands-opus-foundation | 2022-05-12T15:09:03Z |
TAMPA, Fla., May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspen RxHealth, a healthcare technology organization revolutionizing the pharmacist-patient experience, today announced that their co-founder and CEO, David Medvedeff, has been named one of the Top 50 Healthcare Technology CEOs of 2022 by The Healthcare Technology Report. This is Medvedeff's second consecutive year for receiving this recognition.
Medvedeff co-founded Aspen RxHealth in 2018 with a single goal in mind—to revolutionize pharmacy by harnessing the untapped potential of the pharmacist-patient relationship. Under his leadership, Aspen RxHealth has burgeoned from a startup to a market leader in clinical pharmacy services, boasting explosive growth and a robust client base. Aspen RxHealth is the recipient of notable awards such as Modern Healthcare Best Places to Work and shows no sign of slowing down.
In the short time since co-founding Aspen RxHealth, Medvedeff has guided the organization through two highly successful funding rounds, built the largest gig-economy model of pharmacists in the nation, and assembled a diverse team with a wide breadth and depth of experience. Prior to co-founding Aspen RxHealth, Medvedeff founded and led VUCA Health, a successful healthcare information company, with the world's largest library of medication education videos.
Last year, Medvedeff ranked among fellow awardees for his impressive efforts in guiding Aspen RxHealth through rapid expansion and growth since its formation in 2018. It is through his efforts of reimagining the pharmacist's role in driving healthcare innovation that Aspen RxHealth has seen tremendous growth in customer acquisition and expansion within their nationwide pharmacist community.
Steve Kraus, Board Member of Aspen RxHealth, described Medvedeff as one of the most "talented and innovative leaders. His humble leadership style and impressive track record of developing forward-thinking organizations that drive true meaning in our healthcare ecosystem are changing what it means to be a mover and shaker in the health tech space."
The Healthcare Technology Report provides market research and insights, business news, investment activity updates and important corporate developments related to the healthcare technology sector.
About Aspen RxHealth
Aspen RxHealth provides clinical pharmacy services to health plans, pharmacy benefit managers, provider groups, and life sciences organizations via a mobile-based technology platform which intelligently matches pharmacists with patients to enrich the patient-pharmacist experience, drive medication adherence, and overall health outcomes. Aspen RxHealth's community of more than 7,000 pharmacists empowers patients with the information and action plans they need to achieve the optimal outcomes from their medications. For more information, visit www.aspenrxhealth.com.
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ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
What do you get the monarch who has everything for her 96th birthday? Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her big day yesterday in private, but her public celebrated with a song from the Coldstream Guards at Windsor Castle...
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
SHAPIRO: ...And a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park.
(SOUNDBITE OF CANNON FIRING)
DANIEL ESTRIN, HOST:
Another gift the queen got yesterday was her own Barbie. The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee doll celebrates the queen's 70 years on the throne, a record for a British monarch.
SHAPIRO: She's decked out in an ivory gown and blue sash. Of course, she's wearing a crown atop her white curls and her royal medallions and ribbons. The doll's stern, regal face kind of makes it look like a pensive Helen Mirren.
ESTRIN: It costs $75. And if you're thinking about getting one, sorry. Mattel has already sold out.
SHAPIRO: Yeah, we can already hear the disappointed sighs from the collectors and Anglophiles listening now. But don't lose hope. You still have time to track one down, maybe secondhand, before the Queen's four-day jubilee celebration, which begins June 2.
(SOUNDBITE OF ERNEST RANGLIN'S "MANENBERG") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/the-queen-gets-her-own-barbie | 2022-05-12T15:09:09Z |
Abstracts represent exciting research progress across four cancers where patients have limited treatment options
TOKYO, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., "Astellas") will share new research during the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting from June 3-7 and the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2022 Hybrid Congress from June 9-12. A total of 13 abstracts from the company's expanding portfolio of approved and investigational therapies will be presented across both meetings, underscoring the company's commitment to advancing treatment options for advanced and rare cancers, including prostate, pancreatic and urothelial cancer, as well as acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
"While a robust Phase 3 clinical trial program in gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer for our investigational therapy zolbetuximab is well underway, the ASCO Annual Meeting will include the first trial-in-progress presentation from our expanded Phase 2 clinical trial in Claudin 18.2-positive pancreatic cancer," said Ahsan Arozullah, M.D., M.P.H., Senior Vice President and Head of Development Therapeutic Areas, Astellas. "The progress of these clinical studies reflects our enthusiasm to continue investigating the potential to benefit patients by targeting the emerging Claudin 18.2 biomarker."
"At Astellas, our mission is to not only advance innovative science, but to create value for patients and the oncology community," said Erhan Berrak, M.D., Vice President of Global Medical Affairs, Oncology, Astellas. "Our advanced prostate cancer data at ASCO, which range from new analyses of our ARCHES pivotal trial in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer to data on patient preferences and prescriber treatment decisions, will help inform discussions between patients and providers about novel hormone therapies."
Highlights at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting include:
- An overview of the expanded Phase 2 open-label, randomized study of zolbetuximab in combination with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine as an investigational first-line treatment for patients with Claudin 18.2-positive metastatic pancreatic cancer
- Long-term (24-month) data from the Phase 3 EV-301 trial, which evaluated enfortumab vedotin versus chemotherapy in adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who were previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and a PD-1/L1 inhibitor
- Four post-hoc analyses from the Phase 3 ARCHES study, which compared enzalutamide plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) versus placebo plus ADT in men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC)
Highlights at the EHA 2022 Hybrid Congress include:
- Encore data from the COMMODORE Phase 3 confirmatory study of gilteritinib versus salvage chemotherapy in FLT3 mutation-positive relapsed or refractory AML in China and other countries
- An overview of the CLEVO non-interventional investigational study of FLT3 mutation frequency in patients with AML in Europe and the U.S.
Astellas Presentations at 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting
Enfortumab Vedotin
Enzalutamide
Zolbetuximab
Astellas Presentations at EHA 2022 Hybrid Congress
Gilteritinib
Enfortumab Vedotin and the Astellas and Seagen Collaboration
Astellas and Seagen are co-developing enfortumab vedotin under a 50:50 worldwide development and commercialization collaboration. In the United States, Astellas and Seagen co-promote enfortumab vedotin. In the Americas outside the US, Seagen holds responsibility for commercialization activities and regulatory filings. Outside of the Americas, Astellas holds responsibility for commercialization activities and regulatory filings.
Enzalutamide and the Pfizer/Astellas Collaboration
In October 2009, Medivation, Inc., which is now part of Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), and Astellas (TSE: 4503) entered into a global agreement to jointly develop and commercialize enzalutamide. The companies jointly commercialize enzalutamide in the United States and Astellas has responsibility for manufacturing and all additional regulatory filings globally, as well as commercializing enzalutamide outside the United States.
About Astellas
Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are promoting the Focus Area Approach that is designed to identify opportunities for the continuous creation of new drugs to address diseases with high unmet medical needs by focusing on Biology and Modality. Furthermore, we are also looking beyond our foundational Rx focus to create Rx+® healthcare solutions that combine our expertise and knowledge with cutting-edge technology in different fields of external partners. Through these efforts, Astellas stands on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for patients. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.astellas.com/en.
Cautionary Notes
In this press release, statements made with respect to current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Astellas. These statements are based on management's current assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in general economic conditions and in laws and regulations, relating to pharmaceutical markets, (ii) currency exchange rate fluctuations, (iii) delays in new product launches, (iv) the inability of Astellas to market existing and new products effectively, (v) the inability of Astellas to continue to effectively research and develop products accepted by customers in highly competitive markets, and (vi) infringements of Astellas' intellectual property rights by third parties. Information about pharmaceutical products (including products currently in development) which is included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice.
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SOURCE Astellas Pharma Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/astellas-highlights-data-advanced-rare-cancers-during-2022-asco-annual-meeting-eha-2022-hybrid-congress/ | 2022-05-12T15:09:12Z |
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
When Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, he said it was partly to stop Ukraine from joining NATO. Instead, the war is driving more countries toward the military alliance. Finland shares a long border with Russia, and the country's lawmakers say they're horrified by the assault on Ukraine, so they're debating whether they should join NATO. NPR's Frank Langfitt is in Helsinki.
(SOUNDBITE OF BIRDS CAWING)
FRANK LANGFITT, BYLINE: Most Finns have opposed joining NATO for decades. And why not? Staying outside of the Cold War-era alliance has avoided provoking the Russian bear across the border.
(SOUNDBITE OF ACCORDION)
LANGFITT: People such as Yoni Kaipia (ph), an architect and a photographer, didn't want Finland to become caught up in military competition. We spoke on a gloriously sunny day in Helsinki's harbor, as a man played an accordion for change.
YONI KAIPIA: I always thought myself being a pacifist, and NATO for me was part of the militarization of the world.
LANGFITT: But the invasion has transformed thinking in this Scandinavian country of 5 1/2 million. A recent poll showed that as many as 68% of Finns now want to join the alliance, which has pushed politicians here to fast-track the process. Kaipia says joining NATO is not only a way to protect Finland but also to teach Putin a lesson.
KAIPIA: If he has used the threat of NATO as a justification for his acts, now we could show that the NATO has to expand because of his acts.
LANGFITT: Finland shares an 830-mile border with Russia. The two countries have lived peacefully for decades, but Finns now see Russia very differently. Atte Harjanne is a legislator who serves on the Parliament's Defence Committee.
ATTE HARJANNE: The intensity, the scale of the attack, the brutality, I guess, woke many people into a world where we have an aggressive authoritarian regime as our neighbor.
LANGFITT: That realization is a big reason why a NATO bid seems all but certain. Another reason is that the war in Ukraine really resonates here. A little history - Finland spent most of the 19th century as a part of the Russian empire before declaring independence in 1917. In 1939, Moscow demanded Finland trade land that Russia wanted to protect what was then Leningrad. Finland refused. The Soviets sent in troops. This was the start of what became known as the Winter War.
HARJANNE: Soviets suffered massive losses. But Finland remained as an independent state, although it lost some land area in the following negotiations. That's something that we somehow in our collective memory that - something like that should never happen again.
LANGFITT: Russia's Foreign Ministry has warned of military and political consequences for Finland if it joins NATO. Harjanne, who's also a captain in the Finnish Reserves, says the threat isn't abstract. He says just look over the Finnish border, where Russian units were stationed until recently.
HARJANNE: The same units that we were expecting, if Russia would attack here, are now locked in fighting Ukraine, and that makes it a bit more concrete - Ukraine is fighting not just for themselves but for Europe and, in some sense, for us as well.
LANGFITT: Of course, the redeployment of troops to Ukraine makes it much harder for Russia to threaten Finland in the short run. And Finland has a substantial army - 180,000 soldiers in wartime, plus 200 tanks and 800 artillery pieces. Some here say public support for NATO membership is driven more by shock over the invasion than an evaluation of risk.
ERKKI TUOMIOJA: I think there's a huge degree of emotions involved.
LANGFITT: Erkki Tuomioja is a lawmaker with the Social Democratic Party, whose leader serves as prime minister.
TUOMIOJA: Public opinion plays a big role in this, but there is also this ingrained fear, which is actually fueled also by our media, which is in a state of, I would say, war psychosis in a sense (laughter) that...
LANGFITT: War psychosis.
TUOMIOJA: Yes. I mean, that Finland could any day expect to be attacked - I don't think this is realistic.
LANGFITT: What do you think are the downsides of joining NATO?
TUOMIOJA: Well, it would create tensions with Russia, obviously. And we have had a very pragmatic relationship with Russia in terms of logistics, environment and regional cooperation.
LANGFITT: Are you concerned that the country could actually take a policy decision based on fear and emotion?
TUOMIOJA: I'm also concerned about the level of the public debate. Anybody who questions membership is being vilified as a Putin agent.
(SOUNDBITE OF FERRY AMBIENCE)
LANGFITT: One day here in Helsinki, I took a ferry to a nearby island where I met Adam Lundgren (ph). He's Swedish and serves in the military there. Sweden is considering NATO membership as well. The country had maintained a policy of military neutrality for about two centuries to avoid becoming embroiled in wars. However, a recent poll shows 57% of Swedes now want to join the alliance. But Lundgren worries his country could be forced to defend another NATO ally and get dragged into a war.
ADAM LUNDGREN: I'm not so happy with NATO. The military service in Sweden has the approach of protecting Sweden. If we say yes to NATO, then we are not only protecting - if another country has problems, then we have to leave the country and fight.
LANGFITT: Do you think Sweden could defend itself alone?
LUNDGREN: I must think so. Our military is quite small right now, but we have many volunteers that has waken up from their slumber. So we're growing now.
LANGFITT: In the first week or so after the invasion, nearly 10,000 Swedes applied to serve in the military reserve. That's about twice the number of applications in a normal year. To get a sense of how NATO might receive bids from Finland and Sweden, I called Tomas Valasek. He's a former NATO ambassador from Slovakia.
TOMAS VALASEK: I think, honestly, what took you so long (laughter) will be probably the general sentiment.
LANGFITT: Valasek says not only can NATO help protect both countries - Finland and Sweden can play a valuable role for NATO. In the Baltic Sea, they could provide naval support to NATO allies - Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia - if they ever came under Russian threat. And given Finland's and Sweden's proximity to Russia, they could also provide real-time military intelligence.
VALASEK: You can't really ignore geography. If you are in Sweden or Finland, you have the capacity to see things via electronics or radar deep inside Russia that the Portuguese or the Spanish simply don't have and never will.
LANGFITT: Finland and Sweden are expected to apply to NATO before leaders meet in Madrid at the end of June. That process could take many months. But if all goes to plan, NATO, which numbered 30 members before the war, will grow to 32.
Frank Langfitt, NPR News, Helsinki. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/the-russia-ukraine-war-drives-countries-to-consider-nato-membership | 2022-05-12T15:09:15Z |
BLACKSBURG, Va., May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Torc Robotics has tapped Axel Gern, a long-time leader in truck automation, to head its recently opened Torc Europe GmbH engineering facility in Stuttgart, Germany. Gern has been named senior vice president of engineering and managing director for Torc Europe at the technology and software development center.
"We are thrilled to have Axel join our team," said Michael Fleming, Torc founder and CEO. "We have worked closely with him since before Daimler Truck invested in Torc, and we appreciate his clear vision and strong leadership. He knows the roadmap and the tech, and has earned great respect from Torc'rs."
Gern joins the Torc team after serving as the chief technology officer for the Daimler Truck Autonomous Technology Group, where he had a leading role in the technological strategy for the company's Level 4 autonomous truck development. At the same time, he built a strong team in Germany focusing on system design, safety engineering, validation, and testing, as well as motion control and hardware development — all functions that support autonomous driving.
Gern was on the Daimler Truck team that investigated autonomous driving partnerships that led to the successful 2019 acquisition of a majority stake in Torc. "I believe Torc is a major force in the safe commercialization of autonomous trucks, and I am very happy to join the team," said Gern. "We have very strong engineers and technical resources in Germany, and I look forward to supporting the deployment of Level 4 autonomous trucks in the United States.
After serving as vice president of Autonomous Driving North America in Sunnyvale, California, for Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, Gern joined Daimler Truck in 2018 as the technical project lead, Autonomous Trucks. Earlier he joined what was then Daimler AG in 1998 as a research and development engineer and earned successively higher-level positions in the organization. Gern studied computer science at the University of Stuttgart, focusing on software engineering, distributed artificial intelligence, and robotics, and earned his Ph.D. in 2005.
Gern is a long-time thought leader on autonomous trucks. He believes that combining Daimler Truck's strong knowledge and expertise in system design and safety, with the software development skills from Torc, is a winning combination.
Torc's appointment of Gern to lead its Germany location comes amid fast growth as the company accelerates its work to commercialize Level 4 autonomous trucks at scale. Torc recently announced the opening of its 18,000 square-foot technology and development center (with an additional 12,000 square feet of workshop space), located in one of Germany's prime automotive development regions.
The Stuttgart center was announced in tandem with Torc's new engineering office in Austin, Texas. Torc also operates a test facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as its headquarters in Blacksburg, Virginia.
About Torc
Torc Robotics, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, is an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, a global leader and pioneer in trucking. Torc has 17 years of experience in pioneering safety-critical, self-driving applications. Torc offers a complete self-driving vehicle software and integration solution and is currently focusing on commercializing autonomous trucks for U.S. long-haul applications. Torc operates test facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and an engineering office in Austin, Texas. Torc's mission is saving lives with autonomous technology, which incorporates reducing highway deaths, enabling critical supplies – including medicines and foods – to reach every community in a timely manner, and helping the transportation industry increase fuel economy, uptime, and capacity.
Media contact: Laura Lawton | press@torc.ai |(408) 505-5820
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SOURCE Torc Robotics | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/axel-gern-head-torc-robotics-technology-development-center-europe/ | 2022-05-12T15:09:21Z |
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
People experiencing homelessness in Tennessee could soon face prison time for sleeping outside. As Samantha Max of member station WPLN reports, a bill that is close to becoming law adds serious criminal charges for camping on state and private property.
SAMANTHA MAX, BYLINE: Rebecca Lowe wants her park back. She lives near Brookmeade Park in West Nashville, where many people without shelter have made the wooded space their home. At a Senate committee meeting this month, she shared photos of tents and garbage and urged lawmakers to pass a bill to outlaw these encampments.
REBECCA LOWE: They've literally taken over our park for their exclusive use and kept us from enjoying it for years - years I will never get back.
MAX: The measure updates a 2012 law passed during the Occupy Wall Street movement. Back then, Tennessee made it a misdemeanor to camp on state property. In 2020, legislators stiffened the penalties. That's when protesters camped outside the statehouse for two months straight to protest racism after George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis. Now the state could strengthen the law once again.
EDDIE FARRIS: Staying on the property and destroying it and having other things go on is simply not an option.
MAX: Eddie Farris is the president of the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association. A local mayor in his county started pushing the issue last year. Farris says the number of houseless people in the community has grown recently, and residents have been complaining. The sheriff says he doesn't want to arrest people, just to have an opportunity to help them. It's unclear exactly how.
The law would make it a misdemeanor to camp on an interstate exit or under a bridge. It would be a felony to camp on public property. That means up to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine.
INDIA PUNGARCHER: A felony is a very, very serious offense.
MAX: India Pungarcher with the advocacy group Open Table Nashville says this measure would only make it harder for people to get jobs and housing if they're arrested. At last count, more than 7,200 Tennesseans had no home, and more than a third of them were unsheltered.
PUNGARCHER: If we want to end or address homelessness in our state, we can't keep pushing people around. People have to have a place to exist. And this law does absolutely nothing to address homelessness.
MAX: Governor Bill Lee expressed some hesitation about the 2020 measure that increased penalties for camping a couple years ago, but he signed it into law anyway. He hasn't said if he supports the latest bill.
For NPR News, I'm Samantha Max in Nashville. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/the-unhoused-population-in-tennessee-is-facing-new-restrictions-around-sleeping | 2022-05-12T15:09:21Z |
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Let's turn next to Sergey Radchenko. He's a Russian academic with Ukrainian heritage who works in the West. He's at Johns Hopkins and currently actually in London. Welcome to the program.
SERGEY RADCHENKO: Oh, thank you for having me on the program.
INSKEEP: So Russia's military for the first time is spelling out its goals in this so-called second phase of the war. There's a general who says Russia plans to seize full control over the Donbas region - That's the eastern part of the country - and also full control over southern Ukraine to connect it with Crimea. Do you feel you understand Russia's strategy?
RADCHENKO: Well, the Russian strategy has been shifting throughout this conflict. They counted, obviously, on a short victory within a few days. That failed. They failed to topple the government in Kyiv. So they've shifted now to trying to capture control over Donbas and also capture - according to these latest statements, capture southern Ukraine so as to deny Ukraine access to scene - potentially access Transnistria, which is another frozen conflict in Moldova, where there are also pro-Russian separatists.
INSKEEP: And I'll just note Brian Mann was describing reports of military activity in southern Ukraine, which suggests there could be some truth to the Russian desire, at least, to grab that part of the country.
RADCHENKO: Well, absolutely. That - you know, I don't think we should underestimate Russian firepower. And although they've found this war very difficult, tough going so far, the ability to inflict considerable damage remains. And I think - you know, I think the Russians are determined to continue this war until they essentially cannibalize Ukraine. I think that's the game plan for now.
INSKEEP: We had a glimpse through an open door again in Russia. There was a pro-Kremlin Telegram channel that posted a report of thousands of casualties and then took it back down again. We don't really know how many Russian dead there are, but we know there are a lot of them. At what point, if at all, do Russia's military losses influence Russia's strategic actions?
RADCHENKO: Well, we've had that - this is the second time this sort of leak happens. It's not clear whether it's a hack or a leak. It's not exactly clear how many Russians have been lost, how many Russian troops have been lost in this war. But, of course, a considerable number has been lost. And that actually bounces back against the public opinion in Russia as the Russians take in for the first time the real costs of this war in terms of their, you know, cost for their own troops, their own soldiers. Does the government worry about this? I think so. I think that's one of the reasons why Putin actually publicly called off the storm of remaining holdout in Azovstal plant in Mariupol because he worried...
INSKEEP: Oh, this is very - you're saying that when Putin said the casualties there are pointless, that he meant it, at least in terms of reassuring public opinion that they're not senselessly sending people into their deaths.
RADCHENKO: Well, it's not a total war for Putin yet. He's still trying to do it on the cheap, as it were. He's not - he has not committed the full extent of Russian resources to this war. Obviously, he's trying to keep the losses as low as possible because he understands that military losses and economic problems, which Russia is now facing, increasingly serious economic problems, will translate long term into a decrease of support for this war on the part of the broader population.
INSKEEP: How much anxiety do you perceive about the longer and longer term effect of sanctions on Russia?
RADCHENKO: Well, there - obviously, they will face serious economic problems. I mean, Russia is already having massive inflation. On the other hand, the immediate effect of sanctions was, of course - you know, there was a considerable horror in Russia itself. We've seen some of that horror dissipating now over the weeks because, you know, the ruble has seemingly stabilized, and the economy continues. So over the long term, it's conceivable that Russia will adjust to economic sanctions, much as it has adjusted to much weaker economic sanctions back in 2014. But obviously, over the long, long term, those sanctions will have their effect in decreasing Russia's economic growth.
INSKEEP: In a few seconds, are the sanctions most hurting the people who are most sympathetic to the West because they were the people who had connections to the outside?
RADCHENKO: Well, some of them certainly do. So, for example, Russian dissidents who have been forced to flee Russia cannot access their money in Russia because their bank cards do not work. But, you know, it's - the sanctions this time have been very extensive and. A lot of people in Russia, as well, are facing problems, You know, just in terms of unemployment, etc.
INSKEEP: Sergey Radchenko is a professor of Russian history at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Thanks so much.
RADCHENKO: Thank you for having me. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/the-war-will-go-on-until-russia-essentially-cannibalizes-ukraine-professor-says | 2022-05-12T15:09:28Z |
INDIANAPOLIS, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Biosynthetic® Technologies, LLC today announced that will attend the upcoming STLE Annual Meeting and Exhibition. Biosynthetic Technologies will not only exhibit at the convention, but they will also host 2 Commercial Marketing Forum sessions and 5 Technical Session at the upcoming STLE Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Orlando, FL:
- Sustainable Metalworking Fluid Additives by Jeffrey Mackey
- Importance of Sustainability and Carbon Negative Footprint in the Lubricants Industry by Julie Austin
- Sulfur Based Estolides for the Development of Anti-Wear Additives for Finished Lubricants by Dr. Marlon Lutz
- Optimizing Pour Point and Oxidation Stability in Estolides by Dr. Matthew Kriech
- Blending with Sustainable Base Oils and Other Oils to Achieve Biodegradable Finished Lubricants – A Little Bit Goes a Long Way! by Mike Woodfall
- HX-1-Approved Biobased Hydraulic Fluids by Mike Woodfall
- Innovations and Regulations For Biobased and Sustainable Lubricants and Additives by Dr. Matthew Kriech
- CMF: Biosynthetic Technologies: Biocea(TM) – Sustainable, Safe and Performance-driven Metalworking Fluid Additives for Real World Formulations by Jeffrey Mackey
- CMF: Biosynthetic Technologies: Estolides - High Performance Sustainable Base Oils for Lubricant and Metalworking Formulations by Dr. Matthew Kriech
Biosynthetic Technologies has developed a new class of high-performance bio-based oil, called Estolides. These molecules are biodegradable, non-bioaccumulative, and non-toxic with a high bio-content. The patented Estolides are use as a sustainable alternative to petroleum in lubricants, metalworking fluids, greases, and many other applications. This year, a key area of focus for Biosynthetic Technologies will be the recently developed and API approved GF-6 formulation for sustainable passenger car motor oil (PCMO) using HOSO (high oleic soybean oil). This revolutionary formulation is now available to lubricant manufacturers worldwide in an effort to aid in the creation of a sustainable future.
"We are excited to have such a tremendous presence at the 78th STLE Annual Meeting & Exhibition," said Mark Miller, CEO of Biosynthetic Technologies. "This is a key convention for Biosynthetic Technologies as it allows us to showcase our latest research findings on our Estolide technology and meet with our strategic partners in the industry. In addition is allows us to share some great news on our latest GF-6 PCMO developments."
Biosynthetic Technologies is proud to support the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. Their Estolide technologies allows STLE members use their sustainable lubricant base oils and additive to delivers innovative solutions for a sustainable future. With many manufacturers looking for more sustainable ingredients that can meet the requirements of new the corporate initiatives of carbon neutrality and improved ES&G KPIs; Estolide technology fits the bill! Biosynthetic Technologies' estolides come with a negative carbon footprint, allowing you to blend them with all types of base oils and additives to create a carbon neutral lubricant offering. So if you are looking for a way to turn your product offering into a more environmentally friendly offering, Biosynthetic Technologies can certainly help with that.
For more information on Biosynthetic Technologies visit our booth (#621) at the STLE Annual Meeting and Exhibition or contact us to set up a meeting.
About Biosynthetic® Technologies LLC:
Biosynthetic® Technologies manufactures a revolutionary new class of biobased synthetic compounds called Estolides that are made from organic fatty acids found in various bio-derived oils. These highly functional biosynthetic oils have numerous uses in lubricant, automotive, marine, pharma and personal care applications and can be used as the primary base oil of a formulation, a component of a base oil co-blend, or even as an additive. In addition to their high-performance properties, these renewable oils are biodegradable and nontoxic. Biosynthetic Technologies strives to make their mark on the world by delivering innovations for a sustainable future. For more information about Biosynthetic™ Technologies, please visit www.biosynthetic.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
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SOURCE Biosynthetic Technologies | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/biosynthetic-technologies-is-attending-78th-annual-society-tribologist-lubrication-engineers-stle-meeting-exhibition-orlando-florida-may-15-19-2022-booth-621/ | 2022-05-12T15:09:28Z |
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
How much trouble are Democrats in this fall? The party controls the White House and, by narrow margins, Congress. But the president's approval rating is well below 50%, and many lawmakers face tough campaigns. Now the White House is tangled in another round of the politics of COVID, appealing a judge's ruling that threw out a mask mandate on public transportation. Joel Payne joins us next. He's a Democratic strategist with the progressive advocacy firm The Hub Project. Good morning.
JOEL PAYNE: Good morning, Steve.
INSKEEP: So this is a matter of law, but it's also a matter of politics and public opinion. As the administration appeals this ruling, throwing out the mask mandate - suppose they win the appeal. Is there any chance people would mask up again if told?
PAYNE: You know, it's interesting. I think they want to get caught trying. I'm not sure how much they actually want to win this appeal. You can look at the president's comments the other day. I think the politics on COVID have changed. I think if we were 15 months ago, you'd probably have a lot more gung-ho support for going all the way back to all of the best practices of public health and early COVID. I'm not sure if we're there publicly right now.
INSKEEP: Meaning that even if you talked to Democratic voters, you might not find a lot of enthusiasm for the strictest measures at this point.
PAYNE: Yeah, I really do think the center has changed on it. Even look at some of the Democratic governors over the last few months. They've really backed off some of the, again, early COVID, you know, good practices of public health related to COVID - Governor Polis in Colorado, Governor Murphy in New Jersey. You look at what happened actually in November with the Virginia governor's race, with Glenn Youngkin beating Terry McAuliffe and Phil Murphy narrowly surviving in New Jersey. They really struggled to get voters to move beyond COVID. And I think that a lot of Democrats are feeling that pressure right now.
INSKEEP: I'm just going to mention, I'm enjoying hearing the birds in the background, wherever you are. It sounds very bucolic. It's very nice. Let's put this in a wider context.
PAYNE: Absolutely.
INSKEEP: (Laughter) Let's put this in a wider context, if we can. How tough is the environment for Democrats this fall?
PAYNE: The environment is tough. Look, even in the best of circumstances, Steve, the environment was going to be tough. I think, you know, I was in Harry Reid's Senate leadership office 12 years ago. Democrats had one of the strongest first two years of a presidency that you could ever have, and still Democrats lost seats. So even in the best of circumstances, I think Democrats are going to have a hard time. I think they're going to have an even harder time this cycle because, again, the president has really been able - has really had a hard time struggling to center the progressive coalition, the Democratic coalition, around an agenda. And I think you're going to have a lot of Democrats that are looking to see, OK, how do you get Republicans to back off of some of these, you know, COVID precautions that we're talking about?
INSKEEP: I'm glad that you mentioned 12 years ago. You're talking about 2010, when Democrats were clobbered - a historic defeat for them, a historic series of wins for Republicans. Do you look at 2022 and think it could be that bad for your party?
PAYNE: Well, remember, President Obama called it a shellacking. I don't know if it'll be a shellacking this time, in part because you look at some of the redistricting things that happened over the last two years. I think Democrats have a better chance to hold serve in the Senate than they do in the House. But again, it's always a tough environment when you're the in-party and you're looking at your midterm coming up.
INSKEEP: You were in Harry Reid's office in 2010, though. He's a guy who survived 2010 when so many others were defeated. If you were giving one sentence of advice to Democrats for this fall to survive, what would it be?
PAYNE: Simple, easy, narrow message - don't complicate it. Make sure voters understand you're fighting for them and that you're not worried about just branding voters as - branding Republicans as Donald Trump's party. I think voters are tired of thinking about, you know, Republicans as being the party of Trump. I think Democrats have to have a positive message that they can go forward with as well.
INSKEEP: Joel Payne, Democratic strategist, thanks so much.
PAYNE: Thank you, Steve. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/there-are-many-distractions-heading-into-midterms-how-can-democrats-refocus | 2022-05-12T15:09:34Z |
Plan calls for AT&T Fiber with speeds of up to 5 Gigs to help close the digital divide
BOONVILLE, Ind., May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Boonville, Indiana today announced a $4.4 million project with AT&T* to build its state-of-the-art fiber network to more than 4,000 customer locations throughout the city. The network is expected to be complete 18 months after a final agreement has been signed. The project is contingent upon funding approval by the city of Boonville, and a final contract between AT&T and the city.
"It's important that the residents of Boonville have the connectivity they deserve," said Mayor Charlie Wyatt, City of Boonville. "Building a super-fast, reliable fiber network will give them instant access to online educational, healthcare and business resources."
AT&T has extensive experience deploying fiber-optics across Indiana. In fact, hundreds of thousands locations in the state have access to AT&T Fiber today. AT&T is also currently working with neighboring Vanderburgh County to bring AT&T Fiber to unincorporated parts of the county later this year.
"We have a long history of connecting businesses and residents across Indiana, and we look forward to working with Mayor Wyatt, the City Council, and the Board of Works on this collaboration," said Bill Soards, president, AT&T Indiana. "Our AT&T fiber network is fast and reliable, and we look forward to helping close the digital divide and build better futures for the businesses and people of Boonville."
Extensive planning and engineering work will begin immediately upon execution of the contract. AT&T Fiber is the fastest among major providers1 and offers symmetrical speeds of up to 5-Gigs on downloads and uploads. The faster speeds and increased bandwidth mean customers can connect multiple devices, stream multiple entertainment sources, quickly upload content to social media and experience ultra-low lag for pro-level gaming – all at the same time.
To learn more about AT&T Fiber please see att.com/fiber. To stay up to date on when AT&T Fiber is available in your area visit our Notify Me service at att.com/notifyme.
Affordable internet service is available for low-income households as part of AT&T's commitment to help close the digital divide. Access from AT&T offers low-cost broadband options, including free internet for eligible households when combined with federal benefits from the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
About AT&T in Indiana
From 2018-2020, AT&T invested more than $1 billion in its wireless and wireline networks in Indiana to expand coverage and improve connectivity in more communities. That investment has increased reliability, coverage and overall performance for residents and businesses. It's also improved critical communications services for Indiana's first responders using the FirstNet network.
Becoming the Best Broadband Provider
We are on a mission to be the best broadband provider in America, whether you're at home, work or on the move. We do this by combining the most reliable 5G network2 with the fastest growing fiber internet in America3, so you have a seamless experience from a single provider. Becoming the best connectivity provider also means serving the critical mission of America's first responders. FirstNet®, Built with AT&T is the only purpose-built, nationwide wireless broadband communications platform dedicated to the public safety community.
FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks and service marks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
*About AT&T
We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.
1 Limited availability in select areas. Fastest among major internet service providers, based on 5Gbps offering. Internet speed claims represent maximum wired network service capability speeds to the home and recommended setup. Actual customer speeds are not guaranteed. Single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more information go to www.att.com/speed101
2 Based on nationwide GWS drive test data. GWS conducts paid drive tests for AT&T and uses the data in its analysis. AT&T 5G requires compatible plan and device. 5G not available everywhere. Go to att.com/5Gforyou for details
3 Based on publicly-available data of net customer adds for major fiber providers over previous four quarters
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SOURCE AT&T Communications | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/boonville-indiana-announces-plan-deliver-fiber-powered-broadband-access-more-than-4000-locations-via-atampt/ | 2022-05-12T15:09:35Z |
Michigan Republicans will meet this weekend to decide which candidates to nominate for a number of key statewide positions, marking an early swing-state test of former President Donald Trump's influence in the midterm elections.
It could also be the first time the GOP moves forward in a battleground state with an election-denying candidate to oversee voting as secretary of state.
Michigan doesn't hold primaries for a number of down-ballot races, including secretary of state and attorney general. Instead, a few thousand party delegates from across the state meet at a convention and choose a nominee for those positions.
Here are four things to know ahead of Saturday's Republican endorsement convention at DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids.
1. It's a key moment for election denialism
As NPR has documented, election-denying candidates across the country are running in 2022 for positions that oversee voting.
But with primary season only just kicking off in earnest, none of those candidates has officially become the GOP's nominee for secretary of state in those places.
That's expected to change on Saturday.
Kristina Karamo, a community college professor who has spent much of the past year and a half arguing that there were gross irregularities in the 2020 election, is widely favored to be endorsed by the party at the convention.
She already has the endorsement of Trump, who hosted a rally with Karamo and others in Washington Township, Mich., earlier this month.
"This is not just about 2022; this is about making sure Michigan is not rigged and stolen again in 2024," Trump said. "I don't do this often for state people, but this is so important. What happened in Michigan is a disgrace."
Karamo rose to prominence in the world of election denialism as a poll watcher at Detroit's TCF Center, where absentee ballots were being counted in 2020. She claimed to have witnessed election fraud, although Michigan's former elections director explained to The Guardian that Karamo seemed to just misunderstand what she was watching as someone without formal training.
Outside of politics, Karamo has also voiced a number of other fringe beliefs. A CNN review of her podcast appearances and writings found that she has opposed the teaching of evolution, and declared herself an "anti-vaxxer."
She also appeared at a QAnon-adjacent rally in Las Vegas last year.
For those reasons, experts say that if nominated, she may have a hard time in November's general election unseating incumbent Democrat Jocelyn Benson, who also holds a massive fundraising advantage in the race.
"Every ad from April 24 through November is going to say 'QAnon Karamo is too crazy for us,' " said state Rep. Beau LaFave, who is running against Karamo on Saturday.
Karamo's campaign did not respond to an NPR request for an interview.
2. The AG's race is likely to be closer
While Karamo is expected to win the race for secretary of state, the convention contest for attorney general will probably come down to the wire, said Jason Roe, the former executive director of the Michigan GOP.
"No outcome would surprise me," said Roe.
Matthew DePerno is an attorney who has pushed Trump's false claims of election fraud, and also received the former president's endorsement in the race. Of the two candidates he faces, former state House Speaker Tom Leonard is expected to give the toughest challenge, and is considered the more mainstream, establishment candidate.
Trump held a telephone town hall this week in support of DePerno, in which he claimed Leonard refused to stop election fraud in 2020, even though Leonard was last in office was 2018. Trump also nominated Leonard in 2019 to be U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan. (The nomination was blocked.)
"When Trump came into Michigan, he thought he had a blank canvas on which he could paint a portrait of who Tom Leonard is and that nobody would know any better," Roe said. "Except the reality is that everybody in Michigan knows Tom Leonard. So when Trump says that he's a RINO [Republican in name only] ... it just doesn't ring true with the base."
Roe added that DePerno may also struggle to fundraise should he get the endorsement, because of his inability to reach voters outside of Trump's supporters.
DePerno has pushed a number of election conspiracies since 2020, and has also been endorsed by MyPillow founder and election denial leader Mike Lindell.
3. It's a test for Trump
The former president has made it clear that Michigan may be his highest priority in this fall's midterms; he has endorsed more than 15 candidates in the state already.
Roe says that means this weekend's convention will be a major test of the influence Trump holds over the party nationally, a year and a half after losing the 2020 election by more than 70 Electoral College votes, and 7 million votes in the popular vote.
"If Tom Leonard manages to pull it out, it will show that the mainstream forces within the party, those people that are more focused on winning elections than ideological purity, will have prevailed," said Roe. "If Matthew DePerno secures the nomination, I think it will demonstrate that the MAGA wing of the party is in control."
4. This is no primary
Among states voting to elect a secretary of state this year, Michigan is the only one in which voters will not have a say in who is on the ballot in November.
The state has a complicated convention model for those several down-ballot races.
Michigan law states that nominating conventions need to take place in August. But a few years ago, Democrats in the state figured they could get a head start on building name recognition for their candidates and party unity by deciding their nominees earlier.
Thus, the endorsement convention was born. Democrats began meeting in the spring to vote on which candidate the party would nominate a few months later.
This is the first year Republicans in the state are following suit.
The convention model is generally thought to advantage more extreme candidates than a primary, since the voting pool is made up of people more dedicated to the party than the average voter.
"The convention harkens back to the old imagery of the smoke-filled room," said Julio Borquez, a political science professor at the University of Michigan. "You have staunchly conservative Republicans gathered in one place, and that could result in a very solidly right-of-center candidate."
The process also changes what a campaign looks like.
LaFave, the state representative who is running for secretary of state, told NPR this week that he had a pile of 64 pages of voting delegates and their phone numbers and that he was calling them one by one to ask for their votes.
"I vacillate between 'all hope is lost' and 'I won this thing six weeks ago,' " LaFave said.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/this-weekends-michigan-gop-convention-marks-a-key-moment-for-election-denialism | 2022-05-12T15:09:40Z |
Global Tech Company Takes First Institutional Investment to Drive an Accelerated Build-Out of Its Full Suite of Applications, Continue Scaling Operational Infrastructure and Profitable Growth
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ProductPlan announced today that it has selected Bow River Capital's Software Growth Equity (SGE) Team to partner for operational and innovation expertise on a global scale. Founded nearly ten years ago, the SaaS firm develops cloud-based product management systems across all industry verticals and all sizes of organizations. The majority investment will enable the company to rapidly accelerate product innovation: strategic product ideation, best-in-class roadmap execution, comprehensive launch planning, collaboration across the extended community of product managers, executives, and external partners, and analytics for data-backed decision-making.
Bow River's SGE team invested approximately two years conducting market research in the product management system's space and recognized the massive opportunity set with ProductPlan's world-class software solutions and decided to move forward with the majority recapitalization.
Jim Semick, Co-Founder of ProductPlan, states, "We have boot-strapped the company from day one, and unanimously supported the highly differentiated thesis work and major investment from Bow River's Software Growth Equity team. We're excited to work with their team of deep operational SaaS veterans and seek rapid value creation that will positively impact ProductPlan's customers, partners, and staff."
Diana Ciontea, VP Finance and executive leader at ProductPlan said, "The ProductPlan team is thrilled to welcome Bow River Capital, leaders in strategically scaling lower middle market SaaS firms as our partner. We are proud of our culture and successfully reaching multiple major milestones; we now have ample resources and capital to accelerate growth across all dimensions."
As part of Bow River's SGE majority-controlled investment, fund managers Maitlan Cramer and John Raeder will lead ProductPlan's Board of Directors.
Bow River Capital Director and SGE team member Maitlan Cramer stated, "We have spent significant time analyzing the product management industry and have developed strong conviction for a sea change occurring across the product management landscape, and ProductPlan's multiple value propositions for their global clients and partners." Cramer further stated, "We're thrilled to be working closely with the company to deploy our SaaS playbook and all our resources to rapidly build out their software platform, upshift their client success model, and launch a world-class go-to-market engine."
Morrison & Foerster LLP served as legal counsel to Bow River Capital on the transaction.
D.A. Davidson & Co. was the exclusive financial adviser to ProductPlan.
ProductPlan
ProductPlan, backed by Bow River Capital's Software Growth Equity Fund, is a market-leading, cloud-based Product Management platform. The company designs and delivers flexible, easy-to-use software systems to manage the entire product lifecycle journey from product innovation and crowd-sourced ideas, product roadmapping, product launch, to seamless integrations easily and cost effectively. ProductPlan is trusted by companies of all sizes and across every industry vertical to shorten time to market, reduce risk, and improve visibility and execution. Learn more at www.ProductPlan.com or follow the company on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.
Bow River Capital
Bow River Capital is a private alternative asset manager based in Denver, Colorado, focused on investing in the lower middle market in three asset classes, including private equity, real estate, and software growth equity. In addition to its three private fund platforms, the firm launched the Bow River Capital Evergreen Fund (EVERX) in May 2020, which provides institutional-quality private market access to a broader set of investors. Collectively, the Bow River Capital team has deployed capital into diverse industries, asset classes and across the capital structure.
Bow River Capital Evergreen Fund is distributed by Foreside Financial Services, LLC, which is not affiliated with Bow River Capital or its affiliates.
Media Contact
Andre Theus
andre@productplan.com
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SOURCE Bow River Capital | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/bow-river-capitals-software-growth-equity-team-makes-sixth-platform-investment-productplan-saas-market-leader-product-management-software/ | 2022-05-12T15:09:42Z |
DANIEL ESTRIN, HOST:
France has a choice this weekend - Macron or Le Pen. Polls favor President Emmanuel Macron to win a second term on Sunday. But the gap is much closer than five years ago, when he defeated Marine Le Pen. This time around, the right-wing populist has rebranded, and she has won a lot of support. So what does that mean for France?
We're going to talk about that with Sylvie Kauffmann. She's editorial director at the French newspaper Le Monde. Welcome to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.
SYLVIE KAUFFMANN: Thank you. Thank you for having me.
ESTRIN: So we know Marine Le Pen comes from a far-right-wing family. She has supposedly moderated her politics. What is her vision for France? What would she do if she became president?
KAUFFMANN: That's a very good question because she didn't put forward immediately this time, in this campaign, a very clear vision of how she sees the future of France. And so towards these last few days, since the first round, really, you know, people had a closer look at her program. And also, Emmanuel Macron, I think, did a good job of pointing out, you know, what were the misleading features of her campaign. And so when you look closely, you can see that, for instance, what she advocates is the equivalent of leaving the European Union because...
ESTRIN: Wow.
KAUFFMANN: ...She - yes. I mean, not - you know, we call it a Frexit (ph) in disguise, right?
ESTRIN: Wow. Is her position truly a surprise for her supporters? I mean, why has she won so many new supporters this time around?
KAUFFMANN: She did attract more votes this time. That's a fact. And I don't think it's because of her positions on Europe. I think it's more because of - her main focus this time was the cost of living because it is true that we also have an inflation problem. And so she has been very effective at telling people, if you elect me president, you will have subsidies. You will have - you know, I will cut the price of gas - you know, all these kind of promises.
ESTRIN: So even if she is not elected, her rise in popularity in this campaign says something, right? I mean, first of all, does it...
KAUFFMANN: Yes.
ESTRIN: ...Reflect trends elsewhere in Europe, in the rise of populism, nationalism in the U.S., too?
KAUFFMANN: Well, it's - yes. We've been having those trends in various countries, but that's not only Marine Le Pen in the populist trend in France. There is a third politician, Jean-Luc Melenchon, who we might compare to Bernie Sanders if you want, and he got almost as many votes as Marine Le Pen. She got 23% of the vote, and he got 22% of the vote. And he's a left-wing politician.
So we have two important parties and politicians now in our political landscape which are populist parties, one on the left and one on the far-right. And so between those, you have Emmanuel Macron. And he's now the only political force in the center because the mainstream traditional parties on the center have totally collapsed. So our political system is really - it's a field of ruins.
ESTRIN: Sylvie Kauffmann, editorial director at Le Monde, thank you so much.
KAUFFMANN: Pleasure to be with you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-22/what-this-sundays-election-means-for-the-future-of-france | 2022-05-12T15:09:46Z |
Cannaland™ provides businesses and Brands with the ability to globally scale and monetize
NASSAU, Bahamas, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cannaverse Technologies ("Cannaversetech™"), the pioneering cannabis Metaverse platform that assists companies entering the new Web3 and the Metaverse, announces the launch of the world's first cannabis focused Metaverse, Cannaland™, connecting every facet of the cannabis and hemp communities, revolutionizing the marketplace and opening the landscape for globalization of current and future brands.
Utilizing their experience in the blockchain, crypto, and cannabis industries, Cannaversetech™ has created Cannaland™ a complete cannabis-themed community and meta marketplace where all aspects of socially responsible cultivation, extraction, manufacturing, distribution, retail sale, and consumption of cannabis and hemp products can be enjoyed by residents of the community. Cannaland's Metaverse has an innovative approach to community building, revenue generation, and product marketing, manufacturing, and merchandising for cannabis brands looking to distinguish themselves in an increasingly crowded physical marketplace.
"With the recent exponential growth of the cannabis industry along with the growing popularity of Crypto, Tokens, and EFT's, right now is the perfect time to support the industry by providing them with the tools and marketplace to revolutionize the industry," said Cannaverse CEO Mark Bonner. "At Cannaversetech™ we saw the convergence of cannabis and crypto and are working to modernize the trade by addressing and resolving the existing gaps in the industry."
Cannaland™ is a unique platform which enables worldwide businesses to operate virtually within one domain without boundaries and without the constraints of the localized regulations that exist. This opens the landscape for the globalization of current and future cannabis brands, while providing major consumer products, beverages, and other related products with a way to enter the virtual cannabis market and build their own brands.
For more information about Cannaversetech™ and Cannaland™ products and services, please visit them at www.cannaversetech.io.
About Cannaverse Technologies
Cannaverse Technologies, the creator of Cannaland™, the world's first cannabis Metaverse and pioneer in cannabis product marketing, manufacturing, and merchandising with an innovative blockchain payment system, is empowering cultivators, growers, testing labs, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, medical dispensaries, and consumption lounges with the ability to scale and monetize their brands while directly addressing the existing gaps in the cannabis industry. Cannaversetech™'s meta marketplace on the blockchain revolutionizes the global cannabis industry by connecting every facet of the cannabis and hemp communities in a Metaverse environment. For more information, visit www.cannaversetech.io.
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SOURCE Cannaverse Technologies | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/cannaverse-technologies-launches-cannaland-worlds-first-cannabis-metaverse/ | 2022-05-12T15:09:49Z |
Updated April 23, 2022 at 4:04 PM ET
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday he plans to meet the U.S. secretaries of state and defense in Kyiv on Sunday.
Zelenskyy mentioned the plans to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during a press conference. A State Department spokesperson declined to comment to NPR.
The visit would mark the first time top U.S. officials traveled to Ukraine since the Russian invasion. The meeting comes as Zelenskyy continues to push Western allies for more weapons.
Zelenskyy previously addressed Congress in March and called on U.S. lawmakers "to do more." In his speech, he pushed for a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
The Biden administration has committed $3.4 billion in assistance since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said Thursday. The U.S. aid includes Howitzers, tactical vehicles and artillery rounds.
Beyond plans to meet with U.S. officials, Zelenskyy also plans to meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/2-u-s-cabinet-officials-will-meet-with-zelenskyy-in-kyiv | 2022-05-12T15:09:52Z |
New Link In Bio Apps Help Creators Reach Fans Through Mailchimp Integration
SAN DIEGO, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Koji, the world's most powerful Link in Bio platform and the leading app store for social media, today announced the launch of Email Sign Up and Sign Up & Download, two new apps that help content creators reach customers and drive sales by leveraging Mailchimp to collect email addresses.
The Email Sign Up and Sign Up & Download apps provide a singular location where creators can convert social followers into a true audience through newsletters. Creators can directly access their Mailchimp account through the apps' interface, making it easier for creators to market their brand more effectively from their Link in Bio.
The new apps are free to use and available today on the Koji App Store.
ABOUT KOJI
Koji is the world's most powerful Link in Bio platform. With hundreds of free apps created by Koji and its community of independent developers, the Koji Link in Bio gives leading Creators on TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, and other social media platforms new ways to engage audiences, connect with supporters, and monetize. Koji launched in March 2021 and has raised $36 million in venture capital.
PRESS CONTACT
Sean Thielen
sean@withkoji.com
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Email Sign Up on the Koji App Store
Sign Up & Download on the Koji App Store
Mailchimp Apps For Creators: New Koji Apps And How They Work
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SOURCE Koji | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/creator-economy-platform-koji-announces-mailchimp-enabled-email-capture-apps/ | 2022-05-12T15:09:55Z |
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
We saw videos of people cheering after being told they could take off their masks on public transit. This was just after a federal judge in Florida struck down a mask mandate on public transportation, a decision that will now be appealed by the Biden administration. The Amalgamated Transit Union has called for calm amidst what they called uncertainty and confusion of the situation. John Courtney is the president of ATU Local 265, which represents bus drivers in the Bay Area of California.
Thanks so much for being with us, Mr. Courtney.
JOHN COURTNEY: Thank you for having me.
SIMON: What was your reaction when you heard the ruling?
COURTNEY: A bit of relief in the very beginning - and then, you know, I understood that there would be complications as, you know, it pertained to implementing a policy. And, you know, to be honest, we've been dealing with so many different changes in mask mandates, policies, even with the vaccinations. It's like the - you know, it's an ever-changing playbook. And this was just another example. Some of the implementation of the policy for our bus drivers can become contentious with certain passengers. And I felt relieved that a problem might have been going away.
SIMON: Tell us a little bit about that over the past couple of years 'cause a lot of your union members were kind of put in the position of being the new marshal in town - right? - who had to tell people, you got to wear a mask.
COURTNEY: Yeah. And from the very beginning, it was the unions, the bus driver unions, who I represent. We were the ones who were very outspoken about putting personal protective equipment into the buses, including hand sanitizers and masks. And we found that there was an uptick in assaults on our bus drivers. It just created a lot of situations that put our operators in jeopardy.
SIMON: Yeah. So you feel a sense of relief right now. What if it comes back?
COURTNEY: Yeah. I mean, if it comes back, we'll welcome it, and we'll deal with it. I mean, I think it is what it is, right? You come through the door without a mask, there's no questions asked, nothing, you know? But when the front of the bus has no mask, no ride, it's pretty clear. But now that that sign's gone, the mask mandate is lifted, that has all been alleviated. But now some of our operators are worried about their health, their personal health, because they believe in the mask.
SIMON: Well, tell us about that because, of course, bus drivers can't choose who they associate with. It's anybody who comes through that door.
COURTNEY: That's exactly right. And, you know, so we have to protect ourselves. And what happens at work - someone breathes on you - you're taking that home to your family. You're thinking about that. So it's a tough situation right now for those who are out there on the front lines. Still, that hasn't gone away. And some of our operators and front-line workers are going to continue to wear the mask.
SIMON: Yeah. Mr. Courtney, what's it been like to be a public transit driver these past couple of years? We hear the job has changed. It's become even harder than usual.
COURTNEY: It really has. I've been - this is my 28th year in transportation. I spent a lot of years in maintenance. But when I came to San Jose, I became a bus driver. And I absolutely love it. It's an amazing job. And in a lot of ways, we're in a situation now where we were devalued - bus drivers, in particular, front-line workers in our industry. It's been - we've been disrespected. But, you know, by and large, we are chugging along, moving people.
The biggest challenge during the pandemic is the idea that you may be bringing something home to your family that you caught or got at the job. You take all your clothes off before you enter your house after a day's work. It's shower outside. No matter what you did, you still have it in the back of your mind, could that have been the way that my grandfather died from COVID?
SIMON: John Courtney is president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 in the Bay Area. Thanks so much for being with us, sir.
COURTNEY: Thank you, Scott.
(SOUNDBITE OF GIRL IN RED SONG, “MIDNIGHT LOVE”) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/a-transportation-union-president-felt-relief-at-mask-mandate-decision | 2022-05-12T15:09:59Z |
Initial TakeAim Lymphoma combination data shows anti-cancer activity, including 1 complete response and 2 partial responses, in heavily pretreated patients including those with prior ibrutinib use
LEXINGTON, Mass., May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS), a biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, today announced that multiple abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the upcoming European Hematology Association 2022 Hybrid Congress (EHA), which will be held virtually and in-person in Vienna on June 9-12, 2022. The abstracts include data from both the TakeAim Leukemia and TakeAim Lymphoma studies as well as other studies by Curis and independent collaborators. These planned presentations are in addition to the previously announced presentations scheduled for the upcoming 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting taking place in Chicago and online June 3-7, 2022.
"We are pleased that research from our lead programs will be shared with the oncology community at ASCO and EHA this year," said James Dentzer, Chief Executive Officer of Curis. "We are excited to share the initial data from the TakeAim Lymphoma study investigating the use of emavusertib in combination with ibrutinib in patients with several types of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Data in the abstract indicates that the combination has shown signs of early anti-cancer activity, including in patients with prior BTK inhibitor use, and the regimen appears to be well tolerated. The data from the TakeAim Leukemia study are consistent with our findings reported in January of this year, demonstrating emavusertib's encouraging monotherapy activity in patients with R/R AML and MDS including importantly those with spliceosome and FLT3 mutations. Currently the prognosis for patients with R/R AML or MDS is grim, there are no effective therapies and new options are very much needed. In addition to data from Curis, there will be several interesting data sets from Curis's collaborators. We look forward to providing further updates at EHA and ASCO next month."
Both of the TakeAim studies are to be presented at both the ASCO and EHA meetings. In addition, at EHA Curis will present data on the development of potential biomarkers for emavusertib in AML. Finally, Curis's collaborators will present data at EHA on the use of emavusertib in primary CNS lymphoma.
Details of the EHA presentations are as follows:
Abstract Title: TakeAim Lymphoma- An Open-Label, Dose Escalation And Expansion Trial Of Emavusertib (CA-4948) In Combination With Ibrutinib In Patients With Relapsed Or Refractory Hematologic Malignancies
Presenting Author: Grzegorz Nowakowski, MD, Mayo Clinic Rochester
Abstract Code: P1121
Session Type/Title: Poster Session
Date and Time: June 10, 2022, 4:30 – 5:45 pm CEST
Abstract Title: TakeAim Leukemia A Phase 1/2a Study Of The IRAK4 Inhibitor Emavusertib (CA-4948) As Monotherapy Or In Combination With Azacitidine Or Venetoclax In Relapsed/Refractory AML Or MDS
Presenting Author: Guillermo Garcia-Manero, MD, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Abstract Code: S129
Session Type/Title: Novel insights into AML treatment
Session Room: Hall A7
Date and Time: June 11, 2022, 4:30 – 5:45 pm CEST
Abstract Title: Development of Potential Biomarkers for IRAK4 Inhibitor Emavusertib in Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Presenting Author: Andrey Ugolkov, PhD
Abstract Code: P473
Session Title: Poster session
Date and Time: Friday, June 10, 2022 - 4:30 - 5:45 pm CEST
Collaborator Presentations
Abstract Title: The IRAK-4 Inhibitor Emavusertib (CA-4948) For The Treatment Of Primary CNS Lymphoma
Presenting Author: Christina Von Roemeling, PhD The University of Florida
Abstract Code: P1298
Session Type/Title: Poster Session
Date and Time: June 10, 2022, 4:30 – 5:45 pm CEST
The abstracts are available online at ehaweb.org/.
About Curis, Inc.
Curis is a biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. In 2015, Curis entered into a collaboration with Aurigene in the areas of immuno-oncology and precision oncology. As part of this collaboration, Curis has exclusive licenses to oral small molecule antagonists of immune checkpoints including the VISTA/PDL1 antagonist CA-170, and the TIM3/PDL1 antagonist CA-327, as well as the IRAK4 kinase inhibitor, emavusertib (CA-4948). Emavusertib is currently undergoing testing in the Phase 1/2 TakeAim Lymphoma trial, in patients with hematologic malignancies, such as non-Hodgkins lymphoma and other B cell malignancies, both as a monotherapy and in combination with BTK inhibitor ibrutinib, and the Phase 1/2 TakeAim Leukemia trial in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, for which it has received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA has placed a partial clinical hold on the TakeAim Leukemia and TakeAim Lymphoma trials during which no new patients will be enrolled, and current study participants benefiting from treatment may continue to be treated with emavusertib at doses of 300mg BID or lower. In addition, Curis is engaged in a collaboration with ImmuNext for development of CI-8993, a monoclonal anti-VISTA antibody, which is currently undergoing testing in a Phase 1 trial in patients with solid tumors. Curis is also party to a collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, under which Genentech and Roche are commercializing Erivedge® for the treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma.
For more information, visit Curis's website at www.curis.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, any statements with respect to Curis's plans, strategies, objectives or financial results; statements concerning product research, development, clinical trials and studies and commercialization plans, timelines, anticipated results or the therapeutic potential of drug candidates including any statements regarding the initiation, progression, expansion, use, efficacy, dosage and potential benefits of CA-4948 in clinical trials as a monotherapy and/or as a combination therapy, the progression, use and potential benefits of CI-8993, Curis's plans and timelines to provide preliminary, interim and/or additional data from its ongoing or planned clinical trials, any statements concerning Curis's expectations regarding its interactions with the FDA or its ability to resolve the partial clinical hold of the TakeAim Leukemia study or the partial clinical hold of the TakeAim Lymphoma study, and statements with respect to mutations or potential biomarkers; and statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements may contain the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," "seeks," "estimates," "assumes," "predicts," "projects," "targets," "will," "may," "would," "could," "should," "continue," "potential," "focus," "strategy," "mission," or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. For example, the FDA may not remove the partial clinical hold on the Phase 1/2 TakeAim Leukemia trial or the partial clinical hold on the Phase 1/2 TakeAim Lymphoma trial, or may take further regulatory action with regard to such trials; Curis may experience adverse results, delays and/or failures in its drug development programs and may not be able to successfully advance the development of its drug candidates in the time frames it projects, if at all. Curis's drug candidates may cause unexpected toxicities, fail to demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy in clinical studies and/or may never achieve the requisite regulatory approvals needed for commercialization. Favorable results seen in preclinical studies and early clinical trials of Curis's drug candidates may not be replicated in later trials. There can be no guarantee that the collaboration agreements with Aurigene and ImmuNext will continue for their full terms, or the CRADA with NCI, that Curis or its collaborators will each maintain the financial and other resources necessary to continue financing its portion of the research, development and commercialization costs, or that the parties will successfully discover, develop or commercialize drug candidates under the collaboration. Regulatory authorities may determine to delay or restrict Genentech's and/or Roche's ability to continue to develop or commercialize Erivedge in BCC. Erivedge may not demonstrate sufficient or any activity to merit its further development in disease indications other than BCC. Competing drugs may be developed that are superior to Erivedge. In connection with its agreement with Oberland Capital, Curis faces risks relating to the transfer and encumbrance of certain royalty and royalty-related payments on commercial sales of Erivedge, including the risk that, in the event of a default by Curis or its wholly-owned subsidiary, Curis could lose all retained rights to future royalty and royalty-related payments, Curis could be required to repurchase such future royalty and royalty-related payments at a price that is a multiple of the payments it has received, and its ability to enter into future arrangements may be inhibited, all of which could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and stock price. Curis will require substantial additional capital to fund its business. If it is not able to obtain sufficient funding, it will be forced to delay, reduce in scope or eliminate some of its research and development programs, including related clinical trials and operating expenses, potentially delaying the time to market for, or preventing the marketing of, any of its product candidates, which could adversely affect its business prospects and its ability to continue operations, and would have a negative impact on its financial condition and its ability to pursue its business strategies. Curis faces substantial competition. Curis and its collaborators face the risk of potential adverse decisions made by the FDA and other regulatory authorities, investigational review boards, and publication review bodies. Curis may not obtain or maintain necessary patent protection and could become involved in expensive and time-consuming patent litigation and interference proceedings. Unstable market and economic conditions, natural disasters, public health crises, political crises and other events outside of Curis's control could significantly disrupt its operations or the operations of third parties on which Curis depends and could adversely impact Curis's operating results and its ability to raise capital. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic may result in closures of third-party facilities, impact enrollment in clinical trials or impact sales of Erivedge by Genentech and/or Roche. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may impact Curis's business or operating results is uncertain. Other important factors that may cause or contribute to actual results being materially different from those indicated by forward-looking statements include the factors set forth under the captions "Risk Factor Summary" and "Risk Factors" in our most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, and the factors that are discussed in other filings that we periodically make with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). In addition, any forward-looking statements represent the views of Curis only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing Curis's views as of any subsequent date. Curis disclaims any intention or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
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SOURCE Curis, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/curis-announces-abstracts-accepted-presentation-european-hematology-association-2022-congress-eha/ | 2022-05-12T15:10:02Z |
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
For many Ukrainians, the sounds of the past two months have been air raid sirens and explosions. In the southern city of Odesa, along the Black Sea, some residents are trying to replace the sounds of bombs with the notes of jazz. NPR's Tim Mak has the story.
TIM MAK, BYLINE: The first time I was in Odesa about a month ago, I heard a rumor about a jazz club. Like so many businesses in the city, it had shut down. But I heard they still did impromptu shows. So when I returned to Odesa this week, I had to see if this was true.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Non-English language spoken).
MAK: I'm walking up the stairs of this five-floor club and theater that had been a social hub before the wars. It's called Perron Number Seven. There's a club cat stalking the halls and some turtles in an aquarium. The walls are covered in hip art and promotional posters of shows from better days. They do some theater, but a lot of jazz - one stage specifically designed for electric jazz and another for acoustic. And in the shadow of the war, I found some life.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: (Non-English language spoken).
MAK: This past weekend, they put on a series of theatrical performances, including a short play on a Ukrainian man in love with a culturally Russian woman. It's a comedy that chronicles his attempt to Ukraine-ize (ph) his beloved.
(APPLAUSE)
MAK: This is Yaroslav Trofimov, who co-owns the club with his wife, Julia Bragina (ph), explaining why they haven't shut down completely.
YAROSLAV TROFIMOV: Let me tell you a story. The biggest air missile strike in Odesa - the sky was black because it was a lot of fire in the middle of the city. We all woke up at 6 o'clock in the morning and run into the shelters. And at 2 o'clock at the same day, we started our performance of theater on the balcony.
MAK: And as the smoke billowed and the dust settled, Yaroslav had a provocative question for the 100-person audience who had assembled in the square below.
TROFIMOV: I asked the guests, do we fear? Do we feel fear right now? Are we scared? And people said, no, we are not.
MAK: Perron Number Seven has since held free outdoor theatrical and jazz performances.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MAK: We met shortly after the sinking of the Russian naval vessel, the Moskva, just some 60 nautical miles from where we're sitting. Yaroslav was drinking homemade gin.
TROFIMOV: They really want us to be scared. They want us to lay low. They want us to stop all our normal life and not walk in the barracks with the dogs. And I can say the direction for every person who has in its mind that war will make us fear, the direction is very simple. They should go with the Russian warship. We will not be scared.
MAK: He and his friends got together and played a famous jazz song, "When the Saints Go Marching In."
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MAK: And they changed the lyrics to when the ships go bottom in, referring to the sinking of the Moskva.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN")
UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: (Singing in non-English language).
MAK: Like millions of their fellow citizens, Julia and Yaroslav initially thought about leaving when the war broke out. Julia even said goodbye to the club as if it might be the last time they saw it.
JULIA BRAGINA: We didn't know what to do. We grab some luggage. We buy this little cage for our cats (laughter) just in case we need to evacuate all these cats with us.
MAK: She jokes that they didn't leave because their two cats don't get along. But they also realized their club was important not just for theater, but it could also be used by volunteers and civilians who wanted to organize ways to alleviate suffering in the war. The heart, the soul of this club remains jazz, though, a place where people and musicians once came to laugh and sing and hear music.
BRAGINA: A lot of guys from New York, from Chicago, from Europe, a lot of American musician.
MAK: A local photographer, captured this weekend's jazz performance on the balcony and posted a number of photos of the audience below as they watched the performance.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MAK: There was smiling. There was laughter, but there was something even more profound than that - residents enjoying a slice of serenity, a moment of peace in a time of war.
TROFIMOV: If your life will be ruined in one day, if your businesses will be devastated forever in one day, if you will lose everything except of your sense of humor, you will easily understand why do you love in the middle of the war.
MAK: Yaroslav said that the last few days have been especially menacing for the city's residents.
TROFIMOV: You may not know, but last three days, Russians sending a lot of messages to the Telegram, to the Instagram, to the SMS, to people in Odesa, writing, we are know who you are. We know where you live. We know that you are against Russians.
MAK: He says their biggest weapon is laughter and creativity, more important even than the foreign weapons that have become iconic in this war.
TROFIMOV: That's why we keep meeting each other and telling stories and jokes, because there's the same frontier. There's the same weapon as - I don't know - Javelin or Bayraktar or something else.
MAK: Julia says this is a joyous place. Odesa is known as a laid-back city by the sea, a place that's relaxed and relaxing. But now, during the war, there's so much anger here, too, towards the Russian artists and musicians who used to be part of their community.
BRAGINA: It's hard to say, but they're not people for us anymore. Yeah, that's mean. That's gross to say. We ate a lot of Russian content - you know, poetry, literature, theater. I studied the theater. It was, like, the greatest example. And now, understand, it does not exist. It was a fake. All this was fake because it didn't affect the people. It didn't open their eyes. It didn't make them think critically.
MAK: Yaroslav talks about a dichotomy, about having panic attacks and fits of laughter in the same day. There's a war outside. The frontlines are just one major city away. But jazz is still playing in Odesa, and that's what makes life worth surviving for. Tim Mak, NPR News, Odesa.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/a-ukrainian-jazz-club-provides-joy-in-odesa-despite-the-invasion | 2022-05-12T15:10:05Z |
HUDSON, Ohio, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Diebold Nixdorf (NYSE: DBD), a global leader in driving connected commerce across the banking and retail industries, announced today that Octavio Marquez, chief executive officer, and Jeffrey Rutherford, chief financial officer, will speak at two upcoming investor conferences.
On Monday, May 23 at 3:10 p.m. ET, Marquez will speak at the 50th Annual J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference in a fireside chat. Audio for the session can be found at https://jpmorgan.metameetings.net/events/tmc22/sessions/42079-diebold-nixdorf/webcast. Additionally, Rutherford will speak at the Barclays Leveraged Finance Conference on Tuesday, May 24 at 4:00 p.m. ET, in a fireside chat. This session can be accessed here.
Both presentations will be available on Diebold Nixdorf's investor relations website at Events & Presentations.
About Diebold Nixdorf
Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD) is a world leader in enabling connected commerce. We automate, digitize and transform the way people bank and shop. As a partner to the majority of the world's top 100 financial institutions and top 25 global retailers, our integrated solutions connect digital and physical channels conveniently, securely and efficiently for millions of consumers each day. The company has a presence in more than 100 countries with approximately 22,000 employees worldwide. Visit www.DieboldNixdorf.com for more information.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/diebold
Twitter: twitter.com/dieboldnixdorf
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DieboldNixdorf
YouTube: www.youtube.com/dieboldnixdorf
DN-F
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SOURCE Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/diebold-nixdorf-leaders-participate-upcoming-investor-conferences/ | 2022-05-12T15:10:09Z |
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Some military experts thought Russia would make greater and quicker gains when it invaded Ukraine several weeks ago. NPR China affairs correspondent John Ruwitch says one group of observers in China is watching Russia's battlefield shortcomings for lessons.
JOHN RUWITCH, BYLINE: The Chinese People's Liberation Army, or PLA, regularly drills with the Russian military, like in this exercise in China last summer covered by state TV.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED JOURNALIST: Artillery forces are practicing with their weaponry.
RUWITCH: Many of China's weapons today are Russian or based on Russian platforms, and there are strong institutional and cultural links. Despite a period of tension between Beijing and Moscow at the height of the Cold War, relations are now as good as they've ever been.
DAVID FINKELSTEIN: This is a military that they have put on a pedestal for many years.
RUWITCH: David Finkelstein is a retired U.S. Army officer and China specialist at the think tank CNA.
FINKELSTEIN: Not only did they learn from them in the 1940s, '50s and '60s, they were also a much feared enemy in the 1960s and '70s.
RUWITCH: The PLA has always looked up to and respected Russia's armed forces.
FINKELSTEIN: They do think that the Russian military is extremely strong. So they've got to be scratching their heads saying what is going on here.
RUWITCH: Analysts say the Russian military appears to have underestimated the enemy. Its logistics have been shambolic. Its troops were poorly prepared and coordination has been lacking. Su Tzu-yun with Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research thinks all this will give the PLA pause in one of its biggest missions and one that some say has parallels to Ukraine.
SU TZU-YUN: (Through interpreter) I think the PLA will have less confidence in its ability to invade Taiwan. After all, Russia is the No. 2 military power in the world, and they're experiencing this kind of military loss in a land war. If the PLA conducts an amphibious landing in Taiwan, the challenge will be even greater.
RUWITCH: Others say it's not so clear cut. The PLA has modernized its force in recent decades. And in 2016, Chinese leader Xi Jinping launched sweeping organizational reforms that happened to take aim at some of the very problems Russia has faced, like joint operations, coordinating air, land and sea forces. Oriana Skylar Mastro is an expert on China's military and security policy at Stanford University.
ORIANA SKYLAR MASTRO: What they're actually learning, we can't really assess that because we don't know how the PLA is going to perform and they don't know.
RUWITCH: That's because China's last shooting war was in 1979, when it invaded Vietnam and was pushed back. So far, PLA-affiliated media have been quiet about how it's processing the Ukraine war. But there has been some writing, offering hints.
MASTRO: They're not taking away from it, oh, the Russians have problems. We're going to have problems. They're taking away from it, wow, our reforms have really gotten us to the point where we would perform so much better than the Russians.
RUWITCH: Still, she says, the Ukraine war will help the PLA sharpen its edge. Lyle Goldstein agrees. He's a specialist on China's military at the think tank Defense Priorities. He says there's a lot to take stock of from the performance of certain weapons to tactical decision making and even how key battles unfolded. For instance, the PLA may want to take a close look at Russia's helicopter assault on the Kyiv airport at the start of the war, which reportedly didn't go so well.
LYLE GOLDSTEIN: That would be very similar to what China would try to do in Taiwan.
RUWITCH: He suspects they'll also take a keen interest in Ukraine's coastal defense on the Black Sea.
GOLDSTEIN: One reason why Russia did not undertake a amphibious assault against Odessa seems to have been that the Ukrainians cleverly put in the water several hundred sea mines. So I think the Chinese will be thinking very hard, how do you deal with that.
RUWITCH: In Taiwan, meanwhile, the military will also be thinking very hard and learning its own lessons from the Ukraine war. John Ruwitch, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/china-looks-to-learn-from-russias-shortcomings-in-ukraine | 2022-05-12T15:10:11Z |
New space provides real-world experience in computer technology and cybersecurity
MINNEAPOLIS, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunwoody College of Technology, a private, non-profit institution and pioneer in technical education, today announces the addition of a new high-performance cloud lab that will give students the ability to learn in a cloud environment that matches what they will find in the real-world.
As more and more businesses move to "The Cloud," the skilled professionals who can build, maintain, secure, and optimize that technology are becoming an essential part of keeping data safe and the industry moving forward. Training people to respond to those challenges is the purpose behind this next-generation Cloud Lab coming online at the College.
"The lab was originally based on existing workloads in other Computer Technology department classes," said Curt Gabrielson, Associate Professor, Dunwoody College of Technology. "The system was designed to replace existing, slow, individually managed servers while being future growth-oriented. We realized that this could easily support other classes and departments, so it was developed with scalability in mind. The lab reflects what industry uses for software and hardware: a centrally managed server environment using vSphere with solid-state storage, Epyc Gen3 processors, and fiber-connected redundant datacenter-grade switches that are available on the Internet so students can use them anytime and anywhere."
Dunwoody's unique Cloud Lab isn't confined to a simulation but is a working, state-of-the-moment, closet-sized, cloud server environment.
The new Cloud Lab will be used in several of the Computer Technology and School of Engineering programs, including Computer Networking Systems, Cloud Engineering Technology, and Software Engineering. It also allows students to work on-site or remotely in the same virtual space. The students can use the lab to create virtual environments, just as they would in the real world while giving them an opportunity to test and defend those environments against cyber-attacks.
Building the Lab
Building a fully-functioning cloud server environment on the Dunwoody campus was a project developed, designed, and managed by Gabrielson. Computer Networking Systems students were tasked with the creation of the server; students Oliver Lee, Ryan Koschak, and Esteban Lopez proved to be instrumental in building out the new lab.
"For me, this has given me the hands-on experience of working with this type of equipment, which is really nice for us to have when we go into the field," Lee said. "It's been like having an internship while at school."
Building the actual physical rack of servers, hooking up the cables, and installing the drives utilizes many of the skills and training the students have learned in their Computer Technology courses.
For the students, the project taught them an invaluable lesson of learning from their mistakes.
"Communication is such an important part of teamwork – because you can't build a server [environment] on your own," Lopez said. "Without cooperation, the project could have gone downhill fast. We really learned how to efficiently work as a team."
Computer Technology Done Differently
Dunwoody's Computer Technology programs are for students who are interested in how IT works: the learners who like to tinker with hardware or live to code and who are looking for training on the software, systems, equipment, and programming languages being used in the industry.
The Computer Networking Systems, Cloud Engineering Technology, and Software Engineering programs provide training in three main areas: computer networking, web development, and cloud technology. All three degree tracks directly transfer into a bachelor's completion option in Computer Science. The Computer Networking Systems degree also transfers directly into a bachelor's completion option in Cybersecurity. For more information on Dunwoody's degree programs and schools visit https://dunwoody.edu/.
About Dunwoody College of Technology
Founded in 1914, Dunwoody College of Technology is the only private, not-for-profit technical college in the Upper Midwest. Having provided hands-on, applied technical education to more than 250,000 individuals, Dunwoody is the college for experimenters and makers, a place where the curious and the confident learn by doing. Located in Minneapolis, Dunwoody offers a unique campus experience in dedicated labs, studios, and shops that treats students like future professionals from day one. With certificates, associate's, and bachelor's degrees in more than 46 majors – including engineering, robotics, design and other STEM-related fields – Dunwoody challenges students to come determined and graduate destined. More information on Dunwoody can be found at www.dunwoody.edu or by following Dunwoody on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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SOURCE Dunwoody College of Technology | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/dunwoody-college-technology-introduces-new-high-performance-cloud-lab/ | 2022-05-12T15:10:16Z |
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
For much of this past week, clashes have broken out at the most sensitive and contested site in Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Palestinians, most of them young, threw rocks at Israeli police, who then used tear gas and other measures to try to disperse them. All this during two of the holiest observances in the Muslim and Jewish calendars, Ramadan and Passover. NPR's Peter Kenyon joins us now from Jerusalem.
Peter, thanks for being with us.
PETER KENYON, BYLINE: Hi, Scott.
SIMON: And help us understand what's been going on these past few days.
KENYON: Well, for most of this week, young Palestinians would attend dawn prayers at the Al-Aqsa mosque, and then some would throw rocks at Israeli police. And they responded with percussion grenades, rubber bullets. Yesterday, there was gas dropped from an Israeli drone. And right-wing Jewish groups would make their way to the Temple Mount, the most sacred site in Judaism. There have been daily tallies of injured or arrested Palestinians. Yesterday, one young man fell into a coma. He's said to be in critical condition. Today is a bit different. No stone-throwing, no police charge at Al-Aqsa. But there is another issue - an Israeli police presence at a Christian site, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where church officials say police are limiting the number of worshippers who can attend services. They're demanding a special police permit to get in, and the worshippers don't have those. Now, meanwhile, there have been rockets fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, including some early today. Israel's been responding with airstrikes and other measures, and there have been incidents elsewhere and a curfew in the West Bank - so basically a tense and sometimes violent week.
SIMON: And are people in Jerusalem on all sides worried about where this might be headed?
KENYON: They are. Palestinian attacks killed at least 14 people in Israel in recent weeks, after all, and Israeli military raids then led to a number of arrests in the West Bank. And that situation in Gaza - if you remember last year, rocket fire from there led to an 11-day war between Israeli forces and Gaza militants - 200 Palestinians reported killed, more than a dozen Israelis. And a lot of people are hoping to avoid anything like that.
SIMON: Peter, you've spoken with people on all sides. How do they stake out their positions about what's going on at the mosque? It's an almost astonishingly small area that's watched around the world.
KENYON: It is. And Al-Aqsa has been under Israeli control for a long time, since 1967. Today, Palestinians are worried that Israel might be convinced to change the rules, making it less accessible for them. I spoke with Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani. He's with the Islamic Trust that's charged with overseeing the compound. He's a very polite man, but he was uncompromising in his views. Here's a bit of what he said.
SHEIKH OMAR AL-KISWANI: (Non-English language spoken).
KENYON: He said, "our position is clear. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is the sole property of the Muslim people who are not ready to divide or to share." Now, Israeli nationalists would say, even though it's been a mosque for several centuries, it's holy to Jews as the site of the ancient temple, and they should be allowed there, too.
SIMON: Doesn't seem to be an obvious compromise, is there?
KENYON: It doesn't. The State Department was here. Officials met with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, but no sign came out of de-escalation immediately. Israel said it's simply trying to preserve the status quo at the Temple Mount. The Palestinian Authority is saying Washington should intervene. For now, most of the people I've spoken with don't see a clear path to calm the situation quickly. But no doubt, efforts will continue.
SIMON: NPR's Peter Kenyon in Jerusalem, thanks so much.
KENYON: Thanks, Scott.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/clashes-between-israeli-police-and-palestinians-continue-at-the-al-aqsa-mosque | 2022-05-12T15:10:17Z |
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MISUNDERSTOOD")
BANKS: (Singing) If I had just one penny for...
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
1.4 billion streams - it's made BANKS well-known, but how well understood?
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MISUNDERSTOOD")
BANKS: (Singing) Please let me be, please let me be misunderstood, oh, please...
SIMON: This month, the singer released her fourth album, "Serpentina." It slithers, if you please, through electrosoul and hip-hop to tell stories of heartbreak, apathy and uplift.
BANKS joins us now from Southern California. Thanks so much for being with us.
BANKS: Oh, thanks for having me. What an honor to be here.
SIMON: Well, it's an honor for me to talk to somebody who our daughters admire, so...
BANKS: (Laughter).
SIMON: ...So tell me about being misunderstood. I mean, is that where art begins?
BANKS: I don't think always. I think sometimes it is definitely, you know, like putting out an album, and it's pretty much like releasing your diary entries to the world. And I think that, in order to do that, you can't care what people think, and you have to kind of, like, use obstacles as fuel to become stronger. So I think kind of saying, it's OK if you don't misunderstand me, but please misunderstand me, it's kind of like saying, like, I'm good either way.
SIMON: So many different musical genres on this album - gospel, pop, electronic, hip-hop.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "HOLDING BACK")
BANKS: (Singing) Cause love is holding back.
SIMON: You grew up in the San Fernando Valley, right?
BANKS: I grew up, yeah, in Tarzana.
SIMON: What's the term - 818 Girl?
BANKS: Yeah, always and forever.
SIMON: So help us understand the kind of influences that went through your artistic imagination growing up.
BANKS: Well, music for me stemmed from feeling unheard. I just was having a really hard time around 15, 16, and I found a keyboard. I remember I put this one stream of consciousness, a few sentences, I put it to, like, three notes. It just felt so good. It made me feel heard when nobody was listening.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "HOLDING BACK")
BANKS: (Singing) I remember when you locked us out. We had to climb in through the window, how lifted me up, was on the second floor, and I always loved that story.
Definitely growing up, I was really into, you know, Ben Harper, Fiona Apple, Lauryn Hill, Tracy Chapman - voices like that where you could really feel their soul. You know, I love voice cracks. I love all that stuff.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "HOLDING BACK")
BANKS: (Singing) All I want to do is...
The more human, the better. And humans are so imperfect, even though we all try to be perfect. And so a lot of the times, art does start from that for people.
SIMON: What about the name "Serpentina"?
BANKS: "Serpentina" - well, when I was younger, when I was about, like, 14 or 15, I would doodle the word serpentine in class all the time, like, in cursive. I just thought it looked really pretty. I just liked the word. And when I was thinking of the album name for this body of work, I all the sudden started doodling the word serpentine again, like how I did when I was younger, and I was like, that's so weird. I haven't seen that in a while. Like, I haven't done that in a while. And then I started thinking about, like, what snakes represent. And snakes shed their skin, and they don't try and, like, crawl back in their skin. They let it go, and they're in their new skin, and they just keep slithering away. So I was like, I am serpentine, and this is "Serpentina."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THE DEVIL")
BANKS: (Singing) Someone write my new name down. Someone write my new name down. Someone write my new name down.
SIMON: You - I gather you had to go through a lot while making this album.
BANKS: Yeah, I mean, quarantine was crazy for everybody. And for me, I had just been coming out of kind of a really tough year, 2019, for me. I was touring my last album, "III," and I fractured my spine, like, a few months before it started, and I had to take all these steroid epidurals just to be able to move. And I got laryngitis, and then I lost my voice, and I had to take more steroid shots for my voice in order to be able to sing. It was just, like, constantly sick the whole year, on antibiotics on and off, on steroids on and off. And I pushed through so hard that, mentally and physically, I kind of, like, fell to the floor.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THE DEVIL")
BANKS: (Singing) Cause I'm the devil now.
SIMON: I've got to ask you about the song with the title - with the name we can't repeat on the air - "F-word (ph) Love."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "F*** LOVE")
BANKS: (Singing) I'll be on the road when you want it. Kiss me on the go if you want it. Don't say I'm your only, ay.
SIMON: I mean, love's the only thing that lasts. What's your problem with love?
BANKS: (Laughter) I have no problem with love. I think this song, ironically, is more kind of about self-love, even though it's called "F Love." It's kind of like, don't give me a rose. I don't want it. Don't give me a throne because I got one.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "F*** LOVE")
BANKS: (Singing) Sneak up on me out of lust. Lucky something's good enough. Tell me one thing...
There's, like, a societal expectation that you should be with someone. When I was, like, single - I was, like, single for a while - it was like, I would run into people after a really long time, and the first like, hey, how are you? Are you dating anyone? And it's kind of interesting because why is that the first question? So that song kind of is bred from that feeling where it's like, no, and I don't need anyone. F it.
Ironically, I actually met somebody, like, really soon after I wrote that song (laughter). And...
SIMON: Really?
BANKS: Yeah (laughter).
SIMON: Well, it's none of my business, but I'm still glad you met someone.
BANKS: (Laughter) Thanks. That's sweet.
SIMON: So let me ask you about another song, if we can, and this is "Spirit."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SPIRIT")
BANKS: (Singing) Baby, when I feel like, feel like giving up, something in my spirit tells me I ain't had enough.
SIMON: There's such a great rising swell of hope in this song.
BANKS: Yeah, that song's so special. I've always been into, like, gospel. And my friend Samoht, who sings on it, has the most gorgeous voice.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SPIRIT")
SAMOHT: (Singing) Through the rough, diamonds seem to shine the most. Angels surround to love me close.
BANKS: It's kind of just saying, don't give up, and lift yourself up, and it will be OK. No matter how down you get, there is something in your spirit that's like, I have not had enough. It's not my time. I can keep going. And this song, it feels like there's a warmth and a brightness to it that is so necessary in the world and to this album and to me. And yeah, it was just a blessing to make.
SIMON: How are you doing now?
BANKS: I feel like I'm in a really good place as a woman, as a person. I've always executive produced my albums, but this last few years, I've gotten really into Ableton, and I co-produced this album, and I own my own masters for the first time, so I'm just in control in a really real way, not the way where you have to, like, overshoot it and be, like, raising your voice. I feel, like, calmly in control, and it feels really good.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "I STILL LOVE YOU")
SIMON: BANKS - her new album with an old name, "Serpentina." Thank you so much for being with us.
BANKS: Thanks for having me.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "I STILL LOVE YOU")
BANKS: (Singing) Sure, I know I haven't been around. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/electropop-star-banks-got-into-music-after-feeling-unheard | 2022-05-12T15:10:23Z |
Firm Hires Senior Team Members from Maine to Florida, Opens New Office in Lynnfield, Massachusetts
WELLESLEY, Mass., May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- F.L.Putnam Investment Management Company today announced that James Waggett, Ann Marie Foran, Brandon J. Schwab, and Benjamin O'Connor have joined the firm as Investment Advisors and Timothy Hamilton will serve as a Private Client Advisor. The firm has also opened a sixth office in Lynnfield, Massachusetts.
"Jim, Ann Marie, Brandon, Ben, and Tim bring us a wide set of skills from investment and ESG expertise to financial planning while helping to expand our geographic reach. They will be invaluable assets to the families, foundations, and endowments that we serve, and we are pleased to have them join our growing East Coast team," commented Tom Manning, CEO of F.L.Putnam.
New Investment and Private Client Advisors
James Waggett, CFA®, CFP®, CAIA, is a senior investment advisor with more than 20 years of experience. He previously served in investment, advisory, and client relationship roles at Bank of America, Fidelity, Merrill Lynch, and TD Bank.
Ann Marie Foran, CFA®, is a senior investment professional with deep ESG, alternative investing, and global equity expertise. She has more than 30 years of financial services experience and previously served in senior roles at Natixis Global Asset Management, The Boston Company Asset Management, and Putnam Investments.
Brandon J. Schwab, AWMA®, CPWA®, has served as a trusted advisor to high-net-worth clients for more than 15 years. He most recently served as a wealth advisor at Eaton Vance WaterOak Advisors, where he established and cultivated client advisory relationships throughout the State of Florida. Mr. Schwab previously served in investment and advisory roles at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, UBS Financial Services, and AllianceBernstein.
Benjamin O'Connor has more than ten years of investment experience. He most recently served as an Associate Director at UBS, and previously held institutional equity advisory and trading roles at Jefferies, J.P. Morgan, and Barclays.
Timothy Hamilton, CFP®, has more than a decade of financial advisory experience. He most recently served as an advisor at Measured Wealth Private Client Group, where he led the financial plan development process for the firm's high-net-worth client base. Mr. Hamilton previously held private client advisory roles at Baystate Financial Services and Boston Partners Financial Group.
About F.L.Putnam Investment Management Company
F.L.Putnam provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to high-net-worth clients and institutions, including endowments and foundations. Since 1983, F.L.Putnam has delivered a comprehensive set of solutions that help clients build, preserve, and manage their wealth. The firm serves clients nationally from offices in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island. More information is available at www.flputnam.com.
Contact:
KWM Communications
Kellie Walsh
914-315-6072
kwalsh@kwmcommunications.com
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MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Higher prices at the gas pump and at the grocery store - those are two ways that many Americans are feeling the economic impact of the conflict in Ukraine. Granted, the war is just one of several factors affecting global prices, but it's having a big enough impact that world leaders are worried about the lasting impact on the global economy. That was a big focus of conversation this week for trade leaders from around the world who gathered in Washington, D.C., for meetings at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. One of those leaders is European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis. He is also the European trade commissioner and a former prime minister of Latvia, and he is with us now. Mr. Executive Vice President, welcome. Thank you so much for speaking with us today.
VALDIS DOMBROVSKIS: Good afternoon.
MARTIN: And as I think many people know, I mean, the U.S. and Europe are spending billions of dollars on the effort to support Ukraine, both financially and militarily. Just this week, President Biden announced two new aid packages, totaling more than $1,000,000,000. And both Washington and Brussels have announced round after round of sanctions against Russia and a host of wealthy supporters of President Vladimir Putin. But the Russian assault on Ukraine continues. Is any of this working?
DOMBROVSKIS: Well, it's clear that we must put maximum pressure to stop Russia's aggression. And as we see, if the aggression is continuing, we need to continue to put more pressure on Russia because Russia's propaganda and also many Russian officials are making no secret of this, that it's not only about Ukraine. They are ready to wage further aggressor wars, invade further neighboring countries. So it's not only about Ukraine's security. It's about broader European security. So therefore, it's very important that we are stopping this aggression and putting maximum pressure now.
MARTIN: But are you? I mean, is there any evidence that these efforts taken so far are having any impact on the decision-making of President Putin and those who support him?
DOMBROVSKIS: Well, Putin will go as far as we will allow him to go. And it's clear that the support provided to Ukraine so far, including military supplies, helped to change the situation on the ground, helped to liberate cities and towns around Kyiv. And Russia withdrew from that part of Ukraine and now is concentrating primarily on Donbas. So we must continue to provide the support for Ukraine to defend its territories, which are currently under Russia's control.
MARTIN: And obviously, one big issue hanging over the response to the Russian invasion is Europe's dependence on Russian oil and gas. Several major European nations import energy sources from Russia. Forgive me, but some see Europe's refusal to stop those imports as basically writing a blank check for Vladimir Putin and the Russian military. How do you respond to that?
DOMBROVSKIS: Well, it's very much an issue, and it's very much on the EU's agenda. So we are rapidly moving away from the dependence on Russia's fossil fuels. Already now we have put a ban on Russia's coal imports. We are currently discussing possibility to put some kind of oil embargo as part of the six sanctions package, which is currently under preparation. And we are also working to rapidly phase out dependency on Russian natural gas. Already we have put forward plans how we can reduce our dependency by two-thirds already by the end of the year.
MARTIN: And forgive me for pressing you on this point, but are you concerned that as this war goes on, you know, goes on longer, as it lasts far longer than, certainly, the Russians seem to indicate that they thought that it would, are you worried about a fissure in the coalition? Are you worried that the solidarity that the allied nations and the United States and other nations who support sort of democratic principles, are you worried that that solidarity will erode as these economic impacts continue?
DOMBROVSKIS: Well, clearly, there is going to be some economic impact, but this is a price worth paying for defending democracy and peace. So I very much expect that this solidarity is here to stay because the Western democratic world was able to react in a coordinated and forceful way, in a sense surprising Russians, which were banking on a weak Western reaction, as it was, by the way, after Russia's invasion in Georgia in 2008, and also not so forceful a reaction after Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014. But this time, we see clearly it's different. And it's clear that as a Western democratic world, we need to defend our values, and we need to be ready to pay a certain price for this.
MARTIN: And before we let you go, this is obviously a complex question, which doesn't lend itself to a simple answer. But as you mentioned earlier, your own country, Latvia, has a border with Russia. It's one of the former Soviet republics whose membership in the NATO military alliance has been seen as a threat by Putin and Moscow. How do you see this tension being resolved or managed in the long term? I understand it is a complex question, but what are your thoughts at this juncture?
DOMBROVSKIS: Well, first of all, it's completely a artificial problem which is invented by Putin as an excuse for his aggressive actions because if you look at the facts, there is a none of the Russia's neighboring countries which has been invading Russia. But there is Russia, which has been invading several neighboring countries and creating frozen conflicts in yet another country. So it's clear that the decision of the Baltic states of central eastern European countries, after they got rid of the Soviet dominance to move fast toward joining European Union, to move fast toward joining NATO was the right decision in the interest of their own security because we clearly see that it's Russia which is aggressor, which is invading neighboring countries, and not other way around.
MARTIN: That was European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis. Mr. Executive Vice President, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us today.
DOMBROVSKIS: OK. Thank you.
(SOUNDBITE OF BLUEWERKS AND OTIS UBAKA'S "ATMOSPHERIC") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/eu-trade-official-calls-the-economic-impact-of-defending-ukraine-a-price-worth-paying | 2022-05-12T15:10:29Z |
MAJURO, Republic of the Marshall Islands, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gate.io, one of the world's earliest cryptocurrency exchanges and a leader among digital asset platforms, has announced that its venture capital firm Gate Ventures has led a $10 million Series A funding for Stanhope Financial Group recently, an Ireland-based global fintech company that provides businesses with a full suite of banking services. The funding will be used to develop the group's product offerings, strengthen the management team, increase its market share, and prepare for the launch company's upcoming affiliate digital assets division, SH Digital.
Stanhope Financial Group has seen substantial growth across its business divisions since it began operations in October 2021. Its SH Payments division, licensed as an Electronic Money Institution, offers businesses banking services to efficiently send and receive money globally. Its SH Capital division allows institutions to gain access to premium global investment products across all capital markets. Its affiliate company, SH Digital, offers cryptocurrency liquidity and trading services. Stanhope Financial Group has been granted financial services licences by both the Bank of Lithuania and by Dubai Financial Services Authority.
Kevin von Neuschatz, Group CEO of Stanhope Financial Group, said:
"Our suite of Tier 1 banking services has been specifically developed to enable ambitious businesses to make faster, more effective payments, access investment products, and embrace digital trading with complete confidence.
For too long, fast-growing SMEs have been overlooked by the established banks and institutions and we're here to change that. This major funding round will go directly towards expanding our expertise, developing new products, and offering companies access to all the services they need to thrive, but have been denied."
Mohit Davar, Executive Chairman of Stanhope Financial Group, said:
"These are exciting times for Stanhope Financial Group, and this investment will enable us to further expand our key divisions which have already made huge inroads into the market.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all investors, especially Gate Ventures, for the confidence they have shown in the team to continue to deliver on its strategic plans and create tremendous shareholder value."
Kevin Yang, Investment Director of Gate Ventures, said:
"To accelerate the adoption of cryptocurrency and convergence with mainstream traditional banking has increased the need for Gate.io to work with innovative and regulated companies like Stanhope Group to further develop our product portfolio and continue to build innovative solutions for our customers."
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SOURCE Gate.io | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/gateio-leads-10-million-series-funding-stanhope-financial-group-fuel-growth/ | 2022-05-12T15:10:29Z |
Fresh Air Weekend highlights some of the best interviews and reviews from past weeks, and new program elements specially paced for weekends. Our weekend show emphasizes interviews with writers, filmmakers, actors and musicians, and often includes excerpts from live in-studio concerts. This week:
Comic Jerrod Carmichael bares his secrets in 'Rothaniel': The comic, actor and writer opens up about his name, his family tree and his sexual orientation in a new HBO special. "The more honest I am, the freer I am," Carmichael says.
Fairport Convention band cofounder Richard Thompson looks back on his life in music: The British singer/guitarist talks about his formative years, and about pioneering a new musical genre that blended rock with traditional music of the British isles. Thompson's new memoir is Beeswing.
You can listen to the original interviews and review here:
Comic Jerrod Carmichael bares his secrets in 'Rothaniel'
Fairport Convention band cofounder Richard Thompson looks back on his life in music
Copyright 2022 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/fresh-air-weekend-comic-jerrod-carmichael-musician-richard-thompson | 2022-05-12T15:10:35Z |
SAN DIEGO, Calif., SUZHOU and SHANGHAI, China , May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gracell Biotechnologies Inc. ("Gracell" or the "Company", NASDAQ: GRCL), a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing highly efficacious and affordable cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, today announced the details of three abstracts that it will present at the European Hematology Association 2022 Hybrid Congress (EHA2022 Congress), being held from June 9 – June 12 in Vienna, Austria. The abstracts highlight the clinical data from ongoing investigator-initiated trials (IITs) of BCMA/CD19 dual-targeting FasTCAR candidate GC012F in two indications of B-cell non-hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), and allogeneic TruUCAR candidate GC502 in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).
"We are very excited to share our data for both our FasTCAR candidate GC012F in two indications of RRMM and B-NHL, and allogeneic TruUCAR candidate GC502 in B-ALL at the EHA2022 Congress," said Dr. Martina Sersch, Chief Medical Officer of Gracell. "The new data, including the expanded indication of GC012F into B-NHL, demonstrates the potential of our platforms and provides further validation. The clinical data of BCMA/CD19 dual-targeting GC012F in the treatment of B-NHL shows promising early results, along with benefits of the next-day manufacturing enabled by the FasTCAR platform. The CD19/CD7 dual-directed CAR-T therapy GC502 is our second allogeneic candidate on our TruUCAR platform, demonstrating the potential wide applicability of the TruUCAR design."
BCMA/CD19 Dual-Targeting FasTCAR-T GC012F for the Treatment of B-NHL
GC012F is an autologous CAR-T therapeutic candidate dual-targeting B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and CD19. It is developed using Gracell's proprietary FasTCAR platform which enables next-day manufacturing, and is currently being evaluated in IITs in China including in RRMM and B-NHL. GC012F is the first BCMA/CD19 dual-targeting CAR-T in human trials for B-NHL.
Gracell will present the early results of the first-in-human phase 1 IIT in China evaluating the safety and tolerability of GC012F in B-NHL patients. Three patients who had received a median of two prior lines of therapy were enrolled, all of which presented with bulky disease. As of the February 22, 2022 data cutoff date, the enrolled patients had received one single infusion of GC012F at three different doses of 3.7x104 cells/kg and 2-3x105 cells/kg.
All three patients had achieved a complete response (CR) confirmed by PET- CT at day 28 after GC012F infusion. At 3-month follow-up, both of the two assessable patients had ongoing response. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed and no immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) were observed. CRS presented as Grade 1 in two patients and Grade 3 in one patient (duration of two days) with no Grade 4 or 5 events.
Details of the presentation are as follows:
- Abstract title: First-in-human study of CD19/BCMA dual-targeting FasTCAR-T GC012F for patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Session title: Poster session
- Presentation time: Friday, June 10 from 4:30 – 5:45 PM CEST
BCMA/CD19 Dual-Targeting FasTCAR-T GC012F for the Treatment of RRMM
Gracell will also present as an oral abstract presentation the updated results from the first-in-human IIT evaluating GC012F for the treatment of RRMM patients. This data is currently under embargo and will be published on the EHA2022 Hybrid Congress website on Thursday, May 26 concurrently with ASCO.
Details of the presentation are as follows:
- Abstract title: Updated results of a multicenter first-in-human study of BCMA/CD19 dual-targeting FasTCAR-T GC012F for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM)
- Session title: Relapsed/refractory myeloma: BCMA-directed therapies
- Presentation time: Sunday, June 12 from 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM CEST
- Presentation location: Hall A2-A3
CD19/CD7 Dual-directed Allogeneic TruUCAR-T GC502 for the Treatment of B-ALL
GC502 leverages the novel dual-directed CAR design of Gracell's proprietary TruUCAR platform, designed to generate high-quality allogeneic CAR-T cell therapies that can be administered "off-the-shelf" at lower cost and with faster patient's access. TruUCAR-enabled GC502 utilizes the dual-directed CAR design with one CAR targeting CD19 on malignant cells and a second CAR targeting CD7 to suppress host-versus-graft rejection. An enhancer molecule is embedded in the basic construct of TruUCAR to enhance proliferation of TruUCAR T cells.
Between September 2021 and January 2022, four r/r B-ALL patients were enrolled and treated in an open-label, non-randomized, prospective IIT in China in two different dose levels and with two different formulations. Patients were heavily pretreated, and all had previously received either autologous or donor derived CD19 or CD19/CD22 targeted CAR-T therapy. As of the January 28, 2022 data cutoff date, all four patients had received a single dose of GC502, including one patient at dose level 1 (DL1) 1.0x107 cells/kg and three patients at dose level 2 (DL2) 1.5x107 cells/kg. Patients received a Flu/Cy based lymphodepletion regimen prior to treatment with GC502.
Three of four patients achieved minimal residual disease negative complete response or complete response with incomplete count recovery (MRD- CR/CRi), and one patient achieved a partial response at month one and subsequently received allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) on day 39.
Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) presented as Grade 2 and Grade 3 with no Grade 4 or 5 events. No immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) or acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) were observed.
Details of the presentation are as follows:
- Abstract title: Early results of a safety and efficacy study of allogeneic TruUCARTM GC502 in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R B-ALL)
- Session title: Poster session
- Presentation time: Friday, June 10 from 4:30 – 5:45 PM CEST
For more information about the EHA2022 Hybrid Congress, visit www.ehaweb.org.
About GC012F
GC012F is a FasTCAR-enabled dual-targeting CAR-T product candidate that is currently being evaluated in IIT studies in China for the treatment of multiple myeloma and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. GC012F simultaneously targets CD19 and BCMA to drive fast, deep and durable responses, which can potentially improve efficacy and reduce relapse in multiple myeloma and B-NHL patients.
About B-NHL
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a group of blood cancers that developed from lymphocytes, most commonly derived from B cells (B-NHL). Globally, approximately 510,000 patients are diagnosed with NHL every year with about 80,470 patients expected to be diagnosed with NHL in the United States in 2022[1]. B-NHL accounts for approximately 85% of NHL diagnoses.
About GC502
GC502 is a TruUCAR-enabled CD19/CD7 dual-directed, off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR-T product candidate that is being studied in an ongoing Phase 1 IIT in China for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. GC502 is manufactured using T cells from non-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matched healthy donors. An enhancer molecule is embedded in the basic construct of TruUCAR to enhance proliferation of TruUCAR T cells. Optimized for CD19/CD7 dual-CAR functionality and in vivo durability, GC502 has demonstrated robust anti-tumor effects with potential to suppress host versus graft (HvG) rejection in preclinical models.
About B-ALL
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer characterized by proliferation of immature lymphocytes in the bone marrow, which can involve either T lymphocytes (T-ALL), or B lymphocytes (B-ALL). Globally, approximately 64,000 patients are diagnosed with ALL every year with an estimated 6,660 new cases to be diagnosed in the United States in 2022[2]. B-ALL accounts for 75% of ALL diagnoses in adults.
About FasTCAR
CAR-T cells manufactured on Gracell's proprietary FasTCAR platform appear younger, less exhausted and show enhanced proliferation, persistence, bone marrow migration and tumor cell clearance activities as demonstrated in preclinical studies. With next day manufacturing, FasTCAR is able to significantly improve cell production efficiency which may result in meaningful cost savings, and, together with fast turnaround time, enables enhanced accessibility of cell therapies for cancer patients.
About TruUCAR
TruUCAR is Gracell's proprietary technology platform and is designed to generate CAR-T cell therapies from high quality allogeneic T cells that can be administered "off-the-shelf" at lower cost and with improved accessibility of cell therapies for cancer patients. With differentiated design enabled by gene editing, TruUCAR is designed to control HvG as well as GvHD without the need for being co-administered with additional strong immunosuppressant after conventional lymphodepletion. The novel dual-CAR design allows tumor antigen-CAR moiety to target malignant cells, while the CD7 CAR moiety is designed to suppress rejection (HvG response) of allogeneic CAR-T cells by host T and NK cells (HvG).
About Gracell
Gracell Biotechnologies Inc. ("Gracell") is a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing breakthrough cell therapies. Leveraging its pioneering FasTCAR and TruUCAR technology platforms and SMART CARTM technology module, Gracell is developing a rich clinical-stage pipeline of multiple autologous and allogeneic product candidates with the potential to overcome major industry challenges that persist with conventional CAR-T therapies, including lengthy manufacturing time, suboptimal cell quality, high therapy cost, and lack of effective CAR-T therapies for solid tumors. For more information on Gracell, please visit www.gracellbio.com. Follow @GracellBio on LinkedIn.
Cautionary Noted Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected trading commencement and closing date of the offering. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Gracell's most recent annual report on Form 20-F as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Gracell's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Gracell specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers should not rely upon the information on this page as current or accurate after its publication date.
Media contacts
Marvin Tang
marvin.tang@gracellbio.com
Kyle Evans
kyle.evans@westwicke.com
Investor contacts
Gracie Tong
gracie.tong@gracellbio.com
Stephanie Carrington
stephanie.carrington@westwicke.com
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SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
We turn now to Anne Applebaum. The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian has written about the current rise of populist authoritarian regimes around the world. She's author of the introduction to the new Folio Society edition of Hannah Arendt's post-World War II classic "The Origins Of Totalitarianism." That may seem especially resonant during these times of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Chinese mass detention centers and the insurrection of January 6, 2021. Anne Applebaum joins us now. Thanks so much for being with us.
ANNE APPLEBAUM: Thanks for having me.
SIMON: You begin by writing, to quote you, "so many of the seemingly novel illnesses that afflict modern society are really just resurgent cancers." So what do you see as you look around the world today, including the United States?
APPLEBAUM: Starting with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the use of mass violence, the use of torture and concentration camps, filtration camps to deport people en masse, the use of genocidal language in that conflict, Putin's language about his discussion of eradicating Ukraine from the map, the use of falsehoods and propaganda on a mass scale - and that's something we see not only in Russia. We see it in other countries, and of course, we see it in the United States. The attempt to create alternate realities - Hannah Arendt wrote extensively about the way in which propaganda creates a different reality for people to live in or can do. And this, of course, was in a time before social media and modern technology made that even easier than it was in her era. So, you know, autocrats have risen before. They've used mass violence before. They've broken the laws of war before. And what we're seeing now is some of the same phenomenon that she witnessed when she wrote that book in 1950.
SIMON: Yeah. She warned also against clannishness and isolation. You write, it's impossible not to wonder whether the domination of public debate by algorithms that increase emotion, anger and division doesn't present some of that same danger today.
APPLEBAUM: Yes, ironically, you know, we now live in a world where supposedly everyone is connected. But actually there's a lot of evidence that the kind of connection that you get from social media only makes you feel more lonely and isolated. You know, people talk about being on social media and feeling afterwards worse about themselves, worse about their relationships. And one of the things she writes about in her book is the way in which autocrats use loneliness. So they separate people from one another, and that then makes it easier to dominate them because, you know, when people aren't able to act together, when they're not active, when they're not participants in society, then they can't push back. They can't even think about the nature of the political reality that they live in.
SIMON: And does it make us vulnerable to misinformation?
APPLEBAUM: That goes without saying. I mean, we're always vulnerable to misinformation. I mean, humans have a tendency to want to construct worlds that are the most comfortable for them. The modern world has created whole new vehicles to make that possible.
SIMON: Let me ask you about what the world confronts in Ukraine. You have written that you're worried about the credible strength of U.S. security around which the NATO alliance was built. Why is that?
APPLEBAUM: We've had really actually a couple of decades of doubt and sort of boredom with Europe and with Europe's problems and successive administrations not wanting to be devoted to or interested in European conflicts. More importantly, during the Trump administration, we had a president who was openly aggressive and anti-NATO and anti-American allies. He saw it as more of a mafia relationship, like the U.S. was demanding, you know, expenditure from NATO, and there was no conversation about joint security. And at that time, there was a lot of fear that the U.S. would actually leave NATO. And so the fact that the U.S. has decided in the conflict in Ukraine to play a role and to be a defender of democracy and to push back against tyranny is - you know, it's miraculous. And I assume it's because Joe Biden comes from a previous era. He has a different set of values. He sees exactly why this conflict is such a hinge moment, why it could change European and even world politics if Russia destroys Ukraine. But, you know, we had prior to that four years of a president who I don't believe would have seen that at all.
SIMON: Well, why do you see it as a hinge moment? What do you say to those Americans who say, look, I feel sorry for Ukraine, but it's a world away and not worth the risks?
APPLEBAUM: It feels like a world away. But, you know, the United States, our prosperity and our stability is built on our relationships with other places in the world that are also prosperous and stable. And allowing Russia to eradicate another state - you know, much in the way that Hitler eradicated the Jews, and it's the same kind of language, I should say - opens the door for other states to do the same. So if it's allowed, you know, for Russia to do it - first of all, I don't think they would stop in Ukraine. They would move on to Poland, to the Baltic states, even to Germany, I think. You know, but we also leave the door open to China to begin to behave the same way in its part of the world. And so we're talking about American markets. We're talking about places where America has trade. This is where American prosperity and influence come from. And so I think all Americans would sooner or later find that it matters.
SIMON: Anne Applebaum has written a new introduction to Hannah Arendt's "The Origins Of Totalitarianism." Thank you so much for being with us.
APPLEBAUM: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/historian-anne-applebaum-connects-hannah-arendt-to-the-state-of-democracy-today | 2022-05-12T15:10:41Z |
- Strong commitment to the region, aiming to provide Future-Proof Power for Europe
MUNICH, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trina Solar, a leading global PV and smart energy total solution provider, is showing a wide range of innovative products and smart energy solutions at this year's Intersolar Europe at its booth A1.370, held in Munich from May 11th-13th. Global launches include a new generation of Vertex S and Vertex rooftop modules; smart TrinaTracker solutions to maximize yield; and high-performance energy storage systems by Trina Storage. Trina Solar is also celebrating its 25th anniversary. In its 25 years in the market, Trina Solar has not only shipped 100GW+ of high-performance modules, but also evoluted from a pure module manufacturer to a global smart energy industry leader with distinct business areas along the solar PV value chain.
New rooftop portfolio: Bringing Europe under the Same Roof
As a truly committed leader in the European market, Trina Solar has created a dedicated portfolio of rooftop modules, adapted to regional customers' needs. The current product range is being upgraded for even more performance while keeping a high degree of compatibility not only with BOS components, but also with local building regulations.
Trina Solar officially launches its second generation of Vertex S universal rooftop modules, with up to 430W, and the Vertex 580W modules for large C&I projects. The new members of the 210mm (G12) family feature innovative cells based on a new generation of 210mm rectangular silicon (G12R) wafers, resulting in higher efficiency and power compared to similar products on the market. Single-module power increases by up to 30W.
Besides completing the rooftop range is the new Vertex S+ module. The premium solution features a dual-glass design, 210mm n-type Vertex cells and is designed for maximum compatibility as well as easy installation. Vertex S+ comes with an extended 25-year product warranty and 30-year performance warranty.
Installation capacity increases by up to 7%, more green energy
The two upgraded modules' efficiency is 0.2-0.3% higher, reaching up to 21.5%, in the meantime offer exceptional system value. The new Vertex S generation can increase installation capacity on residential rooftops by 5–7%. A higher power generation meets higher requirements for daily household use and energy demand from electrical vehicles.
Due to higher string power, the cost of PV cables and mounting systems is lower, and installation time is shortened. Meanwhile, cost of transportation and storage is more competitive, realizing significant balance of system (BOS) savings for developers. On commercial rooftops, up to 2% of initial investment cost can be saved. Compared to 410W reference modules, every shipping container of can carry an additional 18.7kW Vertex S 430W product, for a load of up to 402kW, significantly reducing CO2 emissions.
They are widely applicable globally to meet local carbon emission reduction targets. Besides, the new products are perfectly compatible with a wide range of mainstream inverters and mounting systems.
The new product generation is suitable for all kinds of rooftops. With these newest upgrades, Trina Solar underlines its leadership in residential, commercial, and industrial rooftop application scenarios around the world, but also particularly in the European market.
Bifacial: The new champion of utility-scale systems
Visitors will find the complete range of Vertex dual-glass bifacial modules from 550W to 670W on display, the new standard for reliability and efficiency in utility-scale solar projects for lowest LCOE and maximum yield, features an extended 30-year performance warranty.
Gonzalo de la Viña, Head of Europe at Trina Solar, commented, "Trina Solar has been playing a leading role in the region for more than 15 years already, with 22GW+ shipped to our markets to date. We have created an impressive team of more than 250 employees in all major European markets. Part of our products and solutions have been designed in Europe, for Europe. Our European team stands firm in our mission to foster future-proof power for Europe."
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SOURCE Trina Solar Limited | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/intersolar-europe-2022-trina-solar-present-global-launches-smart-solar-pv-products-solutions/ | 2022-05-12T15:10:43Z |
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
In Celine Sciamma's new movie, "Petite Maman," 8-year-old Nelly loses her grandmother. And as her parents pack up the house in which her grandmother lived, Nelly makes a playmate in the woods - a girl named Marion, also her mother's name, who looks exactly like her and lives in a home that seems exactly like her grandmother's. The friendship grows, and the story turns into a fable about family connections, holding tight and letting go. Celine Sciamma, the screenwriter and director of many films, including the award-winning "Portrait Of A Lady On Fire," joins us from Paris.
Thank you so much for being with us.
CELINE SCIAMMA: Hi. Thank you. You pitch it so well. I want you to tell the whole story (laughter).
SIMON: Oh, well, it would be my pleasure. I enjoyed the whole story. I want the joy of discovery to be there for people who see this film. But let me also state this is a kind of time travel movie but with no special effects, except maybe in the heart.
SCIAMMA: Yeah, it's true. It's a time traveling film, but there's no time traveling machine. The film is the time traveling machine. The film is creating a common space and time. That is an opportunity for two people who know each other very well but were not supposed to meet in this shape at that time to make the most out of this time. So it's also a story of equality between a mother and a daughter, which is one of the opportunity given by this crazy little situation.
SIMON: Yeah. I have felt for some time, I think particularly as I grew up and then grew older, that I wish I'd known my parents when they were younger. And this was just a wonderful opportunity, not just in this film, but in the kind of real life you portray. It helps us see our parents in entirely more complicated and real ways, doesn't it?
SCIAMMA: Yeah. I remember the first time that I realized that my dad was a kid, for instance. I remember he found an old box in my grandmother's place, and there were drawings in it. And there was a drawing he made when he was, like, 6, which felt like prehistorical time. And there's a scene like that in the film where she looks at the drawings from her mother's, like, archives, like proof. It's like a proof that they were kids. And it was kind of a - it was really emotional to actually embody this fantasy, this idea.
SIMON: Yeah. Could you tell us, please, about the two real-life twins who played Nelly and Marion - Josephine and Gabrielle Sanz? They're just wonderful actors.
SCIAMMA: Yeah, they're a wonderful duo. And I felt really, really blessed when I met them. Actually, they're the only kid I met through the process of casting because they were such an aberration. And they were the only Nelly and Marion I ever considered. And - you know, and even when they were walking towards me the first time I saw them, it was pretty obvious that Josephine would be Nelly and that Gabrielle would be Marion.
SIMON: How did you work with actors so young and yet seemingly so wise?
SCIAMMA: Well, first, by not forgetting they are kids, which means that it's not weird to ask them to play (laughter). It even feels more natural than asking an adult to play or to perform. What they have to learn, though, is the job of cinema. And that's also why I love working with kids, is that they make you think really, really hard about the essence of cinema and also its simplicity, its clarity.
SIMON: There's a scene where Nelly is reassured that - I'll quote the subtitle - that she didn't, quote, "invent her mother's sadness." That's a wonderful thing for children to know - something we all worry about as children, isn't it?
SCIAMMA: Exactly. That's exactly why I wanted the character to say it. I wanted - because, you know, it really make the films thinking about equally, fully respecting equally the adult and the kid watcher. I made the film short so that families could situate very peacefully. And with this idea, that's - this sentence is important to hear, because you're always the child of someone all your life. Whether people are still here or not, the guilt is - can never go away, you know, can stick. But I was like, oh, what if a kid hears this? I mean, the sooner you hear this, the better you can love, then, also, you know? It's not only sad.
SIMON: And may I ask, how much of your relationship with your own mother do we see in this film?
SCIAMMA: Well, I think we see 100% of the relationship I would have with my mother if we met as kids.
(LAUGHTER)
SCIAMMA: No, the film is really, really - I don't really see it as a film about mother-daughter relationship, but I see it as a film between three generation of women. I feel like we're always told, like, we're frontally facing our mothers, but I think I feel like I'm part of such a bigger thread. And I've experienced a much wider community, at least the community of three. It's also a film about meeting your mother as a daughter. It's not only meeting your mother as a child.
SIMON: Yeah. It struck me at the end of the film that it would be - it's one of the wonderful things that the arts can do, isn't it? It can put us in another skin and be able to see the world differently. And I just felt very grateful to have seen it in this case.
SCIAMMA: I really believe that. I really always try to think and to visualize what kind of impact I want a film to have because, yes, you're right, the film art is opportunity to for a moment have a glimpse of another reality. But I'm also really obsessive about how it stays with you. And, for instance, with "Petite Maman," I had, like, one image. What I wanted the film to have as an impact was, like, a mother and a daughter are in a cinema. The film ends. Credit rolls. They get out of the room. They have to go home. There's the bus. They have to run to catch the bus. And they will run differently together.
SIMON: Filmmaker and director Celine Sciamma - her film "Petite Maman" is out now. Thank you so much for being with us.
SCIAMMA: Thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/in-petite-maman-a-young-girl-tries-to-understand-her-mother | 2022-05-12T15:10:47Z |
NEW YORK, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Amazon.com, Inc. ("Amazon" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: AMZN) and certain of its officers, on behalf of shareholders who purchased or otherwise acquired Amazon securities between February 1, 2019 and April 5, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/amzn.
This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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: (i) Amazon engaged in anticompetitive conduct in its private-label business practices, including giving Amazon products preference over those of its competitors and using third-party sellers' non-public data to compete with them; (ii) the foregoing exposed Amazon to a heightened risk of regulatory scrutiny and/or enforcement actions; (iii) Amazon's revenues derived from its private-label business were in part the product of impermissible conduct and thus unsustainable; and (iv) as a result, the Defendants' public statements throughout the Class Period were materially false and/or misleading.
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/amzn or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Investor Relations Analyst, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss in Amazon you have until July 5, 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 is a corporate litigation boutique. Our primary expertise is the aggressive pursuit of litigation claims on behalf of our clients. In addition to representing institutions and other investor plaintiffs in class action security litigation, the firm's expertise includes general corporate and commercial litigation, as well as securities arbitration. 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.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/investor-alert-bronstein-gewirtz-amp-grossman-llc-notifies-amazoncom-inc-amzn-investors-class-action-encourages-shareholders-contact-firm/ | 2022-05-12T15:10:49Z |
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
What does it mean to be real? That's the question at the heart of "The Velveteen Rabbit," which was published 100 years ago this month. The story by Margery Williams Bianco has inspired numerous book and screen adaptations and has never gone out of print. NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports. The story endures because it speaks to both adults and children.
ELIZABETH BLAIR, BYLINE: "The Velveteen Rabbit" is about a stuffed animal that doesn't feel loved by the other toys in the nursery.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Reading) Some of the more expensive toys quite snubbed him. The mechanical toys were very superior and looked down upon everyone else. They were full of modern ideas and pretended they were real.
BLAIR: Only the old and wise Skin Horse is nice to the rabbit. The Rabbit asks him what is real.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: (Reading) Real isn't how you are made, said the Skin Horse. It's a thing that happens to you when a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you. Then you become real. Does it hurt? asked the Rabbit. Sometimes, said the Skin Horse.
BLAIR: Eventually, the rabbit does become real because of the boy who plays with him and talks to him and sleeps with him every night. He loved him so hard that he loved all his whiskers off.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Reading) And he scarcely looked like a rabbit anymore except to the boy. To him, he was always beautiful, and that was all the little rabbit cared about. He didn't mind how he looked to other people.
BLAIR: Margery Williams Bianco was born in London in 1881. She was very close to her dad. He was a barrister and a classical scholar. She later wrote that he believed children should be taught to read early and then have no regular teaching until they were 10. Margery's favorite book was a natural history book she found in his library. She wrote that she knew every reptile, bird and beast long before she knew her multiplication table. When she was 7 years old, her dad died suddenly. Margery's grandson, Mike Bianco, says she was very much in touch with what is real.
MIKE BIANCO: She understood that all of these trappings of prestige and material possessions that we associate with being happy and will endear us to others really fall short because it's only when we allow ourselves to both give and receive unconditional love that we really become truly contented.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: (Reading) And the little Rabbit was very happy, so happy that he never noticed how his beautiful velveteen fur was getting shabbier and shabbier.
ERIN STEAD: I think this story has lasted so long because it touches on a lot of feelings that you have as a kid and that you have as a parent or a grown-up.
BLAIR: Erin Stead is the illustrator of a 100th anniversary edition of "The Velveteen Rabbit."
STEAD: The part that we all remember about talking about what's real - that really carries with you for the rest of your life with all of the relationships you have, all the friendships that you'll make, and all the times that people aren't necessarily kind to you. There's a lot of insecurities. There's a lot of figuring out how you belong. It's hard to shake a story that's that honest.
KRISTY BARRETT: I've always felt a little bit like a human velveteen rabbit.
BLAIR: Kristy Barrett is 50 years old. "The Velveteen Rabbit" is her favorite book.
BARRETT: They told my mom when I was being born not to get attached because I wasn't going to live.
BLAIR: Barrett has cerebral palsy. She had rheumatic fever in her 20s and a host of other health issues. One of her favorite passages from the book is when the Skin Horse explains to the rabbit that becoming real takes a long time.
BARRETT: (Reading) By the time you're real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out, and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all because once you're real, you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.
BLAIR: Barrett says that grabbed her by the heart.
BARRETT: If you look at me, my body is very twisted, and so I kind of fit the your joints get loose and you become very shabby. But most of the people who know me and love me look at me and see the beauty, even though my body's always been twisted and different.
BLAIR: Margery Williams Bianco once wrote that some of the most beautiful stories ever written for children have been sad stories. But, she continued, it is the sadness which is inseparable from life, which has to do with growth and change and impermanence and with the very essence of beauty.
Elizabeth Blair, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/in-the-100th-year-of-the-velveteen-rabbit-readers-ask-what-it-means-to-be-real | 2022-05-12T15:10:53Z |
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Radiance Technologies (Radiance) is excited to announce the hiring of John F. Stratton Jr. as SME for Intel Strategy. Recently retired from his role as Defense Intelligence Senior Executive with the Office of Naval Intelligence, Mr. Stratton has over 32 years of experience in progressively responsible positions within the National Intelligence Community. As a member of the CEO's Strategy Team, Mr. Stratton will lead, direct, assist, and develop efforts in existing contracts and the creation of new areas of business related to Scientific and Technical Intelligence (S&TI); provide oversight and development of these areas and personnel supporting contracts that lead to innovative all source analysis solutions for our customers; develop relationships with current and prospective customers including senior U.S. military and civilian program representatives, U.S. allied partners, and other commercial activities.
"I am very excited to join Radiance Technologies. Radiance has a great culture, balancing mission focus and vision with a strong emphasis on the professional and personal growth of our employees. I'm excited to provide our customers with a diverse and innovative approach to delivering capabilities and supporting our nation in strategic competition," said Stratton.
Mr. Stratton is a highly decorated officer with numerous awards from multiple agencies for achievements both military and civilian. He is a veteran of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Joint Endeavor, Deny Flight, Deliberate Force, Allied Force, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Noble Eagle. He was the senior representative from Naval Intelligence in the creation and design of the Certified Defense All-Source Analyst (CDASA) Program along with serving as Senior Representative in numerous hearings and briefings to Congress on a variety of topics. Most recently, he was the first Director of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force (UAPTF). The UAPTF delivered an interagency "whole of government" approach to standardize collection and reporting of sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena.
"Jay's extensive experience in the Intelligence Community will be valuable in identifying and cultivating new strategic teaming opportunities within both industry and government," said Radiance President Tim Tinsley. "His wealth of knowledge will ensure Radiance's Scientific and Technical Intelligence efforts will continue to grow."
About Radiance Technologies:
Radiance Technologies is an employee-owned small business prime contractor founded in 1999. Radiance has over 950 employee-owners across the United States serving the Department of Defense, national intelligence community and other government agencies. From concepts to capabilities, Radiance leads the way in developing customer-focused solutions in the areas of cyber security, systems engineering, prototyping and integration as well as operational and strategic intelligence including scientific and technical intelligence.
Contact:
Julia Parrish
(256) 929-7969
julia.parrish@radiancetech.com
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SOURCE Radiance Technologies | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/john-f-stratton-jr-joins-radiance-technologies-sme-intel-strategy/ | 2022-05-12T15:10:56Z |
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
Clinton versus Trump. Trump versus Biden. The really contentious campaign is for the new minister of the Arroyo Unitarian Universalist Community Church in Southern California. Dana Potowski, a local restaurant critic and donkey owner, is recruited to join the search committee, even though she attends services only irregularly. But she thinks it might be a good idea for her next book. Let's ask Michelle Huneven, author of the new novel "Search" to read a section in which Dana takes minutes of a committee meeting.
MICHELLE HUNEVEN: (Reading) Charlotte called the meeting to order, lit chalice. Jennie - read poem by Angelou. Week 3 minutes approved. Belinda demoed how to fold surveys - in fourths for the order of service, in thirds for mailings. Discussed while folding - how people could fill out more than one survey. Belinda - why would anyone want to? Jennie - I'd do 20 surveys so we get a woman. Except filling out even one is too boring. Belinda - that's why we'll be lucky to get even a 60% response. When done folding, Charlotte produced mailing labels - to near rebellion - but it only took 15 minutes. Adrian - another great night on the search committee. Jennie - groan.
SIMON: And Michelle Huneven, the novelist and James Beard Award-winning food writer, by the way, joins us now from Altadena, Calif. Thanks so much for being with us.
HUNEVEN: I'm always happy to talk to another James Beard Award winner.
SIMON: (Laughter) So am I. Let me put it that way. OK. It's a search committee for a minister. But, oh - I mean, millions and millions of Americans will find this landscape familiar, right? - surveys, seminars, workshops.
HUNEVEN: I like to think that anyone who's ever done time on a committee will find something to relate to in this book.
SIMON: Yeah. Does Dana, however, find that she cares more about this assignment that she's kind of given herself than she thought she would?
HUNEVEN: Yes. She comes in rather cynically. She's just finished touring for her latest book. She's getting pressure to come up with her next idea. The search committee comes up as a possibility. It's a yearlong commitment. It involves a series of procedures that will give structure to her book. It involves people. It involves recipes and eating. So she decides she's going to use it as her next book, which is a little cynical. But as time goes on, she finds that she cares more than she thought she did. And she gets into quite a battle towards the end.
SIMON: I say this with respect. Unitarian Universalists are a distinct group in the religious landscape of the world. They can - I hope I say this correctly. They can have ambivalent feelings about God.
HUNEVEN: Well, they certainly can. A Unitarian Universalist can believe anything. It's really whoever you are, wherever you are on your spiritual path, you're welcome.
SIMON: We get vignettes of the number - a number of the candidates that the committee considers. One of them, by the way, is a Wiccan. How did you feel about these characters? I recognize you created them. But they had to come from somewhere inside of your experience.
HUNEVEN: They all sort of came out of different facets of Unitarian Universalism that I've looked at. For example, there's Perry, who is actually an ordained Buddhist monk. There's Mayeve, who, as you said, is a Wiccan. And then she's a self-identified environmental warrior. And then there's sort of just a fantastic preacher. She's such a good preacher that her churches keep getting much bigger than she even wants them to get. And there's more, too.
SIMON: I wonder if anyone in almost any kind of business will, as you suggest, recognize this whole territory, this landscape of committees and seminars and groups and declarations and mission statements and, I will call it, blah blah blah that sometimes drowns out what's really vital.
HUNEVEN: Exactly. I mean, people have a common goal, and they also have personalities. And those frequently come into conflict with each other.
SIMON: Yeah. There're recipes in the back. I, by the way, particularly want to try Dana's escarole salad with favas, mint and pecorino. Why are recipes in the book? It's a wonderful added value for novels. And I think novels might do a little better in today's market if they added recipes. But tell us what they're doing here.
HUNEVEN: Well, this goes back to the James Beard Award because I won for feature writing with recipes. And the with-recipes part always amused me because, in one way, it seemed a little bit like a pulled punch. It's a feature, but it has recipes, meaning, how serious a feature can it really be? On the other hand, it's, like an added bonus, like a crackerjack prize. Oh, it's a feature, but it has a recipe. And for some reason, I just always thought it would be fun to have a novel with recipes that would sort of maybe provoke the same - oh, the same feelings.
SIMON: I found myself wondering, why doesn't "Ulysses" have recipes, you know?
HUNEVEN: Well, actually, I got - partially - the idea from my second novel, "Jamesland." I went to a book group. And they'd cooked the food that I had mentioned in the group. There's a chef from...
SIMON: Oh, my gosh.
HUNEVEN: ...That book. And it was so touching and fun.
SIMON: Michelle Huneven - her novel is "Search." Thank you so much for being with us.
HUNEVEN: Thank you, Scott, for having me. It's been a lot of fun.
(SOUNDBITE OF PILLY NEWTRON SONG, "W.W.P.D.") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/in-the-new-novel-search-a-church-searches-for-a-new-minister | 2022-05-12T15:11:00Z |
Gordon brings extensive experience as a licensed athletic trainer, including 15 seasons consulting in the NFL
NEW YORK, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The XFL is pleased to announce that Kerry Gordon has joined the league as Vice President, Health and Safety. Gordon will oversee all health and safety policies, procedures and protocols for the League, focusing on providing premium care and well-being for all XFL athletes, in addition to directing the XFL's eight teams' Athletic Training Departments. She will report to Marc Ross, Executive Vice President, Football Operations.
"I'm beyond thrilled to have Kerry joining the XFL to lead our Health and Safety initiatives, a key area of focus both in learning and innovation for the League and a fundamental component of our Football Operations department," said Dany Garcia, Chairwoman and Owner. "Since the beginning, we've been focused on finding strong, quality leaders that have a passion for football and an unmatched drive to win to help build this league from the ground up – Kerry is no exception. Her impressive background working with the NFL and Cirque du Soleil speaks for itself and we are lucky to have her on our team."
In this role, Gordon will be responsible for all aspects of the League's Health & Safety Program, which includes initiatives to establish holistic well-being both on and off the field. As a liaison between the League and teams, she will establish and maintain strategic relationships between physicians, hospital administration, trainers and athletes in all eight team markets to ensure XFL policies and procedures are being upheld. On the team level, Gordon will oversee each team's Athletic Training Departments, including hiring, supervising and evaluating teams' athletic trainers as well as providing education and training to athletic trainers, staff and coaches.
"Kerry is a critical hire for our League, reinforcing our commitment to player health and safety, a key pillar of our football philosophy. She is a seasoned industry veteran, whose expertise will be invaluable as we gear up for our 2023 season," added Russ Brandon, President.
Gordon joins the XFL team bringing 21 years of experience as a licensed athletic trainer, including 15 seasons consulting in the NFL (Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, and Los Angeles Rams), one season in the NBA (Los Angeles Clippers), and 11 years full-time at Cirque du Soleil. Gordon began her career in 2000 as a Seasonal Intern Athletic Trainer with the Los Angeles Xtreme, one of the eight original teams formed in the XFL's inaugural season and the first XFL Championship team.
Gordon is a NATA licensed athletic trainer, NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist, and NCTMB licensed massage therapist. Gordon earned a Bachelor's degree in sports injury management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She also earned a Master's degree in physical education, athletic training from the University of South Carolina.
About XFL
The XFL's ownership group, led by Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and Gerry Cardinale's RedBird Capital Partners, is building a fan-first, fast-paced global professional football league with innovative rules an enhanced 360 game experience. The XFL will bring entertainment to world class football, with the goal of advancing the game of football and expanding player opportunities when it launches in February 2023.
Media Contact
Jeremy Watkins
jwatkins@hstrategies.com
Dan Gagnier/ Lindsay Barber
XFL@gagnierfc.com
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SOURCE XFL | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/kerry-gordon-joins-xfl-vice-president-health-safety/ | 2022-05-12T15:11:03Z |
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
What's in a name? It's often the first thing you find out about a person. It can be a link to the person's heritage and identity, and it can also be that constant reminder of otherness. That's Jean Guerrero story. You might know her name because of her reporting over the years from the U.S.-Mexico border. She's written a couple of books, and she's currently an opinion columnist for the Los Angeles Times. And she recently wrote a column titled, "For Years, I Anglicized My Mexican Last Name. MAGA Trolls Inspired Me To Reclaim It." And Jean Guerrero is with us now to tell us more. Welcome. Thank you for joining us.
JEAN GUERRERO: Thanks so much for having me. It's great to be here.
MARTIN: So tell us a little bit about why you chose to anglicized the pronunciation of your last name to begin with.
GUERRERO: Well, so it started, you know, when I was a kid. I grew up in San Diego, on the border with Tijuana, with a Mexican dad and a Puerto Rican mom. Spanish was my first language. But I went to a private Episcopalian elementary school, where it was against the rules to speak Spanish. You know, the teachers referred to me as Jean Guerrero. And if we were caught speaking Spanish, we had to stay in detention and we had to write, I will not speak Spanish, I will not speak Spanish a hundred times. This was during a period of intense anti-Mexican and anti-immigrant hate in California. And, you know, I wanted to please the teachers. I knew how much my mom was sacrificing for me to go to that school. She - at that point, my parents had split up. And she was a single mom. There was a struggle for her. And I just - I wanted to do well in school. And so I internalized, you know, the teacher's disdain for Spanish. I internalized this idea of my language, my parents' language as being delinquent. And I mostly renounced Spanish. And I adopted that identity as Jean Guerrero.
MARTIN: I have to tell you that, when I read your piece, I was - I have to say I was shocked by that. I mean, I'd heard of, you know, in, say, the '40s in the '50s, say, you know, Spanish being discouraged, many languages other than English discouraged. But to find out that people were punishing you for speaking Spanish, I just found that incredible. I mean, I feel like being multilingual is an asset. Did your parents - did your mother know that they had such a negative view of her first language?
GUERRERO: She did. And the thing is that she came from Puerto Rico, where they also have, you know, this English language supremacy, like, decades of U.S. colonial policies that cast English as a superior language. You know, this was a school where a majority of the kids were Mexican American or children of immigrants. And they, you know, the mostly white teachers, they wanted us to learn English as quickly as possible. So the parents at the time thought that this was a good thing, that it would result in us, you know, being bilingual and knowing English faster. But what happened is, like, this ended up in many cases supplanting our native language.
This internalized English language supremacy, like, what it did was like it created, like, a real - I don't know - like, this almost, like, self-hatred, where I didn't understand what had happened until many years later, when I was reading the Mexican author Reyna Granda, who writes about subtractive bilingualism and how, you know, this practice of forcing children to stop speaking their native language and to see it as something bad also causes children to internalize this disdain, you know, the dominant white culture's disdain for their own culture and their own selves.
And for me, what that did is it created a lot of self-destructive behavior where I was, you know, cutting my wrists as a teenager. I was, you know, binge drinking, drug abuse, a lot of self-destructive behavior. And then also, my mother, when she would make mistakes in English, you know, I would correct her. And I would say really, you know, monstrous things like learn English. And this is something that, you know, I look back on with, like, an immense amount of pain. And it wasn't something that I was able to fully confront until I saw Reyna Grande talking about this - internalizing this disdain for her mother.
MARTIN: So how far along were you in your career when you realized that having - that being bilingual or having multiple language skills was an asset and not a liability?
GUERRERO: Yeah. A major turning point for me was in high school, when I came across Luis Alberto Urrea's book "The Devil's Highway" about a group of Mexican men who die trying to cross the militarized border. That book has a lot of Spanglish in it. And it was the first time that I realized that the voices of people like my mother and people like my father could be made into art. And that book inspired me to pursue a career as a journalist in Mexico, which is the first time that I began to refer to myself as Jean Guerrero for the first time since I was a kid.
But when I came back to the U.S., you know, I started my career as a - in public radio. And I remember asking myself when I was signing off of stories, like, do I want to refer to myself as Jean Guerrero or as Jean Guerrero? And ultimately, I chose the Anglicized version because I - there was some feeling in me that I was going to be judged by my mostly white managers as trying to be provocative or something if I claimed Jean Guerrero. So I again, I reverted to this Anglicized pronunciation and didn't think much about how I was pronouncing my name for many years as I was, you know, covering the impact of the Trump administration's immigration policies, you know, covering white nationalism, the rise of white nationalism. I wrote a book about Stephen Miller, Trump's senior adviser.
But then I began to receive a lot of hate mail that was directed at me based on my family, based on my background, you know, people sending me racial slurs about my Mexican-ness, people telling me that I should be deported, really ugly stuff that was rooted in my identity as a Mexican and Puerto Rican woman. And that, for me, was a huge turning point where I decided, you know, I want to say my name correctly now. I want these people snarling at me to, you know, shrivel at the sound of my name, Jean Guerrero. Like, that is who I am. And I want to show that I am proud of it.
MARTIN: As you just referenced, you wrote a book about Stephen Miller, a former Trump aide, a top Trump aide, who has been described as the architect of some of the former president's immigration policies, which many consider racist. And was it the book that - the appearance of the book that started the trolling?
GUERRERO: Yeah. I mean, I had received some hatred before, but it was nothing compared to what came after my book was - my book about Stephen Miller was published, where people were sending me racial slurs, telling me that I should be deported to Mexico, you know, very much attacking my family and, like, who - where I come from. And so that is what made me all of a sudden want to say my name correctly here in the United States.
MARTIN: It's interesting because I think some people might have gone the other way. They might have thought, well, you know what? I don't need the hassle. But you decided - you went the other way. I mean, what do you - can you talk a little bit more about what that feels like to reclaim your name?
GUERRERO: It's such a good question because there is like a very strong feeling that's attached to saying my name the way that it's meant to be said. You know, like, I feel embodied. I feel, like, deeply rooted in my ancestors and my mother's sacrifices for me, my abuelita. My grandmother, you know I feel them inside of me. Like, I feel different when I say my name.
MARTIN: Can I ask you this, though? And I realize some people aren't going to like this question, but I'm going to ask it anyway, that everyone has not had the opportunity to study more than one language. They might not have been exposed at a certain age. And also, people speak lots of languages in the United States or haven't had exposure to multiple languages. Do you have any sympathy for them?
GUERRERO: One hundred percent. I mean, in my column, I write about how, you know, reclaiming one's names and, you know, this isn't for everybody. Like, there's so much intergenerational trauma around potentially having lost access to your family's language, your family's customs. There's many valid and powerful ways to show pride in our cultures and where we come from. And I, you know, I understand that not everybody can roll their R's. And not everyone is going to be able to say my name or everybody's name correctly. You know, like, putting in the effort, I think, is what matters the most. And I think that what needs to change is just this idea that we have of someone, you know, when somebody teaches us how to say their name, we shouldn't see it as a burden. And I think we often do see it as a burden, but we should see it as a gift. I think it's a beautiful gift to learn how to say somebody's name.
MARTIN: That was Jean Guerrero, journalist, author and LA Times opinion columnist. Jean Guerrero, thank you so much for speaking with us.
GUERRERO: Thank you so much, Michel.
MARTIN: To hear more of Jean Guerrero's story and how other people handle the mispronunciation of their names, you can listen to today's episode of NPR's Consider This podcast. Find it wherever you get your podcasts. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/la-times-columnist-jean-guerrero-takes-back-her-name | 2022-05-12T15:11:06Z |
- Franchise deal inked between Knight Riders Group, majority owned by Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan and UAE's T20 League Chairman, Khalid Al Zarooni
- UAE's T20 League is Emirates Cricket Board's sanctioned, flagship professional T20 League
- As one of the most successful brands in T20 cricket globally, the Knight Riders are excited about the potential for professional T20 cricket in the UAE
DUBAI, UAE, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UAE's T20 League is delighted to announce that the Knight Riders Group has acquired the rights to own and operate the Abu Dhabi franchise and will set up Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) as an integral part of the UAE's flagship T20 league.
Over the last decade, the Knight Riders Group has become a household name in T20 cricket. After establishing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2008 in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Knight Riders became owners of the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in 2015. Recently, the Knight Riders Group made a significant investment in Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA and intends to set up a franchise in the greater Los Angeles area.
This investment by the Knight Riders Group, which is led by Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan, along with Juhi Chawla & her husband Jay Mehta, will establish their 4th T20 franchise around the world in IPL, CPL, MLC and now in UAE's T20 league.
Mr. Shah Rukh Khan, commenting on the long-term agreement, said; "For several years now, we have been expanding the Knight Riders brand globally and closely watching the potential for T20 cricket in the UAE. We are excited about becoming part of UAE's T20 League, which no doubt will become hugely successful."
Khalid Al Zarooni, UAE's T20 League Chairman said; "The commitment to grow the T20 format and the expertise gathered by the Knight Riders Group, through their involvement in franchise cricket across the world, is undisputed. We are exceptionally pleased with their foresight to join forces with the UAE's T20 League and firmly believe it will elevate the reputation, and professionalism of the League throughout the cricket community."
Mr. Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR and Red Chillies Entertainment, said, "We feel fortunate to have been consistently recognized as a global brand in T20 cricket. As T20 cricket expands around the world, we are flattered by the regular invitations to play a major role in growing the sport across the world. We have had a keen interest in the developments in the UAE and our expansion is consistent with our long-term strategy".
FOR MORE DETAILS, CONTACT:
UAE's T20 League
Email: pr@plt20.com
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Sneh Kulkarni
sneh@kkr.in
Achint Gupta
achint@kkr.in
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SOURCE UAE T20 League | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/knight-riders-acquires-abu-dhabi-franchise-new-t20-league-uae/ | 2022-05-12T15:11:09Z |
Updated April 23, 2022 at 9:39 PM ET
Michigan Republicans picked two candidates — both deny the 2020 election results and have been endorsed by former President Donald Trump — to serve as the state's next top elections officer and top law enforcement official.
Kristina Karamo, a community college professor who rose to prominence after claiming she saw election fraud in Detroit in the last presidential race, won the three-person contest for secretary of state with about 67% of the vote at Saturday's GOP endorsement convention in Grand Rapids. On the November ballot, her opponent will be incumbent Democrat Jocelyn Benson.
Matt DePerno, an attorney who has pushed Trump's false claims of election fraud, won the party's endorsement for attorney general. In a runoff race, DePerno took 54% of the vote to defeat former state House Speaker Tom Leonard, who was seen as the more establishment Republican candidate. DePerno is now running against incumbent Democrat Dana Nessel.
Michigan does not hold primary elections for a number of down-ballot races, including the secretary of state — who oversees elections — and attorney general. Instead, Republicans and Democrats endorse and nominate candidates for November's general election at party conventions.
At this weekend's GOP convention, the party voted resoundingly to support Trump's false claims about the 2020 election. About 2,000 delegates from across the state participated in the vote.
The convention was seen by many as the first major test of Trump's influence over the 2022 elections. Trump's former campaign attorney Rudy Giuliani attended the convention, as well as MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, who has become a leader in the election denial movement.
The former president came to Michigan earlier this month to stump with both Karamo and DePerno.
"This is not just about 2022," Trump said during his visit to the state in early April. "This is about making sure Michigan is not rigged and stolen again in 2024."
Karamo is the first of the many election-denying candidates running in secretary of state races across the U.S. to move toward appearing on a state ballot in November. She has also said she doesn't believe evolution should be taught in schools.
Incumbent Democrat Benson faced a torrent of threats and harassment following the 2020 election that echoed Trump's lies about voting in Michigan. Ahead of Saturday's vote, Benson said that she worried about the state of democracy, should the state elect a secretary of state candidate like Karamo, who thinks the 2020 election was stolen.
"It's like putting arsonists in charge of a fire department. It's like putting a bank robber in charge of a bank and giving them the keys to the vault," Benson said. "This is a choice between whether or not we'll have a democracy moving forward."
Looking ahead to the general election, some Michigan political insiders question whether Karamo will be able to widen her support outside of Trump's base, considering the range of controversial views she has already voiced.
She appeared at a QAnon-adjacent rally last year, and she has said she believes the conspiracy theory that left-wing activists were behind the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
"Every ad from April 24 through November is going to say 'QAnon Karamo is too crazy for us,' " said state Rep. Beau LaFave, a Republican who ran for secretary of state against Karamo, before Saturday's vote.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/michigan-gop-moves-forward-with-2020-election-denying-secretary-of-state-and-ag | 2022-05-12T15:11:12Z |
ATLANTA, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LexisNexis® Risk Solutions today announced that it has been selected as a Category Leader by Chartis Research for its capabilities in the retail credit data solutions space in a new report, "Credit Data Solutions, 2022: Market and Vendor Landscape." The report uses the Chartis RiskTech Quadrant©, a comprehensive methodology of in-depth independent research and a clear scoring system to explain which technology solutions meet an organization's needs.
The RiskTech Quadrant evaluates vendor capabilities for retail credit data solutions by assessing two key dimensions, completeness of offering and market potential. Of the nine vendor capabilities assessed, LexisNexis Risk Solutions ranked best-in-class across three categories for breadth and depth of coverage and analytics. Its data management tools rank as advanced compared to other companies in the report, several of which only meet industry requirements or provide partial coverage/component capability.
"The use of alternative data sources to supplement existing datasets has become key to the retail credit data space, and sourcing, managing, and integrating these datasets with conventional data is a core challenge. Equally, ensuring integrity in the sourcing strategy of the alternative data involved is critical," said John MacDonagh, Senior Research Specialist at Chartis. "The breadth and depth of retail credit data coverage that LexisNexis Risk Solutions provides – in addition to its analytics capabilities – is substantial, and leverages capabilities and data in adjacent business areas. These capabilities are reflected in its strong position as a category leader in the retail credit data quadrant."
LexisNexis Risk Solutions approaches credit risk assessment through straightforward fundamentals leveraging best-in-class linking technology to bring together a broad range of insights missing from traditional credit assessments into a single, differentiated picture of a consumer or business, then assesses that picture with powerful analytics guided by vast industry expertise. Designed with a compliance-first mindset, the resulting solutions have helped leading U.S. lenders gain competitive advantages through increased insight for nearly two decades.
"Financial institutions are increasingly challenged with striking a balance between achieving ambitious growth targets, minimizing losses and meeting rising business and consumer expectations. Success requires solution providers who provide robust, differentiated and easily accessible information that deliver real competitive advantages," said Kevin King, vice president, credit risk and marketing solutions strategy, LexisNexis Risk Solutions. "We constantly strive to better serve our customers and deliver effective global alternative credit risk intelligence. It is an honor to receive this recognition by Chartis for our efforts to innovate and provide quality insights that help lenders grow by better serving their communities."
About LexisNexis Risk Solutions
LexisNexis® Risk Solutions harnesses the power of data and advanced analytics to provide insights that help businesses and governmental entities reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe. We provide data and technology solutions for a wide range of industries including insurance, financial services, healthcare and government. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, we have offices throughout the world and are part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, please visit www.risk.lexisnexis.com and www.relx.com.
About Chartis Research
Chartis Research is the leading provider of research and analysis on the global market for risk technology. It is part of Infopro Digital, which owns market-leading brands such as Risk and WatersTechnology. Chartis' goal is to support enterprises as they drive business performance through improved risk management, corporate governance and compliance, and to help clients make informed technology and business decisions by providing in-depth analysis and actionable advice on virtually all aspects of risk technology.
Media Contact:
Marcy Theobald
678.694.6681
Marcy.theobald@lexisnexisrisk.com
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SOURCE LexisNexis Risk Solutions | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/lexisnexis-risk-solutions-selected-category-leader-among-retail-credit-data-solutions-new-chartis-research-report/ | 2022-05-12T15:11:16Z |
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
The Republican Party faces a new moment of reckoning tied to its top leaders and the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Newly released recordings of private phone conversations contradict what House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy has said publicly about the insurrection. One was from just days after the siege. And on that recording, McCarthy says that former President Trump accepted some responsibility for the actions of his supporters.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
KEVIN MCCARTHY: But let me be very clear to all of you, and I've been very clear to the president. He bears responsibility for his words and actions, no ifs, ands or buts. I asked him personally today, does he hold responsibility for what happened? Does he feel bad about what happened? He told me he does have some responsibility for what happened, and he needs to acknowledge that.
SIMON: Trump has not done that. He's never acknowledged responsibility publicly. The recordings were released by New York Times reporters Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns. They've written a book about the 2020 election. NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales joins us.
Claudia, thanks for being with us.
CLAUDIA GRISALES, BYLINE: Good morning, Scott.
SIMON: One of the recordings released this week makes it pretty plain that Kevin McCarthy lied when he publicly said he didn't consider recommending that Trump resign after the attack. What does that mean for his hopes to be the speaker next year if Republicans win the House?
GRISALES: It may not mean much. He needs to address this with his conference. But Trump is the ultimate judge here. And he told The Wall Street Journal last night that while he was not pleased, their relationship remains good. Also, McCarthy told a CBS affiliate station in California that, in the end, he never told Trump to resign and said they had spoken twice yesterday.
SIMON: How are these revelations shaking up House Republicans or not?
GRISALES: Well, we've seen this before. New details from the January 6 attack upend a story that Republicans have told about the siege or Trump's role in it. The controversy creates some blowback. But members often return to their central mantra, which is unwavering loyalty to the former president. And although many Republicans were clearly furious after the attack, they pivoted within weeks. And that includes McCarthy and Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell. So far in this new case, we're seeing some early mixed reviews of McCarthy among the rank-and-file members. But they'll get a chance to hash this all out behind closed doors when Congress returns to session next week.
SIMON: And how does this work into the House Select Committee's probe of the insurrection? And what would you say currently is the status of that investigation?
GRISALES: These McCarthy tapes are tied to details the panel had raised months ago in part of a larger picture the committee is hoping to fill in as they plan to present their findings in the coming months. Last night, the panel filed a more than 240-page document in a core fight against another Republican; this being former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, who has been fighting a committee subpoena. In it, investigators shared details from several new depositions, including that the Trump White House received intelligence warning days ahead of the January 6 siege that it could turn violent.
It also named several House Republicans who were part of discussions to get then-Vice President Mike Pence to step out of his constitutional role to certify the election's result. And they have testimony the Trump White House counsel had warned that efforts to install a fake elector scheme was illegal. So it's clear the panel wants to highlight the roles GOP members played with January 6. But whether any will be held accountable for their actions still remains to be seen.
SIMON: NPR congressional reporter Claudia Grisales - thanks so much for being with us.
GRISALES: Thank you much. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/new-audio-of-rep-mccarthy-raise-questions-about-his-integrity | 2022-05-12T15:11:18Z |
Industry leaders Dasheeda Dawson, Jesce Horton, Kristin Jordan and David Paleschuck headline roster of instructors for bachelor's and master's degree courses
NEW YORK, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In advance of the September start of its bachelor's and master's degree programs in The Business of Cannabis, LIM College has added some of the cannabis industry's best-known leaders to its faculty.
Among these new instructors are four of the cannabis industry's top professionals: Dasheeda Dawson, Jesce Horton, David Paleschuck and Kristin Jordan.
"When we designed our cannabis degree programs, we wanted to provide our students access to the highest achievers from various parts of the cannabis business. With these cannabis all-stars joining our faculty, we are delivering on that promise," said Michael Zaytsev, Academic Director of The Business of Cannabis at LIM College and author of The Cannabis Business Book.
Continued Zaytsev, "By learning directly from industry leading pioneers, our graduates will have a competitive advantage when pursuing the hundreds of thousands of jobs the legal cannabis industry will create."
Dasheeda Dawson, who will be teaching The Retailing of Cannabis, is a global cannabis advocate, award-winning Fortune 100 business strategist, and bestselling author of How to Succeed in the Cannabis Industry.
Dawson is the City of Portland Cannabis Program Manager, responsible for overseeing all regulatory licensing, compliance, and equity initiatives for the city's cannabis industry. Her office oversees the Social Equity & Educational Development (SEED) Initiatives, which includes the country's first community reinvestment fund tied to cannabis tax revenue.
Dawson also serves as Board Chair of the national Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition and participates on the Oregon Cannabis Commission Governance Frameworking subcommittee. Additionally, she is co-founder and Chief Strategist for the Cannabis Health Equity Movement and co-founder of the Community Education Advocacy Symposium & Expo.
Jesce Horton is Chief Executive Officer at LOWD, an award-winning cannabis craft cultivation company. Jesce will be bringing his expertise to LIM students by teaching the course The Business of Cannabis Cultivation and Manufacturing.
An engineer, horticulturist, and energy management expert, Horton is a co-founder of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, the first and largest non-profit organization developed to create equal access and economic empowerment for cannabis businesses and the communities most affected by the war on drugs.
In 2016, Horton was appointed by Oregon Governor Kate Brown to the Task Force for Cannabis Environmental Best Practice and continues this work today as a member of the Board of Directors of the Resource Innovation Institute, an organization focused on creating energy efficiency solutions and standards for the global cannabis industry. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Cannabis Association.
Along with his wife, Jeannette Ward Horton, Horton founded the non-profit organization NuProject, which delivers grant loans, educational resources, job matching assistance and entrepreneurial services to cannabis business owners and career hopefuls.
Kristin Jordan, Esq. is the founder and CEO of Park Jordan, a commercial real estate brokerage and advisory services firm serving the cannabis industry. She is also an attorney, drug policy activist, and thought leader.
Until recently, Jordan served as the Director of Real Estate at Acreage Holdings. She led Acreage's efforts in selecting real estate sites for the company's national footprint of cultivation, processing, and dispensary facilities. Prior to her work in the cannabis sector, Jordan practiced real estate law at several boutique firms and managed real estate portfolios for Kaplan, Inc., Morgan Stanley, and SoulCycle. She is a frequent speaker on real estate, cannabis regulations, and social equity and economic justice issues and in 2019 was distinguished by Forbes as one of "Fifteen Powerful and Innovative Women in Cannabis Right Now."
Jordan is the founder and CEO of Mannada, a NYC-based cannabis professional event production company, which launched The Maze, a weekly cannabis event listing newsletter, as well as the Cannabis Summit Series including the Cannabis Media Summit, Cannabis Real Estate Summit, and Cannabis Law Summit.
Jordan is also a co-founder of the Cannabis Cultural Association, a non-profit organization, and the founder of the Asian Cannabis Roundtable, a professional networking organization. Additionally, Kristin is a member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Cannabis and the Minority Cannabis Business Association Policy Committee.
David Paleschuck, founder of Branding Bud Consulting Group, will be teaching Cannabis Marketing. His book, Branding Bud: The Commercialization of Cannabis – the first book on cannabis branding – was a #1 best-seller on Amazon.
With over 20 years of brand-building and consumer marketing experience with American Express, MasterCard, PepsiCo, and Microsoft, Paleschuck has played a role in developing and marketing many of today's best-known brands.
Since entering the cannabis industry in 2012, Paleschuck has created profitable partnerships while working as the Vice President, Licensing & Brand Partnerships at DOPE Magazine and crafted award-winning cannabis-infused products as the Chief Brand Officer at Evergreen Herbal.
Paleschuck's writing and thought leadership on cannabis branding and marketing has been widely featured in leading outlets, including Forbes, Kiplinger's, The Brookings Institution, High Times and many more.
These four join a team of innovative professionals that also includes Penelope Nam-Stephen, Chief Commercial Officer of Community Growth Partners, formerly of Burberry and Juicy Couture; Marianne Cursetjee, CEO and co-founder of Alibi Cannabis; Melanie Nash, Chief Operating Officer of Purple City Genetics, formerly of REI and Tumi; Beryl Solomon, founder of Poplar, formerly of Kate Spade, Theory, and IBM; Wei Hu, CEO of MRTA Law, formerly of the NYC Human Resources Administration; and David Abecassis, co-founder of the Green Growers Alliance.
LIM College's degree programs in The Business of Cannabis focus on specialized cannabis industry knowledge, as well as business skills such as marketing, retail management, branding, merchandising and supply chain management. The master's degree program, designed for career-changers as well as those who are interested in advancing their current cannabis careers, will be delivered fully online and can be completed in one calendar year. The bachelor's degree program is available on LIM's midtown Manhattan campus or online.
For more information visit: https://www.limcollege.edu/academics/business-cannabis
About LIM College
Founded in 1939, LIM College educates students for success in the global businesses of fashion and cannabis, as well as the many industries adjacent to each. As a pioneer in experiential education, LIM fosters a unique connection between real-world experience and academic study in business principles, offering master's, bachelor's, and associate degree programs. LIM College is located in Manhattan — the nation's fashion and business capital — giving students vast opportunities for resume-building experience and professional development.
Media Contact:
Stu Zakim, Bridge Strategic Communications
stu@bridgestrategic.com 732-754-9051
Meredith Finnin, LIM College
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SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
Robert Morse, who somehow remained boyish for every one of his nearly seven decades in showbiz, died this week at the age of 90. From his Broadway debut to a late career encore on TV's "Mad Men," Bobby Morse was expert at playing mischievous rascals. Critic Bob Mondello remembers.
BOB MONDELLO, BYLINE: In another performer's hands, the corporate schemer in "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" might just have seemed craven.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "I BELIEVE IN YOU")
ROBERT MORSE: (As J. Pierrepont Finch, singing) You have the cool, clear eyes of a seeker of wisdom and truth.
MONDELLO: Morse made J. Pierrepont Finch a charmer with a gap-tooth grin.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "I BELIEVE IN YOU")
MORSE: (As J. Pierrepont Finch, singing) Yet there's that upturned chin and that grin of impetuous youth.
MONDELLO: Thoroughly winning, though he was so cocky that he sang this song to a mirror.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "I BELIEVE IN YOU")
MORSE: (As J. Pierrepont Finch, singing) I believe in you.
MONDELLO: Playing a charming imp became a career for Morse in films, including the funeral home satire "The Loved One," and on TV in, among other things, "That's Life," a series built around his musical comedy talent - but mostly in the theater, especially in a mid-career triumph, the one-person show "Tru," in which he played, through a mountain of makeup, writer and social gadfly Truman Capote.
(SOUNDBITE OF PLAY, "TRU")
MORSE: (As Truman Capote) Last night, I made the mistake of trying to keep up with Miss Ava Gardner. Miss Gardner is muy macho.
(LAUGHTER)
MORSE: (As Truman Capote) And in her wake, I sort of fell into the drink, so to speak.
MONDELLO: Morse never lost his impish charm, not even on his return to the corporate world as the eccentric ad agency boss Bertram Cooper in TV's "Mad Men." On his first day on a set that he described as looking like a road company of "How To Succeed," he skipped between the desks, singing "A Secretary Is Not A Toy," until he realized the rest of the cast was too young to get what he was doing. As a tribute, though, when his character passed away several seasons later, the show's producers gave Morse a fantasy musical number...
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "MAD MEN")
MORSE: (As Bertram Cooper) Don, my boy.
MONDELLO: ...So he could let Don Draper, the show's leading man, know he should enjoy life while he still could.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "MAD MEN")
JON HAMM: (As Don Draper) Bert?
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE")
MORSE: (As Bertram Cooper, singing) The stars in the sky, the moon on high, they're great for you and me because they're free.
MONDELLO: And as always, Robert Morse nailed it. I'm Bob Mondello.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE")
MORSE: (As Bertram Cooper, singing) The moon belongs to everyone. The best things in life are free. The stars belong to everyone. They gleam, they're for you and me. The flowers in spring, the robins that sing... Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/obituary-broadway-star-robert-morse-dies-at-age-90 | 2022-05-12T15:11:24Z |
HOUSTON, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tim Daugherty, CEO of Millar, Inc., a medical device manufacturer and OEM pressure-sensor solutions provider, is honored to be named one of The Top 50 Healthcare Technology CEOs of 2022, published by the Healthcare Technology Report.
Now more than ever, the importance of the healthcare technology field is at the forefront. The awardees on this year's list represent some of the most accomplished executives in the healthcare technology space. Their leadership has been critical in developing industry-leading medical devices, next-generation software platforms, and innovative drugs and therapeutics, among other technologies. They come from a variety of backgrounds and have wide-ranging professional histories, but they share at least one thing in common: they have all led their companies to new heights through their dedication, ingenuity, and commitment to both their employees and their customers.
Tim has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Millar since July 2016. Shortly after taking on his current role of CEO, Tim spearheaded a shift in Millar's strategy, growing the OEM section of the business and making the integration of Millar's market-leading MEMS pressure sensors into a wider range of medical devices a top priority. He joined Millar in 2003 as a Technical Sales & Support Engineer, where he worked initially with the cardiovascular product lines. During the next 13 years, he served in increasingly broader roles, including Product Manager, Director of Sales & Marketing and President, before being named CEO. Growing up in Texas, Wyoming and Kentucky, Tim earned a Bachelor of Science degree with Honors in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University.
"I believe that science, technology and big data are primed to catapult mankind into a golden age of medical understanding and scientific discovery. My passion lies in working with individuals who share this belief and are totally committed to pushing the boundaries of today's technology to improve the outcomes of tomorrow," states Daugherty.
In his role as President and CEO, Tim has taken Millar to new heights by demonstrating exceptional leadership and strategic focus, while continually pushing the boundaries to make the improbable possible. One of the next projects on Tim's agenda is the completion of Millar's new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Pearland's Lower Kirby District, expected to open in 2023.
About The Healthcare Technology Report
The Healthcare Technology Report provides market research and insights, business news, investment activity updates and important corporate developments related to the healthcare technology sector. Based in New York City, the firm is run by a seasoned team of editors, writers and media professionals highly knowledgeable on healthcare technology and the various companies, executives and investors that make up the sector.
About Millar, Inc.
Since 1969, Millar, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, has led the development of catheter-based, solid-state pressure sensors and is known worldwide as the leader in MEMS pressure sensors that advance medical understanding. Millar OEM serves the medical device and life sciences industries through our MEMS pressure sensors, ISO 13485 precision manufacturing and wireless pressure technology, resulting in cost savings and rapid time to market for sensor integration. The company's clinical and life sciences products empower medical discovery and allow advanced cardiovascular diagnosis.
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SOURCE Millar, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/millar-ceo-tim-daugherty-among-top-50-healthcare-technology-ceos-2022/ | 2022-05-12T15:11:29Z |
What does the world's pledge to "Never Again" permit massacres or genocide mean?
The family of Vanda Semyonovna Obiedkova reported her death to the world this week. She was 91 years old, "a kind, joyous woman, a special person who will forever remain in our hearts," said her Rabbi, Mendel Cohen — the only rabbi in the city of Mariupol, which has been under relentless attack for weeks.
But both Vanda's early years and last days were marked by tragedy and savagery.
She was ten years old in 1941 when Nazi soldiers rolled into Mariupol and began rounding up the city's Jews. The SS took away her mother. Young Vanda hid in the basement.
"She couldn't scream; that's what saved her," Vanda's daughter, Larissa, who has just been safely evacuated from Ukraine, told the website for the Jewish organization Chabad.
German troops executed more than 9,000 Jewish people in shallow ditches outside Mariupol in October of 1941. Vanda's mother and her family were among those thousands.
Eventually, Vanda was detained. But her father, who was not Jewish, and family friends were able to convince the Nazis that the little girl was Greek. She spent two years hiding in a hospital, until the Soviet Red Army reached Mariupol in 1943.
Vanda Semyonovna Obiedkova was 91 years old when Vladimir Putin's Russian army began to shell the city. Decades after the Holocaust she survived, Vanda and her family had to take shelter in another basement.
"There was no water, no electricity, no heat," her daughter said. "There was nothing we could do for her. We were living like animals. ... Every time a bomb fell, the entire building shook."
Larissa and her family stayed at her mother's side. But she was cold, thirsty, hungry, fragile, and too weak to stand. Her daughter says she kept asking, "why is this happening?"
"Mama didn't deserve such a death," Larissa told Chabad. She says she and her husband buried Vanda in a public park, with help from neighbors. As Rabbi Mendel Cohen put it, "the whole Mariupol has turned into a cemetery."
At least one other Holocaust survivor was reportedly killed in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a 96-year-old man who had survived four Nazi concentration camps, but died in Russian shelling of Kharkiv. This week, satellite images reported around the world revealed what seem to be mass graves near Mariupol, big enough to bury thousands of people.
Whether in Bosnia, Rwanda, Xinjiang, Bucha, Kharkiv or Mariupol, "Never Again" seems to happen again and again.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/opinion-the-failed-promise-of-never-again | 2022-05-12T15:11:30Z |
President James Madison's estate in Virginia is in turmoil. The foundation that runs the estate and members of the enslaved descendants committee can't agree who should serve on the board.
Copyright 2022 NPR
President James Madison's estate in Virginia is in turmoil. The foundation that runs the estate and members of the enslaved descendants committee can't agree who should serve on the board.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/president-james-madisons-estate-cant-agree-who-should-be-on-the-board | 2022-05-12T15:11:36Z |
The Vilcek Foundation hosts a new exhibition, Nari Ward: Home of the Brave, featuring important works by the Jamaican-born artist and Vilcek Prizewinner
NEW YORK, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Vilcek Foundation is pleased to present Nari Ward: Home of the Brave, Ward's first solo exhibition with the foundation. The exhibition, curated by Vilcek Foundation President Rick Kinsel, will be on view from May 31, 2022, to February 3, 2023.
Nari Ward: Home of the Brave includes a selection of works and installations by the Jamaican-born artist. The exhibition provokes an examination of the values espoused in iconic American symbols, including the American flag and the Statue of Liberty. The individual works invite viewers to question how the concepts of democracy, liberty, and belonging are experienced by immigrants, Black people, and other underrepresented communities whose experiences put them outside the dominant white narrative.
Ward was born in Jamaica and immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 12; the family settled in Brooklyn, New York. Ward has lived in the New York City area ever since, earning his BA at Hunter College and his MFA at Brooklyn College. He became a U.S. citizen in 2011. Ward received the Vilcek Prize in Fine Arts in 2017 for his body of found-object assemblage artwork that invites both public discourse and intimate dialogue on topics including race, poverty, and Black and Caribbean diasporic identities.
"As a curator," Kinsel says, "it is especially exciting to be able to provide a platform for Ward's work. Ward challenges viewers to consider the conflicting attitudes towards immigration in the United States. In the past several decades we have seen a rise in anti-immigration sentiment across our country. National symbols like the American flag and the Declaration of Independence hold multiple meanings for historically under-represented groups, and Ward's work conveys the dualities within. The American flag can both be seen as the triumphant banner that waves "O'er the land of the free/And the home of the brave" in our national anthem, and the banner that was carried by extremists that stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021."
Symbols are powerful both as they were intended, and as they are appropriated. The power of Ward's work lies in part in his appropriation of everyday objects. Using shoelaces, discarded tires, and washing machine drums, he constructs works that are monumental for the concepts they address. Each of these works invites viewers to examine their own relationship to race, economics, power, and belonging in the United States.
Art historian and curator Erica Moiah James contributed the exhibition essay for Nari Ward: Home of the Brave. An assistant professor of African, Black, and Caribbean art at the University of Miami, James previously wrote on Ward's work for Nari Ward: Sun Splashed; in that volume, she contextualized Ward's work within the Caribbean diaspora, noting "complex relations and subject reformation at the heart of Caribbean modernities are mechanisms that are fundamental to the artist's thinking, formal vocabulary, and aesthetic production."
In conjunction with the exhibition, the Vilcek Foundation produced a video with Ward highlighting the installation of Lazarus (2019) at the foundation. In the one-and-a-half-minute video, Ward discusses the intent of the work, which uses thousands of shoelaces inserted into the gallery's walls to frame selected words from Emma Lazarus' poem, The New Colossus. In the video, Ward discusses how the process of installation is a vital part of how this meaning is conveyed and experienced: "When I was working with the laces, it was really important that they be in the wall; that it was part of the architecture…. [Y]our relationship to the work within the space has something to do with how legible the work itself is."
Nari Ward: Home of the Brave is open to the public in the Vilcek Foundation's headquarters at 21 East 70th Street by appointment. Appointments may be made by emailing the Vilcek Foundation's art department at exhibitions@vilcek.org. Learn more and plan your visit via the Vilcek Foundation website, at the following link: Nari Ward: Home of the Brave.
Following the exhibition at the Vilcek Foundation, Nari Ward: Home of the Brave will be available for loan and display at other institutions.
Says Vilcek Foundation Curator Emily Schuchardt Navratil, "With this capsule exhibition, we hope to be able to share Ward's work and the mission and vision of the Vilcek Foundation with a wider audience." She says, "The initiative to develop exhibitions available for loan has grown out of our mission to foster appreciation for the arts, and our commitment to making the works included in the Vilcek Collection accessible to the public."
Learn more and plan your visit today: Nari Ward: Home of the Brave at the Vilcek Foundation
The Vilcek Foundation
The Vilcek Foundation raises awareness of immigrant contributions in the United States and fosters appreciation for the arts and sciences. The foundation was established in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia. The mission of the foundation was inspired by the couple's respective careers in biomedical science and art history. Since 2000, the foundation has awarded over $6.4 million in prizes to foreign-born individuals and has supported organizations with over $5.5 million in grants.
The Vilcek Foundation is a private operating foundation, a federally tax-exempt nonprofit organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3). To learn more, please visit vilcek.org.
Contact
Elizabeth Boylan
The Vilcek Foundation
212-472-2500
elizabeth.boylan@vilcek.org
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SOURCE The Vilcek Foundation | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/nari-ward-home-brave-view-vilcek-foundation/ | 2022-05-12T15:11:36Z |
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
A top Russian commander says his country is planning in its second offensive to try to take control of eastern and southern Ukraine. We're going to focus on one city in that area this morning, Mykolaiv, a strategic port on the Black Sea that Russian troops are already approaching. NPR's Brian Mann was in Mykolaiv yesterday and found Ukrainian soldiers and civilians preparing for a siege.
BRIAN MANN, BYLINE: When I turned up at the public relief center in Mykolaiv, it looks at first like the kind of busy chaos you see in an American city after a tornado or a hurricane.
DMYTRO DAVYDENKO: Every day, 400 people worked here as volunteers.
MANN: That's Dmytro Davydenko, who helped organize this operation. Workers load water and canned goods into the backs of people's cars. But when I ask what supplies they need most here, Davydenko says what they really want is more bullets.
DAVYDENKO: First of all, it is military ammunition - yes? - for soldiers who become the first line of defense.
MANN: This isn't a natural disaster. It's war. This aid center is heavily fortified. And off to one side, there's a box of Molotov cocktails, also made by volunteers.
DAVYDENKO: We are all brave people, and we want to get victory. And we will do it.
MANN: In eastern and southern Ukraine, Russia is turning cities like this one into battlefields. Mariupol and other towns have already been devastated. Now Russia hits Mykolaiv daily with rockets. Military sources tell NPR Russian ground troops are active less than 20 miles away. In the center of Mykolaiv, an evacuation of women and children is underway. An elderly woman named Lida walks toward the buses with the help of two canes.
LIDA: (Non-English language spoken).
MANN: "Russians are launching bombs and missiles into our neighborhoods," Lida says. "Houses were burning, so we understood we have to leave." Another woman, Iryena, fled a town east of here, already occupied by Russians. She says she's afraid of being trapped.
IRYENA: (Non-English language spoken).
MANN: "The Russians don't let people out," Iryena says. "They're abusing people." But officials in Mykolaiv say roughly 200,000 civilians are staying. Some want to help the defense of the city. Others just want to hang on, reluctant to join Ukraine's massive wave of displaced people and refugees. That means Mykolaiv has to prepare for the Russian assault while also struggling to maintain basic services. The water system has already collapsed because of Russian rocket attacks, and now the electric grid is being targeted.
VADYM DANYLKIV: We have today about 60,000 private houses that has no electricity at all.
MANN: Vadym Danylkiv, who runs Mykolaiv's electric utility, says his linemen and repair crews are in the field every day trying to keep the power on while the Russians attack.
DANYLKIV: Every day, our worker work to avoid this electricity disconnection, and so it's very hard work, always with bombing, always is shooting.
MANN: Do you have a plan for what you will do if the Russians come, if they push through?
DANYLKIV: No, I hope it's impossible. I think soldiers will halt, and Mykolaiv will be always Ukraine.
MANN: I hear this again and again. People here believe Ukraine's army will hold the line. I speak to a Ukrainian soldier who gives his name as Denys as he boards a truck going to the front lines.
DENYS: (Non-English language spoken).
MANN: "Our land defends us," Denys tells me. "There are a lot of miracles that happen at the front lines. This is our land, and it helps us stay away from danger." Military sources here say high morale will help slow the Russian ground attack when it begins in earnest. But to stop the Russians and push them back, Ukrainians say they'll need more weapons, more guns and ammunition and more heavy artillery.
Brian Mann, NPR News, Mykolaiv.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-04-23/residents-of-a-ukrainian-city-prepare-for-a-seige | 2022-05-12T15:11:42Z |
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