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The US Food and Drug Administration authorized Novavax's Covid-19 vaccine on Friday for emergency use in adolescents. It is the fourth coronavirus vaccine available in the United States and, unlike the others, is uses a protein-based technology.
The vaccine was authorized for adults in July. With the latest emergency use authorization, it also will be available as a two-dose primary series for ages 12 to 17.
In this age group, "overall, the clinical efficacy of the vaccine is around 80%," said Silvia Taylor, Novavax's senior vice president global corporate affairs. The vaccine has shown 90% overall efficacy in adults.
Novavax announced in early July that its vaccine shows "broad" immune response to currently circulating variants, including the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
"One of the things that we believe makes our vaccine unique is that we actually see really good immune response against variants with our prototype vaccine. And so, if you think about the vaccine that we already have authorized that we're talking about now to be authorized for adolescents, we actually see a good immune response against variants including Omicron, including BA.1 and BA.5," Taylor said.
Protein-based vaccines use a more traditional approach than mRNA vaccines, teaching the immune system to recognize little modified pieces of the virus that the vaccine is targeting. In this case, that means fragments of the coronavirus spike protein. The vaccine was created out of a genetic sequence of the original strain of the coronavirus.
This technology is also used for vaccines for conditions such as hepatitis B and pertussis.
Taylor told CNN that having a protein-based coronavirus vaccine available helps give adolescents more options.
"We believe fundamentally that people want a choice in the vaccines that they're able to have for themselves, and especially in this population that we're talking about for children," Taylor said. "So, we think that that kind of reassuring technology platform that's understood, combined with the high levels of efficacy and the well-tolerated safety profile, can help increase that vaccination number in children."
Next, Novavax plans to have trial data on using the vaccine among children younger than 12.
"We recently initiated a trial that we're calling Hummingbird, which is a Phase 2b/3 trial, and that's going to be an effectiveness and efficacy trial and also clearly be looking at safety, and that will have three age cohorts," Taylor said, referring to groups of children ages 6 to 11, ages 2 to 5, and 6 months to 23 months.
"The first cohort of kids, that trial was already initiated, and that's for kids 6 to 11," Taylor said. "We expect those results in the early part of 2023."
Novavax is working on an updated version of its vaccine that specifically targets the Omicron coronavirus variant and its subvariants -- and the company could file for authorization later this year, she said.
"Our intent is to file for authorization of a BA.5-containing bivalent form of a vaccine in the fourth quarter of this year," Taylor said.
"This is consistent with the approach that other manufacturers are following," she said. "We would submit that for formal authorization for EUA, just like we did for other indications to the US FDA." | https://www.kitv.com/news/coronavirus/fda-authorizes-novavax-covid-19-vaccine-for-emergency-use-in-ages-12-17/article_9deeb00e-2582-5619-8c49-316d827898c9.html | 2022-08-20T03:55:17Z |
This combination of undated photos provided by the United States District Court District of Hawaii shows Walter Glenn Primose, left, also known as Bobby Edward Fort, and his wife Gwynn Darle Morrison, also known as Julie Lyn Montague, purportedly in KGB, the former Russian spy agency, uniforms. Primose, a U.S. defense contractor, and Morrison, who lived for decades under the identities of two dead Texas children, have been charged with identity theft and conspiring against the government, according to federal court records unsealed in Honolulu. The couple were arrested Friday, July 22, 2022, in Kapolei on the island of Oahu. (United States District Court District of Hawaii via AP)
HONOLULU (KITV4) -- The U.S. government is retracting its allegation against a Kapolei couple accused of living under false aliases.
The couple -- Walter Primrose and his wife, named as Gwynn Morrison in the charging documents – were accused of living under the names "Bobby" Edward Fort and Julie "Lyn" Montague, since 1987.
Morrison’s attorney, Megan Kau, filed a motion as a supplement to a motion and joinder seeking to revoke the couple’s detention order.
In that motion, filed Friday, Kau included an email that she claims came from the government addressed to the defendants, retracting the allegation that they’d been using other aliases.
“Good afternoon. In an earlier argument the United States referenced the seizure of letters addressed to the defendants in their false identities in which the greetings in the letters referred to the defendants in names other than Bobby, Julie, Walter and Gwynn and thus could indicate that the defendants had other aliases. The United States retracts that argument. Two individuals have said that those references were nicknames for Walter Primrose and Gwynn Morrison and some of them were the product of inside jokes in relation to Primrose and Morrison,” the email stated.
In the motion, Kau stated that two of the three arguments the government has made to hold Primrose and Morrison without bail have since been retracted. Kau also said that the claims that the couple are Russian spies has damaged their reputations.
“For these reasons and for the reasons stated in the Motion and the Joinder, the defense respectfully asks to release Morrison under a condition or combination of conditions (also discussed in the pending Motion) that will reasonably assure her appearance,” Kau wrote.
The couple has been charged with conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S., false statement in passport application and aggravated identity theft. They face up to 17 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
Matthew has been the digital content manager for KITV4 since September 2021. Matthew is a prolific writer, editor, and self-described "newsie" who's worked in television markets in Oklahoma, California, and Hawaii. | https://www.kitv.com/news/crime/us-government-retracts-allegation-that-kapolei-couple-lived-under-false-aliases/article_81f5ea7e-2038-11ed-9d65-b3cb513d5e8b.html | 2022-08-20T03:55:23Z |
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HONOLULU (KITV4) -- As the tenant in a two-bedroom home in Makawao, Ralph Monson claims he uses electricity in a fairly consistent manner, which is why he was surprised to receive his electric bill this month charging him $150.
Monson dug up his old bills he kept from 2020, which were $100.
"The main problem I have with it is that's a 50% increase in the past two years," Monson said.
Mimi Burke, who rents a unit in a Mo'ili'ili apartment complex, also reported her bill has gone up about $50 in the past few months.
"Rents are going up, electric is going up, food going up, not my income," Burke lamented.
Environmental advocate Henry Curtis called the price hike "a perfect storm."
"Several things are happening at the same time. Obviously the Ukrainian war, supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic," Curtis added.
Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) explained in 2020, the peak of the pandemic, oil prices were historically low because no one was buying.
Costs rose as the economy reopened, spiking early this year because of tensions in Ukraine, meaning HECO is paying more for the fuels used to generate electricity.
According to the company, many customers were using more electricity during the stay at home orders, but fuel prices were so low that there was not much impact on their bills.
"Right now, unfortunately, we are at a terrible time, where there is nothing that can be done in the immediate short term for reducing the impact to electric bills," Curtis said.
HECO estimates Oahu customers will have to pay about $15 more after the island's last-standing coal plant closes next month.
The company reported it is in the process of adding more renewable energy projects that will eventually protect the state from fluctuating oil prices because they have a set price.
Four HECO clean energy projects on Maui are either awaiting approval or expected to come on line within the next two years.
'A'ali'i is a reporter with KITV. He was born and raised on the island of Maui and graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/more-hawaii-residents-reporting-higher-electric-bills-amid-perfect-storm-driving-up-oil-prices/article_0d8915e2-2026-11ed-8a65-432f84b04069.html | 2022-08-20T03:55:35Z |
U.S. Army responds to 40-acre fire at Makua Military Reservation by KITV4 Web Staff Aug 19, 2022 Aug 19, 2022 Updated 18 min ago 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email US Army Garrison Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii (KITV4) -- Army firefighters have responded to a wildfire burning on the Makua Military Reservation. The fire began on August 19, 2022 around 12:30 p.m. around the south ridge of the reservation. Maui man arrested at Kahului Airport after allegedly shooting at three men, injuring oneArmy first responders are fighting the fire with aerial support, including water bucket drops. Approximately 40 acres have burned, as responders work to contain the fire. There is no threat to those living nearby at this time.Since no active training or activity were taking place in the area, the cause of the fire is under investigation. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Tags Army Firefighter Military First Responder Airfield Wildfire Threat Activity More From KITV 4 Island News Video Dr. Scott Miscovich with 'Premier Medical Group Hawaii' joined KITV to discuss the current COVID surge. Updated Dec 25, 2021 Nā Mea Pono Na Mea Pono: Karen Matsunaga goes above and beyond as volunteer at Honolulu senior center Updated Jun 6, 2022 Local Maui residents asked to reduce water usage following water shortage declaration Updated Jul 1, 2022 Local Tanioka’s Charity Foundation in Honolulu a finalist for State Farm Neighborhood Assist Top 200 Updated Jun 7, 2022 News First-of-its-kind blood test screens for over 50 types of cancers Updated Aug 3, 2022 Crime & Courts Hawaii police officers get a raise and bonus under new union contract Updated Aug 2, 2022 Recommended for you
Video Dr. Scott Miscovich with 'Premier Medical Group Hawaii' joined KITV to discuss the current COVID surge. Updated Dec 25, 2021
Nā Mea Pono Na Mea Pono: Karen Matsunaga goes above and beyond as volunteer at Honolulu senior center Updated Jun 6, 2022
Local Maui residents asked to reduce water usage following water shortage declaration Updated Jul 1, 2022
Local Tanioka’s Charity Foundation in Honolulu a finalist for State Farm Neighborhood Assist Top 200 Updated Jun 7, 2022
Crime & Courts Hawaii police officers get a raise and bonus under new union contract Updated Aug 2, 2022 | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/u-s-army-responds-to-40-acre-fire-at-makua-military-reservation/article_e2f5e38c-202f-11ed-92ab-2399bf23b62e.html | 2022-08-20T03:55:41Z |
Children share their favorite parts of the Rockingham County Fair
Published: Aug. 19, 2022 at 11:20 PM EDT|Updated: 39 minutes ago
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - The Rockingham County Fair wraps up on Saturday. On the eve of the final day of the popular summer event, several young fairgoers shared why others should consider making a trip to the fair in the future.
Q: What is your favorite part of the fair?
A: Most of the kids said the fun rides, but other responses included:
- “Winning all the games.”
- “The derby and the rodeo”
- “I like those snowcones over there and the police.”
- “SNACKS!”
- “The carousel and I like Pepsi.”
- “Hanging out with my family.”
- “The balloon toss”
- “Zero Gravity, of course”
Funnel cakes were a favorite amongst the youngsters, but some made a note of candy apples, fried chicken, corndogs, popcorn, and cotton candy.
Q: Why should people come to the fair if they haven’t been yet?
A: There was only one overarching answer here: “Because it’s a lot of fun!”
Others added:
- “It’s a great atmosphere.”
- “You get to do things you normally wouldn’t”
- “Because there’s ‘polices’ here.”
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/20/children-share-their-favorite-parts-rockingham-county-fair/ | 2022-08-20T04:00:21Z |
Police identify Tenn. assault suspect after he left wallet in abandoned, stolen car
BARTLETT, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - Bartlett police charged a man with aggravated assault after he left his wallet in a stolen car that he abandoned following a wreck in a field, allowing officers to identify him.
The Memphis Police Department received an assault call early Sunday morning around midnight and were called to the Burger King at 1920 Whitten Road, where the victims told police what happened.
While sitting in their car at Main Event, the victims said a man in a stolen Honda fired shots at them and struck their car.
The victims then followed the suspect into Bartlett, where the suspect shot and hit another car before wrecking into a field near Kirby Whitten Road and Snowshoe Drive, police say.
At some point, the suspect abandoned the car and fled.
The Bartlett Police Department searched the area for the suspect, but did not locate him.
Police then checked the interior of the stolen car and discovered a wallet with the identification of 32-year-old Joseph Sanders and a stolen handgun.
Officers also found video that captured images of Sanders as he fled the area.
Bartlett issued warrants on Sanders for the crimes that occurred in their jurisdiction, and he was located at an address in Tipton County and transported to the Memphis Multi-Agency Gang Unit offices.
Sanders was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun, and vandalism.
His bond is set to $50,000.
Copyright 2022 WMC via Gray Media Group. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/20/police-identify-tenn-assault-suspect-after-he-left-wallet-abandoned-stolen-car/ | 2022-08-20T04:00:27Z |
Police stress safe social media practices from parents, students this school year
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - Going back to school can be a fun and exciting time that parents may want to share with friends and relatives with pictures on social media. But, police warn you to think twice.
The “About Me” and “Back to School” boards have become quite popular in the last few years on social media platforms, but they can give away too much information about your child.
Captain Jason Kidd with Harrisonburg Police Department says your child’s teacher and school should not be posted on the web. General information like hobbies could also pose safety hazards.
“Be careful posting about what your kids’ favorite hobbies are and things that could be used by a stranger to build rapport with them,” Kidd said.
He mentioned that sharing this information could “make a stranger seem like a friend [to young children] when they are not.”
For teens and young adults with their own phones and social media accounts, he cautions them about talking to people online they do not know in real life.
“If it sounds too good, it probably is, so don’t have that communication,” Kidd advises.
He also said never make it known if you’re home alone.
Two simple but not foolproof ways to protect yourself and your children are to use privacy settings and double-check before you post.
“Privacy settings are important,” Kidd said. “But just because your account is set to where you think you’re only posting to friends, that’s not always the case. Who’s to say your friends won’t repost something you post? Know your background. Make sure your home address is not in the background. Know what you’re posting and who you’re posting to.”
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/20/police-stress-safe-social-media-practices-parents-students-this-school-year/ | 2022-08-20T04:00:33Z |
RCBL Finals: Stuarts Draft forces game seven after dominant win over Bridgewater
Published: Aug. 20, 2022 at 12:00 AM EDT|Updated: 12 minutes ago
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - The RCBL Finals will come down to a deciding game after Stuarts Draft defeated Bridgewater 12-4 in game six on Friday evening. The series is now tied 3-3.
The Diamondbacks were dominant on offense. Jack Pausic, Chaz Harvey, Ryan Farris, and Will Hass drove in two runs each for Stuarts Draft.
Reds standout Derek Shifflett started throwing relief in the seventh inning but suffered an injury after colliding with his teammate. Shifflett was taken out of the game and received treatment.
Game seven of the RCBL Finals is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sunday night at Stuarts Draft..
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/20/rcbl-finals-stuarts-draft-forces-game-seven-after-dominant-win-over-bridgewater/ | 2022-08-20T04:12:24Z |
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Alfi, Inc. ("Alfi" or the "Company") (NasdaqCM: ALF).
On October 28, 2021, the Company disclosed that it had placed "each of Paul Pereira, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, Dennis McIntosh, the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and Charles Pereira, the Company's Chief Technology Officer, on paid administrative leave" and further that it had "authorized an independent internal investigation regarding certain corporate transactions and other matters." Then on November 16, 2021, the Company disclosed that it was unable to timely file its quarterly 10-Q report for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 due to "recent changes in the Company's [CEO] and [CFO] and in the Chair of the Audit Committee" as well as requiring "a new independent registered public accounting firm."
Thereafter, the Company and certain of its executives were sued in a securities class action lawsuit, charging them with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period in violation of federal securities laws, which remains ongoing.
KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Alfi's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to its shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.
If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Alfi shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqcm-alf/ to learn more.
KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients – including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors – in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.
To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.
Contact:
Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner
lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com
1-877-515-1850
1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200
New Orleans, LA 70163
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SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/20/alfi-investigation-initiated-by-former-louisiana-attorney-general-kahn-swick-amp-foti-llc-investigates-officers-directors-alfi-inc-alf/ | 2022-08-20T04:12:31Z |
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 11, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (NasdaqGS: LFST), if they purchased or acquired the Company's Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the Company's June 2021 initial public offering (the "IPO"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
If you purchased or acquired shares of LifeStance as above and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqgs-lfst/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by October 11, 2022.
LifeStance and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information in its IPO Registration Statement, violating federal securities laws.
The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) the Company's out-patient/virtual revenue growth was negatively affected by a decrease in virtual visits after COVID-19 lockdowns were lifted; (ii) an increasing number of in-person visits post-lockdown resulted in substantial increases to operating expenses; (iii) its physician retention rate had fallen significantly below the 87% highlighted in the IPO's registration statement leading to additional costs to bring on new physicians, who were less productive than the outgoing physicians they were replacing; and (iv) as a result, LifeStance Health's business metrics and financial prospects were not as strong as the IPO's registration statement represented.
The case is Nayani v. LifeStance Health Group, Inc., No. 22-cv-06833.
KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients – including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors – in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.
To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.
Contact:
Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner
lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com
1-877-515-1850
1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200
New Orleans, LA 70163
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SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/20/lifestance-health-shareholder-alert-by-former-louisiana-attorney-general-kahn-swick-amp-foti-llc-reminds-investors-with-losses-excess-100000-lead-plaintiff-deadline-class-action-lawsuit-against-lifestance-health-group-inc-lfst/ | 2022-08-20T04:12:37Z |
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 17, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against MINISO Group Holding Limited (NYSE: MNSO), if they purchased or acquired the Company's securities pursuant and/or traceable to the Company's October 2020 initial public offering (the "IPO"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
What You May Do
If you purchased or acquired securities of MINISO as above and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-mnso/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by October 17, 2022.
MINISO and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information in its IPO Registration Statement, violating federal securities laws.
On July 26, 2022, market researcher Blue Orca Capital reported on a myriad of issues involving the China-based company, including that "there is overwhelming evidence that MINISO misleads the market about its core business" and that "Chinese corporate filings also indicate, in our view, that the chairman siphoned hundreds of millions from the public company through opaque Caribbean jurisdictions as the middleman in a crooked headquarters deal," among other things.
On this news, the price of MINISO's American Depositary Shares fell $1.08, or 14.98%, to close at $6.13, on unusually heavy trading volume.
The case is Ashraf v. MINISO Group Holding Limited, No. 22-cv-05815.
KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients – including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors – in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.
To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.
Contact:
Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner
lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com
1-877-515-1850
1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200
New Orleans, LA 70163
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SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/20/miniso-group-shareholder-alert-by-former-louisiana-attorney-general-kahn-swick-amp-foti-llc-reminds-investors-with-losses-excess-100000-lead-plaintiff-deadline-class-action-lawsuit-against-miniso-group-holding-limited-mnso/ | 2022-08-20T04:12:44Z |
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until September 6, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Outset Medical, Inc. ("Outset" or the "Company") (NasdaqGS: OM), if they purchased the Company's shares between September 15, 2020 and June 13, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
If you purchased shares of Outset as above and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqgs-om/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by September 6, 2022.
Outset and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.
On May 5, 2022, the Company disclosed negative results for 1Q2022, which, among other things, analysts attributed to the untested nature of Tablo, its flagship product which is a dialysis machine that purifies tap water and then artificially purifies and removes toxins from the blood of patients suffering from kidney failure. On this news, shares of Outset fell more than 40% over the three trading days that followed, from a closing price of $39.94 per share on May 4, 2022, to a closing price of $23.06 per share on May 9, 2022.
Then, on June 13, 2022, the Company disclosed a hold on all shipments of Tablo for home use by the FDA until proper regulatory clearance was received. The Company subsequently disclosed that the "ship hold" had been in place for weeks before investors were informed and that as a result of the hold, the Company was "suspending our prior full-year and long-term guidance.". On this news, shares of Outset fell another 33%, from a closing price of $20.41 per share on June 13, 2022, to a closing price of $13.46 per share on June 14, 2022.
The case is Plymouth County Retirement Association v. Outset Medical, Inc., 22-cv-04016.
KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients – including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors – in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.
To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.
Contact:
Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner
lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com
1-877-515-1850
1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200
New Orleans, LA 70163
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SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/20/outset-medical-shareholder-alert-by-former-louisiana-attorney-general-kahn-swick-amp-foti-llc-reminds-investors-with-losses-excess-100000-lead-plaintiff-deadline-class-action-lawsuit-against-outset-medical-inc-om/ | 2022-08-20T04:12:51Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Weber Inc. (NYSE: WEBR) pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with Weber's August 2021 initial public offering (the "IPO") of the important September 27, 2022.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Weber securities pursuant and/or traceable to the Registration Statement you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Weber class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=7923 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 27, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the IPO Registration Statement featured false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Weber was reasonably likely to implement price increases; (2) as a result, consumer demand for Weber's products was reasonably likely to decrease; (3) due to the resulting inventory buildup, Weber was reasonably likely to run promotions to "enhance retail sell through"; (4) the foregoing would adversely impact Weber's financial results; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Weber's business, operations, and prospects, were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Weber class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=7923 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/20/rosen-globally-respected-investor-counsel-encourages-weber-inc-investors-secure-counsel-before-important-deadline-securities-class-action-webr/ | 2022-08-20T04:12:58Z |
Since 2015, Klamath County Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) coalition has orchestrated and presented the annual Klamath County Symposium, which tackles tough societal problems, such as child abuse, sexual abuse and, this year, human trafficking. The symposium is intended to inform the community and those working in relative fields on the prevalence of these forms of abuse and how to handle cases involving survivors.
Each symposium consists of guest speakers who are considered experts of their various fields, some local, some otherwise.** For the 2022 symposium, which took place Tuesday, Aug. 16, and Wednesday, Aug. 17, Klamath County CAP brought in specialty speakers Task Force Officer and Seattle Police Department Detective Megan Bruneau Zentner, and Forensic Interview Specialist, Jennifer Ginsberg, both of whom are embedded in Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Beginning her career as a volunteer systems-based advocate, Zentner said her work with survivors of violence was very rewarding. She soon became the AmeriCorps Victim Support Team Supervisor, and, after two years of running the program, she went into patrol, working in downtown Seattle. She soon earned the rank of detective and began her line of work in human trafficking.
“I have assisted on many sex trafficking investigations and operations,” Zentner said. “But my partner and I, back in 2011, were have some really righteous labor trafficking investigations and noticed that there was a real need.”
Zentner said that there were a lot of detectives in the Seattle PD who were assigned to work on doing sex trafficking cases, but there was no one working labor trafficking. Her work on labor trafficking lead to her designation as a Task Force Officer with the Seattle office of Homeland Security Investigations.
Jennifer Ginsberg began her career as a forensic interviewer at a child advocacy center at the children’s hospital of the University of Pittsburg Medical Center, where she worked for nearly a decade. She moved to Seattle in January of 2020 when she was hired to work for HSI.
Ginsberg is one of only 28 forensic interview specialist that work with HSI. Her line of work puts her on the front lines, working directly with those who have suffered at the hands of traffickers, building a rapport with survivors to establish a trusting, working relationship that will allow them to retell their stories.
The focus of the HS presentation was on labor trafficking -- a type of human trafficking that involves forced servitude by means of abusive control. It can take many forms and be found in lines of work such as hotels, domestic service, landscaping, factory work and agriculture, just to name a few.
“We hire people to do our landscaping and yardwork, and oftentimes we’re only paying the front-facing person,” Zentner said, “when there’s really a whole crew of people working for them, and we don’t know how that money is being allocated.”
The threshold, Zentner said, in order gain the clearance to investigate a case of labor trafficking, three parameters must be identified: force, fraud and coercion.
Traffickers make people work against their will through tactics of force, such as social and residential isolation, withholding of documentation like passports and physical force.
“Almost everyone I’ve worked with, their passport was withheld,” Zenter said.
When looking for signs of fraud, the investigator said they look into banking records and paystubs, to see if the suspected traffickers have been cashing victims’ paychecks and withholding pay.
Coercion, the last of the classifiers, refers to the manipulation tactics used by traffickers to maintain victim subservience. Threats of physical violence, deportation and violence against victims’ families are used to instill significant fear in their captives, decreasing the likelihood of any attempts to escape.
Another means of coercion is the promise of a “better life,” Zentner said, recalling a case she worked on where a young woman had thought she was coming to America to meet and marry a kind and loving man; but when she arrived, the man was not the man from his photos and proceeded to force her into hard labor on his ranch.
Zentner and Ginsberg said that labor trafficking happens everywhere, from the big cities, like Seattle, to smaller communities, like Klamath Falls.
Statistics presented in the agents’ slideshow revealed that there are currently an estimated 21 million people worldwide who are victims of labor trafficking. In 2018, the Oregon Department of Human Services reported 746 confirmed cases of labor trafficking across the state.
Zentner said one of the most common obstacles when working with victims of labor trafficking is the language barrier.
“Pretty much everyone I work with does not speak English, or very little,” Zentner said.
More often than not, the victims that Zentner works with are foreign to this country, making communication very difficult, depending on their origins. She said she has worked on cases with people from indigenous areas, one of which spoke a language for which only two translators exist within the United States.
“These are very righteous, unique, nuanced cases that occur over a long period of time,” Zentner said.
The presentation also touched on the issue of trust between victims and law enforcement.
“If you are here and you are working nonstop, and no one is paying you, and you’re really fearful of your employer, and then someone says, “Hey you can talk to me,” do you think you would feel safe talking to that person?” Zentner inquired.
Ginsberg’s portion of the presentation informed the audience of relative trauma and how psychological aspects of the abuse may affect interactions and interviews with a trafficked person. She defined trauma as the result of experiencing a “deeply distressing event,” which degrades a person’s sense of self and ability to cope with difficult emotions, and also diminishes a person’s capacity to feel a full range of emotions.
After having resources and social support systems withheld from them over the course of years, Ginsberg said survivors of trafficking have been robbed of their ability to trust even those who are trying to help them.
“Most trafficking survivors are going to be reluctant to disclose or identify themselves as a victim,” Ginsberg said. “Initially, it is really important to build that rapport and trust.”
Ginsberg said that it often takes multiple interviews in order to get the full scope of a survivor’s story. During the first interview, she said most people will deny suffering from any forms of abuse, reciting stories that their traffickers had instructed them to tell anyone who came asking.
may also come to see their abuser as their “protector” through a process called trauma bonding, which involves isolation of the victim, intermittent reward to reinforce behavior and emotional bonds, and frequent abuse that is portrayed as punishment. Ginsberg said this conditions survivors to protect the trafficker, regardless of the abuse they have received.
The presenter explained that this form of abuse shrinks a center of the brain known as the hippocampus, making the organization and recalling of memories a difficult process. Ginsberg said this also leads to a dissociation between memories and events.
Ginsberg emphasized that agencies which handle instances of human trafficking are not out to deport those who have fallen victim. Instead, she said they provide resources which may help the survivors maintain their residency to continue working in the United States.
Ginsberg said, “So much has been taken away from them. We never want to blame the survivor; We are really working to empower them.” | https://www.heraldandnews.com/homeland-security-officials-take-on-labor-trafficking-at-klamath-county-symposium/article_91f6361a-201d-11ed-bc3a-93ca9e88ad9c.html | 2022-08-20T04:23:36Z |
100 years ago
Falling into the hot spring known as the “Devil’s Tea Kettle” on East Main Street as he attempted to dip out water, Frank Albert, aged 50, known around town as “Frenchmen” was so badly scalded that he died in a hospital later in the day.
Together with L.D. Phillips, Albert had been living near the city garbage dump in the eastern outskirts of the city where he conducted a salvage business, The nearest water being the spring, the two had been accustomed to fill a barrel there every day day or two. On this occasion Albert lost his footing on a plank spanning one end of the spring and plunged into the scalding hot water, the temperature of which is said to be 197 degrees, slightly short of boiling.
While the spring is but two or three feet in depth, Albert was unable to extricate himself on account of the steep, slippery bank. His screams attracted the attention of Wm. H. Snow, who rushed to the man’s aid and succeeded in pulling him from the water. At the hospital it was found that he was virtually one big blister from head to foot, and small hope was held out for his recovery. He died a few hours after reaching the hospital.
The Evening Herald, August 21, 1922
50 years ago
Normally Elmer Belcastro gets pretty excited when he pulls in a 4-pound rainbow trout.
The usual thrill was missing when Belcastro yanked in something a bit more unusual while fishing on the Williamson River below Chiloquin.
It all began when he caught a “snag.” The snag gave way and a happy Belcastro was reeling in his line, which was wrapped around a stick. The still was tossed to the bank and the line cast back in the river.
Sure enough, he was soon pulling in his catch. With the fish ashore, Belcastro grabbed his “stick” to give his squirmy trout a knock over the head. Then, he notice something.
The 7-foot long snag turned out to be an old Indian fishing spear. “I don't know how old it is — or how many other guys have lost their hooks on it.”
Since the catch, the two-pronged spear has been kept at the Belcastro hotel. “I’ve already had a couple of offers to sell it, but I don’t want to,” he says. Future plans may include loaning the spear to a local museum.
Belcastro reports the spear will soon go on display at his newly opened Sports West-Ace Hardware Store.
“It was more of a thrill landing that spear than it was catching the fish,” says Belcastro, “And that was a big fish.”
The Herald & News, August 24, 1972
25 years ago
A severe thunderstorm rumbled through Southern Oregon and Northern California, soaking Klamath Falls with heavy showers and sparking fires though out the region.
Lightning damaged telephone and computer networks at the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office just after 5 p.m. when a bolt struck a tree and traveled along a chain-link fence.
Nearly 2 inches of rain fell east of Ashland near Emigrant Lake while lightning sparked dozens of fires from Chico north to the Oregon border.
Rick Holtz, a forecaster for the National Weather Service says hot, dry weather will replace the thunderstorm systems that struck the region.
The Herald & News, August 24, 1997
10 years ago
Jonathan Hankins stands in the living room of what was supposed to be his family’s home, a filter mask clutched to his face.
He discusses renovations he made at the house, installing tile, painting walls, refinishing floors.
A heavy wooden beam atop the fireplace was one of the last improvements he made, installed as a mantle, before contamination from methamphetamine in the house made his family so sick they were forced to move, he says.
They felt a connection with the neighborhood, they say when they moved in June. The surrounding block of homes, filled with young families, threw off the energy of a neighborhood that’s up and coming.
They had expected a fixer-upper, Hankins said. The two-bedroom, single-story house is about the only rough spot on a street of clean and tidy homes.
The handout from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency informed them they were responsible for detecting asbestos, lead pain or other common health hazards associated with older homes.
But they never would have known to look for methamphetamine.
Hankins said he and his wife began to suspect something was making them sick. Then a neighbor revealed what none of the paperwork had.
“She said, ‘You bought the meth house, huh?’” Hankins said.
Several people affiliated with the residence had histories of meth-related charges according criminal records.
“We were dumbfounded,” Jonathan Hankins said.
State law protects home buyers by requiring sellers to disclose the history of properties. Disclosure only works, however, if sellers are honest and knew about the contamination. Banks and other lending entities, including Freddie Mac, which sold the Hankins their home, are exempt from disclosure in Oregon.
The Herald & News, August 24, 2012 | https://www.heraldandnews.com/members/forum/wire_commentary/looking-back-this-week-in-klamath-basin-history-for-the-week-of-aug-20/article_853475f6-1fe9-11ed-aabc-57a90845a879.html | 2022-08-20T04:23:39Z |
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The Bureau of Reclamation sent a letter Thursday, Aug. 18 to drainage and irrigation districts in Klamath Falls and Tulelake announcing an end to the Klamath Project for 2022, halting the water diversions from Upper Klamath Lake that are used in irrigation.
The letter states that the total allocated Project Supply was calculated to be 82,253 acre-feet as of Aug. 1. The available supply was exceeded, according to an Aug. 17 analysis, which resulted in the stoppage.
In part, the Bureau’s letter states, “Unless other sources of supply are made available and are explicitly communicated in a subsequent written correspondence from Reclamation, all currently available Project Supply is exhausted. Reclamation expects all irrigation diversions to cease immediately. Please have your respective district cease diversions to comply with the Ops Plan and confirm, in writing, by close of business on August 19, 2022, that all diversions in your district have ended so Reclamation can conclude Project operations.”
The Bureau’s decision was met with dismay from representatives of irrigation districts. Paul Simmons, the executive director of Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA), released a document responding to the decision.
In part, the KWUA document reads, “The move is the latest chapter in a two-decade history of requiring ever-higher levels of flow in the Klamath River, and water surface elevations in Upper Klamath Lake, both ostensibly for protection of threatened or endangered fish species. The policy has caused severe damage to rural communities, food production, and terrestrial wildlife, with no identifiable benefit for the target fish species.”
Tulelake Irrigation District Manager Brad Kirby said there is great concern that some food crops might die in the field.
“For some crops like alfalfa, we are looking at severely reduced production," Kirby said. "But for row crops like potatoes and onions, there is essentially no production unless you have water through the end of the irrigation season.”
“Last year, the government dictated zero Project water diversions for the first time in the 115 years of the Project,” said KWUA Vice President Ry Kliewer, a hay and grain producer. “Between last year and this year, my production is about 25 percent of normal. Meanwhile, the bills I have to pay are skyrocketing.”
The Bureau of Reclamation did not respond to Herald & News requests for comment in time for publication. | https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/bureau-of-reclamation-announces-end-to-klamath-project-for-2022/article_392aef70-201e-11ed-900a-c31aac2ac601.html | 2022-08-20T04:23:47Z |
Alvin Keith Todd, 34, of Klamath Falls, died Wednesday, Aug. 17 after his motorcycle was involved in a traffic collision on Washburn Way in Klamath Falls.
At approximately 6:33 p.m., officers from the Klamath Falls Police Department responded to a motor vehicle crash in the area of 3370 Washburn Way. The collision involved a passenger vehicle that had left the scene and a motorcycle. The motorcycle was stated to be traveling northbound on Washburn Way near Onyx Avenue, and the passenger vehicle was traveling southbound on Washburn Way before turning eastbound onto Onyx Avenue.
Officers found Todd lying in the roadway, at which time officers, witnesses and medical personnel from Klamath County Fire District No. 1 attempted life saving measures. He was soon declared deceased from injuries sustained during the incident.
Klamath Falls Police officers and deputies from the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search for the involved vehicle and a later located the maroon, 2007 Dodge Caliber. They identified the driver as Tashia Medina, 32, of Klamath Falls. After an interview and further investigation, Medina was arrested and lodged at the Klamath County Jail on charges of Failing to Perform Duties of a Driver-Felony.
Oregon State Police troopers are assisting with an accident reconstruction, and further investigation into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing. | https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/motorcyclist-dies-in-hit-and-run-collision-in-klamath-falls-vehicle-driver-arrested/article_19b559f8-2011-11ed-a38f-db021ff368c3.html | 2022-08-20T04:23:53Z |
It doesn’t always pay to fit in.
Sometimes, even though the going gets rough, setting yourself apart just might garner the recognition that a musician needs to build a cult following. Take Lost Dog Street Band, a neo-folk and “dark country” group that the general public has most likely never heard of.
They’re not quite country music in their atmosphere, but quite folk in their lyrical style due to the writing of frontman Benjamin Tod, who leads the band on guitar with his wife, Ashley Mae, on fiddle. They’re accompanied by bassist Jeff Loops.
Earlier this year, they released their eighth full-length album, titled “Glory,” which deals in heavy themes and complex bluegrass instrumentals, addressing Tod’s road to recovery after a living period of his life plagued by substance abuse.
No, you probably haven’t heard of them, but that’s what Tod expects at this point.
Growing up as a street busker – a street musician playing for cash tips – he had to learn how to play something that earned him enough money to afford a drink or what might be his sole meal that day.
His perseverance and skills for captivating a crowd seem to be paying off. Lost Dog Street Band has suddenly begun playing sold-out shows on their most recent tour.
On Sunday, they land at the Gryphon Theatre in Laramie.
Prior to their show in Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday night, Tod stepped away from a sound check to speak with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle about the band’s tour, their most recent album and his mindset as a musician.
“I’m much more optimistic person than I used to be,” Tod said. “OK, I’m not really optimistic, but I’m a more grateful person. People will be like, ‘Oh, you’re smiling. You look happy.’ I’m like, ‘Well, I’m not happy, but I’m grateful.’ I think it’s really the attitude shift.”
There is a difference between the two emotions, Tod said.
Passing the age of 30 presented Tod with a turning point. He became more aspirational and stopped allowing the desire for notoriety to fuel his creative process. The fans have always been there for him, but, historically, the press sure hasn’t.
From his perspective, it took gaining such a following of listeners that media outlets couldn’t ignore Lost Dog any longer. But by the time the media had its revelation, his personal conquest was over, and his focus had turned to serving the fans.
The revelation came when Tod, 26 years old at the time, nearly quit the music business to find a more viable career, possibly through military enlistment. But at a gig in Denver, he and Mae unexpectedly sold 150 tickets, filling a small venue.
“(The band) had actually split up for a while. We were kind of touring, and then when we got back together and started touring again, it was just a big surprise,” Tod said. “That was insane to us, and it just happened out of nowhere.”
At this point in his career, it isn’t an issue if the band fails to sell out that night’s venue. If Lost Dog fills just half of the room, then they will play to the smaller crowd, and Tod will be grateful for those who showed, regardless of the size of the market.
And the crowds do vary; that’s just how it goes when you’re labeled as a “dark country” band.
“I don’t know what to tell people. I just don’t know,” Tod said, laughing. “I’m a songwriter, mainly (influenced by) the big three Texas songwriters – Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and Steve Earle. I don’t really know how to define it.
“We don’t fit in in the country community. None of the country community wants anything to do with us.”
“Country music” is categorized by a different set of characteristics, depending on the person, Tod emphasized. To some it’s honky-tonk, to others it might be red-dirt rock/country. Some think Nashville’s Music Row of Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and their contemporaries exemplify the modern country genre as a whole.
For the record, Tod admits to hating the general consensus as to what represents the country genre today – so much so that he essentially plans to use the latter half of the year to satirize it in an upcoming honky-tonk album.
The idea is reminiscent of the habits maintained by country musician Sturgil Simpson, whom Tod respects. Simpson transitions between genres and manipulates the record industry to meet his terms, when typically the inverse holds true in many country musicians’ careers.
After releasing two of the most critically acclaimed country albums in the past several decades, Simpson then went on to find success with a rhythm and blues/jazz infused album, “A Sailors Guide to Earth,” as well as a hard rock album, “Sound and Fury.” He has since returned to his country roots, at least for now.
“I’m about to really branch out and push myself in different directions artistically,” Tod said. “I want to do it as kind of a middle finger to people who do that (style of music), because I’m going to do it, and it’s going to be better writing than 95% of everything else that’s coming out of that modern genre, and I’m not going to (expletive) try.”
Not only is this attitude in line with Tod’s humor, but having a chip on your shoulder is expected when, at the age of 13, you’re developing a vocal and musical style on Nashville’s Broadway. While music blared from the open bar windows, of which there were many, he had to sing and play over the noise.
“So, in order to compete where I grew up, if I wanted to eat, if I wanted to drink that day, I had to be extremely loud,” he said. “I learned from a very young age how to project my voice. So, my vocal style really comes from there.”
On their most recent album, he lyrically addresses the struggles that arose from such a difficult upbringing. The result is something raw and personal, and understandably earns Lost Dog the odd genre identification of “dark country.”
“My writing style comes directly from just mixing experiences that I had in my youth with solitude, addiction and hard choices, then redeeming myself from that.”
They might not fit in, but at least they’re not sellouts.
Will Carpenter is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s Arts and Entertainment/Features Reporter. He can be reached by email at wcarpenter@wyomingnews.com or by phone at 307-633-3135. Follow him on Twitter @will_carp_. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/todo/busking-recovery-and-giving-country-music-the-middle-finger-lost-dog-street-band-to-perform/article_6381e0bc-1e89-11ed-861f-23a261215404.html | 2022-08-20T05:01:13Z |
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CHEYENNE – The Cheyenne Frontier Days General Committee has named its new committee members for the 2023 celebration.
Following Concessions Chairman Brad Westby is Woody Acord. Acord is a senior IT analyst and has a bachelor's degree in management. He has volunteered on the CFD Concessions Committee for 23 years, and was voted Volunteer of the Year in 2002. Acord was inducted into the HEELS in 2012.
Following Col. Deane R. Konowicz as Military Committee chairman is Col. John F. Hundley. He is currently a vice commander in the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base. Hundley has two master's degrees and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Col. Hundley has also served on the CFD Military Committee.
Following Ruthanne Hubbard as Parades Committee chairperson is James Van Cise. He has spent 17 years as a facilities manager of the USAF Base Hospital and Laramie County Library System. Van Cise has been a CFD parades volunteer for 24 years, and he has been a lead assistant for five years.
Following Chad Mathews as Rodeo Committee chairman is Jason Bain. He is the operation partner at KLC Automotive Equipment. Bain has been a volunteer on the Rodeo Committee since 2008, where he has been a committee lead for five years. He was selected as Rodeo Committee Volunteer of the Year in 2015, and inducted into the HEELS in 2018.
The Cheyenne Frontier Days General Committee has begun the planning process for 2023 by reviewing the results of the 2022 event. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/cheyenne-frontier-days-names-committee-chairs-for-127th-anniversary/article_13064602-2035-11ed-93c9-53c3b9a27a75.html | 2022-08-20T05:01:25Z |
CHEYENNE – First lady Jennie Gordon’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative recently partnered with Frank’s Butcher Shop in Hudson and Casper to distribute $50,000 worth of protein to anti-hunger organizations across the state.
This statewide effort was made possible by a grant from the Hughes Charitable Foundation to provide grocery replenishment, according to a news release.
Wyoming Hunger Initiative partnered with Frank’s to purchase protein at a reduced “pantry” rate and distribute it through their already established delivery route system to reach anti-hunger organizations across the state. Organizations located outside the boundaries of Frank’s regular delivery routes received grocery replenishment dollars in the form of a check to ensure it would benefit each of Wyoming’s 23 counties and the Wind River Indian Reservation.
“Fresh food and sources of high-quality protein are notoriously expensive and difficult to procure for the food bank system,” Gordon said in the release. “The mission of Wyoming Hunger Initiative is to support the existing work of anti-hunger organizations across the state, and it is important to us that we meet the needs head on during this challenging time.”
Pantries are experiencing higher numbers of visits than normal, and are struggling to keep fresh items available for distribution. Wyoming Hunger Initiative seeks to address Wyoming challenges with Wyoming solutions, and Frank’s Butcher Shop’s commitment to serve the people of Wyoming resulted in an excellent partnership, the release said. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/hunger-initiative-partners-with-butcher-shop-to-distribute-50k-worth-of-protein/article_d9b1d28a-2035-11ed-bbf0-6baa641585d7.html | 2022-08-20T05:01:31Z |
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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/news/local_news/laramie-county-school-district-1-holds-adoption-for-new-math-resources/article_94ffc290-2036-11ed-9fd8-3bd08acf8bac.html | 2022-08-20T05:01:37Z |
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education shared a school choice survey on its social media last weekend, which an official said was the result of a hack.
WDE spokeswoman Linda Finnerty said a link to the survey was posted on the department’s Twitter account by someone with malicious intent, and it has since been removed. She told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle their passwords have since been changed, and recommends no one click on the survey, as it could lead to a virus or damage to electronics.
“We’ve tried to investigate, and we’re still looking into it,” she said. “But at this point, we don’t have that identification.”
Observers of the school choice survey have said it wasn’t just shared on the department’s Twitter account. There were reports it was seen on Facebook, which also came Wednesday from the Jackson Hole News&Guide.
“The survey was promoted on the department’s Twitter and Facebook pages,” wrote reporter Evan Robinson-Johnson. “It was retweeted by the state of Wyoming and @WyoSUP, a collaborative group of school districts, colleges and education organizations.”
Wyoming School Boards Association President Brian Farmer told the WTE he saw the survey on multiple social media platforms. It was brought to his attention last week by another member of the WSBA, who shared a link to the Twitter post and was concerned. He said he saw what he believes to be the same survey on the WDE’s Facebook, but didn’t compare them closely.
In a follow-up text chain with Finnerty, she told the WTE the survey was never posted to the department’s Facebook account.
“I was very surprised,” Farmer said in response. “This sort of posting by a state agency generally gives some sort of legitimacy to the material that they’re sharing or reposting, or that they’re putting out there through their official channels. Yet, the survey itself certainly seems to be very much a promotion of a specific perspective.”
He said it was unusual for a department that doesn’t engage in any partisan promotion.
“I was also very disappointed in the agency that they would post something that was ... I don’t have a better term for it than propaganda,” he said.
About the survey
The “Wyoming School Choice Survey,” which was still online Friday at https://wyomingschoolchoicesurvey.com/, has no connection listed to an official agency, nor does it provide any information about who created it.
It provides those who would participate with 12 questions about schools in the state. It asks them to grade public schools in Wyoming and their communities on a scale from A to F, or undecided, and how much background knowledge they have on charter schools.
It moves into education-related statements, and asks the participant to indicate if they favor or oppose each statement. Some of those include whether they agree with “reducing regulations as long as accountability for student performance remains high,” and “allowing schools to make quick, effective changes to improve student achievement.”
Once the survey is submitted, it thanks the participant and gives no indication what the survey is for or who will receive the information provided.
“I think it encouraged the respondent to present an unfavorable impression of Wyoming public schools, and suggested that charter schools or charter options are somehow always a superior option to public schools,” Farmer said. “It seemed it was a promotion for charter schools, as opposed to taking an unbiased or neutral position – or even one that was just informative.”
Farmer was not the only education advocate concerned with the survey being shared by the state agency.
Charter school critics
“I was disappointed to see a school choice survey being sent out from the Wyoming Department of Education,” said Wyoming Education Association President Grady Hutcherson in a statement. “WDE is our government agency charged with responsibly leading and stewarding our public schools; that is where the agency’s focus should be.”
The Wyoming Legislature voted in 1995 to allow charter schools, according to the National School Choice Week website. The state currently has five, located in Cheyenne, Laramie and Riverton; Poder Academy is the one here.
Despite both organization presidents criticizing the sharing of the survey, they held different perspectives on charter schools in the state.
Farmer said the school boards association doesn’t believe charter schools are either inherently good or bad. He said every application must be judged on whether it meets the requirements under Wyoming law, and there are clearly times when they benefit communities in the state. He said he stands by the belief that charters should be approved by school districts and a neutral party, and held to the same standards as public schools.
“It’s highly important for Wyoming to demand that public dollars have public accountability and public transparency,” he said. “It’s critically important that the governance of any school has local control, and so I think all of our charter schools need to be held to the same standards as our public schools.”
He said if this is not the case, it shouldn’t be a charter school. It should be a private school and operate by different rules.
The WEA also takes the position that programs such as charter schools should not negatively impact the regular public school program, and must include adequate safeguards covering contract and employment provisions for all employees. They also must fully comply with statutory regulations.
However, Hutcherson said charter schools come with unintended consequences that pose a threat to Wyoming students. He said allowing dollars to follow students out of the public education system into charter schools will only siphon money out of already underfunded public schools.
“I find it ironic that this is called the ‘school choice’ movement because, for so many of our students, our traditional, existing public schools are the choice. Because of location, socioeconomic status or circumstance, public school is their one and only choice. And it is a choice that matters: For too many students, their public school is their main – or even their only – source of education, nutrition, counseling, health services, socialization and even safety,” he said. “How can anyone be willing to consider policy options that erode and jeopardize our public schools when they are the heart of our communities and the lifeline for our children?”
School choice advocates
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Brian Schroeder has been in charge of the Wyoming Department of Education since being appointed to fill a vacancy in February, and has taken an opposing public stance. He has been an advocate for school choice, and hosted a public information night in Cheyenne in May for a proposed charter school. He was joined by national advocates for the charter school movement.
“A healthy school has zero tolerance for toxic behaviors, toxic attitudes or toxic ideologies. Healthy schools, where the adults are still in charge, students are respectful, common sense prevails, and where our nation’s longstanding traditions are honored, not deleted,” he said at the event. “Which is why the charter school movement is such a critical piece in this whole thing. It breaks the stronghold of centralization, moves things back to the parents and local control, and brings competition back into the picture.”
His support for the charter school movement earned him former President Donald Trump’s endorsement in his campaign during the Republican primary.
“Brian Schroeder is doing an incredible job as Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction,” the Save America PAC said in a statement. “The proud father of seven children, Brian is a Champion for Wyoming Families. He is working hard to Advance School Choice, Deliver Education Solutions for our Children, and Defend Parental Rights.”
Schroeder lost Tuesday to Megan Degenfelder in the Republican primary, and will serve as state superintendent until January. He could not be reached for comment on the survey or the department’s social media pointing to it.
Jasmine Hall is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s state government reporter. She can be reached by email at jhall@wyomingnews.com or by phone at 307-633-3167. Follow her on Twitter @jasminerhphotos and on Instagram @jhrose25. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/wde-social-media-hacked-shares-school-choice-survey/article_1644c484-1ffd-11ed-b018-9f073c970c3c.html | 2022-08-20T05:01:44Z |
Judge reinstates work requirement in Georgia Medicaid plan
ATLANTA (AP) — In a victory for Georgia’s Republican governor, a federal judge on Friday reinstated a work requirement in the state’s plan to expand Medicaid coverage to more low-income residents.
U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood said the Biden administration’s decision to revoke approval of the work requirement and a related Georgia proposal to charge some Medicaid recipients monthly premiums was “arbitrary and capricious on numerous, independent grounds.”
She called the revocation “unlawful” and set it aside.
The work requirement was approved by then-President Donald Trump’s administration, but the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Centers announced last year that it was revoking approval of that part of the plan and the premium requirement. That prompted Georgia officials to sue.
CMS does not comment on litigation as a matter of policy, the agency said in an email.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp — who proposed the Medicaid plan at issue — hailed the ruling, saying in a Tweet that his plan would “better serve Georgians than a one-size-fits all Medicaid expansion.”
CMS had argued the work requirement could be impossible for people to meet during the pandemic, when it was critical that low-income Georgians have access to health coverage.
Wood said the agency failed to consider or weigh the possibility that rescinding approval would “mean less Medicaid coverage in Georgia.”
She also said CMS wrongly measured the Georgia plan against a full Medicaid expansion and “failed to explain why it changed its mind about the key issues underlying the approval.”
Republicans had presented Georgia’s plan as a financially responsible alternative to a full expansion of Medicaid services under the Affordable Care Act, which dozens of states have already done.
The plan sought to add an estimated 50,000 poor and uninsured Georgia residents to the Medicaid rolls in its first two years. But to be eligible, new Medicaid recipients would have to engage in a minimum number of qualifying hours through work, job training, education, volunteering, or other similar activities.
Democrats in Georgia say full expansion would cover hundreds of thousands of people at a much lower cost to the state. That’s because the ACA, President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, gave states the option of expanding Medicaid to low-income adults who make up to 138% of the federal poverty level, with the federal government picking up 90% of the cost. More than 10 million people in the U.S. have gained coverage that way.
Kemp has said full expansion would cost the state too much money in the long run.
___
This story has been corrected to reflect that CMS announced it was revoking approval of the work and premium requirements last year, not last month.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/20/judge-reinstates-work-requirement-georgia-medicaid-plan/ | 2022-08-20T05:20:04Z |
Police identify Tenn. assault suspect after he left wallet in abandoned, stolen car
BARTLETT, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - Bartlett police charged a man with aggravated assault after he left his wallet in a stolen car that he abandoned following a wreck in a field, allowing officers to identify him.
The Memphis Police Department received an assault call early Sunday morning around midnight and were called to the Burger King at 1920 Whitten Road, where the victims told police what happened.
While sitting in their car at Main Event, the victims said a man in a stolen Honda fired shots at them and struck their car.
The victims then followed the suspect into Bartlett, where the suspect shot and hit another car before wrecking into a field near Kirby Whitten Road and Snowshoe Drive, police say.
At some point, the suspect abandoned the car and fled.
The Bartlett Police Department searched the area for the suspect, but did not locate him.
Police then checked the interior of the stolen car and discovered a wallet with the identification of 32-year-old Joseph Sanders and a stolen handgun.
Officers also found video that captured images of Sanders as he fled the area.
Bartlett issued warrants on Sanders for the crimes that occurred in their jurisdiction, and he was located at an address in Tipton County and transported to the Memphis Multi-Agency Gang Unit offices.
Sanders was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun, and vandalism.
His bond is set to $50,000.
Copyright 2022 WMC via Gray Media Group. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/20/police-identify-tenn-assault-suspect-after-he-left-wallet-abandoned-stolen-car/ | 2022-08-20T05:20:11Z |
Transgender kids can play girls sports in Utah after ruling
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Transgender girls in Utah will be given the opportunity to participate in girls’ sports as the school year begins, after a judge on Friday reversed a ban pending legal challenges from parents.
Instead of an outright ban, transgender girls will now be sent before a commission that will determine on a case-by-case basis if their participation compromises fairness. Utah’s Republican lawmakers created the commission in a law passed earlier this year as a fallback plan to be implemented in case of an injunction against the law.
Under the law, the panel will be allowed to ask for and assess the child’s height and weight in making decisions about whether a transgender girl would have an unfair advantage.
The commission, which is set to be convened in the coming weeks, will include politically appointed experts from athletics and medicine.
When proposed, the commission was criticized by advocates for transgender student-athletes — who worried they would feel targeted having their bodies measured — and proponents of an outright ban, who argued it didn’t go far enough.
The commission is set to go into effect while the court weighs the legal challenge to the outright ban. Members have not yet been appointed but will be in the coming weeks, legislative leaders said.
The state’s association overseeing more than 80,000 students playing high school sports has said only one transgender girl competed in their leagues last year and, with school sports already underway, it’s unclear how many will go before the commission and when its decisions will take effect.
Utah’s ruling marked the latest court development in a nationwide debate over how to navigate the flashpoint issue.
At least 12 Republican-led states — including Utah — have passed laws banning transgender women or girls in sports based on the premise it gives them an unfair competitive advantage.
Transgender rights advocates counter the rules aren’t just about sports, but another way to demean and attack transgender youth. Similar cases are underway in states such as Idaho, West Virginia and Indiana.
Utah’s ban took effect in July after its Republican-supermajority Legislature overrode a veto by Gov. Spencer Cox, also a Republican.
Utah state Judge Keith Kelly said in the ruling putting the ban on hold that attorneys representing the families of three transgender student-athletes showed they have suffered significant distress by “singling them out for unfavorable treatment as transgender girls.”
The transgender girls and the parents filed the lawsuit last May, contending the ban violates the Utah Constitution’s guarantees of equal rights and due process.
The ruling was thrilling news to the girls and their families, said Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, who also represented same-sex couples in a landmark court case against Utah last decade.
“The pressure, the strain this was putting them under was so enormous,” Minter said. “It is just a huge relief to have that weight lifted.”
Utah state Sen. Stuart Adams, a Republican, said in a statement Friday that the commission that will now make decisions in a way “to protect equitable and safe competition while preserving the integrity of women’s sports.”
The commission will include a medical data statistician, a physician with experience about “gender identity healthcare”, a sports physiologist, mental health professional, collegiate athletic trainer, representative of an athletic association and a rotating member who is a coach or official in the sport relevant to each case.
Minter said he hopes the commission will act merely as a safety net, with the presumption being that transgender girls can play unless there is an obvious issue of competitive fairness.
“How it is done is very important,” Minter said.
The ruling follows a revelation this week by the Utah High School Activities Association that it secretly investigated a female athlete — without telling her or her parents — after receiving complaints from the parents of two girls she had defeated in competition questioning whether the girl was transgender.
The investigation — which was roundly criticized by Cox — determined she indeed was female after poring through her school records dating back to kindergarten, association spokesman David Spatafore told lawmakers this week.
Critics of the ban were upset but said they were not surprised by the investigation. They said it highlighted how the impact of politicizing girls’ sports affected more than transgender student-athletes and subjected all girls to scrutiny in ways they anticipated.
“It creates such a negative atmosphere based on stereotypes about girls and how they should look,” Minter said. “It is really is harmful to all the kids in the state.”
The sequence of events also laid out how officials may pursue complaints now that youth sports and the associations governing them are the subject of state laws. Spatafore said the complaint was among several the association had looked into in its efforts to comply with the Utah law, which went into effect in July.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/20/transgender-kids-can-play-girls-sports-utah-after-ruling/ | 2022-08-20T05:20:17Z |
Wyoming East assembles experienced team with 18 returning starters
Warriors open season at Westside on August 26
Published: Aug. 20, 2022 at 12:29 AM EDT|Updated: 50 minutes ago
NEW RICHMOND, W.Va. (WVVA) - The Wyoming East Warriors are a young team with significant experience. QB Jackson Danielson enters his third season as the starter. This team enters the season as a cohesive unit.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/20/wyoming-east-assembles-experienced-team-with-18-returning-starters/ | 2022-08-20T05:20:23Z |
HONOLULU (KITV)- People are heading to restaurants and bars to watch the Hawaii team play in the Little League World Series. It’s clear this is more about seeing the fighting spirit of Hawaii, than anything else. Our boys move on and so does the spirit of Ohana that goes with them, even if it's not your kid who is on the team.
The cheering, emotion, and smiles. Hawaii having a team in the Little League World series is a big deal for local residents. "Hawaii is family. No matter where you grew up in Hawaii, it’s always about family. And we're all one Ohana," said Shaun Kitamura who came out to watch the game at Tj's Sports Bar and Grill.
Ohana means family in Hawaiian. The word epitomizes the experience of watching the games. Shaun Kitamura and his father Glenn Kitamura are watching the game together at TJ's Sports Bar and Grill in Honolulu. "You're cheering with everyone in the restaurant. So I think it’s the greatest thing," said Glenn Kitamura. "I'm spending the greatest time in the world with my family and uncles watching baseball," said Glenn Kitamura.
But it's about more than just hanging out with each other. It's also about the kids they're watching. "They're proud kids I think. They just want to do well for Hawaii. When I saw their uniforms saying "we are greater than me" on their Honolulu jerseys. I thought that was an excellent saying on their shirts," said Glenn Kitamura.
The younger Kitamura coaches little league players himself. None of his players are on the team in the Little League World Series right now, but that doesn't matter. "Hopefully one of these days, one of the kids that we're coaching will be in the Little League World Series or college," said Shaun Kitamura.
For others, it's the six degrees of separation fueling the spirit of comradery. You know someone who knows or is related to someone playing. It gives that Ohana feeling. "I guess I know a couple of the kids personally and one of the moms Gina. She plays mahjong with my sister. She's there. You'll see her on tv," said Ben Suiso who came out to Dave and Busters to watch the game.
With this win...the feeling of Ohana continues to build. It will be interesting to see if the crowds at the restaurants continue to build as well...building the economy, along with the comradery.
Jefferson Tyler joined KITV after a lengthy stint in Reno, Nev. where he covered a variety of subjects. From wildfires to presidential elections, Jefferson takes pride in creating balanced stories that keep viewers’ attentions. | https://www.kitv.com/news/business/watching-hawaiis-team-play-in-the-little-league-world-series-its-all-about-ohana/article_f0904b96-2042-11ed-a1ae-7ba9ae27ca61.html | 2022-08-20T05:33:54Z |
It hasn't even been a week since Netflix dropped a new documentary about the catfishing scandal involving local boy and Heisman trophy finalist Manti Te'o.
But it's already taking the world by storm.
The two-part documentary, "Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist, " covers everything, from the Punahou-grad's upbringing in Laie and his rise to fame at Notre Dame to the high-profile catfishing scandal that rocked the country nearly a decade ago.
It features interviews with Te'o, his parents, even the person behind the fake-online profile he believed to be his girlfriend.
Robby Toma, Te'o's friend and former teammate at both Punahou and Notre Dame, is also featured in the film.
He says he and Te'o had a conversation about their concerns: the day before the documentary came out.
"I knew Manti didn't want people to feel bad for him," explains Toma. "He just wanted to share his story. And I think the producers and everyone involved in the film did a great job of him telling his story."
"Because he has been, for lack of a better term, the butt of America's jokes for the last ten years, so to see the compassion people are showing him, it's making me very proud of him and all he's been through and how he's really showing the faith and compassion he has."
Toma says he didn't even think twice when Te'o asked him to be a part of the film. He says he believes Te'o will play a big role in helping athletes battling mental health issues.
"Even with all the mental health issues he was going through, he had a good NFL career, you know obviously not exactly what he wanted, he had some injuries, but to go through all of that, to have the type of season and career he had, that just speaks volumes of his mental strength, and that's something that I think the Netflix documentary did a great job of."
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
Mika is the co-anchor for KITV4 Island News at 5, 6, and 10 p.m.
Since joining KITV4 in 2016, Mika has also served as a multimedia journalist, weather, and traffic anchor. | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/new-catfish-documentary-untold-featuring-manti-teo-brings-mental-health-to-the-forefront/article_c1667618-203f-11ed-ba59-e763e45ab153.html | 2022-08-20T05:34:00Z |
HONOLULU (KITV4) - The White House said 1 in 4 Americans struggle to afford prescription drugs and the high prices contribute to racial disparities.
The Inflation Reduction Act lowers the costs of medication and improves coverage.
"This act will help close the gap and lower costs so that our disadvantaged communities have greater access to medical support as well as drug care," said Kuhio Lewis, CEO of Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.
Officials predict that 120,000 more native Hawaiian, Asian American and Pacific Islanders will have health insurance next year under IRA. Local organizations that provide support to these populations said measures to lower health insurance are long overdue.
"The biggest issue is just people being sick and needing to get that service. Accessing the service is one of our biggest issues because it is hard to understand the language and the cultural differences," said Josie Howard, chief executive officer at “We are Oceania.”
The CEO of Helping Hands Hawaii said the organization will work with the Department of Hawaiian Homelands and other organizations to spread the word about this new law. Helping Hands Hawaii said in a statement:
"Many of the families and individuals we help struggle to afford basic necessities, so any decrease in their bills, like lower health care and energy costs, will reduce some of the strain they feel from monthly financial burdens. The savings created by the inflation reduction act can give families a bit more flexibility to address other priorities that may have been overlooked because of their limited funds."
the Inflation Reduction Act also covers other elements such as climate change and energy costs.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com | https://www.kitv.com/news/president-biden-signs-bill-to-help-native-hawaiian-community/article_988ffd82-203e-11ed-8d26-174e82a43629.html | 2022-08-20T05:34:06Z |
20-Yard Dash: Page County
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - Page County football is looking for a breakout season in 2022.
The Panthers struggled last fall, going 4-6 overall and missing the Region 2B Playoffs.
However, this year could be different. The Panthers enter the fall boasting a strong senior class that has played together from a young age.
“We’ve been playing together since we were knee-high to a grasshopper,” said senior offensive/defensive lineman Logan Lucas. “We have a strong connection.”
Page County football will be building on the established team chemistry among the upperclassmen.
“These are my brothers,” said senior fullback/middle linebacker Ty Davis. “I’ve grown up with them. We have the commitment and we’re in the weight room grinding to get ready for the season.”
Further, a new face will be leading the Panthers this fall. James May, who has spent over 20 years coaching football in Page County, will be taking the reigns of the program. May is no stranger to the Panthers, however, after spending the past 12 season on the staff of Page County football.
“I surrounded myself with some good people and I learned a lot from the past coaches,” said May. “I decided to take the job and try to help out the community and the kids.”
May praised the returning Panthers who are setting an example for the younger players on the team.
“We have a heavy senior group that is setting an example for the next guys coming up.”
Page County - 2022 Schedule
8/26 - at Woodstock*
9/2 - at Nelson County
9/9 - at Staunton*
9/16 - vs. Luray*
9/23 - at Madison County*
9/30 - vs. Bath County
10/7 - at East Rockingham*
10/21 - vs. Mountain View
10/27 - at Strasburg*
11/4 - vs. Clarke County*
*Shenandoah District Opponent
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/20/20-yard-dash-page-county/ | 2022-08-20T05:36:44Z |
JMU football looks to improve defensive line before season opener
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - JMU football is two weeks out from its season opener against Middle Tennessee. On Friday morning, the Dukes returned to Bridgeforth Stadium as they prepare to make their Sun Belt debut.
The quarterback battle continues between Todd Centeio, Billy Atkins, and Alonza Barnett. Yet according to JMU Head Coach Curt Cignetti, the starting quarterback is the “least of his concerns” as the Dukes look to strengthen their defensive line.
JMU football has been battling COVID-19 this month. The virus has spread throughout the defensive line, impacting its ability to get consistent reps throughout camp.
“You’re walking the tightrope between having your team ready and keeping them healthy,” said Cignetti. “It’s been a juggling act ever since we were hit with it... and it still is.”
Cignetti added that Friday morning was the first time the Dukes completed a full-contact practice since the scrimmage last Saturday.
Redshirt junior defensive lineman Tony Thurston emphasized the value of building trust with his teammates, which has been difficult while a portion of the defensive unit has been out with COVID-19.
“When bullets are flying, you have to know that you can count on your teammates,” said Thurston. “We’ve been training with a lot of young guys who haven’t been in the program very long.”
However, Thurston said that the lack of consistency among the defensive line could also help the Dukes in the fall.
“You never know what could happen during the season. Some guys could go down and we might have to find others to step up and play,” he explained. “It’s helped us more than it’s hurt us.”
This fall, Thurston will be helping to guide younger Dukes such as sophomore Jailin Walker, who recorded his first career sack last September.
JMU takes on Middle Tennessee on September 3rd at Bridgeforth Stadium.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/20/jmu-football-looks-improve-defensive-line-before-season-opener/ | 2022-08-20T05:36:50Z |
Judge reinstates work requirement in Georgia Medicaid plan
ATLANTA (AP) — In a victory for Georgia’s Republican governor, a federal judge on Friday reinstated a work requirement in the state’s plan to expand Medicaid coverage to more low-income residents.
U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood said the Biden administration’s decision to revoke approval of the work requirement and a related Georgia proposal to charge some Medicaid recipients monthly premiums was “arbitrary and capricious on numerous, independent grounds.”
She called the revocation “unlawful” and set it aside.
The work requirement was approved by then-President Donald Trump’s administration, but the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Centers announced last year that it was revoking approval of that part of the plan and the premium requirement. That prompted Georgia officials to sue.
CMS does not comment on litigation as a matter of policy, the agency said in an email.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp — who proposed the Medicaid plan at issue — hailed the ruling, saying in a Tweet that his plan would “better serve Georgians than a one-size-fits all Medicaid expansion.”
CMS had argued the work requirement could be impossible for people to meet during the pandemic, when it was critical that low-income Georgians have access to health coverage.
Wood said the agency failed to consider or weigh the possibility that rescinding approval would “mean less Medicaid coverage in Georgia.”
She also said CMS wrongly measured the Georgia plan against a full Medicaid expansion and “failed to explain why it changed its mind about the key issues underlying the approval.”
Republicans had presented Georgia’s plan as a financially responsible alternative to a full expansion of Medicaid services under the Affordable Care Act, which dozens of states have already done.
The plan sought to add an estimated 50,000 poor and uninsured Georgia residents to the Medicaid rolls in its first two years. But to be eligible, new Medicaid recipients would have to engage in a minimum number of qualifying hours through work, job training, education, volunteering, or other similar activities.
Democrats in Georgia say full expansion would cover hundreds of thousands of people at a much lower cost to the state. That’s because the ACA, President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, gave states the option of expanding Medicaid to low-income adults who make up to 138% of the federal poverty level, with the federal government picking up 90% of the cost. More than 10 million people in the U.S. have gained coverage that way.
Kemp has said full expansion would cost the state too much money in the long run.
___
This story has been corrected to reflect that CMS announced it was revoking approval of the work and premium requirements last year, not last month.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/20/judge-reinstates-work-requirement-georgia-medicaid-plan/ | 2022-08-20T05:36:56Z |
Transgender kids can play girls sports in Utah after ruling
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Transgender girls in Utah will be given the opportunity to participate in girls’ sports as the school year begins, after a judge on Friday reversed a ban pending legal challenges from parents.
Instead of an outright ban, transgender girls will now be sent before a commission that will determine on a case-by-case basis if their participation compromises fairness. Utah’s Republican lawmakers created the commission in a law passed earlier this year as a fallback plan to be implemented in case of an injunction against the law.
Under the law, the panel will be allowed to ask for and assess the child’s height and weight in making decisions about whether a transgender girl would have an unfair advantage.
The commission, which is set to be convened in the coming weeks, will include politically appointed experts from athletics and medicine.
When proposed, the commission was criticized by advocates for transgender student-athletes — who worried they would feel targeted having their bodies measured — and proponents of an outright ban, who argued it didn’t go far enough.
The commission is set to go into effect while the court weighs the legal challenge to the outright ban. Members have not yet been appointed but will be in the coming weeks, legislative leaders said.
The state’s association overseeing more than 80,000 students playing high school sports has said only one transgender girl competed in their leagues last year and, with school sports already underway, it’s unclear how many will go before the commission and when its decisions will take effect.
Utah’s ruling marked the latest court development in a nationwide debate over how to navigate the flashpoint issue.
At least 12 Republican-led states — including Utah — have passed laws banning transgender women or girls in sports based on the premise it gives them an unfair competitive advantage.
Transgender rights advocates counter the rules aren’t just about sports, but another way to demean and attack transgender youth. Similar cases are underway in states such as Idaho, West Virginia and Indiana.
Utah’s ban took effect in July after its Republican-supermajority Legislature overrode a veto by Gov. Spencer Cox, also a Republican.
Utah state Judge Keith Kelly said in the ruling putting the ban on hold that attorneys representing the families of three transgender student-athletes showed they have suffered significant distress by “singling them out for unfavorable treatment as transgender girls.”
The transgender girls and the parents filed the lawsuit last May, contending the ban violates the Utah Constitution’s guarantees of equal rights and due process.
The ruling was thrilling news to the girls and their families, said Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, who also represented same-sex couples in a landmark court case against Utah last decade.
“The pressure, the strain this was putting them under was so enormous,” Minter said. “It is just a huge relief to have that weight lifted.”
Utah state Sen. Stuart Adams, a Republican, said in a statement Friday that the commission that will now make decisions in a way “to protect equitable and safe competition while preserving the integrity of women’s sports.”
The commission will include a medical data statistician, a physician with experience about “gender identity healthcare”, a sports physiologist, mental health professional, collegiate athletic trainer, representative of an athletic association and a rotating member who is a coach or official in the sport relevant to each case.
Minter said he hopes the commission will act merely as a safety net, with the presumption being that transgender girls can play unless there is an obvious issue of competitive fairness.
“How it is done is very important,” Minter said.
The ruling follows a revelation this week by the Utah High School Activities Association that it secretly investigated a female athlete — without telling her or her parents — after receiving complaints from the parents of two girls she had defeated in competition questioning whether the girl was transgender.
The investigation — which was roundly criticized by Cox — determined she indeed was female after poring through her school records dating back to kindergarten, association spokesman David Spatafore told lawmakers this week.
Critics of the ban were upset but said they were not surprised by the investigation. They said it highlighted how the impact of politicizing girls’ sports affected more than transgender student-athletes and subjected all girls to scrutiny in ways they anticipated.
“It creates such a negative atmosphere based on stereotypes about girls and how they should look,” Minter said. “It is really is harmful to all the kids in the state.”
The sequence of events also laid out how officials may pursue complaints now that youth sports and the associations governing them are the subject of state laws. Spatafore said the complaint was among several the association had looked into in its efforts to comply with the Utah law, which went into effect in July.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/20/transgender-kids-can-play-girls-sports-utah-after-ruling/ | 2022-08-20T05:37:03Z |
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Aug. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global logistics service provider J&T Express announces the expansion of two sorting centres in Indonesia to meet growing local business demand and upgrade work environment for employees, along with a free shipping campaign for customers, in celebration of the company's seventh anniversary in the country.
Since its launch in Indonesia in August 2015, J&T Express has grown quickly to own a global network covering 13 countries across the globe, providing customers with integrated logistics solutions through intelligent infrastructure and digital logistics network.
Charles Hou, Group Vice President of J&T Express, said, "Indonesia is where we started. It is where we delivered our first parcel and made our first step in the global journey. I'm very proud for what we have achieved over the years, yet I am more grateful for the tremendous support of all the delivery men and women, our staff, our business partners and our customers. Like the nature of our business, our success is a relay. It is only made possible by the effort of every single person along the way.
To better serve the growing local market and provide better working environment for its employees, J&T Express is expanding and optimizing 70th and 71th sorting centres, respectively in East Java and Kalimantan, the areas with high business volumes, according to Robin Lo, CEO of J&T Express Indonesia.
To meet the rising demand of delivery services, the two upgraded sorting warehouses in the city of Madiun and Banjarmasin each covers an area of about 20,000 square meters with a building area of more than 12,000 square meters. Starting operation in November and December, respectively, the sorting centres' processing volume are expected to double with the use of automatic sorting machines in the future.
Meanwhile, J&T Express has launched the "Stop Bayar Ongkir" (Stop Pay Shipping Fee) program on August 20 as part of the anniversary celebration to show gratitude to its customers in Indonesia. The terms and conditions of the "Stop Bayar Ongkir" program can be accessed through the Indonesia official website at www.jet.co.id.
Robin Lo said, "This is one of the few times we have held a delivery fee promotion for customers, although with a different scale. We noticed that delivery services have now become a necessity for the communities. For this reason, on this occasion, we launched a 100% free delivery program as a form of appreciation to our customers who have supported J&T Express over the last seven years and contributed to building J&T into a major delivery service provider in Indonesia."
J&T Express also celebrated its fourth anniversary in Vietnam and Malaysia in July and August, respectively, launching similar programs to show appreciation for customer support.
About J&T Express
J&T Express is a global logistics service provider with leading express delivery businesses in Southeast Asia and China, the largest and fastest-growing market in the world. Founded in 2015, J&T Express' network spans thirteen countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Mexico, Brazil and Egypt. Adhering to its "customer-oriented and efficiency-based" mission, J&T Express is committed to providing customers with integrated logistics solutions through intelligent infrastructure and digital logistics network, as part of its global strategy to connect the world with greater efficiency and bring logistical benefits to all.
Group official website: www.jtexpress.com
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SOURCE J&T Express | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/20/jampt-express-announces-expansion-sorting-centres-free-shipping-campaign-customers-celebration-its-seventh-anniversary-indonesia/ | 2022-08-20T05:45:26Z |
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — Death Valley National Park's most popular sites will reopen to the public on Saturday, two weeks after massive flash-flooding, but the National Park Service cautioned visitors to expect delays and continuing road closures.
Locations that will reopen include the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point and Mesquite Sand Dunes, according to the park's Facebook page.
Access to the park will be limited to State Route 190 and to the Panamint Valley Road.
Death Valley was hit on Aug. 5 by historic downpours from monsoonal thunderstorms that caused millions of dollars in damage to roads and facilities.
State Route 190 through the park was reopened at about 5 p.m. Friday, two weeks after it was shut down because of flash flooding that damaged miles of the road shoulder, the California Department of Transportation announced.
Crews will continue to fill in sections that were washed away and drivers may experience some slowdowns and lane closures into the fall to allow for repairs, Caltrans said.
Visitors were warned to plan ahead and not to rely on GPS devices because all other paved roads will remain closed for repairs and because backcountry roads are still being assessed.
This summer's very active monsoon has also damaged roads elsewhere in California's deserts, including the Mojave National Preserve and the south side of Joshua Tree National Park.
Joshua Tree park officials urged visitors to drive carefully and to keep an eye out for desert tortoises because the water encourages them to emerge and they can be mistaken for rocks on roads.
The National Weather Service's San Diego office said another surge of monsoonal moisture will increase the chance for mountain and desert thunderstorms through the weekend. Another surge is expected in the middle of next week.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-19/flood-damaged-death-valley-will-reopen-popular-sites-to-the-public | 2022-08-20T06:21:08Z |
Port Huron's Flower Niche is for sale
For the past 40 years, Vivian Herbert has owned and operated the Flower Niche. On Aug. 4, it was listed for sale with Real Estate One.
The Flower Niche, located at 1902 Water St., has been a part of the Port Huron community for decades. It had been a flower shop even before Herbert took ownership. The Flower Niche sold bouquets flower arrangements for all occasions, including weddings, Valentine’s Day and anniversaries. It is one of three flower shops in Port Huron alongside Christopher's Flowers and Ullenbruch's Flowers and Gifts.
Herbert decided to sell the Flower Niche because it has become too much to manage after she had a stroke in December.
“Everything goes with the flower shop when I sell the building,” she said.
Herbert said she will retire once the building is sold. She said it will be hard for her to give up the business because she likes to stay active.
“It’s going to be hard for me to get accustomed to staying home and relaxing,” Herbert said. “I’m not a relaxed person, I’m hyper-active.”
Herbert said she will miss making flower arrangements, her customers and employees.
The Flower Niche is listed at $299,900. In addition to the business downstairs, there is a two-bedroom, one bathroom apartment upstairs. People interested in buying the building can contact Brian Rowbotham with Real Estate One. His office number is (810) 966-1200.
Rowbotham said with Herbert being 79, it was time for her to pass the reins to someone else. He said the building provides a great opportunity for people looking to start a business.
"It's a really cool building," he said. "There's a lot of potential for any entrepreneur or business."
Although the building can be used for anything once it’s sold, Herbert said she hopes to see it continue as a flower shop.
Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122. | https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2022/08/20/port-hurons-flower-niche-is-for-sale/65409670007/ | 2022-08-20T06:24:16Z |
Vanessa Bryant, widow of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, broke down at times Friday as she testified that she experiences panic attacks and anxiety over the possibility of seeing photos from the 2020 helicopter crash that killed her husband, their teenage daughter and seven others.
On the witness stand in her federal lawsuit against Los Angeles County, Vanessa Bryant recalled being at home with her family, breastfeeding her 7-month-old daughter Capri, when she learned of a Los Angeles Times report about county sheriff's deputies sharing the graphic photos.
"I just remember not wanting to react cause the girls were in the room," she testified, her voice rising with emotion. "I said, 'I can't do this.' ... And I bolted out of the house and I ran to the side of the house so the girls couldn't see me. I wanted to run... down the block and just scream. I can't escape my body. I can't escape what I feel."
Along with Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter also died in the crash, Bryant filed a federal civil lawsuit alleging Los Angeles County invaded their privacy and inflicted emotional distress by not properly containing the spread of the photos which, according to witness testimony, show not just helicopter wreckage but the mangled bodies of the victims.
Bryant admitted to being nervous on the stand and cried when talking about her late daughter Gianna. She had to gather herself when describing the day it took to find Gianna's body in the wreckage. She sobbed as she recalled looking at a secure NTSB website to identify clothing and other personal items of the victims.
Bryant recounted her interaction after the crash with Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who informed her that her husband and daughter had been killed. She broke down at times when recalling the events.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Bryant. Is there anything I can do for you?" Bryant recalled Villanueva asking.
"If you can't bring my babies back, then please secure the area. I'm concerned about paparazzi," she recalled telling him.
The sheriff assured her that he would, but he remained in the room, Bryant said. She urged him to leave and to handle her request immediately.
According to Bryant, Villanueva stepped out and returned, telling her he had secured a temporary flight restriction over the area through the Federal Aviation Administration.
Bryant testified that she had to remove comments from her Instagram feed after the images were distributed. Her attorney Luis Li displayed a comment sent to her shortly after the LA Times story published.
"Ima leak Kobe's body," said the message, which included helicopter and fire emojis.
Defense attorneys, in court filings, have indicated they plan to address Bryant's own Instagram posts, including one from Halloween in which she is dressed as Cruella de Vil, a villain depicted in Disney movies.
"They say there are five stages of grief: Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Well, I'd like to add one more...revenge. -- Cruella," the caption reads.
Li asked Bryant about the post. She testified that the choice of costume was consistent with other Halloween outfits she has worn, including the Wicked Witch from "The Wizard of Oz" and Darth Vader.
Bryant said she dresses up as the bad characters to allow her girls to be the good ones.
Sheriff testifies he devised a 'bargain' to ensure photos were deleted
During cross examination, the defense sought to show that Bryant had other sources of stress beyond the photo controversy, including a lawsuit filed against her by her mother. Bryant testified that her mother "thought she was entitled to money."
Defense attorney Mira Hashmall told Bryant that her mother "accused you of fraud... elder abuse, that must have been stressful."
"It was definitely hurtful," Bryant said, adding that she also felt betrayed.
"I'm sure that was stressful," Hashmall asked.
"Yeah, it wasn't easy," Bryant replied, adding that the lawsuit was settled and it didn't cause the kind of lasting fear she has of the crash scene photos surfacing.
"That was a stress at the time, but my mother gave birth to me. She raised me. And like I said, it has been resolved," Bryant said of the lawsuit.
The defense pressed Bryant on whether her goal was for the photos to never be seen -- which the LA County claims its actions accomplished.
"I would have wanted someone to recover all the photographs and investigate" who shared what, Bryant said.
The first witness for the defense, Sheriff Villanueva, testified about the need for expediency in handling the leaked photos. He said that opening a formal investigation would invoke union legal rules that could involve attorneys and delays and allow more opportunity for the photos to spread.
"There's one way we're going to get them immediately," Villanueva said, referring to the crash scene, so he devised what he called a "bargain."
The deputies involved in the leak would prove the photos were deleted and get a note about their conduct in a performance log, Villanueva testified.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs sought to show that the handling of the episode limited internal affairs from later conducting an investigation into alleged wrongdoing.
"You can't have the accountability and (also) risk the photos getting out," Villanueva testified. "And we picked the right one."
Bryant had earlier testified that she lives in fear because a formal investigation could not confirm all crash site photos were accounted for and destroyed.
Law enforcement personnel described how they shared photos
The trial has so far seen testimony by several law enforcement personnel, including a deputy who testified he showed graphic images from the scene while at a bar, another deputy who said he shared photos while playing a video game, a deputy who sent dozens of photos to someone he didn't know, and a fire official who showed the images to other personnel during an awards ceremony cocktail hour.
Chester, who along with Bryant filed the suit, testified on Thursday, saying he lives in fear that the graphic photos taken of his loved ones' bodies may resurface one day.
Chester took the stand after several days of testimony from the law enforcement officials -- some of whom offered apologies, detailed the graphic nature of the photos, and explained why they were taken and shared and why orders were given to delete them.
Bryant has been in the courtroom listening to the testimony of every witness except the coroner. She walked out of the courtroom abruptly as a bartender testified about seeing photos.
Villanueva is expected to be followed on the stand by LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.
Kobe Bryant, 41, and Gianna Bryant, 13, were among nine people killed in the January 26, 2020, helicopter crash on a hillside in Calabasas, California.
They were flying to a girls basketball game at Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks when the helicopter went down, leaving no survivors.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/vanessa-bryant-testifies-that-she-suffers-panic-attacks-anxiety-since-learning-of-shared-crash-scene/article_16b2d317-ebc0-5336-8e56-b4e53b2b8a7c.html | 2022-08-20T07:15:52Z |
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United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe | https://www.kitv.com/weather/friday-evening-weather-forecast-august-19-2022/article_c6f40340-2047-11ed-99a2-ff781df7e3bc.html | 2022-08-20T07:15:58Z |
Decomposing body found in trunk of vehicle at Las Vegas apartment complex
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5/Gray News) - The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a homicide in an apartment complex, after discovering a decomposing body in the trunk of a car.
Police say a call came in regarding a “foul odor” coming from a white BMW parked on the property.
Officers arrived on the scene and made entry into the vehicle, where they found a body decomposing in the trunk.
Based on the condition of remains in the vehicle, LVMPD believes a homicide occurred.
Police currently do not know how long the body was there and did not release additional information about the body.
Lt. Jason Johansson says detectives will investigate the scene and gather information from residents.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office will release the identity and cause of death.
LVMPD urges if anyone has information on this investigation to contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.
Copyright 2022 KVVU via Gray Media Group. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/20/decomposing-body-found-trunk-vehicle-las-vegas-apartment-complex/ | 2022-08-20T08:50:13Z |
IMF fees on war-torn countries closer to elimination
WASHINGTON (AP) — The International Monetary Fund is facing pressure to reevaluate how it imposes fees on loans it disperses to needy countries like war-torn Ukraine — which is one of the fund’s biggest borrowers.
The move comes as more countries will need to turn to the IMF, as food prices and inflation internationally continues to rise.
Surcharges are added fees on loans imposed on countries that are heavily indebted to the IMF.
Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in Aspen last month that finance ministers of several countries realize they have to pay a price for Russia’s war in Ukraine, especially with food prices going up.
“They’re going to have to go to the IMF, they’re going to need to find assistance,” Adeyemo said.
However, the IMF fee system could change through U.S. legislation. An amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, otherwise known as the defense spending bill, would suspend IMF surcharges while their effectiveness and burden on indebted countries is studied.
That was passed by the U.S. House in July. The Senate is expected to vote on its defense bill in September. A representative of the Senate Armed Services Committee said an amendment may be offered in the next few weeks or even on the Senate floor.
As the largest IMF shareholder and member of the Fund’s executive board, the U.S. can push for policy decisions and unilaterally veto some board decisions.
Citing worsening financial crises in Sri Lanka and Pakistan as examples, some accuse China of engaging in debt trap diplomacy — or having countries falls so deeply in debt to that they are beholden to it on international issues.
Advocates and civil rights organizations lodge the same complaint against the Fund, who claim the organization undercuts its core lender-of-last-resort role with countries in vulnerable positions to pay back debt.
With an ever-worsening risk of a global debt crisis and rising interest rates, the issue has become more pressing for countries looking to reduce their deficits.
However, some economists and representatives of the fund say the surcharges amount to responsible lending behavior, as they provide an incentive for members with large outstanding balances to repay their loans promptly. This applies especially for countries that may otherwise may not be able to obtain financing from private lenders.
Maurice Obstfeld, a Berkeley economics professor and former IMF research department director said as a lender of last resort, the Fund’s ability to lend is important as low and middle income countries face rising interest rates.
“The Fund’s staff is small and in a crisis, its efforts are better deployed serving member countries’ needs,” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “Surcharges could be relaxed temporarily in the face of intense pressures on borrowing countries, but at the expense of the Fund’s ability to serve its membership in the longer term.”
Illinois Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García, who offered the defense spending amendment, told The Associated Press “it is unfair for the IMF to require countries like Ukraine that are already deep in debt to pay surcharge fees. These surcharges increase poverty and hold back our global economic recovery.”
Ukraine’s projected real GDP is expected to decline by 35 percent, due in large part to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to IMF data.
The country, engaged in a war with no projected end, has an outstanding balance of 7.5 billion SDRs — an IMF accounting unit valued at around $9.8 billion according to Ukrainian central bankers. The latest figures estimate that Ukraine will owe the IMF $360 million in surcharges between 2021 and 2023.
Economists Joseph Stiglitz at Columbia University and Kevin P. Gallagher at Boston University wrote earlier this year that “forcing excessive repayments lowers the productive potential of the borrowing country, but also harms creditors” and requires borrowers “to pay more at exactly the moment when they are most squeezed from market access in any other form.”
Serhiy Nikolaychuk, Deputy Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine, said Ukraine is continuing to pay its debts “despite Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.”
“Our country will pay its debt and surcharges under previous programs and fulfill its obligations to the IMF,” Nikolaychuk said. “It will be difficult, but we will pay.”
For years, lawmakers, economists and civil rights organizations have called on the IMF, which has for decades loaned billions to low-income countries, to end its surcharge policy.
In January, 18 left-leaning lawmakers wrote to Treasury calling for the surcharge policy to be eliminated. And in April, a group of 150 civil society groups and individuals signed an open letter to the IMF, asking for the same, calling surcharges “regressive.”
A spokesperson for the fund says the surcharges are designed to discourage large and prolonged use of IMF resources.
“They only apply to countries with particularly large outstanding loans,” Mayada Ghazala said in an emailed statement, adding that poorest countries are exempt from the surcharges.
The fund’s executive board met in December 2021 and discussed the role of surcharges —it ultimately decided not to make a change to the fees, but said they would review them again in the future.
The IMF was created in 1944 at the United Nations Bretton Woods Conference — one of its missions is lending to maintain the financial stability of countries. Among its 190 countries, it lends around $1 trillion, according to the organization’s website.
An April review of the fund’s financial health for fiscal year 2022 and 2023 states that lending income excluding surcharges “remain strong and are expected to exceed expenses in FY 2023–2024.”
Andrés Arauz, a senior research fellow at the liberal Center for Economic and Policy Research says the IMF’s financial position shows “the surcharges are not necessary for sound finances.”
“There is no excuse for the IMF to be punishing countries under debt stress with surcharges,” he said. “There is also no logic to it, the amount of money that the IMF raises from surcharges is trivial relative to its income and capacity.”
Garcia said “I’m proud the House passed my amendment to support a pause and review of surcharges at the IMF, and I will keep up the fight until the President signs it into law.”
Separately, the U.S. has sent roughly $7.3 billion in aid to Ukraine since the war began in late February, including a new $775 million defense aid package announced Friday.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/20/imf-fees-war-torn-countries-closer-elimination/ | 2022-08-20T08:50:19Z |
HONOLULU (KITV)- People are heading to restaurants and bars to watch the Hawaii team play in the Little League World Series.
It’s clear this is more about seeing the fighting spirit of Hawaii, than anything else. Our boys move on and so does the spirit of ohana that goes with them, even if it's not your kid who is on the team.
The cheering, emotion, and smiles: Hawaii having a team in the Little League World series is a big deal for local residents. "Hawaii is family. No matter where you grew up in Hawaii, it’s always about family. And we're all one ohana," said Shaun Kitamura who came out to watch the game at TJ's Sports Bar and Grill.
Ohana: the word epitomizes the experience of watching the games. Shaun Kitamura and his father Glenn Kitamura are watching the game together at TJ's: "You're cheering with everyone in the restaurant. So I think it’s the greatest thing," said Glenn Kitamura. "I'm spending the greatest time in the world with my family and uncles watching baseball," said Glenn Kitamura.
But it's about more than just hanging out with each other. It's also about the kids they're watching. "They're proud kids I think. They just want to do well for Hawaii. When I saw their uniforms saying 'we are greater than me' on their Honolulu jerseys. I thought that was an excellent saying on their shirts," said Glenn Kitamura.
The younger Kitamura coaches Little League players himself. None of his players are on the team in the Little League World Series right now, but that doesn't matter. "Hopefully one of these days, one of the kids that we're coaching will be in the Little League World Series or college," said Shaun Kitamura.
For others, it's the six degrees of separation fueling the spirit of comradery. You know someone who knows or is related to someone playing. "I guess I know a couple of the kids personally and one of the moms Gina. She plays mahjong with my sister. She's there. You'll see her on tv," said Ben Suiso who came out to Dave and Busters to watch the game.
With this win...the feeling of ohana continues to build. It will be interesting to see if the crowds at the restaurants continue to build as well...along with the comradery.
Jefferson Tyler joined KITV after a lengthy stint in Reno, Nev. where he covered a variety of subjects. From wildfires to presidential elections, Jefferson takes pride in creating balanced stories that keep viewers’ attentions. | https://www.kitv.com/news/business/watching-hawaiis-team-win-in-the-little-league-world-series-its-all-about-ohana/article_f0904b96-2042-11ed-a1ae-7ba9ae27ca61.html | 2022-08-20T08:51:30Z |
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United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe | https://www.kitv.com/news/vice-president-kamala-harris-arrives-on-kauai-for-vacation-greeted-by-red-hill-protestors/article_abbc49ea-205e-11ed-8b2b-d79d0c76b03b.html | 2022-08-20T08:51:36Z |
Decomposing body found in trunk of vehicle at Las Vegas apartment complex
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5/Gray News) - The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a homicide in an apartment complex, after discovering a decomposing body in the trunk of a car.
Police say a call came in regarding a “foul odor” coming from a white BMW parked on the property.
Officers arrived on the scene and made entry into the vehicle, where they found a body decomposing in the trunk.
Based on the condition of remains in the vehicle, LVMPD believes a homicide occurred.
Police currently do not know how long the body was there and did not release additional information about the body.
Lt. Jason Johansson says detectives will investigate the scene and gather information from residents.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office will release the identity and cause of death.
LVMPD urges if anyone has information on this investigation to contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.
Copyright 2022 KVVU via Gray Media Group. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/20/decomposing-body-found-trunk-vehicle-las-vegas-apartment-complex/ | 2022-08-20T09:14:42Z |
IMF fees on war-torn countries closer to elimination
WASHINGTON (AP) — The International Monetary Fund is facing pressure to reevaluate how it imposes fees on loans it disperses to needy countries like war-torn Ukraine — which is one of the fund’s biggest borrowers.
The move comes as more countries will need to turn to the IMF, as food prices and inflation internationally continues to rise.
Surcharges are added fees on loans imposed on countries that are heavily indebted to the IMF.
Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in Aspen last month that finance ministers of several countries realize they have to pay a price for Russia’s war in Ukraine, especially with food prices going up.
“They’re going to have to go to the IMF, they’re going to need to find assistance,” Adeyemo said.
However, the IMF fee system could change through U.S. legislation. An amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, otherwise known as the defense spending bill, would suspend IMF surcharges while their effectiveness and burden on indebted countries is studied.
That was passed by the U.S. House in July. The Senate is expected to vote on its defense bill in September. A representative of the Senate Armed Services Committee said an amendment may be offered in the next few weeks or even on the Senate floor.
As the largest IMF shareholder and member of the Fund’s executive board, the U.S. can push for policy decisions and unilaterally veto some board decisions.
Citing worsening financial crises in Sri Lanka and Pakistan as examples, some accuse China of engaging in debt trap diplomacy — or having countries falls so deeply in debt to that they are beholden to it on international issues.
Advocates and civil rights organizations lodge the same complaint against the Fund, who claim the organization undercuts its core lender-of-last-resort role with countries in vulnerable positions to pay back debt.
With an ever-worsening risk of a global debt crisis and rising interest rates, the issue has become more pressing for countries looking to reduce their deficits.
However, some economists and representatives of the fund say the surcharges amount to responsible lending behavior, as they provide an incentive for members with large outstanding balances to repay their loans promptly. This applies especially for countries that may otherwise may not be able to obtain financing from private lenders.
Maurice Obstfeld, a Berkeley economics professor and former IMF research department director said as a lender of last resort, the Fund’s ability to lend is important as low and middle income countries face rising interest rates.
“The Fund’s staff is small and in a crisis, its efforts are better deployed serving member countries’ needs,” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “Surcharges could be relaxed temporarily in the face of intense pressures on borrowing countries, but at the expense of the Fund’s ability to serve its membership in the longer term.”
Illinois Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García, who offered the defense spending amendment, told The Associated Press “it is unfair for the IMF to require countries like Ukraine that are already deep in debt to pay surcharge fees. These surcharges increase poverty and hold back our global economic recovery.”
Ukraine’s projected real GDP is expected to decline by 35 percent, due in large part to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to IMF data.
The country, engaged in a war with no projected end, has an outstanding balance of 7.5 billion SDRs — an IMF accounting unit valued at around $9.8 billion according to Ukrainian central bankers. The latest figures estimate that Ukraine will owe the IMF $360 million in surcharges between 2021 and 2023.
Economists Joseph Stiglitz at Columbia University and Kevin P. Gallagher at Boston University wrote earlier this year that “forcing excessive repayments lowers the productive potential of the borrowing country, but also harms creditors” and requires borrowers “to pay more at exactly the moment when they are most squeezed from market access in any other form.”
Serhiy Nikolaychuk, Deputy Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine, said Ukraine is continuing to pay its debts “despite Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.”
“Our country will pay its debt and surcharges under previous programs and fulfill its obligations to the IMF,” Nikolaychuk said. “It will be difficult, but we will pay.”
For years, lawmakers, economists and civil rights organizations have called on the IMF, which has for decades loaned billions to low-income countries, to end its surcharge policy.
In January, 18 left-leaning lawmakers wrote to Treasury calling for the surcharge policy to be eliminated. And in April, a group of 150 civil society groups and individuals signed an open letter to the IMF, asking for the same, calling surcharges “regressive.”
A spokesperson for the fund says the surcharges are designed to discourage large and prolonged use of IMF resources.
“They only apply to countries with particularly large outstanding loans,” Mayada Ghazala said in an emailed statement, adding that poorest countries are exempt from the surcharges.
The fund’s executive board met in December 2021 and discussed the role of surcharges —it ultimately decided not to make a change to the fees, but said they would review them again in the future.
The IMF was created in 1944 at the United Nations Bretton Woods Conference — one of its missions is lending to maintain the financial stability of countries. Among its 190 countries, it lends around $1 trillion, according to the organization’s website.
An April review of the fund’s financial health for fiscal year 2022 and 2023 states that lending income excluding surcharges “remain strong and are expected to exceed expenses in FY 2023–2024.”
Andrés Arauz, a senior research fellow at the liberal Center for Economic and Policy Research says the IMF’s financial position shows “the surcharges are not necessary for sound finances.”
“There is no excuse for the IMF to be punishing countries under debt stress with surcharges,” he said. “There is also no logic to it, the amount of money that the IMF raises from surcharges is trivial relative to its income and capacity.”
Garcia said “I’m proud the House passed my amendment to support a pause and review of surcharges at the IMF, and I will keep up the fight until the President signs it into law.”
Separately, the U.S. has sent roughly $7.3 billion in aid to Ukraine since the war began in late February, including a new $775 million defense aid package announced Friday.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/20/imf-fees-war-torn-countries-closer-elimination/ | 2022-08-20T09:14:48Z |
Fresh Air Weekend highlights some of the best interviews and reviews from past weeks, and new program elements specially paced for weekends. Our weekend show emphasizes interviews with writers, filmmakers, actors and musicians, and often includes excerpts from live in-studio concerts. This week:
How the Republican Party came to embrace conspiracy theories and denialism: Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank examines how the GOP got to where it is today, with some elected leaders and candidates still endorsing the lie that Trump won. His book is The Destructionists.
Aubrey Plaza plays a fraudster in the mostly engrossing 'Emily the Criminal': An art-school dropout seizes control of her life and livelihood by branching out into credit card fraud in this Los Angeles noir. Plaza is both vulnerable and fierce as a woman on the take.
Robin Thede wants her sketch show to open doors for other Black voices: Thede's HBO series, A Black Lady Sketch Show, is the first sketch comedy show solely written, directed and starring Black women. "It is a nonstop job," she says of the various hats she wears.
You can listen to the original interviews and review here:
How the Republican Party came to embrace conspiracy theories and denialism
Aubrey Plaza plays a fraudster in the mostly engrossing 'Emily the Criminal'
Robin Thede wants her sketch show to open doors for other Black voices
Copyright 2022 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-20/fresh-air-weekend-the-gops-denialism-black-lady-sketch-show-creator-robin-thede | 2022-08-20T10:10:15Z |
UVALDE, Texas — Artists from across the state have come together in this small southwest Texas town to honor the 19 students and two teachers killed in late May at Robb Elementary School. They've painted giant portraits of each victim with the hope of helping the community heal.
It's a huge endeavor at any time, but most especially during Texas in August.
It's morning time but already sweltering just off Uvalde's pecan tree-lined town square. The artist who goes by the name Uloang, has been up all night painting, to avoid the blistering midday sun.
"I'm half awake!" he said.
A few hours earlier, he'd put the finishing touches on a 20-by-20-foot portrait of Maranda Mathis on the side of an office building. She's one of the fourth-graders killed at Robb Elementary School.
"As I was painting her face, and once I felt like I was getting her smile down, I could see her personality coming through," Uloang said. "And I just kind of felt like, 'Oh, hi, Maranda! There you are.' And I could barely hold it together. Definitely shed a few tears."
The mural is based off her mother's favorite photo of the young girl.
"Her mom mentioned that she loved being in nature, picking up river rocks," he said.
In Uloang's portrait, Maranda stands smiling in turquoise waters. Eleven Koi fish swim around her, a number chosen because she was 11 years old. She holds a brilliant amethyst crystal instead of river rocks, like in the original photo. Uloang said the idea came to him when he was sketching, and when he shared his drawing with Maranda's mom, she had a visceral reaction.
"She told me that when she saw that it was amethyst crystal in the sketch, she got chills," he said.
As it turns out, amethyst is Maranda's birthstone and purple was her favorite color. Uloang also added pink water lilies, which he later discovered were her mom's favorite flower.
"And there's been other things just kind of that would just kind of give me chills," Uloang said. "I felt like I was being guided in a way, to be honest."
Overseeing the portrait project is Abel Ortiz, who teaches art at a Uvalde college. As the project's creator, his idea was to make the 21 murals monumental.
"We never want to forget their faces," Ortiz said. "That's why they had to be murals of portraits and not just regular murals."
Ortiz didn't know 21 Texas muralists, so he put out a call for help. Monica Maldonado answered that call. Shortly after the shooting in May, she drove the three hours from her Austin home to pay her respects.
"At that moment, I knew that God was going to use me," Maldonado said. "I didn't know how, but I knew that I would be involved in some way in the journey of healing for Uvalde."
For Maldonado, that journey involved helping find buildings to host the murals and finding most of the muralists, all of whom have volunteered their time.
Uvalde residents have stopped by every day to thank the artists and bring them meals.
One recent afternoon, around the corner from Maranda's portrait, a family stood in front of two side-by-side murals. Veronica Luevonos spoke softly about the paintings.
"That's my daughter's. And that's my nephew's," she said.
Luevanos lost her daughter, 10-year-old Jailah Silguero, and her nephew, Jayce Luevanos, also 10 years old. She remembered her daughter's favorite experiences.
"She loved dancing, playing outside, being around her friends," she said.
Jailah's portrait shows her smiling in her cheerleading uniform, which she wore each Friday during football season. Luevanos said Jayce was a sweet little boy.
"Always had everybody laughing, like Jailah."
Artist Ruben Esquivel chose to paint Jayce with his favorite dinosaur ninja, a paper plane and a cup of coffee, like he made for his grandparents every day.
"And this is like his final cup of coffee to them," Esquivel said. "He also used to write them love letters. So the paper plane is this kind of final letter, and it's going to say, 'I love you' on the wing in his handwriting."
Veronica Luevanos says all the portraits are beautiful.
"It brings a lot of joy to us," she said. "A lot of comfort."
She said she plans to visit Jailah and Jayce here for the rest of her days.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-20/texas-artists-honor-the-uvalde-victims-with-21-murals-they-hope-will-help-healing | 2022-08-20T10:10:21Z |
BEIJING, Aug. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "'Without the Communist Party, there would be no new China.' These lyrics succinctly capture the fundamental reason why China has achieved unprecedented progress in human history," Argentine Ambassador to China, Sabino Vaca Narvaja told the Global Times in an exclusive interview.
The Ambassador said one thing that impressed him the most in China was the moment when he heard the song "Without the Communist Party, There Would Be No New China" at Tiananmen Square one early morning at a ceremony marking the centenary of the founding of the CPC in 2021, because the lyrics also expressed his true feelings. Narvaja said he was impressed by China's admirable economic, technological, and social development particularly in relation to people's livelihoods over the last decade, especially in its efforts to reduce poverty and address the inequities brought about by development.
When speaking of the ambassador, many Chinese people are instantly curious about his Chinese name, Niu Wangdao. Why does an ambassador from Latin America have such a bookish Chinese name? How does his Chinese name Niu Wangdao express his feelings and thoughts about China?
Narvaja told the Global Times that before coming to China, he had noticed that many Chinese immigrants in Latin America gave themselves a Spanish name to facilitate communication with the locals, which he believed is a friendly move. Therefore, after coming to China as ambassador, he decided to take a Chinese name to express his goodwill to China. So, the name "Wangdao" occurred to him.
He revealed that he chose this name for two reasons. First, it was from the name of Chen Wangdao - the first person who translated The Communist Manifesto into Chinese. "I am very interested in how China integrates its own theories with Marxism, which is what you call the 'Sinicization of Marxism.'"
The Argentine diplomat recalled that Chen Wangdao played an important role and has historical significance in China and for the CPC. Chen and other young people at that time launched an ideological debate, thus creating the prelude to a major change in China.
Additionally, "dao" is also the abbreviation of "Taoism" in Chinese traditional culture. In Narvaja's view, "Wangdao" also has the meaning of "focusing on the road underfoot," which also coincides with his interest in exploring the developmental paths of various countries.
Narvaja was born in Cuba where he spent his childhood before returning to Argentina after finishing primary school.
"My experience in Cuba was my first approach to communism, and it also made me understand communism differently from many Westerners. So I always say, you have to experience it firsthand to really understand communism and socialist systems," he said.
His interest in communism, which was "ignited" by Cuba, further grew in the research and exploration of China, because in his opinion, China is one of the most successful socialist countries. After returning to Argentina, he studied a lot of courses related to China ranging from China's national conditions and economy to China's development model. He even studied China in graduate school.
"Long before I came to China as an ambassador, I had started researching this eastern country. I'm particularly interested in how the country has made such marvelous achievements in such a short period of time, especially since the CPC came to power in China." He told the Global Times that he has published many academic works on China's development, the latest of which is on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Narvaja became the Argentine Ambassador to China in April 2021. In just a little more than a year since his arrival, he has traveled to more than 20 provinces in China and said that he was "deeply impressed" by the diversity and rapid development of China, which has also helped him accumulate rich firsthand information for his exploration and research on China.
"I used to study the BRI, but now I have become a participant in promoting Argentina's participation in the BRI. It was very exciting for me because I could see my ideas slowly become reality," he said.
"Under the leadership of the CPC, China's economic and social development in the last decade has been admirable," the ambassador noted to the Global Times, when talking about his experience of visiting various places in China.
He stressed that China's development and change have been remarkable over the last decade under the leadership of Xi Jinping, especially in the field of science and technology. "China has been at the forefront of the world in electronic communications, 5G, and other fields. The aircraft carriers' development has made breakthroughs, and it has also made breakthroughs in the field of aviation." Among the series of changes in China, the diplomat particularly appreciated China's effort in poverty alleviation. "It is an extremely positive thing to lift hundreds of millions of people out of absolute poverty, which is not only of great significance to China, but also a major contribution to the world," he said.
In his view, this showed that China began to solve the problem of imbalanced development after a period of rapid development, through means such as making use of the development of the eastern coastal areas to drive the prosperity of the relatively underdeveloped western region of the country.
"I see the great determination of the Chinese government and President Xi to reduce inequality and address the imbalance of development. Development always brings about the gap between the rich and the poor, but China is working very hard to solve it. This is very meaningful work," he said.
Narvaja told the Global Times that he has had many memorable experiences during his time as an ambassador in China, but the most memorable was hearing the lyrics "Without the Communist Party, there would be no new China" in July 2021.
"I was in Tiananmen Square on July 1, 2021, while participating in a ceremony marking the centenary of the founding of the CPC. I remember that morning, there were chants of 'without the Communist Party, there would be no new China' all over the square. This song strongly grabbed my attention," the Argentine diplomat recalled.
"I especially like this line of lyrics, because it explains why China has made such unprecedented achievements in human history, and why China has changed from a feudal society to an advanced country."
These lyrics have since often echoed in Narvaja's mind. In February, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez was invited to visit China. After the meeting between President Xi and President Fernandez, Narvaja, who listened to the conversations between the two leaders on China's development and cooperation, once again thought of the lyrics "Without the Communist Party, there would be no new China."
"I have met President Xi a few times before, and I think he is a very kind, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable person. So I couldn't help but read the lyrics to him, 'Without the Communist Party, there would be no new China.' He smiled at me very happily. I was also very happy because I expressed my truest feelings," Narvaja recalled to the Global Times with a smile.
The ambassador stressed that it is a misconception that a particular development model can be used universally. He said that what development model a country should adopt is determined by that country's own history and its people.
"Demonizing communism is essentially reviving the misconceptions of the Cold War, which artificially divided the world into 'good' and 'bad.' It's downright wrong and it's sparking conflicts," said the ambassador. "For human beings, there is nothing better than diversity. We should respect the different political and organizational forms in different countries. Only in this way will the world be more diverse and people's minds become richer."
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SOURCE Global Times | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/20/without-communist-party-there-would-be-no-new-china-lyric-reveals-how-china-achieved-tremendous-achievement-argentine-ambassador-china/ | 2022-08-20T10:21:16Z |
HONOLULU (KITV4) -- The newly released Netflix documentary about the catfishing scandal involving Hawaii's own Manti Te'o, is already taking the world by storm.
The two-part series, 'Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist' has many voicing their support for the Heisman Trophy finalist.
Robby Toma, Te'o's longtime friend and former football teammate at both Punahou and Notre Dame, is also featured in the film.
"It was frustrating the last ten years because I know he wanted to deal with the criticism and everything on his own," explained Toma. "So, when he asked me if I could help him, there wasn't even a second guess in my head. I said of course, just let me know when the interview needs to start. Just to be able to help him tell his story, it definitely meant a lot."
From his Laie upbringing, to his rise to fame at Notre Dame, the documentary also details the backlash the football star faced after his online relationship, turned out to be a hoax.
Toma said he and Te'o had a conversation about their concerns the day before the documentary came out.
"I knew Manti didn't want people to feel bad for him. He just wanted to share his story. I think the producers and everyone involved in the film did a great job of him telling his story,"
The documentary made it's debut in Hawaii on Monday night, and has already been a huge success.
Toma said many of his old teammates, coaches, and supporters from when he played football have reached out.
"I think the timing of it was perfect because had he done it maybe ten years ago, people might not have understood the magnitude. Also Ronaiah went through that change, he fully made that transition. So, when you see it on screen you can kind of understand a little bit better," said Toma. "I think as a society, we're a little more understanding of mental health issues now. Especially at the end of it when Manti was really emotional and forgave Ronaiah, that just speaks volumes of him."
Toma said as for what's next, he believes Te'o will encourage others, particularly athletes who are battling mental health issues.
"Mental health is real, and Manti showed his faith and his compassion towards others and I think he's going to help a lot of people,"
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com
Mika is the co-anchor for KITV4 Island News at 5, 6, and 10 p.m.
Since joining KITV4 in 2016, Mika has also served as a multimedia journalist, weather, and traffic anchor. | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/i-think-hes-going-to-help-a-lot-of-people-new-manti-teo-netflix-documentary/article_c1667618-203f-11ed-ba59-e763e45ab153.html | 2022-08-20T10:27:08Z |
To be stuck "up a river without a paddle" is an expression for a sticky situation you just can't get out of. But if that river happens to be in the northern hemisphere this summer, it's likely the paddle won't be helpful, anyway.
A painful lack of rain and relentless heat waves are drying up rivers in the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Many are shrinking in length and breadth. Patches of riverbed poking out above the water are a common sight. Some rivers are so desiccated, they have become virtually impassable.
The human-caused climate crisis is fueling extreme weather across the globe, which isn't just impacting rivers, but also the people who rely on them. Most people on the planet depend on rivers in some way, whether for drinking water, to irrigate food, for energy or to ship goods.
See how six of them look from space.
Colorado River
The Colorado River is drying up at its banks and thinning out, as a historic drought in the US West shows little sign of abating. The river is crucially maintained by two of the country's largest reservoirs, and to safeguard the river basin, the government has implemented mandatory water cuts and asked states to come up with additional action plans.
One of those reservoirs, Lake Mead, is shrinking in size as water levels drop toward "dead pool" status -- the point at which the reservoir won't be high enough to release water downstream through a dam. Its water levels have been on a downward trend since 2000, but have had a sharper drop since 2020. The lake has dropped so low in the past year that wild discoveries have been made, including human remains in a barrel -- a suspected homicide victim from decades ago. And the consequences of the Colorado River crisis are enormous: Around 40 million people in seven states and Mexico rely on the river's water for drinking, agriculture and electricity.
The Yangtze River
The Yangtze River in Asia is drying up at its banks and its bed is emerging in some areas. But it's the Yangtze's tributaries that are already intensely parched. China has announced a nationwide drought alert for the first time in nine years, and its heat wave is its longest in six decades.
The impact of the drying Yangtze has been enormous. In Sichuan, a province of 84 million people, hydropower makes up about 80% of electricity capacity. Much of that comes from the Yangtze River, and as its flow slows down, power generation has dwindled, leaving authorities there to order all its factories shut for six days. The province is seeing around half the rain it usually does and some reservoirs have dried up entirely, according to state news agency Xinhua.
The Rhine River
The Rhine starts in the Swiss Alps, flows through Germany and the Netherlands and then flows all the way out to the North Sea. It's a crucial channel for European shipping, but right now, it's a nightmare to navigate.
Parts of the river's bed have emerged above the water's surface, meaning the ships that do try to pass it must weave around a series of obstacles, slowing the entire process.
The Rhine has many different gauges along the way, including in Kaub, just west of Frankfurt, Germany, where water levels have fallen to as low as 32 centimeters (12.6 inches). Shipping companies generally consider anything less than 40cm on the Rhine too low to bother with, and in Kaub, less than 75cm usually means a container ship has to reduce its load to about 30%, according to Deutsche Bank economists. Low water levels also mean companies pay higher levees to pass, and all these factors make shipping more expensive, a cost usually passed on to consumers.
The River Po
The River Po cuts right across the top of Italy and flows out east into the Adriatic Sea. It's fed by winter snow in the Alps and heavy rainfall in the spring, and has a steep fall that brings a fast flow. Typically, devastating floods are more of a problem around this river.
But now, the Po looks very different. Winter was dry in northern Italy, so snow provided little water, and spring and summer have been dry, too, plunging the region into the worst drought its experienced for seven decades. It's so dried up that a World War II-era bomb was recently found amid its dwindling waters.
A big problem is that millions of people rely on the Po for their livelihood, mostly through agriculture. Around 30% of Italy's food is produced along the Po, and some of the country's most famous exports, like Parmesan cheese, is made here.
The Loire River
The Loire in France sustains a valley of vineyards that produce some of the world's most famous wines. The river stretches over around 600 miles and is considered France's last wild river, supporting biodiverse ecosystems throughout the valley, much of which is protected by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Parts of the river are fairly shallow already, but its levels and flow can change rapidly with the weather and as snow at its source melts. Some sections are so dried out from the lack of rain and extreme heat that people can cross by foot.
Satellite images from the French town of Saumur show more riverbed than water exposed in the Loire. The patches of land around it in the valley are mostly brown and withered — a year ago, they were a lush and green. Authorities are releasing water from dams into the river, mostly to ensure there is enough to cool four nuclear power plants that sit along it.
The Danube River
The Danube is Western Europe's longest river and a crucial shipping channel that passes through 10 countries. In Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria, workers are dredging the river just to ensure vessels can still navigate it.
It's not in as dire a condition as some of Europe's other rivers, but countries like Hungary are so reliant on the Danube for tourism, the impacts are already being felt. Some cruise ships have been unable to pass parts of the river to even reach Hungary. Those that are still running can't stop on their normal routes because so many stations have had to close as water levels on river banks fall. An average 1,600-ton vessel can now only navigate the Hungarian stretch without any cargo, according to the country's tourist board.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/the-worlds-rivers-are-drying-up-from-extreme-weather-see-how-6-look-from-space/article_1e21b035-00f7-5406-88e5-b5f8a5cb1fe6.html | 2022-08-20T10:27:14Z |
Fresh Air Weekend highlights some of the best interviews and reviews from past weeks, and new program elements specially paced for weekends. Our weekend show emphasizes interviews with writers, filmmakers, actors and musicians, and often includes excerpts from live in-studio concerts. This week:
How the Republican Party came to embrace conspiracy theories and denialism: Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank examines how the GOP got to where it is today, with some elected leaders and candidates still endorsing the lie that Trump won. His book is The Destructionists.
Aubrey Plaza plays a fraudster in the mostly engrossing 'Emily the Criminal': An art-school dropout seizes control of her life and livelihood by branching out into credit card fraud in this Los Angeles noir. Plaza is both vulnerable and fierce as a woman on the take.
Robin Thede wants her sketch show to open doors for other Black voices: Thede's HBO series, A Black Lady Sketch Show, is the first sketch comedy show solely written, directed and starring Black women. "It is a nonstop job," she says of the various hats she wears.
You can listen to the original interviews and review here:
How the Republican Party came to embrace conspiracy theories and denialism
Aubrey Plaza plays a fraudster in the mostly engrossing 'Emily the Criminal'
Robin Thede wants her sketch show to open doors for other Black voices
Copyright 2022 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-08-20/fresh-air-weekend-the-gops-denialism-black-lady-sketch-show-creator-robin-thede | 2022-08-20T11:03:45Z |
Week in Review, Aug. 15-19: Loyola, Bollinger, ASAP and More
NEW ORLEANS — Loyola University New Orleans’ School of Nursing has launched an accelerated bachelor of science in nursing degree to help meet the rising demand for nurses nationwide. Designed to be completed in 17 months, the full-time, hybrid program provides students a combination of synchronous online learning and in-person clinical experience at facilities around New Orleans.
“What is already a critical nursing shortage is only predicted to worsen over the next few years, particularly in the southern region,” said College of Nursing and Health Dean Michelle “Shelli” Collins. “Loyola is poised to be part of the solution. The ABSN program enables those fresh from their undergraduate degrees, as well as post-traditional students, to enter the nursing field efficiently and economically, which helps them personally, while helping to address the nursing shortage most expediently.”
The School of Nursing’s education focuses on “holistic health, patient-centered care and experiential learning.” Collins said the fast-tracked degree will provide students the “benefit of guaranteed clinical placements with one of Loyola’s local healthcare partners and a maximum faculty to student ratio of one-to-ten during clinical work.” The degree also offers extensive preparation for the National Council Licensure Examination.
Here are more of the week’s top business stories:
According to the July 2022 Monthly Indicators Report from the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors, high home prices and an increase in homeownership costs continue to slow buyer activity nationwide. Home sales have declined for the fifth consecutive month, but there’s a bright side: despite the summer slowdown, the median sales price continues to rise and homes are still selling quite quickly. “The biggest struggles we’re seeing right now are the interest rates and finding affordable insurance,” said David Favret, NOMAR president, in a press release announcing the new report.
The U.S. Navy has awarded Bollinger Shipyards a contract to engineer and build an unmanned surface vessel capable of mine sweeping and mine hunting missions. The initial contract is for three vessels with options for up to 27 more. Bollinger is a privately held designer and builder of military and commercial vessels. “Bollinger is honored to be entrusted by the U.S. Navy to engineer and build the Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vehicle program,” said Ben Bordelon, Bollinger president and CEO, in a press release. “Bollinger’s skilled workforce is second to none and will work to build and deliver this advanced capability to our nation’s fleet using the highest levels of craftsmanship and quality that we have come to be known for. We are proud to partner with Huntington Ingalls Industries Unmanned Systems and Raytheon Technologies to build a state-of-the-art, multi-mission unmanned surface vehicle capable of both hunting and sweeping naval mines to support and protect the men and women of the U.S. Navy and our allies around the world.”
Waitr has changed its name to ASAP, signaling a new “deliver anything” business model. The company’s new vision is same-day delivery from any type of business. In preparation for the rebrand, the company accelerated the expansion of its services in recent weeks, signing agreements to launch delivery of a wide variety of items such as alcohol, sporting goods, luxury apparel, auto and electrical parts, and other “need it now” products. “ASAP expresses our new brand identity, building on our original delivery ethos,” said Carl Grimstad, CEO and chairman of the board of Waitr Holdings. “The strategies we have implemented have reinforced our ‘anything, anywhere ASAP’ vision, making us the go-to company for a wider range of products and services. And of course, our emphasis on working with businesses to make them more successful will never change.”
Entergy Corporation has announced that Leo P. Denault, the utility’s chairman and CEO, will retire in 2023 following 23 years of service to the company and a 40-year career in the energy industry. The Entergy board of directors elected Andrew “Drew” Marsh, current executive vice president and chief financial officer, to succeed Denault as CEO, effective Nov. 1. Denault will continue to lead the board as executive chairman until his retirement. He plans to work closely with Marsh and the senior leadership team to support a “smooth and organized transition that builds on the company’s momentum in areas of customer solutions, renewable energy generation, infrastructure resilience and operational excellence,” said a spokesperson. “Leo Denault has shaped Entergy’s purpose, culture and transformation with a relentless focus on creating long-term, sustainable value for customers, employees, communities and owners,” said Stuart Levenick, Entergy’s lead independent director, in a press release. “Leo has built and led an experienced team that has consistently executed an orderly business strategy with solid underlying fundamentals, including a robust customer base, a strong financial position, a constructive regulatory environment, strong community partnerships, a talented, diverse workforce, and a world-class storm restoration organization. He has strengthened the business and positioned Entergy well for the future. While Leo will continue to serve Entergy for several more months, the entire board expresses its deep gratitude for his years of dedication, service and values-driven leadership. We are confident that Drew will carry the torch and continue serving all of Entergy’s stakeholders well by creating sustainable value today and for future generations.”
Cargill, an international supplier of food, agricultural and industrial products with operations in 70 countries, is upgrading its St. Martin Parish facility that produces food, water conditioning and salt products for a variety of industries. The $34 million modernization project to replace dated equipment and add safety enhancements will enable Cargill to retain 70 jobs at the facility near Breaux Bridge. “Louisiana’s rural communities are primed for investment,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “Cargill’s commitment to job retention and reinvestment in its Acadiana Region site reflects the state’s skilled manufacturing workforce and superior logistics, which put the international markets Cargill serves within reach.”
Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation and homeowners of the houses built by the program in an area of New Orleans among the hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina, have reached a $20.5 million settlement. The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported Wednesday that, pending approval by a judge, each of the program’s 107 homeowners will be eligible to receive $25,000 as reimbursement for previous repairs of the shoddy homes. Under the settlement reached Tuesday evening, the remaining money is to be divided up according to the condition of each of the structures. The settlement represents a major milestone in the long-running saga of homes beleaguered by leaks, rot and other defects. (AP)
Louisiana elected officials, federal partners and maritime stakeholders joined the Big River Coalition on Aug. 16 to celebrate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ completion of the first two phases of the deepening of the Mississippi River Ship Channel, which now provides a maximum draft for vessels to the Port of New Orleans at 50 feet. The ship channel has been mechanically deepened for approximately 200 miles but additional efforts are required to open the deeper draft north of the Huey P. Long Bridge. “The deepening of the Mississippi River Ship Channel is a transformational project that will bolster our economy, create and sustain jobs, and solidify Louisiana’s status as a global anchor for trade,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards at the event. “The economic growth from this project is expected to create several thousand new jobs, which comes on the heels of Louisiana reaching the lowest unemployment rate in state history. It’s an exciting time for our state, and I look forward to facilitating even more growth thanks to the partnerships we have forged.”
On Aug. 18, the Port of South Louisiana officially dedicated and named the two Konecranes Gottwald Model 6 Portal Harbor Cranes to be used at the Globalplex Intermodal Terminal Dock along the Mississippi River. The cranes increase the Port’s capacity for handling bulk materials and will allow for the handling of containers and project cargo. “These investments are not only increasing productivity and efficiencies but are also creating indirect jobs for Louisiana families,” said Paul Matthews, the port’s CEO. “Today we are making it clear that we will continue to invest in our infrastructure so that we can get the goods that families and businesses depend on every day, especially during these challenging times with supply chain issues.” The purchase of the $12.6 million cranes was funded in part (90%) by $11.4 million from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s Port Construction and Development Priority Program. | https://www.bizneworleans.com/week-in-review-aug-15-19-loyola-bollinger-asap-and-more/ | 2022-08-20T11:23:49Z |
21 large scale murals are being painted across Uvalde to honor the 19 students and 2 teachers killed at Robb Elementary School. Artists hope the project will help families and the community heal.
Copyright 2022 Texas Public Radio
21 large scale murals are being painted across Uvalde to honor the 19 students and 2 teachers killed at Robb Elementary School. Artists hope the project will help families and the community heal.
Copyright 2022 Texas Public Radio | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-20/21-murals-in-uvalde-honor-the-19-students-and-2-teachers-killed-in-school-shooting | 2022-08-20T12:16:00Z |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday it is investigating an E. coli outbreak in four states that has sickened at least 37 people and put 10 in the hospital.
The health protection agency said the source of the outbreak has not been determined but said many of the sick people had reported eating sandwiches with romaine lettuce at Wendy's restaurants in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania before getting sick.
So far, 19 people reported falling ill in Ohio, 15 in Michigan, two in Pennsylvania and one in Indiana, but the CDC said the true number is likely to be higher. There have been no reported deaths linked to the outbreak.
Wendy's said in a statement that is it "fully cooperating with public health authorities on their ongoing investigation" and was removing romaine lettuce from sandwiches in the region as a precautionary measure. The CDC said it was still working to confirm if the lettuce was the cause. Wendy's added that the romaine lettuce used in its salads is different from the lettuce in the affected sandwiches.
The CDC said there was no evidence that romaine lettuce from other restaurants or grocery stores is linked to the outbreak and was not advising people to stop eating at Wendy's.
Illnesses were reported from July 26 through Aug. 8, and the ages of sick people range from 6 to 91. Among the 10 hospitalized, three developed a type of kidney failure, the CDC said.
There are nearly 1,100 Wendy's restaurants in the four states, according to Reuters.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-20/cdc-investigates-an-e-coli-outbreak-in-4-states-after-some-wendys-customers-fell-ill | 2022-08-20T12:16:06Z |
China battles its worst heat wave on record NPR | By Emily Feng Published August 20, 2022 at 6:03 AM MDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Flipboard China is suffering through its worst heat wave on record. Cities are cutting power and provinces are seeding clouds, hoping for rain. Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-20/china-battles-its-worst-heat-wave-on-record | 2022-08-20T12:16:12Z |
Scott Simon speaks with New Orleans Health Department Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno about the huge LGBTQ+ gathering Southern Decadence amid the ongoing monkeypox outbreak.
Copyright 2022 NPR
Scott Simon speaks with New Orleans Health Department Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno about the huge LGBTQ+ gathering Southern Decadence amid the ongoing monkeypox outbreak.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-20/lgbtq-festival-southern-decadence-will-test-monkeypox-precautions-in-new-orleans | 2022-08-20T12:16:18Z |
Can a violin be an instrument for a scam?
You may have seen people playing Bach or Vivaldi on the street, inviting passersby to toss them a coin or crumpled bill in appreciation.
But there are reports from across the country that many of the performers are not violinists, but flimflam artists. People called finger-syncers who set up on a street, flick on a speaker, and slide a bow over an electronic violin while a pre-recorded track plays. These forged Joshua Bells leave out instrument cases to receive money, often with signs saying they need help for rent or medical bills.
But the website of the UK's ClassicFM and other media report that police in Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Texas, and Arizona have issued alerts, and caution that many of these ersatz Itzhak Perlmans are part of a growing national hustle.
David Wallace, chair of the Strings Department at Boston's Berklee College of Music, says he has received videos from friends around the country asking if a violinist was really playing — they weren't — and he worries that true musicians may suffer for this scam.
"Busking has been a longstanding way for musicians to earn money or to make an honest living for centuries," he told us. "But when people become skeptical about whether a musician is legitimate, they become more cautious about giving to any musician."
We seem surrounded by schemes these days. Text messages from strangers who say, "Miss you." Emails that invite you to claim winnings in lotteries you never entered, or collect spurious unpaid debts. There are tweeting bots, and deep-fake Tom Cruises, and so-called tech-support sites that ask you to grant them brief remote access to repair your computer. What could possibly go wrong?
A recent report in The New York Times says more than $100 billion dollars of federal pandemic relief funds might have been paid to sham companies and schemers. And of course, about a third of the American people still tell pollsters that the 2020 election was rigged, a lie that has been used to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in political donations.
I don't think the duped commuters lose much money in this street violinist scam. But it may be one more raindrop in the storm of schemes that blur our view of what's right in front of us.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-20/opinion-that-unbelievable-street-violinist-could-just-be-a-finger-syncher | 2022-08-20T12:16:24Z |
During a hot, hazy morning on Oregon's Warm Springs Indian Reservation, resident Jake Billy leans on his car and tells a story. Once a long time ago there was someone special in his life.
"I almost married that girl," he says. "It was very close. It was iffy."
Things didn't work out. But Billy stayed in touch with his ex and her family. When his ex girlfriend's sister died recently, he wanted to go to the funeral a three hour drive away. But he just didn't have the money for gas. "I said my goodbyes from here," he says.
These kinds of heart wrenching decisions illustrate the quiet assault of inflation on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, located about 100 miles southeast of Portland. Had Billy been able to go to the funeral, he would have been able to offer emotional support to the family. "Which is something that natives do," says Billy. "It's our culture."
No other single group in the country is feeling as much financial strain right now as are Native Americans. A recent poll from NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found inflation has caused a staggering 69% of Native Americans significant financial problems.
According to census data, close to 27% of Native Americans live in poverty. That's significantly more than the rest of the country, which averages close to 15%.
The high cost of gas and soaring food prices make life on the reservation even more difficult than usual.
For the more than 4,000 people who live in Warm Springs, it's not just driving long distances that's difficult to afford. The closest full-size grocery store is in the town of Madras, Ore. For some people on the reservation, that's as much as 40 miles away.
"We're in a food desert," says Demus Martinez, who is a financial counselor at the Warm Springs Community Action Team, a non-profit that helps people build financial skills. Martinez says the people he works with are taking as few grocery trips as possible lately. Even his own family of five now drives to the Costco, nearly 60 miles away, only twice each month.
Tribal members are creative about making ends meet during this time of high inflation.
There is one way to get off the reservation without paying for gas. Tribal member Sheila Thrasher was waiting for the bus early one recent morning on the Warm Springs Reservation. She lives with her two adult daughters and their families. "We help each other," she says. "It's the only way that families get around here."
In order to get to the bus, Thrasher rode her bike two miles. She loads the bike on the front of the bus before boarding. Twenty-five minutes later, she takes it off the rack once she's arrives at the store.
"I have a question," she says to the woman working in the Safeway grocery store. "Can I park my bike here while I do my shopping? I don't have a lock."
Thrasher then heads into the aisles to do her shopping. She knows she'll only be able to carry one bag home on her bike, and she only has one hour until the bus returns. She has just 32 dollars. She says what she's planning to buy today will last her a couple days.
In the frozen foods Section, Thrasher pauses while she looks at the blueberries. A small bag costs $3.99. She'd like to buy the bigger one, but it's too expensive. And she might not be able to carry it on her bike ride home. So, she goes for the small bag.
After shopping, Thrasher heads to the bus stop and waits. Then, another 25 minute ride with her rapidly defrosting blueberries.
Back at the Warm Springs Reservation, Thrasher takes her bike back off the bus. Then she puts her arms through the handles of the shopping bag, like a backpack for her ride home.
She says the 13 people in her household live on a food budget of about $500 per month in public assistance, plus whatever is left over from paychecks after other bills. Inflation means the money isn't stretching as far lately. But the family is finding a way. One thing they've done to deal with higher prices: They've told the kids no more snacks. Only meals.
"Things you got to do to get by," Thrasher says before she rides away. "It's all good."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-20/poll-69-of-native-americans-say-inflation-is-severely-affecting-their-lives | 2022-08-20T12:16:31Z |
Liz Cheney has her sights set on Donald Trump.
The Wyoming congresswoman may have lost her bid for reelection this past week, but she is making it her mission to ensure Trump is never president again.
"I believe that Donald Trump continues to pose a very grave threat and risk to our republic," Cheney said on NBC's Today show the day after her primary loss. "And I think that defeating him is going to require a broad and united front of Republicans, Democrats and independents, and that's what I intend to be a part of."
Cheney is taking a few steps to try and make that possible:
A political action committee
Cheney has lots of money left over in her campaign – about $7 million, much of which came from Democrats, by the way. That's pretty ironic, considering Cheney's very conservative policy positions.
Cheney has also spoken out against some Democratic entities that have controversially boosted election deniers during GOP primaries in hopes of helping Democrats' chances against them this November in competitive states and districts.
Cheney can transfer all of that money to her newly formed PAC. It will allow her to travel and maybe even run some advertising opposing Trump. But it would be limited.
The Jan. 6 committee
Season 2 of the Jan. 6 committee hearings are expected to kick off some time in mid-September, and this is where Cheney has a key megaphone and may have her biggest effect on damaging Trump.
The hearings so far have dented Trump's image, even with his base. Before the FBI search of his Florida home, Trump's ironclad grip on the GOP base appeared to be loosening. He was starting to be seen by many Republicans as too chaotic, and the base was starting to look elsewhere (i.e. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis).
But, so far, the FBI search has reconsolidated the base around Trump, whose political identity is so strongly wrapped up in his own sense of victimhood.
Enter: Cheney. She will again command the microphone on the Jan. 6 committee rostrum with her diligent and focused way.
And with no primary left, she has only one focus.
A presidential run
This last point is flashy and has a lot of people weighing her odds.
In reality, Cheney knows she has little-to-no chance of winning a GOP presidential primary. Not only did she lose her House primary by more than 30 points, but her approval with Republicans nationally has nosedived since she has taken her strong stance against Trump.
The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, for example, showed Cheney with just a 13% favorability rating with her own party.
But winning the election and becoming president herself is hardly the point. Cheney wants to wreak as much havoc for Trump – and all election deniers – as possible.
She's good at making the argument and can take the case in a GOP primary to Republicans, who don't normally get that point of view from their preferred sources of information.
If she runs, she will battle to be on a debate stage with Trump, but that's highly unlikely to happen because Trump controls the levers of power in the party right now. But she can do retail campaigning and will command lots of media attention.
She's also open to an independent bid for president. Which way that could cut is less known. Again, she wouldn't win the White House, but if her candidacy is seen as likely to legitimately take votes away from Trump, it's something she would likely seriously consider.
After Cheney's loss, Trump declared on his social media platform, "Now she can finally disappear into the depths of political oblivion."
But that's hardly true. While Cheney won't be a congresswoman next year and probably won't be president, either, she's not going away.
Because, after all, as she said on NBC, "I will do whatever it takes to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-20/the-3-prongs-of-liz-cheneys-campaign-against-trump-will-they-work | 2022-08-20T12:16:37Z |
Scott Simon talks with ProPublica's Justin Elliott about a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act requiring the IRS to study free tax filing options for taxpayers.
Copyright 2022 NPR
Scott Simon talks with ProPublica's Justin Elliott about a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act requiring the IRS to study free tax filing options for taxpayers.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-20/the-irs-will-look-into-options-to-create-a-free-tax-filing-system | 2022-08-20T12:16:43Z |
It's been another extraordinary week in politics - from Rep. Liz Cheney's big primary loss to continuing legal issues for former President Donald Trump and those close to him.
Copyright 2022 NPR
It's been another extraordinary week in politics - from Rep. Liz Cheney's big primary loss to continuing legal issues for former President Donald Trump and those close to him.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-20/week-in-politics-liz-cheney-loses-primary-trump-distracts-from-republican-races | 2022-08-20T12:16:49Z |
Shine up that “Profile in Courage” award – Liz Cheney and her massive ego will be along soon to claim it.
But that’s about all Cheney will have.
Cheney thinks of herself as another Abraham Lincoln, which is a joke, and explains why her arrogance has left her without a job or a political future. She’s now just a lame duck with a faint quack.
The Wyoming congresswoman’s landslide loss at the polls on Tuesday was a repudiation of her single-minded pursuit of Donald Trump and of the Jan. 6 hearings which she is helping to lead.
It also shows what happens when you forget about your constituents and allow your national ambitions to take over.
Sound familiar, Elizabeth Warren?
Cheney ran against Trump, rather than for her home state voters, and is now paying the price.
And she still doesn’t get it.
“I will do whatever it takes to ensure Donald Trump is never again anywhere near the Oval Office, and I mean it,” she told a small gathering of supporters Tuesday night.
Oh, you really mean it this time, congresswoman?
In Cheney’s fantasy world, she will lead the Trump resistance after she leaves Congress, and make the ultimate comeback by defeating the former president in 2024.
Sure. And Bill Weld will be her vice president.
Cheney is no Lincoln, and has no chance of ever being elected president – whether she’s a Republican, Democrat or independent. She has no chance of putting together a broad-based coalition against Trump. You don’t survive a landslide loss in your home state and go on to lead a national crusade.
She ran a terrible campaign, allowing her father, Cryptkeeper Dick Cheney, to be her attack dog – as if Wyoming voters needed another reason to give her the heave-ho.
Cheney had no message except her hatred of Trump and his supporters. She barely campaigned, saying she couldn’t have a public schedule because of threats against her.
Here’s how deep her Trump derangement syndrome runs: In the last few days of the campaign, she spent money on Google ads in Trump’s home base of Bedminster, New Jersey, several thousand miles from where her actual constituents live.
She never really ran a serious re-election campaign, instead focusing more on her imaginary White House campaign and winning adulation from Democrats, despite the fact that she stands against everything Democrats are for, such as abortion rights, gun control and social programs.
Cheney once claimed Kamala Harris sounds like Karl Marx, but Democrats made her a hero anyway because of their obsession with indicting Trump.
Once she’s finished with her usefulness on the Jan. 6 committee, Dems will abandon her, and she’ll be relegated to the dust bin of history.
In other has-been news, Cheney’s devastating defeat came on the same night that Sarah Palin’s political career was kept alive in Alaska, clinching a spot in the November final election. But then again, I’m pretty sure they let caribou vote there. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/battenfeld-arrogant-liz-cheney-and-her-white-house-fantasy-crushed-by-voters/article_58de777e-2023-11ed-be50-dfa08e75f83c.html | 2022-08-20T13:01:29Z |
Minnesota Star Tribune
‘Gracie’s Choice’
In the early 2000s, Anne Heche’s movie career had stalled. Instead of wallowing, the actor turned to stage and TV. In 2004, she earned high praise for her performance in Broadway’s “Twentieth Century” and earned an Emmy nomination for her role as an unhinged, drug-addicted mother in this Lifetime movie. Kristen Bell, who was about to star in “Veronica Mars,” is the lead character, fighting to keep her family together while mom is out carousing. But it’s the recently deceased Heche who’s the wonderful wild card, going from charming to creepy in seconds flat. It may be her finest screen performance. Prime Video, Tubi
‘Day Shift’
Jamie Foxx and Snoop Dogg bring personality to a snarky horror comedy. Foxx plays a devoted dad and supposed pool cleaner who’s really a vampire hunter, with an assist from Dogg. Dave Franco is also amusing as a wonky dude who knows a lot more than anyone needs to know about how the underworld works but the gruesome violence grows wearying and the bad guys aren’t compelling enough. Netflix
‘Sprung’
This new sitcom features a lot of cast members from Greg Garcia’s 2010-14 sitcom “Raising Hope,” including Martha Plimpton, a talent who specializes in making white trash smell like roses. But the show is closer in tone to Garcia’s “My Name Is Earl,” with an ex-con (Garret Dillahunt) determined to use what he learned in prison to commit good deeds (and the occasional misdemeanor). The whole series has a great honky-tonk vibe, starting with the use of Jerry Reed’s “Talk About the Good Times” as the theme song. Friday, Freevee
‘Wedding Season’
Pallavi Sharda and Suraj Sharma are delightful in one of those fake love stories Netflix seems to specialize in. Their characters agree to pretend they’re dating during “wedding season,” when they know they’re invited to more than a dozen ceremonies and expected to have primo dates for them. Things get complicated when, of course, the frenemies actually fall in love and have to add another level of deceit to their no-longer-phony romance. Netflix
‘Bad Sisters’
Instead of pining for another season of “Big Little Lies,” check out the latest from the tireless Sharon Horgan (“Divorce,” “Catastrophe”). In addition to being lead writer, she stars as one of five siblings whose sarcastic wits are only topped by their love for one another – and what they’re willing to do when one of them gets trapped in an abusive marriage. It’s a much funnier version of how to get away with murdering an evil spouse. Friday, Apple TV+ | https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/5-shows-to-watch-the-great-anne-heche-performance-you-probably-dont-know-about/article_7ff1e326-1f53-11ed-b1e9-f3ba2c3f8888.html | 2022-08-20T13:01:35Z |
For the Wyoming Tribune Eagle
Within the space of a week in mid-July, I went on seven garden tours – no, nothing like my week in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Road Scholar. Just Wyoming gardens.
The first was Piney Island Native Plants at Sheridan College, owned by Alisha Bretzman. The greenhouse full of exuberant plants uses an evaporative wall and was cooler than the 102 degrees Fahrenheit outside. The plant list on Alisha’s website pretty much fulfills my wish list, and she is willing to ship.
I spent the next day tromping around in the flower-filled Bighorns – another form of garden tour. Then, Mark and I met up with our old friends Michelle and Bill to walk around Kendrick Arboretum adjacent to Trail End, the house Governor/Senator Kendrick finished building in 1913.
He planted a specimen of each of as many Wyoming native trees as he could. In 2013, the area became a designated arboretum. A garden of trees and more have been planted since.
We visited friends Dusty and Jacelyn on their family’s ranch in the Black Hills, and they gave us a tour of scenic spots. The ponderosa pine forest, my favorite, is very open and garden-like.
Outside Douglas, my friend Jean took me to see her pollinator garden. Some of it comes from the free seed packets given out by the Converse County Conservation District. It’s a different mix from our conservation district. She also lamented how difficult it was to grow fruit trees, even though she is 1,200 feet lower in elevation than us. Those deer are so sneaky.
Back home, Laramie County Master Gardeners met at a member’s garden to enjoy the results of her hard work. Jutta Arkan’s perennial garden beds are even more full and colorful than last year. Bees were busy, and a hummingbird stopped by, even though her garden is an island on the prairie.
Earlier in the day, Carol Creswell gave me a tour of her garden. She lives about 10 blocks from me. She and her husband have lived in the same house for 54 years. However, the house is not the same now – it has grown, filling the lot nearly to the mandatory setback from the property boundaries.
Every remaining square inch is landscaped with timbers, rocks, pavers, shrubs, trees and flowers. There’s no lawn, but I think I spotted an ornamental grass or two. There’s a vignette around every corner – and there are so many corners to explore. The best is seen from the covered patio, but I like the view from the front sidewalk, too.
Carol is never satisfied. There’s always some improvement she can imagine. The week I visited, it was the reconstruction of the waterfall so that it won’t leak. Next is installing drip irrigation. She’s been hand watering everything this dry summer. And then there’s the two-story atrium where Carol’s houseplants can stretch out in indoor sunshine.
Booyong Kim’s house also has a two-story atrium. It’s where her friends send their plants when they outgrow ordinary house spaces.
If you frequent the winter farmers market at the historic Cheyenne Depot or the one on Tuesday afternoons in the summer outside the east end of the mall, you’ve seen her selling kimchee, potstickers and other delicious food. In the fall, she will be teaching Korean cooking classes on Saturdays through Laramie County Community College’s non-credit Life Enrichment classes, listed in their Outreach and Workforce Development catalog.
Booyong’s description of her garden philosophy is intriguing, and months ago she agreed to my visiting this summer.
First, her garden is shaped by a gently curved retaining wall on one side, which is echoed in reverse on the other side, forming the tapered shape of an eye. Where the iris would be, there are eight pie-shaped beds radiating, delineated by boards (her husband tackled the weird angles), with pathways between them. The very center is like the pupil, a round bed marked by bricks.
The whites of the eye are rather free-form, filled with various flowers, some volunteers. The radiating beds, however, are under more intense cultivation: vegetables and herbs. Booyong’s mother, visiting from Korea this summer, is hard at work, but comes over to greet me. She is the reason the vegetables are identified with hand-painted signs in both English and Korean.
Some of Booyong’s treasured plants grow in the walkways between the beds. The pigweed tidy gardeners would pull out or try to avoid by using weed-barrier cloth are actually edible, with high nutrition values.
While Booyong is still trying to decide what is special enough to plant in the very center, the pupil, she went ahead this year with an experiment: plowing a patch of prairie next to the house to grow row crops.
Friends Rusty Brinkman and Vally Gollogly helped her plant two long rows of garlic that she was about to harvest. She uses it a lot in her dishes. Her other vegetables looked good. However, she said the carrots were a bust.
It’s been a tough year so far for our landscape and garden plants, but the growing season isn’t over yet.
Barb Gorges, author of the book, “Cheyenne Garden Gossip,” and the blog http://cheyennegardengossip.wordpress.com, writes a monthly column about the joys and challenges of gardening on the High Plains. Contact her at bgorges4@msn.com. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/outdoors/summer-tours-show-wide-variety-of-garden-interests/article_1c2d1391-f243-5ec7-a689-6c9e7087473c.html | 2022-08-20T13:01:41Z |
In the first major on-air personnel move under CNN chief Chris Licht, the network is parting ways with senior media correspondent Brian Stelter and canceling his Sunday program "Reliable Sources."
Stelter announced his departure to NPR. A CNN representative did not respond to a request for comment.
Stelter is scheduled to do his final broadcast on Sunday, according to a person familiar with the plans who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
The person said CNN will continue to cover the media on its digital platforms, including the "Reliable Sources" newsletter that was a popular read among media industry insiders.
But the thinking inside CNN under Licht is that a program analyzing the media was too inside baseball for a TV audience, especially on Sunday morning when a large number of viewers tune in for news.
Stelter's exit may be the beginning of other moves under Licht, who took over the top job at CNN in April — recruited by Warner Bros. Discovery Chief Executive David Zaslav. Licht has told the troops at CNN that they will get a clearer idea of his vision for the network as they enter the fall.
"Reliable Sources" is one of the the longest-running programs on CNN, established as a forum for critiques on the media. The program became more political during Donald Trump's years in the White House as the former president frequently attacked the media and CNN in particular.
CNN executives became less comfortable with the show in recent years, especially as the network itself has become engulfed in controversies.
Stelter was often in the tricky position of reporting on CNN, especially when host Chris Cuomo came under fire last year when it was revealed that he was assisting his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as he battled allegations of sexual harassment. Chris Cuomo was fired in December 2021, as the network believed he was not forthcoming about his level of involvement in helping his brother.
Stelter was hired to host "Reliable Sources" by former CNN president Jeff Zucker, in November 2013, filling the role that had long been held by Howard Kurtz, who moved to Fox News. Stelter had been a media reporter at the New York Times after making a name for himself as the founder of TVNewser, a blog that tracked the TV news industry. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/todo/brian-stelter-is-out-at-cnn-as-his-media-criticism-show-reliable-sources-is-canceled/article_e9073f10-1f57-11ed-aa5f-f7ca75d7c964.html | 2022-08-20T13:01:48Z |
Los Angeles Times
Let’s start at the end. “Game of Thrones” was the television drama of the decade right up until its eighth and final season, when the HBO series’ conclusion disappointed fans on a global scale. Despite all of the show’s dexterous villains, fierce emancipators, persevering women and supernatural surprises, it handed the crown to a boy who’d literally slept through much of the show’s 73-episode run.
Thanks to that fizzling 2019 climax, prequel “House of the Dragon” premieres Sunday amid slightly lower expectations than it would have if “GoT” had nailed the landing. But with the arrival of the first episode, “The Heirs of the Dragon,” the hope that a new series might recapture some of the power and grandeur of its predecessor no longer seems so fanciful.
Set 172 years before the death of the Mad King and the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, “House of the Dragon” immediately thrusts viewers into the familiar sights and sounds of the “Game of Thrones” universe: Flea Bottom and its brothels, dragons and their flames, the Red Keep and its Iron Throne. While honoring the legacy and look of the original series, the spinoff wisely adopts subtle changes in tone and approach while introducing a fresh world of characters and storylines.
It’s the reign of King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine), the seventh ruler to sit on the Iron Throne, which he inherited after decades of peace and prosperity in Westeros under his grandfather, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. As usual, though, there is consternation about who should really be occupying that spiky seat of power. King Viserys should quash his detractors, but the middle-aged monarch is conflict avoidant, kind and reasonable – all terrible attributes for a ruler in the always barbaric and occasionally magical Seven Kingdoms. We meet the king when he has to make the worst decision of his reign: His pregnant Queen Aemma (Sian Brooke) is in distressed labor, and he must choose between the life of his wife or his (hoped-for male) child.
It’s here that we see the promise of the next nine episodes in the skills of showrunners Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan J. Condal, the strength of the writing and the impact of the performances. The queen’s grueling delivery is contrasted against scenes of a celebratory jousting tournament taking place outside, pitting the violent act of giving life against the violent actions of men who take it away. The poignancy of these simultaneous battles is presaged by a conversation the queen has with her daughter when the girl shows concern about her mother’s swollen belly: This is how we serve the realm as royal women, the queen explains. Childbirth is our battlefield.
The exchange between mother and daughter, and the artful contrast of dueling knights and dutiful midwives, are powerful enough on their own to render the first episode a smashing success and show that “House of the Dragon” has a depth of understanding of its female characters that “GoT” took years to find. But it doesn’t stop there: In a moment that reflects some of the ugly realities of our own world, it is men who ultimately decide the queen’s fate – choosing the baby’s life over hers.
This fresh chapter in the saga of the Seven Kingdoms is reverse-engineered to feed into narratives and family trees that are familiar to “GoT” devotees. It’s best to brace now for the genealogy chatter around Houses Targaryen, Lannister, Velaryon and Hightower, for theories connecting the future with the past and for ghoulish discussions of which series featured more graphic displays of blood, gore and guts. A strong stomach is still required upon returning to Westeros (beware of wanton beheadings, carts full of dismembered body parts and worse), though previous fandom is not a requisite for becoming invested in “House of the Dragon.”
The brewing bloodbath over the Iron Throne is an immediate draw, especially since the conflict centers on the young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (played wonderfully by Milly Alcock), who is just 15 and already appears to have everything it takes to rule. She’s a dragon rider and possesses pure Valyrian blood, but she’s not a man, and history is not on her side. The king’s cousin, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best), was denied her birthright years before. She’s now known as “The Queen Who Never Was.” Also vying for the throne is Rhaenyra’s uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), a violent and impetuous warrior who some call crazy. (Insanity will emerge as a given among the inbred Targaryen royalty.) It’s a strong setup for all manner of familial treachery – preferably atop a dragon.
There are plenty of the flying beasts to go around in these pre-”Game of Thrones” times. We’re even treated to a “Dracarys!” command by the episode’s end, fueling the fire for a new, engrossing chapter in HBO’s epic. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/todo/review-hbos-first-game-of-thrones-spinoff-recaptures-the-power-grandeur-of-the-original/article_936dd34a-1ff5-11ed-aa70-a7af136e1aff.html | 2022-08-20T13:01:54Z |
Zeno Robinson, left, and Aleks Le attend the after-party for the Los Angeles premiere of "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Aug. 10, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Crunchyroll/TNS)
One of Japan's biggest pop media franchises, "Dragon Ball" is synonymous with explosive brawls and over-the-top action sequences with dashes of comedy providing levity in between. "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" delivers these signature elements in spades in a story that celebrates how the green alien warrior Piccolo has long been "Dragon Ball's" best dad.
Boasting the involvement of "Dragon Ball" creator Akira Toriyama for its original story, screenplay and character design, "Super Hero" — directed by Tetsuro Kodama — revolves around heroes and villains who are all navigating the legacies and ambitions of their (absent) fathers and grandfathers. It's a nuance that's touched on in the exposition heavy introduction of the film, but best understood by those who are familiar with the "Dragon Ball" franchise, which launched with Toriyama's manga series in 1984.
For the uninitiated, "Dragon Ball" primarily follows Goku, an orphan invader-turned-refugee of a powerful alien warrior race who grew up on Earth, and his perpetual quest to grow stronger as he faces off against humans, other aliens, androids and even different levels of gods. In between training, various tournaments and battles over the fate of the universe, Goku has made friends and enemies, gotten married and had a couple kids (who, unlike their father, have interests outside of becoming the most powerful warrior to ever live).
"Super Hero" shakes things up by turning its spotlight on a couple of "Dragon Ball's" popular but often underutilized supporting characters: Goku's eldest son Gohan (Masako Nozawa in Japanese, Kyle Hebert in the English dub) and Gohan's mentor Piccolo (Toshio Furukawa, Christopher Sabat), who especially shines as the heart of the film.
As explained in the movie, Gohan has long shown he has the potential to be an even greater warrior than Goku (Nozawa, Sean Schemmel). But the kindhearted half-human is more concerned with his scholarly pursuits than keeping up with his training, especially because Gohan knows his father will always jump up to handle whatever powerful threats arise.
It's a fair expectation on Gohan's part — Goku has always been a bit more focused on becoming the best fighter he could be over being the best father. But Gohan can always count on Piccolo, his intimidating grump of a mentor, to not only push him toward reaching his full potential as a warrior but also give him lessons on being a good dad. Piccolo's heartwarming dynamic with Gohan's 3-year-old daughter Pan (Yūko Minaguchi, Jeannie Tirado) is among the "Super Hero" highlights.
Anime fans who have kept up with "Dragon Ball" through its most recent series, "Dragon Ball Super," will likely make up most of "Super Hero's" U.S. audience. But besides a mostly inconsequential scene of cameos, even a casual fan who has watched only through "Dragon Ball Z" — the second "Dragon Ball" anime series, which started airing in the U.S. in the '90s — is plenty equipped to keep up with the film's main story and will likely appreciate this focus on Piccolo's bond with Gohan and his family.
The movie's main antagonists are the next generation of the Red Ribbon Army, an evil organization first thwarted by Goku when he was a kid. Although the new Red Ribbon Army's leader Magenta and hired head scientist Dr. Hedo are also each contending with the shadows cast by their father and grandfather, respectively, the setup is more a cute novelty than a commentary on family legacy. Their story eventually takes a back seat to the spectacular action sequences that lead to various powerful transformations.
As the title suggests, "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" engages a bit with questions of what it actually means to be a hero beyond flashy poses and comic sound effects. It also touches on timely themes involving the powers of misinformation and lies to cast heroes as villains (and vice versa) in order to manipulate others. But "Super Hero's" main priority is letting Gohan and Piccolo dazzle together in glorious combat against a couple of charming villains — Gamma 1 (Hiroshi Kamiya, Aleks Le) and Gamma 2 (Mamoru Miyano, Zeno Robinson) — and then an even more powerful, if familiar, foe. Even the film's stylish 3D computer animation is best suited for these action sequences.
"Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" is a must see for fans that salutes one of the series' best relationships, but newcomers interested in more than the fun of an action-packed visual spectacle might want to check out some of the TV series first. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/todo/review-the-new-dragon-ball-movie-shines-a-deserving-spotlight-on-the-franchises-best-dad/article_b172d452-1f56-11ed-905b-b331ecd45a91.html | 2022-08-20T13:02:00Z |
Cheyenne and Laramie County
Cheyenne Farmers Market
– Aug. 20, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Local and regional vendors sell their produce, honey, jams, meat, bakery and specialty items, and much more. Proceeds benefit Community Action of Laramie County and its programs. B Parking Lot, Frontier Park, 4610 Carey Ave. 307-635-9291 or www.calc.net/farmers-market
NRA Action Pistol Regional and Wyoming State Championship
– Aug 20-21, 9 a.m. Some of the top Action Pistol competitors in the U.S. will compete in the “Steamboat Challenge” shooting competition. NRA Action Pistol is best described as “precision pistol shooting at speed.” Otto Road Shooting Range, 1531 Otto Road. 307-640-3847
Historic Cemetery Walk
– Aug 20, 9:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. $10. The living history program, “Cheyenne’s Melting Pot,” presented by the Cheyenne Genealogical & Historical Society, begins at the main gate of Lakeview Cemetery and features interesting characters who played large and small parts in Cheyenne’s frontier history. Lakeview Cemetery, 2501 Seymour Ave. 307-630-0924
Cheyenne Arts Celebration
– Aug. 20, 12:30-7 p.m. Free. The Cheyenne Arts Celebration may be young, but it’s in the middle of rapid growth. This festival features live music, vendors, food, drinks and more. Lions Park, Lions Park Drive. 307-637-6423
Puddle of Mudd
– Aug 20, 8-10 p.m. $30. This Kansas City, Missouri-based rock band enjoyed mainstream success in the ‘90s, and now they’re on their way to downtown Cheyenne. The Lincoln Theatre, 1615 Central Ave. 307-369-6028
Healing and the Mind
– Aug. 21, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Join Dr. Ken Kranz for Part VIII of the “What’s the Next Step?” presentation series. This installment will focus on different ways that we can use the power of our mind to improve the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of our life. Laramie County Community College Library, 1400 E. College Drive. 307-778-1206
Cultural Blind Spots series
– Aug. 21, 2 p.m. Join St. Mark’s in the second installment of its Cultural Blind Spots series, which will explore the experiences of minority ethnic groups in Cheyenne. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1908 Central Ave. 307-634-7709
Animal Collective @ The Lincoln
– Aug. 22, 7-10 p.m. $25. Renowned indie rock group Animal Collective will perform at the historic downtown theater. The Lincoln Theatre, 1615 Central Ave. 307-369-6028
Open Mic Night at Blue Raven
– Aug. 24, 7-10 p.m. A musical open mic night, presented in collaboration with Wyoming Wave Studios. Blue Raven Brewery, 209 E. 18th St. 307-369-1978
”’Twilight of the Gods:’ Defeat, Memory, and Legacy of World War II and the Holocaust” presentation
– Aug. 25, 6-8 p.m. The third and final installment in a series of expert presentations from Adam Blackler, associate professor of history at the University of Wyoming, all of which will provide context and historical background for the themes and concepts presented in Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibition for libraries, currently on display. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
New Frontier Cheyenne Gun and Western Collectibles Show
– Aug. 26, 12-5 p.m.; Aug. 27, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Aug. 28, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. This Western collectible and firearms show will have a large assortment of new and antique firearms, accessories, knives, edged weapons, cowboy and Indian artifacts, relics, Western memorabilia, antiques and jewelry. Laramie County Events Center at Archer, 3801 Archer Parkway. 307-633-4670
Fridays on the Plaza
– Aug. 26, 5:30 p.m. A weekly summer concert series featuring acts from around the country. This week’s headliner is Jocelyn & Chris, with an opening performance by The Patti Fiasco. Cheyenne Depot Plaza, 1 Depot Square. 307-637-6200
Cheyenne Farmers Market
– Aug. 27, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Local and regional vendors sell their produce, honey, jams, meat, bakery and specialty items, and much more. Proceeds benefit Community Action of Laramie County and its programs. B Parking Lot, Frontier Park, 4610 Carey Ave. 307-635-9291 or www.calc.net/farmers-market
End of Summer Foam Party
– Aug. 27, 10 a.m.-noon. Summer is over, and it’s time to go back to school. Join the library for outdoor games and sipping on lemonade as we enjoy the last rays of summer with a foam party. Performance Park, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
University of Wyoming Football Fest
– Aug. 27, 2-6 p.m. Prepare your best University of Wyoming football cheer, don your brown and gold, and get ready for game day at the library. Join fellow fans to watch the first game of the season as the Cowboys take on Illinois. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
New Frontier Cheyenne Gun and Western Collectibles Show Auction
– Aug. 27, 4 p.m. This year’s auction includes antique Native American and cowboy items, Old West memorabilia and eight special items worn on-screen by famous (now deceased) actor John Wayne. Laramie County Events Center at Archer, 3801 Archer Parkway. 307-633-4670
Edge Fest 2022
– Aug. 27, 5-11 p.m. Experience Tones & I, Claire Rosinkranz and Joe P at the seventh installment of this free outdoor music festival. There will be food and drink on site, as well. Civic Commons Park, Bent Avenue and 20th Street. info@edgefest.com
Tales Together
– Aug. 30-31, 10:15-10:45 a.m. An interactive early literacy class for preschool children and their caregivers. Practice new skills incorporating books, songs, rhymes, movement and more. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
Open Mic Night at Blue Raven
– Aug. 31, 7-10 p.m. A musical open mic night, presented in collaboration with Wyoming Wave Studios. Blue Raven Brewery, 209 E. 18th St. 307-369-1978
Cheyenne First Friday Artwalk
– Sept. 2, 5 p.m. Free. The Cheyenne Artwalk is a monthly event that highlights a local gallery or studio on the first Friday of every month. This month, look for the mobile ArtHaus unit parked out front the Clay Paper Scissors, along with food trucks and live music. Cheyenne Artist Guild, 1701 Morrie Ave. 307-632-2263
Cheyenne Farmers Market
– Sept. 3, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Local and regional vendors sell their produce, honey, jams, meat, bakery and specialty items, and much more. Proceeds benefit Community Action of Laramie County and its programs. B Parking Lot, Frontier Park, 4610 Carey Ave. 307-635-9291 or www.calc.net/farmers-market
Cheyenne Heritage Quilters Meeting
– Sept. 6, 7 p.m. Guest speaker Angela McPherson of Cheyenne will give a trunk show of art quilts. She will have an emphasis on the use of many mediums to create an art quilt, and will also talk about a class she will be teaching to create an art quilt on Oct. 15. First United Methodist Church, 108 E. 18th St. info@chquilters.org
Open Jam Night
– Sept. 8, 7 p.m. Free. The Lincoln Theatre is hosting its monthly Open Jam Night. Musicians are encouraged to bring their guitar, bass, etc., and come jam with other local musicians! Backline provided. A full bar will be available for those who just want to come and watch. The Lincoln Theatre, 1615 Central Ave. 307-369-6028
La Noche de Celebracion
– Sept. 9, 7 p.m. $10. La Noche de Celebración will highlight Hispanic heritage as a kick-off to the weekend-long Cheyenne Hispanic Festival. Cheyenne Civic Center, 2101 O’Neil Ave. 307-637-6363
Comedy Night at The Metropolitan
– Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m. $20. Laughter is good for the soul. Get your giggles on at this 90-minute comedy show featuring two awesome comedians. The Metropolitan Downtown, 1701 Carey Ave. 307-432-0022
Wyoming State Museum Family Day
– Sept. 10, 10 a.m-2 p.m. This month’s theme is “Buzzing Bees.” This Family Day is dedicated to our favorite little pollinators. Learn how bees take nectar and make it into honey, explore the world of beekeeping and find out how to make your garden more pollinator friendly. Wyoming State Museum, 2301 Central Ave. 307-777-7022
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– Sept. 10, 11 a.m. The CSO Brass Quintet will perform with master storyteller Aaron Sommers. Activities presented in partnership with Delta Kappa Gamma’s Upsilon Chapter and WyoMusic. Paul Smith Children’s Village, Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, 710 S. Lions Park Drive. 307-778-8561
Hispanic Festival
– Sept. 10, 12-8 p.m. Free. Celebrate Hispanic culture with educational exhibits, games, mariachis, art exhibits, live music, food and craft vendors, piñatas and other kid-friendly activities, food, beer, 50/50 raffle, drawings and a car show. Cheyenne Depot Plaza, 1 Depot Square. 307-275-425
Silent Movie Night at the Atlas
– Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 11 at 2 p.m. $10. Cheyenne Little Theater Players will host a screening of the silent film “Nosferatu,” with live musical accompaniment by Dave Neimann. Historic Atlas Theatre, 211 W. Lincolnway. 307-638-6543
Poetry Open Mic @ The Hawthorn Tree
– Sept. 11, 1-3 p.m. Free. Each poet gets five minutes to read, but occasionally go two rounds, so bring extra poems. Arrive five minutes early to sign up. The Hawthorn Tree, 112 E. 17th St. 307-369-4446
Senior Health Fair
– Sept. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. An event featuring food and prizes where people can learn more about local senior health care resources. Primrose Retirement Community, 1530 Dorothy Lane. 307-634-1530
Arts in the Parks
– Sept. 15-18, park hours. The Wyoming Arts Council partners with Wyoming State Parks to hold various arts activities in parks across the state. Plein Air in the Parks is an annual event that pairs talented artists with beautiful locations. This painting competition is open to artists of all ages and offers cash awards. Curt Gowdy State Park, 1264 Granite Springs Road. 307-777-7742
2022 Cheyenne Greek Festival
– Sept. 16-17. A yearly celebration of Greek culture. Cheyenne Frontier Days Exhibit Hall, Eighth Street and Dey Avenue. 307-635-5929
CFD Hall of Fame Introduction
– Sept. 16, 5 p.m. The Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame showcases individuals, livestock and organizations whose distinctive contributions to Cheyenne Frontier Days have helped grow a dream into the “Daddy of ‘em All.” CFD Headquarters, 4610 Carey Ave. 307-778-7290
64th Annual Symphony Gala
– Sept. 17, 5 p.m. An evening to kick off the new season. The event includes a cocktail hour, three-course gourmet meal, live entertainment, and silent and live auctions. Little America Hotel and Resort, 2800 W Lincolnway. 307-778-8561
Joe Gato @ Cheyenne Civic Center
– Sept. 22, 7 p.m. Joe Gatto, a stand-up comedian, actor, producer and co-star for the hit TV show “Impractical Jokers,” will give a performance. Cheyenne Civic Center, 510 W. 20th St. 307-637-6200
Dueling Pianos at The Metropolitan
– Sept. 23, 7:30-11 p.m. $20. Come laugh and sing along in an evening of musical entertainment directed by your requests. The Metropolitan Downtown, 1701 Carey Ave. 307-432-0022
Brandt Tobler @ The Lincoln
– Sept. 23, 8-11 p.m. $35. Stand-up comedian Brandt Tobler is coming home to Cheyenne for a night of comedy. The Lincoln Theatre, 1615 Central Ave. 307-369-6028
CLTP presents “Little Shop of Horrors”
– Sept. 23-25, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, Oct. 7-9; dinner theater Sept. 24, Oct. 1, 8. Cheyenne Little Theatre Players are putting on a rendition of the Broadway and big-screen hit musical. Historic Atlas Theatre, 211 W. Lincolnway. 307-638-6543
Black Tooth’s 3rd Annual Oktoberfest
– Sept. 24, noon-11 p.m. A block party with live music, food, games and beer specials. Black Tooth Brewing Co., 520 W. 19th St. 307-514-0362
All City Children’s Chorus Concert
– Oct. 8, 4 p.m. Free. The opening performance of All City’s 47th season, titled “Air.” Laramie County School District 1 Administration Building Auditorium, 2810 House Ave. 307-771-2275
K. Flay @ The Lincoln
– Oct. 15, 8 p.m. The two-time Grammy nominated singer, songwriter and rapper makes her return to Cheyenne after performing at Edge Fest 2021. The Lincoln Theatre, 1615 Central Ave. 307-369-6028
Ace Hood @ The Lincoln
– Oct. 22, 8 p.m. The rapper that brought the world “Bugatti” and “Hustle” will give a performance. The Lincoln Theatre, 1615 Central Ave. 307-369-6028
Tom Segura @ the Civic Center
– Oct. 27, 7 p.m. One of the biggest names in stand-up comedy. Segura has four Netflix specials under his belt – “Ball Hog” (2020), “Disgraceful” (2018), “Mostly Stories” (2016) and “Completely Normal” (2014). Cheyenne Civic Center, 510 W. 20th St. 307-637-6200
Ongoing
Habitat: Artist’ Books
– Through Aug. 21. Curated by University of Wyoming art professor Mark Ritchie, this year’s iteration of Laramie County Library’s annual book arts exhibit features collaborative work by artists and writers from Wyoming, Wales and around the United States. Each artist/writer pairing was challenged with creating a broadside or folio to include text interpreting habitat. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
Americans and the Holocaust Exhibit
– Through Aug. 28, library hours. Laramie County Library is one of 50 U.S. libraries selected to host Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibition from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum that examines the motives, pressures and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, war and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
Righting a Wrong: Japanese Americans and World War II
– Through Aug. 28, library hours. Smithsonian poster exhibition traces the story of Japanese national and Japanese American incarceration during World War II and the people who survived it. Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. 307-634-3561
Laramie and Greater Wyoming
7220’ Music Fest
– Aug. 27, 3-10 p.m. $20. A music festival to raise money for Albany County Search and Rescue and Laramie Chamber Business Alliance. There will be street vendors, food trucks and music. Bond’s Brewing Company, 411 S. Second St. 307-460-3385
307 Film Festival
– Aug. 27-28. $49 for weekend pass. A festival that celebrates films and filmmakers from across Wyoming, the United States and internationally. Studio City UW, 2422 Grand Ave. 307-460-1598
Fort Collins, Colorado
Off the Shelf: Contemporary Book Arts in Colorado
– Aug. 26-Dec. 18, museum hours. Free. This exhibit features artists that innovate and defy our conceptual framework of the book and its contents. The artist book, a medium spanning the public and private sphere of creators and viewers, reflects on issues intimate and grand. Colorado State University Gregory Allicar Museum of Art, 1400 Remington Street, Fort Collins, Colorado. 970-491-1989
World’s Biggest Pizza Party
– Aug. 27, noon-4 p.m. Fort Collins pizza maker Project Pizza Co. is hosting an event to beat the world record for the world’s biggest pizza party. There will be six pizza trucks making pizzas, a DJ and a celebration for pizza lovers in Fort Collins. City Park Fort Collins, 1500 W. Mulberry St. info@projectpizzaco.com
Three Dog Night @ Lincoln Center
– Sept. 12, 6 p.m. Live at The Gardens Summer Concert Series. Stewart Copeland’s “Police Deranged for Orchestra” is a high-energy orchestral evening celebrating the work of former member of “The Police,” Stewart Copeland, and focuses on the rise of his career in music that has spanned over four decades. The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave. 970-221-6730
Marc Maron @ Lincoln Center
– Sept. 23, 7 p.m. Marc Maron has four hit stand-up comedy specials, including “More Later” (2015), “Thinky Pain” (2013), “Marc Maron: Too Real” (2017) and 2020’s “End Times Fun,” which was nominated for a 2021 Critics’ Choice Award. The Lincoln Center Performance Hall, 417 W. Magnolia St. 970-221-6730
20th ArtWear Fashion Show
– Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m. The ArtWear Biennial is dedicated to highlighting wearable art. ArtWear’s goal is to present innovative and wearable artwork of the highest quality and provide a forum to explore unique materials and techniques. This event is a fundraiser for The Lincoln Center’s Visual Arts Program. The Lincoln Center Performance Hall, 417 W. Magnolia St. 970-221-6730
A Culture Preserved (in the Black Experience) Art Show
– Through Oct. 16, museum hours. $5. This exhibit addresses how Black culture and its heritage reflect and shape values, beliefs and aspirations, which define a people’s identity. By bringing together the past and the present, the old meets the new in the Black artistic world. Museum of Art Fort Collins, 201 S. College Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado. 970-482-2787
Greeley, Colorado
”Weird Al” Yankovic @ Union Colony Civic Center
– Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m. $52-$89. For only second time in his career, the legendary satirist and five-time Grammy winner will host an intimate evening of non-parody music. Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., Greeley, Colorado. 970-356-5000
David Brighton’s Space Oddity @ Union Colony Civic Center
– Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m. $28-$53. A journey through David Bowie’s storied career by Brighton and the Space Oddity Band. Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., Greeley, Colorado. 970-356-5000
Boulder, Colorado
Hiatus Kaiyote @ Boulder Theater
– Aug. 31, 8 p.m. $39.50-$40. A performance by Melbourne-based, genre-transcending alternative band Hiatus Kaiyote. Boulder Theater, 2042 14th St., Boulder, Colorado. 303-786-7030
Melvins @ Fox Theater
– Sept. 16, 8 p.m; doors at 7 p.m. $25-$27.50. The Melvins are one of biggest names to rise out of the Seattle grunge scene. Catch their slow, sludge-metal style in this performance. Fox Theater, 1135 13th St., Boulder, Colorado. 303-447-0095
Marcus Mumford @ Fox Theater
– Sept. 19, 8 p.m. $45-$50. On his first ever solo tour, the founder and lead singer of folk band Mumford and Sons will perform with special guest Danielle Ponder. Fox Theater, 1135 13th St., Boulder, Colorado. 303-447-0095
Anthony Doerr @ Boulder Theater
– Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m.; doors at 5:30 p.m. The author of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel “All the Light We Cannot See,” and most recently “Cloud Cuckoo Land,” will hold a book reading. Boulder Theater, 2042 14th St., Boulder, Colorado. 303-786-7030
black midi @ Fox Theatre
– Oct. 3, 8 p.m. $25-$30. Painfully unique experimental/math-rock outfit from London, black midi, is touring their most recent album “Hellfire,” with support from rapper Quelle Chris. Fox Theater, 1135 13th Street, Boulder, Colorado. 303-447-0095
Viagra Boys and shame @ Fox Theatre
– Oct. 7, 8:30 p.m.; doors at 7:30 p.m. $22-$25. Don’t let the name fool you, Viagra Boys are a sextet of classically trained jazz musicians playing off-kilter post-punk rock. shame are on the forefront of the newest wave of post-punk out of London England. Fox Theater, 1135 13th St., Boulder, Colorado. 303-447-0095
Denver
Loco Locals Comedy Extravaganza
– Aug. 17, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $10. A night of stand-up comedy. Ten-minute sets from five different comics. Avanti Food and Beverage, 3200 Pecos St., Denver. 720-269-4778
Mt. Joy @ Mission Ballroom
– Aug. 18, 8 p.m.; doors at 7 p.m. A performance from indie-rock band Mt. Joy, fresh off their latest studio album, “Orange Blood.” Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. 720-577-6884
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats @ Red Rocks
– Aug. 23-24, 7:30 p.m.; doors at 6 p.m. Folk artist Nathaniel Rateliff is stopping by Red Rocks with support from Caroline Rose for his 2022 North American Tour. Red Rocks Amphitheater, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, Colorado. 720-865-2494
My Morning Jacket @ Red Rocks
– Aug. 26-27, 7:30 p.m.; doors at 6 p.m. A two-night performance from alternative-rock band My Morning Jacket. Red Rocks Amphitheater, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, Colorado. 720-865-2494
Nine Inch Nails @ Red Rocks
– Sept. 2-3, 7:30 p.m.; doors at 6 p.m. A two-night performance from critically acclaimed industrial/electronic/metal band fronted by Trent Reznor. Red Rocks Amphitheater, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, Colorado. 720-865-2494
Courtney Barnett & Japanese Breakfast @ Mission Ballroom
– Sept. 3, 5 p.m.; doors at 4 p.m. $52-$124. Courtney Barnett, as a part of her “Here and There Festival Series,” is stopping in Denver with indie outfit Japanese Breakfast, Arooj Aftab and Bedouine. Barnett is coming off the release of her third studio album, “Things Take Time, Take Time.” Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. 720-577-6884
Echo & The Bunnymen @ The Ogden
– Sept. 4, 9 p.m.; doors at 7 p.m. Legendary Liverpool band Echo & the Bunnymen are announcing their return to the U.S. for a tour in support of their 12th studio album and first since 2009, “Meteorites.” Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave, Denver. 303-832-1874
Meow Wolf Convergiversary
– Sept. 17, 10 a.m.; 21+ night party at 9 p.m. Day party $15, night party $99. A block party celebrating the one year anniversary of Meow Wolf. Meow Wolf Denver, 1338 1st Street, Denver. 866-636-9969
To submit an item to the events calendar, email ToDo@wyomingnews.com or call WTE features editor Niki Kottmann at 307-633-3135. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/todo/saturday-calendar-8-20-22/article_bc5d80ea-1f58-11ed-9fab-3b951ac8f6fc.html | 2022-08-20T13:02:06Z |
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Will Smith accepts the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for "King Richard" during the 94th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022, in Hollywood, California. (Myung Chun/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
The slap heard around the world has had a devastating effect on Will Smith’s reputation with consumers.
The newly minted Oscar winner’s Q Scores have dropped significantly since he slapped Chris Rock onstage at the Academy Awards in March.
According to Variety VIP, the new data – the industry standard for measuring celebrities’ mass appeal – shows that Smith’s reputation has been severely damaged.
Conducted twice a year in January and July, 1,800 consumers from age 6 and up are surveyed about their opinion on famous figures.
Prior to the incident, the beloved “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” star had a positive Q score of 39, meaning that 39% of the respondents cited him as one of their favorite celebrities.
By July, his score dropped to 24.
On the other hand, Smith’s negative Q score has leaped from 10 to 26, meaning that 26% of those surveyed have a “fair” or “poor” opinion of the actor.
The average negative Q Score is about 16 or 17.
Q Scores executive vice president Henry Schafer said the decrease is a “very significant and precipitous decline.”
The 53-year-old Philadelphia native received his first Academy Award for best actor for his role in “King Richard” shortly after the jaw-dropping incident that rocked the 94th Oscars on March 27.
Although he apologized to Rock, the Academy and “all the attendees and everyone watching around the world” in a written statement the day after the ceremony, he broke his months-long silence and apologized to the “Everybody Hates Chris” creator in a pretaped Facebook video on July 29.
“There is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment,” Smith, who is banned from the Oscars for 10 years, said in the video. “There’s no part of me that thinks that’s the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insults.” | https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/todo/will-smith-s-oscar-slap-damaged-his-reputation-with-consumers-of-all-ages-data-shows/article_36311658-1ff3-11ed-afad-abeea4624955.html | 2022-08-20T13:02:19Z |
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SATURDAY
‘The Legacy of Wyoming’ performed by Buffalo Bill and Dr. Jo: 5-8 p.m., Wyoming Territorial Prison. For tickets, call 307-745-6161.
Revive the Wyo fundraiser: 5-9 p.m., historic train depot in downtown Laramie. Enjoy a Cajun-themed meal and entertainment. Cost $35 a person. For tickets, visit https://htru.io/Ssrf.
Vertical Dance Connections performs: 7:30 p.m., Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts. A collaboration of the University of Wyoming Department of Theatre and Il Posto Vertical Dance. They’re free to attend and open to the public. Performance also will feature live music by UW jazz faculty.
SUNDAY
Walk with a Doc: 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Washington Park west shelter No. 3. Bring walking shoes and a friend. For more information, email questions@ivinsonhospital.org.
Laramie Connections free Meet and Eat dinner and faith gathering: 4:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1517 E. Canby St.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 6:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Vertical Dance Connections performs: 7:30 p.m., Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts. A collaboration of the University of Wyoming Department of Theatre and Il Posto Vertical Dance. They’re free to attend and open to the public. Performance also will feature live music by UW jazz faculty.
MONDAY
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Women for Sobriety meet: 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. For meeting details, email 1093@womenforsobriety.org.
TUESDAY
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
WEDNESDAY
Laramie Tai Chi and Tea meets: 1:30 p.m. outdoors at Harbon Park, North 14th and Gibbon streets. For more information, visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
THURSDAY
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 5:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
FRIDAY
Downtown Laramie Farmers Market: 3-7 p.m., parking lot north of Depot Park on South 1st Street.
Aug. 27
Fusion Feast culinary event: 1-4 p.m., Lincoln Community Center, 365 W. Grand Ave. Hosted by Friends of Internationals and High Plains Christian Fellowship. Taste delicious dishes from around the world and play games. It’s free.
Thrown-Out Bones performs: 5:30-7p.m., Washington Park band shell, 18th and Sheridan streets. Popcorn, pretzels and beer.
UW Planetarium presents “Back to the Moon For Good”: 8 p.m., UW Planetarium. What’s up in the sky around Wyoming.
Aug. 28
Laramie Connections free Meet and Eat dinner and faith gathering: 4:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1517 E. Canby St.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 6:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Aug. 29
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Women for Sobriety meet: 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. For meeting details, email 1093@womenforsobriety.org.
UW Music presents Diego Caetano on piano: 7:30 p.m., Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts Recital Hall. Free to attend and all are invited. Program focuses on French-inspired music by an artist who’s been described as “a gifted pianist with a brilliant technique and musicality.”
Aug. 30
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Aug. 31
Laramie Tai Chi and Tea meets: 1:30 p.m. at outdoors Harbon Park, North 14th and Gibbon streets. For more information, visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Sept. 1
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 5:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Diabetes Support Group meets: 5:30-6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Email questions@ivinsosnhospital.org for the link.
Sept. 3
Walk with a Doc: 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Washington Park west shelter No. 3. Bring walking shoes and a friend. For more information, email questions@ivinsonhospital.org.
Sept. 4
Laramie Connections free Meet and Eat dinner and faith gathering: 4:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1517 E. Canby St.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 6:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Sept. 5
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Women for Sobriety meet: 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. For meeting details, email 1093@womenforsobriety.org.
Sept. 6
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Sept. 7
Laramie Tai Chi and Tea meets: 1:30 p.m. outdoors at Harbon Park, North 14th and Gibbon streets. For more information, visit visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Ivinson’s women’s health team hosts prenatal education: 5:30 p.m. in the Summit conference room. For more information and registration, visit ivinsonhospital.org/childbirth.
Sept. 8
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 5:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Sept. 10
22nd annual Wyoming Buddy Walk: 9 a.m. to noon, Washington Park band shell.
Summer Market Day at the fairgrounds: 3-6 p.m., beef barn.
Sept. 11
Laramie Connections free Meet and Eat dinner and faith gathering: 4:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1517 E. Canby St.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 6:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Sept. 12
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Albany County Historic Preservation Board meets: 6 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. To attend and receive an invite, email a request to kcbard@charter.net.
Women for Sobriety meet: 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. For meeting details, email 1093@womenforsobriety.org.
Sept. 13
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Albany County Republican Party meets: 6 p.m., Albany County Public Library.
Sept. 14
Laramie Tai Chi and Tea meets: 1:30 p.m. outdoors at Harbon Park, North 14th and Gibbon streets. For more information, visit visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Ivinson’s women’s health team hosts prenatal education: 5:30 p.m. in the Summit conference room. For more information and registration, visit ivinsonhospital.org/childbirth.
Sept. 15
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 5:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Sept. 16
Albany County CattleWomen meet: 11:30 a.m., location tbd. Visit wyaccw.com in the week before the meeting for location and more information.
Sept. 17
Higher Ground Fair: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site in Laramie. A celebration of the six Rocky Mountain states and the native first nations that also call the region home. Proceeds from ticket sales (kids admitted free) help support Feeding Laramie Valley. Fore more information or to volunteer, call 307-223-4300 or email info@highergroundfair.org.
Walk with a Doc: 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Washington Park west shelter No. 3. Bring walking shoes and a friend. For more information, email questions@ivinsonhospital.org.
Sept. 18
Higher Ground Fair: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site in Laramie. A celebration of the six Rocky Mountain states and the native first nations that also call the region home. Proceeds from ticket sales (kids admitted free) help support Feeding Laramie Valley. Fore more information or to volunteer, call 307-223-4300 or email info@highergroundfair.org.
Laramie Connections free Meet and Eat dinner and faith gathering: 4:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1517 E. Canby St.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 6:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Sept. 19
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Women for Sobriety meet: 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. For meeting details, email 1093@womenforsobriety.org.
Sept. 20
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Sept. 21
Laramie Tai Chi and Tea meets: 1:30 p.m. outdoors at Harbon Park, North 14th and Gibbon streets. For more information, visit visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Ivinson’s women’s health team hosts prenatal education: 5:30 p.m. in the Summit conference room. For more information and registration, visit ivinsonhospital.org/childbirth.
Sept. 22
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 5:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Sept. 25
Laramie Connections free Meet and Eat dinner and faith gathering: 4:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1517 E. Canby St.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 6:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Sept. 26
Alcoholics Anonymous meets: Daily at various times in person or on Zoom. For more information, call 307-399-0590 or visit area76aawyoming.org or aa.org.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group: Meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Hospice of Laramie House, 1754 Centennial Drive.
Women for Sobriety meet: 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. For meeting details, email 1093@womenforsobriety.org.
America Sewing Guild Laramie Chapter meets: 7 p.m., United Methodist Church, 1215 E. Gibbon St.
Sept. 27
Prayers & Squares Quilting Group meets: 9 a.m., Room 1 of Hunter Hall at St. Matthews Cathedral.
Sept. 28
Laramie Tai Chi and Tea meets: 1:30 p.m. outdoors at Harbon Park, North 14th and Gibbon streets. For more information, visit visit laramietaichiandtea.org.
Sept. 29
Caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia: 3 p.m., meet for coffee, pie, understanding and comradeship at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 204 S. 30th St. For more information, call 307-745-6451.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 5:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716.
Oct. 2
Laramie Connections free Meet and Eat dinner and faith gathering: 4:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1517 E. Canby St.
Al-Anon Family Group meets: 6:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, 215 S. 11th St. For relatives and friends of alcoholics. For information, call Jane at 307-760-4683 or Mark at 307-760-4716. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/announcements/whats-happening-aug-20-2022/article_46d22886-1fde-11ed-8dd7-2bf0e879dd2d.html | 2022-08-20T13:02:31Z |
David Moore has spent the summer taking steps similar to what police chiefs, superintendents and others on school security frontlines across the country have been doing in response to mass shootings that have rattled communities, large and small, across the country.
Moore, who is police chief in Janesville, Wisconsin, two hours northwest of Chicago, and others have spent the summer break reassessing and revising security plans and conducting fresh training exercises after the tragic shooting and botched law enforcement response in Uvalde, Texas, that saw 19 elementary school students, ages 9 to 11, and two teachers killed.
“That was shocking, to be honest. It was shocking to us,” said Moore, of the Texas shooting and the delayed police response to the incident.
School districts and police departments are also working to reassure their communities that the failed response in Uvalde won’t be repeated in their local schools.
Salvador Ramos, 18, stormed into Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on May 24 and massacred a classroom full of students and two teachers with an AR-15 rifle. Police have been faulted for their delayed response, waiting more than an hour before entering the classroom.
Moore said his Wisconsin agency has made sure officers have key fobs to access schools, doors have been numbered to reduce potential confusion and every local school building has police radios to directly communicate with officers.
“We are not waiting for someone to let us in,” said Moore, whose efforts also include training teachers and school staff with emergency first aid-like caring for wounds and how to stop bleeding.
The failed response in Texas, along with a spate of other mass shootings — including a May shooting at a Buffalo grocery store targeting Black shoppers and employees — has school superintendents, police chiefs and concerned constituencies anxious to test their own readiness and not repeat the same mistakes.
“It leaves a knot in my gut,” said Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri of the delayed response in Texas.
The Florida law enforcement agency and the 101,000-student, 150-school Pinellas County Schools district conducted an active-shooter training in late July with the failings of Uvalde front of mind.
Gualtieri said during a briefing after the training that the coronavirus pandemic inhibited active-shooter exercises. He was anxious to see the results of the exercise at a local school and to show the public “we are doing the best we can.”
“It’s essential,” he said. “You need the assurance that it works. You’ve got to keep pushing it.”
Other school districts and police across the country conducted active-shooter and other security training exercises this summer to help ease angst among students, parents and staff conditioned by school shootings that have permeated American society since the Columbine High School massacre 23 years ago.
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, also near Tampa, conducted a 16-hour training exercise in late July to train officers on response times and approaches if they are the initial responder to a shooting. That includes immediate and fast responses, said Sheriff Mike Pendergast.
More districts are poised to increase police footprints on campuses for the new school year, including more school resource officers (SROs) and security guards, some of them armed.
Close to home
A mass shooting is the worst nightmare for any school administrator, teacher and parent. Even when they don’t happen close to home, the impact is still palpable.
Albany County School District 1 Superintendent John Goldhardt said that while security measures are already in place for local schools, the district is focusing on being more vigilant with its violence prevention and preparation.
“We don’t want our schools to be prison-like where we’re blocking everybody out and in, but we want folks to be safe from harm,” Goldhardt said.
He did not give specifics on how exactly the district has become more vigilant, but he said some security measures are already in place.
This includes restricting access points to school buildings and requiring visitors to check in before letting them enter schools. Visitors must provide identification, which is run through a brief background check system that looks for outstanding arrest warrants and a history of sexual misconduct and violence, Goldhardt said.
The local school district also employs three resource officers to help with safety. One works at Laramie High School, one at Laramie Middle School and the other at Whiting High and elementary schools.
Goldhardt said the officers are effective in handling issues as they come up and working toward prevention. Principals in the district also are working to build relationships across so staff can have a better idea of which students may be in need of extra help.
This approach includes building trust between students and staff so they can ask for help when they need it or report alarming behavior if they witness it.
“We need to be aware of our surroundings, aware of people who have needs and focus on positive relationships so that they can trust us if they’ve heard about something,” Goldhardt said.
Hardening schools
The latest shooting’s aftermath also has seen a push to further harden school campuses with more layers of security, limiting access points and the prospect of more students having to go through metal detectors and security pat-downs just to go to school.
On the East Coast, Talbot County Public Schools in Maryland recently conducted “an independent security assessment” and has been adding security hardening measures, said Debbie Gardner, special programs and public relations coordinator for the 4,500-student, eight-school district.
“The facility hardening projects that have been completed are meant to enhance the overall security of our facilities, with the primary goal of preventing unauthorized access and an enhanced visitor screening process,” Gardner said.
Those include installing security vestibules at school entrances that can further control access to buildings and give staff another layer of screening. Talbot schools also have improved classroom doors and installed security film on windows to prevent shattering.
Moore said installing vestibules, a secure lobby or holding area where visitors can be further screened, also are a focus in Wisconsin as he works with local schools to improve security layers within buildings and campuses.
Across the country in rural southern Oregon near the California border, the Klamath County School District also is planning upgrades to security cameras, more mental health services and outreach to students (including via partnership with Klamath Basin Behavioral Health). The district is working on increased training related to emergency responses and helping teachers and staff better recognize and respond to signs of trauma and distress among students, said district spokesperson Marcia Schlottmann.
Schlottman said the district held a security training with emergency responders in late April, roughly a month before Uvalde.
A number of districts and police agencies across the countries did not respond to requests for comment on their security efforts this summer.
‘Acts of terrorism’
The security efforts are running parallel to fresh debates on gun control as progressive advocates point to shooters’ frequent use of AR-15 rifles in their rampages.
“School shootings are similar to ‘acts of terrorism’ in that by their nature they catch people by surprise. So, it is very difficult to prepare for them,” said Dr. Eugenio Rothe, a professor of psychiatry and public health at Florida International University. His research has focused on the mental health and other factors driving the American phenomena of school and mass shootings.
“The police and other law enforcement are working on solutions, but the common denominators are very clear,” said Rothe.
He points to “access to weapons” as a primary concern but also “children who are marginalized and bullied” and parents, teachers and school counselors who ignore signs of distress.
Constitutional gun rights via the Second Amendment and Republican opposition to more sweeping gun control measures also has enhanced the focus on putting more money toward security infrastructure and technology to help better secure campuses in the age of more frequent mass shootings.
Anti-gun control conservative lawmakers point to increasing security and police footprints at K-12 schools as the preferred path over new restrictions on guns and gun ownership.
There also are bipartisan and institutional penchants for another post-mass shooting slate of security infrastructure and technology spending and training exercises to further button down campuses and ease fears among students, teachers and staff.
Amy Klinger, an education professor at Ashland University in Ohio and director of programs at Educator’s School Safety Network (a nonprofit training group) said training teachers and staff on keeping campuses secure is as important as more infrastructure spending.
“It’s very simple and usually comes down to day-to-day procedures,” Klinger said.
The challenge, according to security consultants, has been getting schools to find the time and sustained funding for training efforts.
“There’s as much of a competition for time as money in schools,” said Kenneth Trump, a Cleveland-based national school security expert.
Trump said he wants schools to focus more on training frontline staff and workers who might be the first to interact with a distressed student or shooter.
“They get the least training to no training at all in many cases,” he said.
‘Army of counselors’
Mental health advocates contend there is a dire need for increased counseling and behavioral health services, as well as improved outreach to distressed kids and better identifying and addressing bullying and threats of violence.
“Mental health is key to solving this problem,” said Brenda High, founder and co-director of Bully Police USA, an Idaho-based group that has pushed for anti-bullying measures across the United States.
High’s 13-year-old son, Jared, killed himself in 1998 after being severely bullied and assaulted at a school in Washington state.
“The only way to solve the problem is to have an army of counselors and people go in there to help these kids choose a better path,” said High, who crafts student-centered programs aimed at using peers to discourage bullying.
That requires increased staffing, pay for counselors and changes in school cultures — including addressing teachers, staff and parents who ignore bullying and distressed students.
But High and others worry the rush to harden schools, limit access and turn them into high-security zones will further stress students returning from pandemic shutdowns and diminish the learning environment.
“There are some schools out there that do treat their students like inmates,” High said. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/a-knot-in-my-gut-for-officials-as-school-begins/article_e305fbe5-522d-56fa-a3b5-cd86ca16c587.html | 2022-08-20T13:02:37Z |
For the owners of Wyonics, success literally comes down to the tiniest details.
The business, which focuses on creating complex, sustainable technologies, has received a $1.15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to continue its work in micro- and nanoparticle manipulation.
The money will allow the company to get closer to commercializing its technology while also presenting a chance to grow and make an impact on the local community.
“It really helps small companies get started, because you really need that infrastructure to even do anything,” Wyonics owner Kristin Di Bona said about the grant.
Di Bona started Wyonics in 2018 with husband Caleb Hill, father Robin Rodgers and her aunt, Gabriela Gurau, all of whom studied at University of Alabama and hold doctorate degrees in scientific fields.
The business sprung from a desire to take knowledge from the realm of academia and give it real-world applications, Di Bona said. No matter where this mission took them, the family has maintained a focus on sustainability.
“I didn’t want to do something that was going to cause a bigger problem,” she said. “I wanted to do something that I felt good about.”
An emphasis on sustainability isn’t the only aspect that makes Wyonics stand out in Wyoming. It also is the first women-led business in the state to receive the grant, known as the Small Business Innovation Research award. Nationwide, only 5% of businesses that receive this type of funding are owned by women, according to a press release announcing the Wyonics award.
The grant is the second in a multi-stage process that offers money to companies creating new, innovative technologies that are of interest to federal government agencies.
Wyonics received $200,000 from the Department of Energy in 2021 to complete the first phase of the project, which included proving the feasibility of an instrument platform meant to move and pattern micro- and nanoparticles.
While the platform is still under development, the technology has broad implications and could one day be used in the areas of nuclear forensics, pharmaceuticals, microelectronics, microplastics and semiconductors, Di Bona said.
“We think it’s an enabling technology,” she said. “You will use it in many advanced industries, so you could have local industries that emerge from it.”
Big applications
The second phase of the project, which is slated to last two years, will include creating a commercial prototype of the technology and exploring its applications.
The project will create work for one full-time employee, one graduate student, two to three undergraduate students and one intern at Wyonics over the course of the next two years, Di Bona said.
The company is collaborating with University of Wyoming, meaning it also sill open research opportunities for local students.
The SBIR program is central to helping early-stage technologies like what Wyonics is developing get off the ground before they are flashy enough to catch the eye of investors, said Kelly Haigler Cornish, who works with the program through the Wyoming Small Business Development Center Network.
“It’s important for people to understand that these are early-stage technologies and no one’s really willing to invest in them,” Cornish said. “This grant is some of the only money available for people to get started.”
It also is one of the only ways new companies can secure the money needed for research while still maintaining control over their business rather than having to answer to investors, Cornish said.
For Di Bona and her team, collaborating with groups like the Department of Energy, the Small Business Development Center and Wyoming Business Council has helped the group start their business strong.
Having these connections helped the team learn more about the business side of marketing their work and talking to the right people.
“When you’re starting up there’s ups and downs,” Di Bona said. “It’s been new.”
As her work continues, Di Bona said she hopes to support future employees by providing them with high-paying jobs that will have an impact throughout the state.
“We plan on manufacturing in Wyoming,” Di Bona said. “Though we’re starting small, we’re looking for partners in Wyoming.” | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/business/particular-success-wyonics-technology-could-have-broad-impact/article_995a1f18-1f30-11ed-b638-4b2fc7280b4d.html | 2022-08-20T13:02:43Z |
BILLINGS, Mont. — The U.S. oil industry hit a legal roadblock in January when a judge struck down a $192 million oil and natural gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico over future global warming emissions from burning the fuels. It came at a pivotal time for Chevron, Exxon and other industry players: the Biden administration had curtailed opportunities for new offshore drilling, while raising climate change concerns.
The industry’s setback was short-lived, however. The climate measure President Joe Biden signed Tuesday bypasses the administration's concerns about emissions and guarantees new drilling opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska. The legislation was crafted to secure backing from a top recipient of oil and gas donations, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, and was shaped in part by industry lobbyists.
While the Inflation Reduction Act concentrates on clean energy incentives that could drastically reduce overall U.S. emissions, it also buoys oil and gas interests by mandating leasing of vast areas of public lands and off the nation’s coasts. And it locks renewables and fossil fuels together: If the Biden administration wants solar and wind on public lands, it must offer new oil and gas leases first.
As a result, U.S. oil and gas production and emissions from burning fuels could keep growing, according to some industry analysts and climate experts. With domestic demand sliding, that means more fossil fuels exported to growing foreign markets, including from the Gulf where pollution from oil and gas activity plagues many poor and minority communities.
To the industry, the new law signals Democrats are willing to work with them and to abandon the notion fossil fuels could soon be rendered obsolete, said Andrew Gillick with Enverus, an energy analytics company whose data is used by industry and government agencies.
“The folks that think oil and gas will be gone in 10 years may not be thinking through what this means," Gillick said. "Both supply and demand will increase over the next decade.”
The result would be more planet-warming carbon dioxide — up to 110 million tons (100 metric tons) annually — from U.S.-produced oil and gas by 2030, with most coming from fuel burned after export, according to some economists and analysts. Others predict smaller increases.
The law reinstates within 30 days the 2,700-square miles (6,950-square kilometers) of Gulf leases that had been withheld. It ensures companies like Chevron will have the chance to expand and overrides the concerns of U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras that the government was “barreling full-steam ahead” without adequately considering global emission increases.
The measure's importance was underscored by Chevron executives during a recent earnings call, where they predicted continued growth in the Gulf and tied that directly to being able "to lease and acquire additional acreage.”
The fossil fuel industry's ambitions are now directly linked to wind and solar development: The bill prohibits leasing of federal lands and waters for renewable energy unless the government has offered at least 2 million acres (810,000 hectares) of public land and 60 million acres (24 million hectares) in federal waters for oil and gas leasing during the prior year. The law does not require leases to be sold, only offered for sale.
The measure’s critics say that's holding renewables hostage unless the fossil fuel industry gets its way. Some accuse Biden and Democrats of abandoning pledges to confront the industry.
“It’s 10 more years of mandatory leases," said Brett Hartl with the Center for Biological Diversity. "We will do our damnedest but it’s hard to fight them all.”
Communities near polluting industrial plants will continue to suffer if the oil and gas industry remains vibrant, said Beverly Wright, executive director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice and a member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. She worries that incentives in the law for technology that captures carbon from industrial processes could also perpetuate harm to these poor, mostly minority residents.
In Louisiana’s St. James Parish, where petrochemical plants dominate the landscape, environmental justice activist Sharon Lavigne said the legislation will allow pollution from fossil fuels to keep harming her community.
“That’s just like saying they’re going to continue to poison us, going to continue to cause us cancer,” said Lavigne, a former high school teacher who founded the group Rising St. James.
The leasing provisions mark a failure in efforts by environmentalists and social justice advocates to impose a nationwide leasing ban. The movement’s high point came when Biden followed campaign pledges to end new drilling on federal lands with an order his first week in office suspending lease sales.
Republicans complained the administration still wasn't holding enough sales even after a federal judge blocked Biden's order. On Wednesday a federal appeals court struck down an injunction that had blocked the leasing suspension, but the impact could be minimal because of the new law's mandates.
A stream of potential drilling sites is crucial for companies to maintain future production because wells can take years to develop and some yield nothing, said Jim Noe, an industry lobbyist who worked with Senate staff on the climate bill's leasing provisions.
“The industry is in constant need — almost like a treadmill — of lease sales,” said Noe, an attorney at Holland & Knight who represented offshore oil and gas companies. Noe said demand for oil and gas won’t decline immediately and Gulf drilling brings jobs and more energy security.
A United Nations report before Biden took office warned that the U.S. and other nations need to sharply decrease investments in oil, gas and coal to keep temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times.
Other bill provisions that focus on renewable energy and capturing carbon dioxide from industrial plants would result in net emission reductions 10 to 50 times greater than emission increases from burning more oil and gas, analysts say.
The increase in oil and gas emissions still could be substantial — as much as 77 million to 110 million tons (70 to 100 million metric tons) of additional carbon dioxide annually by 2030 from new leasing, according to economist Brian Prest with the research group Resources for the Future.
Other experts had lower projections: The San Francisco-based climate research group Energy Innovation predicted up to 55 million tons (50 million metric tons) of additional carbon dioxide annually from new leasing. Researchers from Princeton and Dartmouth said the impact could be negligible or as much as 22 million tons (20 million metric tons) in the U.S., plus much more abroad.
Any increase hinges on global oil and natural gas prices staying high — and that in turn depends on a range of factors including the ongoing war in Ukraine, said Robbie Orvis with Energy Innovation.
“It may increase oil and gas production somewhat, but that is very much offset by all of the other pieces of the bill,” Orvis said.
Yet there's uncertainty about how quickly other pieces of the bill could bring emission cuts. Wind and solar construction could run into the supply chain problems hindering many economic sectors. And technology to capture and store carbon dioxide is still being refined and is in limited use.
Other provisions could make it potentially more expensive to drill on public lands and waters. There are modest increases in royalty and rental rates and a new $5-per-acre fee when companies want particular parcels offered for lease. Another fee would require companies to pay for natural gas, or methane, that enters the atmosphere as a potent greenhouse gas.
The higher costs could dampen interest among companies, said Mark Squillace, a natural resources law professor at University of Colorado Law School.
“Even though the industry is going to be getting more oil and gas leasing if they want it, it's an interesting question: Do they want it?” Squillace asked. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/climate-bills-unlikely-beneficiary-us-oil-and-gas-industry/article_8657dda4-1f1e-11ed-bf7a-abec1b931945.html | 2022-08-20T13:02:50Z |
Weitzel’s Wings owner Travis Weitzel with Food Network star Guy Fieri as they make some of Weitzel’s signature chicken wings on an episode of “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” that premiered in May.
Known as the “Super Bowl” of the chicken wing industry, the 20th annual National Buffalo Wing Festival will have a distinctly Western flavor Labor Day weekend with Laramie’s own Weitzel’s Wings competing for top honors.
Also known as “Double Dubs,” the famous food truck owned by Travis Weitzel is one of 16 of the nation’s best Buffalo wings restaurants selected to compete for the title of America’s best.
Double Dubs gained the attention of Food Network personality Guy Fieri when former University of Wyoming quarterback (now an elite NFL QB for the Buffalo Bills) mentioned the wings truck as a personal favorite. Fieri featured Weitzel’s Wings in May in an episode of his hit television series “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.”
For the first time this year, the festival — aka “Wingfest” — will be held at Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills.
Double Dubs will be featured on-camera during the competition, according to a press release announcing the festival.
WyoTech teaches valuable trades for students and more
WyoTech offers summer seminar programs and quarterly visitation to help educators learn how to more effectively implement trade programs in secondary schools.
The program is one of WyoTech’s methods of encouraging high schools to offer students education in the trades and work through challenges presented by low availability of teachers in the field, according to a press release.
WyoTech pays for the training programs and most travel-related expenses involved, the press release says. The program focuses on teaching school administrators about the most up-to-date industry standards and practices so they can bring the lessons back to their classrooms.
“We at WyoTech want to do our part to keep trade programs in high schools, and to do so, instructors need to be armed with the best possible programs and education,” WyoTech President Jim Mathis says in the press release.
Empress Apartments near opening
The Empress Apartments are projected to open Sept. 1, and Laramie Main Street Alliance has invited its volunteers to take a sneak peek of the new complex Aug. 29.
The initiative, located above Big Hollow in downtown Laramie, is one of the many downtown revitalization projects Laramie Main Street Alliance has focused on.
The private event will offer refreshments and a chance to mingle for Main Street volunteers. The event also meant to celebrate the group’s work in being recognized as a 2022 Great American Main Street.
Surgical clinic grows with new addition
Local nurse practitioner Lauren Munsell has begun a new role as an ear, nose and throat care provider with the Ivinson Medical Group Surgical Clinic in Cheyenne.
Munsell specializes in acute and chronic sinus problems, throat and tonsil concerns, allergies, asthma and hearing issues, according to a press release from IMG.
“I am delighted to reunite with Ivinson to serve patients and expand ENT services into Cheyenne and be a part of an incredible team that supports the Wyoming community,” she says in the press release.
Munsell will join Dr. Paul Johnson, who began providing otolaryngology care out of the Cheyenne clinic in May. Urologist Dr. Eric Uhlman also recently started offering weekly appointments at the clinic. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/double-dubs-among-elite-chosen-for-2022-wingfest/article_6433acd2-1e6d-11ed-860a-979238098e82.html | 2022-08-20T13:02:56Z |
WASHINGTON — Arizona and Nevada residents won’t face bans on watering their lawns or washing their cars despite more Colorado River water shortages.
But U.S. officials announced Tuesday there will be less water available next year for them from the river that serves 40 million people in the West and Mexico and a farm industry worth billions of dollars. Observers warn that a reckoning is still coming for the growing region because the water crisis is expected to generate future cuts.
A look at the crucial source of water for the Western U.S. and the water cuts.
WHY IS THE COLORADO RIVER THREATENED?
There are two Colorado Rivers in the U.S. — the 1,450-mile powerhouse of the West and the over 800-mile river that starts and ends in Texas.
The river that faces cuts is the longer one. It supplies seven states plus Mexico but its flow has dropped drastically over time because of water overuse by farming and growing populations, hotter temperatures, evaporation and less melting snow in the spring to replenish the river.
And for years, the seven states that receive the river’s water have diverted more water from it than what was replenished by nature.
WHO DO LAKE MEAD AND LAKE POWELL SERVE?
Lake Mead supplies water to millions of people in Arizona, California, Nevada and Mexico.
Cuts for 2023 are triggered when predicted water levels fall below a certain threshold — 1,050 feet above sea level.
Additional cuts will be triggered when projected levels sink to 1,045 and 1,025 feet. At a certain point, levels could drop so low that water can no longer be pumped from the reservoir.
Eventually, some city and industrial water users will be affected.
Lake Powell’s levels are also falling and extraordinary steps have been taken to keep water in the reservoir on the Arizona-Utah border.
Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming get water from tributaries and other reservoirs that feed into Lake Powell. Water from three reservoirs in those states has been drained in recent years to maintain water levels at Lake Powell and protect the electric grid powered by the Glen Canyon Dam.
WHAT IS BEING CUT AND WHY?
The federal government started cutting some states’ supplies this year to maintain water levels in the river and its key reservoirs. New water cuts will build on those reductions — which all but eliminated some central Arizona farmers’ supply of Colorado River water and to a much lesser extent, reduced Nevada and Mexico’s share.
Lake Mead and Lake Powell — the two largest Colorado River reservoirs — are about a quarter full, threatening water supplies and the generation of hydroelectric power that provides electricity to millions of people.
Along the reservoirs’ edges, “bathtub rings” of minerals outline where the high water line once stood, highlighting the challenges the West faces as a ‘megadrought’ tightens it grip on the region.
HOW IS THE RIVER SHARED?
Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico share the Colorado River in what’s called the river’s upper basin. Arizona, Nevada and California form the lower basin.
From its headwaters in Colorado, the river and its tributaries eventually flow south of the border into Mexico, which also uses its water. The river’s water traditionally flowed through Mexico and reached the Gulf of Calfornia, but rarely does so anymore because so much is used by farms and cities. Among those who depend on the water are nearly 30 federally recognized Native American tribes .
In the Southwest, water stored in Lake Mead and Lake Powell — the two largest manmade reservoirs in the U.S. — is divvied up through legal agreements among the seven Colorado River basin states, the federal government, Mexico and tribes. The agreements determine how much water each entity gets, when cuts are triggered and the order in which the parties must sacrifice some of their supply.
Under a 2019 drought contingency plan, Arizona, Nevada, California and Mexico agreed to give up shares of their water to maintain water levels at Lake Mead. This year’s cuts are part of that plan — and as a result, state officials knew they were coming.
WHICH PARTIES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE CUTS?
Arizona, Nevada and Mexico.
Arizona was hardest hit, again, and will receive 79% of its total share next year. But that’s only 3% less than what it got this year, after federal officials slashed its supply.
Nevada will receive about 92% of its total supply next year. Most residents will not feel the cuts thanks to water conservation, reuse and the state not using its full allocation.
California has been spared because it has more senior water rights than Arizona and Nevada. That means it doesn’t have to give up its water first, according to the hierarchy that guides water law in the American West.
Mexico will get about 93% of its total supply. The water is used in cities and farming communities in northwestern Mexico, which is also enduring a severe drought.
WHO WILL LOSE WATER?
Farmers in central Arizona, among the state’s largest producers of livestock, dairy, alfalfa, wheat and barley, lost most of their Colorado River allocation this year when the government implemented its first shortage. Some farmers were compensated with water through deals with cities like Phoenix and Tucson.
More farmers will likely need to leave their land fallow — which some farmers in the region have been paid to do by state agencies and others — and rely even more on groundwater. Others will be forced to grow more water-efficient crops such as durum wheat and guayule and find other ways to use less water.
Western water suppliers have planned for such shortages by diversifying and conserving their water sources. But intensifying drought depleting reservoirs faster than scientists predicted — and the resulting cuts — will make it harder for farms and cities to plan for the future.
“Most people are also not prepared for the kind of difficult choices that we need to make,” said Mark Squillace, a professor of environmental law at the University of Colorado. “And that’s sort of the situation we’re facing in the Colorado River.”
Phoenix will lose some water it would otherwise store in underground basins as a water reserve, said Cynthia Campbell, the city’s water resource management advisor. That happened this year, too. The city will rely more water from Arizona’s Salt and Verde rivers.
Campbell said Phoenix residents and businesses won’t be affected. The city that was a sleepy desert community in the 1950s is now the nation’s 5th largest.
Nevada will also face cuts, but residents won’t face big impacts. The state does not use its full supply of Colorado River water and most water used indoors by businesses and homes in the populous southern part of the state is recovered, treated and delivered recycled back to Lake Mead. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/how-new-colorado-river-cuts-will-impact-states/article_6db3e97c-1f1f-11ed-b043-03563de226be.html | 2022-08-20T13:03:02Z |
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/laramieboomerang/news/law-enforcement-responds-to-reported-road-rage/article_83c7cdf4-1fed-11ed-baeb-3f02d3c95851.html | 2022-08-20T13:03:08Z |
The following calls were included in the Albany County Sheriff’s Office responses:
MONDAY, AUG. 15
• 12:52 a.m., Wyoming Highway 230, possible domestic disturbance
• 6:32 a.m., intersection of N. McCue St. and W. Curtis St., traffic hazard
• 10:38 a.m., 1300 block of Whitman St., vandalism
• 10:56 a.m., 700 block of Welsh Ln., emergency
• 11:42 a.m., 1300 block of Whitman St., trespassing
• 3 p.m., Albany County Area, emergency
TUESDAY, AUG. 16
• 6:20 p.m., 2000 block of W. Snowy Range Rd., possible domestic disturbance
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 17
• 9:52 a.m., Adventure Lane, emergency
• 1:24 p.m., Interstate 80, accident
• 2:42 p.m., Wyoming Highway 230, disturbance/harassment-threats
• 9 p.m., intersection of N. 3rd St. and E. Lewis St., possible possession of controlled substance
• 9:36 p.m., 99 Old Wagon Rd., emergency
• 9:58 p.m., 1000 block of E. Harney St., possible impaired driving
• 11:20 p.m., Interstate 80, accident
THURSDAY, AUG. 18
• 11:27 a.m., U.S. Highway 287, accident
The following calls were included in the Laramie Police Department responses:
MONDAY, AUG. 15
• 7:24 a.m., 1200 block of E. Symons St., animal bite
• 7:43 a.m., 1100 block of E. Steele St., vandalism
• 9:05 a.m., 300 block of N. Lincoln St., theft
• 9:31 a.m., intersection of N. 22nd St. and Willett Dr., accident
• 9:48 a.m., 400 block of E. Boswell Dr., disturbance/harassment-threats
• 9:53 a.m., 2100 block of E. Hancock St., emergency
• 10:35 a.m., 1200 block of N. 3rd St., vandalism
• 10:38 a.m., 1300 block of Whitman St., vandalism
• 12:16 p.m., intersection of N. 4th St. and E. Flint St., accident
• 12:20 p.m., intersection of S. 3rd St. and E. Garfield St., hit and run
• 1:58 p.m., 500 block of S. 13th St., fraud
• 2:24 p.m., 300 block of W. University Ave., disturbance/harassment-threats
• 5:10 p.m., 900 block of N. 3rd St., disturbance/harassment-threats
• 5:54 p.m., 4300 block of E. Grand Ave., shoplifting
• 6:43 p.m., 600 block of S. Hayes St., possible domestic disturbance
• 11:11 p.m., 4300 block of E. Grand Ave., hit and run
TUESDAY, AUG. 16
• 10:45 a.m., intersection of S. 4th St. and E. Grand Ave., traffic hazard
• 11:19 a.m., 2600 block of E. Sheridan St., emergency
• 2:50 p.m., 400 block of E. Boswell Dr., vandalism
• 4:54 p.m., 1000 block of N. 3rd St., wildlife
• 6:20 p.m., 2000 block of W. Snowy Range Rd., possible domestic disturbance
• 6:41 p.m., intersection of W. Snowy Range Rd. and S. Fillmore St., accident
• 7:13 p.m., 300 block of S. Pine St., possible impaired driving
• 8:53 p.m., 900 block of N. McCue St., theft/unauthorized use of vehicle
• 9:24 p.m., 1500 block of N. McCue St., accident
• 11:16 p.m., 1900 block of Alsop Ln., animal bite
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 17
• 7:06 a.m., intersection of S. 3rd St. and Interstate 80, accident
• 7:18 a.m., 1300 block of E. Fetterman Dr., burglary
• 7:29 a.m., 1900 block of E. Garfield St., extortion
• 7:45 a.m., 700 block of E. Kearney St., theft
• 8:40 a.m., 300 block of S. Lincoln St., disturbance/harassment-threats
• 4:17 p.m., 1100 block of W. Snowy Range Rd., accident
• 6:22 p.m., 500 block of S. 3rd St., trespassing
• 9:17 p.m., intersection of N. 30th St. and Reynolds St., wildlife
• 9:58 p.m., 1000 block of E. Harney St., possible impaired driving
THURSDAY, AUG. 18
• 8:24 a.m., 900 block of N. 3rd St., identity theft
• 10:44 a.m., 1800 block of E. Rainbow Ave., possible domestic disturbance
• 4:07 p.m., 1300 block of N. 22nd St., larceny
• 4:49 p.m., 3000 block of E. Grand Ave., hit and run
• 5:09 p.m., 700 block of N. 3rd St., accident
• 5:42 p.m., 2000 block of S. 17th St., burglary
• 7:29 p.m., 900 block of N. 15th St., possible domestic disturbance
• 7:37 p.m., 4300 block of E. Grand Ave., accident
• 7:53 p.m., 1500 block of E. Steele St., fire
• 10:22 p.m., intersection of Harrison St. and S. Lincoln St., fireworks | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/local_news/arrest_record_and_police_calls/on-the-record-aug-20-2022/article_07c897f8-1feb-11ed-9222-cf4f4ce87324.html | 2022-08-20T13:03:14Z |
America's largest and leading small-business association issued its biennial voting records recently and applauded Wyoming lawmakers for being "true friends of Main Street enterprises in the legislative session that just passed."
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) grades legislators every two years in states across the nation. They most recently graded Wyoming lawmakers on seven issues that passed in both chambers of the Wyoming Legislature and were signed into law by Gov. Mark Gordon.
“Wyoming was blessed to have the state legislators it did for these past two years,” said Tony Gagliardi, Wyoming state director for the NFIB. “They fundamentally understood that a pandemic-era economy is not the time to raise taxes or promulgate new regulations, but instead a time to see what could be done to help small businesses remain solvent.
"In addition to battling every COVID-related difficulty still with us, Main Street enterprises are now contending with inflation, supply-chain disruptions, worker shortages and soaring gas prices.”
Gagliardi said in a statement that no senator or representative had a lower score than 57%, 31 had 100% pro-small-business voting records, and everyone else was in between. He said this is phenomenal and has made him the envy of a few of his counterparts in the state, and he hopes the 2023-24 Legislature can do it again.
The seven key issues considered important in supporting small businesses related to COVID-19, food freedom, student learner agreements, occupational licensing and property tax reporting and exemption.
Albany and Laramie county legislators voting records show the following approval ratings from the small-business association:
Rep. Ocean Andrew, R-Laramie: 100%
Rep. Cathy Connolly, D-Laramie: 86%
Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie: 71%
Rep. Trey Sherwood, D-Laramie: 71%
Sen. Dan Furphy, R-Laramie: 100%
Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie: 57%
Rep. Jim Blackburn, R-Cheyenne: 100%
Rep. Landon Brown, R-Cheyenne: 100%
Rep. John Eklund, R-Cheyenne: 100%
Rep. Bill Henderson, R-Cheyenne: 86%
Rep. Bob Nicholas, R-Cheyenne:71%
Rep. Jared Olsen, R-Cheyenne: 100%
Rep. John Romero-Martinez, R-Cheyenne: 100%
Rep. Clarence Styvar, R-Cheyenne: 86%
Rep. Sue Wilson, R-Cheyenne: 100%
Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne:100%
Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne: 71%
Sen. Affie Ellis, R-Cheyenne: 100%
Sen. Lynn Hutchings, R-Cheyenne: 100%
Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne: 71%
Sen. Stephen Pappas, R-Cheyenne: 71%
Regarding the pandemic, NFIB wanted to amend the experience rating system requirements for claims related to COVID-19, and extend provision to prevent compensable injuries related to COVID-19 being included in an employers experience rating, which was passed unanimously in both chambers in House Bill 59.
It's position on House Bill 127, passed 58-2 in the House and 23-6 in the Senate, was to pass the act that applied to a public health order which, provided an individual is not subject to an order to quarantine or remain in isolation, allows an individual to move about freely and engage in normal activities. It also made it so any public health order to 10 days and provides that any subsequent issued by the governor would not extend beyond 60 days.
Another bill the NFIB supported was regarding public health emergency immunity amendments in Senate File 19. It wanted a bill to assure a person, entity or healthcare provider is immune from liability for damages in a claim concerning COVID-19 unless the person seeking damages proves gross negligence or willful misconduct. It was passed in the Senate, 23-7, and the House, 38-22.
All of these were signed into law by the governor, as well as bills allowing student learner agreements for course credits; specifications for applicants seeking an occupational or professional license; allowing homemade food, eggs and drinks to be sold without restrictions exceeding federal requirements; and a property tax exemption for individuals with less than $2,4000 in business property, along with replacing the criminal penalty with a civil penalty of $5 a day, not to exceed $250. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/national-group-applauds-lawmakers-for-voting-records/article_667b6798-482a-5f2d-92bf-cfbf93571bb1.html | 2022-08-20T13:03:21Z |
Two Wyoming hospitals have discontinued offering obstetric care as of this summer. Both said upheaval in the medical industry in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic have made offering the service to their communities unfeasible.
The hospitals in Rawlins and Kemmerer demonstrate the fragility of rural health services, and have joined Riverton in no longer offering delivery services for expectant mothers.
South Lincoln Medical Center CEO David Ryerse said the decision was ultimately made by the South Lincoln Hospital District Board of Trustees, which made the call due to chronic staffing shortages.
“The 24-hour-a-day on-call operating room services involving our surgical teams was discontinued due to the inability of the organization to continually meet the 24-hour staffing needs of the operating room,” Ryerse said. “Ultimately, the medical staff of (the South Lincoln Hospital District) determined that without the required staffing to provide the needed 24-hour surgical services, it was impossible to safely deliver scheduled or elective obstetrical patients who might need a cesarean section.”
In the U.S., approximately one out of three babies are delivered via Caesarean-section. Though obstetric services were discontinued as of June 1, the operating room in Kemmerer is not completely closed and will still function normally during business hours.
Ryerse said the hospital in Kemmerer, a town of roughly 2,700, had been averaging 20-25 deliveries annually, though many expectant parents were already seeking care elsewhere.
“Approximately 70% of local expecting moms have chosen to deliver at health care facilities other than SLHD in surrounding locations, including Utah,” Ryerse said. When the board made the decision to end obstetric care in Kemmerer, it affected five families, three of which had their babies before the June 1 cutoff, he said. The next closest hospital that could provide a delivery for Kemmerer moms is approximately a 45-minute drive away, in Evanston.
Ryerse emphasized staffing shortages are common in rural health care in the aftermath of the pandemic.
“Hospitals, long-term care facilities and clinics nationwide are experiencing ongoing staffing concerns with having adequate providers, registered nurses, (certified nursing assistants), lab techs, pharmacists and other critical health care positions,” he said. “We are also facing housing shortages, budgetary concerns for local providers and traveling nurses.”
Rawlins
Memorial Hospital of Carbon County Marketing, Communications and Foundation Director Stephanie Hinkle described a completely different scenario at the Rawlins hospital, though the end result was the same.
“Despite COVID and a number of facility/infrastructure issues within our aging hospital that have continued to require constant repairs, we had been able to maintain strong finances and even experienced some growth,” she said. “We also built a new family practice clinic in Saratoga that opened June 3, 2021, and paid for the build entirely from cash reserves. I’d also like to point out that our hospital has zero debt, and we receive virtually no funding from Carbon County, despite being a ‘county-owned hospital.’”
Hinkle said labor and delivery services often represent a net loss for hospitals because of staffing and insurance requirements.
“In late 2020, after losing our primary (obstetrician/gynecologist), we were able to recruit and hire a phenomenal doctor, and we put these services at the top of our strategic business plan for growth and enhancement. However, despite a number of targeted marketing campaigns, community education and engagement, and having a provider that women loved, we were still unable to perform at a level that could compete with the rising expenses.”
Those expenses, Hinkle said, were dominated by one factor.
“The single largest factor in this decline was the historical cost of traveling nurses. We were spending $100,000 per week for traveling nurses, five of which were in labor and delivery,” Hinkle said, adding that MHCC’s cash reserves went from $6 million to $3 million in a matter of months. MHCC supports a community almost three times as large as Kemmerer, but still, there wasn’t enough business to keep the maternity ward open.
Prior to this decision, Hinkle said annual births at MHCC ranged from 57 to 89 annually over the past three years. Similar to the hospital in Kemmerer, administrators estimated the majority of business was going to larger nearby facilities, such as Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie, which facilitated 420 births last year.
“At the time of closure, we only had 32% of the market share,” said Hinkle.
Rawlins is an hour-and-a-half drive from both Laramie and Rock Springs, the next closest hospitals where expectant Rawlins moms can deliver. Those travel routes face frequent high winds and some snowstorms.
Concerns about cutbacks in small-town hospitals are a significant concern to those who rely on such health care.
Medicaid
Better Wyoming Executive Director Nate Martin said rural hospitals are denied significant financial help because of the refusal of the governor and Legislature to expand Medicaid.
“There’s not a silver bullet,” he said. “Issues of health care are multifaceted, but when our Legislature continues to refuse to expand Medicaid, they’re turning away hundreds of millions of dollars that could shore up small hospitals.”
Wyoming is one of 12 states that has not expanded Medicaid to cover low-income adults who do not have young children and who themselves are not old enough to qualify for Medicaid. Healthy Wyoming estimates adopting the program would provide affordable medical care to 25,000 Wyomingites and bring in $54 million federal money annually for hospitals throughout the state.
The Wyoming Department of Health estimates expanding Medicaid would result in an overall net savings of $34 million in the state’s general funds. Adoption of the program, which was first introduced with the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, has been met with residual skepticism.
“I think the nonacceptance of it, at this point, is ideological,” Martin said. “People see it as some kind of stance against the federal government, but frankly, I think that’s hilarious. Federal funds are our largest source of income outside of oil and gas.”
The Wyoming Hospital Association estimates that statewide, hospitals are absorbing as much as $4.3 million annually in uncompensated care. Under Medicaid expansion, it’s very likely federal funds could cover as much as 90% of that amount. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/rural-hospitals-cut-maternity-care-amid-budget-woes/article_df119bfe-1fe8-11ed-9d32-4f3fb2b16bbf.html | 2022-08-20T13:03:27Z |
Just a few short years ago, Wyoming Legacy Meats in Cody became the first U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified meat processor in the state in more than 40 years.
Today, there are a dozen USDA-inspected meat processors in Wyoming, from Hawk Springs to Hudson and from Sheridan to Laramie. State inspected slaughter facilities number half a dozen, and there are also a handful of operational state-inspected processing-only facilities in Wyoming.
According to the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, all meat processed under a state inspection can be bought and sold in restaurants, schools and grocery stores in Wyoming only. No interstate commerce is allowed for state-inspected meat. All meat processed under federal USDA inspection can be sold anywhere in the country, and it is the only meat eligible for international shipment.
“One of the things I say is that most of us grew up in a time when there was a butcher shop, a creamery and a flour mill in our communities. Look around the state and show me a town that has those three now,” said James Klessens, CEO of Forward Cody. “But I just heard of another little facility that has gotten their USDA certification in Wyoming, and I’m tickled that that has happened.”
Forward Cody is spearheading a nearly $5 million effort in northwestern Wyoming to build a processing facility capable of slaughtering 75-100 head of cattle a day. The plant would be owned by Forward Cody for 20 years and would be located at the North Cody Industrial Park. Wyoming Legacy Meats would operate in the facility.
In June, the city of Cody requested a $1 million Business Ready Community grant to construct the processing facility from the Wyoming Business Council. Projects will be considered at a September WBC meeting.
“We hope to be in a position this fall to break ground and start building,” Klessens said.
Consolidation over decades
When Wyoming Legacy Meats received its USDA certification in 2018, the market opened outside of the state’s borders for the first time in many years.
Klessens said the former owners began marketing products in Billings, Montana. He said it soon became obvious to the company that to compete with the biggest meat processors, Wyoming Legacy Meats would have to reach 50-75 head a day slaughter capacity.
“We put together a plan to expand the plant and have had the architectural renderings done, and that was all happening around COVID-19,” Klessens said.
During pandemic-induced shortages and spiking beef prices, people realized what those in the industry had known for decades: There was a problem in the nation’s food supply chain.
“What we have done is we have centralized all processing into these big companies, who now provide it for pennies on the dollar at Walmart, and we have lost any control of the local food supply,” Klessens said.
Small processors like Wyoming Legacy Meats saw an opportunity open up during the pandemic, as buyers wanted access to quality, local food. To compete, processors must have support, Klessens said.
“So why them?” he said. “Well, when we do Business Council grants … the simple answer is this: It is really difficult to be in the beef industry going up against the three companies that have owned 85% of beef processing in the United States for years. To enter into that arena, you have to have scale.”
Regenerative ag
This spring, Wyoming Legacy Meats sold to Complete Human.
Complete Human co-founder Evan DeMarco said the focus shifted to regenerative agriculture.
“Wyoming is kind of the bedrock for regenerative practices. Most of the producers and ranchers are doing some kind of grass-fed, managed rotational grazing,” DeMarco said. “That’s the way Wyoming has done things for a long time, and the market has now kind of slapped a label on it and called it regenerative practices.”
Knowing that the trends in the consumer market show more and more people across the nation want regenerative products, Wyoming Legacy Meats, with an expanded facility and USDA certification, is in a unique position to pair with Wyoming producers while shipping beef directly to consumers, DeMarco said.
“It’s been going fantastically. We’re so far behind on our production capacity. We simply can’t produce fast enough, which is why we’ve worked with Forward Cody and others who are instrumental in securing USDA funds to help us go from 50 head a week to 100,” DeMarco said.
The typical large processing facility puts cattle in a feedlot where they are fed hormones, antibiotics and pumped full of grain for 12 months before they are slaughtered.
“What that means is a really unhealthy planet, and an incredibly unhealthy kind of beef,” DeMarco said. “This is where we come back to Wyoming, where this grass-fed, grass-finished movement has been something Wyoming has focused on for so long. It produces a healthier kind of beef.”
AJ Richards, president of Wyoming Legacy Meats, said U.S. food security is vulnerable because there simply are not enough small processors nationally.
“The amount of issues in this field are vast. They’re not just one thing here or there,” Richards said. “But being at a central meeting point where people who produce food bring it to us (at Wyoming Legacy Meats) for distribution, we have an opportunity to have an influence in the conversation.”
Richards said that for the Wyoming producer, that can mean a reduction in food miles, so a rancher who used to drive cattle from Ten Sleep to Colorado for processing can cut hundreds of miles – and gas money – out of the equation by using a local processor. They can also use regenerative practices to make more money per pound, he said.
Wyoming Legacy Meats is developing a direct consumer platform, cutting out unnecessary middlemen, DeMarco said.
“One of the concerns I think everybody should have in the meat processing, or beef industry as a whole, is the sheer number of people involved in the transaction, from the feedlot to the auction house and the broker,” DeMarco said.
All those extra hands in the pot, he said, mean the producers make less money.
“Ultimately, what that leads to is the rancher making less money and the consumer paying more, because more people who have no hand in the business make the lion’s share of the money,” DeMarco said. “We wanted to optimize things for the rancher and also provide the consumers with the very best product we can.” | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/state-has-added-many-meat-processors-in-recent-years/article_1075367e-1fe9-11ed-a2e8-1744daf50f21.html | 2022-08-20T13:03:33Z |
University of Wyoming trustees are mulling a change in how student fees are charged, moving from per-credit billing to a flat rate.
The change is one of the issues the UW Board of Trustees will discus at its next meeting Sept. 14-16.
The way the fee structure stands now, students pay per credit hour. Trustees are considering moving to a block tuition model, which means full-time students would pay a set rate regardless of the number of credits they are taking in the range of 12-18.
The change is meant to make it more clear for students how much they will be paying for college and encourage them to graduate within a four-year window, according to UW. While the university already offers a cost calculator for students, the current tuition model can leave some with questions about the cost of their education.
“I think it provides some transparency for the student in what the cost will be,” Trustee Laura Schmid-Pizzato said of the block model during a July board retreat.
In addition to clarifying what can be a murky tuition paying process, the block schedule can offer students flexibility in adding or dropping courses without having to worry about how academic decisions could influence their finances. It will also encourage students to take more courses, Schmid-Pizzato said.
The block rate would be priced based on a 15-credit-hour semester, meaning students who take more than 15 credits would save money under the new structure, whole those who take fewer than 15 credits would pay more per credit.
UW students are required to take a minimum of 12 credits each semester to be considered full-time, and taking 15 credits per semester is recommended to graduate within four years.
Tuition increase
The board will also consider a separate proposal to raise tuition rates by 4% each academic year. The hike is part of a tuition review process that happens every four years, according to trustee documents.
Of the 4% increase, 2% of revenue could go to student success programs established by the Associated Students of UW and administration. The other 2% would go toward salary increases, with mandatory raises for promoted faculty taking priority.
The current estimated cost of attendance for an in-state undergraduate student for the upcoming academic year is $18,682, according to the UW website. The estimated cost for an in-state graduate student is $7,182. The numbers increase to $33,832 and $18,324 respectively for out-of-state students.
The university has the ability to be flexible with where tuition increases are applied, and they may not impact every area of study, said Board of Trustees Chairman John McKinley.
Tuition rates change depending on whether classes are undergraduate or graduate and whether they are online or virtual.
In the past, the university has provided tuition flexibility in the areas of nursing and the law school, he said. This time the final recommendations may include a more “market-based” rate for entrepreneurial programs, McKinley said.
Trustees will discuss and finalize the possible changes during a meeting scheduled for Nov. 16-18. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/uw-considers-block-tuition-rates-4-increase/article_2087a336-68f4-532a-9575-3a0bd7604442.html | 2022-08-20T13:03:39Z |
Wyoming and other rural states shouldn’t be overlooked in creating opportunities for new careers, businesses and industries. That is according to an array of experts and leaders at the Mountain West Innovation Summit.
Hosted at the University of Wyoming in June, this was part of Council on Competitiveness’ flagship initiative, the National Commission on Innovation and Competitiveness Frontiers.
UW President Ed Seidel, one of three national commissioners on the council’s initiative who attended, advocated for in-state and regional partnerships. He noted potential changes to Wyoming’s energy, agricultural and tourism industries.
“Disruptions are coming in all of them,” Seidel said. “And disruptions, of course, as technologies are applied, will completely change the landscape.” He said those disruptions are opportunities to create new markets, requiring the state to think about how it supports computing and technology programs at the university and community colleges.
“Support is needed in entrepreneurship and innovation at a level that’s not really been in place before, at least in Wyoming and in states like ours,” Seidel said.
There isn’t much time, he indicated, referring to a McKinsey report on the future of work in 2030 predicting many jobs in Wyoming and other rural states could be displaced due to technology. A student entering high school now will be a university graduate in 2030, Seidel noted.
“So, we’d better think about what markets they’re going to be finding themselves in, and we’ve got to prepare right now for all of that,” Seidel said. “You’re four times as likely to be displaced in the marketplace if you don’t have a college degree.”
Innovation
Accurately forecasting career and industry opportunities, and making sure community colleges have a strong pipeline to the university are needed to innovate, he said.
“We have 70% of our graduates from the University of Wyoming that leave the state,” Seidel said. “That’s not a good thing. You’ve only got 500,000 people (in Wyoming) to start with, so we’ve got to work on creating opportunities for our graduates to have jobs in the state.”
While UW has dealt with significant budget cuts and the effects of COVID-19 the past few years, he said the university is reorganizing to meet the needs of those graduating in 2030. New initiatives starting this fall includes a School of Computing to enhance computing skills across all disciplines, a Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and an Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management degree program.
The Wyoming Innovation Partnership, established by Gov. Mark Gordon with the university and community colleges, is essential to innovation efforts across the state, Seidel said.
Innovation, which must be an overall focus, includes enhancing the existing energy extraction industry while preparing for the transition to renewable energy, he said.
“The demise of coal and oil and gas is a little premature,” Seidel said. “So, we’re working every way we can to ensure that we can get the most value that we have out of those existing assets. But then, thinking about the transition, you don’t think of Wyoming as a home of solar energy. However, it turns out that for solar cells, we have as much sunshine as Arizona, I’m told, and we’re a lot colder, which makes solar cells much more efficient. So, we could become a major solar hub.”
Energy
The planned TerraPower Natrium nuclear reactor power plant at Kemmerer signals Wyoming’s role in providing clean energy, said John Wagner, director of the Idaho National Laboratory. A national commissioner on the innovation initiative, he said the demonstration reactor is going to require a trained workforce.
“Think about all the opportunities,” Wagner said. “Think about the reactor being constructed, not yet operating. All the workforce around it. We’re talking about the trades, welders and all the different job opportunities to go with that.”
Innovation opportunities for Wyoming and other rural states are included in a new initiative by the National Science Foundation, said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director.
“There’s a tremendous amount of bipartisan support on (Capitol) Hill and in the administration for basic research, for science and engineering, actually paving its way to new technologies and new solutions,” Gianchandani said. “Perhaps more than ever before, there’s a realization that we, for too long, were funding agencies that have focused on the coasts and the big cities, and the urban environments and the big schools. And we have not paid attention to the full expanse of the geography of the country and the unique challenges and characteristics that you see across that geography.”
He said NSF’s new Regional Innovation Engines Program focuses on regions that have not benefited from the technological booms that have been experienced in other areas of the nation.
“And our goal with the engines program, really, is to be able to marry both scientific and technological challenges with societal challenges,” Gianchandani said. “We’re also very interested in balancing both the technical innovation and the geographic innovation, as well. Again, I can’t stress this enough that geography matters. The challenges that we face in particular parts of the country around climate change are very different than other parts of the country.”
Gianchandani said seeking out venture capitalists and angel investors interested in taking research to commercialization contributes to successful innovation.
Former Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal said looking to the government to directly invest public funds in private enterprise is a mistake.
“The problem with government-assisted funding is the public is informed by the opposition every time something fails,” he said, “because the government is expected to succeed 100% of the time with its investments. Nobody in the private sector expects to succeed 100% of the time.”
He said venture capitalists can fail three out of 10 times “and make a killing.”
“Unfortunately, the measurement against government investments tends to be, well, you may have had 20 good ones, (but) all we’re going to talk about is the one that failed,” Freudenthal said. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/wyo-can-play-role-in-national-competitiveness/article_8a2ca106-1fe8-11ed-ae44-b7b6d1d4f706.html | 2022-08-20T13:03:45Z |
Settling into seat 8F, I pulled my jacket off and tucked it into my carry-on bag. I would not be needing that in Phoenix.
I looked forward to the sunshine and warmth ahead. In went the jacket. Out came my reading glasses, iPad, magazine and headphones.
Headphones! Where are my headphones?
I always travel with them. They are the noise canceling kind that block the roar of the plane engines, the voices of the passengers visiting, the cries of babies in the back and the intercom messages from the cockpit. I block these so that I can enjoy the time to read, sleep or meditate in the headphone-secluded space of rain falling, ocean waves or the tweeting of birds; whichever seems to be my pleasure of the moment.
With a sigh, I felt the aggression of the engines lift the plane into the sky as 9F began to explain to 9E, in his best not-so-quiet voice, why he sold his home in New Jersey and moved to Phoenix.
I realized that for this hour and 45-minute flight, my headphones were happily next to my meditation chair at home. Hummppfff!
After reading an article or two in a magazine, I laid it to the side, closed my eyes and began breathing. With the deep in and out rhythm, my body sensed this as the call to meditate. To enjoy calm. To go within to the space of quiet where the outer world drops away. Where the deepest thoughts of my soul mix with the messages from the energy both in and out of my body.
I guard this time of meditation as a mother guards her child. This is more than just a happy place. This is my sacred time. My daily ritual of flowing into calm serenity to a place which is more than one foot here and one foot there, but more like all there. All-in, as they say in poker, to an out-of-this-body and fully in-peace space.
The engine’s roar became a soothing hum that muffled the voice of 9F. The ping of the pilot’s bell seemed to whisper the message of safety that floated by my thoughts of awareness without stopping to take residency in my space of peace. I was there! Not here, not asleep … but there.
Almost an hour passed when my breathing returned to the shallow breath of normality. My eyes fluttered open as my senses returned to the awareness of my surroundings. The engines below my seat continued to spin as the mechanical dropping of the landing gear engaged.
“And in Phoenix the homes were a steal when I bought it, so from what I cleared on my Jersey home, I paid cash for the new one.”
Seat 9F had not stopped the elaboration of his happy relocation to Phoenix.
I realized that I had successfully enjoyed the flight. I enjoyed a time of meditation, and, for a brief period, blocked the outside forces of noise, chaos and distractions. I smiled at the reminder that calm serenity can be accomplished any place. Any time. The noise of the outside doesn’t have to detract from this.
The outer world we cannot control. It is the quiet within that we search for. It is the quiet within we can find ... even without headphones.
Pennie’s Life Lesson: Searching for tranquility does not require a vacuum of silence. Real peace is found within — even during the distraction of life.
Pennie Hunt is a Wyoming-based author, blogger and speaker. Contact her at penniehunt@gmail.com. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/contributed_columns/learn-to-find-the-quiet-within/article_4bec122a-1fdc-11ed-977b-03fa5203af0b.html | 2022-08-20T13:03:52Z |
With the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, a grave miscarriage of justice is rippling across the country. Abortion bans, or “trigger laws,” written to take effect immediately upon the defeat of Roe, are being implemented.
Abortion ban exceptions for victims of rape or incest are being stripped away.
These unprecedented restrictions on what was, until recently, a national, constitutional right came into laser focus when a 10-year-old rape victim traveled from her home in Ohio to Indiana to obtain a medication abortion. The vicious attacks that she and her Indiana-based physician experienced should serve as a warning to all of us on the extremely dangerous era we have entered.
On July 1, the Indianapolis Star published the shocking story about the young rape victim. This was just one week to the day after the Supreme Court had issued its opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, overturning Roe. Hours after the decision, Ohio implemented its six-week abortion ban, which had been blocked since 2019 as unconstitutional. The story described how patients seeking abortion care were flooding into Indiana from neighboring states with severe abortion restrictions, like Kentucky and Ohio.
The article described how Dr. Caitlin Bernard, an obstetrician/gynecologist, had a 10-year-old pregnant rape victim in her care. A child abuse doctor in Ohio contacted Dr. Bernard seeking help because the victim was six weeks and three days pregnant, beyond Ohio’s six-week abortion ban, which has no exceptions for rape or incest.
Right-wing media, pundits and prominent politicians immediately disputed the story.
“Every day that goes by, the more likely that this is a fabrication,” Ohio’s Republican Attorney General Dave Yost said on the Fox News Channel. “Another lie. Anyone surprised?” read the tweet, later deleted, from Ohio Republican Congressman Jim Jordan. (Jordan stands accused of helping cover up the sexual abuse of male athletes by an athletics department physician at Ohio State University when he was a wrestling coach there from 1987 to 1994.)
Fox News host Jesse Watters called the rape story a hoax, then had Indiana’s Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita on his show.
Rokita said, “And then we have this abortion activist acting as a doctor with a history of failing to report. We’re gathering the evidence as we speak, and we’re going to fight this to the end, including looking at her licensure. If she failed to report it in Indiana, it’s a crime for — to not report, to intentionally not report.”
A photo of Dr. Bernard was displayed during the interview. The very next day, authorities in Ohio announced that they had arrested a man who had confessed to raping the 10-year-old at least twice. Public records confirmed that Dr. Bernard had fully complied with all of Indiana’s legal requirements to report the case. Despite the publicly available proof, Rokita said he’s investigating Dr. Bernard for possible crimes relating to her care of the victim.
Dr. Bernard retained a lawyer and filed a complaint against Attorney General Rokita, and is considering a defamation lawsuit. She has long experienced threats from anti-abortion extremists, including a 2020 kidnapping threat against her daughter. These new spurious allegations promoted by Fox News and other outlets have further exposed her to potential harm.
Anti-abortion extremists have murdered at least 11 people since 1993, from physicians, receptionists, clinic escorts and security guards, to others who just happened to be present in a targeted healthcare facility. The National Abortion Federation has compiled comprehensive statistics on the violence that, in addition to those 11 murders, includes 26 attempted murders, bombings, kidnappings, stalking, assault, arson and more.
While Indiana Attorney General Rokita expends the public’s law enforcement resources in his witch hunt against Dr. Caitlin Bernard, an estimated 5,000 rape kits sit untested in Indiana, as documented by the End the Backlog Project. Perhaps Rokita should focus less on defaming doctors and ginning up political prosecutions and instead prioritize getting those rape kits tested, finally.
This latest wave of anti-abortion legislation is ramping up. Laws to prevent people from crossing state lines to seek an abortion, or to prosecute them after obtaining a legal abortion in another state, are being drafted. Other laws under consideration target those who “aid and abet” in an abortion, targeting virtually anyone who interacts with an abortion seeker, from family members to funders to taxi drivers as well as healthcare providers.
Ultimately, the anti-abortion movement seeks a nationwide abortion ban.
Protecting pregnant people seeking abortions and their healthcare providers from anti-abortion extremists, whether they are lurking outside clinics or inside state legislatures, must be a priority for us all. While the overturning of Roe is a defeat — a grave miscarriage of the Justices — it also is a call to action. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/guest_column/in-post-roe-america-a-grave-miscarriage-of-justice-proliferates/article_d1274a52-1fd9-11ed-b8dd-d7ffa243496c.html | 2022-08-20T13:03:58Z |
“It’s a slip, not a fall,” Abraham Lincoln said after his loss in his legendary 1858 Illinois Senate contest against Stephen Douglas.
Liz Cheney apparently has the same attitude after her nearly 40-point wipeout in her primary the other night. In lieu of a traditional concession speech, the Wyoming congresswoman and daughter of the former vice president delivered a picturesque, made-for-TV call to arms invoking Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant.
Cheney had a choice after Jan. 6 between political viability, which would have involved modulating her outrage over Trump’s “Stop the Steal” campaign, or political self-immolation. She chose a spectacular act of immolation — illuminating the night sky like the nuclear reactor at the outset of the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl.”
Hers was an admirable loss. It is rare that any elected official is willing to sacrifice his or her office over a matter of deeply felt principle.
That said, she has undoubtedly cut herself off from the possibility of having a positive influence on the direction of the Republican Party via electoral politics, no matter how much she might want to think of her defeat as 1858 redux.
Lincoln’s run against Douglas for the Senate wasn’t a suicide mission. He came very close to winning and represented a rising political movement. His subsequent bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 1860 was a long shot, but he was a serious figure who had gained a national reputation and was comfortably in the middle of his party’s consensus.
Cheney, a pariah within her own party, is differently situated. Plus, strategically and temperamentally, she is not Lincolnian.
Although he had firm principles, Lincoln was always a political pragmatist and fundamentally a party man willing to maneuver as necessary. Cheney’s post-Jan. 6 approach bears less resemblance to Lincoln’s than to that of William Lloyd Garrison, the uncompromising abolitionist publisher who took unabashedly radical and unpopular positions and expected the world to move toward him.
As it happens, the world did move toward Garrison, but in the meantime, he wasn’t running for office.
There is zero case for Cheney attempting to go from the role of prophet without honor within her party to Republican vote-getter again.
It’s difficult to overstate the magnitude of Cheney’s collapse. She went from winning her primary with 73% of the vote in 2020, to garnering a mere 29% that was heavily dependent on Democratic crossover votes.
Cheney’s alienation from her party is likely to build on itself. Already, she has said that she’d “find it very difficult” to support Gov. Ron DeSantis, the leading Republican alternative to Trump. In so doing, she is identifying herself with a fraction of a fraction of the party that is so small it is all but nonexistent.
Even if Cheney ran in the 2024 primary and got some traction, she’d only be taking voters from some other more viable alternative to Trump.
An independent run wouldn’t make any more sense. Again, if Cheney became a factor, the chances are that she’d be a place for Republicans repulsed by Trump to park their votes rather than go all the way to Biden. Just as with a prospective primary run, she’d be helping Trump at the margins.
Captain Ahab may have made a few mistakes in judgement in his stewardship of the Pequod, but at least he never allowed himself to affirmatively assist his great adversary, the White Whale.
One thing that’s been remarkable about Cheney’s performance the last couple of years is how apparently clear-eyed she’s been about what it means for her future in the House of Representatives, namely that she wouldn’t have one. In contrast, a presidential run of any sort would be giving in to delusion. If Lincoln was dogged, he was never fanciful. Cheney should realize that she’s taken a path that, whatever it’s other advantages, doesn’t end in electoral vindication.
Rich Lowry is a syndicated columnist. Follow him on Twitter @RichLowry. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/guest_column/no-liz-cheney-isnt-abraham-lincoln/article_7b8cb8c4-1fda-11ed-855b-3361217a87e5.html | 2022-08-20T13:04:04Z |
The so-called human condition consists of a range of the characteristics we all share. Life. Birth. Death. Living. Learning. Loving.
Philosophers busy themselves contemplating the human condition. It’s studied in anthropology, history, literature, art, music, theater, psychology and religion. Yet in the volumes they’ve written, there is nothing about the loss of our car keys, a phenomenon fundamental to the human condition.
I stumbled on this critical issue when my wife recently lost our car keys. She drove home from the store, obviously using the car keys. But after she arrived, they disappeared. The search was on. We looked in every nook and cranny. Moved furniture, looked under and inside the refrigerator, interrogated the cats. Nothing.
I went to my Facebook friends for help. I asked them to offer suggestions from their own life experience. What, I asked, was the weirdest place you ever found your lost keys? Wow. In a matter of a couple of days, I heard 157 different stories.
What I learned is that losing your car keys is not just part of the human condition. It is the human condition.
Categorically, most car keys deemed to be lost are lingering in the refrigerator. The very first suggestion was to look there. We did. No keys. Check the ice cube tray, they said. The veggie bins. The freezer.
Clothes hamper? Closet? Garbage? Yuck. We combed through it. Cat’s toy box? Cat’s litter box? One person found hers there.
A lot of folks eventually found their keys in the door where they left them after unlocking it. Many were eventually found in the trunk of the car, and a few were still in the ignition. Lots were found in hidden compartments of purses or in the pockets of a jacket not worn since the keys were lost.
It took one fellow 10 years to find his. Seems they fell into a 20-gallon pot he was planting. A decade later, poof, there they were at the bottom of the planter. Lynn found his in his truck. The door was locked with his keys inside.
A lot of car keys were made up in the bed or left in not-often worn pants. The bottom of couches, under the cushions is a popular place to lose keys. One fellow lost his motorcycle keys on the roof where he inadvertently left them while putting on a new roof.
Kitchen drawers. Washing machines. Mailboxes. Under a newspaper. Becky found hers in the dog food dish. Clarence’s keys were waiting in the freezer with the frozen salmon.
My old musician friend Rick Spencer eventually located his among a dozen picks inside his acoustic guitar. Hey Rick, there are a lot of good, old country songs about lost love and truck driving. You need to write one about lost car keys. Would be a big hit.
One woman told me her keys were lost for a long time after she “flung my keys at my ex. He threw them in the snow. No keys for months.”
Dee suggested I ask the dog, but I only have four cats, and they were napping. A couple of folks blamed their toddlers. There were instances where visiting friends picked up the wrong set of keys as they departed.
Some said they “are still looking” and will let me know what strange place in which they will hopefully eventually be found.
There was advice on praying, and my friend Sally said, “I know this sounds weird, but often works for me. Walk backwards to increase recall. Seems to stimulate going back in time to help recall.” Bingo!
And so, a week after they went missing, Pat remembered she bought a new pillow the day the keys disappeared. There they were, at the bottom of the plastic bag encasing the new pillow.
Social scientists need to know more about the time and energy, heartburn and heartache we spend hunting lost keys instead of working for world peace. This is the most overlooked issue of our time.
Rodger McDaniellives in Laramie and is the pastor at Highlands Presbyterian Church in Cheyenne. Email: rmc81448@gmail.com.
Rodger McDaniel lives in Laramie and is the pastor at Highlands Presbyterian Church in Cheyenne. Email: rmc81448@gmail.com. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/guest_column/the-most-overlooked-issue-of-our-time-finding-lost-keys/article_6a987600-1fd7-11ed-9508-074ebdfd01e7.html | 2022-08-20T13:04:10Z |
Well, the primary election is now finally over, and as usual the results are not surprising, but nonetheless tell a tale.
Statewide Harriet Hagman won with 66.3% of the vote with Liz Cheney trailing by garnering only 28.9%. As expected, Cheney won in only two counties, Teton (rich and famous) and Albany (college town).
Now consider why Albany County voted for Cheney and what effort it took to accomplish this.
When you voted in the primary, you should have noticed that most of the choices were for party members in your district. This is because a primary election is designed to be an election within a party to determine not just who the party will back in the November election, but also party officials in some cases.
Normally, Laramie is considered a Democratic town, but in this election there were more Republicans than Democrats who voted.
Prior to this election, we were bombarded with a program promoting last-minute party affiliation change to Republican to support Cheney. Most of this was openly advertised by social media, emails and most notably Facebook.
I noticed that when I entered the building to vote, I was immediately asked if I wanted to change my party affiliation first. With all the Democrats flocking to support Cheney, it’s no wonder she won Albany County. Cheney easily won in Teton County because of all the elites, millionaires/billionaires and celebrities who live there.
I am thankful that I live in Wyoming where the rich and famous and their followers are outnumbered by everyday people!
What this election has illustrated is how a right designed to promote freedom has been twisted and used by the political left as a tactic to undermine the primary election of an opposing party. This was done in full view of the public!
By the next primary election we need to amend the law about last-minute party affiliation changes if we want true freedom in our voting process. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/letters_to_editor/party-switching-twists-intent-of-honest-voting/article_1d84c2e8-1fdb-11ed-9697-dbd7e5ac112b.html | 2022-08-20T13:04:16Z |
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This teen with an instinct for art is Dalton, 18. He is especially fond of drawing, and his favorite color is black. Dalton also has a vast knowledge of dinosaurs, and can spend an endless amount of time talking about all the facts he knows. Vampires pique his interest, and he thinks it would be rad to turn into a vampire.
Dalton is known for his great manners and forms positive relationships with adults. He can see no other option than becoming a paleontologist when he is older.
Dalton excels in school as an 11th grader. He says that his favorite subjects are math and science.
Dalton would do best in a family with a single mom, two moms, or a mom and a dad, in which he is the youngest child in the home. He has significant connections he will need to maintain following placement. Financial assistance may be available for adoption-related services. Dalton lives in Utah. Child ID: 164252
Child profiles are provided by Raise the Future at www.raisethefuture.org. For more information about waiting children, contact Raise the Future at 800-451-5246.
An approved adoption home study is required to be considered for placement of a child. Children can be placed across state lines, so Wyoming families are encouraged to inquire, regardless of the child’s current state of residence.
For information about becoming an adoptive parent, contact Wyoming Children’s Society at 307-632-7619 or visit www.wyomingcs.org. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/a_child_waits/a-child-waits-8-20-22/article_9ac4aee8-2031-11ed-abf2-b3fafd58ed01.html | 2022-08-20T13:04:28Z |
Hirst Applegate attorneys recognized in U.S. News Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers recently announced that the Cheyenne law firm of Hirst Applegate, LLP received a Tier 1 ranking in the 2023 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers in the following areas: Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Labor and Employment; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants; Trusts and Estates Law; Corporate Law and Education Law.
It got a Tier 2 ranking in Real Estate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law.
John J. Metzke was named the Best Lawyers’ 2023 Cheyenne “Lawyer of the Year” in Trusts and Estates and Corporate Law. He was also recognized for his work in Business Organizations (including LLC’s and Partnerships) and Mergers and Acquisitions Law.
Robert Jarosh was named the Best Lawyers’ 2023 Cheyenne “Lawyer of the Year” in Product Liability Litigation – Defendants and was also recognized in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment, and Education Law.
Richard Mincer was recognized in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Transportation Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Products Liability Litigation – Defendants. Billie Addleman was recognized in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, and Real Estate Law. Kara L. Ellsbury was recognized in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Utilities Law. Khale Lenhart was recognized in the area of Product Liability Litigation – Defendants.
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession.
Cheyenne attorney Robert R. Rose III honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
Robert R. Rose III was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association during its annual convention in June.
Rose was born and raised in Casper, graduating from Natrona County High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, and his J.D. from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Rose has a wealth of experience gained during his years of service as a lawyer, in civil practice, working as a public defender, county attorney and as a criminal defense attorney. He has also served as trial consultant to the Public Defender’s Office and operated his own private consulting business. In addition to his professional practice, Rose was a Laramie County Circuit Court Magistrate.
But Rose’s passion is teaching. He has shared his knowledge with colleagues and students. He taught criminal law and procedure as an adjunct instructor at Laramie County Community College and was also the director of the Western Trial Advocacy Institute at the University of Wyoming College of Law. Rose has supported the annual WTLA Robert R. Rose Jr. Voir Dire Competition by teaching and judging along with coaching teams in preparation for regional competitions.
To fully share his knowledge, experience and expertise, Rose authored the book “Trial Practice Manual for Criminal Defense Lawyers,” published in 2020 by the American Bar Association. He has also written numerous articles for various publications.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a trial lawyer who over the course of a career, in the opinion of peers in the profession, best exemplifies the highest skills and ethical principles of a trial lawyer. These principles include honesty, integrity, and adherence to the rule of law, the Constitution, and promotion of the right to trial by jury.
The award is the highest honor given by WTLA and has been given only 19 times in the 52-year history of the organization.
Milestones
Cheyenne OBGYN recently announced the addition of Dr. Christopher Niehues to their team. Niehues received his bachelor of science in biotechnology from the University of Nebraska and his doctor of osteopathic medicine from Kansas City University of Medicine. He conducted his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at McLaren Macomb Hospital in Michigan. Niehues grew up in Alliance, Nebraska, and met his wife, Cindy, at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, where he was her chemistry tutor. They have lived multiple places during his medical training, and are glad to now make a home in Cheyenne for their four daughters. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/business_briefs/business-briefs-for-8-20-22/article_96637eb4-200a-11ed-82e0-cba6be9ab758.html | 2022-08-20T13:04:34Z |
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
CHEYENNE – Two local churches are working together to set an example for the community that unity is possible.
First United Methodist Church of Cheyenne and Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church will hold a joint “unity service” at 3 p.m. Sunday. It will be hosted at Allen Chapel, 917 W. 21st St.
Speakers at the service will include the Rev. Dr. Sheriolyn Curry, presiding elder for the AME Church’s Rocky Mountain District, and Rt. Rev. Clement W. Fugh, an AME bishop.
The two churches share a regrettable past, according to the Rev. Mark Marston, senior pastor at First United Methodist Church of Cheyenne, and Rev. Dr. Hilton McClendon Sr., a supply pastor at Allen Chapel AME.
Originally called First Methodist Church, it was founded Sept. 29, 1867. Eight years later, a small group of Black congregants split from the church after being subjected to mistreatment and segregation, during what Marston called “the sinful times.”
“When they had communion, people who were African Americans sat at the back of the church, and the communion elements were served to the African Americans last. Sometimes there weren’t even any left. So, that’s what part of this service is about,” Marston, who is white, said in an interview with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. He described those practices as “what we’re trying to overcome.”
In 1878, one of those Black congregants, former slave Lucy Phillips, worked with a Rev. Whitlock and other members of this new congregation to form the Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church. It was the first Black church in what was then the Wyoming territory.
The small frame structure “served as both a forum and a gathering place for the Black community,” a proclamation for the unity service says.
Since the split, the two churches have grown parallel to one another. But Sunday’s service offers a “historic” opportunity for the two congregations.
“We want to show the community that there’s unity within the church,” said McClendon, who is Black. First United Methodist Church of Cheyenne “realize(s) what was happening at that time, the discrimination, the divide that was there. But, as Christians, as believers in the kingdom of God, we are all one, and we want to show that to the community, and the community as a whole we want to see become as one.”
“Worshiping together in unity shows that we’re coming together, and we’re both Methodist,” McClendon continued.
McClendon referred to the anti-bias ordinance passed in March in Cheyenne. The ordinance, which made it a misdemeanor to intimidate or maliciously harass someone as a result of a personal bias, was controversial in the community. Some said publicly that it was in conflict with their religion’s teachings, or that they were concerned the ordinance could be used to punish religious leaders who preach against things like homosexuality.
Such a service, with the goal of bringing together two historically separate groups of people, could be one way to combat “so much anger” being seen across the U.S. today, the pastors said.
“Tragically, the church has been weaponized in some ways, and we want to show that the church is not a weapon,” said Marston. “The Lord intended that the church is a place that is safe, and a place where all people can come and experience the good Lord and be elevated.”
Marston later added that he believes this has happened across history. He gave the example of Christianity having been “weaponized” by the Ku Klux Klan.
“We always run the risk of people having their own demented, immoral values and claiming that it’s actually the values of the church,” Marston said.
McClendon and Marston both said they hope their show of unity will inspire other faith leaders in the city, the state and even the country to hold similar services.
“This is about love. What they did to us, we don’t retaliate. We just show love,” McClendon said. “I think it’s imperative that pastors need to come and get some love water and pour (it) on this fire of hatred that’s out here.”
Hannah Black is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s criminal justice reporter. She can be reached at hblack@wyomingnews.com or 307-633-3128. Follow her on Twitter at @hannahcblack. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/first-united-methodist-ame-churches-to-hold-sunday-unity-service/article_a3c248b4-1ff7-11ed-b5dc-8738c00118bf.html | 2022-08-20T13:04:41Z |
Recently arrested by the Cheyenne Police Department:
Vince R. Trujillo, 60, of Fox Farm Road on a felony warrant through Laramie County District Court for failure to appear at 11:17 p.m. Thursday in the 100 block of West Fourth Street.
Taylor A.E. Flack, 21, of Rainbow Road on a misdemeanor warrant for domestic battery at 6:05 p.m. Thursday at Capitol Avenue and West Lincolnway.
Nicole M. Jenkins, 36, transient, for misdemeanor disturbance of the peace and on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 7:15 a.m. Thursday in the 700 block of East 19th Street; and by the Laramie County Sheriff's Office on a felony warrant through Laramie County District Court for failure to appear at 12:25 p.m. Thursday at the Laramie County jail, 1910 Pioneer Ave.
Darren K. Medley, 35, transient, on a felony warrant through Laramie County District Court for failure to appear at 6:23 a.m. Thursday in the 1100 block of West Lincolnway.
Nicole L. Wurtz, 37, of 17th Street for misdemeanor riding a bicycle at night without lights, refusing to obey, failure to ride a bicycle on the right side of the road and possession/use of amphetamine-type drugs, and on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to comply at 1:45 a.m. Thursday at East Fourth Street and Seymour Avenue.
Jack L. Gregg, 71, of Alyssa Way for misdemeanor domestic battery at 12:30 a.m. Thursday in the 200 block of East 23rd Street.
Blake W. Medina, 31, of Dorsey Road on a misdemeanor warrant for probation violation at 12:01 a.m. Thursday in the 1900 block of East Lincolnway.
Fredrick J. Cisneros, 39, of Evans Avenue for misdemeanor public intoxication at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the 200 block of East 23rd Street.
Guillermo Diaz-Quintor Jr., 21, of South Greeley Highway on a felony warrant through Laramie County District Court for probation violation and a misdemeanor warrant for domestic battery (fewer than five years since last conviction) at 8:40 a.m. Wednesday in the 500 block of Patton Avenue.
Vincent L. Munoz, 61, of Hellwig Road for misdemeanor public intoxication, being violent/tumultuous to property and disturbing the peace/property at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in the 2400 block of Reed Avenue.
Dominique M. Thomas, 35, transient, for misdemeanor shoplifting (under $100), resisting arrest and refusing to obey at 1:26 p.m. Tuesday in the 900 block of Central Avenue.
Cody A. Garcia, 29, transient, for misdemeanor refusing to obey at 9:28 a.m. Tuesday in the 300 block of Central Avenue.
Paula L. Mascarenas Cruz, 45, of East Fourth Street on a misdemeanor warrant for probation violation at 8:20 a.m. Tuesday at West 19th Street and Missile Drive.
Patricio L. Soriano, 40, of Broken Wheel Court on a misdemeanor warrant for probation violation at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday at his residence.
Maurice A. Bell, 38, transient, for misdemeanor domestic battery at 1:33 a.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of Storey Boulevard.
Cody S. Sandoval, 36, of Polk Avenue for misdemeanor noise disturbance (first offense), refusing to obey, interfering/obstructing and resisting arrest at 10:10 p.m. Monday at his residence.
Kaycee L. Yetter, 33, of Polk Avenue for two misdemeanor counts of interfering/obstructing, resisting arrest, refusing to obey and refusing to provide ID to police officer at 9:39 p.m. Monday at her residence.
Randall Petermann, 41, of Columbus, Nebraska, for misdemeanor being under the influence of a controlled substance at 8:05 p.m. Monday in the 1100 block of West Lincolnway.
Jennifer M. Reed, 41, of East 10th Street on a misdemeanor warrant out of Platte County for bond violation at 5:20 p.m. Monday in the 200 block of Medicine Bow Avenue.
Valente P. Lopez, 40, of East 10th Street on a misdemeanor warrant out of Platte County for bond violation at 5:20 p.m. Monday in the 200 block of Medicine Bow Avenue.
James M. Latham, 46, of Russell Avenue for misdemeanor giving a false identity, on two misdemeanor warrants through Laramie County District Court for civil violations and misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear and bond revocation at 3 p.m. Monday at East 28th Street and Van Lennen Avenue.
Jeffrey K. Burt, 37, of Borough Street for misdemeanor refusing to obey, giving a false identity and public intoxication at 1:35 p.m. Monday at Serenade Drive and Sonata Lane.
Jesse J. Coolbaugh, 30, of East Lincolnway for felony sale/delivery of a counterfeit substance and misdemeanor possession of marijuana, and on a misdemeanor probation/parole violator arrest without a warrant at 9:45 a.m. Monday in the 2000 block of East Lincolnway.
Crystyl F. Parker, 44, of Kornegay Court on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 8:55 a.m. Monday at the Laramie County jail.
Jarod J. Munoz, 26, of East 10th Street for misdemeanor protection order violation at 1:31 a.m. Monday at West Leisher Road and South Snyder Avenue.
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Recently arrested by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office:
Benjamin M. Ketcham, 33, transient, for felony attempted larceny and misdemeanor property destruction (less than $1,000) at 5:10 p.m. Thursday at the Laramie County jail; and on a felony warrant through Laramie County District Court for failure to appear and a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 9:17 a.m. Thursday in the 800 block of East Fox Farm Road.
Robert J. Shelton, 48, of Albin Lane on a felony warrant through Laramie County District Court for failure to comply at 1:56 p.m. Thursday at the Laramie County jail.
Hunter G. Munson, 18, of 21st Street for felony attempted larceny, felony possession of burglary tools and misdemeanor property destruction (less than $1,000) at 10:50 a.m. Thursday in the 600 block of East Jefferson Road.
Danny Gutierrez Sr., 58, of East Prosser Road on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 8:48 p.m. Wednesday in the 500 block of Avenue C.
Bryan O. Cunningham, 30, of Kornegay Court on two misdemeanor warrants for protection order violation at 6:19 p.m. Wednesday in the 200 block of West College Drive.
Trey A. Stetter, 21, of Saykally Road for misdemeanor driving under the influence (alcohol) at 3:17 a.m. Wednesday at Parsley Boulevard and West College Drive.
Austin B. Davisson, 24, of South Fork Road for misdemeanor domestic battery at 5:08 p.m. Tuesday at his residence.
Jeremy L. Knowlton, 41, of Julianna Road on a misdemeanor warrant for protection order violation at 5:25 a.m. Tuesday at Pine Avenue and West College Drive.
Guadalupe J. Montoya Jr., 29, of West College Drive for misdemeanor domestic battery at 10:40 p.m. Monday at his residence.
Benjamin A. Jeffries, 62, of Victoria Road on a felony warrant through Laramie County District Court for failure to appear at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the Laramie County jail.
Zackary K. Kelly, 40, of Thornton, Colorado, on a felony warrant out of Adams County, Colorado, for failure to pay at 9:42 a.m. Monday at the Laramie County jail.
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Recently arrested by the Wyoming Highway Patrol:
Kayla Mayo, 29, of Oxford Drive on a felony warrant for probation violation at 3 p.m. Wednesday at her residence. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/police_blotter/police-blotter-8-20-22/article_46b367d0-1fe7-11ed-9027-67b0367ec3a9.html | 2022-08-20T13:04:47Z |
Do you agree with the CDC's decision to drop the recommendation that people quarantine themselves if they come in close contact with someone infected with COVID-19?
77 – Yes
44 – No
Total: 121 (As of 12 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19)
This week’s question: Based on the results of Tuesday's primary election, are you more or less confident in the Wyoming Legislature's ability to solve issues important to the state's future?
Facebook comments on a story about the Wyoming Education Association suing the state for failing to adequately fund K-12 education:
"The solution starts by allowing the money per student to follow the student. Let parents decide which schools are best for their children." – Jason Powell
"FINALLY!!!" – Ronda McCabe-Lovett
"When districts have had to cut elementary athletics and extracurricular pay, along with not being able to buy classroom materials, there is reason to file suit." – Otty Roney Farris
"When the results match up with the spending, then maybe you will convince me there needs to be money added to the schools budgets." – Robert McDonald
"Educational choice is the answer. Of course, the leftist teachers union will fight it because they will lose control of the system." – Jim Burrill
"You cannot spend $ you don’t have. If coal/oil/gas revenues have decreased as much as I’ve heard they have, the $ is not there, and taxpayers will be tapped to make up the difference." – Lynette Bogacz DiefenderfeR | https://www.wyomingnews.com/online-reader-poll-box-8-20-22/article_47283d62-1fe7-11ed-94c6-3b31542c8328.html | 2022-08-20T13:04:53Z |
This is truly the most wonderful time of the year – it’s my favorite time, in fact. Our students and staff are gearing up to return to school, and we are working hard to prepare.
Back-to-school shopping began in earnest this month, and many organizations in the community have held school-supply drives and distribution events. We appreciate the effort, time and dedication of so many people in our Cheyenne community, and are very appreciative of their focus on our youth.
Summer gives us all a time to regroup and look to the future. We also spend that time focusing on students who need extra support or are working to get ahead through summer school. This year, approximately 1,700 students took advantage of the opportunity to hone their skills so they can hit the ground running on the first day of school. We appreciate the students, families, teachers, nutrition services staff, bus drivers and administrators for participating with this important program.
Additionally, it is important to thank our grounds and support operations staff, who have worked hard over the last few months dealing with supply-chain challenges and workforce shortages. As an example, I would like to give a shout-out to our grounds crew. During a typical summer, we hire 22 workers to help maintain our 39 buildings with trimming and mowing. This year, due to a lack of applicants, we were only able to hire a team of four. Our two irrigation technicians cover approximately 6,000 irrigation zones throughout the district. Even though they were small in numbers, this team did a great job of keeping our facilities looking amazing.
And last, but certainly not least, many district employees have spent countless hours this summer testing, training and preparing for our new financial system, which, when fully implemented, will help us automate many processes.
Much like other professionals, our staff members are always learning, and they are constantly seeking opportunities to enhance their skills for our students. On Aug. 1, all of our administrators and supervisors began the school year with a variety of trainings to help prepare them for the coming year.
Support staff received a day-long training dedicated to new systems and communication methods. We spent three days with our new teachers, giving them the support they need to make this school year successful. Finally, for the first time, all teachers and district leaders will come together on Monday, Aug. 22 under one roof at the Cheyenne Civic Center for a district event to kick off the school year. This will be followed by breakout sessions at a variety of locations.
Through investing in our staff, we are also working to move the dial on our strategic plan themes, which include Student Readiness, Community Engagement and Healthy Environment.
In the midst of this incredible work, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the national teacher shortage, which is impacting our schools. With that in mind, we are also in need of substitute teachers. If you or someone you know has an interest in this noble profession, please reach out to our human resources department to apply.
The reality is that with any supply shortage, we must be able to provide competitive salaries at all levels. In a recent study, we found that some of our positions are up to 17% below market value. This includes positions throughout the system. In recent years, the continued lack of increase to our funding model has negatively impacted the number of available candidates throughout the state. Districts like LCSD1 are doing all we can to support our current employees and attract future quality candidates. We have provided retention funding and are looking to the future by partnering with the Wyoming Department of Education and University of Wyoming to provide apprenticeship opportunities.
Despite the challenges, we are using all of our resources to ensure our students continue to have amazing teachers in the classroom every day. I am excited and honored for the opportunity to serve as your superintendent of schools, and look forward to working you this school year.
Margaret Crespo is superintendent of schools for Laramie County School District 1, which is the largest school district in the state.
Margaret Crespo is superintendent of schools for Laramie County School District 1, which is the largest school district in the state. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/guest_column/crespo-summer-work-helps-lcsd1-prepare-for-new-school-year/article_23dabbc2-1f7f-11ed-b85e-0f20d05dc45e.html | 2022-08-20T13:04:59Z |
Settling into seat 8F, I pulled my jacket off and tucked it into my carry-on bag. I would not be needing that in Phoenix. I looked forward to the sunshine and warmth ahead. In went the jacket. Out came my reading glasses, iPad, magazine and headphones. Headphones! Where are my headphones?
I always travel with them. They are the noise canceling kind that block the roar of the plane engines, the voices of the passengers visiting, the cries of babies in the back and the intercom messages from the cockpit. I block these so that I can enjoy the time to read, sleep or meditate in the headphone-secluded space of rain falling, ocean waves or the tweeting of birds; whichever seems to be my pleasure of the moment.
With a sigh, I felt the aggression of the engines lift the plane into the sky as 9F began to explain to 9E, in his best not-so-quiet voice, why he sold his home in New Jersey and moved to Phoenix.
I realized that for this hour and 45-minute flight, my headphones were happily next to my meditation chair at home. Hummppfff!
After reading an article or two in a magazine, I laid it to the side, closed my eyes and began breathing. With the deep in and out rhythm, my body sensed this as the call to meditate. To enjoy calm. To go within to the space of quiet where the outer world drops away. Where the deepest thoughts of my soul mix with the messages from the energy both in and out of my body.
I guard this time of meditation as a mother guards her child. This is more than just a happy place. This is my sacred time. My daily ritual of flowing into calm serenity to a place which is more than one foot here and one foot there, but more like all there. All-in, as they say in poker, to an out-of-this-body and fully in-peace space.
The engine’s roar became a soothing hum that muffled the voice of 9F. The ping of the pilot’s bell seemed to whisper the message of safety that floated by my thoughts of awareness without stopping to take residency in my space of peace. I was there! Not here, not asleep … but there.
Almost an hour passed when my breathing returned to the shallow breath of normality. My eyes fluttered open as my senses returned to the awareness of my surroundings. The engines below my seat continued to spin as the mechanical dropping of the landing gear engaged.
”And in Phoenix the homes were a STEAL when I bought it, so from what I cleared on my Jersey home, I paid cash for the new one.”
Seat 9F had not stopped the elaboration of his happy relocation to Phoenix.
I realized that I had successfully enjoyed the flight. I enjoyed a time of meditation, and, for a brief period, blocked the outside forces of noise, chaos and distractions. I smiled at the reminder that calm serenity can be accomplished any place. Any time. The noise of the outside doesn’t have to detract from this.
The outer world we cannot control. It is the quiet within that we search for. It is the quiet within we can find ... even without headphones.
Pennie’s Life Lesson: Searching for tranquility does not require a vacuum of silence. Real peace is found within – even during the distraction of life.
Pennie Hunt is a Cheyenne-based author, blogger and speaker who teaches how to “Love Your Life ... NO MATTER WHAT!” Visit her online at www.PennieHunt.com. Email: penniehunt@gmail.com.
Pennie Hunt is a Cheyenne-based author, blogger and speaker who teaches how to “Love Your Life ... NO MATTER WHAT!” Visit her online at www.PennieHunt.com. Email: penniehunt@gmail.com. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/guest_column/hunt-find-the-quiet-within/article_aacb06be-1f84-11ed-a964-db629d546ed4.html | 2022-08-20T13:05:05Z |
This past weekend was one of the most monumental weekends of my life! Judy and I are so happy to announce that we became first-time grandparents last Saturday.
Our son Jac and his wife Whitney had an 8-pound, 8-ounce baby boy named Chels Leo Collins. He is healthy in all aspects, despite the need for oxygen to help his lungs develop. This is such an exciting time for our family, and especially for Jac and Whitney. We now have four generations of Collins men alive, to share their stories and experiences, within our family. Mom and dad are both doing well, except for a bit of sleep deprivation; I remember those days!
Sam Galeotos is a local businessman and someone I look forward to meeting with. I appreciate his wise counsel and advice on issues and politics. We met this week to discuss growth in the county and city and the need for more housing for our residents. What I really appreciate is the fact that we can disagree on certain issues, but always have a great conversation and walk away looking forward to seeing each other the next time. He and Stacy are making great investments in our city, and I appreciate their vision and passion for the state of Wyoming.
I love golf!! Since becoming mayor, I don’t get on the links as much as I used to, but last Saturday was the city employees golf tournament, held at the Airport Golf Course.
First, I would like to compliment our crew at the golf course. It was in great condition, and very fun to play on. Our Airport Golf Course sees 70,000 rounds a year, and it amazes me that it can be in such great condition with that level of play. Second, it was a blast to get out with the guys and play golf. I was a bit rusty, but made up for it with my enthusiasm. Tony, Ronn and Tom, thanks for making my Saturday so much fun. We did finish in the middle of the pack at 8 under par.
I believe we can accomplish so much more when we work together. With that in mind, our relationship with the city of Casper has been fun and so beneficial. I spoke with Carter Napier, the city manager, again this week to discuss the interim topics before the Legislature this summer. We have affordable housing and liquor licenses coming to the Corporations Committee next week, and we had time to discuss what has been proposed and what more we would like to see that would make our cities better. We also talked about water, and how essential it is in our ability to grow and prosper in the future. I look forward to my trip to Casper next week, and spending time with the legislators and Carter.
Tuesday was going to be another morning of golf with the annual LEADS golf tournament. Unfortunately, a kidney stone had another idea. I feel bad for letting my team down, but some things just can’t be overcome.
More lightly, I met with a gentleman who has several hotels in Cheyenne. It was very interesting to learn about this industry and how decisions are made to build new projects. You may have seen the concrete poured next to the old Hitching Post location. I learned it will become a new Hampton Inn, and the owners are waiting for the cost to build to come down before completing the project. Laramie County is the third highest in the state for overnight hotel stays. With more hotels, we can become number two and then compete with Teton County for the top spot. Boy, do I love competition.
Bryan and Sara Pedersen hosted a reception in their front yard to thank folks who have been instrumental in helping the United Way. Their family is taking on the campaign this year, and I am so proud of the way they have gotten started. Mad Flavors food truck made us dinner, and it was some of the best tacos I have ever eaten. 2 Legs Brewery provided the adult beverages, and, take my advice, you have to try the Dad Bod; it was amazing.
At this month’s LEADS board meeting, we had a site selector whose job is to help companies find locations for their businesses. I was pleased to learn how he felt Cheyenne is in a great position to capture future growth and new businesses. According to his findings, two interstates, rail and being at the north end of the Front Range all should help LEADS become more successful. Another item he brought up was being a red state, which helps companies feel comfortable with future taxes and predictability. LEADS has 36 prospects they are currently working with, and our future looks very strong indeed.
Chris Navarro is a noted Wyoming artist. I think I shared his vision to convert retired blades from wind turbines into large pieces of art. When I first saw his proposals, I immediately thought of LCCC, due to their wind turbine program. Chris and I met with the Board of Trustees to show them the vision and ask for their consideration to place a piece on the campus. I liked their enthusiasm, and have hopes we will soon have one of his magnificent pieces in our beautiful city.
Rod and Deb Hottle came to Cheyenne many years ago with the Air Force. He retired as a colonel, and they decided to make Cheyenne their home. He became the general chairman of Frontier Days and spent the last 19 years working for the United Way. They got a call from their daughter and grandchildren about coming east and moving closer to them. We said goodbye to this amazing couple this week, said thank you for all they have done for our community, and wished them happiness with their move. Thanks for everything, you guys!
When I think of gold mines, I think back to 100 years ago, when the gold rush took a sweep across our nation. It looks like we may have a gold rush in Laramie County soon. It seems there are gold reserves between Cheyenne and Laramie, and a company is working hard to permit a mine to extract the minerals. The impact on the state, county and city will be impressive. It may be premature, but it is very exciting.
We all know that housing and the lack thereof is a problem across our state and nation. We held a Housing Trust Fund Summit this week to discuss best practices and ways we can advocate for housing to our legislature. I was impressed with the local nonprofits that testified about their organizations and the things we can do to help them make more of a difference. The afternoon was spent learning about how other states have developed housing trust funds, and the impact these funds have made on affordable and available housing. The Legislature is studying this issue over the summer, and it is my hope we can find some common ground.
Chief Kopper stopped by to discuss issues at the fire department. We discussed a proposed change of schedule for our firefighters, challenges found in the contract regarding the change, and an update concerning the new fire stations. We have three new firefighters headed to the academy very soon. It is surprising how quickly a 25-year career passes.
Eric Fountain runs our compliance department. He has a very eclectic grouping of operations, and I appreciate how he keeps things moving in a positive direction. Our nuisance department has a number of abandoned cars and homes that we need to take care. They have perfected the process, and now is the time to clean up the neighborhoods. We also discussed the large number of accidents we recently had, and how it could affect our insurance rates. There’s just so much to do.
The last meeting of the week was with the owners of the Sweetgrass subdivision. They recently completed the clubhouse and have learned our liquor license issues will prevent their vendor from opening a business in Cheyenne. I shared the city’s efforts to procure more licenses at the legislature level, and how I look forward to receiving help to reform our liquor laws.
In closing, I really hope our grandson will come home this weekend so we can meet him finally. Have a great weekend.
If you have a question for me, please send it to media@cheyennecity.org. I’ll continue to answer them in the following Mayor’s Minute column. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/guest_column/mayor-s-minute-grandpa-collins-has-another-busy-week-as-mayor/article_6c889362-1f89-11ed-8fcd-6f724fcc0f95.html | 2022-08-20T13:05:12Z |
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