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First disease-specific data module in neuroscience, Qdata™ SMA, helps power exclusive real-world evidence generation into a rare-disease patient journey from one of world's largest clinical neurology data registries
SAN FRANCISCO, April 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Verana Health®—a digital health company that delivers quality drug lifecycle and medical practice insights from an exclusive real-world data network—today announced the launch of its first Neurology Qdata™, available through Verana Health's real-world evidence service offerings. Neurology Qdata for life sciences companies will be featured at the American Academy of Neurology's (AAN) 2022 Annual Meeting alongside Verana Health's solutions for neurologists, including a new Quality Measures Dashboard for the Axon Registry® and Verana Trial Connect for physicians interested in participating in clinical trials. The AAN's Annual Meeting is in Seattle from April 2–7.
Neurology Qdata comprises quality, disease-specific datasets to help power neuroscience research and shape therapeutic strategies. Qdata™ SMA, the first neurology module to launch, is a real-world de-identified dataset reflective of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients found across healthcare settings. Following the release of Qdata SMA, Verana Health expects to release additional Neurology Qdata modules for neurological diseases including Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD), and others.
"The American Academy of Neurology is dedicated to promoting the highest-quality, patient-centered neurologic care, and the Axon Registry plays a key role in that effort," said Mary E. Post, MBA, CAE, Chief Executive Officer of the American Academy of Neurology. "The Axon Registry empowers neurologists by giving them deeper insights into their quality of care and our partnership with Verana Health is key to helping advance the specialty of neurology through the therapeutic insights that can be unlocked with the help of Verana Health's Neurology Qdata."
Qdata SMA provides life sciences companies with real-world insights into the natural history of disease, treatments, and outcomes for SMA patients. It is powered by the Axon Registry, one of the largest real-world clinical data registries for neurology in the world. The Axon Registry includes an average of 6 years of longitudinal data pertaining to more than 3 million patients—reflecting more than 17 million patient visits—and nearly 1,400 participating Axon providers.
SMA is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by loss of motor neurons and progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. It is caused by a mutation in the SMN1 gene, which encodes a protein that is important for motor neuron survival. SMA is an autosomal recessive disease, meaning both SMN1 alleles must be mutated for an individual to be affected. Because SMA is an inheritable condition, family history of SMA is the sole risk factor for all SMA types; however, its occurrence among this population is sporadic.
"SMA is an incurable disease that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brainstem and spinal cord that control skeletal muscle activities such as speaking, walking, breathing and swallowing," said Heather Moss, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Stanford Departments of Neurology & Neurological Sciences and Ophthalmology and medical consultant to Verana Health. "To assess the effectiveness of treatments for SMA requires longitudinal data representing the patient journey, which is frequently captured as unstructured information in patient records. Qdata SMA helps enable researchers to tap into key insights contained in that unstructured data, such as motor score, ambulatory status, and respiratory status."
Qdata SMA is the result of harmonizing exclusive, point-of-care electronic health record (EHR) data with claims data—through Verana Health's VeraQ™ population health data engine—to understand disease progression and treatment patterns for de-identified SMA patients. The data in Qdata SMA have been curated with oversight from licensed, practicing neurologists to leverage clinical understanding of SMA to produce a more accurate representation of the patient population and disease characteristics.
Often, the most valuable data points for understanding the neurologic care of patients are found in the notes sections of EHRs as unstructured, free-text data, which cannot easily be extracted to inform research. Leveraging natural language processing (NLP) methodologies, Qdata SMA captures and normalizes this data, converting it into a structured format suitable for analyses.
For life sciences companies, Qdata SMA can help to deliver deep insights into the SMA patient journey as well as guide understanding around patient access and outcomes associated with FDA-approved SMA therapeutics. For participating practitioners, Qdata SMA can also help securely identify potential patient referrals to a clinical trial.
"Researchers and life sciences companies need a means of better understanding and tracking treatment patterns, patient outcomes, and adverse events associated with SMA therapeutics to help meet regulatory requirements, guide research, and inform business strategy. Qdata SMA offers exclusive insights into the SMA patient population by way of clinically validated SMA-specific data and a real-world view of the rare-disease patient journey," said Sujay Jadhav, Chief Executive Officer, Verana Health. "With Neurology Qdata—including Qdata SMA and the modules to follow it—life sciences companies can power insights for clinical trials, post-approval evidence generation, and commercialization with quality real-world data only found at Verana Health."
Verana Health at the American Academy of Neurology 2022 Annual Meeting (AAN 2022)
Verana Health will be exhibiting at the AAN 2022 in-person at booth 1701 and will showcase the new Axon Registry Quality Measures Dashboard for Academy members, to be launched in 2022. The dashboard delivers metrics that can help validate the quality of care neurologists provide, pinpoint opportunities for care improvement, and report clinical quality data to the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). The Axon Registry extracts and submits data for MIPS quality measures to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on behalf of practices that participate in the Axon Registry via integrated EHR systems.
Verana Health will also demonstrate its Verana Trial Connect (VTC) platform, which is available for interested Axon Registry participants. VTC supports registry-powered clinical trials for investigators who conduct research at a trial site. Plus, it supports physicians who would like to refer their patients to trials, particularly those with conditions for which there are no standards of care, such as rare diseases.
Verana Health also contributed to two research abstracts being presented during the meeting:
- Andrew M. Wilson, MD, MS, MBA will present "Examining National Representativeness of the Axon Registry" from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7.
- Richard T. Benson, MD, PhD will present "Measuring Ambulatory Neurologic Health Disparities with the Axon Registry" from 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, April 7.
To learn more about Neurology Qdata or to meet with Verana Health at AAN 2022, click here.
About Verana Health
Verana Health is a digital health company committed to delivering quality drug lifecycle and medical practice insights from an exclusive real-world data network. Verana Health is entrusted by key specialty medical societies to manage data from more than 20,000 healthcare providers and 70 electronic health record systems. Its healthcare data ecosystem is powered by VeraQ™, a population health data engine that securely powers a data integrity feedback loop of nearly a half-billion, point-of-care health encounters. By applying advanced analytics to fit-for-purpose, quality data sets (Qdata™), Verana Health helps life sciences collaborators generate real-world evidence, advance business insights, and accelerate medical innovations that promote quality of care and quality of life. For more information, visit www.veranahealth.com.
Media contact:
Megan Moriarty
Amendola Communications
913.515.7530
mmoriarty@acmarketingpr.com
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/04/verana-health-launches-neurology-qdata-insights-offerings-american-academy-neurology-annual-meeting/
| 2022-04-04T15:28:27Z
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The integration will connect students' future readiness planning with social-emotional health and well-being
TORONTO, April 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Xello, the award-winning college, career, and future readiness program, and Intellispark which promotes student success and well-being with technology that improves coordination of student supports, today announced a partnership and integration, which will help school districts provide a more comprehensive level of care for students by linking well-being indicators and college and career readiness information.
From career, personality and skills assessments, to developing a student portfolio and exploring careers and colleges, Xello prepares students for the future by using a discovery-based model that helps students of all pathways build self-knowledge and create meaningful plans for future success; whereas Intellispark empowers educators and families to take action and realize a whole-child vision for student success with integrated communication and collaboration features. These complementary solutions will partner to provide educators with the insights needed to personalize support for every student under a more holistic approach.
"There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to education, so there cannot be a singular approach to supporting students in their current struggles or future opportunities," said Matt McQuillen, Xello Co-Founder and CEO. "The partnership between Xello and Intellispark is a game changer for student success teams who can now connect their students' future goals and plans with present social-emotional health and well-being. This will give educators the insights they need to connect meaningfully with each individual student and the actionable next steps to support their needs."
The need to address social-emotional wellness of students is top of mind for educators, families and communities. In September 2021, after surveying more than 100 educators and 400 parents, Xello released The State of College and Career Readiness in K-12, which highlighted social-emotional learning competencies as the top indicator of future readiness. During the past two years of the pandemic, educators have made a concerted effort to support students' social and emotional health. The partnership between Xello and Intellispark continues these efforts by linking college, career and future readiness with well-being, while focusing on relationships and providing an evolving whole student perspective.
"At Intellispark, we believe that student success is a team sport," said Stephen M. Smith, Intellispark CEO. "We are thrilled to partner with Xello because they understand the need to develop a personalized path to success for every student. Kids inevitably encounter obstacles as they progress through school that put their future plans at risk. We help kids get the support they need to overcome those challenges so they can thrive. With this partnership, we look forward to helping prepare many more successful, future ready students who feel known, supported and appreciated."
Academically researched and scientifically validated, Xello puts students at the center of their planning experience by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and insights to make informed decisions and build actionable plans for their future. To learn more about Xello's strategies and implementation options, districts can contact Xello's team of Education Consultants. Existing Xello clients who wish to integrate the Intellispark platform into their subscription should contact their Success Manager.
About Xello
Xello's mission is to help anyone, anywhere in the world create a successful future through self-knowledge, exploration and planning. With more than 20 years in the education software industry, the team at Xello has helped millions of educators and millions of students become future ready with its suite of online platforms. Based in Toronto, Canada, Xello's award-winning future readiness programs are used globally by nearly eight million students and educators. Learn more about Xello at www.xello.world.
About Intellispark
Intellispark was created by Naviance co-founders Stephen Smith and Shaun Fanning to provide a holistic platform to coordinate student support services in PreK-12 schools. With member schools in 43 states and 13 countries, a team with deep education experience, and backing from leading education technology investor GSV Ventures, Intellispark is making student success a team sport with innovative features that connect teachers, administrators, counselors, families, and community resources so every student can thrive. For more information, please visit intellispark.com.
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/04/xello-announces-partnership-with-intellispark-further-support-student-success/
| 2022-04-04T15:28:36Z
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Amber Alert: 2 children taken from Wyoming; suspect may be headed to Texas, police say
BUFFALO, Wyo. (Gray News) - Authorities in Wyoming have issued an Amber Alert for two young daughters who they say were taken by their non-custodial mother.
Wyoming Highway Patrol said Aspen Marie Roth, 4, and Serenity Ann Naslund, 2, were taken by Alexis Roth.
Officials said Roth may be traveling to Grand Prairie, Texas with the children. They were last seen in Buffalo, Wyoming on Sunday morning.
Roth is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighs 120 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing black leggings, a maroon shirt and a black hoodie.
Aspen, the 4-year-old, is about 4 feet tall, weighs about 30 pounds, and has brown hair and hazel eyes with an olive skin tone. She was last seen wearing jeans and a pink long-sleeved shirt with a reference to Paris on it.
Serenity, the 2-year-old, is 3 feet tall, weighs 25 pounds, and has blonde hair and hazel eyes with a fair skin tone. She was last seen wearing acid-washed jeans.
Roth is driving a white 2009 Dodge Caravan with Wyoming license plate 169068.
Roth also has a 3-month-old traveling with them that she has custody of, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/amber-alert-2-children-taken-wyoming-suspect-may-be-headed-texas-police-say/
| 2022-04-04T16:48:05Z
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Biden to speak on actions to expand, improve trucking jobs amid supply chain issues
WASHINGTON (Gray News) - President Joe Biden is scheduled to give remarks Monday on the administration’s Trucking Action Plan.
The effort, first announced in December, aims to improve access to trucking jobs and fair compensation and conditions, as well as helping ease supply chain issues contributing to inflation.
In a news release, the White House stated it has been working to streamline the process to get commercial drivers licenses and increase the number of registered apprenticeship programs. It also encouraged partnerships connecting veterans to trucking careers, among other initiatives.
Trucking moves 72% of goods in the U.S., the White House said. Trucking employment grew the most in 2021 that it had since 1994, and December-February marked the best 3-month stretch for hiring in the industry since the ‘90s.
Frontline truckers’ real wages grew last year despite elevated inflation, the administration said.
Other work is aimed at workplace safety, worker’s rights and ensuring trucking is a safe and inclusive industry for women, the White House stated.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/biden-speak-actions-expand-improve-trucking-jobs-amid-supply-chain-issues/
| 2022-04-04T16:48:14Z
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Coroner IDs 6 people killed in Sacramento mass shooting
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Authorities in California’s capital city on Monday identified the six people killed in Sacramento’s mass shooting as police searched for at least two shooters who opened fire in a crowd as bar patrons filled the streets at closing time on the outskirts of the city’s entertainment district.
The Sacramento County coroner identifed the three women who were killed as Johntaya Alexander, 21; Melinda Davis, 57; and Yamile Martinez-Andrade, 21. The three male victims were identified as Sergio Harris, 38; Joshua Hoye-Lucchesi, 32; and Devazia Turner, 29. One of the victims had been identified Sunday.
The sound of rapid-fire gunshots at about 2 a.m. sent people running in terror. Twelve people were wounded in the neighborhood anchored by the Golden One Arena that hosts concerts and the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. The team’s home game against the Golden State Warriors went on as scheduled Sunday night and began with a moment of silence for the victims.
Police Chief Kathy Lester revealed few details from the investigation and pleaded with the public to share videos and other evidence that could lead to the killers.
“The scale of violence that just happened in our city is unprecedented during my 27 years here,” Lester told reporters during a news conference at police headquarters. “We are shocked and heartbroken by this tragedy. But we are also resolved as an agency to find those responsible and to secure justice for the victims and the families.”
Small memorials with candles, balloons and flowers were placed Monday morning near the crime scene. One balloon had a message on it saying in part: “You will forever be in our hearts and thoughts. Nothing will ever be the same.”
Streets were reopened to car and foot traffic and police tape had been removed. Aside from a handful of TV cameras, there was little indication on the downtown block of the previous day’s bloodshed.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and other city officials decried escalating violence in the city while also urging people to keep coming downtown for events like NBA games and performances of the Broadway musical “Wicked.”
“We can never accept it as normal and we never will,” Steinberg said of the shooting. “But we also have to live our lives.”
The gunfire erupted just after a fight broke out on a street lined with an upscale hotel, nightclubs and bars and police said they were investigating whether the altercation was connected to the shooting. Video from witnesses posted on social media showed rapid gunfire for at least 45 seconds as people screamed and ran for cover.
The gunfire startled sleeping guests at the Citizen Hotel, which included a wedding party and fans of the rapper Tyler the Creator, who performed at a concert hours earlier.
From her window on the fourth floor of the hotel, 18-year-old Kelsey Schar said she saw a man running while firing a gun. She could see flashes from the weapon in the darkness as people ran for cover.
Schar’s friend, Madalyn Woodward, said she saw a girl who appeared to have been shot in the arm lying on the ground. Security guards from a nearby nightclub rushed to help the girl with what looked like napkins to try to stanch the bleeding.
Police found a stolen handgun and were investigating if it was used in the shooting. The dead included three men and three women. Authorities were still working to notify family members, and had publicly identified only one victim as of late Sunday, 38-year-old Sergio Harris, without providing a cause of death. Of the 12 wounded, at least four had critical injuries, according to the Sacramento Fire Department.
Sunday’s violence was the third time in the U.S. this year that at least six people have been killed in a mass shooting, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. And it was the second mass shooting in Sacramento in the last five weeks.
President Joe Biden called for action on gun crimes in a statement Sunday.
“Today, America once again mourns for another community devastated by gun violence,” Biden said. “But we must do more than mourn; we must act.”
On Feb. 28, a father killed his three daughters, a chaperone and himself in a Sacramento church during a weekly supervised visitation. David Mora, 39, was armed with a homemade semiautomatic rifle-style weapon, even though he was under a restraining order that prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
The crime scene Sunday sprawled across two city blocks, closing off a large swath of the city’s downtown. Bodies remained on the pavement throughout the day as Lester said investigators worked to process a “really complex and complicated scene” to make sure investigators gathered all the evidence they could to “see the perpetrators of this crime brought to justice.”
Councilmember Katie Valenzuela, who represents the area, said she’s fielded too many phone calls reporting violence in her district during her 15 months in office. She cried at a news conference as she told reporters that the latest phone call woke her up at 2:30 a.m. Sunday.
“I’m heartbroken and I’m outraged,” she said. “Our community deserves better than this.”
___
Associated Press writers David Klepper in Providence, Rhode Island, and Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/california-police-search-shooters-who-killed-6-hurt-12/
| 2022-04-04T16:48:21Z
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‘I’m so scared’: School shooting suspect runs to nearby home, arrest caught on camera
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – A 12-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting a student at a South Carolina middle school was seen on a doorbell camera just minutes after it happened.
The boy is being charged with murder, but he hasn’t been identified due to his age.
Deputies say he shot a classmate in the chest inside Tanglewood Middle School Thursday afternoon. The victim later died at the hospital.
According to WHNS, the young suspect ran away from the school after the shooting and knocked on the door of a nearby home, which was recorded on Elaine Griffin’s doorbell camera.
“I’m so scared,” the suspect said repeatedly. “There’s been a shooting at the school.”
“He started hollering that there was a shooting at the school, and he was scared. He said, ‘Can you call my dad?’” Griffin said.
She called his dad for him, and the boy eventually hid under Griffin’s deck while waiting for his father.
“They found him up under there and he told them that the gun was up under some wood we had under the deck,” she said.
Video from the doorbell camera shows deputies taking the boy away from Griffin’s property.
The motive for the shooting is unknown, but deputies said the suspect and the victim were familiar with each other.
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/im-so-scared-school-shooting-suspect-runs-nearby-home-arrest-caught-camera/
| 2022-04-04T16:48:28Z
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42nd annual ‘Tough Man Contest’ comes to Beckley
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - The 42nd annual ‘Tough Man Contest’ kicked off April 2 at the Beckley-Raleigh Convention Center. Fighters were ready to take to the ring and spar off, but that didn’t stop some of them from being nervous and excited.
“Excited right now, nerves will probably set in closer to the fight.”, said Kayla Christian.
Noah McGraw said he was pretty excited and the nervousness had already worn off because he had already competed in the ‘Tough Man’ in previous years at the convention center.
“I’m nervous and excited at the same time, with these kinds of thing it’s like you people at home can watch us fight but it’s completely different from how you would if you were in the ring”, said Lawrence Smith.
One of the main elements of the ‘Tough Man’ is you must be an armature fighter, which strictly means no pros allowed.
Most of these fighters have never fought before and it was something they have always wanted to do.
“This is my first time competing, I’ve always wanted to do it but I don’t know why”, said Smith.
Some were merely talked into fighting from a friend . “Well he’s fought before and he finally talked me into it” said Christian.
Many fighters didn’t take home a win and it wasn’t for a lack of effort, but for a select few, they came home victorious.
“I’m gonna go out, I got a big boy I gotta fight tonight. I’m gonna go out and get me a 14 point buck. You know, I am hunting tonight. I got to go get me something for the all, alright”, said Thomas Banks.
If you would like to know the names of the winners or the runner-up’s please visit the ‘Tough Man’ website. WV Toughman Contest
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/42nd-annual-tough-man-contest-comes-beckley/
| 2022-04-04T18:20:00Z
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Bojangles restaurants to give away $1 million in free gas
(WHNS/Gray News) - Bojangles is giving away $1 million in free gas to help relieve pain for customers at the pump.
The restaurant said that starting Monday and lasting until supplies run out, every purchase of a Bojangles Family Meal featuring 12 or 20 pieces of bone-in chicken, plus scratch-made biscuits, choice of side, and tea will come with a $10 gas gift card at participating locations.
“Southerners are known for being friendly neighbors, so as a Southern brand, it’s in our DNA to want to help our customers who are feeling the pain of soaring gas prices,” said Jackie Woodward, Bojangles Chief Brand and Marketing Officer in a news release. “We don’t want anyone to have to choose between enjoying a delicious meal with the family or buying gas, so let Bojangles help with both.”
According to data compiled by AAA, gas prices reached the highest levels on record in March 2022. The restaurant said as a “family-forward” chain, Bojangles saw an opportunity to rally and help thousands of customers.
“This is the first time in Bojangles’ history that we’ve ever given away $1 million, but we know our customers are worth it, and we’re just glad that we could come together with all of our franchisees to support them,” said Woodward.
The restaurant mentioned Family Meals featuring Chicken Supremes, as well as all delivery orders, are not eligible.
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/bojangles-restaurants-give-away-1-million-free-gas/
| 2022-04-04T18:20:07Z
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Coca-Cola releases new ‘pixel flavored’ drink
(CNN) – Coke lovers, there is a new flavor. And it’s a little weird.
It’s dubbed Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Byte, and it’s supposed to taste like pixels.
The company says it makes the intangible taste of a pixel tangible, featuring bright elements up front and a refreshing finish, according to Coca-Cola.
The “byte” beverage is all about gaming.
The new product has existed longer online than in real life. It first appeared in late March on an island in the Fortnite video game.
Just last month, the company announced a limited edition flavor called Coca-Cola Starlight, a red version of the iconic soda with flavor “inspired by space.”
U.S. Customers can buy Byte online starting May 2, while supplies last. It’s available only in a two-pack and it will set you back around $15.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/coca-cola-releases-new-pixel-flavored-drink/
| 2022-04-04T18:20:14Z
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Gas prices fall for second straight week
(Gray News) - The nation’s average gas price has fallen for the second straight week, according to GasBuddy.
As of Monday, the average gas price is $4.17 per gallon, according to data compiled from more than 11 million price reports across the country.
A week ago, the average gas price was $4.23 per gallon.
Though prices have fallen this week, the national average is up 25.5 cents from a month ago.
Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, said the fall in prices this week was a result of two factors.
“Oil prices fell last week as COVID cases in China surged, prompting restrictions on movements and hurting oil demand,” Haan said in a news release. “Meanwhile, President Biden’s announcement that the U.S. would be releasing 180 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve caused an even further decline in oil, leading gas prices in nearly all areas of the country to fall over the last week.”
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/gas-prices-fall-second-straight-week/
| 2022-04-04T18:20:23Z
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Medicare enrollees to get free COVID-19 tests at drug stores
WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid worries that the latest coronavirus variant could spark another rise in cases, Medicare announced Monday that millions of enrollees will finally have access to free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at drug stores.
More than 59 million people with Medicare’s “Part B” outpatient coverage will be able to get up to eight free at-home tests per month, or enough for an individual to test twice a week, as some doctors have recommended.
Medicare has lagged private insurance in following the Biden administration’s directive to cover at-home tests because rules and regulations stood in the way, and officials had to find a work-around. This is the first time the health insurance program for older people and those with disabilities has covered an over-the-counter test at no cost to recipients.
Medicare’s move could turn out to be prescient.
The BA.2 omicron variant now accounts for more than half of U.S. cases, having rapidly overtaken the original strain. That initial omicron wave this winter caused the biggest spike yet in virus cases, straining many hospitals to the limit. Since then, cases nationally have rapidly dropped to the lowest level since before last summer’s delta surge. Coronavirus restrictions have been largely lifted. But some areas where BA.2 took hold early are seeing increasing cases.
Monday’s announcement followed another precautionary move last week, when government health officials authorized a second round of booster shots for people 50 and older as well as those with weakened immune systems.
National pharmacy chains participating in Medicare’s give-away include: Albertsons Companies, Inc., Costco Pharmacy, CVS, Food Lion, Giant Food, The Giant Company, Hannaford Pharmacies, H-E-B Pharmacy, Hy-Vee Pharmacy, Kroger Family of Pharmacies, Rite Aid Corp., Shop & Stop, Walgreens and Walmart.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/medicare-enrollees-get-free-covid-19-tests-drug-stores/
| 2022-04-04T18:20:34Z
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USA Today names Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine top ten best history museums in country
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - A Beckley museum is recognized by USA Today for being one of the top ten history museums in the country.
The Exhibition Coal Mine was ranked 8th this year by the newspaper’s readers.
Dorsel Turner has been operating the trolley at the mine for the last several years. A former miner, he takes pride in being able to offer outsiders a look in.
“My favorite part is talking to the people. I couldn’t describe it. It’s just very enjoyable.”
Touring a mine just about anywhere else is nearly impossible without extensive training. But the Exhibition Coal Mine affords people that opportunity. It was once a real mine operated by the New River Company and donated to the City of Beckley in 1962.
“People come in here, they don’t know about energy policies and where it comes from. They just know coal and gas have gotten a bad name because they’re fossil fuels. But they don’t know about the depth and breadth of what they do,” explained Leslie Gray Baker, Beckley’s Dir. of Parks and Recreation.
Baker said the mine gives people a glimpse of the work that went into building the United States, from the role of coal in developing steel to the country’s biggest sky scrapers.
“Once they leave here, they leave with the knowledge they didn’t have before and they’re really astounded sometimes.”
While some people leave with a greater understanding, she said others leave with a renewed sense of pride.
“Even our local people, when they get it told to them again, they leave with a sense of pride because everybody here knows somebody who had something to do with the coal industry.”
The Exhibition Coal Mine is open every day, including Sunday, from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/usa-today-names-beckley-exhibition-coal-mine-top-ten-best-history-museums-country/
| 2022-04-04T18:20:41Z
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NEW YORK – When a Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic panned Donald Trump’s plans for a new Manhattan skyscraper, Trump responded by suing. When the tenants of a building he was trying to clear sued to halt their evictions, Trump slapped back by filing suit against the law firm representing the tenants. And when an author said the former president was worth far less than he’d claimed, Trump again took legal action.
Last week, Trump last week filed a lawsuit accusing his 2016 rival Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party of conspiring to sink his winning presidential campaign by alleging ties to Russia.
Throughout his business and political career, he has used the courts as a venue to air his complaints, among other things.
“It’s part of his pattern of using the law to punish his enemies, as a weapon, as something it was never intended to be,” said James D. Zirin, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan and the author of the book “Plaintiff in Chief,” which details Trump’s legal history. “For him, litigation was a way of life.”
Trump’s latest suit says Democrats in 2016 concocted fictitious claims that his campaign was colluding with Russia and that the FBI as a result pursued an “unfounded” investigation.
The 108-page suit names as defendants longstanding targets of his ire from both the political realm – Clinton and her aides – and the law enforcement community. That includes former FBI Director James Comey and Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, two FBI officials who exchanged critical text messages about Trump during the 2016 campaign.
It also piggybacks off the work of special counsel John Durham, listing as defendants the three people – a cybersecurity attorney, an ex-FBI lawyer and a Russia analyst – who have been charged in that criminal probe.
Trump, in the suit, paints himself as the victim of a vast, racketeering conspiracy in which FBI officials who led the investigation knew that it was “based on a false and contrived premise.”
“Acting in concert, the Defendants maliciously conspired to weave a false narrative that their Republican opponent, Donald J. Trump, was colluding with a hostile foreign sovereignty,” his lawyers wrote, describing the alleged scheme as “so outrageous, subversive and incendiary that even the events of Watergate pale in comparison.”
It’s well-established through a Justice Department inspector general investigation that the FBI made errors and missteps during the Russia probe that Trump could look to seize on.
U.S. intelligence agencies concluded in January 2017 that Russia mounted a far-ranging influence campaign aimed at helping Trump beat Clinton. And the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, after three years of investigation, affirmed those conclusions, saying intelligence officials had specific information that Russia preferred Trump and that Russian President Vladimir Putin had “approved and directed aspects” of the Kremlin’s influence campaign. It also found clear ties between Trump’s campaign and Russia, concluding that Trump’s campaign chairman had had regular contact with a Russian intelligence officer and that other Trump associates were eager to exploit the Kremlin’s aid.
Former special counsel Robert Mueller, who was charged with further investigating the links between Trump and Russia, did not establish a criminal conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign, but concluded that Russian interference was “sweeping and systematic.” His investigation resulted in criminal charges against 34 people and three entities, including 26 Russians, Trump’s former campaign chair and national security adviser.
More litigation?
Representatives for Trump did not respond to requests for comment for this news article. But Trump attorney Alina Habba defended his approach on Newsmax, telling the network more suits were coming “soon.”
“We have another suit being filed shortly,” she said. “And anybody that’s going to try and make up malicious stories about him while he was sitting as president, prior to his presidency or now is going to be sued.”
Trump, meanwhile, was already using the filing to rile up his crowds at a recent rally in Georgia.
“To fight back against this corrupt establishment’s relentless hoaxes and lies, this week I filed a historic lawsuit to hold them accountable for the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax,” Trump said to cheers. His mention of Clinton prompted especially loud applause and a revival of the “Lock her up!” chant that was a defining feature of his 2016 campaign.
In addition to serving as a useful political cudgel, Trump’s effort, which comes as he is mulling another run for the White House, could lend the imprimatur of credibility to campaign trail grievances, said Stephen Gillers, a New York University professor of legal ethics.
“To the unaware public, the fact that grievances are repackaged as legal claims adds credibility to the force of those grievances,” Gillers said. “Anyone who pays attention to what goes on in the courts will be able to see through these claims as claims of political victimization in another form. But the public by and large does not pay attention to the validity of the claims.”
Last year, Trump took similar action, filing suits against three of the country’s biggest tech companies, claiming he and other conservatives had been wrongfully censored after his accounts were suspended.
“Trump loved to sue, especially parties that could not afford a legal defense,” said Barbara Res, a former longtime Trump Organization executive turned critic. She said one legal tactic he turned to often was the “preventive strike” suit to weaken rivals and create the impression he was the aggrieved party before they acted.
“Trump’s perception and that of many people is that the first person to sue has a legitimate complaint,” Res said.
Education in tactics
Trump learned his legal tactics from one his early legal advisers, the late Roy Cohn. Cohn was a disbarred lawyer who made his name as a prosecutor in the Julius and Ethel Rosenberg communist spying case that sent the husband and wife to the electric chair, then as aide to Sen. Joe McCarthy during the Red Scare hearings.
Under Cohn, Trump countersued the Justice Department after it brought a case against the Trump Organization in the early 1970s for housing discrimination. The Trump Organization eventually settled, admitting no guilt.
In the years that followed, the casework never let up.
“He’s exceptionally litigious, much of which is instituted not to win but rather to frustrate the opposing party by causing financial hardship,” said Trump’s former fixer-turned adversary Michael Cohen, who went to jail for making hush money payments to a pornography star who alleged an affair with Trump, as well as lying to Congress about a proposed Trump skyscraper in Moscow.
When Trump wins – as he did in March in a case involving the porn star Stormy Daniels – Cohen said, “It emboldens him to continue this rampage of litigation for alternative purposes.”
The suits have proven beneficial in other ways. Trump spent more than a year and a half fighting efforts by then-Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. to obtain copies of his tax returns, taking the case all the way to the Supreme Court. While Trump ultimately failed, his stall tactics dragged the case out so long that Vance, who had appeared on the cusp of seeking an indictment, was replaced by a successor who has allegedly all but closed the case.
Family is not immune.
In September, Trump sued his estranged niece, Mary Trump, and The New York Times over a 2018 story that challenged Trump’s claims of self-made wealth by documenting how his father, Fred, had given him at least $413 million over the decades, including through tax avoidance schemes. Trump’s lawsuit, filed in state court in New York, accused Mary Trump of breaching a settlement agreement by disclosing the records to the newspaper’s reporters.
Mary Trump’s lawyer, Ted Boutrous, wrote in a March 11 letter to the court that Trump’s lawsuit was “brought to punish Mary Trump and to chill speech in the public interest about the former President.”
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/from_the_wire/trump-suit-against-clinton-part-of-longtime-legal-strategy/article_b743db3f-48b4-5fda-84ea-742fa251730f.html
| 2022-04-04T18:35:24Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...Northwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...Southeast Wyoming east of the Laramie range.
* WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to 6 PM MDT Wednesday. While a
period of strong winds will be possible overnight Monday into
Tuesday morning, the strongest winds are generally expected
Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong cross winds may be
hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers, with a potential high risk for
blow overs.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A High Wind Warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected
or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of
58 mph or more can lead to property damage.
&&
CHEYENNE – Average gasoline prices in Wyoming have fallen 0.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.06 per gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy.com's survey of 494 stations in Wyoming.
Prices in Wyoming are 40.8 cents per gallon higher than a month ago, and stand $1.19 per gallon higher than a year ago.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Wyoming was priced at $3.69 per gallon Sunday, while the most expensive was $4.59, a difference of 90 cents per gallon.
The national average price of gasoline has fallen 5.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.17 per gallon Monday. The national average is up 25.5 cents per gallon from a month ago, and stands $1.31 per gallon higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/average-wyoming-gasoline-prices-down-half-a-penny-in-past-week/article_3a3d896a-7340-58ab-8959-e913157e655b.html
| 2022-04-04T18:35:30Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...Northwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...Southeast Wyoming east of the Laramie range.
* WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to 6 PM MDT Wednesday. While a
period of strong winds will be possible overnight Monday into
Tuesday morning, the strongest winds are generally expected
Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong cross winds may be
hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers, with a potential high risk for
blow overs.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A High Wind Warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected
or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of
58 mph or more can lead to property damage.
&&
Carey Avenue and 26th Street are slated to close April 11, 2022, for construction. Photo via Google.
CHEYENNE – If you drive near the intersection of Carey Avenue and 26th Street, be forewarned that there will be road closures due to construction.
The good news is that the area is expected to be back to normal in time for the start of Cheyenne Frontier Days.
What the city of Cheyenne called "an extended closure" is set to begin in just over a week at Carey and 26th. It is expected to start on Monday, April 11, according to a news release from the municipality sent via email on Wednesday. Separately, some other construction work in town also is expected to begin then, as previously reported.
This is just one of several spots around town that are experiencing road and other work, sometimes resulting in some mostly minor delays to motorists. At this specific location, the construction is part of the 26th Street Storm Sewer Extension project.
On Saturday, Construction Engineer Sam Berta told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle by phone that the roads at Carey and 26th are expected to be back open before Cheyenne Frontier Days. This year, CFD starts on July 22, per its website.
Doing the math, this means that Carey and 26th could be closed for as long as three-plus months.
However long the intersection is undergoing construction work, the city provided notice of a detour route: This "will take traffic westbound at West 25th Street, then northbound at O’Neil Avenue." The locality noted that "detours will be posted in the area, and alternative routes are advised."
According to a Jan. 18 city announcement, utility work for the 26th Street Storm Sewer Extension Project had been completed for the winter. And, as promised then, "work will resume in the spring of 2022, when warmer temperatures arrive. All current detours will remain in place for motorists."
Also back in January, the city of Cheyenne had advised that "the new storm sewer, water main and sanitary lines for the project have been installed and are functional. When work returns in the spring, road surfacing will be a primary focus."
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/carey-avenue-and-26th-street-to-close-april-11-for-construction/article_927d40c3-f3a8-51b8-bc41-46d28f80f69a.html
| 2022-04-04T18:35:36Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...Northwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...Southeast Wyoming east of the Laramie range.
* WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to 6 PM MDT Wednesday. While a
period of strong winds will be possible overnight Monday into
Tuesday morning, the strongest winds are generally expected
Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong cross winds may be
hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers, with a potential high risk for
blow overs.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A High Wind Warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected
or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of
58 mph or more can lead to property damage.
&&
A photo of the Greater Cheyenne Greenway, courtesy of Forward Greater Cheyenne.
CHEYENNE – Spring is here, and the city of Cheyenne appreciates the community’s continued support of the Greater Cheyenne Greenway and their significant maintenance contributions.
The Greater Cheyenne Greenway Spring clean-up effort is scheduled for two weeks this year, May 7 through May 22.
As usual, boots or sturdy shoes, long pants and gloves are a good idea for appropriate wardrobe for clean-up efforts. The Cheyenne Greenway staff can provide trash bags and lightweight gloves upon request.
If you would like to “Adopt a Spot,” if anything has changed with your contact information or Greenway segment preference, or if you are unable to continue with the program, contact Jeanie Vetter, Greenway and Parks Planner, at 307-638-4379 or jvetter@cheyennecity.org.
Please contact Cheyenne Greenway staff when your segment is complete, and crews will pick up the filled bags from the side of the Greenway path following your clean-up.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/greater-cheyenne-greenway-spring-clean-up-scheduled-for-may-7-22/article_bf5c2d84-3227-5c93-8686-2a4d42dac3a8.html
| 2022-04-04T18:35:42Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...Northwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...Southeast Wyoming east of the Laramie range.
* WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to 6 PM MDT Wednesday. While a
period of strong winds will be possible overnight Monday into
Tuesday morning, the strongest winds are generally expected
Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong cross winds may be
hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers, with a potential high risk for
blow overs.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A High Wind Warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected
or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of
58 mph or more can lead to property damage.
&&
Youth Alternatives Special Friends Program looking for adult mentors
CHEYENNE – The Office of Youth Alternatives Special Friends Program is looking for adult mentors that are 18 years and older to acts as positive role models to youth in one-to-one mentoring relationship.
Qualifications do apply. For more information, individuals interested in serving may call 307-637-6480.
Youth Alternatives is a program of the city of Cheyenne.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/youth-alternatives-special-friends-program-looking-for-adult-mentors/article_f66ad879-2ecf-55ec-bfe1-6beefe47fe92.html
| 2022-04-04T18:35:49Z
|
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
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlins-page-plan-april-6/article_457b921f-3d91-5ad9-a0b7-bc26d0b44b29.html
| 2022-04-04T18:35:55Z
|
ROCK SPRINGS -- Wyoming will soon receive National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula funds to use to facilitate electric vehicle infrastructure development, especially charging stations, around the state. WYDOT and other state officials have scheduled public meetings around the state in early April to gather public input as well as feedback from potential bidders and other interested parties.
Each meeting is expected to have a virtual component so viewers can attend any meeting and see the proposed plan and make comments.
There will be a meeting in Rock Springs on April 7 at 5-7 p.m. at WYDOT District Office, 3200 Elk St.
Rocket Miner cruised around town to get feedback from locals about their feelings about electric vehicles.
According to Rock Springs resident Justin Eastman, the environment is better off without electric cars.
“The process of getting fuel is cleaner and more Earth friendly than stripping the Earth away to get to the lithium needed to make electric car,” said Eastman. “Plus, when Biden opens the oil fields back up, we’ll be able to produce more oil thereby providing more jobs and economic stability.”
He added, “I hope that when they put the charging stations in, the customers get charged for it.
“If I have to pay for the electricity in my house, they should have to pay to charge their cars.”
Rock Springs resident Johnny Delgado agrees.
“Fuel cars are better,” Delgado said. “Electric cars are more harmful to the environment due to expired batteries being thrown into the landfills.”
Green River resident Troy Bass pointed out that it would be very expensive to own an electric vehicle.
“To be honest, electric cars are good but they’re time-consuming because of how often you need to charge it,” Bass mentioned. “On long-distance rides, I prefer fuel cars.”
He went on to say the charging mechanisms can be very expensive.
“Unless you have solar panels, it’s going to be expensive to keep it charged at home.”
He added, “My wife and I were looking into electric cars but we found out how pricy it would get for the charging port in our house.”
Rock Springs resident Taz Anderson had a different approach.
“I’m not for either one!” Anderson shared. “I got an electric scooter.”
He said, “It’s still cheaper than gas. It’s a small town. Depending on which scooter you get, it can last up to 25 miles.”
Rock Springs resident Aly Corona explained how inconvenient it would be for parents.
“An electric car will last 200 miles,” Corona said. “My car can last 500 miles without fuel stops.”
She added, “When you’re in a hurry, you just don’t have time to wait for it to charge especially when you have an impatient toddler!”
She pointed out that some Tesla charging stations added programs for drivers to have access to while they wait for their vehicles to be charged such as games.
“People won’t go inside businesses if people are going to be tempted to play those games in their cars,” she said. “If electric charging ports are supposed to help the economy, why shouldn’t they want the driver be out doing something else?”
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/as-you-see-it-some-locals-are-against-electric-vehicles/article_a71ead16-bed8-5d38-9102-94a76763312d.html
| 2022-04-04T18:36:01Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON
TO 6 AM MDT WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...South Lincoln County, Rock Springs and Green River,
Flaming Gorge and East Sweetwater County.
* WHEN...From 3 PM Monday to 6 AM MDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Elevated blowover risk,
especially for light and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on this
situation. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe
location prior to the onset of winds.
&&
ROCK SPRINGS -- The Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce would like to invite the public to their monthly Membership Connection Luncheon on Thursday, April 14th at 12 p.m.
Devon Brubaker, Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport director, will make a presentation. He will speak to the myths and realities of air service as well as an overall update on the airport and their projects.
The monthly Membership Connection Luncheon is sponsored by Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County, Holiday Inn, Whisler Chevrolet and Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport.
Tickets in advanced are $15 and at the door will be $18 with a credit card fee of 99 cents. For more information, call the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce at 307-362-3771.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/brubaker-reveals-airport-progress-at-luncheon/article_2cf7f1c6-3a49-5f30-9292-073745506c98.html
| 2022-04-04T18:36:07Z
|
ROCK SPRINGS – While some people celebrate birthdays by enjoying a slice of cake at home and watching Netflix, one Cody family decided to take the celebrations on the road to Rock Springs in a party bus.
Former Rock Springs resident Angie Swanson wanted to do a private event for her relatives.
“My friend in Grand Junction, Colorado showed me pictures of his 40th birthday when he rented a party bus there,” Swanson explained. “This is what inspired me to do this fun party for my cousin.”
According to Swanson, they were able to put three passengers, a driver and a motorized wheelchair in the handicap accessible van with the ramp.
“In my Subaru Ascent, which was also decorated inside and out, held five passengers and a driver that day.”
By Saturday, five people met up with Swanson and the party bus crew to celebrate in Rock Springs.
“Our party was based around downtown, with an additional stop at Goodwill, and a friend's house for pictures,” said Swanson.
She said that the event was for Amanda and Olivia Varley, sisters with birthdays three days apart.
“We were also celebrating Sara Leach's birthday,” she shared. “We are all cousins and granddaughters of Ed and RaeDell Varley.”
The Varleys live in Point of Rocks. They own Point Bar and Café, the store and mobile home park in Point of Rocks.
“Our family is going on five generations of running the business out there,” she mentioned. “We have all had our turns working out there.”
They scrunched a few activities with the hours they had in Rock Springs.
“We began our day with fake tattoos and fake nose rings in the parking lot across from Pickin' Palace,” she revealed. “Then we went and bought instruments for everyone inside of the music store, which we proceeded to play all day in the party bus.”
The next stop, she said, was at the Goodwill store.
“The participants were instructed to get the ugliest thing they could find,” she chuckled. “We had a photo shoot outside Goodwill when we all put on our 'new' clothing and had a semi as a backdrop.”
Their friends Joe and Erin Barbuto welcomed the party crew to their home and they had an additional photoshoot there.
“We proceeded to Sidekicks for gift opening, snacks, and book purchases,” Swanson described. “Then to Bitter Creek Brewing for a real lunch.
“We were going to go smoke fake cigarettes under the underpass, but folks were getting tired so we smoked candy cigarettes at the table while waiting for our food.”
Swanson mentioned there were more on the agenda.
“Stops that were missed were Toastmasters for Shirley Temples and a ‘Historic Drinking Tour’ with non-alcoholic beverages.”
She added, “Downtown has so much to offer and we had an amazing time making the most of what is right there. Our youngest participant was 26 and our oldest was 83.”
Swanson is a 2003 Rock Springs High School graduate. Her mother Cheri Johnson had The Children’s School on Mesa Drive, north of Rock Springs while she was growing up. Her father worked for Searle Brothers, Wyoming Machinery and Questar.
Swanson and her husband Travis currently live in Big Piney where they teach music and operate a band instrument repair business called Swansong.
“Our party bus was laughter, fun and good, clean memories with people we love.”
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/family-party-bus-makes-a-stop-in-rock-springs/article_cf0d1f65-33bb-5796-a238-4bbaf7d1c87b.html
| 2022-04-04T18:36:13Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON
TO 6 AM MDT WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...South Lincoln County, Rock Springs and Green River,
Flaming Gorge and East Sweetwater County.
* WHEN...From 3 PM Monday to 6 AM MDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Elevated blowover risk,
especially for light and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on this
situation. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe
location prior to the onset of winds.
&&
The Rock Springs High School Lady Tigers currently sit in the third spot of the West Conference softball standings after defeating their cross-county rivals on Tuesday, March 29.
SWEETWATER COUNTY – The Rock Springs High School Lady Tigers currently sit in the third spot of the West Conference softball standings after defeating their cross-county rivals on Tuesday, March 29.
The Lady Tigers defeated the hosting Green River High School Lady Wolves, 14-5, in a non-conference matchup.
The two teams were scheduled to play a second game that same day. However, the game was called due to inclement weather. There is no makeup game scheduled.
Below are the current standings of each conference, along with the teams’ overall records followed by their conference record.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/lady-tigers-are-third-lady-tigers-are-sixth-in-west-conference-softball-standings/article_2a02dbc4-3baa-5a59-865f-504855c8efb0.html
| 2022-04-04T18:36:20Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON
TO 6 AM MDT WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...South Lincoln County, Rock Springs and Green River,
Flaming Gorge and East Sweetwater County.
* WHEN...From 3 PM Monday to 6 AM MDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Elevated blowover risk,
especially for light and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on this
situation. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe
location prior to the onset of winds.
&&
Rock Springs High School senior Emily Taucher fields a ball during the Lady Tigers' game against Evanston High School.
SWEETWATER COUNTY – The Rock Springs High School Lady Tigers hosted the Evanston High School Lady Red Devils on Thursday, March 31, in the only game played among Sweetwater County teams for women’s soccer.
The Lady Tigers dismantled the Lady Red Devils, 7-0, which included five goals scored in the first half and four of them coming in a 12-minute span.
Rock Springs improved its overall record to 3-2 and is 2-1 in 4A West Conference action.
Below are the current standings of each conference, along with the teams’ overall records followed by their conference record.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/lady-tigers-defeat-evanston-sit-fourth-in-4a-west-standings/article_991603c3-b835-5cc8-93f7-d4c1f692f66d.html
| 2022-04-04T18:36:26Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON
TO 6 AM MDT WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...South Lincoln County, Rock Springs and Green River,
Flaming Gorge and East Sweetwater County.
* WHEN...From 3 PM Monday to 6 AM MDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Elevated blowover risk,
especially for light and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on this
situation. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe
location prior to the onset of winds.
&&
Rock Springs High School and Green River High School track and field teams competed in meets in Utah over the weekend.
SWEETWATER COUNTY – Rock Springs High School and Green River High School track and field teams competed in meets in Utah over the weekend.
On Thursday, March 31, the Green River Wolves competed at the Alpha Invite in Orem, Utah.
Overall, between both the boys and girls teams, Green River placed 28th out of 30 high schools competing with a team score of six.
The Wolves finished 23rd with a total of 3.5 team points, while the Lady Wolves finished in a three-way tie for 26th with a team score of 2.5.
On Saturday, April 2, the Rock Springs Tigers competed in the Bingham Invitational, which took place in South Jordan, Utah.
A combination of the Tigers’ and Lady Tigers’ score added up to an overall team score of 94 for Rock Springs, which was good enough for sixth place. Porter Chub of Rock Springs won the high jump and his teammate Colton Carlson took first in the discus event.
The Tigers finished fifth in the boys events, totaling 67 points. The Lady Tigers finished in a three-way tie for seventh, totaling 27 points after 18 events.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/local-track-and-field-teams-compete-in-utah-over-the-weekend/article_7f990a8b-cf25-51bb-8f24-44f6b46517ab.html
| 2022-04-04T18:36:32Z
|
...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON
TO 6 AM MDT WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph
expected.
* WHERE...South Lincoln County, Rock Springs and Green River,
Flaming Gorge and East Sweetwater County.
* WHEN...From 3 PM Monday to 6 AM MDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Elevated blowover risk,
especially for light and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on this
situation. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe
location prior to the onset of winds.
&&
The Rock Springs High School Tigers hosted the Evanston High School Red Devils on Thursday, March 31, in the only game played among Sweetwater County teams for men’s soccer over the weekend.
SWEETWATER COUNTY – The Rock Springs High School Tigers hosted the Evanston High School Red Devils on Thursday, March 31, in the only game played among Sweetwater County teams for men’s soccer over the weekend.
The Tigers narrowly defeated the Red Devils, 1-0, with the game-winning goal coming in the 11th minute from senior Brayden Davies.
Rock Springs improved its overall record to 4-1 and is 2-1 in 4A West Conference action.
Below are the current standings of each conference, along with the teams’ overall records followed by their conference record.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/tigers-edge-out-red-devils-at-home-sit-third-in-4a-west-standings/article_3af5c45f-9ab4-5a7c-9e6b-74055b524a52.html
| 2022-04-04T18:36:38Z
|
CHEYENNE – An ambitious, multimillion-dollar and multi-year power project envisioned by the local electric utility is poised to get an in-depth regulatory review, state officials indicated to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle on Friday.
In February, Black Hills Energy and its Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power subsidiary sought state regulatory approval for a 263-mile, $258 million three-year transmission expansion project. Known as Ready Wyoming, in the words of a company spokesperson, this would “interconnect Black Hills Energy’s South Dakota, eastern Wyoming and Cheyenne electric transmission systems.”
At the Wyoming Public Service Commission’s meeting on Tuesday, among other subjects, commissioners are expected to briefly consider a procedural aspect of this power project. PSC staff are expected to recommend, and commissioners are likely to approve, allowing the participation of several parties that say they are interested in taking part in the agency’s consideration of the matter, officials said. This discussion should be brief, in part because there do not appear to be any objections to allowing these stakeholders to intervene in the matter.
This latest procedural twist was not unexpected, and often occurs in such proceedings. It does not necessarily signal that Black Hills will encounter any regulatory speed bumps in getting commissioners’ nod to move ahead with its plans.
PSC filings show that five entities have recently told the PSC that they want in on its consideration of the power company’s request, including others involved in supplying electricity in Wyoming. Microsoft, a customer of Black Hills, also wants to take part.
The state government’s Office of Consumer Advocate will be taking part in the case, and does not oppose the other stakeholders also joining in on the process.
“We don’t have to get permission from the commission to intervene under Wyoming statute,” said the advocate, Bryce Freeman. “Those other parties will have to get commission permission, which is fairy perfunctory.”
Four power industry participants, not including Microsoft, told the state utility regulator that they want the agency to hold a hearing on Ready Wyoming. Generally, when such requests are made, the commission grants them.
“At some point in time, there will be a hearing,” said PSC Chief Counsel John Burbridge. “We pretty much feel obligated to provide” one upon getting such requests, he added. “We do not deny those.”
A further twist, at least based on the filings so far, is that several players in the Wyoming electricity sector contend that they need more information from Black Hills. Without additional details, they said they would not be able to determine if their own operations could be affected by the rollout of Ready Wyoming.
The four that filed petitions to intervene and requests for hearing could generally be described as cooperative electric utilities or those providing power to such co-ops. Their filings all make similar claims.
PSC filings
Basin Electric Power Cooperative made an additional point, alleging that Cheyenne Light had “acknowledged to Basin Electric that certain of the Ready Wyoming Project studies were inaccurate, and needed to be updated.” Basin Electric, which provides wholesale power to rural electric member systems in Wyoming and nearby states, did not specify what information was incorrect. Lawyers for Basin Electric did not reply to questions by email.
“During the coordinated transmission planning process, Basin Electric requested, but did not receive, sufficient information in a timely manner that would help it evaluate the potential impacts of the Ready Wyoming Project on Basin Electric’s adjacent transmission system,” Basin said.
Other filings mentioned similar concerns, also without elaborating on specifics. (Their lawyers also did not comment.)
Powder River Energy Corp. said “the impact on electric utilities that obtain wholesale power from Basin, including PRECorp, and members of the Common Use System, including PRECorp, are unclear.” Powder River, which also goes by PRECorp, blamed Cheyenne Light for having “failed to provide information sufficient to determine” this.
Wyoming Municipal Power Agency, like some other filers at the PSC, said Black Hills did not provide “sufficient information” to determine whether Ready Wyoming would hurt neighboring utility systems. WMPA and others noted that Black Hills says that the project will not hurt these other operations.
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, which generates and sells power to its member utility systems in Wyoming and other nearby states, said it unsuccessfully requested details from Black Hills.
“Tri-State has concerns with the accuracy and completeness of the studies performed by and for Cheyenne Light to assess the potential impacts of the project on neighboring utility systems,” it said. “No conclusion can be made on potential impacts on neighboring utility systems until complete and coordinated studies are performed.”
Tri-State reported having invested millions of dollars in transmission system improvement, and it’s “in the process of completing a transmission project in Wyoming that would increase transfer capability between Colorado and Wyoming.” Without “coordinated studies, Tri-State has not yet determined” its stance on Ready Wyoming, it wrote. It “remains concerned by the potential for adverse impacts on its transmission system and reliable operations.”
In an email to the WTE, Tri-State noted that, “with an interconnected electric grid, utilities have a common interest in transmission infrastructure proposals that can potentially affect the greater transmission system.” So “participating in proceedings at the PSC provides electric utilities the information needed to understand any potential impacts, and supports any planning needed to ensure the grid remains affordable and reliable,” wrote Lee Boughey, vice president of communications.
Black Hills contends that, as proposed, its transmission expansion project “would provide customers long-term price stability,” a spokesperson wrote in an email to the WTE. “As a regulated public utility company, our infrastructure investments are evaluated through an open, public process governed by the Wyoming Public Service Commission. We have submitted our proposed plan to the Commission and continue to follow the process.”
For its part, Microsoft wrote that its data center in Cheyenne has “as a significant cost of operation” the purchase of “substantial amounts of electricity from” Cheyenne Light. “Microsoft has a direct and substantial interest in the application in this docket and will be directly affected by the outcome.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/construction/black-hills-energys-258m-power-transmission-project-to-get-close-wyoming-regulatory-review/article_ab17bd60-b436-11ec-ab0a-03bccabca3fe.html
| 2022-04-04T18:36:44Z
|
Wet concrete goes “glop glop glop.”
When you’re only halfway up, you’re neither up nor down.
And, of course, the wheels on the bus go ‘round and ‘round.
Most of us don’t remember learning these important facts of life, but we did, and in the process learned how to make sounds that became words that we share with others. One of the ways we learned them was through books and children’s songs.
Helping very young children take their first steps in language is the reason behind Book Babies, a weekly book, song and play session at the Albany County Public Library.
In a recent Book Babies session, eight parents held their babies and toddlers ranging in age from 7 months to almost 3. The parents joined Deb Shogren, youth services librarian, in a reading baby-friendly books, one of which described the sound of wet concrete as it pours.
They joined her in singing familiar children’s songs like “The Noble Duke of York,” who marched his men up and down a hill.
At the same time, the babies looked at books, sometimes chewed them, clapped and wiggled, but for the most part, had fun during the half-hour program.
The fun is an important element, Shogren said.
“It’s cozy, comfortable sitting on mom’s lap. They’re learning that reading and books are fun,” she said.
This experience is an important first step in literacy, she said.
“They’re learning words all the time. It’s easier to learn to read a word if you’ve heard the word,” Shogren said. “They learning that books have a top and a bottom, front and back. They’re learning the mechanics of reading a book.”
When they try to sing, she said, they are practicing the mouth movements that will eventually become words.
After the stories and songs, a cart full of toys and a bubble machine provide a way for parents and babies to socialize.
Callie Parks attended with 13-month-old Oliver Parks and Charlie Parks, nearly 3.
“We love books, love reading and love Miss Deb (Shogren),” Callie Parks said.
She said the weekly gatherings are good for her children and for parents.
“It’s a great place to meet other moms who are home with their children. There’s a great sense of community here,” she said.
Also on hand are representatives from the Laramie Breastfeeding Coalition and Albany County Public Health. Certified lactation consultants provide drop-in advice on breastfeeding concerns, such as returning to work or milk supply, said Jasmine Flores, coalition coordinator.
Book Babies will be held at the Albany County Public Library, 310 S 8th St, Laramie, at 10 a.m. Tuesday mornings through April. It also will be included in the library’s summer program, though a time has not been determined. Participation is free and pre-registration is not required.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/education/babies-on-board-pre-reader-kids-learn-to-love-books-through-library-program/article_de08e97e-b436-11ec-8bb8-e715fd56edd0.html
| 2022-04-04T18:36:51Z
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/transportation/brubaker-reveals-airport-progress-at-luncheon/article_ca510042-b436-11ec-a034-df6352bd401c.html
| 2022-04-04T18:36:57Z
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Alaska Airlines moves to gender-neutral uniforms, allowing tattoos for employees
(CNN) - Alaska Airlines is going gender-neutral with its uniform policy for employees.
In a statement this week, the airline said the updated guidelines will “provide more freedom and flexibility in individual and gender expression.”
The carrier will also collaborate with a designer to create gender-neutral uniform items for frontline workers, including flight attendants, customer service agents and lounge employees.
The change follows a 2021 employee allegation that Alaska Airlines’ uniform policy discriminated against workers whose gender expression did not fit male and female dress codes.
Previously, the airline required either “male” or “female” uniforms, along with regulations on other dress codes based on assumed gender. At the time, the carrier said flight attendants could order any “uniform kit of their choice, regardless of gender identity.”
The airline is also updating to allow more flexibility in personal expression, including with tattoos and hair style choices.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/alaska-airlines-moves-gender-neutral-uniforms-allowing-tattoos-employees/
| 2022-04-04T19:54:15Z
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Biggest underdog victories in March Madness
(Stacker) - Everyone loves an underdog. Whether it’s an intrinsic desire to root for the little guy or a hedge against laying the favorite, sports fans can’t help but crave the come-out-of-nowhere victory. This propensity is strongest during March Madness, that annual springtime tourney that pits NCAA Division I college basketball teams against one another in a drive toward the national championship.
What we have come to know as March Madness began in 1939, when it featured just eight teams. By 1951, that number doubled to 16. It doubled again in 1975, and yet again in 1985, before finally settling on the 68 first-round contenders we now see each year. According to the Sporting News, the first mention of the moniker “March Madness” was in the Illinois High School Athlete magazine, where high school official Henry V. Porter opined, “A little March madness may complement and contribute to sanity and help keep society on an even keel.”
The term’s association with the NCAA can be traced to the 1982 tournament, when CBS announcer Brent Musburger claimed he purloined the term from local car dealer commercials that aired during his time broadcasting Illinois state high school games (which also led to a lawsuit that resulted in the eventual trademark of the term itself).
One aspect of March Madness that’s open to less debate is that the annual sporting event is a standout with its high possibilities of having an unknown or undervalued team coming out of nowhere to score a major upset.
Leveraging AP Men’s Basketball polls from 1950–2021, BestOdds has come up with a list of some of the greatest and most unexpected underdog wins in the history of the NCAA championship tournament. AP polls are determined by a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters who vote weekly, in a simple points system, to decide the AP Top 25. A team receives 25 points for each first place vote, 24 for second place and so on through to the 25th team, which receives one point. The rankings are set by listing the teams’ point totals from highest to lowest.
Here, teams were ranked by their standing in the polls going into March Madness, with teams that had poorer standings ranking higher on the list. (Lower numbers in the poll indicate a better expected performance, with 1 being the top pick, so a higher number indicates a poorer standing, and thus an underdog victory.) Ties were broken by the team’s preseason standing in the polls. The preseason favorite for that year is also included. From 1949–1960 and 1969–1989, the poll included 20 teams, from 1961–1968 the poll included 10 teams, and from 1990–present the poll has 25 teams.
So without further ado, here are 10 of the biggest underdog victories in NCAA March Madness history.
#10. The 1989 Michigan Wolverines
- Final AP poll ranking: 10
- Preseason AP poll ranking: 3
- Preseason AP poll favorite: Duke
The Big Ten is a notoriously tough conference prided on defense. Going into the 1988–1989 season, everyone had their eye on the Wolverines, who were coming off a respectable 26–8 season, but still smarting from a loss to North Carolina in the 1988 Sweet Sixteen. Conference foes Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa all put up winning records, while Purdue, ranked as high as #3, slipped into the rearview. After a 24–7 regular season record (12–6 in the Big Ten Conference), Michigan barreled through the tournament, besting ACC powers North Carolina and Virginia to reach the Final Four.
There, they faced fellow Big Ten member Illinois in a match that few expected the Wolverines to win. But win they did, 83–81, in a nail-biting classic. Two days later, on April 3, Michigan won the title with an 80–79 overtime victory over fellow underdog Seton Hall.
#9. The 2006 Florida Gators (tie)
- Final AP poll ranking: 11
- Preseason AP poll ranking: Unranked
- Preseason AP poll favorite: Duke
Prior to the 2005–2006 season, the Florida Gators had been bounced out in the first round of the tourney each of the past two years. With coach Billy Donovan returning for his 10th season in the Sunshine State and a lineup that featured Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer, and Chris Richard—all of whom would go on play in the NBA—along with team captain Adrian Moss, the Gators took home the SEC Championship against South Carolina after posting a 24–6 regular season record.
Coming into the NCAA tournament ranked 11th in the country, the team beat Big East dynamos Georgetown and Villanova. The Gators then handled upstart George Mason on the way to a 73–57 win over UCLA, who have more NCAA men’s basketball championships than any other school. This would be the beginning of a brief dynasty, as the Gators also won the 2007 championship, becoming the first school to win back-to-back titles since Duke in the early 1990s.
#8. The 1959 California Golden Bears (tie)
- Final AP poll ranking: 11
- Preseason AP poll ranking: Unranked
- Preseason AP poll favorite: Cincinnati
Coming off a modest 19–9 campaign, no one expected much from the Golden Bears heading into the 1958–1959 season. But beginning with a decisive 60–36 win over San Jose State to open the season, the team went on to finish the regular season in impressive fashion, posting a 21–4 record. After wins over Utah and Saint Mary’s, both top 20 teams, Cal made it to the championship game by beating #5 Cincinnati (and its three-time Sporting News Player of the Year Oscar Robertson). The title game was a white-knuckle bout against #10 West Virginia and future NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West, but the Golden Bears squeaked out a 71–70 win.
Just one year later, California center Darrall Imhoff would go on to win gold with the 1960 U.S. Men’s Olympic basketball team—a team coached by the Golden Bears’ own Pete Newell. Imhoff was then drafted third overall in the 1960 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, right behind Robertson and West.
#7. The 2003 Syracuse Orange
- Final AP poll ranking: 13
- Preseason AP poll ranking: Unranked
- Preseason AP poll favorite: Arizona
The 2003 NCAA Championship would be a first title for one of two legendary coaches. On one side was Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, who in his 27 years as head coach, had taken his team to the Final Four just two times, in 1987 and 1996. On the other sideline was Kansas head coach Roy Williams, who had reached the Final Four four times, finishing as runner up in 1991. The Syracuse Orangemen, as they were known at the time, were led by freshmen Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara. Together, these first-year phenoms blazed a trail through the tournament, culminating with an 81–78 victory over Kansas.
Anthony was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and months later was drafted in the first round by the NBA’s Denver Nuggets. Later, still fond of Syracuse, he donated $3 million to his alma mater to build the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center.
#6. The 1997 Arizona Wildcats
- Final AP poll ranking: 15
- Preseason AP poll ranking: 19
- Preseason AP poll favorite: Cincinnati
There’s a first time for everything, and for the Arizona Wildcats, 1997 marked many firsts in program and college basketball history. Yes, they won their first-ever championship that year, defeating top-ranked Kentucky, 84–79, in overtime, but the team’s true mark on NCAA history was that they were the first school to defeat three top seeds in one tournament. Before their victory over Kentucky, the Wildcats bested top-ranked Kansas and North Carolina.
Fun fact: In the opening game of the season, the Wildcats took down North Carolina 83-72, providing a harbinger of things to come in the Final Four rematch.
#5. The 1983 NC State Wolfpack
- Final AP poll ranking: 16
- Preseason AP poll ranking: 16
- Preseason AP poll favorite: Virginia
To this day, the story of the 1983 “Cardiac Pack” still evokes awe among sports fans. After putting up a respectable, if not spectacular 17–10 regular season record, the Wolfpack took the ACC Tournament title from Virginia. Led by notorious rabble-rousing coach Jim Valvano, NC State carried that momentum into a matchup with #1 seed Houston in the NCAA title game. But Houston was led by future NBA Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Akeem Olajuwon, and the Cougars were heavily favored to win. (The Drexel and Olajuwon duo was known as Phi Slamma Jamma for their high-scoring and dunk-filled style of play.)
This battle of underdogs versus superstars would come down to the last shot. NC State’s Dereck Whittenburg lofted an airball, but center Lorenzo Charles, waiting under the basket, outboxed Olajuwon and tapped it in for the 54–52 victory.
#4. The 2014 UConn Huskies
- Final AP poll ranking: 18
- Preseason AP poll ranking: 18
- Preseason AP poll favorite: Kentucky
The year before their 2014 title, the Huskies had a great season by many standards, going 20–10, but they were banned from participating in tournament play, due to sanctions resulting from years of substandard academic progress ratings among team members. Out for vengeance, second-year coach Kevin Ollie guided UConn to a 24-7 regular season record in 2014.
The team hit a speedbump in the American Athletic Conference final, losing to #5 Louisville, but bounced back in the NCAA tourney with wins over top 10 ranked Villanova and Iowa State. UConn also topped #11 Michigan State, before a stunning decisive win over #1 Florida, 63–53. The Huskies then faced college basketball royalty Kentucky for the title, and pulled out a 60–54 victory.
#3. The 1950 CCNY Beavers
- Final AP poll ranking: Unranked
- Preseason AP poll ranking: 14
- Preseason AP poll favorite: St. John’s (NY)
The Beavers provided headlines of hoop dreams and scandal during a memorable 1950 season. They were the first NCAA championship team to have Black players in its starting lineup, setting a precedent that redefined the sport. But even after a 17–5 regular season, there was no love for the team by the poll voters. That did not stop them—and maybe even motivated them—to winning the NIT and NCAA titles, both over top-ranked Bradley.
Scandal later engulfed the team when it was revealed that seven players were charged for their involvement in fixing games during the regular season, a fiasco that involved a total of seven schools and supposedly members of organized crime.
#2. The 1988 Kansas Jayhawks
- Final AP poll ranking: Unranked
- Preseason AP poll ranking: 7
- Preseason AP poll favorite: Syracuse
Jayhawks fans still remember the year of Danny and the Miracles. Led by star player Danny Manning, the 1988 squad got off to a rocky 12–8 start, but turned things around in the season’s second half, winning 15 of its last 18 games, including a win over rival Oklahoma. Manning would go on to be named National Player of the Year, and head coach Larry Brown became the only coach in basketball history to win both an NCAA national championship and an NBA title, the latter of which he accomplished with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.
#1. The 1985 Villanova Wildcats
- Final AP poll ranking: Unranked
- Preseason AP poll ranking: Unranked
- Preseason AP poll favorite: Georgetown
For any college hoops fan, this championship team was utterly unforgettable. Dubbed by Sports Illustrated as “The Perfect Game,” the 1985 NCAA title match had all the makings of a David versus Goliath showdown. Defending champion and #1 ranked Georgetown, which came into the final with a 35–2 record, had future NBA Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing dominating at the center position.
Villanova’s comparatively average record of 19–10 seemed to suggest that this would be one of the biggest routs in college basketball history. But Villanova shot an unprecedented 79% from the field, while limiting Ewing to just 14 points. The Wildcats’ 66–64 win was, in the words of P.J. Carlesimo, coach of then-rival Seton Hall, “as close to the perfect game as any team [has played] ever.”
Copyright 2022 Stacker via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/biggest-underdog-victories-march-madness/
| 2022-04-04T19:54:24Z
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PHOTOS: New York police rescue seal from Long Island roadway
(Gray News) – Police came to the rescue of an aquatic animal on Sunday that found itself trapped on the dry land of a New York street.
In a Facebook post, Southampton Town police said their dispatchers received a call Sunday about a seal in the roadway at a Long Island traffic circle.
Officers responded to the location and found a baby harbor seal in the roadway near an inn.
The officers detained the seal until it was taken safely by the Riverhead Foundation Rescue Center of the Long Island Aquarium.
The program director of the center said seal season is approaching. He said that harbor seals usually rest on rocks and beaches, and something like this situation is uncommon.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. CNN Newsource contributed to this report.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/photos-new-york-police-rescue-seal-long-island-roadway/
| 2022-04-04T19:54:36Z
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UN warns Earth ‘firmly on track toward an unlivable world’
BERLIN (AP) — Temperatures on Earth will shoot past a key danger point unless greenhouse gas emissions fall faster than countries have committed, the world’s top body of climate scientists said Monday, warning of the consequences of inaction but also noting hopeful signs of progress.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change revealed “a litany of broken climate promises” by governments and corporations, accusing them of stoking global warming by clinging to harmful fossil fuels.
“It is a file of shame, cataloguing the empty pledges that put us firmly on track toward an unlivable world,” he said.
Governments agreed in the 2015 Paris accord to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) this century, ideally no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit). Yet temperatures have already increased by over 1.1C (2F) since pre-industrial times, resulting in measurable increases in disasters such flash floods, extreme heat, more intense hurricanes and longer-burning wildfires, putting human lives in danger and costing governments hundreds of billions of dollars to confront.
“Projected global emissions from (national pledges) place limiting global warming to 1.5C beyond reach and make it harder after 2030 to limit warming to 2C,” the panel said.
In other words, the report’s co-chair, James Skea of Imperial College London, told The Associated Press: “If we continue acting as we are now, we’re not even going to limit warming to 2 degrees, never mind 1.5 degrees.”
Ongoing investments in fossil fuel infrastructure and clearing large swaths of forest for agriculture undermine the massive curbs in emissions needed to meet the Paris goal, the report found.
Emissions in 2019 were about 12% higher than they were in 2010 and 54% higher than in 1990, said Skea.
The rate of growth has slowed from 2.1% per year in the early part of this century to 1.3% per year between 2010 and 2019, the report’s authors said. But they voiced “high confidence” that unless countries step up their efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the planet will on average be 2.4C to 3.5C (4.3 to 6.3 F) warmer by the end of the century — a level experts say is sure to cause severe impacts for much of the world’s population.
“Limiting warming to 1.5C requires global greenhouse gas emissions to peak before 2025 at the latest and be reduced by 43% by 2030,” he said.
Such cuts would be hard to achieve without without drastic, economy-wide measures, the panel acknowledged. It’s more likely that the world will pass 1.5C and efforts will then need to be made to bring temperatures back down again, including by removing vast amounts of carbon dioxide — the main greenhouse gas — from the atmosphere.
Many experts say this is unfeasible with current technologies, and even if it could be done it would be far costlier than preventing the emissions in the first place.
The report, numbering thousands of pages, doesn’t single out individual countries for blame.
However, the figures show much of the carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere was released by rich countries that were the first to burn coal, oil and gas when the industrial revolution really got going in the 1850s.
The U.N. panel said about 40% of emissions since then came from Europe and North America. Just over 12% can be attributed to East Asia, which includes China. The country took over the position as world’s top emitter from the United States in the mid-2000s.
Many countries and companies have used recent climate meetings to paint rosy pictures of their emissions-cutting efforts, while continuing to invest in fossil fuels and other polluting activities, Guterres warned.
“Some government and business leaders are saying one thing – but doing another,” he said. “Simply put, they are lying. And the results will be catastrophic.”
The report isn’t without some hope, however.
Its authors highlight myriad ways in which the world can be brought back on track to 2C or even, with great effort, return to 1.5C after that threshold has been passed. This could require measures such as the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere with natural or artificial means, but also potentially risky technologies such as pumping aerosols into the sky to reflect sunlight.
Among the solutions recommended are a rapid shift away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy such as increasingly cheap solar and wind power, the electrification of transport, less meat consumption, more efficient use of resources and massive financial support for poor countries unable to pay for such measures without help.
The situation is as if humanity has “gone to the doctor in a very unhealthy condition,” and the doctor saying “you need to change, it’s a radical change. If you don’t you’re in trouble,” said report co-author Pete Smith, a professor of soils and global change at the University Aberdeen.
“It’s not like a diet,” Smith said. “It is a fundamental lifestyle change. It’s changing what you eat, how much you eat and get on a more active lifestyle.”
One move often described as “low-hanging fruit” by scientists is to plug methane leaks from mines, wells and landfills that release the potent but short-lived greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. A pact forged between the United States and China at last year’s U.N. climate conference in Glasgow aims to do just that.
“You can see the first signs that the actions that people are taking are beginning to make a difference,” said Skea, the panel’s co-chair.
“The big message we’ve got (is that) human activities got us into this problem and human agency can actually get us out of it again,” he said.
The panel’s reports have become increasingly blunt since the first one was published in 1990, and the latest may be the last before the planet passes 1.5C of warming, Skea told the AP.
Last August, it said climate change caused by humans was “an established fact” and warned that some effects of global warming are already inevitable. In late February, the panel published a report that outlined how further temperature increases will multiply the risk of floods, storms, drought and heat waves worldwide.
Still, the British government’s former chief science adviser David King, who wasn’t involved in writing the report, said there are optimistic assumptions about how much CO2 the world can afford to emit.
The U.N. panel suggests there’s still a “carbon budget” of 500 billion metric tons (550 billion U.S. tons) that can be emitted before hitting the 1.5C threshold.
“We don’t actually have a remaining carbon budget to burn,” said King, who now chairs the Climate Crisis Advisory Group.
“It’s just the reverse. We’ve already done too much in the way of putting greenhouse gases up there,” he said, arguing that the IPCC’s calculation omits new risks and potentially self-reinforcing effects already happening in some places, such as the increased absorption of heat into the oceans from sea ice loss and the release of methane as permafrost melts, he said.
Such warnings were echoed by U.N. chief Guterres, citing scientists’ warnings that the planet is moving “perilously close to tipping points that could lead to cascading and irreversible climate impacts.”
“But high-emitting governments and corporations are not just turning a blind eye; they are adding fuel to the flames,” he said, calling for an end to further coal, oil and gas extraction that the report said might have to be abandoned anyway, resulting in losses of trillions of dollars.
“Investing in new fossil fuels infrastructure is moral and economic madness,” said Guterres.
Vulnerable nations said the report showed big polluters have to step up their efforts.
“We are looking to the G-20, to the world’s biggest emitters, to set ambitious targets ahead of COP27, and to reach those targets – by investing in renewables, cutting out coal and fossil fuel subsidies,” said Tina Stege, climate envoy for the Marshall Islands. “It’s long past time to deliver on promises made.”
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Borenstein reported from Washington.
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Follow AP’s climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
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Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/un-warns-earth-firmly-track-toward-an-unlivable-world/
| 2022-04-04T19:54:45Z
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West Virginia lawsuit against opioid makers set to start
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Opening arguments are set in a lawsuit in West Virginia accusing several drugmakers of misrepresenting the risks and benefits of opioids.
The bench trial starts Monday in Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s lawsuit against Janssen, Teva, Allergan and their family of companies.
The defendants are accused of engaging in strategic campaigns to deceive prescribers. That led to opioids becoming a common treatment for chronic pain and fueled substance abuse in West Virginia.
The state has the nation’s highest rate of drug overdose deaths.
The lawsuit alleges violations of the state Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
The trial in Charleston is expected to take up to two months.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/west-virginia-lawsuit-against-opioid-makers-set-start/
| 2022-04-04T19:54:52Z
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HONOLULU (KITV4) -- It is not all fun and games for kids on social media. Use of TikTok and Snapchat by children has exploded. So have concerns about questionable content.
Hawaii's Attorney General has joined other states, in calling for better access for parental monitoring apps. Not everyone agrees it is a good idea.
Preteen Drayson Higabuckley used to have Snapchat and Tiktok on his phone. His mom, who manually monitors his phone, got rid of them.
"She found text messages saying I would fight someone and for them to meet me at the park," said Higabuckley.
Forty-four Attorneys General nationwide, including Hawaii's own Holly Shikada, have right now submitted a letter to TikTok and Snapchat asking then to allow better access to the third-party apps that are designed for parental monitoring and control. The letter says to maximize protections, social media must collaborate with each other. One tech expert disagrees.
"You're creating these companies that are going to be keeping all this kids information from all of these apps and placing it in their secure database. I think It's just creating another opportunity for it to be hacked or exploited in some sort of way," said tech expert Ryan Ozawa.
Ozawa says it's the parents and the sites themselves that should be doing the policing.
"The sites have their own parental controls, some better than others. I would say some are stronger than others. For right now, for example, TikTok does a pretty good job of trying to give parents control of the app -- right down to pairing their phone with their kid's phone to see what they are up to. Other apps like Snapchat are a little easier for kids to circumvent. I think the fact of the matter is these kids are smarter than these apps," said Ozawa.
Ozawa detailed some parental monitoring methods Tiktok offers. Family pairing is where the parent creates their own account, taps the three dots next to their profile, hits the family pairing option, and syncs child's account with a QR code.
There is also a screen time management setting and restricted mode that blocks mature content. A parent will want to keep their own passwords for those settings.
Parents need to keep precautions. A child can always steal a passcode, reload the app, or create a new account to get around security steps. So it is recommended they check their child's phone on a consistent basis.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/business/44-state-attorneys-general-call-for-third-party-access-to-tiktok-and-snapchat/article_02b4e5ee-b3f0-11ec-92d4-97420ba6955f.html
| 2022-04-04T20:31:43Z
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Stocks were mixed in morning trading on Wall Street Monday as investors tried to anticipate whether Russia could face even stricter economic sanctions, while Twitter soared on a big investment from Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk.
The S&P 500 rose 0.2% as of 10:23 a.m. Eastern. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 70 points, or 0.2%, to 34,752 and the Nasdaq rose 1%.
There were more stocks losing ground than making gains within the benchmark S&P 500, but solid gains from technology stocks and big communications companies helped temper losses elsewhere. Tech companies, with their pricey stock values, tend to have more weight in pushing the market in up or down.
Twitter surged 23% after the company disclosed that Musk had taken a 9.2% stake in the social media platform. In recent weeks Musk has publicly questioned the company’s commitment to free speech. The gains were a key factor in lifting the broader communications sector and keeping the S&P 500 in the green.
Investors continue to monitor the conflict in Ukraine, where Russia could face even stricter economic sanctions now that details are emerging of what appear to be deliberate killings of civilians.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, joined a growing chorus of international criticism of the alleged atrocities, saying the 27-country bloc “will advance, as a matter of urgency, work on further sanctions against Russia.”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has elevated concerns about rising inflation and the impact on global economic growth. Prices for everything from food to clothing had already been rising and the war has made for even more volatile energy prices.
U.S. benchmark crude oil prices rose 4.3% and Brent crude, the international standard rose 3.6%. Prices are up roughly 40% globally, which has put pressure on costs for gasoline and other goods.
Bond yields gained ground. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 2.43% from 2.38% late Friday. The yield on the two-year Treasury rose to 2.47% from 2.44%.
The two-year yield remains above the 10-year yield, which is a potentially ominous sign. Such a flip of the usual relationship between two- and 10-year yields has preceded many recessions in the past, though it hasn’t been a perfect predictor. Some market watchers caution the signal may be less accurate this time, because of distortions in yields caused by extraordinary measures by the Federal Reserve and other central banks to keep interest rates low.
Bond yields have been gaining ground all year as Wall Street prepares higher interest rates. The Federal Reserve has already raised its key overnight rate once, the first such increase since 2018. The central bank is expected to continue raising rates throughout 2022 to help counter the impact from rising inflation.
The Fed is due to release minutes from its last meeting on Wednesday.
Markets in Europe were mostly higher. Asian markets also rose and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 2.1% after regulators in Beijing said they plan to revise rules regarding access of overseas regulators to full audits of companies that have shares listed in overseas markets.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/business/stocks-trade-mixed-twitter-soars-on-news-of-musk-stake/article_29b9118c-b428-11ec-a6e9-536da4227e8b.html
| 2022-04-04T20:31:49Z
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk acquired a 9% stake in Twitter to become its largest shareholder, just before raising questions about the social media platform’s dedication to free speech.
The ultimate aim of Musk’s 73.5 million share purchase worth $3 billion based on the closing price Friday, is not clear. Yet in late March Musk, who has 80 million Twitter followers and is very active on the site, questioned free speech on Twitter and whether the platform is undermining democracy.
The regulatory filing Monday says Musk bought the shares on March 14, describing him as a long-term investor looking to minimize his buying and selling of the shares. That means that Musk acquired the shares before beginning his public discourse on the First Amendment and Twitter.
Yet Musk has also raised the possibility, publicly before his massive and loyal Twitter following, of starting a rival social media network.
Industry analysts are skeptical about whether the mercurial CEO will remain on the sidelines for long.
“We would expect this passive stake as just the start of broader conversations with the Twitter board/management that could ultimately lead to an active stake and a potential more aggressive ownership role of Twitter,” Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities said in a client note early Monday.
Twitter’s stock surged more than 22% at the opening bell Monday. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Musk told his more than 80 million followers on Twitter that he was “ giving serious thought ” to creating his own social media platform and has clashed repeatedly with financial regulators about his use of Twitter.
His Twitter stock purchase comes as Musk is locked into a bitter dispute with U.S. securities regulators over his ability to post on Twitter. Musk’s lawyer has contended in court motions that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is infringing on the Tesla CEO’s First Amendment rights.
In October of 2018, Musk and Tesla agreed to pay $40 million in civil fines and for Musk to have his tweets approved by a corporate lawyer after he tweeted about having the money to take Tesla private at $420 per share.
The funding was far from secured and the electric vehicle company remains public, but Tesla’s stock price jumped. The settlement specified governance changes, including Musk’s ouster as board chairman, as well as pre-approval of his tweets. The SEC brought a securities fraud charge, alleging that Musk was manipulating the stock price with his posts.
Musk’s lawyer is now asking a U.S. District Court judge in Manhattan to throw out the settlement, contending that the SEC is harassing him and infringing on his First Amendment rights.
Early in March, Musk asked Judge Alison Nathan to nullify an SEC subpoena and throw out the settlement agreement. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, said the SEC has used the court agreement “to trample on Mr. Musk’s First Amendment rights and to impose prior restraints on his speech.”
The SEC responded in a court motion, saying it has legal authority to subpoena Tesla and Musk about his tweets, and that Musk’s move to throw out the settlement is not valid.
The SEC disclosed that it is investigating Musk’s Nov. 6, 2021 tweets that asked followers whether he should sell 10% of his Tesla stake. The commission confirmed that it issued administrative subpoenas while investigating whether Musk and Tesla are complying with disclosure controls in the 2018 agreement.
The commission also is investigating whether Tesla described accurately in public filings with the agency whether it complied with the controls.
The commission maintains that the subpoenas were lawful, and that Musk isn’t following proper legal procedure to challenge them. SEC attorney Melissa Armstrong called Musk’s challenge “frivolous,” and pointed out that Musk and Tesla agreed to have his tweets pre-approved by other company officials.
“Courts have long recognized that ‘congress has vested the SEC with broad authority to conduct investigations into possible violations of federal securities laws and to demand production of evidence relevant to such investigations,’” Armstrong wrote.
The subpoenas, issued under seal, come from a formal order by the commission authorizing the investigation. They seek all written communications concerning the Nov. 6 tweets and whether they were shown to Tesla lawyers for pre-approval.
Musk attorney Spiro has asked for verbal arguments in the case.
Musk’s revelation about his stake in Twitter shares comes two days after Tesla Inc. posted first-quarter delivery numbers. While the company delivered 310,000 vehicles in the period, the figure was slightly below expectations.
Shortly after the November tweets about the Tesla stock sale Musk began selling off shares, and he wrote on Twitter that the sale would go to pay tax obligations on stock options. Analysts estimate his tax obligation at $10 billion to $15 billion. But some of the money could have been used to buy the Twitter stake.
So far he has sold more than 15 million shares worth roughly $16.4 billion. With some sales in late December, Musk is close to selling 10%.
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Krisher reported from Detroit.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/business/suddenly-tesla-s-elon-musk-is-twitter-s-biggest-stakeholder/article_797c5e54-b428-11ec-92a3-d769116a82b2.html
| 2022-04-04T20:31:56Z
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HONOLULU (KITV4) -- It will be a mostly cloudy and breezy to start the workweek. Drier trade wind weather is expected, but don't count out scattered windward and mauka showers. Highs will range from 78 to 83 degrees with trades gusting from 15 to 25 mph.
Monday night will be mostly cloudy with scattered windward and mauka showers, isolated showers for leeward sections. Low temperatures will range from 65 to 70 degrees. Trade winds are expected to ease.
Breezy trade winds will prevail on Monday with rather dry trade wind weather, and increasing high clouds streaming into the island chain.
Increasing trade showers and considerable cloudiness will hold in place as an upper level disturbance moves overhead. A return to more typical trade wind weather can be expected late Wednesday through Thursday night, with the trades becoming breezy once again.
Monday's northwest swell will gradually lower through Tuesday. The next medium size northwest swell is timed to arrive Wednesday and pass through the islands into Friday.
Small background south swells are expected through Friday with a slightly larger south swell scheduled around Saturday.
Short period choppy east facing shore surf will remain elevated through the day with only a slight lowering Tuesday and Wednesday under moderate trade flow.
East wind wave swell and surf will increase later this week in response to strengthened trades.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/monday-weather-cloudy-and-breezy-trade-winds-ease-up-tonight/article_97a8378a-b424-11ec-b594-0b47b24c77fb.html
| 2022-04-04T20:32:02Z
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Airlines reduce cancellations, but US flight problems linger
(AP) - Air travel in the United States improved Monday after a rocky weekend that left thousands of flyers stranded by thunderstorms in Florida, technology problems at the busiest domestic airline and labor problems at another carrier.
However, airlines that do much of their flying in Florida were still struggling Monday, especially Spirit Airlines.
And airlines were bracing for another round of storms that were forecast to hit the Dallas area — home to American and Southwest — Monday night.
Airlines scrubbed about 650 U.S. flights by midafternoon Monday, according to tracking service FlightAware.com. That followed the cancellation of more than 3,500 flights — about one in every 13 — over the weekend.
Thunderstorms led the Federal Aviation Administration to limit flights over much of Florida and briefly halt flights at several airports in the state on Saturday. That caused ripple effects across the country for the rest of the weekend, and some travelers reported having to wait before they could be put on another flight.
“It’s spring-break season, so unfortunately there is no worse place to have bad weather than Florida right now,” Henry Harteveldt, a travel-industry analyst for Atmosphere Research, said Monday. “The airlines are scrambling to get people where they want to go, they’re working to get planes to and from Florida. It’s going to take a couple days.”
On Monday, Spirit, which is based in Miramar, Florida, canceled about 250 flights, or 30% of its schedule. JetBlue Airways, which flies frequently between Florida and the Northeast, canceled about 140 flights, or 13% of its total for the day.
Spirit did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Southwest Airlines, which operates more domestic flights than any airline, was doing much better on Monday — about 60 cancellations, 1% of its schedule, after scrubbing more than 900 flights, or about 13% of its total, Saturday and Sunday. The airline also suffered what it called intermittent technology problems over the weekend.
Southwest’s unusual point-to-point route map means that many of its planes stop in Florida at some point during a normal day. By contrast, American, Delta and United run so-called hub-and-spoke networks in which flights radiate outward from a few key airports. That keeps planes in one part of the country insulated from bad weather in other places.
Alaska Airlines, the fifth-largest U.S. carrier, canceled about 40 flights or 5% of its schedule Monday. Over the weekend, the airline seemed to blame the pilots’ union. Off-duty pilots have picketed at airports and an investor conference by the Seattle-based airline to protest the slow pace of contract negotiations over the past three years.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/airlines-reduce-cancellations-us-flight-problems-linger/
| 2022-04-04T21:25:51Z
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Democratic, GOP Senate bargainers reach $10B COVID agreement
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate bargainers have reached agreement on a slimmed-down $10 billion package for countering COVID-19, the top Democratic and Republican negotiators said Monday, but the measure dropped all funding to help nations abroad combat the pandemic.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the deal would give the government “the tools we need” to continue battling the disease. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, trumpeted budget savings in the measure that he said meant it “will not cost the American people a single additional dollar.”
At least half the measure would have to be used to research and produce therapeutics to treat the disease, according to fact sheets distributed by Schumer and Romney, the two top bargainers.
The money would also be used to buy vaccines and tests. At least $750 million would be used to research new COVID-19 variants and to expand vaccine production, the descriptions said.
The agreement comes with party leaders hoping to move the legislation through Congress this week, before lawmakers leave for a two-week spring recess. It also comes with BA.2, the new omicron variant, expected to spark a fresh increase in U.S. cases. Around 980,000 Americans and over 6 million people worldwide have died from COVID-19.
Schumer blamed the GOP for the lack of global assistance, saying he is “disappointed that our Republican colleagues could not agree to include the $5 billion” from an earlier version of the measure. He said members of both parties want to craft a second spending measure this spring that could include funds to battle COVID-19 and hunger overseas and more assistance for Ukraine as it continues battling the Russian invasion.
Romney suggested an openness to considering future COVID-19 money. “While this agreement does not include funding for the U.S. global vaccination program, I am willing to explore a fiscally responsible solution to support global efforts in the weeks ahead,” he said.
The accord represents a deep cut from the $22.5 billion President Joe Biden initially requested, and from a $15 billion version that both parties’ leaders had negotiated last month. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., abandoned that plan after Democratic lawmakers rejected proposed cuts in state pandemic aid to help pay for the package.
The $15 billion plan had included about $5 billion for the global effort to fight COVID-19, which has run rampant in many countries, especially poorer ones. The overall price tag has shrunk, and the global money has fallen off, as the two parties have been unable to agree on more than $10 billion in budget savings to pay for it.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bipartisan Senate bargainers have agreed to a slimmed-down $10 billion package for countering COVID-19, but without any funds to help nations abroad combat the pandemic, Democrats and Republicans familiar with the talks said Monday.
At least half the measure would have to be used to research and produce therapeutics to treat the disease, according to a fact sheet distributed by the chief GOP bargainer, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah. And at least $750 million would be used to research new COVID-19 variants and to expand vaccine production, the description said.
The agreement comes with party leaders hoping to move the legislation through Congress this week, before lawmakers leave for a two-week spring recess. It also comes with BA.2, the new omicron variant, expected to spark a fresh increase in U.S. cases. Around 980,000 Americans and over 6 million people worldwide have died from COVID-19.
The accord represents a deep cut from the $22.5 billion President Joe Biden initially requested, and from a $15 billion version that both parties’ leaders had negotiated last month. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., abandoned that plan after Democratic lawmakers rejected proposed cuts in state pandemic aid to help pay for the package.
The $15 billion plan had included about $5 billion for the global effort to fight COVID-19, which has run rampant in many countries, especially poorer ones. The overall price tag has shrunk, and the global money has fallen off, as the two parties have been unable to agree on more than $10 billion in budget savings to pay for it.
Some people said the fate of the new agreement remained uncertain in the House, where Pelosi and liberal Democrats have expressed opposition to dropping the money for helping other countries.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, leader of the House Progressive Caucus, said erasing the global assistance from the package “is a big problem,” and said she and other supporters of helping other countries have voiced their objections to House leadership and Senate negotiators. “It’s really shortsighted to not spend money on making sure this virus is contained around the world,” Jayapal, a Washington state Democrat who worked in global public health for a decade, told reporters.
The two Democrats and three Republicans who described the accord did so on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the talks publicly.
One of the Democrats, and a third member of that party, said it remained unclear whether the emerging package would attract the minimum 10 GOP votes needed for the measure to move through the 50-50 Senate. The others said the needed Republican votes would be there.
The measure is fully paid for by pulling back unspent funds from previous pandemic relief bills that have been enacted, bargainers have said.
Romney’s fact sheet says those savings include $2.3 billion from a fund protecting aviation manufacturing jobs; $1.9 billion from money for helping entertainment venues shuttered by the pandemic; another $1.9 billion from a program that helps states extend credit to small businesses; and $1.6 billion from agriculture assistance programs.
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AP writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/dem-gop-senate-bargainers-say-they-have-10b-covid-agreement/
| 2022-04-04T21:25:58Z
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WVVA’s Annie Moore wins WVBA award for acupuncture investigation
Moore also recently received accolades from the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards
Published: Apr. 4, 2022 at 4:12 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - WVVA’s longtime bureau reporter, Annie Moore, received top honors over the weekend at the 2022 West Virginia Broadcasting Awards: Excellence in Broadcasting.
Moore won in the category for Best Breaking News Coverage for her Beckley V.A. Acupuncture Investigation.
Last month she also received second place for “Best MMJ” for her reporter on “Sugar Grove.”
Moore has been covering the Two Virginias for more than a decade with nine years (and counting) at WVVA.
The Georgetown graduate began her career as a producer in Bluefield, WV before taking on the bureau reporting role based in Beckley, WV.
Read more on Annie’s life and career here.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/wvvas-annie-moore-wins-wvba-award-acupuncture-investigation/
| 2022-04-04T21:26:04Z
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SALEM – Oregon’s press has a tremendous opportunity now to perform a public service, earn trust, and build new ways to provide vital information.
The governor’s race this year could use such an approach.
Democrats will have 15 candidates to choose from on May 17. Most of the reporting so far is focused on Tina Kotek, the former Oregon House speaker, and Tobias Read, the state treasurer.
Republicans will have 19 candidates on their ballot and no one has a runaway lead.
Voters in Oregon want the press to help them know more about the people who want to succeed Gov. Kate Brown.
In recent listening sessions, voters from around the state shared their thoughts about the run for governor and how the press should report on the campaigns. This was part of a unique effort done in collaboration between the Oregon Capital Chronicle, Rural Development Initiatives and the Agora Journalism Center. News organizations in the state were partners as well, promoting the sessions.
On Friday, some Oregon journalists considered how to address what voters are saying.
Granted, these voters were a small slice of the state’s voter pool. Yet they all offered thoughtful observations. They shared advice for news organizations.
Themes emerged.
An important one is they don’t want reporters and editors anointing a few candidates as leaders, likely to win, and dooming the remaining candidates to obscurity.
Don’t pick winners, these voters say. Tell us about all the candidates and let us decide who warrants serious attention.
One voter made the point that a candidate’s ability to raise a lot of money shouldn’t be what settles who’s a serious candidate and who’s not.
Another theme was they want some way to compare where candidates stand on issues important to Oregon. This came up over and over again in these conversations. They wondered if there was some way to provide a side-by-side comparison.
“Seeing comparative profiles (for example, ‘these candidates have the following views on homelessness’ or ‘these candidates have the following ideas for modifying Oregon’s land use policies’) would be helpful in guiding me through the process of voting based on my own vision for Oregon rather than party affiliation,” wrote Claire Conklin.
That caught my attention and I’ll return to this idea in a moment.
In the vein of useful information, some voters said they aren’t interested in political scandal.
“I have little interest in scandals and digging up dirt on candidates. Leave that to the paid advertisements and try to keep it out of investigative journalism unless it is truly relevant,” said Charlie Mitchell.
The voters sent mixed signals about reporting on campaign contributions. In an instant survey, nearly all said they wanted such news. But when we explored the topic, what they asked for is not what the press generally delivers.
My take-away was that these voters want more useful reporting on campaign money. Just a list of who got what big checks is trivia to some. Rather, they want to know ‘what does this money mean?’ What does Phil Knight of Nike want for his six-figure contribution? What does the flow of campaign money tell voters about who’s trying to control candidates – or Oregon?
This all comes at a challenging time for the news media. Newsrooms have fewer reporters. That means covering a sprawling gubernatorial campaign is beyond the reach of any but the largest outfits such as the Oregonian, Oregon Public Broadcasting or Pamplin Media, to cite a few examples.
On Friday, editors from newsrooms large and small convened to discuss this challenge. Andrew DeVigal and Regina Lawrence of the Agora Journalism Center orchestrated the meeting.
Journalists from those large outfits I named earlier participated. So did journalists from newsrooms all over Oregon, including by way of example Jefferson Public Radio in southern Oregon, Street Roots, Willamette Week and KGW in Portland, the Polk County Itemizer-Observer and the Wallowa County Chieftain in rural Oregon.
DeVigal and Lawrence led a discussion about whether newsrooms that typically compete can come together again for common purpose. Oregon news outfits have done this before, notably on a potent project looking at suicides.
The discussion examined how we can deliver information for the primary election that readers would judge to be accurate, fair and trustworthy. My hope is we can find a way to deliver something like those side-by-side issue comparisons. Seeing in one place, in clear language, what the top action each candidate would take on, say, homelessness, could be a powerful tool for voters.
“This side-by-side issue coverage would allow media to convert it to a more social media style to get more engagement for those non-voters,” said Ginger Savage.
The voters I listened to are eager for all of us in the Oregon press to help them. They have provided useful guidance. Now, it’s time for the journalists in Oregon to listen to those community voices and deliver.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/commentary-oregon-voters-want-more-help-from-the-press-to-learn-about-candidates-for-governor/article_78e39943-adc9-537a-8db6-487791fbfb51.html
| 2022-04-04T21:34:32Z
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There’s a splinter in your word (Grammar Guy)
It’s the time of year when we get outside and curse at weeds. Yes, it’s spring, which means I’ll be refusing garden gloves in favor of the feeling of dark, rich terra firma underneath my fingernails. It’s time to get in touch with nature again, and — ouch — I think I just got a splinter! Run inside and find the tweezers! Too much touching nature!
Yes, I have already gotten a splinter or two while gardening during this brief season, but have you ever come across a splinter word? No, a splinter word isn’t any word involving wood; in fact, a splinter is part of a larger word used in forming a new “splinter” word.
Take -holic, for example. An alcoholic suffers from an addiction to alcohol (the proper, modern terminology is that someone suffers from alcohol use disorder).
For the sake of the example, let’s take the splinter -holic. It doesn’t stand alone as its own word, but when someone talks about being a “shopaholic” or “pizzaholic,” we know what the other person means. The “-holic” splinter denotes a dependence on something.
Here’s another splinter: -tainment. We know that “entertainment” is something created or performed for the amusement of others. However, on its own, -tainment isn’t a word. It’s a splinter. So when we see words like “edutainment,” “eatertainment,” and “shoppertainment,” we know that those words relate to things that are created for your amusement.
Along those lines, would “intertainment” be entertainment designed specifically for the internet?
Note that splinters are not suffixes. In the previous example, “-tainment” isn’t a suffix, although “-ment” is a suffix having to do with an action or the result of an action.
In politics, pundits love using the splinter -nomics. Derived from economics, talking heads fill airtime by taking part of a politician’s name (usually the president) and turning the leader’s economic plans into a word. It started with “Reaganomics,” referring to President Ronald Reagan’s economic pillars. Later we got “Clintonomics.” But my favorite of the -nomics to say is “Obamanomics.”
Many splinter words begin as slang and then creep into text messages, conversations and even the seventh hour of the “Today Show.” If you’ve heard the word “mansplain,” that happens when a man explains something to a woman in a condescending way. A “mockumentary” is a documentary that is purposefully poking fun at the traditional documentary film style. We see how these splinters form new words.
What other splinters can you think of? I’d hate to grammarsplain this topic into the ground.
—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/curtis-honeycutt-grammar-guy/article_a889ed04-b615-5696-8100-19619a48c157.html
| 2022-04-04T21:34:38Z
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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
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/mt-ashland-offering-season-passes-at-discount/article_e3eb6ec1-e184-595c-bc64-0bcbc8388b63.html
| 2022-04-04T21:34:44Z
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Earth Day 2022
by Alissa Oliverson (SWAC Chair), March 2022
Trash Talk Series from Sustainable Klamath, Solid Waste Action Committee (SWAC)
Join Sustainable Klamath this Earth Day at the Ross Ragland Cultural Center on Friday, April
22nd 6:30-9pm for a free showing of Kiss The Ground followed by a live presentation and Q&A
session with the filmmakers.
Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22nd as a day to learn about and remember the
importance of protecting the health of the planet and all its inhabitants. The first Earth Day led to
the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and since then we’ve seen the creation of
the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and other regulatory mechanisms that help to protect our
environment. But the work is far from done.
This year the Earth Day theme is “Invest in Our Planet.” The focus is taking bold action to
innovate and implement equitable solutions that will help us draw down our environmental
impact and approach a climate-positive situation, and one topic that is emerging as an integral
part of climate-positive action is soil care.
Did you know that 33% of the earth’s soil is already degraded? The United
Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization has suggested that, if we continue with our current
soil management practices and don’t make fundamental changes, the world may have only 60
harvests left. But if we take bold action now, we can rejuvenate our soil, which will help to
ensure global food security, reduce erosion, improve nutrient cycling, provide vital microbial
habitats, and pull billions of tons of carbon out of our atmosphere. Healthy soil is the foundation
of productive and resilient sustainable agriculture, and it is essential for supporting our
ecosystem. One way to invest in our planet is to rehabilitate our soil, and regenerative agriculture
is a viable method to do just that.
Regenerative agriculture describes farming and grazing practices that are in harmony with
nature, such as no-till farming and closely managing the location and duration of animals’
foraging. This topic is especially relevant in the Klamath Basin, so for Earth Day this year,
Sustainable Klamath will provide an opportunity for our community to learn more about it.
On Friday April 22nd we will show the documentary, Kiss the Ground, which presents valuable
information and inspires participation in the regenerative agriculture movement. Join us from
6:30-9pm at the Ross Ragland Cultural Center to view a special, all-ages version of the
documentary and participate in a presentation plus Q&A session with the filmmakers. We will
have various individuals and businesses on site to share information on sustainability, we will
provide free seed packets courtesy of Mountain Valley Gardens, there will be door prizes
provided by local businesses, and refreshments will be available for purchase with proceeds
going to support future Sustainable Klamath educational outreach events. This is a free event, but
seating is limited, so arrive when the doors open at 6:30pm to secure your seat.
There are many ways to invest in our planet and ensure a sustainable future for all. Join us this
Earth Day to learn about the importance of the soil that nourishes us and how we can nourish it
in return. If you would like to find more information on sustainability, volunteer or donate,
please visit SustainableKlamath.org
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/trash-talk-for-wednesday-edit-page/article_e1f9ecc9-1751-5fbf-802f-bf6df94a271a.html
| 2022-04-04T21:34:50Z
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The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to federally legalize marijuana.
U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, was one of the most vocal opponents to the measure arguing it does not address the wave of illegal grows and drug cartels farming and distributing marijuana in southern Oregon and northern California. His arguments could be replicated in the U.S. Senate where passage faces a tougher challenge.
“Water is gold in my district, Cartels are stealing water and using it to grow marijuana. Water regulators in southern regulators have been threatened with death by cartel members when they try to stop water theft,” Bentz said during the House debate on the decriminalization measure.
Bentz said there are as many as 180 illegal cannabis farms in Jackson County, Oregon. The county and Siskiyou County, California have declared states of emergency related to illegal cannabis production and distributions.
“This is why it is essential any bill dealing with legalization include sign money for law enforcement We certainly are not getting any help from the attorney general,” Bentz referring to frustrations with what he sees as the lack of federal help to deal with illegal pot grows and drug trafficking over the U.S border with Mexico.
Bentz said many of the workers at black market marijuana farms are undocumented migrants working poor conditions.
The measure decriminalizes cannabis and removes it from the federal schedule of illegal drugs.
The bill passed 220 to 204 Friday, April 1, with most Democrats supporting federal marijuana legalization and most Republicans opposing. U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-California, also voted against the measure while Oregon’s Democratic other lawmakers supported federal decriminalization.
Backers point to public opinion polls showing support for federal marijuana legalization. Cannabis is legal in 18 states for recreational use including Oregon, Washington and California but remains prohibited at the federal level. Medical marijuana is legal
U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, is a prime backer of legalizing marijuana nationally and wants decriminalization to also mark the end of the U.S. regiment of drug laws.
“As we mark fifty years of the devastating war on drugs it is past time for Congress to catch up with the public and majority of states who have legalized some form of cannabis, and pass legislation to decriminalize the adult-use of recreational cannabis,” Blumenauer said. “The MORE Act decriminalizes cannabis at the federal level and provides restorative justice for communities which have suffered from the disproportionate and deliberate enforcement of cannabis prohibitions. Today’s vote to pass the MORE Act in the U.S. House of Representatives is one step to ending the deplorable, misguided war on drugs. It is also a critical turning point.”
U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-New York, said drug laws have also disproportionally hurt communities of color and lower-income neighborhoods.
“This bill will reverse decades of failed federal policies based on the criminalization of marijuana. It also take steps to address the heavy toll these policies have taken across the country, particularly among communities of color. For far too long, we have treated marijuana as a criminal justice problem instead of as a matter of personal choice and public health,” Nadler said.
He said the bill decriminalizes cannabis at the federal level but allows states to continue their regulations and legalization approaches.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/bentz-pushes-against-national-marijuana-legalization/article_30521c7c-56e5-5a35-881b-b58323b4517e.html
| 2022-04-04T21:34:57Z
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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/woman-seriously-hurt-man-faces-drunk-driving-charge-after-head-on-crash/article_bacb91e0-5cf7-5e1d-8649-b5a230a71be4.html
| 2022-04-04T21:35:03Z
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...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM MDT WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 40 to 55 mph with gusts up to 80 mph expected.
Winds may locally exceed 90 MPH near the Sierra Madre Range in
the Upper North Platte River Valley.
* WHERE...Lower elevations of Carbon and Albany Counties including
Muddy Gap, Shirley Basin, Baggs, Rawlins, Saratoga, and Laramie.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM MDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong cross winds will be
hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers. There will be an extreme risk for
vehicle blowovers!
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A High Wind Warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected
or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of
58 mph or more can lead to property damage.
&&
High winds buffeting Laramie and southern Wyoming bend tall grass at the corner of Harney and Third streets in Laramie. A high wind warning is in effect for the area through 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Wyomingites can expect a lot of fresh air this week as high winds are expected throughout the southern portion of the state.
The forecast has prompted a high wind warning starting Monday afternoon and continuing at least through Wednesday morning, with gusts reaching up to 70 mph in Laramie.
To the east in Cheyenne and Nebraska, winds are expected to continue throughout the day Wednesday. Areas to the west, such as Arlington and Elk Mountain, can expect gusts of up to 85 mph, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Matthew Brothers.
The winds come along with a chance of snow in the Laramie area Tuesday. Though only about a half-inch is expected in the city, the Snowy Range Mountains could see about 6 inches.
Drivers should be aware of the wind and be sure to obey high wind warnings, said Wyoming Highway Patrol Sgt. Jeremy Beck.
If wind gusts start up on the road, drivers should pull over to a safe place and wait for the gusts to pass, he said. The greatest risk is to light and high-profile vehicles like campers or semitrailers.
“If you’re doubting if you have enough of a load, you should probably wait it out,” Beck said.
Interstate 80 is typically closed when wind gusts are in excess of 60 mph, so closures the next few days are possible. To check the latest road conditions, visit tinyurl.com/4csh3rfa.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/high-wind-warning-issued-for-southern-wyoming/article_962756ac-afbe-59d5-bdd2-7d1ac45fa401.html
| 2022-04-04T22:04:12Z
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...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM MDT WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 40 to 55 mph with gusts up to 80 mph expected.
Winds may locally exceed 90 MPH near the Sierra Madre Range in
the Upper North Platte River Valley.
* WHERE...Lower elevations of Carbon and Albany Counties including
Muddy Gap, Shirley Basin, Baggs, Rawlins, Saratoga, and Laramie.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM MDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Mainly to transportation. Strong cross winds will be
hazardous to light weight and high profile vehicles, including
campers and tractor trailers. There will be an extreme risk for
vehicle blowovers!
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A High Wind Warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected
or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of
58 mph or more can lead to property damage.
&&
High winds buffeting Laramie and southern Wyoming bend tall grass at the corner of Harney and Third streets in Laramie. A high wind warning is in effect for the area through 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Wyomingites can expect a lot of fresh air this week as high winds are expected throughout the southern portion of the state.
The forecast has prompted a high wind warning starting Monday afternoon and continuing at least through Wednesday morning, with gusts reaching up to 70 mph in Laramie.
To the east in Cheyenne and Nebraska, winds are expected to continue throughout the day Wednesday. Areas to the west, such as Arlington and Elk Mountain, can expect gusts of up to 85 mph, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Matthew Brothers.
The winds come along with a chance of snow in the Laramie area Tuesday. Though only about a half-inch is expected in the city, the Snowy Range Mountains could see about 6 inches.
Drivers should be aware of the wind and be sure to obey high wind warnings, said Wyoming Highway Patrol Sgt. Jeremy Beck.
If wind gusts start up on the road, drivers should pull over to a safe place and wait for the gusts to pass, he said. The greatest risk is to light and high-profile vehicles like campers or semitrailers.
“If you’re doubting if you have enough of a load, you should probably wait it out,” Beck said.
Interstate 80 is typically closed when wind gusts are in excess of 60 mph, so closures the next few days are possible. To check the latest road conditions, visit tinyurl.com/4csh3rfa.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/high-wind-warning-issued-for-southern-wyoming/article_18b57440-3311-5681-b8fa-12ac245686bb.html
| 2022-04-04T22:04:18Z
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GREEN RIVER – It will be an evening of recognition at Tuesday’s Green River city council meeting.
Mayor Pete Rust will proclaim April as Child Abuse Awareness Month.
According to the proclamation, an estimated 1,096 children in Wyoming are victims of abuse and neglect each year.
National Library Week will also be noted during the meeting. It is observed April 3-9.
According to the proclamation, libraries are accessible and inclusive places that foster a connection and build community.
April 6th will be recognized as National Service Recognition Day.
According to the proclamation, the nation’s cities are increasingly turning to national service and volunteerism as a cost-effective strategy to meet their needs.
Along with other communities nationwide, Sexual Assault Awareness Month will be recognized.
The YWCA Center for Families and Children promotes sexual assault prevention by offering educational presentations in schools, churches and civic organizations as well as professional training and collaboration with medical, mental health, law enforcement, educators and criminal justice personnel regarding sexual assault issues.
National Public Safety Telecommunications Week is April 10-16.
The proclamation states that public safety telecommunications are the first and most critical contact our citizens have with emergency services.
Corporal Karl Bode will be recognized for his service in the community.
The Sweetwater Economic Development Coalition will present updates to the council.
The council will consider approving Federal 601 Funds to help build more houses to the City in the Riverbend Subdivision.
A consideration of the Waste Water Treatment Plant Replacement Facility loan restructure amendments will be discussed among councilors.
The City has received two Wyoming Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Loan Program loans for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Replacement Facility - a Design Loan (CW160) for $2.4 million and a Construction Loan (CW182) for $27.6 million. Each of these loans were originated with an interest rate of 2.5%. Recent modifications to the CWSRF program have allowed the City to request a reduction of the interest rate to 0.5%, and the State Loan and Investment Board has approved this request. The Amendments will document these interest rate adjustments for the two loans.
A second reading regarding the construction of a new fuel and concession kiosk will take place as well.
The Green River City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5 in City Hall chambers, 50 E. 2nd N.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/city-of-green-river-receives-loans-for-waste-water-treatment-facility/article_5bdcc24f-fde8-52be-9128-83f3118dad2c.html
| 2022-04-04T22:04:25Z
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ROCK SPRINGS--Downtown Rock Springs will once again be turned into a pilgrimage site on this coming Holy Thursday, April 14. Occasionally called Maundy Thursday in some church denominations, Holy Thursday is the day before Good Friday and is three days before Easter, and it is commemorated by many different Christian groups as the day of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ and his apostles.
The Holy Thursday Downtown Interfaith Pilgrimage is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. in front of the Broadway Theatre at 618 Broadway in Downtown Rock Springs, and is expected to last approximately one hour. During the ecumenical event, pastors from different area churches will process with pilgrimage participants from various denominations to different Downtown sites, including the police station and Rock Springs City Hall, to provide a brief Scripture reading, a brief prayer, and a short reflection lasting a few minutes at each stop. Police will assist participants to safely cross streets, as there will be no blocking off city streets for the pilgrimage event. The final stop will be at the Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency headquarters at 603 South Main Street. Confirmed participants this year include Rev. Kelly Lucas (First Congregational Church/United Church of Christ), Fr. Marcelo Florante (Associate Pastor-Holy Spirit Catholic Church), Fr. Flo (Holy Spirit Catholic Community), Rev. Jim Chrisawn (United Methodist Church), Rev. Levi Powers (Mount of Olives Lutheran Church), Pastor Richard P. Carlson (Rock Springs Evangelical Free Church), and Pastor Gene Emerson (Restoration Ministries).
“We are hoping for a good turnout of pilgrimage participants from different denominations representing the Rock Springs faith community,” said Chad Banks, head of the Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency. “The event is open to people of all faiths or no particular faith,” Banks added. The Rock Springs Main Street/URA is helping to promote the Downtown pilgrimage march. The annual event began in 2017. The event was cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus but was renewed in 2021.
Banks expressed appreciation for the clergy who have agreed to provide sermonettes. Pastors of over 30 local churches were invited, and several have expressed interest in helping to give brief reflections at the stopping sites. The entire event is designed so that people on their noon lunch breaks from work can attend, along with others who have the day free.
Rock Springs Main Street/URA Arts & Culture volunteer committee member Paul Murray has done much of the legwork in getting the fifth annual Holy Thursday Downtown Interfaith Pilgrimage off the ground.
“We expect the event to be highly successful in this fifth year,” Murray said. “The Holy Thursday Downtown Pilgrimage is a simple, reflective way to begin the holiest weekend on the Christian calendar. Participating pastors and pilgrims walking to the different sites will have a reflective, thought-provoking opportunity to consider how the Scriptures relate to everyday life in downtown Rock Springs. This is not intended to be a big mega-type production, taking a lot of time and effort on anyone’s part. It’s meant to be a simple reflection service at each stop which will give participants a better understanding of the interconnectedness between Scripture and Rock Springs,” Murray said, adding, “We wanted to think of an event that would cater to anyone interested, including people who will be out of town on Easter weekend from Good Friday onward. We felt, however, that it would be jumping the gun to schedule an Easter Egg Hunt on Holy Thursday.”
Further information about the event is available by contacting Paul Murray at 389-5351 or the URA at 352-1434.
“We want to see people coming Downtown to shop, eat, and do business,” Banks said. “These types of events such as Holy Thursday, Rods and Rails, the Halloween Stroll and so on are meant to get people to visit Downtown Rock Springs. We need to get the word out that shopping or eating on Dewar Drive or going to Salt Lake City are not the only options that people have. Without these kinds of events, some local folks would never visit Downtown and have a chance to discover what’s there.”
Murray echoed Banks’s sentiments and added a few of his own. “The Holy Thursday Pilgrimage is meant to attract people to Downtown who might never come to an art festival, a farmer’s market, or a Brown Bag Lunch Concert, as well, of course, to attract those who do,” Murray said. “We realize that there is a wide diversity of interests among the Rock Springs community, and we are trying to have one or more events that will attract as many people as we can to our Downtown. And, hopefully once they see all that’s here, they will come back to Downtown often.”
The Rock Springs Main Street/URA is charged with the redevelopment of Downtown Rock Springs. As part of their mission, there are three standing committees—Promotions, Business Development and Arts & Culture. Main Street/URA events throughout the year are intended to draw people Downtown with the goal of attracting attention to the many fine stores, restaurants and businesses that Downtown Rock Springs has to offer. For more information on the Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency, contact Chad Banks, Rock Springs Main Street/URA Manager.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/community-is-invited-to-celebrate-holy-thursday-in-downtown/article_ed522d9e-a83b-5a67-b78b-58afd279746d.html
| 2022-04-04T22:04:31Z
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Bluefield man pleads guilty to child pornography
Published: Apr. 4, 2022 at 6:38 PM EDT|Updated: 18 minutes ago
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - A Bluefield man pleads guilty to possessing child porn.
The Department of Justice says Christopher Knight, 56, had images and videos of minors engaging in sexual acts.
Knight pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced in July. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/bluefield-man-pleads-guilty-child-pornography/
| 2022-04-04T22:56:45Z
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Mercer County man sentenced for retaliating against federal officer
Published: Apr. 4, 2022 at 6:32 PM EDT|Updated: 24 minutes ago
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - A Mercer County man has been sentenced for retaliating against a federal officer.
Jeffrey Reed, 62, of Flat Top, was convicted by a federal jury after a two-day trial in August 2021.
Reed was found guilty of filing a fraudulent lien of nearly five-million dollars against an IRS revenue officer and the owner of the hotel he worked for in Oak Hill.
The Lien was filed in Mercer County in retaliation for a single wage garnishment Reed faced of $598.
Reed must now serve five years for the retaliation offense and concurrently serve three years for the attempted interference offense.
That sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/mercer-county-man-sentenced-retaliating-against-federal-officer/
| 2022-04-04T22:56:51Z
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US obesity rates increased during COVID pandemic, study says
Published: Apr. 4, 2022 at 5:24 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
(CNN) – Americans got fatter during the COVID pandemic.
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine shows obesity rates among adults in the U.S. got worse during the COVID pandemic.
The average body mass index in the U.S. increased by 0.6% between March of 2020 and March of 2021 over the previous year, the study says.
The increase happened even as exercise participation rates soared by 4.4%, and as people slept 1.5% more and smoked 4% less.
Researchers didn’t look at diets, so people may have eaten less healthy foods.
A rise in the consumption of alcohol may also have contributed.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/us-obesity-rates-increased-during-covid-pandemic-study-says/
| 2022-04-04T22:56:58Z
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Soaring inflation. The war in Ukraine. Yet another rise in Covid cases. With so much going on this year it's hard to focus on things like filing your taxes.
Nevertheless, the IRS still expects you to file your 2021 return and pay whatever you still owe by the filing deadline, which is April 18 for most taxpayers.
If you haven't filed yet, here are answers to some key questions that will help you through the process:
Do I have to file by April 18th?
Ideally, yes. But if that proves difficult -- or you're just not in the mood -- file for an automatic six-month extension by using Form 4868.
Of course, there are some taxpayers whose filing deadline is later than April 18. They include residents of Maine and Massachusetts, whose official filing date is April 19. And the deadline is a month or more later for people living in federally declared disaster areas, as well as US taxpayers living outside of the United States on April 18.
If I do owe money, when is that due?
For most people, you have to pay any remaining 2021 income taxes that you still owe by the April 18 filing deadline, even if you get an automatic six-month extension to file.
What if I don't pay on time?
You will have to pay even more than you owe, because you'll be slapped with penalties and interest.
If you really can't afford to pay on time, and you have a good reason for why, you can make your case to the IRS by attaching a statement to your return when you file. If the IRS accepts your explanation, it may waive the late payment penalty. At a minimum, you need to show that your failure to pay is not the result of "willful neglect."
To show that, try to pay what you can when you file, even if it's not the total balance. If that's not possible and you're really behind, you may be able to set up a repayment plan with the IRS.
What if the IRS owes me money?
If you file an accurate return electronically, and are owed a refund, the IRS will likely have that money sent to you or direct deposited into your bank account within 21 days of receiving your return.
You can check the status of where things stand by using the IRS online tool Where's My Refund?
I was working remotely for much of 2021. Will that affect my taxes?
It depends. If you worked from a state other than the one where your employer is based, you could be subject to the income tax rules of two or more states.
At the very least you'll likely have to file more than one state tax return for 2021, which will cost you more if you're paying someone else to prepare your taxes.
And in some instances -- primarily involving five states that have so-called convenience rules -- you may even be double-taxed on the same income.
(Learn more here.)
The advanced child tax credit is so confusing. How should I handle that on my tax return?
Good news: You are not imagining things. The child tax credit is causing headaches for both filers and tax pros alike.
There were a lot of temporary changes made to the child tax credit just for 2021. For starters, it was raised to $3,600 per child ages 5 and under, and to $3,000 per child ages 6 through 17.
It was also temporarily made fully refundable for 2021, meaning you can get the maximum amount of the credit even if it exceeds your federal income tax liability.
But here's where the real confusion comes in: The IRS likely has already sent you half the credit you're entitled to (six months' worth) through monthly checks sent out between July and December.
You should have gotten a letter from the IRS in the past couple of months detailing what you've been paid already. That's an amount you will need to report on your return. And then you will have to claim the other half of the credit you're owed, which you will get by way of a refund.
(Learn more here.)
I got an IRS letter saying it sent me a stimulus check. Is that reportable and taxable?
The IRS recently mailed Letter 6475 to taxpayers who received a third round stimulus payment, which the agency started sending out in March 2021.
While the payment isn't taxable, you should report the number from that letter on your 2021 return. The last thing you want is for there to be a discrepancy between the IRS records and what's on your return. That will cause delays in processing your return and issuing your refund.
And you'll want to use that number to work out whether the IRS actually owes you more by way of a recovery rebate credit, once you calculate how much more of the stimulus payment you're due on the basis of your actual 2021 income.
I have cryptocurrencies. Do I have to report that?
It depends.
Just buying and holding cryptocurrencies are not taxable events.
But if you sold cryptocurrencies, used them to buy something or were paid in crypto, those are taxable events and must be reported.
Virtual currencies are taxed as property, or as an investment, when you sell them. To make matters more confusing, using them to buy something technically counts as selling. So you will be subject to capital gains tax when you sell them.
If you're paid in bitcoin or other crypto, on the other hand, that will be treated as taxable income to you. So will income earned from mining or staking.
And starting next year your crypto activities will be subject to third-party reporting -- meaning both you and the IRS will get the same tax forms reporting your sales and income.
I can't get through to the IRS and have a question. What should I do?
It's been very difficult for taxpayers and tax pros alike to reach the IRS by phone because the agency is too understaffed to handle the volume of calls.
If you've already invested time combing through the information resources on IRS.gov to find an answer to your question, you might consider an in-person visit to a Taxpayer Assistance Center near you.
Normally you need to make a weekday appointment. But the IRS announced that many of its Taxpayer Assistance Centers will be open to walk-ins on the second Saturday of each month through May. You can find your local office here. Call first to make sure they'll be open on the day you want to go.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/business/tax-day-is-coming-soon-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-filing-your-2021/article_2cf2fb7c-1bc3-5b0a-a938-94ce8007b5d0.html
| 2022-04-05T00:19:33Z
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A woman processes a nasal swab in one of the new government-issued Covid-19 Antigen Rapid test kits in Provo, Utah on February 8. Medicare enrollees can now obtain home Covid-19 tests from certain pharmacies and providers at no cost.
Medicare enrollees can now obtain home Covid-19 tests from certain pharmacies and providers at no cost, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Monday.
Medicare was not initially included in the directive, sparking an outcry from seniors and people with disabilities. More than 59 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare.
The delay stemmed from the fact that traditional Medicare had never covered over-the-counter tests before. CMS announced in February that it would add a new payment program so it could expand reimbursement to Medicare enrollees starting in the early spring.
"This is all part of our overall strategy to ramp-up access to easy-to-use, at-home tests free of charge," Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.
Up to eight tests a month
Under the initiative, Medicare enrollees can receive up to eight home tests a month at no cost from participating pharmacies and providers, which Medicare will reimburse directly.
Those in Medicare Advantage plans may need to show their federal Medicare cards to receive the free tests, which are being covered by Medicare Part B, not health insurers. Some Medicare Advantage plans may cover Covid-19 tests as a separate benefit.
National pharmacy chains that are participating include: Albertsons, Costco, CVS, Food Lion, Giant Food, Hannaford, H-E-B, Hy-Vee, Kroger, Rite Aid, Shop & Stop, Walgreens and Walmart.
Enrollees can also check with their local pharmacies or providers to see if they are participating or call 1-800-MEDICARE to find locations.
The coverage will last until the public health emergency ends. It is currently set to expire in mid-April but is expected to be renewed for at least another three months.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/coronavirus/medicare-is-now-paying-for-at-home-covid-19-tests-from-retailers/article_6af5af76-2b61-5d64-b396-68fd2bc27f50.html
| 2022-04-05T00:19:39Z
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Pandemic hospitalization rates are at new lows, the vast majority of US counties have low community levels of the coronavirus, and as of March 25, all 50 states have lifted mask requirements.
But is there a cost to lifting restrictions and trying to return to a pre-pandemic normal?
In a new study, researchers predict that the lifting of masking and social-distancing restrictions in March 2022 could lead to resurgences of Covid-19 deaths in most states, based on projections from a simulation model.
The study also found that delaying lifting restrictions would not prevent surges in deaths for those states, concluding that there is no "magic moment" to lift restrictions.
The study, published Friday in the Journal of the American Medical Association Health Forum, projected deaths from Covid-19 in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico between March 1 and December 31, 2022. The researchers simulated lifting restrictions at different times in the year and predicted the number of deaths that would follow using current estimates for infection and vaccination rates, while accounting for differences in risk between age groups.
"There is likely no amount of additional waiting time in any state after which removing [Covid-19 restrictions] will not lead to a rise in morbidity and mortality," the study says.
In almost every state, it says, lifting restrictions at any point in 2022 would lead to a rebound of peak Covid-19 deaths seen during the Omicron surge due to the high transmissibility of the circulating variant.
However, when researchers repeated the analysis using the transmissibility of the less-contagious Alpha and Delta variants, they did not see a similar surge in deaths.
"If we didn't have Omicron, we wouldn't have this problem," said Dr. Benjamin Linas, co-lead author of the study and a professor of medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine.
Delaying the lifts had a different effect on Covid-19 deaths depending on the state.
In California, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon, prolonging restrictions by just one month helped flatten the curve of deaths, though at no point could a surge in death rates be prevented. Nevertheless, delaying the lifting of restrictions could help relieve significant hospital burden in these states, the authors wrote.
The study found that prolonging Covid-19 restrictions caused higher peak incident deaths when the restrictions were to be removed in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Ohio. Linas said that this is probably due to waning immunity in states with lower levels of natural immunity, which is the kind acquired after an infection.
Meanwhile, in Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee and Washington, the predicted peak of deaths stayed relatively similar despite modeling delays in lifting restrictions. In these states, prolonging restrictions would not change the disease burden in the community.
For those states, "the thing to change is that background of vaccination and immunity, and that's the way out," Linas said.
Deciding when to remove mandates thus requires a cost-benefit analysis, he said. On one hand, some states will have to weigh postponing a surge in deaths, and on the other hand is a return to normalcy.
"I would like policy-makers to take the study and try to lead the honest discussion we need now, which is to say, what is the goal of our mitigation policies?" Linas said.
The study uses a simulation model in which several assumptions had to be made, and it can't predict the transmissibility and severity of any future Covid-19 variants. The model also does not account for interstate travel and the role it may play in infection transmission.
Additionally, it is possible that people will continue to wear masks and socially distance even once state restrictions are lifted, potentially easing the peak of deaths.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/coronavirus/there-is-no-magic-moment-to-lift-covid-19-restrictions-researchers-say/article_c732acb2-f5bf-53de-9cae-73455534f313.html
| 2022-04-05T00:19:45Z
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KONA, Hawaii (KITV4) - A 20-year-old Pepeekeo man was indicted by a grand jury on Monday in a child pornography case relating to an incident from November 2021.
On April 4, a grand jury indicted Elgin Marcos after he was charged for promoting child abuse in the first-degree, promoting child abuse in the second degree, and violation of privacy in the first degree.
The most serious offense, promoting child abuse in the first degree, is a class A felony and carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, according to the Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Marcos was originally arrested and charged in March in Kona District Court, with a single count each of promoting child abuse in the first degree, and violation of privacy in the first degree.
At his initial appearance in Kona District Court, Marcos’ bail was reduced over prosecutors’ objections and he later posted $10,000 bail. Prosecutors’ elected to proceed via grand jury indictment, including the addition of a third criminal charge.
Marcos is scheduled to make his initial appearance on Monday in Kona Circuit Court. He remains in custody in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Anyone having information related to this case can contact local law enforcement at 808-961-8300.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
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https://www.kitv.com/news/crime/pepeekeo-man-indicted-on-3-counts-for-alleged-child-pornography-and-violation-of-privacy-charges/article_d18f4210-b44f-11ec-bfbd-431fe1b2b5da.html
| 2022-04-05T00:19:51Z
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HONOLULU (KITV4) -- April is National Kite Month and every year at this time enthusiasts celebrate the history of their favorite pastime by letting their kites fly.
Kelvin Chun is a retired, award-winning public school teacher who is one of the few craftsmen in Hawaii who is a master of making and flying Filipino kites.
Master kite builder Patricio Gongob taught Chun how to make the traditional kites out of shaved bamboo and rice paper. Unlike western kites, Filipino kites do not have a tail. Chun has been featured in national kite magazines and belongs to the American Kite Fliers Association. His master’s degree project at the University of Hawaii was on kite aerodynamics.
"I used to be a math teacher, so I used to integrate making the kite and flying the kite, it’s what they call STEM education now. Science Technology Engineering and Math. And art, Steam education. I used to integrate it then have my students make the kites, and fly the kites so that when it flies you know that aerodynamically they made the kite perfect. And applied mathematics skills," Chun said.
“In today’s world, a lot of problem solving in life, so if it doesn’t fly you have to figure out why it doesn’t fly in the kite it has to be perfectly balanced. It has to be perfectly symmetrical," he added.
April was chosen as National Kite Month because it was the month that perfectly symbolized hope, potential, and joy. As the first month in spring, it is when most kite fliers are starting to bring their kites out of the closet and prepare for a summer on the beach.
It is the month that while we spring clean and dust off the cobwebs, we can look fondly back on the memories of the year before while looking towards a bright future.
April is also the month that we see the last of the snow giving way to green lawns, a month that we are eager to get outside and be active.
National Kite Month is organized by the American Kitefliers Association (AKA). Volunteers work to help promote kite flying throughout the year and during National Kite Month.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to CYip@kitv.com
Cynthia is an award-winning journalist who returned to Hawaii as an Anchor/Reporter/MMJ from Houston. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaii with a B.A. and M.B.A. DM her on IG @CynthiaYipTV to share stories.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/master-kite-maker-in-hawaii-talks-about-the-math-science-behind-great-kite-making/article_540a5776-b3c8-11ec-b329-2ffcc1f74032.html
| 2022-04-05T00:19:57Z
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/two-people-sleeping-in-parked-car-killed-in-maui-crash-victims-identified-update/article_8f3631d2-b3ad-11ec-be1f-cb2c6a903030.html
| 2022-04-05T00:20:03Z
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A Senate panel voted along party lines on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first step in a series taken by Democrats to confirm her by the end of the week.
After the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-11, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer moved to use the power of the full Senate majority to force her nomination to a floor vote. It will take 51 votes on Monday evening to break the deadlock and send her nomination to the floor.
Senate Republican and Democratic leaders agree that Jackson is a well-qualified nominee, but almost all GOP senators are expected to oppose her. Jackson, 51, sits on DC's federal appellate court and had been considered the front-runner for the vacancy since Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement. Jackson previously worked as a clerk for Breyer, a federal public defender, an attorney in private practice, a federal district court judge and a member of the US Sentencing Commission.
If confirmed, Jackson will be the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice.
"Justice Jackson will bring to the Supreme Court, the highest level of skill, integrity, civility and grace," said Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, the Judiciary Committee chairman, in explaining his support for her on Monday. "This committee's action today is nothing less than making history. I'm honored to be part of it."
But the vast majority of Senate Republicans will oppose her, citing concerns with her judicial philosophy, or lack thereof, her sentencing in some criminal cases and her advocacy for certain clients. So far, only three Senate Republicans -- Maine Sen. Susan Collins, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski -- have said they would support Jackson.
"My support rests on Judge Jackson's qualifications, which no one questions; her demonstrated judicial independence; her demeanor and temperament; and the important perspective she would bring to the court as a replacement for Justice Breyer," said Murkowski on Monday. "It also rests on my rejection of the corrosive politicization of the review process for Supreme Court nominees, which, on both sides of the aisle, is growing worse and more detached from reality by the year."
Some GOP senators said on Monday they were not swayed by Jackson's assertion that she does not have a judicial philosophy per se but instead a methodology that ensures she rules impartially.
"The judge must call balls and strikes," said Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn, alluding to Chief Justice John Roberts' metaphor comparing a judge to an umpire. "And given what I've seen, and her unwillingness to disclose her judicial philosophy, and disavow an expansionist view of unenumerated rights, I have concerns that Judge Jackson will be pinch hitting for one team or the other."
Other Republican senators portrayed Jackson as a pawn of the "radical left." Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said he believed "she will prove to be the most extreme and the furthest-left justice ever to serve on the United States Supreme Court." Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton said Jackson would "coddle criminals and terrorists." And Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley lambasted her sentencing decisions in some child pornography cases.
Democrats said that some Republicans were fear-mongering and cherry-picking cases, noting she authored over 550 cases in her eight years as a district judge and had already been confirmed by the Senate to three prior positions. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said that Jackson "had the very low reversal rate of only 2%." Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the GOP had engaged in "meritless demagoguery" and "concocted outrage." And New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker noted Jackson's support from law enforcement groups, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police, and those advocating for victims like the National Children's Alliance.
One potential Republican vote for Jackson was South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who supported Jackson a year ago for her current job. But he said last week that he would oppose her, citing her sentencing for cases of child pornography and representation of detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
Graham, a member of the Judiciary Committee, said that while Jackson exhibits "exceptionally good character," she was too lenient in sentencing those cases and had an "activist zeal" in calling former President George W. Bush and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld war criminals in legal briefs as she advocated for a detainee.
"My decision is based upon her record of judicial activism, flawed sentencing methodology regarding child pornography cases and a belief Judge Jackson will not be deterred by the plain meaning of the law when it comes to liberal causes," said Graham.
An in-depth CNN review of the child pornography cases showed that Jackson had mostly followed common judicial sentencing practices. It has become a norm among judges to issue sentences below the guidelines in such cases that don't involve producing the pornography itself. As for her advocacy for Guantanamo detainees, Jackson argued that they had been tortured and subjected to other inhumane treatment but did not explicitly use the phrase "war criminal." Jackson's four detainee clients were not convicted and were eventually released from Guantanamo.
Durbin refuted Graham on both issues on the Senate floor last week, calling Jackson "in the mainstream of sentencing" of child pornography cases and saying Republicans have also voted for President Donald Trump's judges who "do exactly the same thing she does." He said it was a "gross exaggeration and unfair on its face" to say that Jackson had called Bush administration officials "war criminals."
It's rare for the Senate Judiciary Committee to tie on a Supreme Court nomination. But nomination battles have become increasingly contentious, and the current Senate is split 50-50, so there are an even number of Democrats and Republicans on the panel, rather than the majority party holding more seats.
Over the past five decades, the panel has deadlocked once -- over Clarence Thomas, who was facing sexual harassment allegations. Fifteen justices -- William Rehnquist, John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, David Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch , Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett -- passed the committee during that timeframe.
In 1987, Democrats who controlled the committee voted to unfavorably recommend President Ronald Reagan's nominee Robert Bork on ideological grounds. And in 2020, Democrats boycotted a committee vote on Barrett, arguing that the chamber should not consider President Donald Trump's lifetime appointment to the court while the country was voting in the presidential election.
In the Trump era, Senate Republicans strengthened the conservatives' grip on the court from 5-4 to 6-3, after holding up President Barack Obama's nominee Merrick Garland during another election year -- 2016 -- and then confirming Gorsuch in 2017, and Coney Barrett in 2020 to replace the late Ginsburg. Jackson's confirmation would likely replace a liberal -- Breyer -- with another.
"I think all indications are that Judge Jackson is going to be a liberal activist from the bench," said Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell on Fox last week. "But the good news for people like me, is the Court is still 6-3."
"We made massive changes over the last four years that I think put the Court in a very solid position with a great number of judges who believe in the quaint notion that maybe a judge ought to follow the law," he added.
This story and headline have been updated with additional developments Monday.
The-CNN-Wire
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https://www.kitv.com/news/national/ketanji-brown-jackson-faces-senate-panel-vote-ahead-of-expected-confirmation-this-week/article_b5040152-cc97-5e3f-92c9-af2d6af16241.html
| 2022-04-05T00:20:09Z
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Colorado governor signs law to protect abortion rights
DENVER (AP) — Colorado joined a handful of other states Monday in codifying the right to abortion in statute, a party-line response to efforts across the country to limit abortion access in anticipation of a pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a challenge to the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that banned states from outlawing abortion.
Gov. Jared Polis signed into law the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which passed the Democratic-led Legislature after dozens of hours of testimony by residents and fierce opposition by minority Republicans. The law guarantees access to reproductive care before and after pregnancy and bans local governments from imposing their own restrictions.
It also declares that fertilized eggs, embryos and fetuses have no independent rights. That’s a response to failed ballot initiatives that sought to restrict abortion by giving embryos the rights of born humans. In 2014, voters rejected a proposal to add unborn human beings to the state’s criminal code, allowing prosecutors to charge anyone who kills a fetus with a crime.
“Colorado has been, is and will be a pro-choice state,” Polis said, calling increasing abortion restrictions elsewhere “an enormous government overreach, an enormous government infringement” of individual rights. “No matter what the Supreme Court does in the future, people in Colorado will be able to choose when and if they have children.”
Colorado was the first state to decriminalize abortion in most cases in 1967, and it allows access to abortion but had nothing in state law guaranteeing it. New Jersey, Oregon and Vermont had previously codified the right to abortion throughout pregnancy, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights.
Republicans would still be able to introduce legislation and ballot measures to reverse the new law. For that reason, abortion rights groups are weighing a 2024 constitutional ballot measure, much like Nevada did in 1990.
Colorado Democrats cited the high court’s consideration of a Mississippi case that could overrule Roe v. Wade, as well as a new Texas law banning abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. If Roe is overturned fully, at least 26 states are likely to either ban abortion outright or severely limit access, the Guttmacher Institute says.
“We don’t want to ever see what’s happening in Texas to happen in Colorado,” said House Majority Leader Rep. Daneya Esgar, a sponsor of the Colorado legislation.
Idaho has enacted a law modeled after the Texas statute. Missouri lawmakers have introduced a bill to make it illegal for the state’s residents to get abortions in other states. Arizona’s legislature has approved a ban on abortion after 15 weeks and, like other states, has a law that would automatically ban abortion if Roe is overturned.
In California, Democratic leaders are considering more than a dozen bills this year to prepare for a Roe reversal. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law last month to make abortions cheaper for people on private insurance plans. Washington state enacted a law banning legal action against people who aid or receive an abortion, responding to the Texas law’s provision allowing people to sue abortion providers or those who assist them.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/colorado-governor-signs-law-protect-abortion-rights/
| 2022-04-05T00:27:40Z
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President Biden promises to keep truckers moving through driver shortage
The president held an event at the White House Monday to promote the Department of Transportation’s Trucking Action Plan.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The White House calls trucking “a lynchpin” in moving goods through our supply chain. But, they say a driver shortage is causing disruptions.
The American Trucking Association says truckers move 72% of America’s goods, but an increase in trucking costs during the pandemic has led to a trucker shortage. Now, President Biden said he’s taking action to expand the industry.
“We adapt and adjust to just about any and everything that we do,” said Teddy Butler, a professional truck driver from Hampton, Georgia.
Butler said during the pandemic, drivers had to accommodate more door-to-door deliveries due to people staying at home. As a result of the change, the Federal Reserve said there was a more than 20% increase in trucking costs, which in turn led to a trucker shortage.
President Joe Biden said truckers keep America moving, and he wants more back on the road.
“2021 was the best year for trucking employment since 1994. There are now 35,000 more trucking jobs than there were before the pandemic.” The president said.
To try and remedy the shortage and other industry changes, the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Labor launched a Trucking Action Plan in December. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said that America needs at least 80,000 more truckers to ease supply chain issues and to deal with the shortage.
“When you have that kind of gap it can lead to upward pressure on prices,” Buttigieg said. “Part of how we’re fighting inflation is making sure we support the trucking workforce, close that gap, and get goods moving smoothly, swiftly, and affordably.”
The trucking plan has four parts, including reducing the amount of time it takes to get a commercial driver’s license and for companies to launch apprenticeship programs, and connecting veterans to trucking careers.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/president-biden-promises-keep-truckers-moving-through-driver-shortage/
| 2022-04-05T00:27:47Z
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Showers/storms move in Tuesday, severe storms possible by midweek
Low pressure systems will bring unsettled weather over the next several days
We’ll continue to see increasing clouds tonight as a warm front continues to make its way through the area. Temps will stay milder overnight, in the 40s and 50s for most. Most will stay dry but a few spotty showers will be possible, especially north of the I-64 corridor overnight-early Tuesday AM.
For much of the day Tuesday, we look quiet- just cloudy and breezy with mild high temps in the 60s. By 4-5 PM in the afternoon though, an area of low pressure will bring widespread rain (with a few t-storms possibly mixed in). Rain will continue on and off Tuesday night-early Wednesday morning. Lows Tuesday night will be mild, in the upper 40s/low 50s. Severe weather does not look likely Tuesday evening.
We will at least partially clear out and warm up Wednesday, but we will grow unsettled again as a cold front pushes toward the area by Wednesday night. Highs on Wednesday will be WARM, hitting the 70s, even low 80s for some (mainly west of I-77 at lower elevations). By Wednesday night, showers and thunderstorms will re-develop and last on and off into Thursday morning.
With so much warm air out ahead of the front, there is the chance we could see a few strong to severe storms in the mix Wednesday evening, especially across our southwestern counties. Isolated severe storms with gusty winds, heavy downpours, hail, and even rotation/weak, brief tornadoes will be possible. STAY WEATHER AWARE! '
We’ll see some lingering clouds and a few showers Thursday morning, but the severe threat should end and we will cool down and dry out a bit by Thursday afternoon.
Behind the front, colder air will spill into our area to wrap up the workweek. Rain and snow showers look possible Friday and Saturday...with highs only in the 30s and 40s as we begin the weekend...
Stay tuned!
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) -
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/showersstorms-move-tuesday-severe-storms-possible-by-midweek/
| 2022-04-05T00:27:54Z
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State of Georgia reaches settlement with widow of man shot, killed by state trooper
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC/Gray News) - A law firm is claiming it reached a $4.8 million settlement with the state of Georgia for the widow of a Black man who was shot and killed by a state trooper. It could be the largest settlement in Georgia history.
In 2020, Georgia State Patrol trooper Jacob Gordon Thompson shot and killed 60-year-old Julian Lewis in Screven County after a police chase, WTOC reported. Thompson was fired from the GSP after the shooting. In 2021, a grand jury returned a no bill in the case, meaning they did not recommend charges for the defendant.
According to the Hall & Lampros law firm, while the settlement doesn’t bring Lewis back, it sends a powerful message to the state, law enforcement and other positions of power that unnecessary use of force against innocent citizens is unlawful, morally corrupt and carries legal consequences.
Attorney Andrew Lampros is part of the legal team for Lewis’ widow. He says the $4.8 million settlement reflects the magnitude of the shooting.
“Mr. Lewis’ case is getting attention now because of the size of the settlement, when it should have received attention because of what happened to him,” he said. “The facts of the case are egregious. He should have never been pulled over, much less shot.”
Lampros says he and the Lewis family are aware that federal prosecutors are looking at the matter and could possibly bring a federal case similar to the Ahmaud Arbery case in Brunswick, Georgia. He says he and family members have also been in touch with prosecutors in Screven County and they are waiting to see what happens next with the state case.
Prosecutors can take a case like this back in front of a new grand jury only once more and there’s no time limit for when they have to do it. District Attorney Daphne Totten said last year that her office would go back over this case to determine how they proceed.
Below are statements from attorney Francys Johnson and Lewis’ son, Brook Bacon:
“This settlement is further proof that Georgia recognizes the wrongs committed against my father, Julian Lewis. My father deserved to survive his encounter with Ex-Georgia State Patrol Jacob Gordon Thompson on Aug. 7, 2020. This is another step toward accountability but we will not rest until his killer is behind bars,” said Brook Bacon, Julian Lewis’ son.
“The State’s case still sits with District Attorney Daphne Totten of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit. The notion that something terribly wrong didn’t happen out on that dusty dirt road by the hand of Ex-Trooper Jacob Gordon Thompson is simply unbelievable. Citizens should see the video evidence in this case and they will have a clear understanding of why the State of Georgia paid 4.8 Million Dollars to resolve the civil case,” said Francys Johnson, a Statesboro-based partner with Davis Bozeman Johnson Law and lawyer for Julian Lewis’s son Brook Bacon.
Copyright 2022 WTOC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/04/state-georgia-reaches-settlement-with-widow-man-shot-killed-by-state-trooper/
| 2022-04-05T00:28:01Z
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A federal judge has ordered that a civil suit seeking damages from four Missouri hunters for allegedly trespassing by corner crossing on the Elk Mountain Ranch be transferred from state to federal district court. The move puts the issue of accessing some 1.6 million acres across the West in a venue where federal laws favoring access to public land may have more import.
Corner crossing is the act of stepping from one piece of public land to another where the public parcels share a four-way corner with two private parcels — all without setting foot on private land. As interpreted widely across the West, corner crossing constitutes trespass because a person must pass through the airspace over private property in the process.
Under that interpretation, 404,000 acres of public and state land across Wyoming and 1.6 million when also considering Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico and Utah are off limits to the public. Much of that land is enmeshed in a checkerboard pattern of ownership dating from the era of railroad construction.
Carbon County prosecutors filed criminal trespass charges against the four men in Carbon County Circuit Court and also want three of them convicted of trespassing to hunt. The charges stem from hunting trips the men took to Elk Mountain in 2020 and 2021 where they say they crossed corners to hunt on public land without setting foot on private property.
Elk Mountain Ranch owner Iron Bar Holdings, which lists billionaire Fred Eshelman as its manager, also sued the four in Carbon County District Court seeking civil damages. An attorney for the hunters last month filed a petition to transfer the civil case from state jurisdiction to the U.S. District Court for Wyoming where federal public access laws may hold more sway.
“The clerk of the district court is hereby advised that jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter of the above-entitled action is deemed removed from the district court to the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming…” Chief U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl wrote in an order filed Thursday. The order becomes effective once the hunters’ attorney files documents in state district court, and Iron Bar will have an opportunity to ask Skavdahl to send the case back to the state venue.
Iron Bar “has a right to exclusive control, use, and enjoyment of its Property, which includes the airspace at the corner, above the Property … the surface of the land and the subsurface below it,” the ranch owner states in its civil suit. The hunters, who have asked that the civil and criminal cases be dismissed, say Iron Bar’s interpretation runs afoul of laws passed by Congress, including the Unlawful Inclosures Act that generally prohibits landowners from fencing people out of public property.
“[S]tate legislatures, state executives, and state judiciaries may not grant rights, privileges, or powers to private parties regarding the use of or access to federally owned public lands located within a state that would conflict with federal legislation enacted by Congress pursuant to the Property Clause,” the hunters’ petition to transfer states.
The Legislature’s Joint Judiciary Committee has proposed that trespass be its No. 1 topic for study before lawmakers begin their next session in 2023. The overseeing Management Council will consider the request April 8. The committee wants to investigate the issue “including trespass by drone and a comparison of criminal trespass with trespass for hunting purposes.”
WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/government_and_politics/judge-transfers-corner-crossing-trespass-case-to-federal-court/article_b16610de-b460-11ec-8a8a-8fa605e5789f.html
| 2022-04-05T01:11:15Z
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GILLETTE — The city of Gillette is looking at the concept of fiber-optic internet as a utility.
Fiber-optic internet, or fiber, is a broadband connection that hits speeds of 1 gigabit per second. The city has been building out a fiber network since the early 2000s.
Most of the city’s buildings are connected, and the fiber network goes all the way out to the Madison water pipeline source. Fiber also has been built out to facilities owned by other local government entities, such as the county, hospital and school district.
“You all have done an amazing job in Gillette in investing in a dark fiber network that is probably the best in the state,” City Administrator Hyun Kim said at a recent city council retreat. “Most cities do not have what we have. What can we do to use that for economic development?”
A dark fiber network is made up of unused fiber optic cables that have no service on them. When cables are carrying data, they have light pulses passing through them, and when they’re not, they’re not lit, hence the name “dark fiber.”
Fiber to the home will happen eventually, Kim said. The question is whether the city wants to help accelerate that by expanding its network to residents.
Big broadband companies are investing in fiber, but they’re focusing on large cities.
“It’ll take them a really long time to look at Gillette,” said Ry Muzzarelli, the city’s development services director.
“If we’ve learned one thing from the pandemic, it’s that connectivity is no longer just a luxury,” Kim said.
Muzzarelli said fiber to the home has been on the city’s radar since 2015. That year, the city hired a firm out of South Dakota to look at the community’s access to high-speed internet.
Back then, a full-scale citywide deployment to provide broadband had a price tag of about $50 million. The firm’s recommendation was that the city partner with an internet service provider to build out the network.
Muzzarelli said the $50 million figure isn’t too far off from how much it would cost today.
If the city picked a neighborhood as a test site for fiber to the home, it would cost $1.6 million to build out fiber to 290 households, and that’s if all 290 homes opted in.
It would cost $150,000 to design the network throughout the entire city, bid out the construction for that one neighborhood and for nine weeks of construction management, Muzzarelli said.
Ammon, Idaho, is a town of more than 17,000 people. In the early 2010s, the city loaned itself money to build the fiber network. Local improvement districts were created, and once 50% to 70% of the people in those districts opted in, it began construction. It bought boring machines and hired crews to run them.
It cost Ammon about $3,600 to build out the network to each household. This is paid back over the course of 20 years, or $23.50 a month. Ammon charged $16.50 for the city utility, and $10 for open access for any internet service provider to sell bandwidth, for a total of $50 per month per household for gig service.
Fort Morgan, Colorado, went with a public-private partnership. It used its reserves to build out a fiber network past every home and business. It partnered with an internet service provider for a 20-year agreement. The ISP handled all of the construction, installation, maintenance and customer service, and it pays a monthly lease fee to pay back the city for the construction.
This model had a lower adoption rate than Ammon with less than 40%, and it costs $92 a month for gig internet, but it was able to get it done more quickly.
“We’re not quite ready to make a recommendation,” Muzzarelli said. “We need to do some more due diligence on the staff side.”
There is a lot of federal funding available for broadband expansion, but Gillette’s been unsuccessful in the past because that money is directed toward communities with less coverage.
Some of the city council members expressed concern that the city would be creating a monopoly, but Muzzarelli said that if the city partnered with an ISP, that wouldn’t push the other ISPs out of the market. That company still needs to convince people to sign up.
“That ISP that you partner with, they can’t just hose the residents, because the residents won’t sign up and then they won’t have the funds to pay the city back,” he said. “They can’t just charge $200 a month, because they won’t get enough market take to make the math pay off.”
Some people won’t ever need gig service, while others aren’t going to want to change their internet service provider.
The fiber internet will be 100% optional, and no one will be forced to change if they don’t want to, Muzzarelli said.
“If you go with the Ammon route, all the risk is on the city, you don’t have a partner,” Muzzarelli said. “If the city doesn’t do a good job of convincing citizens to sign up … then we’re stuck with the entire bill.”
The city council was on board with city staff continuing to look into it.
Councilman Tim Carsrud said this should be less a question of connection for homes and more a question of how this can attract businesses to Gillette.
“The folks in Gillette want us to diversify, bring in business, which brings jobs, which brings us tax money, and to me, yes I’d love to have faster speed at my house, but we want businesses to want to come here because of it,” he said. “The biggest conversation should be that.”
This story was published on April 2, 2022.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/technology/the-5th-utility-gillette-looking-at-expanding-fiber-network-to-homes/article_eaeacc28-b460-11ec-bce1-7bc0e1ca4c58.html
| 2022-04-05T01:11:21Z
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Patrick Lawson of Riverton was in the driver’s seat of a Tesla Model S 100D Ludicrous between Rawlins and Laramie on Interstate 80 last week, but it was the car that was doing the driving.
“It’s passing a semi truck right now because [the semi is] going too slow,” Lawson told WyoFile.
Cross-winds of up to 60 mph were chewing into mileage, Lawson said. But after departing from home in Riverton with a full battery he’d topped it off at a “high-speed” EV charging station during a stop in Rawlins. A full charge will propel the Tesla over 300 miles of road, he said.
However, relying on an electric vehicle in Wyoming can be challenging. There are many “dead zones” — especially in the central portion of the state, Lawson said. Also, most all the existing charging stations available to the public are exclusively designed to charge Tesla vehicles.
That will soon change, thanks to a new federal EV infrastructure initiative. Wyoming has access to nearly $24 million in federal dollars to begin “electrifying” its roadways, beginning with the three interstates in the state.
“We need more fast-charging stations that are open to all brands,” Lawson said.
There are other considerations besides battery-draining wind when piloting an EV in Wyoming. Driving up mountains, hills and long inclines will reduce mileage — the same for petrol-propelled vehicles, Lawson said. The benefit of an EV, however, is as long as you have enough juice to crest an incline, the vehicle gains mileage on the decline by recharging the battery.
He learned that lesson the hard way during a drive through Utah when his vehicle ran out of power near the top of a climb just outside a town with EV charging stations. He had to call for a tow.
“It was kind of embarrassing,” he said.
Yet for all of the elevation, wind gusts, extreme weather and long distances between charging stations, Wyoming is a good place to be an EV owner, said Lawson, who boasts being part of an “all-EV” family. His wife drives a 2017 Tesla Model X 100D and his son drives a 2012 Nissan Leaf. His mother and sister also drive EVs in Wyoming. The bottomline for Lawson is EVs save money.
It costs around $10 to add 200 miles of range, according to Lawson. That’s less than a third the cost of a gasoline-powered vehicle, at $3 per gallon. His home charging station cost less than $2,000 to install, and he estimates the extra power load nudged up his home electric bill by about $50 per month.
“It’s worth it for me because I drive a lot of miles,” said Lawson, who serves as executive manager for Wind River Internet.
However, Wyoming needs a major buildout to shorten the distance between EV charging stations. Another urgent need is for charging stations to accommodate all brands and models of EVs. There’s an all-brand EV charging station in Jackson. The Harley-Davidson dealership in Cheyenne has a charging station for Harleys. But almost all other existing EV stations in Wyoming are designed exclusively for Tesla vehicles because Tesla paid for them.
That’s one of the mandates of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program that’s driving billions in federal dollars to states. Wyoming already has a federal NEVI allocation of $3.9 million, and will receive another $5 million each year for the next four years. The Wyoming Department of Transportation just released its draft Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy under the NEVI program, and will launch a series of public meetings across the state to fine-tune the strategy, beginning Monday in Cheyenne.
“We want to know, how do we make this plan better?” Wyoming Department of Transportation Director Luke Reiner said.
There’s only 460 EVs currently registered in Wyoming, and about 360 of those are Teslas, according to WYDOT. But tens of thousands of EVs — of all varieties — travel Wyoming roadways, and the numbers are quickly increasing for both commercial and tourism traffic.
“Tourism is our second-largest industry in terms of the state’s economy,” Reiner said. “So it’s really important for us to set the conditions to allow tourists with electric vehicles to visit our great state and to see the sights.”
The federal NEVI program mandates states to first “electrify” main corridors. “In order, that’s [Interstate] 80, I-25 and I-90, that’s how we’re going to tackle that,” Reiner said. Along those routes charging stations must be within 50 miles of each other, must accommodate a minimum of four simultaneously charging vehicles, and must be located within a mile of an interstate exit.
Other federal priorities for Wyoming include main tourism routes to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, which mostly rely on public input to determine. Secondary routes for general connectivity across the state rank third in the list of federal EV infrastructure priorities. WYDOT is going to “stretch” the federal NEVI dollars as far as possible, Reiner said, but there are other funds available to continue the EV infrastructure buildout.
“Discretionary” grants are available via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Plus, Wyoming has access to more than $8 million from the Volkswagen Clean Air Act Civil Settlement. Those programs include various matching requirements, but communities can already apply for the funds, which is an important option, Reiner said. The NEVI program mostly focuses on the installation of charging stations along corridors and routes, not necessarily within cities and towns.
WYDOT will begin accepting proposals from contractors within the year, Reiner said. The EV infrastructure effort is another example of a federal program that provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to specialize in a growing industry, and Reiner said he hopes some of those businesses will be located in Wyoming.
Another vital piece of the NEVI program is broadband, Reiner said. Charging stations must be connected to the internet — that’s how customers pay for the electricity.
Given the recent gasoline price shock spurred by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Lawson said he expects EVs will quickly become more socially acceptable in Wyoming. Especially as carmakers produce more trucks and SUVs with towing power, like the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T.
Lawson said his company, Wind River Internet, has been shifting its fleet from petrol to electric vehicles.
“It’s great because we were spending a fortune on gas,” he said. “We drive 100 miles a day and we were spending like $500. Now we’re spending like $50 or $60 on electricity.”
WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/technology/wyoming-prepares-to-electrify-roadways/article_d0960860-b460-11ec-9ed9-5f355f828da7.html
| 2022-04-05T01:11:27Z
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The reopening of Rim Drive, which began much earlier than usual, possibly late this month, because of an extremely low snowpack, has already allowed crews to clear West Rim Drive to the North Junction. Crews are currently working from there to the North Entrance Road. In recent years, the North Entrance-West Rim Drive have not opened until or often Memorial Day. Because of the plowing and road clearing, West Rim Drive is closed to motor vehicles at Rim Village.
The road is open, however, to bicyclists, pedestrians and dogs on leashes. Bicyclists are asked to stay at least 100-feet away from any heavy equipment and to watch out for debris and pedestrians in the road. “This is an excellent opportunity to ride the historic roadway,” say park officials.
Ackerman is Back
Craig Ackerman last week resumed duties as Crater Lake National Park’s superintendent after a nearly 8-1/2-month absence. Ackerman, who will mark 14 years as Crater Lake’s superintendent in May, had two back-to-back temporary assignments as the National Park Service’s Deputy Regional Director, a region that includes 25 national parks, monuments and other sites in Northern California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. During his absence Sean Denniston, who has worked several years as the park’s management assistant, served as interim superintendent.
Historic Snow Levels Declining
The decrease in snow at Crater Lake National Park is not a new trend. Snowfall records, which have been kept at the park since the 1930s, show a mostly steady decline over the decades. As the figures show for each decade:
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/breakouts-for-crater-lake/article_ac79513f-1fc6-5711-97b9-349ec9212fa4.html
| 2022-04-05T02:40:59Z
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Benjamin Buehler of Klamath Falls is taken into custody, charged with online sexual corruption of a child, after an investigation by a joint interagency task force. Four other men were also arrested.
JACKSON COUNTY — Benjamin Lee Buehler, 35, of Klamath Falls, who in 2016 was honored as a National Father of the Year by the National Fathers and Families Coalition of America, was was one of five men arrested in a months-long undercover operation to identify suspects victimizing children online and for attempting to meet and have sex with juveniles in Jackson County.
The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) joint inter-agency task force made the arrests Friday and Saturday.
The first arrest came at 4 p.m. Friday, when Buehler traveled to Medford to meet with a juvenile to have sex, according to a news release from the Jackson Co. Sheriff's Office. Buehler communicated with the child that he planned to have sex, then drove from Klamath Falls to meet. SOCET contacted Buehler as he was attempting to meet the child. Buehler is charged with first-degree online sexual corruption of a child, and luring a minor. He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail.
Buehler, a veteran of the U.S. Army who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, attended the 2016 National Fathers and Families Conference in Los Angeles, where he was honored.
According to a story in the Herald and News, Buehler was a single father of five children and was presented his award by retired Major General (Hawk) Hawkings and James Rodriguez, the president of the NFFCA.
Two of Buehler's children were in the Klamath Family Head Start program.
Also arrested in the undercover operation were: Justin Eldridge, 39, of Montague, Calif.; Jack Owrey, 59, of Crooked River Ranch; William Henry Trapnell, 72, of Warren; and Leonard Allen Weedman, 63, of Gold Hill.
During the arrests, investigators seized digital devices which will be examined by the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force (SOHTCTF) in Medford for further evidence of child exploitation.
Investigators have reason to believe these suspects might have other victims. If anyone has additional information on the suspects, please call your local law enforcement agency or the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office tip line at (541) 774-8333.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/former-father-of-the-year-from-klamath-falls-arrested-on-child-sex-charges/article_c54ac416-f80c-5a57-afa4-31ae1591cac9.html
| 2022-04-05T02:41:05Z
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It’s Oregon’s mystery political job. One of five elected executive offices — alongside governor, secretary of state, treasurer and attorney general.
The position has been around since 1903 — with different names. It has no term limits — one man served 24 years. Four Republicans and three Democrats held the job before it became a non-partisan office with the 1996 election.
The mystery office? Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries, commonly referred to by its acronym as “the BOLI.” Often, the job is called by its original name, Labor Commissioner.
The official title has changed several times, with the longest moniker from 1918 to 1930: Oregon Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Inspector of Factories and Workshops.
The current commissioner, Val Hoyle, dropped her re-election bid to run for the 4th Congressional District seat of retiring U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield.
The vacuum left by Hoyle’s departure from the race drew three veteran political candidates.
• Yamhill County Commissioner Casey Kulla switched from the Democratic primary for governor to the BOLI race.
• Portland employee rights attorney Christina Stephenson, who placed second in a 2020 run for the House District 33, filed the day after Kulla.
• On the last day to file for office, former Rep. Cheri Helt, R-Bend, jumped into the race.
Rounding out the field are Cornelius forest management businessman Aaron Baca, Aloha banker Brent Barker, Oregon City truck driver Chris Henry, and Greenhorn laborer Robert Neuman.
If one can win more than 50% of the vote in the May 27 primary election, the race is over — there would be no run-off in November. With seven candidates and three with political track records, it’s a longshot that the final winner won’t be determined in the Nov. 7 general election.
The BOLI job is part workplace referee, part civil rights enforcer, part job training promoter, part government information desk and complaint box.
There’s a $31 million budget for the office — not a lot by state government standards. The job pays $77,000 — less than the $98,600 the governor makes and barely twice the $32,839 paid state lawmakers for their officially part-time jobs.
Unlike other offices, it hasn’t been a springboard to bigger things. Incumbents have run for governor, U.S. Senator, Oregon Supreme Court Justice, and secretary of state. None has won.
The three most active candidates have been Helt, Kulla and Stephenson.
Cheri Helt
A restaurateur in Bend, Helt served about 10 years on school boards, and two years in the Oregon House representing Bend.
Helt is a remnant of a vanishing political species that once dominated state politics: the moderate Republican.
Elected to the House from a Democratic-leaning district in 2018, Helt often bumped heads with the GOP caucus — sponsoring legislation for mandatory vaccinations for school children that was opposed by Republicans. When the House GOP caucus walked out to deny a quorum to consider a controversial carbon cap bill, Helt was the only one of 22 Republicans who remained in Salem.
After losing her 2020 re-election bid to now Rep. Jason Kropf, D-Bend, Helt’s focus was on maintaining her family business and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking to return to public office, Helt felt she was a good match for the politically moderate electorate in the newly aligned 5th Congressional District. She could win a general election, but winning a closed primary against opponents who are avidly pro-Trump and supported by vaccine skeptics seemed unlikely.
Hoyle’s decision to drop her re-election bid for BOLI was an opportunity.
“I liked that BOLI was non-partisan,” Helt said. “It fits my experience well. I’ve been a business owner for 18 years. We’ve had 103 employees. BOLI has 120. No other candidate has run a business with over 100 employees.”
Helt said she’d seen the ups and downs of career and technical training programs as a school board member. She praised Hoyle for realigning programs to better fit with real world job demands in Oregon. Her time in the Legislature gave her a view on how workplace law evolves.
“The office takes all of my hats and combines them into one,” Helt said.
Helt rejects the label of conservative in the race, but wants to bring an open and pragmatic approach to the job.
“The job is to uphold the civil rights of all Oregonians,” Helt said. “It has to be a fair process and a balanced process. Part of the job is ensuring that everybody knows the rules. This shouldn’t be a ‘gotcha’ agency. I think most employers want to do the right thing. But for the bad actors, I’ll enforce the law.”
Casey Kulla
Kulla was the first candidate to sign up for the 2022 Democratic primary for governor when the window to file opened last autumn.
But as more candidates entered the race, the Yamhill County commissioner saw money and attention among Democrats focused on former House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, state Treasurer Tobias Read, and, before he was ruled ineligible because of residency requirements, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof.
In mid-January, Kulla switched to run for BOLI. With Hoyle running for Congress, Kula was briefly the clear frontrunner.
Kulla says the labor commissioner’s top priority is ensuring the civil and working rights of workers and people seeking housing are protected.
The commissioner’s office has to be a place that proactively gets out information to workers that business owners don’t make the rules — and BOLI is a place to get information and if necessary, seek help to resolve disputes.
“But first, they need to know that BOLI exists,” Kulla said. “It doesn’t matter if there are rules if people don’t know about them and who enforces them.”
Kulla said relations between businesses and workers that come to BOLI don’t have to always be adversarial. As one of the first cannabis licensees in the state, Kulla took part in creating the rules and regulations that would guide the legal marijuana business into the future. Both the state and the growers shared expertise and dispelled inaccurate information.
“It was a great example of the regulators and the regulated listening to each other and finding solutions that worked,” Kulla said.
Oregon’s economy and workforce are rapidly evolving, Kulla said, with areas such as gig workers and farm workers whose jobs don’t fit easily into existing definitions of jobs. BOLI needs to keep both workers and operators in these areas up to date with changes in the rules.
On technical job training, Kulla said he wants to see more cooperation with Oregon employers so that the students who commit to the programs as a path to their post-high school or community college working lives don’t just end up with a certificate.
“There has to be a clear path to real jobs at the end,” he said.
Christina Stephenson
The day after Kulla filed for BOLI, he was followed by Christina Stephenson, a Democrat and employee rights attorney.
Stephenson has won the backing of at least 21 labor union groups, including the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Teamsters, along with political action committees for Planned Parenthood and Pro Choice Oregon.
She’s been endorsed by Hoyle, and four former BOLIs. Political backers include U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, former Gov. Barbara Roberts, House Speaker Dan Rayfield, retiring U.S. Rep. Peter De-Fazio, D-Springfield, and eight current state lawmakers, along with several local officeholders.
Stephenson says she’s had a front row seat to the shortcomings of labor law in Oregon.
“My job has been representing workers getting a raw deal for employers who aren’t following the rules,” Stephenson said.
Stephenson said BOLI needs to be a resource for both employers and employees so that they know what’s right and wrong from the start.
“The law is complicated,” she said. “There are a number of different tests — civil rights vs. wage and hour laws, workers compensation, unemployment. Both sides are probably unsure of where they stand. BOLI’s role is to help everyone understand rights and responsibilities.”
Stephenson said the gig economy in which businesses consider themselves middlemen between customers and contracted workers will be a challenge to define in labor law. So will the evolving status of farm workers.
“It’s up to the Legislature to make the laws,” she said.
That may mean taking a step like California to legally define the status of gig workers as employees or something else.
“What everyone wants and needs is clarity and simplicity,” Stephenson said.
BOLI’s role in job and technical training is to align students as early as middle school to know their options. Programs have to match employers’ needs. The result has to be good jobs that pay a living wage.
Stephenson said she was proud of the support she’s received from organized labor, but that didn’t mean she would come into the job in an adversarial stance to business.
“Quality jobs, fair housing, fair wages, should all be pretty non-controversial issues,” she said. “Our good employers don’t want these bad actors breaking the law. It puts them at a competitive disadvantage when someone else is making money through wage theft.”
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/boli-is-oregons-referee-for-business-vs-workers/article_6c9d9097-5377-5779-bffc-f6fac8555622.html
| 2022-04-05T02:41:11Z
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For decades in Oregon, the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) has been the source of much-debated fiscal problems for the state, its school districts, cities and counties.
But now that the rising costs of the system have finally stabilized, at least temporarily, the politicians who helped to craft its much-needed course correction don’t want to talk about it. Or, if the subject comes up, they try to pin the blame on others for what they accomplished.
That was evident in a gubernatorial debate hosted by the Oregon AFL-CIO earlier this month between Democrats Tina Kotek and Tobias Reed. When asked about her role in co-sponsoring and then muscling through enactment of a modest set of PERS adjustments as House speaker in 2019, Kotek deflected attention from her accomplishment. Instead, she blamed former state Senator Betsy Johnson, a likely competitor for the governorship in the general election, for forcing her hand and tying the PERS package to a deal for new revenue.
PERS was always a difficult issue that governors and legislators tackled at their peril. And, like many tough issues, it generated its share of denial, buck passing and hypocrisy.
The deniers were wishfully blind to the system’s claims on budgets and services. The buck passers were happy to blame the courts for their inaction. But the honors for hypocrisy belonged to those who would whisper their support for reforms in private but speak against them in public.
When push came to shove in the 2019 Legislature and the PERS package became joined at the hip to a major revenue-raising tax on businesses, Democrats were forced to deal with the reality of PERS’ impacts on budgets. To make the case for more funding, they had to ensure that PERS would not claim the lion’s share of that funding for schools and other services.
Republicans, with a few notable exceptions, were happy to let the Democrats take the lead – and the heat. In fact, one Republican senator who had previously told me that he supported the PERS package then confided that he’d be voting against it to let the Democrats “stew in their own juices.”
(Disclosure: I was involved in making the case for controlling PERS costs on behalf of the Oregon Business Council in 2019, with the understanding that any PERS savings would remain in public budgets for services and staffing. I testified in favor of the final package in committee hearings and had conversations with lawmakers on which I base my observations here.)
All but three Republicans voted against both the PERS package and the business tax. So, I shouldn’t have been surprised when the Republican Senate candidate in my district deluged voters with mailers blaming the Democrats for gutting PERS.
Meanwhile, there were Democrats who voted for the PERS package for all the right reasons – not just as part of a deal for new revenue but as a necessity to ensure that more of our tax dollars would stay in school classrooms. But those legislators had to overcome challenges from their left in the 2020 primaries. They prevailed, which makes the reluctance to talk about what the 2019 package accomplished all the more disappointing.
This wasn’t a matter of half a loaf for public employees. They got a large helping of new revenue, budgets that can better support staffing and pay increases and a more sustainable pension system. In exchange, they had to give up future benefits earned on salaries above $195,000 per year (one source of those high-six-figure pensions that The Oregonian cites every year) and divert amounts ranging from 0.75% to 2.5% from future contributions to a separate retirement savings fund to help pay down the pension plan’s liabilities.
I get it that the public employee unions see things differently. I heard that loud and clear when I testified in support of the package. But what bothers me most is that their opposition continues to fester in a way that pre-empts any honest discussion of the issue. Even now, three years later, when some of the unions’ staunchest political supporters should be taking credit for fashioning a compromise that was long overdue and has bolstered school budgets at a critical time for our kids, the denials and buck passing continue.
PERS is now more sustainable and more defensible, but it remains an issue that defies honest discussion.
Tim Nesbitt, a former union leader in Oregon, served as an adviser to Governors Ted Kulongoski and John Kitzhaber and later helped to design Measure 98 in 2016, which provided extra, targeted funding for Oregon’s high schools.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/commentary-reforms-to-pers-were-needed-but-oregon-leaders-still-shy-from-discussing-pension-issues/article_e587b5e0-21da-5268-877b-23b239d61105.html
| 2022-04-05T02:41:18Z
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CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK — One of the driest of the dry.
Even though heavy snow fell Monday, near record snowfall and snow pack are being recorded at Crater Lake National Park this season, but not in the way drought-stricken people in Southern Oregon want to see. As of Monday morning, 42 inches of snow was measured at park headquarters in Munson Valley, well below the average 116 inches and only 36 percent of the historical average. Likewise, the snow year total measured from October 1 was 290 inches, again well below the average of 420 inches.
Park records also indicate the average yearly snowfall has continued to decline. Twenty years ago the average winter snowfall, as measured from October 1 through June, was 534 inches. In recent years, the average has dropped to 507 inches a season. Precipitation, which measures rain and melted snow, for the season is 37 inches, again well below the 52-inch average. During one 30-day stretch, no precipitation was measured.
The 2021-22 winter season has produced other surprises. Heavy snowfall in December had the snowpack at 150 percent of average, giving hope for a long, snowy season. Along with benefiting winter recreationalists, a strong snowpack and spring melting snow charge water levels for rivers and streams that feed Upper Klamath Lake, the Klamath River and other tributaries.
The quickly lowering snowpack has some benefits, such as easing the task of clearing Rim Drive, the road that loops around the lake. As of last week, West Rim Drive from Rim Village to the North Junction has been cleared. Crews are still working to open the North Entrance Road to the North Park Entrance at Highway 138. The gate at Rim Village remains closed, however, so crews can clear possible rockfalls and patches of roadside snow. The road is open, however, to walkers and bicyclists. Until recently, most years the North Entrance Road was opened at the earliest by the Memorial Day Weekend.
Once the North Entrance Road opens, crews will redirect plowing efforts toward Cleetwood Cove, the take-off point for the only trail leading to the lake, and then continue around East Rim Drive to park headquarters.
Exactly what National Park Service programs will be offered this summer is‘ in flux. The Steel Center Visitor Center in Munson Valley, which closed last year for remodeling and seismic rehabilitation, remains closed. The center normally houses an information desk, offices, a theater and gift shop. Work that began last year is continuing and will last until at least 2023.
Among the biggest changes is the addition of temporary visitors’ welcome center that Superintendent Craig Ackerman said he hopes will open in early June at Mazama Village, located just inside the park’s South Entrance. Temporary trailers will be located in the parking area behind the Annie Creek Store-Restaurant. Park rangers will be available to provide information on program offerings, such as hikes and campground evening talks, and show a park orientation film. The trailer complex will also include a Crater Lake Natural History Association gift shop and a post office. Limited restrooms with flush toilets will be available.
“That’s our focus right now,” Sean Denniston, who had served as the park’s interim superintendent until last week, said of opening the Mazama Village visitor contact center. Other Mazama Village amenities, including a gas station, camper store and campground, are all managed through the park concessionaire, Crater Lake Hospitality.
Masking requirements stemming from the Covid-19 epidemic were recently downgraded so masks are now optional inside park and concession facilities. If transmission levels in Klamath and Jackson counties, which have been declining in recent weeks, should again increase mask requirements could be reimposed.
After not being offered the past two summers because of Covid restrictions and low staffing, ranger-led programs are planned this season. “We are hoping to have a variety of in-person ranger guided activities this summer,” said Marsha McCabe, the park’s interpretative ranger. “The exact schedule of offerings will be determined at a later date and will depend on a number of factors, including staffing levels.”
The park’s most popular trail, the 1.1-mile Cleetwood Cove Trail which provides the only access to the lake, will reopen in June or July. Concession boat tours, with talks by a park ranger, are currently planned but probably on a limited schedule. People wanting to take the highly scenic and educational boat tours or simply walk to the lake, where swimming and fishing are allowed, might want to make that a priority because park managers are planning to close the Cleetwood Cove Trail in 2024 for significant repairs and upgrades to the trail and dock facility. That work is expected to take two years. In addition, the composting toilets at Cleetwood Cove will be replaced.
Reconstruction of East Rim Drive is now planned as a three-year project with sections of the road being repaired or completely redone during the short summer season when the road is clear of snow.
As noted on the park website, “Construction projects take center stage over the next several years at Crater Lake National Park, as deferred maintenance projects get funded. Building remodels, road and trail improvements, and more will be the story as visitors will likely experience traffic delays, additional congestion, and at times limited services during the construction windows.” And, as the site also noted, “All in all, these are projects that, once completed, make the Park mo{span}re enjoyable while providing better, safer access for all.”{/span}
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/crater-lake-preparing-for-summer-after-dry-winter/article_1a78af49-5483-5218-9e38-c2aa187b2605.html
| 2022-04-05T02:41:24Z
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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Nike co-founder Phil Knight made another large contribution — $750,000 — to the Oregon independent gubernatorial campaign of Betsy Johnson.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Knight’s donations to Johnson’s campaign now total $1 million, according to state campaign finance records. Oregon remains one of five states without any political donation caps.
This is not Knight’s first six-figure donation during an Oregon governor’s race. In 2010, he gave $400,000 to Republican gubernatorial candidate and former NBA player Chris Dudley. In 2014, Knight spent $250,000 to help Democratic former Gov. John Kitzhaber win reelection.
In 2018, the billionaire gave a total of $2.5 million to moderate Republican lawmaker Knute Buehler, who was attempting to unseat current Gov. Kate Brown.
Brown, a Democrat, cannot run again due to term limits. Democrats have held the governor’s office since 1987.
Johnson is a former Democratic state senator who frequently voted with Republicans on issues like gun control, taxes and climate change. She resigned from the Senate in December to focus on her gubernatorial bid.
As an independent, Johnson avoids a crowded Democratic field in the primary and will not need to run a primary race to make the November ballot. Instead, she has to collect roughly 23,750 valid signatures from Oregon voters — an amount equal to 1% of the statewide vote in the 2020 general election.
Johnson has raised far more than any other gubernatorial candidate, with her campaign war chest sitting at a reported $5.1 million on Monday.
Former House Speaker Tina Kotek, a high-profile candidate among the Democrats for the governor’s seat, has a cash balance of about $1.15 million. On the Republican side, Christine Drazen — the former House minority leader — has a balance of about $1.2 million.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/nike-co-founder-gives-oregon-gubernatorial-candidate-750k/article_740fe0f4-8b05-5256-8175-f88ff146a27f.html
| 2022-04-05T02:41:30Z
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ATHERTON, Calif. – Matthew Ortiz had a pair of three-hit games, leading Oregon Tech to a doubleheader sweep of Menlo College on Saturday.
The Owls (25-14) held off a late Menlo rally in the opener, claiming a 10-inning, 8-7 win, before a great pitching performance from Jacob Miller helped the visitors earn a 7-3 victory in the series finale. The two victories pushed OIT’s season total to 25 – the most single-season wins since 2010.
Tech built a 5-0 lead in Game 1, with starter Cody Dubray tossing five-plus innings of shutout ball, striking out four. The Owls struck first in the second on a two-run homer from Ka’ala Tam, doubling the lead in the fifth on an RBI double from Ian Peters and a Brodie Marino RBI single. A Tam RBI single in the seventh gave the visitors the five-run lead.
Menlo (12-22-1) forced extra innings with a late rally – Josh Selvaggio’s two-run single in the eight cut the gap to 5-3. After OIT’s Dalton Daily hit his 13th home run in the ninth to extend the lead to 6-3, Selvaggio tripled home a pair in the bottom of the frame to tie the score with no outs. Dylan Grogan entered for the Owls and got a strikeout, pop up and strikeout to end the threat.
In the 10th, Tech took the lead on a two-run single from Tyler Horner, but Selvaggio responded with a bases-loaded infield single to get Menlo within a run. Grogan ended the game with one pitch, catching a Dylan Park liner and turning into a double play.
Horner was 3-for-5 with two RBI, Tam was 2-for-5 with three RBI and Kaleb Keelean going 2-for-5 in the win. Selvaggio was 5-for-6 in the loss for the Oaks.
“What a great effort and intent from our starting pitching today,” OIT coach Jacob Garsez said. “We did a good job of responding to the ups and downs of the game. A lot of guys contributed successfully. Great to get a series win on the road.”
Game 2 was paced by Miller, who tossed five shutout innings, limiting Menlo to just three hits and striking out four.
OIT scored single runs in each of the first three frames – getting a Marino sacrifice fly, a Sean Tobin RBI single and a Horner RBI double. Ortiz had the big blow in a three-run sixth, launching a two-run homer, pushing the lead to 6-0.
Horner was 2-for-3 in the win for Tech – part of a 12-hit attack.
The Owls return home this weekend, hosting Bushnell University in a four-game series at Steen Sports Park.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/oit-baseball-sweeps-doubleheader-reaches-25-wins-for-first-time-since-2010/article_d87d227f-be5a-59b9-9c95-5db6d104bbc2.html
| 2022-04-05T02:41:36Z
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VANCOUVER, B.C. – Overcoming a 600-mile, 12-hour bus ride, along with their first tripleheader of the season, the Oregon Tech softball team earned a Cascade Conference series victory against British Columbia on Saturday.
The Lady Owls (33-6, 18-2 CCC) maintained their lead in the CCC standings with 2-1 and 6-3 wins in the opening games, before UBC ended Tech’s six-game win streak with a 5-4 victory in the rain in Game 3.
Tech rode the right arm of Sarah Abramson in Game 1, as the senior picked up her 19th win of the season, tossing a six-hitter. She was helped by a pair of key early runs – as Maddie DeVerna got the Owls on the board in the second with an RBI single and an inning later, Mckenzie Staub made it 2-0 with an RBI single.
Abramson did the rest, retiring nine of the final 10 batters in the victory – allowing just one run and striking out three. Staub had the lone multi-hit game for OIT, going 2-for-3.
The Owls’ bats came alive in Game 2, pounding out 10 hits. Kennedy Jantzi gave OIT a 2-0 first-inning lead with a two-run homer, her fifth of the year. Zoe Allen padded the lead with a pair of RBI hits – a single in the second and a two-run single in the fifth, giving the visitors a 6-1 lead.
Kacie Schmidt earned the win, allowing two runs in three-plus innings of relief, with Staub recording the final four outs to notch her first save of the season.
The T-Birds (11-11, 10-9) answered the call in the late game, scoring four first inning runs – two coming on an Emily Dorval’s double.
OIT played catch-up the rest of the way – scoring a pair in the fourth on a Staub ground out and a Schmidt sacrifice fly, with Jayce Seavert cutting the lead to 4-3 in the fifth with an RBI single. Tech trailed 5-4 in the seventh, but stranded the tying run at second base.
Both Jantzi and McKenna Armantrout had two hits for the Owls in Game 3.
Tech returns home on Wednesday afternoon, meeting No. 8-ranked Southern Oregon in a key CCC doubleheader, beginning at 2 p.m.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/oit-softball-team-wins-two-in-rare-tripleheader/article_4ce9f342-2e34-5539-b7aa-efef49c9c42d.html
| 2022-04-05T02:41:42Z
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Mazama High scored nine runs in the first inning of the second game of a nonconference softball doubleheader Saturday to defeat Lakeview 11-1, handing the Honkers their first defeat of the season.
Adysen McGirr and Rhylee Utley each had two hits for Mazama (4-4 overall) and Gracie Hamilton and Margaret Pizano drove in two runs apiece. Right-hander Caelyn Davis allowed just one run on four hits in five innings, with no walks and seven strikeouts.
Lakeview (7-1) won the opener as Emily Philibert had three hits and Tyler McNeley drove in three runs.
Baseball
Henley 11-8, Douglas 1-3: The host Hornets scored six runs in the first inning of the opener and went on to sweep the nonleague doubleheader to improve to 7-1. Henley has won four games in a row.
Tyler Harper had a bases-clearing double in the inning and later drove in another run. Leo Ahalt had three hits, Issac Orndorf had two hits and scored twice and Owen Cheyne drove in two runs. Hunter Schwenk allowed one unearned run on four hits in six innings, with no walks and 10 strikeouts.
In the second game, Dylan Tobias went 2 for 3 with two RBI. Ahalt went 2 for 4, scored twice and drove in a run.
Cottage Grove 8-11, Klamath Union 7-13: Brandon Jones' two-run single sparked a five-run fifth inning as the host Pelicans (2-7) won the second game to split the twin bill and snap a seven-game losing streak.
Jaxon Merhoff doubled, drove in three runs and pitched 2⅓ scoreless innings of relief for the victory. Teammate Uli Hernandez tripled and had two RBI.
The Pelicans scored four runs in the fourth to take an 8-6 lead, but Cottage Grove scored five in the top of the fifth to make it 11-6. KU wasted no time in erasing the deficit and held on.
The Lions overcame an early seven-run deficit to win the opener, scoring three runs in the fifth and five more in the sixth.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/prep-roundup-mazama-hands-lakeview-first-softball-defeat-of-season/article_dd1c5b57-c187-556e-942b-4e766c34884b.html
| 2022-04-05T02:41:49Z
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/republican-women-donate-books-to-tulelake-elementary/article_0c2c6f7b-0364-5e2f-afc6-a066fd9a1d70.html
| 2022-04-05T02:41:55Z
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LA GRANDE, Ore. — Eastern Oregon’s snowpack is melting faster than expected, worsening an ongoing drought and pointing to a dry year if conditions continue.
Scott Oviatt, a hydrologist and snow survey supervisor for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, said snow started melting almost two weeks earlier than usual, and many sites across the state hadn’t even reached their peak available snowpack levels before melt off began in the lower elevations.
“Once the snowpack starts melting out, it’s hard to stop,” he said.
The information comes weeks after many Eastern Oregon snowpack levels were reported to be in good shape. The dramatic decline in snowpack levels coupled with the ongoing drought has caused concern among experts who are watching the snow water equivalent levels closely.
“The fact that we didn’t reach a peak value and the fact that we’re melting out early is a concern because we are losing the available water content in the snow pack (earlier) than we normally plan on,” Oviatt said. “Depending on location and elevation, we’re about two or three weeks early, and we didn’t achieve our peak, and now we’re at 70% for the Grande Ronde/Powder area and we’re dropping rapidly.”
Those who rely on water irrigation channels should be especially concerned about the rapidly melting snow. While snowmelt is generally expected to hit its zero point sometime in mid- to late spring, having the water runoff begin and end earlier means that resources will become scarce as summer drags on — and a heat wave event can further impact water supplies and leave farmers and agricultural industries dry.
Last year’s heat wave depleted water supplies and caused some farms in Oregon to run out of water entirely by late June, weeks ahead of schedule. In one instance, Plantworks, a nursery in Cove, had to purchase new water storage containers and fill them with city water to keep their crops alive.
“Essentially, folks that rely on irrigation water will have less available, and there will probably be some restrictions applied depending upon where they get their water and their water rights,” Oviatt said. “There will be less available surface water for instream flows to support things. There will be less available groundwater storage because we’re not recharging our system with our ground soil moisture and because we’ve been in a long-term drought and we didn’t really recover from that over this winter.”
Union County watermaster Shad Hattan agreed, saying if the area doesn’t get significant spring rain, “it will be hard on everything. Agriculture, stream flows. If we don’t get moisture for April and May, that’s hard on everybody.”
One silver lining to the early melt off and continuation of the drought? Fire season might be milder compared to last year.
“The biggest thing is how fast the snow we have right now comes off,” said Trevor Lewis, assistant fire management officer with the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. “If we lose our snow real quick, and it dries out fairly quickly then our grass growth isn’t as high, so we generally see lower rates of spread with our fires, even if we do have significant fuel moistures that are drier. It really depends on how this snow comes off.”
Lewis said that last year’s slow runoff allowed for above average grass and brush growth — primary fuels for wildfires that were primed by the heat wave that pushed temperatures to record highs in most of Oregon. That grass growth meant that fires spread more rapidly, and in the case of the Bootleg Fire resulted in one of the nation’s largest wildfires for 2021.
“It’s kind of a catch-22 for us,” Lewis said. “Does it come quickly and we have a drought? Or does it come off slow and we end up getting the grass growth?”
Despite being a La Nina year, the Eastern Oregon snowpack wasn’t enough to start turning around the drought conditions in the area. As of March 31, most of Eastern Oregon remains in severe or moderate drought, and conditions are expected to worsen over the summer.
“In order to recover from that long-term drought we need successive years and we need excessive amounts of precipitation, and we’re just not getting it,” Oviatt said. “It’s not going to happen this year, we’re going to have to make some sacrifices in terms of surface water and available water.”
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/snowpack-melting-faster-than-expected-in-eastern-oregon/article_2f804907-03fb-5257-84ae-57ed4aae5ecf.html
| 2022-04-05T02:42:01Z
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk has acquired a 9% stake in Twitter to become its largest shareholder while joining other critics in questioning the social media platform’s dedication to free speech and the First Amendment.
Musk’s ultimate aim in acquiring 73.5 million shares, worth about $3 billion, isn’t clear. Yet in late March Musk, who has 80 million Twitter followers and is active on the site, questioned free speech on Twitter and whether the platform is undermining democracy.
In years past, Twitter and other social platforms have taken fire for allowing harmful speech ranging from incitement to violence to coordinated harassment and racial abuse. More recently, these platforms have made concerted efforts to rein in such behavior, often drawing criticism similar to Musk’s from the political right. Both Twitter and Facebook faced blowback after suspending the accounts run by former President Donald Trump following the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection last year.
It’s unclear just when Musk bought the stake. A U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing made public on Monday says the event triggering the filing happened March 14. Musk has also raised the possibility with his massive and loyal Twitter following, that he could create a rival social media network.
Industry analysts and legal experts say Musk could begin advocating for changes at Twitter immediately if he chooses. In a note to investors, CFRA Analyst Angelo Zino wrote that Twitter could be viewed as an acquisition target because the value of its shares have been falling since early last year.
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey stepped down as CEO in November. Musk’s stake in Twitter is now more than four times the size of Dorsey’s, who had been the largest individual shareholder.
“Musk’s actual investment is a very small percentage of his wealth, and an all-out buyout should not be ruled out,” wrote Zino, who covers Twitter and social media.
Musk could see Twitter as an investment with big growth ahead, or he could have noninvestment reasons for the purchase, such as buying to make sure the platform doesn’t restrain his speech, said Erik Gordon, a law and business professor at the University of Michigan.
“What he could be worried about is if enough of his tweets start to look like disinformation, that Twitter says ‘we’re doing our job against disinformation.’” Gordon said. No CEO would refuse to take a call from the company’s top shareholder, so the purchase gives Musk access to Twitter’s top management, he said.
Musk has not spoken specifically about any Twitter rule changes he might push, but the social media platform’s history of suspensions and bans is well documented.
Trump’s suspension from both Twitter and Facebook has raised difficult questions about free speech in a social media industry dominated by a few tech giants — an issue that Trump and conservative media have seized upon. There was broad praise for Musk from those circles Monday.
Michael Flynn, the retired general who served briefly as Donald Trump’s national security adviser, and who was suspended from Twitter in January 2021, sent Musk some free advice via Telegram.
“Hey Elon, how about letting all of those dropped from twitter for being America First and Pro-Trump back on Twitter!!!,” Flynn wrote.
Twitter earlier this year banned the personal account of far-right U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for multiple violations of the platform’s COVID-19 misinformation policy. Other people banned in recent years include Steve Bannon, for suggesting the beheading of Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke for breaking the social media site’s rules forbidding hate speech, and right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and his Infowars show for abusive behavior.
Musk recently described himself on Twitter as a “free speech absolutist” in explaining why the Starlink satellite internet service — part of his aerospace company SpaceX — would not block Russian state media outlets, which have spread propaganda and misinformation in line with the Kremlin’s narrative on its war in Ukraine.
But such absolutism would not be welcome by advertisers who are Twitter’s chief revenue source, said Brian Wieser, global president of business intelligence at GroupM. Brands that advertise on Twitter strongly prefer some content standards because a toxic platform can drive many other users away.
“Certain kinds of speech, such as advocating an insurrection or advocating hurting people, are not the kinds of things most advertisers want to support,” said Wieser, who analyzes the media industry for advertisers.
Twitter’s stock surged nearly 30% Monday. Since March 14, the date listed on filing by Twitter, its shares are up nearly 50%, meaning that Musk’s investment has paid handsomely — so far.
Twitter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In March, Musk told his millions of followers on Twitter that he was “ giving serious thought “ to creating his own social media platform, and has clashed repeatedly with financial regulators about his use of Twitter.
Musk is locked into a bitter dispute with the SEC over his ability to post on Twitter. His lawyer has contended in court motions that the SEC is infringing on the Tesla CEO’s First Amendment rights.
In October of 2018, Musk and Tesla agreed to pay $40 million in civil fines and for Musk to have his tweets approved by a corporate lawyer after he tweeted about having the money to take Tesla private at $420 per share.
The funding was far from secured and the electric vehicle company remains public, but Tesla’s stock price jumped. The settlement came after the SEC brought a securities fraud charge. It specified governance changes, including Musk’s ouster as board chairman, as well as pre-approval of his tweets.
Musk’s lawyer is now asking a U.S. District Court judge in Manhattan to throw out the settlement, contending that the SEC is harassing him and infringing on his First Amendment rights.
The SEC says it has legal authority to subpoena Tesla and Musk about his tweets, and that Musk’s move to throw out the settlement is not valid.
The SEC also disclosed that it is investigating Musk’s Nov. 6, 2021 tweets that asked followers whether he should sell 10% of his Tesla stake. The commission said it issued administrative subpoenas while investigating whether Musk and Tesla are complying with disclosure controls in the 2018 agreement.
Musk ended up selling more than 15 million shares worth roughly $16.4 billion. With some sales in late December, Musk is close to selling 10%.
———_
Matt O’Brien and Michelle R. Smith contributed from Providence, Rhode Island. Krisher reported from Detroit.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/suddenly-twitters-biggest-stakeholder-is-teslas-elon-musk/article_8a239a82-38bd-5509-8e05-a1b4c0bc455f.html
| 2022-04-05T02:42:07Z
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Port Huron doubles down payment grants for first-time homebuyers. Here's what that means.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Amber Woods is a realtor who spoke on the city of Port Huron's Urban Pioneer program. A previous version of this story spelled her first name wrong.
Port Huron is doubling the financial award it provides to qualifying homebuyers to use as a down payment on a new residence in the city.
But there may still be other challenges facing those looking to purchase a new home the effort doesn’t entirely address.
According to its next annual action plans, which was OK’d by City Council last week, the city was expecting close to $260,000 in federal HOME funds, which finance its Urban Pioneer program. It also cites more than $500,000 in remaining HOME funds already on tap.
Jazmyn Thomas, the city's community development program administrator, said it’s the access the program’s gained over a slowing rate of spending that helped influence the move to increase Urban Pioneer grants from $5,000 to $10,000.
“Partially because, one, it’s winter. People are buying less houses,” she said. “Two, there’s not a huge housing stock on the market, and three, we’re getting applicants that sometimes don’t qualify for the program because they’re either over income, or they don’t meet our ratios.”
The city announced the increase for applicants starting last month.
Thomas said it’d been $5,000 since the program’s inception through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development.
As of June last year, qualifying homes can’t exceed a purchase price of $183,000 for purchasers to utilize the grant.
Applicants also must invest at least 3% of the price into a mortgage loan transaction, and their household must be at 80% or below the median income for a community. For Port Huron, that percentage for a one-person household was $44,800 and $64,000 for a four-person.
Thomas said the debt-to-income limitations can be a barrier.
But she added they’re hoping doubling it will mean more applicants as the weather breaks, and that “more people are buying houses again and to help the rate of expenditure.”
“Because, of course, we have expenditure deadlines we have to meet, and you never want to spend money back to HUD,” Thomas said.
In the past, Port Huron planning officials have said that awareness of programs like Urban Pioneer was could be a challenge in making sure funds find people who need the help.
During a recent interview, Thomas and Planning Director David Haynes said they still rely on local realtors and brokers to help spread the word, including Amber Woods.
Thomas said that amid rising housing costs, they thought the higher down payment assistance grant could better aid homebuyers.
Woods agreed, and for a couple of days after she promoted the program in March, she said she got a lot of interest.
But she said a bigger challenge is making sure interested buyers qualify first.
“The income threshold is really low,” Woods said. “I feel like not very many people have had the opportunity to utilize (it), and I don’t know who would because people who are in that much (of a) lower income bracket don’t always have nice credit.”
She added, “What’s the difference between $5,000 and $10,000 if you can’t utilize it?” Instead, she said she hopes the city and other program administrators will also work on income repair for residents.
“Our education system on these kinds of things has really failed us,” Woods said.
Forms and information can be found on the city’s website at www.porthuron.org, and the community development office can be contacted from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at (810) 984-9736. Information can also be received by emailing UrbanPioneer@porthuron.org.
Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.
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https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2022/04/04/city-doubles-downpayment-grant-size-first-time-homebuyers-heres-what-means/7196087001/
| 2022-04-05T03:20:08Z
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Mercatante: Public health saves lives
I remind myself daily, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." As I approach 15 years working in public health, I’m in awe of the vital role the field has played in human history. Many privileges we often take for granted in modern life have been afforded to us by the work of public health. Consider these noteworthy achievements.
Through the use of vaccines, public health virtually eliminated diseases like smallpox and nearly eliminated the wild polio virus. The number of people who experienced the devastating effects of preventable infectious diseases like measles, diphtheria, and whooping cough is at an all-time low.
Public health regulations set standards that necessitated safer and healthier workplaces for coal miners and the entire workforce. From 1933 through 1997, deaths from unintentional work-related injuries declined 90%.
Public health contributed to the elimination of foodborne infections. Contaminated food and water resulted in many foodborne infections in the early 20th century. Advances, such as refrigeration, pasteurization, pest and animal control, and food safety regulations promoting better hygiene and sanitation practices all contributed to decreases in foodborne infections.
Public health recognized tobacco as a health hazard. The Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act of 1969 set laws requiring a health warning on cigarette packages, banned cigarette advertising in the broadcast media, and called for an annual report on the health consequences of smoking.
Public health interventions have resulted in 30 years of increased life expectancy over the past century, 25 years of this gain are attributable to advances in public health.
As a physician devoted to the preservation and improvements of life, the ability to play a role in that process is a privilege indeed, however I could not do it alone! This work is not just mine, but rather ours. I encourage you to reflect on the role public health has had on your life whether it be reducing your risk of illness through vaccines, a seatbelt protecting you in a car accident, or the assurance that the restaurant you are dining in has been inspected. Public health touches you every minute of every day and in turn makes our community stronger and more resilient.
As we celebrate National Public Health Week, April 4-10, let’s help our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers and leaders better understand the value of public health and supporting opportunities to adopt preventive lifestyle habits in light of this year’s theme, “Public Health is Where You Are.” On behalf of entire health department team, we encourage everyone to step in and do what they can to make our world a more equitable, safe, healthy and just place. In addition, next time you see a public health worker, share a big smile and a warm thank you.
Yours in health,
Dr. Annette Mercatante, MD, MPH,
Medical Health Officer
St. Clair County Health Department
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https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/opinion/2022/04/04/mercatante-public-health-saves-lives/7272017001/
| 2022-04-05T03:20:26Z
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| 2022-04-05T03:24:29Z
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| 2022-04-05T03:24:35Z
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Chuck Mathena Center’s Food Truck Frenzy & Festival lineup announced
Everclear will headline the festival & many other musical acts are scheduled to perform as well.
MERCER COUNTY, W.Va. (WVVA) -The Food Truck Frenzy and Festival returns for a third year in Mercer County.
Candace Wilson stopped by WVVA @ Noon with Joshua Bolden to exclusively announce the lineup and discuss some of the food vendors who will be gracing the grounds.
Wilson says this years lineup is a throwback to the 1990s and 2000s but it will still have something for the whole family.
Everclear is headlining alongside Fastball and the Nixons; also playing festival is Toothless Ruth, Messer and Anything But Human.
Vendors will include truck staples in the area such as The Shark Shack, Tacos de Marcos, Twisted Sisterz as well as some newcomers such as Mad Concessions.
Breweries like the Sophisticated Hound Brewing Company will take part again this year too.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the event. The festival of food and music kicks off on June 25, 22 at 12 PM until 11 PM
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/05/chuck-mathena-centers-food-truck-frenzy-festival-lineup-announced/
| 2022-04-05T03:33:06Z
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Youth art gallery embraces Appalachian ecology, wildlife
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - Creations from some of West Virginia’s youngest artists are on display at Tamarack.
The gallery, which is comprised of submissions from the ‘Youth Arts in the Park’ competition, sheds light on the parks and natural diversity of the Appalachian region. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade in Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh and Summers counties could contribute artwork for selection.
The works fall under two categories: hand-made wildflower art and digital pieces focused on wildlife.
Mandy Lash, the gallery director, said there was a focus on merging art with ecology to get children interested in their outdoor surroundings.
“For us to really combine these two things really shows the importance of them,” said Lash. “For these young artists getting to experience the business side of art, then maybe this might light a fire in them to then maybe grow up to become professional artists.”
New River Gorge National Park and several West Virginia state parks partnered with Tamarack to host the Spring Nature Fling, which includes guided hikes, talks and art programs about the outdoors.
The 2022 Appalachian Spring Wildflower Art Contest for Youth Arts in the Parks Winners.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/05/youth-art-gallery-embraces-appalachian-ecology-wildlife/
| 2022-04-05T03:33:13Z
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HONOLULU (KITV4) – On Friday, 97% of unionized Queen Kapiolani Hotel workers voted in favor of a strike.
On April 1, citing overwork and stalled wages, Queen Kapiolani workers voted 97% “Yes” to strike, as the contract between the union and the company expired in 2018. If the strike goes into effect, it will be Hawaii’s first hotel workers strike in years.
Despite the pandemic, the hotel has seen sustained occupancy, with Queen Kapiolani hotel workers reporting heavy workloads. Housekeepers report up to 17 rooms per shift, compared to the 14 rooms that most Local 5 Waikiki hotel workers clean.
“We are underpaid and overworked. Queen Kapiolani is a pet-friendly hotel, so the guest rooms are significantly harder to clean. We want a contract that addresses the workload issues and provides the wages and benefits we deserve.” said Christina Beltran, a Queen Kapiolani housekeeper.
“We are really behind from the rest of Waikiki,” said Theresa Trimmer, front desk supervisor at Queen Kapiolani for 20 years. She added, “We work just as hard and deserve the same respect. We've waited since 2018 to get a better contract.”
“Queen Kapiolani workers are standing together to show that we will not accept anything less than a contract that protects our jobs, our families, and our future. Their willingness to fight is a wake-up call for all hotel workers,” said Eric Gill, UNITE HERE Local 5’s Financial Secretary-Treasurer.
Just last week, Unite Here Local 5 reached a tentative agreement with the Waikiki Resort Hotel. That previous contract also expired in 2018. Collective bargaining agreements between the Local 5 and the big hotel properties like Hilton, Kyo-ya/Marriott, and Hyatt are set to expire in June 2022, affecting more than 5,000 hotel workers.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
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https://www.kitv.com/news/business/queen-kapiolani-hotel-workers-vote-97-to-strike-citing-low-wages-and-overwork/article_6cf42510-b458-11ec-b9f2-cb4113f918bb.html
| 2022-04-05T03:42:36Z
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HONOLULU (KITV4) - Longs Drugs has closed one of its downtown Honolulu locations after being open for nearly a decade.
A spokeswoman for Longs confirmed to KITV4 that the store, which is located on the ground floor of the Davies Pacific Center building on Bishop Street, closed on April 1.
"All prescriptions were transferred to the nearby Longs Drugs at 1330 Pali Highway in Honolulu to ensure that patients continue to have uninterrupted access to service, the spokeswoman said. "All store employees were offered comparable roles at other Longs Drugs locations."
Longs, which is owned by Rhode Island-based CVS Caremark Corp., has been in Hawaii since 1954. It has 42 additional locations including another one in the downtown area at 1088 Bishop St. Longs Drugs also has five Health hubs on Oahu that offer patients a broad range of health and wellness services.
"Maintaining access to pharmacy services in underserved communities is an important factor we consider when making store closure decisions," the spokeswoman said. "Other factors include local market dynamics, population shifts, a community's store density, and ensuring there are other geographic access points to meet the needs of the community, including COVID-19 testing and vaccinations."
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
Duane Shimogawa has more than 15 years of experience in the media industry with stints as a reporter/anchor at several TV and radio stations, as well as newspapers such as Pacific Business News, Hawaii News Now, KNDU/KNDO-TV, and more.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/longs-drugs-pharmacy-closes-in-downtown-honolulu/article_000d317a-b463-11ec-beff-ff15ed410d13.html
| 2022-04-05T03:42:42Z
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/traffic-moving-normally-again-on-wb-h1-at-lunalilo-street-following-rollover-wreck-update/article_7cb355d6-b45b-11ec-8ef1-b34e04ef63f0.html
| 2022-04-05T03:42:48Z
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CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, seen here in May 2021, announced on April 4 that the nation's lead public health agency will undergo a sweeping review.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky announced a sweeping review of the nation's lead public health agency Monday.
The review will evaluate the CDC's structure, systems and processes, Walensky told CDC staff in an email.
Starting April 11, Jim Macrae, an administrator with the US Department of Health and Human Services, will join the CDC for a month-long listening tour and assessment. Walensky said he will provide her with insight on how the delivery of the agency's science and programs can be further strengthened as it transitions more of its Covid-19 response activities to its various centers, institutes and offices.
Walensky also asked three senior leaders to gather feedback on the agency, including its current structure and suggestions for change.
"At the conclusion of this collective effort, we will develop new systems and processes to deliver our science and program to the American people, along with a plan for how CDC should be structured to facilitate the public health work we do," Walensky wrote.
In a statement, the CDC said that during the past year, it "has worked to speed up data reporting and scientific processes throughout its pandemic response. Work is needed to institutionalize and formalize these approaches and to find new ways to adapt the agency's structure to the changing environment."
Walensky said in the statement, "Never in its 75 years history has CDC had to make decisions so quickly, based on often limited, real-time, and evolving science. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented opportunities across HHS to review current organizational structures, systems, and processes, and CDC is working to strategically position and modernize the agency to facilitate and support the future of public health. As we've challenged our state and local partners, we know that now is the time for CDC to integrate the lessons learned into a strategy for the future.
"This work will allow CDC to develop new systems and processes to deliver science and program activities to the American people, with a keen focus on the agency's core capabilities -- public health workforce, data modernization, laboratory capacity, health equity, rapid response to disease outbreaks, and preparedness within the US and around the world."
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https://www.kitv.com/news/national/cdc-director-announces-sweeping-review-of-agency/article_4016d9ad-64d2-5451-bc34-95e1f38a1398.html
| 2022-04-05T03:42:54Z
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Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah said on April 4 that they will vote to confirm President Joe Biden's Supreme Court nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah said Monday evening they will vote to confirm President Joe Biden's Supreme Court nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson.
"My support rests on Judge Jackson's qualifications, which no one questions; her demonstrated judicial independence; her demeanor and temperament; and the important perspective she would bring to the court as a replacement for Justice Breyer," said Murkowski in a statement, citing "multiple in-depth conversations" and a review of the judge's record.
She added: "It also rests on my rejection of the corrosive politicization of the review process for Supreme Court nominees, which, on both sides of the aisle, is growing worse and more detached from reality by the year."
Romney, meanwhile, tweeted, "After reviewing Judge Jackson's record and testimony, I have concluded that she is a well-qualified jurist and a person of honor. While I do not expect to agree with every decision she may make on the Court, I believe that she more than meets the standard of excellence and integrity. I congratulate Judge Jackson on her expected confirmation and look forward to her continued service to our nation."l
Though the vast majority of Senate Republicans are expected to vote to oppose Jackson, she has deepened her support among the GOP with the two lawmakers joining Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine in her pledge last month to support Jackson's confirmation.
Still, Senate Republican and Democratic leaders agree that Jackson is a well-qualified nominee. Jackson, 51, sits on DC's federal appellate court and had been considered the front-runner for the vacancy since Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement.
She previously worked as a clerk for Breyer, a federal public defender, an attorney in private practice, a federal district court judge and a member of the US Sentencing Commission.
If confirmed, Jackson will be the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/national/gop-sens-murkowski-and-romney-will-vote-to-confirm-ketanji-brown-jackson-to-the-supreme/article_293ad7b9-a643-5a17-af5d-d8f5f05f9de5.html
| 2022-04-05T03:43:00Z
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The night sky has been a source of information and wonder since the dawn of humankind -- and it looks almost the same now as it did then. But the night sky as we know it is on the precipice of changing dramatically due to the proliferation of satellites just a few hundred miles above Earth.
"For the first time in human history, we're not going to have access to the night sky in the way that we've seen it," said Samantha Lawler, an assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Regina in Canada.
Lawler has been watching from her farm in Saskatchewan, Canada, as the number of active satellites has multiplied from about a thousand in 2017 to more than 5,000 today. When CNN visited on a clear evening in March, it only took a few minutes of looking up with the naked eye to see the first of many satellites streaking across the sky.
"This is a lot worse than I expected," Lawler told CNN. "It's changing fast."
And it's about to get much worse. Lawler and two other Canadian astronomers published a paper in December in The Astronomical Journal which predicted that, in less than a decade, 1 out of every 15 points of light in the night sky will actually be a moving satellite.
"Think about that," Lawler said. "There's only about 4,000 stars that you can see with your naked eye and if 200 of those are moving, that is very different than the sky that we're used to now."
The satellites are even more disruptive when viewed through a telescope, and they're already contaminating images of the cosmos captured by observatories all over the world. Unless something changes dramatically in terms of international regulation of satellite numbers, reflectivity and broadcasting, experts like Lawler believe that impact on astronomical research will intensify.
"It's kind of like we're going through this transition (similar to) when the first cars were on the roads. A Model T would drive up the road and you'd run out to go look at it," Lawler said. "But now you live next to a giant freeway, full of cars. So that's kind of the transition that we're going through with satellites in the night sky right now."
Mega-constellations' silver lining
It's the dawn of mega-constellations, tens of thousands of small satellites only about 300 miles (483 kilometers) above Earth, launched by private companies to provide global high-speed internet access.
Elon Musk's SpaceX is responsible for roughly a third of all active satellites in orbit, more than any other company or country, including the US government.
SpaceX has already launched more than 2,000 satellites with plans to launch at least 42,000 more for its mega-constellation called Starlink. Other distant competitors include Amazon's Project Kuiper and London-based satellite company OneWeb.
While thousands of small Starlink satellites are problematic for astronomers, they're also providing much-needed internet access to people in rural or war-torn parts of the world.
Oleg Kutkov is a Ukrainian engineer and amateur astronomer who bought a Starlink terminal on Ebay in December to take apart for fun, never thinking he'd actually be able to use it in his apartment in Kiev. But when Russia invaded in February, Elon Musk activated Starlink service over Ukraine, and Kutkov has been using it as his backup internet service ever since.
"We are getting all the information from the internet about airstrikes, about enemy force movements. Should we hide, should we not hide? Can we go outside or not?" Kutkov said.
Kutkov said he used to side with astronomers like Lawler in thinking that the concerns about Starlink impeding observations of the cosmos outweighed its benefits, but Russia's invasion is changing his mind.
"I was 100% with astronomers," Kutkov said. "But in the current situation, when we really need internet connectivity, that's starting to be more important."
A wrench in asteroid detection
For Kutkov and other Ukrainians, Starlink is a lifesaver. But NASA is worried that second-generation Starlink, which could begin launching as soon as this month, could someday contribute to ending life on Earth as we know it.
NASA uses ground-based telescopes to hunt for potentially killer asteroids. In a letter to the FCC in February, NASA stated it "estimates that there would be a Starlink in every single asteroid survey image," which could have "a detrimental effect on our planet's ability to detect and possibly redirect a potentially catastrophic impact."
"Finding these asteroids well in advance of when they could hit the Earth is vitally important to our species' survival," Lawler said.
SpaceX did not respond to requests for a comment for this story, but the company addressed astronomers' concerns about satellites impacting observations in a statement in April 2020.
"We firmly believe in the importance of a natural night sky for all of us to enjoy, which is why we have been working with leading astronomers around the world," the statement reads, and SpaceX has made changes by "adding a deployable visor to the satellite to block sunlight from hitting the brightest parts of the spacecraft."
But astronomers such as Lawler say those changes are not enough. As of now, there are no binding international rules monitoring mega-constellations, and SpaceX isn't waiting for regulators to catch up. It's launching, on average, about 50 new Starlink satellites every week.
"We're already seeing so many satellites now," Lawler said. "And there's about to be 10 times as many."
The-CNN-Wire
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https://www.kitv.com/news/national/satellite-pollution-is-threatening-to-alter-our-view-of-the-night-sky/article_0d55ab2d-e759-5900-9b97-e71233211d7c.html
| 2022-04-05T03:43:06Z
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A Senate panel voted along party lines on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first step in a series taken by Democrats to confirm her by the end of the week.
After the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-11, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer moved to use the power of the full Senate majority to force her nomination to a floor vote. It will take 51 votes on Monday evening to break the deadlock and send her nomination to the floor.
Senate Republican and Democratic leaders agree that Jackson is a well-qualified nominee, but almost all GOP senators are expected to oppose her. Jackson, 51, sits on DC's federal appellate court and had been considered the front-runner for the vacancy since Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement. Jackson previously worked as a clerk for Breyer, a federal public defender, an attorney in private practice, a federal district court judge and a member of the US Sentencing Commission.
If confirmed, Jackson will be the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice.
"Justice Jackson will bring to the Supreme Court, the highest level of skill, integrity, civility and grace," said Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, the Judiciary Committee chairman, in explaining his support for her on Monday. "This committee's action today is nothing less than making history. I'm honored to be part of it."
But the vast majority of Senate Republicans will oppose her, citing concerns with her judicial philosophy, or lack thereof, her sentencing in some criminal cases and her advocacy for certain clients. So far, only three Senate Republicans -- Maine Sen. Susan Collins, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski -- have said they would support Jackson.
"My support rests on Judge Jackson's qualifications, which no one questions; her demonstrated judicial independence; her demeanor and temperament; and the important perspective she would bring to the court as a replacement for Justice Breyer," said Murkowski on Monday. "It also rests on my rejection of the corrosive politicization of the review process for Supreme Court nominees, which, on both sides of the aisle, is growing worse and more detached from reality by the year."
Some GOP senators said on Monday they were not swayed by Jackson's assertion that she does not have a judicial philosophy per se but instead a methodology that ensures she rules impartially.
"The judge must call balls and strikes," said Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn, alluding to Chief Justice John Roberts' metaphor comparing a judge to an umpire. "And given what I've seen, and her unwillingness to disclose her judicial philosophy, and disavow an expansionist view of unenumerated rights, I have concerns that Judge Jackson will be pinch hitting for one team or the other."
Other Republican senators portrayed Jackson as a pawn of the "radical left." Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said he believed "she will prove to be the most extreme and the furthest-left justice ever to serve on the United States Supreme Court." Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton said Jackson would "coddle criminals and terrorists." And Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley lambasted her sentencing decisions in some child pornography cases.
Democrats said that some Republicans were fear-mongering and cherry-picking cases, noting she authored over 550 cases in her eight years as a district judge and had already been confirmed by the Senate to three prior positions. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said that Jackson "had the very low reversal rate of only 2%." Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the GOP had engaged in "meritless demagoguery" and "concocted outrage." And New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker noted Jackson's support from law enforcement groups, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police, and those advocating for victims like the National Children's Alliance.
One potential Republican vote for Jackson was South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who supported Jackson a year ago for her current job. But he said last week that he would oppose her, citing her sentencing for cases of child pornography and representation of detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
Graham, a member of the Judiciary Committee, said that while Jackson exhibits "exceptionally good character," she was too lenient in sentencing those cases and had an "activist zeal" in calling former President George W. Bush and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld war criminals in legal briefs as she advocated for a detainee.
"My decision is based upon her record of judicial activism, flawed sentencing methodology regarding child pornography cases and a belief Judge Jackson will not be deterred by the plain meaning of the law when it comes to liberal causes," said Graham.
An in-depth CNN review of the child pornography cases showed that Jackson had mostly followed common judicial sentencing practices. It has become a norm among judges to issue sentences below the guidelines in such cases that don't involve producing the pornography itself. As for her advocacy for Guantanamo detainees, Jackson argued that they had been tortured and subjected to other inhumane treatment but did not explicitly use the phrase "war criminal." Jackson's four detainee clients were not convicted and were eventually released from Guantanamo.
Durbin refuted Graham on both issues on the Senate floor last week, calling Jackson "in the mainstream of sentencing" of child pornography cases and saying Republicans have also voted for President Donald Trump's judges who "do exactly the same thing she does." He said it was a "gross exaggeration and unfair on its face" to say that Jackson had called Bush administration officials "war criminals."
It's rare for the Senate Judiciary Committee to tie on a Supreme Court nomination. But nomination battles have become increasingly contentious, and the current Senate is split 50-50, so there are an even number of Democrats and Republicans on the panel, rather than the majority party holding more seats.
Over the past five decades, the panel has deadlocked once -- over Clarence Thomas, who was facing sexual harassment allegations. Fifteen justices -- William Rehnquist, John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, David Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch , Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett -- passed the committee during that timeframe.
In 1987, Democrats who controlled the committee voted to unfavorably recommend President Ronald Reagan's nominee Robert Bork on ideological grounds. And in 2020, Democrats boycotted a committee vote on Barrett, arguing that the chamber should not consider President Donald Trump's lifetime appointment to the court while the country was voting in the presidential election.
In the Trump era, Senate Republicans strengthened the conservatives' grip on the court from 5-4 to 6-3, after holding up President Barack Obama's nominee Merrick Garland during another election year -- 2016 -- and then confirming Gorsuch in 2017, and Coney Barrett in 2020 to replace the late Ginsburg. Jackson's confirmation would likely replace a liberal -- Breyer -- with another.
"I think all indications are that Judge Jackson is going to be a liberal activist from the bench," said Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell on Fox last week. "But the good news for people like me, is the Court is still 6-3."
"We made massive changes over the last four years that I think put the Court in a very solid position with a great number of judges who believe in the quaint notion that maybe a judge ought to follow the law," he added.
This story and headline have been updated with additional developments Monday.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/national/supreme-court-nominee-ketanji-brown-jackson-expected-to-be-confirmed-this-week-after-senate-panel/article_b5040152-cc97-5e3f-92c9-af2d6af16241.html
| 2022-04-05T03:43:13Z
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CHEYENNE – The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office has identified the suspect killed over the weekend amid an exchange of gunfire with a deputy. The deputy survived the shooting and has been described as doing OK.
In a brief statement Monday providing updated details of the shooting incident, LCSO said that "the deceased suspect from this shooting incident has been identified as 31-year-old Rance Tillman of Cheyenne."
No further details about Tillman were available from local authorities. He does not appear to have a criminal record involving any felonies in Laramie County, based on a search performed for the Wyoming Tribune Eagle by an official in the Laramie County District Court Clerk's Office.
On Saturday, a deputy had been shot but survived after a suspect in a robbery of a student at Laramie County Community College later opened fire after a brief, slow-speed chase. The shooting incident occurred in approximately the 3500 block of Miles Court.
As of Monday, the sheriff’s deputy remained in the hospital at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center and still was in stable condition, the sheriff’s office said. LCSO further described the deputy's condition as "still recovering."
The deputy-involved shooting incident continues to be under investigation by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. DCI typically investigates such incidents for LCSO, and Sheriff Danny Glick had requested this involvement.
Once DCI finishes its review, it may write a report, according to Forrest Williams, interim director of the state agency. "Our report on this situation will be provided to the district attorney's office," Williams told the WTE Saturday. Such a document could be released to the public, following the finalization of any decision made by the local prosecutor (in this instance, likely the D.A.) on the case, he added.
"That’s quite ways down the road before we will be able to do that," Williams said of when such a document could be available and when the probe would be wrapped up.
Also over the weekend, an LCCC spokesperson provided a rundown of what occurred in the incident that began on campus. At approximately 1:20 p.m., the college's Campus Safety office was called by an LCCC student reporting that their phone and car keys had been stolen. This student also "contacted the Laramie County Sheriff’s Department regarding the incident," the spokesperson wrote in an email to the WTE. "LCCC Campus Safety remained available to provide support as needed."
When Campus Safety responded to the incident, "the non-student had already left campus," the spokesperson wrote. "The Laramie County Sheriff’s Department was notified of the situation and took prompt action. LCCC would like to thank our Campus Safety team and the Laramie County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance, and our thoughts go out to the injured deputy and his family."
Many others shared similar sentiments.
In response to a Facebook post on the LCSO's page about the incident, more than 200 comments had been made as of Monday evening. Many of those posting said they were praying for the deputy, and offered other supportive statements.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/laramie-county-sheriff-s-office-identifies-suspect-killed-in-exchange-of-gunfire-with-deputy/article_c101051b-440d-58e2-a925-a572771617a6.html
| 2022-04-05T03:56:30Z
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LOCAL NEWS LIVE: Kansas rallies, beats North Carolina 72-69 to win NCAA title
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - What looked like a lost cause turned into one of the sweetest wins ever for Kansas.
The Jayhawks brought their fourth NCAA title back to Allen Fieldhouse on Monday thanks to a second-half flurry that erased a 16-point deficit and eventually overcame North Carolina 72-69 in an epic battle of power programs.
It was the largest comeback in national championship history, surpassing the 1963 title game when Loyola overcame a 15-point deficit to beat Cincinnati at the buzzer, 60-58.
“Tonight we obviously labored in the first half,” said KU coach Bill Self, who won his second championship. “But the kids competed.”
David McCormack scored the go-ahead bucket from close range with 1:21 left, then another at the 22-second mark to put the Jayhawks ahead by three.
North Carolina missed its final four shots, including Caleb Love’s desperation 3 at the buzzer. His heave came up short after officials ruled that Kansas guard DaJuan Harris Jr., stepped out on an inbounds pass with 4.3 seconds left.
The Tar Heels went scoreless over the final 1:41. They couldn’t find an answer for KU over the final 20 minutes.
“They were penetrating and doing whatever they wanted,” Love said.
After McCormick’s go-ahead bucket, Love drove to the basket but his shot got blocked. North Carolina got an offensive rebound and fed to Armando Bacot under the bucket. But the big man lost his footing and turned it over, then limped off the court, unable to return.
“I thought I really got the angle that I wanted and then I just rolled my ankle,” Bacot said.
That put Brady Manek, not as good a defender, on McCormack, and the Kansas big man backed in Manek for the shot that put the Jayhawks ahead by three.
“When we had to have a basket, we went to Big Dave, and he delivered,” Self said.
McCormack and Jalen Wilson led KU with 15 points each. Christian Braun scored 10 of his 12 in the second half and transfer Remy Martin had 11 of his 14 over the final 20 minutes. The Jayhawks outscored Carolina 47-29 in the second half.
Carolina had scored 16 straight points late in the first half to open a 40-25 advantage at the break, but top-seeded KU (34-6) went on a 31-10 run over the opening 10 minutes of the second to take a six-point lead and set up a fantastic finish.
Bacot had 15 points and 15 rebounds to become the first player to record double-doubles in all six tournament games. He finished the season with 31 double-doubles, but it was not enough. Carolina was trying to join 1985 Villanova as only the second 8 seed to win March Madness.
Instead, the Tar Heels (29-10) fell one win short and dropped to 6-6 all-time in title games. This was their record 21st — and possibly most unlikely — trip to the Final Four. They made it to the final by beating Duke in a back-and-forth thriller and sending Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski into retirement.
There are no banners for that, though.
Instead, another will hang back in Lawrence, and McCormack, thanks to his late-game heroics, will go down in KU lore, along with Mario Chalmers, Danny Manning and the rest of the Kansas greats.
This title was three years in the making. KU was 28-3 and the odds-on favorite heading into March of 2020. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and stopped both the Jayhawks, and the season, in their tracks.
Seven players from that roster are on this one, as well. In some of their minds there were no “what-might-have-beens” about 2020 -- they knew they would have won it. They won this one instead, and showed, once again, it’s never good to count them out.
While this wasn’t quite the 47-15 beatdown they put on Miami over the final 20 minutes in the Elite Eight, it was still darn impressive given the circumstances.
Ochai Agbaji, the team’s lone All-American, finished with 12 points and found breathing room after UNC’s lockdown guard, Leaky Black, got his fourth foul 6 minutes into the second half.
“This is a special group of guys,” Agbaji said. “We’re going down in history. All I got to say is, ‘Rock Chalk, baby.’”
___
More AP college basketball: http://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/05/kansas-tops-north-carolina-72-69-ncaa-championship/
| 2022-04-05T05:04:18Z
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Suspect at large after multiple children shot in Kentucky
COVINGTON, Ky. (WXIX) - Three underage victims and a 41-year-old man were shot Monday night in Covington, Kentucky, according to police.
Police say the shooting stemmed from a large fight involving numerous juveniles. It happened around 6:45 p.m. near the intersection of West 17th Street and Russell Street, WXIX reports.
Officers found victims at the scene ranging from 7 to 14 years old in addition to the adult victim. The victims were transported to area hospitals, police say. Their statuses are unknown.
The suspect is at large, and authorities are working to get a search warrant, according to sources close to the investigation.
Multiple families of the victims gathered outside the emergency room entrance at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Robert Gary drove there with his best friend, whose son was one of those shot. He says the experience has been frantic, emotional and upsetting.
“He’s pretty traumatized by the situation because that is his baby boy,” Gary said.
Gary says the child, Jontay, is quiet and not violent. He says he keeps to himself and plays on his tablet.
“I have no idea,” said Gary when asked why the shooting happened. “I don’t know. It’s an insane situation right there, you know? Just want to shoot everybody? It don’t make no sense. I couldn’t even imagine what he was thinking, you know?”
Jared Zach lives near the scene of the shooting.
“It makes me sick to my stomach because I see all these kids, and they are in this environment, and you know, this is not a good situation that we are in right now,” Zach said. “Especially when we are getting out of COVID and everything, and all the tensions are boiling, and you are living in this environment where drug and crime is so high, and it just worries me a lot. It scares me because I’m going to have to raise my son in this type of situation, and there is no foreseeable end to it.”
Copyright 2022 WXIX via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/05/suspect-large-after-multiple-children-shot-kentucky/
| 2022-04-05T05:04:26Z
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Disney says character hugs, interactions will return soon
(CNN) - Disney guests will soon be able to hug their favorite characters again.
Walt Disney World and Disneyland guests can get up close and personal autographs, photos and hugs with Mickey Mouse and friends. COVID restrictions will be relaxed as early as April 18 for the traditional character interactions.
Disney parks have slowly been returning to normal operations, with Disney World’s Festival of Fantasy Parade starting back two weeks ago.
Meanwhile in California, Disneyland’s famous parade is expected to start up the marching band again the weekend of April 22.
While Disney is getting rid of some COVID restrictions, face masks are still required for all guests, ages 2 and older, on Disney buses and monorails. In Florida, masks are expected indoors for all guests who are not fully vaccinated, and in California, masks are recommended for everyone indoors.
Both parks encourage guests to get vaccinated.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/05/disney-says-character-hugs-interactions-will-return-soon/
| 2022-04-05T06:35:31Z
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Independence baseball downs county rival Shady Spring
WVSSAC Baseball
Published: Apr. 5, 2022 at 1:00 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
SHADY SPRING, W.Va. (WVVA) - The Shady Spring baseball team hosted Independence on Monday.
The Patriots jumped out in front early and never gave up the lead. Independence won in five innings: 20-5.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/05/independence-baseball-downs-county-rival-shady-spring/
| 2022-04-05T06:35:38Z
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A mainstay of Hawaii’s tourism industry is the the Japanese wedding business, but that has dwindled since the pandemic. A normally thriving venue for destination weddings from Japan pivoted to survive and is now catering to the local Hawaii community.
HONOLULU (KITV4) -- A mainstay of Hawaii’s tourism industry is the Japanese wedding business, but that has dwindled since the pandemic. A normally thriving venue for destination weddings from Japan pivoted to survive and is now catering to the local Hawaii community.
Waikiki Leia Weddings and Restaurant sits on a 30,000 square-foot estate with a view of Diamond Head. Before the pandemic, 25 to 40 Japanese Weddings, would be welcomed at the Chapel on the grounds of Waikiki Leia.
Since the wedding market shrunk, the venue redirected its reception catering experience into restaurant service.
"After pandemic, maintaining property we just gave up, we said let’s do something for local," Tom Sasagake, manager of Waikiki Leia Weddings & Restaurant, said.
Since July 2021, staff has been serving dinner to residents. In October, breakfast and lunch were added -- 50% of the workers had to be laid off during the pandemic, while others like Rira Oba, who worked with brides on their wedding gowns, is now a server.
“Well, I’m really happy to be here as a server, but I hope I can get back to my purpose work. I hope Japanese couples coming back as soon as possible," Oba said.
For locals who discover Waikiki Leia, they are surprised at this hidden gem.
“I didn’t know what to expect. There’s a wedding chapel and there’s a restaurant in there. But as soon as we came in through the doors, nice surprise, great décor, super friendly people and great service, and the back area is so serene and the view of Diamond Head it’s pretty nice," diner Kristine Joo said.
“I love to take clients for lunch, and this place will be my lunch place, many more times in the future, because I’m pretty sure all my clients don’t know about this place. I like to take clients to try something new," said Stephanie Chan.
Since more locals are enjoying Waikiki Leia and spending money that makes up for the loss of the Japanese Wedding Market, management says they will continue catering to residents even when visitors from Japan return.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to CYip@kitv.com
Cynthia is an award-winning journalist who returned to Hawaii as an Anchor/Reporter/MMJ from Houston. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaii with a B.A. and M.B.A. DM her on IG @CynthiaYipTV to share stories.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/business/japanese-wedding-venue-pivots-to-serve-residents-in-honolulu/article_a946a16c-b496-11ec-86ad-2b6cfc3bce72.html
| 2022-04-05T06:39:56Z
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HONOLULU (KITV4) -- COVID-19 infection numbers are down, but the pandemic continues to have an impact on schools. This particularly applies to preschools, some which now have lengthy waitlists.
Seagull Schools told KITV4 in March that they have a waitlist of more than 100 students. Several other preschools in the area say parents trying to get into their preschools right now are facing a wait as well.
Makiki Christian Church Preschool says it didn't have a waitlist prior to the pandemic. That's changed.
The pre-kindergarten classroom at Makiki Christian Church Preschool is busy. Some parents would love for their kid to be part of the hustle and bustle instead of sitting on a waitlist.
"We tried to accommodate everyone who tried to apply. At this point, we just let people know we don't have space, and they should look elsewhere," said Makiki Christan Church Preschool Director Sandra Ishihara-Shibata.
Makiki had to make adjustments during the pandemic that they still have to deal with today. Other preschools in the area may also be facing the same issues.
"A lot of the preschools, the class-size ratio is a lot smaller. Therefore they take less kids. We used to have 20 kids per class. Now we only have 14," said Ishihara-Shibata.
Some were not able to survive the new environment. Seagull Schools was threatened with having to move or shut down. These factors also had a ripple affect on the market.
"Some closed down and never opened. So that's one of the tragedies of COVID," said Ishihara-Shibata.
With more parents willing to return their kids to school, enrollments continue to climb. Makiki tried a different solution.
"I did open up another classroom. So that does help to ease the issue just a little bit," said Ishihara-Shibata.
Still, it's not enough. There are waitlists for Makiki and other schools. And there is the additional obstacle of finding teachers for the classrooms.
"A lot of teachers have decided to retire. That's why a lot of preschools are looking for new teachers," said Ishihara-Shibata.
Makiki's Director says most of the students who left came back. A good portion of their students however, are new. The school doesn't expect any openings until at least June.
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https://www.kitv.com/news/business/waitlists-teacher-shortages-impacting-honolulu-preschools/article_6c449da2-b499-11ec-8117-2700355a01df.html
| 2022-04-05T06:40:02Z
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The Senate has reached a bipartisan deal to provide an additional $10 billion in Covid-19 assistance, less than half of what the White House originally had requested.
It would allow the Biden administration to purchase more vaccines and therapeutics, as well as maintain testing capacity and research. But it does not include $5 billion in funding for global Covid-19 aid, nor would it replenish the program that pays for testing, treating and vaccinating the uninsured.
The deal would be paid for using unspent funds from the Democrats' $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, which was enacted in March 2021.
However, it would not draw from money previously provided for state and local government assistance. That proposed offset prompted several House Democrats to torpedo a $15.6 billion Covid-19 aid package that was initially part of the full-year spending bill.
"We urge Congress to move promptly on this $10 billion package because it can begin to fund the most immediate needs, as we currently run the risk of not having some critical tools like treatments and tests starting in May and June," White House press secretary Jen Psaki wrote in a statement Monday.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, and Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, who was negotiating for the Republicans, each released the text and summaries of the deal.
Here's what's in the deal:
Vaccines, therapeutics and testing
The deal would funnel $9.25 billion to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, according to the summaries.
At least $5 billion would be spent on purchasing therapeutics, such as oral antivirals. Currently, there is a limited supply of treatments, including monoclonal antibodies, which are provided free of charge to Americans, regardless of insurance coverage.
The federal government has already scaled back on weekly allocations of many Covid-19 therapeutics due to both a lack of demand and a drop in available funding. Distribution of two monoclonal antibody treatments -- sotrovimab and bebtelovimab -- was scaled back "because Congress has failed to provide additional funding for the Covid-19 response," a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said in a statement to CNN last month.
In a fact sheet released last month, the White House said the federal government has no more funding to buy additional monoclonals, including a planned order for March 25. It also said it does not have the ability to purchase additional oral antiviral pills beyond the 20 million already secured.
Also, the additional funds from the deal would be used to purchase vaccines, including booster shots, vaccines for children and, potentially, new types of vaccines. The Biden administration has warned that second Covid-19 vaccine booster shots -- or a new type of vaccine, if needed -- will not be free and readily available to all Americans, if and when they are authorized, without additional funding from Congress.
And the funds would be used to maintain testing capacity so that the manufacturing of at-home tests and lab capacity for PCR tests does not decline during the summer to the point where it can't be ramped up again in the case of a future Covid-19 surge.
Among the ways to ensure testing is available in the future is for the federal government to purchase testing supplies from manufacturers or to provide funding to maintain state and local testing infrastructure.
Future variants
Some $750 million would go to the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for research, clinical trials and development of vaccines for emerging variants. It could also be used to expand vaccine manufacturing capacity as needed.
Without additional funding, the government will have to wind down some Covid-19 surveillance investments that help it detect the next variant, the White House has said.
Here's how it will be paid for:
The $10 billion legislation would be fully offset by Covid-19 relief funds that were previously authorized by Congress but have not yet been spent, according to a summary provided by Romney's office.
Nearly $2 billion is left over from the Shuttered Venues Operators Grant program, which gave money to live music venues, theaters and museums that were forced to shut their doors for some period of time due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The program stopped taking applications in August. It awarded more than $14 billion in grants.
The new bill would also repurpose about $900 million that is remaining for the Covid-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance program, which allowed some small businesses to receive up to $15,000 that did not need to be paid back. The program would be left with enough money to accommodate pending loan modifications and the recently announced six-month deferment on loan payments, according to a summary of the bill provided by Senate Democrats.
The new bill would use $1.6 billion of unspent funds that were previously given to the US Department of Agriculture by both the Democrats' coronavirus relief package, known as the American Rescue Plan Act, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, which was signed into law by then-President Donald Trump in 2020, according to a summary from Senate Democrats.
More than $2.3 billion would come from the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program, which provided funding to businesses to cover up to half of their payroll costs for certain categories of employees for up to six months. In return, those businesses were required to make several commitments, including to not involuntarily furlough or lay off employees within that group during the same six-month period.
The new bill would also use remaining unspent money in the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, totaling $500 million. That program provided funds to colleges so that they could give emergency financial aid grants to students whose lives were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The relief package would rescind more than $1.8 billion from the $10 billion in Covid-19 relief funds provided to the State Small Business Credit Initiative Program. The program aims to help states, the District of Columbia, territories and tribal governments "expand access to capital for small businesses emerging from the pandemic, build ecosystems of opportunity and entrepreneurship, and create high-quality jobs." The bill would not rescind the money allocated specifically for small and disadvantaged businesses and very small businesses, according to a summary provided by Senate Democrats.
The new bill would also use $887 million from the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund, which -- due to a drafting error in previous legislation -- has not been able to use any of the funds without congressional action, according to a summary provided by the Senate Democrats.
The-CNN-Wire
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https://www.kitv.com/news/coronavirus/heres-whats-in-the-10-billion-covid-19-aid-bill/article_d7562688-1abc-53b3-9eb8-d839c2172c2d.html
| 2022-04-05T06:40:08Z
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