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Turkey terrorizing people on DC trail
WASHINGTON (WJLA) – A turkey with an attitude has been the bane of walkers, joggers and bikers on the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail in northeast Washington, D.C., for months.
“He attacked me,” said jogger Everett Alvarez, adding that the turkey followed him after he started running faster.
“He had chased me about a good 300, 400 yards,” said biker Tyron Broadus.
“So, I turned around to run and he lunged again and pecked me on my butt!” said Lucinda Fleeson, another trail visitor.
The turkey has gotten people on both sides of the D.C.-Maryland line.
The Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation Department has put up a sign to discourage people from approaching it.
“I mean, some people don’t listen,” said Victor Davila with the department. “They try to go up to it and take pictures and stuff like that.”
DeDe Folarin, a member of the D.C. band Rare Essence, said the bird got him as he rode through on his bike April 12.
“He jumped in the air and he almost clawed my face,” Folarin said. “So, he kind of knocked me off the bike and literally chased me around for like five minutes.”
The bird then went for a woman, which Folarin videoed.
“He turned his sights on a young lady on the other bike,” Folarin said. “And needless to say, that’s when I pulled my phone out and I started recording.”
Folarin said he chased the turkey away with a stick after the woman yelled for help.
“I’ve been prepping myself for the next turkey attack,” Folarin said.
Copyright 2022 WJLA via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/turkey-terrorizing-people-dc-trail/ | 2022-04-28T19:52:28Z |
WVU nursing students find creative way to study for licensing exam
Published: Apr. 28, 2022 at 3:29 PM EDT|Updated: 21 minutes ago
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - WVU nursing students are busy preparing for their bar exam, but that doesnt mean they can’t have fun in the process.
Today, Thursday, April 28, the WVU School of Nursing in Beckley held a “March Madness” Championship. The game focused on questions that students may see on their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). All seniors are required to pass this exam before they can work as a nurse.
One senior says the event helped take some stress out of the test.
Game participants won prizes and money for answering questions correctly.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/wvu-nursing-students-find-creative-way-study-licensing-exam/ | 2022-04-28T19:52:39Z |
Your dog’s personality may have little to do with its breed
WASHINGTON (AP) — Research confirms what dog lovers know — every pup is truly an individual.
Many of the popular stereotypes about the behavior of golden retrievers, poodles or schnauzers, for example, aren’t supported by science, according to a new study.
“There is a huge amount of behavioral variation in every breed, and at the end of the day, every dog really is an individual,” said study co-author and University of Massachusetts geneticist Elinor Karlsson.
She said pet owners love to talk about their dog’s personality, as illustrated by some owners at a New York dog park.
Elizabeth Kelly said her English springer spaniel was “friendly, but she’s also kind of the queen bee.” Suly Ortiz described her yellow Lab as “really calm, lazy and shy.”
And Rachel Kim’s mixed-breed dog is “a lot of different dogs, personality wise — super independent, really affectionate with me and my husband, but pretty, pretty suspicious of other people, other dogs.”
That kind of enthusiasm from pet owners inspired Karlsson’s latest scientific inquiry. She wanted to know to what extent are behavioral patterns inherited — and how much are dog breeds associated with distinctive and predictable behaviors?
The answer: While physical traits such as a greyhound’s long legs or a Dalmatian’s spots are clearly inherited, breed is not a strong predictor of any individual dog’s personality.
The researchers’ work, published Thursday in the journal Science, marshals a massive dataset to reach these conclusions — the most ever compiled, said Adam Boyko, a geneticist at Cornell University, who was not involved in the study.
Dogs became humanity’s best friend more than 14,000 years ago, as the only animal domesticated before the advent of agriculture.
But the concept of dog breeds is much more recent. Around 160 years ago, people began to selectively breed dogs to have certain consistent physical traits, like coat texture and color and ear shape.
The researchers surveyed more than 18,000 dog owners and analyzed the genomes of about 2,150 of their dogs to look for patterns.
They found that some behaviors — such as howling, pointing and showing friendliness to human strangers —do have at least some genetic basis. But that inheritance isn’t strictly passed down along breed lines.
For example, they found golden retrievers that don’t retrieve, said co-author Kathryn Lord, who studies animal behavior with Karlsson.
Some breeds, such as huskies and beagles, may show a greater tendency to howl. But many of these dogs don’t, as both the owner survey and genetic data showed.
The researchers could find no genetic basis for aggressive behaviors nor a link to specific breeds.
“The correlation between dog behavior and dog breed is much lower than most expected,” said Jeff Kidd, a geneticist at the University of Michigan, who had no role in the research.
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AP reporter Emma H. Tobin in New York contributed to this report.
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Follow Christina Larson on Twitter: @larsonchristina
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/your-dogs-personality-may-have-little-do-with-its-breed/ | 2022-04-28T19:52:45Z |
For nearly three years, state Sen. Brian Boquist has technically been under orders to alert legislative officials when he would be arriving in the Capitol.
The unusual order was put in place in July 2019 after Boquist, an independent from Dallas, made remarks considered threatening after Oregon State Police were directed to arrest senators who walked out to stop legislative action.
The order remains in place but ignored – except in federal court.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled recently that Boquist may have a case against Senate President Peter Courtney and two other senators for imposing what was referred to as the “12-hour notice.” The appellate court sent the case back to federal court, reviving a legal fight between Boquist and Courtney.
Boquist, who represented himself in the appeal, said in an email he’s still after what he wanted when he sued in 2019 – assurances that remarks made in the Senate don’t lead to punishment.
“I will ask if Peter Courtney wants to sit down to mediate with the goal of setting in place a method to ensure this never happens again. That was my original goal,” Boquist said in an email to the Capital Chronicle.
Courtney declined to comment through a spokesman.
The dispute stems from efforts by Senate Republicans in 2019 to derail legislative work by leaving the Capitol and taking with them the quorum necessary for the Senate to act. At one point, Gov. Kate Brown ordered state police to arrest the senators and return them to the Capitol, fining them $500 for each day they were gone.
Boquist, then a Republican, warned Courtney on the Senate floor that if police were dispatched, “hell’s coming to visit you personally.” He apologized to Courtney moments later, but then was quoted in news reports as warning that the state police should “send bachelors and come heavily armed” because “I’m not going to be a political prisoner in the state of Oregon.”
The governor’s order was issued June 20, 2019, and a political deal returned the Republicans to the Senate nine days later.
But Boquist’s comments resulted in a Senate special committee, co-chaired by Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, and Sen. James Manning, D-Eugene, requiring that he file a written notice 12 hours before he intended to be in the Capitol. That was intended, according to the notice, to provide state police time to increase staffing in the building.
Under protest, Boquist complied with the notice but then sued in U.S. District Court, claiming his constitutional rights were violated.
U.S. District Judge Michael McShane dismissed the case in January 2020, finding that Boquist’s “words on the Senate floor were those of a bully on the playground. As such, they are unprotected fighting words.”
McShane also wrote that Boquist “seems to overlook the fact that he sounds more like a character out of a Clint Eastwood movie.”
The appellate court said it wasn’t apparent that Boquist intended actual violence but rather engaged in “heightened rhetoric to demonstrate political opposition.”
The ruling said it was “plausible” that the 12-hour notice was in retaliation for Boquist’s “protected speech.”
The notice, the ruling said, would prevent Boquist from exercising his authority earned by election and “likewise interferes with Boquist’s ability to meet with constituents, elected officials and others at the state Capitol on short notice.”
The appellate court said Courtney and other defendants could still win dismissal again if there was “evidence that other state senators expressed concerns about their safety in response to Boquist’s statements.”
“Evidence regarding the nature of Boquist’s statements may emerge that will have bearing on whether Boquist’s statements were a serious expression of an intent to commit unlawful violence against Courtney or the state police, or merely political hyperbole,” the ruling said.
Boquist said in his email to the Capital Chronicle that he doesn’t think any senator felt personally threatened by his remarks in 2019.
“The importance of the appeals ruling is debate speech in the Legislature is protected speech,” Boquist said in his email to the Capitol Chronicle. “It can only be regulated on the floor by senators who may be offended.” | https://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/oregon-state-senator-s-heightened-rhetoric-will-get-another-federal-court-review/article_c70da7a5-7efc-5bda-a110-45ca95cfa0a1.html | 2022-04-28T20:03:11Z |
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6-year-old suffers severe burns in what family calls a case of bullying
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WFSB/Gray News) – A child in Connecticut was taken to the hospital after suffering severe burns in a situation that his family describes as bullying.
Officials in Bridgeport said crews responded to the report of a child burned on Sunday afternoon.
The child, whom organizers of a fundraising effort identified as 6-year-old Dominick, was transported to the burn unit at Bridgeport Hospital.
“Preliminary reports indicate that up to four unattended children were seen playing with gasoline and lighting objects on fire,” Bridgeport officials said.
A GoFundMe page was started to help cover Dominick’s medical costs. In it, the organizers described the incident as a case of bullying.
“My little brother Dom has been bullied for a while by the tenants downstairs,” wrote Kayla Deegan and Toni Gauger on the website. “It escalated to a deadly intent.”
Deegan and Gauger said one the children covered a ball in gasoline, lit it on fire and threw it at Dominick.
“Dom has second- and third-degree burns on his face and leg,” they wrote. “He’s going to be scarred for life mentally and physically.”
The situation remains under investigation.
Copyright 2022 WFSB via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/6-year-old-suffers-severe-burns-what-family-calls-case-bullying/ | 2022-04-28T20:11:50Z |
Annual Riverfest returns to Waynesboro April 30
WAYNESBORO, Va. (WHSV) - Waynesboro’s Riverfest, an organization dedicated to promoting environmental conservation and watershed stewardship, will host its annual Riverfest on Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Constitution Park in Waynesboro. The event is free and open to the public.
This event takes place by the South River in downtown Waynesboro and will include a wide variety of environmentally themed activities and programs. Presentations this year will include a program by The Wildlife Center of Virginia, a local hospital for native wildlife.
Joining the Wildlife Center will be three non-releasable wildlife ambassadors. Reptile World, a crowd favorite, will return for two presentations about snakes and other reptiles found around the world. Additional programs include The Mad Scientist and a stream interpretation program with live fish, presented by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
“We’re so excited to be back this year after having to cancel the past two years due to the ongoing pandemic,” said Amanda Nicholson, president of the Riverfest Board of Directors. “We’re excited for a fun day, celebrating the South River and talking about how we can support our watershed.”
Free activities include canoe rides down the South River, face-painting, games for children, arts and crafts, and a variety of other activities with exhibitors in the large exhibit tents. The City of Waynesboro’s Public Works department will be present with a variety of exhibits and activities. This year, attendees are encouraged to bring their own water bottle to take advantage of our free water station from Riverfest sponsor May Supply.
The day will end with the Great South River Duck Race, during which participants “adopt” a rubber duck and watch as ducks race down a stretch of the South River.
Ducks are corralled and collected downstream; the top five winners (plus the last place duck) receive cash and gift certificate prizes from a variety of local businesses. Ducks may be adopted prior to the race or the day of Riverfest.
For more information and a complete schedule of events, click here.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/annual-riverfest-returns-waynesboro-april-30/ | 2022-04-28T20:11:56Z |
Couple stranded in Spain after testing positive for COVID on cruise
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow/Gray News) - After two years of warning people about the risks of getting infected on cruise ships, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted its advisory last month.
To bring travelers back, the cruise industry is promoting new health services and cheap fares.
One couple, however, told Hawaii News Now their experience wasn’t as safe or supportive as was advertised.
The pair said they’ve been stranded in Barcelona since Saturday, after contracting COVID-19 while on a cruise in Europe. Travelers returning to the U.S. must test negative for COVID-19.
Craig Visitacion said the 10-day Mediterranean cruise on the Norwegian Star was a much-needed vacation for he and his wife after working on the frontlines during the pandemic.
The hospital medical technician said he trusted Norwegian Cruise Line to have safety protocols in place, but had concerns when he saw passengers clustered together without masks or distancing.
“From the time we stepped on the ship, we kind of noticed, felt kind of funny about it. But you know I’m not at work, I’m on vacation, so I kind of put it to the side and just try to focus on having a good time,” Visitacion said.
The day before the cruise was scheduled to end in Barcelona, Visitacion took a required COVID-19 test and his result came back positive.
He quarantined in his cabin and said crew members told him Norwegian representatives would help when they disembarked.
“We went out. no vans, no NCL personnel, no one,” he said. “To say that they’re going to house us and bus us to a certain hotel, to tell you to the truth, I don’t even know if there was any shuttles because nobody was there.”
Unable to fly back to the United States, Visitacion said he and other cruise passengers who tested positive felt abandoned.
“We stayed overnight in the airport, not knowing what to do and where to go because we didn’t have a hotel situated at the time,” Visitacion said.
He said he was able to find a hotel for two nights but had to move to another one due to unavailability. He added that he called Norwegian for four days but couldn’t get any help.
Visitacion said he was finally contacted by a Norwegian representative who told him his travel insurance would cover 150% of his expenses.
“I think they waited too long to reach out. I had my sisters at home in Hawaii trying to help us out, because in a foreign land with people, the locals seldom speaking English, it’s very hard to communicate with them,” he said.
His sister, Charleen Karimoto, said she took two days off from work to focus on getting her brother home and making sure he can refill his medical prescriptions in Barcelona.
She says she spoke to a manager from Norwegian over the phone but was hung up on.
Visitacion shelled out thousands of dollars on hotels and booked new flights to get back to Hawaii, hoping he tests negative in the next few days.
HNN reached out to Norwegian Cruise Line for information on how positive COVID-19 cases are handled but did not receive a response.
The company’s website says its health and safety program ensures “ultimate safety” but did not list guidance for infected passengers.
Copyright 2022 HawaiiNewsNow via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/couple-stranded-spain-after-testing-positive-covid-cruise/ | 2022-04-28T20:12:02Z |
Deputy reunites with 1-year-old girl he saved from fire
ORLANDO, Fla. (Gray News) – A sheriff’s deputy in Florida was reunited with the baby he saved from a fire in a dramatic rescue that was caught on camera.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office posted photos on Facebook of Deputy William Puzynski reuniting with 1-year-old Sophia and her family.
Puzynski rescued Sophia by climbing to a third-floor balcony while a fire raged in their apartment Saturday.
Video of the rescue captured Puzynski telling the woman “hand me the baby, hand me the baby. We are coming,” as he goes up and balances himself on the railing before she extends the crying baby to him. “Please, come get me,” she pleads afterward.
He then brought the baby down before the mother, Barbara, and grandmother were subsequently rescued by firefighters.
At their reunion Wednesday, the sheriff’s office surprised Sophia and her family with new toys and gifts, since they lost so much in the fire.
“It was a joyful meeting, with tears & hugs & laughs - and lots of toys and supplies for mom & kids!” the sheriff’s office wrote on Facebook.
A family friend set up a GoFundMe page to help get the family back on their feet after the fire.
“Barbara has been through a lot her whole life, with this scenario being one of the worst she’s endured,” the GoFundMe page reads. “She is incredibly strong and resilient, having a hard time asking for help, which is why I want to put this GoFundMe together to give her some sense of peace during these tough times.”
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/deputy-reunites-with-1-year-old-girl-he-saved-fire/ | 2022-04-28T20:12:13Z |
Forest service to conduct prescribed burn in Pendleton County Friday
ELKINS, W.Va. (WHSV) - Monongahela National Forest plans to burn Unit 1 in the Big Mountain Prescribed Burn area Friday, April 29, if weather conditions continue to be favorable. The 557-acre burn area is located approximately five miles west of Cherry Grove in Pendleton County on National Forest System land.
This prescribed burn will create conditions that favor oak regeneration, which in turn enhances wildlife habitat for the many animals that depend on oak trees for food. Prescribed burning also reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfires by consuming burnable material on the forest floor, according to forest officials.
Monongahela National Forest follows strict guidelines for conducting prescribed burns and takes into consideration environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, smoke dispersion and wind. If any environmental conditions are not within limits, the burn will be postponed.
Signs will be posted on roads near the burn area before and during burning. The public is asked to avoid the prescribed burn area on the day of the burn and for several days after to ensure public safety. Residents and Forest visitors may see and smell smoke for several days.
If you encounter smoke on the highway, slow down, turn on your vehicle’s lights and drive appropriately for the conditions.
Local radio stations will be alerted to burn activities ahead of time. Information, photos, and maps are available here.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/forest-service-conduct-prescribed-burn-pendleton-county-friday/ | 2022-04-28T20:12:25Z |
Kenny Lee announces run for Waynesboro City Council
WAYNESBORO, Va. (WHSV) - “There is no better way to give back than being a part of city council. You help make decisions that are going to improve the life of the residents in Ward C, as well as the residents of Waynesboro,” Kenny Lee said.
Lee was born and raised in Waynesboro and is now preparing to run for city council to fill the seat for ward C.
“General improvement, economic development, just making Waynesboro a nice place to live and visit,” Lee added.
This year, candidates must collect 125 signatures from their respective wards to run. Two seats on council will be open to represent ward C and D. The deadline to file candidacy with the Office of the Voter Registrar is June 21.
Following nearly three decades in the military and traveling quite a bit for work, Lee says this will be a way for him to give back to his community. He says he hopes to focus on a number of issues. One recent issue in the Basic City includes the adoption of Sunset Park. The current council voted 3-2 to use a mix of taxpayer dollars and American Rescue Plan Act funding to support the project.
“Projected revenue to the city, if a study was done on that and also maintenance of the park, long term sustainment, if I were a member of city council, I would have asked to table it. Just to get some more answers on those issues,” Lee explained.
You can read more about Lee and his goals for the city by clicking here.
Mayor Bobby Henderson currently holds the seat for Ward C. WHSV has reached to learn if he will run for reelection. We will provide updates as soon as they are available.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/kenny-lee-announces-run-waynesboro-city-council/ | 2022-04-28T20:12:33Z |
Mother left ‘unrecognizable’ after son beat her to death, police say
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow/Gray News) - Police in Hawaii arrested a 19-year-old man accused of beating his mother to the point of her being “unrecognizable.”
Honolulu police say Joshua McPeek punched and stomped on his 38-year-old mother, Michelle McPeek, in the middle of a highway after an argument on April 20, according to Hawaii News Now.
Court documents say the woman was found by police, lying lifeless on her back with her face completely smashed in. They said she was unrecognizable because of her injuries.
An officer said Joshua McPeek was located a short time later, about a mile from the crime scene, near Makaha Beach Park. Police said his hands and face were covered in blood.
Defense attorney Victor Bakke said it appeared the teen may have been suffering from a serious mental illness, drug addiction or both.
“Nobody just assaults somebody else like that and especially your mother,” he said.
The attorney added that intoxication is not a defense.
“But sometimes with long-term drug use you’ll see that it causes a brain injury so that the person actually becomes brain damaged so to speak,” Bakke said.
It’s still unknown what led up to the argument between Joshua McPeek and his mother.
However, witnesses did report seeing a second woman during the attack, crying and running up and down the road, but she vanished a short time later.
Authorities said there was a brief struggle before the teen was detained.
McPeek is charged with murder, and his bail remains at $1 million.
A vigil for Michelle McPeek was held on Monday, with a group of people meeting at a park and then releasing flowers into the ocean.
Kuulei Lincoln, who had known Michelle McPeek for 15 years, said she was a mom of seven.
“She was a very lovely person,” said Lincoln. “She loved her kids, she did everything for her kids.”
Copyright 2022 HawaiiNewsNow via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/mother-left-unrecognizable-after-son-beat-her-death-police-say/ | 2022-04-28T20:12:40Z |
PHOTOS: Zoo Knoxville welcomes baby chimp on Earth Day
Published: Apr. 27, 2022 at 12:27 PM EDT
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (CNN) - Zoo Knoxville is welcoming a baby chimpanzee.
On Friday, which happened to be Earth Day, 37-year-old Binti gave birth to a healthy baby girl.
The zoo says Binti had an undisclosed complication, but her caretakers and veterinary team stepped in and she’s now recovering well.
While Binti gets her strength back, the Great Apes team is caring for the baby around the clock.
A name hasn’t been announced yet.
The zoo said it’s working with 32 other zoos to ensure there is a healthy population of chimpanzees, which are an endangered species.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/photos-zoo-knoxville-welcomes-baby-chimp-earth-day/ | 2022-04-28T20:12:51Z |
Veteran groups urge Senate to move on burn pit legislation
President Biden also calls for legislation to pass
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The U.S. military disposed of a wide range of materials in Iraq and Afghanistan in burn pits. Today, veterans exposed to those burn pits are coming down with a wide range of diseases, some of which are proving fatal.
This week, the Biden administration added nine types of cancers to the list of illnesses eligible for veterans’ health care benefit, linking them back to burn pit exposure. Still, the administration is calling on Congress to deliver legislation that will allow more veterans exposed to burn pits to receive better healthcare from Veterans Affairs hospitals.
Pat Murray, the legislative director for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said, “We know that breathing in toxins are bad. Burn pits are illegal in the United States. You try to burn all your trash in your backyard, you’re going to get a call from the cops right away.”
Murray said veterans in their twenties and thirties were exposed to burn pits overseas and are coming down with rare cancers and other serious illnesses. He said, “It’s very unfortunate that we’re asking the men and women to then prove to VA that their illness is because of what our government put them through.”
Murray says veterans are waiting on the Senate to pass the PACT Act, which has already passed the House. He said the legislative package would increase care options and expand the list of illnesses veterans can get treatment for. The VFW is just one of the dozens of Veterans Service Organizations urging the Senate to pass the legislation and send it to President Joe Biden’s desk.
The groups are hoping that former Daily Show Host Jon Stewart can help rally support with events like these in different cities. In an interview with Gray Television’s Kansas City station, Stewart urged the Senate to move faster.
Stewart said, “These guys are trying to nitpick this thing to make it perfect. It’s never going to be perfect, but millions of veterans need the help.”
The VFW’s Murray said he expects support from all 50 Senate democrats, but still needs at least 10 republican senators. Some lawmakers expressed concern over cost and overwhelming the VA and lowering the standard of care across the board.
Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio said in a statement, “These heroes did not hesitate to answer the call to serve their nation, and the least we can do is ensure they are taken care of following their service. I will not stop until our veterans can receive the care they earned.”
In a hearing last month, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough told a Senate committee that if the PACT Act is passed, he expects up to two-and-a-half million new claims to be filed in the next three years. He said the VA will need to hire more staff.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/veteran-groups-urge-senate-move-burn-pit-legislation/ | 2022-04-28T20:13:03Z |
Virginia COVID-19 cases rise by 1,540 Wednesday
13,423,819 total PCR tests have been run for the virus in Virginia, with 1,697,577 positive cases.
Due to the number of vaccinations across our region, we will no longer be updating the COVID-19 hotline.
As of Wednesday, April 27, Virginia has had 1,697,577 total cases of COVID-19, including confirmed lab tests and clinical diagnoses, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
The Virginia Department of Health reports an 8.5% 7-day positivity rate for total PCR testing encounters.
15 additional deaths were reported this Wednesday, leaving the death toll at 20,202.
For a comprehensive summary of COVID-19 cases and testing in Virginia, you can visit the Virginia Department of Health’s website and view their COVID-19 dashboard.
On Sunday, April 18, 2021, vaccine eligibility expanded to all individuals in the Commonwealth age 16 and above.
On Thursday, April 22, 2021, former Governor Northam announced an ease in some of the COVID-19 restrictions for social gatherings that began on Saturday, May 15:
- Social gatherings: The maximum number of individuals permitted in a social gathering will increase to 100 people for indoor settings and 250 people for outdoor settings. Social gatherings are currently limited to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
- Entertainment venues: Indoor entertainment and public amusement venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity or 1,000 people, up from 30 percent capacity or 500 people. Outdoor venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity — up from 30 percent — with no specific cap on the number of attendees.
- Recreational sporting events: The number of spectators allowed at indoor recreational sporting events will increase from 100 to 250 spectators or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less. Outdoor recreational sporting events will increase from 500 to 1,000 people or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less.
- Alcohol sales: Restaurants may return to selling alcohol after midnight, and dining room closures will no longer be required between midnight and 5:00 a.m.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Thursday, May 13, 2021, vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear a mask in most circumstances. On Friday, May 14, 2021, Former governor Ralph Northam announced the mask mandate in Virginia would be lifted, and capacity and social distancing restrictions will end on May 28.
Statewide case totals and testing numbers as of April 27
By April 27, the Virginia Department of Health had received reports of 1,218,451 confirmed cases and 479,126 probable cases of COVID-19 across the commonwealth.
Those positive test results are out of 13,423,819 total PCR tests administered in Virginia.
At this point, 49,872 Virginians have been hospitalized due to the disease caused by the virus, and at least 20,202 have died of causes related to the disease.
Where are our local cases?
Here’s a breakdown of cases for our region as of 10:00 a.m. April 27.
Central Shenandoah Health District: 67,469 total cases
Beginning March 10, 2022, the Locality dashboard is no longer being published. Cases by report date and cases by date of illness can be viewed by locality on the Cases dashboard.
Total PCR tests: 429,891
Lord Fairfax Health District: 54,689 total cases
Total PCR tests: 366,977
Northwest Total Outbreaks: 1,010 reported, including 327 in long term care facilities, 90 in K-12 settings, 73 in healthcare settings, 42 in correctional facilities, 330 in congregate settings, 66 in colleges/universities, and 82 in child care settings.
Note: VDH has changed the way it tracks outbreaks. They are now grouped by regions instead of health districts.
COVID-19 Vaccine in Virginia
The Virginia Department of Health has launched a data dashboard showcasing the number of COVID-19 vaccines that have been distributed and administered throughout the commonwealth.
According to the data dashboard, as of April 27, 7,026,767 people have been vaccinated with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 6,286,868 people are fully vaccinated.
18,893,025 total vaccine doses have been distributed throughout the state.
Recovery
The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association’s online dashboard indicates that, as of April 27, at least 108,031 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from the hospital.
Unlike the VDH data that reports cumulative hospitalizations, their data on hospitalizations reflects hospitalized patients confirmed positive for COVID-19, and that number is 200.
West Virginia updates
Here at WHSV, we cover Grant County, Hardy County and Pendleton County. The below information is the most recent data from each counties’ health department. You can find West Virginia’s COVID-19 dashboard here.
There are 500,697 total cases in West Virginia as of April 27.
Grant County: 3,782 total COVID-19 cases
Hardy County: 4,185 total COVID-19 cases
Pendleton County: 1,968 total COVID-19 cases
For the latest factual information on COVID-19, you’re encouraged to check both the Virginia Department of Health and the CDC.
Copyright 2021 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/virginia-covid-19-cases-rise-by-1540-wednesday/ | 2022-04-28T20:13:14Z |
HONOLULU (KITV4) -- Some in the restaurant industry who lost their jobs in the pandemic, have been looking to rebuild anew as food truck vendors.
On Cartwright Road in Waikiki, a privately owned backstreet has allowed for food truck operators to rent out a parking stall by the month.
The street is managed by the digital parking service Parklinq, which also rents out stalls by the hour. With foot traffic picking up after COVID restrictions were removed, vendors are seeing signs of recovery.
"We had a few bad months that we struggled and it was nice to see everybody coming back. And we're actually coming out of that and making our money back. Hopefully we'll actually see some money in the future," Gregory Randolph of JR Gourmet Franks & Links told KITV.
One of the first food truck to come aboard is Ying's Thai Cuisine. Oh Sugai described arriving at the end of 2019, "For three or four months it was very exciting for us for our last location. Then the pandemic was hard. It was questionable."
Leslie & Dan's Munchwagon enjoys a location on the Honolulu Zoo side where Leslie Reynolds says travelers are re-surging.
Parklinq CEO Tyler Saenz told KITV some restaurant owners had to move into food trucks during the pandemic. Saenz said of one vendor's success story, "He had to open up a food truck here because he had closed down his brick & mortar. He did very well out of the location and got enough money to reopen his brick & mortar.
Saenz explained that has opened up a proprietary opportunity for another vendor.
Others hope the removal of pandemic restrictions will now lead to the opportunity to recoup losses from the last two years.
Jeremy Lee joined KITV after over a decade & a half in broadcast news from coast to coast on the mainland. Jeremy most recently traveled the country documenting protests & civil unrest. | https://www.kitv.com/news/business/waikiki-sees-new-opportunity-for-food-truck-vendors/article_4e101544-c710-11ec-a859-332831bf69d2.html | 2022-04-28T21:20:27Z |
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(KITV4) -- In Case You Missed It: Here are four stories from around Hawaii that you need to know about from Wednesday, April 27, 2022, along with today's weather.
Admission changes headed to the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet
For the past 16 years, admission for eager shoppers has remained at just a dollar. But in the changing times, a new tiered admission system will begin starting in May.
Prosecutors want no bail for Hawaii love triangle killing
A Hawaii man charged with murder in the shooting death of his wife’s lover should be locked up because of his wealth and the danger he poses to his family, a prosecutor said.
Honolulu prosecutors filed a motion this week asking a judge to revoke Eric Thompson’s $1 million bail.
Honolulu offering interest-free down-payment home loans of up to $40K
Low-income and moderate-income Hawaii residents may be eligible for up to $40,000 in an interest-free down payment home loan, the Honolulu Department of Community Services (DCS) announced Tuesday.
The DCS has $380,000 in HOME funds available for the rest of the year and is now accepting pre-eligibility inquiries for loans.
New details revealed in court documents on gruesome Hawaii Loa Ridge murder investigation
Court documents have revealed new details in the grisly Hawaii Loa Ridge murder of Gary Ruby.
Juan Baron, who has been charged with second-degree murder and three other felonies, has a bail hearing scheduled for May 5. His trial is scheduled to start on June 20.
High clouds will linger today to create partly to mostly cloudy skies. Scattered windward showers during the day and showers likely at night, isolated showers leeward spots. Highs 80 to 87. Trades 15 to 20 mph increasing to 15 to 25 mph by Friday. | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/icymi-4-stories-you-need-to-know-about-april-27-2022/article_b3619924-c71d-11ec-9fb3-531b7879bfcb.html | 2022-04-28T21:20:39Z |
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United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/punchbowl-leaders-against-litter-hosting-pick-up-and-bag-trash-event/article_fe199798-c72a-11ec-b994-37ab30356ec4.html | 2022-04-28T21:20:45Z |
The US Food and Drug Administration proposed on Thursday a rule to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.
"Through careful consideration of the scientific evidence and our authorities under the Tobacco Control Act, we've determined that these actions are appropriate for protection of the public health," FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf told a Senate subcommittee.
"The proposed product standards would, among other things, improve the health and reduce the mortality risk of current smokers of menthol cigarettes or flavored cigars by substantially decreasing their consumption and increasing the likelihood of cessation. This is another important move forward in the agency's efforts to combat youth tobacco use and promote health equity."
This landmark proposal could have a big impact on public health, experts said.
"I want to underscore the momentous aspect of this. It will be it will be a game-changer," Erika Sward, assistant vice president of national advocacy for the American Lung Association, said Thursday. "The rules will have a tremendous impact on stopping kids from starting to use tobacco and critically save lives of people, particularly from diverse backgrounds."
A long time coming
Menthol is an equity issue that the FDA has been considering for more than a decade. It is the last special flavor allowed in cigarettes in the US. It was carved out of the 2009 Tobacco Control Act that banned all other flavored cigarettes and gave the FDA the authority to regulate the tobacco industry to protect public health. The law also required the FDA to conduct and fund research on menthol.
After several years of FDA investigation and public input from hundreds of thousands of interested parties, the Public Health Law Center and other groups filed a citizens petition requesting the agency prohibit menthol in cigarettes. A 2020 lawsuit alleged the FDA unreasonably delayed issuing a final response. In 2021, the FDA announced it would pursue rulemaking.
About 18.6 million people smoke menthols in the United States. That's about 36% of all smokers, according to the FDA, and a disproportionate number are people of color.
An equity issue
The tobacco industry has heavily marketed menthol products to communities of color and other minority groups.
About 30% of White smokers choose menthols, but they are the cigarette of choice for nearly 85% of smokers who are Black. About 40% of women smoke menthols, compared with 31% of men, according to the FDA.
LGBTQ people are also significantly more likely to smoke menthols. A 2013 study that looked at data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2009-10 National Adult Tobacco survey found that 36% of LGBTQ smokers chose menthols, compared with 29.3% of straight smokers.
"Today marks the beginning of the end of menthol cigarettes -- a truly historic moment for public health. For decades, tobacco companies have intentionally pushed menthol cigarettes to hook young people on their deadly products and implemented racist marketing practices to intentionally target Black Americans; the resulting health consequences have been devastating," Dr. Julie Morita, executive vice president at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation advocacy organization, said in a statement.
More than half of kids who smoke use menthol cigarettes, according to the CDC. A survey of adults who smoke found that the majority started with menthols. Other studies said kids who smoked menthol cigarettes were more likely to become regular smokers than occasional smokers.
"The proposed rules would help prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adult smokers quit," Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement Thursday. "Additionally, the proposed rules represent an important step to advance health equity by significantly reducing tobacco-related health disparities."
Smoking rates in the US reached an all-time low in 2018, according to the CDC, but smoking is still the top cause of preventable death, disease and disability in the country. In general, cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the US, including more than 41,000 deaths from secondhand smoke.
Cutting out menthol in cigarettes and cigars could have a significant effect on the number of smokers, the FDA said. By one estimate, it could even prevent 650,000 premature deaths over the next 40 years.
Another study projects that an elimination of menthol as a cigarette flavor would lead 923,000 people to quit smoking, including 230,000 African Americans, in the first year and a half.
A switch to flavored cigars
After the 2009 Tobacco Control Act banned flavored cigarettes, many smokers who preferred flavors -- especially children -- may have shifted to flavored cigars, including menthol and "kid-friendly" flavors like fruit punch, strawberry and grape.
The FDA said that the use of flavored cigars "increased dramatically" and that public health goals may have been "undermined" by the availability of these products. More than half a million youth in the US smoke flavored cigars, according to the FDA.
Flavored cigars and cigarillos are especially popular among children, particularly Black and Hispanic kids, who are twice as likely to smoke them as their White classmates.
The FDA noted that one survey found that nearly 74% of teens 12 to 17 said they smoked cigars because they came in flavors that they enjoyed.
In 2020, more young people said they tried a cigar every day than tried a cigarette.
"A prohibition on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars would mark a historic turning point in the decades-long battle against tobacco use and the epidemic of tobacco-related disease," Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, said in a statement Thursday. "The science is clear: Menthol cigarettes have an adverse impact on public health and have no public health benefits as compared to non-menthol cigarettes. They increase the likelihood and degree of addiction among youth smokers, elevating the number of premature deaths from tobacco use. Their removal from the market would have enormous benefits for public health in this country."
Individual consumers wouldn't be prosecuted
If enacted, the FDA was careful to note, the rule will address only tobacco companies and the industry. The agency, as well as state and local law enforcement, does not independently enforce FDA rules.
The proposed rule would not prosecute individual consumers for possessing menthol products.
Some activists, like the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Mothers of the Movement, have warned that a ban on menthol products could cause more violent encounters with police as they enforce the rule.
Anti-smoking advocates have found that Sharpton and some other civil rights organizations have received money from cigarette makers for decades. Sharpton acknowledged to the New York Times in 2019 that Reynolds American has been a longtime donor to his National Action Network but said, "this is not about money."
Other groups, like the NAACP and many members of the Congressional Black Caucus, are in favor of a ban.
"The targeting and marketing of menthol flavoring by the tobacco industry have had a devastating impact on our community. Menthol-flavored cigarettes have induced many children and adults, resulting in lifelong addictions, health challenges, and ultimately killing our loved ones," the NAACP said in a statement. "Today is a huge win for equity, justice, and public health concerns."
The FDA said Thursday that it "recognizes concerns related to how state and local law enforcement may enforce their own laws in a manner that may impact equity and community safety, particularly for underserved and underrepresented communities. The FDA is seeking comment on, among other things, how it can best make clear the respective roles of the agency and state and local law enforcement, as well as policy considerations related to the potential racial and social justice implications of the proposed product standards."
Califf said this is something the agency will address more in the future.
"We take these concerns seriously," he said. "Let us make one thing abundantly clear. These measures and related enforcement would be on the tobacco industry, not individuals who possess or use these products."
Next up: Public comment period
An FDA ban on menthol and flavored cigars won't go into effect right away.
The next step will be a comment period that will run from May 4 through July 5. The FDA will also hold public listening sessions June 13 and 15.
The agency is then expected to take time to review the comments before a rule becomes finalized.
The rule would take effect one year after the final version is published. Public health experts are confident that tobacco companies will also try to stop the ban by suing the agency, as the companies have with past tobacco-control legislation.
"This is not trivial," Califf said. Tobacco-related deaths are high, he noted, and so are tobacco-related illnesses.
"My plea is that we not lose our sense of urgency about this," he said. "Literally, lives can be saved."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/fda-proposes-ban-on-menthol-cigarettes-and-flavored-cigars/article_1a8b3d66-b7b6-57ff-8c65-f50a3de53627.html | 2022-04-28T21:20:51Z |
Amber Alert canceled, 4-year-old in Georgia found safe
Published: Apr. 28, 2022 at 4:06 PM EDT|Updated: 46 minutes ago
SNELLVILLE, Ga. (Gray News) - A missing 4-year-old girl in Georgia has been found safe and a suspect is in custody, police said Thursday.
The Levi’s Call, Georgia’s Amber Alert, has been canceled for Valery Molina.
Police said she was abducted by Alfred Molina. Snellville police posted to Facebook that she was safe soon after the alert went out.
Anyone with additional information can contact Snellville police at 404-731-2713 or call 911.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/amber-alert-4-year-old-abducted-georgia/ | 2022-04-28T21:25:56Z |
Arkansas attorney general announces lawsuit against Family Dollar
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT/Gray News) - Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced a new lawsuit Thursday against Family Dollar over practices that allegedly put customers in danger.
In the suit, Rutledge claims the retailer used “reckless” and “deceptive” measures to sell products to Arkansas consumers that were potentially hazardous or contaminated.
Many of the allegations concern Family Dollar’s distribution center in West Memphis, which was temporarily shut down this year after repeated violations discovered by the Arkansas Department of Health.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning over the conditions in the center, which included living and dead rodents, along with rodent waste, and dead birds and bird droppings, which they said could have contaminated the products.
The warning led to over 400 stores closing in six states: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.
Rutledge is suing the company under the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practice Act (ADTPA), claiming Family Dollar was still making a profit when the West Memphis facility failed to notice the inspections.
“In many rural communities in Arkansas, families rely on discount stores like Family Dollar for essential products such as food, medicine, or pet food,” Rutledge said. “Family Dollar has had knowledge of this dangerous and massive rodent infestation for over two years, yet they continued to sell and profit from potentially contaminated goods.”
Rutledge is asking for several penalties against Family Dollar, including $10,000 fines for each violation of the ADTPA and a possible suspension of the company’s business license to operate in Arkansas.
There have already been multiple lawsuits filed against Family Dollar over its practices, including one in Virginia where the company is headquartered.
Copyright 2022 KAIT via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/arkansas-attorney-general-announces-lawsuit-against-family-dollar/ | 2022-04-28T21:26:05Z |
Collegiate swimmer left partially paralyzed after spring break accident
FORT MORGAN, Ala. (WALA/Gray News) - A day at the beach took a tragic turn for a collegiate swimmer when a diving accident left him partially paralyzed.
Eighteen-year-old Devin Bateman was on a spring break trip in Fort Morgan, Alabama, when he hit his head while diving into the water, WALA reported.
“For somebody who’s actually been swimming since 9 years old, you would never think that he’d be in the position that he’s in,” said his father Donald Bateman.
After the accident, Devin Bateman couldn’t move and had to be pulled out of the water.
He was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, where he underwent several emergency surgeries.
Doctors said Devin Bateman hurt his C5 vertebra, leaving him paralyzed below the waist.
“Initially he wasn’t able to move anything, but now his upper portion is actually getting signals and we’re taking every little win as a victory,” Donald Bateman said.
Devin Bateman was moved Wednesday to a spinal rehab facility in Atlanta, where he is expected to stay for about two months.
“He has such a strong work ethic that there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s going to do everything in his power to be able to get up and walk,” Donald Bateman said.
Since news of the accident spread, support has been pouring in. A GoFundMe created to financially help Devin Bateman and his family has already raised more than $180,000.
Donald Bateman said he and the family are grateful for the support.
“It’s definitely going to be able to help with everything that he’s going to need to be able to stay on track and just be able to focus on being able to walk again,” he said.
Copyright 2022 WALA via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/collegiate-swimmer-left-partially-paralyzed-after-spring-break-accident/ | 2022-04-28T21:26:17Z |
Elon Musk tweets making Twitter ‘fun,’ hints at buying Coca-Cola to ‘put cocaine back in’
(Gray News) - Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made headlines lately for reaching an agreement to buy Twitter for roughly $44 billion, and he has used the platform since to talk about some of his future business endeavors.
The world’s richest man tweeted Wednesday that he is planning to purchase the popular soft drink manufacturer Coca-Cola to “put the cocaine back in” the drink.
It appears others on social media would like to see this happen, with his tweet receiving more than 3.9 million likes as of Thursday afternoon.
According to the drink’s own history, Coca-Cola was originated in 1886 by Atlanta pharmacist John Pemberton. It contained cocaine in the form of an extract of the coca leaf, as cocaine was a legal and common ingredient in medicines at that time, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Museum reports in the early 1900s, cocaine in its crude form was removed from the drink. Currently, the extract of the coca leaves, a decocainized version, is manufactured in the U.S. and used in the flavoring for Coca-Cola. The crude cocaine that is left over is used by select pharmaceutical companies for medicines.
On Wednesday, Musk also shared what appeared to be a screenshot from his own Twitter account, tweeting he was “going to buy McDonald’s and fix all of their ice cream machines.” However, he responded by tweeting, “he can’t do miracles.”
Additionally, Musk shared a tweet on free speech, tweeting, “free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy.”
The billionaire entrepreneur has urged fellow Twitter users to make the platform “maximum fun.”
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/elon-musk-tweets-making-twitter-fun-hints-buying-coca-cola-put-cocaine-back/ | 2022-04-28T21:26:23Z |
House passes military lend-lease bill to speed Ukraine aid
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House gave final passage Thursday to legislation that would streamline a World War II-era military lend-lease program to more quickly provide Ukraine and other Eastern European countries with American equipment to fight the Russian invasion.
The measure, which passed by an overwhelming 417-10 vote, now goes to the White House for President Joe Biden to sign into law.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Gregory Meeks of New York said with unified support from the U.S. Congress, “Ukraine will win.”
The bill is the latest from Congress, which is steadily churning out resolutions and resources to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and help the country and its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fight back. The Biden administration announced Thursday it will seek another $30 billion from Congress in military and humanitarian aid, on top of the nearly $14 billion Congress approved last month to help Ukraine fight the war.
Months in the making, the bipartisan bill was first introduced in January as part of the U.S.’s posture of deterrence to warn off Putin’s aggression towards Ukraine.
The measure would update the 1941 legislation Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law to help allies fight Nazi Germany. At the time, the then-U.S. president ushered the Lend-Lease Act through Congress, responding to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s appeal for aid, even as America initially remained neutral in the war, according to the U.S. National Archives.
Biden is expected to sign the bill into law, giving the administration greater leeway to send military equipment to Ukraine and neighboring allies in Eastern Europe.
“It is a real moment in history that we are back on this House floor supporting lend-lease,” said Rep. French Hill, R-Ark.
The congressman said he hoped the “Churchillian idea” would end delays in shipping aid to Ukraine, much the way the original law sped help to Britain fighting Adolf Hitler’s Germany in World War II.
“Today we find ourselves in a very similar situation with Putin systematically bombing and shelling the peaceful villages and cities of Ukraine,” he said.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi also gave nod to the moment, saying the war is a battle between democracy and autocracy, and echoed Roosevelt’s call on Americans to provide the fuel to keep light of democracy burning.
“Our task today remains the same,” she said. “The Ukrainian people are making the fight for all of us.”
Zelenskyy has repeatedly pleaded for more military equipment from the U.S. and allies, on top of the Stinger and Javelin missile systems, lethal drones and other weaponry that has already been flowing to the region.
The Ukrainian military and its citizens are engaged in a brutal street-level fight to save their country, as Russia bombards cities and villages in Putin’s quest to take control of the nation and make it part of Russia.
Lawmakers in both parties, Republicans and Democrats, have argued that the U.S. is not moving swiftly enough to help the Ukrainians. Countless members of Congress have trekked to the region to see first-hand the devastation, meet with their counterparts in Ukraine and do what they can to offer help with resettling the flood of more than 5 million refugees.
The measure approved by the U.S. Congress would update the 1941 law specifically for the Ukrainian conflict, lifting some reimbursement requirements and allowing military equipment to leant or leased for more than five years.
While the updated legislation had backing from both parties in the House and Senate, it stalled in Congress along with other Ukraine-focused bills. Democratic lawmakers tended to defer to the president of their party to take the lead on foreign policy, especially as Biden worked to build support from allies abroad.
Then, swiftly and without fanfare, the Senate quietly approved the bill from Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, earlier this month on a voice vote without objections.
This week the House pushed it forward on the chamber’s agenda as soon as lawmakers returned from a spring recess.
But tensions run high in Congress over countless issues, and the House debate quickly devolved. Republicans initially focused instead on immigration issues at the U.S. Southern border with Mexico, leading Democrats to blame the House GOP for harboring pro-Donald Trump factions soft on Putin.
“We stand for democracy here, not Vladimir Putin,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., wearing a blue-and-yellow tie in the colors of the Ukraine flag, during a floor debate.
In a heated moment, Raskin criticized GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene of Georgia for her earlier comments disparaging NATO and Western support for Ukraine. He questioned why she joined the debate to talk about immigration at the Southern border rather than the Russian invasion.
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa., who was managing the early part of the floor debate, insisted the “vast majority of my colleagues” support the lend-lease bill and would see it to passage.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/house-passes-military-lend-lease-bill-speed-ukraine-aid/ | 2022-04-28T21:26:33Z |
Last Frontier Honor Flight continues after veteran passes away on plane
The Last Frontier Honor Flight has resumed
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - A Last Frontier Honor Flight arrived in Washington D.C. with heavy hearts Thursday.
Veteran William Lawler passed away during the flight to the nation’s capital.
“As they exited him from the airplane, we saluted to give him honor because he’s a fallen comrade,” Vietnam era veteran Jon Boone said.
The plane continued on to the nations capital, where the veterans carried on their celebration in honor of Lawler. Some visited memorials they had waited half a century for.
“It’s been over 50 years, but this is the first time I’ve seen this memorial,” Korean War Veteran John Raetz said. “So it’s something to see and it’s appreciated.”
For some veterans, the Vietnam War Memorial is the single most important part of their trip to Washington. For others, it’s the one thing they can’t bring themselves to face.”
“I’ve been here five times, and I haven’t been able to go to that memorial by choice,” Vietnam War Veteran Peter Blackman said. “There’s 84 names on that wall that served with me. And they’re not here.”
The Last Frontier Honor Flight did not operate in 2020 or 2021 because of COVID-19 precautions. The trip has returned allowing veterans to honor their fallen brothers in arms with their comrades.
“It’s an unwritten brotherhood,” Vietnam era veteran Paul Scott said.
The group plans to return to Alaska Saturday night at the Ted Stevens Airport.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/last-frontier-honor-flight-continues-after-veteran-passes-away-plane/ | 2022-04-28T21:26:39Z |
Lily Peters strangled, suffered blunt force trauma, autopsy shows
CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WEAU/Gray News) - Preliminary autopsy results showed the death of a 10-year-old Wisconsin girl was a homicide, WEAU reported.
WARNING: Details in the story may be disturbing.
Chippewa County Coroner Ron Patten said, according to the preliminary results of the autopsy conducted by the Ramsey County (Minn.) Medical Examiner’s Office, Iliana “Lily” Peters suffered strangulation and blunt force trauma.
A 14-year-old boy is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree sexual assault resulting in great bodily harm and first-degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 resulting in great bodily harm. He is being held on $1 million cash bond at the Eau Claire Juvenile Detention Center ahead of his next court appearance May 5.
Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell said in court Wednesday that the 14-year-old told investigators he intended to rape and kill Peters when they left a house in Chippewa Falls together. Newell said the suspect told investigators he hit Peters in the stomach and with a stick before strangling her to death and then sexually assaulting her.
Two of the three charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. The 14-year-old is being tried in adult court.
Lily’s body was found near the Duncan Creek Trail in Chippewa Falls on Monday morning after being reported missing Sunday evening.
Her body is being kept in Minnesota for an undetermined amount of time. The final autopsy results could take four to six weeks as medical examiners wait for toxicology reports.
Copyright 2022 WEAU via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/lily-peters-strangled-suffered-blunt-force-trauma-autopsy-shows/ | 2022-04-28T21:26:46Z |
Mother charged after children found unrestrained in car speeding at 91 mph
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (Gray News) – A mother in Florida was arrested for speeding at 91 miles per hour while her two young children were unrestrained in the car.
Two deputies stopped the vehicle, which was speeding at 91 miles per hour in a 50 miles per hour zone, in Volusia County, Florida, late Tuesday night.
The two children, ages 2 and 3, were asleep without car seats in the front and back passenger seats, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.
The driver said she was driving from Leesburg to Daytona Beach and that she had left car seats for her kids in a different vehicle at home because she didn’t want to strap them in while they were asleep, according to the deputies.
The deputies said they told the woman that she and both of her children likely would have died if she had crashed at the speed she was driving. She reportedly said she didn’t plan on crashing.
While deputies were talking with the woman, another adult arrived with car seats to take the toddlers home.
Police charged the woman with child neglect and possession of a Schedule IV substance for Tramadol.
She was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail on a $5,000 bond.
The deputies also issued her citations for speeding, careless driving and three seatbelt violations.
Children under the age of five are required to be fastened in a child seat in the state of Florida.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/mother-charged-after-children-found-unrestrained-car-speeding-91-mph/ | 2022-04-28T21:26:58Z |
Nevada Democrats want solid plan after Title 42
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) -
A Trump-era public health order is causing division on Capitol Hill. The Biden administration announced it wants to rollback Title 42 by May 23, which allowed for the expulsion of migrants because of COVID-19. Nevada lawmakers say the administration needs a plan to deal with an inevitable influx of migrants to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was on Capitol Hill this week pitching that plan.
“We expect migrant levels to increase,” said Mayorkas during a hearing.
The administration and progressive Democrats argue it is time for the Trump-era Center for Disease Control policy to end, saying it is no longer necessary for COVID reasons and is being used simply to stop immigration.
As for what comes after Title 42 is lifted, the administration released a six pillar plan to devote more resources to the border, enforce existing laws, speed up processing, and more. But for a permanent fix to the immigration situation, Mayorkas argues that needs to come from Capitol Hill.
“We inherited a broken and dismantled system that is already under strain...only Congress can fix this,” said Mayorkas.
Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) and a growing number of Democrats say this policy should not be lifted until a strong plan is in place. She says she is glad the administration put one forward, but she still has questions.
“How do we keep our border secure and safe, and how do we make sure there’s a good asylum process? We still have COVID, and there’s many other issues,’ said Rosen.
Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) says Title 42 should not be lifted. He argues there are still health concerns that Title 42 helps alleviate.
“It’s had a big impact in Nevada over the past two years, and we need not to ignore any potential health issues that we can avoid through reasonable precaution,” said Amodei.
A number of state attorneys general are moving to block lifting the order. A federal judge in Louisiana is expected to file a restraining order, and if it comes, the Biden administration says it will comply.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/nevada-democrats-want-solid-plan-after-title-42/ | 2022-04-28T21:27:06Z |
Police: Woman arrested for attacking pregnant woman, resulting in death of unborn baby
Published: Apr. 28, 2022 at 3:52 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hours ago
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB/Gray News) – Police in Louisiana arrested and charged a woman after they say she attacked a pregnant woman, which resulted in the death of the unborn child.
Baton Rouge police said they arrested 25-year-old Deshay Carter on Wednesday.
Authorities said Carter assaulted a 23-year-old pregnant woman outside her house April 23.
The woman was taken to the hospital two days later for medical complications where she lost her child.
The victim was four months pregnant, WAFB reported.
Carter was booked in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and charged with first-degree feticide, second-degree battery and home invasion.
Copyright 2022 WAFB via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/police-woman-arrested-attacking-pregnant-woman-resulting-death-unborn-baby/ | 2022-04-28T21:27:13Z |
Top Democrats push for federal crackdown on high gas prices
WASHINGTON (AP) — Citing growing worries about high gasoline prices, Democratic leaders announced an effort Thursday to give the Federal Trade Commission increased authority to crack down on companies that engage in price gouging.
In doing so, they downplayed the possibility of other options such as a federal gas tax holiday or offering oil companies more government incentives to increase production. Instead, they said the FTC needs more tools, including stiffer fines and penalties and a team of dedicated experts to monitor markets and go after price gouging.
With voters concerned about the growing toll of inflation, Democrats again signaled their intention going into November’s midterm elections to place much of the blame for high gas prices on oil companies. Democrats accused oil executives of “ripping off the American people” at a contentious hearing this month.
“There’s no excuse for big oil companies to profiteer, to price gouge or exploit families,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Thursday
“Congress must do more to beef up the FTC’s ability to crack down on potential gas price manipulation and price gouging,” added Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. When the Democratic bills reach the House and Senate floor, “Republicans will face a dilemma: Which side are they on?” Schumer said. “On the consumer and lowering gas prices? Or on the side of the big oil?”
The average price of a gallon of gas was $4.14 Thursday, according to the AAA auto club, and is markedly higher than that in California and other western states.
President Joe Biden, aware of the political stakes, has vowed to do all he can to ease " pain at the pump for American families, " including ordering release of record amounts of oil from the nation’s strategic reserve.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said Congress strengthened the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s authority to investigate and punish energy market manipulation some two decades ago. That was following the Western energy crisis of 2000 to 2001 when Enron and affiliates were found liable for engaging in various market manipulation schemes.
She said the FTC needs a dedicated team of experts monitoring transportation fuels and looking out for any suspicious pricing behavior, and it needs authority to enact fines and penalties that would lead to corrective action.
“We need to make sure that there is a policeman on the beat,” Cantwell said. “It doesn’t seem right that we should have more transparency on a product like wheat or corn than we would on oil.’’
A draft description of the legislation says it would double the maximum penalty for manipulating wholesale oil markets to up to $2 million a day for each violation.
The unit described by Cantwell would be charged with identifying any manipulation or use of market power or other unfair method of competition to distort markets. Once it identifies such behavior, it could then advise the full commission to go after the perpetrators and impose penalties.
Oil executives, testifying before Congress earlier this month, said oil is a global market and that oil companies don’t dictate prices.
“We do not control the market price of crude oil or natural gas, nor of refined products like gasoline and diesel fuel, and we have no tolerance for price gouging,” said Chevron CEO Michael Wirth.
Industry groups dismissed use of the FTC to investigate price manipulation as a political stunt. “Using the power of the FTC to undertake political investigations of American energy companies will not lower gas prices by a penny,” said Anne Bradbury, CEO of the American Exploration and Production Council, a trade association representing independent oil and natural gas companies.
“At a time of historic inflation and economic contraction, Americans deserve real policies that boost domestic oil and gas production,’’ she said.
Republicans were equally dismissive of the Democratic proposal Thursday.
“My Democratic colleagues are doubling down on their blatant blame-shifting for political cover,’’ said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state. “The American people know this isn’t price gouging or Putin’s price hike. It’s a Biden price hike since the day he took office.”
Gas prices rose late last year amid supply chain problems and increased demand as the economy recovered following the COVID-19 pandemic, but prices have spiked since Putin’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.
The answer to higher gas prices is to increase production here in the U.S., Republicans said.
“America is the world’s leading producer of oil and gas, and we should act like it. We can produce significantly more energy than we do today and unleash the vast resources under our feet,” Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., told Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm at a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
But Democrats said oil companies have made a choice to pad profits rather than increase production. Six companies at the April 6 House hearing, including Chevron and ExxonMobil, recorded $77 billion in profits last year.
“Here’s the bottom line: They’re not using the money for domestic energy production,” Schumer said. “They’re using it for stock buybacks. They’re using it to make their shares go up. We wouldn’t be here if the oil companies were using it to make the American consumer’s price cheaper.”
Some states have suspended their gas tax to give consumers relief at the pump. Many Democrats in Congress have also called for Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent per gallon federal gas tax. But Pelosi said there was no guarantee the savings would be passed on to drivers.
“It’s good PR,’’ she said of the tax suspension, but it “may or may not even have a benefit.”
Some Democrats have introduced bills in the House and Senate to impose a windfall tax on oil profits, but the idea has generated little momentum on Capitol Hill.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/top-democrats-push-federal-crackdown-high-gas-prices/ | 2022-04-28T21:27:24Z |
We’ll be more seasonable, but grow unsettled into the weekend
A warm front pushes our way in the coming days
After a dry day today, a bit more moisture will start to develop overnight as a warm front pushes toward our area from the west. We’ll gradually see increasing cloud cover through sundown, and after sunset, a few showers could pop up here & there overnight. (Many will still stay dry though). We otherwise won’t be as cold as we’ve been the past few nights. Low temps should fall overnight into the upper 30s-mid 40s.
Friday will bring more seasonable temps, in the low to mid-60s for most, but we’ll see a bit more cloud cover at times throughout the day. A few stray showers will also be possible, but not everyone will see them. Friday night looks to bring lingering passing clouds and mild temps in the upper 40s-mid 50s.
The warm front will be across our area on Saturday, bringing on and off scattered rain (and possibly some rumbles of thunder) throughout the day. Temps will be seasonable though, in the 60s for most.
A weak cold front will then swing in as low pressure continues to traverse across the region on Sunday. We’ll still be Spring-like temperature-wise, with highs in the mid-60s-low 70s. However, we look mainly cloudy and damp, with rounds of showers and a few thunderstorms on tap.
As we head into Monday, we should see some drier and warmer weather to start the workweek, with highs around the 70-degree mark expected Monday afternoon.
Rain will gradually build back in on Tuesday, and the late week is looking warmer, but more unsettled. Stay tuned!
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) -
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/well-be-more-seasonable-grow-unsettled-into-weekend/ | 2022-04-28T21:27:35Z |
16-year-old girl arrested, charged with attempted murder after high school student stabbed
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA/Gray News) - Police have arrested a teenager and charged her with attempted murder following a stabbing Tuesday at an Alabama high school.
The 16-year-old suspect was found at the scene at Robert E. Lee High School in Montgomery, taken into custody and charged with attempted murder, Montgomery Police Department Capt. Saba Coleman said.
Police said officers were called to the location around 9:30 a.m. after a report that someone had been cut, WSFA reported. At the scene, medics and officers treated a female student, who had non-life-threatening injuries.
A spokesperson for Montgomery Public Schools confirmed the victim was a student at Lee High.
The school was placed on a soft lockdown following the incident, but it was later lifted.
It’s unclear what prompted the stabbing.
Copyright 2022 WSFA via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/16-year-old-girl-arrested-charged-with-attempted-murder-after-high-school-student-stabbed/ | 2022-04-28T21:51:51Z |
Early voting underway in West Virginia
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Registered voters in West Virginia can now start casting early ballots for the May 10 Primary Election.
The period of early voting will last 10 days in West Virginia, from April 27 to May 7.
Voters may vote an early ballot at the county courthouse, an annex or a designated community voting location during normal business hours.
Election day is May 10.
The deadline for hand-delivered absentee ballots to the clerk’s office is May 9.
“If you want to request an absentee ballot, that has to be done by May 4th,” said W.Va. Secretary of State Mac Warner. “It has to be in the clerks hands by then, not post marked by then. If you do have COVID or are taking care of someone with COVID, then we urge you to get that absentee ballot, that can be downloaded on our website.”
Secretary Warner says military, first responders, overseas citizens and disabled persons can utilize online voting.
For Primary Election sample ballots and polling places CLICK HERE.
Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest information.
Copyright 2022 WSAZ. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/early-voting-underway-west-virginia/ | 2022-04-28T21:51:54Z |
Ida retired from lists of hurricane names in the Atlantic
(Gray News) - The World Meteorological Organization announced Wednesday that Ida has retired from the rotating lists of Atlantic tropical cyclone names.
The decision was made based on the mass destruction and number of deaths caused by the category 4 hurricane in 2021.
Instead, Imani will be used in the lists of names.
According to the WMO, the names are repeated every six years, unless a storm is so deadly that its name is retired.
In total, 94 names have been retired from the Atlantic basin list since 1953.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1 and continues through November.
According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2021 was the third most active year on record in terms of named storms.
WMO reports there were a total of 21 named storms with winds of 39 mph or greater, four of which were major hurricanes reaching category 3 and above.
Peaking as a category 4, Ida was the most devastating storm of the 2021 hurricane season. It was responsible for 55 direct deaths and 32 indirect deaths, according to WMO.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/ida-retired-lists-hurricane-names-atlantic/ | 2022-04-28T21:51:55Z |
Trump appeals New York contempt ruling, $10K per day fine
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump has appealed a New York judge’s decision to hold the former president in contempt of court and fine him $10,000 per day for failing to comply with a subpoena for evidence in the state attorney general’s civil investigation into his business dealings.
Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, filed a notice of appeal Wednesday with the appellate division of the state’s trial court — the second time in two months that Trump has sought to overturn Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling against him in a subpoena matter.
In court papers, Habba questioned the legal basis for Engoron’s contempt ruling Monday, arguing that Trump had responded properly to the subpoena and that Attorney General Letitia James’ office failed to show his conduct “was calculated to defeat, impair, impede, or prejudice” its investigation.
James’ office refused to engage in “good-faith discussions” before seeking to have Trump fined, Habba argued. In a statement after the ruling Monday, Habba said: “All documents responsive to the subpoena were produced to the attorney general months ago.”
In a statement Wednesday, James said Engoron’s order was clear on Trump being in contempt of court.
“We’ve seen this playbook before, and it has never stopped our investigation of Mr. Trump and his organization,” James said. “This time is no different.”
In another subpoena fight, Trump is challenging Engoron’s Feb. 17 ruling requiring that he answer questions under oath. James has said that the probe uncovered evidence that Trump may have misstated the value of assets like skyscrapers and golf courses for more than a decade. Oral arguments in that appeal are scheduled for May 11.
Along with its subpoena for Trump’s testimony, James’ office issued a subpoena for numerous documents, including paperwork and communications pertaining to his financial statements, financing and debt for a Chicago hotel project and development plans for his Seven Springs Estate north of New York City, and even communications with Forbes magazine, where he sought to burnish his image as a wealthy businessman.
James, a Democrat, asked Engoron to hold Trump in contempt after he failed to produce any documents by a March 31 court deadline. In his ruling, Engoron said that Trump and his lawyers not only failed to meet the deadline, but also failed to document the steps they had taken to search for the documents.
Instead, “Trump produced 16 pages of boilerplate objections and a four-page affirmation by counsel that states, summarily, that Mr. Trump was unable to locate any responsive documents in his custody,” Engoron said in a written version of his ruling. “The affirmation fails to identify what search methods were employed, where they were employed, by whom they were employed, and where such searches took place.”
Habba, arguing at a hearing Monday, insisted that she went to great lengths to comply with the subpoena, even traveling to Trump’s home in Florida to ask him specifically whether he had in his possession any documents that would be responsive to the demand.
Habba noted that Trump does not send emails or text messages and has no work computer “at home or anywhere else.” She described the search for documents as “diligent,” but Engoron took issue with the lack of detail in her written response to the subpoena and questioned why it didn’t include an affidavit from Trump himself.
“You can’t just stand here and say I searched this and that,” Engoron said.
Trump, a Republican, is suing James in federal court in an effort to stop her investigation. He recently labeled her an “operative for the Democrat Party” and said her investigation and a parallel criminal probe overseen by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, another Democrat, are “a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt of all time.”
Bragg said this month that the three-year-old criminal investigation he inherited in January from his predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr., is continuing “without fear or favor” despite a recent shakeup in the probe’s leadership. Trump’s lawyers contend that James is using her civil investigation to gain access to information that could then be used against him in the criminal probe.
So far, the district attorney’s investigation has resulted only in tax fraud charges against Trump’s company, the Trump Organization, and its longtime finance chief Allen Weisselberg relating to lucrative fringe benefits such as rent, car payments and school tuition. The company and Weisselberg have pleaded not guilty.
James’ investigation is covering much of the same ground, focusing in part on what the attorney general said is a pattern of misleading banks and tax authorities about the value of his properties.
Assistant Attorney General Andrew Amer told Engoron that the probe was being hampered “because we don’t have evidence from the person at the top of this organization.” He said the failure to turn documents over in response to the subpoena was “effectively Mr. Trump thumbing his nose at this court’s order.”
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Associated Press reporter Larry Neumeister contributed to this report.
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Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/trump-appeals-new-york-contempt-ruling-10k-per-day-fine/ | 2022-04-28T21:52:09Z |
Powell Tribune
POWELL – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department bird farm in Sheridan has euthanized its brood stock of pheasants out of an “abundance of caution” after officials discovered dead turkeys near its captive flock tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, a form of avian influenza killing wild birds across the country.
None of the birds raised by the farm was found to be infected, but the department decided it was necessary.
“With the amount of wild birds that are around the farm, we were concerned about [the virus] getting in the bird farm,” said Dan Smith, the department’s Wildlife Division and Cody Regional wildlife supervisor.
“There was no indication that any of our birds were sick, and none tested positive,” he said in a Tuesday interview. “But had we got to that [point], it would have been too late. So this was a preemptive action.”
The farm raises approximately 14,000 pheasants to be released in hunting areas, including in the Big Horn Basin. Officials were able to collect eggs and will start fresh after wild birds have migrated through the area, Smith said.
“We’ve collected more than half of what we would normally collect,” he said, adding hunters should expect to see an impact during the 2022 upland game bird season. Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area receives thousands of the birds each year to give upland game bird hunters more opportunities in the Basin. They typically receive heavy pre-opening day pheasant releases and biweekly releases totaling approximately 4,000 pheasants for the season. Stocking concludes the third week in December, according to the department.
The bird farm hopes to receive supplemental eggs from the department’s Downer farm, which raises approximately 17,000 pheasants per year.
Reports of dead wild birds have hit several areas in the state, including in the department’s Cody Region. Game and Fish officials have reported finding infected Canada and snow geese with the virus in Park County.
Two turkey vultures were also reported to be found infected with the virus in Albany County on the University of Wyoming main campus.
After the first discoveries, reports of the virus were reported in high densities in the Big Horn Basin, on the east side of the Bighorn Mountains, in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, in the South Pass, east of Casper and near Cheyenne.
“Anyone who finds clusters of three or more dead wild birds – especially waterfowl and other water-birds – please contact the Game and Fish Wildlife Health Laboratory,” said Jessica Jennings-Gaines, Game and Fish wildlife disease specialist. “We’re also asking for reports of any number of raptors or bird scavenger species – like crows and vultures – exhibiting signs of neurological impairment or being found dead with no apparent cause.”
HPAI can be zoonotic, meaning there are risks to human health.
“Do not handle sick or dead wildlife,” the department warns. “We’ve been messaging directly to springtime turkey hunters to keep their eyes out and remind folks to not handle sick or dead birds to help prevent the spread of the disease,” said Sara DiRienzo, public information officer for the department.
Wild birds can be infected with HPAI and show no signs of illness.
They can carry the disease to new areas when migrating, potentially exposing domestic stock to the virus, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
The agency anticipates avian influenza detections will occur in additional states as wild bird surveillance continues into the spring.
The agency’s wild bird surveillance program provides an early warning system for the introduction and distribution of avian influenza viruses of concern in the United States, allowing the agency and the poultry industry to take “timely and rapid action to reduce the risk of spread to our poultry industry and other populations of concern.”
“The number of migratory birds coming through [the area] is going to reduce over the next few weeks,” Smith said.
The Sheridan farm will wait to hatch new stock until after the migration.
The Diamond Wings Upland Game Bird farm is on strict lockdown to protect its flock of 51 captively raised greater sage grouse and tens of thousands of pheasant and chukars.
Officials at the Park County Fair are also monitoring the situation to see if there will be a problem acquiring chickens for the upcoming county fair.
To report clusters of dead birds call the Game and Fish wildlife health laboratory at 307-745-5865. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/from_the_wire/sheridan-bird-farm-depopulated-out-of-abundance-of-caution/article_765f6abe-504c-5dbe-ba3a-bbb7a735aba5.html | 2022-04-28T21:57:02Z |
Amber Heard’s lawyers revised article Johnny Depp sued over
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — Amber Heard pushed to have details of her marriage with fellow actor Johnny Depp included in an op-ed piece that she wrote about domestic violence, even though her lawyers wanted those passages removed from the article, which is now the subject of a libel lawsuit, according to evidence introduced Thursday at the trial.
Jurors in the libel lawsuit Depp filed against Heard heard testimony Thursday from Terence Dougherty, general counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. It was the ACLU that drafted the article under Heard’s name, reflecting her role as an ACLU ambassador on gender violence issues.
Dougherty testified about the push-and-pull that occurred between first draft and publication of the op-ed piece in The Washington Post in December 2018 — strategically timed by both the ACLU and Heard to coincide with the release of “Aquaman,” a movie in which she played a prominent role.
Depp sued in Fairfax County Circuit Court after the article was published, in which Heard says that “two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out.” Depp’s lawyers say that’s a clear reference to abuse allegations she levied against Depp in 2016 that Depp says are untrue.
Dougherty testified that numerous ACLU lawyers reviewed the article at various stages, and asked Heard’s lawyers to review the piece as well to ensure it did not run afoul of a non-disclosure agreement she had with Depp in connection with the couple’s 2016 divorce.
During those discussions, Heard sent back an edited version approved by her lawyers that “specifically neutered much of the copy regarding her marriage,” according to an email from Jessica Weitz, an ACLU employee who coordinated with Heard.
According to the email, though, Heard was looking for a way to have a deleted passage restored to the article.
The various drafts of the articles were not shown to the jury so it’s not clear how many personal details were in the first draft and how much Heard’s lawyers had excised.
But the final version contains very little about Heard’s personal experiences. It doesn’t mention Depp at all. In addition to the passage about “a public figure representing domestic abuse,” in another passage she writes, “I had the rare vantage point of seeing, in real time, how institutions protect men accused of abuse.”
Much of the article talks about legislative priorities for advocates of domestic abuse prevention. Other passages refer to parts of her personal life unrelated to Depp.
Dougherty testified that “the language that wound up in the final op-ed piece was very different from the original language” in the draft, Dougherty said. “It did not refer directly to Ms. Heard’s relationship with Johnny Depp.”
While the trial is supposed to be over whether Depp was defamed in the article, very little testimony in the first three weeks, leading up to Thursday, has related to the article itself or its contents. Heard’s lawyers predicted at the outset of the trial that it would become a mudslinging soap opera that would delve into messy details of Depp and Heard’s personal lives.
Heard’s lawyers, though, have said that even if the jury were to believe that she was never abused by Depp, Heard should still prevail in the lawsuit because the article is not about Depp, does not defame him, and Heard’s free-speech rights allow her to weigh in on matters of public importance like domestic violence.
Much of Dougherty’s testimony also centered on whether Heard has fulfilled a promise to donate $3.5 million — half of her $7 million divorce settlement with Depp — to the ACLU. Dougherty testified that the ACLU credits her with contributing $1.3 million so far and expected the money to come in over a 10-year period, but that she has made no contributions since 2018.
Jurors also heard briefly from Depp’s business manager, Ed White. White said he intervened in 2016 to resolve financial difficulties for Depp, including unpaid taxes and a cash crunch. When he blamed Heard for an excessive wine bill that featured multiple $500 bottles of Spanish Vega Sicilia wine, Heard’s lawyers responded with a barrage of questions over Depp’s spending excesses, including spending millions of dollars to shoot journalist Hunter S. Thompson’s ashes out of a cannon.
Depp and Heard met during filming of “The Rum Diary,” an adaptation of a Thompson novel. Depp testified earlier that he and Thompson were friends, and that Depp actually found the lost “Rum Diary” manuscript when he was going through Thompson’s papers.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/amber-heards-lawyers-revised-article-johnny-depp-sued-over/ | 2022-04-28T22:58:41Z |
Biden honors Ohio teacher of the year
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Kurt Russell’s audience is usually a classroom of high school students - but Wednesday he was greeted by the cheers of the President.
Russell rose to the top of his class of ‘teacher of the year nominees,’ honored for his work of racial and gender inclusion in his lessons.
“What I try to do in my classroom is to make sure that the lessons that I teach the students see themselves in it,” said Russell. “Rather, if I’m studying the Revolutionary War, I need to include women in that study. I need to include African-Americans in that study.”
An educator herself, Jill Biden praised the nominees for their willingness to adapt and connect during these difficult past two years.
“It’s the way that you know that sometimes “I’m fine” means everything is wrong,” said Biden, “Its how they know you’re telling the truth when you say, “its ok, we’re going to figure this out together.”
Russell had several mentors that helped him figure it out. He realized that teaching was an attainable career goal after having a black 8th grade teacher. He wants to be that inspiration for the next generation.
“I think when you see someone that looks like you and have that relationship with you, you feel empowered, you feel valued, you feel important,” said Russell.
Above all, he wants to his students to take the lessons of compassion and empathy when they leave his classroom.
“I see them as future citizens, police officer, firefighters, teachers, engineers, construction workers. And when I have that perspective, then I make sure that my students feel important and value with it.”
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/biden-honors-ohio-teacher-year/ | 2022-04-28T22:58:54Z |
Clinch Valley Health CEO elected as Chair of VHHA Board of Directors
VIRGINIA (WVVA) - Peter Mulkey is the CEO of Clinch Valley Health in Richlands. He stays busy in his leadership role and now, he’s adding even more duties to his daily routine. Last week, he was elected to serve as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.
“It’s great to work with a great group of folks. These are all folks that are doing what they can to take care of the people in their communities,” said Mulkey.
Mulkey previously served as Vice Chairman for the VHHA. He hopes his new appointment will allow the organization to serve Southwest Virginia better as we come out of the pandemic.
“It brings a perspective, hopefully I can represent the rural needs in the way they need to be represented. But again, certainly represent hospitals from across the entire commonwealth to hopefully achieve the goals that we want to achieve for our patients and our organization,” said Mulkey.
Some of those goals Mulkey is referring to include better access to healthcare and addressing the healthcare worker shortage.
“There’s going to be a lot of discussion and a lot of things not only with the legislation but within our own organization and partnering with higher education and those things to try and figure out how do we find the staff that we need in our facilities to take care of our patients,” said Mulkey.
Another thing to address: challenges related to behavioral health.
“What we’ve seen is an increase in the demand for mental health treatment services. Which again, going back to the pandemic we’ve seen that just intensify and grow during the pandemic as people have been isolated, as people have had emotional or mental struggles,” said Vice President of Communications for the VHHA, Julian Walker.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/clinch-valley-health-ceo-elected-chair-vhha-board-directors/ | 2022-04-28T22:59:00Z |
Police respond to report of a gun found in students locker
Published: Apr. 28, 2022 at 5:52 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - According to Mercer County Public Schools (MCPS), a gun was found at Bluefield High School on Thursday, April 28.
The gun was reportedly found in a students locker. Once the gun was found, the police were notified and the school was placed on lock down.
MCPS says that criminal charges are expected to come from this incident.
It is not clear what type of gun it was or whether it was loaded or not.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/police-respond-report-gun-found-students-locker/ | 2022-04-28T22:59:07Z |
State probe into SRJ conditions concludes mistreatment accusations ‘false’
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - A state internal investigation into conditions at Southern Regional Jail determined allegations of mistreatment by inmates, their family members and current and former employees were not true.
Governor Jim Justice released the findings of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) probe on Thursday, which he ordered in late March. The agency oversees the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DHR).
“The review found the allegations of water deprivation, failure to provide toilet paper, and inmates having to sleep on hard floors without a mattress to be false,” the report stated.
The investigation involved 50 interviews and a review of telephone calls from inmates and the jail’s financial records, according to the DHS.
A current and former guard at SRJ corroborated concerns voiced by inmates and their families. The report stated a former employee who talked to the media, “was filled with so much bitterness, that he/she during their interview would not even admit that inmates got beverages with their breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
The report continued, “The former employee stated that because of COVID he/she did not have the opportunity to attend the training academy. After he/she left Southern Regional Jail, he/she has worked at two other jobs that were not as fulfilling as his/her position at Southern Regional Jail. He/she stated now he/she realized how much he/she enjoyed working at Southern Regional Jail and helping inmates.”
The DHS also alleged in its findings inmates “repeatedly lied” to their families.
“Inmates yelled at family and friends for not telling the story the way the inmate wanted the media to hear it,” the report said.
WVVA questioned DHS Secretary Jeff Sandy on why an outside agency was not called to investigate.
“If I had seen that any of the allegations were true, I would have immediately taken care of it. Individuals would have been terminated and there would have been employee issues that would have taken place,” said Sec. Sandy.
Since WVVA’s original reporting on allegations, more than 20 different inmates and their families came forward to back-up specific claims over water issues. Roughly 50 people reached out to WVVA by phone, email and messaging regarding the treatment of inmates at the facility.
WVVA stands by its reporting and will have more on the interview with Sec. Sandy on Friday’s 6 p.m. newscast, as well as an update on the death of SRJ inmate Quantez Burks on March 1st.
You can read the full report here.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/state-probe-into-srj-conditions-concludes-mistreatment-accusations-false/ | 2022-04-28T22:59:13Z |
VIDEO: High school basketball coach jumps into action to save choking student
OMAHA, Neb. (KETV) - A high school student who started choking during lunch is thanking his school’s basketball coach for rushing to his rescue.
Papillion La Vista South Basketball Coach Joel Hueser was working his regular lunch duty on Tuesday when freshman Riley Kelly started choking after taking a bite of a cheeseburger.
“I just didn’t chew it all the way,” Kelly said.
Video from the school lunchroom showed the student grabbing his throat with students yelling for help.
“It was all so sudden; it was like a flash of lightning in my head but at the same time going super slow,” Kelly said.
Hueser leaped up and immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver on Kelly. And the piece of the cheeseburger was out a few seconds later.
“Every two years when we have to do CPR, I’m like, ‘We really have to do this again,’ but it certainly paid off this time,” Hueser said.
Kelly said he was grateful to the coach he’d never met until that afternoon.
“I would definitely say, ‘Thank you very much, I really appreciate it,’” Kelly said
Hueser said he’s no hero, just thankful Kelly is alright.
“Any teacher or coach would have done the same thing. I just happened to be there,” Hueser said.
The student says he’s actually had something like this happen before, where he gets something stuck in his throat, but normally, he is able to wash it down.
Lucky for Kelly, coach Hueser was nearby this time.
Copyright 2022 KETV via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/04/28/video-high-school-basketball-coach-jumps-into-action-save-choking-student/ | 2022-04-28T22:59:19Z |
Disney government in dark about effect of law dissolving it
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — At the first meeting of Walt Disney World’s private government since Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a measure to dissolve it next year, officials said Wednesday they were still confused about what the new legislation meant, even as some ripple effects were starting to be felt.
The administrator of the government, called the Reedy Creek Improvement District, said the expansion of a solar power project could be delayed because of financing challenges linked to the legislation, and the union for the district’s firefighters expressed concerns about what the dissolution might mean for members’ lifetime benefits.
After the meeting, Donald Greer, who has been a member of Reedy Creek’s board of supervisors since 1975, said the board could not provide clear answers on those issues because “we don’t know where we are going.”
“The district may have a response as soon as we know what it means, but I don’t know if anybody knows what it means. I don’t think anyone has deciphered it,” Greer said.
The dissolution measure was passed quickly in the Republican-controlled statehouse without public study of its impact and was hastily signed into law by DeSantis. The move came in a GOP push to punish Disney over its opposition to another new law barring instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in early grade school, which critics call “Don’t Say Gay.”
For the governor, the feud was the latest front in a culture war he has waged over policies involving race, gender and the coronavirus, battles DeSantis has harnessed to make himself one of the most popular Republicans in the country and a likely 2024 presidential candidate.
A day before DeSantis signed the bill into law, the Reedy Creek Improvement District sent a statement to investors that said it would continue its financial operations as usual. The district wrote that its agreement with the state forbids Florida from limiting or altering the district’s ability to collect taxes or fulfill its bond obligations.
Critics of the dissolution bill have warned that taxpayers in neighboring counties could end up shouldering about $1 billion in debts from the district. DeSantis has dismissed those concerns and said additional legislation would be drafted to clarify the future of such special districts in the state.
At the Reedy Creek meeting Wednesday, district administrator John Classe said a developer has experienced challenges financing a planned expansion of a solar power program, meaning it could be delayed.
Jon Shirey, the head of the union for Reedy Creek’s firefighters, who make up around half of the private government’s 400 employees, asked supervisors to give his members reassurances that their jobs and benefits would be preserved since they have been kept in the dark about what the effect is going to be. The firefighters, particularly retirees, are worried about losing their guaranteed lifetime health insurance, he said.
“We have been told to stay quiet, don’t talk to the media, don’t engage with current events,” Shirey told supervisors. “We have been told the leadership of the district will tell the story. They will be the ones putting out the message. I ask you, ‘What is that message?’”
The supervisors did not respond, and in fact spent little time devoted to the legislation which poses an existential threat to the 55-year-old Reedy Creek Improvement District. Classe told supervisors its workers would continue to function with the same “high standards and professionalism they always have done as we learn what this legally means.”
Backers of the dissolution of Reedy Creek have argued it removes an unfair advantage the entertainment giant has over other theme parks, including allowing it to issue bonds and set its own zoning standards.
At an event Monday, the governor assured a cheering crowd that Disney’s bond debts won’t be dumped on taxpayers.
“Under no circumstances will Disney be able to not pay its debts, we will make sure of that,” DeSantis said.
Credit rating agency Fitch Ratings has put Reedy Creek on a “negative watch” list, indicating that the private government’s ratings could stay the same or potentially be downgraded. A downgrade would make borrowing more difficult for Reedy Creek.
Another ratings agency, S&P Global Ratings, said that among the questions left unanswered by the new law was whether Reedy Creek would reconstitute after it’s dissolved next year, how utility operations and debt would be transferred to the neighboring governments if it came to that and how the neighboring governments would raise taxes to secure Reedy Creek’s debt.
Under the law, Reedy Creek would expire by June 2023. The lack of public answers from Reedy Creek leaders about the new law may come from fear “the governor will find their statements unfriendly and that will complicate things,” said Shirey, who added he is optimistic lawmakers will look after the interests of the district’s first responders.
“We have 14 months, and a lot can change between now and then,” Shirey said.
___
Izaguirre reported from Tallahassee, Florida
___
Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/disney-government-dark-about-effect-law-dissolving-it/ | 2022-04-28T23:25:30Z |
UVA sleep treatment helping people with insomnia
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - If you suffer from insomnia, a new study in Charlottesville may be able to help you get some sleep.
Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine used a program called Sleep Healthy Using the Internet (SHUTi). It provides online cognitive behavioral therapy focusing on thoughts and behaviors connected to sleep and addresses the ones that cause insomnia.
A new randomized trial of the SHUTi treatment in 333 Black women found that it was significantly more effective than traditional sleep education.
“I think what it tells us is that here’s an opportunity to engage people for a longer period of time to get the help that they need by tailoring to particular components that that might be critical. to engagement,” Center for Behavioral Health & Technology Director Lee Ritterband said.
The researchers have published their findings in the scientific journal, JAMA Psychiatry.
Copyright 2022 WVIR. All rights reserved.
Do you have a story idea? Send us your news tip here. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/uva-sleep-treatment-helping-people-with-insomnia/ | 2022-04-28T23:25:43Z |
VIDEO: Woman refuses police commands, steals patrol car while in handcuffs
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) - Police in Tennessee had their work cut out for them earlier this week as they tried to pull a woman over for DUI, but she refused in more ways than one.
Deputies with the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office said the incident started when they noticed a taillight out on a car 27-year-old Jennifer Cunningham was driving during the overnight hours on Monday.
When they attempted to stop the vehicle, the woman took off.
“Cunningham turned around, took out a mailbox, and took out her tire in the process,” said Jennifer Caruthers, with the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office.
After a short pursuit, Cunningham was taken into custody for DUI and other charges. Deputies said they handcuffed her and sat her in the back of a patrol car, but she wouldn’t stay there for long.
Authorities said the 27-year-old managed to get her handcuffed wrists from behind to the front and then slide through a small window in a glass partition.
“My first reaction was how did she fit through the partitions so easily. I mean, that window is pretty small,” Caruthers said.
But Cunningham wasn’t done yet. Deputies said she managed to get drive off in one of their police cars before crashing into another deputy’s cruiser.
“Had the other vehicle not been sitting there, she could have easily hit one of our deputies,” Caruthers said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a case like this before.”
Eventually, Cunningham was taken into police custody, and the sheriff’s office said she is facing more than 20 charges.
“Hopefully, this will be a final lesson learned for this young lady. She’s got a lot of life ahead of her if she can get her life together and learn from this incident,” Caruthers said.
Copyright 2022 WTVF via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/27/video-woman-refuses-police-commands-steals-patrol-car-while-handcuffs/ | 2022-04-28T23:25:54Z |
Amber Alert canceled, 4-year-old in Georgia found safe
Published: Apr. 28, 2022 at 4:06 PM EDT|Updated: 3 hours ago
SNELLVILLE, Ga. (Gray News) - A missing 4-year-old girl in Georgia has been found safe and a suspect is in custody, police said Thursday.
The Levi’s Call, Georgia’s Amber Alert, has been canceled for Valery Molina.
Police said she was abducted by Alfred Molina. Snellville police posted to Facebook that she was safe soon after the alert went out.
Anyone with additional information can contact Snellville police at 404-731-2713 or call 911.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/amber-alert-4-year-old-abducted-georgia/ | 2022-04-28T23:51:36Z |
Amber Heard’s lawyers revised article Johnny Depp sued over
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — Amber Heard pushed to have details of her marriage with fellow actor Johnny Depp included in an op-ed piece that she wrote about domestic violence, even though her lawyers wanted those passages removed from the article, which is now the subject of a libel lawsuit, according to evidence introduced Thursday at the trial.
Jurors in the libel lawsuit Depp filed against Heard heard testimony Thursday from Terence Dougherty, general counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. It was the ACLU that drafted the article under Heard’s name, reflecting her role as an ACLU ambassador on gender violence issues.
Dougherty testified about the push-and-pull that occurred between first draft and publication of the op-ed piece in The Washington Post in December 2018 — strategically timed by both the ACLU and Heard to coincide with the release of “Aquaman,” a movie in which she played a prominent role.
Depp sued in Fairfax County Circuit Court after the article was published, in which Heard says that “two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out.” Depp’s lawyers say that’s a clear reference to abuse allegations she levied against Depp in 2016 that Depp says are untrue.
Dougherty testified that numerous ACLU lawyers reviewed the article at various stages, and asked Heard’s lawyers to review the piece as well to ensure it did not run afoul of a non-disclosure agreement she had with Depp in connection with the couple’s 2016 divorce.
During those discussions, Heard sent back an edited version approved by her lawyers that “specifically neutered much of the copy regarding her marriage,” according to an email from Jessica Weitz, an ACLU employee who coordinated with Heard.
According to the email, though, Heard was looking for a way to have a deleted passage restored to the article.
The various drafts of the articles were not shown to the jury so it’s not clear how many personal details were in the first draft and how much Heard’s lawyers had excised.
But the final version contains very little about Heard’s personal experiences. It doesn’t mention Depp at all. In addition to the passage about “a public figure representing domestic abuse,” in another passage she writes, “I had the rare vantage point of seeing, in real time, how institutions protect men accused of abuse.”
Much of the article talks about legislative priorities for advocates of domestic abuse prevention. Other passages refer to parts of her personal life unrelated to Depp.
Dougherty testified that “the language that wound up in the final op-ed piece was very different from the original language” in the draft, Dougherty said. “It did not refer directly to Ms. Heard’s relationship with Johnny Depp.”
While the trial is supposed to be over whether Depp was defamed in the article, very little testimony in the first three weeks, leading up to Thursday, has related to the article itself or its contents. Heard’s lawyers predicted at the outset of the trial that it would become a mudslinging soap opera that would delve into messy details of Depp and Heard’s personal lives.
Heard’s lawyers, though, have said that even if the jury were to believe that she was never abused by Depp, Heard should still prevail in the lawsuit because the article is not about Depp, does not defame him, and Heard’s free-speech rights allow her to weigh in on matters of public importance like domestic violence.
Much of Dougherty’s testimony also centered on whether Heard has fulfilled a promise to donate $3.5 million — half of her $7 million divorce settlement with Depp — to the ACLU. Dougherty testified that the ACLU credits her with contributing $1.3 million so far and expected the money to come in over a 10-year period, but that she has made no contributions since 2018.
Jurors also heard briefly from Depp’s business manager, Ed White. White said he intervened in 2016 to resolve financial difficulties for Depp, including unpaid taxes and a cash crunch. When he blamed Heard for an excessive wine bill that featured multiple $500 bottles of Spanish Vega Sicilia wine, Heard’s lawyers responded with a barrage of questions over Depp’s spending excesses, including spending millions of dollars to shoot journalist Hunter S. Thompson’s ashes out of a cannon.
Depp and Heard met during filming of “The Rum Diary,” an adaptation of a Thompson novel. Depp testified earlier that he and Thompson were friends, and that Depp actually found the lost “Rum Diary” manuscript when he was going through Thompson’s papers.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/amber-heards-lawyers-revised-article-johnny-depp-sued-over/ | 2022-04-28T23:51:42Z |
‘American Idol’ star says he was ‘tripping’ before deadly crash, solicitor says
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) - Former “American Idol” contestant Caleb Kennedy appeared before a judge Thursday. It was his fourth hearing since a deadly crash in February.
Kennedy, 17, is charged with DUI in the crash killing 54-year-old Larry Parris on Feb. 8.
Officials say he went 175 yards off the road to a garage where Parris was working when he ran him over.
In previous hearings, the judge did not set a bond as they waited for Kennedy’s toxicology results, WHNS reports.
Ryan Beasley, Kennedy’s attorney, has continually pushed for him to be released on bond.
Solicitor Barry Barnette said during Thursday’s hearing that Kennedy admitted to law enforcement he took a hit off a vape pen and “started tripping” before the crash.
Barnette also said Prozac bottles were found in his truck.
Beasley countered, explaining a doctor recently increased Kennedy’s dose of Prozac.
According to WHNS, toxicology reports showed THC in Kennedy’s system on the day of the crash, although Beasley argued it was a “trace amount.”
Beasley said Kennedy is not a flight risk or danger to the community when he asked a judge to grant bond for the teen.
He said Kennedy remained on the scene after the crash and was holding Parris and crying when first responders arrived.
Beasley said Kennedy has no prior criminal record, calling it a “bizarre and tragic accident.”
Parris’ wife, Donna, spoke at the hearing on Thursday and was very emotional when she asked the judge to deny Kennedy bond.
Circuit Court Judge Grace Knie said she will consider the information and issue a decision in writing within the next few days.
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/american-idol-star-says-he-was-tripping-before-deadly-crash-solicitor-says/ | 2022-04-28T23:51:49Z |
Arkansas attorney general announces lawsuit against Family Dollar
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT/Gray News) - Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced a new lawsuit Thursday against Family Dollar over practices that allegedly put customers in danger.
In the suit, Rutledge claims the retailer used “reckless” and “deceptive” measures to sell products to Arkansas consumers that were potentially hazardous or contaminated.
Many of the allegations concern Family Dollar’s distribution center in West Memphis, which was temporarily shut down this year after repeated violations discovered by the Arkansas Department of Health.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning over the conditions in the center, which included living and dead rodents, along with rodent waste, and dead birds and bird droppings, which they said could have contaminated the products.
The warning led to over 400 stores closing in six states: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.
Rutledge is suing the company under the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practice Act (ADTPA), claiming Family Dollar was still making a profit when the West Memphis facility failed to notice the inspections.
“In many rural communities in Arkansas, families rely on discount stores like Family Dollar for essential products such as food, medicine, or pet food,” Rutledge said. “Family Dollar has had knowledge of this dangerous and massive rodent infestation for over two years, yet they continued to sell and profit from potentially contaminated goods.”
Rutledge is asking for several penalties against Family Dollar, including $10,000 fines for each violation of the ADTPA and a possible suspension of the company’s business license to operate in Arkansas.
There have already been multiple lawsuits filed against Family Dollar over its practices, including one in Virginia where the company is headquartered.
Copyright 2022 KAIT via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/arkansas-attorney-general-announces-lawsuit-against-family-dollar/ | 2022-04-28T23:51:56Z |
Biden honors Ohio teacher of the year
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Kurt Russell’s audience is usually a classroom of high school students - but Wednesday he was greeted by the cheers of the President.
Russell rose to the top of his class of ‘teacher of the year nominees,’ honored for his work of racial and gender inclusion in his lessons.
“What I try to do in my classroom is to make sure that the lessons that I teach the students see themselves in it,” said Russell. “Rather, if I’m studying the Revolutionary War, I need to include women in that study. I need to include African-Americans in that study.”
An educator herself, Jill Biden praised the nominees for their willingness to adapt and connect during these difficult past two years.
“It’s the way that you know that sometimes “I’m fine” means everything is wrong,” said Biden, “Its how they know you’re telling the truth when you say, “its ok, we’re going to figure this out together.”
Russell had several mentors that helped him figure it out. He realized that teaching was an attainable career goal after having a black 8th grade teacher. He wants to be that inspiration for the next generation.
“I think when you see someone that looks like you and have that relationship with you, you feel empowered, you feel valued, you feel important,” said Russell.
Above all, he wants to his students to take the lessons of compassion and empathy when they leave his classroom.
“I see them as future citizens, police officer, firefighters, teachers, engineers, construction workers. And when I have that perspective, then I make sure that my students feel important and value with it.”
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/biden-honors-ohio-teacher-year/ | 2022-04-28T23:52:04Z |
Biden taking ‘hard look’ at student loan forgiveness
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday that he’s “taking a hard look” at canceling additional federal student loan debt and will reach a decision within a month.
“I am considering dealing with some debt reduction,” Biden told reporters in the Roosevelt Room at the White House.
The comments came days after Biden had a private meeting with Democratic lawmakers who pressed him on the issue. One of the lawmakers, Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., said afterwards that Biden disclosed he was exploring the possibility.
However, Biden signaled in his Thursday remarks that he wouldn’t go as far as some activists want, saying $50,000 in debt forgiveness was not under consideration. He did not give a number for what he was considering.
“I’m in the process of taking a hard look at whether or not there will be additional debt forgiveness,” he said. “And I’ll have an answer on that in the next couple of weeks.”
During his campaign, Biden said he wanted to “immediately cancel” at least $10,000 in student debt per person. So far he’s repeatedly extended a pause on requiring borrowers to repay their loans, a moratorium that was put in place under then-President Donald Trump near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although activists have been encouraged by their increasing traction on this issue, some said they were concerned that Biden wouldn’t go far enough.
“President Biden, we agree that we shouldn’t cancel $50,000 in student loan debt. We should cancel all of it,” said Wisdom Cole, national director of the NAACP Youth & College Division. “$50,000 was just the bottom line.”
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday that Biden was still considering whether to tie debt relief to borrowers’ income levels, an idea he’s floated in the past. She said it’s “certainly something he would be looking at.”
She rejected criticism from Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and others that debt relief amounts to a political giveaway.
Biden’s goal, Psaki said, is to “continue to provide relief to people who need it most, to help people get some extra breathing room.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/biden-taking-hard-look-student-loan-forgiveness/ | 2022-04-28T23:52:11Z |
British Virgin Islands officials charged in drug conspiracy
MIAMI (AP) — The premier of the British Virgin Islands and the director of the Caribbean territory’s ports were arrested Thursday on drug smuggling charges in South Florida, federal officials said.
Premier Andrew Alturo Fahie and Managing Director Oleanvine Maynard were arrested by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents at Miami-Opa-locka Executive Airport and charged with conspiracy to import cocaine and conspiracy to launder money, according to a criminal complaint. Maynard’s son, Kadeem Maynard, faces the same changes in the scheme, according to the records.
Fahie and Oleanvine Maynard had been at the airport to meet with Mexican drug traffickers, who in fact were undercover DEA agents, to see a shipment of $700,000 in cash that the the BVI officials expected to receive for helping smuggle cocaine from Colombia to Miami and New York, officials said in the complaint.
A DEA confidential source had previously met with Maynard and her son after being introduced by a group of self-proclaimed Lebanese Hezbollah operatives, according to the complaint. After Fahie became involved, the BVI officials agreed to to let the smugglers bring the cocaine through the port at Tortola before continuing on to the U.S.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/british-virgin-islands-officials-charged-drug-conspiracy/ | 2022-04-28T23:52:20Z |
‘Carpool Karaoke’ king James Corden to leave CBS late-night show
Published: Apr. 28, 2022 at 7:28 PM EDT|Updated: 23 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES (AP) — James Corden will be bowing out of his late-night CBS TV show next year.
Corden made the announcement during the taping of Thursday’s “The Late Late Show,” which he began hosting in 2015.
In a statement, the president and CEO of CBS lauded Corden for taking “huge creative and comedic swings,” including with “Carpool Karaoke.”
In those videos, Corden and pop stars including Adele and Paul McCartney performed sing-alongs on the road.
Corden’s contract with “The Late Late Show” was to expire this August, but the London-born actor and writer extended the agreement for another season. He will leave the show in spring 2023.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/carpool-karaoke-king-james-corden-leave-cbs-late-night-show/ | 2022-04-28T23:52:27Z |
Details of the storm damage survey on the Augusta County tornado
April 26, 2022
FISHERSVILLE, Va. (WHSV) - The National Weather Service completed the storm survey for the Tuesday, April 26th tornado.
Here are the details:
...NWS Damage Survey for 04/26/22 Tornado in Fishersville- Waynesboro, VA...
Rating: EF-1 Estimated
Peak Wind: 90 mph
Path Length: 6.0 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 75 yards
Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0
Start Date: April 26, 2022 Start Time: 1:04 PM EDT Start Location: Fishersville VA
End Date: April 26, 2022 End Time: 1:15 PM EDT End Location: City of Waynesboro VA
THE PATH
The Farm
The farm on Tinkling Springs road showed damage to the roof of the home, and extensive damage to the barn. This is also the location where two pieces of wood were driven into the ground facing opposite directions. Despite that damage, that would fall under an EF-0
Raw footage from the storm survey. They talk it out, describe what they’re seeing and what kind of damage that it could be. Storms can contain a microburst and a tornado, or strong multiple downdrafts.
STORM SURVEY DETAILS
The National Weather Service conducted a field survey of damage that occurred with storms that passed through Fishersville in Augusta County, Virginia and the City of Waynesboro on Tuesday afternoon April 26, 2022. The NWS storm survey team determined that a EF-1 tornado occurred with maximum wind speeds estimated at 90 mph and a maximum path width of 75 yards along a 6.0 mile path.
The first damage noted was along Barterbrook Road one-half mile north of Tinkling Spring Road where there were broken tree branches and both hardwood and softwood trees were snapped. As the tornado progressed east, additional trees were snapped and uprooted along with significant damage to a farm on the 1100 block of Tinkling Spring Road. At this farm, significant roof and structural damage was observed to a barn. A farmhouse lost portions of its metal roof which became dislodged and were wrapped around branches of a tree. Lumber from the barn was lofted approximately 125 yards and embedded into the ground in different directions. Trees on the farm were noted to be snapped in multiple directions.
The tornado continued eastward towards the intersection of Tinkling Spring Road and Ramsey Road where more hardwood tree branches and entire softwood trees were snapped. Some screens were also damaged on homes and some siding was dislodged at this location. The tornado crossed Tinkling Spring Road where additional hardwood trees were uprooted and softwood trees were snapped. Siding and roof damage occurred to a mobile home and two 75-yard sections of fence were blown inward at a plumbing supply facility. A trash dumpster and grease dumpster were flipped sideways, and minor structural damage was observed to an office complex near the intersection of Tinkling Spring Road and Ivy Ridge Road.
Sporadic damage continued near Ivy Ridge road. As the tornado moved east through Ivy Ridge, the tornado produced scattered tree and structural damage throughout the area. The tornado then paralleled Ladd Road and crossed Interstate 64 near Hickory Hill Road.
The tornado continued moving east into a wooded area between Hickory Hill Road and Lew Dewitt Boulevard. The survey team noted scattered uprooted and snapped trees. The tornado then entered the City of Waynesboro and crossed Lew Dewitt Boulevard near Bookerdale Road. Hardwood trees were snapped in this area. The tornado then continued moving east into a wooded area resulting in additional scattered tree damage.
As the tornado continued trekking east, hardwood trees were uprooted and additional minor branch damage occured in a residential area in the City of Waynesboro near Sterling Drive and Parker Heights Road near the water tower. Several trees were brought down onto residential structures and a steeple was blown off of a church. The tornado dissipated near Wayneridge Road, but not before causing a large tree to fall onto a residence causing considerable damage on Bader Avenue.
It was noted that significant leaf debris occurred on all sides of multiple structures along the entire path of the tornado. While many trees were snapped and/or uprooted along the storm motion (generally west to east), there were a number of tree snaps or uproots in multiple directions along the tornados path.
Most of the path was EF-0 damage but there were two spots where the damage led to the EF-1 rating, and that was with hardwood trees. Here are the locations:
LOCAL TORNADOES
This is certainly not the first tornado in Augusta County. It’s an old myth that tornadoes don’t happen in the mountains, because they do. These are all the tornado paths in our area since 1950.
The most recent tornado before this one was Harriston in Augusta County in 2020 and Timberville in 2019.
Most Recent Tornadoes
Timberville Tornado, 2019
Tornado in Rockingham County
Harriston Tornado, 2020
Tornado in Augusta County
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/details-storm-damage-survey-augusta-county-tornado/ | 2022-04-28T23:52:33Z |
Elon Musk tweets making Twitter ‘fun,’ hints at buying Coca-Cola to ‘put cocaine back in’
(Gray News) - Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made headlines lately for reaching an agreement to buy Twitter for roughly $44 billion, and he has used the platform since to talk about some of his future business endeavors.
The world’s richest man tweeted Wednesday that he is planning to purchase the popular soft drink manufacturer Coca-Cola to “put the cocaine back in” the drink.
It appears others on social media would like to see this happen, with his tweet receiving more than 3.9 million likes as of Thursday afternoon.
According to the drink’s own history, Coca-Cola was originated in 1886 by Atlanta pharmacist John Pemberton. It contained cocaine in the form of an extract of the coca leaf, as cocaine was a legal and common ingredient in medicines at that time, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Museum reports in the early 1900s, cocaine in its crude form was removed from the drink. Currently, the extract of the coca leaves, a decocainized version, is manufactured in the U.S. and used in the flavoring for Coca-Cola. The crude cocaine that is left over is used by select pharmaceutical companies for medicines.
On Wednesday, Musk also shared what appeared to be a screenshot from his own Twitter account, tweeting he was “going to buy McDonald’s and fix all of their ice cream machines.” However, he responded by tweeting, “he can’t do miracles.”
Additionally, Musk shared a tweet on free speech, tweeting, “free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy.”
The billionaire entrepreneur has urged fellow Twitter users to make the platform “maximum fun.”
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/elon-musk-tweets-making-twitter-fun-hints-buying-coca-cola-put-cocaine-back/ | 2022-04-28T23:52:39Z |
Harrisonburg using new technique to preserve aging water lines
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - In Harrisonburg, Public Utility crews are using a new technique to preserve the city’s aging water lines. The process involves connecting magnesium anode rods to the city’s water lines to absorb corrosive materials in the soil that would otherwise damage the pipes.
“Instead of the pipe taking that corrosiveness of the soil, these anodes take the brunt of that and make that life of the pipe last longer and take down the corrosivity of the soil,” said Micaela Cummings, an engineer for Harrisonburg Public Utilities.
The process is similar to the magnesium rods used in water heaters in people’s homes to absorb any corrosive materials, just on a much larger scale.
The pilot project for the process involved ten anodes being connected to 180 feet of a raw water line that stretches from the North River to the city’s water treatment plant, which has experienced a number of breaks and leaks.
“If we have to cut that raw water line off it can have some detrimental effects, so we want to extend that as much as possible. “These anodes will just keep it in good shape so that we won’t have those leaks and breaks we’ve seen in the past,” said Cummings.
The process is much simpler and cheaper than fixing broken pipes and allows the city to take a proactive approach to maintaining its water lines.
“It’s just kind of to buy us some time to keep that pipeline working. It’s a very critical asset for the city so we want to keep that working and not have to shut it down to replace the whole thing at this time until we have other options,” said Cummings.
The public utility department is working with CorePro Companies to make a full-scale design for the entire water line.
The anodes are expected to extend the life of the pipes by 40 to 100 years. The city plans to install them on other aging water lines in the future.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/harrisonburg-using-new-technique-preserve-aging-water-lines/ | 2022-04-28T23:52:46Z |
JMU baseball plays in honor of Lauren Bernett
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - The James Madison baseball team took the field Wednesday night in the first sporting event featuring a JMU team since the tragic death of Dukes’ softball player Lauren Bernett.
JMU played hard and performed well in a tough, 11-8, loss at No. 7 Virginia Tech Wednesday night in Blacksburg. Members of the JMU baseball team had the initials “LB” written on their hats, the initials were also taped on both dugouts, and Bernett was honored with a tribute on the video board.
“I am really proud of my teammates with the hard days that are really still going on,” said JMU graduate pitcher Nick Stewart. “Just one day after we found out about the news, I am just really proud about the way we were able to persevere and we played in that game close the whole entire time really....we were kind of able to do it and we knew she was looking over us the whole time.”
The JMU baseball and softball teams share the same indoor facility and both teams compete at Veterans Memorial Park.
“You just take things into perspective and you understand we are playing a game,” said JMU baseball head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “But at the end of the day we are a team and we are there to support one another.”
Ikenberry says after learning of Bernett’s death, the JMU baseball team met and decided to play Wednesday’s game at Virginia Tech while making sure to honor the JMU softball star.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/jmu-baseball-plays-honor-lauren-bernett/ | 2022-04-28T23:52:57Z |
Lily Peters strangled, suffered blunt force trauma, autopsy shows
CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WEAU/Gray News) - Preliminary autopsy results showed the death of a 10-year-old Wisconsin girl was a homicide, WEAU reported.
WARNING: Details in the story may be disturbing.
Chippewa County Coroner Ron Patten said, according to the preliminary results of the autopsy conducted by the Ramsey County (Minn.) Medical Examiner’s Office, Iliana “Lily” Peters suffered strangulation and blunt force trauma.
A 14-year-old boy is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree sexual assault resulting in great bodily harm and first-degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 resulting in great bodily harm. He is being held on $1 million cash bond at the Eau Claire Juvenile Detention Center ahead of his next court appearance May 5.
Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell said in court Wednesday that the 14-year-old told investigators he intended to rape and kill Peters when they left a house in Chippewa Falls together. Newell said the suspect told investigators he hit Peters in the stomach and with a stick before strangling her to death and then sexually assaulting her.
Two of the three charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. The 14-year-old is being tried in adult court.
Lily’s body was found near the Duncan Creek Trail in Chippewa Falls on Monday morning after being reported missing Sunday evening.
Her body is being kept in Minnesota for an undetermined amount of time. The final autopsy results could take four to six weeks as medical examiners wait for toxicology reports.
Copyright 2022 WEAU via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/lily-peters-strangled-suffered-blunt-force-trauma-autopsy-shows/ | 2022-04-28T23:53:04Z |
Mother charged after children found unrestrained in car speeding at 91 mph
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (Gray News) – A mother in Florida was arrested for speeding at 91 miles per hour while her two young children were unrestrained in the car.
Two deputies stopped the vehicle, which was speeding at 91 miles per hour in a 50 miles per hour zone, in Volusia County, Florida, late Tuesday night.
The two children, ages 2 and 3, were asleep without car seats in the front and back passenger seats, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.
The driver said she was driving from Leesburg to Daytona Beach and that she had left car seats for her kids in a different vehicle at home because she didn’t want to strap them in while they were asleep, according to the deputies.
The deputies said they told the woman that she and both of her children likely would have died if she had crashed at the speed she was driving. She reportedly said she didn’t plan on crashing.
While deputies were talking with the woman, another adult arrived with car seats to take the toddlers home.
Police charged the woman with child neglect and possession of a Schedule IV substance for Tramadol.
She was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail on a $5,000 bond.
The deputies also issued her citations for speeding, careless driving and three seatbelt violations.
Children under the age of five are required to be fastened in a child seat in the state of Florida.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/mother-charged-after-children-found-unrestrained-car-speeding-91-mph/ | 2022-04-28T23:53:10Z |
Police discover dead animals inside Staunton home
STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) - Staunton Police and Animal Control executed a search warrant Tuesday, April 26, that led to the discovery of four animals dead inside a home.
According to the search warrant and affidavit, law enforcement searched the home at 510 North New Street.
“They went out, obtained a search warrant for the residence, executed that search warrant and did locate four deceased animals in the residence, which were two dogs, a ferret and a lizard,” said Sgt. Butch Shifflett, Public Information Officer with SPD.
In addition to the animals, officers collected two tablets, a laptop, two memory cards and CD-R, records show. On the affidavit, Amonie and Christopher Shingles are listed as the residents of the home.
According to the records, the property manager said the residents left before Thanksgiving and have not returned. He also said the residents had asked someone to check on the home and pets. The animals were heard inside the home in January, but when the manager visited the home Monday, he saw the animals had passed away.
“I don’t know anything about who was supposed to care for the animals or anything. That’s part of the investigation going forward,” said Shifflett.
Law enforcement documented the home was filled with feces, urine and trash.
“These are very rare for us. I mean, luckily the community does care about their animals. Everyone typically does take care of their animals, so this is a very sad case for us – very uncommon,” said Shifflett.
On the affidavit, three offenses are listed: failure to provide adequate care, failure to provide rabies inoculation of companion animals and cruelty to animals. No charges have been filed.
The startling investigation is a hard one to work on, Shifflett said.
“Obviously any death case is very sad, very serious, but these were animals that should be cared for,” he said.
This is a developing story. Stay with WHSV News for the latest.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/police-discover-dead-animals-inside-staunton-home/ | 2022-04-28T23:53:17Z |
Relay for Life returns to Augusta County
FISHERSVILLE, Va. (WHSV) - This weekend in Fishersville, the American Cancer Society will be hosting Relay for Life at the Augusta County Expo to raise money for cancer research.
Participants will take laps around the track to celebrate cancer survivors in the community and honor those who lost their battle.
“Not only is it a fundraiser, it’s an opportunity for the community to come together,” said Whitney Minnick, senior development manager for the American Cancer Society. “So many people are touched by cancer or know someone who has been touched by cancer, and so it’s nice to come out as a community and support those people to celebrate and remember.”
Minnick adds that this is the first time they have had the event at full capacity since before the pandemic. There will also be games, a silent auction, and a luminary ceremony to honor loved ones lost.
The event will take place Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be another Relay for Life event at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds on June 4.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/relay-life-returns-augusta-county/ | 2022-04-28T23:53:23Z |
Sen. Kaine discusses his Too Narrow to Succeed Act
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine is introducing a bill to help expand opportunities for women and people of color at asset management firms.
Sen. Kaine’s Too Narrow to Succeed Act aims to help strengthen retirement security for people across America.
“Retirement advisors always tell you to diversify your portfolio. Well, one way to diversify the portfolio is making sure that investment funds are run by diverse personnel and often there’s very, very little diversity in the personnel of the decision makers who make investment decisions,” the senator said Thursday, April 28.
The goal of his legislation is to make sure that is the case: It focuses on diversity in federally controlled pensions and retirement funds. Federally controlled funds would be required to file annual reports on if they’re using minority-owned firms to make those investment decisions on the federal pensions.
“The investment industry is one where there isn’t enough diversity and we think a transparency bill will encourage more firms to think about as they put together their roster of decision makers,” Kaine said.
Copyright 2022 WVIR. All rights reserved.
Do you have a story idea? Send us your news tip here. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/sen-kaine-discusses-his-too-narrow-succeed-act/ | 2022-04-28T23:53:29Z |
State Senator Hanger explains his vote against gas tax holiday
AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - On Wednesday in Richmond, the Democrat-controlled Senate Appropriation and Finance Committee voted down Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s gas tax holiday proposal on a 12 to 3 vote.
Republican State Senator Emmett Hanger, who represents Augusta County broke rank to vote with 11 democrats against the proposal. The gas tax holiday would have suspended the state’s 26 cents per gallon gas tax from May 1 to July 31. Hanger said he voted against the proposal for a number of reasons.
“One of the main reasons that I don’t think it serves us well to suspend the gas tax is that the market itself sets the price, not the fuel tax. Right now, the cost built into fuel for our domestic supply has not gone up appreciably while it has just about doubled over the last year,” said Hanger.
Hanger said that eliminating the gas tax would do more to increase the profits of oil companies than to help consumers.
Another reason Hanger gave for voting against the proposal is that money from the gas tax is critical to improving the state’s transportation infrastructure, particularly Interstate 81.
“For anybody living here in the Valley that has to drive regularly on Interstate 81, you understand that there is a lot of pressure there and we need a significant amount of money to do the upgrades to Interstate 81 that should’ve been done many years ago,” he said.
Hanger said another factor in his decision is that inflation is increasing the cost of improving the state’s roads.
“If you’re putting asphalt down to fill the potholes, you have to pay more to do that when the prices go up. That was where I was on that. It would have put very little extra money in the pockets of individual consumers and certainly here in the Valley,” Hanger said. “We have places where we need to spend that money on road improvements.”
With Hanger breaking rank, James Madison University political analyst Dr. Bob Roberts said it is unlikely that Governor Youngkin will be able to bring the gas tax holiday back and have it pass.
“It will be very difficult to bring it back as long as Hanger holds his position. In theory, you might’ve been able to get one Democratic Senator to jump ship but since you had Hanger jump ship also you’d have to get two [Democratic] Senators to jump ship on this issue and the Governor really doesn’t have much leverage,” said Roberts.
While some may have been surprised to see Hanger vote with Democrats on the issue, Roberts said Hanger has a history of breaking rank from time to time.
“His historical philosophy has been a fiscal conservative and that means he’s very much concerned that the state is on sound financial footing,” Roberts said. “That means that you don’t make huge tax cuts when it’s unclear what the state’s revenues are in the future.”
Hanger said he understands there are people struggling and that the high gas prices aren’t helping.
“There are other ways we can deal with that through tax rebates and what have you, but for the most part, we have to weather inflation. We went through a period of time back in the early 2000s where the gas price went up over $4 during that time as well, and the market will settle down,” said Hanger.
Even though he broke rank on the vote, Hanger believes his supporters will understand his decision.
“As a conservative Republican in a conservative area, you don’t want people to have to pay anymore than they have to,” said Hanger. “We also live in a very responsible area, I believe, where people understand that if you want services you’ve got to pay for them, and if you take away the money that funds transportation funding and we don’t do our regular maintenance and build additional capacity, that is very short-sighted.”
Hanger added that while he was the only Republican on the committee who voted against the proposal, he has heard from many Republicans across the state and the Valley who said they supported his decision.
Dr. Roberts said while Hanger has had a number of primary challengers in the past, and will likely have them again in the next election cycle, it is unlikely this vote will cost him in a re-election campaign.
“In the past when he’s done similar things, the voters have stayed with him because he’s a very popular senator in the region, so I’m not sure it will really hurt him that much, particularly if the state finds itself in a very bad budget situation in a year or so if a recession takes hold,” said Roberts.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/state-senator-hanger-explains-his-vote-against-gas-tax-holiday/ | 2022-04-28T23:53:35Z |
Staunton-Augusta YMCA closed due to hazmat situation, reopening Friday
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - At approximately 12 p.m., April 28, chemicals used in the swimming pool were inadvertently mixed. YMCA staff members immediately called 911 and evacuated the pool area, then the entire building.
Staunton Fire and Rescue arrived within minutes. Two staff members were transported to the hospital and have been released, and another went herself and was released.
The fire department gave the all-clear for the building to reopen. Out of an abundance of caution and to complete the cleanup, the Y will remain closed Thursday and reopen at 5:30 a.m. Friday with normal operating hours.
The safety of staff and members is a priority. The Y has an emergency plan in place, and staff is following that plan to ensure safety and transparent communication.
Staff is reviewing aquatic procedures, so incidents like this can be prevented. Executive Director Josh Cole is grateful for the immediate response of the staff members and emergency personnel.
The incident was handled by Staunton Fire and Rescue and Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/staunton-augusta-ymca-closed-due-hazmat-situation/ | 2022-04-28T23:53:42Z |
Staunton City Council set to vote on budget adoption Thursday night
STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) - Staunton City Council is set to vote on their budget Thursday, April 28.
If it passes, it will be the end of a month-long budget process. Most of the big decisions, like school funding, shelter staffing and recycling center allowances, have been made.
“The staff, as well as my colleagues, did a tremendous job just trying to break everything down. I am most proud of the fact that we were able to fully fund the schools,” said Mayor Andrea Oakes.
In addition to the vote on the budget, staff will vote on an increase in the environmental fee.
“The environmental fee increase, even though that is regrettable, it is something I believe the majority of the council will support because that’s being driven by the landfill, and we’re mandated to pay our share,” said Oakes.
The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers. You can learn how to join the meeting virtually here.
If you’d like to view the budget as it stands now, click here. The latest meeting’s presentation is available here.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/staunton-city-council-set-vote-budget-adoption-thursday-night/ | 2022-04-28T23:53:48Z |
Top Democrats push for federal crackdown on high gas prices
WASHINGTON (AP) — Citing growing worries about high gasoline prices, Democratic leaders announced an effort Thursday to give the Federal Trade Commission increased authority to crack down on companies that engage in price gouging.
In doing so, they downplayed the possibility of other options such as a federal gas tax holiday or offering oil companies more government incentives to increase production. Instead, they said the FTC needs more tools, including stiffer fines and penalties and a team of dedicated experts to monitor markets and go after price gouging.
With voters concerned about the growing toll of inflation, Democrats again signaled their intention going into November’s midterm elections to place much of the blame for high gas prices on oil companies. Democrats accused oil executives of “ripping off the American people” at a contentious hearing this month.
“There’s no excuse for big oil companies to profiteer, to price gouge or exploit families,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Thursday
“Congress must do more to beef up the FTC’s ability to crack down on potential gas price manipulation and price gouging,” added Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. When the Democratic bills reach the House and Senate floor, “Republicans will face a dilemma: Which side are they on?” Schumer said. “On the consumer and lowering gas prices? Or on the side of the big oil?”
The average price of a gallon of gas was $4.14 Thursday, according to the AAA auto club, and is markedly higher than that in California and other western states.
President Joe Biden, aware of the political stakes, has vowed to do all he can to ease " pain at the pump for American families, " including ordering release of record amounts of oil from the nation’s strategic reserve.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said Congress strengthened the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s authority to investigate and punish energy market manipulation some two decades ago. That was following the Western energy crisis of 2000 to 2001 when Enron and affiliates were found liable for engaging in various market manipulation schemes.
She said the FTC needs a dedicated team of experts monitoring transportation fuels and looking out for any suspicious pricing behavior, and it needs authority to enact fines and penalties that would lead to corrective action.
“We need to make sure that there is a policeman on the beat,” Cantwell said. “It doesn’t seem right that we should have more transparency on a product like wheat or corn than we would on oil.’’
A draft description of the legislation says it would double the maximum penalty for manipulating wholesale oil markets to up to $2 million a day for each violation.
The unit described by Cantwell would be charged with identifying any manipulation or use of market power or other unfair method of competition to distort markets. Once it identifies such behavior, it could then advise the full commission to go after the perpetrators and impose penalties.
Oil executives, testifying before Congress earlier this month, said oil is a global market and that oil companies don’t dictate prices.
“We do not control the market price of crude oil or natural gas, nor of refined products like gasoline and diesel fuel, and we have no tolerance for price gouging,” said Chevron CEO Michael Wirth.
Industry groups dismissed use of the FTC to investigate price manipulation as a political stunt. “Using the power of the FTC to undertake political investigations of American energy companies will not lower gas prices by a penny,” said Anne Bradbury, CEO of the American Exploration and Production Council, a trade association representing independent oil and natural gas companies.
“At a time of historic inflation and economic contraction, Americans deserve real policies that boost domestic oil and gas production,’’ she said.
Republicans were equally dismissive of the Democratic proposal Thursday.
“My Democratic colleagues are doubling down on their blatant blame-shifting for political cover,’’ said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state. “The American people know this isn’t price gouging or Putin’s price hike. It’s a Biden price hike since the day he took office.”
Gas prices rose late last year amid supply chain problems and increased demand as the economy recovered following the COVID-19 pandemic, but prices have spiked since Putin’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.
The answer to higher gas prices is to increase production here in the U.S., Republicans said.
“America is the world’s leading producer of oil and gas, and we should act like it. We can produce significantly more energy than we do today and unleash the vast resources under our feet,” Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., told Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm at a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
But Democrats said oil companies have made a choice to pad profits rather than increase production. Six companies at the April 6 House hearing, including Chevron and ExxonMobil, recorded $77 billion in profits last year.
“Here’s the bottom line: They’re not using the money for domestic energy production,” Schumer said. “They’re using it for stock buybacks. They’re using it to make their shares go up. We wouldn’t be here if the oil companies were using it to make the American consumer’s price cheaper.”
Some states have suspended their gas tax to give consumers relief at the pump. Many Democrats in Congress have also called for Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent per gallon federal gas tax. But Pelosi said there was no guarantee the savings would be passed on to drivers.
“It’s good PR,’’ she said of the tax suspension, but it “may or may not even have a benefit.”
Some Democrats have introduced bills in the House and Senate to impose a windfall tax on oil profits, but the idea has generated little momentum on Capitol Hill.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/top-democrats-push-federal-crackdown-high-gas-prices/ | 2022-04-28T23:53:54Z |
State police investigating fatal tractor trailer crash in Harrisonburg
Published: Apr. 28, 2022 at 1:53 PM EDT|Updated: 6 hours ago
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - On Thursday, April 28, at 3:07 p.m., Virginia State Police responded to a fatal two-vehicle crash along Interstate 81 SB at the 245 exit ramp in Harrisonburg.
A tractor trailer was traveling southbound on I-81 when it exited onto the 245 ramp. The tractor trailer reportedly stopped in the travel lane due to traffic when a southbound sedan rear-ended the tractor-trailer. There is one confirmed fatality as a result of the crash.
Motorists experienced delays due to the tractor trailer crash. The Exit 245 off-ramp has reopened.
This is a developing story. Stay with WHSV for updates.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/tractor-trailer-crash-augusta-county-causing-delays/ | 2022-04-28T23:54:02Z |
Trevor Reed back in US, one day after Russian prisoner swap
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trevor Reed is back in the United States one day after the Marine veteran was swapped for a Russian drug trafficker in a prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow, his mother tweeted early Thursday morning.
Paula Reed called it a “very exciting day for The Reed family. Trevor is back in the USA.” Photographs tweeted from the account of Rep. August Pfluger, a Texas Republican, also showed him standing next to Reed.
His destination was not immediately clear. Reed’s parents live in Granbury, Texas, near Dallas.
Reed was swapped in Turkey on Wednesday for Konstantin Yaroshenko, who had been serving a 20-year prison sentence in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy case.
“I think it’s going to really hit home for him and for us when we finally get to see him and touch him,” Reed’s father, Joey, said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Reed, a 30-year-old former Marine, was arrested in the summer of 2019 after Russian authorities said he assaulted an officer while being driven by police to a police station following a night of heavy drinking.
He was later sentenced to nine years in prison. The U.S. government described him as unjustly detained and pressed for his release; his family asserted his innocence and expressed concerns about his deteriorating health — which included coughing up blood and a hunger strike.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/trevor-reed-back-us-one-day-after-russian-prisoner-swap/ | 2022-04-28T23:54:09Z |
‘Very disturbing’: Police arrest 51-year-old man for rape, murder of child at motel
ENID, Okla. (Gray News) - Police in Oklahoma have arrested a man in the death of a young girl at a local motel on Thursday.
The Enid Police Department reports Michael Geiger, 51, was taken into custody after officers were called to a motel for a child drowning at the pool.
Authorities said the 2-year-old child was pulled from the pool and CPR was performed, but the girl later died at the Integris Bass Baptist Hospital.
It was noted the girl had injuries consistent with a sexual assault, according to the Enid Police Department. During the investigation, officers determined Geiger was a person of interest.
Geiger took off from the motel, but officers said he was later found on top of nearby a building.
Enid police said the 51-year-old was booked on first-degree murder and first-degree rape charges.
“This was an aggravated assault on an innocent child and a very disturbing incident,” Enid Police Lt. Bryan Hart said. “We’re glad this case was brought to an end in a timely manner with Mr. Geiger’s arrest.”
Officials said Oklahoma Department of Corrections records showed Geiger was recently discharged from custody on a 10-year sentence for a charge of kidnapping out of Oklahoma County.
Police did not release any further immediate information on the child.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/very-disturbing-police-arrest-51-year-old-man-rape-murder-child-motel/ | 2022-04-28T23:54:19Z |
VIDEO: High school basketball coach jumps into action to save choking student
OMAHA, Neb. (KETV) - A high school student who started choking during lunch is thanking his school’s basketball coach for rushing to his rescue.
Papillion La Vista South Basketball Coach Joel Hueser was working his regular lunch duty on Tuesday when freshman Riley Kelly started choking after taking a bite of a cheeseburger.
“I just didn’t chew it all the way,” Kelly said.
Video from the school lunchroom showed the student grabbing his throat with students yelling for help.
“It was all so sudden; it was like a flash of lightning in my head but at the same time going super slow,” Kelly said.
Hueser leaped up and immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver on Kelly. And the piece of the cheeseburger was out a few seconds later.
“Every two years when we have to do CPR, I’m like, ‘We really have to do this again,’ but it certainly paid off this time,” Hueser said.
Kelly said he was grateful to the coach he’d never met until that afternoon.
“I would definitely say, ‘Thank you very much, I really appreciate it,’” Kelly said
Hueser said he’s no hero, just thankful Kelly is alright.
“Any teacher or coach would have done the same thing. I just happened to be there,” Hueser said.
The student says he’s actually had something like this happen before, where he gets something stuck in his throat, but normally, he is able to wash it down.
Lucky for Kelly, coach Hueser was nearby this time.
Copyright 2022 KETV via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/video-high-school-basketball-coach-jumps-into-action-save-choking-student/ | 2022-04-28T23:54:25Z |
Virginia governor signs Literacy Act into law
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Virginia’s governor signed The Virginia Literacy Act into law on Thursday at the Library of Virginia in downtown Richmond.
“For too long, we have condemned generations of children to a diminished future because we failed to teach them to read, to read. This law changes that,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin, (R) Virginia.
It’s a bipartisan effort to help address a growing concern inside the classroom, lagging reading rates.
“The more we learn the science of learning, the better we can align our curriculum and move forward to address every child where they are because some children struggle,” said State Sen. Jennifer McClellan, (D) 9th District.
The new law does many things, including training teachers to better spot issues, create student reading plans for the home, and requiring one reading specialist for every 550 students in grades K-3.
“Don’t ask me to grow a garden without seeds. And when students are not able to participate in class and learn, they act out, they get disciplined, they get labeled,” said Inett Dabney, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School Principal.
Out of the 508 students at MLK, Jr. Middle School, 385 are reading below their grade level.
“We were able to look and look at best practices and say, you know what, there’s a better path forward for our children and our teachers and our families,” said Del. Carrie Coyner, (R) 62nd District.
Currently, city schools report only 35% of students across the division are proficient in reading.
“Far too many Virginians are not learning to read by third or even by fifth grade. Unless property addresses and supported these reading challenges don’t go away when students come through our door,” said Dabney.
The new law goes into effect July 1 to help with the upcoming school year.
Copyright 2022 WWBT. All rights reserved.
Want NBC12’s top stories in your inbox each morning? Subscribe here. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/28/virginia-governor-signs-literacy-act-into-law/ | 2022-04-28T23:54:33Z |
LANHAM, Md., April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU) announced today that it will report its first quarter 2022 financial and operational results on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Christopher "Chip" Paucek, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and Paul Lalljie, Chief Financial Officer, will hold an audio webcast and conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss the results.
To access the live webcast, visit investor.2u.com. To participate in the conference call by telephone in the U.S., dial 1-833-921-1673, or outside of the U.S., dial 1-236-389-2670, and provide the conference ID number 7559117. A recording of the webcast will be posted to 2U's Investor Relations site as soon as it is available.
About 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU)
For more than a decade, 2U, Inc. has been the digital transformation partner of choice to great non-profit colleges and universities delivering high-quality online education at scale. As the parent company of edX, a leading global online learning platform, 2U provides over 42 million learners with access to world-class education in partnership with more than 230 colleges, universities, and corporations. Our people and technology are powering more than 3,600 digital education offerings — from free courses to full degrees — and helping unlock human potential. To learn more: visit 2U.com.
Investor Contact:
investorinfo@2U.com
Media Contact:
media@2U.com
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SOURCE 2U, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/2u-inc-announces-date-2022-first-quarter-earnings-report/ | 2022-04-28T23:54:39Z |
Free Resources Identify Top Scams Facing Mississippi's Military Community and Ways to Fight Back
JACKSON, Miss., April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mississippi's more than 200,000 military veterans and active-duty service members are at risk of being targeted by scammers. AARP recently launched the AARP Veterans Fraud Center, a new online education and resource center to help protect veterans, service members and their families against fraud.
According to an AARP survey, one in three military/veteran adults reported losing money to scams that are specifically trying to take advantage of the trust they have in the military community. Veterans, active-duty service members and their families are 40% more likely to lose money to scams and fraud than the civilian population. These individuals lost more than $267 million in 2021, up from $102 million in 2020 (a 162% increase), according to the Federal Trade Commission.
"Targeting scams at members of the military community is unconscionable," said AARP Mississippi State Director Kimberly L. Campbell, Esq. "AARP has launched this effort to alert veterans and their families of the latest scams and how to avoid them."
Top scams aimed at veterans include:
- Benefit Buyouts: Turning over U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pension and/or disability benefits for a supposed lump-sum payment that never materializes (47%).
- Fraudulent records scam: Paying for updated personal military records (32%).
- The fake charitable giving request: Donating to fake veteran charities (32%).
Free resources in the AARP Veterans Fraud Center include:
- A new AARP Watchdog Alert Handbook: Veterans' Edition, highlighting tips to detect the most common ways con artists target veterans and military families;
- The AARP Fraud Watch Network and Scam-Tracking Map; and
- Operation Protect Veterans—a joint program of the AARP Fraud Watch Network and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Some top tips from AARP's Fraud Watch Network recommendations include: signing up for the National Do Not Call Registry and using a call-blocking service; using strong and unique passwords for each online account; using two-factor authentication when available; and placing a free security freeze on credit reports at each of the three major credit bureaus. Also, veterans never have to pay for their service records or earned benefits—if told otherwise, it's a scam.
To learn more about the AARP Veterans Fraud Center and to download a free copy of the new Watchdog Alert Handbook: Veterans' Edition, visit www.aarp.org/vetsfraudcenter. For additional resources and information on AARP's support for veterans and military families, including caregiving, competing in today's job market, and connecting with earned service benefits, visit www.aarp.org/veterans.
About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Ronda Gooden, 601-898-5417 (office)
601-209-1812 (cell)
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SOURCE AARP Mississippi | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/aarp-launches-online-resource-center-help-protect-veterans-against-rising-fraud/ | 2022-04-28T23:54:46Z |
LUXEMBOURG, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Adecoagro S.A. (the "Company") (NYSE: AGRO), one of the leading agro-industrial companies in South America, hereby announces the filing of its Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
The Company's Form 20-F can be accessed by visiting either the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or the "Investors" section of the Company's website at www.adecoagro.com. In addition, shareholders may receive a hard copy of the Company's audited financial statements, or its complete 2021 Form 20-F including audited financial statements, free of charge, upon request.
For questions please contact:
Victoria Cabello
IR Manager
Email: ir@adecoagro.com
Tel: +54 (11) 4836-8651
Skype: +54 (11) 4836-8651
Adecoagro is a leading agro-industrial company in South America. Adecoagro owns over 219.8 thousand hectares of farmland and several industrial facilities spread across the most productive regions of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, where it produces over 2.7 million tons of agricultural products and over 1 million MWh of bioelectricity, among others.
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SOURCE Adecoagro S.A. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/adecoagro-announces-filing-its-form-20-f-fiscal-year-2021/ | 2022-04-28T23:54:55Z |
Stock Symbol: AEM (NYSE and TSX)
(All amounts expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted)
TORONTO, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM) (TSX: AEM) ("Agnico Eagle" or the "Company") today reported financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2022.
First quarter of 2022 highlights:
- Solid quarterly production and costs despite COVID-19 challenges – Payable gold production1 in the first quarter of 2022 was 660,604 ounces at production costs per ounce of $1,002, total cash costs per ounce2 of $811 and all-in sustaining costs ("AISC") per ounce3 of $1,079. These results include a full quarter of production from the Agnico Eagle mines and 52 days of production from the legacy Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. ("Kirkland Lake Gold") mines (Detour Lake, Macassa and Fosterville) reflecting the period after the closing of the merger between Agnico Eagle and Kirkland Lake Gold on February 8, 2022 (the "Merger"). Including a full quarter of production from the legacy Kirkland Lake Gold mines, total payable gold production in the first quarter of 2022 was 806,329 ounces with total cash costs per ounce approximately in line with the mid-point of 2022 total cash cost guidance announced in February 2022
- Several key cornerstone assets delivered strong operational performance in the first quarter of 2022 – The LaRonde Complex and the Detour Lake and Fosterville mines all encountered higher grades which resulted in better than expected gold production and costs. At LaRonde, production was 105,037 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce of $560. In the post-Merger period, Detour Lake produced 100,443 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce of $600, while Fosterville produced 81,827 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce of $309. The strong operational performance in the first quarter of 2022 puts these mines in a good position to deliver on 2022 guidance forecasts
- COVID-19 challenges seen in late 2021 and early 2022 appear to be moderating – Most of the Company's operations were affected by COVID-19 over the past few months, but production levels and costs in the first quarter of 2022 were generally in line with forecasts. All sites are still maintaining active protocols but risks now appear to be more manageable and the situation improved through the quarter. As a result, the Company began the reintegration of its Nunavummiut workforce (which had been sent home in December 2021) in mid-March, after consultation with the Nunavut Government and other local stakeholders. The reintegration was completed in early April 2022
- Gold production, cost and capital expenditure guidance reiterated for 2022 – Expected payable gold production in 2022 remains unchanged at approximately 3.2 to 3.4 million ounces with total cash costs per ounce expected to be between $725 and $775 and AISC per ounce expected to be between $1,000 and $1,050. Total capital expenditures (excluding capitalized exploration) for 2022 are still estimated to be approximately $1.4 billion. Guidance for 2022 includes production, costs and capital for the period commencing January 1, 2022 for the Detour Lake, Macassa and Fosterville mines
- Inflationary cost environment continues to evolve – Cost pressures were relatively minor in the first quarter of 2022, largely due to cost savings initiatives, long-term agreements with local suppliers, existing fuel hedges and the predominantly locally sourced labour force. The inflationary cost environment continues to be dynamic given the changing political landscape and the effects of COVID-19. As such, the Company will continue to monitor and assess any impacts on forecast costs in the coming months as inflation could have more of an effect during the remainder of the year
- Merger completed February 8, 2022; Focus Now on Delivering Synergies and Maximizing Value Drivers – The Merger with Kirkland Lake Gold was completed on February 8, 2022 and the integration process is gaining momentum. The senior management team has been finalized and is focused on optimizing and leveraging best practices to deliver on corporate and operational synergies and to maximize value drivers:
- Update on key value drivers
- Strong investment grade balance sheet; normal course issuer bid ("NCIB") expected to commence in early May 2022 – On February 9, 2022, Fitch Ratings placed Agnico Eagle's BBB credit rating on a Positive Outlook. At March 31, 2022, the Company's net debt4 totaled $503.7 million. Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company repaid with cash the $125 million 6.77% Series C senior notes at maturity on April 7, 2022. Under the proposed NCIB, the Company intends to purchase up to $500 million of its common shares (up to a maximum of 5% of its issued and outstanding common shares)
- A quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share has been declared
"I am pleased to report that our newly consolidated operations have performed very well in the first quarter of 2022 despite challenges related to COVID-19. Supported by strong metal prices, the first quarter generated solid operating cash flow which allowed the Company to continue to deliver on shareholder returns while paying down debt, and investing in our operations and pipeline projects," said Ammar Al-Joundi, Agnico Eagle's President and Chief Executive Officer. "During the quarter, we made good progress on the integration of the Kirkland Lake Gold management team, workforce and mining operations, and corporate synergies from the merger are now expected to be better than originally expected. While most of our operations are keeping costs in line with forecast, we do remain cautious as inflation and the global political and economic context has increased pressure on costs and supply chains," added Mr. Al-Joundi.
First Quarter 2022 Financial and Production Results
In the first quarter of 2022, net income was $109.8 million ($0.29 per share). This result includes the following items (net of tax): a non-cash fair value adjustment on inventory sold during the quarter related to the Merger included in production costs of $78.8 million ($0.20 per share), severance costs of $34.5 million ($0.09 per share), transaction costs relating to the Merger of $31.3 million ($0.08 per share), derivative gains on financial instruments of $16.0 million ($0.04 per share) and various other adjustment gains of $2.8 million ($0.01 per share). Excluding these items would result in adjusted net income5 of $235.6 million or $0.61 per share for the first quarter of 2022. For the first quarter of 2021, the Company reported net income of $145.2 million or net income of $0.60 per share.
Included in the first quarter of 2022 net income, and not adjusted above, is a non-cash stock option expense of $6.1 million ($0.02 per share), care and maintenance costs of $6.3 million ($0.02 per share) and workforce costs of employees affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (primarily Nunavut-based) of $5.2 million ($0.01 per share).
For financial reporting purposes, the Merger has been determined to be a business combination with Agnico Eagle identified as the acquirer. As a result, the purchase consideration was allocated to the identifiable assets and liabilities of Kirkland Lake Gold based on their fair values as of February 8, 2022 (the "Purchase Price Allocation") and was recorded in the first quarter of 2022. The finalization of the Purchase Price Allocation will take place within twelve months following the acquisition date.
Upon closing of the Merger, under the Purchase Price Allocation, any gold inventory held by Kirkland Lake Gold on February 8, 2022 was revalued at the forecasted gold price in the period the inventory was expected to be sold. The revalued inventory subsequently sold during the first quarter of 2022 resulted in additional production costs of approximately $113.7 million ($78.8 million after tax) during the quarter. Given the extraordinary nature of the fair value adjustment on inventory related to the Merger, this non-cash adjustment, which increased the cost of inventory sold during the quarter, was normalized from net income and net income per share and adjusted out of the total cash costs per ounce and AISC in the first quarter of 2022.
The decrease in net income in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the prior-year period is primarily due to Merger costs recognized in the quarter, including a fair value adjustment on inventory sold during the quarter (included in production costs) and transaction and severance costs. In addition, higher exploration and development costs, higher amortization due to the inclusion of the Detour, Macassa and Fosterville mines and higher general and administrative costs contributed to the decrease in net income in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the prior-year period. These higher costs were partially offset by higher operating margins6 (higher average realized metal prices and higher sales volumes) and higher gains on derivatives.
In the first quarter of 2022, cash provided by operating activities was $507.4 million ($366.0 million before changes in non-cash components of working capital), compared to the first quarter of 2021 when cash provided by operating activities was $366.6 million ($425.5 million before changes in non-cash components of working capital). The non-cash fair value adjustment on inventory related to the Merger of $113.7 million was included in production costs and as result included in cash provided by operating activities before changes in non-cash components of working capital for the first quarter of 2022. The non-cash fair value adjustment on inventory was then reversed through changes in non-cash components of working capital.
Excluding the non-cash fair value adjustment on inventory of $113.7 million related to the Merger, cash provided by operating activities before changes in non-cash components of working capital was $479.7 million in the first quarter of 2022 and increased when compared to the prior year period primarily due to higher sales volumes and higher realized prices. The cash provided by operating activities before changes in non-cash components of working capital of $479.7 million included non-recurring costs related to the Merger of $34.8 million in transaction costs and $46.0 in severance costs.
In the first quarter of 2022, the Company's payable gold production was 660,604 ounces. Including the entire quarter's production from the legacy Kirkland Lake Gold mines, total gold production in the first quarter of 2022 was 806,329 ounces. This compares to quarterly payable gold production of 516,804 ounces in the prior-year period.
Gold production in the first quarter of 2022, when compared to the prior-year period, was higher primarily due to the inclusion of the production from the Detour Lake, Macassa and Fosterville mines. This was partially offset by lower production at the Meadowbank Complex and the Meliadine mine largely due to the reduction of activities at the beginning of the quarter due to the impacts of COVID-19.
Production costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 were $1,002, compared to $821 in the prior-year period. Total cash costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 were $811, compared to $734 in the prior-year period. Including the entire quarter's production from the Kirkland Lake Gold mines, total cash costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 were approximately in line with the mid-point of the 2022 cost guidance.
In the first quarter of 2022, production costs per ounce and total cash costs per ounce increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to higher minesite costs per tonne and lower production at various operations including the Meadowbank Complex and the Meliadine, Kittila and Pinos Altos mines. Production costs per ounce also increased when compared to the prior-year period due to the fair value adjustment on inventory sold during the quarter as discussed above. A detailed description of the minesite costs per tonne at each mine is set out below.
AISC per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 were $1,079, compared to $1,007 in the prior-year period. AISC per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to higher total cash costs per ounce, partially offset by lower sustaining capital expenditures.7
Integration Process Gaining Momentum; Focus on Maximizing Key Value Drivers
The senior management team has now been finalized and is working at optimizing and leveraging best practices across the Company's combined operations, with a focus on delivering previously announced synergies and maximizing value creation. With the second quarter of 2022 being the first full quarter of combined operations, the Company expects to add further value in 2022 through increased production and operating cash flow per share.
Key value drivers are listed below with additional details set out in the operational section of this news release.
- Detour Lake mine – An updated life of mine plan is expected to be included in the second quarter of 2022 news release in July. The Company is also evaluating the potential to expand operations to 32 million tonnes per year and develop an underground mining operation
- Kirkland Lake region – At Macassa, the focus is on completing Shaft #4 infrastructure and ramping up production. The Company is also evaluating the potential integration of the AK deposit (potential production start in 2024) and the Upper Beaver project with the existing regional infrastructure
- Odyssey project – The Canadian Malartic GP (the"Partnership remains focused on maintaining the project schedule and budget and finding additional sources of ore to maximize the production profile especially early in the mine life
- Kittila mine – The key priority is the completion of the shaft project and the potential increase in throughput to 2.35 million tonnes per year
- Meliadine mine – The Phase 2 expansion to 6,000 tonnes per day ("tpd") is expected to be complete by mid-2024. Exploration efforts are focused on increasing mineral reserves and mineral resources to extend mine life
- Meadowbank Complex – At Amaruq, the focus remains on optimizing open pit operations and ramping up underground production starting in the second half of 2022
- Hope Bay project – Exploration activities are ramping up with a primary focus on the Doris, Madrid and Boston deposits. The Company is also evaluating the potential to develop a larger production scenario
2022 Synergy and Optimization Benefits Ahead of Estimates
Work continued in the first quarter of 2022 to realize the previously disclosed synergy and optimization benefit estimates of $800 million before tax over the next five years and $2 billion over the next ten years. More opportunities were realized in the first quarter of 2022 than expected, with approximately $45 million of synergies achieved to date, $35 million of which are expected to be repeatable on an annual basis. The Company now expects 2022 Merger-related synergies to be at the top end of the previously disclosed range of $40 million to $60 million.
Corporate General and Administrative ("G&A") Synergies Ahead of Plan
Corporate G&A synergies were the primary driver of realized synergies in the first quarter of 2022 as the Company exceeded its original full-year 2022 estimate of $15-$25 million, and the Company also surpassed the expected annual run rate of $35 million per year earlier than expected. The Company now anticipates being able to achieve $40 million to $50 million of corporate G&A synergies in future years.
The key components of the realized corporate G&A synergies are:
- Streamlining of the business resulting in personnel cost savings estimated to be approximately $25 million in 2022, expected to grow to $30 million by 2024
- Lower finance and insurance costs of approximately $10 million on an ongoing basis
- Reduction and consolidation of regional office space, resulting in savings of approximately $9 million (a combination of one-time and ongoing)
- Streamlining of service contracts and the elimination of external service providers resulting in IT savings of $3 million per year
As a result of the success to date, the Company is revising upwards its expected corporate G&A synergies to up to $200 million before tax in the first five years (up from $145 million) and to up to $400 million over the next ten years (up from $320 million).
Operational Synergies
The Company is maintaining its estimate for potential operational synergies in excess of $130 million per year ($440 million over five years, ramping up to $1.1 billion over 10 years). While realization of these benefits will be a multi-year endeavour, encouraging progress was made in the first quarter of 2022.
Procurement
- The Kirkland Lake Gold and Agnico Eagle procurement teams have been combined to create one global team for the combined business
- The process to tender/renegotiate contracts to take advantage of economies of scale has started, with the largest categories taking priority
- The team maintains its objective of ramping up to annual savings of between $35 million and $50 million by 2024, expecting up to $10 million of savings in 2022
Operational Improvements
- The Company is evaluating the potential of implementing best practices from the Canadian Malartic mill to improve overall availability. An improvement of 1% in mill availability could result in approximately 7,000 ounces of additional gold production
- The Company continues to evaluate increasing the slope angle of the Detour North pit wall which could result in a reduced strip ratio. This reduction in strip ratio could potentially result in savings totaling more than $100 million over the life of mine
Other Operational Synergies
- Planning has started to implement the first local centralized control room in the Abitibi region. This will be a pilot project, developing strategies and systems to de-risk a larger deployment in the future
- Discussions with refining partners are underway to optimize the fee structure having regard to the Company's larger production volume. These benefits are expected to begin in the second half of 2022
- Enhanced data analysis on energy consumption across the business was initiated in the first quarter of 2022. This analysis will be incorporated into energy management systems to develop strategies to optimize energy usage and cost. The Company believes these efforts could result in significant annual savings starting in 2024
- Core scanning technology that is being implemented in the Quebec and Ontario regions is expected to improve ore body definition, saving time and cost as compared to traditional geological interpretation tools
- Taken together, these operational synergies are estimated to generate between $75 million to $100 million in annual savings by 2024
The Company estimates the operational synergies and other cost reduction measures have the potential to reduce production costs by up to $10 per ounce in 2022, and up to $30-$40 per ounce in later years. Given the work and complexity involved in attaining these synergies, and given the volatile and inflationary price environment, these synergies were not reflected in the February 2022 production and cost guidance.
Strategic Optimization
The Company continues its review of strategic opportunities to reduce current and future expenditures as part of its project pipeline, maintaining the original estimate of up to $240 million over five years and $590 million over 10 years.
Mining the AK deposit from Macassa Infrastructure
- Ore from the AK deposit could complement the feed at the Macassa mill as early as 2024, with the potential of ramping up to an average of 40,000 extra ounces of gold per year
- At current spot prices, based on preliminary estimates, this could generate approximately $40 million of incremental annual pre-tax cash flow
- During the first quarter of 2022, 225 metres of a planned 984 metre exploration decline from Macassa's existing Near Surface Ramp was completed
- The decline will allow a planned exploration campaign to better delineate the AK deposit
- Permitting work continues and a production decision could be reached later in 2022
Upper Beaver project review
- To date, roughly $20 million of potential savings for the Upper Beaver project have been identified resulting from equipment synergies with Macassa's #4 shaft
- Using the experienced workforce from Macassa's shaft-sinking project at Upper Beaver would lower overall shaft sinking costs and potentially accelerate the schedule
- Work continues on evaluating the potential to use existing infrastructure, reducing capex and operating costs
Strong Financial Position Allows for Asset Development, Debt Repayment and Shareholder Returns
Cash and cash equivalents increased to $1,062.0 million at March 31, 2022, from the December 31, 2021 balance of $185.8 million, primarily due to the cash and cash equivalents of $838.7 million acquired as a result of the closing of the Merger during the quarter and higher cash flow from operations (higher sales volumes and realized gold prices). As of March 31, 2022, the outstanding balance on the Company's unsecured revolving bank credit facility was nil, and available liquidity under this facility was approximately $1.2 billion, not including the uncommitted $600 million accordion feature.
At March 31, 2022, the Company's net debt totaled $503.7 million. Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company further reduced gross debt with the cash repayment of the $125 million 6.77% Series C senior notes at maturity on April 7, 2022.
Approximately 39% of the Company's remaining 2022 estimated Canadian dollar exposure is hedged at an average floor price above 1.25 C$/US$. Approximately 45% of the Company's remaining 2022 estimated Mexican peso exposure is hedged at an average floor price above 20.35 MXP/US$. Approximately 24% of the Company's remaining 2022 estimated Euro exposure is hedged at an average floor price of approximately 1.18 US$/EUR. The Company's remaining 2022 Australian dollar exposure is currently unhedged. The Company's full year 2022 cost guidance is based on assumed exchange rates of 1.25 C$/US$, 20.00 MXP/US$, 1.20 US$/EUR and 1.32 A$/US$.
Including the diesel purchased for the Company's Nunavut operations on the 2021 sealift (consumed to mid-year 2022), approximately 40% of the Company's diesel exposure for 2022 is hedged at an average price below the 2022 cost guidance assumption of C$0.90 per litre. These hedges have partially mitigated the effect of inflationary pressures to date and are expected to provide a degree of protection against inflation for the 2022 sealift diesel costs.
The Company will continue to monitor market conditions and anticipates continuing to opportunistically add to its operating currency and diesel hedges to strategically support its key input costs. Current hedging positions are not factored into 2022 guidance.
On February 23, 2022, the Company announced that it intended to launch a normal course issuer bid ("NCIB"). The Company has now submitted draft documentation to the TSX for approval of an NCIB pursuant to which the Company would be permitted to purchase up to $500 million of its common shares (up to a maximum of 5% of its issued and outstanding common shares). Purchases under the NCIB may continue for up to one year from the expected commencement date of May 4, 2022. If approved, purchases under the NCIB will be made through the facilities of the TSX, the NYSE or other designated exchanges and alternative trading systems in Canada and the United States in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. All common shares purchased under the NCIB will be cancelled.
Dividend Record and Payment Dates for the Second Quarter of 2022
Agnico Eagle's Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.40 per common share, payable on June 15, 2022 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2022. Agnico Eagle has declared a cash dividend every year since 1983.
Expected Dividend Record and Payment Dates for the 2022 Fiscal Year
*Declared
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Please see the following link for information on the Company's dividend reinvestment plan: Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Capital Expenditures
In the first quarter of 2022, capital expenditures (including sustaining capital) were $223.5 million and capitalized exploration expenditures were $26.6 million, for a total of $250.1 million. Capital expenditures were lower than forecast primarily due to the timing of the expenditures. Capital expenditures during the quarter were also affected by COVID-19 challenges. Capital spending is expected to return to more normalized levels over the balance of the year and the total capital expenditures in 2022 are still expected to be approximately $1.4 billion (excluding capitalized exploration).
The following table sets out capital expenditures and capitalized exploration in the first quarter of 2022.
2022 Guidance Unchanged
Expected gold production in 2022 remains unchanged at approximately 3.2 to 3.4 million ounces with total cash costs per ounce expected to be between $725 and $775 and AISC per ounce expected to be between $1,000 and $1,050. Total capital expenditures for 2022 are still estimated to be approximately $1.4 billion. Guidance for 2022 includes production, costs and capital for the period commencing January 1, 2022 at the Detour Lake, Macassa and Fosterville mines.
The estimated 2022 depreciation and amortization expense provided on February 23, 2022 considered a preliminary fair value allocation to the Kirkland Lake Gold assets. The 2022 depreciation and amortization expense guidance remains unchanged at this time (between $1.37 to $1.47 billion for the full year 2022). The finalization of the Purchase Price Allocation will take place within the twelve months following the acquisition date and, as such, the depreciation estimate is subject to change.
Cost Inflation
Supply costs from the fourth quarter of 2021 are in line with costs in the first quarter of 2022 and early in the second quarter of 2022. Cost pressures were relatively minor in the first quarter of 2022, largely due to cost savings initiatives, long-term agreements with local suppliers, existing fuel hedges and the predominantly locally sourced labour force. Overall, the Company has not experienced any significant supply issues and is closely monitoring the supply chain for signs of stress or potential disruptions.
The inflationary cost environment continues to be dynamic given the changing political landscape and the impacts of COVID-19. The Company will continue to monitor and assess any impacts on forecasted costs in the coming months as inflation could have more of an effect during the remainder of the year.
Demonstrating strong ESG performance
In December 2021, as a result of an increase in COVID-19 cases at its Nunavut operations, the Company took precautionary steps to further protect the continued health of its Nunavut workforce and local residents in the communities in which it operates. In collaboration with the Nunavut public health authorities, the Company sent home the Nunavummiut from the Nunavut operations and exploration projects. As the COVID-19 situation improved and after consultation with the Nunavut Government and other local stakeholders, the Company began the reintegration of its Nunavummiut workforce in mid-March. The reintegration was completed in early April 2022.
During the first quarter of 2022, COVID-19 continued to be a challenge at the Company's operations, but production levels and costs in the first quarter of 2022 were generally in line with forecasts. Risks now appear to be more manageable and the situation improved through the quarter. Rigorous protocols and hygiene measures remain in place in order to keep the Company's employees and communities safe while the mines continue to operate. This remains an evolving situation and the Company is monitoring activities at its operations and reassesses its response on an ongoing basis.
Agnico Eagle continues to be recognized for its ESG practices in the first quarter of 2022. During the quarter, the Detour Lake mine was awarded the Leading Practice Award by the International Network for Acid Prevention in recognition of its research and progressive rehabilitation program. This award recognizes leading acid mine drainage mitigation and prevention practice at a specific operating site.
The Company expects to publish its 2021 sustainability report in the second quarter of 2022, which will include information with respect to the legacy Kirkland Lake Gold operations. Following the Merger, Agnico Eagle continues to have one of the lowest greenhouse gas intensities among gold miners globally. The Company has committed to a net zero target for 2050 and pathways to achieve net zero, including specific reduction targets and other key climate-related targets, continue to be evaluated. An update on the Company's climate strategy is expected to be provided later in 2022.
First Quarter 2022 Results Conference Call and Webcast Tomorrow
Agnico Eagle's senior management will host a conference call on Friday, April 29, 2022 at 8:30 AM (E.D.T.) to discuss the Company's first quarter of 2022 financial and operating results.
Via Webcast:
A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's website www.agnicoeagle.com.
Via Telephone:
For those preferring to listen by telephone, please dial 1-416-764-8630 or toll-free 1-888-390-0608. To ensure your participation, please call approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call.
Replay archive:
Please dial 1-416-764-8677 or toll-free 1-888-390-0541, access code 747635#. The conference call replay will expire on May 29, 2022.
The webcast, along with presentation slides, will be archived for 180 days on the Company's website.
Annual Meeting
The Company will host its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "AGM") on Friday, April 29, 2022 at 11:00 am (E.D.T). During the AGM, management will provide an overview of the Company's activities.
Hybrid Format
The AGM will be held in person at the Arcadian Court, 401 Bay Street, Simpson Tower, 8th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2Y4 and online at: https://meetnow.global/MX6S7HV.
The Company is conducting a hybrid meeting that will allow registered shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders to participate both online and in person. The Company is providing the virtual format in order to provide shareholders with an equal opportunity to attend and participate at the AGM, regardless of the particular constraints, circumstances or risks that they may be facing as a result of COVID-19.
For details explaining how to attend, communicate and vote virtually at the AGM please see the Company's Management Information Circular dated March 21, 2022, filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Shareholders who have questions about voting their shares or attending the AGM may contact Investor Relations by telephone at 1-416-947-1212, by toll-free telephone at 1-888-822-6714 or by email at info@agnicoeagle.com.
ABITIBI REGION, QUEBEC
Agnico Eagle is currently Quebec's largest gold producer with a 100% interest in the LaRonde Complex (which includes the LaRonde and LaRonde Zone 5 ("LZ5") mines), the Goldex mine and a 50% interest in the Canadian Malartic mine. These mines are located within 50 kilometres of each other, which provides operating synergies and allows for the sharing of technical expertise.
LaRonde Complex – Higher Grades at the East Mine and Lower Operating Costs Drive Strong Operational Performance; Underground Exploration Drifts Advancing as Planned and Drilling is Now Underway
The 100% owned LaRonde mine in northwestern Quebec achieved commercial production in 1988. The LZ5 property lies adjacent to and west of the LaRonde mine and previous operators exploited the zone by open pit mining. The LZ5 mine achieved commercial production in June 2018.
Gold production in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to higher gold grades, partially offset by lower mill throughput. In the first quarter of 2022, the LaRonde Complex benefited from the mining of high grade stopes in the East mine, originally scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2021, as well as a higher than anticipated grade in these stopes. The lower mill throughput resulted from lower mine productivity due to lower than planned workforce availability related to COVID-19.
Production costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 were the same when compared to the prior-year period primarily as a result of the timing of unsold concentrate inventory, being offset by lower throughput levels and higher unit costs for fuel, materials and reagents. Production costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 decreased when compared to the prior-year period primarily as a result of higher gold production.
Minesite costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to lower throughput levels and higher unit costs for fuel, materials and reagents. Total cash costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to higher minesite cost per tonne, partially offset by higher gold production.
Operational Highlights
- Production in the first quarter of 2022 was better than expected, despite challenges with COVID-19, due to higher grades as described above. The strong operational performance in the first quarter of 2022 puts the LaRonde Complex in a good position to deliver on 2022 guidance
- Development activities during the quarter were also affected due to lower than planned workforce availability due to COVID-19. As a result of slower than expected development and a change in mining sequence, production in the second half of 2022 is expected to be slightly weaker than the first half of 2022
- In the first quarter of 2022, the main drivers of lower total cash costs per ounce than forecast were higher gold production and lower operating costs resulting from increased amounts of development work being classified as capital expenditures, offset by higher fuel and material costs. Total cash costs per ounce were also positively affected by currency and inventory adjustments
- In the first quarter of 2022, approximately 23% of the gold produced was sourced from the West mine area in line with expectations (20-25%), while the mining rate at the LZ5 mine averaged approximately 3,134 tpd, slightly below the target production rate of 3,200 tpd
- During the second quarter of 2022, a planned mill shutdown (approximately 4 days) is expected to take place in late April and early May
- The LaRonde Complex has been successful at incrementally implementing automation for its production activities. During the first quarter of 2022, at the LaRonde mine, 31% of the production mucking was done in automated mode with operators based on surface, which was in line with the 2022 target of 30%. At the LZ5 mine, 21% of the production mucking was done in automated mode with operators based on surface during the first quarter of 2022, compared to the 2022 objective of 23%
Project Highlights
- At Zone LR11-3 (which is at the past producing Bousquet 2 mine), development of the haulage drift on level 146 and 149 began and the ramp between level 146 and 143 was completed. Gold production from LR11-3 development ore is expected to begin in late 2022 and production is expected to start in the first half of 2023
- The construction of the drystack tailings facilities is progressing on schedule. The filter press installation is almost complete and electrical and instrumentation work began in late March. The drystack tailings facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2022
Canadian Malartic – Operational Performance In Line With Expectations; Underground Development and Surface Construction Activities at Odyssey Remain on Schedule and on Budget
In June 2014, Agnico Eagle and Yamana Gold Inc. ("Yamana") acquired Osisko Mining Corporation (now Canadian Malartic Corporation) and created the Canadian Malartic GP (the "Partnership"). The Partnership owns the Canadian Malartic mine in northwestern Quebec and operates it through a joint management committee. Each of Agnico Eagle and Yamana has a direct and indirect 50% ownership interest in the Partnership. All volume data in this section reflect the Company's 50% interest in the Canadian Malartic mine, except as otherwise indicated. The Odyssey underground project was approved for construction in February 2021.
Gold production in the first quarter of 2022 decreased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to lower mill throughput and slightly lower gold grades, partially offset by higher metallurgical recovery. As planned, starting in February 2022, the mill throughput levels were reduced to 51,500 tpd (on a 100% basis) in an effort to optimize the production profile during the transition to the underground Odyssey project. The mill throughput is forecast to return to full capacity of approximately 60,000 tpd (on a 100% basis) in the second half of 2024.
Production costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to higher mine and mill production costs resulting from lower throughput levels and higher fuel costs, a lower deferred stripping adjustment and the timing of inventory. Production costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to higher production costs per tonne, the strengthening of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar and lower gold grades.
Minesite costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to higher mine and mill production costs resulting from lower throughput levels and higher fuel costs, and a lower deferred stripping adjustment. Total cash costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to higher production costs per tonne, the strengthening of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar and lower gold grades.
Operational Highlights
- During the first quarter of 2022, production was generally in line with forecast despite the challenging conditions in January and February (lower than planned workforce availability due to COVID-19 and extreme cold temperatures) and slightly lower grade than expected
- In February 2022, the Partnership adjusted the milling rate to 51,500 tpd to optimize the processing plan to improve the production profile during the transition to the Odyssey underground project. This optimization is expected to enhance the financial performance and cash flow in the near-term
Project Highlights
Odyssey Project:
- The Odyssey project remains on schedule and budget. Inflationary cost pressures remain manageable at this time. From a labour perspective, the Company is successfully building a highly skilled team and the Odyssey project is considered an employer of choice in the Abitibi
- Underground development in the first quarter of 2022 was generally in line with forecast, with 375 metres of ramp completed and 1,079 metres of lateral development achieved. Development rates are expected to continue increasing over the remainder of the year
- The headframe and hoistroom construction continued in the first quarter of 2022 and the structural steel installation began in early January. Shaft sinking is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022, and the first underground production is expected to commence in the first half of 2023
- Surface construction activities continue to progress with the maintenance garage and warehouse expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2022. Construction of the paste plant is ongoing and is expected to be ready for production in 2023
- During the first quarter of 2022, the Partnership repurchased the 2% NSR royalty on the Rand Malartic property for $7 million
- Fifteen drills are active on the property, with three underground drills carrying out infill drilling on the Odyssey South deposit and 12 surface drills focused on infilling and expanding the East Gouldie mineralization
Other Opportunities
- In 2021, the Camflo property, which lies to the north, was added to the Partnership's land holdings. The Camflo property covers the past producing Camflo mine which had historical production of approximately 1.6 million ounces of gold. An initial evaluation of the Camflo property has identified porphyry hosted gold mineralization that could potentially be mined via an open pit. Additional studies are underway to fully evaluate this mineralization and additional potential in adjacent rock types
Goldex – Mill Throughput Positively Affected by Strong Performance from the Rail-Veyor and the South Zone
The 100% owned Goldex mine in northwestern Quebec began production from the M and E zones in September 2013. Commercial production from the Deep 1 Zone commenced on July 1, 2017.
Gold production in the first quarter of 2022 decreased slightly when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to lower metallurgical recoveries and slightly lower gold grades being offset by higher throughput levels. In the first quarter of 2022, the Goldex mine continued to deliver a solid performance in line with the production plan and past performance despite lower than planned workforce availability related to COVID-19.
Production costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to higher mine development and production costs resulting from higher labour and ground support costs, higher mill costs resulting from higher unit costs for reagents and grinding media and the timing of unsold inventory. Production costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to higher production costs per tonne.
Minesite costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to higher mine development and production costs resulting from higher labour and ground support costs and higher mill costs resulting from higher unit costs for reagents and grinding media. Total cash costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period due to the factors causing higher minesite costs per tonne.
Operational Highlights
- During the first quarter of 2022, gold production was in line with forecast despite challenges with lower than planned workforce availability related to COVID-19. This was driven by higher throughput levels from higher tonnage from the South Zone and M&E zones and strong performance by the Rail-Veyor system in March
- In March 2022, the Rail-Veyor system set a record at an average of 7,592 tpd (above its design capacity of 7,000 tpd) and had the best single day performance ever at 10,752 tonnes
- Ore production from the South Zone was 960 tpd in the first quarter of 2022 and reached a record 1,689 tpd in March
- Mining at South Zone sector #2B started ahead of schedule and good exploration results were reported from between levels 094 and 098 (7.2 g/t gold over 3.0 metres at 933 metres depth and 10.0 g/t gold over 3.0 metres at 956 metres depth in hole GD90-182 and 21.2 g/t gold over 3.0 metres at 955 metres depth in hole GD90-180)
- South Zone Sector #3 also yielded strong conversion and delineation drill results, including 10.2 g/t gold over 5.3 metres at 1,288 metres depth in hole GD-128-050 and 19.4 g/t gold over 5.7 metres at 1,264 metres depth in hole GD128-048
ABITIBI REGION, ONTARIO
Agnico Eagle acquired the Detour Lake and Macassa mines on February 8, 2022 as a result of the Merger with Kirkland Lake Gold. With the inclusion of these two assets in its portfolio, the Company is now Ontario's largest gold producer. Furthermore, the proximity of these mines to the Company's operations located in the Abitibi region of Quebec provides operating synergies and allows for the sharing of technical expertise.
Detour Lake – Strong Gold Production and Low Cash Costs Driven by Higher Gold Grades; Mill Optimization Projects Progressing as Planned
The Detour Lake operation is located in northeastern Ontario, approximately 300 kilometres northeast of Timmins and 185 kilometres by road northeast of Cochrane, within the northernmost Abitibi Greenstone Belt.
In 1987, Placer Dome Inc. began underground gold production at the Detour Lake property and during the initial 12 years of mining (from 1987 to 1999) production was approximately 1.7 million ounces of gold from approximately 14.3 million tonnes grading 3.82 g/t gold. In 2013, Detour Gold Corporation restarted gold production via open pit mining. The Detour Lake mine is the largest gold producing mine in Canada with the largest gold reserves and substantial growth potential. It has an estimated mine life of approximately 21 years.
For the period from February 8, 2022 to March 31, 2022, gold production at the Detour Lake mine was 100,443 ounces, with production costs per tonne of C$46, production costs per ounce of $1,194, minesite costs per tonne of C$24 and total cash costs per ounce of $600.
The difference between production costs per tonne and minesite costs per tonne and the difference between production costs per ounce and total cash costs per ounce are primarily due to the inventory re-valuation at the forecasted gold price in the period the inventory was expected to be sold done as part of the Purchase Price Allocation following the completion of the Merger.
Operational Highlights
- For the complete first quarter of 2022, gold production at Detour Lake was 181,834 ounces
- On April 13, 2022, the Detour Lake mine poured its five millionth ounce of gold since commercial production began at the site in 2013 while owned by Detour Gold Corporation
- In the first quarter of 2022, the Detour Lake mine was awarded the International Network for Acid Prevention Leading Practice Award in recognition of their research and progressive rehabilitation program
- In the first quarter of 2022, the Detour Lake mine received the Overall Benefit Permit for woodland caribou and the Forestry Resource License for the Sunday Creek Project. With the permit, the Company will be able to proceed with the construction of access roads to support the construction of two waterlines and infrastructure to carry water at a maximum of 65,000 cubic metres per day seasonally from the Mine Water Pond to Sunday Creek. The discharge of surplus run off and non-process affected water will reduce the need for additional water storage capacity on site. The Environmental Compliance Approval, which will allow the construction of the waterlines and infrastructure to commence, is under review by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. This project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2023
- In the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, the Detour Lake mine benefited from a combination of a higher grade mining sequence from Phase 2 and a positive reconciliation observed when mining around historical underground workings
- The open pit mine delivered solid performance in the first quarter of 2022, with the tonnage moved in line with expectations. Adjustments to the mining sequence resulted in a higher strip ratio than forecast for the quarter
- Tonnage milled was slightly under forecast primarily due to lower mill availability associated with the timing of the planned mill liner replacement
- In the first quarter of 2022, despite cost pressures related to higher fuel and higher electricity prices, the Detour Lake mine achieved lower total cash costs per ounce than guided primarily due to higher gold grade. With the optimization efforts ongoing and the strong first quarter of 2022, the Company believes that the Detour Lake mine is in a good position to deliver on 2022 production and cost guidance
Project Highlights
- In 2021, a record 24.1 million tonnes were milled at the Detour Lake mine. The Company has undertaken several projects to progressively increase the mill throughput to 28 million tonnes by 2025. Key project updates are provided below:
- ◦ Pre-screening before the secondary crusher is expected to help debottleneck the grinding circuit and contribute approximately 2 million tonnes per year to the mill throughput. The project is approximately 43% complete and is expected to be fully competed in the fourth quarter of 2022
- A technical evaluation is progressing with the goal of converting a portion of 2021 measured and indicated mineral resources into mineral reserves, update the life of mine plan and incorporate the mill optimization projects designed to increase the mill throughput to 28 million tonnes per year by 2025. Highlights from the evaluation will be provided in the Company' second quarter 2022 news release in July
- An evaluation is also being planned to assess the potential for an underground operation and the expansion of production to 32 million tonnes per year
Exploration
In regional exploration at Detour Lake during the first quarter, the drilling priority remained the completion of infill drilling in the Saddle and West Detour portions of the deposit to update mineral resources and mineral reserves at mid-year 2022. Drilling also continued to test the underground potential as drilling in the westerly plunge of the deposit is returning wide intervals including a higher grade portion that supports the potential to continue growing the "out-pit" mineralization. Drilling will further investigate the westerly plunge of the deposit in the upcoming quarters to continue to assess the underground potential.
This year's budget also incorporates a plan to investigate the Sunday Lake deformation zone along strike to the west and to the east of the mine, as well as the lower Detour area that includes the 58 North deposit.
Recent highlight holes from the deep westerly plunge of the deposit in the West Pit area include: hole DLM-22-404W, intersecting 38.2 g/t gold over 3.0 metres at 616 metres depth and 3.5 g/t gold over 45.1 metres at 822 metres depth approximately 500 metres west of previously defined mineralized intersections at depth in the West Detour Pit area; and hole DLM-22-422W, intersecting 13.1 g/t gold over 8.7 metres at 688 metres depth, including 28.6 g/t gold over 3.5 metres at 690 metres depth and 2.8 g/t gold over 14.0 metres at 714 metres depth approximately 250 metres west of previously defined mineralized intersections at depth in the West Detour Pit area.
Macassa – Higher than Planned Development Rates and Stope Availability Drive Underground Performance; #4 Shaft Project and Ventilation Upgrade on Schedule for Commissioning in Late 2022
The Macassa Mine, located in northeastern Ontario, began production in 1933. Operations have been continuous except for a brief period, when they were suspended in 1999 due to the depressed gold price. Underground mining restarted in 2002 and over the last 10 years production has been predominately from two production areas: the South Mine Complex (SMC) and the Main Break (MB).
For the period from February 8, 2022 to March 31, 2022, gold production at Macassa mine was 24,488 ounces, with production costs per tonne of C$871, production costs per ounce of $1,320, minesite costs per tonne of C$523 and total cash costs per ounce of $787.
The difference between production costs per tonne and minesite costs per tonne and the difference between production costs per ounce and total cash costs per ounce are primarily due to the inventory re-valuation at the forecasted gold price in the period the inventory was expected to be sold done as part of the Purchase Price Allocation following the completion of the Merger.
Operational Highlights
- For the complete first quarter of 2022, gold production at Macassa was 43,943 ounces, in line with forecast. The higher than forecast mined and milled tonnage was offset by lower mined grades than anticipated
- Increased underground operational efficiencies due to better than expected development rates (47% ahead of forecast) and stope availability drove the higher than forecast ore tonnage mined
- The lower than anticipated gold grade was primarily due to variability in the high-grade nature of the mineralization. This variability in grade can result in significant variations in gold production quarter over quarter
Project Highlights
- In the first quarter of 2022, the planned work on the #4 Shaft project remained on schedule. On level 6300, the focus was on developing the new conveyor drift and loading pocket. The development work to connect the new shaft infrastructure to the existing mining areas advanced as planned. Completion of the #4 Shaft project is expected in late 2022
- The upgrade of the ventilation system progressed as planned. This upgrade is expected to increase ventilation capacity from approximately 300,000 cubic feet per minute to 750,000 cubic feet per minute to support the increase in underground production in 2023 and 2024. At the end of the first quarter of 2022, three of the four ventilation raises are completed and the fourth ventilation raise is expected to break through to surface in the second quarter of 2022
- The underground excavation of the chamber for the main exhaust fans began in the first quarter of 2022. The two 3,000 HP fans have been purchased and delivery is expected in the second quarter of 2022. The fans are expected to be installed in the third quarter of 2022 and commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2022
- Construction to facilitate the increase in the power supply at Macassa from 22 megawatts to 67 megawatts is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2022 and the upgrade is expected to be completed in late 2023
Exploration Highlights
- In the first quarter of 2022, approximately 29,000 metres of exploration and definition drilling was carried out. The main focus was on testing the Main Break, the South Mine Complex eastern extension and west of the Amikougami fault. Highlights include 20.5 g/t gold over 0.8 metres at 2,210 metres depth at the Main Break and 14.2 g/t gold over 1.4 metres at 1,651 metres depth at the South Mine Complex eastern extension
Kirkland Lake Regional Update
AK Deposit
In the first quarter of 2022, the previously identified opportunity to mine the AK deposit from Macassa infrastructure progressed, with 225 metres of a planned 984 metre exploration decline from the existing Near Surface Ramp completed to date. The decline is associated with an exploration campaign planned to be completed in 2022 to better delineate the deposit and understand how the AK mineral resources could complement the feed at the Macassa mill, potentially starting in 2024.
Infill drilling of the AK deposit from surface was initiated in the first quarter of 2021 [NTD: Confirm date], targeting one of the higher grade mineral resource areas where historical hole KLAKC15-87 intercepted 8.8 g/t gold over 14.0 metres (core length) at a depth of 104 metres. In the first quarter of 2022, two drill rigs completed nine holes (2,556 metres). Assays results are expected in the second quarter of 2022.
Upper Beaver – Exploration
In the first quarter of 2022 at Upper Beaver, 18 drill holes were completed totalling 8,100 metres. Work focused on filling the gap in the Footwall Zone between 600 and 1,000 metres depth, and converting inferred mineral resources in the Porphyry and Footwall zones below 1,400 metres depth.
The latest holes continued to return good gold and copper grades over significant widths. Among the holes drilled below 1,400 metres depth, highlight hole KLUB21-328W7 intersected 11.4 g/t gold and 0.38% copper over 4.6 metres at 1,499 metres depth in the Porphyry zone and 13.1 g/t gold and 0.58% copper over 4.3 metres at 1,536 metres depth in the Footwall zone, including 35.7 g/t gold and 1.27% copper over 1.3 metres at 1,534 metres depth; and hole KLUB21-328W13 intersected 3.5 g/t gold and 0.27% copper over 21.6 metres at 1,556 metres depth in the Porphyry zone and 7.4 g/t gold and 0.40% copper over 14.2 metres at 1,582 metres depth in the Footwall zone.
Exploration drilling is also underway to investigate for new mineralized zones at depth along strike laterally. Recent drilling appears to have encountered a new zone of mineralization 500 metres southeast of the main mineralized zone (assays pending).
The Company continues to review project development scenarios for Upper Beaver.
NUNAVUT
Agnico Eagle considers Nunavut a politically attractive and stable jurisdiction with enormous geological potential. With the Company's Meliadine mine and Meadowbank Complex (including the Amaruq satellite deposit), together with the Hope Bay project and other exploration projects, Nunavut has the potential to be a strategic operating platform for the Company with the ability to generate strong gold production and cash flows over several decades.
In December 2021, as a result of the increase in COVID-19 cases at its Nunavut operations, the Company took the precautionary step to send home the Nunavut based workforce and reduce site activities. All site activities ramped back to normal operating levels from mid-January into February 2022. The return of the Nunavut based workforce started on March 14, 2022, after consultation with the Nunavut Government and other local stakeholders. The reintegration was completed in early April 2022.
Meliadine Mine – Millionth Gold Ounce Poured; Full Year Guidance Unchanged Despite COVID-19 Challenges
Located near Rankin Inlet in the Kivalliq District of Nunavut, Canada, the Meliadine project was acquired in July 2010. The Company owns 100% of the 98,222-hectare property. In February 2017, the Company's Board of Directors approved the construction of the Meliadine project and commercial production was declared on May 14, 2019.
Gold production in the first quarter of 2022 decreased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to lower gold grades resulting from an increase in tonnage sourced from the open pit and lower grade stockpiles, partially offset by higher throughput levels resulting from the planned expansion of the mill to 4,800 tpd. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the underground mine activities particularly in December 2021 and January 2022. To compensate for the shortfall in mine production in the first quarter of 2022, low-grade stockpile ore was used to feed the mill.
Production costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period due to inventory adjustments resulting from the consumption of the low-grade stockpile and the contribution of open pit production costs, partially offset by higher throughput levels, lower mining costs as a result of lower underground activities related to lower workforce availability due to COVID-19 and the timing of unsold inventory. Production costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period due to lower gold grades and lower production costs per tonne, partially offset by the timing of unsold inventory.
Minesite costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to inventory adjustments resulting from the consumption of the low-grade stockpile and the contribution of open pit production costs, partially offset by higher throughput levels and lower mining costs as a result of lower underground activities related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Total cash costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period due to lower gold grades and higher minesite costs per tonne.
Operational Highlights
- On March 9, 2022, the Meliadine mine poured its millionth ounce of gold. Since the start of the operation in 2019, the Meliadine mine quickly became a key cornerstone asset for the Company, with yearly production ranging from 360,000 to 390,000 ounces of gold and generating strong operating margins
- In the first quarter of 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lower than planned workforce levels which primarily affected the underground mine. Both underground development and ore production were lower than forecast. The processing plant operated as per planned during the quarter, achieving a run rate of approximately 4,800 tpd
- On April 11, 2022, the Government of Nunavut announced the end of the Public Health Emergency and the Company expects impacts from COVID-19 to reduce considerably going forward. Production is expected to return to more normal levels for the remainder of the year. With an expected increase in the grade profile, the Company believes the mine is well positioned to deliver higher gold production and declining costs quarter over quarter in 2022
- The permit for the construction of the discharge waterline was received on January 31, 2022. The construction of the waterline is expected to start later in 2022 and to be completed in time to start discharging in 2024. Once built, the discharge waterline will be used on a seasonal basis to discharge saline water to the sea
- With lower than predicted inflows of saline water underground and the completion of the surface saline water storage facilities in 2021, the mine is expected to have sufficient capacity to manage saline water levels at site until completion of the discharge waterline. As a result, the Company has decided to suspend the trucking of saline water for discharge to sea in 2022, which will reduce costs and the environmental impact associated to trucking
Projects
- The Phase 2 mill expansion is expected to be completed in mid-2024 when the processing rate is forecast to increase to 6,000 tpd. Engineering work and procurement activities are progressing as per plan. The main contracts for construction of the CIL, filter-press and power plant buildings and the CIL process tank were awarded in the second quarter of 2022
Exploration
- In the first quarter of 2022, the Tiriganiaq exploration drift was advanced by approximately 109 metres and the development of the second drilling bay was completed. Initial drilling from the first drill bay is underway and assay results are expected in the second quarter of 2022
- In the first quarter of 2022, infill and exploration drilling at the Tiriganiaq and Pump deposits returned significant results. Highlight intercepts from Tiriganiaq include: Hole M21-3251 in lode 1257 intersecting 6.8 g/t gold over 6.1 metres at 81 metres depth and 33.2 g/t gold over 2.7 metres at 117 metres depth, demonstrating potential for near surface mineral resources addition close to infrastructure; and hole M21-3300 in lode 1000 intersecting 15.7 g/t gold over 6.6 metres at 508 metres depth in a new ore shoot discovered during the fourth quarter of 2021 that remains open at depth
Meadowbank Complex – Record Daily Mill Throughput in March 2022; Operations Well Positioned to Ramp Up Production Through 2022
The 100% owned Meadowbank Complex is located approximately 110 kilometres by road north of Baker Lake in the Kivalliq District of Nunavut, Canada. The Complex consists of the Meadowbank mine and mill and the Amaruq satellite deposit, which is located 50 kilometres northwest of the Meadowbank mine. The Meadowbank mine achieved commercial production in March 2010, and mining activities at the site were completed by the fourth quarter of 2019.
The Amaruq mining operation uses the infrastructure at the Meadowbank minesite. Additional infrastructure has also been built at the Amaruq site. Amaruq ore is transported using long haul off-road type trucks to the mill at the Meadowbank site for processing. The Amaruq satellite deposit achieved commercial production on September 30, 2019.
In the first quarter of 2022, gold production decreased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to lower gold grades resulting from an increase in tonnage sourced from low grade stockpile and from a lower grade sequence in the open pit. In the first quarter of 2022, the Meadowbank Complex was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and activities were reduced to essential services from December 22, 2021 to January 10, 2022. Subsequently, production activities were gradually ramped up to normal operating levels into early February 2022. Low grade stockpile was used to feed the mill as the open pit activities ramped up in January and to complement open pit production as the mill performed above forecast in March 2022.
Production costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to inventory adjustments resulting from the consumption of the low-grade stockpile and higher service costs to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by the timing of unsold inventory. Production costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period due to lower gold grades and higher production costs per tonne, partially offset by the timing of unsold inventory.
Minesite costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to inventory adjustments resulting from the consumption of the low-grade stockpile and higher service costs to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by higher capitalized costs. Total cash costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to lower gold grades and higher production costs per tonne.
Operational Highlights
- In the first quarter of 2022, the Meadowbank Complex successfully overcame significant challenges related to COVID-19. At the start of the year, site activities were reduced to essential services. The mining operation ramp-up began on January 10, 2022 and the mill restarted in mid-January 2022
- In the first quarter of 2022, open pit production remained in line with forecast. Based on solid in-pit drilling performance, the broken muck inventory increased above two million tonnes before in preparation for the freshet season
- In the first quarter of 2022, the mill operated above forecast. In March 2022, the Meadowbank Complex achieved a record monthly throughput (since the start-up of Amaruq) of approximately 377,000 tonnes milled, including an all-time daily record of 14,206 tpd
- The High Pressure Grinding Rolls are expected to be commissioned in the second quarter of 2022. Combined with the optimization projects carried out at the mill, the Company expects to continue to maximize the mill throughput for the remainder of the year
- This year's caribou migration started in March and, as at the end of the first quarter of 2021, it has had a minimal impact on the operation. The Company factors the migration into its production forecast. Wildlife management is an important priority and, given the unpredictability of the seasonal migration, the Company continues to work with government and local stakeholders to optimize solutions to safeguard wildlife and minimize production disruptions
- With the open pit entering a higher grade mining sequence and the ore contribution from underground starting in the second half of 2022, gold production at the Meadowbank Complex is expected to increase consistently over the next three quarters of 2022
Underground Project Highlights
- In the first quarter of 2022, the lower workforce availability related to COVID-19 resulted in delays in the underground development and the construction of the underground mine infrastructure
- As of the end of the first quarter of 2022, the underground development was behind schedule with 810 metres completed compared to the budgeted development target metres of 1,050 metres. The Company has established an action plan to mitigate the impact of the delay and is focused on advancing priority aspects of the project to ready for production as scheduled later this year
- The commissioning of several key infrastructure projects is ongoing, including the cemented rock fill plant and the emulsion plant. The development of the main ventilation raise and the construction of the main ventilation system were delayed but are still expected to be delivered in time to achieve the production plan
- Despite these challenges, the underground project remains on budget and on schedule. The extraction of a test stope is planned for the second quarter of 2022 and commercial production is expected to be achieved in the second half of 2022
Hope Bay Project – Drilling Activities Continue to Ramp-Up with an Ongoing Focus on the Doris Deposit; Madrid Drilling to Commence in April 2022
Located in the Kitikmeot District of Nunavut, Canada, approximately 125 kilometres southwest of Cambridge Bay, the Hope Bay project was acquired in February 2021. The Company owns 100% of the 191,342-hectare property, which includes portions of the Hope Bay and Elu greenstone belts. The 80-kilometre long Hope Bay greenstone belt hosts three gold deposits (Doris, Madrid and Boston) with mineral reserves and mineral resources and over 90 regional exploration targets. At the time the Hope Bay project was acquired, construction at the Doris deposit was complete and commercial production had been achieved in the second quarter of 2017.
On February 18, 2022, the Company announced that it decided to maintain the suspension of production activities at the Doris mine, in order to dedicate the infrastructure of the Hope Bay site to exploration activities. The Company ramped down the remaining operational activities at the Doris mine in an orderly fashion over the remainder of the quarter while ensuring the safety of employees and the sustainability of the infrastructure. In parallel, exploration activities were increased, focusing primarily on Doris (both surface and underground).
In 2022 and 2023, production activities will remain suspended and the primary focus will be on accelerating exploration and the evaluation of larger production scenarios. The Company remains confident in the long term potential of the Hope Bay property.
At the Hope Bay project in the first quarter of 2022, 15,600 metres were drilled in 59 drill holes which mostly tested the Doris deposit along strike and at depth.
The latest results at Doris show high grades over substantial widths in multiple areas, including the northern extension of BTD Extension, in the southern extension of Central (DCN) and at depth in BTD Connector where new, thick and high-grade intervals were reported. The results further demonstrate the potential for the Doris mineral resources to grow significantly and to support the development of additional underground exploration platforms to further confirm the size, shape and grade of these new high-grade mineralized zones.
Highlights from conversion drilling in the southern portion of the Central area include: 30.8 g/t gold over 3.3 metres at 209 metres depth in hole HBDCN22-50912; and 14.3 g/t gold over 5.9 metres at 231 metres depth in hole HBDCN22-50916.
Highlights from deep exploration drilling in the BTD Connector area include: 23.0 g/t gold over 5.0 metres at 502 metres depth in hole HB21-013; 9.4 g/t gold over 14.9 metres at 491 metres depth in hole HB22-018; and 11.7 g/t gold over 3.0 metres at 569 metres depth in hole HB21-011.
AUSTRALIA
Agnico Eagle acquired the Fosterville mine on February 8, 2022 as a result of the Merger with Kirkland Lake Gold. As the largest gold producer in the state of Victoria, Australia, the 100% owned Fosterville mine is a high-grade underground gold mine, located 20 kilometres from the city of Bendigo. The operation features low-cost gold production, as well as extensive in-mine and district scale exploration potential.
Fosterville – Strong Gold Production due to Higher Than Expected Grade; Exploration Drifts at Robins Hill and Lower Phoenix Advancing as Planned
Gold production at the Fosterville mine commenced in 1991 from shallow oxide open pits and heap-leaching operations and was suspended in 2001 subsequent to the depletion of oxide ore. In 2005, gold production restarted from an open pit, sulphide mining operation, with mining activities progressively transitioning to underground. Based on exploration success, in particular the discovery of the high grade Eagle and Swan mineralized zones, the Fosterville mine output increased rapidly year over year from 2016 to 2020. Exploration activities continue to expand its mineral reserves and mineral resources as the deposit remains open at depth in the Harrier, Lower Phoenix and Robbin's Hill areas.
For the period from February 8, 2022 to March 31, 2022, gold production at the Fosterville mine was 81,827 ounces, with production costs per tonne of A$1,283, production costs per ounce of $1,075, minesite costs per tonne of A$367 and total cash costs per ounce of $309.
The difference between production costs per tonne and minesite costs per tonne and the difference between production costs per ounce and total cash costs per ounce are primarily due to the inventory re-valuation at the forecasted gold price in the period the inventory was expected to be sold done as part of the Purchase Price Allocation following the completion of the Merger.
Operational Highlights
- For the complete first quarter of 2022, the Fosterville mine delivered solid operational performance with gold production of 126,707 ounces, which was above forecast. The lower than forecast mined and milled tonnage was offset by higher mined grade than anticipated
- Mine production was affected by lower workforce availability related to COVID-19, a reduction in the availability of paste backfill in January and February and primary ventilation operating restrictions related to low frequency noise constraints
- The higher than anticipated gold grade resulted from a combination of grade over-performance from the stopes mined in the Swan Zone during February and March and slight adjustments to the mining sequence
- Based on the mining sequence, Fosterville is expected to have lower gold production in the next two quarters and the fourth quarter is expected to be the strongest quarter of the year based on the expected timing of mining ultra-high grade stopes. Based on solid performance in the first quarter of 2022 and expected strong production in the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company believes the mine is well positioned to deliver on guidance for this year
- The Fosterville mine has commenced an Environmental Effects Study that included the establishment of a stakeholder committee (which includes various Government regulatory bodies, indigenous peoples, City of Greater Bendigo representatives and local area landholders). A variety of risk impacts and mitigation strategies (air quality, water quality, noise abatement and other potential community impacts) will be addressed as part of the sustained operations project for the next 10 years
Project Highlights
- The enclosure of the SAG mill building with attenuation paneling was completed in the first quarter of 2022. The objective of the project is to reduce noise by 10dB at the source and 2dB at receptors closer to neighbouring properties
- The contract to raise bore four underground ventilation raises at Phoenix and Harrier has been awarded. Raise boring of the first ventilation raise is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2022. Completion of the full ventilation upgrade project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2024
Exploration
- In the first quarter of 2022, the development of Robins Hill twin exploration drifts was behind forecast due to the requirement for the installation of additional ground support. The development of the exploration drift at the Lower Phoenix was in line with forecast. Each of the exploration drifts are expected to be completed early in the third quarter of 2022. Once completed, these exploration platforms will provide key access for exploration and infill drilling in the Cygnet, Lower Phoenix and Robbins Hill areas with the objective to replace mineral reserves and to add to mineral resources
- Drilling in the Cygnet area continues to return high grade but narrow intercepts, with highlight holes returning 174 g/t gold over 2.2 metres at 1,221 metres depth and 54.4 g/t gold over 1.4 metres at 1,296 metres depth. Exploration drilling in the Robins Hill area also confirmed the extension of the mineralization down plunge, with highlight intercept yielding 5.1 g/t gold over 6.1 metres at 1,377 metres depth at approximately 300 metres down-plunge of the current mineral resource envelope
FINLAND
Agnico Eagle's Kittila mine in Finland is the largest primary gold producer in Europe. The expansion of the Kittila mill to 2.0 million tonnes per year was completed in the fourth quarter of 2020. An underground shaft is under construction and is expected to be commissioned in late 2022 or early 2023. Exploration activities continue to expand the mineral reserves and mineral resources at the Kittila mine. Near mine exploration remains the main focus as the deposit remains open at depth and laterally.
Kittila – Lower Than Expected Mill Availability and Grades Impacted First Quarter Production; Mining Sequence Being Optimized to Improve Grades
The 100% owned Kittila mine in northern Finland achieved commercial production in 2009.
Gold production in the first quarter of 2022 decreased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to lower gold grades, lower throughput and lower metallurgical recoveries. In the first quarter of 2022, the gold grades were lower than anticipated due to a delay in reaching the higher grade stopes in the Roura Zone due to poor ground conditions and as a result of higher dilution in the secondary stopes. Throughput levels were affected by a slower start-up of the mill following a planned 10-day shutdown of the autoclave for regular maintenance.
Production costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to higher maintenance costs related to the planned 10-day shutdown of the autoclave and higher mine and mill production costs resulting from higher unit costs for fuel, power, ground support and consumables, partially offset by inventory adjustments. Production costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period due to lower gold grades, higher production costs per tonne and the timing of unsold inventory, partially offset by the weakening of the Euro against the U.S. dollar.
Minesite costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to the reasons described above. Total cash costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period due to lower gold grades and higher production costs per tonne, partially offset by the weakening of the Euro against the U.S. dollar.
Operational Highlights
- Gold production of 45,508 ounces in the first quarter of 2022 was below forecast due to lower grades, lower throughput and lower recoveries as described above. The Company expects production levels to normalize over the remainder of the year
- Mill feed tonnes were slightly below forecast mainly due to lower than expected autoclave availability during the restart of the mill after the planned shutdown in February 2022. Availability returned to more normal levels in March and achieved an all-time record in monthly mill feed volume at 191,316 tonnes
- The Company is focused on grade management for the remainder of 2022. Optimization of the mining sequence, including the prioritization of the development of the higher grade stopes at Roura, is expected to improve grades in the second quarter of 2022
- During the first quarter of 2022, production drilling was 80% completed via tele-remote assisted drilling. This was the highest percentage of tele-remote production drilling achieved to-date and has allowed for an increase in metres drilled per day. The Company continues to evaluate future automation opportunities while collaborating with equipment manufacturers
Project Highlights
- Despite challenges from COVID-19, shaft construction continues to progress as planned. Work on the 875-level shaft station will continue until the end of May and shaft sinking is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2022. Commissioning of the production hoist remains on schedule for the fourth quarter of 2022
- As part of the expansion project at the mine, the construction of a nitrogen removal plant is progressing as per schedule and is expected to be commissioned in the second half of 2022
Exploration
- In the first quarter of 2022, deep exploration drilling confirmed the potential to extend gold mineralization at depth, with highlight hole RIE21-700E returning 6.3 g/t gold over 13.6 metres at 1,948 metres depth (previously released February 23, 2022) and 5.7 g/t gold over 3.7 metres at 1,973 metres depth in the Sizar Zone
MEXICO
Agnico Eagle's Mexican operations have been a solid source of precious metals production (gold and silver) with stable operating costs and strong free cash flow since 2009.
Pinos Altos – Production Affected by Higher Than Expected Underground Rehabilitation; Initial Production Commences at Reyna de Plata; Cubiro Development Ore Yields Higher Grades Than Anticipated
The 100% owned Pinos Altos mine in northern Mexico achieved commercial production in November 2009.
Gold production in the first quarter of 2022 decreased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to lower throughput levels resulting from lower open pit production following the depletion of the Sinter pit and the higher rehabilitation requirements at the Santo Niño and Cerro Colorado zones, partially offset by higher gold grades as production is solely originating from underground.
Production costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to lower throughput levels, higher mining costs resulting from higher ground support requirements, higher processing costs related to higher unit prices for reagents and grinding media and the timing of inventory, partially offset by lower open pit costs. Production costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period due to higher production costs per tonne and the timing of the inventory, partially offset by higher gold grades.
Minesite costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to reasons described above. Total cash costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period due to higher minesite costs per tonne and lower by-product revenues from lower silver volumes, partially offset by higher gold grades.
Operational Highlights
- At Santo Niño and Cerro Colorado, significantly more rehabilitation work than expected and resulted in lower than planned advance in underground development and stope preparation. These delays affected overall underground production and resulted in low ore availability at the mill and lower than forecast gold production
- At Sinter, the ventilation system was completed and commissioned in the first quarter of 2022. In the second quarter of 2022, the paste fill line is expected to be commissioned and Sinter underground is expected to reach its full production capacity
- At Reyna de Plata, open pit pre-stripping activities at Pit 1 progressed as per plan and are approximately 25% complete. The lower section of Pit 2 provided initial ore production of approximately 47,000 tonnes
- The increased production capacity at Sinter and the contribution of open pit ore from Reyna de Plata is expected to provide additional flexibility to the Pinos Altos production profile
- At Creston Mascota, residual recovery from the heap leach pad continued throughout the first quarter of 2022 and resulted in a production of 1,006 ounces of gold at production costs per ounce of $611 and total cash costs of $407 per ounce. Irrigation of the heap leach pad and residual leaching will continue throughout the second quarter of 2022
Project Highlights
- At the Cubiro deposit the main pumping system underground was completed and commissioned in the first quarter of 2022. Underground development advanced by 874 metres and included the excavation of approximately 8,000 tonnes of ore at a higher than expected gold grade of 4.37 g/t
- Pre-production activities will continue through 2022 into 2023. Initial production is expected in the second half of 2023. Once production commences, Cubiro is expected to provide additional production flexibility to the Pinos Altos operations
La India – Solid Operating Performance and Optimization Initiatives Result in Cost Improvements; Pre-Stripping of El Realito Pit Ramping Up
The 100% owned La India mine in Sonora, Mexico, located approximately 70 kilometres northwest of the Company's Pinos Altos mine, achieved commercial production in February 2014.
Gold production in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to higher gold grades and higher recovery as the heap leach still benefited from the delayed recovery of the ore stacked in the second quarter of 2021 and gradually irrigated through the second half of the year.
Production costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 were essentially the same when compared to the prior-year period. Production costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 decreased when compared to the prior-year period due to higher gold grades.
Minesite costs per tonne in the first quarter of 2022 increased when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to the higher cement and cyanide consumption related to the high clay content of the ore and higher open pit costs resulting from a higher stripping ratio at the Main Zone. The impact of the clay content on cyanide consumption was partially offset by the improved irrigation at the heap leach pad with the installation of drippers. Total cash costs per ounce in the first quarter of 2022 decreased when compared to the prior-year period due to higher gold grades and higher by-product revenues from higher silver volumes, partially offset by higher minesite costs per tonne.
Operational Highlights
- In the first quarter of 2022, despite challenges related to COVID-19, the La India mine delivered a strong operational performance, with increased tonnage placed on the heap leach than forecast
- The water storage facilities at the end of the first quarter of 2022 were at approximately 50% of their maximum capacities. With this water storage, the La India mine is expected to be able to operate until the start of the next rainy season which is expected in June 2022
- The Main Zone pit is expected to be depleted in the third quarter of 2022. Ore production will then fully transition to the La India pit and the El Realito pit
Project Highlights
- Pre-stripping of the El Realito pit is approximately 39% complete and the first gold production was started in the first quarter of 2022. Pre-stripping activities are in line with forecast and are expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2022
About Agnico Eagle
Agnico Eagle is a senior Canadian gold mining company, producing precious metals from operations in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico. It has a pipeline of high-quality exploration and development projects in these countries as well as in the United States and Colombia. Agnico Eagle is a partner of choice within the mining industry, recognized globally for its leading environmental, social and governance practices. The Company was founded in 1957 and has consistently created value for its shareholders, declaring a cash dividend every year since 1983.
Note Regarding Certain Measures of Performance
This news release discloses certain financial performance measures, including "total cash costs per ounce", "all-in sustaining costs per ounce", "minesite costs per tonne", "net debt", "adjusted net income", "adjusted net income per share", "realized prices", "sustaining capital expenditures", "development capital expenditures" and "operating margin" that are not standardized measures under IFRS. These measures may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other gold mining companies. For a reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable financial information reported in the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS, other than adjusted net income, see "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures" below.
The total cash costs per ounce of gold produced is reported on both a by-product basis (deducting by-product metal revenues from production costs) and co-product basis (without deducting by-product metal revenues). The total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis is calculated by adjusting production costs as recorded in the consolidated statements of income (loss) for by-product revenues, inventory production costs, operational care and maintenance costs due to COVID-19, realized gains and losses on hedges of production costs and other adjustments, which include smelting, refining and marketing charges and then dividing by the number of ounces of gold produced excluding production prior to the achievement of commercial production. Certain line items such as operational care and maintenance costs due to COVID-19 and realized gains and losses on hedges of production costs were previously classified as "other adjustments" and have now been disclosed separately to provide additional detail on the reconciliation, allowing investors to better understand the impacts of such events on the cash operating costs per ounce and minesite cost per tonne. The total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a co-product basis is calculated in the same manner as the total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis, except that no adjustment is made for by-product metal revenues. Accordingly, the calculation of total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a co-product basis does not reflect a reduction in production costs or smelting, refining and marketing charges associated with the production and sale of by-product metals. As discussed above the Purchase Price Allocation was excluded from total cash costs and AISC. The total cash costs per ounce of gold produced is intended to provide information about the cash-generating capabilities of the Company's mining operations. Management also uses this measure to, and believes it is helpful to investors so they can, understand and monitor the performance of the Company's mining operations. The Company believes that total cash costs per ounce is useful to help investors understand the costs associated with producing gold and the economics of gold mining. As market prices for gold are quoted on a per ounce basis, using the total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis measure allows management and investors to assess a mine's cash-generating capabilities at various gold prices. Management is aware, and investors should note, that these per ounce measures of performance can be affected by fluctuations in exchange rates and, in the case of total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis, by-product metal prices. Management compensates for these inherent limitations by using, and investors should also consider, these measures in conjunction with minesite costs per tonne as well as other data prepared in accordance with IFRS. Management also performs sensitivity analysis in order to quantify the effects of fluctuating metal prices and exchange rates. Investors should note that total cash costs per ounce are not reflective of all cash expenditures as they do not include income tax payments, interest costs or dividend payments. This measure also does not include depreciation or amortization.
Agnico Eagle's primary business is gold production and the focus of its current operations and future development is on maximizing returns from gold production, with other metal production being incidental to the gold production process. Accordingly, all metals other than gold are considered by-products.
Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced is reported on a by-product basis because (i) the majority of the Company's revenues are from gold (ii) the Company mines ore, which contains gold, silver, zinc, copper and other metals, (iii) it is not possible to specifically assign all costs to revenues from the gold, silver, zinc, copper and other metals the Company produces (iv) it is a method used by management and the Board of Directors to monitor operations, and (v) many other gold producers disclose similar measures on a by-product rather than a co-product basis. Investors should also consider these measures in conjunction with other data prepared in accordance with IFRS.
All-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis is calculated as the aggregate of total cash costs on a by-product basis, sustaining capital expenditures (including capitalized exploration), general and administrative expenses (including stock options), lease payments related to sustaining assets and reclamation expenses, and then dividing by the number of ounces of gold produced (excluding production prior to the achievement of commercial production). These additional costs reflect the additional expenditures that are required to be made to maintain current production levels. The AISC per ounce of gold produced on a co-product basis is calculated in the same manner as the AISC per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis, except that the total cash costs on a co-product basis are used, meaning no adjustment is made for by-product metal revenues. AISC per ounce seeks to reflect total sustaining expenditures of producing and selling an ounce of gold while maintaining current operations. Management is aware, and investors should note, that these per ounce measures of performance can be affected by fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and, in the case of total cash costs per ounce and AISC of gold produced on a by-product basis, by-product metal prices. Management compensates for these inherent limitations by using these measures in conjunction with minesite costs per tonne as well as other data prepared in accordance with IFRS. Investors should note that AISC per ounce is not reflective of all cash expenditures as it does not include income tax payments, interest costs or dividend payments. This measure also does not include depreciation or amortization.
The World Gold Council ("WGC") is a non-regulatory market development organization for the gold industry. Although the WGC is not a mining industry regulatory organization, it has worked closely with its member companies to develop relevant non-GAAP measures. The Company follows the guidance on all-in sustaining costs released by the WGC in November 2018. Adoption of the AISC metric is voluntary and, notwithstanding the Company's adoption of the WGC's guidance, AISC per ounce of gold produced reported by the Company may not be comparable to data reported by other gold mining companies. The Company believes that this measure provides helpful information about operating performance. However, this non-GAAP measure should be considered together with other data prepared in accordance with IFRS as it is not necessarily indicative of operating costs or cash flow measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Minesite costs per tonne are calculated by adjusting production costs as recorded in the consolidated statements of income (loss) for inventory production costs, operational care and maintenance costs due to COVID-19, and other adjustments, and then dividing by tonnage of ore processed (excluding the tonnage processed prior to the achievement of commercial production). As the total cash costs per ounce of gold produced can be affected by fluctuations in by–product metal prices and foreign exchange rates, management believes, and investors should note, that minesite costs per tonne is useful to investors in providing additional information regarding the performance of mining operations, eliminating the impact of varying production levels. Management also uses this measure to determine the economic viability of mining blocks. As each mining block is evaluated based on the net realizable value of each tonne mined, in order to be economically viable the estimated revenue on a per tonne basis must be in excess of the minesite costs per tonne. Management is aware, and investors should note, that this per tonne measure of performance can be affected by fluctuations in processing levels. This inherent limitation may be partially mitigated by using this measure in conjunction with production costs prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Net debt is calculated by adjusting the total of the current portion of long-term debt and non-current long-term debt as recorded on the consolidated balance sheet for deferred financing costs and cash and cash equivalents. Management uses net debt to determine the overall debt position and to evaluate future debt capacity of the Company.
Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share are calculated by adjusting the net income as recorded in the consolidated statements of income (loss) for the effects of certain items that the Company believes are not reflective of the Company's underlying performance for the reporting period, including foreign currency translation gains or losses, realized and unrealized gains or losses on derivative financial instruments, impairment loss charges and reversals, environmental remediation, income and mining taxes adjustments as well as other non-recurring, unusual items (which includes changes in estimates of asset retirement obligations at closed sites and gains and losses on the disposal of assets). Adjusted net income per share is calculated by dividing adjusted net income by the number of shares outstanding on a basic and diluted basis. The Company believes that these generally accepted industry measures allow for the evaluation of the results of continuing operations and are useful in making comparisons between periods. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share are intended to provide investors with information about the Company's continuing income generating capabilities. Management uses these measures to, and believes it is helpful to investors so they can, understand and monitor for the operating performance of the Company in conjunction with other data prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Operating margin is not a recognized measure under IFRS and this data may not be comparable to data presented by other gold producers. The Company believes that operating margin is a useful measure that represents the operating performance of its individual mines associated with the ongoing production and sale of gold and by-product metals without allocating company-wide overhead, including exploration and corporate development expenses, amortization of property, plant and mine development, general and administrative expenses, finance costs, gain and losses on derivative financial instruments, environmental remediation costs, foreign currency translation gains and losses, other expenses and income and mining tax expenses. This measure is calculated by deducting production costs from revenue from mining operations. In order to reconcile operating margin to net income as recorded in the consolidated financial statements, the Company adds the following items to the operating margin: income and mining taxes expense; other expenses (income); foreign currency translation (gain) loss; gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments; finance costs; general and administrative expenses; amortization of property, plant and mine development; exploration and corporate development expenses; and impairment losses (reversals). Management uses this measure internally to plan and forecast future operating results. This measure is intended to provide investors with additional information about the Company's underlying operating results and should be evaluated in conjunction with other data prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Realized prices are calculated as revenue from mining operations by metal divided by the volume of metal sold. Management uses realized prices to, and believes is helpful to investors so they can, evaluate sales revenue in each reporting period.
Sustaining capital expenditures are expenditures incurred during the production phase to sustain and maintain the existing assets so they can achieve constant expected levels of production, from which the Company will derive economic benefits, this includes expenditure for assets to retain their existing productive capacity as well as to enhance performance and reliability of the operations. Development capital expenditures represents the spending at new projects and/or expenditure at existing operations that is undertaken with the intention to increase production levels or mine life above the current plans. Management uses these measures in the capital allocation process and to assess the effectiveness of its investments. Management believes these measures are useful so investors can assess the purpose and effectiveness of the capital expenditures in each reporting period. The classification between sustaining and development capital expenditures does not have a standardized definition in accordance with IFRS and other companies may classify expenditures in a different manner.
Management also performs sensitivity analyses in order to quantify the effects of fluctuating foreign exchange rates and metal prices. This news release also contains information as to estimated future total cash costs per ounce, AISC per ounce and minesite costs per tonne. The estimates are based upon the total cash costs per ounce, AISC per ounce and minesite costs per tonne that the Company expects to incur to mine gold at its mines and projects and, consistent with the reconciliation of these actual costs referred to above, do not include production costs attributable to accretion expense and other asset retirement costs, which will vary over time as each project is developed and mined. It is therefore not practicable to reconcile these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable IFRS measure.
Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this news release has been prepared as at April 28, 2022. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address circumstances, events, activities or developments that could, or may or will occur are forward looking statements. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "could", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "future", "plan", "possible", "potential", "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include, without limitation: statements regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on the Company's future operations, including its employees and overall business; the Company's forward-looking guidance, including metal production, estimated ore grades, recovery rates, project timelines, drilling results, life of mine estimates, total cash costs per ounce, AISC per ounce, minesite costs per tonne, other expenses and cash flows; statements relating to the expected outcomes of the Merger including synergies arising therefrom and their expected quantum and timing; the estimated timing and conclusions of technical studies and evaluations; the methods by which ore will be extracted or processed; statements concerning the Company's expansion plans at Kittila, Meliadine Phase 2, the Amaruq underground project and the Odyssey project, including the timing, funding, completion and commissioning thereof and production therefrom; statements about the Company's plans at the Hope Bay mine; statements concerning other expansion projects, recovery rates, mill throughput, optimization and projected exploration, including costs and other estimates upon which such projections are based; statements regarding timing and amounts of capital expenditures, other expenditures and other cash needs, and expectations as to the funding thereof; estimates of future mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral production and sales; the projected development of certain ore deposits, including estimates of exploration, development and production and other capital costs and estimates of the timing of such exploration, development and production or decisions with respect to such exploration, development and production; statements regarding anticipated cost inflation and its effect on the Company's costs; estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources and the effect of drill results on future mineral reserves and mineral resources; statements regarding the Company's ability to obtain the necessary permits and authorizations in connection with its proposed or current exploration, development and mining operations and the anticipated timing thereof; statements regarding anticipated future exploration; the anticipated timing of events with respect to the Company's mine sites; statements regarding the sufficiency of the Company's cash resources; statements regarding future activity with respect to the Company's unsecured revolving bank credit facility; statements regarding the NCIB, future dividend amounts and payment dates; and statements regarding anticipated trends with respect to the Company's operations, exploration and the funding thereof. Such statements reflect the Company's views as at the date of this news release and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Agnico Eagle as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The material factors and assumptions used in the preparation of the forward looking statements contained herein, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to, the assumptions set forth herein and in management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") and the Company's Annual Information Form ("AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with Canadian securities regulators and that are included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 ("Form 40-F") filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") as well as: that governments, the Company or others do not take additional measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise that, individually or in the aggregate, materially affect the Company's ability to operate its business; that cautionary measures taken in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic do not affect productivity; that measures taken relating to, or other effects of, the COVID-19 pandemic do not affect the Company's ability to obtain necessary supplies and deliver them to its mine sites; that there are no significant disruptions affecting operations; that production, permitting, development, expansion and the ramp up of operations at each of Agnico Eagle's properties proceeds on a basis consistent with current expectations and plans; that the relevant metal prices, foreign exchange rates and prices for key mining and construction supplies will be consistent with Agnico Eagle's expectations; the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the Merger or implementing the business plan for the combined company, including as a result of difficulty in integrating the businesses of the companies involved; the ability to realize synergies and cost savings at the times, and to the extent, anticipated; the potential impact on exploration activities; the potential impact of the consummation of the Merger on relationships, including with regulatory bodies, employees, suppliers, customers, competitors, First Nations and other key stakeholders; that Agnico Eagle's current estimates of mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral grades and metal recovery are accurate; that there are no material delays in the timing for completion of ongoing growth projects; that seismic activity at the Company's operations at LaRonde, Goldex and other properties is as expected by the Company; that the Company's current plans to optimize production are successful; and that there are no material variations in the current tax and regulatory environment. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to: the extent and manner to which COVID-19, and measures taken by governments, the Company or others to attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19, may affect the Company, whether directly or through effects on employee health, workforce productivity and availability (including the ability to transport personnel to fly-in/fly-out camps), travel restrictions, contractor availability, supply availability, ability to sell or deliver gold dore bars or concentrate, availability of insurance and the cost thereof, the ability to procure inputs required for the Company's operations and projects or other aspects of the Company's business; uncertainties with respect to the effect on the global economy associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19, any of which could negatively affect financial markets, including the trading price of the Company's shares and the price of gold, and could adversely affect the Company's ability to raise capital; the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the Merger or implementing the business plan for new Agnico Eagle, including as a result of a delay or difficulty in integrating the businesses of the companies involved; the volatility of prices of gold and other metals; uncertainty of mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral grades and mineral recovery estimates; uncertainty of future production, project development, capital expenditures and other costs; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; financing of additional capital requirements; cost of exploration and development programs; seismic activity at the Company's operations, including the LaRonde Complex and Goldex mine; mining risks; community protests, including by First Nations groups; risks associated with foreign operations; governmental and environmental regulation; the volatility of the Company's stock price; and risks associated with the Company's currency, fuel and by-product metal derivative strategies. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that may affect the Company's ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, see the AIF and MD&A filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and included in the Form 40-F filed on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, as well as the Company's other filings with the Canadian securities regulators and the SEC. Other than as required by law, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.
Notes to Investors Regarding the Use of Mineral Resources
The mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates contained in this news release have been prepared in accordance with the Canadian securities administrators' (the "CSA") National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").
For United States reporting purposes, the SEC adopted amendments to its disclosure rules (the "SEC Modernization Rules") to modernize the mining property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), which became effective February 25, 2019. The SEC Modernization Rules more closely align the SEC's disclosure requirements and policies for mining properties with current industry and global regulatory practices and standards, including NI 43-101, and replace the historical property disclosure requirements for mining registrants that were included in SEC Industry Guide 7. Issuers were required to comply with the SEC Modernization Rules in their first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021, though Canadian issuers that report in the United States using the Multijurisdictional Disclosure System ("MJDS") may still use NI 43-101 rather than the SEC Modernization Rules when using the SEC's MJDS registration statement and annual report forms. Accordingly, mineral reserve and mineral resource information contained in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by United States companies.
As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources." In addition, the SEC has amended definitions of "proven mineral reserves" and "probable mineral reserves" in the SEC Modernization Rules, with definitions that are substantially similar to those used in NI 43-101.
United States investors are cautioned that while the SEC now recognizes "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources", investors should not assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into a higher category of mineral resources or into mineral reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Under Canadian regulations, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in limited circumstances. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources", or "inferred mineral resources" that the Company reports in this news release are or will be economically or legally mineable.
Further, "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that any part or all of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category.
The mineral reserve and mineral resource data set out in this news release are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of recovery will be realized. The Company does not include equivalent gold ounces for by-product metals contained in mineral reserves in its calculation of contained ounces and mineral reserves are not reported as a subset of mineral resources.
Scientific and Technical Information
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release relating to Quebec operations has been approved by Daniel Paré, P.Eng., Vice-President, Quebec; relating to Nunavut and Finland operations has been approved by Dominique Girard, Eng., Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer – Nunavut, Quebec & Europe; relating to Ontario, Australia and Mexico operations has been approved by Natasha Vaz, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer – Ontario, Australia & Mexico; relating to exploration, mineral reserves and mineral resources have been approved by Guy Gosselin, Eng. and P.Geo., Executive Vice President, Exploration and Eric Kallio, P.Geo, Executive Vice President, Exploration Strategy & Growth, each of whom is a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.
Assumptions used for the December 31, 2021 mineral reserves estimate at all mines and advanced projects held by Agnico Eagle on December 31, 2021
NI 43-101 requires mining companies to disclose mineral reserves and mineral resources using the subcategories of "proven mineral reserves", "probable mineral reserves", "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Assumptions used for the December 31, 2021 mineral reserves estimate at all mines and advanced projects held by Kirkland Lake Gold on December 31, 2021
The above metal price assumptions are below the three-year historic gold price average (from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021) of approximately $1,654 per ounce.
A mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of a measured and/or indicated mineral resource. It includes diluting materials and allowances for losses, which may occur when the material is mined or extracted and is defined by studies at pre-feasibility or feasibility level as appropriate that include application of modifying factors. Such studies demonstrate that, at the time of reporting, extraction could reasonably be justified. The mineral reserves presented in this news release are separate from and not a portion of the mineral resources.
Modifying factors are considerations used to convert mineral resources to mineral reserves. These include, but are not restricted to, mining, processing, metallurgical, infrastructure, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental factors.
A proven mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of a measured mineral resource. A proven mineral reserve implies a high degree of confidence in the modifying factors. A probable mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of an indicated and, in some circumstances, a measured mineral resource. The confidence in the modifying factors applying to a probable mineral reserve is lower than that applying to a proven mineral reserve.
A mineral resource is a concentration or occurrence of solid material of economic interest in or on the Earth's crust in such form, grade or quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade or quality, continuity and other geological characteristics of a mineral resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge, including sampling.
A measured mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics are estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the application of modifying factors to support detailed mine planning and final evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Geological evidence is derived from detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing and is sufficient to confirm geological and grade or quality continuity between points of observation. An indicated mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics are estimated with sufficient confidence to allow the application of modifying factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Geological evidence is derived from adequately detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing and is sufficient to assume geological and grade or quality continuity between points of observation. An inferred mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity.
Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
A feasibility study is a comprehensive technical and economic study of the selected development option for a mineral project that includes appropriately detailed assessments of applicable modifying factors, together with any other relevant operational factors and detailed financial analysis that are necessary to demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that extraction is reasonably justified (economically mineable). The results of the study may reasonably serve as the basis for a final decision by a proponent or financial institution to proceed with, or finance, the development of the project. The confidence level of the study will be higher than that of a pre-feasibility study.
Additional Information
Additional information about each of the Company's material mineral projects as at March 31, 2021, including information regarding data verification, key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate mineral reserves and mineral resources and the risks that could materially affect the development of the mineral reserves and mineral resources required by sections 3.2 and 3.3 and paragraphs 3.4(a), (c) and (d) of NI 43-101 can be found in the Company's AIF and MD&A filed on SEDAR each of which forms a part of the Company's Form 40-F filed with the SEC on EDGAR and in the following technical reports filed on SEDAR in respect of the Company's material mineral properties: 2005 LaRonde Mineral Resource & Mineral Reserve Estimate Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. LaRonde Division (March 23, 2005); NI 43-101 Technical Report Canadian Malartic Mine, Québec, Canada (March 25, 2021); Technical Report on the Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves at Meadowbank Gold Complex including the Amaruq Satellite Mine Development, Nunavut, Canada as at December 31, 2017 (February 14, 2018); the Updated Technical Report on the Meliadine Gold Project, Nunavut, Canada (February 11, 2015); the Detour Lake Operation Ontario, Canada NI 43-101 Technical report as at July 26, 2021 (October 15, 2021); and the Updated NI 43-101 Technical Report Fosterville Gold Mine in the State of Victoria, Australia as at December 31, 2018 (April 1, 2019).
Recent selected exploration drill results from Goldex, Detour Lake, Macassa, Amalgamated Kirkland, Upper Beaver, Meliadine, Hope Bay, Fosterville and Kittila
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SOURCE Agnico Eagle Mines Limited | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/agnico-eagle-reports-first-quarter-2022-results-strong-operational-performance-integration-ahead-schedule-corporate-merger-synergies-better-than-expected-good-progress-key-exploration-development-projects/ | 2022-04-28T23:55:05Z |
SEGUIN, Texas, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE: ALG) today announced that it will release financial results for the first quarter 2022 after the market closes on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. The Company will host a conference call to discuss the results on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. ET. Hosting the call will be members of senior management.
Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call should dial 888-882-4478 (domestic) or 323-794-2590 (international). For interested individuals unable to join the call, a replay will be available until Thursday, May 12, 2022, by dialing 888-203-1112 (domestic) or 719-457-0820 (internationally), passcode 7515566.
The live broadcast of Alamo Group Inc.'s quarterly conference call will be available online at the Company's website, www.alamo-group.com (under "Investor Relations/Events & and Presentations") on Thursday, May 5, 2022, beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET. The online replay will follow shortly after the call ends and will be archived on the Company's website for 60 days.
Alamo Group is a leader in the design, manufacture, distribution and service of high quality equipment for infrastructure maintenance, agriculture and other applications. Our products include truck and tractor mounted mowing and other vegetation maintenance equipment, street sweepers, snow removal equipment, excavators, vacuum trucks, other industrial equipment, agricultural implements, forestry equipment and related after-market parts and services. The Company, founded in 1969, has approximately 4,200 employees and operates 29 plants in North America, Europe, Australia and Brazil as of December 31, 2021. The corporate offices of Alamo Group Inc. are located in Seguin, Texas.
This release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: overall market demand, continuing impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic including more significant supply chain disruptions, further reductions in customer demand, sales and profitability declines, operational disruptions, full or partial facility closures, and other similar impacts, competition, weather, seasonality, currency-related issues, and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.
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SOURCE Alamo Group Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/alamo-group-inc-announces-first-quarter-2022-earnings-conference-call/ | 2022-04-28T23:55:12Z |
SAO PAULO, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Itaú Unibanco Holding S.A. (B3: ITUB3, ITUB4; NYSE: ITUB) (the "Company") filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the "2021 Form 20-F") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
The 2021 Form 20-F is available in English at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). Additionally, the 2021 Form 20-F is available in English and Portuguese on the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission's website (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários, the CVM) (www.cvm.gov.br) and the Company's Investor Relations website (www.itau.com.br/investor-relations).
Lastly, shareholders may receive hard copies of the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, free of charge, by requesting a copy to the Investor Relations team at ri@itau-unibanco.com.br. If you wish to receive a hard copy, kindly provide your contact details and mailing address.
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SOURCE Itaú Unibanco Holding S.A. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/announcement-market-ita-unibanco-holdings-2021-annual-report-form-20-f-filed-with-sec-cvm/ | 2022-04-28T23:55:24Z |
One of the longest-running, most in-demand forecast events in Arizona live on Zoom May 4
TEMPE, Ariz., April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Arizona State University economists, most 2021 metrics for the state and national economy were the best in more than 40 years, but 2022 is being whipsawed by rapid inflation, geopolitical shocks, and rising interest rates that loom as headwinds. So, what is next for the economy?
With continuing supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and land affordability issues, the annual Economic Outlook is an important event to attend to learn what's next for the economy. Presented by the Economic Club of Phoenix, it's one of the longest-running, most in-demand forecast events in the Valley and will be offered live on Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. (Arizona time) on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.
Economic Club of Phoenix Zoom events are free of charge, and all are welcome to attend the premier business speaker series. Register at wpcarey.asu.edu/economic-club/events.
Top experts from Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business, who are regularly interviewed in the press for their expertise in the national, state, and local economy, as well as trends in commercial and residential real estate, examine the changing economy, projections, and trends that are affecting metro Phoenix and beyond.
Featured speakers:
Dennis Hoffman, director of the ASU Office of the University Economist and director of the Seidman Research Institute, will discuss the current economy and explain why inflation is persistent today, what's next, and explore economic risk factors and opportunities.
Lee McPheters, research professor of economics and director of the JPMorgan Chase Economic Outlook Center, will offer the latest forecasts for Arizona and the greater Phoenix area for critical indicators, including employment, income and population growth, as well as an analysis of industries with the strongest growth trends, including health care, transportation, warehousing, and professional and technical services.
Mark Stapp, Fred E. Taylor Professor in Real Estate and executive director of the Master of Real Estate Development program, will share highlights from the latest Commercial Brokers Survey and trends shaping the U.S. and Arizona real estate market in 2023.
Amy Ostrom, interim dean of the W. P. Carey School of Business and PetSmart Chair in Services Leadership, will moderate the Economic Outlook, with the economists answering audience questions during an interactive Q&A session.
Media Note:
Before the webinar, Hoffman, McPheters, and Stapp will be available for interviews.
Email shay.moser@asu.edu to schedule.
About the W. P. Carey School of Business
The W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University is one of the top-ranked business schools in the United States. The school is internationally regarded for its research productivity and distinguished faculty members, including a Nobel Prize winner. Students come from more than 100 countries, and alumni represent W. P. Carey in over 160 countries. Visit wpcarey.asu.edu.
For more information, contact:
Shay Moser, W. P. Carey School of Business
shay.moser@asu.edu
480-965-3963
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VANCOUVER, BC, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO) (NYSE: BTG) (NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") will release its first quarter of 2022 financial results after the North American markets close on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.
B2Gold executives will host a conference call to discuss the results on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at 10:00 am PDT/1:00 pm EDT. You may access the call by dialing the operator at +1 (778) 383-7413 / +1 (416) 764-8659 (Vancouver/Toronto) or toll free at +1 (888) 664-6392 prior to the scheduled start time or you may listen to the call via webcast by clicking here. A playback version will be available for two weeks after the call at +1 (416) 764-8677 (local or international) or toll free at +1 (888) 390-0541 (passcode 666652 #).
B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold producer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has operating gold mines in Mali, Namibia and the Philippines and numerous exploration and development projects in various countries including Mali, Colombia, Finland and Uzbekistan.
On Behalf of B2GOLD CORP.
"Clive T. Johnson"
President & Chief Executive Officer
For more information on B2Gold, please visit the Company website at www.b2gold.com or contact:
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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Banco Macro S.A. (NYSE: "BMA"; ByMA: "BMA") ("Banco Macro") announces today the filing of its annual report on Form 20-F and its annual audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the "2021 Annual Report") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The 2021 Annual Report can be accessed by visiting either the SEC's website at www.sec.gov in the Section "Search for Company Filings" under CIK code No. 0001347426 or Banco Macro's Investor Relations website at www.macro.com.ar/relaciones-inversores under the Financial Information/Financial Information & Reports /Sec Filing link. In addition, shareholders may receive a hard copy of Banco Macro's complete annual audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021 free of charge within a reasonable period of time by making a request through Banco Macro's Investor Relations website (www.macro.com.ar/relaciones-inversores), writing to investorelations@macro.com.ar or contacting Banco Marco's Investor Relations Department at (5411) 5222 6682.
This press release includes statements concerning potential future events involving Banco Macro that could differ materially from the events that actually occur. The differences could be caused by a number of risks, uncertainties and factors relating to Banco Macro's business. Banco Macro will not update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect future events or developments.
IR Contact in Buenos Aires:
Jorge Scarinci | Chief Financial Officer
Nicolás A. Torres | Investor Relations
E-mail: investorelations@macro.com.ar | Phone: (54 11) 5222 6682
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- Total loan portfolio growth continued to outpace YoY market performance, highlighting solid performance in consumer and credit card loans. While loan volumes in the commercial portfolio were driven by a double-digit pick-up in middle-market loans, meanwhile SMEs, Corporate and Government loans remained soft.
- Total deposits continued growing at a solid pace while the Bank carefully manages funding costs by improving funding mix by favoring demand deposits over term deposits. Meanwhile, contribution of individuals in total deposits represented 37.7%, compared with 24.2% in 2016, this is the best mix the Bank has ever had versus previous years' first quarters.
- Net income increased 55.9% YoY in 1Q22, mainly due to the solid increase in NII, lower provisions for loan losses and expenses, partially offset by softer fees and lower market related income.
MEXICO CITY, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Banco Santander México, S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero Santander México (NYSE: BSMX; BMV: BSMX), ("Banco Santander México" or "the Bank"), today announced financial results for the three-month ending March 31st, 2022.
Banco Santander México reported net income of Ps.5,111 million in 1Q22, representing a YoY increase of 55.9% and a QoQ decrease of 2.6%.
Héctor Grisi, Banco Santander México's Executive President and CEO, commented: "We began the year maintaining very strong dynamics in our core businesses along with a healthy balance sheet and liquidity positions. Volumes were again boosted by individual loans, which continue outpacing the market, driven by sustained market share gains in mortgages and auto loans. In the consumer segment, we experienced a strong recovery, especially in credit cards. The renewed growth was mainly due to the solid performance of our unique LikeU credit card, which is experiencing excellent market acceptance. Additionally, in auto loans, we are very close to become the number three player in the market, thanks to our attractive commercial offering and the various alliances we have with leading automakers. Bear in mind that we started from scratch our auto loans business not that long ago. In the commercial segment, we are beginning to see a positive trend in loan volumes, with middle-market and government loans growing 10% and 4% sequentially.
We continue growing deposits at a solid pace while carefully managing funding costs by improving our mix in favor of demand over term deposits. In line with our strategy, the contribution of individuals has increased considerably in both categories of deposits. Currently, the contribution of individuals represents close to 38% of our total deposits, compared with 24% in 2016, which is the best mix we have had in the Bank's history compared to previous years' first quarters. At the same time, our individual and corporate demand deposits continue expanding at high single-digit rates, underscoring the success of our loyalty and customer acquisition strategies as well as our continued focus on reducing high deposit costs.
Regarding asset quality, our NPL ratio reflects the implementation of IFRS-9 regulation in Mexico. Despite our higher risk appetite in certain business lines, our portfolio remains healthy, thanks to prudent risk management. Further, provisions should remain stable, as we are not seeing any deterioration that could impact any of our loan portfolio segments. As Mexico's improving operating environment gains more traction, we are pointing to further improvements in asset quality and, therefore to levels of provisions and cost of risk more similar to pre-pandemic levels.
Looking ahead, we will continue executing our many growth initiatives and making new investments in the bank's transformation. We will maintain our strategy focused on strengthening customer loyalty by increasing the digitalization of our products and operations, mainly through innovation and market-leading technology advancements that enable us to significantly enhance the value of our products and digital offerings. Our ambition to become the bank known for superior customer experience in Mexico remains."
ABOUT BANCO SANTANDER MÉXICO (NYSE: BSMX; BMV: BSMX)
Banco Santander México, S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero Santander México (Banco Santander México), one of Mexico's leading banking institutions, provides a wide range of financial and related services, including retail and commercial banking, financial advisory and other related investment activities. Banco Santander México offers a multichannel financial services platform focused on mid- to high-income individuals and small- to medium-sized enterprises, while also providing integrated financial services to larger multinational companies in Mexico. As of March 31st, 2022, Banco Santander México had total assets of Ps.1,734 billion under Mexican Banking GAAP and more than 20.1 million customers. Headquartered in Mexico City, the Company operates 1,345 branches and offices nationwide and has a total of 25,342 employees.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
Banco Santander México cautions that this presentation may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements could be found in various places throughout this presentation and include, without limitation, statements regarding our intent, belief, targets or current expectations in connection with: asset growth and sources of funding; growth of our fee-based business; expansion of our distribution network; financing plans; competition; impact of regulation and the interpretation thereof; action to modify or revoke our banking license; exposure to market risks including interest rate risk, foreign exchange risk and equity price risk; exposure to credit risks including credit default risk and settlement risk; projected capital expenditures; capitalization requirements and level of reserves; investment in our information technology platform; liquidity; trends affecting the economy generally; and trends affecting our financial condition and our results of operations. While these forward-looking statements represent our judgment and future expectations concerning the development of our business, many important factors could cause actual results to differ substantially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things: changes in capital markets in general that may affect policies or attitudes towards lending to Mexico or Mexican companies; changes in economic conditions, in Mexico in particular, in the United States or globally; the monetary, foreign exchange and interest rate policies of the Mexican Central Bank (Banco de México); inflation; deflation; unemployment; unanticipated turbulence in interest rates; movements in foreign exchange rates; movements in equity prices or other rates or prices; changes in Mexican and foreign policies, legislation and regulations; changes in requirements to make contributions to, for the receipt of support from programs organized by or requiring deposits to be made or assessments observed or imposed by, the Mexican government; changes in taxes and tax laws; competition, changes in competition and pricing environments; our inability to hedge certain risks economically; economic conditions that affect consumer spending and the ability of customers to comply with obligations; the adequacy of allowance for impairment losses and other losses; increased default by borrowers; our inability to successfully and effectively integrate acquisitions or to evaluate risks arising from asset acquisitions; technological changes; changes in consumer spending and saving habits; increased costs; unanticipated increases in financing and other costs or the inability to obtain additional debt or equity financing on attractive terms; changes in, or failure to comply with, banking regulations or their interpretation; and certain other risk factors included in our annual report on Form 20-F. The risk factors and other key factors that we have indicated in our past and future filings and reports, including those with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, could adversely affect our business and financial performance. The words "believe," "may," "will," "aim," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "forecast" and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or to revise any forward-looking statements after we distribute this presentation because of new information, future events or other factors. In light of the risks and uncertainties described above, the future events and circumstances discussed herein might not occur and are not guarantees of future performance.
Note: The information contained in this presentation is not audited. Nevertheless, the consolidated accounts are prepared on the basis of the accounting principles and regulations prescribed by the Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission (Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores) for credit institutions, as amended (Mexican Banking GAAP). All figures presented are in millions of Mexican pesos, unless otherwise indicated. Historical figures are not adjusted by inflation.
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SOURCE Banco Santander México, S.A. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/banco-santander-mxico-reports-first-quarter-2022-net-income-ps5111-million/ | 2022-04-28T23:56:03Z |
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Ridge Bankshares, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE American: BRBS), the holding company of Blue Ridge Bank, National Association ("Blue Ridge Bank") and BRB Financial Group, Inc. ("BRB Financial Group"), announced today financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. For the first quarter of 2022, the Company reported net income from continuing operations of $17.4 million, or $0.93 earnings per diluted common share, compared to $12.8 million, or $0.68 earnings per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2021, and $4.2 million, or $0.28 earnings per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2021. Earnings per diluted common share for all periods presented is reflective of the 3-for-2 stock split effective April 30, 2021. Net income for all periods presented also reflected merger-related expenses, as further discussed below.
The Company reported total assets of $2.72 billion as of March 31, 2022, an increase from $2.67 billion as of December 31, 2021, while reported loans held for investment, excluding Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans, grew $66.2 million in the first quarter of 2022, an annualized growth rate of 14.9%. The Company's commercial and industrial loan portfolio grew $59.9 million in the first quarter of 2022, an annualized growth rate of 74.7%.
The Company sold its majority interest in MoneyWise Payroll Solutions, Inc. ("MoneyWise") to the holder of the minority interest in MoneyWise in the first quarter of 2022. Asset and liability balances and income statement amounts related to MoneyWise are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
The Company completed the merger of Bay Banks of Virginia, Inc. ("Bay Banks"), the holding company of Virginia Commonwealth Bank, into the Company on January 31, 2021. Immediately following the completion of the merger, Virginia Commonwealth Bank was merged into Blue Ridge Bank (collectively, the "Bay Banks Merger"). Earnings for the first quarter of 2021 included the earnings of Bay Banks from the effective date of the merger.
"The Company experienced robust loan demand to start the year", said Brian K. Plum, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "We are seeing strong, sustained loan demand in our markets. Our team is doing outstanding work building on forward momentum across our geographies and business lines to capitalize on the meaningful opportunities which exist."
Fintech Business
The Company continues to grow its infrastructure to support the expansion of its fintech partners. The Company ended the first quarter of 2022 with active partnerships including Unit, Flexible Finance, Increase, Upgrade, Kashable, Jaris, Aeldra, Grow Credit, MentorWorks, and Marlette. Several of the Company's fintech partners are experiencing rapid adoption of their offerings, and consequently, the Company has benefited by significant deposit growth. Deposits related to fintech relationships were approximately $329 million as of March 31, 2022, up from approximately $189 million as of December 31, 2021. Loans held for sale and loans held for investment related to fintech relationships totaled $21.5 million and $24.1 million as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. Interest and fee income related to fintech partnerships represented approximately $1.3 million of revenue for the Company for both the first quarter of 2022 and fourth quarter of 2021. The Company's fintech relationships also generated assets under management of $48.4 million in BRB Financial Group's Trust Division as of March 31, 2022, compared to $0 at December 31, 2021.
Mortgage Division
The Company's mortgage division, which consists of a retail division operating as Monarch Mortgage and a wholesale division operating as LenderSelect Mortgage Group, reported net income of $2.3 million and $15 thousand for the first quarter of 2022 and fourth quarter of 2021, respectively. Income attributable to mortgage servicing rights was $6.7 million for the first quarter of 2022, an increase of $5.2 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. Mortgage servicing rights income in the first quarter of 2022 was attributable to fair value adjustments of $3.8 million and new servicing rights retained of $2.9 million. The increase in income attributable to mortgage servicing rights was partially offset by lower income from other residential mortgage banking activities, as quarterly mortgage volumes declined to $151.4 million for the first quarter of 2022 compared to $234.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2021. The decline in mortgage volumes in the first quarter of 2022 was primarily attributable to a decline in demand for mortgages as market interest rates increased significantly in the same period. Noninterest expenses reported for the Company's mortgage division were $6.9 million and $7.2 million for first quarter of 2022 and fourth quarter of 2021, respectively. The Company reduced mortgage personnel in both the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, resulting in total annualized noninterest expense savings of $1.5 million, the full benefit of which will be realized starting in the second quarter of 2022.
Income Statement
Net Interest Income
Net interest income was $23.7 million for the first quarter of 2022 compared to $20.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 and $20.0 million for the first quarter of 2021, while accretion of acquired loan discounts included in interest income was $2.7 million, $765 thousand, and $271 thousand for the same respective periods. Amortization of purchase accounting adjustments on assumed time deposits and borrowings, which reduced interest expense, was $502 thousand, $709 thousand, and $725 thousand in the same respective periods.
Included in interest income for the first quarter of 2022 and fourth and first quarters of 2021 were $393 thousand, $458 thousand, and $2.5 million, respectively, of PPP loan interest income and fees, net of costs. PPP loans were partially funded through the PPP Liquidity Facility ("PPPLF"), offered by the Federal Reserve Banks to fund PPP loans, and interest expense incurred for the PPPLF was $14 thousand, $46 thousand, and $304 thousand for the first quarter of 2022 and the fourth and first quarters of 2021, respectively.
Net interest margin for the first quarter of 2022 was 3.88% compared to 3.39% and 3.43% for the fourth and first quarters of 2021, respectively. Accretion and amortization of purchase accounting adjustments had a 53, 24, and 17 basis point positive effect on net interest margin for the same respective periods. In addition to the positive effect of these purchase accounting adjustments, net interest income and margin was positively affected by higher average balances of loans held for investment and higher rates on these loans, as well as lower funding costs, which declined to 0.36% for the first quarter of 2022 from 0.42% and 0.45% for the fourth and first quarters of 2021, respectively.
Provision for Loan Losses
The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $2.5 million in the first quarter of 2022 compared to $117 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2021 and no provision in the first quarter of 2021. The increase in provision for loan losses in the first quarter of 2022 was primarily due to additional reserves for loan growth and higher specific reserves for three relationships.
Noninterest Income
Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2022 was $24.1 million compared to $21.9 million and $15.5 million for the fourth and first quarters of 2021, respectively. Mortgage banking income, including mortgage servicing rights, contributed $9.6 million, $5.9 million, and $12.7 million of noninterest income in the first quarter of 2022 and the fourth and first quarters of 2021, respectively. Included in noninterest income in the fourth quarter of 2021 was a $6.2 million gain on the termination of interest rate swaps that hedged interest rates on certain FHLB advances. Noninterest income in the first quarter of 2022 and the fourth quarter of 2021 included $9.4 million and $5.7 million, respectively, of fair value adjustments for the Company's equity investments, primarily in certain fintech companies.
Noninterest Expense
Noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2022 was $22.7 million compared to $25.1 million and $30.2 million for the fourth and first quarters of 2021, respectively. Salaries and employee benefit expenses decreased $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2022 from the fourth quarter of 2021, primarily due to higher health insurance, incentives, and discretionary benefit plan contribution expenses in the fourth quarter of 2021. Lower salaries and employee benefit expenses attributable to the mortgage division in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 were partially offset by the addition of personnel to support the growing fintech business and commercial lenders. Merger-related expenses for the first quarter of 2022 and the fourth quarter of 2021 were $50 thousand and $171 thousand, respectively, attributable to the now-terminated FVCBankcorp, Inc. merger, while merger-related expenses of $9.0 million in the first quarter of 2021 were attributable to the Bay Banks Merger.
Balance Sheet
Loans held for investment, excluding PPP loans, increased $66.2 million to $1.84 billion at March 31, 2022 from $1.78 billion at December 31, 2021, an annualized growth rate of 14.9%. Most of this increase was attributable to net growth in commercial and industrial loans and commercial mortgages of $59.9 million and $46.7 million, respectively, partially offset by declines in commercial construction and consumer loans of $22.0 million and $12.5 million, respectively. Loans held for sale, which comprise primarily of residential mortgages, decreased $80.9 million to $41.0 million at March 31, 2022 from $121.9 million at December 31, 2021. This decline was primarily attributable to sales of mortgages into the secondary market in the first quarter of 2022 that exceeded mortgage originations due to the reasons noted previously.
Total deposits at March 31, 2022 were $2.35 billion, an increase of $56.3 million from December 31, 2021. Noninterest-bearing demand deposits grew $60.4 million primarily due to the Company's fintech partnerships, as noted previously.
The Company changed its accounting method for mortgage servicing rights from the amortization method to the fair value measurement method beginning in the first quarter of 2022. The after-tax difference in carrying values of its mortgage servicing rights assets under the two methods at the beginning of the quarter resulted in a positive cumulative effect adjustment to shareholders' equity of $3.5 million.
Asset Quality
Nonperforming loans, which include nonaccrual loans and loans 90 days or more past due and accruing interest1, totaled $14.4 million at March 31, 2022 and $16.1 million at December 31, 2021. The ratio of nonperforming loans to total assets was 0.53% and 0.60% at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. The Company's allowance for loan losses was $12.0 million at March 31, 2022, or 0.65% as a percentage of gross loans held for investment, excluding PPP loans2, compared to 0.68% at December 31, 2021 and 0.79% at March 31, 2021. The decline in this ratio from December 31, 2021 to March 31, 2022 was primarily attributable to a partial charge-off of a nonaccrual commercial loan related to one relationship, partially offset by reserve needs for loan growth in the first quarter of 2022. Remaining acquired loan discounts related to loans acquired in the Company's completed mergers were $13.5 million as of March 31, 2022 and $16.2 million as of December 31, 2021.
1 Excludes purchased credit-impaired loans.
2 The Company holds no allowance for loan losses on PPP loans as they are fully guaranteed by the U.S. government.
Capital
The Company previously announced that on April 6, 2022 its board of directors declared a $0.1225 per common share quarterly dividend, payable April 29, 2022 to shareholders of record as of April 18, 2022. Tangible book value per share, a non-GAAP (defined below) measure, was $13.09 and $13.01 as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.
Primarily as a result of an increase in market interest rates in the first quarter of 2022, the market value of the Company's portfolio of securities available for sale declined approximately $22.6 million, which resulted in a corresponding after-tax decline in stockholders' equity of $17.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The accumulated other comprehensive loss ("AOCL") attributable to this securities portfolio as of March 31, 2022 was $21.5 million, or $1.14 per book value per share, compared to a $3.6 million AOCL, or $0.19 per book value per share, as of December 31, 2021.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, management uses certain non-GAAP measures to supplement the evaluation of the Company's performance. Management believes presentations of these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information that is essential to a proper understanding of the operating results of the Company's core businesses. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP measures are included at the end of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release of the Company contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements represent plans, estimates, objectives, goals, guidelines, expectations, intentions, projections, and statements of the Company's beliefs concerning future events, business plans, objectives, expected operating results and the assumptions upon which those statements are based. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance or achievements, and are typically identified with words such as "may," "could," "should," "will," "would," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "aim," "intend," "plan," or words or phases of similar meaning. The Company cautions that the forward-looking statements are based largely on its expectations and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on factors which are, in many instances, beyond the Company's control. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
The following factors, among others, could cause the Company's financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in such forward-looking statements: (i) the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which the Company conducts operations; (ii) geopolitical conditions, including acts or threats of terrorism and/or military conflicts, or actions taken by the United States or other governments in response to acts or threats of terrorism and/or military conflicts, which could impact business and economic conditions in the United States and abroad; (iii) the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the adverse impact on the Company's business and operations and on the Company's customers which may result, among other things, in increased delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures and losses on loans; (iv) the occurrence of significant natural disasters, including severe weather conditions, floods, health related issues, and other catastrophic events; (v) the Company's management of risks inherent in its real estate loan portfolio, and the risk of a prolonged downturn in the real estate market, which could impair the value of the Company's collateral and its ability to sell collateral upon any foreclosure; (vi) changes in consumer spending and savings habits; (vii) technological and social media changes; (viii) the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; (ix) changing bank regulatory conditions, policies or programs, whether arising as new legislation or regulatory initiatives, that could lead to restrictions on activities of banks generally, or the Company's subsidiary bank in particular, more restrictive regulatory capital requirements, increased costs, including deposit insurance premiums, regulation or prohibition of certain income producing activities or changes in the secondary market for loans and other products; (x) the impact of changes in financial services policies, laws and regulations, including laws, regulations and policies concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance, and the application thereof by regulatory bodies; (xi) the impact of changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting the real estate industry; (xii) the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted from time to time by bank regulatory agencies, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other accounting standards setting bodies; (xiii) the timely development of competitive new products and services and the acceptance of these products and services by new and existing customers; (xiv) the willingness of users to substitute competitors' products and services for the Company's products and services; (xv) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company; (xvi) reputational risk and potential adverse reactions of the Company's customers, suppliers, employees or other business partners; (xvii) the effects of acquisitions the Company may make, including, without limitation, the failure to achieve the expected revenue growth and/or expense savings from such transactions; (xiii) changes in the level of the Company's nonperforming assets and charge-offs; (xix) the Company's involvement, from time to time, in legal proceedings and examination and remedial actions by regulators; (xx) potential exposure to fraud, negligence, computer theft and cyber-crime; (xxi) the Company's ability to pay dividends; (xxii) the Company's involvement as a participating lender in the PPP as administered through the U.S. Small Business Administration; and (xiii) other risks and factors identified in the "Risk Factors" sections and elsewhere in documents the Company files from time to time with the SEC.
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SEATTLE, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bsquare Corporation (NASDAQ: BSQR) today announced that it will release its financial results for the first quarter, ending March 31, 2022, after the close of regular market trading on May 12, 2022. A conference call will follow at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time).
To participate in the call dial 1-888-256-1007 or 1-856-344-9299 for international callers and reference "Bsquare Corporation First Quarter 2022 Earnings Conference Call." To listen to the call via webcast visit the investor relations section of www.bsquare.com.
A replay will be available for two weeks following the call by dialing 1-844-512-2921, or 1-412-317-6671 for international callers; reference pin number 8747761. A replay of the webcast of will be available at www.bsquare.com in the investor relations section.
About Bsquare Corporation
Bsquare helps companies build connected products that participate intelligently in their own security, deployment, operation, and management, allowing our customers to realize the full potential of a connected world. We have extensive experience designing with Windows, Linux, Android, and other embedded operating systems and now operate IoT networks ranging in size from 50,000 to more than 1 million devices for our customers. Our technology is powering devices that help people be productive, enhance quality of life, and preserve the resources of our planet. Bsquare serves a global customer base from offices in Seattle, WA, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.bsquare.com.
Contact
Bsquare
Chris Wheaton, CFO/COO
Bsquare Corporation
+1 425.519.5900
investorrelations@bsquare.com
BSQUARE, the BSQUARE Logo is a trademark of BSQUARE Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other names and brands herein may be trademarks of others.
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OAKLAND, Calif., April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) announced today that it signed a 12-year, 47-megawatt virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with Enel Green Power North America to purchase renewable electricity beginning in 2023. This deal supports its commitment to 100% renewable electricity for its U.S. and Canada operations, one of Clorox's environmental, social and governance goals to address climate change. When it goes into effect, this deal is expected to support about half of the renewable electricity needed to cover its U.S. and Canada operations.
Clorox first achieved 100% renewable electricity for its U.S. and Canada operations in January 2021 – four years earlier than originally planned – when its first VPPA with Enel Green Power North America went into effect, covering about half its electricity needs at the time. To achieve and maintain this goal, Clorox has been purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs) on the open market to cover the balance of its electricity needs. Based on the company's current and expected electricity demands in the U.S. and Canada, this second agreement is intended to replace the need to purchase RECs from the open market when it goes into effect. By entering into a second VPPA, Clorox is demonstrating its long-term commitment to match the electricity needed to power its operations with 100% renewable energy and helping to expand renewable energy infrastructure in the U.S.
"We know taking action on the climate crisis is necessary to ensure the well-being of our stakeholders, our planet and our long-term success as a company. As we live up to our purpose to champion people to be well and thrive every single day, contributing to a clean world is a must," said Michael Ott, Clorox's head of sustainability. "We also know change needs to happen urgently and at scale. That's why we are committing to large, multi-year renewable energy projects to help drive the transition to a more sustainable energy system."
The 47 MW VPPA is a 12-year commitment to purchase renewable energy generated and delivered to the electricity grid from Enel Green Power's 25 Mile Creek wind farm in Oklahoma. The 250MW project is currently under construction and is expected to create over 350 local jobs during construction, in addition to around 10 permanent full-time positions. The wind farm is expected to come on-line at the end of 2022, with Clorox's agreement coming into effect on January 1, 2023. At that time, Clorox will purchase nearly 20% of the power generated by this facility.
By matching 100% of its U.S. and Canada electricity needs with renewable sources, Clorox is reducing nearly 160 thousand metric tons of CO2 emissions each year, based on its 2020 electricity consumption. This is equivalent to the annual impact that 189,000 acres of U.S. forest can provide in removing CO2 from the atmosphere, or the carbon impact of the electricity needed to power 31,000 U.S. homes annually.1
Clorox's renewable electricity goal supports progress toward its 2030 science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and 2050 commitment to net zero emissions. The company's ESG commitments are embedded in its corporate strategy called IGNITE and are focused where the company believes it can have the greatest impact: Healthy Lives, Clean World and Thriving Communities. More information about Clorox's IGNITE ESG goals and commitments can be found here.
Schneider Electric advised Clorox on this virtual power purchase agreement and supported the company in its project selection, analysis, negotiations and deal execution.
The Clorox Company
The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) is a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products with about 9,000 employees worldwide and fiscal year 2021 sales of $7.3 billion. Clorox markets some of the most trusted and recognized consumer brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products; Pine-Sol® cleaners; Liquid-Plumr® clog removers; Poett® home care products; Fresh Step® cat litter; Glad® bags and wraps; Kingsford® grilling products; Hidden Valley® dressings and sauces; Brita® water- filtration products; Burt's Bees® natural personal care products; and RenewLife®, Rainbow Light®, Natural Vitality CALM™, and NeoCell® vitamins, minerals and supplements. The company also markets industry-leading products and technologies for professional customers, including those sold under the CloroxPro™ and Clorox Healthcare® brand names. More than 80% of the company's sales are generated from brands that hold the No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in their categories.
Clorox is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. The company has been broadly recognized for its corporate responsibility efforts, included on the Barron's 2020 100 Most Sustainable Companies list, 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, the Human Rights Campaign's 2021 Corporate Equality Index and the 2021 Parity.org Best Places for Women to Advance list, among others. In support of its communities, The Clorox Company and its foundations contributed about $20 million in combined cash grants, product donations and cause marketing in fiscal year 2021. For more information, visit TheCloroxCompany.com and follow the company on Twitter at @CloroxCo.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, among others, statements related to the expected or potential impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and the related responses of governments, consumers, customers, suppliers, employees and the company, on our business, operations, employees, financial condition and results of operations, and any such forward-looking statements, whether concerning the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties. Except for historical information, statements about future volumes, sales, organic sales growth, foreign currencies, costs, cost savings, margins, earnings, earnings per share, diluted earnings per share, foreign currency exchange rates, tax rates, cash flows, plans, objectives, expectations, growth or profitability are forward-looking statements based on management's estimates, beliefs, assumptions and projections. Words such as "could," "may," "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "will," "predicts," and variations on such words, and similar expressions that reflect our current views with respect to future events and operational, economic and financial performance are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those discussed. Important factors that could affect performance and cause results to differ materially from management's expectations are described in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, as updated from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These factors include, but are not limited to: intense competition in the company's markets; the impact of the changing retail environment, including the growth of alternative retail channels and business models, and changing consumer preferences; the impact of COVID-19 on the availability of, and efficiency of the supply, manufacturing and distribution systems for, the company's products, including any significant disruption to such systems; on the demand for the company's products; and on worldwide, regional and local adverse economic conditions, including increased risk of inflation; volatility and increases in the costs of raw materials, energy, transportation, labor and other necessary supplies or services; risks related to supply chain issues and product shortages as a result of increased supply chain dependencies due to an expanded supplier network and a reliance on certain single-source suppliers; risks relating to the significant increase in demand for disinfecting and other products due to the COVID-19 pandemic continuing; dependence on key customers and risks related to customer consolidation and ordering patterns; risks related to the company's use of and reliance on information technology systems, including potential security breaches, cyber-attacks, privacy breaches or data breaches that result in the unauthorized disclosure of consumer, customer, employee or company information, or service interruptions, especially at a time when a large number of the company's employees are working remotely and accessing its technology infrastructure remotely; the ability of the company to drive sales growth, increase prices and market share, grow its product categories and manage favorable product and geographic mix; risks relating to acquisitions, new ventures and divestitures, and associated costs, including for asset impairment charges related to, among others, intangible assets, including trademarks and goodwill, in particular the impairment charges relating to the carrying value of the company's Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements business; and the ability to complete announced transactions and, if completed, integration costs and potential contingent liabilities related to those transactions; the company's ability to maintain its business reputation and the reputation of its brands and products; lower revenue, increased costs or reputational harm resulting from government actions and compliance with regulations, or any material costs imposed by changes in regulation; the ability of the company to successfully manage global political, legal, tax and regulatory risks, including changes in regulatory or administrative activity; the operations of the company and its suppliers being subject to disruption by events beyond the company's control, including work stoppages, cyber-attacks, weather events or natural disasters, political instability or uncertainty, disease outbreaks or pandemics, such as COVID-19, and terrorism; risks related to international operations and international trade, including foreign currency fluctuations, such as devaluations, and foreign currency exchange rate controls; changes in governmental policies, including trade, travel or immigration restrictions, new or additional tariffs, and price or other controls; labor claims and civil unrest; inflationary pressures, particularly in Argentina; impact of the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union; potential negative impact and liabilities from the use, storage and transportation of chlorine in certain international markets where chlorine is used in the production of bleach; widespread health emergencies, such as COVID-19; and the possibility of nationalization, expropriation of assets or other government action; the ability of the company to innovate and to develop and introduce commercially successful products, or expand into adjacent categories and countries; the impact of product liability claims, labor claims and other legal, governmental or tax proceedings, including in foreign jurisdictions and in connection with any product recalls; the ability of the company to implement and generate cost savings and efficiencies, and successfully implement its business strategies; the accuracy of the company's estimates and assumptions on which its financial projections, including any sales or earnings guidance or outlook it may provide from time to time, are based; risks related to additional increases in the estimated fair value of The Procter & Gamble Company's interest in the Glad business; the performance of strategic alliances and other business relationships; the company's ability to attract and retain key personnel; the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance issues, including those related to climate change and sustainability on our sales, operating costs or reputation; environmental matters, including costs associated with the remediation and monitoring of past contamination, and possible increases in costs resulting from actions by relevant regulators, and the handling and/or transportation of hazardous substances; the company's ability to effectively utilize, assert and defend its intellectual property rights, and any infringement or claimed infringement by the company of third-party intellectual property rights; the effect of the company's indebtedness and credit rating on its business operations and financial results and the company's ability to access capital markets and other funding sources; the company's ability to pay and declare dividends or repurchase its stock in the future; the impacts of potential stockholder activism; and risks related to any litigation associated with the exclusive forum provision in the company's bylaws.
The company's forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current views, beliefs, assumptions and expectations regarding future events and speak only as of the date of this press release. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by the federal securities laws.
CLX-C
1 Emissions equivalencies calculated using The U.S. EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator as of March 2022, which is based on national averages and can be found at https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator
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SOURCE The Clorox Company | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/clorox-signs-second-12-year-renewable-energy-agreement-continuing-its-commitment-100-renewable-electricity-its-us-canada-operations/ | 2022-04-28T23:56:27Z |
NEW YORK, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This press release provides shareholders of Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc. (NYSE: FOF) (the "Fund") with information regarding the sources of the distribution to be paid on April 29, 2022 and cumulative distributions paid fiscal year-to-date.
In December 2021, the Fund implemented a managed distribution policy in accordance with exemptive relief issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The managed distribution policy seeks to deliver the Fund's long-term total return potential through regular monthly distributions declared at a fixed rate per common share. The policy gives the Fund greater flexibility to realize long-term capital gains throughout the year and to distribute those gains on a regular monthly basis to shareholders. The Board of Directors of the Fund may amend, terminate or suspend the managed distribution policy at any time, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund's shares.
The Fund's monthly distributions may include long-term capital gains, short-term capital gains, net investment income and/or return of capital for federal income tax purposes. Return of capital includes distributions paid by the Fund in excess of its net investment income and net realized capital gains and such excess is distributed from the Fund's assets. A return of capital is not taxable; rather, it reduces a shareholder's tax basis in his or her shares of the Fund. The amount of monthly distributions may vary depending on a number of factors, including changes in portfolio and market conditions.
At the time of each monthly distribution, information will be posted to cohenandsteers.com and mailed to shareholders in a concurrent notice. However, this information may change at the end of the year because the final tax characteristics of the Fund's distributions cannot be determined with certainty until after the end of the calendar year. Final tax characteristics of all of the Fund's distributions will be provided on Form 1099-DIV, which is mailed after the close of the calendar year.
The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year-to-date from the sources indicated. All amounts are expressed per common share.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution policy. The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with 'yield' or 'income'. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates, are likely to change over time, and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for accounting and tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The amounts and sources of distributions year-to-date may be subject to additional adjustments.
*THE FUND WILL SEND YOU A FORM 1099-DIV FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR THAT WILL TELL YOU HOW TO REPORT THESE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES
The Fund's Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return for fiscal year 2022 (January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022) is set forth below. Shareholders should take note of the relationship between the Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return with the Fund's Cumulative Distribution Rate for 2022. In addition, the Fund's Average Annual Total Return for the five-year period ending March 31, 2022 is set forth below. Shareholders should note the relationship between the Average Annual Total Return with the Fund's Current Annualized Distribution Rate for 2022. The performance and distribution rate information disclosed in the table is based on the Fund's net asset value per share (NAV). The Fund's NAV is calculated as the total market value of all the securities and other assets held by the Fund minus the total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding. While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's individual investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.
Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information:
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expense of the Fund carefully before investing. You can obtain the Fund's most recent periodic reports, when available, and other regulatory filings by contacting your financial advisor or visiting cohenandsteers.com. These reports and other filings can be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR Database. You should read these reports and other filings carefully before investing.
Shareholders should not use the information provided here in preparing their tax returns. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year indicating how to report Fund distributions for federal income tax purposes.
Website: https://www.cohenandsteers.com
Symbol: (NYSE: CNS)
About Cohen & Steers. Cohen & Steers is a leading global investment manager specializing in real assets and alternative income, including real estate, preferred securities, infrastructure, resource equities, commodities, as well as multi-strategy solutions. Founded in 1986, the firm is headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Dublin, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and other statements that Cohen & Steers may make may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reflect the company's current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and financial performance. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates," or the negative versions of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties.
Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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SOURCE Cohen & Steers, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/cohen-amp-steers-closed-end-opportunity-fund-inc-fof-notification-sources-distribution-under-section-19a/ | 2022-04-28T23:56:38Z |
NEW YORK, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This press release provides shareholders of Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (NYSE: UTF) (the "Fund") with information regarding the sources of the distribution to be paid on April 29, 2022 and cumulative distributions paid fiscal year-to-date.
In March 2015, the Fund implemented a managed distribution policy in accordance with exemptive relief issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The managed distribution policy seeks to deliver the Fund's long-term total return potential through regular monthly distributions declared at a fixed rate per common share. This policy gives the Fund greater flexibility to realize long-term capital gains throughout the year and to distribute those gains on a regular monthly basis to shareholders. The Board of Directors of the Fund may amend, terminate or suspend the managed distribution policy at any time, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund's shares.
The Fund's monthly distributions may include long-term capital gains, short-term capital gains, net investment income and/or return of capital for federal income tax purposes. Return of capital includes distributions paid by the Fund in excess of its net investment income and net realized capital gains and such excess is distributed from the Fund's assets. A return of capital is not taxable; rather, it reduces a shareholder's tax basis in his or her shares of the Fund. In addition, distributions from the Fund's investments in MLPs are attributed to various sources, including net investment income and return of capital. The amount of monthly distributions may vary depending on a number of factors, including changes in portfolio and market conditions.
At the time of each monthly distribution, information will be posted to cohenandsteers.com and mailed to shareholders in a concurrent notice. However, this information may change at the end of the year because the final tax characteristics of the Fund's distributions cannot be determined with certainty until after the end of the calendar year. Final tax characteristics of all of the Fund's distributions will be provided on Form 1099-DIV, which is mailed after the close of the calendar year.
The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year-to-date from the sources indicated. All amounts are expressed per common share.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution policy. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates, are likely to change over time, and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for accounting and tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The amounts and sources of distributions year-to-date may be subject to additional adjustments.
*THE FUND WILL SEND YOU A FORM 1099-DIV FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR THAT WILL TELL YOU HOW TO REPORT THESE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES.
The Fund's Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return for fiscal year 2022 (January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022) is set forth below. Shareholders should take note of the relationship between the Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return with the Fund's Cumulative Distribution Rate for 2022. In addition, the Fund's Average Annual Total Return for the five-year period ending March 31, 2022 is set forth below. Shareholders should note the relationship between the Average Annual Total Return with the Fund's Current Annualized Distribution Rate for 2022. The performance and distribution rate information disclosed in the table is based on the Fund's net asset value per share (NAV). The Fund's NAV is calculated as the total market value of all the securities and other assets held by the Fund minus the total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding. While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's individual investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.
Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information:
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expense of the Fund carefully before investing. You can obtain the Fund's most recent periodic reports, when available, and other regulatory filings by contacting your financial advisor or visiting cohenandsteers.com. These reports and other filings can be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR Database. You should read these reports and other filings carefully before investing.
Shareholders should not use the information provided here in preparing their tax returns. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year indicating how to report Fund distributions for federal income tax purposes.
SOURCE: Cohen & Steers, Inc.
Website: https://www.cohenandsteers.com
Symbol: (NYSE: CNS)
About Cohen & Steers. Cohen & Steers is a leading global investment manager specializing in real assets and alternative income, including real estate, preferred securities, infrastructure, resource equities, commodities, as well as multi-strategy solutions. Founded in 1986, the firm is headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Dublin, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and other statements that Cohen & Steers may make may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reflect the company's current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and financial performance. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates," or the negative versions of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties.
Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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SOURCE Cohen & Steers, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/cohen-amp-steers-infrastructure-fund-inc-utf-notification-sources-distribution-under-section-19a/ | 2022-04-28T23:56:45Z |
NEW YORK, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This press release provides shareholders of Cohen & Steers Limited Duration Preferred and Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE: LDP) (the "Fund") with information regarding the sources of the distribution to be paid on April 29, 2022 and cumulative distributions paid fiscal year-to-date.
In December 2016, the Fund implemented a managed distribution policy in accordance with exemptive relief issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The managed distribution policy seeks to deliver the Fund's long-term total return potential through regular monthly distributions declared at a fixed rate per common share. The policy gives the Fund greater flexibility to realize long-term capital gains throughout the year and to distribute those gains on a regular monthly basis to shareholders. The Board of Directors of the Fund may amend, terminate or suspend the managed distribution policy at any time, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund's shares.
The Fund's monthly distributions may include long-term capital gains, short-term capital gains, net investment income and/or return of capital for federal income tax purposes. Return of capital includes distributions paid by the Fund in excess of its net investment income and net realized capital gains and such excess is distributed from the Fund's assets. A return of capital is not taxable; rather, it reduces a shareholder's tax basis in his or her shares of the Fund. The amount of monthly distributions may vary depending on a number of factors, including changes in portfolio and market conditions.
At the time of each monthly distribution, information will be posted to cohenandsteers.com and mailed to shareholders in a concurrent notice. However, this information may change at the end of the year because the final tax characteristics of the Fund's distributions cannot be determined with certainty until after the end of the calendar year. Final tax characteristics of all of the Fund's distributions will be provided on Form 1099-DIV, which is mailed after the close of the calendar year.
The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year-to-date from the sources indicated. All amounts are expressed per common share.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution policy. The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with 'yield' or 'income'. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates, are likely to change over time, and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for accounting and tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The amounts and sources of distributions year-to-date may be subject to additional adjustments.
*THE FUND WILL SEND YOU A FORM 1099-DIV FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR THAT WILL TELL YOU HOW TO REPORT THESE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES
The Fund's Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return for fiscal year 2022 (January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022) is set forth below. Shareholders should take note of the relationship between the Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return with the Fund's Cumulative Distribution Rate for 2022. In addition, the Fund's Average Annual Total Return for the five-year period ending March 31, 2022 is set forth below. Shareholders should note the relationship between the Average Annual Total Return with the Fund's Current Annualized Distribution Rate for 2022. The performance and distribution rate information disclosed in the table is based on the Fund's net asset value per share (NAV). The Fund's NAV is calculated as the total market value of all the securities and other assets held by the Fund minus the total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding. While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's individual investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.
Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information:
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expense of the Fund carefully before investing. You can obtain the Fund's most recent periodic reports, when available, and other regulatory filings by contacting your financial advisor or visiting cohenandsteers.com. These reports and other filings can be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR Database. You should read these reports and other filings carefully before investing.
Shareholders should not use the information provided here in preparing their tax returns. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year indicating how to report Fund distributions for federal income tax purposes.
Website: https://www.cohenandsteers.com
Symbol: (NYSE: CNS)
About Cohen & Steers. Cohen & Steers is a leading global investment manager specializing in real assets and alternative income, including real estate, preferred securities, infrastructure, resource equities, commodities, as well as multi-strategy solutions. Founded in 1986, the firm is headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Dublin, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and other statements that Cohen & Steers may make may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reflect the company's current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and financial performance. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates," or the negative versions of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties.
Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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SOURCE Cohen & Steers, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/cohen-amp-steers-limited-duration-preferred-income-fund-inc-ldp-notification-sources-distribution-under-section-19a/ | 2022-04-28T23:56:57Z |
NEW YORK, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This press release provides shareholders of Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund, Inc. (NYSE: RQI) (the "Fund") with information regarding the sources of the distribution to be paid on April 29, 2022 and cumulative distributions paid fiscal year-to-date.
In December 2012, the Fund implemented a managed distribution policy in accordance with exemptive relief issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The managed distribution policy seeks to deliver the Fund's long-term total return potential through regular monthly distributions declared at a fixed rate per common share. The policy gives the Fund greater flexibility to realize long-term capital gains throughout the year and to distribute those gains on a regular monthly basis to shareholders. The Board of Directors of the Fund may amend, terminate or suspend the managed distribution policy at any time, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund's shares.
The Fund's monthly distributions may include long-term capital gains, short-term capital gains, net investment income and/or return of capital for federal income tax purposes. Return of capital includes distributions paid by the Fund in excess of its net investment income and net realized capital gains and such excess is distributed from the Fund's assets. A return of capital is not taxable; rather, it reduces a shareholder's tax basis in his or her shares of the Fund. In addition, distributions from the Fund's investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) may later be characterized as capital gains and/or a return of capital, depending on the character of the dividends reported to the Fund after year end by REITs held by the Fund. The amount of monthly distributions may vary depending on a number of factors, including changes in portfolio and market conditions.
At the time of each monthly distribution, information will be posted to cohenandsteers.com and mailed to shareholders in a concurrent notice. However, this information may change at the end of the year because the final tax characteristics of the Fund's distributions cannot be determined with certainty until after the end of the calendar year. Final tax characteristics of all of the Fund's distributions will be provided on Form 1099-DIV, which is mailed after the close of the calendar year.
The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year-to-date from the sources indicated. All amounts are expressed per common share.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution policy. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates, are likely to change over time, and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for accounting and tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The amounts and sources of distributions year-to-date may be subject to additional adjustments.
*THE FUND WILL SEND YOU A FORM 1099-DIV FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR THAT WILL TELL YOU HOW TO REPORT THESE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES.
The Fund's Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return for fiscal year 2022 (January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022) is set forth below. Shareholders should take note of the relationship between the Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return with the Fund's Cumulative Distribution Rate for 2022. In addition, the Fund's Average Annual Total Return for the five-year period ending March 31, 2022 is set forth below. Shareholders should note the relationship between the Average Annual Total Return with the Fund's Current Annualized Distribution Rate for 2022. The performance and distribution rate information disclosed in the table is based on the Fund's net asset value per share (NAV). The Fund's NAV is calculated as the total market value of all the securities and other assets held by the Fund minus the total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding. While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's individual investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.
Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information:
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expense of the Fund carefully before investing. You can obtain the Fund's most recent periodic reports, when available, and other regulatory filings by contacting your financial advisor or visiting cohenandsteers.com. These reports and other filings can be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR Database. You should read these reports and other filings carefully before investing.
Shareholders should not use the information provided here in preparing their tax returns. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year indicating how to report Fund distributions for federal income tax purposes.
Website: https://www.cohenandsteers.com
Symbol: (NYSE: CNS)
About Cohen & Steers. Cohen & Steers is a leading global investment manager specializing in real assets and alternative income, including real estate, preferred securities, infrastructure, resource equities, commodities, as well as multi-strategy solutions. Founded in 1986, the firm is headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Dublin, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and other statements that Cohen & Steers may make may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reflect the company's current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and financial performance. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates," or the negative versions of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties.
Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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SOURCE Cohen & Steers, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/cohen-amp-steers-quality-income-realty-fund-inc-rqi-notification-sources-distribution-under-section-19a/ | 2022-04-28T23:57:03Z |
NEW YORK, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This press release provides shareholders of Cohen & Steers REIT and Preferred and Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE: RNP) (the "Fund") with information regarding the sources of the distribution to be paid on April 29, 2022 and cumulative distributions paid fiscal year-to-date.
In December 2017, the Fund implemented a managed distribution policy in accordance with exemptive relief issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The managed distribution policy seeks to deliver the Fund's long-term total return potential through regular monthly distributions declared at a fixed rate per common share. The policy gives the Fund greater flexibility to realize long-term capital gains throughout the year and to distribute those gains on a regular monthly basis to shareholders. The Board of Directors of the Fund may amend, terminate or suspend the managed distribution policy at any time, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund's shares.
The Fund's monthly distributions may include long-term capital gains, short-term capital gains, net investment income and/or return of capital for federal income tax purposes. Return of capital includes distributions paid by the Fund in excess of its net investment income and net realized capital gains and such excess is distributed from the Fund's assets. A return of capital is not taxable; rather, it reduces a shareholder's tax basis in his or her shares of the Fund. In addition, distributions from the Fund's investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) may later be characterized as capital gains and/or a return of capital, depending on the character of the dividends reported to the Fund after year-end by REITs held by the Fund. The amount of monthly distributions may vary depending on a number of factors, including changes in portfolio and market conditions.
At the time of each monthly distribution, information will be posted to cohenandsteers.com and mailed to shareholders in a concurrent notice. However, this information may change at the end of the year because the final tax characteristics of the Fund's distributions cannot be determined with certainty until after the end of the calendar year. Final tax characteristics of all of the Fund's distributions will be provided on Form 1099-DIV, which is mailed after the close of the calendar year.
The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year-to-date from the sources indicated. All amounts are expressed per common share.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution policy. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates, are likely to change over time, and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for accounting and tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The amounts and sources of distributions year-to-date may be subject to additional adjustments.
*THE FUND WILL SEND YOU A FORM 1099-DIV FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR THAT WILL TELL YOU HOW TO REPORT THESE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES
The Fund's Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return for fiscal year 2022 (January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022) is set forth below. Shareholders should take note of the relationship between the Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return with the Fund's Cumulative Distribution Rate for 2022. In addition, the Fund's Average Annual Total Return for the five-year period ending March 31, 2022 is set forth below. Shareholders should note the relationship between the Average Annual Total Return with the Fund's Current Annualized Distribution Rate for 2022. The performance and distribution rate information disclosed in the table is based on the Fund's net asset value per share (NAV). The Fund's NAV is calculated as the total market value of all the securities and other assets held by the Fund minus the total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding. While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's individual investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.
Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information:
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expense of the Fund carefully before investing. You can obtain the Fund's most recent periodic reports, when available, and other regulatory filings by contacting your financial advisor or visiting cohenandsteers.com. These reports and other filings can be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR Database. You should read these reports and other filings carefully before investing.
Shareholders should not use the information provided here in preparing their tax returns. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year indicating how to report Fund distributions for federal income tax purposes.
SOURCE: Cohen & Steers, Inc.
Website: https://www.cohenandsteers.com/
Symbol: (NYSE: CNS)
About Cohen & Steers. Cohen & Steers is a leading global investment manager specializing in real assets and alternative income, including real estate, preferred securities, infrastructure, resource equities, commodities, as well as multi-strategy solutions. Founded in 1986, the firm is headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Dublin, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and other statements that Cohen & Steers may make may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reflect the company's current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and financial performance. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates," or the negative versions of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties.
Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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SOURCE Cohen & Steers, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/cohen-amp-steers-reit-preferred-income-fund-inc-rnp-notification-sources-distribution-under-section-19a/ | 2022-04-28T23:57:15Z |
NEW YORK, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This press release provides shareholders of Cohen & Steers Select Preferred and Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE: PSF) (the "Fund") with information regarding the sources of the distribution to be paid on April 29, 2022 and cumulative distributions paid fiscal year-to-date.
In December 2016, the Fund implemented a managed distribution policy in accordance with exemptive relief issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The managed distribution policy seeks to deliver the Fund's long-term total return potential through regular monthly distributions declared at a fixed rate per common share. The policy gives the Fund greater flexibility to realize long-term capital gains throughout the year and to distribute those gains on a regular monthly basis to shareholders. The Board of Directors of the Fund may amend, terminate or suspend the managed distribution policy at any time, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund's shares.
The Fund's monthly distributions may include long-term capital gains, short-term capital gains, net investment income and/or return of capital for federal income tax purposes. Return of capital includes distributions paid by the Fund in excess of its net investment income and net realized capital gains and such excess is distributed from the Fund's assets. A return of capital is not taxable; rather, it reduces a shareholder's tax basis in his or her shares of the Fund. The amount of monthly distributions may vary depending on a number of factors, including changes in portfolio and market conditions.
At the time of each monthly distribution, information will be posted to cohenandsteers.com and mailed to shareholders in a concurrent notice. However, this information may change at the end of the year because the final tax characteristics of the Fund's distributions cannot be determined with certainty until after the end of the calendar year. Final tax characteristics of all of the Fund's distributions will be provided on Form 1099-DIV, which is mailed after the close of the calendar year.
The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year-to-date from the sources indicated. All amounts are expressed per common share.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution policy. The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with 'yield' or 'income'. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates, are likely to change over time, and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for accounting and tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The amounts and sources of distributions year-to-date may be subject to additional adjustments.
*THE FUND WILL SEND YOU A FORM 1099-DIV FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR THAT WILL TELL YOU HOW TO REPORT THESE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES
The Fund's Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return for fiscal year 2022 (January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022) is set forth below. Shareholders should take note of the relationship between the Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return with the Fund's Cumulative Distribution Rate for 2022. In addition, the Fund's Average Annual Total Return for the five-year period ending March 31, 2022 is set forth below. Shareholders should note the relationship between the Average Annual Total Return with the Fund's Current Annualized Distribution Rate for 2022. The performance and distribution rate information disclosed in the table is based on the Fund's net asset value per share (NAV). The Fund's NAV is calculated as the total market value of all the securities and other assets held by the Fund minus the total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding. While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's individual investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.
Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information:
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expense of the Fund carefully before investing. You can obtain the Fund's most recent periodic reports, when available, and other regulatory filings by contacting your financial advisor or visiting cohenandsteers.com. These reports and other filings can be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR Database. You should read these reports and other filings carefully before investing.
Shareholders should not use the information provided here in preparing their tax returns. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year indicating how to report Fund distributions for federal income tax purposes.
Website: https://www.cohenandsteers.com
Symbol: (NYSE: CNS)
About Cohen & Steers. Cohen & Steers is a leading global investment manager specializing in real assets and alternative income, including real estate, preferred securities, infrastructure, resource equities, commodities, as well as multi-strategy solutions. Founded in 1986, the firm is headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Dublin, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and other statements that Cohen & Steers may make may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reflect the company's current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and financial performance. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates," or the negative versions of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties.
Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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SOURCE Cohen & Steers, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/cohen-amp-steers-select-preferred-income-fund-inc-psf-notification-sources-distribution-under-section-19a/ | 2022-04-28T23:57:22Z |
NEW YORK, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This press release provides shareholders of Cohen & Steers Total Return Realty Fund, Inc. (NYSE: RFI) (the "Fund") with information regarding the sources of the distribution to be paid on April 29, 2022 and cumulative distributions paid fiscal year-to-date.
In December 2011, the Fund implemented a managed distribution policy in accordance with exemptive relief issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The managed distribution policy seeks to deliver the Fund's long-term total return potential through regular monthly distributions declared at a fixed rate per common share. The policy gives the Fund greater flexibility to realize long-term capital gains throughout the year and to distribute those gains on a regular monthly basis to shareholders. The Board of Directors of the Fund may amend, terminate or suspend the managed distribution policy at any time, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund's shares.
The Fund's monthly distributions may include long-term capital gains, short-term capital gains, net investment income and/or return of capital for federal income tax purposes. Return of capital includes distributions paid by the Fund in excess of its net investment income and net realized capital gains and such excess is distributed from the Fund's assets. A return of capital is not taxable; rather, it reduces a shareholder's tax basis in his or her shares of the Fund. In addition, distributions from the Fund's investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) may later be characterized as capital gains and/or a return of capital, depending on the character of the dividends reported to the Fund after year-end by REITs held by the Fund. The amount of monthly distributions may vary depending on a number of factors, including changes in portfolio and market conditions.
At the time of each monthly distribution, information will be posted to cohenandsteers.com and mailed to shareholders in a concurrent notice. However, this information may change at the end of the year because the final tax characteristics of the Fund's distributions cannot be determined with certainty until after the end of the calendar year. Final tax characteristics of all of the Fund's distributions will be provided on Form 1099-DIV, which is mailed after the close of the calendar year.
The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year-to-date from the sources indicated. All amounts are expressed per common share.
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution policy. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates, are likely to change over time, and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for accounting and tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The amounts and sources of distributions year-to-date may be subject to additional adjustments.
*THE FUND WILL SEND YOU A FORM 1099-DIV FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR THAT WILL TELL YOU HOW TO REPORT THESE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES.
The Fund's Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return for fiscal year 2022 (January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022) is set forth below. Shareholders should take note of the relationship between the Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return with the Fund's Cumulative Distribution Rate for 2022. In addition, the Fund's Average Annual Total Return for the five-year period ending March 31, 2022 is set forth below. Shareholders should note the relationship between the Average Annual Total Return with the Fund's Current Annualized Distribution Rate for 2022. The performance and distribution rate information disclosed in the table is based on the Fund's net asset value per share (NAV). The Fund's NAV is calculated as the total market value of all the securities and other assets held by the Fund minus the total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding. While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's individual investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.
Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information:
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expense of the Fund carefully before investing. You can obtain the Fund's most recent periodic reports, when available, and other regulatory filings by contacting your financial advisor or visiting cohenandsteers.com. These reports and other filings can be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR Database. You should read these reports and other filings carefully before investing.
Shareholders should not use the information provided here in preparing their tax returns. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year indicating how to report Fund distributions for federal income tax purposes.
Website: https://www.cohenandsteers.com/
Symbol: (NYSE: CNS)
About Cohen & Steers. Cohen & Steers is a leading global investment manager specializing in real assets and alternative income, including real estate, preferred securities, infrastructure, resource equities, commodities, as well as multi-strategy solutions. Founded in 1986, the firm is headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Dublin, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and other statements that Cohen & Steers may make may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reflect the company's current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and financial performance. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates," or the negative versions of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties.
Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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SOURCE Cohen & Steers, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/cohen-amp-steers-total-return-realty-fund-inc-rfi-notification-sources-distribution-under-section-19a/ | 2022-04-28T23:57:33Z |
SENECA, S.C., April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Community First Bancorporation ("Community First") (OTC: CFOK) the parent company of Community First Bank Inc. ("Bank") and the Bank's subsidiary SeaTrust Mortgage Company ("SeaTrust") announced today an agreement for the sale of SeaTrust to Primis Bank, Glen Allen, Virginia ("Primis").
Primis will purchase 100% of the SeaTrust stock in a cash transaction. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of each company and is expected to close May 31, 2022, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions.
SeaTrust opened for business in February 2020, is headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, and has offices in Wilmington, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Jacksonville, North Carolina, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and Jacksonville, Florida, and Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee.
Richard D. Burleson, President and CEO of Community First, stated: "The sale of SeaTrust is bittersweet. We built a great team of mortgage lenders and a sophisticated technology platform for mortgage originations. However, with our acquisition in 2021 of Security Federal Bank, in Elizabethton, Tennessee we have been able to expand our inhouse mortgage products and now find a reduced need for a mortgage subsidiary. This sale will allow the Bank to focus its resources on expanding its commercial, retail and small business lending offerings in the communities we serve."
Community First Bank Inc., a South Carolina chartered community bank, operates eight banking offices in the South Carolina communities of Seneca, Walhalla, Anderson, Williamston, Westminster, and Greenville, two banking offices in North Carolina in Charlotte and Dallas, two banking offices in Elizabethton, Tennessee and two loan production offices in Waynesville, North Carolina and Kingsport, Tennessee.
CONTACT: Richard D. Burleson
President and Chief Executive Officer
Community First Bancorporation
Office: 864-886-0206
www.c1stbank.com
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SOURCE Community First Bank | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/community-first-announces-agreement-sell-seatrust-mortgage-company/ | 2022-04-28T23:57:41Z |
FRANKLIN, Tenn., April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (NYSE: CHCT) today announced that its Board of Directors has increased its common stock cash dividend for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. This dividend, in the amount of $0.44 per share, is payable on May 27, 2022 to shareholders of record on May 13, 2022. This dividend rate equates to an annualized dividend of $1.76 per share. Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated has increased its dividend every quarter since its Initial Public Offering.
About Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated
Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (the "Company") is a real estate investment trust that focuses on owning income-producing real estate properties associated primarily with the delivery of outpatient healthcare services in our target sub-markets throughout the United States.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to the historical information contained within, the matters discussed in this supplemental operating and financial information package may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes", "expects", "may", "should", "seeks", "approximately", "intends", "plans", "estimates", "anticipates" or other similar words or expressions, including the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and can include future expectations, future plans and strategies, financial and operating projections or other forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Because forward-looking statements relate to future events, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the control of Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (the "Company"). Thus, the Company's actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements. Some factors that might cause such a difference include the following: general volatility of the capital markets and the market price of the Company's common stock, changes in the Company's business strategy, availability, terms and deployment of capital, the Company's ability to refinance existing indebtedness at or prior to maturity on favorable terms, or at all, changes in the real estate industry in general, interest rates or the general economy, adverse developments related to the healthcare industry, the degree and nature of the Company's competition, the ability to consummate acquisitions under contract, effects on global and national markets as well as businesses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the other factors described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained herein which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company intends these forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of this supplemental operating and financial information package and undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
CONTACT David H. Dupuy, 615-771-3052
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SOURCE Community Healthcare Trust, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/community-healthcare-trust-incorporated-announces-increased-first-quarter-dividend/ | 2022-04-28T23:57:48Z |
SHANGHAI, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CooTek (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: CTK) ("CooTek" or the "Company"), a global mobile internet company, today announced that it plans to change the ratio of its American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") to its Class A ordinary shares (the "ADS Ratio"), from the current ADS Ratio of one (1) ADS to fifty(50) Class A ordinary shares to a new ADS Ratio of one (1) ADS to six hundred and fifty (650) Class A ordinary shares.
For CooTek's ADS holders, the change in the ADS Ratio will have the same effect as a one-for-thirteen (13) reverse ADS split. A post-effective amendment to the ADS Registration Statement on Form F-6 will be filed with the SEC to reflect the change in the ADS Ratio. The Company anticipates that the change in the ADS Ratio will be effective on or about May 9, 2022 (U.S. Eastern Time), subject to the effectiveness of the post-effective amendment to the ADS Registration Statement on Form F-6 on or before that date.
Each ADS holder of record at the close of business on the date when the change in ADS Ratio is effective will be required to surrender and exchange every 13 existing ADSs then held for one (1) new ADS. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as the depositary bank for CooTek's ADS program, will arrange for the exchange of the current ADSs for the new ones. CooTek's ADSs will continue to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CTK."
No fractional new ADSs will be issued in connection with the change in the ADS Ratio. Instead, fractional entitlements to new ADSs will be aggregated and sold by the depositary bank and the net cash proceeds from the sale of the fractional ADS entitlements (after deduction of fees, taxes and expenses) will be distributed to the applicable ADS holders by the depositary bank. The change in the ADS Ratio will have no impact on CooTek's underlying Class A ordinary shares, and no Class A ordinary shares will be issued or cancelled in connection with the change in the ADS Ratio.
As a result of the change in the ADS Ratio, the ADS trading price is expected to increase proportionally, although the Company can give no assurance that the ADS trading price after the change in the ADS Ratio will be equal to or greater than 13 times the ADS trading price before the change.
About CooTek (Cayman) Inc.
CooTek is a mobile internet company with a global vision that offers content-rich mobile applications, focusing on three categories: online literature, scenario-based content apps and mobile games. CooTek's mission is to empower everyone to enjoy relevant content seamlessly. CooTek's user-centric and data-driven approach has enabled it to release appealing products to capture mobile internet users' ever-evolving content needs and helps it rapidly attract targeted users.
For more information on CooTek, please visit https://ir.cootek.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident," "optimistic" and similar statements. CooTek may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about CooTek's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: CooTek's mission and strategies; future business development, financial conditions and results of operations; the expected growth of the mobile internet industry and mobile advertising industry; the expected growth of mobile advertising; expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of our products and services; competition in mobile application and advertising industry; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the industry and the development and impacts of COVID-19. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and CooTek does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
For further information, please contact:
CooTek (Cayman) Inc.
Mr. Robert Yi Cui
Email: IR@cootek.com
ICA Investor Relations (Asia) Limited
Mr. Kevin Yang
Phone: +86-21-8028-6033
E-mail: cootek@icaasia.com
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SOURCE CooTek (Cayman) Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/cootek-announces-plan-implement-ads-ratio-change/ | 2022-04-28T23:57:59Z |
MAUMEE, Ohio, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dana Incorporated (NYSE: DAN) announced today it will participate in the virtual Oppenheimer 17th Annual Industrial Growth Conference on May 3, 2022. Beginning at 12:45 p.m. EDT, Dana's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Timothy Kraus will provide a brief overview of the company and answer questions for approximately 35 minutes.
Dana will also be participating in the 2022 Wells Fargo Industrials Conference on May 5. Mr. Kraus will present and answer questions from 2 p.m. to 2:35 p.m. EDT.
Information on accessing the webcast will be posted to Dana's Investor website, www.dana.com/investors, before the events.
About Dana Incorporated
Dana is a leader in the design and manufacture of highly efficient propulsion and energy-management solutions that power vehicles and machines in all mobility markets across the globe. The company is shaping sustainable progress through its conventional and clean-energy solutions that support nearly every vehicle manufacturer with drive and motion systems; electrodynamic technologies, including software and controls; and thermal, sealing, and digital solutions.
Based in Maumee, Ohio, USA, the company reported sales of $8.9 billion in 2021 with 40,000 people in 31 countries across six continents. Founded in 1904, Dana was named one of "America's Most Responsible Companies 2022" by Newsweek for its emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility. The company is driven by a high-performance culture that focuses on valuing others, inspiring innovation, growing responsibly, and winning together, earning it global recognition as a top employer. Learn more at dana.com.
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SOURCE Dana Incorporated | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/dana-incorporated-participate-oppenheimer-industrial-growth-wells-fargo-industrials-conferences/ | 2022-04-28T23:58:06Z |
Topgolf to welcome the Vineyard area with second venue serving Greater Salt Lake City
DALLAS, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Topgolf Entertainment Group, a global sports and golf entertainment company, announced today construction efforts for Topgolf are underway as the company prepares to welcome the rapidly-growing communities of Utah County just south of Salt Lake City.
Located just west of I-15 at the intersection of Mill and 400E, Topgolf's new, two-story venue will join a growing entertainment and restaurant development in Vineyard where players can enjoy all the fun while taking in the beautiful views of the Wasatch Mountain Range. The Topgolf venue, set to open in early 2023, will include 72 signature outdoor hitting bays and will be equipped with Topgolf's proprietary Toptracer technology to accurately trace the flight path of the golf ball. Toptracer is the most trusted ball-tracing technology used in the golf industry and is the same technology seen on TV while watching major golf tournaments. The venue also will feature a mini-golf attraction, outdoor patio, and meeting and event space. Conveniently located in the heart of Utah County, Topgolf will be a must-visit experience for families, community residents, local businesses and nearby college students. This will be Topgolf's second entertainment venue in the state of Utah, as the company known for its high-tech gaming experience and delicious food and beverages also operates in Midvale.
"The growing Vineyard area is such a vibrant community we have been looking forward to serving, and we can't wait to open our doors early next year," said Topgolf Chief Development Officer Chris Callaway. "Our focus is on creating more ways for people to play the game of golf in a fun and unique way, and we are looking forward to welcoming all players in the Utah County area to the Topgolf experience."
Beyond entertainment, Topgolf will create nearly 300 full- and part-time jobs upon opening this new venue, with an opportunity for future Topgolf Associates in Vineyard to grow their careers, work in a unique culture-first environment, and be part of a company that welcomes everyone as they are.
Since its inception, Topgolf's foundation has been built on innovation, fun and inclusivity. As pioneers of the sports and entertainment industry, Topgolf's track record of creativity and industry leadership has led to the growth of a unique company offering modern golf experiences one can only get at Topgolf. Topgolf currently operates 76 venues in six countries and continues to have a strong focus on its Commitment to Play Safely so players can have fun with confidence.
Follow @Topgolf on social media for updates on Topgolf's progress in Vineyard.
Topgolf Entertainment Group is a technology-enabled global sports and entertainment company that brings joy through more ways to play the game of golf. What started as a simple idea to enhance the game of golf has grown into a movement where people can experience the unlimited power of play at the intersection of technology and sports entertainment. Topgolf Entertainment Group's brands include Topgolf venues, Topgolf Media, and Toptracer technology. To learn more, visit topgolfentertainmentgroup.com or follow Topgolf on social media.
Topgolf venues welcome players across the globe to locations featuring high-tech gaming, outdoor hitting bays, a chef-driven food and beverage menu, music, corporate and social event spaces, and more. Topgolf venues entertain nearly 30 million players annually across the globe. To learn more or plan your visit, visit topgolf.com.
Topgolf Media Contact:
Kara Barry
Head of Communications
Email: press@topgolf.com
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SOURCE Topgolf Entertainment Group | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/development-underway-new-topgolf-venue-vineyard-utah/ | 2022-04-28T23:58:17Z |
STOCKHOLM, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eco Wave Power Global AB (publ) (Nasdaq: WAVE) (Nasdaq First North: ECOWVE) ("Eco Wave Power" or the "Company"), a leader in the production of clean electricity from ocean and sea waves, today announced that it has filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
The annual report, which contains Eco Wave Power's audited consolidated financial statements, can be accessed on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov as well as via the Company's website atSEC Filings. The Company will deliver a hard copy of its annual report, including its complete audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders upon request to the Company's investor relations contact FNK IR, in the following contact info: +1.646.809.2183 or wave@fnkir.com.
About Eco Wave Power Global AB (publ)
Eco Wave Power is a leading onshore wave energy technology company that developed a patented, smart and cost-efficient technology for turning ocean and sea waves into green electricity. Eco Wave Power's mission is to assist in the fight against climate change by enabling commercial power production from the ocean and sea waves.
Eco Wave Power is recognized as a "Pioneering Technology" by the Israeli Ministry of Energy and was labeled as an "Efficient Solution" by the Solar Impulse Foundation. Eco Wave Power received funding from the European Union Regional Development Fund, Innovate UK and the European Commission's Horizon 2020 framework program. The Company has also received the "Global Climate Action Award" from the United Nations.
Eco Wave Power's common shares (ECOWVE) are traded on Nasdaq First North and its ADSs (WAVE) are traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market. More info: www.ecowavepower.com.
Vator Securities is the company's Certified Advisor (+46 8 580 065 99, ca@vatorsec.se).
Information on, or accessible through, the websites mentioned above does not form part of this press release.
For more information, please contact:
Inna Braverman, CEO
Inna@ecowavepower.com
+97235094017
For additional inquiries, please contact:
Investor Contact:
Matt Chesler, CFA
FNK IR
+1.646.809.2183
wave@fnkir.com
Media Contact:
Jacob Scott, Vectis Strategies
+1.412.445.7719
jscott@vectisstrategies.com
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE EWPG Holding AB (publ) | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/eco-wave-power-files-annual-report-form-20-f-year-ended-december-31-2021/ | 2022-04-28T23:58:29Z |
Latest Innovations Build on the Firm's Technology Roadmap To Support a Single View of a Client's Entire Financial Life
BERWYN, Pa., April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Envestnet has launched a series of technology updates throughout its ecosystem, designed to meet and exceed the evolving technology and investing needs of financial advisors and their clients. These enhancements are a part of a series of spring releases that include investment products, web-based planning solutions, and an optimized advisor and client experience.
"As part of our always on, and always improving financial wellness ecosystem, these latest technology releases lead into our biggest event of the year, the 2022 Envestnet Advisor Summit," said Molly Weiss, Head of Product for Envestnet Wealth. "We're excited by these enhancements and look forward to unveiling additional innovations as part of our roadmap at Summit."
New features within Envestnet's ecosystem, including the next-generation proposal workflow, are driven by feedback from advisors, who can now access the following capabilities within proposals for new investment products:
- Fund Strategist Tax Management allow advisors to outsource and automate tax management on either third-party manager or proprietary home office fund strategist portfolio accounts at scale and personalized to their individual clients' tax situations and investment goals.
- Sustainable investing strategies and overlays enable advisors to incorporate institutional-quality and customized sustainable investment approaches into client portfolios.
- Private Wealth Consulting to help advisors connect to Envestnet's investment specialists, who can work with them to further customize solutions for their clients.
- Enhanced account setup features, such as more flexible dollar cost average settings and account-level security restrictions.
- Updated performance reports that can break out time periods and performance by asset class and manager.
"These investments in our ecosystem help ensure we continue to offer a truly forward-looking experience for advisors and their clients that allows them to plan ahead across generations," added Ms. Weiss. "Ongoing enhancements to Envestnet's fully connected wealth ecosystem give advisors even more power to help clients capture opportunities, make strategic decisions, and make progress toward their goals."
Envestnet | Tamarac's updates slated for spring include:
- Streamlined navigation for Unified Managed Accounts in the Client Portal, and in the Reporting solution.
- Compliance tools to support advisor's Form ADV and 13F reporting
- Enhanced reporting capabilities to show position attribution, and annualized returns on position performance.
- Continued usability enhancements for the new modernized trading experience with simplified Rebalancing workflow, including a new interface, summary report, and trading dashboard widgets.
In addition, Envestnet | MoneyGuide has completed a new integration with Special Needs Map, a web-based planning tool to help estimate how much money a client may need to leave a child with special needs after they pass. The application guides the client through an intuitive interface asking questions about their family, their child's capabilities and long-term needs, and financial assumptions to arrive at a dollar amount, which is broken down in-depth among categories such as housing/care and lifestyle expenses. To learn more, visit https://www.specialneedsmap.com/.
"With the new Special Needs Map feature, advisors can help clients who have children with special needs navigate and plan accordingly for when they are no longer able to care for their loved ones themselves," said Rose Palazzo, Group Head of Envestnet | MoneyGuide.
About Envestnet
Envestnet refers to the family of operating subsidiaries of the public holding company, Envestnet, Inc. (NYSE: ENV). Envestnet is Fully Vested™ in empowering advisors and financial service providers with innovative technology, solutions, and intelligence to help make financial wellness a reality for their clients through an intelligently connected financial life. Over 108,000 advisors and more than 6,000 companies—including 18 of the 20 largest U.S. banks, 47 of the 50 largest wealth management and brokerage firms, over 500 of the largest RIAs, and hundreds of FinTech companies—leverage Envestnet technology and services that help drive better outcomes for enterprises, advisors, and their clients.
For more information on Envestnet, please visit www.envestnet.com, subscribe to our blog, and follow us on Twitter (@ENVintel) and LinkedIn.
Media Contact:
Dana Taormina
JConnelly for Envestnet
973.647.4626
envestnetpr@jconnelly.com
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SOURCE Envestnet, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/envestnets-spring-technology-releases-further-enhance-its-financial-wellness-ecosystem/ | 2022-04-28T23:58:35Z |
JERICHO, N.Y., April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESQ) (the "Company"), the holding company for Esquire Bank, National Association ("Esquire Bank"), today announced its first regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.09 per share of common stock, payable on June 1, 2022 to each stockholder of record on May 16, 2022.
"Our consistent industry leading growth and returns has afforded us the opportunity to initiate our first and reoccurring quarterly cash dividend," stated Andrew C. Sagliocca, Chief Executive Officer and President. "Our excellent performance provides us the capacity to both reward our shareholders on a current basis and continue to create long-term value beyond our financial sector peer group for our investors, our national and local markets that we serve, and our dedicated employees."
About Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc.
Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Jericho, New York, with one branch office in Jericho, New York and an administrative office in Boca Raton, Florida. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Esquire Bank, National Association, is a full service commercial bank dedicated to serving the financial needs of the legal industry and small businesses nationally, as well as commercial and retail customers in the New York metropolitan area. The bank offers tailored products and solutions to the legal community and their clients as well as dynamic and flexible payment processing solutions to small business owners. For more information, visit www.esquirebank.com.
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SOURCE Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/28/esquire-financial-holdings-declares-first-regular-quarterly-cash-dividend-common-stockholders/ | 2022-04-28T23:58:42Z |
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