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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.
Free walking tour “Second Story Secrets: Laramie’s Brothels”: 5:30 p.m., meet at the Wyoming Women’s History House, 317 S. 2nd St. Bring masks; some stair climbing required and recommended for ages 18 and older.
SATURDAY
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.
SUNDAY
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.
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.
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.”
TUESDAY
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. 2
Spaghetti fundraiser dinner: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Elks Lodge, 103 S. 2nd St. Cost is $15 for a spaghetti dinner with meatballs and sausage. Limited quantities, so please call for a reservation, 307-742-2024.
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.
Veterans service office hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Veterans Service Center at the UW Student Union, 1000 E. University Ave.
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.
Tailgate party for Wesley Foundation’s 100th anniversary: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., United Methodist Church parking lot, 1215 Gibbon St. The student ministry is marking 100 years at the University of Wyoming and First United Methodist. Free lunch picnic.
Summer Market Day at the fairgrounds: 3-6 p.m., beef barn.
Sept. 11
Special worship service for Wesley Foundation: 10 a.m., First United Methodist Church, 1215 Gibbon St., followed by a potluck. Special guest Bishop Karen Olivetto will attend and preach. All are invited to reminisce with former Wesley Foundation members and meet the recent generation of the organization.
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
Walk to End Alzheimer’s: 9 a.m., Optimist Park, with music and food following the walk.
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.
Veterans service office hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Veterans Service Center at the UW Student Union, 1000 E. University Ave.
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-24-2022/article_4db8fdc8-22ef-11ed-9ad6-4711cd3e08d5.html | 2022-08-24T12:58:36Z |
CASPER — When government-ordered eviction bans put in place during the coronavirus pandemic were lifted, housing advocates in Polk County, Iowa, feared a crisis was on the horizon.
In summer 2021, the county — which includes Des Moines — was staring down a backlog of eviction filings. People could apply for rental assistance from the federal government, but in Iowa, much like Wyoming, it wasn’t getting to them fast enough.
So the county’s board of supervisors gave its local housing trust fund roughly $1.3 million “to actually sit down at Polk County eviction court and write checks to landlords in return for dismissal of eviction cases,” said Eric Burmeister, the fund’s executive director.
The organization got another $700,000 of support from local businesses and private donors for the effort.
By the time federal rental assistance started flowing to Polk County residents, the housing trust fund had already prevented almost 1,000 evictions, Burmeister said.
Housing trust funds are, in short, dedicated pools of money for addressing community housing needs. They can pay for anything from affordable housing developments, to home restoration projects, to rental assistance and homelessness programs.
Iowa has 27 local housing trust funds, including Polk County’s. Wyoming, by comparison, has just one, located in Jackson Hole. Why does Iowa have so many, and Wyoming, so few?
Iowa has a state housing trust fund program. Wyoming is one of just three states that doesn’t.
As Wyoming grapples with housing shortages and rising prices, some advocates are looking to Iowa’s housing trust fund program for inspiration.
Dan Dorsch, special projects coordinator for Habitat of Humanity of Laramie County, sees the program as a potential model for Wyoming because the majority of its money goes to local-level funds.
“Those communities get to decide where that funding goes for their own unique situations that they’re facing,” he told the Star-Tribune in June.
Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County and housing organization My Front Door on Thursday hosted a conference on housing trust funds in Cheyenne.
At that meeting, Burmeister and Terri Rosonke, housing programs manager for the Iowa Finance Authority, explained how Iowa’s housing trust program works on the state and local levels.
Iowa’s state’s legislature created the program in 2003. Today, it gets $3 million from a state infrastructure fund and up to $7 million from real estate transfer taxes annually, Rosonke said.
About 97% of that money goes directly to Iowa’s 27 local housing trust funds. (The other 3% goes toward housing projects that don’t qualify for housing trust fund money.)
The funding’s often used to rehabilitate existing homes, Rosonke said, given how expensive it is to build entirely new housing.
In addition to preventing evictions, Polk County’s housing trust fund in 2021 spent $1.6 million to improve over 300 affordable homes and to build 22 new homes and 94 new rentals, Burmeister said.
One of the main appeals of the funds is their flexibility; the money can be used to address a variety of housing issues.
Still, Iowa has guidelines to make sure it’s going to the right place, Rosonke said.
The funding has to be used to benefit people earning less than or equal to 80% of the area median income. Of that, roughly a third has to go to people making less than or equal to 30% of the area median income, she said.
Iowa’s local housing trust funds also must match the amount they’re getting from the state by at least 25%. The majority of that usually comes from municipal and county governments, with help from local businesses and private donors.
“It’s almost impossible to really make this work without strong local government involvement,” Burmeister said.
The 25% match requirement is getting harder and harder to meet, Rosonke said. For one, the state recently started giving its housing trust fund program a lot more money. That means its 27 local funds are eligible for more funding, but now face a higher barrier for accessing it.
There’s also the fact that housing trust funds are competing with other local causes for donations.
The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic has, understandably, made that more difficult; there’s just more need right now, Rosonke said.
Iowa has temporarily loosened its 25% matching requirement to give local housing trust funds a bit of a break.
If Wyoming wanted to create a housing trust fund program like Iowa’s, it’s unclear what organization would oversee it. In recent years, federal and state housing programs have been led by the Wyoming Department of Family Services or the Wyoming Community Development Authority, a nonprofit that gives low-interest loans to people looking to buy their first homes.
Communities would then have to start their own local-level housing trust funds and nail down reliable sources of local funding before they could apply for money from the state.
In Iowa, that took a lot of time and effort.
“Maybe two or three years ago, we finally reached the point where the entire state was served by a local housing trust fund,” Rosonke said.
During the first few years of its program, Iowa State University provided technical support for the funds as they got off the ground.
There’s also the question of funding. A lot of housing trust fund programs around the country are paid for with things like document filing fees and sales taxes. Most of Iowa’s program is funded by real estate transfer taxes.
At the moment, Wyoming doesn’t tax real estate sales. Teton County lawmakers have been pushing to change that for years. They want Wyoming, like Iowa, to be able to tax real estate transfers to support affordable housing programs and other initiatives.
But that idea hasn’t been popular in Wyoming’s tax-averse statehouse.
To get around that, Teton County lawmakers have floated legislation that would create a real estate transfer tax that’s county-optional.
That way, each county could opt in or out of the program. They’d also be able to decide for themselves what they do with the money made from the tax.
The latest iteration of the bill, which was sponsored by the Joint Revenue Committee, failed its introductory vote on the House floor in February.
Still, it was the first time the bill had received a committee’s backing.
Whether or not Cheyenne would support a housing trust fund program is unknown.
But Wyoming is starting to get desperate for housing solutions, and lawmakers are taking note — the Legislature held its first-ever committee meeting on workforce housing issues in June.
The Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee is expected to continue that conversation during meetings in Casper on Thursday and Friday. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/advocates-say-trust-fund-could-address-housing-needs/article_a3d6f08c-22fb-11ed-a395-4fe47aab7d69.html | 2022-08-24T12:58:43Z |
Bondurant citizens’ legal case against Sublette County commissioners and billionaire Joe Ricketts’ Jackson Fork Ranch will no longer be heard in Teton County.
Instead, 9th District Court Judge Melissa Owens, who presides over the Teton County court, assigned the case to Judge Steven K. Sharpe of the First Judicial District in Laramie County.
Owens’ judicial assistant said her boss had a “conflict of interest.”
A Sublette County judge had already reassigned the civil complaint from his courtroom to Owens’.
The legal battle is the latest installment in a years-long fight over the future of the agricultural, northern corner of Sublette County. On one side is Ricketts, who founded TD Ameritrade and once made an 11th hour donation to clinch an $8.75 million buyout of 58,000 acres of natural gas leases to prevent drilling in the Hoback River basin.
On the other: Bondurant dwellers who feel Ricketts’ conservation ethic has gone astray and don’t want to see their town undergo resort-driven development like Jackson Hole.
Dan Bailey and six other Bondurant residents asked the court in January to review and “vacate” the Sublette County Board of County Commissioners’ 3-2 decision to approve a rezone that paves the way for a new 15- to 20-unit resort along Upper Hoback River Road.
While Owens declined to elaborate on the nature of her conflict, attorneys representing the petitioners and respondents in the case said they’d heard from the court that Owens had identified a “familial connection” between herself and one of the petitioners.
Both Kevin Gregory, an attorney representing Dan Bailey and the other Bondurant residents, and Matthew Kim-Miller, an attorney representing Sublette County, said that neither the petitioners nor respondents asked for the case to be moved to another court. Instead, they said, Owens made the decision.
Matthew Turner, an attorney representing the Jackson Fork Ranch, could not be reached by press time Friday.
“No party had any concern, no party raised the issues,” Gregory told the Jackson Hole Daily. “But these judges always try to maintain the utmost fairness and impartiality and to make sure that the appearance of fairness and impartiality is maintained.”
Attorney Kim-Miller added: “She thought it would be best to have everything be fair and impartial.”
Oral arguments in the pending legal battle were originally slated to be heard Aug. 25 in Owens’ Jackson courtroom. But Owens’ decision to assign the case elsewhere has put that hearing on hold. As of press time Sunday, Gregory and Kim-Miller both said they had not heard when the hearing would be scheduled in Laramie County. They also didn’t know whether the hearing would be held in person or virtually, or if there would be an option for the public to listen in virtually.
At issue is the Sublette County commissioners’ December 2021 vote to rezone 56 of the roughly 1,300 acres Ricketts owns in Bondurant for the resort. In addition to founding TD Ameritrade, Ricketts owns the Chicago Cubs.
The seven petitioners — Dan Bailey, Delores Kominsky, Mary Krall, Richard Pearson, Steve Robertson, Dennis Seipp and Marti Seipp — fought Ricketts’ plans, which were reviewed by Sublette County commissioners twice. They were joined by scores of other Hoback Basin residents in opposition.
Sublette County elected officials, however, voted 3-2 to approve Ricketts’ plans when they were last heard in December 2021.
Gregory and attorney James Lubing are representing Bailey and the other petitioners. In their appeal for review of the Sublette County commissioners’ decision, they argued the commissioners who voted for the rezone failed to explain how the project fit the Sublette County Comprehensive Plan’s 10 goals.
The petitioners also asked for a review of the decision under the Wyoming Administrative Procedures Act, according to the Sublette Examiner.
But the attorneys representing Sublette County and Ricketts said the 3-2 vote was a “legislative act” and complied with “the requirements of the commissioners’ procedures.” Kim-Miller and Paula Fleck of Holland & Hart, representing Sublette County, said the three commissioners’ votes complied with the county’s comprehensive plan and argued that the citizens challenging the decision had not shown how they had standing to do so.
Matthew Turner and John Graham of Geittmann Larson Swift LLP, representing Ricketts’ Jackson Fork Ranch, said the county is not required to make “findings” about how a rezone complies with the comprehensive plan’s goals.
Law offices representing the petitioners and respondents are all Jackson-based. Sublette County Attorney Mike Crosson recused his office from representing the Sublette County commissioners, describing votes from the Sublette County Planning and Zoning Board and elected Sublette County commissioners as “inconsistent,” according to the Examiner. The Planning and Zoning Board voted 3-2 to recommend the county commission deny Ricketts’ proposed rezone.
Owens’ decision to assign the case elsewhere comes after petitioners and respondents had all filed legal briefs.
The Jackson judge had asked the citizens fighting the Sublette commissioners’ votes to explain why they had standing to do so and asked attorneys for both sides to show in oral arguments where the commissioners considered the 10 factors outlined in the Sublette County Comprehensive Plan — or failed to.
How Judge Sharpe will structure the hearing in Laramie County remains to be seen. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/jackson-judges-conflict-of-interest-moves-ricketts-case-out-of-teton-court/article_14c4c62a-22fc-11ed-86a9-f7b553618e06.html | 2022-08-24T12:58:49Z |
CASPER — A week after one of the most discussed elections in Wyoming’s history, a panel of lawmakers will consider changes to the state’s voting system.
The Legislature’s Joint Corporations Committee will discuss a ranked-choice voting system and whether to implement special elections if one of the state’s top elected officials departs.
The committee will also consider two other important issues in Wyoming: housing and liquor licenses. The meeting, which is open to the public and will be streamed online, will take place in Casper on Thursday and Friday.
As has become the norm over the last couple of years, the corporations committee will consider election reform legislation. That includes implementing a ranked-choice voting system similar to the one used last week in Alaska’s primary.
Ranked-choice usually work like this: The number of votes a candidate gets are determined by how many residents rank the candidate in the top spot. If no one candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, it will trigger the lowest vote-getter to be cut.
Then, on every ballot that had the lowest vote getter ranked first, the No. 2 candidate will move into the No. 1 spot and earns more votes. This process continues until one candidate achieves a majority.
As the bill is currently written, it would permit voters to rank any candidate “without regard to political party affiliation.”
In other words, a voter could rank a Republican first and a Democrat second and not be bound by party.
But the current bill draft will likely be workshopped extensively, said Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, and Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne.
For example, it’s possible that a ranked-choice system could exist within partisan primaries, so voters would only be able to rank Democrats or Republicans depending on their registration.
Ranked-choice opponents often point to the recent New York City mayoral race as an example of why Wyoming should not implement it — getting the results took days as opposed to hours.
“I think [favorability for] ranked choice has dimmed a little bit,” Case said.
The committee will also be reviewing a bill that would trigger a special election if there’s a vacancy in some of the state’s elected offices.
As it stands, the state Republican or Democratic central committee (depending on the politician being replaced) is responsible for nominating three candidates. The governor then picks one of those three.
Case suspects the state GOP will lobby against this bill.
“They’ll come down with steel-toed boots,” he said.
In recent years, the state party and a large portion of its central committee has become increasingly hard-line and MAGA-minded, putting the group at odds with more traditional, big tent Republicans.
The central committee passed over Megan Degenfelder when choosing nominees for schools superintendent earlier this year, although she had administrative experience in the Wyoming Department of Education.
Instead, the group nominated three far-right candidates, including the eventual appointee, Brian Schroeder. Voters, however, picked Degenfelder in last week’s primary.
Sen. John Barrasso, who has since been reelected, also first assumed office through the nomination process.
As Wyoming grapples with housing shortages and rising prices, the committee will begin to look at remedies. The committee does not have any bill drafts slated on housing, but the group will review some memos from the Legislative Service Office, including one on housing trust funds.
Housing trust funds are earmarked pools of money for addressing community housing needs, which could include anything from affordable housing developments to home restoration projects.
Wyoming only has one trust fund — located in Jackson. It is one of three states that does not have a state run trust fund.
Zwonitzer said that the committee will mainly be asking questions about housing and listening to stakeholders.
“What is the government’s role? Can we be doing anything and should we be doing anything?” Zwonitzer asked. “A lot of people want action on cheap housing and affordable housing.”
The Legislative Service Office, however, wrote that there may be some constitutional barriers to implementing a state funded housing trust. The Wyoming Constitution currently has “prohibitions against the State or its political subdivisions loaning or giving credit or making donations to people or entities in certain situations, as well as a prohibition against legislative appropriations for charitable or industrial purposes unless the recipient is under the control of the State,” the LSO wrote.
Constitutional amendments are notoriously hard to pass in Wyoming.
“I’m always skeptical of the government getting involved in markets that by and large work pretty darn well,” said Case, who’s a libertarian-leaning Republican and an economist.
The committee will tackle the liquor license landscape in Wyoming this week as well. The focus of the liquor license discussion will likely center around “tavern and entertainment liquor licenses.”
As it stands, venues that serve food and liquor must make at least 60% of the revenue off of food to satisfy the requirements of the liquor license.
The proposed bill would allow venues that don’t serve food — like arcades, for one — to serve alcohol while still collecting 60% of their revenue from the “entertainment” and no more than 40% from alcohol.
“Whether that 40% is the right number, I’m not sure,” Zwonitzer said.
Zwonitzer said he has concerns — and believes others do as well— over how broad the term “entertainment” could be construed. He expects the committee to try to define it in statute.
One of the main pushes behind this bill was the advent of indoor sport simulation venues, like the SandTrap in Casper, where patrons can go play virtual golf.
“What if the other part of our business is not food? What if the other part of our business is video games?” Case explained.
If the tavern and entertainment bill passed, it would join a long list of different types of liquor licenses in the state covering everything from golf courses to airports.
“We just keep marching towards liquor freedom,” Zwonitzer said. “Every session we have another [liquor license bill]. It never ends.” | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/legislative-panel-already-considers-election-reform/article_956d41a8-22fc-11ed-be3a-27f2a7cd6791.html | 2022-08-24T12:58:55Z |
The following calls were included in the Albany County Sheriff’s Office responses:
FRIDAY, AUG. 19
• 11:34 a.m., 1300 block of N. 22nd St., emergency
• 1:05 p.m., 200 block of Wyoming Highway 230, theft
• 9:08 p.m., 1500 block of Industry Dr., possible domestic disturbance
SATURDAY, AUG. 20
• 12:15 a.m., intersection of N. 9th St. and E. Harney St., possible impaired driving
• 1:46 a.m., intersection of W. Snowy Range Rd. and S. Taylor St., possible impaired driving
• 2:29 a.m., intersection of S. 15th St. and Barratt St., possible impaired driving
• 8:22 a.m., 1700 block of Skyline Rd., theft
• 10:03 a.m., 1900 block of Franklin St., identity theft
• 4:22 p.m., U.S. Highway 287, accident
• 4:55 p.m., Old Wagon Road, emergency
• 8:11 p.m., Interstate 80, possible possession of controlled substance
• 10:22 p.m., intersection of S. 3rd St. and E. Fetterman St., possible impaired driving
• 10:49 p.m., Albany County Area, accident
SUNDAY, AUG. 21
• 12:19 a.m., intersection of E. Grand Ave. and Boulder Dr., possible impaired driving
• 12:06 p.m., 1300 block of U.S. Highway 287, emergency
• 2:22 p.m., intersection of S. 1st St. and E. Fetterman St., trespassing
• 2:32 p.m., 4200 block of N. 3rd St., theft/unauthorized use of vehicle
• 2:40 p.m., Jack Rabbit Rd., trespassing
• 5:57 p.m., 100 block of 2nd St., emergency
• 7:19 p.m., Interstate 80, possible possession of controlled substance
• 8:55 p.m., 500 block of Snyder Ave., emergency
• 11:19 p.m., Interstate 80, accident
The following calls were included in the Laramie Police Department responses:
FRIDAY, AUG. 19
• 12:08 a.m., 1300 block of E. Gibbon St., possible domestic disturbance
• 1:29 a.m., 400 block of N. 3rd St., disorderly conduct
• 1:35 a.m., 2000 block of Venture Dr., extortion
• 8:05 a.m., intersection of N. 19th St. and Reynolds St., accident
• 8:35 a.m., 500 block of E. Boswell Dr., accident
• 10:03 a.m., 4300 block of E. Grand Ave., hit and run
• 10:25 a.m., 100 block of E. Ivinson Ave., disturbance/harassment-threats
• 11:34 a.m., 1300 block of N. 22nd St., emergency
• 11:45 a.m., 1400 block of E. Sheridan St., wildlife
• 12:39 p.m., intersection of S. 14th St. and E. Grand Ave., accident
• 3:51 p.m., 1500 block of Jefferson St., possible domestic disturbance
• 3:55 p.m., 600 block of S. 2nd St., accident
• 5:33 p.m., 700 block of E. Russell St., accident
• 5:59 p.m., 600 block of S. Hayes St., possible domestic disturbance
• 6:23 p.m., 1600 block of N. 4th St., false ID
• 8:47 p.m., 1600 block of N. 4th St., false ID
• 9:07 p.m., 200 block of N. 3rd St., trespassing
• 9:08 p.m., 1500 block of Industry Dr., possible domestic disturbance
SATURDAY, AUG. 20
• 1:46 a.m., intersection of W. Snowy Range Rd. and S. Taylor St., possible impaired driving
• 2:29 a.m., intersection of S. 15th St. and Barratt St., possible impaired driving
• 3:09 a.m., 2200 block of Wyoming Ave., emergency
• 9:42 a.m., 1800 block of W. Curtis St., accident
• 10:03 a.m., 1900 block of Franklin St., identity theft
• 3:03 p.m., 700 block of Short Pl., possible domestic disturbance
• 3:12 p.m., 4300 block of E. Grand Ave., theft
• 5:56 p.m., 1600 block of Westview Dr., vandalism
• 7:17 p.m., 4300 block of E. Grand Ave., theft
• 7:53 p.m., 2400 block of E. Grand Ave., emergency
• 9:27 p.m., intersection of S. 13th St. and E. Grand Ave., accident
• 9:51 p.m., 3100 block of E. Grand Ave., hit and run
SUNDAY, AUG. 21
• 5:33 a.m., 1500 block of E. Arnold St., hit and run
• 12:42 p.m., 1300 block of N. 19th St., fraud
• 1:46 p.m., intersection of N. 4th St. and E. Canby St., wildlife
• 1:50 p.m., 2100 block of Binford St., accident
• 2:22 p.m., intersection of S. 1st St. and E. Fetterman St., trespassing
• 4:51 p.m., 600 block of S. 30th St., emergency
• 5:09 p.m., 900 block of N. McCue St., traffic hazard
• 7:40 p.m., intersection of Grays Gable Rd. and Inca Dr., accident | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/local_news/arrest_record_and_police_calls/on-the-record-aug-24-2022/article_e81e7ad6-2246-11ed-8b13-f710613d44a3.html | 2022-08-24T12:59:01Z |
There are lots of names for prostitutes, and “upstairs ladies” was just one of them in use in the mid-20th century in Laramie.
A Friday walking tour downtown will highlight this illicit industry.
There were ways around the practice of prostitution, especially if the local police force was willing to look the other way. Laramie city government winked at the practice by “fining” prostitutes and their employers, but the fine amounted essentially to a license.
There was even a requirement by the 1930s that prostitutes submit to a monthly health checkup with a local physician to be allowed to pay their fines.
This arrangement caused freelance prostitutes to seek protection in bordellos, which freely operated on First Street in Laramie, usually listed as “hotels” above bars that lined the blocks between University and Garfield streets.
There had been more between Garfield and Kearney streets; however, the Union Pacific Railroad felt it was doing Laramie a favor by reclaiming all the lots it owned on the east side of First Street in 1923. Ramshackle hovels and businesses had sprung up there, all in the way of a new depot that the UPRR planned to build on those lots.
The prostitutes’ shacks, including that of the infamous Suzy Parker, were razed, and First Street in that area was moved a half-block east. It now runs down what had been the alley.
Suzy Parker was occasionally listed in the newspaper as having been jailed for failure to pay her fine, a fate that served as a warning to others who might think about ignoring the fine requirement.
Who knows how long this arrangement might have gone on except for a magazine article that appeared in January 1954. That month, Redbook published a story headlined “Sex Traps for Young Servicemen.”
The draft was still on, and the story outlined how prostitutes flourished in towns adjacent to military bases. Plenty of towns were written about, but Laramie was not one of them — the closest military base was 50 miles away.
However, the magazine editors inserted a box listing the most egregious examples of towns that were “wide open” to the practice of prostitution, and at the top of the list was Laramie, Wyoming. Now the cozy arrangement of the police force, city government and the prostitutes was out in the open.
People of Laramie acted as if they were outraged, though most, if not all, residents over the age of 16 were well aware of what was going on.
But parents of University of Wyoming students threatened to forbid their children to come to Laramie. The UW trustees sent an urgent message to the City Council demanding that the illegal activity stop.
On the night of Feb. 24, 1954, police raided all the brothels and the women were told to leave town immediately. They did clear out, records seem to indicate that no one was arrested, but the upstairs rooms on First Street became deserted. Even the bars on the first floors mostly closed, and the buildings became dilapidated, used mainly as warehouses.
They were still mostly unoccupied about 10 years later.
But gradually a gentrification of First Street has occurred. Now upstairs apartments downtown are fashionable and being encouraged by Laramie Main Street Inc. to maintain a healthy mix of housing and shopping downtown.
This history will be the subject of a walking tour downtown on Friday starting at 5:30 p.m. Meeting place is the Wyoming Women’s History House, 317 S. 2nd St.
Germain St. John, a former mayor of Laramie, will be pointing out some of the buildings where prostitution flourished in the early 1950s. Visitors will be able to go upstairs in two of the buildings, one that has been repurposed, Second Story Books, and one that has not yet been above the Pedal House on First Street. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/local_news/walking-tour-highlights-end-of-the-upstairs-ladies-era/article_ddd21af4-230b-11ed-a165-3b1e32daa3c1.html | 2022-08-24T12:59:07Z |
A veterans service officer from the Wyoming Veterans Commission will conduct community outreach services around the state throughout September.
Emily Study is available to meet with veterans and their families to discuss state and federal benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs claims or VA health care issues. Study also can help veterans and their families apply for benefits, file claims or request health care.
Her office is located at 3817 Beech St., Suite 100 in Laramie, and she also will be available at the following locations:
Laramie: Sept. 5 and 19, at the Veterans Service Center, Student Union, third floor, 1000 E. University Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rawlins: Sept. 7 and 21, at the Rawlins Workforce Center, 1703 Edinburgh St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Centennial: Sept. 28, at the Centennial Public Library, 27 2nd St., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Most other weekdays, Study is available by appointment at her office. Contact her at 307-399-1821.
Volunteers sought to show friendship to UW students
Friendship Families of Laramie, a nonprofit organization that works with the University of Wyoming to connect international students with Laramie families is seeking local volunteers.
Many new international students have begun their studies at UW this week. Friendship Families helps match participants with non-live-in host families to foster friendship and understanding.
The flexible program only asks for a minimum of once-a-month contact that can be as simple as a phone call or email. Most students and families hit it off and maintain lifelong friendships, according to a press release from the group.
For more information or to become a Friendship Family, contact Leann Naughton by Aug. 30 at 307-745-0747 or friendshipfamilieslaramie@gmail.com. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/local_news/worth-noting-aug-24-2022/article_e7de2a6c-230e-11ed-8127-53b42c4e3d5a.html | 2022-08-24T12:59:14Z |
SHERIDAN — The basement of Grace Anglican Church is a bustling place Sunday mornings, but on Wednesday morning, little of that Sunday school chaos remains.
But into the quiet and empty basement comes the low hum of a sewing machine.
Follow the humming and you’ll encounter Sean Gillenwater, the first trainee — and self-professed guinea pig — of local nonprofit Lagniappe.
Lagniappe founder Crystal Merriam, and the host of volunteers who have helped her along the way, see Gillenwater as an important test case, and a chance to try something new to address cycles of poverty and unemployment in Sheridan County.
“There are so many charities that give handouts, and that can go on forever,” Lagniappe volunteer sewing instructor Bonnie Brady said. “There is often no goal of getting people off of the handouts. This is not that kind of program. We are not giving handouts — we’re teaching a skill Sean can take with him all his life. More importantly, we are teaching him a way to live his life that will allow him to be self-sufficient.”
“What really appealed to me was the roundness (Merriam) was looking for,” volunteer sewing instructor Rhonda Gould said. “You can teach anyone to sew, but that does not necessarily help those people get their life in order. That’s what Lagniappe does.”
Lagniappe — pronounced “lan-yap” and taking its name from a New Orleans-area term meaning “a little extra” or “an unexpected gift” — was created earlier this year by Merriam, with Gillenwater beginning work as a trainee in late June.
The organization is a new employment skills and community development initiative whose mission is to reduce poverty by employing parents at living wages — $18.50 an hour — sewing pet beds while teaching them other important life skills, according to the organization’s website.
To be eligible to participate, trainees must be low-income, a parent of minor children and willing and able to work full time, Merriam said. Gillenwater is a married father of two children, with a third due this fall.
Merriam said Lagniappe was inspired by the success of the Empowerment Plan — a Detroit, Michigan nonprofit that has created jobs for 90 homeless individuals manufacturing coats.
“I have degrees in psychology and sociology, and in sociology, we talked a lot about the causes and effects of poverty, but it was really hard to dial in on what real-world solutions were happening,” Merriam said. “But the Empowerment Plan was this real-world solution, so I started studying this program and asking if we could do something like this in Sheridan, and how we could contextualize it for a rural community.”
The creation of pet beds for local animal shelters — while perhaps the most visible part of what Gillenwater does day-to-day — is just part of Lagniappe’s mission, Merriam said.
Roughly 60% of Gillenwater’s 35- to 37-hour work week is spent sewing the beds and learning sewing techniques from volunteers like Brady and Gould.
The other 40% consists of programming designed to help the trainees become more self-sufficient, from cooking classes to volunteering in the community to resume-building and mock interviews.
“My afternoons are usually spent doing some sort of volunteering in the community gardens or Mulligans (Grace Anglican’s thrift store),” Gillenwater said. “Either that, or I’m doing classes like Financial Peace University or CentSible Nutrition.”
“Something that is really important to me is pulling back the curtain on what employers need from employees,” Merriam said. “We’re focused on teaching servant leadership in the workplace and how to deal with the obstacles that can get in your way.”
For Gillenwater, those obstacles include an ADHD diagnosis that can make it difficult for him to focus and has made it difficult for him to find and hold jobs at times. Lagniappe has reached out to the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation for guidance on how to best help Gillenwater, Merriam said, which has included developing a structured work day to keep him focused.
“We care about making our trainees productive in a way that makes sense for them,” Merriam said. “For Sean, that’s a very structured work day, because that feels less chaotic. I hope that, when he leaves us, he’ll have the tools he needs to advocate for himself.”
Volunteer Janis DeVore brings years of human resources experience to Lagniappe. She’s helped Gillenwater develop a resume and work on his interviewing skills, while discussing potential post-Lagniappe employment possibilities, which could include being self-employed, Gillenwater said. He is interested in upholstering, especially motorcycles, in the future.
“It’s been fun getting to know Sean,” DeVore said. “I’ve been helping him explore his past experiences — what has worked, and what has been problematic — with the goal that self-knowledge will help him hone in on what works for him.”
Merriam said there isn’t any specific time frame in which Gillenwater will “graduate” the program, although the end goal is for him to eventually find long-term employment.
“If he doesn’t learn everything there is to know about sewing, I’m totally OK with that,” Merriam said. “The end goal is for him to become gainfully employed somewhere else…It’s not just about self-sufficiency. It’s about helping him thrive so he in turn can help someone else thrive. That’s what we’re all about here.”
Merriam said she eventually hopes to add more trainees — a second trainee was hired at the same time as Gillenwater but had to back out for family reasons — and eventually expand beyond the church basement. She also hopes to develop relationships with local retail businesses that could sell the pet beds, which in turn would give trainees more experience with the business world.
“I think the sky really is the limit,” Merriam said. “I’m excited to see where things go from here.” | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/nonprofits-new-trainee-is-test-case-of-new-way-to-address-poverty/article_5b5a5d1c-22fb-11ed-96b7-033bd936f655.html | 2022-08-24T12:59:20Z |
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_ad61a506-2225-11ed-b5ce-176c13c82e10.html | 2022-08-24T12:59:26Z |
JACKSON — Wyoming’s criminal abortion ban lawsuit is likely heading to the Wyoming Supreme Court.
In a motion filed Thursday, Special Assistant Attorney General Jay Jerde moved to have the suit heard by the Wyoming Supreme Court to expedite the findings on whether the criminal ban is constitutional.
Jerde is representing the State of Wyoming, Gov. Mark Gordon and Attorney General Bridget Hill in defense of the trigger ban.
“The question at the heart of this case is whether the Wyoming Constitution confers a right to abortion, either explicitly or implicitly,” the filing said. “The state defendants hereby ask this Court to certify the following questions of law in this case to the Wyoming Supreme Court: Does the Wyoming Constitution confer a right to abortion?”
In a ruling issued later Thursday, 9th Judicial District Court Judge Melissa Owens issued an order vacating a Wednesday hearing date, resetting it for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 27. The hearing will not be open to the public.
The motion also asks the Wyoming Supreme Court to decide whether the criminal abortion ban violates any provisions in the state Constitution and whether it is unconstitutionally vague.
“Having the Wyoming Supreme Court decide these questions of law now may, and very likely will, be determinative of the cause pending before this Court,” the motion said.
“The public interest and interests of judicial economy weigh strongly in favor of certifying the questions of law to the Wyoming Supreme Court.”
Getting the answers to these constitutional questions “provides the quickest path to getting definitive answers,” the motion said.
The motion also conceded that any ruling made in Teton County District Court will “undoubtedly be appealed” to the Wyoming Supreme Court anyway, so raising these questions now will allow for the fastest resolution.
If Judge Owens issues a certifying order, the Supreme Court would then decide whether to agree to accept it and set a briefing schedule.
“Whether the [Supreme Court] agrees to answer these questions of law may take anywhere from a week to two weeks,” said Shawna Goetz, clerk of the Wyoming Supreme Court.
Goetz confirmed the Wyoming Supreme Court has not received any documents relating to the case yet.
The plaintiffs say the bill violates a multitude of rights afforded to them in the state Constitution, including their right to privacy and their right to make their own health care decisions.
A preliminary injunction preventing the enforcement of the ban is in effect after an Aug. 10 hearing in which Judge Owens found that valid questions regarding its constitutionality needed to be answered.
In order to enforce this ban, the state is defending its “authority to regulate the medical profession.”
Two Republican state legislators and one anti-abortion group filed a motion to intervene in the case, which if approved by Judge Owens, would give them the opportunity to offer arguments around “legislative authority, unborn life, the health and safety of women and regulating the medical profession.”
State Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, sponsored House Bill 92. State Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, co-sponsored the bill.
The third proposed intervenor is Right to Life of Wyoming.
The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal advocacy group defending the proposed intervenors, said in a press release that the criminal abortion ban “seeks to preserve the lives of innocent, unborn babies and the health and safety of mothers.”
Rep. Rodriguez-Williams, Rep. Neiman and a representative from the Alliance Defending Freedom could not be reached for comment. Robinson declined to comment.
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys are working in other states to defend anti-abortion laws, including Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Texas and West Virginia. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/state-moves-to-raise-abortion-with-supreme-court/article_8753f93c-22fb-11ed-8a15-63e3b2455bfd.html | 2022-08-24T12:59:32Z |
Monday morning felt normal for many students navigating their way through the first day of classes at University of Wyoming for the fall semester.
This normalcy was special in itself for the thousands of students returning to the Laramie campus because it’s something they hadn’t experienced in years.
After three years of virtual classes, COVID-19 testing, masking and quarantining, UW students are looking forward experiencing college with the ongoing pandemic finally pushed to the background. While the university began to dial back its masking and testing requirements last year, this semester shows an even more laid back approach with few COVID-19 related policies in place.
“I’m looking forward to having a normal school year,” said Grace Ann Choate. “This is my first year of having a normal college experience, and I’m a junior.”
Choate was one of many students who has yet to experience college life without the pandemic being a central concern. For the students who did get time in before spring 2020, this fall presents a chance to rebuild social connections that had been radically changed.
“The past few years have been strange,” said UW senior student Elena Nachbar. “To see everyone without masks changes the perspective.”
While the university lifted its mask mandate in 2021, the transition still is a point of excitement for students.
Nachbar said she’s looking forward to gathering with her peers in larger groups again and that she senses a difference in the feeling of connectedness on campus now that students can see each other’s faces.
While the university recommends students refer to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on COVID-19 safety, it is no longer offering isolation housing for students living on-campus who test positive for the virus.
“The general feeling now is we’re going to treat it in a similar way if you had the influenza or something like that,” said UW spokesperson Chad Baldwin. “It’s not to the point that this particular infection requires isolation or quarantine or complete separation from everyone else.”
The CDC still recommends people quarantine for at least five days after testing positive for COVID-19. Those who are exposed to the virus are advised to wear a mask for at least 10 days after exposure and get tested on the fifth full day after their exposure.
COVID-19 tests are available for students at UW’s on-campus medical clinic, but only for those who have symptoms, according to the Student Health Service office. Routine COVID-19 testing will not be required or available on-campus this year.
Anyone in the United States can order a set of free at-home COVID-19 tests by entering their address online at covid.gov/tests.
COVID-19 vaccines also will not be available on-campus because of an abundance of vaccination options in the Laramie community, Baldwin said.
In terms of academics, students will not be penalized for missing school due to COVID-19, and full-time staff and faculty members have access to up to 80 hours of sick leave for that purpose, according to UW’s most recent pandemic policy released Friday.
As COVID-19 becomes a more normal fixture of university life, the threat of monkeypox also looms, with Wyoming’s first case of the virus reported Monday in Laramie County. While UW leadership does have monkeypox in mind, there is no specific plan or policy in place regarding the virus yet, Baldwin said.
Despite the concern, many UW students went through their first day focused on their future success rather than thinking about the challenges brought by the pandemic.
“I have one year left, so I’m trying to get everything done,” said Weylan Fluharty. “All the hard work is about to pay off.” | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/university-begins-fall-term-with-relaxed-approach-to-covid-19/article_41135eda-223e-11ed-9c24-83c607be6330.html | 2022-08-24T12:59:38Z |
The University of Wyoming will make a supplemental budget request of $54.65 million to the Wyoming Legislature for unforeseen financial needs this academic year.
If approved, UW officials says the additional money will account for gaps in the university budget created by inflation and help address low wages for university staff and faculty members.
“This is very much in line with what you may have seen in previous years,” UW spokesperson Chad Baldwin said of the request.
He said it’s normal for the university to make supplemental budget requests because it is difficult to know exactly how much money will be needed at the time the Legislature makes its budget allocations.
The requests also are tailored to the amount of money and programs the Legislature has in any given year. This year, Gov. Mark Gordon noted that budget requests should be emergency in nature, with some flexibility in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing issues with inflation.
The request includes more than $13 million to go toward capital construction projects that have been impacted by inflation. The projects include buying scientific equipment in the new Science Initiative Building and building a roundabout at 22nd Street.
An additional $4.3 million is requested to help with inflation in other areas, such as campus utilities, insurance premiums and operating costs of UW extension centers.
The largest chunk of the request, $14.5 million, is earmarked for increasing salaries of university staff and faculty. If approved, the university will increase wages to a minimum of $15 per hour, as well as relative increases for higher-paid employees.
“We understand that there is some movement in the Legislature for a possible second round of salary increase funding, and we want to make sure they’re considered,” Baldwin said.
The request comes at a time when staff at the university have voiced concerns over issues with low wages and overwhelming workloads during UW Board of Trustees meetings.
There are now several hundred employees at the university who make less than $15 per hour, Baldwin said.
While the university announced base pay raises for employees in May, the increases were more of a “Band-Aid” fix than a change that adequately addresses issues of inflation and increased housing costs, UW Staff Senate President Tim Nichols told trustees during a meeting in July.
The newest round of raises will only be given if the supplemental budget request is approved and would go into effect in the upcoming fiscal year, Baldwin said.
The proposal will be discussed with the governor in September or October and go before the Joint Appropriations Committee in December, according to UW Board of Trustees documents. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/uw-wants-another-54m-from-legislature/article_b96b140a-2314-11ed-ac6f-efdac09a1745.html | 2022-08-24T12:59:45Z |
The Wyoming Department of Health announced Monday morning that the first monkeypox case in a Wyoming resident has been identified in Laramie County.
Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with WDH, said public health representatives are following up with the individual to see if additional Wyoming residents are at higher risk of contracting monkeypox due to direct contact with the adult man, who was tested within the last week.
“Because monkeypox spreads through close, intimate contact we do not believe the risk for the virus is now a higher concern for the local community or for most people in Wyoming,” she said in a statement. “Monkeypox does not spread easily like familiar viruses such as influenza or COVID-19.”
As of Aug. 18, there were more than 14,000 monkeypox cases confirmed in the U.S. by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The highest number of cases are located in New York and California.
WDH Public Information Officer Kim Deti told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that the agency would not be surprised to see additional cases in the state, but can’t predict how many or when those might be identified. She reiterated it is unlike other viruses witnessed during the pandemic, and can’t be spread in situations such as being in an elevator with someone infected or touching a shopping cart.
Monkeypox is characterized by a rash with other symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and tiredness. Monkeypox is rarely fatal, but is unpleasant and painful, and can cause serious illness in some people, according to WDH. Experts have been tracking a growing outbreak of monkeypox in areas that don’t normally report the disease, including across the United States.
“Symptoms usually start within 3 weeks of exposure to the virus. If someone has flu-like symptoms, they will usually develop a rash 1-4 days later,” according to the health organization. “Monkeypox can be spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has healed, all scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.”
Detailed facts, including rash photos, data and prevention recommendations are available from the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html.
“We do want to prevent further spread within our state as much as possible. That’s why we will recommend vaccination for people who have been exposed to monkeypox, and also for people who may be more likely to get monkeypox based on the current outbreak and how it has been spreading,” Harrist said in the Monday news release.
The following people are eligible for pre-exposure vaccination if they live or work in Wyoming:
- Men who have sex with men and who have had multiple or anonymous sexual partners in the last year.
- Partners of men who have sex with men who have had multiple or anonymous sexual partners in the last year.
- Transgender and nonbinary persons assigned male at birth who have sex with multiple or anonymous sexual partners who are male or male assigned at birth within the past year.
- Sex workers (of any sex).
“While anyone can become ill with monkeypox, vaccine eligibility is currently limited to people who are at highest risk in connection with this outbreak and how its spreading,” Harrist said in the release. “The goal is to put available vaccine supplies to the best possible use.”
Deti said she doesn’t know the exact amount of vaccination doses the state has, but it is a small supply. She said there are different circumstances in which it would be used, including for someone identified as high risk of infection post-exposure to an individual who tested positive for monkeypox.
Eligible individuals interested in vaccination appointments should contact the public health office in their area. Contact information for county public health offices can be found at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/nursing/phn-co-offices/. Wyoming residents may also call WDH at 307-777-6004 for help finding the closest local public health office.
Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department will offer pre-exposure Jynneous (monkeypox) vaccine to individuals who meet the criteria every Tuesday and Friday. Call 307-633-4000 to schedule an appointment.
There is no proof of eligibility for the pre-exposure vaccination required, and details will be discussed with a local health provider. This applies for patients showing symptoms, as well.
“That would be the best thing to do, because they’re going to know the patient the best,” Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department Director Kathy Emmons said. “And we always recommend people go with their local provider.”
While available monkeypox vaccine doses are being provided by the federal government through the state at no cost, a small administration fee may be charged.
More Wyoming-related information and updates about monkeypox can be found at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/infectious-disease-epidemiology-unit/disease/monkeypox/. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/wdh-first-wyoming-case-of-monkeypox-identified/article_1d923c24-2301-11ed-bcf3-6be614050256.html | 2022-08-24T12:59:51Z |
Despite the threat of federal restrictions earlier this summer, the Bureau of Reclamation won’t limit water use in Wyoming or three other Colorado River headwaters states as an emergency response to shrinking water supplies throughout the Colorado River Basin, the agency said Tuesday.
Instead, it will again restrict flows from Lake Powell and Lake Mead while tapping upstream reservoirs, including Flaming Gorge on the Wyoming-Utah border, for additional releases in 2023.
The federal agency will also impose water-use restrictions in Arizona (21%) and Nevada (8%) while flows across the border to Mexico would be reduced by 7%. California, meantime, avoided federally initiated water cuts.
For its part, Wyoming and the three other Upper Colorado River Basin states declined to commit to sending specific flows into the system in 2023 and said more time is needed to implement voluntary restriction programs. Until water volumes from the upper basin states shrink enough to trigger curtailment actions agreed to under the Colorado River Compact, “we must rely on voluntary actions from our water users,” Wyoming State Engineer Brandon Gebhart told WyoFile.
“It would be complete speculation to commit to a volume,” Gebhart added, until the federally funded System Conservation Pilot program, for example, is extended and water users voluntarily take part in it. The program pays those with water rights to voluntarily restrict their water use.
The Bureau of Reclamation’s 2023 operations plan, for now, mostly aligns with the upper basin states’ proposal.
The compromise between the upper basin states and BOR doesn’t match the severity of the worsening water supply-and-demand imbalance, however, according to a coalition of Colorado River conservation groups. The BOR in June asked the seven Colorado River Basin states, and Mexico, to voluntarily commit water use cuts that would add between 2 million and 4 million acre feet of water for the 2023 water season, or face federal restrictions for each state.
On Tuesday — the deadline for states to offer their voluntary cuts — the BOR essentially demonstrated its unwillingness to impose sufficient emergency actions in the absence of voluntary commitments, especially among upper basin states like Wyoming, said Utah Rivers Council Executive Director Zach Frankel.
“The day has come for the Department of Interior [which oversees the BOR] to cut between 2 [million] and 4 million acre feet of water, and it hasn’t happened,” Frankel told reporters during a press call Tuesday. “Instead we see another 24-month forecast which crosses fingers and hopes for the best. We got to get serious about climate change and this aridification period that we’re going through.”
Lake Powell and Lake Mead — the two largest reservoirs on the Colorado River — have shrunk to historic lows this summer amid a 23-year drought that climate experts describe as the “aridification” of the West. Conditions already threaten the ability to generate hydroelectric power at Powell and Mead while diminishing water supplies throughout the southwest where some 40 million people rely on the Colorado River Basin system.
The BOR in May initiated the release of an extra 500,000 acre feet of water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir and announced it would not release the otherwise planned discharge of 480,000 acre feet of water from Lake Powell. The effort, according to the BOR, was necessary to prevent Powell from reaching “dead pool” status this summer — the point at which the water level is too low to generate hydroelectric power.
The agency’s latest operations plan for 2023 is based on the most recent “24-month study,” which projects that similar water saving efforts will be required, depending on winter snowpack and precipitation in the region as well as erratic climate conditions that could exacerbate evaporation and soil moisture intake.
“The conditions and the risks have not changed and have only been bolstered by the real-time observable and quantifiable data we are not only seeing in the basin, but across the West,” BOR Commissioner Camille Touton said during a livestream presentation Tuesday. “The system is approaching a tipping point, and without action we cannot protect the system and the millions of Americans who rely on this resource.”
Total storage in the Colorado River system declined to 35% this June, according to the BOR. “When the system gets to 30%, it’s done. There’s no more water left,” Living Rivers and Colorado River Keeper co-founder John Weisheit told reporters.
The Green River, which originates in the Wind River Range in western Wyoming, is a primary tributary to the Colorado River. It fills the Fontenelle Reservoir south of La Barge and Flaming Gorge on the Wyoming-Utah border.
Because they are home to headwaters to the system, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico make up what is known as the Upper Colorado Basin States. Their primary role is supplying water to the rest of the system, but that’s mostly dictated by how much Mother Nature provides in the form of seasonal snowpack, according to the coalition.
The menu of drought response actions that the BOR has selected from so far are rooted in the 1922 Colorado River Compact, which has been shaped by hundreds of amendments and numerous court rulings, as well as emergency water use reduction agreements struck in 2007 and 2019. In other words, the BOR hasn’t yet imposed any actions that the states haven’t already agreed to.
Although the BOR holds authority over much of the Colorado River Basin system via federally owned and operated reservoir dams and other infrastructure, states, tribes and other stakeholders maintain their own powers. For example, the BOR doesn’t need approval from Wyoming or Utah to release water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir, but Wyoming maintains that the federal government cannot unilaterally impose restrictions on those with water rights in the state.
“The state is actively interested in making water available to satisfy existing and future uses in Wyoming while also recognizing the limited nature of the supply and the state’s obligations under the Colorado River Compacts,” State Engineer Gebhart said.
In response to the BOR’s call for voluntary 2023 water use cuts among all Colorado River Basin states, the upper states — via the Upper Colorado River Commission — notified federal officials in July they would instead institute a “5-point plan” to encourage water conservation and efficiency. At the same time they asked for the extension of federal programs to help fund the strategies. They declined to commit to sending specific volumes downstream by forgoing or restricting water use.
“The options the Upper Division States have available to protect critical reservoir elevations are limited,” Upper Colorado River Commission Executive Director Charles Cullom stated in a July 18 letter to the BOR.
The BOR’s updated drought response plan announced Tuesday closely aligns with the upper states’ proposal.
In addition to maintenance and upgrades at Glen Canyon Dam to prevent wasting water that flows from upper basin states, the BOR said it will “invest in system conservation and voluntary agreements.” Agency officials also noted that the bipartisan Infrastructure law and the partisan Inflation Reduction Act provide a combined $12.3 billion to rebuild and design more sustainable water and energy infrastructure in the face of climate change.
But the promise of federal funds and voluntary cooperative efforts from both the BOR and upper basin states doesn’t measure up to either the immediate water crisis or the longer term outlook for a Colorado River system decimated by climate change, Colorado River conservation advocates say. Wyoming and other upper basin states are downplaying what they can contribute to the emergency effort and longer term realities, and the BOR appears reluctant to force their hand, Great Basin Water Network Executive Director Kyle Roerink said.
“I think there are state interests that are holding the federal government hostage right now,” Roerink told reporters during a press conference Tuesday. “I think we have interests that have, time and again, called the bluff of the federal government, and it looks like business as usual.”
Wyoming, Utah and other upper basin states should have already compiled a priority schedule based on the existing allocation of water rights in their states, Roerink said. That would give water users clarity about where they stand if and when restrictions are imposed. Gebhart has said much of that work remains to be done in Wyoming. Limited staff and resources can be a challenge to accomplishing the work, Roerink acknowledged. But both the BOR and upper basin states need to do more to ensure a plan is in place, he said.
“This is a mystery that many of us have been trying to get to the bottom [of] for years,” Roerink said. “What the hell is a [water right] priority [system] worth if you ain’t gonna use it?”
The BOR’s failure to ask all Colorado River Basin states to share in the reductions may also exacerbate a rift among them, critics say. Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Arizona), for example, criticized the White House this week for the BOR’s failure to take more action.
“The Department’s [of Interior] failure to act as well as its failure to require all basin users to share the sacrifice to solve this crisis has created a significant state of uncertainty that pushes this delicate system closer to collapse,” Stanton wrote in a letter to President Biden. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/wyo-dodges-cuts-in-colorado-river-water-crisis/article_e30eb2e8-222f-11ed-b230-e3d6856d06d4.html | 2022-08-24T12:59:57Z |
TETON COUNTY — The way former Donald Trump-appointee Rob Wallace sees it, U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney scored a victory on Tuesday night.
That’s one way of interpreting the congresswoman’s resounding loss in the Republican primary election this week, said the Teton Village resident, who was picked by the former president to oversee the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the U.S. Department of the Interior.
“Liz Cheney won and so did Harriet Hageman,” Wallace said, “to the degree that Liz is now free to follow her unfettered passion for tracking down the consequences of Jan. 6.”
“Look at her national profile: It’s sky high,” he added. “There’s a lot of interest in what she’s going to do next, and she now doesn’t have to worry about all the stuff she should worry about if she’s representing Wyoming.”
Wallace was among the Cheney supporters gathered north of Jackson at the Mead Ranch on Tuesday night, when election results were rolling in. Moments after it became clear the congresswoman’s time in office was running short, Cheney told friends, family, donors and media gathered near a cattle pasture that she “easily” could have won another term. All it would take, she said, was going along with former President Trump’s lie about the 2020 election, which would have provided the once-popular politician and Wilson resident with a clear path to reelection.
“It would have required that I enable the ongoing efforts to unravel our democratic system and attack the foundations of our republic,” Cheney said. “That was a path I could not and would not take.”
Cheney lost to Trump’s pick to take her on, natural resources attorney Harriet Hageman, by an overwhelming 37% margin in Wyoming’s Republican primary election. There were 2.3 Hageman voters for every person who voted for Cheney.
“Any debate about whether or not Wyoming is a Donald Trump state was put to rest,” Wallace said. “I don’t know what it means, I just know that it is.”
Cheney, a staunch conservative and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, voted with Trump 93% of the time. She was popular in Wyoming through her first four years in office, topping her Republican challenger in the 2020 primary election by a 47% margin.
“I guess that wasn’t enough,” said Dave Freudenthal, a former two-term governor of Wyoming. “Harriet Hageman is not going to vote on issues a lot different, if at all, than Liz Cheney did. If you think about the campaign, they didn’t disagree on anything of substance as it relates to Wyoming except for Jan. 6 and the election.”
Cheney’s immediate reaction to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol building was to repudiate Trump, and it earned her a quick slot on the former president’s list of enemies.
“There’s no question the president formed the mob,” Cheney said the night of the attack. “The president incited the mob. The president addressed the mob. He lit the flame.”
Cheney was one of 10 congressional Republicans who voted to impeach Trump a week later. Now only two of them will be on the ballot in November. Cheney’s vice-chair role on the committee investigating the insurrection further solidified her reputation as a rare Republican who would not fold to Trump and parrot his disproven claims of election fraud.
But the perception Cheney was feuding with Trump bought her no favors in Wyoming. The Wyoming Republican Party, chaired by Jan. 6 attendee Frank Eathorne, overwhelmingly voted to censure her last winter for her impeachment vote. Cheney’s support among her constituents fell off dramatically.
Brad and Kate Mead escorted Cheney onto the stage Tuesday. Brad is brother of former Wyoming governor Matt Mead and grandson of Clifford Hansen, a U.S. senator and Wyoming governor. Prior to publicly appearing, the Cheneys and Meads watched the election results roll in together and they could immediately see that her path to victory was “pretty tough,” Brad Mead said.
Cheney didn’t wait until her odds were eliminated. She spoke around 8:15 p.m., and early on announced that she’d called Hageman and conceded.
“But now,” she said, “the real work begins.”
The scene at the Mead Ranch was festive. The couple hundred donors, family and friends who attended listened to a cover band playing the Allman Brothers, ate tacos and barbecue, sipped wine and mingled. There were murmurs in the crowd that Cheney would directly segue from her defeat and announce a presidential run in 2024. She didn’t go there. But Cheney did hint at it and she quoted at length from Abraham Lincoln — a former president who was first defeated in House and Senate elections.
Cheney was a little more specific when pressed on NBC’s Today Show the next morning.
“That’s a decision I’m going to make in the coming months,” the congresswoman said of a potential presidential run. “It is something I’m thinking about.”
The Cheney campaign also modified itself immediately after her election loss, filing paperwork to convert the campaign committee to a leadership PAC named The Great Task — a phrase from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
“In coming weeks, Liz will be launching an organization to educate the American people about the ongoing threat to our Republic, and to mobilize a unified effort to oppose any Donald Trump campaign for president,” Cheney spokesperson Jeremy Adler told Politico.
Trump has repeatedly hinted at his own 2024 presidential run, including during a stop to stump for Hageman in Casper. Polling data suggests he has retained his favorability among Republicans, and in fact is gaining popularity. Trump-endorsed candidates, meanwhile, have fared generally well, though their election success has proven a mixed bag, including in Wyoming. Hageman, his pick for secretary of state, Chuck Gray, and his pick for treasurer, incumbent Curt Meier all won Tuesday, though another Trump pick, Brian Schroeder, was narrowly defeated in the primary election for Wyoming superintendent of public instruction by Megan Degenfelder.
Although she lost badly, Cheney was able to mobilize an unconventional, cross-party alliance of supporters in Wyoming’s Republican primary. Outside the town recreation center in Jackson, Ian Jan “Tarzan” Campbell explained after voting how he changed his registration to Republican to vote for Cheney and others because he’s “vehemently, obnoxiously anti-Trump.”
At the time, Campbell was hopeful, though unsure, whether crossover voters like himself would be enough to make a difference.
“I pray,” he said, “and I’m an atheist.”
Several people WyoFile interviewed spoke favorably about how Cheney went out, sticking to her convictions.
“I admire her so much, and I’m impressed by her courage,” Brad Mead said. “I think this is just the start for her.”
Former U.S. Sen. Al Simpson (R-Wyoming) said that Cheney knew all along “the perils of what she was doing.” The 90-year-old Cody resident, a member of Cheney’s campaign leadership team, said that he had no special insight into whether she’s going to run for president, but thought that she has what it takes to take Trump on directly.
“It ain’t through, because of her dedication to democracy, the Constitution and the government of the United States,” Simpson said.
There’s a big reservoir of voters, he said, who are waiting for a woman with “power and smarts.”
“She speaks without a forked tongue,” Simpson said of Cheney. “She’s the only person speaking with guts and courage and savvy and smartness. Let her rip. If she wants to get in the race there’ll be plenty of Americans who’d like to jump right in there with her.”
Simpson didn’t make much of the end, for now, of the Cheneys’ politicking for Wyoming. A family political dynasty, he said, doesn’t mean much these days.
“My dad was a governor and U.S. senator, and if I were to run this year they would have beat my ass,” Simpson said. “I know where I am: I’m high on the range of the RINOs.”
The Cheneys’ political dynasty in the Equality State started in 1978, when Dick Cheney, then a former White House deputy chief of staff during the Ford administration, was elected to Wyoming’s lone slot in the U.S. House of Representatives. Liz Cheney followed in her father’s footsteps and won the same seat 38 years later, though not before a failed attempt at unseating incumbent Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming).
Freudenthal, the former governor, said that any attempt to characterize the Cheneys’ political legacy is premature.
“Our capacity to estimate that [legacy] in the present, history has proven that we’re generally wrong,” he said. “What that legacy is, is unknown.” | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/wyo-politicos-reflect-on-cheney-s-trouncing/article_e783f830-2241-11ed-938b-973b4af0af34.html | 2022-08-24T13:00:03Z |
For a brief moment in time, the smallest state in the union provided the biggest political story in the country.
Media and political junkies from across the USA and around the world focused their attention on Wyoming’s race for U.S. House between incumbent Liz Cheney and Donald Trump-endorsed challenger Harriet Hageman.
Hageman slaughtered Cheney by an astonishing number. The vote was unofficially 113,025 for Hageman compared to just 49,316 for Cheney. It was a blowout.
Perhaps even more amazing was that President Joe Biden, a Democrat, called Republican Cheney to console her on her humiliating loss to the candidate endorsed by her arch-nemesis (and Biden’s) former President Trump.
In the wake of her disastrous decision to run for re-election to the House seat she has held for almost six years, Cheney now has to figure out a way to avoid becoming irrelevant. Her only bastions of hope are finishing up her work on the Jan. 6 congressional committee and perhaps landing a job at MSNBC.
The Democrats have used her to get to Trump. Based on her crushing defeat Tuesday, how much credibility does she have left? Outside of her hatred for Trump, do Democrats and the left-leaning media have any further use for her?
The day after the election she said she is pondering running for president in 2024.
What?
If her constituents out here in Wyoming who know her best destroyed her candidacy in such an ignominious fashion, where does she go from here?
And what makes her loss even more interesting is that just about the entire Democrat electorate in Wyoming crossed over on Election Day to help her out. Without them, this race might have been an 8:1 loss. This would have made her a laughable footnote in history. She would have gone down in political annals as spending more money per vote than just about anyone anywhere ever.
Cheney’s nonstop criticism of Trump made her a one-trick pony and Wyoming voters did not like the trick nor did they enjoy seeing it played over and over again.
Among all the national chatter about “anti-Trump” voters, most observers just did not correctly anticipate the amount of “anti-Liz Cheney” voters who were planning on going to the polls in Wyoming.
At least 30,000 Republicans who did not vote in 2020 went to the polls for the primary to vote out Liz Cheney. This is amazing and just shows how sick and tired Wyomingites were of how Cheney is representing them back in Washington D. C.
I had to explain to dozens of national and international reporters that although this race looked like a proxy vote on Donald Trump, it was not. This was a job interview. And Cowboy State voters preferred the job applicant (Hageman) who promised to work the hardest for them compared to an applicant (Cheney) whose goals were based on national issues.
And the bottom line was the Wyoming voters did not agree with Cheney on any of it.
On Fox News the day after the primary election, Dana Perino (who grew up in Wyoming) said, “Out in Wyoming, voters are hyper-concerned about Wyoming.” She called her home state “a special place” and with the small population, voters were concerned about state issues more than national issues.
Aaron Blake of The Washington Post speculated that Cheney’s political career could be over, especially when it comes to running for president. He wrote: “The idea that Cheney would have virtually any shot at winning a national Republican primary after such a loss in her home state is, on its face, laughable. And Cheney is shrewd enough to know that.”
Coy Knobel has a lot of insights on political campaigning. He was press secretary and chief of staff for the late U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming for 24 years
Coy writes: “Usually the candidates themselves go door to door, at least if it is a close race. Retail campaigning also means going to forums, parades and big Wyoming celebrations throughout the summer. This is retail politics.”
Cheney was rarely seen in Wyoming during the campaign and did not even register as a candidate until at the last minute.
This campaign was memorable. I thought it had a chance to be close with all the crossover voting, but I failed to anticipate the huge anti-Cheney vote that was out there among folks who had not voted in years.
I have long respected the Cheney family. Still do. They served this state and their country well for a long, long time. But this was a devastating blow to the family legacy. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/contributed_columns/wyoming-s-message-to-liz-cheney-you-re-fired/article_44f6d122-230a-11ed-8dd9-0fd38f055b1d.html | 2022-08-24T13:00:09Z |
The most watched political race in Wyoming history is over.
By the time you read this, the national reporters will have flown back to New York and Washington, D.C. The pundits will have found something else to debate. Cable news viewers will turn their attention to other topics.
Rep. Liz Cheney lost badly to Harriet Hageman, former President Donald Trump’s choice to unseat one of his biggest political enemies. Cheney has made it her mission to talk about the Jan. 6 insurrection and Trump’s attempts to undermine and overturn a legitimate presidential election. But judging by the election results, most of Wyoming’s Republican voters weren’t interested in her message, though her concerns about the undermining of our electoral system are completely on point.
This primary has shown us something else, especially when considering state and local races. Wyoming politics were once something distinct from the national political discourse. Our issues were unique to us. That’s no longer the case. In race after race this primary, the issues that were debated were the same ones you’d find on cable news, regardless of how little they may affect life within our borders. Meanwhile, areas of real concern were overlooked.
Our public school discourse is a notable example. The leading candidates in Wyoming’s schools superintendent race spent plenty of time discussing critical race theory, even though it’s not taught in a single Wyoming school. Yet there was little attention paid to the fact that, according to a recent survey, a shocking two thirds of teachers here would quit if they could. Superintendent Brian Schroeder nearly won the GOP nomination on the heels of his overheated warnings about gender identity. Meanwhile, our state’s education budget is running a major deficit without any clear fix, or for that matter, even a discussion of one.
Our secretary of state race was no different. The winning GOP candidate, Rep. Chuck Gray, campaigned against ballot drop boxes and voter fraud, even though all available evidence shows Wyoming’s elections are secure. All the while, we missed an opportunity to focus on what that office can do better to encourage voter turnout and economic development in Wyoming.
As voters, it’s time to insist our politicians address actual state issues. We can’t afford a disconnect between what we debate in our politics and the actual concerns facing Wyoming. Our state faces serious challenges. In the long term, we don’t have the revenue to support government and school services that our residents rely on. Coal is in decline. Our young people continue to flee for other states. Our population is aging at a time when medical services are receding. You won’t hear about these issues on cable news or talk radio. But ahead of the general election, voters should demand that politicians address these real concerns rather than allowing another round of distractions and nonsense. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/editorials/its-time-wyoming-politicians-focus-on-our-challenges/article_e3ec656e-2317-11ed-b205-1b4645a4fb6f.html | 2022-08-24T13:00:15Z |
Most Laramie residents are well educated in civics and understand how the federal government is structured. But not everyone knows how our city government works, even though it is vital to our happiness and prosperity.
Laramie currently has a council and city manager form of government, which mimics the structure of a corporation. The City Council is the board of directors and the city manager is the CEO.
We vote for the members of council, which convenes every week for a few hours at most, for a meeting or work session. The mayor (who is "weak," as s/he is not allowed to introduce new items) is merely the chair of the board, chosen by its members to run the meetings.
No one who works full-time in City Hall is elected and directly accountable to the public.
This sort of structure works well for a for-profit corporation, whose growth is constrained by a need to make money. But because government doesn't have to make a profit, it promotes unconstrained bureaucratic bloat and quickly becomes dysfunctional in all but the smallest cities.
During the past several years, we have experienced this dysfunction as city government has quietly grown to record size, flooding local businesses and residents with a torrent of new regulations and restrictions that empower, and make work for, the bureaucracy.
As Laramie's population increases toward the milestone of 50,000 residents (at which time we'll suddenly appear on the maps of large retailers and other national businesses), we need to consider a shift to a form of government that's more efficient, democratic and responsive.
As the election approaches, let's begin to talk about moving — as Cheyenne wisely has — to a city structured more like the state and federal governments, with council as a legislative body and an elected Mayor as chief executive.
Only by doing this can we contain a bureaucracy that's becoming increasingly intransigent and self-interested, and is growing to such an extent that it might soon need to impose a seventh penny of regressive sales tax to fund itself. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/letters_to_editor/laramie-government-needs-to-evolve/article_c74f26ec-230a-11ed-af40-0fba06936245.html | 2022-08-24T13:00:22Z |
I read Saturday's letter from Derek Mancinho about party switching for the primary election.
At first I chuckled, and then recognized how his letter is based in a really odd understanding of "true freedom." It's the last sentence that caught my eye. It reads, "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."
The letter claims that party switching prior to an election "undermines" the primary election of the opposing party. There is a surface logic to this idea, but if context is taken into account, then what the letter proposes restricts the freedom to vote.
As of July, Wyoming had 71% Republican voters. This is the real-world context within which we select candidates for office. As a registered Democrat in today's hyper polarized political climate, my vote has no say in who gets elected at the state level — governor and secretary of state, and federal-level offices like the U.S. Senate and House representatives.
If we take away the right to switch parties, then we restrict "true freedom in our voting process" to Republicans in the primary.
As a citizen and voter, I want my vote to count. If I can help keep candidates I consider kind of wacko out of office by voting for a more moderate Republican, why shouldn't I be able to?
I think that because Wyoming is so heavily Republican that the current primary system needs changing. Rather than having party primaries, we ought to change to rank choice voting.
Then, the primary would be open. I can vote for anyone in any party. The top two candidates move on to the general election. This makes state political parties less powerful and citizens more powerful, regardless of party affiliation.
Rank choice voting is a more fundamental understanding of "true freedom in our voting process." | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/opinion/letters_to_editor/wyoming-needs-rank-choice-voting/article_ea9248f2-230d-11ed-a0f0-47d30c8f652e.html | 2022-08-24T13:00:28Z |
CHEYENNE – The Cheyenne Police Department and Cheyenne Fire Rescue are facing off to see which agency can bring in the most lifesaving blood donations.
The annual “Guns N’ Hoses” blood drive challenge will take place Sept. 7 and 8 at the Cheyenne Public Safety Center, 415 W. 18th St. The competition allows blood donors to cast a vote for the first responder of their choice. The organization that recruits the most donors will receive a traveling trophy to showcase for the year, according to a CPD news release.
According to blood donation and research organization Vitalant, there is an urgent need for blood, and all eligible donors are encouraged to make an appointment to ensure patients get the vital transfusions they need. Blood has a short shelf life and must be continually replenished, especially during the summer months, when donations tend to decrease.
All blood types are needed, especially type O, which is the most transfused blood type and the first to run out in a shortage. Emergency room personnel reach for O-negative blood when there isn't time to determine a patient’s blood type.
The “Guns N’ Hoses” blood drive will be hosted at the Cheyenne Public Safety Center during the following dates and times:
Wednesday, Sept. 7: 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 8: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are always welcome. Please remember to bring an ID.
Donors are asked to prepare beforehand by eating breakfast or lunch and hydrating. Snacks and refreshments will be provided by Vitalant following the donation. Giveaways and Guns N’ Hoses T-shirts will also be provided, while supplies last.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 307-638-3326 or visit online at www.Donors.Vitalant.org and enter blood drive code "cheygunshoses." | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/cheyenne-police-and-fire-departments-compete-for-blood-donations/article_81c7a140-225f-11ed-9ee0-fbf0f593b9f0.html | 2022-08-24T13:00:34Z |
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
CHEYENNE – As the deadline to file for open K-12 school district and college board seats approaches, more than a dozen candidates have already thrown their hats in the ring.
Monday, Aug. 29, is the last day to file for board of trustees positions for Laramie County School District 1, Laramie County School District 2 and Laramie County Community College. Candidates will face one another in the Nov. 8 general election.
All board positions are unpaid and nonpartisan, and terms last for four years.
Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee predicted more filings would be coming this week, “especially now that the primary (election is) over.” The list of candidates was most recently updated Friday evening.
Hopefuls can find applications for each position at elections.laramiecountyclerk.com/candidates-corner/. Applications can be filed at the county clerk’s office in person, sent by email (PDF, minimum 300 DPI) to election@laramiecountywy.gov with the subject line “Candidate filing,” or sent by fax to 307-633-4240.
LCSD1 Board of Trustees
The LCSD1 board voted unanimously in October 2020 to transform three of its at-large seats into residence-area seats. The boundaries of these three seats loosely reflect the district’s three triads, according to previous reporting.
The vote followed months of controversy surrounding the proposal, with supporters saying it would help promote diversity among board members. Some parents at the time said they hoped having a board member from their area would help them feel more connected with the school board, and that area-specific board members would be more familiar with the needs of students from that triad.
Lee said Tuesday that there were four total open spots on the seven-member board: three area-specific seats and one at-large seat. Incumbents Marguerite Herman, Christy Klaassen, Rose Ann Million Rinne and Rich Wiederspahn have not yet filed for re-election.
Herman won last week’s Democratic primary for the House District 11 seat in the Wyoming Legislature against former lawmaker James Byrd, who represented House District 44 from 2009 to 2019. She will face Republican incumbent Rep. Jared Olsen in the general election.
Joseph Ramirez and Susan Edgerton have filed so far for Area 1, which roughly lines up with the South triad. In Area 2, which is the north-central part of the district, or roughly the East triad, sole candidate Maurina Venturelli has filed. Todd Reynolds and Michelle Tonacchio have filed to run in Area 3, which is the western section of the district, or roughly the Central triad.
As of Tuesday, the four candidates vying for a single at-large seat are Rene R. Hinkle, Lilia Olejnik, Jenefer Pasqua and Joe Plowman.
All candidates list addresses in Cheyenne.
LCSD2 Board of Trustees
The nine-member Laramie County School District 2 board has three open at-large seats, Lee said. Incumbents Russell Fornstrom, Taft Love and Jeff Kirkbride have not yet filed to run.
Two new candidates, Cody Nusbaum of Cheyenne and Kendra Roeder of Pine Bluffs, have so far filed for these seats.
LCSD2 Trustee Billie Wilson of Burns, who represents Area D – known as the Burns/Hillsdale area – has filed for re-election. As of Tuesday, she was the sole candidate for that seat.
LCCC Board of Trustees
Three of seven positions on Laramie County Community College’s Board of Trustees are up for grabs this year. Incumbent Janine Thompson of Cheyenne has filed for re-election, while two other incumbents, Brenda Lyttle and Carol Merrell, have not.
Lyttle recently announced her candidacy as an independent for House District 8. She will run against Republican candidate Dave Zwonitzer, who previously represented House District 9 from 2007 to 2017.
A new candidate running for the LCCC board is Joe Kelly of Cheyenne.
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/deadline-approaching-to-file-for-k-12-college-board-seats/article_8e30ed54-2315-11ed-b8e2-a3e1a4f620c8.html | 2022-08-24T13:00:40Z |
Recently arrested by the Cheyenne Police Department:
Jacob T. Darling, 30, of East 17th Street on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to pay at 11:46 p.m. Monday at East Pershing Boulevard and Forest Drive.
Fabian M. Hernandez, 25, transient, for misdemeanor possession of marijuana (less than 1/4 oz.) and interfering/obstructing at 9:27 p.m. Monday in the 3600 block of East Lincolnway.
Jason J. Marlow, 42, of Duff Avenue for misdemeanor being violent/tumultuous to property, disturbing the peace/property and public intoxication at 9:24 p.m. Monday in the 3500 block of Duff Avenue.
Brenda L. Sutton, 37, of Carpenter on two misdemeanor warrants through Laramie County District Court for civil violations and a felony warrant through Laramie County District Court for failure to appear at 7:50 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of McComb Avenue.
Donald C. Green, 45, transient, for misdemeanor refusing to provide ID to a police officer, public intoxication and fighting/riotous conduct at 7:45 p.m. Monday in the 400 block of East Lincolnway.
Bryan R. Ciccone, 45, of Hilltop Avenue for felony driving under the influence with serious bodily injury at 4 p.m. Monday at East Lincolnway and Pinion Drive.
Chase P. Pryor, 38, of San Diego, California, for misdemeanor public intoxication at 3:45 p.m. Monday in the 5100 block of Frontier Mall Drive.
Alan L. Bazzle, 45, of West 17th Street for misdemeanor disturbing the peace/property and refusing to obey at 6:15 a.m. Monday in the 2300 block of East Lincolnway.
Tyler J. Pohlman, 25, of College Drive for misdemeanor DUI (alcohol, second in 10 years) at 3:12 a.m. Monday at Central Avenue and East Eighth Avenue
Alicia M. Padilla, 41, transient, on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 7:07 p.m. Sunday in the 2500 block of East 13th Street.
Shannon W. Ingram, 42, transient, on a misdemeanor warrant out of Campbell County for unknown charges at 6:18 a.m. Sunday at Morrie Avenue and Broken Wheel Court.
Andrew Flores, 49, of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, for misdemeanor failure to report an accident and DUI (alcohol, first in 10 years) at 2:40 a.m. Sunday in the 4500 block of Ridge Road.
Joseph N. Hernandez, 33, of Eighth Street for misdemeanor assault (battery) and on two misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear at 10:35 p.m. Saturday in the 1300 block of West Lincolnway.
Marcos C. Munoz, 27, transient, for misdemeanor shoplifting (between $100 and $300) and on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 4:45 p.m. Saturday in the 2000 block of Dell Range Boulevard.
Roberto N. Munoz, 39, of Ahrens Avenue for misdemeanor DUI (alcohol, first in 10 years) and failure to maintain lane/unsafe lane change at 2:18 a.m. Saturday in the 1900 block of Converse Avenue.
Johnny J. Chavez III, 41, of Oxford Drive for misdemeanor DUI (alcohol, first in 10 years) and brake lamp violation at 2:07 a.m. Saturday at Yellowstone Road and Vandehei Avenue.
Matthew C. Martinez, 31, of Griffith Avenue on a felony warrant for strangulation of a household member (minor injury) and on a misdemeanor warrant for domestic battery at 12:23 a.m. Saturday at Deming Drive and West Seventh Street.
Allyson M. Grubaugh, 54, transient, for misdemeanor public intoxication at 11:45 p.m. Friday in the 3900 block of Gregg Way.
Vincent L. Munoz, 61, transient, for misdemeanor refusing to obey and interfering/obstructing at 4:15 p.m. Friday in the 600 block of West 24th Street.
Sandra A. Paiva, 56, transient, on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 9:20 a.m. Friday in the 300 block of West 17th Street.
Mykayla Ramsey, 19, of King Arthur Way for misdemeanor DUI as a youthful offender (alcohol) and interfering/obstructing at 1:28 a.m. Friday at East Lincolnway and Morrie Avenue.
Brandy L. Miller, 48, transient, on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 1:20 a.m. Friday at Missile Drive and West 18th Street.
Deedra L. Sanders, 31, of Williams Street on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 11:33 p.m. Thursday in the 2300 block of East Lincolnway.
n
Recently arrested by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office:
James A. Roesch, 64, of Boulder, Colorado, on a felony warrant through Laramie County District Court for failure to comply at 2:05 p.m. Monday at the Laramie County Governmental Complex, 309 W. 20th St.
Sawyer N. Morrison, 30, of South Avenue B-6 on a misdemeanor warrant out of Platte County for failure to pay at 10:20 a.m. Monday at his residence.
Phillip R. Krei, 29, of Missile Drive on a felony warrant for child abuse with minor injury (physical, not responsible for welfare) at 2:57 p.m. Sunday at his residence.
Demetrius M. Coletti, 43, transient, on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to pay at 1:10 p.m. Sunday in the 1700 block of South Greeley Highway.
Savannah B. Woolum, 23, transient, on a felony warrant for failure to appear at 8:01 a.m. Sunday in the 1900 block of East Lincolnway.
Adrianna K. Munoz, 31, of Artesian Road for misdemeanor DUI, driving with a suspended license (subsequent violations), driving without an interlock device and possession of open container at 7:48 p.m. Saturday in the 1600 block of South Greeley Highway.
Kain M. Jones, 28, of Savannah Drive on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to pay at 11:26 a.m. Saturday in the 5000 block of Missile Drive.
Kristin M. Johns, 52, of Centennial, Colorado, for misdemeanor DUI (unreported substance) at 4:30 p.m. Friday at U.S. Highway 30 and Christensen Road.
Dalton M. Triplett, 28, of Gregg Way on a felony warrant out of Natrona County for failure to register as a sex offender at 4 p.m. Friday at the Laramie County jail, 1910 Pioneer Ave.
n
Recently arrested by the Wyoming Highway Patrol:
Jose A. Martinez, 32, of Aurora, Colorado, on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear at 12:26 p.m. Sunday at mile marker 2 on southbound Interstate 25.
Paul W. Spence II, 41, of Gordon Road on a felony warrant for theft and a misdemeanor warrant for probation violation at 3:14 p.m. Friday a mile marker 0 on South Industrial Service Road.
Police blotter is a list of recent arrests compiled from public records in Laramie County. All people listed here are innocent until proven guilty. Anyone listed who has a charge dismissed or is acquitted of the charge may bring or mail a court document proving such to the WTE editor, 702 W. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/police_blotter/police-blotter-8-24-22/article_c8de6504-224c-11ed-ba03-378b0281d8ad.html | 2022-08-24T13:00:47Z |
Imperial Dam, where 3.1 million acre-feet of Colorado River water is diverted annually to the Imperial Valley Irrigation District (as well as to numerous cities and irrigation districts), is pictured near Winterhaven, Calif. Photo courtesy of Bureau of Reclamation
Imperial Dam, where 3.1 million acre-feet of Colorado River water is diverted annually to the Imperial Valley Irrigation District (as well as to numerous cities and irrigation districts), is pictured near Winterhaven, Calif. Photo courtesy of Bureau of Reclamation
It seemed inevitable that the dwindling Colorado River would be divvied up by the federal Bureau of Reclamation. On June 14, BuRec gave the seven states in the Colorado River compact just 60 days to find a way to cut their total water usage by up to 4 million acre-feet. No plans emerged.
But surprisingly, BuRec’s Aug. 16 press release imposed no new cuts on states, instead affirming cuts mandated under 2007 and 2019 agreements. Nevada and Mexico took minor losses, and Arizona emerged as the first big loser.
BuRec said Arizona must cut 592,000 acre-feet “because of the concession it made back in 1968 to California to get the Central Arizona Project online,” says University of Wyoming law professor Jason Robison. That concession meant the 1.4 million acre-feet capacity of the Central Arizona Project has junior water rights. In a shortage – like now – the Central Arizona Project, except for tribal water rights, could be cut to zero, a blow to cities and agriculture.
Here’s a question the Upper Basin states seem inclined to ask: If the 1922 Colorado River Compact parceling out the river’s water is the law, shouldn’t California face major cuts? After all, California’s huge allotment of 4.4 million acre-feet lately equals the entire consumption of the four Upper Basin states, and its allotment is also junior to almost 1 million acre-feet of tribal water.
Thanks to a 1931 seven-party agreement, California established a pecking order of priority for each of its water users. Massive districts such as Palo Verde and the Imperial Valley Irrigation District have priority over the Metropolitan Water District, which brings drinking water to 19 million people in Los Angeles and Southern California. The state has a structure, but no plan for serious savings.
For the Upper Basin states, says UW’s Robison, “It’s more nuanced. But there’s significant federal authority to run those (BuRec) Upper Basin reservoirs,” though none are very large.
Where might other water cuts be found? Colorado’s 1876 constitution ranked municipal water over agriculture, making it tough to dry up cities like Colorado Springs or Aurora, even though their water rights are junior. But residents might see incentives for tearing out lawns, along with programs for water reuse and much higher water rates.
In rural Colorado, there isn’t much water available to conserve. The largest irrigation district in the Upper Basin, the 500,000 acre-feet Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association, already took a 150,000 acre-feet cut this year because of a light snowpack.
“The runoff just isn’t there,” says General Manager Steve Pope.
Pope, as well as many others in agriculture, views a desert city like Phoenix – which grew on the false promises of reliable water – as an existential threat to farming communities.
“Are we going to water a field that produces some sort of a crop, or do we water a golf course or a median?” asks Pope. “What’s the benefit of a lawn?”
What the federal government can’t touch for now is any Upper Basin irrigation project created before the signing of the Colorado River Compact in 1922. In Colorado, a spreadsheet compiled by the state’s Division of Water Resources tells what projects, by date, risk losing water. Some Western slope irrigators are vulnerable because the water rights they’re using were bought by municipalities only recently, intending them for future growth.
Many Colorado irrigators on private ditches are lucky to have so-called “perfected” rights dating from the late 1800s. To snag water from these irrigators, it’s likely to be all carrot and no stick. But rather than taking payments for not irrigating, says Pope, “we would be more concerned with system efficiency and improvements.”
The Inflation Reduction Act provides $4 billion to Colorado River water users for just this kind of conservation. Meanwhile, Colorado is the only Upper Basin state that seriously tested paying irrigators to fallow their land or reduce irrigation by half. But ceasing to irrigate farms involves risks. After a couple of dry years, hay fields can bounce back, landowners report, but anything more than that leaves bare dirt and dust in the air.
For now, BuRec seems to be following its plans and hoping for the best, which means emergency cuts might be drastic. As John Weisheit of Utah-based Living Rivers sees it, BuRec made a mistake when it told the seven Basin states of the Colorado River to find 2 to 4 million acre-feet to do without.
“The cuts,” he says, “should go even deeper, up to 6 million acre-feet. The need is to that point.”
Dave Marston is the publisher of Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West.
Dave Marston is the publisher of Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/guest_column/marston-business-as-usual-for-the-colorado-river/article_911cff10-231c-11ed-9aa9-9bf9b25fdd37.html | 2022-08-24T13:00:53Z |
What a difference a few months can make in the grieving process. The passage of time was helped along by some Jewish burial customs.
Back on May 19, in a column titled “Missing my mom, meet my mom,” I introduced you to my late mother. Today, as I’m writing this in Denver, my family and I just attended the unveiling of her gravestone in the cemetery where she was buried in April 2021.
Something has happened in the last few months, so that I am no longer as upset at her for the very act of dying. I thought it would take me much more time to get to this point. I do not think I should have been blaming her all this time, though the outrage came naturally, and out of love and grief.
Rightly or wrongly, I have been holding my mother responsible for her own death. I have been upset at her, perhaps selfishly, for not attending to her medical problems so that she could continue to live. I was hurt that she eventually rejected all my efforts to help her. So goes it with highly independent (not to mention intelligent) people, especially when they are among your loved ones.
While it was no huge surprise when she passed away, alone at home in suburban Denver and from an apparent massive heart attack, it still hit me hard. As experts say, people sometimes react to loss with anger, before they accept the loss itself.
My mom, Isabel, was a human conundrum. She had all the will a person needs to live, yet she did not heed medical advice.
My wife explains it as my mom was so overwhelmed that she didn’t fully comprehend or accept health care instructions, and I think that is part of the equation that led to her premature demise. She was 73, and based on her family history, she could have lived another 20 years with proper medical care.
In the last few weeks approaching today’s unveiling of her gravestone, I have gradually noticed that my anger over the situation has begun subsiding. When I think of her, which is just a little less frequent these days, I think of how much I miss her, how sad I am that I can’t communicate with her anymore, and how I would like to see her.
This transition itself is a bit of a loss, because she is simply on my mind just a bit less. While I used to think about her multiple times a day, now it is no more than once daily. I fear I will forget the sound of her voice, the feel of her skin when I kissed her forehead goodbye, the memory of what she physically looked like.
This loss of having her constantly on my mind is replaced by the joy she still brings to me – and other members of her family, as well as her many friends. She remains my moral compass. She remains a primary reason why I moved to Cheyenne this past winter.
It brought me so much joy to see her longtime friends who attended the graveside mini-service today: Jan, Joanie, Lois and Rebecca. (I was sorry that another friend couldn’t find the grave – I almost got lost, too). My brother and his family came, as did my own wife and son. Having everyone there was something she would have appreciated just as much as I did.
Her beloved religious leader, Rabbi Black, lent spirituality and personality to the proceedings. This was in part because Rabbi Black knew my mother well, and in part because Jewish mourning traditions are purposefully meant to help people with getting some closure. Revealing my mom’s gravestone, which was beautiful and I think just how she would have wanted it, added to this sense of peacefulness. Then we placed small stones on top of it, another tradition.
Afterward, my family and I went to visit my father and stepmother, who live nearby. Without the loss of my mom, I might have remained as a journalist on the East Coast, and I would have missed all the recent opportunities I have had to see family here in Denver. My son might not have been able to go clothes shopping with his grandfather for the outfit he will wear next month when he has his Jewish coming of age ceremony, which is called a bar mitzvah.
So thank you, Mom, for leaving something behind beyond just the many memories we all have of you. You inspired this cross-country move. While I wish I could visit you in person, I am glad I can see where you are buried and remember you that way.
I love you. I miss you. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/guest_column/my-side-of-the-story-less-upset-at-my-late-mother/article_28c7d34f-c825-5c59-b716-889fddb3d1b3.html | 2022-08-24T13:00:59Z |
The Republican Party has become the party of hypocrisy.
Recently, Lindsey Graham stated that “No one is above the law” after the search at Mar-a-Lago. Graham is also quoted as saying that Trump would destroy the Republican Party “for decades to come" in 2016. “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed … and we will deserve it." (May 3, 2016)
In the past, Marco Rubio has said: On the "Today" show: “We’re on the verge of having someone take over the conservative movement who is a con artist.” Another: “Florida is not going to vote for a con artist like Donald Trump.” And, “We cannot turn over the Reagan revolution to someone who has spent a career of sticking it to working people and now claims to be their champion.”
He also said, “Donald Trump is not a Republican. Donald Trump is not a conservative. Donald Trump is trying to pull off the biggest scam in American political history, basically a con job, where he’s trying to take over the Republican Party by telling people he’s someone who he is not."
Let’s not forget Ted Cruz: “Trump is an ‘utterly amoral’ bully, narcissist, pathological liar.” “Donald has a real problem with women." ("The Hill," May 3, 2016) And, “A narcissist at a level that I don’t think this country has ever seen.” (BBC News)
Chris Christie, once a longtime friend of Trump, during an address at St. Anselm College, said, “Showtime is over. We are not electing an entertainer-in-chief. Showmanship is fun, but it is not the kind of leadership that will truly change America.”
Most Wyoming voters voted for Harriet Hageman. That is their absolute right. But another form of hypocrisy? Hageman was very good friends with Liz Cheney. Friend to foe because she had to kiss up to Trump. She stabbed Liz in the back. Liz is on to bigger and better. Harriett gets to kiss the ring. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/republican-party-epitomizes-hypocrisy-at-its-best-or-worse/article_6372b0a4-231d-11ed-8184-d7aeb967ef15.html | 2022-08-24T13:01:05Z |
Thank you to the gentleman who bought our lunch last month Letter from S.K. Occipinto | Cheyenne Aug 24, 2022 1 hr ago Comments Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save My sister, niece and I would like to thank the gentleman that bought our lunch at Applebee's on July 23.That was a very pleasant surprise. You can rest assured that we will pay it forward.Just goes to show that there are fantastic people like you around.Thanks again,The Roush girls Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Tags Letter To The Editor Gentleman Niece Lunch Sister Thanks People Thank Recommended for you Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. comments powered by Disqus Trending Now Hageman beats Cheney, will face Grey Bull in November Laramie County DA declines to charge woman arrested in stabbing death Wyoming Education Association sues state over education funding Kozak wins sheriff primary, Hackl presumptive DA First Wyoming case of monkeypox identified in Laramie County Latest Special Section Cheyenne Frontier Days To view our latest Special Section click the image on the left. Latest e-Edition Wyoming Tribune Eagle To view our latest e-Edition click the image on the left. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/thank-you-to-the-gentleman-who-bought-our-lunch-last-month/article_d12841a2-231f-11ed-a35d-c3d4cc2e76ac.html | 2022-08-24T13:01:11Z |
Last week’s primary election revealed many things about the current state of politics in Wyoming – some good, some bad.
Let’s start with some good news. Regardless of your party affiliation, this week’s primary once again showed that the state’s election process is trustworthy, and our county clerks and their staff are dedicated to preserving its integrity. Not only did we hear no complaints of voting irregularities, results are canvassed by independent boards at the county and state levels to certify that was the case.
That’s unlikely to silence those like Republican Secretary of State primary winner Chuck Gray, however, who have parroted the false election fraud claims coming from former President Donald Trump and his supporters ever since the 2020 election results didn’t go his way. We just hope this week and another well-handled election in November will cause Mr. Gray and others to stop sowing seeds of distrust about a system in Wyoming that clearly works well.
The next post-election takeaway isn’t that surprising, but should concern anyone who had hopes the Legislature would stop wasting time on highly partisan, mostly far-right boilerplate legislation. With an economy desperately in need of diversification, a K-12 education funding crisis, tens of thousands of residents without health insurance and many other top-shelf issues facing them, lawmakers shouldn’t be wasting their time on the pet issues of the American Legislative Exchange Council and other groups.
Yet, based on last week’s results, it seems many of the state’s Republican voters either don’t care or failed to do their homework about certain candidates. For example, in Natrona County, Casper developer Bob Ide narrowly defeated former Senate President Drew Perkins. Of course, we have no evidence of how he will perform as a lawmaker, but the fact Mr. Ide was photographed with state GOP Chairman Frank Eathorne at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, gives us some indication.
Rural eastern Wyoming, especially, is growing ever more conservative. In Goshen County, Rep. J.D. Williams lost his seat to Allen Earl Slagle, and Rep. Shelly Duncan lost her seat to Scott Smith. And in Converse County, Rep. Aaron Clausen narrowly lost his seat to Tomi Strock, who encouraged her campaign Facebook followers to attend a Chuck Gray-sponsored screening of “2000 Mules” because “it is trully (sic) an eye opening documentary” about the 2020 election.
All of this sets up the 67th Wyoming Legislature to be even more radical than the one that wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on a special session about vaccine mandates.
Which brings us to a key point: If more people don’t start doing their homework, asking questions of candidates and voting, this radicalization of our political system will continue. And, sorry, folks, we hate to say it, but there’s really no excuse for this other than simple laziness.
Today, thanks to the internet and social media, there are more ways than ever to find out where each candidate stands on the key issues. In addition to stories and news briefs in publications like the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, there are candidate questionnaires on our website, WyomingNews.com, and answers to online surveys by other organizations.
Not plugged in? There’s still the old-fashioned method of picking up the phone and calling those you’re wondering about (yes, the phone numbers can be found on the Secretary of State and Laramie County Clerk’s Office websites, but we’ll soon be publishing a list of all of the phone numbers and email addresses they provided when they filed to run for office).
Another disturbing lesson to be learned from this year’s primary field is that some people seem to want to get elected so they can destroy the system from the inside. While we certainly hope that isn’t the case with Mr. Gray and Republican U.S. House nominee Harriet Hageman, we saw evidence of this trend from people like current State Superintendent of Public Instruction Brian Schroeder, gubernatorial candidate Rex Rammell, U.S. House candidate and current state Sen. Anthony Bouchard and others.
Thankfully, many of these folks failed to advance to the general election, but some did. And with all of the noise made lately at school board meetings here and across the state about books in school libraries and district mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, voters must be extra careful to vet trustees candidates this fall.
Of course, with the attention placed on the race between Ms. Hageman and incumbent Rep. Liz Cheney, it would be easy to say that the days of Wyoming going unnoticed on the national political scene are over. We’re not sure, though.
Certainly, the high-profile battle between Ms. Cheney and Mr. Trump drew the attention of journalists and political insiders from the Beltway and across the country. It also generated a lot of attention from average residents nationwide with an opinion about Ms. Cheney and her service on the congressional committee investigating the 1-6-21 Capitol riot. That attention led to millions of dollars from outside the state pouring into Ms. Cheney’s campaign account, as well as Mr. Trump endorsing in down-ballot races.
We can’t help but wonder if this is a one-time blip on the radar, however. How likely is it that, once the current battle of wills fades away, the least-populated state in the union will continue to garner such attention? As is the case with Alaska other than when Sarah Palin’s on the ballot, we think it’s pretty unlikely.
Of course, the most obvious takeaway is that the former president still has a lot of influence in the Equality State. Ms. Hageman’s landslide victory over Ms. Cheney is all the evidence we need to see that. Unlike the attention that came with it, that likely will take much longer to fade into the past, especially if the Republican Party continues to be the Party of Trump.
OK, that’s enough looking back. With fewer than 80 days to go until the general election, it’s time to grab a notebook, make a list of candidates to research and get to work.
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
Aug. 20 | https://www.wyomingnews.com/opinion/staff_editorials/primary-reveals-much-about-politics-in-wyoming/article_23d02de4-2220-11ed-8737-d7df0b885cad.html | 2022-08-24T13:01:17Z |
CASPER — When government-ordered eviction bans put in place during the coronavirus pandemic were lifted, housing advocates in Polk County, Iowa, feared a crisis was on the horizon.
In summer 2021, the county — which includes Des Moines — was staring down a backlog of eviction filings. People could apply for rental assistance from the federal government, but in Iowa, much like Wyoming, it wasn’t getting to them fast enough.
So the county’s board of supervisors gave its local housing trust fund roughly $1.3 million “to actually sit down at Polk County eviction court and write checks to landlords in return for dismissal of eviction cases,” said Eric Burmeister, the fund’s executive director.
The organization got another $700,000 of support from local businesses and private donors for the effort.
By the time federal rental assistance started flowing to Polk County residents, the housing trust fund had already prevented almost 1,000 evictions, Burmeister said.
Housing trust funds are, in short, dedicated pools of money for addressing community housing needs. They can pay for anything from affordable housing developments, to home restoration projects, to rental assistance and homelessness programs.
Iowa has 27 local housing trust funds, including Polk County’s. Wyoming, by comparison, has just one, located in Jackson Hole. Why does Iowa have so many, and Wyoming, so few?
Iowa has a state housing trust fund program. Wyoming is one of just three states that doesn’t.
As Wyoming grapples with housing shortages and rising prices, some advocates are looking to Iowa’s housing trust fund program for inspiration.
Dan Dorsch, special projects coordinator for Habitat of Humanity of Laramie County, sees the program as a potential model for Wyoming because the majority of its money goes to local-level funds.
“Those communities get to decide where that funding goes for their own unique situations that they’re facing,” he told the Star-Tribune in June.
Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County and housing organization My Front Door on Thursday hosted a conference on housing trust funds in Cheyenne.
At that meeting, Burmeister and Terri Rosonke, housing programs manager for the Iowa Finance Authority, explained how Iowa’s housing trust program works on the state and local levels.
Iowa’s state’s legislature created the program in 2003. Today, it gets $3 million from a state infrastructure fund and up to $7 million from real estate transfer taxes annually, Rosonke said.
About 97% of that money goes directly to Iowa’s 27 local housing trust funds. (The other 3% goes toward housing projects that don’t qualify for housing trust fund money.)
The funding’s often used to rehabilitate existing homes, Rosonke said, given how expensive it is to build entirely new housing.
In addition to preventing evictions, Polk County’s housing trust fund in 2021 spent $1.6 million to improve over 300 affordable homes and to build 22 new homes and 94 new rentals, Burmeister said.
One of the main appeals of the funds is their flexibility; the money can be used to address a variety of housing issues.
Still, Iowa has guidelines to make sure it’s going to the right place, Rosonke said.
The funding has to be used to benefit people earning less than or equal to 80% of the area median income. Of that, roughly a third has to go to people making less than or equal to 30% of the area median income, she said.
Iowa’s local housing trust funds also must match the amount they’re getting from the state by at least 25%. The majority of that usually comes from municipal and county governments, with help from local businesses and private donors.
“It’s almost impossible to really make this work without strong local government involvement,” Burmeister said.
The 25% match requirement is getting harder and harder to meet, Rosonke said. For one, the state recently started giving its housing trust fund program a lot more money. That means its 27 local funds are eligible for more funding, but now face a higher barrier for accessing it.
There’s also the fact that housing trust funds are competing with other local causes for donations.
The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic has, understandably, made that more difficult; there’s just more need right now, Rosonke said.
Iowa has temporarily loosened its 25% matching requirement to give local housing trust funds a bit of a break.
If Wyoming wanted to create a housing trust fund program like Iowa’s, it’s unclear what organization would oversee it. In recent years, federal and state housing programs have been led by the Wyoming Department of Family Services or the Wyoming Community Development Authority, a nonprofit that gives low-interest loans to people looking to buy their first homes.
Communities would then have to start their own local-level housing trust funds and nail down reliable sources of local funding before they could apply for money from the state.
In Iowa, that took a lot of time and effort.
“Maybe two or three years ago, we finally reached the point where the entire state was served by a local housing trust fund,” Rosonke said.
During the first few years of its program, Iowa State University provided technical support for the funds as they got off the ground.
There’s also the question of funding. A lot of housing trust fund programs around the country are paid for with things like document filing fees and sales taxes. Most of Iowa’s program is funded by real estate transfer taxes.
At the moment, Wyoming doesn’t tax real estate sales. Teton County lawmakers have been pushing to change that for years. They want Wyoming, like Iowa, to be able to tax real estate transfers to support affordable housing programs and other initiatives.
But that idea hasn’t been popular in Wyoming’s tax-averse statehouse.
To get around that, Teton County lawmakers have floated legislation that would create a real estate transfer tax that’s county-optional.
That way, each county could opt in or out of the program. They’d also be able to decide for themselves what they do with the money made from the tax.
The latest iteration of the bill, which was sponsored by the Joint Revenue Committee, failed its introductory vote on the House floor in February.
Still, it was the first time the bill had received a committee’s backing.
Whether or not Cheyenne would support a housing trust fund program is unknown.
But Wyoming is starting to get desperate for housing solutions, and lawmakers are taking note — the Legislature held its first-ever committee meeting on workforce housing issues in June.
The Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee is expected to continue that conversation during meetings in Casper on Thursday and Friday. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/advocates-say-trust-fund-could-address-housing-needs/article_7ba44a5c-2228-11ed-99ba-cb056280adb2.html | 2022-08-24T13:01:24Z |
Lawsuit alleges discrimination at Sheridan store
SHERIDAN (WNE) — A lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming earlier this month alleges employment discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act at the Sheridan Albertsons store.
According to court documents, the plaintiff, Julie Watters, 57, started working at the Sheridan Albertsons store in August 2006 and remained an employee there for more than 15 years, eventually attaining the role of deli department supervisor at the store.
In 2020, Watters was diagnosed with a disability that required her to use oxygen during the day while at work, and she requested reasonable accommodation to use oxygen while working, the plaintiff’s complaint states.
Despite meeting with her supervisors and continuing to request accommodations, store leadership eventually indicated the only accommodation available to Watters was use of oxygen in her car during breaks from work.
In addition to the store’s alleged refusal to allow Watters to use oxygen at work when necessary, the plaintiff’s complaint also indicates store officials repeatedly mocked Watters’ condition, calling her a slow, weak and lazy old woman due to her lack of oxygen.
Watters claims Albertsons’ treatment of her and response to her disability was a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
In addition to requiring accessibility accommodations, the ADA also protects disabled people — or people with a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more life activities — from employment discrimination.
Albertsons has not yet filed an answer to the complaint, despite court documents including a summons to the civil action. District court procedure requires the company respond to the plaintiff’s complaint within 21 days of service or a judgment will be entered against Albertsons.
Albertsons corporate officials did not respond to The Sheridan Press’ requests for comment on the lawsuit.
Longtime Wyoming journalist Jim Angell dies
CHEYENNE (WNE) — Lifelong journalist Jim Angell died Aug. 17 at Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne. He was 64.
Born in Spokane, Wash., on May 29, 1958, he was raised by his parents, Carol and Darrel Dean Angell, wheat farmers in Walla Walla, Wash. He graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1976 and earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Washington State University in 1981.
Angell worked as a reporter at the Tri-City Herald in Kennewick, Wash., for several years before moving to Cheyenne in 1985 to take a job with The Associated Press, where he worked until 1998.
He began dating Mary Shannon, then a reporter for the Wyoming Eagle, during the 1989 Wyoming legislative session, and the two were married May 5, 1990. Their daughter Amanda was born in 1997.
Angell became executive director of the Wyoming Press Association in 1998. A stalwart champion of government transparency, he lobbied the Legislature to ensure open government and educated reporters and elected officials on Wyoming’s open meetings and public records law. In 2019, he received from the WPA the Milton Chilcott Award for his “extraordinary efforts to defend access to public information.”
As WPA director, Angell planned conventions for the state’s newspaper people. He not only scheduled workshops and social functions, but also wrapped up each convention by leading a jam session with his fellow journalists, encouraging everyone to sing along until late into the night.
In 2017, the Angells formed the Wyoming News Exchange, a cooperative service for the state’s newspapers that continues today.
Following his retirement from the WPA in 2018, Angell helped to found the Cowboy State Daily, an online news source, in 2019 and worked as its managing editor until his illness.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by Jeff “Kong” Shields of Walla Walla, Wash., a close family friend whom Angell considered a brother. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
Arrangements for a celebration of life will be held in Cheyenne the first part of November. When finalized, details will be posted on schradercares.com. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Wyoming Press Association Foundation at 2121 Evans Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001.
Search for next Cam-plex GM continues
GILLETTE (WNE) – More than 60 people have applied for the open general manager position at Cam-plex.
The Campbell County Public Land Board will review the applications as the search for the next head of the event facility continues.
With the Aug. 1 application deadline passed, the candidates will be vetted to ensure they meet all qualifications before making their way to land board members later this month.
“This is a common HR procedure and will preserve the integrity of the applications for both transparency and provide a fair platform for all of the applicants,” said Charlene Camblin, a land board member on the search committee.
Land board members will review the filtered pool of candidates together at the end of the month. They will use scorecards to rate applications on different criteria. Virtual interviews with select candidates will follow, then in-person interviews after that.
A management company may be chosen to lead Cam-plex, rather than one of the 60-plus applicants.
Those companies will give presentations to the land board in October or November.
As of early July, the land board had been in contact with two management groups, including Oak View Group and ASM Global.
Last month, the search committee set an “aggressive” goal of hiring the next Cam-plex GM in September. The updated timelines have interviews and management company presentations carrying on past that goal and later into the fall.
Renae Keuck, Cam-plex director of finances, took on the interim general manager role when former general manager Jeff Esposito resigned in May for a different job out-of-state.
Sweetwater Downs kicks off 2022 horse racing season
ROCK SPRINGS (WNE) — The 2022 horse racing season will get underway at the Sweetwater Events Complex on Saturday, Aug, 20.
Hosted by Wyoming Horse Racing, the races are in their 12th year, and will bring horses and jockeys from all over the western United States.
The 2022 16-day season will see the highest daily purse payments for horsemen, totaling over $1 million dollars for the meet. Sweetwater Downs will also feature special events daily for kids and fun for families.
“We are looking forward to offering a variety of memorable events for racegoers — from serious racing fans to those seeking family-friendly activities,” said Sweetwater Downs General Manager Eugene Joyce. “And we are especially proud that this year our partners have committed to a $1 million investment to improve the facilities at Sweetwater for all to enjoy.
Now, a day at the races truly means excitement and entertainment for everyone,” Joyce continued. “There is nothing more thrilling than seeing the horses and jockeys up close and cheering them on to the finish line.”
Fans will be able to wager on up to 9 races daily, including the $10,000 Horse Palace Stakes and enter the Derby Hat Festival.
Daily pony stick races will be held for kids, and the traditional season highlights will include the Governor’s Handicap and the John Schiffer Memorial Race.
The 12th season of live horse racing begins Saturday, Aug. 20, and extends through Sunday October 2.
Race fans unable to attend live racing in person can place bets at any Horse Palace location and enjoy the latest game additions where a nearly $800,000 jackpot was recently won.
The nine locations include two in Casper, two in Cheyenne and one in Evanston, Gillette, Green River, Rock Springs and Sheridan.
For more information on live racing at Sweetwater Downs, visit wyominghorseracingdata.com.
Former Sheridan city employee arrested for felony theft
SHERIDAN (WNE) — Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office officials took former city of Sheridan Utility Maintenance Division Superintendent Kenneth Hirschman, 53, into custody Aug. 11 for felony theft of city property.
Court documents allege Hirschman took 949 pounds of brass scrap metal belonging to the city without authorization; transported it to Billings in his personal vehicle on three separate occasions from July 2020 to March 2022; and sold it for $1,543, a sum he did not repay to the city.
Hirschman allegedly used the proceeds to purchase steaks and brats for team-building lunches for his staff and refuel his truck for a fishing trip.
The alleged crime, theft in excess of $1,000, is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both.
The Sheridan Police Department conducted an investigation into Hirschman’s behavior at the behest of the city, after City Administrator Stuart McRae received allegations of misconduct. Hirschman has not been a city employee since June, McRae said.
Salvageable scrap metal received by the city’s utilities workers belongs to the rate payors, or those who pay for the city’s utility services, McRae explained. The metal is then turned into recycling centers, and the funds recouped are returned exclusively to the utilities department budget.
According to court documents, Hirschman was supposed to deposit city-owned scrap metal at a recycling center in Sheridan, with all credit for the metal due to the city. But that’s not what happened.
“Hirschman stated essentially that he knew the brass was property of the city of Sheridan and…he sold the brass in Billings so he could receive cash,” wrote SPD Cpt. Tom Ringley in the affidavit of probable cause for Hirschman’s arrest.
Two men die in crash south of Wright
GILLETTE (WNE) — Two men were killed in a three-vehicle crash southwest of Wright late Aug. 13.
At 11:55 p.m. Saturday, a 36-year-old man from Oklahoma was driving a 2006 Ford F-150 south on Highway 387 near Clarkelen Road when he crossed the center line, colliding head-on with a Toyota Camry driven by a 62-year-old man from Utah, said Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. Jeremy Beck.
The Toyota came to an uncontrolled rest on the northbound roadway and shoulder. The F-150 traveled off the road, crossed a driveway and came to a stop on its roof.
The truck’s driver, Michael Brasch, was fully ejected and died from the injuries he sustained in the crash. The driver of the Camry, Christopher Czech, also died from injuries he received during the crash.
Czech was wearing a seatbelt, while Brasch was not, Beck said.
A red Nissan Rogue, which was traveling behind the Camry, was hit by debris from the collision and came to a stop on the northbound shoulder of Highway 387. No one in the Nissan was hurt, Beck said.
Monday morning, Beck said Highway Patrol was still investigating to determine a contributing factor. At the time of the crash, the road conditions were dry and the weather was clear.
So far this year, there have been 70 deaths on Wyoming’s highways, which is right in line with the last two years. In 2021, there were 71 fatalities through mid-August, while 2020 had 75.
Nearly 5K gallons of fuel spills in Yellowstone
JACKSON (WNE) — After the driver of a tanker truck lost control, the rig rolled and spilled an estimated 4,800 gallons of unleaded gasoline in Yellowstone National Park early Friday.
The accident happened near mile marker 16 on Highway 191, which runs through the western side of Yellowstone near the Montana-Wyoming border, according to a park news release.
The release said it was unknown if any of the fuel had spilled into nearby Grayling Creek, which flows from the Gallatin Mountains into Hebgen Lake.
National Park Service crews responded immediately, the release said, and cleanup efforts are ongoing. No injuries were reported.
The incident remains under investigation, the park release said. For up-to-date road information, visit Go.nps.gov/YellRoads, call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message, or sign up for mobile Yellowstone road alerts by texting “82190” to 888-777. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/around-wyoming-aug-24-2022/article_19995866-2223-11ed-8846-d7e2ef05f11d.html | 2022-08-24T13:01:30Z |
The city of Cheyenne has detected the first pools, or group, of mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile virus this year in Laramie County, according to a news release.
The test was confirmed by technicians at the Wyoming State Veterinary Lab.
The infected mosquitoes were collected from traps near the Sun Valley area and Laramie County Community College during the week of Aug. 8 as part of the city’s ongoing mosquito surveillance efforts, the release said. Precautions should be taken across the Capital City, however, as infected birds can carry the virus over long distances.
No human cases have been reported this season. The last human case of West Nile virus reported in Cheyenne was in 2017, according to the city’s release.
“This is typically the time of the year we expect to see a rise in West Nile virus activity, and these positive mosquito pools confirm that,” said Jennifer Escobedo, supervisor of the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department, in the release.
Most mosquitoes do not test positive for disease-causing viruses. However, a bite from a West Nile virus-infected mosquito can cause serious illness, and, in some cases, death. Although a person’s chances of getting sick are small, those 50 and older are at the highest risk for serious illness.
Not everyone infected with West Nile virus will become ill. However, West Nile can cause serious complications, including neurological diseases, and can also cause a milder flu-like illness, including fever, headache and body aches, nausea, and occasionally a skin rash and swollen lymph glands. If you think you have symptoms of West Nile virus, see your doctor right away.
Reducing mosquito population
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. The eggs hatch into larvae that develop in the water for seven to 10 days before emerging as adult mosquitoes that fly and bite.
Many types of mosquitoes, including those that can spread disease, lay their eggs in items around the home, such as in birdbaths, unused flowerpots, discarded tires and even bottle caps, as well as in small ponds or other bodies of stagnant water.
“The Health Department, along with Cheyenne Weed and Pest, will continue to visit all known mosquito breeding sites, including sites near these positive mosquito pools. Larval control activities will continue throughout the summer,” Escobedo said.
Cheyenne Weed and Pest has initiated Ultra Low Volume (ULV) truck spraying in areas with elevated numbers of mosquitoes that can transmit West Nile virus. These trucks will pass through neighborhoods and recreation areas after sunset. You may see a strobe light and hear a small equipment motor as they pass, but there is no reason to be alarmed. More information on ULV truck spraying can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-control/community/truck-spraying.html.
The best and most effective mosquito control begins in your yard. Eliminating standing water is the first step in reducing mosquito breeding:
- Check your property for any items that can hold water. Anything you choose to keep outside, such as kids’ toys, buckets, wading pools, canoes and wheelbarrows, should be flipped over when not used to prevent them from collecting any water.
- Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers and remove any discarded tires.
- If you have a swimming pool or spa that is not in use, drain the water off the cover or treat the standing water with mosquito briquettes, and post accordingly. The briquettes are available from the Health Department, at 100 Central Ave., Monday through Friday while supplies last. Call 307-633-4090 or email envhlth@laramiecounty.com to arrange a pickup.
- Tightly cover water storage containers (buckets, cisterns, rain barrels) so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs. Use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito for containers without lids.
- Use an outdoor flying insect spray where mosquitoes rest. Mosquitoes rest in dark, humid areas like under patio furniture or under the carport or garage. When using insecticides, always follow label instructions.
- If you have a septic tank, repair cracks or gaps. Cover open vent or plumbing pipes. Use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
- Make sure that roof gutters drain properly, clear vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds, and remove leaf debris from yards and gardens.
To reduce your risk of being bitten, use the 5D method by following these steps:
- DUSK and DAWN – Stay indoors when mosquitoes are more active.
- DRESS – Cover up as completely as possible. Wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods or when mosquitoes are more active.
- DRAIN – Reduce the amount of standing water in or near your property by draining and/or removing it. Mosquitoes may lay eggs in areas with standing water.
- DEET – Use mosquito repellent, which should always be applied according to label directions. Do not use repellent on babies younger than 2 months old. Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children younger than 3 years old.
To learn more, call the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department at 307-633-4090 or visit the West Nile page at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/infectious-disease-epidemiology-unit/disease/west-nile-virus/. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/cheyenne-announces-first-mosquitoes-carrying-west-nile-virus-found/article_ce3b1940-2222-11ed-97f3-7feaefdcde67.html | 2022-08-24T13:01:36Z |
The couple celebrated the birth of their daughter on Aug. 6 at 11:03 p.m. Pictured from left are Anastasia (Nastya) Talbot, Emily Mari Talbot and Gerhard Talbot.
ROCK SPRINGS — A new bundle of joy was recently born at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County. However, her parents faced several challenges leading up to her arrival. Gerhard and Anastasia Talbot came to the United States after having to flee Ukraine due to the ongoing war.
“I am born South African and have been a United States resident since 2016. My wife Anastasia (Nastya) Talbot, is Ukrainian and received her United States residence on May 5, 2022,” Gerhard said. “We had been living in Ukraine, a town called Kremenchuk in the province (oblast) of Poltava, for the last 4 years while I was doing temporary contract work in my business consultancy for a local mining business.”
He said that they had been waiting almost two years for Nastya’s resident visa to be approved.
“When the war was building up and the invasion commenced, we reached out to the state department, but had no support of help in expediting the final approval step. The hardest for us was leaving into the unknown of Europe, as Anastasia was not allowed to travel to the U.S.A.”
On March 6, they made the decision to flee.
“We were able to leave an active war situation in Ukraine after gaining approval documents to take a vehicle across the border and save up 50 gallons of gasoline for the 600 mile journey to the Polish border.
“Knowingly facing a one way journey into the unknown, the trip was filled with mortal danger of missile attacks and getting robbed of the gasoline we collected due to shortage and getting stranded in harsh freezing weather.
“We stayed overnight in the car at a remote gas station after we were diverted away from a border we planned to cross. The next evening, we finally made it safely across the Ukrainian border into Moldova,” Gerhard said. “It was a 48 1/2 hours journey, with 59 military checkpoint stops and 5 1/2 hours waiting at the border to cross.”
Gerhard also said that they only took important documents and a few items they knew they could carry in one suitcase each. Upon crossing the border into Moldova, there were no accommodations available, so they drove 3 hours to the capital to find a hotel.
“We planned to fly to Frankfurt the day where we had the best chance of finalizing her visa. Unfortunately, the airspace over Moldova was closed due to the war and missile threats,” he said. “So, we had to drive another 300 miles to Bucharest, Romania. We rested in a hotel and departed the next day to Frankfurt, leaving the car in Romania.
“On arrival in Frankfurt, we were told by the embassy that they could not help us and referred us to the website. It took 2 months waiting to eventually finalize this, after active involvement of an immigration lawyer and a doctor from the hospital in Rock Springs writing letters to expedite based on pregnancy complications.”
The Talbots said that two people in particular helped quite a bit during this process.
“Leslie Taylor from Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County and Dr. Samer Kattan made it possible for us to have remote visits to manage the pregnancy. Not knowing when we could get to the U.S.A. was the biggest worry and stress. We have a safety cut off date for flying to the U.S.A. due to the pregnancy and even had to start making plan b arrangements in case. Not being able to set up a home and baby room was the toughest.”
Gerhard said that during the time they were waiting for the visa to travel, they were able to make sure that Nastya’s mother and sister were able to evacuate.
“I had received a job offer at Tata chemicals Green River, but it was complicated as I would not be separated from my wife. When it appeared that the visa was eminently to be issued, I accepted the role and commenced working here while getting everything prepared for my wife’s arrival two weeks later.”
Nastya arrived in New York, received her permanent residence and then met up with Gerhard in Salt Lake City.
“We traveled to Rock Springs and the next day met Dr. Kattan in person for a full physical, checkup and ultrasound. We continued to see him weekly until Emily Mari Talbot was born on Aug. 6, 2022, at 11:03 p.m.”
Gerhard shared that his mother would have turned 90 years old this year on Emily’s birthday.
“This is very special, in particular since on arrival in South Africa to visit family, we discovered that Anastasia was pregnant.”
The Talbots said that they are thankful for those who have helped along the way.
“Within the first few days of arrival, Tami Christensen from High Country Realty helped us find the ideal house here in Rock Springs, with Judy Osborne of Wells Fargo helping with finance.
“In particular, thanks to Leslie Taylor, Dr. Kattan, Dr. Moore and the OB staff from Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County and Roger Hoops and Pam Luettich from Tata Chemicals North America who made our trip and settlement in Rock Springs possible.”
Gerhard also commended his wife, Nastya.
“Congratulations and thanks goes to my wife Nastya, who from the first time she knew she was pregnant, always looked after herself and the baby so well. She wanted all natural birth and didn’t want to take any pain medication or relief. I am so proud of my beautiful wife and stand in amazement for what she did to deliver our beautiful baby girl.” | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/crossing-oceans-couple-flees-ukraine-celebrates-birth-of-baby-in-rock-springs/article_a3155be0-2227-11ed-b8b6-df0364656314.html | 2022-08-24T13:01:42Z |
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/rawlinstimes/news/how-new-colorado-river-cuts-will-impact-states-residents/article_57af7eb0-2222-11ed-a1f3-6f0194a5eca2.html | 2022-08-24T13:01:49Z |
SHERIDAN — The basement of Grace Anglican Church is a bustling place Sunday mornings, but on Wednesday morning, little of that Sunday school chaos remains.
But into the quiet and empty basement comes the low hum of a sewing machine.
Follow the humming and you’ll encounter Sean Gillenwater, the first trainee — and self-professed guinea pig — of local nonprofit Lagniappe.
Lagniappe founder Crystal Merriam, and the host of volunteers who have helped her along the way, see Gillenwater as an important test case, and a chance to try something new to address cycles of poverty and unemployment in Sheridan County.
“There are so many charities that give handouts, and that can go on forever,” Lagniappe volunteer sewing instructor Bonnie Brady said. “There is often no goal of getting people off of the handouts. This is not that kind of program. We are not giving handouts — we’re teaching a skill Sean can take with him all his life. More importantly, we are teaching him a way to live his life that will allow him to be self-sufficient.”
“What really appealed to me was the roundness (Merriam) was looking for,” volunteer sewing instructor Rhonda Gould said. “You can teach anyone to sew, but that does not necessarily help those people get their life in order. That’s what Lagniappe does.”
Lagniappe — pronounced “lan-yap” and taking its name from a New Orleans-area term meaning “a little extra” or “an unexpected gift” — was created earlier this year by Merriam, with Gillenwater beginning work as a trainee in late June.
The organization is a new employment skills and community development initiative whose mission is to reduce poverty by employing parents at living wages — $18.50 an hour — sewing pet beds while teaching them other important life skills, according to the organization’s website.
To be eligible to participate, trainees must be low-income, a parent of minor children and willing and able to work full time, Merriam said. Gillenwater is a married father of two children, with a third due this fall.
Merriam said Lagniappe was inspired by the success of the Empowerment Plan — a Detroit, Michigan nonprofit that has created jobs for 90 homeless individuals manufacturing coats.
“I have degrees in psychology and sociology, and in sociology, we talked a lot about the causes and effects of poverty, but it was really hard to dial in on what real-world solutions were happening,” Merriam said. “But the Empowerment Plan was this real-world solution, so I started studying this program and asking if we could do something like this in Sheridan, and how we could contextualize it for a rural community.”
The creation of pet beds for local animal shelters — while perhaps the most visible part of what Gillenwater does day-to-day — is just part of Lagniappe’s mission, Merriam said.
Roughly 60% of Gillenwater’s 35- to 37-hour work week is spent sewing the beds and learning sewing techniques from volunteers like Brady and Gould.
The other 40% consists of programming designed to help the trainees become more self-sufficient, from cooking classes to volunteering in the community to resume-building and mock interviews.
“My afternoons are usually spent doing some sort of volunteering in the community gardens or Mulligans (Grace Anglican’s thrift store),” Gillenwater said. “Either that, or I’m doing classes like Financial Peace University or CentSible Nutrition.”
“Something that is really important to me is pulling back the curtain on what employers need from employees,” Merriam said. “We’re focused on teaching servant leadership in the workplace and how to deal with the obstacles that can get in your way.”
For Gillenwater, those obstacles include an ADHD diagnosis that can make it difficult for him to focus and has made it difficult for him to find and hold jobs at times. Lagniappe has reached out to the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation for guidance on how to best help Gillenwater, Merriam said, which has included developing a structured work day to keep him focused.
“We care about making our trainees productive in a way that makes sense for them,” Merriam said. “For Sean, that’s a very structured work day, because that feels less chaotic. I hope that, when he leaves us, he’ll have the tools he needs to advocate for himself.”
Volunteer Janis DeVore brings years of human resources experience to Lagniappe. She’s helped Gillenwater develop a resume and work on his interviewing skills, while discussing potential post-Lagniappe employment possibilities, which could include being self-employed, Gillenwater said. He is interested in upholstering, especially motorcycles, in the future.
“It’s been fun getting to know Sean,” DeVore said. “I’ve been helping him explore his past experiences — what has worked, and what has been problematic — with the goal that self-knowledge will help him hone in on what works for him.”
Merriam said there isn’t any specific time frame in which Gillenwater will “graduate” the program, although the end goal is for him to eventually find long-term employment.
“If he doesn’t learn everything there is to know about sewing, I’m totally OK with that,” Merriam said. “The end goal is for him to become gainfully employed somewhere else…It’s not just about self-sufficiency. It’s about helping him thrive so he in turn can help someone else thrive. That’s what we’re all about here.”
Merriam said she eventually hopes to add more trainees — a second trainee was hired at the same time as Gillenwater but had to back out for family reasons — and eventually expand beyond the church basement. She also hopes to develop relationships with local retail businesses that could sell the pet beds, which in turn would give trainees more experience with the business world.
“I think the sky really is the limit,” Merriam said. “I’m excited to see where things go from here.” | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/nonprofits-new-trainee-is-test-case-of-new-way-to-address-poverty/article_9098982c-2229-11ed-9723-6fd11e5554ae.html | 2022-08-24T13:01:55Z |
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/rawlinstimes/news/particular-success-wyonics-technology-could-have-broad-impact/article_da46a65c-2225-11ed-8aa7-27054b7286cb.html | 2022-08-24T13:02:01Z |
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/rawlinstimes/news/rural-hospitals-cut-maternity-care-amid-budget-woes/article_f0581cb4-2225-11ed-9e63-4bf764a6d3f9.html | 2022-08-24T13:02:07Z |
JACKSON — Wyoming’s criminal abortion ban lawsuit is likely heading to the Wyoming Supreme Court.
In a motion filed Thursday, Special Assistant Attorney General Jay Jerde moved to have the suit heard by the Wyoming Supreme Court to expedite the findings on whether the criminal ban is constitutional.
Jerde is representing the State of Wyoming, Gov. Mark Gordon and Attorney General Bridget Hill in defense of the trigger ban.
“The question at the heart of this case is whether the Wyoming Constitution confers a right to abortion, either explicitly or implicitly,” the filing said. “The state defendants hereby ask this Court to certify the following questions of law in this case to the Wyoming Supreme Court: Does the Wyoming Constitution confer a right to abortion?”
In a ruling issued later Thursday, 9th Judicial District Court Judge Melissa Owens issued an order vacating a Wednesday hearing date, resetting it for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 27. The hearing will not be open to the public.
The motion also asks the Wyoming Supreme Court to decide whether the criminal abortion ban violates any provisions in the state Constitution and whether it is unconstitutionally vague.
“Having the Wyoming Supreme Court decide these questions of law now may, and very likely will, be determinative of the cause pending before this Court,” the motion said.
“The public interest and interests of judicial economy weigh strongly in favor of certifying the questions of law to the Wyoming Supreme Court.”
Getting the answers to these constitutional questions “provides the quickest path to getting definitive answers,” the motion said.
The motion also conceded that any ruling made in Teton County District Court will “undoubtedly be appealed” to the Wyoming Supreme Court anyway, so raising these questions now will allow for the fastest resolution.
If Judge Owens issues a certifying order, the Supreme Court would then decide whether to agree to accept it and set a briefing schedule.
“Whether the [Supreme Court] agrees to answer these questions of law may take anywhere from a week to two weeks,” said Shawna Goetz, clerk of the Wyoming Supreme Court.
Goetz confirmed the Wyoming Supreme Court has not received any documents relating to the case yet.
The plaintiffs say the bill violates a multitude of rights afforded to them in the state Constitution, including their right to privacy and their right to make their own health care decisions.
A preliminary injunction preventing the enforcement of the ban is in effect after an Aug. 10 hearing in which Judge Owens found that valid questions regarding its constitutionality needed to be answered.
In order to enforce this ban, the state is defending its “authority to regulate the medical profession.”
Two Republican state legislators and one anti-abortion group filed a motion to intervene in the case, which if approved by Judge Owens, would give them the opportunity to offer arguments around “legislative authority, unborn life, the health and safety of women and regulating the medical profession.”
State Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, sponsored House Bill 92. State Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, co-sponsored the bill.
The third proposed intervenor is Right to Life of Wyoming.
The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal advocacy group defending the proposed intervenors, said in a press release that the criminal abortion ban “seeks to preserve the lives of innocent, unborn babies and the health and safety of mothers.”
Rep. Rodriguez-Williams, Rep. Neiman and a representative from the Alliance Defending Freedom could not be reached for comment. Robinson declined to comment.
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys are working in other states to defend anti-abortion laws, including Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Texas and West Virginia. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/state-moves-to-raise-abortion-questions-to-supreme-court/article_c6a96dde-2228-11ed-8b1f-9f28d21266a3.html | 2022-08-24T13:02:13Z |
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/rawlinstimes/news/uw-considers-block-tuition-rates-4-increase/article_bb0dae9a-2223-11ed-84a7-f3712e3cc4ca.html | 2022-08-24T13:02:20Z |
Moose resident Marian Meyers admitted that she didn’t do all of her homework ahead of showing up to the polls Tuesday at the Teton County Recreation Center.
Meyers, who had been in the books as a Democrat, changed her registration to Republican so she could vote for U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, who she admired for having the “guts to stand up for our country in the face of a lot of opposition.”
She was less certain, however, about which other Republicans on her ballot had values and stances that best aligned with her own — and so she left some bubbles unfilled.
“I did not want to vote for somebody who I was not familiar with and educated about,” Meyers said.
Meyers wasn’t alone — and it wasn’t just crossover voters who didn’t make it down the ballot.
There were more than 182,000 ballots cast across Wyoming during early and in-person voting, which is the highest raw count in a midterm primary election on record and the highest rate of turnout since 1994. Roughly 40% of Wyoming’s voting age population put a ballot in the mail or showed up to the polls. There was a 31% increase in Wyoming residents who voted compared to 2018, the last primary election halfway through a U.S. president’s term.
“To some degree, this was a referendum of where people stood on Trump, as much as anything else,” former Gov. Dave Freudenthal told WyoFile.
Carbon County voters upheld that trend, with 4,399 of the county’s 5,860 registered voters casting ballots in the primary, or 75% turnout. And the county’s Republican voters made a big show of strength by accounting for 3,993 of those ballots cast, or nearly 91%.
Largely, Wyoming voters motivated to come out sided with Trump in the highest-profile race: Cheney versus Harriet Hageman, the former president’s hand-picked proxy, who topped the incumbent by a 37% margin.
And while statewide, Hageman won in a landslide with more than 66% of the vote to Cheney’s 29%, the gap was more pronounced in Carbon County. Voters here favored Hageman on more than 74% of their ballots with 2,852 votes to Cheney’s 819 (20.8%).
More than 99.5% of the nearly 172,000 ballots cast in the Republican primary marked either Cheney, Hageman or another candidate. Not so for candidates in races farther down the ballot. It’s nothing new, but there were several races — statewide, legislative, county, municipal, and others — in which a significant portion of voters didn’t select a candidate.
In the competitive statewide race for the superintendent of public instruction, there were more than 25,000 fewer votes cast — called undervotes — than there were total ballots submitted. That’s about 14% of all the voters who turned out, and in that race Megan Degenfelder topped incumbent appointed superintendent Brian Schroeder by a relatively slim margin, only 3,555 votes.
Notably, the undervote rate for the superintendent of public instruction improved compared to the 2018 primary, when 21% of Republicans didn’t select a superintendent candidate.
There were 14,000 undervotes in the race for secretary of state, a position that oversees Wyoming’s elections. Rep. Chuck Gray (R-Casper), who campaigned on the premise that the 2020 election was rigged, won with 75,938 votes. Second-place finisher, Sen. Tara Nethercott, garnered 63,044 votes. Still, the undervote very likely played no role in the outcome — it would only have swung the race to Nethercott if more than 90% of the would-be voters filled her bubble.
But undervotes might have played a role in the outcomes of some Wyoming Legislature races. In Albany County’s House District 14, Julie McCallister lost by just 125 votes to Bryan Shuster in a race with 487 fewer votes placed than total ballots cast in the district. Albany County houses Laramie, a liberal-for-Wyoming city where voters were more apt to crossover. Based on who donated to the candidates — far-right mega-donors Dan and Carleen Brophys backed Shuster — a higher percentage of down-ballot voting might have swung the race to McCallister.
Shuster will face incumbent Rep. Trey Sherwood (D-Laramie) in November’s general election.
Cheyenne resident Jeff Oliver is an example of a Wyoming voter who weighed in on statewide races in the primary, but didn’t vote all the way down the ballot. Usually a Democrat, his disapproval of Trump and the former president’s endorsed candidates motivated him to change party affiliation.
“With the age of Trump, democracy is in peril,” Oliver said.
Oliver voted against three Trump picks: Hageman, Schroeder and Gray. He didn’t vote on state House or Senate races, and personally knew of five or six other people in his circle who did something similar.
“You know, in some of those races they’re either like a Republican that’s unopposed or they are like two or three Republicans, who pretty much are equally very hardcore conservative,” Oliver said. “So there’s not a viable one that I would see as much better than the other in terms of what they’re going to do for Wyoming.”
The general election, where Wyoming voters can choose between Republicans and often long-shot independents, Democrats, and minor-party candidates, is Nov. 8. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/voters-turned-out-for-wyo-primary-but-left-some-bubbles-empty/article_c3f8bc56-2229-11ed-8ae9-eb5de7a17b7c.html | 2022-08-24T13:02:26Z |
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 surveyThe “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. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/wde-says-social-media-hacked-shares-survey/article_4f26fe92-221a-11ed-ab3a-eb1a73e3a285.html | 2022-08-24T13:02:32Z |
CFD names committee chairs for 127th anniversary
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.
DA declines to charge woman in stabbing death
The Laramie County district attorney has declined to charge a woman arrested earlier this month in a fatal stabbing, saying current evidence points to the incident being self-defense.
The local sheriff’s office says it continues to investigate “with the goal of bringing charges” against the woman.
Rocsand Bocanegra, 42, was arrested late Aug. 9 by Laramie County Sheriff’s deputies after she’d been identified as a person of interest in a fatal stabbing earlier the day before.
Bocanegra was held on a second-degree homicide charge at the Laramie County jail until just before midnight Aug. 12. Anyone not formally charged within 72 hours of their arrest must be released, said LCSO Undersheriff Capt. Kevin James.
The sheriff’s office identified the victim in the fatal stabbing as 58-year-old Jess Smith of Cheyenne.
In an Aug. 12 letter to an LCSO detective, DA Leigh Anne Manlove outlined how Wyoming statutes related to self-defense did not permit her to charge Bocanegra at that time. Manlove provided that letter to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
Registration now open for Governor’s Business Forum
The Wyoming Business Alliance recently announced that registration for the 2022 Governor’s Business Forum is now open.
The forum will take place Nov. 15-17 at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center on the University of Wyoming Campus in Laramie.
The forum is co-hosted with Gov. Mark Gordon and will again feature speakers and panels centered around this year’s theme, “The Power of People.”
The forum is the state’s premier event for analysis and discussion about the state’s economic and business climate. In addition to the opportunity to network with more than 600 business, civic and political leaders from all over the state, attendees will sit in on discussions on topics including Wyoming’s legislative outlook, modern workplaces, energy, school choice, the U.S. economy, affordable housing, Wyoming business success stories and more.
To register for the 2022 Governor’s Business Forum, visit wyomingbusinessalliance.com. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/worth-noting-aug-24-2022/article_756ac3d0-221b-11ed-bec4-83bb9771e360.html | 2022-08-24T13:02:38Z |
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/rawlinstimes/news/wyo-can-play-role-in-national-competitiveness/article_500beb82-2225-11ed-806a-d7d6179785b1.html | 2022-08-24T13:02:44Z |
TETON COUNTY — The way former Donald Trump-appointee Rob Wallace sees it, U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney scored a victory on Tuesday night.
That’s one way of interpreting the congresswoman’s resounding loss in the Republican primary election this week, said the Teton Village resident, who was picked by the former president to oversee the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the U.S. Department of the Interior.
“Liz Cheney won and so did Harriet Hageman,” Wallace said, “to the degree that Liz is now free to follow her unfettered passion for tracking down the consequences of Jan. 6.”
“Look at her national profile: It’s sky high,” he added. “There’s a lot of interest in what she’s going to do next, and she now doesn’t have to worry about all the stuff she should worry about if she’s representing Wyoming.”
Wallace was among the Cheney supporters gathered north of Jackson at the Mead Ranch on Tuesday night, when election results were rolling in. Moments after it became clear the congresswoman’s time in office was running short, Cheney told friends, family, donors and media gathered near a cattle pasture that she “easily” could have won another term. All it would take, she said, was going along with former President Trump’s lie about the 2020 election, which would have provided the once-popular politician and Wilson resident with a clear path to reelection.
“It would have required that I enable the ongoing efforts to unravel our democratic system and attack the foundations of our republic,” Cheney said. “That was a path I could not and would not take.”
Cheney lost to Trump’s pick to take her on, natural resources attorney Harriet Hageman, by an overwhelming 37% margin in Wyoming’s Republican primary election. There were 2.3 Hageman voters for every person who voted for Cheney.
“Any debate about whether or not Wyoming is a Donald Trump state was put to rest,” Wallace said. “I don’t know what it means, I just know that it is.”
Cheney, a staunch conservative and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, voted with Trump 93% of the time. She was popular in Wyoming through her first four years in office, topping her Republican challenger in the 2020 primary election by a 47% margin.
“I guess that wasn’t enough,” said Dave Freudenthal, a former two-term governor of Wyoming. “Harriet Hageman is not going to vote on issues a lot different, if at all, than Liz Cheney did. If you think about the campaign, they didn’t disagree on anything of substance as it relates to Wyoming except for Jan. 6 and the election.”
Cheney’s immediate reaction to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol building was to repudiate Trump, and it earned her a quick slot on the former president’s list of enemies.
“There’s no question the president formed the mob,” Cheney said the night of the attack. “The president incited the mob. The president addressed the mob. He lit the flame.”
Cheney was one of 10 congressional Republicans who voted to impeach Trump a week later. Now only two of them will be on the ballot in November. Cheney’s vice-chair role on the committee investigating the insurrection further solidified her reputation as a rare Republican who would not fold to Trump and parrot his disproven claims of election fraud.
But the perception Cheney was feuding with Trump bought her no favors in Wyoming. The Wyoming Republican Party, chaired by Jan. 6 attendee Frank Eathorne, overwhelmingly voted to censure her last winter for her impeachment vote. Cheney’s support among her constituents fell off dramatically.
Brad and Kate Mead escorted Cheney onto the stage Tuesday. Brad is brother of former Wyoming governor Matt Mead and grandson of Clifford Hansen, a U.S. senator and Wyoming governor. Prior to publicly appearing, the Cheneys and Meads watched the election results roll in together and they could immediately see that her path to victory was “pretty tough,” Brad Mead said.
Cheney didn’t wait until her odds were eliminated. She spoke around 8:15 p.m., and early on announced that she’d called Hageman and conceded.
“But now,” she said, “the real work begins.”
The scene at the Mead Ranch was festive. The couple hundred donors, family and friends who attended listened to a cover band playing the Allman Brothers, ate tacos and barbecue, sipped wine and mingled. There were murmurs in the crowd that Cheney would directly segue from her defeat and announce a presidential run in 2024. She didn’t go there. But Cheney did hint at it and she quoted at length from Abraham Lincoln — a former president who was first defeated in House and Senate elections.
Cheney was a little more specific when pressed on NBC’s Today Show the next morning.
“That’s a decision I’m going to make in the coming months,” the congresswoman said of a potential presidential run. “It is something I’m thinking about.”
The Cheney campaign also modified itself immediately after her election loss, filing paperwork to convert the campaign committee to a leadership PAC named The Great Task — a phrase from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
“In coming weeks, Liz will be launching an organization to educate the American people about the ongoing threat to our Republic, and to mobilize a unified effort to oppose any Donald Trump campaign for president,” Cheney spokesperson Jeremy Adler told Politico.
Trump has repeatedly hinted at his own 2024 presidential run, including during a stop to stump for Hageman in Casper. Polling data suggests he has retained his favorability among Republicans, and in fact is gaining popularity. Trump-endorsed candidates, meanwhile, have fared generally well, though their election success has proven a mixed bag, including in Wyoming. Hageman, his pick for secretary of state, Chuck Gray, and his pick for treasurer, incumbent Curt Meier all won Tuesday, though another Trump pick, Brian Schroeder, was narrowly defeated in the primary election for Wyoming superintendent of public instruction by Megan Degenfelder.
Although she lost badly, Cheney was able to mobilize an unconventional, cross-party alliance of supporters in Wyoming’s Republican primary. Outside the town recreation center in Jackson, Ian Jan “Tarzan” Campbell explained after voting how he changed his registration to Republican to vote for Cheney and others because he’s “vehemently, obnoxiously anti-Trump.”
At the time, Campbell was hopeful, though unsure, whether crossover voters like himself would be enough to make a difference.
“I pray,” he said, “and I’m an atheist.”
Several people WyoFile interviewed spoke favorably about how Cheney went out, sticking to her convictions.
“I admire her so much, and I’m impressed by her courage,” Brad Mead said. “I think this is just the start for her.”
Former U.S. Sen. Al Simpson (R-Wyoming) said that Cheney knew all along “the perils of what she was doing.” The 90-year-old Cody resident, a member of Cheney’s campaign leadership team, said that he had no special insight into whether she’s going to run for president, but thought that she has what it takes to take Trump on directly.
“It ain’t through, because of her dedication to democracy, the Constitution and the government of the United States,” Simpson said.
There’s a big reservoir of voters, he said, who are waiting for a woman with “power and smarts.”
“She speaks without a forked tongue,” Simpson said of Cheney. “She’s the only person speaking with guts and courage and savvy and smartness. Let her rip. If she wants to get in the race there’ll be plenty of Americans who’d like to jump right in there with her.”
Simpson didn’t make much of the end, for now, of the Cheneys’ politicking for Wyoming. A family political dynasty, he said, doesn’t mean much these days.
“My dad was a governor and U.S. senator, and if I were to run this year they would have beat my ass,” Simpson said. “I know where I am: I’m high on the range of the RINOs.”
The Cheneys’ political dynasty in the Equality State started in 1978, when Dick Cheney, then a former White House deputy chief of staff during the Ford administration, was elected to Wyoming’s lone slot in the U.S. House of Representatives. Liz Cheney followed in her father’s footsteps and won the same seat 38 years later, though not before a failed attempt at unseating incumbent Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming).
Freudenthal, the former governor, said that any attempt to characterize the Cheneys’ political legacy is premature.
“Our capacity to estimate that [legacy] in the present, history has proven that we’re generally wrong,” he said. “What that legacy is, is unknown.” | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/wyo-politicos-reflect-on-cheney-s-trouncing/article_ea2a5434-222e-11ed-872e-17d542ad8db3.html | 2022-08-24T13:02:50Z |
CHEYENNE – Attorneys had their final opportunity Wednesday afternoon to argue their respective cases in Laramie County District Attorney Leigh Anne Manlove’s disciplinary proceeding, which could lead to the prosecutor being stripped of her law license.
Oral arguments took place Wednesday afternoon before the Wyoming Supreme Court, which then took the case under advisement. Justices will ultimately decide what punishment, if any, is appropriate.
The Wyoming State Bar’s Office of Bar Counsel last year brought charges alleging that DA Manlove had mishandled the prosecution of some cases and fostered a hostile work environment in her office. Following an eight-day hearing in February, a disciplinary panel announced it would recommend she lose her ability to practice law in Wyoming. She also may be on the hook to reimburse the Bar more than $60,000 in costs.
Attorneys on both sides largely reiterated arguments they’d presented before, although they were also subjected to questions from justices. Both attorneys received a total of 30 minutes to speak and answer queries.
Weston Reeves, representing the Office of Bar Counsel, began by stating that this was not a case about separation of powers between the executive branch, represented by the district attorney, and the judicial branch. He said it was also not about prosecutorial discretion – the ability of a prosecutor to decide what cases to pursue – as argued by Manlove, but about a “failure of duty” and lack of candor from an attorney.
He again argued the Bar’s position that state budget cuts during the COVID-19 pandemic “had nothing to do with” a series of case dismissals Manlove said were necessary to ensure her understaffed office could use resources to prosecute more serious charges. Instead, Reeves said, these dismissals were necessary because of the district attorney’s inability to keep her office staffed, which was a result of her treatment of employees and failure at certain points to pursue replacements.
Stephen Melchior, Manlove’s attorney, argued that this case was, in fact, about the separation of powers and prosecutorial discretion. He said the district attorney had taken appropriate steps following drastic budget cuts to try to find solutions, only to be rebuffed and condemned by judges in the county.
This case, he said, “is about, what do you do when a person runs on a political platform in an elected position ... announces the party affiliation, sets forth a platform, comes into office, begins to execute the platform, comes into the executive branch and rubs the judicial (branch) the wrong way? And rubs the Bar Counsel the wrong way?”
In bringing this disciplinary case against Manlove, the Bar chose to ignore state statute, the Wyoming Constitution and “a landmark case” that “specifically addresses many of the issues” in these proceedings, Melchior said.
It’s unclear how long it will be before the high court issues a decision. In another recent disciplinary case, it took nearly nine months to decide on a punishment for Becket Hinckley, a former Teton County prosecutor who was suspended from practicing law in Wyoming for three years following several violations of professional conduct rules.
In the Hinckley case, a panel recommended the former prosecutor be disbarred. The Supreme Court ultimately opted to suspend his license.
Manlove, elected as DA in November 2018, did not file to run for a second term. Her current term ends in January.
Melchior told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle following Wednesday’s hearing that what the Supreme Court decides in this case will have an effect on every prosecutor in each in Wyoming’s 23 counties. This is because it could affect how much judges and the Bar’s disciplinary arm can influence policy, personnel and case management decisions of prosecutors, he said.
“This has been an extremely painful experience for Ms. Manlove, and I would want this (for) no prosecuting attorney,” Melchior said.
Speaking to a reporter after oral arguments, Reeves said only that he’s “happy the Supreme Court is reviewing the case.”
Justices’ questions
At one point, Justice John G. Fenn said Reeves had focused much of his argument on the “mismanagement component” of the case. He asked the attorney for the Bar when the decision not to prosecute certain cases went from prosecutorial discretion to something in need disciplinary action.
“Where’s the line? Where does it become not about prosecutorial discretion?” Fenn asked.
“When there are 1,000 cases dismissed, categories of cases dismissed, categories of cases not prosecuted,” Reeves responded.
“Well, according to briefing, we can’t really even agree on the number of cases that were dismissed ...” Fenn replied, to which Reeves interjected: “Read the exhibit.”
“If the reason given for the dismissal is clearly false,” that’s when it cross the line, Reeves argued.
Fenn then laid out a hypothetical in which a DA decided not to prosecute marijuana cases, and asked Reeves if that DA is “violating professional rules of responsibility, such that he or she is facing discipline.”
“Questions like that are why we have a wise panel of five justices here,” Reeves said, adding that the DA has a statutory responsibility to prosecute certain types of cases.
“It seems to me that is not a prosecutorial discretion – that is a failure to perform the duty to the client. I don’t care if she got elected – she has the duty to prosecute the cases that come before her in the ordinary course of events,” Reeves continued.
Fenn also suggested that, rather than bring a disciplinary case, “if (Manlove) really wasn’t doing her job so bad, she theoretically could have been impeached and removed” under the Wyoming Constitution.
Reeves said he wasn’t sure to what impeachment avenue Fenn was referring. Instead, Reeves seemed to urge the justices to exercise their oversight duties for ensuring “competent and diligent” legal practice in the state.
Later, during Melchior’s arguments, Justice Keith G. Kautz interjected, saying that neither Melchior nor Reeves had yet brought up specific elements of professional conduct violations. Kautz said the justices needed “clear and convincing evidence that those elements were proven.”
Directly after Kautz’s comment, Melchior argued specifically that Manlove had not demonstrated incompetence in management of her office, and complaints from victims’ family members about failing to charge cases came down to prosecutorial discretion. He also denied that Manlove had exaggerated any claims about budget constraints on her office.
At the start of Reeves’ rebuttal, Kautz again challenged the attorney to be specific about what rule violations he was arguing, and that counsel needed to show consequences in specific cases.
“Gosh – the consequence to the victims of all the cases that weren’t prosecuted,” Reeves replied.
“But I didn’t see any specific identifications,” Kautz said. “You paint (with) a big, broad brush.”
Reeves again pointed back to examples given in Bar Counsel’s exhibits. He reemphasized his argument that Manlove’s dismissals were improper if they were done under “the demonstrably false premise that ‘The budget made me do it.’”
It’s yet another challenge, Kautz said, to determine whether a statement was knowingly false, or simply an opinion or “an erroneous opinion.” Reeves argued that could also be demonstrated by evidence in the case. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/wyo-supreme-court-hears-oral-arguments-in-manlove-disciplinary-case/article_20a7ae26-221b-11ed-a100-0bf2c5fe2098.html | 2022-08-24T13:02:57Z |
CHEYENNE — Attorneys had their final opportunity Wednesday afternoon to argue their respective cases in Laramie County District Attorney Leigh Anne Manlove’s disciplinary proceeding, which could lead to the prosecutor being stripped of her law license.
Oral arguments took place Wednesday afternoon before the Wyoming Supreme Court, which then took the case under advisement. Justices will ultimately decide what punishment, if any, is appropriate.
The Wyoming State Bar’s Office of Bar Counsel last year brought charges alleging that DA Manlove had mishandled the prosecution of some cases and fostered a hostile work environment in her office. Following an eight-day hearing in February, a disciplinary panel announced it would recommend she lose her ability to practice law in Wyoming. She also may be on the hook to reimburse the Bar more than $60,000 in costs.
Attorneys on both sides largely reiterated arguments they’d presented before, although they were also subjected to questions from justices. Both attorneys received a total of 30 minutes to speak and answer queries.
Weston Reeves, representing the Office of Bar Counsel, began by stating that this was not a case about separation of powers between the executive branch, represented by the district attorney, and the judicial branch. He said it was also not about prosecutorial discretion – the ability of a prosecutor to decide what cases to pursue – as argued by Manlove, but about a “failure of duty” and lack of candor from an attorney.
He again argued the Bar’s position that state budget cuts during the COVID-19 pandemic “had nothing to do with” a series of case dismissals Manlove said were necessary to ensure her understaffed office could use resources to prosecute more serious charges. Instead, Reeves said, these dismissals were necessary because of the district attorney’s inability to keep her office staffed, which was a result of her treatment of employees and failure at certain points to pursue replacements.
Stephen Melchior, Manlove’s attorney, argued that this case was, in fact, about the separation of powers and prosecutorial discretion. He said the district attorney had taken appropriate steps following drastic budget cuts to try to find solutions, only to be rebuffed and condemned by judges in the county.
This case, he said, “is about, what do you do when a person runs on a political platform in an elected position ... announces the party affiliation, sets forth a platform, comes into office, begins to execute the platform, comes into the executive branch and rubs the judicial (branch) the wrong way? And rubs the Bar Counsel the wrong way?”
In bringing this disciplinary case against Manlove, the Bar chose to ignore state statute, the Wyoming Constitution and “a landmark case” that “specifically addresses many of the issues” in these proceedings, Melchior said.
It’s unclear how long it will be before the high court issues a decision. In another recent disciplinary case, it took nearly nine months to decide on a punishment for Becket Hinckley, a former Teton County prosecutor who was suspended from practicing law in Wyoming for three years following several violations of professional conduct rules.
In the Hinckley case, a panel recommended the former prosecutor be disbarred. The Supreme Court ultimately opted to suspend his license.
Manlove, elected as DA in November 2018, did not file to run for a second term. Her current term ends in January.
Melchior told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle following Wednesday’s hearing that what the Supreme Court decides in this case will have an effect on every prosecutor in each in Wyoming’s 23 counties. This is because it could affect how much judges and the Bar’s disciplinary arm can influence policy, personnel and case management decisions of prosecutors, he said.
“This has been an extremely painful experience for Ms. Manlove, and I would want this (for) no prosecuting attorney,” Melchior said.
Speaking to a reporter after oral arguments, Reeves said only that he’s “happy the Supreme Court is reviewing the case.”
Justices’ questions
At one point, Justice John G. Fenn said Reeves had focused much of his argument on the “mismanagement component” of the case. He asked the attorney for the Bar when the decision not to prosecute certain cases went from prosecutorial discretion to something in need disciplinary action.
“Where’s the line? Where does it become not about prosecutorial discretion?” Fenn asked.
“When there are 1,000 cases dismissed, categories of cases dismissed, categories of cases not prosecuted,” Reeves responded.
“Well, according to briefing, we can’t really even agree on the number of cases that were dismissed ...” Fenn replied, to which Reeves interjected: “Read the exhibit.”
“If the reason given for the dismissal is clearly false,” that’s when it cross the line, Reeves argued.
Fenn then laid out a hypothetical in which a DA decided not to prosecute marijuana cases, and asked Reeves if that DA is “violating professional rules of responsibility, such that he or she is facing discipline.”
“Questions like that are why we have a wise panel of five justices here,” Reeves said, adding that the DA has a statutory responsibility to prosecute certain types of cases.
“It seems to me that is not a prosecutorial discretion – that is a failure to perform the duty to the client. I don’t care if she got elected – she has the duty to prosecute the cases that come before her in the ordinary course of events,” Reeves continued.
Fenn also suggested that, rather than bring a disciplinary case, “if (Manlove) really wasn’t doing her job so bad, she theoretically could have been impeached and removed” under the Wyoming Constitution.
Reeves said he wasn’t sure to what impeachment avenue Fenn was referring. Instead, Reeves seemed to urge the justices to exercise their oversight duties for ensuring “competent and diligent” legal practice in the state.
Later, during Melchior’s arguments, Justice Keith G. Kautz interjected, saying that neither Melchior nor Reeves had yet brought up specific elements of professional conduct violations. Kautz said the justices needed “clear and convincing evidence that those elements were proven.”
Directly after Kautz’s comment, Melchior argued specifically that Manlove had not demonstrated incompetence in management of her office, and complaints from victims’ family members about failing to charge cases came down to prosecutorial discretion. He also denied that Manlove had exaggerated any claims about budget constraints on her office.
At the start of Reeves’ rebuttal, Kautz again challenged the attorney to be specific about what rule violations he was arguing, and that counsel needed to show consequences in specific cases.
“Gosh – the consequence to the victims of all the cases that weren’t prosecuted,” Reeves replied.
“But I didn’t see any specific identifications,” Kautz said. “You paint (with) a big, broad brush.”
Reeves again pointed back to examples given in Bar Counsel’s exhibits. He reemphasized his argument that Manlove’s dismissals were improper if they were done under “the demonstrably false premise that ‘The budget made me do it.’”
It’s yet another challenge, Kautz said, to determine whether a statement was knowingly false, or simply an opinion or “an erroneous opinion.” Reeves argued that could also be demonstrated by evidence in the case. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/wyo-supreme-court-hears-oral-arguments-in-manlove-disciplinary-case/article_dc3e5a38-2223-11ed-9b08-c7cfc7f254c6.html | 2022-08-24T13:02:57Z |
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/rawlinstimes/opinion/guest_column/learn-to-find-the-quiet-within/article_b03d439c-2226-11ed-bdb6-f38abc125154.html | 2022-08-24T13:03:03Z |
“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/rawlinstimes/opinion/guest_column/no-liz-cheney-isnt-abraham-lincoln/article_d06e0214-2226-11ed-adc1-b35e15ce3b1b.html | 2022-08-24T13:03:09Z |
The University of Wyoming soccer team had some positive moments during Thursday’s season opener at Northern Colorado, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory.
UW suffered a 2-0 loss to the Bears at Jackson Stadium in Greeley, Colorado, as the Cowgirls fell behind early and weren’t able to make up ground. UNC recorded its first goal in the first minute off the foot of Haley O’Nan, and Abby Bush stretched the gap to two in the 67th minute.
“As an athlete, as a human, you can do everything right and things don’t go your way,” Wyoming coach Colleen Corbin said. “We just have to be able to take something away from this match and move forward. At the end of the day, this result doesn’t define us as a team and doesn’t affect our goals for the end of the season.”
While UW wasn’t able to find the back of the net Thursday, it had plenty of chances. The Cowgirls fired 19 shots, including eight on goal, while the Bears had 13 shots with eight on target.
Freshman Alyssa Glover accounted for six of those shots in her first game as a collegiate athlete, including one that ricocheted off the crossbar late in the first half. Sophomore Alyssa Bedard was also denied by the crossbar early in the second half, as she finished the match with a pair of shots. Sophomore Maddi Chance logged three shots, while junior Jazi Barela had two.
Senior goalie Miyuki Schoyen registered six saves in her first game as a Cowgirl. UNC keeper Kaya Lindberg recorded five saves.
Next up for Wyoming is a 1 p.m. match at Oregon State on Sunday. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/sports/cowgirls-drop-season-opener-at-northern-colorado/article_29a2bf50-2227-11ed-b862-13424940248b.html | 2022-08-24T13:03:16Z |
If approved for a Wyoming Outdoor Recreation grant, Laramie could be home to a new bike park near Laramie High School.
Laramie City Council gave a green light this week for staff to take the first step in applying for the grant. The project also has been supported by Laramie BikeNet, a group that provides bicycle parking for events around the city.
“In 2015, Laramie City Council approved Laramie BikeNet to do some fundraising for the development of a bike park here in Laramie,” said Assistant City Manager Todd Feezer. “They were able to donate $10,500 to the city of Laramie to use toward that, which was used to conduct a conceptual design development for a bike park and evaluate some locations.”
If approved for the grant, Laramie Bike Park could reduce its reliance on city money for construction and receive as much as $700,000. The park would be built behind the Laramie Recreation Center near the high school.
Previous discussions about potential places for a bike park were held earlier this year, which Feezer said were well-attended by the public.
With a bike park so close to the rec center, several council members asked about what makes this the preferred location. Council member Brian Harrington also asked if enhanced pedestrian crossing could be considered to handle potential increased foot and bike traffic near the park. Feezer said the city could look at that in the future if safety concerns arise.
“I understand the features behind the rec center probably make that the most ideal location,” said council member Andrea Summerville. “Did we consider locations across the city or did we really just focus on that east side?”
Feezer said that about a half-dozen locations across Laramie were considered. The area near LHS benefits construction because it wouldn’t need as much material brought in, like dirt, and the geography of the area suits a bike park well in its current state.
“I’m not a big fan of locating all my recreational activities in one location, but I think when it comes down to a cost-sense analysis, this location really made good sense,” he said. “Plus, we also have the amenities of restrooms and such at the rec center that could be available for use.”
In addition to serving as a bike park, Feezer and Summerville said the area could be used for sledding when winter conditions make it inaccessible for bicyclists. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/sports/laramie-eyes-area-near-lhs-for-new-bike-park/article_5a8e80ea-2227-11ed-bec3-2315861d1ff9.html | 2022-08-24T13:03:17Z |
The University of Wyoming men’s basketball team returned from a 12-day trip to Greece earlier this month, an experience that was about more than just hoops for the Cowboys.
UW did play three games while overseas, going up against Panerythraikos BC and Panathinaikos Select in Athens, before heading to Patras to take on Promethius Patras. However, for a team that added three Pac-12 transfers and a pair of freshmen to a group that is coming off one of the school’s most successful seasons since the 1980s, the excursion was also a chance to grow closer together off the court.
Among the highlights of the trip were biking around Athens, tours of the Acropolis and museums, sea kayaking in the Athens Riviera and a visit to the Temple of Poseidon. The Pokes also attended a Champions League soccer match between Olympiacos FC and Maccabi Haifi.
“If you go on a foreign tour, it’s hard to get good enough games to warrant where it’s just about basketball,” UW coach Jeff Linder said. “If you’re going to make it solely about basketball, you kind of have to bounce around from country to country to get good enough games, because in late July or early August, the real pro players aren’t going to be playing.
“This first game, we did play against one of the better second division teams in Greece. They were well-organized and had some good players, so we got some value out of that. But, for the most part, it was just the experience and being around one another.”
As for the basketball part, Hunter Maldonado led the Pokes in scoring with 13.5 points per game, while also averaging seven rebounds and four assists. Graham Ike added 12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and three assists per game, while Brendan Wenzel averaged 12 points and shot 10-of-15 on 3-point attempts during the three games.
Linder says this trip was just the latest example of a strong offseason for Wenzel, a 6-foot-7 junior guard and former Utah transfer who became a key part of the rotation during his first season playing for the team.
“The guy that really, over the course of the summer and in Greece, took another step is Brendan Wenzel,” Linder said. “He almost reminds me a little bit of (three-time Big Sky defensive player of the year) Jonah Radebaugh, who I had at Northern Colorado and just signed with Valencia in the EuroLeague.
“It’s on the record, when he came here from Utah, that second semester when he was here, I was like, ‘You might be the first guy that enters the transfer portal twice in the same semester,’ just because I wasn’t quite sure if he wanted to do it still. At some point, he had to decide if he wanted to do it. He decided he wanted to do it, and man, over the course of the last year, his body and just how good he’s gotten, it was hard to take him off the floor at times in Greece.”
USC transfer Max Agbonkpolo contributed nine points and 7.7 rebounds per game, while Xavier DuSell and Jeremiah Oden averaged 9.9 points and nine points, respectively. Super senior Hunter Thompson knocked down 8 of 16 3-point attempts while putting up 9.3 points per game, with Noah Reynolds and UCLA transfer Jake Kyman averaging 5.5 and five points per game, respectively.
True freshman post Caden Powell and 7-foot sophomore Nate Barnhart also got some quality minutes during the trip, with each making a positive impression on the coaching staff.
Linder noted Powell has progressed faster than expected on the offensive end, while his defensive prowess has created more competition in practice for Ike than the all-conference forward has faced in previous years. Barnhart, meanwhile, showcased his versatility during the two games in which he received extended playing time.
“He’s up to 195 pounds, which still looks like he’s 170 pounds, but he rebounded the ball (well),” Linder said of Barnhart. “He had two games where he played a lot of minutes in Greece, and he averaged 11 rebounds. So he’s a guy that can really go get offensive rebounds with his size and length.
“A lot like (Hunter) Thompson, people see a guy that’s 7-foot or 6-foot-10, and they think he needs to be a back-to-the-basket guy or this bruiser. He’s not that. He’s a guy that we’re probably playing more on the perimeter as of right now. He can move pretty well, and he’s a really good passer.”
The Cowboys’ third transfer, former USC guard Ethan Anderson, was unable to make the trip due to his passport inadvertently being sent back from UW to the passport agency. Regardless, Linder says the team’s newcomers have already reaped the benefits from having two months of summer workouts together.
“It was unfortunate for him,” Linder said. “But at the same time, what we did this summer for eight weeks leading up to that, the amount of reps we got in 5-on-5, it was really good for those three new guys and Caden Powell.” | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/sports/pokes-see-sights-grow-closer-during-greece-trip/article_09fa323c-2227-11ed-a583-db55670292a9.html | 2022-08-24T13:03:23Z |
WyoSports Writer
Two of the University of Wyoming’s most anticipated off-season additions are looking to use their experience to boost a Cowboys pass defense that led the Mountain West last season.
UW lost 2021 starters Azizi Hearn and C.J. Coldon, who landed at UCLA and Oklahoma, respectively, to the transfer portal shortly after last season ended. Fortunately for the Pokes, they snagged a couple Power Five transfers of their own that are expected to make an impact at the position, alongside highly touted returning sophomore Cam Stone.
Jakorey Hawkins comes to Laramie from Ole Miss with four years of Division I experience, while Deron Harrell spent five years at Wisconsin before joining the Cowboys. The duo believes their time going up against top-tier talent in the SEC and Big Ten has prepared them to step in and help take UW’s secondary to even greater heights.
“For me, I feel I learned how to really compete every single day in practice,” Harrell said. “You’re always competing with guys within your group, but at the same time, you’re getting each other better. I really feel like that’s what I took away most from it, just learning how to be a team.”
Added Hawkins: “It feels good to have somebody else who has been in kind of the same situation you’ve been in. It’s kind of like a brother. If he has a bad day, I lift him up, and vice versa. It’s been good having him around.”
Hawkins, who recorded 32 tackles, 20 solo stops, three pass deflections and two forced fumbles during his time at Ole Miss, was one of the Cowboys’ top performers in spring practice. He carried this over into a strong showing in the Brown and Gold game, during which he recorded four tackles, three solo stops, one pass breakup and one interception. He also nearly came up with two additional picks during the scrimmage.
The Montgomery, Alabama product says he would like to see the secondary, himself included, “make more plays and just be more savvy with the ball in the air.” Overall, though, he’s excited with what he’s seen from the group so far.
UW cornerbacks coach Benny Boyd describes Hawkins as “very dynamic and coachable,” noting his eagerness to learn is one of the things he appreciates most about him. Boyd adds that while Hawkins isn’t the loudest guy in the room, his abilities do plenty of talking.
“He’s very quiet,” Boyd said. “He’s not a rah-rah guy, but his talent speaks very loudly.”
Harrell appeared in 22 games with nine starts at Wisconsin, recording 26 tackles and eight pass breakups. He missed all of last season with an injury, though, and was limited in the spring while recovering from hip surgery.
Despite this setback, UW coach Craig Bohl has been pleased with what he’s seen from the senior during training camp.
“Boy, he’s been a bright guy,” Bohl said. “He’s from Denver, and his father was a really good player. I think his hip slowed him down a little at the beginning of the year, just with the number of repetitions we were doing and the workload, but he’s adapted well.
“He really played well in the scrimmage (last Saturday), and he tackled well. Those are situations where you try to see who, when they’re faced with a play one-on-one, can make the play. Who can break a tackle, who can make a tackle, and who can knock down a contested ball? He did well.”
Harrell has plenty of familiarity with the Cowboys’ first opponent of the fall, with the Badgers facing Illinois five times while he was with the program. Wisconsin went 4-1 in these games, and he’s confident UW can hold its own against his former conference foe, as well.
“It’s going to be a tough, physical game,” Harrell said. “They’re going to come with it, but we’re going to come with it, too.” | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/sports/transfers-ready-to-showcase-experience-at-corner/article_c2314e8a-2227-11ed-8615-57be6521db26.html | 2022-08-24T13:03:29Z |
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Cheyenne Central junior Emma Hofmeister, center, placed eighth at the Class 4A state cross-country meet. She hopes to improve upon her all-state honors this fall. Kirk Miller/Special to WyoSports
CHEYENNE – Emma Hofmeister entered her freshman cross-country season with sky-high expectations.
She had won a high-level junior high meet as an eighth-grader, and was confident she could shine early at Cheyenne Central. Hofmeister did her best to keep up with the Lady Indians’ upperclassmen during training, sure it would help her achieve her goals.
Hofmeister was right.
She placed 13th at the Class 4A state meet to help the Indians finish third in the team standings. Hofmeister’s performance was a solid finish for any runner, especially a freshman who was limited to small, regional meets due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yet the youngster left Casper’s Paradise Valley Country Club feeling somewhat disappointed.
“We had all trained so hard, so it was a little upsetting to be just outside the top 10 that year,” Hofmeister said. “Everybody told me, ‘It’s fine, you’ll get better and do it next year.”
Hofmeister’s friends, family and teammates were right. She earned all-state honors by placing eighth and helped Central win the 4A state title.
Naturally, Hofmeister wants to improve upon that finish this fall, and she is confident she has the right recipe. She has trained harder than ever before while learning to listen to her body so she doesn’t overdo it and run herself into the ground or out of the lineup with an injury.
“I focused on getting good, steady mileage in and not overtraining,” Hofmeister said. “I’m only a year older, but I feel like my body could handle a lot more mileage than my freshman and sophomore years because I’ve learned to listen to my body.
“Coach (Sean Wilde) tells us all the time to ‘be in tune with your body. If you can only do five miles, only do five miles.’ Until this year, I didn’t understand that. I’ve found a balance.”
Hofmeister has learned when her body is sore from training and when it’s dealing with an injury.
“An injury hurts all the time and is a nagging pain that makes you want to not do things,” she said. “When you’re training and pushing yourself, something might hurt for a day. If it’s still hurting and throbbing the next day, you need to back off.”
That knowledge is only going to help Hofmeister, Wilde said.
“She’s understanding the process and is reaping the rewards of listening to her body and doing what she needs to do,” he said. “She’s getting the work in. She sees the potential she has and knows you reap what you sow. She’s planting those seeds so she can do even more.”
Hofmeister views seniors Sydney Morrell and Lauren Clark as role models. Morrell has placed fourth at the state meet the past two years. Clark was 16th last fall. Not only does she follow their lead, she heeds their advice.
“They let me know when I’m not looking so hot and need to back off my training,” Hofmeister said. “If anything hurts, I’m taking a break, because I don’t want it to turn into an injury.”
Jeremiah Johnke is the WyoSports editor. He can be reached at jjohnke@wyosports.net or 307-633-3137. Follow him on Twitter at @jjohnke.
Jeremiah Johnke is the WyoSports editor. He can be reached at jjohnke@wyosports.net or 307-633-3137. Follow him on Twitter at @jjohnke. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/high_school/burns/emma-hofmeister-seeks-another-leap-up-the-standings/article_466acf16-234d-11ed-9a77-4fa4f100994e.html | 2022-08-24T13:03:37Z |
Cheyenne Central
Coach: Mike Apodaca
2021: 2-8 overall, reached Class 4A playoffs
Players to watch: QB/LB Keagan Barlett, sr.; OL/DL Chris Benboe, sr.; RB/LB Jaxon Lobatos, sr.; WR/S Richard Prescott, sr.
About the Indians: Central had three losses decided by one possession or less last fall. … The Indians ranked third in Class 4A in total defense, allowing 289 yards per game. … Apodaca said his team has proven it is invested. “If you don’t have that, you don’t have anything,” he said. “We have that in spades right now.” … The Indians are doing less platooning right now than they did last season. "We have more kids playing both ways than I have in the past,” he said. “That’s OK because they’ve worked hard in the off-season and are in such good condition. We’re getting away from the mindset of it’s just offense or it’s just defense.”
– By Jeremiah Johnke, WyoSports
CHEYENNE – Learning a new high school football team’s offense is hard enough for any player who changes schools.
The degree of difficulty is ramped up exponentially if that player is a quarterback.
Keagan Bartlett’s difficulty was compounded by spending the summer before his junior season playing baseball for Cheyenne American Legion Post 6.
“Any time you have one of your quarterbacks missing all summer, it’s a big deal,” Cheyenne Central coach Mike Apodaca said. “When it’s a transfer, it’s magnified. His development was stunted, despite how hard he tried to get caught up.”
Bartlett spent his freshman and sophomore seasons at Cheyenne East, but transferred to Central last year. He outdueled senior Nathanial Talich for the Indians starting quarterback job.
Bartlett ended up leading Class 4A in all-purpose average at 230.4 yards per game. He was second in the state in rushing average at 127.7 yards per contest.
“By Week 3, we figured out I was really good at running the ball, and that’s why it shook out like it did (statistically),” Bartlett said. “It helped that I am 200 pounds, pretty fast and have a great (offensive) line.
“The O-line opened a lot of big holes for me, which led to a lot of success.”
The 6-foot-2, 202-pound Bartlett ended up shouldering a lot of the running load after then-junior Jaxon Lobatos went down with an injury. Classmate Zecha King moved back to Cheyenne during the season last fall, and ended up rushing for 146 yards.
Bartlett’s 102.7 passing yards per game ranked sixth in 4A. The Indians expect those numbers to improve this fall.
“He’s going to be a dynamic player and draw a lot of attention,” Apodaca said. “He was the focal point last year, but he’s going to have a lot more help this year. He has weapons behind him and beside him.”
Leading receiver Jackson Whitworth returns after catching 22 passes for 262 yards and five touchdowns. Ethan Reisdorfer nabbed eight passes for 111 yards from a tight end/receiver hybrid position. Senior Richard Prescott also figures to play more on the offensive side of the ball after catching just four passes last year. He primarily played safety.
“We went to a lot of 7-on-7 (events) to get us all on the same page,” Bartlett said. “We also went out and threw a lot at McCormick (Junior High). It's something you have to do together a lot. I had to adjust to how Rich runs a route versus how Jackson runs a route. Figuring those things out really helps.”
Apodaca also expects Bartlett to be prominent on Central’s defense this fall. He started out playing in his customary linebacker spot last season, but the coaching staff decided it was best if Bartlett focused on quarterback.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Bartlett said. “You get to be a lot more physical defensively. You can be physical running the ball, but I don’t get to go out there and hit someone on every play like I do when I play defense.
“There has been a little bit of rust. I’ve had to learn how to be violent with my hands again, and remember how to get low tackling. It’s taken me some time to get used to that again, but I’m getting back into the swing of things.”
Bartlett is a more than capable linebacker. He posted 50 tackles (20 solo), three interceptions and three fumble recoveries for East’s 2020 state championship squad.
Apodaca has been a head coach for nearly 20 seasons. Bartlett is the first quarterback he can remember playing on the defensive side of the ball.
“If I did it, they were way on the back end of the defense at safety and not right in the thick of it,” Apodaca said. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/high_school/cheyenne_central/keagan-bartlett-ready-to-lead-indians-after-season-of-learning/article_7fd09b02-232d-11ed-be20-93fb501879d3.html | 2022-08-24T13:03:43Z |
Regional Overview
The weather the rest of the week and into the weekend is ideal conditions for getting outside to toss a line, hike a trail or pedal some singletrack. It is not too hot and not too cold. There’s a chance for afternoon thundershowers, especially later in the week and heading into the weekend. Those thundershowers could be intense in localized areas, bringing wind and small hail. There were reports of a dusting of snow in the high country this past weekend, but the snow melted quickly and left nary a trace by mid-morning. Still, it’s a reminder that the season change is fast approaching. It’s best to get out now and enjoy the warm days; go prepared for cool nights.
Ranking Categories
H (One fish): To ensure fish dinner, go to the local grocery store
HHHHH (Five fish): Toss a line and get a fish; the fish aren’t picky
Granite, Crystal and North Crow reservoirs
The fishing is good at both Granite and Crystal reservoirs, but slow at North Crow. The Antelope Dash trail race takes off from the Aspen Grove trailhead starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, with runners opting for a 4- or 8-mile course. Cheer them on if you see runners out on the trail. There is a cyanobacterial bloom advisory at the west causeway of Granite Reservoir. It’s best to avoid that area for now.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Sloans and Absarraca lakes
The buzz: The fishing is good, especially early and late in the day.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Pole Mountain
The buzz: The beaver ponds continue to offer some excellent action. Some of the ponds are getting low, but those with good water levels offer lively fishing. Moss and other surface vegetation can be problematic in many of the ponds.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Laramie Plains lakes
The buzz: The fishing is fair to good across the basin. Fall is often one of the best times of year to cast a line in these lakes and reservoirs, so expect the action to pick up as temperatures continue to cool. The action at Alsop picked up, and is best late in the day. Twin Buttes and Meeboer are also fishing well. Avoid Leazenby Lake due to the cyanobacterial bloom advisory.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Laramie River
The buzz: The river is low, but the fishing is fairly good; aim for the deep holes.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Snowy Range
The buzz: The high country continues to offer good fishing, with nice action throughout the day. Rob Roy Reservoir is on the slow side, but best for those out in a boat. Lake Owen has lots of fish rising, but the catching is slow. Douglas Creek, as it exits Rob Roy, is a good bet this time of year. The first dusting of snow arrived at the higher elevations last weekend, but it all melted very quickly; still, it is a sign that the summer season is on the wane.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
North Platte River and Encampment River – Saratoga Valley
The buzz: The upper reaches of the North Platte River are running low, as is the Encampment River. On the plus side, both have more flow than a year ago. Aim for the deeper pools, and it’s best to toss a line early or late in the day.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
North Platte River – Grey Reef
The buzz: The fishing continues to be very good, but it has slowed recently. Moss is problematic in some areas. As overnight temperatures cool, the fishing should take off. The cooler weather signals the transitioning to streamer action, but there’s still plenty of dry fly activity in the mornings. Grasshoppers are the ticket in the middle of the day.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
North Platte River – Miracle Mile
The buzz: The Mile is running clear, and the fishing is good to very good. The flow has been steady around 550 cubic feet per second, making for excellent wade fishing conditions.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Wheatland Reservoir No. 3
The buzz: The reservoir is quite low, but the boat ramp is still usable. There’s a cyanobacterial bloom advisory. It is not present along the entire reservoir, though, since it is a very large body of water. There’s still plenty of fishing, but anglers need to be aware of the possible hazard.
Suggest bait, lures and flies:
Black or olive woolly buggers
Glendo
The buzz: The fishing is slow, as is typical this time of year. Going into September, the fishing typically picks up with the cooler weather. Anglers going for perch are doing well.
Suggest bait, lures and flies:
Grayrocks Reservoir
The buzz: The fishing is good, and is best early and late. A few walleye and bass are also being taken in the middle of the day.
Suggest bait, lures and flies:
Worm harnesses with leeches
Nightcrawlers on worm harnesses (gold, silver, burnt orange blades)
Reservoir levels
River flows
North Platte River at Northgate: 136 cubic feet per second
North Platte River above Seminoe Reservoir: 300 cfs
North Platte River near Miracle Mile: 542 cfs
North Platte River at Grey Reef: 2,505 cfs
Encampment River near town of Encampment: 71 cfs
Encampment River at Hog Park: 38 cfs
Laramie River near Laramie: 39 cfs | https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/other_sports/community/fishing-report-for-aug-24-2022/article_25d99458-2334-11ed-b7e6-f36c71a985f5.html | 2022-08-24T13:03:50Z |
Hall of Fame Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson dies at 87
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson, whose unmistakable swagger in helping the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl title earned him the nickname “Lenny the Cool,” died Wednesday. He was 87.
Dawson’s family announced his death in a statement through KMBC, the Kansas City-based television station where he starred in his second career as a broadcaster. No cause was given, though Dawson had been in declining health for years.
“With wife Linda at his side, it is with much sadness that we inform you of the passing of our beloved Len Dawson,” the family’s statement read. “He was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend. Len was always grateful and many times overwhelmed by the countless bonds he made during his football and broadcast careers.”
The MVP of the Chiefs’ victory over the Vikings in January 1970, Dawson had entered hospice care on Aug. 12.
“He loved Kansas City,” his family said, “and no matter where his travels took him he could not wait to return home.”
Dawson personified the Chiefs almost from the start, when the suave standout from Purdue lost out on starting jobs in Pittsburgh and Cleveland and landed with the nascent franchise, then located in Dallas. There, Dawson reunited with Hank Stram, who had been an assistant with the Boilermakers, and together they forever changed the franchise.
The coach and quarterback won the AFL championship together in 1962, their first year together, and became bona fide stars the following year, when club founder Lamar Hunt moved the team to Kansas City and rechristened it the Chiefs.
They proceeded to win two more AFL titles, one in 1966 when they lost to the Packers in the first Super Bowl, and the other in ‘69, when Dawson came back from an injury to help beat the Vikings at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.
“Looking back on my career, I’ve been blessed for what I had the opportunity to do,” Dawson said told The Associated Press in 2017, shortly after he announced his retirement from his second career as a Hall of Fame broadcaster.
“I could not have accomplished so much without my teammates and colleagues, and I’m grateful for each of them.”
Dawson always remained a beloved figure in Kansas City, even though he cut back on public appearances several years ago when his health began to fail him. But he always had time for fans, whether it be a photograph or signature, the latter often on an iconic black-and-white photo from halftime of that first Super Bowl: the exhausted quarterback, white uniform caked with mud, sitting on a folding chair with a cigarette in his mouth and a bottle of Fresca at his feet.
It perfectly captured a time and place. And it perfectly captured a man that embodied poise and self-assurance.
“Next to my father, few people have had a more lasting impact on the Kansas City Chiefs than Len Dawson,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said a few years ago. “Over the course of a legendary career, first as a player and later as a broadcaster, Len has been a part of every major moment in franchise history.”
Dawson was born June 20, 1935, the ninth of 11 children that filled the house of James and Annie Dawson in the blue-collar manufacturing town of Alliance, Ohio. He was a three-sport athlete at Alliance High School, setting records in both football and basketball, and turned his success on the gridiron into a scholarship offer from Purdue.
There, Dawson led the NCAA in passing efficiency as a sophomore while also playing defense and kicking, and he helped lead a memorable upset of Notre Dame during that 1954 season. By the end of his college career, Dawson had thrown for more than 3,000 yards, despite playing in an era that favored ground-and-pound football.
Dawson was chosen by the Steelers in the first round of the 1957 draft, but he wound up riding the bench behind Earl Morrall as a rookie and then failed to beat out Bobby Layne for he starting job the following season. The Steelers ultimately traded him to the Browns, where Dawson was unable to beat out Milt Plum for the job and was released.
One of the great disappointments of Dawson’s career wound up being one of the best things to ever happen to him.
With newfound freedom to sign anywhere, Dawson jumped to the upstart AFL and the Texans, lured in part by the chance to play for one of his old coaches at Purdue. Stram was able to finally tap into his talent, helping Dawson to quickly become one of the league’s prolific passers as the Texans went 11-3 and won the first of three championships.
The second came in 1966, when Dawson led the Chiefs to an 11-2-1 record and a 31-7 blowout of the Bills in the AFL title game. That earned the Chiefs the chance to face the powerhouse Green Bay Packers — and coach Vince Lombardi — in the inaugural Super Bowl, where Dawson threw for 210 yards and a touchdown in a 35-10 defeat.
It was the 1969 season that proved to be the most memorable of Dawson’s career, though. He sustained a serious knee injury against the Patriots in Week 2, forcing him to miss the next five games, but went on a tear once he returned to the field. Dawson led the Chiefs to victories over the defending champion Jets and bitter rival Raiders to reach what would be the final Super Bowl before the AFL-NFL merger, where he threw for 142 yards and a score in a 23-7 triumph.
“It was overwhelming,” Dawson said afterward. “It’s just, you know how that relief comes with you know it’s over with, and we’ve been successful? That’s the feeling that I had when I came off the field.”
Dawson continued to play for six more seasons in Kansas City, setting many franchise records that stood until a youngster named Patrick Mahomes came along, before hanging up his helmet after the 1975 season.
Along the way, Dawson parlayed what began as a publicity stunt into a second career in broadcasting.
In 1966, then-Chiefs general manager Jack Steadman wanted to drum up support for the franchise in Kansas City and convinced Dawson to anchor a sports segment on the nightly news. His natural charisma and folksy style made Dawson a natural, he turned his attention to TV and radio on a full-time basis after his playing career had finished.
Dawson continued to work in local TV for several decades, adding game analysis for NBC from 1977-82 and hosting HBO’s iconic “Inside the NFL” from 1977-2001. He also served more than three decades on the Chiefs’ radio broadcast team.
After going into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1987, Dawson was inducted as a broadcaster in 2012.
“It’s been a true privilege and honor to have Len at the center of our broadcast team for the last 33 years,” said Dan Israel, the executive producer of the Chiefs’ radio network, upon his retirement a few years ago. “His contributions to not only this sport, but our industry, are incredibly profound.”
Dawson was married to his high school sweetheart, Jackie, from 1954 until her death in 1978, and together they had two children. His second wife, Linda, remained by his side even when Dawson was forced to enter hospice care.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/24/hall-fame-chiefs-quarterback-len-dawson-dies-87/ | 2022-08-24T13:03:49Z |
WyoSports
LARAMIE – The University of Wyoming made a handful of starting designations when it released its depth chart Tuesday afternoon, but the Cowboys declined to officially name their No. 1 quarterback for Saturday’s season opener at Illinois.
Illini coach Bret Bielema has yet to name a starting signal-caller for this week, as well, although all signs point toward Syracuse transfer Tommy Devito taking the first snaps.
As for Wyoming, Utah State transfer Andrew Peasley worked exclusively with the first-team offense during the 30 minutes of live work at training camp that was open to the media. Returners Hank Gibbs and Jayden Clemons, Snow College product Evan Svoboda and high school signee Caden Becker are the other quarterbacks listed on the Pokes’ roster.
“I don’t know what Bret has said, but we will name a starter to be announced,” UW coach Craig Bohl said.
One aspect about Peasley that his UW teammates and coaches appreciate is his ability to stay even-keeled, and not get too high or too low, regardless of the situation.
The junior notes that this wasn’t always the case. However, learning from former Utah State and current Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love – who was the starter for the Aggies during his first two years at the college level – helped him grow significantly in this area.
“That took some practice for me through the years,” Peasley said. “When I first got to college, I was pretty antsy – I was always up and then down if I made a good play or whatever. I just kind of learned to stay balanced, for the sake of other people, too. If you get too high on things, you build everyone up, and then if they see you get too low, they’re going to follow you.
“A big aspect was Jordan Love. He was the same guy all the time – just mellow. If we’d be losing, he’d still come to the sideline with the same level head. I kind of looked up to him a lot.”
Despite spending the past four years with a Mountain West rival, junior receiver Wyatt Wieland says it didn’t take long for Peasley to emerge as one of the leaders of the offense.
“The first thing that comes to mind is Peasley’s leadership, and how natural it is for him coming into a program he hasn’t been with,” Wieland said. “He really came in clicking with the guys, and nothing was forced. It didn’t seem like he demanded respect from anyone, but he got it pretty quickly from a lot of guys. And also his ability to extend plays and put an accurate ball on you is something that excites us receivers.”
Depth chart notes
There were two notable omissions from the Cowboys’ depth chart, with backup running back Dawaiian McNeely and defensive end Sabastian Harsh both being unavailable this weekend due to injuries. Bohl did not provide further information on the nature of these setbacks, or how long they might be out.
DeVonne Harris, Braden Siders and Oluwaseyi Omotosho are all expected to see playing time at defensive end, with no definitive starters being named. Redshirt freshmen Joey Braasch and D.Q. James are listed as the top backups to junior Titus Swen at running back, although the Pokes intend to lean more heavily on their No. 1 back than they have in recent years, when they’ve utilized at least two players on a regular basis.
Four starters – tackles Frank Crum and Eric Abojei, center Nofoafia Tulafono and right guard Emmanuel Pregnon – are penciled in on the offensive line. Left guard is still up in the air, but Bohl said that Zach Watts and Jack Walsh have “practiced well enough to play,” and both will see the field on Saturday.
Weakside linebacker is a spot that had some competition during the offseason, but sophomore Shae Suiaunoa showed enough over the past month to be declared the starter on Tuesday. Bohl says Michigan State transfer Cole DeMarzo will also see playing time, but the bulk of the reps will go to Suiaunoa.
Returning sophomore Cam Stone is listed as one of the starters at cornerback, with either Deron Harrell and Jakorey Hawkins – who transferred from Wisconsin and Ole Miss, respectively – set to start opposite of him. Regardless of who the No. 1 guy is, though, the Cowboys plan to rotate all three at the position.
UW didn’t name a starting punter, with 2021 starter Ralph Fawaz and Texas State transfer Clayton Stewart competing for the job. Stone and sophomore receiver Joshua Cobbs are slated to return kicks for the Pokes, with junior Caleb Cooley listed as the No. 1 punt returner.
Josh Criswell{span} covers the University of Wyoming for WyoSports. He can be reached at jcriswell@wyosports.net or 307-755-3325. Follow him on Twitter at @criswell_sports.{/span} | https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/university_of_wyoming/football/pokes-join-illinois-in-leaving-no-1-qb-unannounced/article_d485a828-2336-11ed-b356-2fd5b4d762f5.html | 2022-08-24T13:03:56Z |
Kourtney Kardashian, Kevin Hart among celebrities accused of violating drought rules
CALABASAS, Calif. (KABC) - In California, authorities are cracking down on A-list celebrities in the Los Angeles area who have not been doing their part to conserve water.
It comes as the state continues to experience severe drought conditions.
Celebrities living in multimillion-dollar mansions in Calabasas, California, including Kourtney Kardashian, Kevin Hart and Sylvester Stallone, have all been accused of using too much water.
Officials said anyone who exceeds 150% of their water budget for at least two months pays a penalty, but the penalties reportedly do not work for those who have lots of cash to spare.
Now, officials are working to have flow restriction devices installed. They remove the functionality of irrigation systems leading to frustratingly slow-dripping showers, ultimately forcing people to conserve water.
They said there is no other way to get past users who have the means to pay those enormous water bills and the fines.
The water district says about 70% of all residential water is used outdoors. They are advising people to remove their lawns and install drought-tolerant landscaping.
Copyright 2022 KABC via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/24/kourtney-kardashian-kevin-hart-among-celebrities-accused-violating-drought-rules/ | 2022-08-24T13:03:56Z |
Rent prices hit record high for 17th month in a row
Published: Aug. 24, 2022 at 8:45 AM EDT|Updated: 18 minutes ago
(CNN) - Rent prices across the country have hit a record high again.
For the 17th month in a row, the national median rent hit a new record of high of $1,879 a month, up more than 12% from a year ago.
The South and Northeast have seen the largest increases, with Miami renters getting hit the hardest. Their rent is up 26% from last year.
The good news is there are some early signs the market may be starting to cool off, according to Realtor.com.
For the past six months, even though prices have gone up, the percentage of growth is not quite as high.
Experts say this is a step in the right direction.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/24/rent-prices-hit-record-high-17th-month-row/ | 2022-08-24T13:04:03Z |
A young woman was denied a mammogram despite a breast lump. She ended up with advanced cancer.
LONG BEACH, Calif. (KCAL/KCBS) - A cancer survivor has a warning for women after she was denied a mammogram.
She found a lump in her breast but was told it was benign.
When she asked for a mammogram, she was told there was no need because of her young age and family history.
She ended up with stage 4 breast cancer.
“I was in the best shape of my life. I was internationally modeling,” said Philecia Labounty, who never imagined that at just 29 years old, she would be diagnosed with cancer.
“Even when I was diagnosed it was really hard to process because I had no other symptoms. I had clean blood work,” Labounty said.
When she felt a lump in one of her breasts, she said she went to a free clinic in Long Beach to have it checked out and was told it was just a benign cyst.
That she asked at the time to have a mammogram, and the doctor submitted a request that was denied because of her young age and because she had no family history of cancer.
“I was like, ‘OK, they said you’re OK. Trust what they say. Trust the doctors,’” she said.
But now she wishes she would have trusted her gut instinct.
Labouty said that within eight months, the lump grew much larger, so doctors did approve a mammogram.
But by that time, she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer that had spread to her lungs, lymph nodes and sternum.
She said she will likely be on chemotherapy drugs for the rest of her life.
“I don’t like being the example, but if it means I can save somebody else, that’s all I want,” Labounty said.
The now 35-year-old, who is in remission, wants other young women to know something she didn’t know back then - that we can all go get a second opinion.
“Find another doctor,” she said.
Her TikTok posts documenting her recent visits with her new doctors has gone viral.
“She told me I’m doing incredible by letting them know when something is wrong,” Labounty said.
She said she hopes that message empowers other people to know their voice matters when it comes to matters of their health.
“You have every right to fight for your healthcare,” Labounty said. “And if you’re not feeling OK with what you’re getting, find it elsewhere, because it’s out there.”
Copyright 2022 KCAL/KCBS via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/08/24/young-woman-was-denied-mammogram-despite-breast-lump-she-ended-up-with-advanced-cancer/ | 2022-08-24T13:04:09Z |
It's been six months since Russia launched its full scale invasion on Ukraine. Now it's a war of attrition that has led to a global food crisis, inflation across the world and devastation in Ukraine.
Copyright 2022 NPR
It's been six months since Russia launched its full scale invasion on Ukraine. Now it's a war of attrition that has led to a global food crisis, inflation across the world and devastation in Ukraine.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-24/31-years-ago-ukraine-broke-away-from-the-ussr-now-the-battle-is-against-russia | 2022-08-24T13:23:21Z |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and popular radio and TV sports personality Len Dawson has died. He was 87.
He led the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl win in 1970, even picking up the MVP title. "Lenny the Cool" also guided Chiefs fans through their ups and downs as a broadcaster for more than 50 years.
Dawson had entered hospice care earlier this month. In a statement released by the Chiefs, "Len Dawson is synonymous with the Kansas City Chiefs. Len embraced and came to embody Kansas City and the people that call it home. You would be hard-pressed to find a player who had a bigger impact in shaping the organization as we know it today than Len Dawson did," said Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt.
Dawson was born in Alliance, Ohio, in 1935. Fifty-two years later, he stood at the Hall of Fame in nearby Canton, inducted after a 19-year football career. He was only the fourth person to enter the Hall of Fame as a player and a broadcaster, after Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf and John Madden.
"I was into working," Dawson said with a laugh in 2017, when the broadcasting booth at Arrowhead Stadium was formally dedicated to him. "Because my parents didn't have a whole lot and they taught me something: 'If you want something, find a way to earn it to get it done.'"
Dawson was a color commentator for the Chiefs radio broadcasts on the Chiefs radio network from 1984 through 2017. His broadcast play-by-play partner for 24 of those years, Mitch Holthus, was a long-time admirer.
"I made sure my mom made a crude, stitched jersey with 1 and 6 on it because I wanted to be Lenny Dawson," said Holthus, referring to Dawson's jersey No. 16.
Dawson was a first-round draft pick out of Purdue by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1957 but was unable to get any significant playing time with the Steelers or in his two years with the Cleveland Browns in 1960 and 1961.
Meanwhile, Lamar Hunt founded the American Football League in 1960.
"I remember (Browns owner/coach) Paul Brown saying, 'Hey, there's a bunch of sons of rich people. This is a hobby for them,'" Dawson recalled. "'It won't last more than a year or two. It's not going to be very long.'"
Dawson signed with the Dallas Texans in the fledgling AFL before the 1962 season and was reunited with coach Hank Stram, one of his assistant coaches at Purdue. The Texans won the AFL championship that year before moving to Kansas City.
In 1964, Dawson threw 30 touchdown passes, a Chiefs record until Patrick Mahomes shattered it with 50 in 2018. On the verge of breaking Dawson's record, Mahomes said he talked to Dawson about it.
"When you throw 30 touchdowns in today's league where there's a lot more passing, you're still having a great season," said Mahomes in 2018. "For him to be that advanced, I mean he won a Super Bowl here. He was one of the best quarterbacks to ever play."
With Dawson at QB, the Chiefs lost in Super Bowl I, but beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl IV. Dawson was the MVP.
"We were the underdog in that game," he recalled. "We were supposed to get beat by a couple of touchdowns. Thankfully, we didn't believe that."
Dawson's final season was in 1975 when he was 40. Behind an injury-decimated offensive line, he was sacked seven times in a late-season game. By then, Dawson said, he knew his playing career was over.
"It made my decision," he said. "I said, 'That's it. I don't need to take this whipping like this anymore.'"
Unbeknownst to Dawson in 1966, Chiefs president Jack Steadman started discussions with management at KMBC-TV and radio about working Dawson into the broadcasts.
"I didn't have any idea he was doing that, so it ended up starting my broadcasting career," Dawson said.
Not only did he remain a major figure in Kansas City, he also became well known for a groundbreaking national show on HBO called "Inside the NFL."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-24/len-dawson-kansas-city-chiefs-quarterback-and-broadcasting-legend-dies-at-87 | 2022-08-24T13:23:28Z |
It's been six months since Russia launched its full scale invasion on Ukraine. Now it's a war of attrition that has led to a global food crisis, inflation across the world and devastation in Ukraine.
Copyright 2022 NPR
It's been six months since Russia launched its full scale invasion on Ukraine. Now it's a war of attrition that has led to a global food crisis, inflation across the world and devastation in Ukraine.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.keranews.org/2022-08-24/31-years-ago-ukraine-broke-away-from-the-ussr-now-the-battle-is-against-russia | 2022-08-24T13:39:45Z |
Hall of Fame Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson dies at 87
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson, whose unmistakable swagger in helping the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl title earned him the nickname “Lenny the Cool,” died Wednesday. He was 87.
Dawson’s family announced his death in a statement through KMBC, the Kansas City-based television station where he starred in his second career as a broadcaster. No cause was given, though Dawson had been in declining health for years.
“With wife Linda at his side, it is with much sadness that we inform you of the passing of our beloved Len Dawson,” the family’s statement read. “He was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend. Len was always grateful and many times overwhelmed by the countless bonds he made during his football and broadcast careers.”
The MVP of the Chiefs’ victory over the Vikings in January 1970, Dawson had entered hospice care on Aug. 12.
“Len Dawson is synonymous with the Kansas City Chiefs,” owner Clark Hunt said in a statement on Wednesday. “Len embraced and came to embody Kansas City and the people that call it home. You would be hard-pressed to find a player who had a bigger impact in shaping the organization as we know it today than Len Dawson did.”
Dawson personified the Chiefs almost from the start, when the suave standout from Purdue lost out on starting jobs in Pittsburgh and Cleveland and landed with the nascent franchise, then located in Dallas. There, Dawson reunited with Hank Stram, who had been an assistant with the Boilermakers, and together they forever changed the franchise.
The coach and quarterback won the AFL championship together in 1962, their first year together, and became bona fide stars the following year, when club founder Lamar Hunt moved the team to Kansas City and rechristened it the Chiefs.
They proceeded to win two more AFL titles, one in 1966 when they lost to the Packers in the first Super Bowl, and the other in ‘69, when Dawson came back from an injury to help beat the Vikings at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.
“Looking back on my career, I’ve been blessed for what I had the opportunity to do,” Dawson said told The Associated Press in 2017, shortly after he announced his retirement from his second career as a Hall of Fame broadcaster. “I could not have accomplished so much without my teammates and colleagues, and I’m grateful for each of them.”
Dawson always remained a beloved figure in Kansas City, even though he cut back on public appearances several years ago when his health began to fail. But he always had time for fans, whether a photograph or signature, the latter often on an iconic black-and-white photo from halftime of that first Super Bowl: The exhausted quarterback, white uniform caked with mud, sitting on a folding chair with a cigarette in his mouth and a bottle of Fresca at his feet.
It perfectly captured a time and place. And it perfectly captured a man that embodied poise and self-assurance.
Dawson was born June 20, 1935, the ninth of 11 children that filled the house of James and Annie Dawson in the blue-collar manufacturing town of Alliance, Ohio. He was a three-sport athlete at Alliance High School, setting records in both football and basketball, and turned his success on the gridiron into a scholarship offer from Purdue.
He led the NCAA in passing efficiency as a sophomore while also playing defense and kicking, and helped lead a memorable upset of Notre Dame during that 1954 season. By the end of his college career, Dawson had thrown for more than 3,000 yards, despite playing in an era that favored ground-and-pound football.
Dawson was chosen by the Steelers in the first round of the 1957 draft, but he wound up riding the bench behind Earl Morrall as a rookie and then failed to beat out Bobby Layne for he starting job the following season. The Steelers ultimately traded him to the Browns, where Dawson was unable to beat out Milt Plum for the job and was released.
One of the great disappointments of Dawson’s career wound up with a positive outcome.
With newfound freedom to sign anywhere, Dawson jumped to the upstart AFL and the Texans, lured in part by the chance to play for one of his old coaches at Purdue. Stram was able to finally tap into his talent, helping Dawson to quickly become one of the league’s prolific passers as the Texans went 11-3 and won the first of three championships.
The second came in 1966, when Dawson led the Chiefs to an 11-2-1 record and a 31-7 blowout of the Bills in the AFL title game. That earned the Chiefs the chance to face the powerhouse Green Bay Packers — and coach Vince Lombardi — in the inaugural Super Bowl, where Dawson threw for 210 yards and a touchdown in a 35-10 defeat.
It was the 1969 season that proved to be the most memorable of Dawson’s career, though. He sustained a serious knee injury against the Patriots in Week 2, forcing him to miss the next five games. But he went on a tear once back on the field. Dawson led the Chiefs to victories over the defending champion Jets and bitter rival Raiders to reach what would be the final Super Bowl before the AFL-NFL merger, where he threw for 142 yards and a score in a 23-7 triumph.
“It was overwhelming,” Dawson said afterward. “It’s just, you know how that relief comes with you know it’s over with, and we’ve been successful? That’s the feeling that I had when I came off the field.”
Dawson played six more seasons in Kansas City, setting many franchise records that stood until a youngster named Patrick Mahomes came along, before hanging up his helmet after the 1975 season.
Along the way, Dawson parlayed what began as a publicity stunt into a second career in broadcasting.
In 1966, then-Chiefs general manager Jack Steadman wanted to drum up support for the franchise in Kansas City and convinced Dawson to anchor a sports segment on the nightly news. His natural charisma and folksy style made Dawson a natural. He turned his attention to TV and radio on a full-time basis after his playing career ended.
Dawson worked in local TV for several decades, adding game analysis for NBC from 1977-82 and hosting HBO’s iconic “Inside the NFL” from 1977-2001. He also served more than three decades on the Chiefs’ radio broadcast team.
After going into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1987, Dawson was inducted as a broadcaster in 2012.
“It’s been a true privilege and honor to have Len at the center of our broadcast team for the last 33 years,” said Dan Israel, the executive producer of the Chiefs’ radio network, upon his retirement a few years ago. “His contributions to not only this sport, but our industry, are incredibly profound.”
Dawson was married to his high school sweetheart, Jackie, from 1954 until her death in 1978, and together they had two children. His second wife, Linda, remained by his side as Dawson entered hospice care.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/24/hall-fame-chiefs-quarterback-len-dawson-dies-87/ | 2022-08-24T13:56:13Z |
Hawk carrying a mouse breaks into family home, startles teen
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU/Gray News) – A hawk flew through a window in a home in Wisconsin Monday morning.
Ashlynn Mallett, 14, was home when she heard the sound of glass shattering. When she went to investigate, she discovered a hawk had flown into the house.
“As I was watching TV, I just heard a loud crash through the window and the dog started barking,” Mallett told WEAU. “So, I walked over and there is a hawk in the porch.”
The teen called her dad for help to deal with the feathered intruder – which also brought a mouse with it.
The hawk was stuck inside the porch, unable to find its way out through the window it had broken.
They called Eau Claire Animal Control to safely remove the bird.
Video shared by the homeowners shows the hawk escorted outside through an open door by shooing it away with a plastic lid.
Copyright 2022 WEAU via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/24/hawk-carrying-mouse-breaks-into-family-home-startles-teen/ | 2022-08-24T13:56:20Z |
NASA releases spooky audio of a black hole
Published: Aug. 24, 2022 at 9:23 AM EDT|Updated: 32 minutes ago
(CNN) - Fair warning, once you hear the sound of a black hole, you can’t unhear it and it is a little terrifying.
NASA shared a 34-second clip of the Perseus galaxy cluster, which is about 240 million light years away from Earth.
Scientists say the black hole sends out pressure waves that cause ripples in the hot gas, which can be translated into a note.
To be clear though, the actual note is one humans can’t hear. It is about 57 octaves below middle C.
NASA says they shifted the note so we could hear it by amplifying it and mixing it with other data they have about black holes.
The spooky sound will be perfect addition to your Halloween playlist.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/24/nasa-releases-spooky-audio-black-hole/ | 2022-08-24T13:56:26Z |
Plenty of sunshine
Temperatures around average the next several days
WEDNESDAY: Plenty of sunshine to start the day with areas of patchy fog early. Warm with temperatures rising into the 70s. Adding some clouds for the afternoon as it will be a beautiful day. Very warm but comfortable as humidity stays on the lower side. Highs in the low to mid 80s with Petersburg/Moorefield in the upper 80s. A nice and warm evening with some clouds and temperatures falling into the 70s. Some clouds through most of the evening, clearing some after midnight. Areas of patchy fog late. Warm and slightly humid overnight with lows in the low to mid 60s.
THURSDAY: Some clouds to start the day with patchy fog early. Warm with temperatures rising into the 70s. A mix of sun and clouds for the afternoon. With a little more moisture in the air, we’ll see an isolated shower or storm in the afternoon but most, if not all, stay dry. Very warm and slightly humid with highs in the low to mid 80s. A nice and warm evening with temperatures falling into the 70s. Some clouds for the evening and overnight with an isolated shower or storm before midnight. Warm and slightly humid with overnight lows in the low to mid 60s.
FRIDAY: A mix of sun and clouds to start the day and warm with temperatures rising into the 70s. Some clouds for the afternoon as a front approaches the area, firing up an isolated shower or storm in the afternoon. Very warm and slightly humid with highs in the mid to upper 80s. A warm evening with temperatures falling into the 70s. Any isolated shower or storm will wrap up by sunset. Some clouds for the evening, turning mostly clear after midnight. Warm and slightly humid with overnight lows in the low to mid 60s.
SATURDAY: Plenty of sunshine to start the day and warm with temperatures rising into the 70s. Adding some clouds for the afternoon with a few showers and storms. A front will work through the area with the potential for low pressure developing along the front. If this front moves quickly past us and to the south, coverage of showers and storms would be even lower. Very warm and slightly humid with highs in the low to mid 80s. Partly cloudy for the evening and overnight with an isolated shower or storm. Warm and slightly humid overnight with lows in the low to mid 60s.
SUNDAY: A mix of sun and clouds to start the day and warm with temperatures rising into the 70s. Some clouds in the afternoon with an isolated shower or storm. Very warm with highs in the low to mid 80s. Warm overnight with lows in the low to mid 60s.
MONDAY: A mix of sun and clouds to start the day and warm with temperatures rising into the 70s. Partly cloudy for the afternoon and very warm. Highs in the low to mid 80s with overnight lows in the low to mid 60s.
TUESDAY: A warm start with temperatures rising into the 70s and intervals of clouds and sunshine. More clouds than sun for the afternoon and very warm with highs in the mid to upper 80s. A very warm evening with temperatures in the 80s and overnight lows in the low to mid 60s.
As always, you can get the latest updates by downloading and checking the WHSV Weather App.
Copyright 2021 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/24/plenty-sunshine/ | 2022-08-24T13:56:32Z |
Rent prices hit record high for 17th month in a row
Published: Aug. 24, 2022 at 8:45 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
(CNN) - Rent prices across the country have hit a record high again.
For the 17th month in a row, the national median rent hit a new record of high of $1,879 a month, up more than 12% from a year ago.
The South and Northeast have seen the largest increases, with Miami renters getting hit the hardest. Their rent is up 26% from last year.
The good news is there are some early signs the market may be starting to cool off, according to Realtor.com.
For the past six months, even though prices have gone up, the percentage of growth is not quite as high.
Experts say this is a step in the right direction.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/24/rent-prices-hit-record-high-17th-month-row/ | 2022-08-24T13:56:39Z |
A young woman was denied a mammogram despite a breast lump. She ended up with advanced cancer.
LONG BEACH, Calif. (KCAL/KCBS) - A cancer survivor has a warning for women after she was denied a mammogram.
She found a lump in her breast but was told it was benign.
When she asked for a mammogram, she was told there was no need because of her young age and family history.
She ended up with stage 4 breast cancer.
“I was in the best shape of my life. I was internationally modeling,” said Philecia Labounty, who never imagined that at just 29 years old, she would be diagnosed with cancer.
“Even when I was diagnosed it was really hard to process because I had no other symptoms. I had clean blood work,” Labounty said.
When she felt a lump in one of her breasts, she said she went to a free clinic in Long Beach to have it checked out and was told it was just a benign cyst.
That she asked at the time to have a mammogram, and the doctor submitted a request that was denied because of her young age and because she had no family history of cancer.
“I was like, ‘OK, they said you’re OK. Trust what they say. Trust the doctors,’” she said.
But now she wishes she would have trusted her gut instinct.
Labouty said that within eight months, the lump grew much larger, so doctors did approve a mammogram.
But by that time, she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer that had spread to her lungs, lymph nodes and sternum.
She said she will likely be on chemotherapy drugs for the rest of her life.
“I don’t like being the example, but if it means I can save somebody else, that’s all I want,” Labounty said.
The now 35-year-old, who is in remission, wants other young women to know something she didn’t know back then - that we can all go get a second opinion.
“Find another doctor,” she said.
Her TikTok posts documenting her recent visits with her new doctors has gone viral.
“She told me I’m doing incredible by letting them know when something is wrong,” Labounty said.
She said she hopes that message empowers other people to know their voice matters when it comes to matters of their health.
“You have every right to fight for your healthcare,” Labounty said. “And if you’re not feeling OK with what you’re getting, find it elsewhere, because it’s out there.”
Copyright 2022 KCAL/KCBS via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/08/24/young-woman-was-denied-mammogram-despite-breast-lump-she-ended-up-with-advanced-cancer/ | 2022-08-24T13:56:45Z |
KATY, Texas, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. ("Academy" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ASO) plans to release its second quarter fiscal 2022 financial results before the market opens on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.
Academy will host a live conference call that day at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the financial results. Participants interested in accessing the live call can dial 1-877-407-3982 (U.S.) or 1-201-493-6780 (International). The conference passcode is 13732261. A webcast of the call, along with supplemental materials, can be accessed on the Company's website at investors.academy.com. To listen to the call, please dial in or access the website at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.
A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available for approximately 30 days by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (U.S.) or 1-412-317-6671 (International) and entering passcode 13732261.
A replay of the webcast will be archived at investors.academy.com for approximately 30 days.
Academy is a leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer in the United States. Originally founded in 1938 as a family business in Texas, Academy has grown to 263 stores across 17 states. Academy's mission is to provide "Fun for All" and Academy fulfills this mission with a localized merchandising strategy and value proposition that strongly connects with a broad range of consumers. Academy's product assortment focuses on key categories of outdoor, apparel, sports & recreation and footwear through both leading national brands and a portfolio of private label brands. For more information, visit www.academy.com.
Media inquiries:
Elise Hasbrook, Vice President Communications
281.253.8200
elise.hasbrook@academy.com
Investor inquiries:
Matt Hodges, Vice President Investor Relations
281.646.5362
matt.hodges@academy.com
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SOURCE Academy Sports + Outdoors | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/academy-sports-outdoors-announces-second-quarter-fiscal-2022-results-conference-call/ | 2022-08-24T13:56:52Z |
- Record second quarter revenues of $2.5 billion, an increase of 2.7 percent on top of last year's increase of 8.2 percent
- Second quarter net income of $124.8 million, an increase of 7.6 percent from last year
- Accrued patronage dividend to shareholders of $247.3 million, an increase of 20.8 percent from the first six months of 2021
- Ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Home Improvement Retail Stores" according to J.D. Power, marking fifteen out of the last sixteen years
OAK BROOK, Ill., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ace Hardware Corporation ("Ace" or the "Company") today reported record second quarter 2022 revenues of $2.5 billion, an increase of $66.1 million, or 2.7 percent, from the second quarter of 2021. Net income was $124.8 million for the second quarter of 2022, an increase of $8.8 million from the second quarter of 2021. Included in the results for the second quarter are $10.8 million in non-recurring charges related to the closure of The Grommet.
"Nominal growth continues to be solid," said John Venhuizen, President & CEO. "The primary fuel has come from last year's 182 new domestic stores, this year's 88, and the aberrant and stubborn impact of inflation."
The approximately 3,600 Ace retailers who share daily retail sales data reported a 0.6 percent increase in U.S. retail same-store-sales during the second quarter of 2022. Estimated retail price inflation of 11.4 percent helped drive a 8.0 percent increase in average ticket. Same-store transactions were down 6.9 percent.
Consolidated revenues for the quarter ended July 2, 2022 totaled $2.5 billion. Total wholesale revenues were $2.3 billion, an increase of $63.4 million, or 2.9 percent, as compared to the prior year second quarter. Increases were seen across a majority of departments with outdoor power equipment, plumbing, paint and outdoor living showing the largest gains. New stores are defined as stores that were activated from January 2021 through June 2022. The Company had an increase in wholesale merchandise revenues from new domestic stores of $68.6 million during the second quarter of 2022. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in wholesale merchandise revenues due to domestic store cancellations of $14.2 million. Wholesale merchandise revenues to comparable domestic stores increased $0.3 million for the quarter. All of this increase was the result of estimated wholesale price inflation of 12.0 percent. The Company's Ace International Holdings, Ltd. subsidiary experienced a $19.4 million decrease in wholesale revenue versus the second quarter of 2021, while Ace Wholesale Holdings LLC reported a $8.7 million increase in wholesale revenues from the second quarter of 2021.
Total retail revenues for the quarter were $258.0 million, an increase of $2.7 million, or 1.1 percent, as compared to the prior year second quarter. Retail revenues from Ace Retail Holdings LLC ("ARH") were $252.4 million in the second quarter of 2022, an increase of $3.7 million, or 1.5 percent, from the second quarter of 2021. This increase was driven by new stores added by the Westlake Ace Hardware ("Westlake") and the Great Lakes Ace Hardware ("GLA") chains since the second quarter of 2021. Westlake and GLA together operated 215 stores at the end of the second quarter of 2022 compared to 211 stores at the end of the second quarter of 2021. Inflation drove same-store-sales increases of 0.2 percent at Westlake and 0.4 percent at GLA during the quarter. Retail revenues from Ace Ecommerce Holdings LLC were $5.6 million in the second quarter of 2022, a decrease of $1.0 million, or 15.2 percent, from the second quarter of 2021, which was due to the announcement of the closure of the Grommet.
Ace added 38 new domestic stores in the second quarter of 2022 and cancelled 12 stores. The Company's total domestic store count was 4,816 at the end of the second quarter of 2022 which was an increase of 87 stores from the second quarter of 2021. On a worldwide basis, Ace added 46 stores in the second quarter of 2022 and cancelled 12, bringing the worldwide store count to 5,660 at the end of the second quarter of 2022.
Wholesale gross profit for the three months ended July 2, 2022 was $287.3 million, an increase of $24.1 million from the second quarter of 2021. The wholesale gross margin percentage was 12.6 percent of wholesale revenues in the second quarter of 2022, up from 11.9 percent in the second quarter of 2021. The increase in wholesale gross margin percentage was primarily due to an increase in vendor funds earned, and the absence of personal protective equipment inventory write-downs recorded in the second quarter of 2021. These improvements were partially offset by an increase in LIFO expense which was driven by increased vendor prices due to inflation.
Retail gross profit for the three months ended July 2, 2022 was $114.5 million, an increase of $0.8 million from the second quarter of 2021. The retail gross margin percentage was 44.4 percent of retail revenues in the second quarter of 2022, down slightly from 44.5 percent in the second quarter of 2021. Retail gross margin includes a $0.9 million charge for inventory write-downs at The Grommet. Excluding this charge, the retail gross margin percentage is 44.7 percent. For ARH, retail gross profit is based on the Company's wholesale acquisition cost of product, not ARH's acquisition cost which includes a markup from the Company.
Wholesale operating expenses increased $3.0 million, or 1.6 percent, from the second quarter of 2021. The increase is due to greater lease expense driven by the expansion of our warehouse space and increased advertising expenses. Wholesale operating expenses as a percent of wholesale revenues decreased slightly to 8.3 percent in the second quarter of 2022 from 8.4 percent in the second quarter of 2021.
Retail operating expenses increased $12.1 million, or 17.5 percent, from the second quarter of 2021. Included in this increase is a non-recurring charge of $9.9 million related to the closure of The Grommet, for the impairment of assets and severance related costs. The remaining increase was driven by an increase in store payroll along with expenses incurred related to the new stores opened since the second quarter of 2021. Retail operating expenses as a percent of retail revenue increased to 31.4 percent in the second quarter of 2022 from 27.0 percent in the second quarter of 2021. Without the non-recurring charge, retail operating expenses as a percent of retail revenue were 27.6 percent.
Receivables increased $81.5 million from the second quarter of 2021 due to higher sales volumes and datings for seasonal programs.
Inventories increased $329.7 million from the second quarter of 2021 due to the intentional build-up of inventory as a hedge against supplier shortages and to increase fill rates to our Ace owners. In addition, the late arrival of spring weather in 2022 has resulted in an overstock of patio and lawn and garden inventory that will be carried over into the 2023 spring selling season.
Long-term debt, including current maturities, increased $142.7 million versus the second quarter of 2021. At the end of the second quarter of 2022, long term debt consisted of $191.8 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility, and $36.7 million owed to former retailers.
Ace Hardware is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world with over 5,600 locally owned and operated hardware stores in approximately 65 countries. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace and its subsidiaries operate an expansive network of distribution centers in the U.S. and have distribution capabilities in Ningbo, China; and Santa Catarina, Mexico. Since 1924, Ace has become a part of local communities around the world and known as the place with the helpful hardware folks. For more information, visit acehardware.com or newsroom.acehardware.com.
In 2022, Ace ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Home Improvement Retail Stores" according to J.D. Power, fifteen out of the last sixteen years.
Media Contacts:
Shareholders'/Investors' Inquiries:
William Guzik, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Risk Officer
630-990-3325, guzik@acehardware.com
Media Inquiries:
Jeff Gooding, Vice President, Consumer Marketing
630-990-3600, media@acehardware.com
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SOURCE Ace Hardware Corporation | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/ace-hardware-reports-record-second-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-08-24T13:56:59Z |
Designed for sophisticated investors, MSOX seeks investment returns two-times the daily performance of the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (Ticker: MSOS)
BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AdvisorShares, a leading sponsor of actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and the largest cannabis fund manager, today announced that the AdvisorShares MSOS 2x Daily ETF (Ticker: MSOX) will begin trading today.
MSOX seeks daily investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond to two times (2x) the daily total return of the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (Ticker: MSOS). MSOX does not seek to achieve its stated investment objective over a period of time greater than a single day. MSOX is designed for sophisticated investors looking to gain magnified exposure to the U.S. cannabis sector.
The magnified exposure to cannabis which MSOX provides is designed for short-term trading. Its increased buying power offers 2x the cannabis exposure in a single trade, allowing MSOX shareholders to overweight cannabis holdings for less cash. AdvisorShares managing director Dan Ahrens serves as portfolio manager of both MSOX and MSOS. Ahrens is one of the most accomplished and experienced portfolio managers who specializes in cannabis and vice-related investment strategies.
When it launched in September 2020, MSOS became the first U.S.-listed active ETF to deliver exposure dedicated solely to American cannabis companies including multi-state operators (MSOs), and then quickly ascended to become the largest publicly traded cannabis fund in the world. MSOs are U.S. companies directly involved in the legal production and distribution of cannabis in states where approved.
"We are pleased to add this new dimension to our active cannabis ETF offerings," said Ahrens. "While all our cannabis ETFs provide dedicated exposure to the emerging growth opportunity in cannabis, they are all different from one another with their investment strategies and underlying holdings. We believe MSOX is a unique investment tool that is designed specifically for experienced investors and professional traders which can potentially provide amplified returns in all market environments."
In addition to MSOS and MSOX, AdvisorShares also offers the AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF (Ticker: YOLO), a global cannabis strategy managed by Mr. Ahrens, as well as the AdvisorShares Poseidon Dynamic Cannabis ETF (Ticker: PSDN), a global cannabis strategy sub-advised by Poseidon Investment Management. Mr. Ahrens also serves as portfolio manager of the following active ETFs: AdvisorShares Vice ETF (Ticker: VICE); AdvisorShares Psychedelics ETF (Ticker: PSIL); AdvisorShares Hotel ETF (Ticker: BEDZ); AdvisorShares Restaurant ETF (Ticker: EATZ); and AdvisorShares Drone Technology ETF (Ticker: UAV).
For more information on MSOX, please visit: advisorshares.com/etfs/msox
AdvisorShares remains committed to providing ongoing investment education for its ETF shareholders, prospective investors and the investment community at large. AdvisorShares regularly hosts live webinars featuring portfolio managers and leading industry experts. You may learn more and register at the AdvisorShares Event Center for upcoming educational sessions on different investment strategies.
AdvisorShares is a leading provider of actively managed ETFs. For financial professionals and investors requesting more information, call 1-877-843-3831 or visit advisorshares.com. Follow @AdvisorShares on Twitter and Facebook for more insights.
Before investing you should carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other information are in the prospectus, a copy of which may be obtained by visiting the Fund's website at www.advisorshares.com. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before you invest.
The Fund is not suitable for all investors. The Fund is designed to be utilized only by knowledgeable investors who understand the potential consequences of seeking daily 2x investment results, understand the risks associated with the use of leverage, and are willing to monitor their portfolios frequently. The Fund is not intended to be used by, and is not appropriate for, investors who do not intend to actively monitor and manage their portfolios. An investor could lose the full principal value of their investment within a single day.
The Fund is an actively managed ETF that seeks to provide investment results that are two times (2x) the daily total return, before fees and expenses, of the US Cannabis ETF, an affiliated ETF, by entering into one or more swaps agreements on the US Cannabis ETF. The Fund does not seek to achieve its stated investment objective for a period of time different than a single day.
The Fund will enter into one or more swap agreements intended to produce economically-leveraged investment results relative to the returns of the US Cannabis ETF. The Fund may use a combination of swaps on the US Cannabis ETF and swaps on various investment vehicles that are designed to track the performance of the US Cannabis ETF. The Fund expects that cash balances in connection with the use of such financial instruments ("Collateral") will typically be held in money market instruments or other cash equivalents.
Cannabis-Related Company Risk. Cannabis-related companies are subject to various laws and regulations that may differ at the state/local and federal level. These laws and regulations may (i) significantly affect a cannabis-related company's ability to secure financing, (ii) impact the market for marijuana industry sales and services, and (iii) set limitations on marijuana use, production, transportation, and storage. Cannabis-related companies may also be required to secure permits and authorizations from government agencies to cultivate or research marijuana. In addition, cannabis-related companies are subject to the risks associated with the greater agricultural industry, including changes to or trends that affect commodity prices, labor costs, weather conditions, and laws and regulations related to environmental protection, health and safety. Cannabis-related companies may also be subject to risks associated with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. These risks include increased government regulation, the use and enforcement of intellectual property rights and patents, technological change and obsolescence, product liability lawsuits, and the risk that research and development may not necessarily lead to commercially successful products.
Shares are bought and sold at market price not net asset value (NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Market price returns are based on the midpoint of the bid/ask spread at 4:00 pm Eastern Time (when NAV is normally determined) and do not represent the return you would receive if you traded at other times.
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SOURCE AdvisorShares | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/advisorshares-expands-cannabis-etf-offerings-launches-msos-2x-daily-etf-ticker-msox/ | 2022-08-24T13:57:06Z |
Ansys delivers one of the first commercial finite element analysis solvers supporting AMD Instinct™ accelerators
/ Key Highlights
- Ansys is investing in graphics processing units (GPUs) as an emerging, sustainable and powerful technology
- GPUs are designed to provide exceptional performance for data centers and supercomputers to speed development of more efficient designs for cars, planes and consumer products
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ansys (NASDAQ: ANSS) announced that Ansys® Mechanical™ is one of the first commercial finite element analysis (FEA) programs supporting AMD Instinct™ accelerators, the newest data center GPUs from AMD. The AMD Instinct™ accelerators are designed to provide exceptional performance for data centers and supercomputers to help solve the world's most complex problems.
To support the AMD Instinct accelerators, Ansys developed APDL code in Ansys Mechanical to interface with AMD ROCm™ libraries on Linux, which will support performance and scaling on the AMD accelerators.
Ansys' latest collaboration with AMD resulted in a solution that, according to Ansys' tests, significantly speeds up simulation of large structural mechanical models — between three and six times faster for Ansys Mechanical applications using the sparse direct solver. Adding support for AMD Instinct accelerators in Ansys Mechanical gives customers greater flexibility in their choice of high-performance computing (HPC) hardware.
"Today's large, complex engineering challenges require quick, predictively accurate simulations that scale," said Brad McCredie, corporate vice president, Data Center and Accelerated Business Unit at AMD. "The collaboration between Ansys and AMD can enable a speed boost for some applications, enabling our joint customers to run complex structural simulations that drive higher quality, more efficient designs for cars, planes, and a range of other products while meeting their deadlines."
"Ansys' collaboration with AMD will help enable mutual customers to leverage cutting-edge GPU hardware for Ansys Mechanical applications in the data center, both on-premises and in the cloud to reduce time to market and deliver more optimal solutions," said Shane Emswiler, senior vice president of products at Ansys. "This work is well-aligned with our high-power computing strategy to invest deeply in GPUs as an emerging, sustainable, powerful technology for Ansys simulations."
When visionary companies need to know how their world-changing ideas will perform, they close the gap between design and reality with Ansys simulation. For more than 50 years, Ansys software has enabled innovators across industries to push boundaries by using the predictive power of simulation. From sustainable transportation to advanced semiconductors, from satellite systems to life-saving medical devices, the next great leaps in human advancement will be powered by Ansys.
Take a leap of certainty … with Ansys.
Ansys and any and all ANSYS, Inc. brand, product, service and feature names, logos and slogans are registered trademarks or trademarks of ANSYS, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. All other brand, product, service and feature names or trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, Instinct, ROCm, and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
ANSS–T
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SOURCE Ansys | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/ansys-amd-collaborate-speed-simulation-large-structural-mechanical-models-up-6x-faster/ | 2022-08-24T13:57:12Z |
HAMILTON ON, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - AtomVie Global Radiopharma Inc. ("AtomVie") today announced the successful closing of its Series A financing with Avego Management, LLC ("Avego"), a healthcare investment firm. AtomVie is a global leading CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) for the development, manufacturing, and global distribution of radiopharmaceuticals and has received a financing commitment of at least $40 million.
AtomVie is a spinout from the CPDC (Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization), and within CPDC, the CMO business unit, now AtomVie, served as the GMP manufacturer and supplier of finished-dose therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for the past seven years. AtomVie will be expanding its current clinical GMP manufacturing capacity of radiopharmaceutical products to include commercial stage production through the construction of a new purpose-built state of the art facility designed to accommodate multiple isotopes. Moreover, AtomVie complements its manufacturing and logistics expertise with a high-standard quality management system and global regulatory support.
"We worked relentlessly over the past few years in preparation of this moment," said Bruno Paquin, CEO of AtomVie. "All the employees at AtomVie are extremely grateful to Avego for their support and their confidence. We are excited to launch AtomVie, continuing the culture of excellence that the CPDC has created and working with Avego for the long-term success of AtomVie."
"Avego is thrilled to partner with AtomVie to support the continued growth of one of the leading radiopharmaceutical CDMOs," said Thomas Vandervort, Managing Partner of Avego. "The AtomVie team and their collective radiopharmaceutical expertise are second to none, and our partnership will advance the development of radiopharmaceuticals and improve patient outcomes."
AtomVie has strengthened its operational management with the recent appointment of Dodi Adar, Chief Operating Officer and the promotion of Rezwan Ashique, VP Operations. Ms. Adar brings 17 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry with expertise in fostering growth and streamlining operational processes. Mr. Ashique was an instrumental part of CPDC's success for over eight years with more than 20 years of extensive expertise in radiochemistry, development, and GMP manufacturing of ready-to-use radiopharmaceuticals.
With its world-class employees and its in-depth experience in the radiopharmaceutical industry, AtomVie empowers the development of next-generation radiotherapeutics worldwide.
AtomVie, incorporated in late 2021, is a global leading CDMO for the GMP manufacturing and distribution of clinical and commercial radiopharmaceuticals and figures as the most recent spinout from the CPDC. Founded in 2008, the CPDC is a CECR (Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research) located at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The CPDC was created with the long-time support from the NCE (Networks of Centres of Excellence), McMaster University and the OICR (Ontario Institute for Cancer Research). The expertise developed at the CPDC and its position as a global leading CDMO is the stepping stone for AtomVie spinout. For more information about AtomVie, visit www.atomvie.com or contact: info@atomvie.com. To learn more about CPDC, visit www.imagingprobes.ca or contact: info@imagingprobes.ca.
Avego, founded in 2015 by former healthcare entrepreneurs, is a multi-strategy healthcare-focused investment firm with offices in Georgia and New York. Through its three strategies, which include private equity, venture capital, and a hedge fund, Avego invests in private and public companies developing and commercializing innovative products and services for patients, practitioners, and other stakeholders across the healthcare continuum. To learn more about Avego, visit www.avego.com or contact: contact@avego.com.
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SOURCE AtomVie Global Radiopharma Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/atomvie-global-radiopharma-inc-announces-its-spinout-series-financing-with-avego/ | 2022-08-24T13:57:18Z |
Acquisition Significantly Expands Aurora's Medical Waste Platform
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aurora Capital Partners ("Aurora"), a leading middle-market private equity firm, today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Sharps Compliance Corp. ("Sharps" or the "Company"), a full-service national provider of comprehensive waste management solutions including medical, pharmaceutical and hazardous waste.
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, and founded in 1992, Sharps is a leading provider of medical waste solutions, including both mail-back and route-based collection services. The Company's strong management team has overseen consistent growth over multiple decades, driven by repeat business and a long-term focus on exceptional customer service. Additionally, Sharps developed and manages a proprietary nationwide solution for proper handling of unused medication, which has significantly expanded its customer base and reach in the past several years.
"We are excited to add Sharps' industry-leading solutions to our medical waste platform," said Andrew Wilson, Partner at Aurora. "In addition to creating the industry's leading mail-back solution and a growing route-based service, the Company's management team was early to identify the need for reliable, controlled disposal of unused medication, establishing Sharps as a pioneer in the sector. We look forward to partnering with the team to capitalize on our platform and selectively pursue add-on acquisitions."
"Aurora has a proven history of partnering with industry leaders to accelerate growth across business lines, and we are honored to work with them moving forward," said Pat Mulloy, Chief Executive Officer of Sharps. "I am confident that their understanding of the medical waste services market, combined with their alignment with our customer-first approach, will allow us to build on our recent growth, expand our customer base and further enhance our innovative solutions offerings."
"Following our partnerships with Restaurant Technologies, VLS Environmental Solutions and PSC Group, Sharps represents the addition of another high-quality Business Services platform to the Aurora program," said Matthew Laycock, Partner at Aurora.
As previously announced on August 22, 2022, a total of 16,830,657 Shares were validly tendered and not withdrawn from Aurora's tender offer, representing approximately 82% of the number of Shares that were issued and outstanding as of the Expiration Date on a fully diluted basis. As a result of the completion of the merger, Sharps has ceased trading on the NASDAQ, effective August 23, 2022, and has become a privately-held company.
The transaction marks the fifth Aurora investment specifically within the medical waste management space and follows a number of recent Aurora investments within the broader Business Services sector.
Stifel served as exclusive financial advisor and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP served as legal advisor to Aurora. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. acted as financial advisor and Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP acted as legal advisor to Sharps. Antares arranged the debt financing for the transaction.
Aurora Capital Partners is a leading Los Angeles-based private equity firm with over $4.5 billion in assets under management. Founded in 1991, the firm focuses principally on control investments in middle-market companies with leading market positions, stable industry dynamics, attractive business model characteristics and actionable opportunities for growth in partnership with management. Aurora provides unique resources to its portfolio companies through its Strategy & Operations Program and its team of experienced operating advisors. Aurora's investors include leading public and corporate pension funds, endowments and foundations active in private equity investing. For more information about Aurora Capital Partners, visit: www.auroracap.com.
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Sharps Compliance is a leading business-to-business services provider to the healthcare, long-term care and retail pharmacy markets. Sharps Compliance offers comprehensive solutions for the management of regulated medical waste, hazardous waste and unused medications. For more information, visit: www.sharpsinc.com.
Contact:
Aurora Capital Partners
ASC Advisors
Steve Bruce / Taylor Ingraham
+1 (203) 992-1230
sbruce@ascadvisors.com / tingraham@ascadvisors.com
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SOURCE Aurora Capital Partners | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/aurora-capital-partners-completes-acquisition-sharps-compliance-corp/ | 2022-08-24T13:57:25Z |
Health and wellness industry veteran will lead the company to scale sustainable bioactives using plant cell technology instead of agriculture
BOSTON, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ayana Bio, the plant cell technology company making sustainable bioactives for consumer products, today announced the appointment of Frank Jaksch as the company's chief executive officer. Jaksch founded, was the longtime CEO and presently serves as Board Chair of health and wellness company ChromaDex, manufacturer of popular NAD product, Tru Niagen (Nasdaq: CDXC).
Ayana Bio launched in September 2021 as a Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) platform venture and uses proprietary plant cell technology rather than agricultural production to create plant bioactives for human nutrition, thus overcoming challenges in the current ingredient supply chain. Some of the most important and potent health bioactives come from plants and can only be produced through agriculture or foraging. Climate volatility and limited natural resources lead to shortcuts on purity, safety, and sustainability. The health and wellness consumer products industry needs new forms of production to tap into sustainable plant bioactives at scale.
"Through my decades in the natural products world, I've experienced how sourcing botanical ingredients from the wild or agriculture is not sustainable," said Jaksch. "Supply chain issues have impacted the botanicals industry for years, and more recently this year, war and climate change driven weather events have made it worse. As a result, product quality and consumer trust has suffered. Plant cell technology will revolutionize how the industry sources our most beneficial plant bioactives, and Ayana Bio can make these powerful ingredients more accessible to the world."
Ayana Bio's plant cell technology product pipeline includes bioactive compounds from ginseng, berries, cocoa, ginger and other high-value botanicals. Through its partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks, Ayana Bio can rapidly analyze its plant cell library to identify superior cell lines. From there, Ayana Bio grows and scales the cell lines using standardized cultivation methods in stainless steel tanks. The technology yields plant biomass with the identical molecular makeup of the plants found in nature—produced without the land, irrigation, fertilizers or pesticides required by agriculture. It also solves the standardization problems plaguing all agriculture-based supply chains and provides climate change resilience while protecting natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
"Synthetic biology has incredible potential to support human and environmental health, and we're proud to enable innovators like the Ayana Bio team to launch on Ginkgo's platform. Frank's understanding of where to apply plant cellular technology to fill unmet needs in nutrition and complementary medicine coupled with Ginkgo's platform for cell engineering has the power to transform the category," said Jason Kelly, CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks.
"Extraction from agriculture is the past; ingredient cultivation is the future," said Effendi Leonard, Ayana Bio's co-founder and chief technology officer. "We rely on plant-derived molecules for many things in our daily lives, and Ayana Bio's mission to democratize plant bioactives without agriculture limitation is not an easy feat. Ayana Bio is uniquely positioned to be able to leverage the most advanced life science technology, computation, and cellular cultivation all under one roof to bring Ayana Bio's mission to fruition."
Jaksch has more than 25 years in life sciences and food, beverage, and dietary supplement consumer products, building dietary supplement and food ingredient company ChromaDex from the ground up and taking the company public on Nasdaq. Jaksch sits on the board of directors for the Natural Products Association and is a recognized global expert on natural products chemistry, longevity and healthspan.
Ayana Bio launched in 2021 with $30 million in Series A funding provided by Viking Global Investors and Cascade Investment. Ayana Bio was launched in collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks, the premier horizontal platform for cell programming, and with Ferment, the company creation studio that helps ideate and launch new companies that use cell programming to support human and environmental health and well-being.
About Ayana Bio
Ayana Bio makes sustainable bioactives for health and wellness products using plant cell cultivation rather than agriculture. Ayana Bio collaborates with global industry leaders in consumer packaged goods brands, supplements, specialized nutrition, over the counter, and traditional medicines to create standardized bioactives that give consumers confidence in quality and reliability—while preserving the planet. There's no better way to produce what comes from plants than using plant cells. For more information, visit www.ayanabio.com.
About Ginkgo Bioworks
Ginkgo is building a platform to enable customers to program cells as easily as we can program computers. The company's platform is enabling biotechnology applications across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to industrial chemicals to pharmaceuticals. Ginkgo has also actively supported a number of COVID-19 response efforts, including K-12 pooled testing, vaccine manufacturing optimization and therapeutics discovery. For more information, visit www.ginkgobioworks.com.
About Ferment
Ferment is a company creation studio for the next wave of synthetic biology product companies. Ferment companies are powered by Ginkgo Bioworks, the world's most advanced platform for cell programming. Learn more at www.Ferment.co.
Media Contacts
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SOURCE Ayana Bio | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/ayana-bio-announces-appointment-frank-jaksch-chief-executive-officer/ | 2022-08-24T13:57:31Z |
- Flagstar Bank, the fifth largest subservicer in the U.S., has renewed its contract for the MSP loan servicing system to support and accelerate the growth of its portfolios
- MSP is a comprehensive, end-to-end loan servicing system that encompasses all aspects of servicing, from loan boarding to default; the platform is used by financial institutions to service approximately 37 million active loans
- Flagstar Bank has also renewed its contract to use Black Knight's default suite of solutions to help streamline the handling of nonperforming loans and manage loss mitigation processes
- The bank is also a current user of Black Knight's product, pricing and eligibility engine, as well as its marketing automation tool
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI) announced that Flagstar Bank, the fifth largest subservicer in the U.S., has signed a contract extension to continue using the Black Knight MSP loan servicing system. MSP is a comprehensive, end-to-end loan servicing system that encompasses all aspects of servicing, from loan boarding to default. The industry-leading platform is used by financial institutions to service approximately 37 million active loans – more than any other in the industry.
"Throughout our decade-long relationship with Black Knight, the MSP loan servicing system has proven to be the right platform for the evolving demands of our servicing and subservicing operations," said Lee Smith, executive vice president and president of Mortgage, Flagstar Bank. "The scalability and reliability of MSP continue to support our growing portfolios, and we appreciate Black Knight's commitment to investing in and continuously enhancing the platform."
Flagstar Bank has also renewed its contract to use Black Knight's full suite of default solutions to help streamline processes for nonperforming loans and manage loss mitigation processes. The bank is also a current user of Black Knight's product, pricing and eligibility engine, as well as its marketing automation tool.
"Black Knight considers it a privilege to continue serving Flagstar Bank, a long-time and respected client, during its period of rapid growth," said Joe Nackashi, CEO, Black Knight. "Our ongoing relationship is a testament to the strength and depth of the MSP loan servicing system, as well as our continued commitment to advance our solutions to support our valued clients and their customers."
About Black Knight
Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI) is an award-winning software, data and analytics company that drives innovation in the mortgage lending and servicing and real estate industries, as well as the capital and secondary markets. Businesses leverage our robust, integrated solutions across the entire homeownership life cycle to help retain existing customers, gain new customers, mitigate risk and operate more effectively.
Our clients rely on our proven, comprehensive, scalable products and our unwavering commitment to delivering superior client support to achieve their strategic goals and better serve their customers. For more information on Black Knight, please visit www.blackknightinc.com.
About Flagstar Bancorp
Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: FBC) is a $24.9 billion savings and loan holding company headquartered in Troy, Mich. Flagstar Bank, FSB, provides commercial, small business, and consumer banking services through 158 branches in Michigan, Indiana, California, Wisconsin and Ohio. It also provides home loans through a wholesale network of brokers and correspondents in all 50 states, as well as 79 retail locations in 28 states. Flagstar is a leading national originator and servicer of mortgage and other consumer loans, handling payments and record-keeping for $343 billion of loans representing almost 1.4 million borrowers. For more information, please visit flagstar.com.
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SOURCE Black Knight, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/black-knight-extends-strategic-relationship-with-flagstar-bank-msp-loan-servicing-system-default-capabilities-support-rapid-growth-servicing-subservicing-portfolios/ | 2022-08-24T13:57:38Z |
- The national delinquency rate edged up to 2.89% in July – driven by a 4% increase in early-stage delinquencies – but remains just 14 basis points higher than the record low set in May of this year
- Serious delinquencies – loans 90 or more days past due, but not yet in active foreclosure – pulled back in July after worsening for the first time in 22 months in June
- The number of seriously delinquent loans curing to current has dropped steadily over recent months, from 104K in March to 58K in July, indicating that the easiest workouts have likely been completed
- Foreclosure starts retreated 25% from June for a total of 17.7K starts – some 55% below pre-pandemic levels for the month of July – equating to just 3% of 90+ day past-due loans
- Though still up from record lows that came from widespread moratoriums and forbearance protections last year, the number of loans in active foreclosure declined slightly by 6K in July
- Prepayment activity dropped by another 18% in July and is now down by 67% from the same time last year as rising rates put downward pressure on both purchase and refinance lending
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI) reports the following "first look" at July 2022 month-end mortgage performance statistics derived from its loan-level database representing the majority of the national mortgage market.
Total U.S. loan delinquency rate (loans 30 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure): 2.89%
Month-over-month change: 1.98%
Year-over-year change: -30.17%
Total U.S. foreclosure pre-sale inventory rate: 0.35%
Month-over-month change: -2.95%
Year-over-year change: 31.47%
Total U.S. foreclosure starts: 17,700
Month-over-month change: -25.63%
Year-over-year change: 321.43%
Monthly prepayment rate (SMM): 0.66%
Month-over-month change: -18.37%
Year-over-year change: -67.35%
Foreclosure sales as % of 90+: 0.52%
Month-over-month change: -1.35%
Year-over-year change: 200.75%
Number of properties that are 30 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure: 1,543,000
Month-over-month change: 32,000
Year-over-year change: -663,000
Number of properties that are 90 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure: 594,000
Month-over-month change: -5,000
Year-over-year change: -853,000
Number of properties in foreclosure pre-sale inventory: 184,000
Month-over-month change: -6,000
Year-over-year change: 44,000
Number of properties that are 30 or more days past due or in foreclosure: 1,728,000
Month-over-month change: 28,000
Year-over-year change: -618,000
For a more detailed view of this month's "first look" data, please visit the Black Knight newsroom. The company will provide a more in-depth review of this data in its monthly Mortgage Monitor report, which includes an analysis of data supplemented by detailed charts and graphs that reflect trend and point-in-time observations. The Mortgage Monitor report will be available online by Sept. 7, 2022. For more information about gaining access to Black Knight's loan-level database, please send an email to Mortgage.Monitor@bkfs.com.
Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI) is an award-winning software, data and analytics company that drives innovation in the mortgage lending and servicing and real estate industries, as well as the capital and secondary markets. Businesses leverage our robust, integrated solutions across the entire homeownership life cycle to help retain existing customers, gain new customers, mitigate risk and operate more effectively.
Our clients rely on our proven, comprehensive, scalable products and our unwavering commitment to delivering superior client support to achieve their strategic goals and better serve their customers. For more information on Black Knight, please visit www.blackknightinc.com.
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SOURCE Black Knight, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/black-knights-first-look-foreclosure-starts-pull-back-july-holding-well-below-pre-pandemic-levels-while-early-stage-delinquencies-edge-slightly-higher/ | 2022-08-24T13:57:44Z |
- Bridgestone is launching a new brand platform linked to the values of the global Bridgestone E8 Commitment, showcasing the company's focus on creating a more sustainable world for future generations.
- The new What Really Matters platform evolves Bridgestone's traditional product performance marketing campaigns to showcase purpose-driven actions that are improving the way people move, live, work and play.
- The targeted activation will officially launch through multi-channel content developed by creative agency Leo Burnett.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (Bridgestone) today launched "What Really Matters," a new brand platform that is linked to the values of the global Bridgestone E8 Commitment and showcases the company's focus on creating a more sustainable world for future generations.
The What Really Matters platform marks a shift from the company's traditional product performance marketing campaigns to showcase purpose-driven actions that are improving the way people move, live, work and play. This targeted, multi-channel activation aligns with the company's evolution from a global leader in tires and rubber to a forward-thinking sustainable solutions company helping shape the future of mobility.
"What Really Matters is more than a marketing campaign and goes far beyond what Bridgestone makes and sells. This is a new behavioral platform that will emphasize what really matters to us as a company and those we serve," said Sara Correa, Chief Marketing Officer, Bridgestone Americas. "In highlighting the collective actions we are already taking today across our company, we will demonstrate how we are delivering on our Bridgestone E8 Commitment and making positive, long-term impacts on society for future generations."
The dynamic platform includes comprehensive omnichannel creative produced by like-minded partner Leo Burnett that will engage Bridgestone's unique consumers, customers, and stakeholder groups. The platform will be initially introduced in the United States and then expanded to additional countries across the Americas region.
"Bridgestone is grounded in a philosophy similar to our own founders' ethos, 'What's good for people is good for business,'" said Mikal Pittman, EVP Executive Creative Director at Leo Burnett. "The What Really Matters platform is designed to bring Bridgestone's core belief of helping society to the heart of its advertising, and it expands our ability to tell the brand story in more impactful ways. There's a ton of good happening at Bridgestone and we're excited to unlock even more creative ways to bring those stories to life."
The new What Really Matters creative highlights various aspects of Bridgestone's product and solutions portfolio, business operations, strategic investments, and innovation initiatives including:
- Tire retreading and guayule-derived natural rubber farming that advance sustainable tire operations and material circularity.
- Bridgestone Fleet Care offerings, including Intellitire monitoring and Azuga fleet management solutions, that promote safer, more economic, and more efficient fleet operations for both large fleets and small businesses.
- Kodiak Robotics autonomous long-haul trucks that offer learning and integration opportunities for smart vehicle and tire technologies.
- Airfree and lunar rover tires that signify the future of advanced tire technology.
- High-grip rubber for gloves and handrims of wheelchair athletes, including six-time Paralympian Aaron Pike, to push performance and innovation in adaptive sports.
The purpose-driven actions featured throughout the What Really Matters platform embody the spirit of the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, which outlines eight Bridgestone-like values starting with the letter "E" the company will seek to co-create together with employees, society, partners and customers to realize a more sustainable world.
To learn more about What Really Matters, visit www.WhatReallyMatters.com. More information about Bridgestone Americas can be found at www.bridgestoneamericas.com.
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tires and rubber, building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Bridgestone Americas employs more than 45,000 people across its worldwide operations. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.
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SOURCE Bridgestone Americas, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/bridgestone-puts-focus-purpose-action-with-new-what-really-matters-brand-platform/ | 2022-08-24T13:57:51Z |
New release introduces route-based authorization policies for finer-grained control of network communication, as well as support for the Kubernetes Gateway API, access logging, and more
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Buoyant, creator of the widely-used open source Linkerd service mesh, today announced the release of Linkerd 2.12, which introduces route-based authorization policies, support for the Kubernetes Gateway API, access logging, and much more. As part of this release, Buoyant also announced the availability of automated upgrades to Linkerd 2.12 as part of their managed Linkerd service, Buoyant Cloud.
Linkerd's new authorization policies allow for an advanced "zero trust" approach to Kubernetes network security. Extending the port-based policies introduced in earlier releases, these new per-route policies provide even finer-grained control over how microservices are allowed to communicate with each other by controlling access to individual paths or routes for each microservice. Unlike network policies implemented by CNI projects such as Cilium or Calico, Linkerd's authorization policies are based on strong cryptographic workload identity, are enforced at the most granular level—the pod—and are built on industry standards such as mutual TLS.
"Linkerd 2.12 makes it easy for anyone to achieve zero trust network security on their Kubernetes cluster, from encryption to authentication to authorization," said William Morgan, Buoyant CEO and creator of Linkerd. "In zero trust you can't trust the network; you can't trust the CNI layer; you can't trust IP addresses; and all access to sensitive resources must be explicitly authorized. The new per-route policies in Linkerd 2.12 achieve those goals while staying true to Linkerd's core tenets of simplicity and performance, meaning that Linkerd is—by far—the simplest, most secure way to achieve true zero-trust network security in Kubernetes."
Linkerd 2.12 also introduces access logging, a long-awaited feature that optionally allows Linkerd to produce Apache-style request logs, as well as a host of other improvements and performance enhancements.
Alongside this release, Buoyant Cloud, the company's managed Linkerd service, now supports automatic upgrades to Linkerd 2.12 for customers running Linkerd 2.10 or later. This upgrade process covers both the control plane and the data plane, allowing organizations to seamlessly manage their Linkerd deployment across any number of clusters.
To learn more about Linkerd 2.12 or to register for Buoyant's free Upgrading to Linkerd 2.12 workshop, please see full announcement blog post. To schedule a demo and a detailed walk-through of the new release, please visit Buoyant's website.
About Buoyant
Buoyant was founded by William Morgan and Oliver Gould in 2015 with the mission of making the fundamental tools for reliability and security of software accessible to every engineer in the world. Buoyant pioneered the service mesh category with Linkerd, and today, Buoyant's software powers critical production infrastructure for leading organizations around the world. Buoyant investors include Google Ventures, Benchmark, #ANGELS, A Capital and SV Angel. For more information, visit buoyant.io.
About Linkerd
Linkerd is an open source, ultralight, ultra-simple service mesh for Kubernetes. The only service mesh to achieve graduate status in the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), Linkerd was the first service mesh project and the one to introduce the term "service mesh" to the industry lexicon. For more information, visit linkerd.io.
Media Contact
Dex Polizzi
Lumina Communications for Buoyant
buoyant@luminapr.com
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SOURCE Buoyant | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/buoyant-releases-linkerd-212-advance-zero-trust-approach-kubernetes-deployments/ | 2022-08-24T13:57:54Z |
Deal Continues Medicaid Market Momentum Driven by Proven Results in Underserved Communities and Strength of Social Determinants of Health Solutions
PLANO, Texas, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ZeOmega®, the leading population health management organization, today announced CalOptima Health, California's third largest Medicaid (Medi-Cal) plan, as its newest partner for care management. This engagement is expected to be one of ZeOmega's most impactful, reaching 914,646 lives with its Health Cloud solutions addressing social determinants of health (SDOH), member engagement, care management, and more through the Jiva platform.
CalOptima Health, headquartered in Orange County, selected ZeOmega based on its in-depth Medicaid experience and breadth of turnkey offerings. The Health Cloud's SDOH Social Care Platform, Integrated Assessments, Member and Provider Portals, and member engagement features will support the organization's mission to provide members with access to quality healthcare services delivered in a cost-effective and compassionate manner.
CalOptima Health represents the latest in a series of Medicaid-focused organizations to select ZeOmega and is the second Medi-Cal plan partnership, following Kern Health Systems, as the company continues its expansion in the California market.
"This engagement is the latest example of the tremendous demand we've seen for our solutions to support Medicaid programs across the country, and it is extremely gratifying to see our SDOH and care management pathways recognized by leading organizations," said ZeOmega Chief Nursing Officer Sandra Hewett. "Being able to support nearly a million more lives in California, which is a national leader in addressing SDOH, is what ZeOmega is all about."
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), through its Cal-AIM initiative, is setting the national standard for Medicaid transformation with its long-term commitment to transform and strengthen Medi-Cal, offering Californians a more equitable, coordinated, and person-centered approach to maximizing their health and life trajectory, while improving the ability of its stakeholders to serve.
"Getting CalOptima Health up and running on Health Cloud will establish a solid foundation for meeting the needs of California's Medi-Cal enrollees, including those underserved communities that are most vulnerable to social determinants of health," said ZeOmega Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Sand. "We look forward to building on that foundation over time, to broaden our range of services and solutions in these communities."
ZeOmega empowers health plans and other risk-bearing organizations with the industry's leading technology for simplifying population health management. Clients using the ZeOmega Health Cloud experience superior workflow and proven results due to exceptional integration capabilities, unmatched clinical content, and a powerful rules engine. With deep domain expertise and a comprehensive understanding of population health challenges, ZeOmega serves as a true partner for clients with personalized deployment and delivery models. By consistently exceeding customer expectations and project benchmarks, ZeOmega has earned a reputation for being proactive, reliable, and dedicated to improving the health of the 39 million lives covered by its clients. ZeOmega was named Best in KLAS for Payer Care Management Solutions in 2022. Founded in 2001, ZeOmega is privately held and headquartered in Plano, Texas. Visit the ZeOmega website at www.zeomega.com.
ZeOmega and Jiva are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeOmega, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Other marks or brands may be claimed as the property of others.
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SOURCE ZeOmega | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/caloptima-health-selects-zeomega-comprehensive-set-care-management-solutions/ | 2022-08-24T13:58:00Z |
OpenSSF Welcomes Capital One as Premier Member
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital One joins the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) as a premier member affirming its commitment to strengthening the open source software supply chain. OpenSSF is a cross-industry organization hosted at the Linux Foundation, designed to inspire and enable the community to secure the open source software we all depend on, including development, testing, fundraising, infrastructure, and support initiatives.
Capital One joins the OpenSSF Governing Board in charge of leading the organization and providing strategic direction. "We are happy to welcome Capital One to the Open Source Security Foundation," says Brian Behlendorf, General Manager of OpenSSF. "As a highly regulated company that has invested in technology, Capital One has experience building the governance structure, modern architecture and collaborative culture that is critical for well-managed open source software delivery. By joining the OpenSSF, Capital One is demonstrating a serious commitment to secure open source software that benefits our entire ecosystem."
As one of the nation's leading digital banks, technology is central to Capital One's business strategy and how value is delivered to more than 100 million customers. The company began a technology transformation over a decade ago, which included an open source-first declaration in 2015. A modern architecture in the cloud is allowing Capital One to take advantage of the world's innovations and accelerate delivery by committing to a collaborative software-building approach among the open source community.
"Today some of the most ground-breaking digital experiences created for customers are based on open source software. As a company that widely adopts this technology, Capital One is incredibly proud to join the OpenSSF and the world's technology leaders as we collaborate to strengthen the software security supply chain," said Chris Nims, EVP of Cloud & Productivity Engineering at Capital One. "As a highly-regulated company, we are seasoned in managing compliance and governance and advocate for standardization, automation and collaboration. We look forward to working together to identify solutions that advance the OpenOSSF mission and give back to the open source community."
Earlier this year, the OpenSSF unveiled a 10-point plan at the Open Source Security Summit hosted in conjunction with the White House in May. The plan feeds into 10 different workstreams, like finding ways to reduce patching response times for open source software, developing new metrics to track code and components, moving the industry away from non-memory safe programming languages that make it difficult to find and fix vulnerabilities, establishing a framework for incident response teams that can be deployed across the open source community and conducting annual third-party reviews of the top 200 most critical open source security components. More recently, the OpenSSF hosted a Town Hall especially for open source software maintainers, contributors, software developers, and open source software users who know security is important, but haven't made the leap to join an OpenSSF Working Group or Project yet. On Tuesday, September 13th, they will be hosting an OpenSSF Day EU at the Open Source Summit Europe in Dublin, Ireland and online.
Capital One joins other OpenSSF premier members 1Password, AWS, Atlassian, Cisco, Citi, Coinbase, Dell Technologies, Ericsson, Fidelity, GitHub, Google, Huawei, Intel, IBM, JFrog, JPMorgan Chase, Meta, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Oracle, Red Hat, Snyk, Sonatype, VMware, and Wipro.
The Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) is a cross-industry organization hosted by the Linux Foundation that brings together the industry's most important open source security initiatives and the individuals and companies that support them. The OpenSSF is committed to collaboration and working both upstream and with existing communities to advance open source security for all. For more information, please visit us at: openssf.org.
Founded in 2000, the Linux Foundation and its projects are supported by more than 2,950 members. The Linux Foundation is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, hardware, standards, and data. Linux Foundation projects are critical to the world's infrastructure including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js, ONAP, Hyperledger, RISC-V, and more. The Linux Foundation's methodology focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users, and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at linuxfoundation.org.
Babel for OpenSSF
openssf@babelpr.com
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SHANGHAI, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 2171.HK), a company focused on innovative CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, has announced the 2022 Interim Results.
Business Highlights
- CT053: completed enrollment for pivotal Phase II trial in China, with plan to submit the NDA to the NMPA in the third quarter of 2022
- CT041: initiated a confirmatory Phase II clinical trial in China
- CT041: was granted RMAT by the FDA
- CT041: data from a China Investigator-Initiated Trial was published in Nature Medicine
- Continuous development of innovative CAR T technologies to empower the next generation pipeline products
- U.S. CGMP manufacturing facility began operations, with plan to support clinical trials in North America from second half 2022
- Appointed CARsgen CMO and CARsgen US President
Dr. Zonghai Li, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Scientific Officer of CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited, said that "In the first half of 2022, CARsgen has made significant progresses in advancing our technology innovations, product pipeline, and business operations in the U.S. and China, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. CT041 has become the world's first and the only CAR T-cell candidate for the treatment of solid tumors entering a confirmatory Phase II clinical trial. For CT053, we plan to submit the NDA to the NMPA in the third quarter of 2022. Our U.S. CGMP manufacturing facility has also started operations. We continue to dedicate ourselves to advancing innovative CAR T technologies to address the major challenges of the industry. We have also established in-house, vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities. Driven by the vision of Making Cancer Curable, we expect to bring innovative and differentiated cell therapy to cancer patients around the world as soon as possible, creating value for investors and the public."
1. Steady development of product pipeline with leadership position in CAR T cell against solid tumors
CT053
CT053 is an upgraded fully human, autologous BCMA CAR T-cell product candidate for the treatment of R/R MM. It incorporates a CAR construct with a fully human BCMA-specific single-chain variable fragment (scFv) with lower immunogenicity and increased stability, which overcomes the challenge of T-cell exhaustion by reducing the self-activation of CAR T cells in the absence of tumor-associated targets.
CT053 received Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) and Orphan Drug designations for the treatment of R/R MM from the U.S. FDA in 2019, PRIority Medicines (PRIME) eligibility in 2019 and Orphan Medicinal Product designation in 2020 for the treatment of R/R MM from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and Breakthrough Therapy designation for the treatment of R/R MM from the NMPA in 2020.
CARsgen has completed the patient enrollment of the pivotal Phase II trial patients in China (LUMMICAR STUDY 1) and plans to submit the NDA to the NMPA in the third quarter of 2022. CARsgen is conducting the pivotal Phase 2 trial in North America (LUMMICAR STUDY 2), and the Company plans to submit the BLA to the U.S. FDA in the end of 2023. The Company also plans to conduct additional clinical trials to develop CT053 as an earlier line of treatment for multiple myeloma.
An update from the China investigator-initiated trials (IITs) was published in Haematologica in 2022.
CT041
CT041 is an autologous CAR T-cell product candidate against the protein Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2) and has the potential to be first-in-class globally. CT041 targets the treatment of CLDN18.2-positive solid tumors with a primary focus on GC/GEJ and PC. CARsgen was the first in the world to successfully identify, validate and report CLDN18.2 as a solid tumor-associated antigen and viable target for CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors in which CLDN18.2 is prevalently or highly expressed.
CT041 received Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. FDA in 2020 for the treatment of GC/GEJ and Orphan Medicinal Product designation from the EMA in 2021 for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. CT041 was granted PRIME eligibility by the EMA for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer in 2021 and was granted RMAT Designation for the treatment of advanced GC/GEJ with CLDN18.2-positive tumors in 2022.
As of the date of the announcement, CT041 is the world's first and the only CAR T-cell candidate for the treatment of solid tumors entering a confirmatory Phase II clinical trial.
Active trials in CARsgen include a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial for advanced GC/GEJ and PC in North America (CT041-ST-02, NCT04404595), a Phase Ib clinical trial for advanced GC/GEJ and PC and a confirmatory Phase II clinical trial for advanced GC/GEJ in China (CT041-ST-01, NCT04581473), and IITs. CARsgen plans to submit an NDA to the NMPA in China in the first half of 2024. CT041 have now completed the dose escalation and initiated the dose expansion in U.S. CARsgen also plans to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial in the second half of 2022 in North America and to submit the BLA to the U.S. FDA in 2024.
Updates from the Phase 1b study in the U.S. (NCT04404595) and the Phase Ib/II study in China (NCT04581473) were provided in poster presentations at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in June 2022. An update from a China IIT was published in Nature Medicine in May 2022, which is the largest clinical trial for CAR T-cell therapy in solid tumors to date.
AB011
AB011 is a humanized monoclonal antibody product candidate against CLDN18.2 for the treatment of CLDN18.2-positive solid tumors. The company obtained the second investigational new drug (IND) clearance in the world for a mAb targeting CLDN18.2.
CARsgen has completed Phase I monotherapy cohort enrollment and initiated a trial for combination with chemotherapy.
2. Continuous discovery and technology development
CARsgen has established an integrated research and development platform covering the full CAR T development cycle including target discovery, antibody development, vector design, manufacturing, quality assurance, and quality control. CARsgen continues to dedicate itself to advancing innovative CAR T technologies to address the major challenges of the industry. The four strategic pillars include:
(1) Efficacy: To enhance efficacy against solid tumors, CARsgen continues to develop next generation CAR T technologies, such as CycloCAR®. CycloCAR® features the co-expression of cytokine IL-7 and chemokine CCL21 in CAR T cells to potentially improve clinical efficacy and reduce the requirement of lymphodepletion conditioning.
(2) Safety: To improve the applicability of adoptive cell therapies, CARsgen developed the sFv-ε-based T-cell therapy powered by a full T-cell receptor (TCR) complex comprising a GPC3-targeted scFv and a CD3ε subunit, which can form a functional TCR complex with other TCR subunits and redirect T cells to kill tumor cells in an MHC-independent manner.
(3) Patient accessibility: CARsgen is developing allogeneic CAR T-cell product candidates using THANK-uCAR® technology, which it believes could potentially increase CAR T cell expansion, persistence, and efficacy. CARsgen believes the successful application of THANK-uCAR® technology would significantly lower the cost of CAR T-cell therapy and increase patient accessibility.
(4) Target availability: CARsgen developed LADAR® technology (local action driven by artificial receptor), in which an artificial receptor is triggered by a LADAR® Ligand to induce the transcription of the gene(s) of interest. Through the LADAR® artificial receptor, the antitumor CAR transcription is only triggered when the LADAR® binds to a LADAR® Ligand, making it possible to precisely control when and where immune cells act against cancer cells.
These technologies are currently being developed in-house with global rights and can be used alone or in combination to upgrade CARsgen's existing product candidates and to generate future pipeline product candidates.
As of June 30, 2022, CARsgen had more than 300 patents of which 70 patents had been issued globally including China, the United States, Europe, and Japan. This is an increase of 7 issued patents and 21 patent applications from the end of 2021.
3. Vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities, supporting clinical trials globally
CARsgen has established in-house, vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities, including the production of plasmids, lentiviral vectors, and CAR T cells.
CARsgen has been expanding its global manufacturing capacity in China and the U.S. to support both clinical trials and the subsequent commercialization of pipeline products. With the clinical manufacturing facility in Xuhui, Shanghai and commercial GMP manufacturing facility in Jinshan, Shanghai, CARsgen manufactures CAR T-cell products in-house to support clinical trials in China and manufacture the lentiviral vectors in-house to support clinical trials globally.
In 2021, CARsgen has made significant progress in expanding CARsgen's manufacturing capacity outside China by launching a state-of-the-art GMP Manufacturing Facility in Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina. CARsgen successfully passed the official inspections and received the Certificate of Compliance from the City-County Inspections Department of Durham. CARsgen has commenced commissioning, qualification, and validation of RTP Manufacturing Facility through the RMAT consultation with the FDA. Concurrently, CARsgen has been executing the technology transfer to RTP Manufacturing Facility, advancing to the clinical manufacturing of CT041 and CT053 products.
4. Strengthened leadership team with rich experience
As of June 30, 2022, CARsgen had a total of 601 employees. The company has also strengthened the leadership team: CARsgen hired Dr. Raffaele Baffa as the Chief Medical Officer of the Company, and Mr. Richard Daly as the President of CARsgen Therapeutics Corporation. Biographical details of the senior management team are provided on the company's website at www.CARsgen.com.
About CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited
CARsgen is a biopharmaceutical company with operations in China and the U.S. and is focused on innovative CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. The Company has built an integrated cell therapy platform with in-house capabilities that span target discovery, antibody development, clinical trials, and commercial-scale manufacturing. CARsgen has internally developed novel technologies and a product pipeline with global rights to address major challenges of CAR T-cell therapies, such as improving the safety profile, enhancing the efficacy in treating solid tumors and reducing treatment costs. The Company's vision is to become a global biopharmaceutical leader that brings innovative and differentiated cell therapies to cancer patients worldwide and makes cancer curable.
Contact Us
For more information, please visit https://www.carsgen.com/
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SOURCE CARsgen Therapeutics | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/carsgen-2022-interim-results-innovative-car-t-cell-technologies-robust-pipeline/ | 2022-08-24T13:58:13Z |
Restaurants, bars, and retailers across the city will celebrate the "excellence and quality" of Cava through a week of promotion dedicated to Spain's signature sparkling wine
NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This September, Cava Discovery Week returns to New York City with over 20 different participating locations across the city running a variety of limited-time offers, tasting flights, specialty Cava cocktails and food and wine pairings, and innovative in-person events for their Cava-loving clientele. The campaign will run from Friday, September 16 through Sunday, September 25.
The enthusiasm for Cava Discovery Week is growing: this year the program will feature more partners than ever before, including some of New York City's most celebrated restaurants, bars, and retail shops: 390 Social, Bazár Tapas, Boro6 Wine Bar, Casa Mono & Bar Jamón, Clay, Contento, Copake Wine Works, Copinette, Corkbuzz Union Square, Despaña Fine Foods & Tapas Café, El Born, Gary's Wine and Marketplace, Grape Collective, Huertas, La Cava, Mercado Little Spain, Oliva Tapas, Pompette Wine & Spirits and Musette Wine Bar, Socarrat Paella Bar (3 locations), Somm Time, and Tomiño Taberna Gallega.
In addition to the in-house promotions curated by each participating partner, the week will feature a program of trade- and consumer-facing events and an interactive social media campaign to inspire learning and engagement:
- Cava Sail—Monday, September 12, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. EST. This event is for trade and media only; to request an invitation, please contact us.
- Bubbly Monday: Cava Discovery Week Edition—Monday, September 19, 8:00 p.m. EST. An evening at Somm Time, wine bar and Cava Discovery Week partner. No registration is required.
- Cava Cocktails—Tuesday, September 20, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. EST at 390 Social, Cava Discovery Week partner location. This event is sold out; inquire here to join the waitlist.
- Cava & Conservas—Wednesday, September 21, 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. EST. Special Cava and food pairing dinner at Cava Discovery Week partner restaurant, Huertas. Purchase tickets here.
- Instagram Lives hosted by Cava Ambassadors, scheduled to take place throughout the week.
The expansion of Cava Discovery Week echoes a general increase in interest nationwide as sales of Cava continue to excel in the U.S.—in 2021 Cava sales to export markets increased by 11% to 71% of total sales (D.O. Cava) and, in the U.S. market, Cava was up 9% compared to 2020 (SipSource).
At such a pivotal time, D.O. Cava remains committed to executing its ambitious strategic plan propelled by the new zoning and segmentation regulations designed to unite producers under common goals of advancing quality and bringing visibility to the singularities of different sub-regions and vineyard sites.
"Unity is fundamental at such decisive times for the future of the sector," says Javier Pagés, the newly re-elected President of the D.O. Cava. "With it, the sector can achieve all the challenges we have set for ourselves and be a leading global designation of origin for some of the world's highest quality sparkling wines."
To learn more about Cava Discovery Week partners, participating wineries, and events, visit: cava.wine/en/cava-discovery-week-new-york. Then, follow along and join the conversation on social media using #cavaweek.
For additional information, please contact Katie Canfield of O'Donnell Lane at 530-720-1138 or by email at katie@odonnell-lane.com.
With more than 70% of international sales, Cava is the Spanish D.O. that exports the most wine: its 370 associated wineries are present in over 100 countries. The D.O. encompasses sparkling wine that pairs perfectly with every type of food, and is made using the traditional method, with a strict commitment to origin, land, and sustainability.
Web: Cava.wine
Facebook: facebook.com/do.cava
Instagram: instagram.com/Cava.do
Twitter: twitter.com/DO_Cava
YouTube: youtube.com/c/doCava
Media contact:
Katie Canfield, O'Donnell Lane
katie@odonnell-lane.com
+1-530-720-1138
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SOURCE D.O. Cava | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/cava-discovery-week-adds-sparkle-september-new-york-city/ | 2022-08-24T13:58:20Z |
Chef Michael Symon collaborates with the brand to showcase the versatility of Contadina® Diced Tomatoes
WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Contadina announces its partnership with celebrity chef and restauranter Michael Symon to highlight the convenience, quality and versatility of Contadina® tomatoes. Chef Symon shows home cooks how they can use Contadina® products in everyday meals and created an original recipe showcasing how he likes to use Contadina® tomatoes.
This partnership perfectly aligns with Chef Symon's passion for cooking with high-quality ingredients and Contadina's commitment to providing tomatoes that can be used for any meal occasion. Chef Symon was naturally drawn to the brand through his Sicilian roots, something he shares with Contadina as the brand was created by the Aiello Brothers in 1918 with a goal of offering high-quality and delicious tomatoes like those of their native Italy.
"Growing up in an Italian family, I enjoy creating vibrant meals inspired by my heritage," shares Chef Michael Symon. "Using Contadina® Diced Tomatoes is fantastic because I can't always pick freshly ripe Roma tomatoes off the vine. Contadina® tomatoes provide the perfect flavor for all my favorite dishes year-round."
To celebrate the partnership, Chef Michael Symon developed a unique recipe, Roasted Chicken Contadina® Tomato Chile Relish, which highlights Contadina® Diced Roma Tomatoes in a spicy tomato chili relish made with dried guajillo and pasillo ancho chilies. With a mix of aromatic spices, Contadina® Diced Roma Tomatoes and the preparation of a whole chicken, Chef Michael Symon has perfected this weeknight meal that highlights flavor and can be easily replicated by any home cook.
"Chef Michael Symon and our team at Contadina share something in common, our love for 100% fresh tomatoes no matter what time of year," shares Bibie Wu, CMO for Del Monte. "We couldn't have found a better partner who embodies our commitment to authentic foods and passionate cooking."
With a lineup of tomatoes prepped in all styles and varieties, Contadina® products add quality and flavor to any dish. Grown in Central California, Contadina® Diced Tomatoes are made from 100% fresh, vine-ripened Roma tomatoes that are peeled, chopped and canned in tomato juice resulting in a rich in flavor and easy to use product. Contadina brings over 100 years of experience in providing high quality and delicious canned tomatoes, helping home cooks pull together quick meals like pastas, sauces, chili, tacos, stews, braised dishes and more.
Contadina® products are available at major retailers nationwide like Target, Walmart, Kroger, King Soopers, Safeway, and more. Contadina® Diced Roma Tomatoes are available in two can sizes with MSRPs of $1.69 (14.5oz) and $2.49 (28oz). For recipes, including Chef Michael Symon's own Roasted Chicken Contadina® Tomato Chile Relish and for more information, please visit www.Contadina.com and check out Chef Michael Symon on Instagram.
Contadina® was created in 1918 by the Aiello brothers with a goal of offering high-quality, delicious tomatoes as those of their native Italy. Over one hundred years later, the Contadina® brand still stands for the quality grown and delicious tomatoes, grown and packed with care. For more information, please visit www.Contadina.com.
For more than 130 years, Del Monte Foods, Inc. has been driven by our mission to nourish families with earth's goodness. As the original plant-based food company, we're always innovating to make nutritious and delicious foods more accessible to consumers across our portfolio of beloved brands, including Del Monte®, Contadina®, College Inn®, S&W® and Joyba™. We believe that everyone deserves great tasting food they can feel good about, which is why we grow and produce our products using sustainable, and earth-friendly practices for a healthier tomorrow.
Del Monte Foods, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Del Monte Pacific Limited (Bloomberg: DELM SP, DELM PM) and is not affiliated with certain other Del Monte companies around the world, including Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., Del Monte Canada, or Del Monte Asia Pte. Ltd. For more information about Del Monte Foods and our products, please visit www.delmontefoods.com or www.delmonte.com.
Media Contact
Jane Chung
Edelman
Jane.Chung@edelman.com l DelMonte@edelman.com
415-936-5627
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SOURCE Del Monte Foods | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/celebrity-chef-michael-symon-partners-with-contadina/ | 2022-08-24T13:58:26Z |
SUNRISE, Fla., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CertiProf, a leader in professional certifications, continues to expand their programs portfolio by introducing its Certified Trainer Program (CTP). The Certified Trainer Program aims to close the gap between professionals who seek to get trained on specific topics, Authorized Trainer Partners who are in the look of trainers, and trainers who want to boost their international reach.
CertiProf's objective is to offer high-quality education; the Certified Trainer Program's exhaustive validation process allows them only to have the most qualified trainers listed on their Empowering platform. Each trainer candidate must fill out an online application and provide an updated resume, a valid framework certificate, and a training simulation video. After being approved, the Certified Trainers get listed on Empowering and receive many benefits such as:
- Get invited to participate in certifications updates.
- Increase brand awareness by creating articles, blogs, case studies, videos, and more.
- Take advantage of CertiProf's website's global positioning and get visibility to thousands of visitors worldwide.
- Grow their income while being one of our Authorized Training Partners' official trainers.
- Expand their network through our community and get new opportunities for their Training career.
"Since we are a certification body, we don't provide training; we rely on our Authorized Certification Trainers (ATPs) to foster professional development and expand all professionals' knowledge worldwide," said Gina Gillin, Managing Director at CertiProf. "Thanks to the Certified Training Program, we create a bridge between our Authorized Training Partners and Certified Trainers to ensure our ATPs can provide training on our entire certificate portfolio. Some of the challenges our ATPs encounter is that sometimes they don't have specialized trainers for a specific professional certificate. With the Certified Training Program, we can ensure both our Authorized Trainer Partners and Certified Trainers are connected and can have a wider reach worldwide.
In previous stages of the program validation, we had applications of which 40% of the candidates applied for programs such as Scrum, ISO 27001, and OKR (objectives and key results). The goal is to continue accrediting more candidates in the different programs that respond to specific needs by region and language, such as Cybersecurity, Agile Coach, DevOps, Kanban, Design Thinking, Design Sprint, and Lean Six Sigma, among others."
Thanks to Empowering, CertiProf's latest platform, their community of lifelong learners will be able to find the support they need for their training processes. Empowering will allow them to search for specific Certified Trainers based on geolocation, language, framework, or technology. Thanks to the comprehensive validation process, their professional community will have peace of mind they are receiving the best training.
CertiProf is a globally recognized certification body that includes a partner community with over 1,000+ training companies worldwide. More than 900,000 certified professionals have validated their knowledge of agile practices in programs such as Scrum, DevOps, Design Thinking, and OKR, among others. A complete list of CertiProf's professional certificates can be found here.
Gina Gillin
gina.gillin@certiprof.org
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SOURCE CertiProf | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/certiprof-introduces-certified-trainer-program/ | 2022-08-24T13:58:33Z |
Patient engagement leader gets nod for industry-leading patient communication engagement and communication solutions spanning the care continuum
NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Patient engagement leader CipherHealth today announced it was named in the Constellation ShortList™ for Healthcare Clinical Communication in Q3 2022. The designation places CipherHealth among leading organizations pioneering critical transformation initiatives across every corner of the healthcare ecosystem.
CipherHealth was honored for the personal, intelligent, and timely nature of its suite of dynamic patient engagement, outreach, and communication solutions. CipherHealth's pre-care, point-of-care, and post-care solutions, empowered by a powerful, interoperable engagement engine, deliver contextually relevant messaging to patients at every stage of the care journey while gathering patient data and creating insights for care leaders to make better clinical and operational decisions.
"Healthcare institutions are at a crossroads. They're grappling with unprecedented challenges in recruiting and retaining talented workforces, while at the same time facing a marketplace defined by consumerism. Healthcare leaders must find new ways to innovate and compete on an entirely new patient experience playing field," said CipherHealth Chief Executive Officer Jake Pyles. "Inclusion among the Constellation Shortlist™ is proof positive that we are meeting our goals and mission: to help health systems find new paths to success on clinical, operational, and patient satisfaction fronts through personal, contextual patient engagement."
Constellation Research advises leaders on leveraging disruptive technologies to achieve business model transformation and streamline business processes. Products and services named to the Constellation ShortList meet the threshold criteria for this category as determined through client inquiries, partner conversations, customer references, vendor selection projects, market share, and internal research.The portfolio is updated at least once per year as the analyst team deems necessary based on market conditions.
"Organizations must reconsider how they balance business models, work/life priorities, and new market conditions during the uncertain climate of the Great Refactoring," said R "Ray" Wang, chairman and founder at Constellation Research. "Constellation's ShortLists reflect the top vendors that matter most to our network of buy-side clients. We publish ShortLists to expedite the decision-making process for leaders making critical vendor selections, so they can find the right partners to enable their business success."
For more information, click here.
CipherHealth is an award-winning digital patient engagement company committed to enhancing communication and coordination throughout the care continuum. Since 2009, CipherHealth has helped define the patient engagement category, delivering groundbreaking tools and superior services to help health systems deliver patient-centric, quality care that improves clinical outcomes, drives operational efficiency, and creates sustainable financial value through a full suite of communications solutions. CipherHealths's automated, scalable platform empowers healthcare organizations to drive meaningful conversations among patients, provider staff and caregivers, regardless of care setting, thereby achieving new standards for patient care and accelerating the digital transformation of the industry.
Disclaimer: Constellation Research does not endorse any solution or service named in its research.
Contact:
Caroline Statile
Scratch Marketing + Media for CipherHealth
caroline@scratchmm.com
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SOURCE CipherHealth | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/cipherhealth-listed-constellation-shortlist-healthcare-clinical-communication/ | 2022-08-24T13:58:34Z |
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cue Health Inc. ("Cue") (Nasdaq: HLTH), a healthcare technology company, today announced a new collaboration with Fresenius Kidney Care to provide the most accurate* COVID-19 self-test to certain patients and clinical care teams.
People who are immunocompromised have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 throughout the pandemic and remain highly dependent on measures that reduce the likelihood of infections, including vaccination. Cue can be used by vulnerable patient populations and their care partners to detect and treat COVID-19 early, often before complications arise and hospitalization is required. This is especially important in remote locations where timely and accurate results are critical for making clinical treatment decisions. Fresenius Kidney Care in Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Saipan will use the Cue Health Monitoring System and Cue COVID-19 Test to screen employees and test symptomatic immunocompromised patients in-center and at-home.
"This is a great example of how Fresenius Kidney Care is seeking out the best technologies to ensure we do everything we can to protect our vulnerable patient population from COVID-19," said Ines Dahne-Steuber, President of Spectra Laboratories, a Fresenius Medical Care company providing laboratory diagnostics to dialysis centers across the country. "This collaboration with Cue will help us provide patients with greater access to high-quality timely diagnosis and care in our effort to improve health outcomes while lowering costs."
Fresenius Kidney Care operates more than 2,600 dialysis centers in the U.S., providing more than 200,000 patients annually with services that include at-home peritoneal dialysis, at-home hemodialysis, in-center hemodialysis, and additional clinical care resources.
"By utilizing Cue's platform, Fresenius Kidney Care can continue to provide its life-saving services to immunocompromised patients with confidence they are using the most accurate COVID-19 self-test," said Ayub Khattak, Chairman and CEO of Cue Health. "We treat accuracy as non-negotiable so healthcare-affiliated organizations across the country can continue to trust Cue for their testing needs in high-stakes environments."
Fresenius Kidney Care is one of the growing number of healthcare-affiliated organizations and internationally-recognized hospital systems throughout the U.S working with Cue to transform how diagnostic healthcare is delivered to close gaps in the patient journey and drive improved health outcomes. Cue is used in many other point-of-care settings such as Johns Hopkins Medicine and Mayo Clinic, by world-class organizations across the country, including Google, the National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball, and in homes.
Cue's test uses molecular nucleic acid amplification technology (NAAT) providing lab-quality results directly to connected mobile devices in 20 minutes. The test can detect all known COVID-19 variants and subvariants of concern - including Omicron, BA.4, and BA.5 - and can be used on adults and children (age 2 years and over for over-the-counter (OTC) / home use and under 2 for professional use), with or without symptoms.
*Based on clinical study results submitted to FDA for other EUA molecular home tests.
About Cue Health
Cue Health (Nasdaq: HLTH) is a healthcare technology company that makes it easy for individuals to access health information and places diagnostic information at the center of care. Cue Health enables people to manage their health through real-time, actionable, and connected health information, offering individuals and their healthcare providers easy access to lab-quality diagnostics anywhere, anytime, in a device that fits in the palm of the hand. Cue Health's first-of-its-kind COVID-19 test was the first FDA-authorized molecular diagnostic test for at-home and over-the-counter use without a prescription and physician supervision. Outside the United States, Cue Health has received the CE mark in the European Union, Interim Order authorization from Health Canada, regulatory approval from India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, and PSAR authorization from Singapore's Health Sciences Authority. Cue was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in San Diego. For more information, please visit www.cuehealth.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute "forward-looking statements". The words, without limitation, "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these or similar identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including those related to the expected future diagnostic test menu and the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of Cue's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 filed with the SEC on August 10, 2022. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the current expectations of Cue's management team and speak only as of the date hereof, and Cue specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
These products have not been FDA cleared or approved; but have been authorized by FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). These products have been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens. The emergency use of these products is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.
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SOURCE Cue Health Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/cue-health-provides-enhanced-care-amp-protection-immunocompromised-populations-amp-clinical-care-teams-fresenius-kidney-care/ | 2022-08-24T13:58:40Z |
POTOMAC, Md., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Curbio, Inc., the leading fix now, pay when you sell home improvement solution for real estate agents, brokerages, and their listing clients, has kicked off a new integrated marketing campaign aimed at emphasizing the turnkey nature of its service. The campaign, aptly titled "Kick it to Curbio", highlights the vast amount of work associated with pre-listing home improvement projects that Curbio takes on in its entirety, eliminating stress for agents and homeowners in the process.
"In today's housing market, pre-listing home updates are a necessity if you want to sell quickly and for top dollar. Unfortunately, pre-listing home improvement projects can be complicated for all parties involved—there are so many moving parts, from finding contractors, to ordering materials, to getting permits, and everything in-between," said Olivia Mariani, VP of Marketing at Curbio. "That's where Curbio comes in. We take care of everything related to the project, from start to finish, so agents and their clients don't have to worry about it. Any task related to pre-listing updates can be kicked over to Curbio."
"Curbio is the only completely turnkey pre-listing home improvement solution on the market today. We are the licensed and insured general contractor on all our projects, and we have a dedicated team of project managers who oversee all projects from start to finish. Plus, we don't have any project minimums or maximums. We truly take care of everything for the agents and homeowners we work with, regardless of project scope or size, and payment for our services is always deferred until the home sells. It's a win for everyone involved," added Mariani.
At the center of the campaign is a new promotion, providing all real estate agents who complete a project with Curbio with a $300 self-care credit for every project they complete.
"At Curbio, we believe that real estate professionals shouldn't spend their time managing and overseeing pre-listing home improvements. Instead, they can kick all updates to Curbio and kick the rest to the curb! We're excited to be offering this promotion to give real estate agents an incentive to treat themselves to some self-care with the time that they save by working with Curbio," said Amanda Pflieger, Director of Demand Generation at Curbio.
The limited-time promotion will be running through October 31, 2022. Visit go.curbio.com/kick-it-to-curbio to learn more.
About Curbio
Curbio was founded in 2017 to transform the multi-billion-dollar home improvement industry and has quickly become the nation's leading pay-at-closing home improvement solution. The company partners exclusively with real estate agents and their clients to get any home ready for the market, allowing it to sell faster and for top dollar. Using technology to power their service, Curbio completes pre-listing home improvement projects of any size quickly and without hassle, from start to finish, with zero payment due until the home sells. Curbio is trusted by thousands of realtors and brokerages nationwide, and has been continuously recognized for its exemplary solution, receiving nods in HousingWire, Qualified Remodeler and Comparably, to name a few.
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SOURCE Curbio | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/curbio-underscores-value-end-to-end-pre-listing-home-improvement-solution-new-campaign/ | 2022-08-24T13:58:46Z |
With record-high inflation and fears of a recession, singles are cutting back on expenses, including spending on dating
NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Dating.com – part of the Dating Group, the company behind over 30 online dating sites, with offices and dating experts in seven countries – revealed survey findings about the impact rising inflation and economic uncertainty are having on the dating lives of many singles. In fact, within the past three months, 47% of respondents reported that they have held back on scheduling a date to save money.
"The increase in prices of food, gas, clothing and many other products and services has left singles rethinking their usual dating habits and patterns as they make an effort to save money," says Maria Sullivan, Dating Expert and Vice President of Dating.com. "We're seeing that inflation has also led to many couples choosing to move in together within an accelerated timeline to help cut living costs in the short term. In some cases, this happens before couples are truly ready to take this next step in their relationship."
Key survey findings include:
- No date? No problem: 52% of respondents reported that they are content with holding back on scheduling dates to prevent themself from spending money on clothing, gas, public transportation, dinner and drinks, outings, and more.
- Taking it slow: Findings included that 58% of respondents reported wanting to get to know potential partners better before putting excessive amounts of money into activities, dinners, and more to avoid wasting their time and dollars if it doesn't work out.
- Common cutbacks: Dating.com found that 67% of respondents reported that they cut back on their typical romantic night out for simpler, cheaper date options.
- Romance turned roommates: With rent prices through the roof, especially in big cities, many newer couples are rushing to move in together to cut the cost of living. About 45% of respondents have noted that they've talked seriously with their partner about living together, despite not being ready for it, to save money.
"The increasing price of dating has made it even more of a challenge for singles to enjoy dating and putting themselves out there, but there are ways singles can still meet new people and have fun dates without worrying about how much it will cost," continued Sullivan. She provided the following tips for ways to save money and still have an active dating life:
- Simplify your night out: Spending a night out with a date doesn't have to break the bank. Instead of making a reservation at an upscale restaurant, opt for a cheaper, more affordable choice that is known for being fun and for having a good time. If your date is interested in making a genuine connection, then a more casual bar or restaurant should work just as well as a fancy one as you're getting to know each other.
- Get creative: A free date can be a fun one. – Casual activities such as taking a walk in the park, bike riding, hiking, or a game night are great ways to spend quality time with someone as you're deciding whether your connection with them is worth the current cost of dating.
- Save up for later: While inflation is hitting everyone's wallet, it doesn't hurt to get funds together for a special experience or a quick trip soon. Couples new and old can benefit from having something to look forward to, but they don't have to break the bank right away.
To join Dating.com's extensive, international network of singles and to find your match please visit www.dating.com.
About Dating Group: Dating Group is a global social discovery platform, enabling people from around the world to connect through the power of shared interests and mutual benefits. Dating Group has offices in seven countries and a team of more than 700 professionals with more than 73 million registered users across the entire portfolio. Dating Group brands include Dating.com, Dil Mil, Once, Cupid Media, DateMyAge, LovingA, and many more, each with a unique platform tailored to different communities defined by interest, geography and demographics.
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SOURCE Dating.com | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/datingcom-reveals-inflation-is-disrupting-our-budgets-our-dating-lives/ | 2022-08-24T13:58:52Z |
Dr. Amy Mathers and Rob Crisp Bring Extensive Academic and Industry Experience
BOSTON, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Day Zero Diagnostics Inc., an infectious disease diagnostics company utilizing genome sequencing and machine learning to combat the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections, today announced the addition of Dr. Amy Mathers and Rob Crisp to the company's Advisory Board.
"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Amy Mathers and Rob Crisp to the Day Zero Diagnostics Advisory Board. They both bring important perspectives and expertise to our company as we advance our genome sequencing-based diagnostic technology," said Jong Lee, co-founder and CEO of Day Zero Diagnostics. "With the recent launch of our CLIA Day Zero Lab Services and the ongoing development of our sequencing-based platform, DZD is poised to revolutionize infectious disease diagnosis by reducing the time to diagnosis of severe infections from days to hours."
Dr. Amy Mathers is Associate Professor of Medicine and Pathology, Associate Director of Clinical Microbiology and Medical Director Antimicrobial Stewardship at The University of Virginia Medical School, Department of Pathology. Dr. Mathers' research includes use of whole genome sequencing to explore the molecular epidemiology of mobile genetic elements associated with genes of drug resistance, clinical microbiology detection of carbapenem resistance and use of rapid diagnostics to inform antibiotic stewardship.
"I'm impressed with Day Zero Diagnostics' sequencing-based rapid diagnostic technology that shortens the traditional wait time of a culture. There is currently tremendous need for rapid, accurate and precise diagnosis of infections in hospitals to get patients on the right treatment quickly. DZD's approach holds promise in transforming infectious disease diagnosis and reducing antibiotic overuse," said Dr. Mathers.
Rob Crisp is a molecular biologist and experienced leader with expertise driving the development of novel in-vitro diagnostic devices. Mr. Crisp is currently Vice President, Research and Development at Molecular Designs, a team of doctors and scientists working to advance molecular diagnostics. Before that, he spent 11 years at bioMérieux (previously BioFire Diagnostics, LLC), advancing to the position of Senior Vice President, Microbiology, R&D and Projects.
"Day Zero Diagnostics' novel sample preparation technologies allow for an unprecedented ability to sequence the genomes of pathogens directly from clinical samples. I look forward to working with the DZD team and members of the Advisory Board to support the company's work developing its game-changing infectious disease diagnostic platform,'' Mr. Crisp notes.
Antibiotic resistance is an escalating global crisis, where the spread of drug resistance is outpacing the development of new antibiotics.
Infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria are more dangerous for patients and more difficult and expensive to treat. They often require extended hospital stays, additional follow-up doctor visits, and more costly and toxic alternative treatments.
As drug-resistant bacteria become more common, so will deaths from life-threatening infections like sepsis, which is the body's unregulated immune response to a severe bloodstream infection. A study in the Lancet estimates that in 2019, 1.27 million deaths were attributable to bacterial antimicrobial resistance and a 2016 review of antimicrobial resistance estimated that as many as 10 million deaths annually would be caused by antimicrobial resistance by 2050.
Early and effective treatment of antibiotic resistant infections has been proven to save lives. However, current technologies cannot provide actionable information quickly enough to enable early, targeted antibiotic treatment.
Day Zero Diagnostics, Inc., based in Boston, is pioneering a new class of infectious disease diagnostics using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and machine learning to revolutionize how the world fights the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. The company's mission is to change the way infectious diseases are diagnosed and treated by rapidly identifying both the species and the antibiotic resistance profile of severe infections from a blood sample, without the need for a culture. In 2022, the company launched its WGS-based Day Zero Lab Services, leveraging its proprietary technologies and highly curated databases of pathogens for managing healthcare-associated infection outbreaks and making high-impact clinical decisions. Day Zero Diagnostics was founded in 2016 by a team of clinicians and scientists from Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital. The company has been recognized as a leading innovator by CARB-X, UCSF Health, American Association of Clinical Chemistry, MedTech Innovator, TedMed Hive, Xconomy, HealthTech Arkansas, and MassChallenge HealthTech. To learn more visit our website and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Media contact:
Helen Shik
Shik Communications
helen@shikcommunications.com
617-510-4373
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SOURCE Day Zero Diagnostics, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/day-zero-diagnostics-welcomes-molecular-diagnostics-experts-its-advisory-board/ | 2022-08-24T13:58:54Z |
New research from Gravy Analytics looks at the changing habits of consumers after moving, with rising costs impacting their daily lives
DULLES, Va., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Against a backdrop of record-high inflation rates, cost-of-living has impacted over a quarter (34%) of Americans who moved during the pandemic to more affordable areas with greater open space. That's according to new data released today by Gravy Analytics, a leading provider of enterprise location intelligence.
Among the 1,500 U.S. consumers surveyed on their post-move habits, 34% reported that a higher cost-of-living was their biggest daily challenge. This is despite 18% of respondents citing the need for more affordable housing as the main driver for their move, trailing only the need for more space (33%) and the desire to be closer to family (22%).
Location intelligence insights from Gravy Analytics further demonstrate the desire for a more affordable cost-of-living as a driving force of pandemic moves, as the counties that gained the most population between Q1 2020 and Q1 2022 had a 33% lower weighted average median home value compared to the counties that lost the most population. Median household income is only 6% lower in top gaining counties than in top losing counties, suggesting that those people who moved were able to keep a similar household income, such as maintaining their roles in a remote/hybrid capacity, while also being able to spend significantly less on housing.
Shopping habits similarly reflect a preference for affordability, as the desire for low prices were cited as the biggest factor by 32% of Americans when selecting a grocery store in their new location. Low prices ranked higher than a convenient location to home or work (13%) and offering a good customer experience (12%).
"As the post-pandemic consumer landscape continues to evolve and inflation impacts every factor of American life, organizations must be armed with data to know how to respond and plan," said Jeff White, founder and CEO of Gravy Analytics. "By using location intelligence to observe behaviors such as where consumers are moving to and how their purchasing habits have evolved, city planners, retailers and logistics professionals alike can identify key trends early on and use the data to guide their strategies."
Additional survey findings also revealed:
- Shopping habits shifted significantly, with mom-and-pop shops being the biggest benefactors. Almost two-thirds (61%) of consumers changed their shopping habits after moving, with 34% now primarily shopping at mom-and-pop stores instead of national retail chains. Comparatively, 27% now primarily shop at national retail chains rather than mom-and-pop shops. Location intelligence from Gravy Analytics observed a similar trend, as non-chain stores retained more foot traffic than national retailers from Q3 2020 through Q2 2022.
- Americans didn't move far, with many staying in the same region. The Southeast experienced the highest increase in population gains, as 27% of Americans surveyed moved to this region, but the majority of new residents (52%) had previously lived elsewhere in the Southeast. Each region saw similar trends, with almost half of new residents coming from somewhere within that same region.
- Environmental risks drive movement decisions. The impact of climate change is influencing where consumers of all generations choose to live, as more than two-thirds (70%) reported environmental risks as a deciding factor.
- Regional political affiliation plays a role in choosing a place to live. Only a slight majority (53%) of Americans consider the political affiliation of a region when deciding on a place to live. Location intelligence data from Gravy Analytics observed similar trends, as many people moved away from the West Coast and Northeast to politically-opposite deep Southeast, Midwest and Southwest regions. As of Q1 2022, however, more people have left places like Texas, Florida, and Illinois and moved or returned to West Coast states like California and Washington.
For more information on how location intelligence can be utilized to better predict consumer behavior, please visit www.gravyanalytics.com.
Gravy Analytics surveyed 1,500 consumers above the age of 18 in the United States using the online insights platform Pollfish. This survey was completed in the summer of 2022.
Where people go and why tells the story of our world. Founded in 2011, Gravy Analytics is the enterprise location technology company providing actionable intelligence to businesses. Using its patented technology, the company brings data about people, places, and events together to understand human mobility, helping companies enhance their sales and marketing strategies and optimize business operations. Today, the company's intelligence powers leading-edge solutions for a wide range of industries—from advertising to market research, financial services to supply chain risk management—that rely on knowing how people, products, and materials move throughout the world. For more information, please visit gravyanalytics.com.
Contact: SHIFT Communications for Gravy Analytics, gravy@shiftcomm.com
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SOURCE Gravy Analytics | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/despite-seeking-out-affordable-locations-lifestyles-pandemic-34-americans-report-higher-cost-of-living-post-move/ | 2022-08-24T13:59:00Z |
CHONGQING, China, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2022 Smart China Expo is held in southwest China's Chongqing from August 22 to 24. Chongqing's Dazu District participated in the expo with many local intelligent application achievements, including the monitoring and early warning system for Dazu Stone Carvings World Cultural Heritage Site, GIS visual control system and 8K ball screen movie 'Dazu Stone Carvings', according to the Publicity Department of Dazu District.
Thousands of Buddhist hands, like peacocks, surround Avalokitesvara statues. Impermanent big ghosts, with long two arms, embrace the reincarnation of all living beings in the six worlds. The 7-meter-high three saints of Huayan, due to the skillful use of mechanical principles by ancient craftsmen, Manjusri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva hold hundreds of pounds of stone towers without falling for thousands of years.
After 800 years of decay by the weather, visitors can still appreciate the profound connotation and unique temperament of Dazu stone carvings, and perceive the positive contribution of Dazu District, as a town of stone carvings, to the high-quality development of cultural relics protection, the inheritance and renewal of traditional culture, and the continuation of human civilization and art.
Dazu Stone Carvings, as the general name of all stone carvings in Dazu District of Chongqing, was built in the early Tang Dynasty and reached its peak in the Song Dynasty. Its more than 50,000 grotto statues represent the highest level of grotto art in the world from the 9th to 13th centuries AD. In 1999, it was included into the World Heritage List.
The thousand-hand Avalokitesvara, made in the Southern Song Dynasty, is the most famous statue in Dazu Stone Carvings. After more than 800 years, most statues in Dazu Stone Carvings are plagued with damages, and the thousand-hand Avalokitesvara suffers from 34 kinds of "bruises". After nearly eight years of difficult restoration, the statue reappeared in a fresh look in 2015.
The increasingly rich protection and research of Dazu Stone Carvings have attracted global attention. China and Italy jointly set up a stone cultural relics protection center in Dazu, which started the cooperation attempt in the field of stone cultural relics protection and restoration between the two countries.
Digitalization and intelligence have injected new vitality into Dazu Stone Carvings. The monitoring and early warning system provides effective support and service for the management of Dazu Stone Carvings World Cultural Heritage, and improves the heritage protection, management ability and public service level. The GIS visual management and control system of Dazu Stone Carvings uses the perspective of three-dimensional spatial geography to display the cultural tourism resources of Dazu through the effect of data model, thus forming a three-dimensional management and control system on all fronts.
For the first time in the world, the 8K ball screen film 'Dazu Stone Carvings' uses the production method of "live footage + CG animation", which converts the real space into digital space and combines the ball screen with 8K ultra-high-definition picture, thus bringing super audio-visual experiences to the audience.
In order to make Dazu Stone Carvings livelier, Dazu is stepping up the development of smart museums and smart scenic spots. The district has built a digital museum and a digital exhibition center and upgraded the portal websites, helping Dazu Stone Carvings to impress more people via the integration of more modern technologies and media platforms.
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SOURCE The Publicity Department of Dazu District | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/digital-intelligent-technologies-offer-ancient-dazu-stone-carvings-new-look/ | 2022-08-24T13:59:07Z |
NORFOLK, Va., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion DMS announces integration with Honda iN Plus which allows information that is sent to American Honda Motors to be processed immediately over a secure Internet connection for Honda and Acura dealers. This eliminates multiple manual "processing" steps.
Features that are included are:
- Warranty Claims: This sends one or multiple warranty claims per repair order. It will include note fields that can be used to summarize a customer complaint or situation and how it was corrected. It also eliminates double entry of warranty claim information.
- VIN Inquiry Interface: This automatically generates vehicle history data before a repair order is created. It will contain complete vehicle service and status information.
- Parts Order/Parts Returns: This allows for easy entering and submission of parts orders and part return data. Multiple parts orders can be input at one time with an option to choose which part orders to process first.
- Electronics Parts Catalog: This allows Honda dealers to look up parts required to complete a repair, and automatically checks the Automotive Management Productivity Suite (AMPS) dealer on-hand parts database to determine whether or not the parts are currently in stock. Part orders can be completed and sent to Honda directly from the parts catalog. This also includes an automatic Honda warehouse parts locator check.
"The Honda iN Plus integration helps improve operating efficiencies and eliminates delays which save us time and increases productivity. It removes duplicate entries which could have resulted in costly mistakes." - Mark Kool, Co-owner, Janssen Kool Honda
Sharon Kitzman, President Dominion DMS - "At Dominion DMS, our mission is to partner with automotive dealers in an ever-evolving landscape. As a partner, we want to find ways to drive efficiencies into client processes, and Honda iN Plus provides modern integrations that offer that opportunity."
This announcement is yet another reason for dealers to reconsider their current DMS relationship and consider what VUE DMS can offer.
To learn more about VUE and future integrations, visit VUEDMS.com.
VUE DMS, a new cloud-native dealer management system solution, gives US-based retail automotive dealers the digital security, flexibility, and efficiency to meet today's rapidly changing market. Built on Microsoft Azure Cloud and decades of experience serving dealerships, VUE DMS enables dealers to deliver a superior buying experience, reduce costs and protect their business. Learn more at VUEDMS.com.
Dominion Dealer Solutions prides itself on providing the automotive industry's most innovative technology. Products include the new cloud-native dealer management system solution offering modern digital security, flexibility, and efficiency (VUE DMS), inventory management and merchandising (Dealer Specialties) and vehicle data solutions (DataOne), vehicle registration reporting (Cross-Sell), and AI-powered Customer intel platform for sales and service, (Activator Dealer Solutions). Every OEM and more than 6,000 dealer partners depend on Dominion's foundation of innovation, integrity, excellence, and teamwork to deliver outstanding results. For more information, visit our website, like us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and follow us on Twitter.
MEDIA RELATIONS:
Scott Smith
Product & Content Marketing Manager
Dominion DMS
Scott.Smith2@dominiondms.com
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SOURCE VUE DMS | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/dominion-dms-announces-integration-with-honda-plus/ | 2022-08-24T13:59:13Z |
First-of-its-Kind Snapchat AR Lens Allows Consumers to Scan Any Triangle in the Real World for a Chance to Win $250,000, Exclusive Prizes from GUESS® Originals, Xbox®, Vivid Seats®, and Much More
PLANO, Texas, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Triangles are everywhere … but the world is about to see them differently. Doritos – the iconic triangle-shaped chip brand – is taking the basic triangle to Another Level®™ with Triangle Tracker, a nationwide hunt where any triangle can unlock exclusive experiences and rewards.
Through both the Snapchat AR lens that converts any real-world triangle into Doritos and weekly TikTok challenges, triangle trackers everywhere will soon realize how often they come across triangles in everyday life. Doritos is making it even easier for them to participate in the challenge by taking over famous triangular landmarks in New York, Atlanta and Memphis, Tenn., partnering with fan-favorite brands like GUESS® Originals, Vivid Seats® and Xbox®, using Fortnite Creative Mode to create Doritos Triangle Island™, and even dropping unexpected triangular Easter eggs throughout the MTV Video Music Awards ("VMAs") on August 28.
"Doritos has always been known for its iconic, bold flavors, but this year we're leaning into another part of Doritos: its iconic triangular shape," said Stacy Taffet, senior vice president of marketing at Frito-Lay North America. "What better way to engage our creative fanbase than by encouraging them to think of Doritos whenever they see a triangle in the real world?"
There are two simple ways people everywhere can participate in the nationwide hunt:
- Tracking Triangles on Snapchat: Fans can unlock opportunities to win every day by using the Snapchat Triangle Tracker AR Lens on Snapchat. They simply need to point the lens at any triangle, including the triangles on Doritos bags, and Snap's Machine Learning technology will recognize it and turn it into Doritos. Snapchat will then generate a code and send Snapchatters to the Triangle Tracker website to claim their prize, including Doritos product, exclusive merch from their favorite brands, or the $250,000 grand prize.
- Weekly TikTok Challenges: In a separate Doritos TikTok challenge, Doritos will issue weekly challenges for the chance to win $15,000 bounties. This isn't just a game of luck; Doritos wants triangle trackers to be bold. Only those who find the coolest and most creative triangles in the world and post their video submissions on TikTok tagging @Doritos #DoritosTriangleTracker #Contest will take home these rewards. The first challenge kicks off today when Doritos takes over three iconic triangular buildings: West 57th Street in New York, Bass Pro Shop in Memphis, Tenn., and 101 Marietta in Atlanta. Doritos will then drop two more challenges every Wednesday until mid-September.
If fans didn't already know that some of their most beloved brands have triangles in their logos, they won't be able to unsee them now! Use the Snapchat AR Lens to scan the triangular brand logos of Xbox, Vivid Seats and Guess to unlock epic prizes, and be on the lookout during the MTV VMAs for triangular Easter eggs to unlock prizes, including:
- VMAs: Doritos is teaming up with rapper Offset of the chart-topping Migos to be featured in exclusive content to kickstart the Triangle Tracker program in a major way at the 2022 "VMAs" on August 28. Watch surprise artists and be on the lookout for a few special triangles each time the Doritos Extended Play Stage appears for the chance to win tickets to the 2023 "VMAs."
- Xbox: Gamers everywhere can level up their gameplay by scanning the Xbox logo and unlocking a custom Doritos controller skin.
- GUESS Originals: GUESS, with Doritos, is unlocking the staple of the season with a limited-edition Doritos-inspired jean jacket, complete with branded patches to spice up any outfit! Simply scan the GUESS logo for the chance to win.
- Vivid Seats: The next concert music aficionados attend might be covered by Doritos, all by scanning the Vivid Seats logo. The prize will also include an exclusive Doritos Concert Kit, packed with all the Doritos-branded goodies to ensure the best concert experience.
Tapping into the brand's deep roots in the gaming community, Doritos is also taking the nationwide hunt for triangles virtual and once again taking gameplay to Another Level®™. Fans of Fortnite will be able to explore the brand-new Doritos Triangle Island™, created in Fortnite Creative mode, with hours of gameplay and hidden Easter eggs throughout. Drawing inspiration from Doritos products, Doritos Triangle Island brings a twist to three classic mini-games in the Fortnite world: Nacho Usual Spleef, Spicy Sweet Chiliwars and Doritos Crash Course Deathrun (inspired by the popular Doritos Crash Course game from 2010). This is an independently created Fortnite Creative experience and is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Epic Games, Inc. And that's not all, Doritos also partnered with StreamElements to develop a first-of-its-kind AI TriangleBot that allows streamers to replace triangles in all of their favorite games with Doritos chips.
To learn more about the Triangle Tracker program, visit www.DoritosTriangleTracker.com or head to Doritos' social channels.
Doritos believes there's boldness in everyone. We champion those who are true to themselves, who live life fully engaged and take bold action by stepping outside of their comfort zone and pushing the limits. Doritos is one of many Frito-Lay North America brands – the $19 billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Follow Doritos on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. Learn more about Frito-Lay at the corporate website, http://www.fritolay.com/, and on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/fritolay.
Frito-Lay North America is the $19 billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Frito-Lay snacks include Lay's and Ruffles potato chips, Doritos tortilla chips, Cheetos snacks, Tostitos tortilla chips and branded dips, SunChips multigrain snacks and Fritos corn chips. The company operates 30+ manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and Canada, more than 200 distribution centers and services 315,000 retail customers per week through its direct-store-delivery model. Learn more about Frito-Lay at the corporate website, www.fritolay.com, on Twitter (@fritolay), on Instagram (@fritolay) and on Facebook (Frito-Lay).
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $79 billion in net revenue in 2021, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.
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SOURCE Frito-Lay North America | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/doritos-transforms-triangles-all-around-us-invites-fans-an-epic-hunt-via-new-triangle-tracker-program/ | 2022-08-24T13:59:14Z |
Green cleaning products leader launches first liquidless dishwasher detergent
CYPRESS, Calif., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Two years after introducing its groundbreaking plastic-free laundry detergent sheets, ECOS®, the maker of plant-powered household cleaners, is bringing sustainable cleaning to dishwashing. Today, ECOS launched its liquidless ECOS Dishwasher Detergent Sheets at Amazon and Target.com.
ECOS Dishwasher Detergent Sheets are a zero-waste way for consumers to help reduce their environmental impact. The highly concentrated formula is completely dissolvable and comes in a 100% recyclable paperboard box. Formulated with plant-powered ingredients and no harsh chemicals, the sheets are tough on baked-on stains and grease and safer for the environment. Lightweight and mess-free, ECOS Dishwasher Detergent Sheets are easy to use; consumers simply fold a sheet to fit into the main detergent compartment and let the dishwasher do the rest.
"Moving away from plastics is an important step to create a more sustainable future," said Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, president and CEO of ECOS. "You don't need plastic to run your dishwasher; you just need the detergent. These sheets give users a same spot-free shine while giving them one more way they can part ways with plastic."
ECOS Dishwasher Detergent Sheets are 100% plastic free, reducing packaging emissions by 70% and water used in production by 99% compared to ECOS's equivalent liquid dish detergent. The lightweight sheets also reduce shipping emissions by 92% (based on an average shipping distance of 500 miles) and have an 82% smaller carbon footprint compared to ECOS's equivalent liquid products.
ECOS is built on caring for human and planetary wellness and has translated that passion into bringing safer cleaning products to people around the world. With one of the highest standards for sustainability in the industry, ECOS is a Climate Positive company, offsetting 110% of its environmental impact with investments in clean energy projects and water restoration programs for critically endangered habitats.
ABOUT ECOS®
Family owned and operated since 1967, ECOS makes plant-powered laundry detergents and cleaners that are safer for people, pets, and the planet. ECOS products are made in the USA using globally sourced ingredients without dyes, formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, parabens, phthalates, or optical brighteners. A woman-owned and Black-owned company, ECOS uses 100% renewable energy to make its products in U.S. facilities that are carbon neutral, water neutral, and TRUE Platinum Zero Waste certified. The company has won many awards for sustainability and green chemistry, including the U.S. EPA Safer Choice Partner of the Year award. ECOS, Baby ECOS, ECOS Pet and ECOS PRO cleaners are available at major club and grocery retailers and natural foods stores throughout the U.S., internationally and online. For more information and retail locations, visit ecos.com and follow on Instagram at @ecoscleans.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kendal Hayward
ecos@powerdigitalmarketinginc.com
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SOURCE ECOS | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/ecos-revolutionizes-dishwasher-detergents-with-new-plastic-free-sheets/ | 2022-08-24T13:59:21Z |
Noe's latest release is inspired by his passion for cooking, infused with family traditions and blended with his love of whiskey
CLERMONT, Ky., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Freddie Noe, Eighth Generation Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery and creator of Little Book® Whiskey, is proud to announce the sixth installment in his acclaimed annual, limited-release series – Little Book Chapter 6: "To The Finish."
The name of this year's chapter is inspired by Noe's passion for both whiskey-making and cooking, and more specifically, his curiosity for how flavors come together to complement each other.
"From generation to generation, the kitchen has always been a place where my family comes together to share traditions including my dad teaching me to cure meat and working to perfect my grandfather's sausage recipe. These memories ultimately led to my pursuits around the grill," said Noe. "My love for cooking and grilling, along with my obvious love of whiskey, has inspired my work in the rackhouse, and you'll see that poured into Chapter 6."
Noe uses the traditional method of smoking hardwoods to create different aromas and flavors in food, and he's applied that same method to the whiskey-making process, using unique wood staves and barrel techniques for Chapter 6. This process brings different characteristics together to create a final blend that has a perfect balance of flavors.
"To The Finish" is a blend of five liquid streams all distilled under Noe's watchful eye. The 4-year-old Straight Malt Whiskey liquid streams all start as the same American Single Malt Whiskey but are aged separately with different wood staves and barrel techniques to impart a unique taste profile. Once the liquids are individually dumped, they are blended back together in different ratios before a 5-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon is added to create the final blend. The result is an extremely approachable liquid, even for those who have yet to try a cask strength whiskey.
Little Book "To The Finish" was developed by Noe with the following characteristics:
- Blend Overview:
- Proof: 117.45
- Tasting Notes: Little Book "To The Finish" features flavors of rich toasted grain with hints of smoke.
- Sipping Suggestions: Little Book "To The Finish" is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks.
"With each release of Little Book, I strive to bring any curious whiskey drinker along for the journey as I explore different flavors, aging, and blending methods," Noe explained. "For this chapter, I hope to open people's eyes to a whiskey that has a taste bigger than its individual components, and a flavor that's inspired from generations of curing, grilling and distilling."
"To The Finish" is now available nationwide in limited quantities with a suggested retail price of $124.99 for a 750mL bottle. For more information about Little Book "To The Finish" and Noe's work as Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery, please visit: www.littlebookwhiskey.com or visit us on Instagram @littlebookwhiskey.
Little Book® is the first-ever product release from Freddie Noe, Eighth Generation Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery. An annual, limited release series, Little Book features new and unique high-quality blends each year that bring to life Noe's passion for blending and his curiosity for the limitless tastes that can be achieved through the blending process. Little Book is named as a nod to Noe's childhood nickname, given to him by his family for the many qualities he shared with his granddad, Booker Noe.
As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company's brands, including the iconic Jim Beam® and Maker's Mark® bourbon brands and Courvoisier® cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Basil Hayden®, Knob Creek®, and Legent™ bourbon; Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™ Japanese whisky; Teacher's, Laphroaig® and Bowmore® Scotch whisky; Canadian Club® whisky; Hornitos® and Sauza® tequila; EFFEN®, Haku® and Pinnacle® vodka; Sipsmith® and Roku™ gin; and On The Rocks Premium Cocktails.
Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good, which now includes its transformative sustainability strategy, Proof Positive. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.
Little Book® Whiskey, 58.7% Alc./Vol. ©2022 James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, KY.
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SOURCE Beam Suntory Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/eighth-generation-master-distiller-freddie-noe-releases-sixth-chapter-little-book-whiskey-series-finish/ | 2022-08-24T13:59:27Z |
The PAWpular bagel brand invites furry friends to fetch the free Doggie Bagel deal
LAKEWOOD, Colo., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Einstein Bros. Bagels is treating man's best friend to free doggie bagels for a week to celebrate National Dog Day. Only available for a limited time, the renowned bagel brand will offer free doggie bagels with the purchase of any Egg Sandwich or Chorizo Breakfast Burrito, a deal that will really get those tails wagging!
What's the first thing you do when you get up in the morning? Get your hot cup of coffee and feed your dog, pet your dog and play with your dog. Your furry friend is a part of your morning routine, so Doggie Bagels are the perfect addition to your dog's daily schedule.
"We all know dog parents love to spoil their pups in any way they can," said Hector Briones, Chief Marketing Officer at Einstein Bros. Bagels. "Dogs are like our babies, and we would do anything for them, right? They eat with us, sleep with us, and maybe even go to work with us. Doggie bagels are just another way to show how much we love them."
The Treat Your Dog to Breakfast deal is offered in-bakery with a coupon, online using code FREEDOG, or through the Einstein Bros. app as a reward. This deal is the perfect opportunity to invite your pet's other four-legged buddies to your favorite neighborhood bagel bakery (outside only) and make it a pup patio party!
Following the Treat Your Dog to Breakfast deal, pet owners can still treat their furry friend to delicious and nutritious doggie bagels any time for just $1.39 at any Einstein Bros. Bagels location.
For more information, please visit https://www.einsteinbros.com/free-dog.
Einstein Bros.® Bagels is a neighborhood bakery known for endless combinations of fresh-baked bagels and premium double-whipped cream cheese shmear. Also serving a variety of breakfast sandwiches, lunch sandwiches, coffee, espresso, sweets and catering, Einstein Bros.® Bagels has 690 locations throughout the United States. Einstein Bros.® Bagels is part of Panera Brands, one of the nation's largest fast-casual restaurant companies, comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros.® Bagels. To learn more, visit www.einsteinbros.com.
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SOURCE Einstein Bros. Bagels | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/einstein-bros-bagels-treats-dogs-week-free-doggie-bagels-celebration-national-dog-day/ | 2022-08-24T13:59:34Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Elizabeth Arden expands its partnership with ULTA Beauty, the nation's largest beauty retailer, launching in all stores late August. The iconic beauty pioneer will place emphasis on the brand's award-winning Ceramide Capsule collection in their brick-and-mortar product assortment.
"Elizabeth Arden strives for a balanced channel assortment between e-commerce and traditional retail. While the brand experiences a robust growth in online sales, we recognize the importance of recruiting new customers through in-person trial and advice depending on individual needs. Ulta, the country's predominant retailer for beauty, offers consumers a wide variety of brand access and knowledge spanning affordable to luxury, clean to scientific, indie to mass – making the retailer a top destination for true beauty enthusiasts and an important partner in garnering new audiences for Elizabeth Arden." – Won Park Costof, Senior Vice President, Elizabeth Arden, US.
Elizabeth Arden has received rave reviews that reflect consumer devotion leading to steady growth at Ulta.com over the last 4 years, especially for the brand's Ceramide Capsules. Recognized for over 150 beauty awards since inception, Elizabeth Arden's Ceramide Capsules reign as the global leader in monodose technology. Due to this fandom, Ulta's in-store assortment at their new "Skincare We're Loving Wall" will include the franchise's best-selling SKUs: Advanced Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum, Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum, Hyaluronic Acid Ceramide Capsules Hydra-Plumping Serum, and Vitamin C Ceramide Capsules Radiance Renewal Serum.
Moving forward, select stores will have Elizabeth Arden skincare experts on the floor to enhance the shopping experience and educate customers on the various product offerings. The brand also plans to implement an in-store sampling and loyalty program. Elizabeth Arden is currently available on their own e-comm as well as Amazon, Macy's, Dillard's, Belk and Boscov's.
Elizabeth Arden has been empowering women with a diverse portfolio of cutting edge and results-driven innovation since 1910. One of the first female entrepreneurs in 20th century America, Ms. Arden remarkably turned a thousand-dollar investment into a billion-dollar brand that prides itself on celebrating and supporting dynamic women through beauty. Today the iconic brand is sold in more than 120 countries and prides itself on upholding the founder's legacy of empowering women and providing them with luxurious, high performing products with real results.
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SOURCE Elizabeth Arden | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/elizabeth-arden-enters-ulta-beauty-stores/ | 2022-08-24T13:59:40Z |
Culinary Campaign Curated by the Singapore Tourism Board in Partnership with Renowned Bars, Pastry Shops & Restaurants, from New York to Los Angeles will Feature Exclusive Dining Experiences, Special Menus, a "Golden Ticket Contest" and Much More
NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gourmands can now experience the vibrancy of Singaporean cuisine during the Singapore Food Festival (SFF) without stepping foot on a plane. Launching in New York, California, Houston, and beyond from September 12 - October 10, Singapore's famous flavors of pandan, sambal, and salted egg will take center stage through two tasting menu dinners from New York City's Singapura and Wau, a cocktail adventure from the mixologist masters at Singlish paired with exquisite pastries from the kuih connoisseurs at Lady Wong, specially crafted sauces from Palo Alto's Killiney Kopitiam, sweet treats from LA's Wanderlust Creamery, customized coffees from Houston's Blacksmith, and a nationwide golden egg contest from Singaporean snack brand, Irvins. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB), in partnership with these seven concepts, each of whom are masters of their respective crafts, is proud to offer American diners a comprehensive taste of Singapore.
"We are thrilled to bring the vibrancy and special experience of the Singapore Food Festival to the U.S. this September, where Singaporean food culture has taken a strong hold and is increasingly sought-after," states Rachel Loh, Senior Vice President at Singapore Tourism Board, Americas. "It's truly an honor to partner with such a celebrated group of restaurants and brands who will each offer their unparalleled expertise and singular specialties, bringing the flavors, traditions, and dining experiences of Singapore to new, inquiring diners in the U.S."
The collaborations enable curious diners to not only delight in something new, but to begin imagining how their own future travel to Singapore could taste. There truly is something for everyone, both during the US Edition of the Singapore Food Festival collaborations and within the emerald destination itself. This campaign aims to encourage eaters of all walks of life to try something new and imagine their next trip to Singapore as an adventure within reach.
Lady Wong - New York City
Launched during the pandemic from husband and wife team Seleste Wong and Mogan Anthony, Lady Wong is a Nanyang inspired pastry and kuih boutique in the heart of New York City. Both Chefs are from Malaysia but lived in Singapore for 10 years, cooking in Michelin Star restaurants and five-star hotels before moving to the concrete jungle to continue their culinary journey. They will be offering three limited edition pastries inspired by the SFF features flavors, a Creamy Sweet Corn with Salted Egg Yolk Cream Puff and Sambal Egg Curry Puff with eggs simmered in house sambal, both for $5, and a Coconut Pandan Petite Gateau for $7.50, limited quantity available at their shop at 332 East 9th Street, Wednesday-Sunday.
Singlish - New York City
Chef Salil and Beverage Director Colin Stevens joined forces to bring Union Square a Singaporean cocktail bar experience in Singlish, located at 17 East 13th Street. Singlish offers the collaboration's only cocktail tasting experience, inviting New Yorkers to experience craft cocktails modeled after an ethos of 'blending the familiar with the unexpected to bring an element of surprise to each sip.' The 3-course cocktail tasting menu features the Changshan cocktail, a crisp highball made with gin, pandan, star fruit, tea, and sparkling water, and the Mai Lai, Mai Lai Wa, Mai Lai (clarified salted egg vodka, curry leaf, chili oil, dry vermouth and garnished with three salted egg stuffed olives), resulting in a Singaporean version of the classic martini; and Singlish's take on the famed Singapore Sling, crafted with gin, house-made cherry heering, pineapple, orange, pomegranate and spices. The 3-course cocktail offering is available for $60 per person.
Wau - New York City
Another offering from renowned Chef Salil, Wau, located at 434 Amsterdam Avenue, describes itself as a 'back to basics South East Asian joint.' Eaters will be transported around the globe during the 3-course dinner offering at Wau, featuring special dishes including Pandan Chicken Wings Cooked in Sweet Sambal Sauce, Lobster Tail with Salted Egg Hokkien Mee and Sambal Nasi Goreng. The meal, priced at $88 per person includes a special cocktail pairing or welcome glass of prosecco.
Singapura - New York City
Singapura impresses as a proudly Southeast Asian beach bar found in the Gramercy neighborhood of New York City. Chef Salil Mehta helms the ship and is well-known for his direction at Wau and Singlish, additional partners of the Singapore Food Festival, in addition to LAUT Singapura and Michelin-Starred LAUT Union Square. Singapura, located at 31 East 20th Street, will invite diners in for a 3-course meal featuring Salted Egg Crab, Sambal Skatefish, and Cinnamon Toast Cruller with Kaya Dip made from pandan. The experience, available for dinner only, includes a special cocktail pairing or welcome glass of prosecco and is priced at $88 per person.
Killiney Kopitiam - Palo Alto
Opening over a century ago in Singapore as a street corner coffee shop serving Nanyang style 'kopi' coffee and charcoal-grilled kaya toast, Killiney Kopitiam has grown to 60 locations in five countries. This Bay Area location, at 552 Waverley St. in downtown Palo Alto, is led by Chef Nora Haron, the first Singaporean Chef to make Laksa at the James Beard House in NYC. Customers will be able to purchase an assortment of specially curated sauces, including Killiney's legendary Killiney Kaya, Sambal Terasi from SanDai Restaurant, and Salted Egg Butterscotch Pot De Creme by KOPI Bar, all 4oz jars. This assortment will be available for purchase at Killiney for $38.
Wanderlust Creamery - Los Angeles
Founded by food scientist/mixologist Adrienne Borlongan in 2015, Los Angeles based Wanderlust Creamery is an artisanal ice cream shop known for its innovative and creative ice cream flavors inspired by world travel. They make ice cream flavors inspired by places they've been, places they long to visit, and childhood memories. Beginning on September 12, Wanderlust will offer the following limited edition ice cream flavors at each of its six LA locations as a nod to Singapore - Durian Cream Puff, consisting of mascarpone & durian mousse ice cream with buttery feuilletine, and Salted Egg Dan Tat, composed of salted egg custard ice cream and flaky puff pastry crust made with Irving's Salted Egg chips. A single scoop is $6.50, double is $8.00 and a pint is $13.
Blacksmith - Houston
A charming coffee shop in Houston, Blacksmith delights the community with its balanced drinks and complex pastries. Located at 1018 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX, Blacksmith will offer a Spiced Singapore Golden Milk Latte, created by Blacksmith co-founder Niken Prabanto, for $6, featuring sambal, ginger, turmeric, pineapple, lime, vanilla, and oat milk. The latte is complimented by the custom Pandan Banana Tea Cake, created by Blacksmith Pastry Chef Christina Au, $9, including vanilla sponge cake, pandan mousse, banana jam, sesame cremaux, and flower petals.
IRVINS - Nationwide
Singapore snack brand, IRVINS, known for their salted-egg treats, celebrates the Singapore Food Festival by giving three lucky winners a "Golden Egg ". Reminiscent of Willy Wonka's famous chocolate bar "Golden Ticket" contest, the three egg-shaped tickets will be randomly hidden into bags of IRVINS available in the U.S. and sold at any of their retailers including Hmart, 99 Ranch Market, or even at their website eatirvins.com. The winner (plus one guest) of the lucky Golden Egg will win a 4 day, 3 night trip to Singapore including airfare from the US, hotel accommodations, and an exclusive tour of the IRVINS snack factory conducted by IRVIN himself.
These collaborations will be available from September 12 - October 10, 2022. For more details on the Singapore Food Festival, visit: https://www.singaporefoodfestival.sg/
About the Singapore Tourism Board
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the lead development agency for tourism, one of Singapore's key economic sectors. Together with industry partners and the community, we shape a dynamic Singapore tourism landscape. We bring the Passion Made Possible brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions.
www.stb.gov.sg | www.visitsingapore.com
Media Contacts
Kate Pressman and Katie Griffin
Bullfrog + Baum (for Singapore Tourism Board Americas)
E: stb@bullfrogandbaum.com
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SOURCE Singapore Tourism Board | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/embark-gastronomic-journey-singapore-food-festival-september-12-october-10-2022/ | 2022-08-24T13:59:47Z |
SHANGHAI, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Everest Medicines (HKEX 1952.HK, "Everest", or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products to address critical unmet needs in Asia Pacific markets, today announced its interim results for first half of 2022 along with a corporate progress update.
Everest has made significant progress on all fronts of our business and therapeutic areas in the first half of 2022 as the company continued to progress clinical and regulatory development across our diverse pipeline, build up self-discovery capabilities and expand key partnerships. Looking ahead, by strengthening our capital structure through the recent strategic sale of the rights to Trodelvy in Asia territories, Everest has the capacity to accelerate the development of important assets in our portfolio with first-in-class or best-in-class potential, further advance our internal discovery efforts and pursue business development opportunities that will maximize impact for patients worldwide and create sustained, long-term value for our shareholders. Below are product highlights in 1H and anticipated future milestones:
NEFECON (TarpeyoTM), a novel oral formulation of budesonide (budesonide delayed release capsules) in the development for the treatment of primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN).
- Product development achievements during the Reporting Period:
- In March 2022, the Company announced it entered into a license agreement with Calliditas to develop and commercialize NEFECON for the treatment of primary IgAN in South Korea, expanding its license in addition to rights held in Greater China and Singapore. The deal signaled the Company's latest efforts to further enhance its international commercial footprint.
- In April 2022, the Company announced the findings of reduction in proteinuria and stabilization of eGFR in a Chinese subpopulation after nine months of treatment with NEFECON are in line with topline results from Part A of the pivotal global Phase 3 clinical trial NefIgArd, which were reported in November 2020 by our partner, Calliditas Therapeutics.
- Post-Reporting Period achievements and expected milestones:
- In July 2022, our partner Calliditas was granted conditional marketing authorization for Kinpeygo® (developed under the name NEFECON) by the European Commission for the treatment of IgAN in adults at risk of rapid disease progression with a urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) ≥ 1.5 g/gram.
- We expect to file a New Drug Application (NDA) for NEFECON in China in the second half of 2022.
Etrasimod, a once-daily, oral, selective sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator for the treatment of moderately-to-severely active ulcerative colitis (UC).
- Product development achievements during the Reporting Period:
- In May 2022, our licensing partner, Pfizer Inc., presented detailed results from two pivotal studies that make up the ELEVATE UC Phase 3 registrational program evaluating etrasimod for the treatment of moderately-to-severely active UC. Both Phase 3, multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled trials achieved all primary and key secondary endpoints, with etrasimod demonstrating a safety profile consistent with previous studies. In the 52-week ELEVATE UC 52 study, clinical remission was 27.0% for patients receiving etrasimod compared to 7.4% for patients receiving placebo at week 12 (19.8% differential, P=<.001) and was 32.1% compared with 6.7% at week 52 (25.4% differential, P=<.001). In the 12-week ELEVATE UC 12 study, clinical remission was achieved among 24.8% of patients receiving etrasimod compared with 15.2% of patients receiving placebo (9.7% differential, P=.0264). The data from ELEVATE UC 52 & UC 12 are expected to form the basis for planned future regulatory filings, which Pfizer expects to initiate later this year.
- Post-Reporting Period achievements and expected milestones:
- We are conducting a Phase 3 study for etrasimod for the treatment of moderate-severe UC, which is expected to complete enrollment in 2023.
PTX-COVID19-B, a potentially best-in-class lipid nanoparticle-formulated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine with strong immunogenicity and tolerability profiles.
- Product development achievements during the Reporting Period:
- In April 2022, the Company announced it entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a partnership with China Resources Pharmaceutical Group Limited with the intention to establish an independent company ("the mRNA Co.") focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. Through this proposed partnership with CR Pharma, the mRNA Co. will be well-positioned to advance its potentially best-in-class mRNA vaccine candidates through Chinese regulatory pathways and into commercialization. Under the terms of the MOU, the mRNA Co. will be a fully functional, independent operating company by assuming the rights under the existing collaboration with Providence Therapeutics Holdings Inc., including the full technology platform, as well as the Company's mRNA manufacturing infrastructure. The Company will be the majority and controlling shareholder of the mRNA Co.
- Post- Reporting Period achievements and expected milestones:
- Providence will readout the data from the pivotal Phase 2 trial of PTX-COVID19-B in 2022.
- Providence and the Company will initiate a Phase 3 trial of PTX-COVID19-B for booster indication in 2022.
- Providence and the Company are working on an Omicron-containing bivalent booster candidate, EVER-COVID19-M1, and expect to file investigational new drug application (IND) for phase 3 registrational study in the first half of 2023.
- Providence and the Company expect rolling regulatory submissions of our mRNA COVID-19 vaccines starting in 2023 globally and anticipate approval and launch in 2023.
Sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy®), a first-in-class TROP-2 directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC).
- Product development achievements during the Reporting Period:
- In January 2022, the Company announced it would participate in a study pursuant to a clinical trial collaboration between Gilead Sciences, Inc. ("Gilead") and Merck & Co., Inc. ("MSD") to evaluate the combination of sacituzumab govitecan and MSD's anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) in first-line metastatic non-small cell lung cancer ("NSCLC"). As part of the collaboration, MSD will sponsor this trial. The Company will participate in the global phase 3 study in Asia through its existing collaboration agreement with Gilead.
- In January 2022, the Health Sciences Authority ("HSA") of Singapore approved the Company's New Drug Application ("NDA") for sacituzumab govitecan for the treatment of second-line and later lines metastatic triple negative breast cancer ("TNBC").
- In March 2022, the Company submitted an NDA to the Department of Health of Hong Kong for sacituzumab govitecan for the treatment of second-line and later lines metastatic TNBC.
- In June 2022, our partner Gilead reported positive results from the primary analysis of phase 3 TROPiCS-02 study of Trodelvy® (sacituzumab govitecan) versus physician's choice of chemotherapy ("TPC") in heavily pre-treated hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer ("HR+/HER2- mBC") patients who received prior endocrine therapy, CDK4/6 inhibitor and two to four lines of chemotherapy. The study met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival ("PFS") with a statistically significant 34% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death (median PFS 5.5 vs. 4 months; HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.53–0.83; P<0.0003).
- In June 2022, the Company announced that the China National Medical Products Administration ("NMPA") had approved Trodelvy® for the treatment of adult patients with second-line metastatic TNBC. This represents the first drug that the Company has obtained an NDA approval to launch in China, and it follows the NMPA's acceptance of the Company's NDA for Trodelvy® with Priority Review designation in May 2021.
- Post- Reporting Period achievements:
- In August 2022, the Company announced it entered into an agreement with Immunomedics, Inc., ("Immunomedics"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gilead Sciences, Inc., whereby Immunomedics will obtain exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Trodelvy® in Greater China, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Mongolia (the "Agreement"). Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company will receive up to $455 million in total considerations with $280 million in upfront payments payable subject to, among other things, certain regulatory approvals and up to $175 million in potential future milestone payments. In addition, Everest will be released from payment obligations for up to $710 million in remaining milestone payments under a licensing agreement entered into with Immunomedics in April 2019 to develop, register, and commercialize Trodelvy® in Greater China, South Korea and certain other countries and territories. Under the Agreement, the licensing agreement will be terminated.
- The TRODELVY trademark is used under license from Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Other clinical-stage assets
- Product development achievements during the Reporting Period:
- In March 2022, our licensing partner, Venatorx Pharmaceuticals ("Venatorx"), reported positive results from its pivotal Phase 3 study, CERTAIN-1, evaluating cefepime-taniborbactam, an investigational new drug, versus meropenem as a potential treatment for hospitalized adult patients with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), including acute pyelonephritis. The CERTAIN-1 trial enrolled 661 adult patients globally, including in China, who were randomized 2:1 to receive cefepime-taniborbactam 2.5g q8h or meropenem 1g q8h for seven days (up to 14 days for patients with bacteremia). Cefepime-taniborbactam met the primary efficacy endpoint of statistical non-inferiority (NI) to meropenem in the microbiological intent-to-treat (microITT) population at Test of Cure (TOC) with composite microbiologic and clinical success occurring in 70.0% of cefepime-taniborbactam treated patients and 58.0% of meropenem treated patients (treatment difference 11.9; 95% CI, 2.4, 21.6). Venatorx plans to submit an NDA with the U.S. FDA for cefepime-taniborbactam for the treatment of cUTI in hospitalized adult patients later this year.
- Ralinepag is a next-generation, potent, selective oral IP receptor agonist being developed for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We continue to progress our Phase 3 registrational trial for PAH in China as part of a global Phase 3 study conducted together with our partner, United Therapeutics.
- Post- Reporting Period achievements and expected milestones:
- In August 2022, the Company announced that the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) accepted the submission of an NDA for Xerava™ (eravacycline) for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI). In addition, the Company entered into an exclusive partnership agreement with TTY Biopharm for the commercialization of Xerava in Taiwan.
- We expect NDA approval for eravacycline for the treatment of cIAI in China within 2022.
Business Development Updates
- In January 2022, the Company entered into a global licensing agreement with Singapore's national platform for drug discovery and development, the Experimental Drug Development Centre ("EDDC"), for the exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize EDDC's series of viral 3C-like (3CL) protease inhibitors as a potentially best-in-class oral antiviral treatment against SAR-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) and its variants. The Company has full rights to sub-license the drug further and will receive full technology transfer.
- We expect Phase 1 clinical trials of EDDC-2214, as an oral antiviral treatment against SAR-CoV-2 and its variants, to begin in 2023.
Discovery Updates:
- In Feb. 2022, the Company officially launched its first research center for innovative drugs in Shanghai's Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, and has initiated more than 10 discovery projects across multiple therapeutic areas, such as oncology, renal disease and mRNA vaccine.
- We expect some of the discovery projects to advance to IND filing in 2023.
Commercialization:
- We have built up an industry-leading commercial team with an extensive track record of successfully commercializing novel therapies across a range of therapeutical areas to support our anticipated commercial launch of multiple late-stage products. Our commercial team has been conducting key opinion leaders (KOL) engagements and medical education activities about IgAN and cIAI.
Financial Highlights
IFRS Numbers:
- Research and development ("R&D") expenses increased by RMB94.7 million from RMB250.8 million for the six months ended 30 June 2021 to RMB345.5 million for the six months ended 30 June 2022, primarily due to (i) additional clinical trials for our drug candidates; (ii) expansion of internal discovery team to build up in-house R&D capabilities; (iii) increased technical transfer related costs for our drug candidates.
- General and administrative expenses increased by RMB11.5 million from RMB107.4 million for the six months ended 30 June 2021 to RMB118.9 million for the six months ended 30 June 2022, mainly due to increased office expenses and other infrastructure expenses to support expanded organization.
- Distribution and selling expenses increased by RMB106.1 million from RMB42.1 million for the six months ended 30 June 2021 to RMB148.2 million for the six months ended 30 June 2022, primarily due to the expansion of our commercial organization and launch and pre-launch activities carried out for product commercialization.
- Net loss for the period increased by RMB284.9 million from RMB383.1 million for the six months ended 30 June 2021 to RMB668.0 million for the six months ended 30 June 2022, primarily attributable to increased R&D expenses and distribution and selling expenses.
- Cash and cash equivalents amounted to RMB1,956.8 million as of 30 June 2022.
Non-IFRS Measure:
- Adjusted loss for the period[i] increased by RMB220.6 million from RMB303.1 million for the six months ended 30 June 2021 to RMB523.7 million for the six months ended 30 June 2022, primarily attributable to an increase in R&D expenses and distribution and selling expenses.
About Everest Medicines
Everest Medicines is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products that address critical unmet medical needs for patients in Asian markets. The management team of Everest Medicines has deep expertise and an extensive track record of high-quality clinical development, regulatory affairs, CMC, business development and operations both in China and with leading global pharmaceutical companies. Everest Medicines has built a portfolio of potentially global first-in-class or best-in-class molecules, many of which are in late-stage clinical development. The Company's therapeutic areas of interest include oncology, autoimmune disorders, cardio-renal diseases and infectious diseases. For more information, please visit its website at www.everestmedicines.com .
Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release may make statements that constitute forward-looking statements, including descriptions regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its officers with respect to the business operations and financial condition of the Company, which can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, or other factors, some of which are beyond the control of the Company and are unforeseeable. Therefore, the actual results may differ from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and assumptions, such as future changes and developments in our business, competitive environment, political, economic, legal and social conditions. The Company or any of its affiliates, directors, officers, advisors or representatives has no obligation and does not undertake to revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances after the date of this news release, except as required by law.
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SOURCE Everest Medicines | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/everest-medicines-announces-interim-results-first-half-2022/ | 2022-08-24T13:59:53Z |
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