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Second arrest made in South Carolina mall shooting
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Police in South Carolina have announced the arrest of a second person connected to a shootout inside a busy shopping mall in the state’s capital, one of two mass shootings that rocked the state over the Easter holiday weekend.
Columbia Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook on Monday said police have arrested Marquise Love Robinson, 20. Authorities are also seeking a third suspect, Amari Sincere-Jamal Smith. Both men face charges of attempted murder and nine counts of aggravated assault and battery.
Nine people were shot and another six injured in the rush to exit Columbiana Centre in Columbia, authorities said, with no fatalities reported. Holbrook said one person remained in the intensive care unit Monday.
Police said they did not believe the shooting was a random attack and that the three identified suspects knew each other.
The first person arrested in the shooting, 22-year-old Jewayne M. Price, was one of three people initially detained by law enforcement as a person of interest. Price’s attorney, Todd Rutherford, told news outlets Sunday that his client fired a gun at the mall, but in self-defense. Rutherford said Price faces a charge of unlawfully carrying a pistol because he legally owned his gun but did not have a permit to carry a weapon.
Columbia police said on Twitter that a judge agreed Sunday to let Price leave jail on a $25,000 surety bond. He was to be on house arrest with an ankle monitor, police said.
Authorities are also investigating a second mass shooting that struck the state over the weekend.
At least nine people were shot early Sunday at Cara’s Lounge in Hampton County, according to South Carolina’s State Law Enforcement Division. No one was reported killed in the violence at the nightclub.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/18/second-arrest-made-south-carolina-mall-shooting/
| 2022-04-18T21:38:22Z
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Sen. Kaine visits Falls Mills PACE Center
FALLS MILLS, Va. (WVVA) - In just under a year of operation, Falls Mills’ Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly PACE Center has provided community, food and medical care for local seniors.
“I think what is even better is the fellowship,” said Michael Walk. “You know, you get to see people that you haven’t seen and it’s really helpful for people that’s more or less, I don’t want to say home-bound, but they don’t get out a lot. "
“We really think it’s important to socialize,” said Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens CFO Brian Beck. “Socialization is key for health and well-being.”
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) stopped by the center on Monday to speak with seniors and staff at the facility. Kaine said he’s proud of the progress the Commonwealth has made since he was governor, as there were no PACE facilities in the state when he took office. He added he’s confident in the Senate’s ability to provide funding for more facilities nationwide.
“There’s sort of two ways we have to go about it in the senate,” said Kaine. “We have to, on the committees like the Health Committee and the Aging Committee, authorize programs, say ‘hey these programs are high priority.’ Then the appropriations committee has to fund them at a robust level.”
Kaine hopes to secure funding by the start of the fiscal year on October first.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/18/sen-kaine-visits-falls-mills-pace-center/
| 2022-04-18T21:38:31Z
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Student stabbed by ‘trespasser’ at California high school
Published: Apr. 18, 2022 at 5:12 PM EDT|Updated: 26 minutes ago
STOCKTON, Calif. (Gray News) – A student was taken to the hospital after being stabbed at a California high school Monday, according to the school district.
Stockton Unified School District confirmed the stabbing at Stagg High School in Stockton, about 50 miles south of Sacramento.
District officials said the school is under lockdown after a “trespasser” approached the campus and stabbed a student.
The suspect is in custody and the victim was transported to the hospital. The student’s condition has not yet been released.
District officials said the motive for the attack is under the investigation and more information will be available soon.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/18/student-stabbed-by-trespasser-california-high-school/
| 2022-04-18T21:38:37Z
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Unraveling the story behind the quilt
Local quilters’ guild shares memories and emotions behind favored pieces
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - The “Hands All Around Quilt Guild” was formed in the late 1970s.
Much has changed since then in the quilting world: technique, materials and style to name a few. But one thing that’s remained the same is the stories woven into the seams and the emotions hidden in the fabric of every quilt.
“...picking the fabric, cutting the pieces out and then sewing them and then finishing them. And, while you’re doing that, you are putting your heart and soul into that,” shared guild president Marsha Smith. “You may have worries that go into it that day while you’re sitting at your machine that might calm your soul if you’re upset or if you have heartaches.”
Smith has been with the guild since the beginning. Over the decades, she’s made more than fifty quilts, and she says she has felt a myriad of emotions when she sews them together, ranging from sadness to joy and everything in-between.
She has also struggled to give them away because of the attachment she’s formed with her work, having labored over a single quilt for months or even years.
“There’s so much emotion in these quilts. That’s why you’ll find that a lot of quilters, especially in our guild, don’t sell their quilts because they have just such a meaning for them.”
To Smith and the other guild members, their meetings aren’t just about quiltmaking; It’s about finding friendship, sharing stories and continually adapting to the changing world around them.
“And we are constantly learning something new,” she explained. “You learn from those other members: the older members and maybe even the young ones, who are more innovative and more modern. We all learn from each other.”
For the first time in nearly fifty years, the guild’s work has an exhibition all their own. Their work will be displayed at the Beckley Art Center on Johnstown Road until Saturday, April 30.
Smith says anyone is welcome to come and see the story unfold for themselves.
The club is currently accepting new members of all ages and skill-levels. They meet at the Beckley Art Center at 10 a.m. on the first and third Monday of the month.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/18/unraveling-story-behind-quilt/
| 2022-04-18T21:38:44Z
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We’ll be cold and windy Tuesday; by midweek it will feel like Spring again
Wind chills will likely be in the 20s and 30s throughout the day tomorrow
As a strong low-pressure system gradually pulls away from the area, NW wind flow will kick up behind the departing low. Winds will be gusty at times tonight and Tuesday (occasionally over 25/30 MPH). Secure any loose items and crank the heat! Low temps will fall into the upper 20s and low 30s tonight, and wind chills will likely be in the teens and low 20s waking up Tuesday morning.
We’ll see a few more rain and snow showers tonight as well, with occasional sleet & freezing rain mixing in too (mainly north of I-64 across the highest elevations).
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8PM for northwest Pocahontas county. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY also remains in effect until TUESDAY AFTERNOON for Western Greenbrier counties. Through tomorrow, we could see 1-3″ (with locally higher amounts) of snow/sleet, and up to a tenth of an inch of freezing rain/ice accumulation. Especially on elevated surfaces like bridges and overpasses, slick areas could be possible. STAY SAFE!
Tuesday will bring occasional snow showers here & there in the morning, gradually tapering during the afternoon. We’ll see some sun break out tomorrow, but it will be cold and blustery! Highs will only be in the 40s for most, and with those winds whipping, feel-like temps will hover in the 20s and low 30s for most throughout the day.
Tomorrow night will be cold and breezy with temps again dropping into the upper 20s/low 30s.
High pressure will bring more sunshine Wednesday, and temps will finally be more seasonable, reaching the low to mid 60s again.
Quite the warm-up is in store for late week and into this weekend as southerly wind flow takes over...
Stay tuned!
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) -
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/18/well-be-cold-windy-tuesday-by-midweek-it-will-feel-like-spring-again/
| 2022-04-18T21:38:52Z
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White House Easter Egg Roll returns for 2022 with an egg-ucational theme
For the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, families and guests were invited to partake in the annual White House Easter Egg Roll event.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - For the first time since 2019, thousands of kids descended on the White House South Lawn for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. The puns were back in full force this year as well. This year’s theme was “eggucation.”
The White House Easter Egg Roll rolled back in 2022 with an emphasis on kids and learning.
“There are so many fun opportunities to learn around us every day,” said First Lady Jill Biden at the event.
Juliana Urtubey, the National Teacher of the Year and a guest at the event, said kids are more interested in the message when it comes from President Joe Biden, Jimmy Fallon, and a host of kid-friendly characters.
“We learn best when we see things that get us excited, that keep us motivated, things that make us feel good about ourselves,” said Urtubey.
Physical education was also emphasized. Kids had the chance to learn from professional athletes such as Indiana Fever player Chelsey Perry.
“Knowing that I was once in their shoes, where I started, I started playing when I was six years old,” Perry said. “So just looking at these little kiddos trying to shoot the ball up, I was once there.”
But you can’t have an easter egg roll without the eggs.
Alabama Poultry and Egg Association spokesman Caleb Hicks volunteered at the event. He said American farmers donated 100,000 eggs.
“With everything that’s been shut down the past two years, it’s really great to be back out and doing things again in the public,” Hicks said.
The White House expected about 30,000 people attended the event.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/18/white-house-easter-egg-roll-returns-2022-with-an-egg-ucational-theme/
| 2022-04-18T21:38:58Z
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AP source: Kimberly Guilfoyle meets with Jan. 6 committee
WASHINGTON (AP) — Kimberly Guilfoyle, the fiancée of former President Donald Trump’s eldest son, met with the House committee investigating the U.S. Capitol insurrection Monday — more than a month after she abruptly ended a voluntary interview with lawmakers — according to a person familiar with the matter.
Guilfoyle, 53, arrived Monday morning at the federal office building on Capitol Hill where the committee has been conducting its virtual and in-person interviews to sit down with lawmakers, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss private testimony.
The committee investigating the attack had requested testimony and records from Guilfoyle, who spoke at the rally Trump held on the White House Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, before the riot at the Capitol aimed at overturning Trump’s election loss. Lawmakers say that Guilfoyle, who was a chair of the Trump Victory Committee, the fundraising arm of his campaign, also raised funds for the rally and was in direct contact with its key participants and organizers.
Members of the nine-member panel issued a subpoena to Guilfoyle last month after she cut the voluntary interview short over her objection to the presence of lawmakers. The committee’s decision to subpoena her was unusual, as lawmakers have tried to bring in most members of Trump’s family on a voluntary basis.
Joe Tacopina, an attorney representing Guilfoyle, did not respond to a request for comment Monday but has previously stated that his client “has done nothing wrong,” and will testify truthfully to any question.
The committee has said it has received a number of the documents it initially requested from Guilfoyle but is now looking to learn more about her meetings with the former president and members of his family in the Oval Office the morning of the attack.
“Ms. Guilfoyle met with Donald Trump inside the White House, spoke at the rally that took place before the riot on January 6th, and apparently played a key role organizing and raising funds for that event,” Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, the committee’s Democratic chairman, said in a March 3 statement.
Guilfoyle’s appearance is the latest in a series of sit-down interviews the committee has conducted with those in Trump’s inner circle in the past few weeks. On Tuesday, Stephen Miller, who served as a top aide to Trump, was questioned virtually for eight hours.
The former president’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner have also spoken to the committee in the past month, providing hours of testimony that members have cited as helpful to their probe.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/18/ap-source-kimberly-guilfoyle-meets-with-jan-6-committee/
| 2022-04-18T23:09:52Z
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Birthdays: 4.18.22
Happy Birthday to all who celebrate on this day!
Published: Apr. 18, 2022 at 6:14 PM EDT|Updated: 55 minutes ago
Birthdays: 4.18.22
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
Birthdays: 4.18.22
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/18/birthdays-41822/
| 2022-04-18T23:10:00Z
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Canada bans foreign home buyers for two years to cool market
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government announced Thursday it will ban foreign investors from buying homes in Canada for two years in a bid to cool off a hot housing market.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland took a number of measures to tamp down speculation and demand amid record home prices in announcing the federal budget for the year.
The government announced a two-year ban on foreign home buying as well as higher taxes for people who sell their home within a year, though both measures include multiple exceptions including for permanent residents and foreign students.
The budget also includes billions for new housing and measures to help Canadians trying to get into the market, including a new savings account and changes to the first-time home buyers tax credit.
The government is under pressure to cool an overheated market after prices climbed by more than 20% last year, while rental rates have also been rising.
The federal Liberal government is also promising $500 million Canadian (US$397 million) in additional military aid to Ukraine as well as more humanitarian and financial support to Kyiv in response to Russia’s invasion.
Canada responded to months of pressure from the NATO military alliance and others by promising more than $8 billion Canadian (US7.2 billion) in new military spending over the next five years. Canada will remain far short of NATO’s spending 2% of GDP target, even as other allies dramatically ramp up their own military investments following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Last month, the Canadian government announced it selected Lockheed Martin Corp. and the F-35 as the preferred bidder in its competition to buy a new fighter jet.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/18/canada-bans-foreign-home-buyers-two-years-cool-market/
| 2022-04-18T23:10:06Z
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Rise in ‘at-home’ COVID tests could skew case counts, experts say
(CNN) – It’s a lot easier these days to get “at-home” COVID-19 tests, but many of those test results are not being reported, leading to a drastic undercount of cases.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates only 7% of positive COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are now being detected.
That would mean case rates are actually more than 14 times higher than officially reported.
While cases have been undercounted throughout the pandemic in some states, including Ohio and New York, no longer use positivity rates in the fight against COVID.
The CDC is now emphasizing hospitalization rates over case counts.
To get a more reliable count of COVID-19 cases, the National Institute of Health is now working with laboratories to help streamline easier ways to report test results.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/18/rise-at-home-covid-tests-could-skew-case-counts-experts-say/
| 2022-04-18T23:10:13Z
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Sen. Tim Kaine visits ‘Kids and Co.’
Published: Apr. 18, 2022 at 5:41 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
PEARISBURG, Va. (WVVA) - Senator Tim Kaine visited ‘Kids and Co.’ to discuss the impacts of American rescue plan funding on childcare facilities. Kaine said, one of the main objectives of the money was to improve quality while keeping costs low.
With federal backing, Kaine says childcare centers should be able to improve compensation for workers.
Even though the federal funding gave daycare centers a financial boost, the one-time payment can only be stretched so far. Kaine said there’s legislation being proposed to provide more federal dollars in the years to come.
Kaine adds senate democrats are fighting to expand the child tax credit to give even more money to qualifying families.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/18/sen-tim-kaine-talks-child-care-facility-funding/
| 2022-04-18T23:10:20Z
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One of my all-time favorite reads is “Growing Up” by Russell Baker, a Pulitzer-Prize winning autobiography in which Baker writes beautifully and often hilariously about life—his and mine and yours.
I read it almost 40 years ago and have never forgotten it, especially its opening sentence:
“At the age of eighty my mother had her last bad fall, and after that her mind wandered free through time.”
I first read that line in a bookstore/coffee shop and laughed so hard I snorted coffee out my nose. Falls are no laughing matter. But it made me think of my grandmother, a woman I adored, who ranked her falls in order from “not bad” to “pretty bad” to “hell’s bells.”
At the time, I was too young to appreciate the fear of falling that often comes with age.
I’ve since had a few falls of my own, even a couple that might rank as “hell’s bells.” But they weren’t caused by age. I wasn’t old. I was just clumsy. Always have been. Always will be.
Recently, my 3-year-old grandson, Jonah, took me on a walk in a field riddled with gopher holes. I was trying to dodge the holes when Jonah reached up to take my hand and said, “Here, Nana, I help you.”
That wasn’t a sign of my age. It was an act of Jonah’s love.
In my worst fall five years ago, I slipped on a wet floor, broke my ankle and injured my back. The ankle healed. The back still hurts. The indignity lingers on.
All of that is to tell you this.
Last week, for the first time in years, I was reminded of that first sentence in “Growing Up.”
I’d spent the morning running errands, stopped for lunch at a restaurant and was hurrying out the door to do more errands when something caught my eye.
A little girl, age 3 or 4, almost as cute as Jonah, was going in the restaurant with her mother. As we passed, I waved and she waved back with a big smile.
I wish you could’ve seen her.
I kept walking, looking back over my shoulder at her. And that is when it happened.
I didn’t see the crack in the sidewalk. It caught the toe of my boot and sent me sprawling face first onto the pavement.
Talk about embarrassing.
The little girl’s mother rushed over to ask, “Are you all right?”
I lay there a moment thinking. Finally I said, “I’m not sure.”
The little girl stared wide-eyed as if watching her first ever horror movie. I managed to give her a sideways fake smile.
Suddenly two tall men showed up out of nowhere like angels in blue jeans and puffy jackets, offered their assistance and picked me up off the pavement.
I tested my limbs. They seemed to work. My knees were skinned, but no broken bones.
So I thanked everyone for their kindness: The little girl, her mother, the two tall men and God and all his angels. Then we all went our separate ways.
I skipped the errands and drove home to lie down for a bit and let my mind wander free. Was this my last bad fall? Were there bigger falls ahead? Would my sister loan me her walker?
Funny, isn’t it? One minute we’re running errands. Then we’re lying on the pavement needing help from strangers. Or an ambulance. Or a hearse.
Most days, I pray (unless I forget) for happiness, health and safety for my loved ones, myself and the world. I try to pay attention (usually) and stay out of trouble (if I can.) That’s about all I can do. The rest isn’t up to me. If it were, we might all be in “hell’s bells” trouble.
Life lets us choose, day by day, how we want to live: Will we fill our minds with fear of things that may never happen? Or will we fill our hearts with gratitude for what we know to be true?
I took a fall, but survived it, thanks in part to the kindness of strangers. And I lived to be thankful, yes, another day.
It was a good day. Somewhere my grandmother was smiling.
Sharon Randall is the author of “The World and Then Some.” She can be reached at P.O. Box 922, Carmel Valley CA 93924 or www.sharonrandall.com
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/a-not-so-bad-fall/article_a375f1f7-2762-51eb-9ec2-447c05ac20ec.html
| 2022-04-19T00:02:01Z
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/fighting-the-confusion-and-myths-about-oregon-elections/article_0c12996a-d08a-5bea-ae5a-f8e3880c7867.html
| 2022-04-19T00:02:07Z
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Game 1s brought greatness out of some. Game 2s will give others a bounce-back chance. A trio of Game 2s are on Tuesday’s NBA schedule. Atlanta is at Miami, Minnesota is at Memphis and New Orleans is at Phoenix. The top-seeded Heat and top-seeded Suns both opened the postseason quests with double-digit home wins. The seventh-seeded Timberwolves struck first on the Grizzlies’ home floor and can head home with a 2-0 series lead.
Duncan Robinson made eight 3-pointers for Miami. Jonas Valanciunas grabbed 25 rebounds for New Orleans. Anthony Edwards scored 36 points for Minnesota in his playoff debut. Phoenix’s Chris Paul became the oldest player in postseason history with a 30-point, 10-assist game.
Game 1s brought greatness out of some.
Game 2s will give others a bounce-back chance.
A trio of Game 2s are on Tuesday’s NBA schedule — Atlanta at Miami, Minnesota at Memphis and New Orleans at Phoenix. The top-seeded Heat in the East and top-seeded Suns in the West both opened the postseason quests with double-digit home wins, while the seventh-seeded Timberwolves struck first on the Grizzlies’ home floor.
Atlanta’s Trae Young was held to a career-worst-tying 1-for-12 shooting and a season-low eight points by a swarming Miami defense on Sunday. Memphis’ Ja Morant scored 32 points, but missed 10 of his last 13 shots from the floor against Minnesota on Saturday. And New Orleans’ CJ McCollum scored 25 points, keeping his team in it much of the way Sunday, though started 2 for 12 and finished 9 for 25.
“I didn’t push tempo enough. ... Playing against the No. 1 seed, you’ve got to make shots and got to be able to score with them,” McCollum said.
The Pelicans and Hawks were both playing a third game in a span of five days Sunday, each doing so in three different cities. They had play-in games at home on Wednesday, then traveled for another one Friday — Atlanta to Cleveland, New Orleans to Los Angeles to face the Clippers — then had to get back on planes for Game 1s in Miami and Phoenix.
Monday will be a day to get settled, and it stands to reason that Tuesday will be smoother for both.
“We cannot be an excuse team,” Atlanta’s Danilo Gallinari said. “We have to be ready to play.”
Adjustments will be made, as always, between Game 1 and Game 2. The Hawks must find ways to get Young to his spots. The Pelicans can’t let Paul shoot 12 for 16 again. The Timberwolves know they’ll get Memphis’ best shot, since the Grizzlies clearly can’t afford to go down 0-2 at home.
Veterans know Game 1s are never worth making snap judgments over, because series narratives can and often do change in Game 2s.
“You never get too high, never get too low,” Miami guard Kyle Lowry said. “I’ve lost a bunch of Game 1s and won the series. I’ve won a couple Game 1s and lost the series. You’ve got to be able to stay even-keeled, no matter what.”
Tuesday’s games:
HAWKS AT HEAT
Miami leads 1-0. Game 2, 7:30 p.m. EDT, TNT.
— NEED TO KNOW: Young was held below 15 points on five previous occasions this season. In the game immediately following those contests, he averaged 30.8 points on 54% from the field and 98% from the foul line. He will be super-aggressive on Tuesday.
— KEEP AN EYE ON: The Heat won by 24 and got only 12 points, combined, from Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. The Heat didn’t need them to score much, not with Robinson scoring 27 off the bench, but it’s also tough to expect both Adebayo and Herro to remain quiet in Game 2.
— INJURY WATCH: Hawks C Clint Capela (knee hyperextension) expected to remain out.
— PRESSURE IS ON: Miami. The Heat can’t give Atlanta momentum to go home with. The Hawks, including the play-in, have gone 28-14 at home this season and that — statistically improbable as it may seem — includes a 10-game losing streak. The Hawks lost every home game they played from Nov. 27 through Jan. 15, but are 20-3 in their building since. That’s the best home record in the NBA over that span.
TIMBERWOLVES AT GRIZZLIES
Minnesota leads 1-0. Game 2, 8:30 p.m. EDT, NBA TV.
— NEED TO KNOW: The Timberwolves led the NBA in 3-pointers made during the regular season and showed that prowess in Game 1, outscoring Memphis 48-21 from beyond the arc. What should further concern the Grizzlies is that they allowed 130 points on a night where D’Angelo Russell shot just 2 for 11.
— KEEP AN EYE ON: Morant. Memphis’ best player was 5 for 5 in the first quarter of Game 1, 3 for 13 from the field the rest of the way. He attempted 20 free throws, which speaks to his aggressiveness, but the Grizzlies can’t have Morant making three baskets over 36 minutes and expect success.
— INJURY WATCH: Nothing of great significance. Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns was limping a bit in the final minutes of Saturday’s win after turning one of his ankles, but finished the game.
— PRESSURE IS ON: Memphis. Completely, totally on Memphis. If the Grizzlies watched Minnesota’s play-in game (and they obviously did), they would be aware of the atmosphere that awaits them when this series shifts back to Minneapolis later this week. A 2-0 deficit will prove very tough to overcome. Tuesday is absolutely huge to the Grizzlies’ hopes.
PELICANS AT SUNS
Phoenix leads 1-0. Game 2, 10 p.m. EDT, TNT.
— NEED TO KNOW: All five Suns-Pelicans games have been decided by double figures this season, Phoenix now going 4-1 in those matchups. Paul, a couple of weeks shy of his 37th birthday, was a maestro in Game 1.
— KEEP AN EYE ON: Even though Phoenix won Game 1, a 55-35 rebounding deficit will need to be addressed in Game 2.
— INJURY WATCH: New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram seemed to be laboring through some ankle issues in the second half of Game 1.
— PRESSURE IS ON: Phoenix. New Orleans shouldn’t feel any pressure in this series, even if elimination looms. The previous team to make the playoffs with a 36-46 record or worse was the Boston Celtics in 2004. The Pelicans are playing with house money the rest of the way and the Suns probably would be wise to not give them more reasons to believe.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/for-some-game-2s-in-nba-playoffs-provide-bounce-back-chance/article_ed2344c2-4107-5d93-be64-285613b73fd9.html
| 2022-04-19T00:02:13Z
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Boise residents on a recent Saturday found bookmark-sized fliers in their neighborhoods.
A large black box at the top read, “POLITICAL PROSECUTION.”
Below it were photos, home addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of two people: 4th District Magistrate Judge Annie McDevitt and Ada County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Whitney Welsh.
The flier claimed that McDevitt and Welsh were “using their position of power to retaliate against a gubernatorial candidate because of his opposition to the inequity of justice and systemic excessive force used by government agents” — a reference to Ammon Bundy.
It was the latest in a series of maneuvers by Idaho extremist groups that toe the line between free speech and criminal behavior. Their tactics include:
“doxxing” public and private individuals, including health care and social workers (doxxing means to search for and publish personal or private information about a person that may prove harmful or embarassing);
organizing protests outside a person’s home;
issuing “calls to action” for supporters — in Idaho and elsewhere — to make phone calls and send emails and text messages, until their demands are met.
Luke Malek, an attorney who previously served in the Idaho Legislature, says the tactics could cross a line into stalking or even criminal conspiracy. Two current legislators — Reps. Greg Chaney, R-Caldwell, and Brooke Green, D-Boise — say that, regardless of whether a crime has been committed, one person’s right to protest should not trump another’s right to feel safe in their home.
“It’s become an extremist tactic very frequently, and it started really over the summer of 2020, for these extremists to get their way by being more intimidating than everyone else,” said Chaney, who co-sponsored a bill in the 2021 session to outlaw protesting at a person’s residence — only to then have protesters show up at his own home. “They’re all about shutting up anybody who doesn’t agree with them.”
Chaney and Green plan to bring back a bill in the 2023 legislative session to address the issue.
Ammon Bundy did not complete 40 hours of community service — his sentence for a conviction of trespassing and resisting arrest, stemming from Bundy’s refusal to leave a closed area at the Idaho Statehouse in 2020.
Instead of performing community service, though, Bundy reported 40 hours of time spent on his political campaign for Idaho governor.
McDevitt on April 7 ordered Bundy to spend 10 days in jail and pay a $3,000 fine for disobeying the court.
“You didn’t just blow it off. Rather, you took the time and effort to blatantly disrespect the court’s order, making a mockery of the sentence you received,” McDevitt told Bundy, according to the Idaho Statesman. “You were given an opportunity to go complete public service — you could have done it.”
The flier left in the Boise neighborhood did not acknowledge the legal basis for Bundy’s new jail sentence.
“He is now being held, a political prisoner, in solitary confinement, at the Ada County Jail, causing a hardship on his family,” the flier said. “TELL THESE JUDICIAL EXTREMISTS TO STOP TORMENTING THE GOOD PEOPLE OF IDAHO!”
Bundy was indeed in solitary confinement at the jail as of Saturday — because Bundy himself asked to be placed there — according to Ada County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Patrick Orr.
“Our agency considered that request and figured there could be possible security issues, so for his safety and the safety of the other inmates, we granted his request,” Orr said in a statement to the Idaho Capital Sun.
The U.S. Congress and state legislatures have, for years, considered whether it should be illegal to “doxx” someone — to find and share an individual’s personal information in a way that makes the person vulnerable to harassment, death threats, false reports to police and more.
Last year, Colorado made it illegal to doxx public health workers and their families.
The First Amendment guarantees the right to freedom of speech, freedom of the press and other inalienable rights that protect a person’s ability to share information. There are limits to those rights — codified by laws against libel, slander, defamation, harassment, witness intimidation, stalking and more.
Free speech advocates have argued that laws against doxxing could be abused to silence dissent.
“Any of these laws could be subverted by the powerful,” Bruce Schneier, a fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, told The Markup last year.
The pandemic and 2020 election breathed new life into the doxxing tactic.
It has been used in Idaho in the past year to identify and share photos, home addresses and personal contact information of judges and legislators, as well as unelected workers: police officers, a social worker, a pediatrician, a nurse practitioner and a deputy prosecutor.
There is no law in Idaho that specifically makes doxxing illegal. Depending on the case, it may violate state laws against stalking or conspiracy, Malek said. Or, it might not.
The world is full of “things that are objectionable to our senses that aren’t a crime,” Malek said.
Idaho’s statute for stalking in the second degree makes it illegal to “knowingly and maliciously” make “repeated acts of nonconsensual contact” in a way that “seriously alarms, annoys or harasses the victim” and “would cause a reasonable person substantial emotional distress (or) fear of death or physical injury” to themselves or to a member of their family or household.
The penalty is up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine or both.
The statute, however, exempts constitutionally protected activity.
“The pattern of behavior is one thing, and it’s just grating on people with a sense of what is common decency,” Malek said. “In order to charge a crime, you have to look at: Did this instance of behavior violate the law?”
It can be hard to prove that a single instance was indeed a criminal act, he said.
And whom do you charge? The flier distributed last weekend, for example, did not appear to identify its creator.
Asked if doxxing could be charged under a stalking statute, Malek said, “I think you would have an argument there.”
The tactic was used by Bundy supporters and other extremists last month, in a campaign to end-run Idaho’s child protection process.
A grandchild of Bundy associate Diego Rodriguez had been removed from his home and hospitalized. A pediatric provider had alerted authorities that he believed the child was in danger, and the parents were not showing up for medical follow-up appointments.
Rodriguez, Bundy and leaders of Health Freedom Idaho issued “calls to action” that jammed up telephone lines at St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center, blocked ambulance bays and posed a threat that forced the hospital into lockdown. Patients had to be diverted to other hospitals for emergency care.
A few days before that, Health Freedom Idaho leader Miste Gardner-Karlfeldt — who is running for Idaho State Controller as a Constitution Party candidate — posted on her Facebook page:
“Please call St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise at (208) 706-5437 and demand that they let (the baby’s) parents take custody of (him) or at least be present with him.
“Please post this link along with the attached image to your social media and contact everyone you know to share this story. …
“Please show up to St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise at 190 E Bannock St, Boise, ID 83712 TODAY, Saturday March 12th, @ 12:00 noon to protest with us and pressure St. Luke’s to reconnect the Anderson family.”
Following the protests at St. Luke’s, an anonymous Twitter account posted the addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and Facebook pages of Gardner-Karlfeldt, Sarah Clendenon, another leader of Health Freedom Idaho and the Constitution Party candidate for a state senate seat in District 15, among others.
In a Facebook Live video posted March 18, Clendenon and Gardner-Karlfeldt blasted those who had doxxed them, calling it “absolutely absurd and atrocious.”
“…[it’s] really a petty way to try to incite fear into people,” said Gardner-Karlfeldt. “I mean, whoever did that is probably living in their mother’s basement.”
Later that day, the two women recorded themselves in the neighborhood of Sen. Fred Martin, a Boise Republican and Clendenon’s political opponent. They said they were distributing fliers with Martin’s home address and phone number, which are publicly available on the state Legislature’s website.
Just four days prior, both women shared on Facebook a flier with the name and picture of a nurse practitioner they claim initiated the removal of Rodriguez’s grandchild from his parents. It also included the phone number and email address of the clinic where the nurse practitioner works.
Similar to the St. Luke’s campaign, the flier urged people to “Call, leave messages, email, tell your friends and demand an explanation immediately! This behavior is unacceptable!”
“These protests are working; people are being held accountable. The evil in our government are really squirming,” Clendenon said in the Facebook Live video. “They are feeling very uncomfortable right now because a lot of things are getting blasted out there.”
Protests during the pandemic, over everything from public health orders to employer vaccine mandates, have at times drawn crowds numbering in the hundreds. But demonstrations or campaigns targeting individuals, elected or otherwise, attract a much smaller group of determined individuals.
One of the most prominent and visible far-right agitators is a man named David Pettinger – a close ally of Clendenon and Gardner-Karlfeldt.
Pettinger’s Facebook feed ranges from homophobic insults tossed at mainstream Republican lawmakers to calling for those working for three local media outlets to be executed, likening them to Nazi propagandists.
He’s also shared photos documenting his run-ins with law enforcement at the Idaho Capitol – once dressed in an orange suit, dyed green hair and face paint resembling the Joker from the Batman series.
Another time, he stuck a large, yellow star to the lapel of a suit jacket – resembling a badge used by Nazis to identify Jews.
Pettinger was one of three people arrested in connection with a protest in December 2020 at the home of former Ada County Commissioner Diana Lachiondo. A video that’s since been deleted showed them banging on buckets, blasting air horns and playing clips from the movie Scarface.
He eventually pleaded guilty to vandalizing property. Pettinger also pleaded guilty to obstructing officers in an encounter just days before the protest at Lachiondo’s home.
But those cases could be dismissed and never appear on Pettinger’s criminal record if he successfully completes his one-year probation sentence through August 2022.
“Free speech is absolute,” he said in a conversation with Boise State Public Radio over Twitter direct messages, noting that he didn’t create the fliers.
Releasing personal information in these circumstances, Pettinger said, is a tactic to add pressure against “their lust for power over The People” and to hold them accountable for their actions.
The protest at Lachiondo’s home was one of the events that spurred a bipartisan effort between Reps. Chaney and Green.
Together, they introduced House Bill 195 in 2021 to address one piece of the doxxing tactic: protests at a person’s home that seek to intimidate, annoy or alarm the target.
After Chaney held a hearing on his anti-picketing bill last year, a small group of people stood outside his home with literal torches and pitchforks, and a stuffed dog wearing a T-shirt that said “Chaney.” The dog was hanged in effigy.
The bill died.
Protest leaders “told people if (the bill) dies, we’ll quit using this tactic,” Chaney told the Idaho Capital Sun. “Well, HB 195 died, and within two weeks they were protesting the magistrate from Bundy’s previous trial. So, they lied. They’re determined to use this tactic — to get their way, not because they have the strongest argument or (because they) represent the best in our society.”
Chaney and Green are now frequent targets of Pettinger.
Pettinger has posted multiple pictures of the hanged stuffed animal wearing the “Chaney” T-shirt.
Green said the protests and doxxing may have begun with elected officials, but they now target people who “didn’t sign up for this” as social workers, health care workers and law enforcement officers.
“They’re showing up in front of private citizens’ houses to torment them for just doing their job,” Green said. “(The individuals are) not law enforcement trained, they didn’t put their name on a ballot … and their poor children are inside witnessing this.”
Green worries that “it’s going to escalate one day, where we have this notion that we are going to protect our kingdom, that’s our sanctuary … the castle doctrine,” she said. “We’re going to see a conflict that is going to escalate.”
She argues that it’s also harmful to society at large.
A child protection worker should not have to worry that their professional work could invite retaliation, with their photo and home address shared on social media, Green said.
During the child protection case involving Diego Rodriguez’s grandchild, Pettinger posted a digital flier on his Facebook page, in a design similar to the one distributed Saturday.
The flier doxxed a nurse practitioner, social worker and law enforcement officers involved in the case. It identified each one as “PERPETRATOR.”
“Repentance is for God! Slaying is for me!” Pettinger wrote in a comment on that Facebook post.
When asked what he meant by that comment, he said he believed “armed conflict was imminent.”
“The state of Idaho had crossed the boundaries of the Idaho Constitution, and I was prepared to defend innocent life,” Pettinger said.
Another comment on the post included the name and photo of a pediatrician at St. Luke’s Health System. “She initiated this and has a history of working in conjunction with the judge to remove kids from homes,” the other commenter wrote. “Pure evil!”
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/idaho-extremists-target-judges-prosecutors-health-workers-in-doxxing-campaigns-idaho-activists-have-shared-photos/article_556e2473-d208-5d76-927c-275338f20e3e.html
| 2022-04-19T00:02:19Z
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ASHLAND — Chris Martinez hit the Cascade Conference qualifying mark in the pole vault, as the Oregon Tech men’s track and field team competed at the Raider Invitational, hosted by Southern Oregon.
Martinez placed sixth overall in the event, with his season-best mark of 4.10 meters (13 feet, 5.25 inches) easily meeting the league standard.
“Our men put together some solid marks today and are moving in the right direction,” said OIT assistant, Bill Reinhard.
Jose Ignacio continued his stellar season, placing second overall in the javelin (57.70 meters / 189 feet, 3 inches), while Toby Ruston won his section of the 5,000-meters (15:44.07).
On the track, Patrick Giraudo had a solid time of 11.46 seconds in the 100-meters, Owen Lien missed the CCC mark in the 400-meters by 0.02 seconds (50.77), Tychon Preston raced well in the 1,500-meters (4:22.01), with Thomas Long (16:06.57) and Max Cox (16:55.63) each running in the 5,000-meters.
The Owls will have a split squad next week — as Thomas Dodgen will head to La Grande for the Cascade Conference Multi-Event Championships, while the rest of the team travels to Chico State for the Chico Distance Carnival and Twilight.
{p class=”x_MsoNoSpacing”}Tech’s Amber miller wins javelin, women fare well
{p class=”x_MsoNoSpacing”}ASHLAND — Amber Miller won the javelin, one of six top-4 finishes by the Oregon Tech women’s track team at the Raider Invitational, hosted by Southern Oregon University.
{p class=”x_MsoNoSpacing”} Miller claimed the victory in the event with a mark of 38.83 meters (127 feet, 4 inches), just ahead of teammate Aarika Brooks (38.16 meters / 125 feet, 2 inches).
{p class=”x_MsoNoSpacing”} “We had a very successful day on the women’s side,” said OIT assistant Bill Reinhard. “Overall, our entire group performed at a high level in less than ideal weather conditions.”
{p class=”x_MsoNoSpacing”} Brittan Bratscher posted a runner-up finish in the high jump (1.49 meters / 4 feet, 10.5 inches) and placed sixth in the javelin (34.79 meters / 114 feet, 1 inch), with Katie Mull taking fourth in the hammer throw with a season-best mark of 41.34 meters (135 feet, 7 inches) and adding a mark of 10.00 meters (32 feet, 9.75 inches) in the shot put.
{p class=”x_MsoNoSpacing”} On the track Lily Lavine had a quality day in the sprints, placing fourth in the 200-meters with a season-best time of 26.46 seconds and took third in the 400-meters (59.63). Teammate Eva Brady clocked times of 28.08 in the 200-meters and 1:01.79 in the 400-meters.
{p class=”x_MsoNoSpacing”} Middle-distance runners Kira Morrow (5:05.65) and Hannah Mason (5:08.23) raced in the 1,500-meters, with Jade Hopkins (5:21.36) winning the second section of the event. Delani Dietrich recorded a time of 18:56.94 in the 5,000-meters.
{p class=”x_MsoNoSpacing”} The Owls will have a split squad next week, as Ally Odell will head to La Grande for the Cascade Conference Multi-Event Championships, while the rest of the team travels to Chico State for the Chico Distance Carnival and Twilight.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/oit-men-post-good-marks-at-sou-track/article_518071f8-135e-5ba7-8be4-7233679a7ee7.html
| 2022-04-19T00:02:25Z
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KEIZER, Ore. — A marathon day at Volcanoes Stadium finished with the Oregon Tech and Corban baseball teams splitting 5-4 games to close out their 4-game weekend series.
The Owls (30-17, 9-7 CCC) used a 10th inning rally in the opener to earn the victory, while Corban used a 3-run 8th inning rally to grab the win in the nightcap. The doubleheader began three hours late due to poor field conditions and did not finish until after 10 p.m.
Matthew Ortiz was a combined 5-for-10 and Tyler Horner added four hits for OIT in the twinbill.
“Two well played games today by both teams,” said OIT head coach Jacob Garsez. “We have a couple moments we would like to have back, but our guys competed well all day.”
Tech jumped on 2021 CCC Pitcher of the Year Zack Simon in the first two innings of the opener — taking a 4-0 lead. Horner got OIT on the board with an RBI single and Mitchel Swanson added a 2-run single in a 3-run first, while a Dalton Daily RBI single in the second added to the lead.
The Warriors (20-19-1, 7-9) chipped away at the deficit, scoring single runs in the third and fourth and tied the score in the fifth on a Kyle Clay 2-run triple.
Enter Dylan Grogan, who stymied the Corban bats over the final five innings, limiting the Warriors to just one hit and striking out seven – earning his seventh win of the year.
Tech finally regained the lead in the tenth, as Horner doubled and scored on a perfect Michael Tarakhchyan squeeze bunt.
Game 2 saw the Warriors take a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning, before OIT rallied against the Corban bullpen. Ortiz started the eighth with a single and moved to third on a Kaleb Keelean single. Ortiz would score on a wild pitch and Daily tied the score by plating Keelean with an RBI ground out. Three straight Tech batters would reach – thanks to two walks and a hit by pitch – with Swanson giving the visitors a 3-2 lead with a sacrifice fly.
However, Corban would regain the lead in the bottom of the inning on a 2-run Brad Pellkoffer single and strand the tying run at third base in the ninth.
Jacob Miller was outstanding for OIT, working into the eighth inning, striking out a season-high eight in a losing effort.
“The type of competitiveness we showed today is what we need to bring to the yard every day,” Garsez said. “We were locked in, responded well to adversity and managed the energy of the game well.”
OIT returns home next weekend, hosting No. 4-ranked Lewis-Clark State for a Saturday-Sunday 4-game series at Steen Sports Park.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/oregon-tech-corban-baseball-split-5-4-decisions-on-marathon-day/article_f5e3c863-7663-5238-948f-496220464296.html
| 2022-04-19T00:02:32Z
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When voters passed Measure 110 to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin, they diverted marijuana tax dollars to a grant program to fund treatment and recovery services across the state.
But the lion’s share of that money for the current two-year budget cycle — $276 million — has failed to reach providers.
At a meeting Friday morning, the community oversight council tasked with distributing the funds once again voted on an extended timeline for distribution. The grant award letters were initially supposed to go out to providers the second week of January but were delayed repeatedly while grant applications remain under review. As it stands now, grant dollars are estimated to begin rolling out the door, county by county, starting in June and ending in October, according to state estimates.
Stakeholders say it’s the state, not the community council, that’s to blame for the hold-up, with the most prolonged delay occurring after the Oregon Health Authority took over the grant application evaluation process. Meanwhile, the state says the unprecedented number of applications require careful review. But with more than 100 staff assigned to the project over the past month, those interviewed for this story say the state should have made more progress.
The delays pose challenges for many small providers that were counting on the money to sustain their services as they struggle amid behavioral health workforce shortages and a statewide addiction crisis.
With nearly 650,000 Oregonians aged 18 and older estimated to struggle with addiction, the state ranked second-worst for its rate of substance use disorder and dead last in the nation for its access to drug and alcohol treatment, according to data from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Meanwhile, the rise of fentanyl across the state is making addiction deadlier. Overdose deaths in Oregon rose 41% last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, compared with a nationwide increase of 16%.
“People are dying every day, and we just can’t wait any longer to get this money out,” said Tera Hurst, executive director of Health Justice Recovery Alliance. The alliance is a statewide coalition of social service, health care and social justice nonprofits advocating for the timely and successful implementation of Measure 110.
Small providers struggle amid the delays
After Oregon’s drug decriminalization law went into effect in February 2021, the volunteer Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council oversaw the speedy distribution of $31.4 million in initial grant funding.
But for much of the past 12 months, the council has met on Zoom weekly, sometimes more, to create a more involved grant program from scratch that’s designed to follow through with the law’s call for coordinated treatment and recovery networks in each region of the state.
Some providers began expanding when they received funds last year, expecting that money to sustain that growth would be available much sooner.
One of those providers is the Miracles Club of Portland, which offers addiction-related peer services and housing to the Black community. Its executive director, Julia Mines, told The Lund Report that if the group doesn’t receive the Measure 110 grant the nonprofit applied for by the end of June, it will lose a six-bedroom house it recently purchased as transitional housing for Black women. Mines said she’ll also have to lay off five new staff members, out of a total of 13 staff who work for the organization.
The Miracles Club applied for $2.4 million in the current round of Measure 110 grant funding, which would sustain those services, grow its housing program and help it expand to Washington County. While Mines said she was among the nonprofits who received extension funds from the state to help get her through, that money runs out in June, and she’s already had to borrow $10,000 from another organization.
“Miracles has been around for almost 30 years — always been underfunded, struggled to keep the lights on to pay the telephone bill, to pay employees,” Mines said. She worries that if she lays off staff amid the current workforce shortage, “somebody’s going to snatch them up like that, and I can’t get them back,” she said. “I paid to get them trained and everything, and then I’ve got to let them go because you guys don’t want to get the money out the door? You know, what a burden that would be for Miracles? It would be traumatic, and we’re not going to be able to keep our head above water.”
Mines and Hurst raised their concerns with top Oregon Health Authority officials — agency director Pat Allen and Behavioral Health Director Steve Allen — earlier this week. During that meeting, Hurst said they learned that one of the health authority’s models for finishing the awards process had funding being distributed as late as December and January.
“That was heartbreaking and frustrating,” Hurst said.
Steve Allen explained in February — when The Lund Report first reported on the delays and dysfunction undermining Measure 110 efforts, that the program is transformational, and thus takes thought and time. But, he said, the goal is to get money in the hands of community providers.
Hurst argues that if the money continues to sit unspent, there won’t be any small, community-based providers left. She said it’s as if the health authority is “creating a process that only benefits people with budgets that can withstand this.”
Mines agrees, saying other small providers are also struggling while the need for them is dire.
“They’re dying out there,” Mines said. “This COVID hit, people are isolated. They’re homeless. They’re not getting the services that are needed.”
But some larger nonprofits, such as Portland’s Central City Concern, are also limiting services as they wait on funds. Its spokespeople told The Lund Report in a statement, “Further delays in M110 funding will affect the mental health of nearly 1,400 (Central City Concern) clients who’re in critical need of the services we offer. Additionally, today CCC has empty beds desperately needed for those in recovery which cannot be filled without M110 funding.”
Following the initial round of grants last year, Max’s Mission in southern Oregon attributed the reversals of more than 100 overdoses to the grant funds that allowed for the distribution of naloxone, which reverses opioid overdose. Now, Hurst said, some providers are running low on the life-saving drug.
Fingers point at the state
Measure 110 gave people from communities harmed most by the War on Drugs control over the law’s grant program and the distribution of the more than $300 million in marijuana tax dollars that flows through it every two years. The 18 voting members of the Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council include people experienced in drug and alcohol treatment services, drug policy research, advocacy and other related areas. They are diverse and representative of impacted communities. Most members are in recovery from substance use disorder themselves, and many have been incarcerated. But they lack experience facilitating grant programs like the one they’re tasked with designing and executing.
Hurst said that’s why the council was paired with Oregon Health Authority, which is experienced in grant-making.
But the health authority, Hurst said, “in our view, and from watching this as close as we watch, it has not staffed this council and has not given this council the tools that they need to be able to get through this process.”
Most recently, problems arose when the agency repeatedly sent grant application evaluations back to council members to re-do, saying they were incomplete. Eventually, the work became too burdensome for some of the volunteer council members, many of whom have full-time jobs and other obligations.
“There were over 300 little boxes we had to fill — some were irrelevant, but they are requiring we put an answer there,” council member Amy Madrigal told The Lund Report.
The Oregon Health Authority took over the grant evaluation process, assigning 138 agency staff members to the project, according to agency spokesperson Aria Seligmann.
That was a month ago, and since then, 11 council meetings have been canceled because evaluations were not complete.
This has caused confusion and frustration among council members, who are eager to get the funds to providers.
“A hundred (staff), and they can’t get them done in 30 days. That’s real embarrassing,” council member Morgan Godvin said. “I do not understand why so many meetings have been canceled, and the answers presented to us were not satisfactory.”
The state’s communication with grant applicants has been slow, with providers often learning that awards are delayed within days of when the award letters were supposed to go out.
There are 333 entities that applied in about 281 applications seeking more than $400 million in funds, and each one needs two reviews. The state accepted 184 reviews from the council, and as of Friday, had completed 140 on its own. Now, just over half the application evaluations still need to be completed, according to data shared during the council meeting Friday morning.
The many meeting cancelations and the hold-up with evaluations, said the health authority’s Seligmann, have been “due to the unprecedented number of applications received and the amount of time it has taken to evaluate each application in a deliberate, careful way to ensure the (Oversight and Accountability Council’s) values are maintained.”
She said each review takes several hours, but the process “is necessary to ensure we are carefully centering equity and considering each component of the services that will be provided to transform our system of care.”
But Hurst said she’s heard from providers that the state’s thoroughness is not surprising. “This is what happens when money goes out to communities of color,” she said. “All of a sudden, everybody wants to dot i’s and cross t’s even more, and we knew this was going to happen.”
Award notices to providers in Morrow and Baker counties will be sent out by the end of next week. The next counties to be voted on are Umatilla, Union, Harney, Gilliam and Grant.
Polk, Klamath, Lake and Jefferson counties are each one review away from being completed. Portland metro counties will be reviewed last.
But that money can’t go out soon enough, according to council member Madrigal, who works as a mental health specialist in Pendleton. She said there were four overdoses during a single day in Oregon’s sparsely-populated Umatilla County last month.
“I have lost five friends in the last three months to fentanyl overdoses, and I’m tired of people dying needlessly,” she said.
The new timeline for awarding Measure 110 grants that was approved by the Oversight and Accountability Council on April 8.
The new timeline for awarding Measure 110 grants that was approved by the Oversight and Accountability Council on April 8.
Oregon Health Authority
‘Ready to move forward’
While proponents of drug decriminalization say it’s too soon to judge the success of Measure 110, Godvin stressed that there’s not much to judge while funds languish.
“The important context,” Godvin said, is that “90% of the funds are currently tied up in bureaucracy, and we are out here on the ground, watching our friends die.” Godvin works in treatment and recovery services as the founder of Beats Overdose, a harm reduction provider.
As the council discussed the best pathway forward Friday morning, Godvin expressed concerns about Multnomah County applications being nowhere near completion.
Steve Allen said the state was evaluating the largest counties, including Multnomah, last because those counties had the most applications.
“Could I get OHA to accept a little responsibility?” Godvin asked. “I know harm reduction and drugs. That is my wheelhouse. That is why I was appointed to the council. I don’t know grant-making. That was OHA’s duty, but you did not fulfill it, and the goalpost just keeps moving. And I have whiplash trying to keep up with this. But at no point, do I hear an acceptance of responsibility from OHA.”
“I hold myself accountable,” said Allen. “In terms of lessons learned and mistakes made, we certainly have made our share of those,” he said of the agency. “After we get through this next phase, I think there’s lots of opportunity to kind of look back and take a look at lessons learned, what we as an agency could have done differently to support you better along the way.”
The council ultimately voted to move forward with an option for completion that Oregon Health Authority estimated will get the funds out quickest. While it’s estimated money will get into the hands of providers from June to October, the timeline is not fixed.
After Friday morning’s meeting, Council Tri-Chair Blue Valentine told The Lund Report that members of the council are dedicated to completing the process as quickly as possible and that things will be streamlined as the state works out the kinks.
“We have two dedicated subcommittees that are ready to put in the time to really try to move as fast as we can to get these applications reviewed, approved, and get money out the door,” she said. “Everybody is ready to move forward.”
But if all the funds don’t get out by June, Hurst said the members of her statewide coalition are ready to “make some noise.
“The voters, especially when it comes to services, they were overwhelmingly in favor of Measure 110 and getting services set up,” Hurst said. “And they gave OHA a river of money to do that. Money is sitting there. … it’s not helping anyone, and communities are languishing.”
The Lund Report is tracking the implementation of Measure 110 and its impacts on the behavioral health care system in Oregon as part of a reporting fellowship sponsored by the Association of Health Care Journalists and supported by The Commonwealth Fund. If you have a tip or comment that you think would be helpful, please contact Emily Green at emily@thelundreport.org or enter your tip into this
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/people-are-dying-while-state-bureaucracy-holds-up-oregon-treatment-dollars-say-measure-110-proponents/article_b21968ce-29be-52b3-95bb-9858d2217216.html
| 2022-04-19T00:02:38Z
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United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/president-joe-biden-to-visit-pacific-northwest-next-week/article_79e55b79-9cc7-5fe4-9fd8-b7e3ca63fcfd.html
| 2022-04-19T00:02:44Z
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Country
United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/some-caves-reopen-others-close-at-lava-beds/article_325d89c7-32d3-5a45-910a-5cc60d1f1244.html
| 2022-04-19T00:02:50Z
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Overcoming an overnight storm that dumped four inches of snow on the Stilwell Stadium playing surface, the Oregon Tech softball team won the battle with Mother Nature and completed a series sweep of the University of Providence.
After an 86-minute delay at the start following a 4-hour marathon of field prep, the No. 2-ranked Lady Owls (38-7, 22-2 CCC) picked up 5-1 and 11-3 wins over the Argos to maintain their 2-game lead in the Cascade Conference standings. The victories helped Tech log their best 45-game start since the 2012.
“These ladies continue to prove their determination and focus — playing tough in cold weather,” said OIT head coach Greg Stewart.
Sarah Abramson tossed a complete game 3-hitter in Game 1, striking out seven batters in earning her 22nd win of the season – and her 21st-consecutive victory. She retired the first 10 batters in order, with the only blemish a fifth inning RBI double from the Argos (2-30, 1-22) Ryen Palmer.
Kennedy Jantzi got Tech on the board in the fourth, lining a leadoff solo homer over the centerfield wall. Back to back singles from Maggie Buckholz and Mckenzie Staub put runners on the corners, with Aubrie Businger delivering Buckholz from third with an RBI groundout.
OIT put the game away with a 3-run sixth — as Zoe Allen lined an RBI single, with Businger scoring on a double steal and Kaila Mick hooking an RBI double into the right field corner.
Jantzi and Staub led the Owls offense, each going 2-for-3 in the victory.
Tech wasted no time in Game 2, taking an 8-0 lead in the third inning and rolled to the run-rule win.
Jantzi keyed a 3-run first with an RBI double, while the Owls scored four unearned runs in the second, as an Argos error on a 2-out tag play prolonged the inning. A bases-loaded walk to Buckholz and a RBI hit-by-pitch to Staub made it 5-0, while a dropped line drive allowed two additional runs to score.
Lexi Klum made it 8-0 with one swing, a long solo homer to lead off the third. After UP cut the margin to 8-3 on a 3-run Alivia Atlee homer, OIT closed out the game in the fifth, as McKenna Armantrout roped an RBI double, followed by a walk-off 2-run homer from Kacie Schmidt.
Staub earned the win, walking just one batter and striking out five, with Armantrout going 2-for-2 with three runs scored.
“Our pitching and defense were really good again today and we got some timely hits,” Stewart said. “It was nice to see the middle of our lineup, especially Kennedy, perform well all weekend.”
OIT hits the road next weekend for a key 4-game series at Eastern Oregon.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/tech-softball-braves-snow-sweeps-providence/article_31d628ea-716b-5c18-96e3-67c8959719c1.html
| 2022-04-19T00:02:56Z
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Snugged deep in southern Klamath County is the Klamath Hills Recreation Area. This roughly 1,200-acre mountain big sagebrush community is intermixed with western juniper and provides scenic views of Mount Shasta. This undeveloped natural landscape is near Klamath Falls, Oregon, and offers visitors an opportunity to mountain bike, hike, horseback ride, and view wildlife.
In 2005, the BLM began working to improve the Klamath Hills Recreation Area. Improvement projects over the years have included seeding, planting, fence repair, and weed treatments following the 2005 Klamath Hills Fire. In addition, the Northwest Youth Corps worked with the BLM to install a buck and pole fence, repaired a guzzler, and assisted with sagebrush restoration planting.
This year the parking lot was regraded and graveled; signage for the area was improved; an informational kiosk will be installed; on April 2, 30 volunteers helped pick up trash, plant native, drought-tolerant shrubs and plants, and repair damage to the parking area.
“It is fantastic to have dedicated volunteers willing to improve and protect the Klamath Hills Recreation Area,” said Klamath Falls Field Manager Kevin Heatley. “Their involvement is critical to the long-term success of this effort!”
The BLM Klamath Falls Field Office would like to thank all the volunteers, including the Klamath County Sheriff Department and Oregon Hunters Association, who showed up and planted approximately 100 native plants at the trailhead and picked up over a 100 pounds of trash.
“There has been growing public interest in restoring this area for public enjoyment. Volunteers have been committed to assisting the BLM in these efforts, and it is much appreciated,” said botanist Kerry Johnston. “The BLM looks forward to maintaining and monitoring these restoration efforts over time with the public’s help.”
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/thank-you-to-volunteers-on-klamath-hills-project/article_2b4173e0-c5d3-5064-8927-9553493cb963.html
| 2022-04-19T00:03:03Z
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Snugged deep in southern Klamath County is the Klamath Hills Recreation Area. This roughly 1,200-acre mountain big sagebrush community is intermixed with western juniper and provides scenic views of Mount Shasta. This undeveloped natural landscape is near Klamath Falls, and offers visitors an opportunity to mountain bike, hike, horseback ride and view wildlife.
In 2005, the BLM began working to improve the Klamath Hills Recreation Area. Improvement projects over the years have included seeding, planting, fence repair and weed treatments following the 2005 Klamath Hills Fire. In addition, the Northwest Youth Corps worked with the BLM to install a buck and pole fence, repair a guzzler, and assist with sagebrush restoration planting.
This year the parking lot was regraded and graveled; signage for the area was improved; an informational kiosk will be installed; on April 2, 30 volunteers helped pick up trash, plant native, drought-tolerant shrubs and plants, and repair damage to the parking area.
“It is fantastic to have dedicated volunteers willing to improve and protect the Klamath Hills Recreation Area,” said Klamath Falls Field Manager Kevin Heatley. “Their involvement is critical to the long-term success of this effort.”
The BLM Klamath Falls Field Office would like to thank all the volunteers, including the Klamath County Sheriff Department and Oregon Hunters Association, who showed up and planted approximately 100 native plants at the trailhead and picked up over a 100 pounds of trash.
“There has been growing public interest in restoring this area for public enjoyment." botanist Kerry Johnston said. "Volunteers have been committed to assisting the BLM in these efforts, and it is much appreciated. The BLM looks forward to maintaining and monitoring these restoration efforts over time with the public’s help.”
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/thank-you-to-volunteers-who-helped-on-the-klamath-hills-project/article_766bda22-7abe-584c-a02d-235a176fc4b9.html
| 2022-04-19T00:03:09Z
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The ‘b’ that ruined the spelling bee
Does it bother anyone else that the word “subtle” has a silent “b?” Is it ironic that the word subtle means “understated?” The “b” in subtle is, therefore, itself, subtle. Are you with me?
We don’t spell “settle” with a b. It’s the same with settle, sidle, saddle, and Seattle. There aren’t b’s in those words. So why the “b,” subtle?
Don’t worry — I’m not going to accuse anyone or any word of having a resting or silent “b” face. This column isn’t about the b-word or the unfortunate 2007 flop “Bee Movie.” It’s about the word “subtle.”
Subtle started out its life as the Latin word “subtilis,” which was an adjective describing the thin, delicate material used for producing a veil. Subtilis hopped on a boat to France and became “soutil” in Old French. “Soutil” meant thin and delicate. Once William the Conqueror (my 29th great-grandfather on my mom’s side) and the Normans invaded England in 1066, “soutil” made the journey across the English Channel as well, becoming “sotil” in Middle English. Its meaning grew beyond physical delicacy into how we now understand subtle in an abstract way.
So what happened? Doesn’t it make sense to drop letters that aren’t pronounced in a word?
In the 17th century, a group of nerdy Englishmen, who were known as the Latinists, started respelling English words to ground them in their Latin origins (I think their mantra was “Make English Latin Again”). Because of this, they added b’s, l’s, and p’s back into words that had evolved from Latin. Sotil, therefore, got its “b” added back into it, and it began to be spelled “subtle.” The “b,” however, stayed silent — subtle, even.
At this same time, several other words that started as Latin words ultimately arrived into the modern English lexicon with added letters in them. They, too, originated in Latin, then migrated into Old French, and rode the Norman wave into Middle English. These words include aisle, debt, doubt, indict, salmon, plumber and receipt.
Some words, on the other hand, didn’t lose their b’s, even though the b’s were no longer pronounced. They include “bomb” and “dumb.” That seems pretty dumb, if you ask me. And, while this is frustrating, it’s only one of the myriad of complex historical reasons why English spelling is complicated and annoying. So, beware of falling under the spell of an unexpected “b” — you might just get stung by it.
—Curtis Honeycutt is a syndicated humor columnist. He is the author of Good Grammar is the Life of the Party: Tips for a Wildly Successful Life. Find more at curtishoneycutt.com.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/the-grammar-guy/article_63e804b6-69fd-58ea-b1eb-1ba2552bc91b.html
| 2022-04-19T00:03:15Z
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Most Americans are spectators in today’s most critical struggle for democratic values — being battled at every hour of every day in Ukraine. But in another vital struggle for democracy, a third of Americans are spectators.
That’s the rate of Americans who did not vote in the last presidential election, perhaps the most important in a generation. Even though voter participation in 2020 was the highest since 1900, only 66.8% of Americans voted in an election with perhaps the most flexible voting requirements ever.
That is not enough, at least in the view of E.J. Dionne Jr., the Washington Post columnist, and Miles Rapoport, a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. In their new book, “100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting,” published less than a month ago, they argue that voting should be a duty, much like serving on a jury, registering for the draft and paying taxes.
It’s a provocative idea, embraced in 26 countries, at once consistent with American tradition (the Constitution begins with the phrase “We the people,” which suggests all of us) and at odds with it (Americans don’t like to be told what to do, as the debates over masks and vaccines prove).
Voting is a precious right that Americans, in their affluence and ease, have taken for granted, believing, like Otto von Bismarck, that “God has a special providence for fools, drunkards and the United States of America.” We shared the conviction that democracy was durable, that elections didn’t much matter, and that the stakes weren’t that high. Some of us voted, some didn’t. No problem.
But in four contests in less than 30 years — two of them in the United States — the world has seen the thirst of people for elections, the consequence of elections and the fragility of elections.
In 1994, in the first election in which Blacks were permitted to vote in South Africa, lines at polling places stretched out more than a half-mile. The next year, when Quebec voted on whether to declare itself a separate country, 93.5% of those registered to vote actually did so, and the province remained within Canada by 1 percentage point. In 2000, the U.S. presidency was determined by hanging chads and haggling lawyers in a Florida contest decided by 537 votes — or by some other minuscule number, depending on who was counting and what you believe — in an electorate of about 6 million souls.
And in 2020, vast numbers of Americans did not trust the verdict of the most sacred public act that our citizens perform.
Concern about voter turnout has been building for 25 years. In the late years of the last century, Curtis Gans, the respected co-founder of the Center for the Study of the American Electorate, wrote this, applicable today even with the relatively high 2020 turnout:
“Every year, the nation seems further and further from the political comity, cohesion and consensus that makes possible the constructive address of citizen needs ... The nation that prides itself on being the best example of government of, for and by the people is rapidly becoming a nation whose participation is limited to the interested or zealous few.”
The big surprise in 2020: This new generation of young voters is performing better than its predecessors, with record turnouts in both the 2018 and 2020 general elections. The 2020 election was the first time that a majority of those 18 to 29 actually voted.
“This is a highly anxious, highly knowledgeable, depressed group of young people,” said John Della Volpe, director of polling at Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Institute of Politics and the author of “Fight: How Gen Z Is Channeling Their Fear and Passion To Save America.” “Everything they were shaped by was negative. They don’t remember a time of national unity. Rather than turning away from politics, they turned in, and actually turned out to vote. I don’t think we’ll see a diminution in that.”
And yet there are whispers — not yet shouts — that some young people will not vote in this autumn’s midterm congressional elections if President Biden does not cancel student loans. This has Democratic political professionals in a swivet; that would be another disadvantage as Democrats try to preserve their majorities on Capitol Hill.
Midterm elections are more challenging for the Democrats, because younger people, poorer people and people of color are major components of the Democratic coalition — and tend to vote in midterm elections at lower levels than older white voters. The expectation that the Democrats are going to take a shellacking in November also could lower participation. “Voting groups that are disengaged could become even more so because they feel their vote won’t matter,” said Michael McDonald, a University of Florida expert on voter participation.
For 40 years, Dionne and I have competed as rival national political writers, shared friendly dinners and spots on panels, exchanged warm emails and good wishes. We have not spoken about this idea, and he had no inkling I would write about his book. And I’m not sure whether universal voting would change the outcome of elections, just as I’m not sure time-consuming NBA and NFL instant replays are an improvement over the imperfect verdicts of officials, whose judgments might even themselves out over the course of a game or a season.
But I am certain of this: An election is a civic ritual, and — with the decline of local newspapers, the proliferation of television news and streaming services, the sorting out of Americans by wealth, education, political inclination, and ethnic and gender identity — we have fewer civic rituals than ever and thus fewer shared experiences.
I understand the value of mail voting; as a political correspondent traveling with a candidate on a final offensive on Election Day, I often voted that way. But I always saw poetry and purpose in an entire country doing the same thing on the same day, seeking to define the country and to set its course.
Election Day is Walt Whitman’s verse on foot, for in people trooping to the polls, I always have heard America — some of us altos, some tenors — singing. We sang different parts. But all of us — Whitman’s mechanic, carpenter, mason, shoemaker and wood cutter — sang “with open mouths [our] strong melodious songs.” It is a shame that voting might be required. But our time might require it.
David M. Shribman is the former executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/the-value-and-urgency-of-voting-in-america/article_3c289b0c-2c70-5e53-88ca-9076fadb6564.html
| 2022-04-19T00:03:21Z
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The FBI field office in Oregon is warning about national “sextortion” schemes targeting teenage boys.
The FBI’s Portland Field Office issued an alert Monday, April 18, regarding reports of adults posing as young girls coaxing teenage boys to show sexually explicit images and videos on social media.
The online predators will message teens online or via smartphone apps and games, according to the FBI. The scam artists will then extort money from the teens threatening to release pornographic and explicit images online.
“Sextortion” is a crime — including under child sex abuse and child pornography statutes which entail hefty prison sentences.
"It is hard to imagine anyone doing this to children. Literally exploiting their innocence for money. The fraudsters earn their trust, then demand money to keep explicit photos a secret. This is a true example of how dire and disgusting criminals can be. Talk to your children now, tell them if someone they've met online asks for videos or photos, then money, immediately tell a parent or trusted adult and law enforcement to stop further victimization," said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Kieran Ramsey.
The FBI said it is receiving calls for the teen sex scams in Oregon and across the country. The federal police agency said the online imposters tend to target boys aged 14 to 17.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/fbi-sex-extortion-scams-targeting-teens-online/article_98b70496-2522-5e4a-8136-d5dc02a4dc37.html
| 2022-04-19T00:03:27Z
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The Forest Service is looking to treat an additional 50 million acres of land on both National Forest and non-National Forest land in the next 10 years to help prevent wildfires.
At a virtual informational session earlier this month, speakers from the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management shared their plans for the next decade amidst the wildfire crisis.
Mike Spisak, an assistant director for the U.S. Forest Service, said in 2020 alone, 1.9 million acres of forest burned down in Washington and Oregon. Now, there are thousands of acres in need of restoration.
Spisak discussed just how devastating an impact the fires have on road systems, landscapes, trails and recreation. He said funds released through disaster relief have been helpful in tackling systems to help overcome wildfires, but that there are more opportunities to work together to prevent wildfires.
To address the wildfire crisis, he said the Forest Service is looking to treat an additional 20 million acres on National Forest land in the next 10 years as well as an additional 30 million on non-forest service lands to help prevent wildfires. These lands include federal, state, tribal and private lands. In order to achieve this goal, they must treat over double the number of acres they currently treat annually.
The treatment regimens can include prescribed burns as well as mechanical means to reduce brush and other fuel for potential fires. Dry conditions from droughts have combined with brush to result in some recent extreme fires in northern California and the Pacific Northwest.
“We need to recognize this is a crisis that we all face and we need to work together through our partnerships between the state and federal government,” Spisak said.
Kevin Ford, the Oregon and Washington forestry section chief for biological resources at the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, also shared his concerns about the impacts.
Although BLM’s forestry operations in Eastern Oregon are smaller in scale, they play a crucial role in sustainability, Ford said. The 2020 Labor Day Fires created significant challenges for 128,000 acres of land in the perimeter of these fires— they had to take significant actions to adjust the timber sale program to deal with the losses.
In a perfect world, if Ford had all the resources and funding he could imagine, a significant challenge would still remain — how to develop plans and treatments in a future of uncertainty with climate change.
“Coming up with robust solutions that will do good work under a variety of conditions is a real scientific challenge that we would have to address,” Ford said.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/forest-service-looks-to-double-wildfire-prevention-treatments/article_4be32193-1b2a-5791-aa66-a9433cc8170d.html
| 2022-04-19T00:03:34Z
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Country
United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/woman-dies-in-hailstorm-car-crash/article_f1184d86-6a02-5cb8-a71e-23ece87c2fb0.html
| 2022-04-19T00:03:40Z
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Country
United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/trees-and-drought-topic-of-presentation-at-garden-clubs/article_f92ab876-254a-5d9e-a55a-6fbb8f5f7452.html
| 2022-04-19T00:03:46Z
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Even before the Supreme Court reverses Roe v. Wade, as most court watchers expect it to do this June, the legal battle about the aftermath of the decision is getting underway. By far the most consequential aspect of the fight is likely to be about state attempts to regulate medical abortions using the drug mifepristone.
For pro-choice advocates, mifepristone represents the only cost-effective workaround for women who want to end unwanted pregnancies but who live in the 25 or more states that will ban abortion after Roe is overturned. Some people have the means to travel out of state for surgical abortions. And, with enough financial support, some national organizations might be able to help pay the way for those who cannot afford the trip and the surgery.
(Some states are going to try to bar travel for abortion purposes, but such bans are likely to be held unconstitutional even by the current court.)
In contrast, if it were possible to speak to an out-of-state doctor online and get pills in the mail that would end a pregnancy, then many women would still be able to choose whether to carry their fetuses to term, regardless of state law. During the COVID pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration eliminated its requirement for an office visit to dispense mifepristone. The Joe Biden administration has announced plans to make that rule change permanent.
Thus, if mifepristone were widely available, the reversal of Roe might not be so disastrous for many women. The effects could be mitigated, maybe even substantially so.
Conversely, for the pro-life camp, widespread distribution of mifepristone by telemedicine could render their long-sought Supreme Court victory more symbolic than effective. To be sure, some people who say they are pro-life might secretly prefer for the reversal of Roe to leave the real-world option of abortion open for them and their loved ones. But for the official movement, and for those who genuinely believe abortion is murder, it would be perceived as a tragedy if abortion numbers did not go down toward zero in the states that outlawed it.
To understand the legal side of the fight that is emerging, you need to start with the weirdness of the legal regime governing medicine in the U.S. — a weirdness derived from the federal structure of the Constitution. On the one hand, licensing doctors is mostly a matter of state law. On the other hand, Congress has given the FDA, a federal agency, the authority to approve the use of medications.
The constitutional justification for this federal authority is that drugs affect interstate commerce. Congress has broad authority to make laws in that realm.
And ordinarily, when Congress has occupied an area of law within its authority, states can't pass laws that contradict federal law. The Constitution says that the Constitution itself and the laws the U.S. enacts under it are the supreme law of the land.
On top of this split structure, factor in state criminal law. States are entitled to make criminal laws governing conduct that takes place within their states. That jurisdiction can cross state lines under some circumstances. If I live in Massachusetts and hire someone to commit a crime in New York, I can be charged in New York state court even though I never left home.
Same for drugs. If a state outlaws marijuana, it can say that no one from the outside may send the drug to somebody inside the state, even from a state where pot is legal. So states that are going to outlaw abortion are also now starting to enact laws that will ban sending mifepristone into their states.
When it comes to telemedicine, states ordinarily can make laws affecting the care of their own citizens. But there is a credible legal argument that states should not be able to ban mifepristone, because it is a drug approved by the FDA — a federal agency. According to this argument, Congress and the FDA have occupied the field of drug regulation, thus preempting states from legislating in a way that bars a drug approved by the federal government.
So can mifepristone restrictions imposed on outside doctors be characterized as a permissible state regulation of medical practice within that state's authority? Or are such laws an impermissible state interference with federal drug regulations? The courts, and eventually the Supreme Court, will have to address the issue.
Even if the justices side with the states, the problem — or, depending on what side you're on, the solution — will not go away. It's conceivable that some organizations, say those outside the U.S., may be willing to send mifepristone through the mail in violation of state laws. An illegal mifepristone trade is likely to emerge. It will give rise to litigation.
Ideally, and legally, no one should be taking any kind of medication without a prescription. But if abortion is outlawed, medical abortion will be, de facto, the only option for women who do not want to continue with their pregnancies but who are unable to travel out of state. Expect to hear much, much more about it in the months and years to come.
Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and host of the podcast "Deep Background." He is a professor of law at Harvard University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter. His books include "The Three Lives of James Madison: Genius, Partisan, President."
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/will-federal-courts-let-states-ban-the-abortion-pill/article_409be020-d6ba-5003-b4f1-628129dd81c0.html
| 2022-04-19T00:03:52Z
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Lewisburg artist sketches ‘WVVA Today’ crew
Thank you to ‘WVVA Today’ viewer, Jody Wilber!
Published: Apr. 18, 2022 at 7:10 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVVA) - If you were watching WVVA Today on Monday, April 18, 2022, as promised here is a closer look at the caricatures created by Lewisburg’s Jody Wilber of Christina Kass, Meteorologist Collin Rogers and Joshua Bolden.
If you have a few minutes above is a video showing how all of this came to be.
Jody, you have such an incredible talent and we appreciate this more than words can express. Thank you so much.
Also thank you to all the viewers who wake up early & watch daily whether it is only a few minutes, 30 minutes or the whole show + noon. It is a great privilege to be a part of your mornings. --Joshua & the AM team
Click here to see more of Jody’s work!
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/18/lewisburg-artist-sketches-wvva-today-crew/
| 2022-04-19T00:40:47Z
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CAUGHT ON CAM: Officers rescue mother, children from burning apartment building
Published: Apr. 18, 2022 at 8:06 PM EDT|Updated: 34 minutes ago
(CNN) – Dramatic video captured officers in Indiana rescuing a mother and her two toddlers from an apartment fire.
The rescue happened in the early hours of April 11.
A mother was trapped on the second floor along with her 2-year-old and 3-year-old.
Three officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department rushed to the back of the building, where the mother dropped her children down to the officers.
She jumped down after them.
Authorities say the flames started when a candle was knocked over by a resident, setting a blanket on fire.
One person was slightly injured, with 20 people in the apartment complex being displaced.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/19/caught-cam-officers-rescue-mother-children-burning-apartment-building/
| 2022-04-19T00:40:53Z
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...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT TUESDAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
430...431...432...433...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zone 430, 431, 432 and 433.
* WIND...Southwest to west winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 40
mph.
* HUMIDITY...Minimum 9 to 13 percent.
* IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
Cheyenne Transit Program to get new home, with space for waiting indoors and increased pedestrian safety
CHEYENNE — A new home for the Cheyenne Transit Program will allow space for an indoor waiting area and a safer bus transfer station, according to CTP Director Renae Jording.
The city will use just over $1 million in grant funding already in its transit fund to purchase a property at 1800 Westland Road from V&M Properties LLC. While the move will not take place for several months, eventually the transit system office and transfer station for the city’s six buses will be moved from its current location on 17th Street between Carey and Pioneer avenues to Westland Road.
“The reason that we are relocating in the first place is safety,” Jording said in an interview Monday. She added that the city began looking for a new facility several years ago.
“Our six buses come together there on the hour, and even prior to COVID, we started looking at this,” Jording said. “Our passengers got off one bus and transferred to another bus there, and they had to cross in front of the entrance and exit to a parking structure.”
The current location meant it was very difficult for automobiles entering and exiting the parking structure to see riders crossing the street, going from one bus to another, she said.
“When the sun is bright, you can’t see them, and when it is slick, it is hard to stop,” Jording said. “It is just unsafe.”
The new location has a large parking lot out front, so there will be a protected transfer point for riders, as well as an indoor waiting area.
“If the weather is really bad, we will have enough room at the new location for a passenger waiting area,” Jording said.
Public transportation is most often used in Cheyenne by senior citizens, people with disabilities and those who can’t afford their own vehicle, but that is changing, Jording said. The transit program has been looking at making its services more efficient, direct and timely, especially in light of rising gas prices and people looking for alternative options for transportation, she said.
“We are asking, how do we make it more comparable for people who do have vehicles to use the bus?” Jording said. “We’re definitely looking at increasing ridership and, at least, attractability. We are talking about how to make the bus more attractive to those of us who have cars, but want to ride the bus or have those other options.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/cheyenne-transit-program-to-get-new-home-with-space-for-waiting-indoors-and-increased-pedestrian/article_0dfa5bc4-bf57-11ec-80b6-1bbd8950a538.html
| 2022-04-19T01:18:40Z
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Laramie Regional Airport canceled commercial flights this week after an important piece of weather monitoring equipment malfunctioned. Materials for the repairs are expected to be on site by Friday, according to a statement from the airport.
After a week of commercial flight cancellations, a crucial piece of equipment has been repaired and is operational again at Laramie Regional Airport.
Known as an automated surface observation system, the equipment helps pilots monitor the weather to ensure safe landing conditions. The cancellations began last Monday after it malfunctioned.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that the airport use an automated surface observation system or a trained weather observer to facilitate safe commercial flights.
The FAA, which owns the equipment, contracted the National Weather Service to fix the broken sensor. While originally all the necessary repair materials were expected to arrive Friday, the equipment wasn’t fixed until Monday afternoon, said airport Executive Administrator Rachael Mrozinsky.
Prior to the repairs, travelers posted on the airport’s Facebook page expressing frustration with a lack of communication from the airport and United Express and confusion over whether or not their upcoming flights will be canceled.
Some travelers have opted to change their flights to Cheyenne or Denver and rent a car to make it to and from the airport.
“We are thankful for the diligence of the National Weather Service and the FAA for getting this back into service for us and getting commercial flights back on their way in and out of Laramie,” Mrozinsky said in an email Monday afternoon.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/equipment-back-up-and-running-at-lra/article_41477d98-7eea-5f4f-acec-ebe39a433990.html
| 2022-04-19T01:18:46Z
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...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT TUESDAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
430...431...432...433...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zone 430, 431, 432 and 433.
* WIND...Southwest to west winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 40
mph.
* HUMIDITY...Minimum 9 to 13 percent.
* IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
1 of 3
Cheyenne Transit vehicles sit in their garage Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in east Cheyenne. The Cheyenne Transit Program had received a $3.3 million federal grant as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which will go toward funding the transit program’s operations and preventive maintenance. Michael Cummo/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
Cheyenne is using just over $1 million in grant funding already in its transit fund to purchase a property at 1800 Westland Road from V&M Properties LLC. This will be the new home of the Cheyenne Transit Program. Photo captured via screenshot on April 18, 2022. Source: Google.
Cheyenne Transit vehicles sit in their garage Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in east Cheyenne. The Cheyenne Transit Program had received a $3.3 million federal grant as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which will go toward funding the transit program’s operations and preventive maintenance. Michael Cummo/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
The logo for the Cheyenne Transit Program.
Cheyenne is using just over $1 million in grant funding already in its transit fund to purchase a property at 1800 Westland Road from V&M Properties LLC. This will be the new home of the Cheyenne Transit Program. Photo captured via screenshot on April 18, 2022. Source: Google.
CHEYENNE — A new home for the Cheyenne Transit Program will allow space for an indoor waiting area and a safer bus transfer station, according to CTP Director Renae Jording.
The city will use just over $1 million in grant funding already in its transit fund to buy property at 1800 Westland Road from V&M Properties LLC. While the move will not take place for several months, eventually the transit system office and transfer station for the city’s six buses will be moved from its current location on 17th Street between Carey and Pioneer avenues to Westland Road.
“The reason that we are relocating in the first place is safety,” Jording said in an interview Monday. She added that the city began looking for a new facility several years ago.
“Our six buses come together there on the hour, and even prior to COVID, we started looking at this,” Jording said. “Our passengers got off one bus and transferred to another bus there, and they had to cross in front of the entrance and exit to a parking structure.”
The current location means it can be very difficult for automobiles entering and exiting the parking structure to see riders crossing the street, going from one bus to another, she said.
“When the sun is bright, you can’t see them, and when it is slick, it is hard to stop,” Jording said. “It is just unsafe.”
The new location has a large parking lot out front, so there will be a protected transfer point for riders, as well as an indoor waiting area.
“If the weather is really bad, we will have enough room at the new location for a passenger waiting area,” Jording said.
Public transportation is most often used in Cheyenne by senior citizens, people with disabilities and those who can’t afford their own vehicle, but that is changing, Jording said. The transit program has been looking at making its services more efficient, direct and timely, especially in light of rising gas prices and people looking for alternative options for transportation, she said.
“We are asking, how do we make it more comparable for people who do have vehicles to use the bus?” Jording said. “We’re definitely looking at increasing ridership and, at least, attractability. We are talking about how to make the bus more attractive to those of us who have cars, but want to ride the bus or have those other options.”
Carrie Haderlie is a longtime freelance reporter from Saratoga. She writes for several publications in Wyoming, including newspapers in Cheyenne, Laramie, Rawlins and Sheridan, as well as the Wyoming Business Report. She can be reached by email to news@wyomingnews.com.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/cheyenne-transit-program-to-get-new-home-with-space-for-waiting-indoors-and-increased-pedestrian/article_b0d52796-e8d5-5dc3-beeb-68f126bfce13.html
| 2022-04-19T01:18:52Z
|
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT TUESDAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
430...431...432...433...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zone 430, 431, 432 and 433.
* WIND...Southwest to west winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 40
mph.
* HUMIDITY...Minimum 9 to 13 percent.
* IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Buchanan speaks during the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Friday, March 4, 2022, at The Metropolitan Downtown. Buchanan spoke about elections and what to expect during the 2022 election in Cheyenne. Rhianna Gelhart/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
CHEYENNE – Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Buchanan announced Monday that he plans to seek re-election this year.
"I am asking for your continued support, as there is more to be done," he stated in his announcement press release. "I have some great ideas on how we can continue to give our customers world-class service, and how we can ensure our elections remain secure and efficient."
Buchanan was appointed to the position in 2018 by former Gov. Matt Mead following the resignation of Ed Murray. Buchanan ran for re-election that November and won the general election.
During the past four years, Buchanan said he has met the goals he set out to achieve. He shared that his team saw a year-to-year revenue increase of more than 9% annually out of the Business Division, helping the state to remain tax-friendly. He said they also deployed secure and efficient election equipment for the 2020 election season and updated election codes, culminating in the passage of a voter identification measure.
"My office participated in a major update to the notary laws in Wyoming, as well as a rewrite of our security laws that were over 40 years old, which brought both areas into the 21st century," he said. "This was essential to Wyoming business and commerce, and protecting Wyoming citizens."
The official said he hopes to keep the momentum going if he is re-elected, and told constituents he is ready to hear their ideas during the campaign.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/state-secretary-ed-buchanan-to-seek-re-election-in-2022/article_69334836-3ec5-5ba3-a3ff-3770c3adb105.html
| 2022-04-19T01:18:58Z
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CASPER — In Jackson, workers camp out in cars and tents.
In Cheyenne, hundreds commute from neighboring towns.
Meanwhile, Laramie is struggling to attract new businesses, Wyoming Public Media reported last year.
All because of an affordable housing shortage.
Lawmakers will look for solutions during this year’s interim legislative session.
The interim session is the Legislature’s brainstorming period. Lawmakers meet to research dozens of issues affecting the state, and blueprint bills to address them.
Earlier this month, the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee named workforce housing as its second-highest priority for the interim.
It’ll be new territory for lawmakers, said Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, co-chair of the committee.
Housing reform has had a fringe following in the Wyoming Legislature for years, especially among Teton County lawmakers. For the most part, though, the state’s left the matter to local governments and housing groups to sort out.
And they tried, said Brenda Birkle, head of Cheyenne’s affordable housing task force and executive director of My Front Door, a nonprofit that helps first-time home buyers. It wasn’t enough.
“Attempts to manage it elsewhere, outside of the Legislature, have failed,” she said.
Meanwhile, the affordable housing shortage is only getting worse, advocates and officials told the Star-Tribune, especially since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
The committee’s aim is twofold, Zwonitzer said: figure out why, and what can be done about it.
“I don’t think there’s a clear end point of where we want to get to,” Zwonitzer said. “It’s really a survey of the field and what possibilities are before us.”
The first task is nailing down the problem. The committee will consult a variety of groups for help, including housing advocates, realtors and construction companies, Zwonitzer said.
What is “workforce housing,” anyway?
Housing organizations often use the term to mean housing for low- or middle-income workers, especially those employed in major industries and essential services.
In Teton County, that’d be housing for those tourism and hospitality jobs, for instance.
Some housing groups define workforce housing by income level instead. In those cases, the term usually refers to housing for people making around 50% to 120% of their community’s area median income.
In Teton County, that’s roughly $43,500 to $104,500. That same bracket in Laramie County would be $33,500 to $80,400, according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Birkle’s organization, My Front Door, primarily serves people who make a little less than that — between 30% and 80% of the area median income. (That’s around $26,100 to $69,600 in Teton County and $20,073 to $53,528 in Laramie County, according to HUD data.)
While quality housing is often woefully out-of-reach for households in this bracket, they make up a huge portion of the population, Birkle said. Helping them could have an enormous impact on stabilizing the workforce, she said.
“Really, if you want to break the poverty cycle permanently, it’s in that group,” she said.
So, what about solutions?
Birkle urged the committee to lean on nonprofits that work in workforce housing for help finding some direction.
Dan Dorsch, special projects coordinator for Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County, recommended housing trust funds as a potential starting point. (Dorsch also sits on Cheyenne’s affordable housing task force.)
Housing trust funds set aside pools of money for affordable housing programs. There are a few different ways the state could pay for one, Dorsch explained.
Federal programs are available through the National Housing Trust Fund, “but they can be difficult to navigate and have a lot of red tape that smaller organizations don’t have the capacity to access,” he said in an email.
“Local housing trust funds make it easier to access funds, and can be used in conjunction with federal dollars,” he added.
Dorsch pointed to Iowa’s State Housing Trust Fund program as a potential model.
Wyoming lawmakers have no shortage of their own ideas for addressing the housing shortage.
Teton County delegates have long floated the so-called “McMansion Tax” bill, for example, to prop up Jackon’s housing programs. That legislation would let counties pull in extra cash by taxing high-end real estate transfers. The latest version of the bill, which was sponsored by the Joint Revenue Committee, failed its introductory vote on the house floor in February.
Shelly Duncan, R-Lingle, spoke against the McMansion Tax during the 2022 legislative session. Duncan works in real estate, and said the tax unfairly burdens commercial property owners and home buyers.
Duncan, who is a member of the Corporations Committee, is in favor of creating a state agency to keep stock of housing needs and coordinate relief efforts in times of crisis.
“We need to take a holistic look across the entire state,” she said.
It could also serve as Wyoming’s fair housing office, Duncan said. Wyoming is one of just a handful of states without an agency to enforce housing discrimination law.
This story was published April 17.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/economy_and_labor/legislature-set-to-review-affordable-housing-shortage/article_991e7ece-bf61-11ec-8865-8374cb8a36a7.html
| 2022-04-19T01:19:05Z
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CASPER — The Biden administration will resume oil and gas leasing on federal lands, the Department of the Interior said Friday.
Officials plan to issue final environmental assessments and notices Monday for a “significantly reformed” sale that address “deficiencies” in the existing federal oil and gas leasing program. Roughly 173 parcels will be offered across Wyoming and seven other states, down from the 646 originally considered for sale, more than 70% of which were located in Wyoming.
“For too long, the federal oil and gas leasing programs have prioritized the wants of extractive industries above local communities, the natural environment, the impact on our air and water, the needs of Tribal Nations, and, moreover, other uses of our shared public lands,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement. “Today, we begin to reset how and what we consider to be the highest and best use of Americans’ resources for the benefit of all current and future generations.”
In November, following additional environmental review, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reduced the number of Wyoming parcels from 459 to 195. The agency then postponed the sale — the first federal onshore lease sale since President Joe Biden took office last January — over a since-reversed court decision blocking the administration from using its estimate of the social cost of carbon, a measure of climate harm, in federal analyses.
The BLM has not yet released the date of the upcoming sale or the number of Wyoming leases it will offer.
Regardless of the details, Wyoming’s oil and gas industry isn’t satisfied.
“Once again, President Biden’s words don’t match his actions,” Ryan McConnaughey, director of communications for the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, said in a statement. “Instead of ‘working like the devil’ to bring down gas prices, the administration has decided to lease just 20% of the acreage nominated for potential production by the oil and natural gas industry, all while making production more expensive.”
The royalty rate at the upcoming sale will — as anticipated — be set at 18.75%, up from the minimum 12.5% the BLM has used for more than a century. Wyoming’s oil and gas companies have been bracing for the royalty increase since November, when the Department of the Interior recommended in its internal review of the federal leasing program that the rate be raised. Two months later, the BLM briefly posted a draft notice that included the 18.75% royalty rate.
“While we don’t know the exact number and location of the Wyoming parcels, after 15 months without a lease sale in our state, to learn that royalty rates will be increased and available acreage significantly reduced is hardly cause for unbridled celebration,” Gov. Mark Gordon said in a statement. “I am concerned that these changes will have a chilling effect on Wyoming companies as they prepare their bids.”
For many conservation groups, however, the higher royalty rate is a victory.
“At a time when a lot of folks around the country are thinking about increased oil and gas production as a way to kind of bring us a little closer to economic security, there is a focus on on doing it right,” said Alan Rogers, communications director for the Wyoming Outdoor Council. “To make sure that we’re, No. 1, getting a good value for taxpayers, and No. 2, acknowledging the other values of our public lands.”
This story was published on April 16.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/energy_production/federal-oil-gas-leases-to-resume/article_f2793386-bf5e-11ec-a3ff-c345b8031040.html
| 2022-04-19T01:19:11Z
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Following her confirmation as the Constitution Party of Wyoming’s candidate for the state’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Marissa Selvig faces two Republican frontrunners with millions of dollars flowing into their campaigns.
But the Riverton resident said she doesn’t believe money defines a candidate’s ability to win.
“People in Wyoming are hungry for change,” she told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. “And I personally don’t believe that whoever has the most money is the best candidate.”
Quarterly campaign finances reports were posted Friday by the Federal Elections Commission for contenders in the 2022 election, totaling nearly $4 million in contributions in this race. Incumbent Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., raised more than $2.5 million between January and the end of March, close to $90,000 of which came from political action committees, according to her campaign’s filing. She was trailed by Trump-endorsed challenger Harriet Hageman, who received almost $1.3 million in contributions, of which $58,500 was from PACs.
Selvig said she understood this helped those candidates get their message out faster and farther than her at this point, but she criticized the thousands of dollars coming from out of state and super PACs contributing to races. She said concerns over raising millions of dollars prevents qualified candidates from running, and also leaves room for hidden influence.
“When big money comes into one campaign or another, those candidates are really beholden to those people who are giving them hundreds of thousands of dollars,” she said. “And is that good for their constituents? I don’t think it is. I think there’s a lot of money exchange in government that is unhealthy for our country.”
She said this was one of the reasons she doesn’t want to be involved with big money, and why she plans to run her campaign as frugally as possible. The Constitution Party candidate raised close to $8,000 in the first quarter in individual contributions, and spent around $7,000. As time progresses, she said she will gain more financial support, but it is not what qualifies her as a candidate.
“I am a qualified candidate because I am a citizen of this nation who loves it, and I believe in the Constitution,” she said. “Nowhere in the Constitution does it say you have to be from a fancy family, or be an attorney, or be a rich person.”
Although positions of power or family influences did not play a part in her decision to become a candidate in the race for the U.S. House of Representatives, her identity as a woman of faith did. Selvig said she was called by God to run, and she obeyed.
It also played a part in her leaving the Republican Party last fall.
“The Constitution Party really puts God first, and an emphasis on the Constitution,” she said. “And I know that the Republicans say they do the same thing, but I feel that the Constitution Party is more serious about it.”
Her goals align with these ideals in that she wants to restore fiscal responsibility in the federal government, bring back proper communication into the role of a representative and return virtue to government. She said standing up for moral excellence, being prudent and conducting yourself with integrity are all missing in politics today.
But she also said she sees an absence of constitutional values and policies. Changes she would advocate for, if elected, are to remove many bureaucratic organizations, such as the Department of Education and the USDA, repeal the 16th Amendment to remove personal income tax and give more responsibility back to the states.
“We take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution,” she said. “And people aren’t doing that. They aren’t voting for things that are constitutional, and I hope to.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/government_and_politics/constitution-party-house-candidate-against-big-money/article_b996f5b4-bf61-11ec-80bc-97d838b23b5b.html
| 2022-04-19T01:19:17Z
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As the number of Covid-19 cases grows in the United States, experts wonder if the country fully understands the current threat from the pandemic.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates that only 7% of positive Covid-19 cases in the US are being detected, meaning case rates are actually 14.5 times higher than officially reported. The last time the infection detection rate was this low was at the outset of the pandemic, in March 2020.
"It's a dynamic situation, and things are changing fast," said Ali Mokdad, a professor and chief strategy officer of population health at the institute.
Cases have long been undercounted, but one reason they may be so off is that the number of Covid-19 tests being done in non-traditional settings, like at home, has already surpassed the number being done in laboratories, according to the National Institutes of Health.
As the use of at-home Covid-19 tests rises, so does the concern that most of those test results go unreported, leading to an undercount of the true number of Covid-19 cases across the country.
Another reason detection is so low, Mokdad said, is that the majority of people infected with the Omicron coronavirus variant don't show symptoms, so they don't even know to take a test.
Why tests are important
A lot of diseases have low detection rates, Mokdad said, like flu.
"The difference is, this is a pandemic," he said.
When people hear that there are a lot of Covid-19 cases in their area, some may become more cautious. That can keep them from getting sick and from spreading the virus.
Testing can also tell public health experts what measures to put in place to keep people safe. For example, when Philadelphia recently saw cases rise, it brought back an indoor mask mandate.
"We have to always stay ahead of this and not just hope it's gone away," said Mara Aspinall, testing expert and a professor of practice in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University.
Testing is important at an individual level, too. It tells people if they need to isolate so they don't get other people sick. It also tells them if they need to seek Covid-19 treatments, which work best when the illness is caught early.
Changing the model
State health departments in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York say percent positivity rates are no longer a reliable metric. Nevada has removed case counts from its data dashboard altogether.
State officials recognize that the ubiquitous availability of home tests has led to an underreporting of cases, particularly of mild to moderate disease, and they say it's difficult to quantify the impact of this missing data.
But the New Jersey Department of Health says the unreliability of case data probably doesn't impede its ability to characterize the severity of the pandemic. There are other metrics that can offer a sense of how much disease is in the community.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its own metrics to determine what Covid-19 restrictions may be necessary. Rather than relying on case counts, hospitalizations are weighed more heavily. The agency also tracks other indicators, like the levels of virus being detected in wastewater.
Cases are a good indicator of surges, but they aren't everything, said Spencer Fox of the University of Texas' Covid-19 Modeling Consortium. Its model is based off hospital admissions checked against antibody levels in blood samples.
Fox says it is the "gold standard" of estimation early on, but it's "becoming increasingly complex because the landscape of immunity in the country is changing."
Omicron is highly transmissible, and reinfections are becoming more common.
In general, though, he thinks the understanding of the case data in the pandemic is not necessarily worse than it's been before -- "but it's possible things are changing."
Efforts to streamline delivery of at-home test results
States like Tennessee encourage people who use at-home tests to submit their results to the manufacturers so they can be tracked. It's unclear how many people actually do that, but there are several efforts underway to track home tests better.
The Association of Public Health Laboratories is working with the NIH under a contract to use the association's electronic lab reporting platform, AIMS, to help streamline the reporting of Covid-19 home test results.
This approach still relies on people who use at-home tests to report their results to manufacturers, but Association of Public Health Laboratories CEO Scott Becker hopes the AIMS system eases the process of manufacturers reporting to public health authorities.
The initiative "is in recognition of the fact that this gap exists in reporting," Becker said.
"From a public health perspective, that's sort of a missing data point, if you will, in the universe of testing," Becker said of at-home test results. "That's kind of a blind spot."
The Association of Public Health Laboratories announced in March that it was awarded the NIH contract, limited to $8.8 million over three years, to work on improving the reporting of over-the-counter at-home Covid-19 test results to public health officials. The contract employs AIMS to collect data from at-home test manufacturers and then distribute the data to states and jurisdictions.
"An at-home test has a digital tool that goes with it, and we're trying to build out, essentially, a spec that allows the data to flow through the hub to the places where it needs to get for state reporting," Becker said. "There are states that are interested in getting that data and that's really for situational awareness."
Another platform pushing for more efficiency is ReportStream, a cloud-based data routing system set up by the US Digital Service in partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The US Food and Drug Administration requires at-home Covid-19 test manufacturers to develop a mobile phone app or website "to further facilitate results reporting by the individual" using the at-home test.
"The FDA had asked for post-market digital solutions to report, but beyond that, the guidance was limited, and what that meant was when digital solutions were being built and these tests were being reported, the way the reporting was happening was inconsistent in different formats, and that just made the data collection poor. It made the data analysis very difficult," said Dr. Krishna Juluru, Presidential Innovation Fellow at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering who is advising digital health solutions for the RADx initiative.
Juluru and his colleagues have worked on "setting up standards and common pathways for communications of these results."
Platforms like AIMS and ReportStream, called hubs, serve as destinations where at-home Covid-19 test results can be sent and then transmitted to state health departments that want the data. An additional de-identified copy of the message is sent to a federal system called HHS Protect, creating a unified national view of Covid-19 test results.
On the state level, AIMS connects to all US states and territories and has long been used to route laboratory test results to government health systems, according to the NIH, and ReportStream connects to the majority of states.
"So, it takes away that burden from the test manufacturer, from the app developer, from having to develop direct connections with all the states," said Andrew Weitz, a program director at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering and co-lead of the RADx Mobile Application Reporting through Standards program, or RADx MARS, with Juluru.
Every lab-based Covid-19 testing site is required to report diagnostic and screening test results to state or local public health authorities, but individuals who give themselves self-tests are not required to report the results. This can lead to many at-home test results going unreported, resulting in gaps in data.
"Although it is still dependent on individuals to choose to report, we still hope to address that blind spot," Juluru said.
'We have to be more strategic'
There are estimates of how many at-home tests might go unreported.
One preprint study by researchers at the University of Massachusetts and other US institutions, published this month, suggests that when people use at-home Covid-19 tests, only about 8.1% of them will also use the "digital assistant" or app that comes with it.
Of those who used the app, though, more than 75% reported their results to their state public health authorities. People were less likely to report if they had a positive test result.
"The voluntary reporting overall was low, but what we also found was that when people used a digital solution -- when they actually accessed their digital tool to help guide their test, to help give them instructions on how to do it -- we found that the rate of reporting was very high, in the order of more than 75%," Juluru said. "That's actually very encouraging."
The overall low usage of the app may be due to a lack of education about the importance of reporting test results, the researchers said.
When it comes to Covid-19, the number of cases reported in each state will continue to ebb and flow, and it will be important to track that data and monitor the spread of disease, Becker said.
Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist and professor at Brown University, thinks more needs to be done to monitor the pandemic to make up for the lack of data.
"We're going to see a signal. It's just going to be harder to interpret and know what to do about it," said Nuzzo, who is director of the Center for Pandemic Preparedness and Response at Brown.
Population-targeted surveys would help.
"We have to be more strategic. You just can't make more home tests available," Nuzzo said. "If you go out and intentionally sample in these neighborhoods, we would have a better understanding."
Nuzzo's main concern is that the country is now at a real disadvantage in understanding how the virus is transmitted. "If people are getting sick in the grocery store, then you need to know that so you encourage people to wear masks. If it is 5-year-olds, you can take measures there," she said.
"We have so many more tools, and we are not using them in a strategic and meaningful way."
Becker said that anyone who has Covid-19 symptoms -- even just a sniffle -- should get tested.
"People have this ability to test themselves with a really good degree of confidence," he said. "The best approach is, if you test yourself and you're positive, that's when you reach out to a clinical setting, to your physician or a local health agency, to get a confirmatory test."
The-CNN-Wire
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https://www.kitv.com/news/coronavirus/rise-in-at-home-testing-means-we-could-be-undercounting-covid-19-cases-even-more/article_2128e800-e199-51e3-9ff1-d69975a43827.html
| 2022-04-19T01:49:55Z
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...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST TUESDAY...
* WHAT...Northeast winds 20 to 25 kt with higher gusts.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Windward Waters, Oahu
Leeward Waters, and Kaiwi Channel.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
HONOLULU (KITV4) -- One person was arrested following a police chase and crash that caused Honolulu Police to shut down a section of Young Street, Monday morning.
It happened around 8:15 a.m. A surveillance camera was rolling at the moment a chase suspect sideswiped a car and crashed into a pole near Young Street and Punahou Street. Following the crash, police say the suspect attempted to escape on foot but was soon caught by officers.
According to police, the suspect -- only identified as a 35-year-old man -- was arrested on complaints of vehicle theft, resisting an order to stop, harassing a police officer, and driving without a valid license.
The crash caused HPD to shut down Young Street from Kalakaua Avenue to Punahou Street. The roadway has since been reopened.
There have been no reports of injuries. This case remains under investigation.
Matthew has been the digital content manager for KITV4 since September 2021. Matthew is a prolific writer, editor, and self-described "newsie" who's worked in television markets in Oklahoma, California, and Hawaii.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/crime/chase-suspect-crashes-into-parked-car-pole-in-honolulu/article_49c99f32-bf59-11ec-8ea5-3f0b2056f86b.html
| 2022-04-19T01:50:01Z
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...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST TUESDAY...
* WHAT...Northeast winds 20 to 25 kt with higher gusts.
* WHERE...Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Kauai
Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Windward Waters, Oahu
Leeward Waters, and Kaiwi Channel.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.
&&
HALEIWA, Hawaii (KITV4) -- For the first time in three years, bicyclists will once again take over the North Shore of Oahu for the Haleiwa Metric Bike Ride.
The event will happen on Sunday, April 24. More than 700 riders will span the North Shore for the Haleiwa Metric Bike Ride all for a good cause.
Each aid station raises money for different charity and organizers say the event raises awareness for biker safety.
“That's our main mission is to get more people to bike and that really comes from advocacy to create safer places to bike and education both bicyclists and motorists on how to keep each other safe,” said Lori McCarney with the Hawaii Bicycling League.
There are events for bikers of all ages and ability levels, ranging from a 30 kilometer ride to a “Century Ride” -- that’s 100 kilometers or about 62 miles.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/haleiwa-metric-century-gets-ready-to-ride/article_67b6eae8-bf65-11ec-982c-b3fbe603e46f.html
| 2022-04-19T01:50:07Z
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AP source: Kimberly Guilfoyle meets with Jan. 6 committee
WASHINGTON (AP) — Kimberly Guilfoyle, the fiancée of former President Donald Trump’s eldest son, met with the House committee investigating the U.S. Capitol insurrection Monday — more than a month after she abruptly ended a voluntary interview with lawmakers — according to a person familiar with the matter.
Guilfoyle, 53, arrived Monday morning at the federal office building on Capitol Hill where the committee has been conducting its virtual and in-person interviews to sit down with lawmakers, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss private testimony.
The committee investigating the attack had requested testimony and records from Guilfoyle, who spoke at the rally Trump held on the White House Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, before the riot at the Capitol aimed at overturning Trump’s election loss. Lawmakers say that Guilfoyle, who was a chair of the Trump Victory Committee, the fundraising arm of his campaign, also raised funds for the rally and was in direct contact with its key participants and organizers.
Members of the nine-member panel issued a subpoena to Guilfoyle last month after she cut the voluntary interview short over her objection to the presence of lawmakers. The committee’s decision to subpoena her was unusual, as lawmakers have tried to bring in most members of Trump’s family on a voluntary basis.
Joe Tacopina, an attorney representing Guilfoyle, did not respond to a request for comment Monday but has previously stated that his client “has done nothing wrong,” and will testify truthfully to any question.
The committee has said it has received a number of the documents it initially requested from Guilfoyle but is now looking to learn more about her meetings with the former president and members of his family in the Oval Office the morning of the attack.
“Ms. Guilfoyle met with Donald Trump inside the White House, spoke at the rally that took place before the riot on January 6th, and apparently played a key role organizing and raising funds for that event,” Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, the committee’s Democratic chairman, said in a March 3 statement.
Guilfoyle’s appearance is the latest in a series of sit-down interviews the committee has conducted with those in Trump’s inner circle in the past few weeks. On Tuesday, Stephen Miller, who served as a top aide to Trump, was questioned virtually for eight hours.
The former president’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner have also spoken to the committee in the past month, providing hours of testimony that members have cited as helpful to their probe.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/18/ap-source-kimberly-guilfoyle-meets-with-jan-6-committee/
| 2022-04-19T02:51:37Z
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California woman pleads guilty to 2016 kidnapping hoax
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A Northern California woman pleaded guilty Monday to faking her own kidnapping and lying to the FBI about it, leaving her motive unanswered in the carefully planned hoax that set off a massive three-week search before she resurfaced on Thanksgiving Day in 2016.
Sherri Papini, 39, of Redding, offered no explanation for her elaborate hoax during the half-hour court hearing.
“I feel very sad,” she said tearfully when Senior U.S. District Judge William Shubb asked her how she was feeling.
“Were you kidnapped?” he asked her later in the hearing.
“No, Your Honor,” she replied.
“Did you lie to government agents when you told them you were kidnapped?” Shubb continued.
“Yes, Your Honor,” she responded.
Papini agreed to plead guilty in a deal with prosecutors reached last week and is scheduled to be sentenced July 11.
Prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence on the low end of the sentencing range, estimated to be between eight and 14 months in custody, down from the maximum 25 years for the two charges.
She also agreed to pay restitution topping $300,000. That includes the cost of the search for her that covered several Western states, and the subsequent investigation into the “two Hispanic women” she said had kidnapped her at gunpoint.
Papini was actually staying with a former boyfriend nearly 600 miles (966 kilometers) away in Southern California’s Orange County. Three weeks later, he dropped her off along Interstate 5 nearly 150 miles (240 kilometers) from her home.
She had bindings on her body and self-inflicted injuries including a swollen nose and blurred “brand” on her right shoulder. She had other bruises and rashes on many parts of her body, ligature marks on her wrists and ankles, and burns on her left forearm.
The married mother of two kept lying about it as recently as August 2020 when in fact there was no kidnapping, she admitted in her guilty plea.
Papini has offered no rationale for why she did it.
Her attorney, William Portanova, said last week that he doubts even she knows.
He suggested “a very complicated mental health situation,” and said her long-delayed acceptance of responsibility and punishment is part of the healing process.
Papini said Monday that she has been receiving psychiatric care for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder ever since her return — more than $30,000 worth of treatment for which she billed a state victim compensation fund and which is now part of her restitution.
Prosecutors say her faked kidnapping wasn’t impulsive, and that she planned it for more than a year without her husband knowing. The former boyfriend told investigators they didn’t have sex while she stayed with him.
Papini’s organization and planning would seem to make conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression an unlikely explanation, two mental health experts said independently.
Both cautioned that they have not examined Papini and that many factors in the case remain unknown to the public.
She may have expected that the kidnapping hoax would bring her “fame and fortune,” said Dr. Ian Lamoureux, a forensic psychiatrist and frequent expert witness who teaches at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic.
And she did benefit financially: Aside from the victim compensation, she must repay nearly $128,000 in disability payments. Separately, a GoFundMe campaign raised more than $49,000 to help the family.
As a possibly related factor, Lamoureux has researched the false hero or “pathological hero” phenomenon that takes advantage of society’s treatment of victims as heroes. Those who fake their own victimization may be seeking recognition or popularity, and if mental illness is involved it may suggest a narcissistic or histrionic personality disorder.
Another possible explanation is that she faked her kidnapping to avoid some other adverse consequence, he said, typically something like a divorce or being fired, though Papini was a stay-at-home mom.
Lamoureux, who specializes in complicated criminal and civil cases, said manufacturing a crisis may be a way for those with fragile egos and poor coping skills to seek to prevent the bad outcome from happening.
And there are such things as compulsive liars, as well as those who do “not have a great distinction between fantasy and reality,” sometimes because of an earlier trauma, said Dr. Ziv Cohen, founder and medical director of Principium Psychiatry in New York City.
This case is unusual in that Papini had no clear motive and “this is consciously creating some kind of false traumatic situation,” said Cohen, who teaches at Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University. “She harmed herself — she wasn’t actually abused by anyone.”
But for some pathological liars the motivation is simply in fooling others, he said, in this case perhaps her husband and investigators.
“These patients can sometimes remain quite mysterious and they often can deny their lies right until the end,” Cohen said. “They will persist and say in the face of all evidence that their version is true.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/18/california-woman-pleads-guilty-2016-kidnapping-hoax/
| 2022-04-19T02:51:43Z
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Canada bans foreign home buyers for two years to cool market
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government announced Thursday it will ban foreign investors from buying homes in Canada for two years in a bid to cool off a hot housing market.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland took a number of measures to tamp down speculation and demand amid record home prices in announcing the federal budget for the year.
The government announced a two-year ban on foreign home buying as well as higher taxes for people who sell their home within a year, though both measures include multiple exceptions including for permanent residents and foreign students.
The budget also includes billions for new housing and measures to help Canadians trying to get into the market, including a new savings account and changes to the first-time home buyers tax credit.
The government is under pressure to cool an overheated market after prices climbed by more than 20% last year, while rental rates have also been rising.
The federal Liberal government is also promising $500 million Canadian (US$397 million) in additional military aid to Ukraine as well as more humanitarian and financial support to Kyiv in response to Russia’s invasion.
Canada responded to months of pressure from the NATO military alliance and others by promising more than $8 billion Canadian (US7.2 billion) in new military spending over the next five years. Canada will remain far short of NATO’s spending 2% of GDP target, even as other allies dramatically ramp up their own military investments following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Last month, the Canadian government announced it selected Lockheed Martin Corp. and the F-35 as the preferred bidder in its competition to buy a new fighter jet.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/18/canada-bans-foreign-home-buyers-two-years-cool-market/
| 2022-04-19T02:51:50Z
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Diagnosed with Debt: Many Americans face financial hardships from crushing unpaid medical bills
Medical debt is among the highest for families living in low-income communities in the South
InvestigateTV - Dialysis. Chemotherapy. A broken arm. Every day Americans make critical decisions about medical care. For some, those decisions lead to thousands of dollars of debt.
More than 17% of Americans had an outstanding medical bill in collections in 2020, according to a new study by the Journal of American Medical Association.
The typical bill for various procedures was more than $2,000 in the last year. Overall, one in three American adults carry some amount of medical debt, according to Healthcare.com
Experts Investigate TV spoke with said medical bills can lead to poor credit scores, wage garnishments, and anxiety.
The anxiety is familiar to Rochelle Jordan, a single mother of four living in Phoenix, Arizona. On her way to work in 2012, Jordan said she suddenly felt dizzy, which led her friend to call the paramedics. An ambulance took her to a nearby hospital for care.
While Jordan said she doesn’t recall what her diagnosis was that day, she didn’t forget the cost of her emergency visit.
“I believe the paper said $3,000,” Jordan said. “I mean just going to the doctor itself, it’s like a lot of money, and it’s like, ‘how can we afford this?’”
According to Affordable Health Insurance, 1 in 4 Americans owes more than $10,000 in medical debt.
Jordan works at a fast-food restaurant to make ends meet for her family. For the next nine years, Jordan said the medical bills hung over her head.
“I need good credit so that way my kids and myself can have a place to stay,” Jordan said.
Jordan’s concern about unpaid medical bills affecting her credit score was not unfounded – especially if those bills end up in collections. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, medical debt accounts for 58% of all the bills in collections, which means they are at least 90 days past due.
Debt across the country
Nationally, 14% of Americans have medical debt in collections.
That percentage does not include all medical bills owed to health care providers, just those sold to collection agencies.
Overall, Americans with medical debt in collections owe an average of $700, according to the Urban Institute, a nonprofit research organization that mapped medical debt in the U.S.
CLICK HERE TO EXPLORE THE INTERACTIVE MAP
That analysis shows 15.3% of Arizona residents like Jordan have a medical debt listed on their credit reports as of last August.
The same data shows one in four West Virginians has medical debt in collections.
South Carolina, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas have the highest percentages of debt in collections. In Georgia, it’s 19% of the population.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report in February that said that millions of lower-and middle-income Black families enrolled in health insurance marketplaces saw their premiums lowered or eliminated because of the American Rescue Plan of 2021.
In Wyoming, 28.1% of communities of color are likely to accumulate medical debt in collections compared to white communities.
Non-profit relief
Some Americans are finding relief from a non-traditional source – an organization founded by former debt collectors designed to erase the medical debt.
In 2014, Craig Antico and Jerry Ashton – those former debt collectors - started the nonprofit, RIP Medical Debt, which helps pay off medical debt for low-income Americans.
Their debt relief agency uses donations to buy large amounts of medical debt from hospitals and collection agencies with the goal of helping those in financial stress.
“It’s the number one cause of bankruptcy across the country,” said Allison Sesso, executive director of RIP Medical Debt. “It is something that burdens everyday Americans all the time. Nobody is really immune to it.”
According to Sesso, connections in the health care industry help the nonprofit identify hospitals and medical providers holding large amounts of outstanding debt. RIP Medical Debt will then purchase that debt from the hospitals.
Then it randomly selects families in desperate need – those making less than two times the federal poverty level – and abolishes their debt.
Those selected for help don’t know it until they receive a letter in the mail from RIP Medical Debt that says in part that they “no longer have any obligation to pay [their] debt to anyone, at any future time.”
ABOVE: A sample RIP Medical Debt letter families get in the mail after their medical debt has been paid off.
Rochelle Jordan in Arizona received one of those letters.
“It’s like a present, you know like Christmas,” Jordan said. “You don’t know what is until you open it up.”
Because there is no way to apply for help from an organization like RIP Medical Debt, Jordan knows she is one of the lucky ones.
“This is the smile of a person that is happy to be cleared off that debt.”
Since 2014, RIP Medical Debt has paid off about $6 billion.
Campaign contributions
RIP Medical Debt isn’t just a national organization, it is driven by local organizers like Rita Krenz.
As a critical care flight paramedic in Virginia, she knows an unexpected trip to the hospital can leave a person with crushing financial debt.
“An ambulance is going to send a bill, the emergency department sends a bill, the radiologist who reads your CTs and your x-rays is probably going to send a bill,” Krenz said.
She said she is proud of the health care system in this country, but understands what a financial burden it can be. In her home state of Virginia, 16% of people have medical debt in collections.
Krenz said that’s when she decided to do something about it.
“I started learning about exactly how big of an impact just a little debt can have,” Krenz said.
After spending months researching, Krenz said she learned RIP Medical Debt helps people like her start local campaigns in selected areas across the country where they want to help eliminate medical debt.
Krenz’s campaign launched in September 2020 with a goal to raise $15,000.
At first, she thought that number was too large. But family, friends, and anonymous donors helped her soar past that initial amount, and to date she has raised almost $32,000. The donations have helped wipe substantial amounts of debt in several counties she works in: Albemarle, Augusta, Rockingham, Fluvanna, Charlottesville (city), Buckingham, Nelson, and Page.
“I picture them opening the mailbox and getting that letter in and maybe feel a little bit of relief. A burden lightened,” Krenz said.
Medical debt advocacy
Chris Van Haren worked for two decades as a pharmacist in Madison, Wisconsin. She saw first-hand the impact medical bills had on her patients.
In 2019, she switched careers and became a medical advocate, opening her own medical advocacy consulting agency “A Better Way Advocacy”. Medical advocates work with families to educate them on how to navigate the health care system.
Van Haren’s primary focus is assisting families with questions about their insurance and how to file an appeal. She said the need for medical advocates has grown exponentially, and the country is in a medical debt crisis.
“When GoFundMe is the main way that people pay for their medical bills, we know we’re in trouble,” Van Haren said.
She said health literacy is where patients suffer the most. She said clients she meets have a tough time understanding their insurance policies and often miss loopholes in their healthcare plan, sometimes even paying a bill unnecessarily.
WATCH: A walkthrough of how to find a medical advocate.
“So what often happens is we get that first bill, and it doesn’t make sense to us. And we set it so overwhelms us that we set it aside and we think I will handle this later,” Van Haren said.
There are new measures being established at the federal level to help with medical debt.
On April 11th, the White House announced a multi-faceted plan with “actions to protect consumers and lessen the burden of medical debt on American families”. Several of the measures are geared towards alleviating the impact medical debt has on credit scores, along with special aid geared towards veterans with outstanding medical debt.
The No Surprises Act implemented in 2021 creates new federal protections against surprise medical bills for families, to provide transparency for patients in case of emergency.
Private health plans are now required to cover surprise medical bills for emergency services, including air ambulance service and in-network and out-of-network bills.
To keep up with these recent changes, Van Haren suggests insured families take time to understand their insurance plans, co-pays, and the hospitals that are in and out of network.
Families unfamiliar with their bills and charges should call the hospital’s billing department or their doctor’s office to speak with someone who can walk them through the process.
Doctors, hospitals, and clinics also have their own contracts with insurance companies. Van Haren suggests asking what the insurance could cover.
Access to advocates
Patient advocacy is a growing profession and there are advocates across the country who can provide answers for families. According to Zippia, a job searching site, more than 51,000 jobs will be created in the next 10 years.
“Be proactive, you really need to be proactive,” Van Haren said. “It’s your health. Unfortunately, nobody is going to take care of it if you don’t. We have laws in place. We have legislation in place. We have patient advocates available.”
In 2018, the Patient Advocate Certification Board created a certification for patient advocates looking to help families navigate the healthcare system.
Organizations like the Greater National Advocates and AdvoConnection Directory can give families access to a network of independent patient advocates. Prices for services can vary state by state.
There are a few pro-bono advocacy organizations as well. The Patient Advocacy Foundation, The Care Partner Project, and the Center for Patient Partnerships at the University of Wisconsin-Madison both provide free advocacy services and resources for families.
Americans spent more than $3.5 Trillion on health care in 2017, according to a California Health Care Foundation report. That same report projects health care costs to jump to $6 trillion by 2027. The impact of outstanding medical debt on people’s credit scores will lessen over the next year. According to a recent press release, in 2023 the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian) will stop reporting medical collection debt below $500. RIP Medical Debt sees this as critical relief for people who have been “Diagnosed with Debt”. In a statement, they said, “RIP Medical Debt celebrates this change that will help millions – this course correction is welcome and overdue.”
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/18/diagnosed-with-debt-many-americans-face-financial-hardships-crushing-unpaid-medical-bills/
| 2022-04-19T02:52:00Z
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Harrisonburg looking to close on property for affordable housing project
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - In the next few months, the Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority is hoping to close on the sale of a property that would be the site of its most ambitious project to date. It’s aimed at targeting the city’s affordable housing crisis.
The Housing Authority is planning to build a 1,000-unit community on 84-acres off of Garbers Church Road and Erikson Avenue. That is across from Harrisonburg High School.
HRHA is partnering with private real estate firm, Equity Plus LLC, for the project.
When complete, the community will include rentals and homes that can be purchased including more than 100 single-family homes targeted at first-time home buyers.
“We’ll have individuals at less than 30% of the median income living in the rentals and probably up to 60%. So, in real money terms for a family that’d be about $34,000 dollars or less,” said Michael Wong, HRHA executive director.
In addition to the single-family homes, there will be townhouses, apartment complexes, and senior living.
“Being 84-acres, we really want to implement a town center type of concept in which we have green space, walkability, biking, transportation common types of activities, services on the first level, and housing on the second,” said Wong.
The Housing Authority currently has more than 3,000 people on its waiting list and hopes the project will help put a dent in that number.
“This is a project that the community can take pride in, and they will see that it’s going to have a very unique, positive, and productive impact on our community,” said Wong.
HRHA plans to apply for low-income housing tax credits in the spring of 2023 to help fund the development. It also hopes to have services for residents of the community.
“We’re really excited about what this could bring to the community. We see a great opportunity to work with our community partners in regard to bringing different services to this local community including childcare, healthcare, and employment services,” said Wong.
The property is currently under contract. HRHA hopes to have the rezoning process complete and the project approved by City Council in the fall.
Construction of the development would begin in 2023 and be completed in stages. The goal is for the entire community to be complete by 2030.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/18/harrisonburg-looking-close-property-affordable-housing-project/
| 2022-04-19T02:52:07Z
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‘It was hurtful’: Prayer space inside West End Islamic Center vandalized
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WWBT) - As members of the West End Islamic Center come together for the holy month of Ramadan, their place of worship became the target of vandalism.
On Saturday afternoon, a family, including their young daughter, found damage to their prayer space.
”She just kept repeating, ‘Why are they doing this to us? Why do they hate us?’” said Syed Perwez, treasurer for the board of trustees with the West End Islamic Center. “We weren’t expecting this at all.”
Inside the space was around $2,000 worth of damage, including trash, graffiti, shattered glass, and water bottles slashed and dumped on prayer rugs.
“We have water bottles here for the congregants for when they want to break our fast in the evenings and when we have our prayer services,” Perwez said. “This was a very quick, fast job.”
The West End Islamic Center believes the vandalism happened between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
Perwez said a wall was also smashed in, graffiti was spray-painted on the ground, and construction materials from the second floor were thrown to the ground.
“It was hurtful. It’s hurtful that you would think that; it’s almost one of those things that you know you wouldn’t expect to it happen here,” he said. “We don’t know what sort of what their motive was, but their intent was to do damage.”
Perwez said the prayer space was opened two weeks ago for Ramadan as they continue to finish construction on their new facility.
A family and their young daughter also discovered this vandalism.
“She just kept repeating, ‘Why are they doing this to us? Why do they hate us?’” he said. “Our younger congregation coming in, they were asking because it’s hard for them to wrap their heads around this.”
This is not the first time the West End Islamic Center has been the target of vandalism. Six months ago, Perwez said they also found graffiti.
“There was graffiti,” he said. “They urinated.”
The Henrico County Police Department said they took a report for this on Nov. 26 for spray paint on the walls on the main floor and other spray-painted items in the basement.
At this time, a spokesperson said it’s unknown if these two vandalism incidents are related.
There were no cameras to capture the vandalism on camera, but Perwez said they’re working to do this.
“One of our top priorities is getting a security system,” he said.
As they look to make repairs and move forward with their holy month of Ramadan, Perwez also has a message for whoever is behind this vandalism.
“You don’t need to fear us. You don’t need to hate us,” he said. “We’re not the boogeyman or the monster in the closet or under the bed. We’re human beings just like you. Come talk to us.”
Henrico Police is asking anyone with information about this vandalism to come forward as they continue their investigation.
If you have a tip, you can call Henrico Police at (804)-501-5000 or Crime Stoppers at (804)-780-1000.
As part of their faith, the West End Islamic Center also relies on community donations to help with their costs, including the construction of their new facility.
If you would like to make a donation to the West End Islamic Center, click here.
Copyright 2022 WWBT. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/18/investigate-these-events-hate-crime-islamic-center-vandalized-second-time-six-months/
| 2022-04-19T02:52:13Z
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‘Magic mushrooms’ for therapy? Vets help sway conservatives
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Matthew Butler spent 27 years in the Army, but it took a day in jail to convince him his post-traumatic stress disorder was out of control.
The recently retired Green Beret had already tried antidepressants, therapy and a support dog. But his arrest for punching a hole in his father’s wall after his family tried to stage an intervention in Utah made it clear none of it was working.
“I had a nice house, I had a great job, whatever, but I was unable to sleep, had frequent nightmares, crippling anxiety, avoiding crowds,” he said. “My life was a wreck.”
He eventually found psychedelic drugs, and he says they changed his life. “I was able to finally step way back and go, ‘Oh, I see what’s going on here. I get it now,’” said Butler, now 52. Today his run-ins with police have ended, he’s happily married and reconciled with his parents.
Butler, who lives in the Salt Lake City suburbs, is among military veterans in several U.S. states helping to persuade lawmakers to study psychedelic mushrooms for therapeutic use.
Conservative Utah has become at least the fourth state over the last two years to approve studying the potential medical use of psychedelics, which are still federally illegal. A string of cities have also decriminalized so-called magic mushrooms and an explosion of investment money is flowing into the arena.
Experts say the research is promising for treating conditions ranging from PTSD to quitting smoking, but caution some serious risks remain, especially for those with certain mental health conditions.
Oregon is so far the only state to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin, the psychedelic active ingredient in certain mushrooms. But studying them for therapy has made inroads not only in blue states like Hawaii, Connecticut and Maryland, but also GOP-led Texas, Utah and Oklahoma, which passed a study bill through the state House this year.
The progress stands in contrast to medical marijuana, which Utah lawmakers refused to allow until a ballot measure helped push it through. However, the proposal to study a broad range of psychedelic drugs passed easily this year.
Texas has yet to legalize medical marijuana, but former Republican Gov. Rick Perry helped shepherd through a bill last year to use $1.4 million to fund a study of psilocybin for treating PTSD.
“The stigma attached to psilocybin and most psychedelics dates back to the 60s and 70s. It’s been very hard for them to overcome,” said Democratic Rep. Alex Dominguez, who sponsored the bill. “My approach was, ‘Let’s find the group that all sides claim that they are supportive of.’ And that would be veterans.”
He also heard from conservatives like Perry who support the use of psilocybin to treat PTSD — and let advocates from that end of the political spectrum take the lead publicly.
Maryland also gave bipartisan approval to spending $1 million this year to fund alternative therapies for veterans, including psychedelics. Democratic sponsor Sen. Sarah Elfreth, whose district includes the U.S. Naval Academy, noted the spike in suicides among veterans.
“I don’t envision the VA acting anytime soon,” she said. “We’re at a true crisis level and it’s time for the states to step up.”
Psilocybin has been decriminalized in nearby Washington, D.C., as well as Denver, which decriminalized it in 2019, followed by Oakland and Santa Cruz in California, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
There’s also plenty of venture capital being invested from people who have had positive experiences and are “highly motivated” to invest in psychedelics as treatment, said John Krystal, the chair of psychiatry at Yale University.
Rhode Island lawmakers are weighing a proposal to decriminalize psilocybin this year, and in Colorado there’s an effort to get statewide decriminalization on the ballot. But similar measures have stalled in Statehouses elsewhere, including California and Maine.
Studying psychedelics, though, has gained more traction. In Oklahoma, a bill from Republican Reps. Daniel Pae and Logan Phillips would legalize research on psilocybin.
“I believe the research will show that there is a way to use this drug safely and responsibly, and it could save the lives of thousands of Oklahomans,” Pae said in a statement. The bill passed the House last month and is now under consideration in the Senate.
It’s a stunning turnaround for a field that captivated researchers in the 1950s and 1960s, before mushrooms and LSD became known as recreational drugs. They were federally outlawed during the Nixon administration, sending research to a screeching halt.
New studies, though, have indicated psilocybin could be useful in the treatment of everything from major depression to alcoholism, said Ben Lewis, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Utah Huntsman Mental Health Institute.
“People are referring to this current period of time as the psychedelic Renaissance,” he said. Up to 30% of depression sufferers are considered resistant to current treatment, and there have been few recent leaps forward in drug innovation, he added.
The risk of addiction or overdose is considered low with psychedelics, especially under medical supervision, and while some cardiac conditions can present a physical risk, many people’s physical reactions aren’t dangerous.
But there are serious psychological risks, especially for people with certain forms of mental illness or a family history of conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
“Then there’s a possibility that a high-dose psychedelic experience could sort of trigger that and lead to long-lasting mental health issues,” said Albert Garcia-Romeu, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Classic psychedelics include LSD, mescaline, psilocybin and ayahuasca. Plant-based psychedelics have long been used in indigenous cultures around the world.
Today, their therapeutic use at Johns Hopkins is carefully monitored, Garcia-Romeu said. Patients are rigorously screened and typically have at least three appointments: one for preparation, a second to take the drugs and a third to work through the psychedelic experience.
For Butler, the 2018 arrest at his parents’ home was a turning point. He started researching new ways to deal with the PTSD he has suffered since deploying six times to Iraq and Afghanistan and working in counterterrorism and hostage rescues in Somalia for the U.S. Special Forces before retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2017.
Eventually he came across ayahuasca, long a part of traditional cultures in South America. Last summer, he took part in a ceremony involving the psychoactive brew, overseen by a woman knowledgeable about its effects. She talked to him as the experience took hold, including a feeling of euphoria, the sight of geometric shapes and a sense he was entering his subconscious.
She spoke to him about his childhood and how the military had shaped his life.
“It really was as simple as having an experienced person who understood the medicine, who understood that subconscious space and understood PTSD. It was as simple as listening to her,” he said.
He credits that single session with getting his PTSD about 80% under control, though he occasionally does another if he finds his symptoms returning.
About two-thirds to three-quarters of people in studies have experienced significant improvements in their symptoms, Garcia-Romeu said. Those are promising results, especially for quitting smoking, where current treatments only work for about one-third of people, he said.
The Food and Drug Administration designated psilocybin a “breakthrough therapy” in 2018, a label that’s designed to speed the development and review of drugs to treat a serious condition. MDMA, often called ecstasy, also has that designation for treatment of PTSD.
How quickly states move from study to wider availability remains to be seen. Connecticut recommended legal medical use only after psilocybin is approved by the FDA, which may take until 2025 or later as the agency works through its process, including risk assessment.
Approval is important to safety as well as access, the Connecticut assessment said — without it, many insurance companies likely wouldn’t cover the treatment, leaving it open only to the wealthy.
In Utah, the study team is expected to complete its work in the fall.
“We’ll see what can and can’t be done,” said Republican Rep. Brady Brammer, who sponsored the bill. “If if they feel like it’s safe, it’ll be an interesting ride.”
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Associated Press writers Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland; Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City; Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, and Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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| 2022-04-19T02:52:20Z
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Migrant crossings spike as US plans to lift curb on asylum
WASHINGTON (AP) — Migrants attempted to cross the U.S.-Mexico border at the highest level in two decades as the U.S. prepares for even larger numbers with the expected lifting of a pandemic-era order that turned away asylum seekers.
Immigration authorities stopped migrants 221,303 times along the Southwest border in March, a 33% increase from a month earlier, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data released Monday.
The new figures were disclosed as the Biden administration comes under increasing pressure over the looming expiration of a public health order that enabled U.S. authorities to turn back most migrants, including people seeking asylum from persecution.
The number of migrant encounters has gone up nearly every month since President Joe Biden took office, becoming fodder for political opponents who point to the increase as evidence that this administration is weaker on border security than its predecessor.
A backlog of people waiting outside the country to seek asylum, as well as dire economic and political conditions in much of Latin America and the Caribbean, is partially responsible for the increase in migrants. Administration critics blame Biden, arguing his administration’s moves to roll back Trump-era policies has encouraged people to come.
The number of illegal crossings, or those outside official ports of entry, totaled 209,906 in March, surpassing the previous high of Biden’s presidency of 200,658 set in July, and the highest level since March 2000, when it reached 220,063.
Former President Donald Trump also faced a sharp increase in migrant border crossings but the number plummeted with the start of the pandemic. In March 2020, the previous administration invoked Title 42, a little-used public health authority to quickly expel nearly anyone encountered along the Southwest border.
U.S. authorities have expelled migrants more than 1.7 million times under Title 42 authority, named for a 1944 public health law, using the threat of COVID-19 to deny migrants a chance to seek asylum as required under U.S. law and international treaty.
With COVID-19 cases in decline, the Biden administration has said it intends to end the use of Title 42 at the border on May 23.
Several moderate Democrats have joined Republican leaders to call for an extension of Title 42 authority. Sen. Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat up for election this year, toured the border last week and warned that the Biden administration is unprepared for asylum restrictions to be lifted.
Human rights groups and other migrant advocates say the U.S. has a legal obligation to permit people to seek asylum and have called for the lifting of the public health order. “The United States can and must welcome people seeking asylum because it is the law, because it is right, and because we can,” the Catholic Legal Immigration Network said in a statement Monday to mark Holy Week.
The rapid expulsions under Title 42 are a significant component of the recent increases. Migrants are turned back without any legal consequences, and many simply try to cross again and are therefore counted more than once in the total.
CBP said the number of unique individuals encountered nationwide in March came to 159,900, a 37% increase from the prior month.
More than half of the total 221,303 stopped were quickly turned away, without being given a chance to apply for asylum, either to Mexico or their homelands, according to data supplied to a federal court in Texas as part of that state’s challenge of Biden administration immigration policies.
CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus said in a statement that the agency planned to send additional staff to the Southwest border to handle the “likely” increase expected when Title 42 is lifted.
Most of the rest were processed under immigration authority, known as Title 8, and their ultimate fate varies. About 34,000 were allowed to remain in the U.S. under parole, which will allow them to pursue asylum or legal residency through other avenues. If they are unsuccessful, they could face deportation.
Mexicans made up the largest group by nationality of those encountered at the border, followed by Cubans. The number of Ukrainians, who are generally being allowed into the country on humanitarian parole, increased to over 200 in March from just 5 in November.
___
Associated Press writer Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/18/migrant-crossings-spike-us-plans-lift-curb-asylum/
| 2022-04-19T02:52:27Z
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Movers clean out wrong apartment, all of family’s belongings thrown in dumpsters
OMAHA, Neb. (KETV) - A Nebraska family was left dumpster diving for their belongings after a moving company mistakenly cleaned out the wrong apartment.
On Thursday, Stephanie Gunia picked up her three kids from school and headed back to their apartment, which they just moved into that week.
But upon entering, the family was met with a horrible surprise.
“We walked in, and there was nothing in our apartment except for a mattress,” Gunia said. “My kids’ stuff was gone, their clothes, everything.”
Thinking she’d been burglarized, Gunia panicked and called the police. However, when officers came to investigate, they found no signs of forced entry, and all doors and windows were locked.
But then, a neighbor told Gunia he saw people moving items out of her apartment and into the dumpsters.
Upon looking, Gunia found her personal belongings spread out between five dumpsters – much of it ruined.
Ultimately, investigation revealed what happened – the apartment complex hired a moving company to clear out an apartment, and they hit the wrong unit.
“They said they got the wrong apartment. They cleaned out the wrong apartment,” Gunia said.
Apartment management said in a statement, “We are working with a resident who had some of her possessions mistakenly placed in a dumpster. We believe almost all of her possessions were retrieved. Any missing items will be replaced at our expense.”
Gunia said there was cash in the apartment that has not been recovered. Apartment management said it gave Gunia a $250 gift card immediately after the mistake was discovered.
Copyright 2022 KETV via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/18/movers-clean-out-wrong-apartment-all-familys-belongings-thrown-dumpsters/
| 2022-04-19T02:52:34Z
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New regulations on Farm Use plates
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - Governor Glenn Youngkin signed 100 new laws into action earlier in April.
One of them is a law many farmers have been waiting for over the last few years.
HB 179 and SB 186 establish new regulations regarding “farm use” tags on vehicles.
This comes after many years of discussion between the Virginia Farm Bureau and state legislators, as many have abused the system in recent years.
As of now, anyone can go into a farm supply store and purchase a farm use plate to display on their vehicle, whether it is being used for farm purposes or not.
“It allows vehicles that are truly, solely for the purpose of farm use to not have to have a permanent VDOT issued tag and with that they also don’t have to be inspected on an annual basis since they are solely for farm use,” Bradley Dunsmore, an area farmer said.
On the outside, it may seem this law would hurt farmers or work against them since they have to show proof, however, one local farmer says he is happy with the new law.
“What we had noticed over the last several years, particularly the last two or three years there had been a greater and greater prevalence of primarily personal use vehicles that were driving around with farm use tags on them and the abuse of the system had gotten to a point where a lot of the farmers felt like the time was right, something needed to be done to stop the abuse of the program to preserve the program for the farmers that really need this,” Dunsmore said.
The new regulations pertain to unregistered farm vehicles. Beginning July 1, 2023, farm vehicles will be required to display a DMV-issued permanent plate.
”What was proposed in this law was the best long-term solution to keep this available to farmers, keep this vital program out there but at the same time stop the abuse with it making people prove they were in fact a farming operation before you could get a farm use tag,” Dunsmore said.
The new required plate will cost $15 and there will be an application to fill out before receiving the plates ensuring that the person’s vehicle meets the criteria for farm use.
”We tried education, we tried many things but it finally came down to getting an official placard from the DMV where the farmer or the person that feels like they meet the exemption can use the vehicle for the proper purposes,” Andrew Smith of the Virginia Farm Bureau said.
At the DMV, farmers will also have to provide proof that the vehicle will have liability insurance with the new regulations.
Although adding an extra step by having to make an appointment at the DMV to obtain these plates, local farmers and the Virginia Farm Bureau hope these news regulations will cut down on non-farmers abusing the plates.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/18/new-regulations-farm-use-plates/
| 2022-04-19T02:52:41Z
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Rise in ‘at-home’ COVID tests could skew case counts, experts say
(CNN) – It’s a lot easier these days to get “at-home” COVID-19 tests, but many of those test results are not being reported, leading to a drastic undercount of cases.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates only 7% of positive COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are now being detected.
That would mean case rates are actually more than 14 times higher than officially reported.
While cases have been undercounted throughout the pandemic in some states, including Ohio and New York, no longer use positivity rates in the fight against COVID.
The CDC is now emphasizing hospitalization rates over case counts.
To get a more reliable count of COVID-19 cases, the National Institute of Health is now working with laboratories to help streamline easier ways to report test results.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/18/rise-at-home-covid-tests-could-skew-case-counts-experts-say/
| 2022-04-19T02:52:47Z
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Second arrest made in South Carolina mall shooting
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Police in South Carolina have announced the arrest of a second person connected to a shootout inside a busy shopping mall in the state’s capital, one of two mass shootings that rocked the state over the Easter holiday weekend.
Columbia Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook on Monday said police have arrested Marquise Love Robinson, 20. Authorities are also seeking a third suspect, Amari Sincere-Jamal Smith. Both men face charges of attempted murder and nine counts of aggravated assault and battery.
Nine people were shot and another six injured in the rush to exit Columbiana Centre in Columbia, authorities said, with no fatalities reported. Holbrook said one person remained in the intensive care unit Monday.
Police said they did not believe the shooting was a random attack and that the three identified suspects knew each other.
The first person arrested in the shooting, 22-year-old Jewayne M. Price, was one of three people initially detained by law enforcement as a person of interest. Price’s attorney, Todd Rutherford, told news outlets Sunday that his client fired a gun at the mall, but in self-defense. Rutherford said Price faces a charge of unlawfully carrying a pistol because he legally owned his gun but did not have a permit to carry a weapon.
Columbia police said on Twitter that a judge agreed Sunday to let Price leave jail on a $25,000 surety bond. He was to be on house arrest with an ankle monitor, police said.
Authorities are also investigating a second mass shooting that struck the state over the weekend.
At least nine people were shot early Sunday at Cara’s Lounge in Hampton County, according to South Carolina’s State Law Enforcement Division. No one was reported killed in the violence at the nightclub.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/18/second-arrest-made-south-carolina-mall-shooting/
| 2022-04-19T02:52:54Z
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Spring game to highlight JMU quarterback competition
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - The James Madison football team is preparing for the 2022 spring game.
It will be the first spring game at JMU since 2019 after the 2020 spring season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dukes played a competitive, FCS schedule in the spring of 2021 after the 2020 fall season was postponed due to COVID-19 impacts.
Saturday’s spring game is set for a 1 p.m. start. Fans will have a chance to see the three players who are competing for the starting quarterback job perform in a game-like scenario. JMU head coach Curt Cignetti has already said the competition will continue into fall camp.
JMU Quarterback Competition - The Candidates
Todd Centeio - Graduate Student (6′1″, 221 pounds)
Centeio joins JMU after spending two seasons at Colorado State and three at Temple. He started 12 games at CSU in 2021, throwing for 2,958 yards with 15 touchdowns while adding 439 rushing yards with a pair of touchdowns on the ground. He also started one game during Colorado State’s COVID-19 shortened, four-game season in 2020.
Billy Atkins - Redshirt Freshman (6′2″, 200 pounds)
Atkins returns for JMU after serving as the No. 2 quarterback behind Cole Johnson last fall. Johnson is now preparing for a potential NFL career. Atkins completed 9-of-14 pass attempts for 71 yards and two touchdowns in a reserve role during the 2021 season.
Alonza Barnett III - Freshman (6′0″, 188 pounds)
Barnett is a true freshman, early enrollee who signed with JMU last December. He was ranked as a two-star recruit by Rivals and is a native of Whitsett, North Carolina.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/18/spring-game-highlight-jmu-quarterback-competition/
| 2022-04-19T02:53:01Z
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Student stabbed by ‘trespasser’ at California high school has died, officials say
Published: Apr. 18, 2022 at 5:12 PM EDT|Updated: 5 hours ago
STOCKTON, Calif. (Gray News) – A 15-year-old student has died after she was stabbed multiple times at a California high school Monday.
Stockton Unified School District confirmed the stabbing at Stagg High School in Stockton, about 50 miles south of Sacramento.
District officials say the school was under lockdown after a “trespasser” approached the campus and stabbed the student at around 11 a.m.
The 40-year-old suspect is in custody, and the victim was transported to the hospital where she later died, according to KOVR.
Law enforcement officials say the attack does not appear to be random and that the student was targeted, KOVR reports.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/18/student-stabbed-by-trespasser-california-high-school/
| 2022-04-19T02:53:07Z
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Virginia Museum of the Civil War discontinues Battle of New Market reenactment
NEW MARKET, Va. (WHSV) - Since the 1970s, the Virginia Museum of the Civil War in New Market has hosted annual reenactments of the Battle of New Market on May 15. However, that tradition has come to an unceremonious end.
The museum has made the decision to permanently discontinue the reenactment.
This comes after the reenactment was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. The museum cited diminishing attendance numbers and rising costs over the last decade as two of the biggest reasons for its decision.
“It kind of seemed inevitable to us. We’ve been seeing not only fewer and fewer spectators each year for the reenactment, but we were seeing fewer and fewer reenactors as well. Even a lot of the guys that are local to here are starting to retire,” said Sarah Hebert, supervisor of historical interpretation for the Virginia Museum of the Civil War.
The museum said COVID-related funding and staffing shortages accelerated the decision, as well as a rise in safety issues at reenactments.
“Everybody’s dealing with funding issues. A lot of museums have closed because of COVID, and we’re fortunate to still be open. So, this just seemed like the right way to go. We’ll miss aspects of it, but we’re hoping we can do something in the future that brings more of an educational side,” said Hebert.
The museum still plans on performing living history events for the anniversary of the battle and will do so this year in May.
“We’ll do some artillery demonstrations and also just black powder demonstrations for folks to see the whole process of loading and firing a weapon and just how in-depth that is, and that’s something you kind of miss out on with a reenactment,” said Hebert.
Other educational events and programs will include period games and cooking demonstrations as well as interactive history activities for children.
“We’re able to bring more people back here, volunteers and staff, to kind of tell the whole story. It’s not just the battle itself. It’s the lead-up to the battle, how people prepared for it if you were in this area, and the aftermath as well,” said Hebert.
Elsewhere in New Market, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation scored a recent win in Richmond protecting a historic mill house in Winchester.
“During the third battle of Winchester that house was used as a hospital site. There are recorded statements by men who were treated there who came back after the war,” said Nicholas Picerno, Chairman Emeritus of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.
House Bill 1278 was signed into law by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. It authorized the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to turn the 38-acre property over to the foundation.
“We were able to demonstrate the historical significance of the property. We also believe there are probably still soldiers from the war that are buried on that property as well since it was a hospital site,” said Picerno.
The foundation will now be able to preserve and protect the historic property.
“Relic hunting will be illegal on the property. A law was passed last year that made relic hunting on property that is owned by a battlefield foundation illegal. It’s a class one misdemeanor,” said Picerno.
The foundation works to restore its properties to as close as it can to their appearance during the civil war. It also does archaeological work on them, and puts up interpretive markers to inform visitors about the property.
On May 14 and 15, on the same day as the anniversary of the Battle of New Market, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation will be hosting a living history event with battle recreations in McDowell, Virginia for the 160th anniversary of the Battle of McDowell.
As for the Battle of New Market, you can read the full statement from the museum on its decision to discontinue the reenactment below.
Since the early 1970s, New Market Battlefield State Historical Park has hosted one of the longest-running annual large-scale battle reenactments in the nation. However, for well over a decade we have witnessed diminishing numbers of spectators and participants while costs of the event have increased. In addition, providing for the safety of staff, spectators, and reenactors has become more complex. In response to a dramatic rise in documented issues at large reenactments, we have found it necessary to increase security efforts to address these potential threats.
Accordingly, we have determined to discontinue the annual May 15 reenactment. A series of public activities including tours, lectures and small scale, focused living history presentations, will mark the May 15 anniversary date of the Battle of New Market.
Changing interest, technology, and interpretive opportunities require us to re-direct our staff and resources toward new, innovative programming. Visitors to the park can look forward to educational events presented by skilled volunteer living historians many times throughout the year.
We will continue to be a venue for civilian and military living history which encourages one-on-one interaction between historical interpreters and visitors. We are committed to providing a meaningful and enjoyable experience for our visitors in their desire to understand life in Virginia during the Civil War.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/18/virginia-museum-civil-war-discontinues-battle-new-market-reenactment/
| 2022-04-19T02:53:17Z
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April 18 snow day
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - A snow day for mid-April! Yes it may seem wild after highs were around 60° Sunday, and in the mid 70s Saturday! The setup today was a feature specific to the Appalachin mountains. It was a cold air damming setup, or also known as the ‘wedge.’ This happens when high pressure is to the north/northeast and low pressure is to the south.
Cold air is heavier, more dense than warm air. So the high to the north helps that cold air to sink in between the mountains (Alleghenies and Blue Ridge). As moisture rides up from the south, it can turn into the wintry weather. What happened today, was that the cold air was in place for several hours longer before ‘warmer’ air a few thousand feeta bove the ground moved in from south to north.
So a few degrees, turned the sleet into snow and that lasted into the afternoon. Finally temperatures about 5,000′ above the ground warmed up enough into a thick enough layer to melt the snow to rain. If you noticed really big, fat snowflakes this afternoon- that was the warm air trying to work in.
This time of the year with a higher sun angle it’s very difficult to get accumulating snow during the daytime. But, with temperatures barely above freezing and heavier precipitation rates, it can happen.
So is this a record? Is this the latest measurable snowfall date? Nope, not at all. Here are the latest measurable snowfall dates across the area. For the Valley it’s typically at the end of April. For West Virginia it can be at the end of May.
In fact during the month of April there’s a 62% chance of at least a trace of snow. If we look at just the second half of April, from the 15th-30th those odds drop dramatically down to about 15%.
Here’s a look at snowfall across the area today: All reports are from the National Weather Service
You have to read this caption send in with this photo from a viewer:
So while it seems wild, to have a 30 degree temperate drop in 12 hours, well it happens. Either with a cold front or a cold air damming setup. It can go from 75 to 30 in a day. But the good news is usually this time of the year, the cold doesn’t last long. We’ll be in the 80s by the weekend. Here are some other snow photos from around the area.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/19/april-18-snow-day/
| 2022-04-19T02:53:23Z
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Arts Council awards local artists and educators
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - Over the past 20 years, the Arts Council of the Valley (ACV) has awarded over $400,000 in grants to local artists and art educators.
This spring, the Arts Council recognized 12 community members who are using creativity to make a difference in the Friendly City and beyond.
“People are seeing the value of the arts,” said ACV executive director Jenny Burden. “Art tells a story of where we are now and where we want to go in the future.”
ACV awarded a total of $15,000 to creators whose projects spanned two categories. Arts For Education grants honored educators while Creative Inspiration grants funded individual artists.
Applications for the next awards cycle open in July. More information on ACV, along with the submission timeline, can be found here.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/19/arts-council-awards-local-artists-educators/
| 2022-04-19T02:53:29Z
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CAUGHT ON CAM: Officers rescue mother, children from burning apartment building
Published: Apr. 18, 2022 at 8:06 PM EDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
(CNN) – Dramatic video captured officers in Indiana rescuing a mother and her two toddlers from an apartment fire.
The rescue happened in the early hours of April 11.
A mother was trapped on the second floor along with her 2-year-old and 3-year-old.
Three officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department rushed to the back of the building, where the mother dropped her children down to the officers.
She jumped down after them.
Authorities say the flames started when a candle was knocked over by a resident, setting a blanket on fire.
One person was slightly injured, with 20 people in the apartment complex being displaced.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/19/caught-cam-officers-rescue-mother-children-burning-apartment-building/
| 2022-04-19T02:53:36Z
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COVID vaccine clinics happening in the CSHD this week
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - Almost 70% of adults in the Central Shenandoah Health District have at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The CSHD continues to focus on small community clinics around the Valley.
“We are still seeing first doses which is fantastic news throughout the health district,” Jordi Shelton, with the CSHD, said. “I think it’s important for folks to know it’s not too late to get your first dose of a COVID vaccine. They’re safe, they’re effective.”
If you have any COVID-19 questions, you can call the CSHD COVID hotline. Public health staff will be available to assist with COVID-19 questions and concerns Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Call 1-855-949-8378 to be connected.
There are several opportunities this week to get a COVID-19 vaccine at a CSHD clinic:
Thursday, April 21
- Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, April 22
- Dollar General on Greenville Ave in Staunton, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Dollar General on Craig St in Craigsville, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 23
- Simms Center in Harrisonburg, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
No appointment is necessary.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/19/covid-vaccine-clinics-happening-cshd-this-week/
| 2022-04-19T02:53:44Z
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Great Community Give kicks off this Wednesday, April 20
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County is gearing up for its 5th annual fundraising event, the Great Community Give, on Wednesday, April 20.
125 non-profits across Harrisonburg and Rockingham County will be participating in the Great Community Give, but organizers say it has turned into more than a fundraiser.
“It is a community-wide event. It’s a networking opportunity for non-profits,” Amanda Bomfim, the Programs Officer with TCFHR, said. “It’s an opportunity to connect with members of the community. It has grown to be more than I could have dreamt of, and I’m in awe.”
For its first year in 2018, the Great Community Give Goal was $70,000. This year, TCFHR hopes to raise $1.8 million, which is a bit more than was raised in 2021.
Bomfim said if that goal is reached, the Great Community Give will have raised over $5 million in five years.
On Wednesday, the event goes from sunrise to sunset; 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“If they don’t know who they want to give to, they can look up that cause or category [on our website] and the non-profits that serve that need will show up in your search,” Bomfim said. “We try to make it as easy as possible for you to find what you’re looking for on the website.”
Early Giving has been happening since April 6 and ends on April 19. In that time, Bomfim said the community has already raised over $90,000.
To learn more about the Great Community Give and the non-profits participating, click here.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/19/great-community-give-kicks-off-this-wednesday-april-20/
| 2022-04-19T02:53:50Z
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JMU lacrosse works on mental toughness
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - This spring, James Madison lacrosse is ranked number 11 in the country. After dropping four games early in the season, the team is riding an eight-game winning streak over top opponents, including third-ranked Maryland.
The Dukes spend countless hours training on the field, yet a key part of their preparation takes place off the field, in an office in Godwin Hall.
With the help of sports psychologist Dr. Bob Harmison, the Dukes are mentally preparing for the biggest stage in college sports, when they compete in the NCAA Lacrosse Championship in May.
“If you’re chasing a feeling of confidence, you’re going to be running after it for a long time,” said Harmison. “Confidence is a decision that you make, a belief in yourself, and faith in your potential to succeed.”
In 2018, JMU beat Boston College 16-15 to secure its first national title in program history. This spring, Dr. Harmison is enjoying the process as the Dukes aim for their second championship.
“Seeing an athlete achieve a goal that was meaningful for them, and knowing that I was able to help them achieve it, is the best part of my job,” added Harmison.
Dr. Harmison has been showing the Dukes the power of positive body language, which can help the team achieve peak performance on the field.
JMU lacrosse is wrapping up its regular season of play and will be competing in the first round of the NCAA Championship in May.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/19/jmu-lacrosse-works-mental-toughness/
| 2022-04-19T02:53:56Z
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Local runners participate in 2022 Boston Marathon
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - Multiple local runners took part in the 2022 Boston Marathon on Monday.
Matt Denlinger of Rockingham put together a great performance by running the 26.2 mile race in 2:34:43 and finishing 245th overall. According to Boston.com, there were more than 28,000 entrants into this year’s race.
Results from 2022 Boston Marathon - Local Runners
Matt Denlinger (Rockingham) - 2:34:43 (245th overall)
Michael Fox (Bridgewater) - 2:50:00
Jonathan Lantz-Trissel (Rockingham) - 2:51:11
Aaron Kauffman (Harrisonburg) - 2:57:04
Nelle Fox (Bridgewater) - 3:10:39
Monica Huson (Staunton) - 3:11:43
Paul Shifflett (Staunton) - 3:16:00
Paul Titus (Waynesboro) - 3:20:31
Michelle Stauffer (New Market) - 3:28:08
Amanda Womack (Staunton) - 3:28:15
Joan Bienvenue (Afton) - 3:38:21
James Williams (Staunton) - 3:41:03
Mary Crews (Luray) - 3:54:42
If you or someone you know ran the Boston Marathon and you don’t see the result listed above, email thomas.eck@whsv.com
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/19/local-runners-participate-2022-boston-marathon/
| 2022-04-19T02:54:03Z
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Showalter looks to build off of dominant outing
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - Justin Showalter is hoping his most recent outing will help him finish the 2022 season strong.
“It’s nice to see things kind of come together and be able to see zeros on the (scoreboard),” said Showalter. “And be able to walk away with an outing I can feel really good about.”
Showalter, who has had an up and down campaign, was dominant in the Dukes’ 8-3 victory over Northeastern last Friday. Showalter worked into the seventh inning for the first time all season and matched a career-high with 11 strikeouts while surrendering just seven hits and one earned run against the Huskies.
Showalter had struggled at times this season prior to his start against Northeastern, entering last Friday with a 5.30 ERA. But the Shenandoah Valley native and Turner Ashby alum, who has served as JMU’s Friday night starter all season, is looking for improved results moving forward.
“That definitely feels really good,” said Showalter, a graduate student, following Friday’s win. “I think it’s a good confidence booster going forward. Because I have had a lot of unfortunate things in my past outings.”
Showalter has tossed 44.1 innings this season and struck out 45 batters while walking just five. He’s sporting a 3-5 record to go along with a 4.67 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. Showalter’s next scheduled start is Friday night at home against William & Mary. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Eagle Field.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/19/showalter-looks-build-off-dominant-outing/
| 2022-04-19T02:54:09Z
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Still cold Tuesday before warmer air makes a return
Cold and windy Tuesday with snow Squalls
MONDAY: FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY - High pressure to the northeast will lock cold air into our area. This combined with low pressure to our south will bring all forms of precipitation: rain, snow, and sleet.
A wintry afternoon across the area with mainly a wet snow. Changing to rain from south to north into the mid to late afternoon as most of the precipitation becomes lighter. Temperatures remain in the low to mid 30s. A few scattered showers into the early evening, mainly before about 8pm. A lot of the snow from earlier melting, leading to most slush with some ice. Many roads remain wet and slick. Wind starts to increase this eveing and turning breezy. Gusts at times up to about 20-25mph. A few higher gusts possible. Then across the Alleghenies and elevations above 3,000′ gusts to 40mph tonight.
As a second low moves in from the north west, snow showers will start again across the Alleghenies. Elsewhere there will be some scattered snow squalls, this is the rest of the Potomac Highlands and the Valley. These are quick but intense bursts of snow. They can reduce visibility but with the cold, they can also drop a quick dusting or up to 1″ of snow in some cases. This also makes roads very slick.
Partially clearing out tonight, staying breezy and cold. Temperatures falling into the upper 20s to around 30 degrees. That’s a widespread freeze but no frost because of the wind. Upslope snow showers for the Alleghenies throughout the night.
TUESDAY: Some clouds for the morning with some peeks of sunshine and temperatures are chilly, rising into the 30s. Some icy and slick spots early. With the breeze wind chills in the 20s early.
More clouds than sun for the day. Staying rather windy for the entire day. Upslope snow showers will continue across the Alleghenies. Elsewhere even with temperatures rising into the 40s, a few snow squalls will move east of the Alleghenies. These are quick but intense bursts of snow. They can reduce visibility but with the cold, they can also drop a quick dusting of snow in some cases. This also makes roads very slick.
Feeling chilly during the day with highs in the mid to upper 40s. Winds out of the west-northwest at 10-25 mph, gusting up to 30-45 mph at times. Upslope snow showers taper off late afternoon with more clearing late day.
Skies clearing for the evening but winds continue into the eveing. Chilly for the evening with temperatures in the 40s. Maybe a cloud or two overnight but generally staying clear. As winds let up overnight and skies clear, this will allow for a widespread freeze overnight with frost. Overnight lows in the upper 20s to low 30s.
WEDNESDAY: Plenty of sunshine with a few clouds to start the day and chilly with temperatures rising into the 40s. Adding some clouds throughout the day with sunshine and pleasant with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s. More clouds arriving for the night and chilly with overnight lows in the upper 30s to low 40s.
THURSDAY: Plenty of clouds in the morning and pleasant with temperatures rising into the 50s. More clouds than sun throughout the day and warming up with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s. Some clouds around for the night and cool with lows in the mid to upper 40s.
FRIDAY: Some clouds for the morning and mild with temperatures quickly rising into the 60s. A mix of sun and clouds during the afternoon and warm with highs in the mid to upper 70s! A beautiful spring day! A fair amount of clouds for the night and pleasant with overnight lows in the upper 40s to low 50s.
SATURDAY: A mix of sun and clouds to start the day and turning mild with temperatures rising into the 60s. Scattered clouds with plenty of sunshine in the afternoon and very warm with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s! A few clouds overnight and pleasant with lows in the low to mid 50s.
SUNDAY: Another pleasant start with temperatures rising into the 60s with a few clouds. Very warm once again with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s and a good amount of sunshine. A warm evening with temperatures in the 70s and pleasant overnight with lows in the low to mid 50s.
As always, you can get the latest updates by downloading and checking the WHSV Weather App.
**A reminder that spring wildfire season is underway for both Virginia and West Virginia. No outdoor burning before 4pm in Virginia until April 30th. No outdoor burning in West Virginia before 5pm through May 31.**
Copyright 2021 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/19/still-cold-tuesday-before-warmer-air-makes-return/
| 2022-04-19T02:54:15Z
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TSA not enforcing mask requirement
Published: Apr. 18, 2022 at 10:11 PM EDT|Updated: 42 minutes ago
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - Monday night, TSA posted a press release on Twitter regarding mask use on public transportation.
“Due to today’s court ruling, effective immediately, TSA will no longer enforce its Security Directives and Emergency Amendment requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs. TSA will also rescind the new Security Directives that were scheduled to take effect [April 19]. CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time.”
This comes after a federal judge in Florida voided the national mask mandate covering public transportation.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/19/tsa-not-enforcing-mask-requirement/
| 2022-04-19T02:54:22Z
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AUSTIN, Texas, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After acquiring TIPSⓇ (GetTIPS.com) and TIPSCertified.com in October 2021 and March 2022, respectively, 360training.com is expanding its catalog of alcohol seller-server training by launching its first batch of TIPS alcohol courses across seven states: California, Georgia, Delaware, Montana, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Tennessee.
What is California Responsible Beverage Server (RBS) Training?
TIPS is launching its newly approved California Responsible Beverage Server course. While previous TIPS courses have been approved by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), this updated course specifically satisfies The Responsible Beverage Service Training Act (AB 1221), which requires RBS training for on-premise licensees, managers, and alcohol servers.
The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) designed these new regulations to reduce the risks of harm from alcohol in California communities. The course helps ensure that anyone who serves alcohol understands the dangers of underage drinking and over-serving intoxicated customers. It is required by August 31, 2022.
What TIPS Courses are Currently Available on 360training?
360training will continue transitioning additional TIPS alcohol seller-server courses to our powerful training platform and, in the coming months, will offer alcohol training anywhere in the United States. In addition to being available on GetTIPS.com, all certifications will be available on 360training's Food & Beverage training site.
Courses released:
- California RBS
- Georgia Off-Premise
- Georgia Alcohol Delivery
- Delaware On-Premise
- Montana On-Premise
- Rhode Island On-Premise
- Rhode Island Off-Premise
- South Dakota On-Premise
- South Dakota Off-Premise
- Tennessee On-Premise
- Tennessee Off-Premise
TIPS empowers and equips individuals with the necessary skills and confidence to exercise a degree of control within their environment. In addition to covering the latest regulatory guidelines, the by-product of this training is a higher level of attentiveness and professionalism by your staff. TIPS helps individuals understand the difference between people enjoying themselves and those getting into trouble with alcohol.
Why Choose TIPS?
TIPS Alcohol Server and Seller training programs are considered the "Gold Standard" of alcohol training. Designed by experts in alcohol, adult education, hospitality, and psychology, TIPS provides a dynamic course experience. Each course includes detailed content and quizzes, real-life videos, and interactive activities so participants can recognize potential problems and intervene to prevent alcohol-related tragedies.
The TIPS certification process sharpens the skills and knowledge necessary for responsible service of alcohol. In addition to fulfilling regulatory requirements, TIPS training covers mitigation strategies that result in increased professionalism and improved customer service among staff.
TIPS is proven to be a practical and effective method of reducing drunk driving and underage drinking. With courses specific to any situation or environment where alcohol is served, sold, or consumed – On-Premise, Off-Premise, Off-Premise and Delivery, Gaming, Concessions, and University – TIPS-trained employees enhance an establishment's public image.
Who Should Be TIPS Trained?
Everyone who comes in contact with individuals who consume alcohol at your establishment. It's not just for bartenders and servers. Valets, receptionists, hosts, cleaning staff, managers, front desk, security, and clerks, to name a few. Benefits of TIPS training include:
- Certification that is valid for up to 3 years in most states.
- Being a more attractive job candidate.
- Developing intervention techniques specific to your industry that you won't find in economy-level programs.
- Potentially avoiding penalties and fines associated with illegal alcohol sales.
What Does TIPS Mean For Your Business?
Establishments that use TIPS benefit immediately by reducing risk and creating a safer, more responsible environment. TIPS training can:
- Reduce exposure to alcohol liability lawsuits.
- Ensure alcohol training compliance with state regulations.
- Reduce penalties for alcohol violations.
- Prevent property damage.
- Lower insurance premiums.
- Improve customer service and professionalism.
About TIPS
TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) is the global leader in education and training for the responsible service, sale, and consumption of alcohol. Over the past 42 years, TIPS has certified more than 5.5 million participants and trainers across multiple websites, including GetTIPS.com and TIPSCertified.com.
About 360training
Since 1997, 360training.com, Inc. has provided individuals and businesses with online regulatory-approved training, facilitating a safe, healthy environment for the communities they serve. The company has delivered over four million training plans across multiple brands, including Meditec, AgentCampus, VanEd, OSHAcampus, OSHA.com, and Learn2Serve. Please visit www.360training.com or their social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to learn more.
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| 2022-04-19T02:54:28Z
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SÃO PAULO, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Itaú Unibanco Holding S.A. announces to its stockholders and the market in general that by way of its subsidiaries, it has entered into an Investment Agreement and Other Covenants to purchase, through financial contribution, 12.82% of Rede Agro Fidelidade e Intermediação S.A. ("Orbia's") total capital, in which Bayer S.A., Yara Brazil Fertilizantes S.A. and Bravium Comércio Ltda. already hold corporate interest.
Orbia is a platform providing rural producers with a full digital journey, facilitating operations in this segment, ranging from planting to marketing of commodities. It is currently the largest agribusiness marketplace in Brazil, notably when it comes to inputs and other agricultural services. Launched in the end of 2019, Orbia recorded over R$200 million in sales in the first year of operation to reach R$902 million in 2021, just the following year. For 2022, growth is expected to reach R$3 billion in sales.
This operation will enable Itaú to provide Orbia's customer base with more effective credit access solutions. On the other hand, Orbia will increase its market share in agribusiness, reaching a new level in terms of credit access to rural producers.
By connecting different products and services in one and the same platform easily accessible by rural producers, Orbia provides an environment that eases the way its customers and partners do business.
The four companies that will constitute Orbia will sit on the Board of Directors, which will operate on an independent basis.
The completion of this operation is subject to approval from the Brazilian antitrust agency (CADE) and the Central Bank of Brazil (BACEN).
São Paulo (SP), April 18, 2022.
RENATO LULIA JACOB
Group Head of Investor Relations and Market Intelligence
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| 2022-04-19T02:54:35Z
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Society for Preventive Cardiology (ASPC) announces the official program for the ASPC 2022 Congress on CVD Prevention, scheduled July 29-31, 2022 in Louisville, KY. The program covers the "ABCs of Preventive Cardiology" over the 2.5 day live, in-person program, and can be found on aspconline.org/2022congress.
Included in the 2022 program are a variety of distinguished award lectures including the notable Honorary Fellowship Award and Lecture, honoring Pamela S. Douglas, MD, MACC, FASPC, for her incredible contributions to the field of preventive cardiology. Dr. Douglas will be presenting her lecture entitled "Strengthening CV Prevention for the Future: Beyond the ABCs" on Friday, July 29th during the opening session of the 2022 Congress.
Dr. Douglas is the Ursula Geller Professor of Research in Cardiovascular Diseases in the Department of Medicine at Duke University. She has led several landmark multicenter randomized clinical trials and outcomes research studies and is renowned for her scientific and policy work in improving the quality and appropriateness of imaging in clinical care, clinical trials, and registries. Dr Douglas helped to establish several important specialty areas including heart disease in women, sports cardiology, and cardio-oncology.
Other distinguished lecturers, include:
Scott Grundy, MD, PhD will be honored with the Pioneer in Prevention Award on Saturday, July 30th, presenting a lecture on "National Cholesterol Guidelines: 1987-2018". The Pioneer in Prevention Award (previously named Leaders in Medicine) is bestowed on individuals who have profoundly impacted cardiovascular disease prevention by taking the field in a whole new direction.
Also on Saturday, July 30th, Carl J. Pepine, MD, MACC will be honored with the Nanette Wenger Award presenting a lecture on "Open Artery Ischemia: An Unrecognized Opportunity for Prevention?". Dr. Pepine is a Professor and Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine.
On Sunday, July 31st Donna Arnett, MSPH, PhD will be honored with the Joseph Stokes III, MD Award, presenting "Personalization of Individual Prevention Strategies for Hypertension - Applying '-omics'". Dr. Arnett is Dean of the University of Kentucky College of Public Health and a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology.
The ASPC encourages all to join the world-renowned faculty presenting across the spectrum of preventive cardiology at #ASPC2022 including lectures on cholesterol management for primary CVD prevention, tobacco cessation, barriers associated with the treatment of diabetes, treating obesity as a CV risk factor, open artery ischemia, the role of stress management on CVD, the cardio-renal-metabolic intersection, and an exciting debate about aspirin's role in primary prevention.
Attendees of the 2022 Congress will earn approximately 15 CE/MOC/AAPA credits.
About the American Society for Preventive Cardiology (ASPC)
The ASPC is a national organization of healthcare providers and researchers dedicated to the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The mission of the ASPC is to promote the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, advocate for the prevention of cardiovascular health, and disseminate high-quality, evidence-based information through education of clinicians.
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| 2022-04-19T02:54:41Z
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AUSTIN, Texas, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aviat Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVNW), ("Aviat" or the "Company"), the leading expert in wireless transport solutions, announced today that it will release its Third quarter fiscal 2022 results for the period ended April 1st, 2022, on May 4th, 2022 after the market closes.
The Company will host an earnings conference call and webcast to discuss its financial and operational results on the same day, beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET. Participating on the call will be Pete Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer, David Gray, Chief Financial Officer, and Keith Fanneron, Vice President Global Finance and Investor Relations.
Dial-in instructions for the conference call and the replay are outlined below. This conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed by all interested parties through Aviat Network's Investor Relations website at https://investors.aviatnetworks.com/events-and-presentations/events. To listen to the live call, please go to the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register and download any necessary audio software. For those who are not able to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available approximately two hours after the call on the "Investor Relations" portion of the Aviat Networks website.
Conference Call Details
Live Call
Dial-In Toll Free: 800-289-0438
International Dial-In: +1 323-794-2423
Confirmation Code: 1887161 or
Event Title: Aviat Networks Q3'22 Earnings Call
Conference Replay*
Domestic Dial-In Toll Free: 888-203-1112
International Dial-In: +1 719-457-0820
Passcode: 1887161
*Available approximately two hours after the end of the conference call.
About Aviat Networks
Aviat Networks, Inc. is the leading expert in wireless transport solutions and works to provide dependable products, services and support to its customers. With more than one million systems sold into 170 countries worldwide, communications service providers and private network operators including state/local government, utility, federal government and defense organizations trust Aviat with their critical applications. Coupled with a long history of microwave innovations, Aviat provides a comprehensive suite of localized professional and support services enabling customers to drastically simplify both their networks and their lives. For more than 70 years, the experts at Aviat have delivered high-performance products, simplified operations, and the best overall customer experience. Aviat Networks is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.aviatnetworks.com or connect with Aviat Networks on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Contact:
Keith Fanneron
Vice President Global Finance & Investor Relations
Phone: (512) 861-1022
Email: keith.fanneron@aviatnet.com
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| 2022-04-19T02:54:48Z
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NEW YORK, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Celsius Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CELH) between August 12, 2021 and March 1, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 16, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Celsius securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Celsius class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=4162 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 16, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Celsius had improperly recorded expenses for non-cash share-based compensation for second and third quarters of 2021; (2) as a result, Celsius's financial statements for those periods would be restated, including to report a net loss for the third quarter of 2021; (3) there was a material weakness in Celsius's internal controls over financial reporting; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Celsius's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Celsius class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=4162 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
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| 2022-04-19T02:54:55Z
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Marketplace launch expands the growing partnership between Bitfocus and Amazon Web Services (AWS)
SAN FRANCISCO, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bitfocus, provider of leading Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) solution, Clarity Human Services, today announced support for SaaS contract purchases in AWS Marketplace. An influential vendor in the human services field, Bitfocus is thrilled to be working with Amazon as a host for Clarity Human Services' cloud infrastructure and now as a platform for customers to purchase Clarity Human Services directly through the AWS Marketplace website.
"Participating in AWS Marketplace gives communities direct access to Clarity Human Services—simplifying and shortening procurement to get users up and running ASAP," says Jeff Ugai, Bitfocus COO.
Customers who purchase Clarity using AWS join a rapidly growing list of continuums of care relying on Clarity Human Services to coordinate their local homeless response system. Because each community is unique, Bitfocus employs a customer success model for new system implementations—meeting the customer where they are, and providing the support and guidance required for success.
For communities interested in switching to a new HMIS vendor, Bitfocus has created this helpful transition toolkit. This comprehensive guide supports communities as they plan, organize, manage, and assess their steps toward finding a new HMIS vendor and transitioning to a new system.
Clarity Human Services is one of the most advanced HMIS products on the market and remains user-friendly while offering technologically advanced features and reporting capabilities. It contains built-in Coordinated Entry functionality, case management tools, and a powerful data analysis tool. By teaming up with AWS Marketplace, it becomes easier for Bitfocus to provide customers with this powerful software that will help them to optimize processes and keep data secure.
"It's no accident that we're a leading HMIS software vendor. Since the beginning, we've been focused on HMIS with an ongoing guarantee to remain HUD compliant while continuing to improve and expand our product," says Jeff Ugai.
About Bitfocus, Inc.
Bitfocus is on a mission to empower communities nationwide who are looking for better ways to use technology, data, and policy to improve systems of care. Our SaaS software, Clarity Human Services, is a powerful tool that connects your community's most vulnerable populations to the most effective services available to them—all while streamlining the service provider workflow and providing the analytics necessary to support informed decision-making.
For more information, visit Bitfocus' website.
Keywa Henderson Thomas
Communications Manager, Bitfocus
keywah@bitfocus.com
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| 2022-04-19T02:55:04Z
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PRINCETON, N.J., April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EDDA Technology, a global leading provider in advanced imaging-guided precision treatment solutions, announced today it has entered into an agreement with the Society of Interventional Oncology (SIO) for their ACCLAIM Trial (Ablation with Confirmation of Colorectal Liver Metastases Prospective Trial for Microwave Ablation as a Local Cure). IQQA®-BodyImaging Interventional will be used to provide 3D assessment of the ablation zone and margin for selected colorectal liver metastases.
In this prospective, multi-center, international trial, SIO proposes to establish microwave ablation (MWA) as the preferred treatment option for selected colorectal liver metastases that can be ablated with sufficient margins. The study will be the first global, prospective trial to use an objective and reproducible technical outcome in its study design, which SIO believes will drive important changes to future treatment guidelines. The ACCLAIM study will estimate disease-free survival of colorectal liver metastases treated with MWA incorporating 3D ablation software (EDDA Technology) margin confirmation intraoperatively and through a subsequent independent review centralized validation process.
The IQQA® platform provides comprehensive 3D image analysis using MR and CT, and has been used in over 80,000 cases worldwide for surgery and treatment with substantial time-saving. This exceptionally intuitive solution supports in-depth quantitative volumetry with fast, dependable results and allows for versatility of transplantation, resection, or interventional procedure planning.
"IQQA® is a proven innovation to support physicians in providing individualized and optimized treatment solution. Powered by our precision 3D capabilities, IQQA® aims to facilitate the next generation of precision surgery and treatment.", said Dr. Jianzhong Qian, President and CEO of EDDA Technology. "We're glad that the IQQA platform was chosen by SIO for this global trial which will bring important clinical information for the future interventional treatment guidelines."
About The Society of Interventional Oncology (SIO)
The Society of Interventional Oncology (SIO) is a non-profit association that supports and promotes the field of interventional oncology (IO). SIO provides a community for IO professionals to connect and work together to advance IO as the fourth pillar of cancer therapy worldwide alongside medical, surgical and radiation oncology. SIO offers a space for IO practitioners to continue their professional development, access advocacy and research, and engage in idea-sharing with peers. SIO was established in January of 2017 by the Board of Directors of the former conference WCIO, now known as SIO's Annual Scientific Meeting. www.sio-central.org
About EDDA Technology
EDDA Technology is an innovative leader in the rapidly growing field of intelligent robotic solutions for precision surgery. Pioneering a "fully quantitative, interactive" approach to intelligent imaging analytics and robotic integration, the company has built a proprietary technology platform to facilitate pre-surgical planning and simulation, intra-operative navigation, post-operative evaluation. With its end-to-end enabling platform, EDDA's goal is to form a comprehensive ecosystem of clinical practice, connection and education to support physicians and patient management in all tiers of hospitals. IQQA® is a registered trademark of EDDA Technology. www.eddatech.com
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| 2022-04-19T02:55:11Z
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NEW YORK, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner of the class action firm Monteverde & Associates PC (the "M&A Class Action Firm"), a national securities firm rated Top 50 in the 2018-2021 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report and headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating:
- IntriCon Corp. (IIN), relating to its proposed acquisition by an affiliate of Altaris Capital Partners, LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, IIN shareholders are expected to receive $24.25 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/intricon-corp. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- Summer Infant, Inc. (SUMR), relating to its proposed acquisition by Kids2, Inc., Inc. Under the terms of the tender offer, SUMR shareholders will receive $12.00 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/summer-infant-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- Mandiant, Inc. (MNDT), relating to its proposed acquisition by Google LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, MNDT shareholders will receive $23.00 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/mandiant-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- Origin Bancorp, Inc. (OBNK), relating to its proposed merger with BT Holdings, Inc. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/origin-bancorp-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- TEGNA Inc. (TGNA), relating to its proposed acquisition by an affiliate of Standard General L.P. Under the terms of the agreement, TGNA shareholders are expected to receive $24.00 in cash per share they own, as well as an additional cash consideration, "a ticking fee", based on the date of closing of the transaction. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/tegna-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- South Jersey Industries, Inc. (SJI), relating to its proposed acquisition by Infrastructure Investments Fund. Under the terms of the agreement, SJI shareholders are expected to receive $36.00 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/south-jersey-industries-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
About Monteverde & Associates PC
We are a national class action securities litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders from corporate wrongdoing. We were listed in the Top 50 in the 2018-2021 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. Our lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions. Mr. Monteverde is recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013, 2017-2019, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017-2021 Top Rated Lawyer. Our firm's recent successes include changing the law in a significant victory that lowered the standard of liability under Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act in the Ninth Circuit. Thereafter, our firm successfully preserved this victory by obtaining dismissal of a writ of certiorari as improvidently granted at the United States Supreme Court. Emulex Corp. v. Varjabedian, 139 S. Ct. 1407 (2019). Also, in 2019 we recovered or secured six cash common funds for shareholders in mergers & acquisitions class action cases.
If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.
Contact:
Juan E. Monteverde, Esq.
MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
The Empire State Building
350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4405
New York, NY 10118
United States of America
jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
Tel: (212) 971-1341
Attorney Advertising. (C) 2022 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
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| 2022-04-19T02:55:18Z
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The partnership leverages the power of data-driven property operations to help customers win in smart building goals.
NEW YORK, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Facilio, a leading global property operations software platform; Airmaster, an Australia-based award-winning building services company, and NEJAVI, a sales advisory and delivery service focusing on digital transformation and business process, today announced a strategic partnership. The partnership will help real estate portfolio owners and operators realize next-level operational savings, energy efficiency, and improved building performance.
Leveraging the combined power of Facilio's unified cloud operations software platform, Airmaster's intelligent building products, and engineering services, and NEJAVI's experience in IoT service delivery, the partnership will accelerate smart building projects and solve portfolio-level IoT deployments without redundant site-level integrations.
Joint customers are benefiting from immediate value across:
- Portfolio Monitoring and Visibility: focused on portfolio-level performance benchmarking, sustainability reporting, and operational savings via FDD & business intelligence capabilities.
- Enterprise O&M Efficiency: that goes beyond analytics to tie operations intelligence with automated real-time workflows including condition-based and predictive maintenance, conference & meeting room automation, occupants' apps and kiosk interfaces, customer self-service scheduling, and independent data layer capabilities
- Energy Optimization: to exceed sustainability goals and meet savings targets via cloud-based remote setpoint optimization, automated demand response, ramp up/ramp down the optimization, occupancy-based setback, etc.
"The partnership with Facilio was an obvious fit," said Noel Courtney, CEO of Airmaster. "It is the best of both worlds for our customers who will be able to use our intelligent/smart products and services to optimize the whole O&M lifecycle, energy performance, and customer experiences—within a single platform."
"The NEJAVI team has always focused on strategies that help drive customer growth and the partnership with Facilio and Airmaster will further strengthen this offering and help customers effectively capitalize on IoT technology and solutions, linking technology, vendors and customers through a holistic business model," comments Matthew Smith, Managing Director of APAC, NEJAVI. "With a unique approach to property operations, a powerful technology stack, and strong industry experience, Facilio and Airmaster help us to develop winning IoT projects that meet the modern O&M needs of customers and enable a fully data-driven portfolio."
We are committed to creating a seamless, smarter way to connected building operations as more and more customers embrace cloud-based portfolio performance management," added Prabhu Ramachandran, Founder & CEO, of Facilio. "By teaming up with proven ecosystem players, our customers can see multi-fold value by leveraging their existing supervisory controls infrastructure to deploy IoT-led high-performance portfolio operations with Facilio, Airmaster, and NEJAVI."
To learn more about IoT deployments in building portfolios and what data-driven property operations can do for your organization, visit facilio.com, https://www.airmaster.com.au/ or https://www.nejavi.com.
About Airmaster
Airmaster is an award-winning building services company, providing HVAC&R management, smart building solutions and fire services across Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia. Founded in Melbourne in 1988 and with 14 branches across Australia and New Zealand, Airmaster's holistic approach to building management makes for a comprehensive range of service offerings. As a leader in the building services industry, Airmaster prides itself on delivering sustainable, cost effective and energy efficient products, services and solutions. As the built environment landscape changes, Airmaster has adapted, ensuring every service and solution offered aligns with best practice in building services management.
About Nejavi
NEJAVI is a sales advisory and delivery service focusing on digital transformation and business processes, powered by an extensive global ecosystem of suppliers and partners. Bridging the gap between the physical and digital world, IoT offers a huge opportunity for companies. We help clients effectively capitalize on IoT technology and solutions, linking technology, vendors, and customers through a holistic business model.
About Facilio
Facilio's AI-driven property operations platform allows real estate owners to aggregate building data, optimize performance, and control portfolio operations - all from one place. Customers in the commercial office, healthcare, retail, education, and other real estate categories across the world use Facilio to reduce operations costs, increase net asset value, and de-risk operational liability. Headquartered in New York City with offices in Dubai, Chennai, Singapore, and Sydney, Facilio is a global company backed by leading investors including Accel India, Tiger Global Management, Dragoneer Investment Group, and Brookfield Growth.
Media Contact
Kristen Hoff
kristenehoff@gmail.com
Facilio
press@facilio.com
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| 2022-04-19T02:55:25Z
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Learn about what sets Black Ridge Cove apart
ST. GEORGE, Utah, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Richmond American Homes of Utah, Inc., a subsidiary of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MDC), is pleased to announce the debut of Black Ridge Cove (RichmondAmerican.com/BlackRidgeCove) in St. George, marking the builder's entry into the Southern Utah housing market.
Nestled at the foothills of Utah's desirable "Tech Ridge," this notable new neighborhood will offer two versatile floor plans, priced from the low $700s. Showcasing open layouts, modern design elements and relaxing rooftop terraces, these homes boast broad appeal and sought-after features.
"We're looking forward to opening our doors in St. George and serving homebuyers in the Southern Utah region," said Paul Peterson, Utah and Idaho Division President.
More about Black Ridge Cove:
- Two contemporary floor plans from the low $700s
- Three-bedroom homes with up to approx. 2,400 sq. ft.
- Community pool, playground and pickleball court
- Near golf courses, Zion National Park and popular state parks
- Located in the notable Washington County School District
All homebuyers who choose to build a new home from the ground up at this community will have the opportunity to work with professional design consultants to select colors, textures, finishes and fixtures for their new living spaces—a complimentary service!
Black Ridge Cove is located at 933 South Walker Way, St. George, Utah 84770. Call 801.545.3429 to learn more.
Operating under the name Richmond American Homes, MDC's homebuilding subsidiaries have built more than 220,000 homes since 1977. Among the nation's largest homebuilders, MDC's subsidiary companies have operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington. Mortgage lending, plus insurance and title services are offered by the following MDC subsidiaries, respectively: HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency, Inc. and American Home Title and Escrow Company. M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MDC." For more information, visit MDCHoldings.com.
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| 2022-04-19T02:55:33Z
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Successfully completed the acquisition of Howard Bancorp, Inc. and announces a $150 million share repurchase program
PITTSBURGH, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB) reported earnings for the first quarter of 2022 with net income available to common stockholders of $51.0 million, or $0.15 per diluted common share. Comparatively, first quarter of 2021 net income available to common stockholders totaled $91.2 million, or $0.28 per diluted common share, and fourth quarter of 2021 net income available to common stockholders totaled $96.5 million, or $0.30 per diluted common share.
On an operating basis, the first quarter of 2022 earnings per diluted common share (non-GAAP) was $0.26, excluding $47.8 million (pre-tax) in Howard Bancorp, Inc. (Howard) merger-related significant items and $4.2 million (pre-tax) in branch consolidation costs. On an operating basis, the first quarter of 2021 was $0.28 per share, and the fourth quarter of 2021 was $0.30 per share, excluding $0.8 million (pre-tax) of significant items in the fourth quarter of 2021.
"Driven by the successful execution of our growth strategy and continuing our positive momentum, F.N.B. Corporation produced high-quality first quarter results with operating earnings per share of $0.26," said F.N.B. Corporation Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vincent J. Delie, Jr. "During the first quarter, we grew revenue by 3.4% largely by an expansion in net interest income and overall loan growth while maintaining solid asset quality and growing loan pipelines. Loan balances, excluding PPP, increased 8.2% on a linked-quarter basis, and loan balances, excluding PPP and Howard loans as of the acquisition date, increased 4.3% annualized. FNB's Board of Directors approved a new $150 million share repurchase program providing additional flexibility to effectively manage capital and benefit our shareholders. Our strong capital levels, proactive risk management and conservatively underwritten balance sheet combined with the experience of our management team favorably positions FNB as we continue to successfully navigate a challenging environment."
First Quarter 2022 Highlights
(All comparisons refer to the first quarter of 2021, except as noted)
- On January 22, 2022, the acquisition of Howard was completed, adding loans and deposits with estimated fair values of $1.8 billion for both measures to the balance sheet. The acquisition-related systems conversions were successfully completed in February and integration is proceeding as planned.
- Period-end total loans and leases, excluding Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, increased $3.6 billion, or 15.7%, as commercial loans and leases increased $2.2 billion, or 14.4%, and consumer loans increased $1.4 billion, or 18.1%. PPP loans totaled $179.6 million at March 31, 2022, compared to $2.5 billion as of March 31, 2021.
- On a linked-quarter basis, excluding PPP, period-end total loans increased $2.0 billion, or 8.2%, with commercial loans and leases increasing $1.3 billion, or 7.9%, and consumer loans increasing $753.8 million, or 8.9%. PPP loans totaled $179.6 million at March 31, 2022, compared to $336.6 million as of December 31, 2021. Excluding PPP and Howard acquired loans as of the acquisition date, period-end loans and leases (non-GAAP) increased $259.7 million, or 4.3% annualized, on a linked-quarter basis, including an increase of $81.7 million in commercial loans and leases and $178.0 million in consumer loans.
- Total average deposits grew $3.6 billion, or 12.4%, led by increases in average non-interest-bearing deposits of $2.0 billion, or 22.2%, and average interest-bearing demand deposits of $1.6 billion, or 11.7%, partially offset by a decrease in average time deposits of $0.6 billion, or 16.3%. Average deposit growth reflected inflows from the Howard acquisition, PPP activities and organic growth in new and existing customer relationships, as well as current customer preferences to maintain larger balances in their deposit accounts and shift balances into more liquid accounts. Excluding Howard, average deposits (non-GAAP) grew $2.3 billion, or 7.8%.
- Net interest income increased $11.2 million, or 5.0%, to $234.1 million primarily due to the benefit of growth in earning assets.
- On a linked-quarter basis, the net interest margin (FTE) (non-GAAP) increased 6 basis points to 2.61%, as the earning asset yield increased 3 basis points and the cost of funds decreased 3 basis points. The total impact of PPP, purchase accounting accretion, and higher cash balances on net interest margin was a decrease of 13 basis points, down slightly from 14 basis points the prior quarter.
- Non-interest income was $78.3 million, a decrease of $4.5 million, or 5.4%, driven by lower contributions from mortgage banking due to the increasing interest rate environment, partially offset by strong contributions from wealth management and insurance commissions and fees, as well as higher service charges reflecting increased customer activity.
- The annualized net charge-offs to total average loans ratio was 0.03%, compared to 0.11%, with continued favorable asset quality trends across the loan portfolio.
- Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) regulatory capital ratio was 10.0% (estimated), compared to 9.9% at December 31, 2021, and 10.0% at March 31, 2021. Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) increased $0.08, or 1.0%, to $8.09. Accumulated other comprehensive income/loss (AOCI) reduced the tangible book value per common share by $0.57 as of March 31, 2022, primarily due to the impact of higher interest rates on the fair value of available-for-sale (AFS) securities, compared to a $0.16 reduction as of March 31, 2021. As part of the Howard acquisition, we issued 34,074,495 shares of common stock at $12.99 in exchange for 18,930,329 shares of Howard common stock.
- During the first quarter of 2022, the Company repurchased 2.2 million shares of common stock at a weighted average share price of $13.25 for a total of $29.8 million. In April 2022, the Board of Directors authorizes a $150 million share repurchase to our program.
Non-GAAP measures referenced in this release are used by management to measure performance in operating the business that management believes enhances investors' ability to better understand the underlying business performance and trends related to core business activities. Reconciliations of non-GAAP operating measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the tables at the end of this release. For more information regarding our use of non-GAAP measures, please refer to the discussion herein under the caption, Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Performance Indicators.
First Quarter 2022 Results – Comparison to Prior-Year Quarter
(All comparisons refer to the first quarter of 2021, except as noted)
Net interest income totaled $234.1 million, an increase of $11.2 million, or 5.0%, compared to $222.9 million, as total average earning assets increased $3.3 billion, or 10.1%, including a $1.5 billion increase in average cash balances largely attributed to the impact from PPP activity, $912.3 million increase in average securities, as well as $786.0 million increase in average loans and leases. The growth in average earning assets was partially offset by the repricing impact on earning asset yields, mitigated by the lower cost of interest-bearing deposit accounts and improved funding mix with a reduction in higher-cost borrowings and growth in non-interest bearing deposit accounts.
The net interest margin (FTE) (non-GAAP) declined 14 basis points to 2.61%, as the yield on earning assets decreased 26 basis points to 2.83%, primarily reflecting the lower yields on variable-rate loans and investment securities and the effect of higher average cash balances on the mix of earning assets. Partially offsetting the lower earning asset yields, the total cost of funds improved 14 basis points to 0.22%, reflecting an improved funding mix and a 17 basis point reduction in interest-bearing deposit costs, including a shift in customers' preferences to maintain larger deposit account balances and shift funds into more liquid accounts. The total impact of PPP, purchase accounting accretion, and higher cash balances on net interest margin was a decrease of 13 basis points, compared to a benefit of 5 basis points in the year-ago quarter.
Average loans and leases totaled $26.2 billion, an increase of $786.0 million, or 3.1%. Excluding PPP loans, average total loans and leases increased $2.8 billion, or 12.2%, including growth of $1.7 billion in commercial loans and leases ($0.9 billion from Howard) and $1.1 billion in consumer loans ($0.4 billion from Howard). The increase in average commercial loans and leases, excluding PPP, included $0.8 billion, or 16.4%, in commercial and industrial loans and $0.8 billion, or 8.5%, in commercial real estate balances driven by a combination of the Howard acquisition and organic loan origination activity. Commercial origination activity was led by the Pittsburgh and Mid-Atlantic markets. Average consumer loans increased $1.1 billion, or 14.1%, with a $655.2 million increase in residential mortgages and a $468.2 million increase in direct installment loans driven by a combination of the Howard acquisition and organic loan origination activity.
Average deposits totaled $33.0 billion with growth in average non-interest-bearing demand deposits of $2.0 billion, or 22.2%, and average interest-bearing demand deposits of $1.6 billion, or 11.7%, partially offset by a decline in time deposits of $0.6 billion, or 16.3%. The growth in average deposits reflected inflows from the Howard acquisition, PPP activities and organic growth in new and existing customer relationships. The loan-to-deposit ratio was 79.2% at March 31, 2022, compared to 84.1% at March 31, 2021, as deposit growth outpaced loan growth. Additionally, the funding mix continued to improve with non-interest-bearing deposits growing to 35% of total deposits, compared to 33% as of March 31, 2021.
Non-interest income totaled $78.3 million, a decrease of $4.5 million, or 5.4%, compared to the first quarter of 2021. Mortgage banking operations income decreased $9.1 million as secondary market revenue and mortgage held-for-sale pipelines normalized from significantly elevated levels given the sharp increase in mortgage rates. Service charges increased $3.7 million, or 13.2%, as the year-ago quarter reflected lower customer activity due to the pandemic. Wealth management revenues increased 9.1% led by strong trust income of $10.3 million, that increased $1.3 million, or 13.9%, primarily from record organic sales activity.
Non-interest expense totaled $227.4 million, increasing $42.6 million, or 23.0%. On an operating basis, non-interest expense totaled $194.6 million, an increase of $9.8 million, or 5.3%, compared to the first quarter of 2021, excluding $28.6 million of merger-related expenses and $4.2 million of branch consolidation costs in the first quarter of 2022. On an operating basis, salaries and benefits increased $4.8 million, or 4.5%, due to annual merit increases, higher medical costs, higher employer-paid payroll taxes and the acquired Howard expense base. Included in salaries and employee benefits in the first quarter of 2022 and 2021 was $6.2 million and $5.6 million, respectively, related to normal seasonal long-term compensation expense. The efficiency ratio (non-GAAP) equaled 60.7%, compared to 58.7% reflecting lower PPP and purchase accounting accretion income compared to a year ago.
The ratio of non-performing loans, 90 days past due, and other real estate owned (OREO) to total loans and OREO decreased 24 basis points to 0.44%. Total delinquency decreased 14 basis points to 0.66%, compared to 0.80% at March 31, 2021, demonstrating positive asset quality trends across the portfolio.
The provision for credit losses was $18.0 million, compared to $5.9 million in the first quarter of 2021. The provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2022 included $19.1 million of initial provision for non-PCD loans associated with the Howard acquisition. Net charge-offs for the first quarter of 2022 were $1.9 million, or 0.03% annualized of total average loans, compared to $7.1 million, or 0.11% annualized, in the first quarter of 2021. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses (ACL) to total loans and leases decreased 4 basis points to 1.38%. Excluding PPP loans that do not carry an ACL due to a 100% government guarantee, the ACL to total loans and leases ratio equaled 1.39% and 1.57% at March 31, 2022, and 2021, respectively, directionally consistent with improved credit metrics.
The effective tax rate was 20.9%, compared to 18.9% in the first quarter of 2021, with the increase driven by higher state income taxes and nondeductible merger-related expenses resulting from the Howard acquisition.
The CET1 regulatory capital ratio was 10.0% (estimated), compared to 10.0% at March 31, 2021. Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) increased to $8.09 at March 31, 2022, an increase of $0.08, or 1.0%, from $8.01 at March 31, 2021. AOCI reduced the current quarter tangible book value per common share by $0.57, compared to $0.16 in the year-ago quarter, primarily due to the increase in unrealized losses on AFS securities resulting from the higher interest rate environment. During the first quarter of 2022, the Company repurchased 2.2 million shares of common stock at a weighted average share price of $13.25 for a total of $29.8 million.
First Quarter 2022 Results – Comparison to Prior Quarter
(All comparisons refer to the fourth quarter of 2021, except as noted)
Net interest income totaled $234.1 million, an increase of $10.8 million, or 4.8%, from the prior quarter total of $223.3 million, primarily due to growth in average earning assets and benefits from the higher interest rate environment, partially offset by the $4.2 million decreased contribution from PPP. The resulting net interest margin (FTE) (non-GAAP) increased 6 basis points to 2.61%. The total impact of PPP, purchase accounting accretion, and higher cash balances on net interest margin was a reduction of 13 basis points, compared to a reduction of 14 basis points in the prior quarter.
Total average earning assets increased $1.4 billion, or 4%, to $36.6 billion. The total yield on earning assets increased 3 basis points to 2.83%, due to higher yields on investments and variable-rate loans. The total cost of funds decreased 3 basis points to 0.22% from 0.25%, as the cost of interest-bearing deposits improved 3 basis points to 0.14%.
Average loans and leases totaled $26.2 billion as average commercial loans and leases increased $919.4 million and average consumer loans increased $584.9 million, compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. The average commercial loans and leases included growth of $777.2 million, or 7.9%, in commercial real estate and $130.0 million, or 2.2%, in commercial and industrial loans. The increases reflect the Howard acquisition as well as commercial origination activity led by the Pittsburgh and North and South Carolina markets. Consumer loan growth reflected average residential mortgages increasing $393.0 million, or 10.8%, average direct home equity installment balances increasing $170.4 million, or 7.4%, and average consumer lines of credit increasing $35.3 million, or 2.8%. The consumer loan growth was driven by a combination of the Howard acquisition and organic loan origination activity. Excluding PPP and Howard acquired loans as of the acquisition date, period-end loans and leases (non-GAAP) increased $259.7 million, or 4.3% annualized, on a linked-quarter basis, including an increase of $81.7 million in commercial loans and leases and $178.0 million in consumer loans.
Average deposits totaled $33.0 billion, increasing $1.3 billion, or 4.1%, driven by an increase in non-interest-bearing deposits of $524.9 million, or 4.9%, interest-bearing demand deposits of $508.3 million, or 3.5%, and savings balances of $289.5 million, or 8.1%. This growth reflected the Howard acquisition, as well as continued organic growth in households and account balances, partially offset by a decline in time deposits of $10.5 million, or 0.4%. The loan-to-deposit ratio was 79.2% at March 31, 2022, compared to 78.7% at December 31, 2021.
Non-interest income totaled $78.3 million, essentially flat from the prior quarter total of $79.0 million. Insurance commissions and fees increased $2.3 million, or 42.6%, largely driven by normal seasonality. Wealth management increased $1.1 million, or 7.6%, led by an 8.5% increase in trust services and 5.8% increase in securities commissions and fees. Mortgage banking operations income increased $0.7 million, or 12.0%. Included in mortgage banking operations income was a $2.3 million recovery for MSR valuation, compared to a $1.0 million recovery in the fourth quarter of 2021, offset by the impacts of higher interest rates and the seasonal reduction in the mortgage held-for-sale pipeline and lower secondary market revenue. Capital markets income was $7.1 million, a decrease of $2.4 million, or 25.3%, from elevated levels in the fourth quarter. Bank-owned life insurance decreased $1.2 million, or 31.8%, primarily due to life insurance claims in the prior quarter.
Non-interest expense totaled $227.4 million, an increase of $45.8 million, or 25.2%. On an operating basis, non-interest expense increased $13.9 million, or 7.7%, compared to the prior quarter, excluding merger-related expenses of $28.6 million and branch consolidation costs of $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2022 and merger-related expenses of $0.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. On an operating basis, salaries and employee benefits increased $8.1 million, or 7.8%, primarily related to normal seasonal long-term compensation expense of $6.2 million in the first quarter of 2022, as well as seasonally higher employer-paid payroll taxes and the acquired Howard expense base. Occupancy and equipment increased $3.1 million, or 10.1%, due primarily to higher seasonal utilities costs. Bank shares and franchise taxes increased $2.3 million due to the recognition of state tax credits in the prior quarter. The efficiency ratio (non-GAAP) equaled 60.7%, compared to 58.1%, reflecting lower PPP and purchase accounting accretion income than the prior quarter.
The ratio of non-performing loans, 90 days past due, and OREO to total loans and OREO remained at very good levels, slightly increasing 3 basis points to 0.44%. Total delinquency slightly increased 5 basis points to 0.66%, compared to 0.61% at December 31, 2021.
The provision for credit losses was $18.0 million, including the $19.1 million initial provision for non-PCD loans associated with the Howard acquisition, compared to a net benefit of $2.4 million in the prior quarter, with continued strong underlying portfolio credit trends. Net charge-offs totaled $1.9 million, or 0.03% annualized of total average loans and leases, compared to $1.4 million, or 0.02% annualized. The ratio of the ACL to total loans and leases was unchanged at 1.38% as of March 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021.
The effective tax rate was 20.9%, compared to 20.0% for the fourth quarter of 2021.
The CET1 regulatory capital ratio was 10.0% (estimated), stable from December 31, 2021. Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) was $8.09 at March 31, 2022, a decrease of $0.50 per share from December 31, 2021. AOCI reduced the current quarter-end tangible book value per common share by $0.57 driven by increased unrealized losses on AFS securities caused by the higher interest rate environment, compared to $0.19 at the end of the prior quarter. During the first quarter of 2022, the Company repurchased 2.2 million shares of common stock at a weighted average share price of $13.25 for a total of $29.8 million.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Performance Indicators
To supplement our Consolidated Financial Statements presented in accordance with GAAP, we use certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as operating net income available to common stockholders, operating earnings per diluted common share, return on average tangible equity, return on average tangible common equity, operating return on average tangible common equity, return on average tangible assets, tangible book value per common share, the ratio of tangible equity to tangible assets, the ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets, average deposits, excluding Howard average deposits, loans and leases, excluding PPP loans and Howard loans as of the acquisition date, excluding PPP loans, allowance for credit losses to loans and leases, excluding PPP loans, non-performing loans to loans and leases excluding PPP loans, non-performing loans and 90 days past due and OREO to loans and leases plus OREO excluding PPP loans, net loan charge-offs to average loans and leases excluding PPP loans, past due and non-accrual loans excluding PPP loans to loans and leases excluding PPP loans, pre-provision net revenue to average tangible common equity, efficiency ratio, and net interest margin (FTE) to provide information useful to investors in understanding our operating performance and trends, and to facilitate comparisons with the performance of our peers. Management uses these measures internally to assess and better understand our underlying business performance and trends related to core business activities. The non-GAAP financial measures and key performance indicators we use may differ from the non-GAAP financial measures and key performance indicators other financial institutions use to assess their performance and trends.
These non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed as supplemental in nature, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, our reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. When non-GAAP financial measures are disclosed, the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Regulation G requires: (i) the presentation of the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP and (ii) a reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP financial measure presented and the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of non-GAAP operating measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included later in this release under the heading "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Performance Indicators to GAAP."
Management believes items such as merger expenses, provision expense related to acquisitions and branch consolidation costs are not organic to run our operations and facilities. These items are considered significant items impacting earnings as they are deemed to be outside of ordinary banking activities. The merger expenses and branch consolidation costs principally represent expenses to satisfy contractual obligations of the acquired entity or closed branch without any useful ongoing benefit to us. These costs are specific to each individual transaction and may vary significantly based on the size and complexity of the transaction.
To facilitate peer comparisons of net interest margin and efficiency ratio, we use net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis in calculating net interest margin by increasing the interest income earned on tax-exempt assets (loans and investments) to make it fully equivalent to interest income earned on taxable investments (this adjustment is not permitted under GAAP). Taxable-equivalent amounts for the 2022 and 2021 periods were calculated using a federal statutory income tax rate of 21%.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This document may contain statements regarding F.N.B. Corporation's outlook for earnings, revenues, expenses, tax rates, capital and liquidity levels and ratios, asset quality levels, financial position and other matters regarding or affecting our current or future business and operations. These statements can be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve various assumptions, risks and uncertainties which can change over time. Actual results or future events may be different from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements and may not align with historical performance and events. As forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance upon such statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "believe," "plan," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "will," "should," "project," "goal," and other similar words and expressions. We do not assume any duty to update forward-looking statements, except as required by federal securities laws.
FNB's forward-looking statements are subject to the following principal risks and uncertainties:
- Our business, financial results and balance sheet values are affected by business, economic and political circumstances, including, but not limited to: (i) developments with respect to the U.S. and global financial markets; (ii) actions by the Federal Reserve Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, U.S. Treasury Department, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and other governmental agencies, especially those that impact money supply, market interest rates or otherwise affect business activities of the financial services industry; (iii) a slowing of the U.S. economic environment; (iv) inflation concerns; (v) the impacts of tariffs or other trade policies of the U.S. or its global trading partners; and (vi) the sociopolitical environment in the United States.
- Business and operating results are affected by our ability to identify and effectively manage risks inherent in our businesses, including, where appropriate, through effective use of systems and controls, third-party insurance, derivatives, and capital management techniques, and to meet evolving regulatory capital and liquidity standards.
- Competition can have an impact on customer acquisition, growth and retention, and on credit spreads, deposit gathering and product pricing, which can affect market share, loans, deposits and revenues. Our ability to anticipate, react quickly and continue to respond to technological changes and COVID-19 challenges can also impact our ability to respond to customer needs and meet competitive demands.
- Business and operating results can also be affected by widespread natural and other disasters, pandemics, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and post pandemic return to normalcy, global events, including the Ukraine-Russia conflict, dislocations, including shortages of labor, supply chain disruptions and shipping delays, terrorist activities, system failures, security breaches, significant political events, cyber attacks or international hostilities through impacts on the economy and financial markets generally, or on us or our counterparties specifically.
- Legal, regulatory and accounting developments could have an impact on our ability to operate and grow our businesses, financial condition, results of operations, competitive position, and reputation. Reputational impacts could affect matters such as business generation and retention, liquidity, funding, and the ability to attract and retain talent. These developments could include:
- The COVID-19 pandemic and the federal, state, and local regulatory and governmental actions implemented in response to COVID-19 have resulted in increased volatility of the financial markets and national and local economic conditions, supply chain challenges, rising inflationary pressures, increased levels of unemployment and business failures, and the potential to have a material impact on, among other things, our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, or on our management, employees, customers and critical vendors and suppliers. In view of the many unknowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, our forward-looking statements continue to be subject to various conditions that may be substantially different in the future than what we are currently experiencing or expecting, including, but not limited to, a prolonged recovery of the U.S. economy and labor market and the possible change in commercial and consumer customer fundamentals, expectations and sentiments. As a result of the COVID-19 impact, including uncertainty regarding the potential impact of continuing variant mutations of the virus, U.S. government responsive measures to manage it or provide financial relief, the uncertainty regarding its duration and the success of vaccination efforts, it is possible the pandemic may have a material adverse impact on our business, operations and financial performance.
- We grow our business, in part, through acquisitions and new strategic initiatives. Risks and uncertainties include those presented by the nature of the business acquired and strategic initiative, including in some cases those associated with our entry into new businesses or new geographic or other markets and risks resulting from our unfamiliarity with those new areas, as well as risks and various uncertainties related to the acquisition transactions themselves, regulatory issues, and the integration of the acquired businesses into FNB after closing. Many of these risks and uncertainties were present in our January 2022 acquisition and integration of Howard Bancorp, Inc., including its banking subsidiary, Howard Bank.
The risks identified here are not exclusive or the types of risks FNB may confront and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied as a result of these risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risk factors and other uncertainties described under Item 1A Risk Factors and the Risk Management sections of our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K, our subsequent 2022 Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q (including the risk factors and risk management discussions) and our other 2022 filings with the SEC, which are available on our corporate website at https://www.fnb-online.com/about-us/investor-information/reports-and-filings or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. More specifically, our forward-looking statements may be subject to the evolving risks and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its macro-economic impact and the resulting governmental, business and societal responses to it. We have included our web address as an inactive textual reference only. Information on our website is not part of our SEC filings.
Conference Call
F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB) announced the financial results for the first quarter of 2022 on Monday, April 18, 2022. Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vincent J. Delie, Jr., Chief Financial Officer, Vincent J. Calabrese, Jr., and Chief Credit Officer, Gary L. Guerrieri, plan to host a conference call to discuss the Company's financial results on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at 8:30 AM ET.
Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the conference call at https://dpregister.com/10164719. Callers who pre-register will be provided a conference passcode and unique PIN to bypass the live operator and gain immediate access to the call. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.
Dial-in Access: The conference call may be accessed by dialing (844) 802-2440 (for domestic callers) or (412) 317-5133 (for international callers). Participants should ask to be joined into the F.N.B. Corporation call.
Webcast Access: The audio-only call and related presentation materials may be accessed via webcast through the "About Us" tab of the Corporation's website at www.fnbcorporation.com and clicking on "Investor Relations" then "Investor Conference Calls." Access to the live webcast will begin approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of the call.
Presentation Materials: Presentation slides and the earnings release will also be available on the Corporation's website at www.fnbcorporation.com, by accessing the "About Us" tab and clicking on "Investor Relations" then "Investor Conference Calls."
A replay of the call will be available shortly after the completion of the call until midnight ET on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. The replay can be accessed by dialing (877) 344-7529 (for domestic callers) or (412) 317-0088 (for international callers); the conference replay access code is 5454350. Following the call, a link to the webcast and the related presentation materials will be posted to the "Investor Relations" section of F.N.B. Corporation's website at www.fnbcorporation.com.
About F.N.B. Corporation
F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a diversified financial services company operating in seven states and the District of Columbia. FNB's market coverage spans several major metropolitan areas including: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and the Piedmont Triad (Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point) in North Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina. The Company has total assets of $42 billion and more than 340 banking offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.
FNB provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking and wealth management solutions through its subsidiary network which is led by its largest affiliate, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, founded in 1864. Commercial banking solutions include corporate banking, small business banking, investment real estate financing, government banking, business credit, capital markets and lease financing. The consumer banking segment provides a full line of consumer banking products and services, including deposit products, mortgage lending, consumer lending and a complete suite of mobile and online banking services. FNB's wealth management services include asset management, private banking and insurance.
The common stock of F.N.B. Corporation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FNB" and is included in Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index with the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) Regional Banks Sub-Industry Index. Customers, shareholders and investors can learn more about this regional financial institution by visiting the F.N.B. Corporation website at www.fnbcorporation.com.
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NEW YORK, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of NeoGenomics, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEO) resulting from allegations that NeoGenomics may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.
SO WHAT: If you purchased NeoGenomics securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=4888 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On March 28, 2022, NeoGenomics issued a press release announcing that its Chief Executive Officer "will step down as CEO and member of the Board, effective immediately." The Company also announced that it "expects revenue for Q1 2022 may be below the low end of its prior guidance of $118 - $120 million and EBITDA for Q1 2022 will be below the low end of its prior guidance of $(15) - $(12) million." NeoGenomics disclosed that "[t]he larger than anticipated EBITDA loss was primarily driven by higher than anticipated Clinical Services cost of goods sold" and that it "has withdrawn its 2022 annual financial guidance issued February 23, 2022."
On this news, NeoGenomics's stock price fell $5.30 per share, or 29%, to close at $12.49 per share on March 29, 2022.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
-------------------------------
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
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| 2022-04-19T02:55:50Z
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LAKE WALES, Fla., April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida's Natural Growers is pleased to announce Mr. Christopher Groom has been selected as the company's new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2023. Groom, the current Chief Operating Officer of Florida's Natural Growers (FNG), will succeed Dr. Robert Behr as CEO. In this role, Groom will work closely with the Florida's Natural management staff and Board of Directors to uphold the cooperative's long-standing legacy in Florida citrus.
Since 2011, Groom has been instrumental to the growth and success of Florida's Natural. He has held many roles within the organization: starting as a marketing executive, moving on to become Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and being named Chief Operating Officer in 2019. Through these roles he has demonstrated a passion for the brand, commitment to his colleagues, and a drive to deliver excellence for stakeholders. As CEO, Groom will be responsible for driving growth and sustaining the cooperative's financial and operational excellence.
"Chris is a valued member of the organization's management staff, keeping the business focused on growth," said Behr. "I am confident Chris' knowledge of the cooperative and passion for the industry will help the organization continue to grow and create value for customers, consumers and co-op members."
Behr has been with the cooperative for the past 27 years, leading the company as CEO since 2015. He will remain in his role through the end of 2022, assisting Groom with the transition. Under Behr's leadership, Florida's Natural Growers has transformed as a premier marketer of citrus products, with leading brands recognized globally for superior taste and quality.
"Bob and I share a deep passion for the Florida Citrus Industry, as well as the belief that people matter most in business," said Groom. "I am honored to continue the legacy Bob has built and know the lessons and values I've learned from him will continue to guide the business for many years to come."
About Florida's Natural Growers
First formed in 1933, Florida's Natural Growers, a division of Citrus World, Inc., is a cooperative of fourteen grower organizations representing hundreds of individual growers owning nearly 60,000 acres of citrus in Florida. Its flagship brand, Florida's Natural®, is found worldwide. The cooperative is based in Lake Wales, the heart of the Florida citrus growing region.
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| 2022-04-19T02:55:57Z
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NEW YORK, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner of the class action firm Monteverde & Associates PC (the "M&A Class Action Firm"), a national securities firm rated Top 50 in the 2018-2020 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report and headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating:
- Antares Pharma, Inc. (ATRS), relating to its proposed acquisition by Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, ATRS shareholders will receive $5.60 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/antares-pharma-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- Sierra Oncology, Inc. (SRRA), relating to its proposed acquisition by GlaxoSmithKline plc. Under the terms of the agreement, SRRA shareholders will receive $55.00 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/sierra-oncology-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- SailPoint Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SAIL), relating to its proposed acquisition by Thoma Bravo. Under the terms of the agreement, SAIL shareholders will receive $65.25 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/sailpoint-technologies-holdings-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- Datto Holding Corp. (MSP), relating to its proposed acquisition by Kaseya. Under the terms of the agreement, MSP shareholders are expected to receive $35.50 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/datto-holding-corp. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- CDK Global, Inc. (CDK), relating to its proposed acquisition by Brookfield Business Partners LP. Under the terms of the agreement, CDK shareholders will receive $58.47 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/cdk-global-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
- Vidler Water Resources, Inc. (VWTR), relating to its proposed acquisition by D.R. Horton, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, VWTR shareholders will receive $15.75 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/vidler-water-resources-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
About Monteverde & Associates PC
We are a national class action securities litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders from corporate wrongdoing. We were listed in the Top 50 in the 2018-2021 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. Our lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions. Mr. Monteverde is recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013, 2017-2019, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017-2021 Top Rated Lawyer. Our firm's recent successes include changing the law in a significant victory that lowered the standard of liability under Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act in the Ninth Circuit. Thereafter, our firm successfully preserved this victory by obtaining dismissal of a writ of certiorari as improvidently granted at the United States Supreme Court. Emulex Corp. v. Varjabedian, 139 S. Ct. 1407 (2019). Also, in 2019 we recovered or secured six cash common funds for shareholders in mergers & acquisitions class action cases.
If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.
Contact:
Juan E. Monteverde, Esq.
MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
The Empire State Building
350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4405
New York, NY 10118
United States of America
jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
Tel: (212) 971-1341
Attorney Advertising. (C) 2022 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
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| 2022-04-19T02:56:04Z
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MIAMI, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global superstar, Karol G, delivered a show stopping performance this past weekend at Coachella. Marking her first time performing at the iconic festival, the Latin GRAMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter added a new milestone to her career, delivering the best of her talent and participating on the main stage, where artists like Billie Eilish, Daniel Caesar, Doja Cat, Harry Styles, Lil' Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, Swedish House Mafia and The Weeknd performed.
As she took the stage, Karol G was greeted with a warm welcome from attendees who euphorically danced to the beat of her songs. With a high-caliber production that was full of colors, light shows and dazzling choreography, the artist not only raised the energy at the festival, but also intimately connected with everyone present. The stage provided an immersive experience that transported fans to the streets of a Latin neighborhood, which was created as an homage to Latin culture and was accompanied by a band with traditional instruments of Latin music.
During her show, Karol G took viewers on a trip of some of her biggest hits, such as "El Makinón," "Mi Cama," "Bichota" and "Ahora Me Llama," as well as "El Barco" and "200 Copas." As part of her tribute to Latin culture, she also presented a captivating medley of some of the most iconic classics in Latin music including "La Bamba," "Como La Flor," "Maria," "Macarena," "La Vida Es Un Carnaval," "Gasolina," "Hips Don't Lie," "Despacito" and "Mi Gente." Further elevating her spectacle, she welcomed Tiësto to the stage to sing "Don't Be Shy" and then invited multi-platinum artist Becky G to perform their latest collaboration, "MAMIII." Finally, she closed out her show with a flourish, presenting her global success, "Tusa."
Karol G's participation in Coachella undoubtedly represents an extremely important milestone for her career, which further demonstrates her artistic growth. In addition, through her presentation, the artist delivered an inspirational message that celebrated Latinos and united international audienceS regardless of cultural and language differences. Meanwhile, Karol G continues to prepare for her second Coachella performance that will take place next Sunday, April 24.
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| 2022-04-19T02:56:11Z
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WASHINGTON, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's space exploration continues to inspire us to be better stewards of our planet and Earth Day is a great time to celebrate what we've done and can do to keep Earth everyone's favorite planet in the universe.
The iconic 1968 Apollo 8 "Earthrise" photo of our planet appearing over the Moon's horizon helped unite a generation into appreciating the fragility and beauty of Earth. As NASA returns humans to the Moon and eventually to Mars, NASA's Earth science and climate research provides a global mosaic of Earth's changes over time, enabling us to study the causes and effects of natural and human events. Understanding Earth gives us the means to better protect it and help ourselves.
To celebrate Earth Day, NASA will host a free, public event at Union Station's Main Hall, located at 40 Massachusetts Ave. NE in Washington, Friday, April 22 (Earth Day) through Sunday, April 24, from noon to 5 p.m. EDT. The event will feature information about NASA science, live demonstrations, and other family friendly activities.
In conjunction with the in-person event, NASA also will host Earth Day online, with live events April 22 and site access through Monday, May 2. The virtual event will include live talks, conversation with scientists, a learning zone for students and other activities. Some content also will be available in Spanish. To participate, visit:
https://go.nasa.gov/EarthDayEvent2022
#NASAEarthling
Connect with us this Earth Day on social media with the tag #NASAEarthling to show off what makes life on our planet truly special – you. On Earth Day, the collective images will show the stunning breadth and variety of life that persists, survives, and thrives right here on Earth.
NASA's Science Mission Directorate also has revealed the 2022 Earth Day poster, available to download in English and Spanish from an online toolkit that also includes wallpapers and a special video from its creative director. For the first time, this year's poster also has QR codes that tell the story of NASA's Earth and climate science.
Highlights of NASA Earth Day content and activities next week (all times Eastern):
Thursday, April 21
2 p.m. - Join us on Twitter at @NASAEarth to learn about the latest in NASA's climate research. This will be a Twitter Spaces event.
Friday, April 22
Log on to NASA's virtual event and hear from featured live speakers:
- 10:30 a.m. – Retired NASA astronaut Don Thomas
- 1 p.m. – NASA Earth Science Division Director Karen St. Germain
- 3 p.m. – NASA Chief Scientist and Senior Climate Advisor Kate Calvin
To learn more about NASA's Earth Day activities, visit:
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| 2022-04-19T02:56:18Z
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HUNTSVILLE, Ala., April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Following two years of virtual events, teams will have the opportunity to compete in person at the 2022 NASA Student Launch rocketry competition.
The annual event is set for Saturday, April 23, at Bragg Farms in Toney, Alabama, minutes north of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. Student Launch challenges middle school, high school, college, and university students to design, build, test, and fly a payload and high-powered amateur rocket. Sixty teams from 23 states plus Puerto Rico are taking part in this year's competition; 27 teams are expected to launch in person. Teams not traveling to Alabama may conduct final test flights at a home launch field.
Schedule
- April 23: Launch day from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CDT, or until the last rocket launches. The opening ceremony begins at 9 a.m., featuring speakers from NASA Headquarters, NASA Marshall, and Northrop Grumman.
- April 24: Tentative rain day in case of deterring weather. Competition will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., or until last rocket launches.
Winners will be announced June 2 during a virtual awards ceremony once all teams' flight data has been verified.
Media interested in covering Student Launch events should contact Christopher Blair at 256-544-0034.
About the Competition
This year, teams must fly their rocket to an altitude between 4,000 and 6,000 feet and make a successful landing. Teams in the college/university division will tackle a new task that mirrors NASA missions like the Mars Curiosity Rover. Teams must design a payload capable of autonomously locating where their rocket landed by identifying the rocket's grid position on an aerial image of the launch site, while transmitting the data back to their ground station. This must be accomplished without the use of GPS. The requirement simulates a challenge faced by NASA mission managers – communicating with spacecraft and payloads on distant planetary bodies, where use of GPS is not an option.
Middle and high school teams can choose to attempt the college/university division challenge or develop their own science or engineering experiment.
Teams predicted their rocket's altitude months in advance of launch day. The team that comes closest to their projection in each division wins the Altitude Award. Teams are scored in nearly a dozen other categories, including safety, vehicle design, social media presence, and science, technology, engineering, and math engagement.
NASA's Southeast Regional Office of STEM Engagement manages Student Launch, one of the agency's Artemis Student Challenges. These activities stimulate innovation and advance NASA's human exploration mission through collaboration with educational institutions and students – the Artemis Generation, who will help NASA explore the Moon and Mars. NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate and Office of STEM Engagement, along with Northrop Grumman provide funding and leadership for the initiative.
The rocket launches are open to the public, but pets are not permitted.
Live streaming will begin at 8:30 a.m. CDT on Student Launch Facebook and NASA Marshall Youtube.
For more information about Student Launch, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/stem/studentlaunch/home/index.html
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| 2022-04-19T02:56:25Z
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NEW YORK, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of each of Neuberger Berman California Municipal Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NBW) and Neuberger Berman New York Municipal Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NBO) has declared monthly distributions for the dates below. The Funds seek to provide income that is exempt from regular federal income tax. Additionally, Neuberger Berman California Municipal Fund Inc. seeks to provide income that is exempt from California personal income tax and Neuberger Berman New York Municipal Fund Inc. seeks to provide income that is exempt from New York State and New York City personal income tax. Distributions of the Funds may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax for some stockholders. Each Fund's distribution announced today is payable on May 16, 2022, has a record date of April 29, 2022 and an ex-date of April 28, 2022.
The Funds will make the distributions described above in the following per share amounts:
In compliance with Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, a notice would be provided for any distribution that does not consist solely of net investment income. The notice would be for informational purposes and not for tax reporting purposes, and would disclose, among other things, estimated portions of the distribution, if any, consisting of net investment income, capital gains and return of capital. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions paid in 2022 will be made after the end of the year.
Neuberger Berman, founded in 1939, is a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager. The firm manages a range of strategies—including equity, fixed income, quantitative and multi-asset class, private equity, real estate and hedge funds—on behalf of institutions, advisors and individual investors globally. With offices in 25 countries, Neuberger Berman's diverse team has over 2,400 professionals. For eight consecutive years, the company has been named first or second in Pensions & Investments Best Places to Work in Money Management survey (among those with 1,000 employees or more). In 2020, the PRI named Neuberger Berman a Leader, a designation awarded to fewer than 1% of investment firms for excellence in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. The PRI also awarded Neuberger Berman an A+ in every eligible category for our approach to ESG integration across asset classes. The firm manages $460 billion in client assets as of December 31, 2021. For more information, please visit our website at www.nb.com.
Contact:
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
Investor Information
(877) 461-1899
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/18/neuberger-berman-california-municipal-fund-neuberger-berman-new-york-municipal-fund-announce-monthly-distributions/
| 2022-04-19T02:56:32Z
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NEW YORK, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NBH) (the "Fund") has announced a decrease in its monthly distribution rate. The Fund decreased its monthly distribution rate to $0.05025 per share of common stock from the prior monthly distribution rate of $0.06244 per share. The Fund has also declared its next monthly distribution at the new rate, which is payable on May 16, 2022, has a record date of April 29, 2022 and an ex-date of April 28, 2022.
The new monthly distribution rate of $0.05025 per share represents an annualized distribution per share of $0.6030 versus the prior annualized amount of $0.74928 and results in a distribution rate of approximately 4.66% and 4.94%, of the Fund's net asset value and market price, respectively, as of April 18, 2022.
The decrease in the Fund's distribution rate is the result of numerous factors, including the current level of yields available in the municipal market and the impact on the Fund's level of earnings, expected increased costs of leverage associated with forecasted interest-rate hikes and the amount of available undistributed net investment income (UNII).
In compliance with Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, a notice would be provided for any distribution that does not consist solely of net investment income. The notice would be for informational purposes and not for tax reporting purposes, and would disclose, among other things, estimated portions of the distribution, if any, consisting of net investment income, capital gains and return of capital. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions paid in 2022 will be made after the end of the year.
About Neuberger Berman
Neuberger Berman, founded in 1939, is a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager. The firm manages a range of strategies—including equity, fixed income, quantitative and multi-asset class, private equity, real estate and hedge funds—on behalf of institutions, advisors and individual investors globally. With offices in 25 countries, Neuberger Berman's diverse team has over 2,400 professionals. For eight consecutive years, the company has been named first or second in Pensions & Investments Best Places to Work in Money Management survey (among those with 1,000 employees or more). In 2020, the PRI named Neuberger Berman a Leader, a designation awarded to fewer than 1% of investment firms for excellence in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. The PRI also awarded Neuberger Berman an A+ in every eligible category for our approach to ESG integration across asset classes. The firm manages $460 billion in client assets as of December 31, 2021. For more information, please visit our website at www.nb.com.
Statements made in this release that look forward in time involve risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the adverse effect from a decline in the securities markets or a decline in the Fund's performance, a general downturn in the economy, competition from other closed end investment companies, changes in government policy or regulation, inability of the Fund's investment adviser to attract or retain key employees, inability of the Fund to implement its investment strategy, inability of the Fund to manage rapid expansion and unforeseen costs and other effects related to legal proceedings or investigations of governmental and self-regulatory organizations.
Contact:
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
Investor Information
(877) 461-1899
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| 2022-04-19T02:56:39Z
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Mirroring a San Quentin Prison program where victims and offenders meet, Dr. Randall Bell facilitates a conversation between a former convict and a victim's family
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Double Murder & The Dive Stage: 17-year-old JC Cavitt grew up in poverty and never opened the college acceptance letters. Tanya Brown grew up playing on the beach with her sister Nicole and her husband OJ Simpson. Neither knew that murder was in their futures.
First 5 Minutes In Prison:
https://vimeo.com/699095315
Dr. Randall Bell and Tanya Brown talk with "JC" Cavitt. They explore their respective traumas. Tanya with the death of her sister and the trial of the century. JC with a decision that ended in murder and prison.
Post-Traumatic Thriving is a podcast that addresses the toughest issues around trauma and healing. Unresolved trauma is the #1 problem facing humanity, with 66% to 85% of all college-age people having experienced at least 1 traumatic event.
Unresolved trauma fuels self-medication, depression, and violent crime. Unprocessed, trauma can lead to suicide, a leading cause of death in the United States according to CDC. This podcast takes on these issues and delivers life-saving life skills:
- Featuring real events about real experiences
- Inspiring conversations about how to reclaim one's life
- Listeners learn practical tips to move forward
- Podcast builds a community of survivors and thrivers
- Guests not only survived trauma but are now thriving
JC Cavitt is history's first person to deliver a TED Talk while incarcerated and is now earning a PhD.
Dr. Bell is a sociologist and economist who specializes in disaster recovery projects. "Trauma recovery is not a solo exercise," says Dr. Randall Bell, and the author of the bestselling book, Post-Traumatic Thriving.
Ms. Tanya Brown, MA is the author of Finding Peace Amid the Chaos. The 1994 death of Tanya's sister Nicole Brown Simpson generated a media frenzy around O.J. Simpson. Today, she is a celebrity author, and a motivational speaker and life coach. When facing trauma Tanya said, "You need to ask for help."
Core IQ https://www.coreiq.com/ is a non-profit organization and produces this podcast.
Available on multiple podcast platforms.
Links:
https://www.tiktok.com/@coreiq
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8ZeUuGqzsYdJmhr2JHD2ag
https://www.instagram.com/coreiq/
https://www.facebook.com/coreiqskills
https://www.linkedin.com/company/coreiqinc/about/?viewAsMember=true
https://twitter.com/corei
Mel Levy mel@coreiq.com 949-497-7600 ext
Reviews, photos, and interviews available upon request.
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| 2022-04-19T02:56:46Z
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IRVINE, Calif., April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pedego Electric Bikes, an award-winning national electric bike company with over 200 stores globally, today announced, the company has appointed Kevin Mayer as Chief Marketing Officer of Pedego.
Kevin Mayer photo download: http://www.kcomm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Kevin-Mayer-Pedego-scaled.jpg
Mayer comes to Pedego with over 30 years of global marketing experience. With experience working in the transportation and hospitality industries, Mayer has shown a track record throughout his tenure of driving both growth and brand transformation within brands such as BJ's Restaurants, Volkswagen, Chevrolet Global and Subaru. Mayer, most recently at BJ's, was instrumental in beating industry same-store sales growth for 11 consecutive quarters, transformed their marketing capabilities, led new revenue-growth initiatives and boosted guest retention by 22% by restructuring their consumer loyalty program.
With e-bikes being the fastest growing electric mobility product, Mayer will leverage his product management, disruptive marketing and brand growth expertise to strategically assist Pedego in its next phase of growth. Mayer's track record of bolstering deep consumer insights, evolving brand strategy for stronger consumer connection, supporting retailer marketing capabilities and transforming digital and communication capabilities will serve him well in this role.
"Working with consumer-centric lifestyle brands and helping them become household names is my passion and I am ready to hit the ground running for Pedego," said Kevin Mayer, Chief Marketing Officer of Pedego Electric Bikes. "I am excited to build upon the team's success and bring innovative thinking and even a little category disruption to elevate Pedego's already thriving brand. For the brand's next phase, we'll develop a sophisticated marketing blueprint for retail expansion and awareness growth, which coupled with our high quality products, will prove a successful combination."
"Kevin is a fantastic addition and fit to our Pedego executive team," said Don DiCostanzo, Chief Executive Office and Founder of Pedego Electric Bikes. "His years of helping brands accelerate growth in pivotal moments of their lifecycle, coupled with his passionate, customer-first approach in transforming marketing organizations, will help us create a world-class marketing team. Beyond driving our marketing efforts, Mayer will spearhead revenue growth and take our thriving company to the next level. Our mission is to deliver a best-in-class experience, with the help of our dealers, and Kevin is seamlessly aligned with the Pedego vision."
Pedego recently surpassed $120 million in systemwide retail sales and supports each locally owned location with a long list of marketing tools to help them achieve their goals.
About Pedego® Electric Bikes
Founded in 2008, Pedego® has the largest chain of retail electric bicycle stores in North America. Pedego is famous for premium quality, five-star local service, and an industry leading five year warranty. A complete line of 19 electric bike models are available at over 200 locally-owned Pedego stores that offer sales, rentals, tours, accessories, and service. Visit www.pedego.com to find a store and try a Pedego.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Rachel Devany, KCOMM
rachel@kcomm.com
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/18/pedego-hires-kevin-mayer-chief-marketing-officer-while-e-bike-sales-continue-skyrocket/
| 2022-04-19T02:56:53Z
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Originally Known as BloomNation, Promenade Group Offers E-Commerce Platform and Marketplace to Empower Local Businesses
CAMPBELL, Calif., April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Walt & Company, an award-winning Silicon Valley tech public relations and social media agency, today announced it has been selected by Promenade Group as its public relations agency of record. Headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif. and originally known as BloomNation, Promenade offers an easy-to-use e-commerce platform and marketplace allowing local businesses to thrive online.
The Promenade e-commerce platform offers local businesses an intuitive online shopping experience for their customers and a complete, user-friendly business management solution. From flowers to food to liquor, Promenade levels the playing field for neighborhood businesses, allowing them to reach and retain new customers, grow online revenue, and effectively manage both online and in-store orders.
BloomNation, a Promenade e-commerce platform and marketplace servicing the independent florist industry, offers the most complete business management platform for today's florist. Custom, turn-key online storefronts, an integrated point of sale system, invoicing and house account management, delivery, and much more.
"Neighborhood businesses are the heart and soul of virtually every community in the U.S. Helping them build and manage their online presence is what Promenade is all about," said Farbod Shoraka, founder and CEO, Promenade Group. "To do this, we've built an extraordinary team that includes an array of best-in-class service partners. We added Walt & Company to our lineup based on its creative and strategic public relations capabilities."
Walt & Company has experience positioning and promoting a wide range of technology-based products and services designed to help small businesses increase productivity, streamline operations and add new capabilities. It will operate as an extension of the Promenade marketing team, developing and implementing strategic communications to support new service launches, share Promenade news, and drive Promenade brand recognition, thought leadership and customer success.
"We are excited to be working with Promenade Group and believe wholeheartedly in its mission to support neighborhood businesses," said Robert Walt, president of Walt & Company. "We're looking forward to developing and implementing a brand awareness and market share building program that will help drive Promenade market growth."
About Promenade Group
Promenade Group is a software company empowering small, local businesses with the technology, knowledge and support to attract and retain customers with one powerful platform. Originally known as BloomNation, Promenade offers an easy-to-use e-commerce platform and management solution to help local businesses get online and reach new customers, grow online sales and easily manage both online and in-store orders. For more information, visit https://www.promenade.co.
About Walt & Company
Walt & Company specializes in developing tech PR and social media programs and campaigns that advance its clients' marketing and corporate agendas by generating actionable awareness in all influential formats and forums. For more than 30 years, when it comes to building marketplace credibility, brand recognition, and product and service awareness, Walt & Company has its clients covered. For further information, visit www.walt.com.
Product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Walt & Company disclaims any and all rights in these marks.
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| 2022-04-19T02:56:59Z
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Premier Self-Care Franchise Brands Propel Franchise Development; Positioned for Significant Future Growth
DENVER, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Radiance Holdings, a company representing a collection of premier brands in the beauty, wellness and self-care sector, is reporting the strong quarterly performance of its two flagship brands, Sola Salons and Woodhouse. The leading franchise concepts both accelerated their aggressive development efforts in the first quarter of 2022, growing their respective footprints across the U.S. and Canada, and signed franchise agreements to further expand their presence domestically and internationally.
Following a successful 2021 where Sola Salons opened 53 new locations and achieved its 600th milestone, the company sustained its impressive development momentum into Q1 2022, opening 13 new locations in markets such as Arizona, California, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Florida. The world's largest and fastest growing salon studios franchise also signed development agreements in Q1 to further grow its system wide footprint. Additionally, Sola successfully purchased 20 existing franchise locations in Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. previously owned by former operators, adding to its growing home office portfolio. Today, Sola has 59 corporate-owned locations with one in development.
"Sola's remarkable growth and compounding success is a reflection of its 17+ years of industry expertise and longstanding reputation as the category leader, truly paving the way as the original salon suites franchise, supporting a community of over 18,000 independent beauty professionals. The brand's strong first quarter performance has set the foundation for the remainder of 2022, which is projected to be one of its best years yet," said Christina Russell, CEO of Radiance Holdings. "Both Sola and Woodhouse have successfully carved out unique niches in the increasingly competitive self-care market, positioning them for significant future growth that we're excited to witness in the years to come."
Woodhouse, which was founded in 2001 and acquired by Radiance Holdings in July 2020, is the first brand to scale a luxury spa concept into the franchise model, making high-end, resort-level experiences accessible in a day-to-day neighborhood setting. The brand, which ranked as the massage and spa services category leader on Entrepreneur magazine's highly competitive 2022 Franchise 500 list, recently celebrated the opening of its 75th location in Franklin, Tennessee. Woodhouse remains on track to open eight additional locations this year.
"Woodhouse provides an immersive experience with unmatched quality that makes it an accessible destination for consumers in their local community while offering franchisees diverse revenue streams and strong unit-level economics. Coming out of the pandemic, there is tremendous latent demand for the services Woodhouse offers making it a very exciting time to be part of the brand's promising future," added Christina Russell.
Sola Salons and Woodhouse are seeking sophisticated and passionate business professionals with a desire to own a category-leading franchise within multi-billion-dollar, in-demand industries. To learn more about franchise opportunities and available Sola Salons territories, contact Lori Merrall, director of franchise development at lori@solasalonstudios.com or visit www.solafranchising.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities and available Woodhouse territories, contact Karen Garrett, director of franchise sales at karen.garrett@woodhousespashq.com or visit www.ownawoodhouse.com.
ABOUT RADIANCE HOLDINGS
Radiance Holdings represents a collection of premier brands in the beauty, wellness and self-care sector. Led by Christina Russell, CEO, Radiance's current brand portfolio includes Sola Salons, the world's largest and fastest growing salon studios franchise; Woodhouse, the largest premium day spa brand in the U.S.; and BeautyHive, an online distributor of professional beauty products. Radiance is committed to investing in its brands, driving innovation, and helping their franchisees and their community of independent beauty professionals grow their businesses and improve their lives. For more information, please visit www.weareradianceholdings.com.
ABOUT SOLA SALONS
In 2004, Sola Salons was established with the opening of its first location in Denver, Colorado. Now with more than 600 locations open in the U.S., Canada and Brazil, Sola is proud to offer 18,000+ independent beauty professionals the freedom and benefits of salon ownership without the risk and overhead of opening a traditional salon. Its innovative salon model empowers hairdressers, estheticians, nail techs, massage therapists and other like-minded professionals to take control of their lives and their careers. Sola provides beauty professionals with beautiful, fully equipped salon studios alongside the support and tools they need to launch their salon business in no time. For more information, please visit www.solasalons.com.
ABOUT WOODHOUSE
Founded in Victoria, Texas in 2001, Woodhouse provides each guest with a tranquil, transformational environment that's both memorable and healthful. From beginning to end, dedicated spa teams ensure that each visit enhances the guest's well-being. With more than 75 spas across the country, guests of Woodhouse are guaranteed the same high-quality signature services and luxurious experience regardless of location. For more information, please visit www.woodhousespas.com.
Contact:
Christina Rodriguez
Fish Consulting
954-893-9150
crodriguez@fish-consulting.com
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| 2022-04-19T02:57:06Z
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NEW YORK, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Zai Lab Limited (NASDAQ: ZLAB) resulting from allegations that Zai Lab may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Zai Lab securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=4899 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On March 9, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") published a notification identifying Zai Lab, among other companies, as in potential violation of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which allows the SEC to delist companies and ban a company's shares from being traded if the company fails to allow U.S. regulators to review their company audits for three straight years. Zai Lab and the other companies named in the SEC notification have until March 29, 2022 to challenge the charges against them.
On this news, Zai Lab's stock price fell $6.74 per share, or 18%, to close at $30.02 per share on March 10, 2022.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/18/rosen-leading-investor-rights-law-firm-encourages-zai-lab-limited-investors-with-losses-inquire-about-securities-class-action-investigation-zlab/
| 2022-04-19T02:57:12Z
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NEW YORK, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Tattooed Chef, Inc. f/k/a Forum Merger II Corporation (NASDAQ: TTCF, FMCI) resulting from allegations that Tattooed Chef may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Tattooed Chef securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=4906 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On August 12, 2021, Tattooed Chef issued a press release announcing its financial results for the second quarter of 2021. Among other results, the Company disclosed revenue of $50.7 million, missing consensus estimates by $3.35 million.
On this news, Tattooed Chef's stock price fell $3.30 per share, or 16%, to close at $17.01 per share on August 13, 2021.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/18/rosen-leading-law-firm-encourages-tattooed-chef-inc-fka-forum-merger-ii-corporation-investors-with-losses-inquire-about-securities-class-action-investigation-ttcf-fmci/
| 2022-04-19T02:57:19Z
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NEW YORK, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Lilium N.V. f/k/a Qell Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: LILM, LILMW, QELL, QELLU, QELLW) between March 30, 2021 and March 14, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than June 17, 2022.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Lilium securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Lilium class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=4894 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than June 17, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Lilium materially overstates the Lilium Jet's design and capabilities; (2) Lilium materially overstates the likelihood for the Lilium Jet's timely certification; (3) Lilium misrepresents its ability to obtain or create the necessary batteries for the Lilium Jet; (4) the SPAC-merger would not and did not generate enough cash to commercially launch the Lilium Jet; (5) Qell Acquisition Corp. did not engage in proper due diligence regarding the Merger; and (6) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Lilium class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=4894 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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| 2022-04-19T02:57:28Z
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Santander Consumer will donate 30 vehicles over four years to help more people get to work
DALLAS and TAMPA, Fla., April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Santander Consumer USA Inc. ("Santander Consumer" and "Santander") today announced a four-year commitment to donate two used vehicles every quarter to Tampa-based Wheels of Success Inc. ("Wheels of Success"). Wheels of Success helps families obtain, and sustain, work by providing them with reliable personal transportation. Santander Consumer will donate a total of 30 vehicles through December 2025, valued at approximately $600,000.00.
Wheels of Success not only supplies its clients with transportation, but also supports families who can't afford repairs by providing them with preventative maintenance and car-care classes. Clients receiving vehicles buy them from Wheels of Success, making monthly payments based on the client's ability to pay. In addition, clients are required to provide service hours to the organization, which – coupled with the cash repayments - helps Wheels of Success serve other families.
"The Tampa Bay area is home to a category of working-class men and women who earn too much money to be eligible for government-assisted transportation programs, but not enough to buy and/or maintain a vehicle," said Susan Jacobs, Founder and CEO of Wheels of Success. "We offer resources that give people the ability to provide for their families and maintain their independence."
In addition to the cars donated by Santander, the Santander Consumer Foundation granted Wheels of Success $50,000.00 in 2021 to support facilitation of transportation opportunities and vehicle ownership during the pandemic. The partnership's growth speaks to the value that Wheels of Success provides and aligns with Santander Consumer's goal of taking an active role in helping people and businesses prosper by supporting sustainable programs that drive positive change in communities.
"Santander Consumer is a proud member of the Tampa community. We want to help remove barriers to transportation, which are often barriers to employment," said Dr. Virnitia Hendricks, Chief Diversity Officer for Santander US and Wheels of Success Board Member. "Our hope is that Santander's support of Wheels of Success provides a measure of stability for Wheels of Success' programs over the coming years, removing mobility challenges for many who are underserved and vulnerable within our community."
About Santander Consumer USA Inc.
Santander Consumer USA Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a full-service consumer finance company focused on vehicle finance, third-party servicing and delivering superior service to our more than three million customers across the full credit spectrum. Santander Consumer, which began originating retail installment contracts in 1997, had an average managed asset portfolio of approximately $64 billion (for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2021). The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Santander Holdings USA Inc., and is part of Madrid, Spain-based global banking leader Banco Santander. For more information about Santander Consumer, please visit www.santanderconsumerusa.com.
About Wheels of Success
Going into its 20th year, Wheels of Success provides reliable transportation to keep working people working through vehicle presentation, car repairs or car related services such a tag and title and insurance. In doing so, Wheels of Success enables its recipients to have reliable transportation to get to work, keep their jobs, advance in their careers, and maintain their independence and self-sufficiency. Wheels of Success keeps working families working.
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/18/santander-consumer-usa-partners-with-wheels-success-provide-vehicles-individuals-need/
| 2022-04-19T02:57:35Z
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H.B. 3020 would provide $70 million in one-time funding to accelerate development of the Rock Island Trail, which was formally railbanked in December 2021.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, the Senate Committee on Appropriations will take up debate on H.B. 3020, which provides $70 million in funding to begin development of the Rock Island Trail State Park.
Gov. Mike Parson called on the legislature to invest a portion of the state's federal recovery dollars to develop the 144-mile corridor, which was officially railbanked in December. The trail will eventually connect to the Katy Trail and into Kansas City, creating a 400-mile trail loop that will serve as a "world-class, one-of-a-kind destination for travelers coming to Missouri … while also supporting businesses and creating jobs," according to the governor.
If approved, the $70 million will be used to complete the hardest and most expensive portions of the trail, including three major tunnels and two major bridges.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and leaders from across the state are calling on members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, including Chairman Dan Hegeman, Vice Chairman Lincoln Hough and Ranking Member Lauren Arthur, to make the strategic move for Missouri and vote in favor of H.B. 3020.
Andy Clements, Director of Public Works and Transportation, City of St. Joseph
The addition of the Rock Island Corridor to the state park system on Dec. 14, 2021, is an outstanding opportunity for [Missouri] to provide a cross-state trail experience through the rugged northern Ozarks. The federal ARPA funding presents a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be able to rapidly develop the trail as an internationally prominent tourism destination affecting dozens of communities across the state.
We here in St. Joseph and Northwest Missouri view the Rock Island Trail as a tremendous opportunity for the state, and our region. It will be a key element in raising the profile of Missouri in the United States and will help bolster future development of the Quad-State Trail extensions to Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa.
Patrick W. Tuttle, Director, Visit Joplin
In establishing a tourism base, a state's natural amenities play a major economic role. It is not possible to create a mountain or add a beach where there is none. For Missouri, showcasing the state's natural features contributes greatly to the tourism revenue streams of every community. Accessing these wonders of our state through means that support the environment and promote public health are a win-win for all. We know the results the Katy Trail has delivered over the years, and the estimates for what the Rock Island will bring are conservative but highly positive. This land that is a part of the Missouri landscape—this abandoned railway that crosses the midsection of Missouri—is a pathway toward tourism success on many levels.
We here in southwest Missouri know very well the economic impact the now nearly 500 miles of trails that exist to our south have in Northwest Arkansas. Hotels and restaurants in Newton and McDonald counties reap the benefit of having that network in their backyard.
We need the same expanded opportunities the Rock Island offers so we can keep more recreation dollars in Missouri.
Corey J. Mehaffy, IMPM, Executive Director, Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council
The Rock Island Trail is a statewide project that will provide significant returns on that investment through tourism, workforce talent attraction, healthy living and wellness, improved mental health, the strengthening of local economies and business development.
Destination trails attract visitors from outside the local area who travel specifically to use a trail. The benefits from destination trails are most commonly measured in terms of the local business impacts. This includes business revenue, employment and employee earnings. In addition to its direct effect on businesses, visitor spending also has a ripple effect in the community as employees and business owners spend their earnings, and local and state governments receive more tax revenue.
Historical data shows an increase in revenues for the communities and businesses along the trails as the trails develop and grow their number of events and visitors. These benefits impact communities across the state from the smallest to the largest. Providing the full $69 million in federal recovery money requested by Gov. Parson will allow the trail and connections to the statewide trail system to be developed rapidly. Until we have a trail fully connected, we won't see the local and statewide economic benefits.
As an avid cyclist, cycling over 9,000 miles per year, I regularly visit communities that have seen significant impacts from trail systems. As a taxpayer, I would love to see Missouri's trail systems fully developed, placing our state in a position to benefit from hundreds of thousands of visitors per year that are looking for these unique opportunities.
Mac Vorce, Executive Director, Warsaw Area Chamber of Commerce
Our community of Warsaw in Benton County has been preparing for the Rock Island Trail for many years. Our cycling tourism has been increasing due to our efforts. The Butterfield Stage Experience and the future USBR 51 will link our community and county to this opportunity. We are not right along the Rock Island, but we see the importance of what it can do for rural Missouri. This is a great chance and gives new hope for rural Missourians; this will reach much further than just along the trail.
Learn more about the Rock Island Trail State Park at rockislandtrail.org.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is the nation's largest trails organization—with a grassroots community more than 1 million strong—dedicated to building a nation connected by trails, reimagining public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors. Connect with RTC at railstotrails.org and @railstotrails on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
CONTACT:
Brandi Horton, Vice President of Communications at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
brandi@railstotrails.org
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| 2022-04-19T02:57:42Z
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NEW YORK, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Flexible Solutions International Inc. ("Flexible Solutions" or the "Company") (NYSE: FSI) in connection with the proposed merger of the Company with Lygos, Inc. ("Lygos"). Under the terms of the merger agreement, Lygos issued $160 million worth of convertible notes with a 5.5% fixed annual interest rate and a five-year maturity. The conversion price of the convertible note will be set 12 months to the date of the note, and the pricing terms will be set upon the trading price of the future equity but will be set within a market capitalization range of no less than $250 million or no greater than $350 million.
If you own Flexible Solutions shares and wish to discuss this investigation or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, visit our website:
https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/fsi
Or please contact:
Joshua Rubin, Esq.
Weiss Law
305 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10007
(212) 682-3025
(888) 593-4771
stockinfo@weisslawllp.com
Weiss Law is investigating whether: (i) Flexible Solutions's board of directors acted in the best interests of Company shareholders in agreeing to the proposed transaction, (ii) the per-share merger consideration adequately compensates Flexible Solutions's shareholders, and (iii) all information regarding the sales process and valuation of the transaction will be fully and fairly disclosed.
Weiss Law has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at stockinfo@weisslawllp.com
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| 2022-04-19T02:57:49Z
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NEW YORK, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Natus Medical Incorporated ("Natus" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: NTUS), in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by an affiliate of ArchiMed. Under the terms of the merger agreement, the Company's shareholders will receive $33.50 in cash for each share of Natus common stock owned. The transaction is valued at $1.2 billion.
If you own Natus shares and wish to discuss this investigation or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, visit our website:
https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/ntus
Or please contact:
Joshua Rubin, Esq.
Weiss Law
305 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10007
(212) 682-3025
(888) 593-4771
stockinfo@weisslawllp.com
Weiss Law is investigating whether (i) Natus's board of directors acted in the best interests of Company shareholders in agreeing to the proposed transaction, (ii) the $33.50 per-share merger consideration adequately compensates Natus's shareholders, and (iii) all information regarding the sales process and valuation of the transaction will be fully and fairly disclosed.
Weiss Law has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at stockinfo@weisslawllp.com
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| 2022-04-19T02:57:56Z
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NEW YORK, April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
If you own shares in any of the companies listed above and
would like to discuss our investigations or have any questions concerning
this notice or your rights or interests, please contact:
Joshua Rubin, Esq.
Weiss Law
305 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10007
(212) 682-3025
(888) 593-4771
stockinfo@weisslawllp.com
South Jersey Industries, Inc. (NYSE: SJI)
WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of South Jersey Industries, Inc. (NYSE: SJI), in connection with the proposed acquisition of SJI by Infrastructure Investments Fund. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, SJI's shareholders will receive $36.00 in cash for each share of SJI common stock that they hold. If you own SJI shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us at one of the numbers listed above or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/sji
Columbia Care Inc. (OTCQX: CCHWF)
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Columbia Care Inc. (OTCQX: CCHWF) in connection with its proposed merger with Cresco Labs ("Cresco"). Under the terms of the merger agreement, CCHWF shareholders will receive 0.5579 shares of Cresco for each share of CCHWF common stock owned, representing an implied per-share merger consideration of approximately $3.00 based upon Cresco's April 15, 2022 closing price of $5.38. If you own CCHWF shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us at one of the numbers listed above or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/cchwf
Emclaire Financial Corp (NASDAQ: EMCF)
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Emclaire Financial Corp (NASDAQ: EMCF) in connection with the proposed merger of EMCF with Farmers National Banc Corp. ("Farmers"). Under the terms of the merger agreement, each shareholder of EMCF may elect to receive either $40.00 per share in cash or 2.15 shares of Farmers' common stock, subject to an overall limitation of 70% of the shares being exchanged for Farmers' shares and 30% for cash. If you own EMCF shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us at one of the numbers listed above or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/emcf
The National Security Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSEC)
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of The National Security Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSEC), in connection with the proposed acquisition of NSEC by VR Insurance Holdings, Inc. Under the terms of the merger agreement, NSEC's shareholders will receive $16.35 in cash for each share of NSEC common stock that they hold. If you own NSEC shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us at one of the numbers listed above or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/nsec
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SOURCE Weiss Law
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/18/shareholder-alert-weiss-law-reminds-sji-cchwf-emcf-nsec-shareholders-about-its-ongoing-investigations/
| 2022-04-19T02:58:05Z
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Outlet shopping leader debuts new programs in support of International Earth Day mission
GREENSBORO, N.C., April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanger Factory Outlets Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT), a leading operator of upscale open-air outlet centers, further commits to its Mission, Vision and Values with the announcement of increased sustainability efforts to support the International Earth Day mission: Invest in our Planet. On Earth Day, April 22, shoppers and team members at Tanger centers nationwide will have the opportunity to take part in several new initiatives designed to unify these efforts across the company, including interactive virtual and onsite workshops, community programs and environmentally focused volunteerism. These efforts underscore Tanger's broader sustainability focus – with efforts ranging from tree planning and electric vehicle charging stations to the implementation of LEED standards and harnessing the power of solar panels at its centers.
"As a values-driven brand, we recognize that it is our responsibility to contribute to a greener, more sustainable environment," said Tanger Outlets Chief Operating Officer Leslie Swanson. "While we elevate Tanger's pledge on Earth Day, we are committed each and every day to taking measurable steps toward reducing our footprint – from efforts made within our local communities to team member volunteerism to inspiring our shoppers to do their part in caring for the planet."
In its second year partnering with urban bee keeping company Alvéole, the outlet leader also expands its signature beehive program to additional centers, growing the eco-friendly initiative from seven North American locations to 10. Tanger's Alvéole beekeeping program, with local hives installed atop its shopping centers to build back biodiversity within communities, kicked off in 2021 at centers located in Texas, New York, New Jersey and Maryland as well as Ottawa, Ontario in Canada.
During the 2022 spring season, beekeeping efforts will expand to include new hives in Glendale, Arizona; Locust Grove, Georgia; and Washington, Pennsylvania. Throughout the year, Tanger's Alvéole beekeepers tend to the hives, conducting regular health checks, feeding the colony, harvesting honey and maintaining a healthy habitat for the bees. Shoppers can access the most up-to-date information on their local hive by visiting its My Hive page, linked on the Tanger Outlets local center event page, to track the number of bees, how far they travel, upcoming workshops and more.
In celebration of Earth Day, participating centers will welcome shoppers for engaging beekeeping workshops that focus on the importance of pollinators to the environment. To make the program digitally accessible to all shoppers nationwide, Tanger will host its first-ever family-friendly virtual Bee Amazing Workshop on April 19, featuring a Tanger beekeeper who will lead families on a journey to learn more about the jobs of bees and their impact on the environment. This free program will be available at TangerOutlets.com/community. Throughout Earth Day week, shoppers are encouraged to visit TangerLife for an in-depth look at Tanger's year-round sustainability efforts, as well as eco-friendly retailer collections, recycling programs and other environmentally conscious programs available to shoppers. This will include details on Tanger's commitment to lessening its environmental footprint.
On Earth Day, Tanger also kicks off its tree planting initiative: local Tanger teams at all U.S. properties will come together to plant a tree on property as a testament to Tanger's commitment to making a difference… one tree at a time. All Tanger team members will also be encouraged to embrace a new environmentally focused volunteerism program, coming together to engage with local community tree-planting projects and other environmentally focused efforts in their neighborhoods to help purify the atmosphere's air and create fresh oxygen sources.
Tanger has long been a proponent of environmental responsibility. In 2021, Tanger powered over 60,000 electric vehicle charging sessions; this year, the company is more than doubling the number of charging stations it offers by installing an additional 200 electric vehicle charging stations across the portfolio in partnership with Volta. Many Tanger centers are LEED Gold Certified, and the company has committed to increasing that number across its portfolio in the coming years. Through projects like new solar rooftops and carports, Tanger has already doubled its renewable energy footprint over the past six years.
About Tanger Factory Outlet Centers:
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT) is a leading operator of upscale open-air outlet centers that owns, or has an ownership interest in, a portfolio of 36 centers. Tanger's operating properties are located in 20 states and in Canada, totaling approximately 13.6 million square feet, leased to over 2,600 stores operated by more than 600 different brand name companies. The Company has more than 41 years of experience in the outlet industry and is a publicly traded REIT.
For More Information:
Caroline Day
BRAVE Public Relations
404.233.3993
cday@emailbrave.com
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SOURCE Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/18/tanger-outlets-commemorates-earth-day-with-increased-commitment-sustainability-expansion-tanger-honeybee-hives-tree-planting-programs-electric-vehicle-charging-upgrades/
| 2022-04-19T02:58:12Z
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XTX Markets is one of the first companies to introduce a carbon removal programme for employees as part of its newly released climate pledges.
LONDON, April 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- To meet the IPPC's 1.5C scenario, the emerging consensus is that carbon capture and storage (CCS) needs to increase from around 40 million tonnes of CO2 in 2020 to 1 billion tonnes in 2030, then 10 billion tonnes in 2050.
The market for carbon removal needs to grow 25 times by 2030 and XTX will support this goal by purchasing CCS credits that help to accelerate the market and bring down the cost curve. XTX is focusing on projects that have scientifically valid methods to capture atmospheric CO2 and store it durably for thousands of years.
XTX has purchased its first tranche of carbon removal credits for its 2020 emissions, equivalent to 3,265 tonnes of CO2. It plans to purchase further tranches each year.
XTX will be one of the first trading firms to remove its CO2 emissions and, as far as it knows, the first major firm in any sector to remove household carbon emissions on behalf of employees.
XTX MARKETS CLIMATE PLEDGES:
We recognise that net zero requires both the reduction and the removal of CO2 emissions. To this end, XTX is making four pledges:
1) We pledge to avoid energy use from fossil fuels:
Our research cluster uses geothermal energy (totalling 3.8 megawatts of renewable power) and our UK office has switched to renewable energy. We will keep working to incrementally improve on this.
2) We pledge to remove all the firm's CO2 emissions:
We pledge to remove the CO2 emitted as a result of the firm's own assets, purchased energy use and indirect emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions respectively).
3) We pledge to remove 16t of CO2 per employee:
We pledge to remove individual XTX employees carbon emissions at the level of 16 tonnes of CO2 per employee - which is more than the average UK household emitted in 2020.
4) We pledge to offer support to employees who want to reduce their carbon footprint:
As well as removing CO2 on behalf of employees, we will offer further support where we can. This includes initiatives like electric vehicle lease schemes and advice on buying personal carbon credits.
Alex Gerko, Founder & co-CEO at XTX Markets, commented:
''We are pleased to announce our climate pledges, including our unique approach to employee carbon removal. XTX is again leading the way within the algo trading community and we look forward to others joining us in implementing processes to help alleviate climate issues.''
About XTX Markets:
XTX Markets is a leading financial technology firm which partners with counterparties, exchanges and e-trading venues globally to provide liquidity in the Equity, FX, Fixed Income and Commodity markets. XTX has 160 employees based in London, Paris, New York, Mumbai and Singapore. XTX is the 3rd largest FX liquidity provider globally and the largest eSpot FX liquidity provider globally (Euromoney 2020) and also the largest European equities (systematic internaliser) liquidity provider (Rosenblatt FY 2020).
In a changing world XTX Markets is at the forefront of making financial markets fairer and more efficient for all.
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SOURCE XTX Markets
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/18/xtx-markets-one-first-companies-introduce-carbon-removal-programme-employees/
| 2022-04-19T02:58:19Z
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