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Updated September 2, 2022 at 10:11 AM ET
Americans will now have access to updated COVID booster shots after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on reformulated versions of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines Thursday night.
Some doses could be available as soon as Friday, with a wider rollout planned for next week. Health officials expect another surge of infections this fall and winter, and say the shots — which target the original coronavirus strain as well as the more contagious omicron variant — will help boost peoples' waning immunity and protect against serious disease and death.
What should you keep in mind if you're ready to roll up your sleeve? CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky spoke with Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep about the new boosters.
"Doses are rolling into pharmacies and other sites now, and I would say if you're eligible for your boost there is no bad time to go out and get one," Walensky says.
There are eligibility and timing considerations
Adults 18 years or older can get the Moderna booster, while the Pfizer-BioNTech version has been authorized for people 12 and up. In both cases, a person is only eligible for a booster if it has been at least two months since their last COVID vaccine.
Some vaccine experts say that it would be better for people to wait until four months after their last COVID shot or infection for maximum efficacy, though Walensky suggests there is some gray area.
"What we've seen is that almost everybody who is eligible for a boost is far more beyond two months from their last shot," she says. "Certainly we wouldn't want somebody to get a boost too soon, and we wouldn't want you to get a boost before two months. But I would say if you're three, four, five months after your last shot, now is the time to go ahead and get it."
Safety and efficacy data look promising
These new boosters were tested on mice rather than people, a controversial strategy aimed at saving time (it's not unprecedented, however, as flu shots are changed each year without being routinely tested).
Looking at the data, Walensky says health authorities are confident about how well the vaccines will work and how safe they will be.
That data includes the 600 million doses of the original vaccine that have been administered across the country with what Walensky calls "an extraordinary safety record." Officials also saw similar safety results for an earlier version of this bivalent vaccine (meaning it targets two strains) that was tested in some 1,400 people.
That booster targeted the original coronavirus strain as well as the omicron BA.1 strain, as opposed to the more prevalent BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants targeted in the newly authorized version of the shot.
"So there are very subtle differences, but we have no reason to expect that this is going to have any different safety signal than either the 600 million doses we previously have given or these other bivalent boosts against omicron," Walensky says.
What's already clear, she adds, is that protection against the virus wanes over time, and that a booster will restore protection against infection, severe disease and death. She also points to lab studies that show this updated booster improves immune responses against other SARS-CoV-2 variants as well as similar responses to the original variant.
"So we have every reason to expect that it'll work just as well, and likely better," she says.
This interview was produced by Kaity Kline and edited by Simone Popperl.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-09-02/theres-no-bad-time-to-get-a-new-covid-booster-if-youre-eligible-cdc-director-says | 2022-09-02T15:49:59Z |
Biden Administration Awards $1B for Economic Projects
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo are announcing on Friday $1 billion worth of federal grants for manufacturing, clean energy, farming, biotech and other sectors that will go to 21 regional partnerships.
The winners were chosen from 529 initial applicants vying for grants that were part of last year’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. The Biden administration has repeatedly laid out a vision for the economy that is more self-sufficient and driven by high-tech manufacturing and the development of renewable energy.
“The whole point of this is we’re not going to let you get left behind as we transition to a more digital economy, to a more technical economy, to a green economy,” Raimondo told The Associated Press. “People want to work where they live. People want to know there is a place for them in the changing economy.”
Unlike much of the pandemic aid that was meant to address immediate needs, the $1 billion in grants is part of a longer-term effort to revitalize parts of the country that have needed an economic jolt for existing industries and capital for new ventures. The mission is personal for Raimondo, whose father lost his job at a watch factory in Rhode Island. She said the grants are the largest ever for local economic development provided by the Commerce Department.
The grants include $65.1 million in California to improve farm production and $25 million for a robotics cluster in Nebraska. Georgia gets $65 million for artificial intelligence. There is $63.7 million for lithium-based battery development in New York. Coal counties in West Virginia would receive $62.8 million to help with the shift to solar power and find new uses for abandoned mines.
Raimondo said the winners were chosen based on merit rather than politics. She estimated that the investments, which will be provided over five years as reimbursements, will result in at least 100,000 jobs.
Solidly Republican states such as Oklahoma and South Dakota received funding, and money also is going ahead of November’s midterm elections toward political battlegrounds that could decide control of Congress. There is $44 million for regenerative medicine in New Hampshire, where Democrat Maggie Hassan is defending her U.S. Senate seat. Pennsylvania, which has an open Senate seat, is set to receive $62.7 million for robotics and artificial intelligence.
The massive amount of coronavirus aid at the start of President Joe Biden’s tenure helped to accelerate job growth as the U.S. recovered from the pandemic. But accompanying the hiring was a burst of inflation that hit a 40-year peak this summer, crushing consumer sentiment and putting the administration on the defensive to show how its policies are helping the economy.
Even as much of the coronavirus money has been disbursed, the administration has said it still needs more money to contain the disease and its variations. Biden unsuccessfully sought to get $22.5 billion from Congress to address and prevent outbreaks, a figure that lawmakers reduced to $10 billion in negotiations. But additional funding was never passed by Congress despite confirmed cases that are now averaging about 90,000 daily.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tried to minimize the lack of funding after the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved modified booster shots of the vaccines. Jean-Pierre said booster shots would be available after the Labor Day holiday as the administration has worked with local partners.
Still, the grants for economic development indicate that the relief package could have a multi-decade impact that goes beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The New Orleans area will receive $50 million to use hydrogen produced by wind power that does not cause carbon emissions, a meaningful change in Louisiana, a state that has long depended on fossil fuels.
“With clean hydrogen, we can remain an energy state — but become an energy state of the future that has less impact on the environment,” said Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc., an economic development nonprofit. “When money and morality come together, you get stuff done.”
ass | https://www.bizneworleans.com/biden-administration-awards-1b-for-economic-projects/ | 2022-09-02T15:49:59Z |
Tarrant County commissioners approved an $18 million contract to move 432 inmates to a private prison because of staffing shortages on Tuesday — a plan that critics say fails to address underlying issues at the jail.
The prison — the Giles W. Dalby Correctional Facility in Post, Texas — is 270 miles from Fort Worth. It's owned by the Utah-based private prison company Management & Training Corp.
Criminal justice advocates like Pamela Young with United Fort Worth say the plan won't solve overcrowding, which she says stem from systemic issues of mass incarceration.
“For us to spend (money) to incarcerate people in a private jail over 200 miles away — we're not solving any problems here," Young said. "We're putting a Band-Aid on something — a really, really old and raggedy Band-Aid at that.”
Young said the contract, which would use some federal funds the county received from the American Rescue Plan Act, also raises health and safety concerns for inmates sent to the facility in Post — namely, that inmates may not have proper access to health resources.
"It is over 40 miles away from the nearest hospital," Young said. "Who knows how long it's going to take for an ambulance... to get to this jail if someone should have some kind of a medical emergency."
The Tarrant County Jail can house around 5,000 people, according to county Sheriff Bill Waybourn. Right now, he said, about 400 of those beds are occupied by Texas Department of Criminal Justice prisoners because the department is itself dealing with personnel shortages.
The result, Waybourn said, is that jail staff have been working up to 60 hours per week, racking up thousands of hours in overtime.
The majority of people jailed in Tarrant County are there pretrial, meaning they have not been convicted of any crime. All of the 432 people transferred have already been convicted, Waybourn said.
"They're not going to be coming back and forth to court," he said. "It's basically a one-way trip."
The vote on the contract passed 3-2 with commissioners Devan Allen and Roy Charles Brooks voting no.
"Private jails just philosophically give me a great deal of heartburn, because their motive is profit," Brooks said Tuesday. "Not safety, not health, not rehabilitation — none of those things is part of their business model."
Tarrant County's issues with jail overcrowding mirror similar struggles across the state. Harris County, which includes Houston, will also send hundreds of prisoners to the Post facility. That county previously sent 600 inmates to a Louisiana jail earlier this year, and came under fire after one of the men transferred — 35-year-old Billie Davis — was found dead in March.
Fort Worth activist Thomas Torlincasi was among those speaking out against Tuesday's agenda item, criticizing the sheriff's handling of the jail population. He also argued that prosecutors play a role in the overcrowding by choosing when to push for high bail amounts against defendants, which makes it more likely someone will spend time in jail.
"The entire pipeline and how we get to these numbers and challenges starts with what happens in the field with law enforcement, and how these populations are handled by the current district attorney's office," Torlincasi said.
Another speaker, Jacqueline Cox, echoed that sentiment, arguing that the only surefire way to lower the jail population is to release people accused of nonviolent crimes.
“The cheapest way to get people out of your jail is to identify the low-level offenders, bond them out quickly, keep them working," said one of the speakers, Jacqueline Cox. "Because if they can go to work they don’t become dependent on the state for a long period of time.”
Young, who also spoke at Tuesday's meeting, said Thursday that another issue with the move is the impact on inmate's families, who would have to travel four hours each way for visitations, cutting people off from support systems and contributing to recidivism.
"What it does is it creates more problems and it costs taxpayers more money," Young said.
Got a tip? Email Pablo Arauz Peña at parauzpena@kera.org
KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider making a tax-deductible gift today. Thank you. | https://www.keranews.org/news/2022-09-02/tarrant-county-jail-inmate-transfer-18-million | 2022-09-02T15:50:05Z |
Cox Employees to Give $80,000 to Nonprofits
NEW ORLEANS – Cox Communications announced that it would award more than $80,000 to regional nonprofits through Cox Charities, an employee-funded giving program. Cox is accepting applications for community investment grants at www.CoxCharitiesSER.org through Sept. 15. The Community Investment Grant program started in 2015 and awards cash to 501(c)(3) organizations for programs that benefit individuals in Cox service areas. Agencies can apply for grants of up to $5,000. Applicants will receive their funding status in October and grant winners will receive payments in December.
Cox employees donate to Cox Charities through recurring payroll deductions and one-time gifts each year. The dollars are then invested into the areas where employees live. To date, almost $750,000 has been given back to local communities in Cox’s Southeast Region, which includes Acadiana, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Florida’s Gulf Coast (Pensacola and Fort Walton), central Florida (Gainesville and Ocala) and middle Georgia (Macon and Warner Robins).
“We are so proud of our employees who continually contribute their time, talent and treasure to the communities we serve,” said Erin Monroe Wesley, vice president of government and public affairs for Cox Southeast. “Making impactful investments to empower people locally has always been central to the Cox culture.”
Community Investment grants support nonprofit services in youth, education, social issues and the arts. | https://www.bizneworleans.com/cox-employees-to-give-80000-to-nonprofits/ | 2022-09-02T15:50:05Z |
Louisiana Clean Hydrogen Plan Wins $50M Federal Grant
NEW ORLEANS — City and state economic development officials are celebrating a big win today that will have implications for the future of the state’s energy industry. The U.S. Economic Development Administration has awarded a $50 million federal grant to H2theFuture, a 25-organization partnership that plans to develop a new offshore wind-powered hydrogen energy industry cluster in south Louisiana.
The proposal – led by nonprofit business booster Greater New Orleans Inc. – is one of only 21 winners out of more than 500 entries in the EDA’s Build Back Better Challenge. GNO Inc. said the plan “creates a roadmap for decarbonizing Louisiana’s manufacturing sector while creating new energy jobs.”
In simplified scientific terminology, the group’s goal is to produce “green hydrogen” by splitting water with electrolyzers powered by renewable electricity, such as wind. This would create a “carbon-free” energy feedstock and, according to a H2theFuture study, cut the state’s hydrogen emissions in half.
“We are grateful for the vision of the U.S. Department of Commerce and Economic Development Administration that made H2theFuture possible,” said Michael Hecht, GNO Inc. president and CEO, in a press release. “Moreover, we want to recognize that this exciting project has come together due to the work and trust of two dozen organizations across south Louisiana, and we extend our gratitude to these outstanding partners, as well.”
The 25-organization coalition that developed the H2theFuture plan includes regional economic development organizations and planning commissions, the Port of South Louisiana, public research universities, HBCUs, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, the Urban League of Louisiana, and the Louisiana Parole Project.
The grant will be supplemented by $24.5 million in matching funds provided by the State of Louisiana, boosting the total project budget to $74.5 million.
H2theFuture aims to create a new clean energy business model in Louisiana. A document from GNO Inc. describes five areas of focus:
- Workforce training to “upskill” displaced oil and gas workers, rural residents and minorities, led by the Louisiana Community & Technical College System.
- Business development to attract new and existing local and regional energy companies into the hydrogen value chain, led by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, in partnership with One Acadiana, South Louisiana Economic Council, Southwest Louisiana Economic Alliance and GNO, Inc.
- Higher ed-based “testbeds” to conduct research of low-carbon hydrogen technologies at Nicholls State University, Louisiana State University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette and University of New Orleans.
- Public-private partnerships to “de-risk” green hydrogen investments at commercial scale, starting with development of a first-ever hydrogen fueling barge at the Port of South Louisiana.
- Organizational and governance “nexus” to create a green hydrogen planning hub focused on industry growth and sustainability, to be located within The Beach at UNO.
A GNO Inc. spokesperson said the proposal includes safeguards “ensuring that business, procurement and training opportunities are made available to all stakeholders and communities — and the plan prioritizes protecting legacy energy industry workers through the creation of retraining programs that will convert traditional skill sets to low-carbon processes.”
“Today’s announcement by President Biden and Secretary of Commerce Raimondo is a significant milestone in Louisiana’s transition to a cleaner, more sustainable and more diversified energy future,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “As the first state in the Gulf South to implement a Climate Action Plan, Louisiana has demonstrated the vision and leadership required to meet the historic challenge that climate change represents. This infusion of federal and state dollars, on top of the nearly $20 billion of private capital investment in Louisiana emissions reduction projects announced in the last two years alone, moves us closer to the ultimate goal: net zero carbon emissions by 2050.” | https://www.bizneworleans.com/louisiana-clean-hydrogen-plan-wins-50m-federal-grant/ | 2022-09-02T15:50:12Z |
Willow School to Celebrate New Program and Campus Names
NEW ORLEANS — The K-12 charter school formerly known as Lusher will officially unveil its new program name and individual school building names at four separate events on Sept. 2 and Sept. 3 at three Uptown campuses.
In 2021, after a grassroots demand for change made national headlines, the school’s board voted to stop honoring the school’s original namesake, Robert Mills Lusher. The former Louisiana state superintendent of education was an avowed white supremacist.
The three-campus program’s new name is the Willow School. Each individual school building is named in honor of a notable New Orleanian.
At 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, there will be a name celebration and arch reveal at the Elijah J. Brimmer Jr. campus at 5624 Freret Street. High school students will gather on Freret to celebrate the new “Willow” arch over the front gate entrance.
At 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, there will be a ribbon cutting celebration at the Dr. Everett J. Williams Jr. campus at 7315 Willow Street. The school community will attend a “morning meeting” featuring musician Phillip Manuel, who will perform his song “Learning the Willow Way.” Willow Interim CEO Nicolette London and others will speak.
At noon on Saturday, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Elijah J. Brimmer Jr. campus on Freret. NOLA-PS Superintendent Avis Williams and others will appear. The Fortier Alumni Band will perform.
At 4 p.m. on Saturday, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Willow’s Ellis Marsalis Jr. campus at 5625 Loyola Avenue. Speakers will include London, members of the Marsalis family and school community. There will be a jazz band performance and the unveiling of the Ellis Marsalis Official Portrait.
Willow was founded in 1917. Under the leadership of former CEO Kathy Reidlinger, the A-rated program expanded to serve more than 1,900 students. It is the highest ranking K-12 school in the state. | https://www.bizneworleans.com/willow-school-to-celebrate-new-program-and-campus-names/ | 2022-09-02T15:50:13Z |
As the new school year begins, teachers at many schools across the country are adding a new component to their routines: a mental health check-in with their students. The idea is to open up conversations around how kids are feeling emotionally, and to connect them to help before issues escalate to a crisis.
"I've been really impressed with the proactive position that school systems have taken," says Dr. Tami Benton, psychiatrist-in-chief at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the president-elect of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Many schools that Benton works with are spending less time focusing on academics in the first few weeks of the school year, and more time checking in on kids' mental health and school readiness. "They're actually starting to develop their own approaches to assessing the social-emotional development status of kids," she says.
The new approach comes after two and a half rocky years of pandemic, with kids' lives disrupted by bouts of remote schooling and many families in economic stress, which worsened the already shaky state of children's mental health in the U.S.
In 2020, the CDC reported a greater proportion of kids showing up at emergency rooms in a mental health crises: serious suicide attempts, eating disorders, aggressive behaviors.
"The thing that's most concerned us was really the number of significant self-harm and suicidal ideation that we've seen in an emergency room," says Dr. Smriti Khare, pediatrician and the chief mental and behavioral health office at Children's Wisconsin, in Milwaukee, which saw a 40% rise in visits to the ER after the start of the pandemic in 2020 compared to the year before.
In the fall of 2020, three professional organizations including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry declared the state of children's mental health a national emergency.
And last fall, when kids returned to classrooms after a year of virtual learning, schools had hoped the return to in-person teaching would ease kids' emotional troubles, but they saw the opposite.
"We had a lot of kids with elevated levels of anxiety and stress, and we were seeing students manifesting mental health symptoms that had not existed prior to the pandemic," Robert Mullaney, superintendent of Millis Public Schools in Massachusetts. "We had an increase in suicidal ideation."
These experiences primed educators to be proactive at the start of school this year.
Fallout from a national crisis
In the 2021-22 academic year, 76% of public schools in the country reported increased concerns around students showing symptoms of anxiety, depression and trauma, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. And only about half the schools said they were equipped to address students' mental health needs.
Life may be starting to get back to normal but many kids are struggling to feel motivated – a result of the trauma and chronic stress they have experienced in the past two years, says Dr. Vera Feuer, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Cohen's Children's Medical Center in Long Island, who oversees the hospital's emergency psychiatry, urgent care and school mental health services.
"So, really having this after-effect, where there is numbness, lack of motivation, not feeling like we can get back into those routines. It might still be a lingering effect from that initial stress and trauma," she says.
Many American families are still under financial strain, creating parental stress which has a big impact on children, says Kendall Roach, a therapist in Jefferson City, Missouri, who works with kids through the telehealth company, Babylon Health. Others have lost homes, adds Roach.
"I have kids that I see who are technically homeless," she says. "They're living in tents. They're waking up and going maybe to a family's house to get their shower, and hopefully a hot breakfast and then going to school."
Schools take a proactive approach
The U.S. Surgeon General's advisory on youth mental health last year helped raise national awareness and more open conversations about kids' mental health, says Benton. And educators have realized that unless they addressed student mental health, students would struggle academically.
In fact, new data shows a stark decline in test scores among school kids during the pandemic, the largest drop in reading scores in 30 years.
"I have a third grader who has to be reading to learn," says Elisa Villanueva Beard, the CEO of Teach for America, which primarily serves marginalized communities. "But I also know that my son cannot be reading unless he is happy, in a state where his brain allows access to learning. And that means that we've got to tend to our kids, and meet them where they are."
That realization has pushed schools to be better prepared to pay attention to student mental health. And many have worked closely with health care providers to educate staff on ways to incorporate mental health discussions into their daily routines.
"We've spent a lot of time through the year as well as through the summer trying to be available for teachers, administrators as well as parents to figure out how to help them, give them tools to help [students] cope," says Khare.
"We have to actually equip our teachers to be able to approach classrooms in a trauma-informed way," says Villanueva Beard. "What that would mean is that a student walks into a classroom and the teacher has set up a system where they're able to get on a device and right away share how they're feeling."
That's exactly what psychologist Janice Beal advised teachers in schools in Houston that she works closely with.
"Every morning, [for] 5 minutes, check in with the students and have everybody share how they're feeling for that particular day," she says.
It's not that she thinks teachers – who've already stepped up and done more than ever before during the pandemic – should now become mental health professionals, explains Beal.
"We want you to be able to understand what mental health concerns may be in your classroom and to be able to recognize them, so that you can refer them for help."
Schools in New York have integrated mental health discussions and healthy habits as "sort of a fabric of the day," says Feuer
"For example, in a classroom, allowing time for kids to take a moment, to focus, to recognize, to have the space where they can express concerns," she explains.
Schools are also helping students, especially younger ones learn to label emotions and talk about emotions. And teachers "listen to them with an empathic ear," she adds.
"Unfortunately, there have been so many other things that have shaken kids' sense of safety when it comes to being in schools, including, gun violence at the end of the year," she adds.
So, having more of these open conversations around mental health will help kids cope better.
Tapping into new funding
But schools also need additional resources to connect kids who are struggling to mental health care.
"We've just heard from more and more teachers that they're really struggling to meet the mental health needs of kids in the school setting," says Benton.
The recent influx of federal dollars to provide school based mental health care has certainly helped, she adds.
Mullaney says he was able to hire more behavioral and mental health professionals in the past year to address growing needs of his students. But he knows many school districts who are still struggling to attract new staff.
Today, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced additional $87 million in grant funding to address youth mental health, including for school-based mental health.
However, school districts around the country are just starting to tap into some of these recent funding. "I think it's going to take a while before we see implementation and change related to those things," says Benton.
But she is hopeful that this national attention, the bipartisan support in Congress in addressing youth mental health, and the more open conversations on the topic will start to help kids most in need.
"People are involved, people are engaged, new projects are happening," says Benton. "People are experimenting with new methods for providing care. More young people have become involved as advocates in their own mental health care. So I think all of the activity has really made a difference in supporting children's mental health."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-02/as-school-starts-teachers-add-a-mental-health-check-in-to-their-lesson-plans | 2022-09-02T16:01:02Z |
An effort to teach kids how to grow food locally in Wyoming, known as the Casper Community Greenhouse Project, is on the verge of completing its third school greenhouse, at Park Elementary School. LeAnn Miller, the executive director of the project, said their mission is to teach kids where food comes from and how to grow it in Wyoming using a greenhouse.
“If we catch them at an early age, and teach them about food and nutrition, and how much better food tastes when you are growing it yourself, hasn’t traveled thousands of miles, isn’t ripened in a warehouse, fresh from the vine, all those sorts of things not only make them taste better, but they are more nutritious”, Miller said. Miller added that greenhouses can enhance Wyoming’s food resilience, given the peculiar weather in most parts of the state, which is not conducive to the cultivation of crops.
“We have very short growing seasons. We could have a very late frost, we’ve often had them late in June, we could get them early in September, so it doesn’t leave a lot of growing time. We have a lot of amending to do in the soil, winds, etc. So we desperately need to expand that growing season, and the only way really to do it, is with some sort of greenhouse opportunity”, she explained.
Students at Park Elementary school will be able to learn about nutrition and gardening through hands-on lessons that they can take home. Miller noted the project will be seeking more partnership opportunities to encourage local gardening hoping to improve overall health and food sustainability in Wyoming.
“If we can show kids how good food tastes when they grow at home, and how easy it can be to even have a little backyard garden,” Miller said. “Just in their experience at school, they’ll go home, they’ll get their parents excited, they may put a little gardening, and then our whole community is eating healthier, and overall we have a healthier community in the long run.” | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/education/2022-09-02/casper-ngo-to-complete-third-greenhouse-in-elementary-school | 2022-09-02T16:01:08Z |
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Sarina Garnica
Broadcast Office Aide | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/people/sarina-garnica | 2022-09-02T16:01:14Z |
87-year-old has shot nearly 1.5 million free throws
Published: Sep. 2, 2022 at 11:38 AM EDT|Updated: 37 minutes ago
MCCOOK, Neb. (KHGI) – A man in Nebraska isn’t focused on layups or dunks. Instead, he’s dedicated to the basics.
Gene Malleck has been shooting free throws at the McCook YMCA every weekday since 1999.
The 87-year-old shoots at least 250 balls each time and keeps track of his makes and misses.
“If I don’t come here, there’s something missing in my day,” Malleck said. “It’s really an important part of my day.”
Malleck said he’s taken close to 1.5 million shots, making nearly 96% of them.
Copyright 2022 KHGI via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/02/87-year-old-has-shot-nearly-15-million-free-throws/ | 2022-09-02T16:15:14Z |
Amber Alert issued for missing 6-year-old in Florida
(Gray News) - A Florida Amber Alert has been issued for missing 6-year-old boy.
Jorge “JoJo” Morales was last seen Saturday in the area of the 23700 block of Southwest 184th Avenue in Miami.
He is described as 3 feet tall and 50 pounds with brown hair and eyes, and he was last seen wearing a gray shirt, gray shorts and black shoes.
The child may be in the company of 45-year-old Jorge Morales, 6 feet tall and 185 pounds with brown hair and eyes.
Based on additional information provided by the Miami-Dade Police Department, the Missing Child Alert issued Wednesday for the child has been upgraded to an Amber Alert.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Miami-Dade Police Department at 305-471-8477 or call 911.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/02/amber-alert-issued-missing-6-year-old-florida/ | 2022-09-02T16:15:21Z |
Empty folders marked classified among items found in FBI search of Trump home
WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI agents who searched former President Donald Trump’s Florida home last month found empty folders marked with classified banners, according to a more detailed inventory of the seized material made public by the Justice Department on Friday.
The inventory reveals in general terms the contents of 33 boxes taken from an office and a storage room at Mar-a-Lago during the Aug. 8 search. Though the inventory does not describe any of the documents, it shows the extent to which classified information — including material at the top-secret level — was kept in boxes and containers at the home and commingled among newspapers, magazines, clothing and other personal items.
The Justice Department has said there was no secure space at Mar-a-Lago for such sensitive government secrets, and has opened a criminal investigation focused on their retention there and on what it says were efforts in the last several months to obstruct that probe.
The inventory shows that 43 empty folders with classified banners were taken from a box or container at the office, along with an additional 28 empty folders labeled as “Return to Staff Secretary” or military aide. Empty folders of that nature were also found in a storage closet.
It is not clear from the inventory list why any of the folders were empty or what might have happened to any of the documents inside.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/02/empty-folders-among-items-found-fbi-search-trump-home/ | 2022-09-02T16:15:28Z |
Mr. J’s Bagels and Deli to open Elkton location in December
ELKTON, Va. (WHSV) - A Harrisonburg bagel shop will be expanding just a few miles east into Elkton this winter.
Mr. J’s Bagels and Deli announced on Facebook they will be opening their fourth location at 100 Shenandoah Avenue in December. Owner Angela Dean said she was shocked when the announcement had over 500 shares on social media in just a few days.
“We talked to some people in the area, and there’s definitely want for Elkton. My husband grew up here, and we live in McGaheysville, so it was just kind of like a perfect fit and it fell into place,” Dean said.
Dean took over Mr. J’s from the former owners two years ago and is excited to open her first location. She said the menu will be identical to the three current locations in Harrisonburg, with some slight changes.
“With us being so close to the brewery, we’re going to take that opportunity to do some evening hours and kind of expand the menu a little bit and kind of offer an alternative and a delivery option to the Elkton Brewery,” Dean said.
If you’d like to keep up with construction updates as well as the reveal of the official opening date, Dean said you can do that by visiting the Mr. J’s Facebook page.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/02/mr-js-bagels-deli-open-elkton-location-december/ | 2022-09-02T16:15:35Z |
NASA aims for Saturday launch of new moon rocket after fixes
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA aimed for a Saturday launch of its new moon rocket, after fixing fuel leaks and working around a bad engine sensor that foiled the first try.
The inaugural flight of the 322-foot rocket — the most powerful ever built by NASA — was delayed late in the countdown Monday. The Kennedy Space Center clocks started ticking again as managers expressed confidence in their plan and forecasters gave favorable weather odds.
Atop the rocket is a crew capsule with three test dummies that will fly around the moon and back over the course of six weeks — NASA’s first such attempt since the Apollo program 50 years ago. NASA wants to wring out the spacecraft before strapping in astronauts on the next planned flight in two years.
“This is a test flight, right? And so while I feel very good about our procedures, when you look the team in the eye, they’re ready. We can’t control the weather,” NASA’s Jeremy Parsons, deputy manager of exploration ground systems, said Friday.
The engineers in charge of the Space Launch System rocket insisted Thursday evening that all four main engines were good and that a faulty temperature sensor caused one of them to appear as though it were too warm Monday. The engines need to match the minus-420 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-250 degrees Celsius) of the liquid hydrogen fuel at liftoff, otherwise they could be damaged and shut down in flight.
“We have convinced ourselves without a shadow of a doubt that we have good-quality liquid hydrogen going through the engines. There’s no fuzz on that,” said John Honeycutt, the rocket’s program manager.
Once fueling begins Saturday morning, the launch team will perform another engine test — this time earlier in the countdown. Even if that suspect sensor indicates the one engine is too warm, other sensors could be relied on to ensure everything is working correctly and to halt the countdown if there’s a problem, Honeycutt told reporters.
NASA could not perform that kind of engine test during dress rehearsals earlier this year because of leaking fuel. More fuel leaks cropped up Monday; technicians found some loose connections and tightened them.
The $4.1 billion test flight is NASA’s first step in sending astronauts around the moon in 2024 and landing them on the surface in 2025. Astronauts last walked on the moon in 1972.
___
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.whsv.com/2022/09/02/nasa-aims-saturday-launch-new-moon-rocket-after-fixes/ | 2022-09-02T16:15:41Z |
Scientific breakthrough could save Florida’s threatened coral reefs
TAMPA, Fla. (CNN) - Scientists said they’ve made a major breakthrough in the fight to save the elkhorn coral, a species that is under threat in the Caribbean.
It’s a historic step forward that someday also could offer humans extra protection from the fury of hurricanes.
Year after year, a price is paid, dollars in and in lives, when hurricane season strikes.
But under the waters from which those storms gain their strength, coral reefs provide an unexpected layer of protection.
They break up large waves and guard coastlines from storm surges.
Spanning about 360 miles, Florida has the world’s third-largest barrier reef, and it’s at risk.
“You can’t have the ocean running a fever every summer and not expect there to be impacts,” said Kerri O’Neil, the senior coral scientist at the Florida Aquarium.
However, in a tank at the aquarium, there is a major scientific breakthrough that serves as a sign that hope is not lost for Florida’s reefs. There is evidence of the elkhorn coral spawning.
The Florida Aquarium said it is now the first in the world to reproduce this threatened coral, using aquarium technology.
The spawning produced thousands of baby elkhorn corals.
“The first sense is just sheer relief,” O’Neil said.
Along with being the senior coral scientist, O’Neil has also been dubbed the “coral whisperer.”
Her team has figured out how to spawn 13 other species, but elkhorn takes the top spot.
“It’s really the most important,” O’Neil said.
Named for its resemblance to elk antlers, the coral lives right at the top of the reef crest. That means it plays a big role in protecting Florida’s coastline from devastating storm surges, which climate change is making even worse.
The problem is there are very few corals left.
“There’s just a few scattered colonies,” O’Neil said.
In the race to restore the reefs, there’s more work to be done, with this breakthrough serving as only a first step.
In about two years, the lab-spawned elkhorn coral will grow big enough, and scientists will then scuba dive down and plant them into the Florida reef.
“We are really buying time. We’re buying time for the reef. We’re buying time for the corals,” O’Neil said.
The final goal is a breeding program where they could ultimately breed more resilient coral, capable of withstanding threats like pollution, warming ocean waters and disease.
Nature can then pick up the rest.
“There is hope for coral reefs,” O’Neil said. “Don’t give up hope. All is not lost.”
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/02/scientific-breakthrough-could-save-floridas-threatened-coral-reefs/ | 2022-09-02T16:15:48Z |
Tropical Storm Danielle strengthens into hurricane
MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Danielle strengthened into a hurricane Friday morning — the first of an unusually quiet storm season.
The storm is not currently a threat to any land.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds were clocked at 75 mph (120 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
The storm is centered about 885 miles (1,425 kilometers) west of the Azores and is drifting west at about 1 mph (about 2 kph). The hurricane center said the storm is expected to meander in the Atlantic over the next few days.
The tropical storm comes amid what had been a calm hurricane season. It is the first time since 1941 that the Atlantic has gone from July 3 to the end of August with no named storm, Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach had told The Associated Press earlier.
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
In the north Pacific, Tropical Storm Javier formed overnight. Forecasters said that late Thursday it was 210 miles (338 kilometers) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 kph).
Javier is moving northwest at 9 mph (about 14 kph).
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/02/tropical-storm-danielle-strengthens-into-hurricane/ | 2022-09-02T16:15:57Z |
Trump White House lawyer arrives for Jan. 6 grand jury
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House counsel under then-President Donald Trump arrived Friday for his appearance before a federal grand jury investigating efforts to undo the 2020 presidential election.
Pat Cipollone was the top White House lawyer at the end of the Trump administration as Trump and outside allies pressed for ways to overturn the Republican’s loss to Democrat Joe Biden, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Cipollone vigorously resisted efforts to undo the election and has said he did not believe there was sufficient fraud to have affected the outcome of the race. Trump has insisted the election was rife with fraud and was stolen from him despite the fact that numerous federal and local election officials of both parties, a long list of courts, top former campaign staffers and even his own attorney general have said there is no evidence of the fraud he alleges.
Cipollone and Patrick Philbin, a deputy White House counsel also set to appear before the grand jury, also have cooperated with a separate House committee probe into the deadly Jan. 6 attack and attempts to subvert the election.
Their scheduled appearances before the grand jury were confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday by a person who was familiar with the matter but was not authorized to discuss it and who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Spokespeople for the Justice Department had declined to comment.
The grand jury appearances underscore how Justice Department officials examining schemes to overturn the presidential contest have been seeking the cooperation of senior Trump White House officials and advisers who opposed those efforts.
Federal prosecutors have been especially focused on a scheme by Trump allies to elevate fake electors in key battleground states won by Biden as a way to subvert the vote. They have issued subpoenas in recent weeks to multiple state Republican Party chairmen.
Portions of Cipollone’s private interview to the House Jan. 6 committee were featured prominently in hearings over the summer. Lawmakers aired video clips of him discussing a heated December 2020 meeting at the White House, during which outside aides and advisers to Trump talked about a proposed executive order calling for the seizure of voting machines.
“To have the federal government seize voting machines? That’s a terrible idea for the country. That’s not how we do things in the United States,” Cipollone testified, adding, “I don’t understand why we even have to tell you why that’s a bad idea for the country.”
____
Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/02/trump-white-house-lawyer-arrives-jan-6-grand-jury/ | 2022-09-02T16:16:04Z |
HONOLULU (KITV4) - Light to moderate trades will prevail today through Saturday. Partly cloudy skies with scattered to numerous morning showers for Maui County and O'ahu. isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs 85 to 90. Trade winds around 15 mph.
Tonight, partly cloudy with scattered windward and mauka showers; isolated showers leeward. Lows 70 to 75. Trade winds around 15 mph.
Light to moderate trades will prevail today through Saturday, allowing localized land and sea breezes to develop in the more sheltered leeward areas. Drier weather will overspread the islands today, with an increase in trade wind showers then expected tonight through early Sunday as an area of enhanced moisture moves from east to west across the state. Drier conditions and moderate trades will return by Sunday afternoon and hold through the first half of Labor Day. Another round of increased showers could move through later on Labor Day and continue into early Tuesday. Drier conditions and moderate trades are then forecast Tuesday afternoon through Thursday.
Surf along south facing shores will remain small through next week with mainly background south and south-southwest swells moving through. A larger south-southwest swell is possible next weekend. Small medium-period northerly swells moving through will be enough to keep the surf from going flat along north facing shores through the weekend.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/aloha-friday-morning-showers-light-to-moderate-trade-winds/article_4603f9a8-2acd-11ed-83bb-ef941289043f.html | 2022-09-02T16:17:21Z |
2 teens electrocuted by live wires following pickup truck crash, sheriff says
REDFIELD, N.Y. (WWNY/Gray News) – Two teenagers died Wednesday night after touching live wires following a pickup truck crash in New York.
According to the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened on County Route 17 around 10:45 p.m.
Officials said four teens were riding in a pickup truck when they crashed into a tree. The truck wound up in a ditch.
The sheriff’s office said a pair of 17-year-olds, Madysen Young and Matthew Bice, got out of the truck and touched live wires that were tangled up in the tree as they attempted to climb out of the ditch.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
The other two teens in the truck, both 16-year-old boys, survived the crash. Their conditions are unknown.
Copyright 2022 WWNY via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/2-teens-electrocuted-by-live-wires-following-pickup-truck-crash-sheriff-says/ | 2022-09-02T16:36:09Z |
87-year-old has shot nearly 1.5 million free throws
Published: Sep. 2, 2022 at 11:38 AM EDT|Updated: 58 minutes ago
MCCOOK, Neb. (KHGI) – A man in Nebraska isn’t focused on layups or dunks. Instead, he’s dedicated to the basics.
Gene Malleck has been shooting free throws at the McCook YMCA every weekday since 1999.
The 87-year-old shoots at least 250 balls each time and keeps track of his makes and misses.
“If I don’t come here, there’s something missing in my day,” Malleck said. “It’s really an important part of my day.”
Malleck said he’s taken close to 1.5 million shots, making nearly 96% of them.
Copyright 2022 KHGI via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/87-year-old-has-shot-nearly-15-million-free-throws/ | 2022-09-02T16:36:17Z |
Amber Alert issued for missing 6-year-old in Florida
(Gray News) - A Florida Amber Alert has been issued for missing 6-year-old boy.
Jorge “JoJo” Morales was last seen Saturday in the area of the 23700 block of Southwest 184th Avenue in Miami.
He is described as 3 feet tall and 50 pounds with brown hair and eyes, and he was last seen wearing a gray shirt, gray shorts and black shoes.
The child may be in the company of 45-year-old Jorge Morales, 6 feet tall and 185 pounds with brown hair and eyes.
Based on additional information provided by the Miami-Dade Police Department, the Missing Child Alert issued Wednesday for the child has been upgraded to an Amber Alert.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Miami-Dade Police Department at 305-471-8477 or call 911.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/amber-alert-issued-missing-6-year-old-florida/ | 2022-09-02T16:36:24Z |
Bigfoot sighting reported at South Carolina state park
BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC/Gray News) – Three visitors to a state park in South Carolina claim they saw an animal they believe could be Bigfoot.
The three people visited Hunting Island State Park on Aug. 3 and reported seeing an animal that was 5-6 feet tall and walking upright retreat into the woods from the roadway.
The people were unable to take a photo quickly enough but reported the sighting to park staff and to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization.
According to the report, the animal had legs that were “approximately 3 feet long, human-like jointed knee, with dark brown, splotchy black hair that was approximately 2 inches long.”
The report continues, “We were all in a state of amazement as to what occurred as it happened so quickly. We have enjoyed taking many vacations at the park throughout the years since we were children in the 1950′s to the present. While the area is abundant in wildlife, we have never witnessed anything like this in the past.”
The park superintendent informed the group he would take the report as a “credible incident” and initiate an investigation.
Copyright 2022 WTOC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/bigfoot-sighting-reported-south-carolina-state-park/ | 2022-09-02T16:36:30Z |
Empty folders marked classified among items found in FBI search of Trump home
WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI agents who searched former President Donald Trump’s Florida home last month found top secret records in an office and storage room, along with empty folders with classified banners on them and more than 10,000 government records without any classification markings at all, according to a more detailed inventory of the seized material made public on Friday.
The inventory disclosed by the Justice Department reveals in general terms the contents of 33 boxes and containers taken from an office and a storage room at Mar-a-Lago during the Aug. 8 search. Though the inventory does not describe the content of the documents, it shows the extent to which classified information — including material at the top-secret level — was stashed in boxes at the home and commingled among newspapers, magazines, clothing and other personal items.
It also makes clear for the first time the volume of unclassified government documents maintained at the home even though such records were to have been turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration, which had tried unsuccessfully for months to secure their return.
The Justice Department has said there was no secure space at Mar-a-Lago for sensitive government secrets, and has opened a criminal investigation focused on their retention there and on what it says were efforts in the last several months to obstruct that probe. It is also investigating potential violations of a separate statute that criminalizes the mutilation or concealment of government records, classified or not.
Lawyers for Trump did not immediately return an email seeking comment Friday.
The inventory was released as the Justice Department undertakes a criminal investigation, as intelligence agencies assess any potential damage caused by the apparent mishandling of the classified information and as a judge weighs whether to appoint a special master — essentially an outside legal expert — to review the records.
The inventory shows that 43 empty folders with classified banners were taken from a box or container at the office, along with an additional 28 empty folders labeled as “Return to Staff Secretary” or military aide. Empty folders of that nature were also found in a storage closet.
It is not clear from the inventory list why any of the folders were empty or what might have happened to any of the documents inside.
Separately Friday, the Justice Department said it had reviewed the records seized during the search and had segregated those with classified markings to ensure that they were being stored according to proper protocol and procedure.
“The seized materials will continue to be used to further the government’s investigation, and the investigative team will continue to use and evaluate the seized materials as it takes further investigative steps, such as through additional witness interviews and grand jury practice,” the department said.
It added that “additional evidence pertaining to the seized items,” including the manner in which they were stored, “will inform the government’s investigation.”
_____
Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/empty-folders-among-items-found-fbi-search-trump-home/ | 2022-09-02T16:36:36Z |
Man accused of swapping barcodes at Walmart to commit fraud, police say
ALPENA COUNTY, Mich. (Gray News) – A man in Michigan is facing charges after being accused of switching barcodes of items at Walmart.
According to police, a store associate said they saw a man removing barcodes from less expensive items and putting them on higher-priced products.
The man is then accused of going through the self-checkout register to scan the items.
Police said the associate tried to speak with the man about the purchase but was told he had to go outside and check on his children.
Ultimately, the man left the store.
Police used surveillance footage to identify the man as Joseph Alexander, 36.
There were several incidents reviewed that began in June 2022, according to police, and more than $1,100 in merchandise was stolen in total.
Alexander was arrested and charged with retail fraud.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/man-accused-swapping-barcodes-walmart-commit-fraud-police-say/ | 2022-09-02T16:36:43Z |
NASA aims for Saturday launch of new moon rocket after fixes
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA aimed for a Saturday launch of its new moon rocket, after fixing fuel leaks and working around a bad engine sensor that foiled the first try.
The inaugural flight of the 322-foot rocket — the most powerful ever built by NASA — was delayed late in the countdown Monday. The Kennedy Space Center clocks started ticking again as managers expressed confidence in their plan and forecasters gave favorable weather odds.
Atop the rocket is a crew capsule with three test dummies that will fly around the moon and back over the course of six weeks — NASA’s first such attempt since the Apollo program 50 years ago. NASA wants to wring out the spacecraft before strapping in astronauts on the next planned flight in two years.
“This is a test flight, right? And so while I feel very good about our procedures, when you look the team in the eye, they’re ready. We can’t control the weather,” NASA’s Jeremy Parsons, deputy manager of exploration ground systems, said Friday.
The engineers in charge of the Space Launch System rocket insisted Thursday evening that all four main engines were good and that a faulty temperature sensor caused one of them to appear as though it were too warm Monday. The engines need to match the minus-420 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-250 degrees Celsius) of the liquid hydrogen fuel at liftoff, otherwise they could be damaged and shut down in flight.
“We have convinced ourselves without a shadow of a doubt that we have good-quality liquid hydrogen going through the engines. There’s no fuzz on that,” said John Honeycutt, the rocket’s program manager.
Once fueling begins Saturday morning, the launch team will perform another engine test — this time earlier in the countdown. Even if that suspect sensor indicates the one engine is too warm, other sensors could be relied on to ensure everything is working correctly and to halt the countdown if there’s a problem, Honeycutt told reporters.
NASA could not perform that kind of engine test during dress rehearsals earlier this year because of leaking fuel. More fuel leaks cropped up Monday; technicians found some loose connections and tightened them.
The $4.1 billion test flight is NASA’s first step in sending astronauts around the moon in 2024 and landing them on the surface in 2025. Astronauts last walked on the moon in 1972.
___
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/2022/09/02/nasa-aims-saturday-launch-new-moon-rocket-after-fixes/ | 2022-09-02T16:36:52Z |
Scientific breakthrough could save Florida’s threatened coral reefs
TAMPA, Fla. (CNN) - Scientists said they’ve made a major breakthrough in the fight to save the elkhorn coral, a species that is under threat in the Caribbean.
It’s a historic step forward that someday also could offer humans extra protection from the fury of hurricanes.
Year after year, a price is paid, dollars in and in lives, when hurricane season strikes.
But under the waters from which those storms gain their strength, coral reefs provide an unexpected layer of protection.
They break up large waves and guard coastlines from storm surges.
Spanning about 360 miles, Florida has the world’s third-largest barrier reef, and it’s at risk.
“You can’t have the ocean running a fever every summer and not expect there to be impacts,” said Kerri O’Neil, the senior coral scientist at the Florida Aquarium.
However, in a tank at the aquarium, there is a major scientific breakthrough that serves as a sign that hope is not lost for Florida’s reefs. There is evidence of the elkhorn coral spawning.
The Florida Aquarium said it is now the first in the world to reproduce this threatened coral, using aquarium technology.
The spawning produced thousands of baby elkhorn corals.
“The first sense is just sheer relief,” O’Neil said.
Along with being the senior coral scientist, O’Neil has also been dubbed the “coral whisperer.”
Her team has figured out how to spawn 13 other species, but elkhorn takes the top spot.
“It’s really the most important,” O’Neil said.
Named for its resemblance to elk antlers, the coral lives right at the top of the reef crest. That means it plays a big role in protecting Florida’s coastline from devastating storm surges, which climate change is making even worse.
The problem is there are very few corals left.
“There’s just a few scattered colonies,” O’Neil said.
In the race to restore the reefs, there’s more work to be done, with this breakthrough serving as only a first step.
In about two years, the lab-spawned elkhorn coral will grow big enough, and scientists will then scuba dive down and plant them into the Florida reef.
“We are really buying time. We’re buying time for the reef. We’re buying time for the corals,” O’Neil said.
The final goal is a breeding program where they could ultimately breed more resilient coral, capable of withstanding threats like pollution, warming ocean waters and disease.
Nature can then pick up the rest.
“There is hope for coral reefs,” O’Neil said. “Don’t give up hope. All is not lost.”
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/scientific-breakthrough-could-save-floridas-threatened-coral-reefs/ | 2022-09-02T16:36:58Z |
Strollers recalled for fingertip amputation hazard
(Gray News) – Consumers were warned to immediately stop using recalled child strollers after a report that a child’s fingertip was amputated.
The recall involves all UPPAbaby all-terrain RIDGE jogging strollers, which have an extendable canopy with a mesh window and zipper pocket, disc hand brake system and an adjustable handlebar with a wrist strap.
The brand UPPAbaby is on the front of the stroller, and RIDGE is on the side of the stroller frame.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission stated the stroller’s rear disc brakes have openings that can cause amputation or laceration if a non-occupant child’s fingertip gets caught in the openings while the stroller is in use. Consumers should contact UPPAbaby to receive free replacement brake discs for both wheels.
About 14,400 of the strollers are being recalled. They were sold at BuyBuyBaby, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Pottery Barn Kids and other children’s stores and specialty stores nationwide. They also were sold online on Amazon from October 2021 through August 2022 for about $600.
The strollers have a black frame and a fabric color scheme that is white, charcoal or slate blue and have black tires. The serial numbers of the recalled products begin with “1401RDGUS” and appear on the right side of the stroller frame above the rear wheel of the stroller.
The model number “1401-RDG-US” is printed on the left side of the stroller frame above the rear wheel of the stroller.
For more information on recalls, go to CPSC.gov.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/strollers-recalled-fingertip-amputation-hazard/ | 2022-09-02T16:37:05Z |
Tropical Storm Danielle strengthens into hurricane
MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Danielle strengthened into a hurricane Friday morning — the first of an unusually quiet storm season.
The storm is not currently a threat to any land.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds were clocked at 75 mph (120 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
The storm is centered about 885 miles (1,425 kilometers) west of the Azores and is drifting west at about 1 mph (about 2 kph). The hurricane center said the storm is expected to meander in the Atlantic over the next few days.
The tropical storm comes amid what had been a calm hurricane season. It is the first time since 1941 that the Atlantic has gone from July 3 to the end of August with no named storm, Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach had told The Associated Press earlier.
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
In the north Pacific, Tropical Storm Javier formed overnight. Forecasters said that late Thursday it was 210 miles (338 kilometers) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 kph).
Javier is moving northwest at 9 mph (about 14 kph).
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/tropical-storm-danielle-strengthens-into-hurricane/ | 2022-09-02T16:37:12Z |
Trump White House lawyer arrives for Jan. 6 grand jury
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House counsel under then-President Donald Trump arrived Friday for his appearance before a federal grand jury investigating efforts to undo the 2020 presidential election.
Pat Cipollone was the top White House lawyer at the end of the Trump administration as Trump and outside allies pressed for ways to overturn the Republican’s loss to Democrat Joe Biden, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Cipollone vigorously resisted efforts to undo the election and has said he did not believe there was sufficient fraud to have affected the outcome of the race. Trump has insisted the election was rife with fraud and was stolen from him despite the fact that numerous federal and local election officials of both parties, a long list of courts, top former campaign staffers and even his own attorney general have said there is no evidence of the fraud he alleges.
Cipollone and Patrick Philbin, a deputy White House counsel also set to appear before the grand jury, also have cooperated with a separate House committee probe into the deadly Jan. 6 attack and attempts to subvert the election.
Their scheduled appearances before the grand jury were confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday by a person who was familiar with the matter but was not authorized to discuss it and who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Spokespeople for the Justice Department had declined to comment.
The grand jury appearances underscore how Justice Department officials examining schemes to overturn the presidential contest have been seeking the cooperation of senior Trump White House officials and advisers who opposed those efforts.
Federal prosecutors have been especially focused on a scheme by Trump allies to elevate fake electors in key battleground states won by Biden as a way to subvert the vote. They have issued subpoenas in recent weeks to multiple state Republican Party chairmen.
Portions of Cipollone’s private interview to the House Jan. 6 committee were featured prominently in hearings over the summer. Lawmakers aired video clips of him discussing a heated December 2020 meeting at the White House, during which outside aides and advisers to Trump talked about a proposed executive order calling for the seizure of voting machines.
“To have the federal government seize voting machines? That’s a terrible idea for the country. That’s not how we do things in the United States,” Cipollone testified, adding, “I don’t understand why we even have to tell you why that’s a bad idea for the country.”
____
Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/trump-white-house-lawyer-arrives-jan-6-grand-jury/ | 2022-09-02T16:37:18Z |
Bigfoot sighting reported at South Carolina state park
BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC/Gray News) – Three visitors to a state park in South Carolina claim they saw an animal they believe could be Bigfoot.
The three people visited Hunting Island State Park on Aug. 3 and reported seeing an animal that was 5-6 feet tall and walking upright retreat into the woods from the roadway.
The people were unable to take a photo quickly enough but reported the sighting to park staff and to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization.
According to the report, the animal had legs that were “approximately 3 feet long, human-like jointed knee, with dark brown, splotchy black hair that was approximately 2 inches long.”
The report continues, “We were all in a state of amazement as to what occurred as it happened so quickly. We have enjoyed taking many vacations at the park throughout the years since we were children in the 1950′s to the present. While the area is abundant in wildlife, we have never witnessed anything like this in the past.”
The park superintendent informed the group he would take the report as a “credible incident” and initiate an investigation.
Copyright 2022 WTOC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/02/bigfoot-sighting-reported-south-carolina-state-park/ | 2022-09-02T17:00:26Z |
Man charged with murder after setting mom on fire, police say
Published: Sep. 2, 2022 at 12:39 PM EDT|Updated: 19 minutes ago
WINSTON SALEM, N.C. (Gray News) – A man in North Carolina was charged with murder after being accused of setting his mother on fire, according to police.
Responding officers found Joanna Parker sitting on the front porch burning in flames.
Police said officers were able to put out the fire.
According to the police report, James Parker, 48, was upset with his mother, so he poured gasoline on her and set her on fire.
The 72-year-old woman was taken to the hospital where she died from her injuries.
James Parker was arrested and charged with murder in connection to his mother’s death.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/02/man-charged-with-murder-after-setting-mom-fire-police-say/ | 2022-09-02T17:00:32Z |
Stolen voting machine bought on eBay
(CNN) - Michigan authorities are trying to figure out how a 2020 voting machine that went missing ended up on eBay.
Since the machines are part of the nation’s infrastructure, they’re supposed to remain under lock and key, but somehow this one ended up being available to the highest bidder.
“That is a device which can be configured either to be a voting machine or ballot-marking device,” elections systems expert Harri Hursti said.
The box with the machine in it shouldn’t be on Hursti’s kitchen table in Connecticut.
“Yeah. I have been asked not to open it so that if it’s a part of criminal investigation, it’s preserved as evidence,” he said.
Hursti bought the voting machine for $1,200 on eBay.
“As far as I was aware, it was a completely legal sale on my end,” said Ean Hutchison, an Uber driver in Ohio, who sold the item on eBay.
In his eBay ad, he wrote, “Dominion ImageCast X voting machine from Michigan, own a piece of history. This voting machine was one of thousands used in the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.”
Hutchison said he bought it from Goodwill online.
“I saw a listing for ... well, looked like just an industrial touchscreen computer, and I got to looking through the pictures,” Hutchison said. “And in one of the pictures, I saw in the bottom corner of the screen, it said Dominion Voting. So I, just on a whim, bid on it, and I was the only bidder, and I won the auction.”
He said he paid $7.99 for it.
It turns out someone dropped the voting machine off at a Goodwill in northern Michigan.
Who that person is remains a mystery, but the Goodwill put the machine for sale up on its website.
“I wasn’t even aware that they were supposed to be sold, let alone donated to Goodwill,” Hutchison said.
“It is shocking that only when we started asking, ‘Does it belong somewhere?’ only after that, they realize it has been stolen,” Hursti said.
It’s raised some issues about the chain of custody and how these machines are secured.
“We basically have 1,600 jurisdictions. Typically, in between elections, clerks have the responsibility of securing all election equipment, and protecting it from illegal attempts to access it by unauthorized individuals,” said Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State, a Democrat.
Benson said the incident has been referred to law enforcement.
Michigan is one of several swing states where authorities are already investigating unauthorized access to voting systems by people who are trying to prove the false claim the 2020 election was stolen.
“There is a nationally coordinated effort to try to interfere with our elections that’s manifesting itself at the local level in incidents like these in Michigan,” Benson said. “What you really have is individuals who don’t seem to understand the technicalities of the elections process or election security trying to gain access to machines to keep the misinformation alive.”
Benson, a Democrat, said she has a message to reassure voters.
“Michigan’s elections are secure before every election. We test every machine for accuracy. We’ve never seen, even with this unauthorized access to machines, any actual evidence of any challenges or wrongdoing or lack of security in the process,” she said.
As of Thursday evening, the voting machine has yet to be picked up from Hursti’s home.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/02/stolen-voting-machine-bought-ebay/ | 2022-09-02T17:00:38Z |
SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Addentax Group Corp. ("Addentax" or the "Company") (NasdaqCM: ATXG), an integrated service provider focusing on garment manufacturing, logistics service, property management and subleasing, and epidemic prevention supplies, today announced the closing of an underwritten public offering (the "Offering") of 5,000,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $5.00 per share.
The Company's common stock began trading on Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol "ATXG" on August 31, 2022.
The Company received aggregate gross proceeds of $25 million from the Offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and other related expenses. In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters an option, exercisable within 45 days from the date of the underwriting agreement, to purchase up to an additional 750,000 shares of common stock at a price to the public, less underwriting discounts, to cover over-allotments, if any.
The Offering was conducted on a firm commitment basis. Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc is acting as the sole book runner for the Offering. Loeb & Loeb LLP is acting as counsel to the Company. VCL Law LLP is acting as counsel to the underwriter with respect to the Offering.
A registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-230943) relating to the Offering was previously filed with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") by the Company, and subsequently declared effective by the SEC on August 11, 2022. The Offering was made only by means of a final prospectus. A final prospectus relating to the Offering was filed with the SEC on September 1, 2022, and is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus related to the Offering may be obtained from Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc., 2 Bridge Avenue, Suite 241, Red Bank, New Jersey 07701; Attention Karen (Huiyun) Mu, email kmu@netw1.com and Adam Pasholk, email adampasholk@netw1.com or by calling +1 (800) 886-7007.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
About Addentax Group Corp.
Addentax Group Corp. is an integrated service provider focusing on garment manufacturing, logistics service, property management and subleasing, and epidemic prevention supplies. Its garment manufacturing business consists of sales made principally to wholesaler located in China. The logistics business consists of delivery and courier services covering 79 cities in seven provinces and two municipalities in China. The property management and subleasing business provides shops subleasing and property management services for garment wholesalers and retailers in garment market. The epidemic prevention supplies business consists of manufacturing and distribution of epidemic prevention products and resale of epidemic prevention supplies purchased from third parties in both domestic and overseas markets. For more information, visit the Company's website at https://www.addentax.com/.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the Company's proposed Offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the Offering will be successfully completed. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's registration statement and in its other filings with the SEC.
For more information, please contact:
Investor Relations:
Sherry Zheng
Phone: 718-213-7386
Email: shunyu.zheng@weitian-ir.com
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SOURCE Addentax Group Corp. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/addentax-group-corp-announces-uplisting-nasdaq-capital-market-closing-25-million-public-offering-common-stock/ | 2022-09-02T17:00:44Z |
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In a ceremony celebrating innovative and successful business leaders in San Diego, the San Diego Business Journal presented George DeVries, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) with a "CEO of the Year" Award. DeVries was one of 20 CEOs honored during a ceremony held at the Burnham Center for Community Advancement. More than 200 CEOs were nominated for the award.
"This award is quite an honor," said DeVries. "It recognizes more than three decades of hard work by our team. We're extremely proud of our continuous growth and product expansion as well as the strong culture and teamwork we have built within our organization. We have experienced significant growth over the last three decades due to our relentless commitment to our mission, innovative leadership, and focus on technology development."
DeVries added, "I'm particularly thankful for our incredibly talented team. I'm grateful for their spirit of innovation that keeps our company thriving despite industry and competitive challenges, in addition to their ability to pivot during unexpected situations, such as those we've faced with COVID-19 and its variants these past few years."
DeVries co-founded American Specialty Health 35 years ago in the second bedroom of a townhome in Southern California with $5,000 in seed money. Overcoming financial, regulatory, and industry hurdles, he and his team pioneered innovative specialty health networks for chiropractic and acupuncture care in California, then expanded nationally, diversifying the company's lines of business to include physical and occupational therapy, massage therapy, and other musculoskeletal health services. DeVries later launched fitness and well-being solutions for health plans, employers, and associations. Today, ASH is one of the nation's fastest-growing privately held benefits management companies, with more than 1,500 employees serving more than 57 million Americans.
"As I reflect on our 35 years, I am deeply thankful to our clients who put their trust in our vision during those early years," DeVries said. "Many of them are still clients who continue to collaborate with us on new programs in addition to maintaining their legacy programs with us."
DeVries has been recognized a number of times for his innovation and leadership throughout the years. His other awards include:
- Lifetime Achievement Award in Wellness, San Diego Business Journal, 2013
- 50 Distinguished Alumni Award, University of California, San Diego, 2011
- Most Influential in Specialty Health Award, National Association of Specialty Health Organizations (NASHO), 2010
- Innovators Award, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), 2004
- Outstanding Alumni Award, University of California, San Diego, 2001
- National Entrepreneur of the Year for Health Sciences, Ernst & Young, 2000
- Appointment to the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy, 2000
- San Diego Entrepreneur of the Year for Health Sciences, Ernst & Young, 1997
Through the leadership of DeVries and key executives, ASH has also been recognized with the following awards:
- 2022 Nation's Best and Brightest in Wellness, National Association for Business Resources (NABR)
- 2022 San Diego Best and Brightest in Wellness, (six consecutive wellness wins), NABR
- Inc. 5000 list of the Nation's Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies, Inc. Magazine (10-times ranking, 2009-2019)
- One of San Diego's Best Places to Work, San Diego Union Tribune (2020, 2013) & San Diego Business Journal (2009, 2006)
- One of the 100 "Best Places to Work in Healthcare," Modern Healthcare magazine (2008)
- One of America's 15 Fittest Companies, Men's Fitness magazine (2008)
- A Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles Gold award, National Business Group on Health (2008 - 2011)
American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) is one of the nation's premier independent and privately-owned specialty health organizations offering technology-enabled benefits management services, including musculoskeletal health provider networks and programs, fitness center networks and exercise programs, and well-being solutions for health plans, insurance carriers, employers, and others. With offices in Carmel (Indianapolis), IN, San Diego, CA, and Fort Worth, TX. ASH has more than 1,500 employees. For more information about ASH, visit www.ashcompanies.com or call 800-848-3555. Follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter at @ASHCompanies.
Contact:
Lisa Freeman
American Specialty Health
310-422-9200
lisaf@ashn.com
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SOURCE American Specialty Health Incorporated | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/american-specialty-health-chairman-ceo-george-devries-named-ceo-year-by-san-diego-business-journal/ | 2022-09-02T17:00:50Z |
DALLAS, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading immigration firm BAL's Managing Partner Jeremy Fudge is named to an elite list of top employee-approved CEOs by Texas CEO Magazine.
"I'm honored to be selected for this recognition by Texas CEO," said Jeremy. "It is especially gratifying to know that we're not only succeeding in growth and other traditional metrics, but that our people – our greatest source of success — rate their BAL experience so highly."
Texas CEO Magazine partnered with Comparably, a company that collects employee reviews for firms across the U.S., to find the most highly approved CEOs. Jeremy is among 22 CEOs rated "A+" by their employees, representing the top 5% of employee-rated CEOs of large companies in Texas.
The magazine recognized Jeremy for helming BAL's aggressive nationwide growth in the middle of the pandemic—the firm has opened a new office every year for the past five years, most recently in Santa Clara, Calif., Denver and soon Los Angeles—and for leading the company to other key milestones, including strategic lateral hires and eminence in legal technology.
Along with these huge strides in dominating corporate immigration, Jeremy managed to keep a growing workforce engaged and innovating at a time when many companies experienced labor shortages. "My leadership philosophy is time-tested and true: be a servant leader," Jeremy said, "Genuinely love your people and look for meaningful ways to serve them."
This service mentality inspired Jeremy and the firm's leadership to shape an empathetic workplace culture at BAL, offering perks such as unlimited vacation and hybrid work options. Employees appreciate Jeremy's open-door policy, with one reviewer saying, "Jeremy Fudge is always willing to discuss your ideas with you to see if he can implement them or change policies that aren't working."
Learning and growing from conversations with his employees reflects Jeremy's broader approach to life. When pointing to the best leadership advice he ever received, Jeremy responded, "Read widely and keep learning." The approval rating by the firm's 1,500 employees enthusiastically endorses this philosophy.
BAL, the world's leading corporate immigration law firms, is singularly focused on meeting the immigration challenges of corporate clients around the world in ways that make immigration more strategic and enable businesses to be more successful. Established in 1980, BAL has consistently provided immigration expertise, people-centered client services, and leading technology innovation. In 2018, BAL entered into a first-of-its-kind strategic alliance with Deloitte U.K. to create the world's first global immigration service delivery model. BAL's proprietary Cobalt® digital immigration services platform won the 2020 CODiE Award for Best Legal Tech Product, the prestigious CIO100 award for Innovative Use of Intelligent Automation in Immigration Services, and Legalweek's Most Innovative Law Firm Operations Team of 2021. BAL and its leaders are highly ranked in every major legal publication, including Best Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, and Who's Who Legal. BAL has ranked #1 on multiple industry rankings for diversity, equity and inclusion, including the #1 Law Firm for Women on the National Law Journal's Women in Law Scorecard the past four years in a row (2019-2022), #1 on the Diversity Scorecard by The American Lawyer (2020 and 2021), and #1 on Law360's Diversity Snapshot for three years running (2020-2022). In 2022, BAL won the "Best Company for Diversity," the "Best HR Team" and the "Best Company for Career Growth" by Comparably, based solely on employee ratings. See website for details: https://www.bal.com
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SOURCE Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/bal-managing-partner-jeremy-fudge-named-top-texas-ceo/ | 2022-09-02T17:00:57Z |
CINCINNATI, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cincinnati is home to multiple Rally House stores, including several new locations in recent months. Rally House wants to recognize this continued expansion with a Grand Opening Weekend celebration at three Cincy locations on September 9 & 10. Additionally, Rally House is proud to sponsor Bengals Nation this year, a weekly Local 12 show centered around all things Cincinnati Bengals.
Customers can partake in the Rally House Grand Opening Weekend event by visiting one of the new Rally House stores around Cincinnati. Participating locations include Rally House Bridgewater Falls, Rally House Colerain Towne Center, and Rally House Liberty Center.
The excitement kicks off right away at each store listed above, as the first 100 guests on Friday and the first 100 guests on Saturday will receive a scratch-off game ticket. Each ticket has a prize to win, ranging from a $5 gift card to the Grand Prize $500 gift card. Fans can also register to win a tailgate bundle comprised of two chairs, one tent, one table, a cornhole set, and a $200 gift card. Only one entrant can win the tailgate package, but all non-winning entries will receive a consolation prize.
Rally House is thrilled to sponsor the popular Bengals Nation show put on by Local 12. Shows are taped every Wednesday during the season at OTR Eatery in downtown Cincinnati, where fans can browse team gear from Rally House, participate in Q&A sessions with players and coaches, and more. Plus, Vonn Bell and Mike Hilton will have a segment every week, and head coach Zac Taylor will have a surprise guest for each of his weekly segments.
Cincinnati fans have a lot to look forward to, especially being able to shop apparel and accessories at one of the Rally House stores surrounding Cincy or online at www.rallyhouse.com. The best part is that Rally House offers merch for favorites like the Bengals, Reds, FC Cincinnati, Buckeyes, Bearcats, and more.
Rally House and Sampler Stores Inc. is a family-owned specialty boutique that offers a large selection of apparel, hats, gifts and home décor representing local NCAA, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS teams in addition to locally inspired apparel, gifts and food. Proudly based in Lenexa, Kansas, Rally House operates 125+ locations across 13 states.
CONTACT:
Teri Hauenschild, District Manager
thauenschild@rallyhouse.com
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SOURCE Rally House | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/celebrating-rally-house-grand-opening-weekend-bengals-nation-cincinnati/ | 2022-09-02T17:01:03Z |
BERLIN, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cinespace Studios (Cinespace), a global platform of production facilities, announced today a series of key leadership changes at Studio Babelsberg, a leading German film studio majority owned by Cinespace. The appointments, which were announced at Studio Babelsberg's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on August 30, 2022, help streamline the leadership function of the Cinespace platform and further the company's vision to build a premier global production platform for content creators across the globe.
Effective September 1, 2022, Studio Babelsberg will expand its Management Board to include five members. New members are:
- Andy Weltman, previously Managing Director at APA International and former Executive Vice President at Pinewood International, who will serve as Co-CEO and Co-Chairman of Studio Babelsberg,
- Ashley Rice, Co-Managing Partner and President of Cinespace, former Executive Vice President of Production at Legendary Television
- André Bleeker, CFO of A&O Hotels and Hostels headquartered in Berlin.
Mr. Weltman, Ms. Rice, and Mr. Bleeker will lead the business alongside Dr. Carl L. Woebcken and Mr. Christoph Fisser, existing members of the Management Board, in day-to-day operations and strategy for Studio Babelsberg. They will work in tandem with Cinespace's existing leadership team, which includes Ms. Rice, Eoin Egan, Co-Managing Partner and COO; and Keith Gee, Co-Managing Partner and CFO. Marius Schwarz, former CFO of Studio Babelsberg, stepped down from his role following the completion of his term on June 30, 2022. He will continue to serve the company an advisory capacity.
"I am excited to join the Studio Babelsberg team and look forward to working with the board to lead the studio into its next stage of growth," said Mr. Weltman. "With its unique heritage and the expanded reach that the Cinespace platform brings, Studio Babelsberg is well positioned to continue to attract world-class productions to Germany and create significant job growth and economic benefits for the German film and television production sector as well as the Potsdam region."
Additionally, industry executive Ty Warren has been elected to the company's Supervisory Board and will serve alongside existing members Michael Abel and Maria Terzini. Mr. Warren is currently on the Cinespace board and most recently served as the Global Head of Physical Production at Netflix. He replaces Matthias Platzeck, who stepped down from his position for personal reasons ahead of the AGM.
"On behalf of Cinespace, we are pleased to welcome Andy and Ty to the Management and Supervisory Boards at Studio Babelsberg," said Ms. Rice. "With Studio Babelsberg, Cinespace is one of the largest sound stage operators with a growing global footprint. We are excited to further integrate with this announcement and look forward to working together to support and enable great content creation."
The Studio Babelsberg Annual Report 2021, the agenda, and the voting results of the AGM are available on the Studio Babelsberg website at www.studiobabelsberg.com/en/corporate/investor-relations/.
Cinespace Studios is a best-in-class global platform of production facilities that supports content providers and their creatives. The platform is one of the largest sound stage operators globally with locations in Chicago, Toronto, and Studio Babelsberg in Germany. Cinespace Studios delivers the highest level of service while increasing the quality of the overall production experience and nurtures its local communities to support workforce development and crew diversity.
Media Contact
Cinespace Studios
Catherine Shin
Catherine.shin@cinespace.com
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SOURCE Cinespace Studios | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/cinespace-studios-announces-updates-platform-following-annual-general-meeting-studio-babelsberg/ | 2022-09-02T17:01:12Z |
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UFCW Local 1776 President Wendell Young IV announced today that the workers at the Trulieve North Shore medical cannabis dispensary have voted to join Local 1776.
"I want to congratulate these workers for their hard work and commitment throughout this process," Young said. "Now, we move to the bargaining table. We look forward to securing a contract that delivers fair wages, strong benefits and a safe workplace."
UFCW 1776 now represents approximately 600 cannabis workers across the state.
"We are the union for cannabis workers," Young said. "We worked hard to help secure legislation that opened the state to medical cannabis, and we will continue working for our members and all cannabis workers across Pennsylvania."
Young noted that the Local has recently organized a total of 3 dispensaries, as well as workers at Coffee Tree Roasters in recent months.
"Our western division, which includes workers in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia keeps growing as we add more members at more worksites," Young said. "We represent 35,000 workers in cannabis, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, gaming, and manufacturing, among others. Our reach across so many sectors is one of our core strengths."
For more information, please visit www.ufcw1776.org
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SOURCE UFCW Local 1776 Keystone State | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/employees-trulieve-north-shore-medical-cannabis-dispensary-join-ufcw-1776/ | 2022-09-02T17:01:19Z |
90% of Encora's Employees Now Work in a Country Certified as a Great Place To Work®
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Encora, a global next-gen product engineering provider, today announced its offices in Costa Rica, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, Brazil, and India have all been certified by Great Place to Work® (GPTW™). With its most recent recognitions in India, 90% of Encora's employees now work in a country where they're certified as a Great Place to Work®. Encora offices in Costa Rica, Peru, Bolivia and Colombia received certification for the first time. Offices in Mexico are celebrating 14 consecutive years as a certified office, and Brazilian offices are celebrating 11 consecutive years.
"Encora is dedicated to helping our clients create competitive advantage through accelerated technology innovation," says Venu Raghavan, President and CEO, Encora. "The only way to accomplish this is to create an environment where employees are happy, feel safe, and are provided opportunities to grow and express their individuality. It is a great honor to be recognized by GPTW® and to have received such positive feedback from our global employee base."
GTPW™ certifications are a result of an anonymous survey of employees who have worked at Encora for more than three months. GPTW™ validates a company's organizational culture to determine whether its employees consider it a consistently good place to work. According to Great Place to Work® Institute research, employees in certified companies are 93% more likely to be happy in their jobs; the chances of receiving fair pay and promotion opportunities are doubled, and there is a significant increase in the quality of leadership.
Encora was awarded GPTW certifications in each country due to its global commitment to its caring and inclusive workplace culture, in accordance with the Great Place to Work® Institute. The company has grown from 2,400 employees to more than 7,400 worldwide in the past three years and has evolved its practices to ensure its culture positively adapts alongside its growth. Encora supports its global culture by developing inspiring learning & development opportunities and partnerships, launching new tools and platforms to keep team members engaged and connected to the brand and their colleagues, delivering improved employee benefits such as flexible and remote work, and investing in tools to improve processes and daily work. Most of all, Encora has worked to build a culture where people feel safe, respected, empowered and motivated to be their best selves.
Additionally, Encora's Mexico office has earned other important awards from the Great Place to Work® Institute over the past year, including Best CEO in Mexico and Best Workplace for Women in Mexico.
For more information on Encora's commitment to creating a positive workplace culture and recognitions from Great Place to Work®, visit https://www.encora.com/about.
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, and backed by private equity firm Advent International, Encora is the preferred innovation partner to some of the world's leading technology companies. It provides Next-Gen services like Predictive Analysis, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Cloud, and Test Automation. Encora has deep cluster vertical capabilities in HealthTech, FinTech, HiTech, IAM & Cybersecurity, Digital Commerce, EdTech, Supply Chain & Logistics, Telecom and other specialized industries. Encora is an established leader in outsourced product development services and nearshore software engineering services that specializes in innovation acceleration for leading-edge technology companies. Encora's nearshore capabilities allow clients to utilize a team of 3,400+ talented engineers working within no more than a three-hour time difference to cut back on lag time to improve communication and collaboration. Clients can also take advantage of increased cybersecurity and stability with Latin America ranking high in IP protection. Language, location, and business culture are also more easily aligned through Encora's nearshore offerings. With over 7,400 associates in 40+ offices and innovation labs across U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Canada, India, and Asia Pacific, Encora's global talent pool, micro-industry vertical expertise and proprietary agile engineering capabilities enable clients to improve their speed to impact. For more information, please visit www.encora.com.
Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, it has surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and has used this information to define that a great workplace is built on trust. The Trust Index© employee survey provides leaders with the necessary feedback, results and reports that enable the company to make data-driven decisions. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work for everyone.
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THOMASVILLE, Ga., Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE: FLO), producer of Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Wonder, Canyon Bakehouse, Tastykake, and other bakery foods, will webcast its fireside chat from the 2022 Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference on Thursday, September 8 at 2:15 p.m. ET. Representing Flowers will be Ryals McMullian, president and chief executive officer, and Steve Kinsey, chief financial officer. Webcast information can be found at flowersfoods.com/investors/events-and-presentations.
About Flowers Foods
Headquartered in Thomasville, Ga., Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE: FLO) is one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the United States with 2021 sales of $4.3 billion. Flowers operates bakeries across the country that produce a wide range of bakery products. Among the company's top brands are Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Wonder, Canyon Bakehouse, and Tastykake. Learn more at www.flowersfoods.com.
FLO–CORP FLO–IR
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this filing and certain other written or oral statements made from time to time by Flowers Foods, Inc. (the "company", "Flowers Foods", "Flowers", "us", "we", or "our") and its representatives that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements relate to current expectations regarding our future financial condition and results of operations and the ultimate impact of the novel strain of coronavirus ("COVID-19") on our business, results of operations and financial condition and are often identified by the use of words and phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would," "is likely to," "is expected to" or "will continue," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions we believe are reasonable. Forward-looking statements are based on current information and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected. Certain factors that may cause actual results, performance, liquidity, and achievements to differ materially from those projected are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Form 10-K") and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC') and may include, but are not limited to, (a) unexpected changes in any of the following: (1) general economic and business conditions; (2) the competitive setting in which we operate, including advertising or promotional strategies by us or our competitors, as well as changes in consumer demand; (3) interest rates and other terms available to us on our borrowings; (4) supply chain conditions and any related impact on energy and raw materials costs and availability and hedging counter-party risks; (5) relationships with or increased costs related to our employees and third-party service providers; (6) laws and regulations (including environmental and health-related issues); and (7) accounting standards or tax rates in the markets in which we operate, (b) the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and future responses and/or measures taken in response thereto, including, but not limited to, new and emerging variants of the virus and the efficacy and distribution of vaccines, which are highly uncertain and are difficult to predict, (c) the loss or financial instability of any significant customer(s), including as a result of product recalls or safety concerns related to our products, (d) changes in consumer behavior, trends and preferences, including health and whole grain trends, and the movement toward more inexpensive store branded products, (e) the level of success we achieve in developing and introducing new products and entering new markets, (f) our ability to implement new technology and customer requirements as required, (g) our ability to operate existing, and any new, manufacturing lines according to schedule, (h) our ability to implement and achieve our environmental, social, and governance ("ESG") goals in accordance with suppliers, regulations, and customers; (i) our ability to execute our business strategies which may involve, among other things, (1) the ability to realize the intended benefits of planned or contemplated acquisitions, dispositions or joint ventures, (2) the deployment of new systems (e.g., our enterprise resource planning ("ERP") system), distribution channels and technology, and (3) an enhanced organizational structure, (j) consolidation within the baking industry and related industries, (k) changes in pricing, customer and consumer reaction to pricing actions (including decreased volumes), and the pricing environment among competitors within the industry, (l) our ability to adjust pricing to offset, or partially offset, inflationary pressure on the cost of our products; (m) disruptions in our direct-store-delivery distribution model, including litigation or an adverse ruling by a court or regulatory or governmental body, or other regulatory developments, that could affect the independent contractor classifications of the independent distributor partners, (n) increasing legal complexity and legal proceedings that we are or may become subject to, (o) labor shortages and turnover or increases in employee and employee-related costs, (p) the credit, business, and legal risks associated with independent distributor partners and customers, which operate in the highly competitive retail food and foodservice industries, (q) any business disruptions due to political instability, pandemics, armed hostilities (including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine), incidents of terrorism, natural disasters, labor strikes or work stoppages, technological breakdowns, product contamination, product recalls or safety concerns related to our products, or the responses to or repercussions from any of these or similar events or conditions and our ability to insure against such events, (r) the failure of our information technology ("IT") systems to perform adequately, including any interruptions, intrusions, cyber-attacks or security breaches of such systems or risks associated with the planned implementation of the upgrade of our ERP system; and (s) the potential impact of climate change on the company, including physical and transition risks, higher regulatory and compliance costs, reputational risks, and availability of capital on attractive terms. The foregoing list of important factors does not include all such factors, nor necessarily present them in order of importance. In addition, you should consult other disclosures made by the company (such as in our other filings with the SEC or in company press releases) for other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected by the company. Refer to Part I, Item 1A., Risk Factors, of the Form 10-K, Part II, Item 1A., Risk Factors of the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 16, 2022 and subsequent filing with the SEC for additional information regarding factors that could affect the company's results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as they speak only as of the date made and are inherently uncertain. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update such statements, except as required by law. You are advised, however, to consult any further public disclosures by the company (such as in our filings with the SEC or in company press releases) on related subjects.
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SOURCE Flowers Foods, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/flowers-foods-webcast-barclays-global-consumer-staples-conference/ | 2022-09-02T17:01:32Z |
ATLANTA, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Graitec, global BIM and modeling experts dedicated to empowering construction and manufacturing professionals to digitize and industrialize their processes, is excited to announce that Scott McMaster is joining as Executive Vice-President, North America. In addition, he will serve as a member of the corporate Graitec Group Executive Committee.
Formerly Managing Director with NTT Cloud Communications Americas, McMaster brings a dynamic and results-oriented leadership approach to the newly expanded Graitec Group in North America. As an international executive with over 20 years of experience leading and developing teams in the B2B sector, McMaster will help build on the strengths of Applied Software and Graitec, to devise strategic capabilities and high-performance teams to drive better business outcomes for our clients.
Manuel Liedot, Graitec CEO, said, "Graitec is a leader in helping customers across the construction and manufacturing value chain transform their business, from innovation to digitalization to industrialization. Scott will guide our efforts in North America to be the 'feet on the street', providing value and helping customers' overcome business challenges and transform how they operate."
"As partners with our Graitec customers, we bring additional value to their business journey," McMaster said August 24 during the Graitec/Applied Software ONE Event in Atlanta, GA. "The depth of software and service solutions offered with the combined portfolio of Graitec and Applied Software establishes value that will transform our customers' journey. I am excited to be part of this truly exceptional team to help expand the future growth of Graitec and help build a sustainable tomorrow."
On April 13, 2022, Applied Software became the newest member of the worldwide Graitec Group, which serves customers from offices in 14 countries and in 9 languages.
Applied Software, a full-service premier systems integrator for AEC, MEP, fabrication, and manufacturing companies, is on a mission to transform industries by empowering clients and championing innovation with real-world expert consultants. With a broad range of world-class solutions, services and training, Applied, now part of the worldwide Graitec Group, has been helping clients achieve a competitive advantage since 1982. For more information visit www.asti.com.
For more information: Todd Weyandt
tweyandt@asti.com
404.534.1843
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SOURCE Applied Software | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/graitec-group-applied-software-welcome-scott-mcmaster-evp/ | 2022-09-02T17:01:39Z |
On the IFA convention stage for the first time since independence, HONOR CEO George Zhao outlines the brand's commitment to innovation and open collaboration
BERLIN, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global technology brand HONOR today reaffirmed its commitment to international markets during its IFA keynote presentation, titled "Embracing the Connected Future." During the event, the brand announced a new Dual Flagship Strategy to bring the next foldable and all-round flagship smartphones to Europe and other international markets. The brand also previewed MagicOS 7.0, an upcoming all-scenario smart collaboration OS based on Android as well as PC and IoT operating systems, embracing open standards to facilitate seamless collaboration among smartphones, tablets, PC and other IoT products. Bolstering its innovative product portfolio, HONOR introduced three new products: HONOR 70, HONOR MagicBook 14 and HONOR Pad 8, the first HONOR tablet available outside of China. All three products are set to arrive in select European markets in the coming weeks.
Bringing HONOR Talents to the global stage, HONOR also unveiled Gateway to the Future, a global initiative piloting in Hamburg, Germany with the aim of inspiring creative talent from all around the world to use the power of technology to connect people with culture in the era of the metaverse.
"Since our inception, HONOR has always aspired to make great contributions to the industry to enable a better future for all. To achieve that goal, we've stayed laser-focused on our commitment to innovation," said George Zhao, CEO of HONOR Device Co, Ltd., "With the introduction of our Dual Flagship Strategy, MagicOS 7.0, Fitness and Health solution, we look forward to providing compelling options to European and international consumers who are seeking the best foldable smartphones and the most premium user experiences on the market."
Embracing the Connected Future with New Dual Flagship Strategy and MagicOS
As a global technology, HONOR has always strived to innovate with purpose and deliver user benefits that matter. For the first time, HONOR will be introducing its foldable smartphones to international markets. Announced during IFA 2022, the Dual Flagship Strategy will see HONOR bring its upcoming foldable flagship smartphones and all-round flagship smartphones to Europe and other regions around the world.
HONOR also unveiled MagicOS 7.0, a new OS designed to provide seamless experience across the cross-platform, cross-device experiences. It is based on Android as well as PC and IoT operating systems, so devices running different OS can connect to MagicOS devices at a system level. Alongside new user interface changes, MagicOS 7.0 will let users control an HONOR laptop, smartphone and tablet using a single keyboard and mouse. Through the feature, users can drag files across devices seamlessly, as well as type text into the smartphone or tablet with their laptop keyboard. MagicOS 7.0 will be officially announced in Q4 2022.
In line with its commitment to contributing to the wider industry, HONOR announced that the brand has joined various IoT consortiums including Matter and Ola, helping to formulate common industry standards that promote open collaboration. In addition, the new HONOR Developer Service Platform will provide direct support and services to developers. Among the many services available, developers can submit their apps into App Market and Game Center through the platform. It will also provide developers with access to various system capabilities for them to develop cross-device features for HONOR device users in the future. Interested developers may visit the following site for more information: https://developer.hihonor.com.
Further signifying the brand's commitment to cross-device functionality, HONOR is expanding its partnership with Microsoft to bring Phone Link to international HONOR device users. Previously only available to HONOR device users in China, Phone Link lets users connect select HONOR smartphones to Windows PCs to unlock new cross-device capabilities, including the ability to view notifications, make and receive calls on their PC and use mobile apps on Windows. The HONOR Magic4 Pro is among the first international HONOR smartphone models to support Phone Link[1], while the HONOR 70 will also support Phone Link following an OTA update.
Furthermore, from October, the upgraded HONOR Health app will provide personalized custom user interfaces and offer fitness suggestions and training courses according to user habits, helping smartphone users to achieve their health goals.
Introducing HONOR 70 to Global Markets, a Vlogging Masterpiece
Designed for vlogging enthusiasts, the HONOR 70 is HONOR's latest addition to its high-end N Series smartphone line up. The stylish device debuts with Solo Cut mode, which lets users easily produce vlogs that spotlight a specific person in a group through built-in Person Re-identification Technology. With Dual Video Streaming, HONOR 70 can record two videos simultaneously, with one featuring a single subject and the other capturing the full group.
Capturing high quality vlogs is easy with the HONOR 70, thanks to its powerful Dual Main Camera that comprises a 54MP IMX800 Super Sensing Main Camera with a large 1/1.49-inch IMX800 Sensor and a 50MP Ultra-Wide & Macro camera. The new smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G Plus 5G and supports GPU Turbo X and OS Turbo X, delivering smooth performance and a responsive experience across a range of heavy-duty tasks, including video editing for vloggers who are always on the move.
The HONOR 70 is the first HONOR N Series smartphone to run HONOR Magic UI 6.1 based on Android 12 and is available in a range of fashionable color options including Midnight Black, Crystal Silver and Emerald Green[2].
In recognition of HONOR 70's excellent user experience, the Expert Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) awarded the smartphone the EISA BEST BUY SMARTPHONE 2022-2023 award. EISA is an expert community comprising over 60 of the world's most respected consumer electronics magazines, websites and social media commentators from 29 countries.
The HONOR 70 will be available in select European markets from today for a starting price of EUR 549.
HONOR MagicBook 14, a Mobile Productivity Powerhouse
Featuring OS Turbo for the first time ever on an HONOR laptop, the all-new HONOR MagicBook 14 delivers significant upgrades in battery life and up to 20.8%[3] better power efficiency compared to its predecessor. The laptop is powered by a 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-12500H processor and is configurable with a NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2050 dedicated graphics card[4], offering blazing fast performance whether working in the office or gaming at home. With a 75Wh battery, the HONOR MagicBook 14 provides up to 17 hours of battery life on standby, and supports fast charging to provide up to 3.5 hours of uptime when running productivity software after just 15 minutes of charging[5]. Coming in a sleek yet elegant Space Gray colorway, the HONOR MagicBook 14 is slated to arrive in select European markets with pre-orders starting today, with a starting price of EUR 1099.
Enabling Premium Audiovisual Experiences with HONOR Pad 8
The HONOR Pad 8 is an affordable all-round smart device catering to the productivity and entertainments needs of students and young professionals. The new HONOR tablet combines a 12-inch 2K HONOR FullView display featuring a screen-to-body ratio of 87%[6] and support a resolution of 2000x1200[7] pixels and 1 billion colors with eight built-in loudspeakers to deliver immersive multimedia experiences on the go. Running HONOR Magic UI 6.1 with Google Play Services, the HONOR Pad 8 packs a high capacity 7250 mAh[8] battery for all-day connectivity, allowing users to stay connected at all times. Arriving in select European markets with pre-orders starting today, the HONOR Pad 8 comes in Blue Hour and will retail at a starting price of EUR 329.
The launch of the tablet represents the completion of the brand's global product portfolio; consumers in select Europe and international markets will soon have access to every HONOR smartphone and IoT product series, marking a new milestone for HONOR.
Step into the Gateway to the Future
As a brand, HONOR has consistent investment in Spatial Audio, AI and AR technologies, to unlock immersive experiences and get ready for the next digital revolution.
Unveiled during HONOR's IFA keynote session, Gateway to the Future is a new HONOR Talents initiative designed to enrich cultural heritage through the power of technology. In collaboration with ARLOOPA, HONOR challenged two renowned artists – Yunuene and Timo Helgert – to creatively reimagine the iconic Wasserschloss building located in Hamburg's Speicherstadt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The AR experience is now live on-location in Speicherstadt, and is also available for users to view at home via the ARLOOPA app, offering smartphone users a new way to discover cultural treasures through immersive AR. The campaign video is available here: https://youtu.be/7rwwZQw2C4M.
Introducing HONOR's Spatial Audio
Announced during IFA 2022, HONOR's Spatial Audio solution is designed to enable headphones to produce wide, cinematic 3D sound effects that create the sense of immersion required for next-generation AR and VR experiences.
At its core, HONOR's Spatial Audio is designed to deliver surround sound and 3D audio through headphones by using the accelerometer and gyroscopes in earbuds to track the motion of the user's head, remapping the sound field to bring users an immersive and delightful audio experience in all scenarios such as movies, music and games. And by means of the algorithm, the changes of sound on its way from the source to the listener's ear can be simulated. These effects include localization of sound sources above, below, behind and in the front of the listener.
HONOR's Spatial Audio is the first to support sound externalization distance adjustment, providing users to dynamically adjust the distance of virtual sound sources from 0.15 to 10 meters to suit a more personalized listening experience.
HONOR Talents: Applications for Interactive AR Artwork Category Now Open
Complementing the initiative, HONOR has introduced a dedicated Interactive AR Artwork category as part of its HONOR Talents global design competition. Within the category, contestants are invited to produce digital AR artworks which creatively transform their neighborhoods, including digital overlays for buildings, walls, parks, and other public spaces, helping to get communities closer to culture. Artists interested in the contest can find more information here: https://www.hihonor.com/honor-talents/en/
HONOR also partnered with the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in China to create a new AR artwork titled INFINITY. The phy-gital experience showcases an artistic interpretation of the universe, which the creative team comprising CAFA faculty members and students use as an analogy to promote intercultural dialogue. The art is available at HONOR's IFA booth through the ARLOOPA app.
About HONOR
HONOR is a leading global provider of smart devices. It is dedicated to becoming a global iconic technology brand and creating a new intelligent world for everyone through its powerful products and services. With an unwavering focus on R&D, it is committed to developing technology that empowers people around the globe to go beyond, giving them the freedom to achieve and do more. Offering a range of high-quality smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables to suit every budget, HONOR's portfolio of innovative, premium and reliable products enable people to become a better version of themselves.
For more information, please visit HONOR online at www.hihonor.com or email newsroom@hihonor.com
http://community.hihonor.com/
https://www.facebook.com/honorglobal/
https://twitter.com/Honorglobal
https://www.instagram.com/honorglobal/
http://www.youtube.com/c/HonorOfficial
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SOURCE HONOR | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/honor-announces-dual-flagship-strategy-magicos-70-plans-launches-honor-70-honor-magicbook-14-honor-pad-8-ifa-2022/ | 2022-09-02T17:01:45Z |
New Gateway to the Future Initiative Aims to Make Culture More Accessible and Engaging in the Era of the Metaverse
BERLIN, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global technology brand HONOR today announced Gateway to the Future, an initiative designed to enrich cultural heritage through the power of technology. Launched during its IFA 2022 keynote, HONOR challenged two popular artists to creatively reimagine the Wasserschloss, an iconic landmark located in Hamburg's Speicherstadt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site using augmented reality (AR). Set against the backdrop of surging interest in the metaverse and the growth of hybrid tourism, the project aims to inspire global creative talent to leverage innovations such as AI, AR and Spatial Audio to connect communities with culture in more immersive ways and support the global tourism rebound, as the world embraces the connected future.
"As a global technology company, HONOR is committed to developing smart device technology which enables people to celebrate and experience cultural treasures from the past while also discovering the possibilities of the future," said George Zhao, CEO of HONOR Device Co, Ltd. "We predict the rise of AR and AI technologies being used to create even more phy-gital experiences for smartphone users around the world, contributing to the hybrid tourism boom. Beyond tourism, this technology has the potential to benefit a number of other industries and communities. It really is the Gateway to the Future."
Celebrating Cultural Heritage in the Metaverse
Renowned for being Germany 's "Gateway to the World," Hamburg evolved from a port city to a thriving metropolis by embracing a longstanding culture of community, collaboration and innovation. Inspired by the city's history of transformation, HONOR chose Hamburg as the pilot location for the project, with the aim of contributing to the digital cultural boom and inspiring people from all around the world to reimagine cultural treasures in the metaverse.
To bring the project to life, HONOR partnered with ARLOOPA, an AR and VR development company, and celebrated artists Yunuene and Timo Helgert, who creatively transformed the famous Wasserschloss building in AR.
Yunuene's contribution to Gateway to the Future, entitled "Sailing Through Time" pays tribute to the evolution of the city's port, showing how innovation in marine logistics transformed over time with her signature visual aesthetic. Timo Helgert's experience "Blooming Future" takes a more futuristic approach, playing on Hamburg's status as one of the greenest cities of the world and creatively imagining what the Wasserschloss would look like in a green future where beautiful plants and endangered species can thrive, taking this historic landmark into an otherworldly realm.
Unlocking Immersive Experiences through the Power of AI and AR
Through the experience, HONOR also contributes to hybrid tourism, an emerging trend following the global tourism rebound, whereby travelers are expecting digital advances made during the pandemic to benefit and augment physical travel experiences. The AR experiences at the Wasserschloss bring the digital and physical worlds together, allowing travelers to experience culture a totally new way. HONOR has been consistently investing in technologies including AI Space Identification, Spatial Audio and AR to enable enhanced immersive experiences fit for the digital revolution.
"The Warehouse District was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015 with the aim of protecting and preserving the history and culture of one of the world's largest trading ports. Through the advent of emerging technologies including augmented reality, it is now possible to educate and engage future generations about cultural heritage in new and exciting ways. We were therefore proud to be able to help HONOR's Gateway to the Future initiative, which not only offers a celebration of the district's significance to Germany, but also its exciting future as a global metropolis," said Bernd Paulowitz, Head of UNESCO World Heritage Hamburg.
"With tourism soaring to new heights following years of global lockdowns, it's great to see brands like HONOR bringing new and enriched experiences to people as they start to explore the world again. This summer, our city saw again the same level in visitors as in summer 2019, which in part has been due to new interactive cultural attractions enabled by technology. Inspired by Hamburg's status as the Gateway to the World, we're thrilled to partner with the Gateway to the Future initiative, which we are confident will allow visitors and residents of Hamburg alike to connect with the UNESCO World Heritage Speicherstadt in more immersive ways. We are witnessing a huge demand for hybrid experiences, with travelers increasingly expecting a virtual layer to their interactions with cultural landmarks. This is the right time to harness the power of technology in tourism to create magical experiences for tourists around the world," said, Guido Neumann, Head of PR of Hamburg Tourism Board.
Reimagine Your Community with HONOR Talents
Launched as part of the HONOR Talents Global Design Awards, Gateway to the Future also aims to inspire creative talent from all around the world to harness technology and reimagine their own communities in the era of the metaverse. For the first time, HONOR Talents is introducing a dedicated AR Interactive Artwork Design category, and is now accepting applications for digital art that transforms local neighborhoods, including digital overlays for buildings, walls, parks, and other public spaces. Artists interested in the contest can find more information here: https://www.hihonor.com/honor-talents/en In addition to Gateway to the Future AR experience, HONOR has partnered with the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in China to create a new AR artwork titled "INFINITY". The art is available at HONOR's IFA booth through the ARLOOPA app.
AR Experiences are Now Live
Available from today until the end of the year, the Gateway to the Future AR experiences can be accessed through the dedicated HONOR page on the free to download ARLOOPA app. Users have the option to experience the AR artworks on site in Hamburg, or anywhere in the world. The on-site experience is anchored to the Wasserschloss building, and can be viewed from the Poggenmühlen-Brücke, the bridge opposite the landmark. Users who are not in Hamburg can select "experience on any surface" on the app and follow the on-screen instructions to virtually check out the AR experience on a flat surface nearby[1].
About HONOR
HONOR is a leading global provider of smart devices. It is dedicated to becoming a global iconic technology brand and creating a new intelligent world for everyone through its powerful products and services. With an unwavering focus on R&D, it is committed to developing technology that empowers people around the globe to go beyond, giving them the freedom to achieve and do more. Offering a range of high-quality smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables to suit every budget, HONOR's portfolio of innovative, premium and reliable products enable people to become a better version of themselves.
For more information, please visit HONOR online at www.hihonor.com or email newsroom@hihonor.com
[1] For the best experience, users are recommended to use an ARCore- or ARKit-compatible smartphone.
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SOURCE HONOR | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/honor-transforms-iconic-cultural-landmark-through-power-technology/ | 2022-09-02T17:01:51Z |
BEIJING, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from CRI Online: Recently, the ambassadors to China from Brazil, Georgia, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom, as well as online influencers and journalists from foreign media organizations, visited the Yangtze River Rare Fish Conservation Center (Chinese Sturgeon Research Institute) and the Yangtze River Rare Plant Research Institute in the Three Gorges Dam area to gain a better understanding of the ecological significance of the country's Great Yangtze River Protection Programme. The two special institutions operate under the aegis of the China Three Gorges Corporation.
The Yangtze River Rare Plant Research Institute is located in the Three Gorges Dam area and is also known as the Kingdom of Plants. Over the past few decades, the institute has cultivated hundreds of thousands of plants through seed introduction, traditional breeding and laboratory tissue culture, expanding the number of protected plant species from 560 to 1,181, while enlarging the scope of protection from the Three Gorges Reservoir area to the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River.
At the Yangtze River Rare Fish Conservation Center (Chinese Sturgeon Research Institute), the assemblage of ambassadors and media professionals took a closer look at the conservation, breeding and release of Chinese sturgeon. Since 1984, the institute has released 65 batches containing in total nearly 5.3 million fish. The success, the result of the joint efforts of five generations of sturgeon protectors over a 40 year period, left a deep impression on Max, an online blogger from Mexico. He said that Chinese sturgeon is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the work done by the Three Gorges Corporation is of great significance to the population breeding of what was until relatively recently, a nearly extinct fish.
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SOURCE CRIOnline | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/international-web-influencers-visit-three-gorges-dam-area-explore-significance-yangtze-river-ecological-conservation/ | 2022-09-02T17:01:58Z |
BEIJING, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from CRI Online:
Recently, a delegation of ambassadors from Brazil, Georgia, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom, as well as a delegation of online influencers and foreign media journalists, toured the Three Gorges Dam area to learn about the combined effects of the Three Gorges project in water conservancy and hydropower, clean energy and ecological protection.
After completion, the Three Gorges project has demonstrated a wide range of benefits: the risk of a flood event along the Jing Jiang River, the weakest section of the Jianghan Plain, has been raised from "one in 10 years" to "one in 100 years"; annual power generation capacity from the project exceeds 100 billion kilowatt-hours, benefiting half of China; the annual freight volume passing through the Three Gorges surpasses 100 million tons, six times higher than before construction of the reservoir, while transportation costs have been trimmed by nearly 40%, transforming the Yangtze River into a veritable "golden waterway".
The delegation climbed to the top of the Three Gorges Dam to take in a panoramic view of the wide "water highway" where cargo ships can be seen shuttling freely, turning the natural fortress of the Gorges into an open road. While standing atop the Three Gorges Dam, the visitors learned more about the role of the project in transforming the Yangtze River in terms of shipping, flood control, power generation, and water resources utilization. Celia, a video blogger from Guatemala, said, "I am deeply impressed with the ability of the Three Gorges Dam to generate electricity. I am deeply struck by the fact that it can serve as a bulwark against mega-floods while also vastly improving navigation along the huge waterway."
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SOURCE CRI Online | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/international-web-influencers-visit-three-gorges-dam-area-gain-an-understanding-combined-benefits-massive-project/ | 2022-09-02T17:02:05Z |
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer is leaving. JISULIFE had spent a cool and passionate time with consumers. For the last days of the hot summer, JISULIFE has launched a time-limited "Inspire Sports with Super Cool" party between US Open.
This summer, JISULIFE has sold more than 1,300,000+ portable fans since April 2022.
"it makes the hottest summer days feel like a breeze literally! JISULIFE specializes in making innovative portable fans!" -- JJ Yosh, an adventure filmmaker and mountaineer on Instagram.
"Whether you love to camp in the summer, have an outdoor picnic, or unforgettable day at the beach, this fan is truly for you...I have been blown away by the versatility. We used it the entire day at the beach while celebrating my best friend's birthday plus while relaxing with my daughter on the deck!" Recommended by Michelle Hammons speaker & TV host.
"I love to work outside and this fan helps to keep me cool with variable settings patented with 4 vortex tech" -- Jolene Goring, a board-certified nutritionist, and wellness coach.
JISULIFE's New Flagship Product of 2022 -- FA35Pro Portable Ultimate Bladeless Neck Fan has been among 20,000+ customers' choices since it was released.
"This is my first portable neck fan and I have to say it is a pretty cool gadget to have when it's hot humid weather."--Micheal's review, as a real user of FA35Pro.
For a further innovative 360-degree cooling experience, FA35Pro redefines a brand new standard of the portable fan experience by featuring free and comfortable to maximize the feeling of a cooling breeze wherever they are. It's perfect for customers who are retail workers, outdoor workers, or hiking enthusiasts, which might need to cool down immediately for preventing heat stroke and hot flashes because FA35Pro was built with a new launch mode setting for reaching the 4m/s superwind mode only once 2s press. It is driven by 3 turbines(left, right, and back) and patented techs(Air balance™ and Air Cyclone™), so that people can enjoy totally cool breezes around the neck to kick out the hot flash when people are enjoying sports events in the audience.
Always be concerned about climate change and do care about extremely hot weather in the 2022 summer.
JISULIFE is always concerned about human habitat. They do R&D and create innovative and sustainable gadgets for people's personal indoor-outdoor activities in summer and winter. It is worth expecting that JISULIFE will launch a new collection for cold winter in September.
Established in 2016, JISULIFE is a solution provider pivoted on creative and sustainable gadgets for personal space. Aiming to improve air circulation around every consumer indoor-outdoor, they have created portable electronic products that suit every scene daily.
"All we do are according to what you need. Our team is always passionate about creating more interesting gadgets for your personal space," they said. In the past 6 years, JISULIFE focused on technical innovation and design iteration for portable fans. And they already served over 10 million customers globally and distributed their business via cross-border e-commerce to more than 40 countries.
For more information, visit their Official Website and "Inspire Sports with Super Cool" party.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JISULIFE.Ltd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jisulife_official/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JISULIFE_fans
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SOURCE JISULIFE | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/jisulife-launches-last-cooling-party-celebration-ends-september-12th/ | 2022-09-02T17:02:11Z |
Goodwill Poll Reveals Vital Information to Help Solve the Latest U.S. Labor Challenges
ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Monday marks the 140th time that Labor Day will be celebrated in the U.S. Goodwill, along with many Americans and organizations, will observe the national holiday. Labor Day is a time to recognize the social and economic achievements of American workers. It also provides a reminder of both the opportunities and the challenges facing the American workforce today.
A recent poll conducted by Goodwill Industries International through market research firm PerryUndem reveals a significant opportunity gap between the 11.2 million U.S. job postings currently available and the millions of people who are unemployed or underemployed who want those jobs but don't have the skills or experience required to earn them.
More than 2,300 workers were polled to better understand what they have been experiencing in the current labor market. A majority of recent job seekers (57%) said they didn't apply to at least one job due to concerns that they lacked the required skills or training. They also said that if they could attend free training or receive other support for their job searches, they would apply for those jobs. The poll findings underscore the pressing need for organizations to respond to the opportunity gap and support those individuals who face barriers to finding good, sustainable jobs.
At a time when millions of people are still looking to move ahead in the workforce and with inflation on the rise, Goodwill organizations are helping people in communities across the nation obtain free job skills and training to secure sustainable employment and reach financial self-sufficiency. In 2021 alone, local Goodwill organizations connected more than 123,000 people in the U.S. and Canada with jobs. That same year, more than one million people accessed Goodwill services, including career navigation, skills training and online learning. Many local Goodwill organizations also provide access to support services such as childcare, financial education, free tax preparation and transportation to ensure they are stable both at home and in the workplace.
"Our mission at Goodwill is to help people realize their full potential through gainful employment," said Steve Preston, Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill Industries International. "We help people get the skills they need to fill in-demand jobs and we help them land those jobs through resume support interview skills, and other support. Meaningful work helps people and their families flourish, while at the same time, advancing our economy."
To find your local Goodwill career center, visit www.goodwill.org.
ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Goodwill Industries International is a network of 155 community-based, autonomous organizations in the U.S. and Canada with a presence in 12 other countries. Goodwill industries International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides people with opportunities and support to empower themselves and thrive through training, development and employment.
Local Goodwill organizations provide career navigation, skills training, job placement and other community-based services funded in part by selling donated clothing and household items in nearly 3,300 stores and at ShopGoodwill.com®. Some of the community-based programs local Goodwill organizations provide include English-language training, financial education, industry-recognized credentials, résumé preparation, and access to reliable transportation and childcare.
Last year, more than 1.1 million people received in-person career services, and hundreds of thousands of people used computers and mobile devices to access Goodwill education, training, mentoring and online learning services to strengthen their job skills.
For more information or to find a Goodwill location near you, visit goodwill.org, or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: GoodwillIntl.
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SOURCE Goodwill Industries International | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/labor-day-sheds-light-goodwill-mission-helping-people-earn-jobs/ | 2022-09-02T17:02:18Z |
LONDON, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Meco Limited (mecobit) unveiled the much-anticipated Ultimate Solar Power System (a solar power system with amazing backups and cryptocurrency miners) at an elite launch event at the Hong Kong Technology Bureau in August 2022.
Compact Solar Station Solar Panel Kit (Complete) Solar Array M4000 Highlights One of the most memorable solar powered crypto equipment in the world. Essential equipment that helps keep running or affects equipment such as appliances, dryers, pool siphons or electric car chargers, or even cryptocurrency mining equipment. We are looking for a boost from the global problems of fossil fuel by-products, high levels of electricity consumption. "It improves the way we approach imagination and planning. Moreover, make this progress reasonable for the customer," said B. FRANCI, CEO of MECO LIMITED.
With the solar-focused part of the controlled hash rate seemingly easy to develop, many see the potential for sustainable electricity use in Bitcoin mining as a cycle of justice – Mecobit provides an extreme boost to cryptocurrency mining by enabling the mission to use sustainable electricity. The cheapest electricity imaginable will encourage more tasks to focus exclusively on environmentally friendly sources such as solar energy.
Key features of our miners:
- Meco Rack:
Capacity: BTC-4850 TH/s, ETH/ETC-20000 MH/s
Calculation: SHA256, Ethash
8 x Nvidia RTX 3090 (includes warranty)
2 x Mining Frame/Shelf
3 x 930W 110-220V fully modular power supplies.
- M100 miner:
Hash Rate: BTC 450TH/s, ETH/ETC 2000MH/s
Power: 1400 watts
Calculation: SHA256, Ethash
Connection: Ethernet/Wireless
- M200 miner
Hash Rate: BTC 650 TH/s, ETH/ETC 2300 MH/s
Power: 1800 watts
Calculation: SHA256, Ethash
Connection: Ethernet/Wireless
About Mecobit
It was launched in 2015 with the determination to create and demonstrate to the world a solar-powered digital currency mine, and depending on the miner's inclination, Ethash, SHA-256 or Scrypt innovations can be used. The organization says it is the absolute first solar-powered digital currency mining project on Earth. "We need to disrupt the solar charger business by providing more power at a more reasonable value than was recently thought to be the case." - B. Franci (founder). Based on Chiswick High Road in London, UK, Mecobit has locations in various urban communities around the world, including the US. Additional information about the organization and its projects is available on the organization's website www.mecobit.com
Contact:
Ben Lukas
ben.lukas@mecobit.com
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SOURCE MECO LIMITED | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/meco-limited-announces-launch-world-first-advanced-solar-electric-cryptocurrency-mining-rigs-enhanced-performance/ | 2022-09-02T17:02:24Z |
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BLUETTI, a global leader in clean energy storage industry, will debut its latest power stations, including EP600---the product of 2023, at IFA 2022 that will take place in Berlin, Germany from September 2 to September 6, 2022.
BLUETTI leverages the accumulated R&D strengths to offer a series of advanced energy storage products, like AC200MAX, AC300+B300, EB70, EB55, AC50S, and solar panels. In particular, the following 3 latest releases highlight BLUETTI's groundbreaking innovation in solar energy solutions.
It's 100% modular. Its capacity can reach 18.432Wh by connecting with 6 expansion batteries. It can deliver a 5.000W pure sine wave output and will hit the EU market on September 1. Come and get your first-hand experience with the power.
This compact power station is light in weight(10.14lbs) and large in capacity(268Wh). It features 330W fast charging that enables an 80% charge in 40min. Plus, it has 9 ports to satisfy all your basic needs during picnics or short travels.
BLUETTI will also show its latest power station with disruptive techology---EP600, which can run most of home appliances with ease and is expected to hit the market in 2023. It will be a milestone for the industry.
Drop by and explore more energy storage solutions!
Dates: Sep 2 to Sep 6, 2022
Time: CEST 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location: Hall 3.2, Stand 211, Messe Berlin, Berlin, Germany
About BLUETTI
With over 10 years of industry experience, BLUETTI has tried to stay true to a sustainable future through green energy storage solutions for both indoor and outdoor use while delivering an exceptional eco-friendly experience for everyone and the world. BLUETTI is making its presence in 70+ countries and is trusted by millions of customers across the globe. For more information, please visit BLUETTI online at https://www.bluettipower.eu//
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SOURCE BLUETTI POWER INC | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/meet-bluetti-ifa-2022/ | 2022-09-02T17:02:31Z |
TORONTO, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Global IT research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group has published its newest research-backed blueprint, Redesign Your IT Organizational Structure. Digital technology and information transparency drive organizations to reorganize around customer responsiveness. As businesses aim to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive market, organizational design must be forward-looking and ready to adapt to rapid pivots in technology and customer demands.
Info-Tech reports that the current IT structure of many organizations does not align with the strategic objectives, and that inefficiencies in how the IT function is currently operating may be present. As a result, IT employees are unclear about their roles and responsibilities, leading to inconsistent service.
However, many organizations struggle to redesign their IT organizational structure because they often create a new organizational chart without including the IT leadership team and business members in these changes.
"An organizational structure is much more than a chart with titles and names," says Allison Straker, research director at Info-Tech Research Group. "It defines the way that the organization operates on a day-to-day basis to enable the successful delivery of the organization's information and technology objectives. Moreover, organizational design sees beyond the people that might be performing a specific role."
According to Info-Tech's research and insights, understanding the drivers, context, and strategies that will inform the structure are all crucial factors for a successful IT organizational redesign. An organizational design is a change initiative that will require buy-in and requires identifying gaps in delivery, sourcing strategies, customers, and degrees of centralization to be successful.
"Redesigning an IT organizational structure can be a small or large change transformation for your organization," explains Brittany Lutes, senior research analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. "Create a structure that is equally mindful of the opportunities and the constraints that might exist and ensure it will drive the organization towards its vision with a successful implementation."
IT design needs to support business objectives, not just IT needs. Info-Tech's resource outlines several advantages of an IT design. These advantages include:
- Enabling IT to fulfill an organization's strategic mission and vision of all technical and digital initiatives.
- Assisting the business with clarity on who and where to direct concerns or questions.
- Reducing the likelihood of turnover costs as IT employees understand their roles and importance.
- Creating a method to communicate how the organizational structure aligns with the strategic initiatives of IT.
- Increasing the ability to innovate the organization.
Before undertaking an organizational redesign, business leaders should ensure they engage in change management practices that are needed from the onset to ensure the implementation of an organizational structure.
The complete Redesign Your IT Organizational Structure blueprint can be downloaded and viewed now.
To learn more about Info-Tech Research Group and to download the latest research, visit www.infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
- Implement a New IT Organizational Structure
- Build a Strategic IT Workforce Plan
- Optimize the IT Operating Model
- Fix Your IT Culture
Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading information technology research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals. The company produces unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For 25 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with IT teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.
Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and over 200 IT and Industry analysts through the ITRG Media Insiders Program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.
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SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/right-it-organizational-structure-can-reduce-turnover-increase-innovation-according-info-tech-research-group/ | 2022-09-02T17:02:38Z |
Nationwide, over 2,500 underserved patients received donated oral healthcare on the 12th annual day of service, which took place Saturday, August 20, 2022.
IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This August, Pacific Dental Services® (PDS), one of the nation's leading dental support organizations, partnered with Smile Generation to partake in the 12th annual Smile Generation Serve Day, a day of service and nationwide campaign of giving that focuses on providing donated dentistry to underserved patients. The collective efforts of PDS-supported clinicians and team members reached new records this year: over $7.6 million was donated in dental services, while PDS team members provided over 55,000 hours of service to their local communities. Since its inception in 2011, more than 24,000 patients have received donated dentistry during Smile Generation Serve Day, totaling more than $46.8 million in donated oral healthcare.
On Saturday, August 20th, more than 700 PDS-supported dental practices located throughout the United States provided donated dental care to over 2,500 patients, including some life changing procedures such as CEREC® CAD/CAM same-day dental restorations, implants, root canals, oral surgery, and much-needed dental cleanings. In addition, hundreds of PDS team members and families joined community service projects such as park and beach clean-ups, blood drives, creating cards of encouragement for children undergoing cancer treatment, packing back-to-school kits with supplies, and serving in local food banks.
"Smile Generation Serve Day has become a substantial part of our organization," said Stephen E. Thorne IV, Founder and CEO of Pacific Dental Services. "The act of service changes our hearts and minds about what matters most in life. This annual event gives us the opportunity to selflessly engage with the communities we serve and help them improve their health. This year's success is evident through thousands of lives that have been positively impacted by the hearts of our team members and their gift of over 55,000 hours of service."
Patients treated during this year's event included U.S. military veterans and those affiliated with non-profit organizations, such as Special Olympics, Future Smiles, The Freedom Child Foundation, Dental Lifeline Network, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, Adopt-A-Vet Dental Program, The Kaufman Fund, After Innocence, and more.
After Innocence is a non-profit organization that provides free assistance to America's exonerees – people released from prison after having been incarcerated for crimes they did not commit. Since 2018, After Innocence has partnered with PDS-supported dental practices to provide more than 200 exonerees a total of over $650,000 in donated dental services on Smile Generation Serve Day, clearing the way for a lifetime of good oral health. The event preparation includes orchestrating the complex logistics of having dozens of exonerees visiting a dentist on the same day, including pre-screening patients located in all parts of the country and scheduling them for services.
"After Innocence provides free post-release support to exonerees across the country, many of whom who have serious dental problems arising from years of inadequate care while in prison, and a general lack of good, affordable care since being released," said Jon Eldan, Executive Director of After Innocence. "Smile Generation Serve Day is a game-changer for dozens of our exoneree-clients. Welcoming our exoneree clients into dental practices offices for pro bono services helps these deserving individuals take an important step in rebuilding their lives after wrongful convictions."
This year's success was also due to Smile Generation's partnership with Modivcare, a healthcare services company that provides supportive care solutions to underserved patient populations. This includes access to non-emergency medical transportation, personal care, remote patient monitoring, and meal services. For the second consecutive year, Modivcare offered transportation services to patients in Missouri, Texas, Georgia, Florida, California, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia to dental clinics free of charge on Smile Generation Serve Day.
"We were pleased to support Smile Generation's Serve Day as it aligns perfectly with our purpose to improve access to care for the underserved," said Heath Sampson, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Modivcare. "The socioeconomic disparities of healthcare extend to dental care as well. Not all Americans are given the same opportunity when it comes to accessing basic needs. Transporting patients to their medical and dental appointments eliminates barriers to care and helps to promote health equity."
Since its founding in 1994, PDS has been committed to providing business and operational support to dental clinicians to facilitate their focused ability to provide patients with exceptional oral healthcare designed to keep them healthier and happier. This includes education on the link between oral health and overall health – what PDS and its supported practices call The Mouth-Body Connection®. Research shows that harmful bacteria and inflammation in the mouth can indicate and even cause systemic conditions throughout the body. Periodontal disease has been connected to systemic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, pregnancy complications that result in pre-term/low-weight births, and more. Conversely, the link is often bi-directional. Many systemic diseases, conditions, and even medications can affect a patient's oral health.
Photos from this year's Smile Generation Serve Day can be found here. For more on the culture of service in PDS-supported practices, please click here.
About Pacific Dental Services
Founded in 1994, Pacific Dental Services® (PDS) is one of the country's leading dental support organizations, providing supported autonomy that enables dentists to concentrate on clinical excellence and the highest levels of cost-effective comprehensive patient care. PDS originated the Private Practice+® model to enable dentists to focus on their passion: serving patients. PDS also pioneered the concept of Modern Dentistry so that dentists are equipped to combine advances in the latest technology with the best operational practices and procedures, highly skilled support staff and a commitment to ongoing training and education. PDS continues to grow, with more than 890 supported dental offices across the United States. PDS has been on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in America 14 times. PDS-supported dentists aim to be the provider of choice in all the markets they serve and to develop Patients for Life™. For more information, visit us at pacificdentalservices.com or follow us on Facebook: @pacificdentalservices, Instagram: @pacific.dental, LinkedIn: @pacific-dental-services, Twitter: @pacificdental, and YouTube: @pacificdentaltv.
About Smile Generation
The Smile Generation connects patients to Smile Generation-trusted dentists who are dedicated to providing an exceptional patient experience and advanced clinical care. Smile Generation also provides financial choices for patients and education about the connection between oral health and overall health. The Smile Generation network spans more than 890 dental offices in 25 states. Smile Generation-trusted offices are supported by Pacific Dental Services®. For more information, visit us at smilegeneration.com or follow us on Facebook @smilegen, Instagram @smilegeneration, Twitter: @smilegen, YouTube: @smilegenerationtv.
About After Innocence
After Innocence is a non-profit organization that provides free assistance to America's exonerees - people released from prison after having been incarcerated for crimes they did not commit. Based in Oakland, California, After Innocence serves more than 800 exonerees nationwide, the majority of whom did not receive consistent re-entry help or meaningful compensation for the time they lost. For more information, visit us at after-innocence.org
About Modivcare
Modivcare Inc. ("Modivcare") is a technology-enabled healthcare services company that provides a platform of integrated supportive care solutions for public and private payors and their patients. Our value-based solutions address the social determinants of health (SDoH), enable greater access to care, reduce costs, and improve outcomes. We are a leading provider of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), personal care and remote patient monitoring. To learn more about Modivcare, please visit modivcare.com.
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SOURCE Pacific Dental Services | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/smile-generation-serve-day-has-record-year-over-76-million-donated-dental-services-pacific-dental-services-supported-practices/ | 2022-09-02T17:02:44Z |
Commentary on today's U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation Report by Frank Steemers, Senior Economist, The Conference Board
NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's jobs report showed solid job growth, with 315,000 jobs added in August 2022, after an increase of 526,000 jobs in July. Labor shortages are still a major problem for employers while employees are benefiting from increased job opportunities and more bargaining power. Nonetheless, with broad-based gains in jobs, but also still very elevated inflation, the Fed will likely feel comfortable with another 75 basis points interest rate hike. With the Fed expected to further raise interest rates and economic activity already slowing, job growth is likely to decelerate over the next months.
The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.7 percent in August 2022, from 3.5 percent in July, as more people actively looked for work. This was represented by the labor force participation rate increasing to 62.4 percent in August, up from 62.1 percent in July.
Job gains were widespread with most industries adding jobs. Leisure and hospitality added another 31,000 jobs. More jobs were gained in professional and business services (68,000), health care and social assistance (61,500), retail trade (44,000), and manufacturing (22,000).
Wage growth remains elevated (5.2 percent higher compared to a year ago). Recruitment and retention difficulties are high with the number of job openings (11.2 million) and quits (4.2 million) still very elevated. The labor market is very tight and this continues to be a problem for employers as labor supply remains muted. While labor force participation for those aged 25 to 54 increased to 82.8 percent in August, it remains below its prepandemic rate of 83 percent from February 2020. For workers aged 55 and over, participation further declined in August and it remains even more subdued—38.6 percent in August 2022 compared to 40.3 percent prepandemic.
Economic activity is expected to further cool towards the end of the year with job growth likely to soon follow a similar downward trend. While job gains are currently still positive, The Conference Board projection for a short and mild recession before yearend may lead to the labor market shedding some jobs during 2023. However, job losses could be muted since companies may try to hold on to their workers. Labor shortages may not go away, or otherwise reappear shortly after a recession. In addition, some businesses are still short-staffed, so slowing economic activity and a decline in business demand would result into fewer job openings, but not necessarily translate into layoffs. Currently, the unemployment rate is projected to remain below 4.5 percent in 2023.
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SOURCE The Conference Board | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/solid-job-growth-labor-shortages-still-severe/ | 2022-09-02T17:02:51Z |
Tech industry employment gains now extends to 21 consecutive months
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- New employment data shows that employers continue to grow their technology teams, reaffirming tech's essential role in powering business and industry, according to CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the information technology (IT) industry and workforce.
Tech sector companies added 25,500 net new workers in August, with growth in five major occupation categories, CompTIA's analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) "Employment Situation" report reveals. Tech industry employment has increased by 175,700 jobs in 2022 and is tracking 46% ahead of last year and 92% ahead of 2019.
Companies throughout the economy added an estimated 21,000 tech workers for the month. [1] The unemployment rate for tech occupations edged up to 2.3% paralleling the directional change of the national unemployment rate (3.7%).
"Stability in tech hiring continues to be an over-arching theme this year," said Tim Herbert, chief research officer at CompTIA. "Despite all the economic noise and pockets of layoffs, aggregate tech hiring remains consistently positive."
Employer job postings for tech positions eased back in August, coming in at just under 320,000. Companies are seeking a range of tech skills, including software development and engineering, IT support, IT project management, systems engineering and network engineering.
Among industries, the largest numbers of job postings occurred in professional, scientific and technical services, finance and insurance, manufacturing, information and retail trade. Employment opportunities in tech are available across the country, in markets large, medium and small. The New York City, Washington, Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles metro areas had the most job postings for tech positions, while Allentown (PA), Raleigh (NC) and Columbus (OH) recorded the largest month-over-month increases in tech job postings.
CompTIA's analysis also shows that options for remote work and work from home continue to increase for technology workers. From January through August 2022, tech job postings where employers specify remote work is up 56% over last year and 281% from the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
Within the tech sector, new hiring in the IT services and custom software development occupation category, which expanded by 14,400 workers, paced August's job gains. Solid growth also occurred in computer and electronic products manufacturing (+4,500), data processing, hosting and related services (+3,200) and other information services, including search engines (+3,000). Telecommunications jobs increased by a modest 400.
The "CompTIA Tech Jobs Report" is available at https://www.comptia.org/content/tech-jobs-report. For more analysis and perspective visit the CompTIA Tech Job Report video series at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuqIJd7KnBU_nZd2oXEwa0I5X7Vt124eM.
[1] Monthly occupation level data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tends to experience higher levels of variance and volatility. Labor market data from the BLS and employer job posting data from Lightcast may be subject to backward revisions.
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $5 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the estimated 75 million industry and tech professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the world's economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for unlocking the potential of the tech industry and its workforce. https://www.comptia.org/
Media Contact
Steven Ostrowski
CompTIA
sostrowski@comptia.org
+1 630-678-8468
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SOURCE CompTIA | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/tech-employment-increases-companies-keep-up-pace-hiring-comptia-analysis-monthly-jobs-report-finds/ | 2022-09-02T17:02:58Z |
HBCU rivals meet on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 2:30 p.m. ET in Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Florida Blue Florida Classic has a fresh new look, and tickets for the 2022 edition of the nation's fiercest HBCU rivalry game are now on sale at FloridaClassic.org.
This year's matchup between Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) will kick off at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Camping World Stadium. It is the 76th all-time meeting between the Rattlers and Wildcats and the 43rd official "Florida Classic." The 2022 clash also marks the 25th Classic in Orlando since the game made Central Florida its full-time home.
In addition to gameday, 2022 Florida Blue Florida Classic weekend will feature a variety of ancillary events, including the Florida Classic Consortium Kickoff Luncheon presented by Florida Blue (Nov. 18, noon) and the popular Florida Blue Battle of the Bands at Amway Center (Nov. 18, 7 p.m.), which features the FAMU "Marching 100" and B-CU's "Marching Wildcats."
An Orlando fixture, the Florida Blue Florida Classic drives nearly 60,000 spectators to Camping World Stadium each fall, with an estimated economic impact of $30 million annually. Nearly 1.5 million fans have attended the Classic since the game settled in Central Florida in 1997; the event also holds the Camping World Stadium football attendance record (73,358), set in 2003.
On the field, Florida A&M won last year — both teams' first as members of the SWAC — to end a nine-game B-CU winning streak and leads the all-time series 50-24-1. Bethune-Cookman is 13-11 against the Rattlers since the matchup moved to Orlando and also claimed a 1976 meeting between the teams at the former Tangerine Bowl.
Additional information regarding the Florida Blue Florida Classic and its events will be released in due course. For more info, visit FloridaClassic.org.
For an updated media kit including logos, photos, quotes, and more, please click here.
Florida Citrus Sports is a not-for-profit event management organization dedicated to positively impacting the Orlando region while enhancing the quality of life in Central Florida through world-class events, including the Citrus Bowl, Cheez-It Bowl, Florida Blue Florida Classic, FC Series, and Camping World Kickoff. For more information, visit FloridaCitrusSports.com.
Media Contact
Sam Gardner (Florida Citrus Sports)
407.423.2476 ext. 117, sgardner@fcsports.com
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SOURCE Florida Blue Florida Classic | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/tickets-sale-now-2022-florida-blue-florida-classic-rivalry-featuring-florida-aampm-university-bethune-cookman-university/ | 2022-09-02T17:03:04Z |
Leading Web3 Platform Receives Patent for Groundbreaking TuneFile® Invention, Designed to Solve the Music Industry's Content Security and Metadata Problems
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TuneGO®, a leading Web3 music platform, was awarded a new patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") for innovative technology that ensures metadata remains secure and accurate across the entire music ecosystem. The patented TuneFile® empowers artists and contributors by establishing metadata consistency throughout the music supply chain, to ensure music royalties are properly paid to the creative community.
The patented TuneFile® seamlessly integrates with the patented TuneGO Vault®, ensuring music content is secure and metadata is protected and accurate in the cloud and offline. The innovative TuneFile® allows artists and creators to share their metadata, song splits, and royalty information with the vast ecosystem of music distribution platforms, licensing companies, and collection societies with guaranteed accuracy to ensure royalties are correctly paid to contributors. The TuneFile's patented technology can check the patented TuneGO Vault to ensure metadata accuracy and completeness, even after the TuneFile has been shared with outside organizations.
TuneFile® is a file-sharing feature in the TuneGO Vault, which enables artists to maintain full control over the entire creative process, and establish a chain of custody for a song prior to the minting of a non-fungible token ("NFT"). This technology breakthrough is a cutting-edge invention that will benefit the creative community in the digital era of music and future of Web3.
"Our Web3 platform is unique because it forms a secure, end-to-end digital record of the creative process, which serves as a comprehensive record of all credits and contributions," said John Kohl, Co-Founder and CEO of TuneGO. "The TuneFile invention builds on our progress by making it simple for music artists to identify whether or not the metadata in their song files is fully complete before they share their content with other parties and begin to monetize it. We are proud that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office continues to recognize the transformative power of our innovative technology," said John Kohl, Co-Founder and CEO of TuneGO.
TuneGO has been granted U.S. Patent No. 11,392,637, which is directed to marking containerized content at a given level of completeness, based on the items of metadata that are included in the container. The items of metadata can be identified for a particular content type, and the container can be marked as complete or incomplete based on the presence or absence of those items of metadata.
TuneGO's already formidable patent portfolio includes 18 U.S. and foreign-granted and pending patent applications—covering various aspects of secure digital storage of music and digital media, creative rights administration and protection, safe and secure project collaboration, and the monetization of creative work through traditional channels and new revenue streams in the world of Web3.
"This new patent is yet another milestone we have achieved on our way to revolutionizing the way artists track and protect their creative rights and contributions—and ensure they are paid all of the royalties they are owed," said Stacy Haitsuka, CTO of TuneGO. "We remain dedicated to helping artists, as well as content distributors and providers, securely roll out creative material to audiences and collectors, and stay one step ahead of changes in fan engagement and content consumption," said Stacy Haitsuka, CTO of TuneGO.
TuneGO operates on the Flow blockchain, the home of NBA Top Shot, NFL ALL DAY, UFC Strike, and LaLiga (coming soon). TuneGO creates a technology gateway between the creative ecosystem and fans, collectors, and consumers, and is bolstered by the ease-of-use and no gas fees of the eco-friendly Flow blockchain.
TuneGO's mission is to secure and protect music and digital media, empower the creative community, and accelerate the world's transition to Web3. TuneGO provides a robust, global, end-to-end proprietary technology platform that demystifies and simplifies Web3, solves significant problems that plague the music industry, provides a patented safe and secure collaborative environment that facilitates and improves creative output, and establishes a community gateway for the music industry to connect to the new culture of fans, collectors, and consumers. TuneGO's proprietary technology platform is secured by 10 granted patents and hundreds of intellectual property claims. To learn more please visit www.TuneGO.com or download TuneGO from the app store.
Media Contact:
JConnelly for TuneGO
tunegopr@jconnelly.com
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SOURCE TuneGO, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/tunego-awarded-additional-web3-patent-strengthening-protection-music-artists-creators/ | 2022-09-02T17:03:11Z |
HOUSTON, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SAFEbuilt, LLC, a nationwide community development services company, announced today it has completed its acquisition of TX BBG Consulting Inc., bringing together a national leader with local expertise to help communities in the Greater Houston area.
The addition of TX BBG Consulting, Inc. to the SAFEbuilt family of brands enables the organization to expand its base and reach in Texas with a company which is aligned with its core values.
"All our data and analytics has shown the importance to offer communities in the Greater Houston area with the tried-and-tested expertise of our professionals, and most importantly, the technological solutions SAFEbuilt can provide," says Matt Causley, Chief Operating Officer of SAFEbuilt. "We had been scouting a partner in this area for a while and TX BBG Consulting checked all the boxes: dedicated and professional personnel, rock-solid contractual performance, and an acumen fostering healthy relationships with local jurisdictions."
The move comes at a key point for SAFEbuilt as it positions itself as a major powerhouse providing tech-enabled solutions for building departments and professional services across 30 states and eyeing up further expansion to additional regions.
"Knowing that TX BBG Consulting will now be part of a family of companies with a wide range of service lines was a major component deciding to join forces" pointed Kevin Taylor CBO, MCP, President of TX BBG Consulting. He added, "Raising the bar of our technological capabilities is something only a company as SAFEbuilt can bring to the table, we couldn't be happier to consolidate our efforts".
By transitioning to a SAFEbuilt company, TX BBG Consulting will be able to remain at the forefront of innovative solutions. "SAFEbuilt's mission is to help build better, safer communities", Matt Causley added. "The addition of a strong regional player like TX BBG Consulting, Inc., helps us fulfill that mission – both in Texas and from a national perspective."
SAFEbuilt also confirmed that a new redesigned website has been launched which showcases the services and presented new logo.
About SAFEbuilt
SAFEbuilt is a community development services company offering multi-disciplinary building and professional expertise in 30 states. The company employs over 1,500 employees and has approximately 1,800 clients nationwide. SAFEbuilt offers tailored technological solutions that are built to fit each client's development needs including stabilizing budgets, maximizing efficiencies, improving customer services, and staff augmentation. To learn more, visit SAFEbuilt.com.
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SOURCE SAFEbuilt | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/tx-bbg-consulting-joins-safebuilt-family-brands/ | 2022-09-02T17:03:17Z |
VanZandt fills vacancy left by Sarah Rogers
VALLEY FORGE, Pa., Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PJM Interconnection announced today that Vickie A. VanZandt has been appointed to the PJM Board of Managers, effective Oct. 1.
VanZandt will replace outgoing Board Member Sarah Rogers, who is stepping down from the Board, effective Sept. 2, after more than 10 years of service. Following Rogers' announcement of her planned resignation, PJM's Nominating Committee completed a nationwide candidate search that identified VanZandt as the nominee. Based upon the endorsement of the Nominating Committee, the PJM Board voted to approve her appointment. She will serve on the Board of Managers until she stands for election at the Annual Meeting of Members in May 2023.
VanZandt is an energy consultant and president of VanZandt Electric Transmission Consulting, Inc. Previously, she served as senior vice president and chief engineer of transmission services of the U.S. Department of Energy's Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) where she was responsible for the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, marketing and management of the high-voltage transmission system covering four states in the Pacific Northwest. VanZandt currently serves on the board of ISO New England where she chairs the System Planning and Reliability Committee. Her appointment begins October 1, after she concludes her service at ISO New England.
VanZandt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington and is a senior member of the IEEE.
PJM Interconnection, founded in 1927, ensures the reliability of the high-voltage electric power system serving 65 million people in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. PJM coordinates and directs the operation of the region's transmission grid, which includes over 85,103 miles of transmission lines; administers a competitive wholesale electricity market; and plans regional transmission expansion improvements to maintain grid reliability and relieve congestion. PJM's regional grid and market operations produce annual savings of $3.2 billion to $4 billion. For the latest news about PJM, visit PJM Inside Lines at insidelines.pjm.com.
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SOURCE PJM Interconnection | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/vickie-vanzandt-appointed-pjm-board-managers/ | 2022-09-02T17:03:24Z |
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- De University of Ethereum (UETH), the co-host of "Ethereum a New Era," is delighted to share that one of the last monumental Ethereum events prior to the Merge has been a roaring success. Over 1,400 attendees signed up to gather in San Francisco to gain insights from the all-star lineup at Chase Center.
Vitalik Buterin, Co-Founder of Ethereum performed a tunnel entrance in a green dinosaur costume. "After the Merge, Ethereum's top priority is to increase the Ethereum Blockchain scalability," said Vitalik Buterin during his keynote at Ethereum a New Era. "EIP-4844 (also known as proto-danksharding) will be the biggest EIP after the merge."
Aya Miyaguchi, Executive Director of Ethereum Foundation; Justin Drake, Core Researcher of Ethereum Foundation; Dankrad Feist, Ethereum Foundation; Aditya Asgaonkar, Core Researcher of Ethereum Foundation; Barry Whitehat, Ethereum Foundation; Haichen Shen, Co-founder of Scroll; Ariel Elperin, Product Manager & Blockchain Researcher at StarkWare; Brian Gu, Founder of 0xPARC; Cy Li, Director of UETH; Keith Chen, Co-Founder of SNZ all shared insightful knowledge at the event.
Joined by Aya Miyaguchi, Justin Drake and Dankrad Feist, Vitalik Buterin moderated a panel discussion on the Ethereum Foundations role within the Ethereum ecosystem. They shared thoughtful insights on the role of the Ethereum Foundation within the ecosystem and how to maintain a decentralized yet coordinated structure.
The organizers are thankful to all the attendees for participating in the most significant Ethereum event in San Francisco, as well as the Ethereum Foundation, event sponsor and collaborators who made it all possible. The title sponsor for the event was SNZ, a crypto-native and community-oriented incubator and venture capital firm. SNZ and the team have been active for community building, incubation and investment, as one of the earliest backers of Ethereum. SNZ will continue to be a long term investor and supporter for the Ethereum ecosystem.
De University of Ethereum (UETH) is a decentralized non profit community educational organization. UETH carries the mission for mass adoption of the Ethereum network. The goal for UETH is to establish a systematic and intuitive learning process for students of Ethereum at all levels.
For more details visit: https://ueth.org/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/deUETH
Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/deUETH
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deUETH
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SOURCE De University of Ethereum | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/vitalik-buterin-wears-dinosaur-costume-outlines-his-visions-ethereum-after-merge/ | 2022-09-02T17:03:26Z |
MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Xcelerate Solutions (Xcelerate) announced today it was awarded a three-year task order via the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) J6 Enterprise Technology Services (JETS) contract to continue its modernization and support of the Joint Contingency and Expeditionary Services (JCXS) Contingency Business Environment portfolio of applications. Through this task order, Xcelerate will continue to provide critical support to DLA and the JCXS program and their mission of providing agile, responsive, and global joint expeditionary acquisition business systems. This strategic win leverages Xcelerate's more than 10-year history of outstanding performance with DLA delivering development and sustainment support services.
"Xcelerate is proud to continue supporting this mission critical program to provide our Warfighters a suite of tools to help with their operational and mission needs," said Xcelerate CEO, Mark Drever. Over its lifecycle, the JCXS portfolio has grown, and each tool provides unique capabilities to help our Warfighters manage vendors, supply orders, payments, and contracts efficiently and effectively."
Xcelerate has led the modernization and transformation of the JCXS tools, an effort that continues today, redesigning and developing these critical applications with leading edge capabilities to support the U.S. military personnel who leverage them every day around the globe to perform their mission. The JCXS program requires high-level functional and technical knowledge to respond to the unique needs of the widely varying stakeholders, maintain availability, and resolve issues rapidly in support of a worldwide customer base. Xcelerate's customized digital transformation services will meet the needs of the agency and deliver on its promise to support the DLA JCXS mission.
Xcelerate Solutions exists to create innovative solutions that deliver results, manage risk from individuals to systems, and accelerate time to value. We optimize efficiency and effectiveness and enhance the security and resilience of America's personnel, physical and cyber infrastructure.
Mission
The Joint Contingency and Expeditionary Services (JCXS) is the DoD's agile, responsive, and global provider of Joint expeditionary acquisition business solutions that fulfill mission-critical requirements while supporting interagency collaboration – to include but is not limited to contracting, financial, spend analysis, contract close-out, staffing, strategic sourcing and reporting.
Vision
Joint Contingency and Expeditionary Services (JCXS), DoD's premier contingency and expeditionary contracting organization, is providing world-class acquisitions, logistics, and financial solutions.
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SOURCE Xcelerate Solutions | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/xcelerate-solutions-wins-dla-recompete-continue-modernization-efforts/ | 2022-09-02T17:03:33Z |
Fans traveling to Laramie for the University of Wyoming’s first home game of the season against the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes on Saturday can expect to encounter the following highway construction projects along their routes, the Wyoming Department of Transportation reports.
In Laramie: The city of Laramie and the University of Wyoming have ongoing construction projects in various locations in town. Stay alert for construction activity and add some extra time to reach War Memorial Stadium.
Between Rawlins and Laramie: Paving and bridge work continues on Interstate 80 near Elk Mountain and Arlington. Expect areas with reduced speed limits and lane closures. No stoppages of traffic or significant delays are anticipated. The Fort Steele Rest Area east of Sinclair remains closed because of ongoing construction in the area.
Between Cheyenne and Laramie: Paving work continues on Interstate 80 between mile markers 324 and 330 near Vedauwoo. Expect areas with reduced speed limits and lane closures. No stoppages of traffic or significant delays are anticipated.
Between Casper and Laramie: No construction-related delays expected on Wyoming Highways 34 and 487, or U.S. Highway 30/287. Be sure to watch for wildlife on the road while driving on Highway 34 through Sybille Canyon.
Other construction work in various locations along Interstate 25 south of Casper also could impact travel, according to WYDOT. Be alert for potential lane closures and reduced speeds. No significant delays are anticipated.
While some fans may not need to worry about heavy construction along their routes to War Memorial Stadium, WYDOT urges drivers to always stay alert for changing conditions and avoid driving distracted or impaired.
Be sure to check road conditions before you travel at wyoroad.info, by downloading WYDOT’s 511 travel app or by calling 511. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/your-travel-game-plan-for-uw-game-day/article_bfc2822c-2add-11ed-a735-c7c6a08cbf36.html | 2022-09-02T17:31:22Z |
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
Ukraine's beaches on the Black Sea make up another frontline in the war with Russia. Police patrol the sandy shores, and signs warn of danger ahead. But this summer, swimmers couldn't stay away. NPR's Joanna Kakissis reports from the port city of Odesa.
JOANNA KAKISSIS, BYLINE: Yulia Knyzhko has a perfect view of the beach from the seafood restaurant where she works. In August, this beach is usually so crowded, you can barely see the sand. This summer, of course, is different. On the day I visited the restaurant...
YULIA KNYZHKO: It's no one there but elderly woman, and she was sitting right there on this rock. Police came and said that you need to leave because it's too dangerous.
KAKISSIS: Knyzhko points to a sign with a skull and crossbones that reads danger - mines.
KNYZHKO: This woman said that she's a mermaid, and she don't want to leave. She scream it, like, really loud. And some people - yes, yes, yes. Some people was shocked.
KAKISSIS: The mermaid has short white hair and is wearing a flowered bikini. She's floating on her back, looking blissfully up at the sun and totally ignoring the police. She's got the biggest smile on her face. Oh, my God.
Hi.
HALYNA DRUZ: Hi.
KAKISSIS: She wades out of the water to introduce herself.
DRUZ: (Through interpreter) My name is Halyna Druz, and I'm not a criminal. I have been swimming here for the last 40 years, and that's why I've lived to be 90 years old.
KAKISSIS: Something about Halyna Druz's rebellion seems to embolden those watching her. A woman in full makeup peels off her caftan and jumps in, wearing only her undergarments. Sunbathers run onto the beach from an empty hotel nearby. Retired secretary Anya Rudenko gleefully admits that she's been dodging the beach police all day.
ANYA RUDENKO: (Through interpreter) If the police tell me to leave, I just walk off the sand and wait. And when they leave, I come back.
KAKISSIS: She says that in Odesa, challenging authority is practically in your blood, like the charismatic gangsters in the stories by the city's beloved writer, Isaac Babel.
OLEKSII TYMCHENKO: (Speaking Ukrainian).
KAKISSIS: Oleksii Tymchenko is one of those whose authority is being challenged. He's a community police officer. And he says he has a long list of beach outlaws. He tells those here that he's only trying to protect them.
TYMCHENKO: (Through interpreter) Ukrainian military mined some of our beaches when Russia invaded to guard the sea from Russian forces. Those mines can easily move and end up here, right where you are now swimming.
KAKISSIS: Mines floating in the sea have killed several swimmers in the Odesa region this summer.
SERGEI: (Speaking Russian).
KAKISSIS: A white bearded man in red swim trunks says he knows it's dangerous, and he's just going to take his chances.
SVITLANA: (Speaking Russian).
KAKISSIS: A woman swimming with him adds, there are no guarantees during war. Who says a missile won't hit me while I'm sitting at home with a TV remote in my hand? The swimmers give their names as Sergei and Svitlana, but they won't reveal anything else, lest Officer Tymchenko finds them. The officer calls for backup, and soon, nearly everyone leaves. Halyna Druz, the 90-year-old mermaid, she stays on the beach. And the police eventually give up and leave. Druz says she's trying to defend something precious.
DRUZ: (Speaking Russian).
KAKISSIS: "This war has tried to take our summer away from us," she says, "swimming in our sea is our way of taking it back." Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Odesa. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-31/this-ukrainian-grandmother-is-rebelling-against-the-wartime-beach-ban | 2022-09-02T17:31:22Z |
CASPER – President Joe Biden’s recently announced student loan forgiveness plan could bring welcome relief to some students in Wyoming.
“It’s going to help a lot of our students,” said Brandy Payne, Laramie County Community College’s financial aid director. “We needed relief in the wake of the pandemic.”
Some are skeptical.
Wyoming U.S. Sen. John Barrasso said in a statement last week the plan is “an insult to every American who played by the rules and worked hard to responsibly pay off their own debt.”
“This decision is also a boon for Biden’s wealthy supporters,” said the Republican. “Once again, the Biden administration is selling out working families to appease the far-left wing of the Democrat party.”
Likewise, Wyoming’s Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R) said in a statement the plan is “incredibly unfair to the hardworking people of Wyoming,” and that it will add billions of dollars to the nation’s debt.
Details
The plan applies to students with federal loans who have an individual or married income of less than $125,000 and $250,000, respectively. It will give Pell Grant recipients who fall under those criteria up to $20,000 in debt relief and cancel up to $10,000 in debt for non-Pell Grant recipients.
There’s a lot that has to be hammered out before it’s clear who exactly could benefit from the loan forgiveness plan.
Officials from several community colleges told the Star-Tribune they can’t estimate how many students might be impacted because they don’t track student income, and there are still questions about who could qualify.
Some are already looking forward to what the debt forgiveness could mean for their own futures.
Gabe DeGraeve, a Casper native and third-year political science student at Belmont University in Tennessee, has about $15,000 in debt. He expects to be eligible for loan forgiveness under the new planr.
“One of my big concerns is being able to find work and pay off that debt,” he said. “The chance for some of those loans to be forgiven is something that I’m very excited about and looking forward to.”
DeGraeve, who hopes to return to Wyoming in the future and work in politics, interned for Barrasso last summer in Washington, D.C.
“I’m not at all surprised by their reactions,” he said of Lummis and Barrasso’s denouncement of the loan forgiveness plan. “I think that no matter what happens, Lummis and Barrasso will be against policies of the Biden administration.”
Debt in Wyoming
Student debt is pretty low in Wyoming compared to other states. That’s because there are a lot of opportunities for students to get scholarships – like the Hathaway scholarship – or save money by going to community college.
Abby Gruner, a chemical engineering student at the University of Wyoming, said these kinds of opportunities influenced her decision to stay in state for school; she’s a Trustees’ Scholars Award recipient, meaning that her education at UW is completely covered.
Having her education completely paid for is the main reason why she chose to attend UW rather than her dream school, Pomona College, where she had also been accepted.
For more than three years, student loan debt among UW graduates has stayed around 45%, according to the university’s spokesperson.
According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, about 38% of students there get federal loans, and the median total debt after graduation is $18,318.
Those numbers are lower at Wyoming’s community colleges.
In Cheyenne at LCCC, about 17% of students graduated with debt in the 2021 academic year, according to data kept by the college.
The U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard shows the median total debt after graduation among students at the college is $10,500
Jessica Cowen, a second year Casper College student double majoring in psychology and musical theater, said in a text message that the plan could relieve students from “unnecessary stress.”
Although she doesn’t have any debt, she’s talked with other community college students who have had to take out loans.
“Classes already put a lot on our plates,” she wrote. “We do not need (added-on) obstacles that cause possible burnout.” | https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/in_our_schools/loan-plan-reactions-mixed-students-happy-politicians-not-so-much/article_2744a07e-2976-11ed-8695-4788be47fa9e.html | 2022-09-02T17:31:28Z |
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
We turn now to a David and Goliath fight in Florida. Residents of a mobile home park there are suing the multibillion-dollar company that owns it. Millions of Americans live in mobile home parks because mobile homes are the only homes they can afford to buy. But they only own the structures, not what's underneath them. So many are now at the mercy of big companies that own the land where their homes sit. NPR's Chris Arnold and Robert Benincasa report.
ROBERT BENINCASA, BYLINE: Five years ago, Mike Noel retired and moved from Rhode Island to Florida.
CHRIS ARNOLD, BYLINE: And he thought he'd found the perfect spot - a mobile home community named Heritage Plantation. It's about 20 minutes from the ocean in Vero Beach.
MIKE NOEL: I thought I was moving to paradise and, you know, beautiful weather. And I could fish 12 months of the year instead of three or four months, like in Rhode Island.
BENINCASA: Noel was a manager at a small company that made stainless steel screws. He spent most of his modest retirement savings buying a home here. It looks more like a regular house than what you might think of as a mobile home.
ARNOLD: Yeah. It's got a small yard, a covered carport, a little spot for his gear.
NOEL: This is my shed.
ARNOLD: Nice. So yeah. So you've got a whole bunch of fishing rods.
NOEL: Yeah.
BENINCASA: They're called mobile homes because they get brought in on trucks in big pieces. But then they're screwed together and put up on foundations. And basically, they're not mobile after that.
ARNOLD: And since the mobile home park owns the land underneath them, that makes this a pretty vulnerable form of home ownership. Noel says he learned that the hard way after it started to rain.
NOEL: The first time it flooded here, it was like, holy crap. This is not good.
BENINCASA: And he says whenever a hard rain came through, the roads and driveways flooded, and it wouldn't drain away for hours or sometimes days.
NOEL: When - the 10th time that it flooded, well, I started reaching my limits because now it wasn't just two, three, four or five inches. It was two feet or a foot.
ARNOLD: Residents say that the water has damaged their homes and is often deep enough that people get trapped in their houses. Some are elderly. They say emergency vehicles have refused to respond to calls due to the flooding.
NOEL: The people across the street are in their 90s. I know people that couldn't get to their chemotherapy appointments.
ARNOLD: Residents here say there have been other issues, too - problems with electrical wiring, potholes and bad lighting that's caused people to fall on the roads at night and end up in the hospital.
BENINCASA: People like 79-year-old Stan Paxton. He says he needed shoulder surgery after he fell on slimy residue that regularly gets left behind by the flooding.
STANLEY PAXTON: I was just walking my dog. Next thing I know, my left foot goes up from underneath me, and I'm going down this way, and I hit the pavement with my shoulder.
BENINCASA: A group of residents has detailed these and other complaints in a lawsuit against the park's owner, a company called Equity Lifestyle Properties, or ELS. They allege that ELS has ignored their complaints and failed to fix the broken storm water drain system for about 20 years. ELS denies wrongdoing.
ARNOLD: What these residents say they're dealing with may be part of a much bigger problem. Millions of Americans live in mobile home parks, and many desperately need this affordable housing option. But in recent years, big companies have been buying up mobile home parks around the country.
BENINCASA: And critics say some are making enormous profits, collecting and raising rents on their often lower-income residents without spending enough money even on basic upkeep.
ARNOLD: Complaints about mobile home park companies ranged from sewage backups, water and power outages and, in some cases, aggressive eviction policies and unfair business practices.
BETH FEGAN: They're taking advantage of a group of people that really don't have the resources to fight against it.
BENINCASA: That's Beth Fegan, an attorney whose law firm sued Harvey Weinstein as part of the #MeToo movement. Mike Noel and some other residents managed to track her down.
ARNOLD: And she took the case. She's filed a lawsuit in federal court against ELS.
FEGAN: It's a nationwide company that knows it's wrong and won't do anything about it.
BENINCASA: ELS is a multibillion-dollar publicly traded company that lists about 200 mobile home parks in its portfolio. It also owns RV parks and marinas. Its net income was about $263 million last year.
ARNOLD: Fegan says the problems with mobile home parks go way beyond this one individual case.
FEGAN: We're trying to right a wrong that we see that is systemic in an industry and really use it as an example to let the industry know that we're going to come after them, right? If they don't put the money in to maintain the infrastructure in these parks - that we're willing to take on that fight.
BENINCASA: She says in the case of the residents at the Vero Beach park...
FEGAN: The park knows that they cannot pick up their home and leave. And so these complaints have really just gone ignored.
BENINCASA: The manager at the ELS Park wouldn't talk to us when we visited. ELS said in a statement that homeowners are free to sell their homes and often do. ELS says that the lawsuit misrepresents conditions at the park and that the company invests in it to ensure it remains a desirable neighborhood.
ARNOLD: ELS also says that the suit only involves three residents out of the hundreds who live there. But that's not really true. Technically, there are three plaintiffs, but 27 residents signed court papers in support of the lawsuit getting class action status. And Beth Fegan says more than 75 answered questionnaires to help her with the case. We did meet with some residents, though, who don't support the lawsuit.
BENINCASA: I'm Robert.
ARNOLD: Hi. I'm Chris.
JEAN BRUCE: I'm Jean.
ARNOLD: Nice to meet you.
J BRUCE: You're Chris?
ARNOLD: Yeah.
J BRUCE: Hi.
ARNOLD: Hi. Richard?
DICK BRUCE: Dick.
J BRUCE: Yeah.
ARNOLD: Nice to meet you.
J BRUCE: He prefers Dick.
ARNOLD: Dick and Jean Bruce welcome us into their really nice manufactured home here. They've got an antique banjo clock on the wall - it was her grandfather's - and other keepsakes.
BENINCASA: Dick is a former head of the park's homeowners association, and he's not a big fan of this lawsuit.
D BRUCE: I'm not an advocate, per se, for ELS. I'm just going to say that they're not as bad as what some folks will make it sound like.
ARNOLD: The couple's retired. And they worry that forcing the company to spend more money will result in the company charging them higher rent for the land underneath their home.
J BRUCE: I'm not saying I don't want the flooding fixed, but we need to be aware of what we are asking for and what we may get. We're on a fixed income. But we've seen our rent go up every year.
BENINCASA: The Bruces tell NPR they recently moved out of Heritage Plantation because of differences with their neighbors about the lawsuit. They also say the flooding isn't as bad as it used to be. In its statement, ELS says it has already spent more than $300,000 improving the storm drain system over the last three years and that it is, quote, "fully operational and compliant."
ARNOLD: Some residents say it seemed to them, though, that major repairs only started happening after the homeowners here began organizing and meeting with lawyers. And they say there is still a flooding problem.
BENINCASA: ELS wouldn't do an interview. But a former ELS board member and current shareholder Michael Torres agreed to talk. He says collecting rents without having a lot of expenses is exactly what makes mobile home parks a good investment.
MICHAEL TORRES: It's just basically resurfacing roads and having a shared community center. You don't own walls and roofs.
ARNOLD: The residents have to fix their own roofs.
BENINCASA: Torres now manages more than $2 billion through his company, Adelante Capital Management. It invests in publicly traded real estate investment trusts like ELS.
TORRES: I consider it the kind of the gold standard of investing in property.
ARNOLD: And Torres doesn't seem to have too much sympathy for the homeowners at the park in Florida.
TORRES: Streets flood. You know, you chose that community. Buyer beware. It's like people that move next to the school and complain about the noise. I mean, there's always basically somebody that has, you know, some complaint.
BENINCASA: Torres says nobody forces residents to buy homes in a particular park. He was not speaking on behalf of the company but adds...
TORRES: I mean, unfortunately, it's called landlord for a reason.
ARNOLD: Meaning the landlord controls the universe there and their tenants are at their mercy, basically.
TORRES: Pretty much, pretty much.
BENINCASA: As for the lawsuit, Torres says he doesn't know all the facts. But he's not particularly worried about it as an investor in ELS.
TORRES: It's a nuisance. It's just part of the cost of doing business.
ARNOLD: OK, maybe. But the lawsuit says that ELS is responsible for providing an adequate stormwater drainage system. This case involves the residents at this one ELS Park. But NPR spoke to a former manager, Ann, at a different ELS Park in Florida. She described very similar problems.
ANN: We would have constant flooding. And we would have, like, catfish swimming in the roads.
BENINCASA: Ann says she worked there for several years until 2017 and doesn't want to use her whole name for fear of hurting her ability to get another job. She says sometimes people would get stuck in their homes at that park, too, because the water was too deep to drive through.
ANN: They wouldn't be able to leave because if they did try, the water would then get into their engine.
ARNOLD: How often did this happen?
ANN: Any time it rained heavily.
ARNOLD: Ann says as the park manager, she repeatedly asked ELS to fix the flooding problems.
ANN: Oh, well, at least three times a year. But we never received any kind of response, basically saying that there was, like, nothing that they could really do.
ARNOLD: This is not the first time that residents have banded together to sue ELS.
BENINCASA: Jim Allen is a lawyer in California who brought a case involving an ELS park there in 2009. He remembers there were kids in that park, and his suit alleged the playground was dangerous.
JIM ALLEN: It had sharp edges. It had a slide you couldn't use. They had a lake, and the lake basically stunk. It was just - it was putrid.
ARNOLD: Allen says there are so many mobile home parks neglecting residents that representing residents is now the heart of his law practice. In the case of the California ELS park, he alleged that the electrical system in the park was shot. Power would go out to the homes regularly. Sewage backed up in some houses.
BENINCASA: And there's something else. Allen argued in the trial that ELS had a bonus structure that incentivized managers to squeeze out more profits by forgoing maintenance.
ALLEN: So what happens then is, you know, you want to get your bonus, so you don't authorize repairs. And that's why it was such a rundown condition.
PAXTON: ELS says that it encourages park managers to act in the best interests of the property and the residents and that the manager at the Heritage Plantation Park in Florida received her full bonus last year despite the property being overbudget.
BENINCASA: In addition to the lawsuit at that park, the local government has gotten involved. Indian River County has been fining ELS $100 a day because the broken stormwater system appears to be dumping water into county sewers. When we visited the park, we met with Joe Earman, the county commissioner.
JOE EARMAN: I think as of today, they're up to owing the county $146,700 because basically, their stormwater is going in our sewer system.
ARNOLD: ELS says it's repaired the problem and is now working to resolve the issue with the county. But Earman says it shouldn't take 20 years for the flooding problems residents have been struggling with here to get fixed.
EARMAN: It's frustrating to me as a county commissioner because how about you just do the right thing? This company needs to fix the stormwater issue here. And I think they can afford it.
BENINCASA: In the California case, the residents eventually got a $10 million settlement, though ELS did not admit liability. But that took more than seven years. Beth Fegan expects the current case will go to trial in January. I'm Robert Benincasa.
ARNOLD: And I'm Chris Arnold, NPR News.
(SOUNDBITE OF BUN B AND STATIK SELEKTAH SONG, "STILL TRILL (FEAT. METHOD MAN AND GRAFH)") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-01/residents-of-mobile-homes-are-often-at-the-mercy-of-big-companies-that-own-the-land | 2022-09-02T17:31:28Z |
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RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Texas has banned state and local government agencies from doing business with financial firms that they accuse of boycotting the gun and fossil fuel industries. Some other Republican-led states are following Texas' lead. But experts say the shift is already costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies reports.
DAVID MARTIN DAVIES, BYLINE: Republican Texas State Representative Phil King introduced his bill a year ago last April, saying it would stop Wall Street firms from discriminating against the fossil fuel industry.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PHIL KING: Wealthy investment managers are denying capital to energy companies, wielding their money and power with one simple goal in mind - destroying the oil and gas industry. This bill sends a strong message to both Washington and Wall Street that if you boycott Texas Energy, then Texas will boycott you.
DAVIES: King's bill prohibits Texas agencies from investing in companies that choose not to invest in fossil fuel companies because of the financial cost of climate change. Minutes later, the same committee heard a proposal for a similar bill from State Representative Giovanni Capriglione, this one aimed at firms divesting from the gun industry.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
GIOVANNI CAPRIGLIONE: I'm here to speak to you today about House Bill 2558, which prevents firearm lending discrimination by banks. This bill is supported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the National Rifle Association.
DAVIES: Capriglione argued cutting off capital and banking services to the gun industry threatens the Second Amendment. Both of these bills passed, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed them into law. They're aimed at ESG, or environmental, social and governance, policies. These are policies, companies say, that are good business because they address the risk they face from things like climate change. But Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar called ESGs an opaque and perverse system where financial companies use their clout to push a social and political agenda. Last week, Hegar banned 10 firms from doing business with Texas after he determined they did not support the fossil fuel industry enough.
DANIEL GARRETT: The result is it's costing Texans.
DAVIES: Daniel Garrett of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania studied the impact of Texas' anti-ESG laws on the state's municipal bond borrowing. He says the top five lenders left the Texas municipal bond market because they wouldn't support the manufacturing of AR-15-style weapons, the kind of gun used in the Uvalde school massacre.
GARRETT: The banks definitely think they're having an impact. They think these policies are worth leaving Texas over.
DAVIES: Garrett estimates the Texas laws have reduced competition and cost Texas taxpayers an extra 300- to $500 million so far this year in extra interest. Still, those firms are sticking with their ESG policies.
For NPR News, I'm David Martin Davies in San Antonio.
(SOUNDBITE OF DICKON HINCHLIFFE'S "PRISON RELEASE") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-01/texas-ban-on-firms-that-dont-invest-in-firearms-and-fossil-fuels-is-costing-taxpayers | 2022-09-02T17:31:34Z |
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Three weeks after President Biden signed the CHIPS Act to boost domestic production of semiconductors, chip company Micron has announced that it is building a $15 billion manufacturing plant in Boise, Idaho. Boise State Public Radio's Sasa Woodruff reports.
SASA WOODRUFF, BYLINE: Fifteen billion dollars is a huge investment for Boise, where Micron is based. Mayor Lauren McLean says the company is promising 2,000 jobs here and expects its plant to create 17,000 nationwide.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
LAUREN MCLEAN: It's a big day for the city of Boise, and I'd say it's a big day for our state and our nation too.
WOODRUFF: Emilie Simons, assistant White House press secretary, says the new memory chip plant will help fix supply shortages that emerged during the pandemic.
EMILIE SIMONS: We saw this in real life when cars became harder to find, dishwashers were more on back order.
WOODRUFF: Simons says the CHIPS and Science Act was crucial to Micron building the new plant in the U.S.
SIMONS: They were looking at opportunities in Europe and in other countries where countries had already passed legislation that was meeting them halfway.
WOODRUFF: Micron will fund science and technology education in Idaho from elementary school through college, says Chief People Officer April Arnzen.
APRIL ARNZEN: As you can imagine, hiring another 2,000 direct employees to Micron is going to require a lot of support from our educators in Idaho and across the region.
WOODRUFF: Idaho ranks last in the country for per student spending. Micron also plans to partner with Boise on housing, where prices skyrocketed during the pandemic.
ARNZEN: Housing is a challenge, and we continue to partner with the mayor's office and others to support all of these jobs that we're bringing to Boise.
WOODRUFF: Micron says this investment in Boise is the initial phase of a $40 billion plan to build memory fabrication plants in other parts of the country.
For NPR News, I'm Sasa Woodruff in Boise.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-02/chip-company-micron-announces-multibillion-dollar-facility-in-boise | 2022-09-02T17:31:41Z |
Updated September 2, 2022 at 10:26 AM ET
A federal judge has unsealed a list of items the FBI seized from former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home during a court-authorized search last month. Read the list here:
There are few new details in this latest development.
The list includes U.S. government documents with secret classification marking; documents and photographs without a classification marking; magazines, newspapers and articles; documents with confidential, secret and top secret markings; empty folders with classified banners; empty folders marked "return to staff secretary/military aide"; articles of clothing/gift item; and books.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has not yet ruled on Trump's request for a special master, saying she will enter a written order at some point. Over the weekend, a federal judge said she was inclined to grant Trump's request, and a hearing on the matter took place Thursday, but it is now unclear when that decision will come.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-02/empty-folders-with-classified-banners-are-among-the-items-seized-from-mar-a-lago | 2022-09-02T17:31:47Z |
A new analysis finds when reporters write high-profile “take down” pieces on powerful tech CEOs, there is often a glaring gender disparity.
Sara Mauskopf, CEO and co-founder of the daycare startup Winnie, wrote anecdotally about this idea of female leaders having a target on their back a few years ago and is intrigued to see data backing it up. Mauskopf speaks with Here & Now‘s Celeste Headlee.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-02/how-women-ceos-are-held-to-a-different-standard-than-men | 2022-09-02T17:31:54Z |
Jehovah's Witnesses have restarted their door-to-door ministry after more than two and a half years on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, reviving a religious practice that the faith considers crucial and cherished.
From coast to coast, members of the Christian denomination fanned out in cities and towns Thursday to share literature and converse about God for the first time since March 2020.
In the Jamaica Plain neighborhood on the south side of Boston, Dan and Carrie Sideris spent a balmy morning walking around knocking on doors and ringing bells. Dan Sideris said he had been apprehensive about evangelizing in person in "a changed world," but the experience erased any traces of doubt.
"It all came back quite naturally because we don't have a canned speech," he said. "We try to engage with people about what's in their heart, and what we say comes from our hearts."
The couple were surprised at how many people opened their doors and were receptive.
One man took a break from a Zoom call to accept their booklets and set up an appointment to continue the conversation. At another home, a woman spoke of how many family members died in the last two years — something the Siderises could relate to, both of them having lost parents recently. Another woman was too busy at the moment but spoke to Carrie Sideris through the window and said she could come back Sunday.
"I've been looking forward to this day," she said. "When I rang the first doorbell this morning, a total calm came over me. I was back where I needed to be."
Jehovah's Witnesses suspended door-knocking in the early days of the pandemic's onset in the United States, just as much of the rest of society went into lockdown too. The organization also ended all public meetings at its 13,000 congregations nationwide and canceled 5,600 annual gatherings worldwide — an unprecedented move not taken even during the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918, which killed 50 million people worldwide.
Witnesses continued their ministry by writing letters and making phone calls, but it wasn't the same because it lacked a personal touch, said Robert Hendriks, national spokesperson for the denomination.
"To us, going door to door is an expression of our God's impartiality," he said. "We go to everyone and let them choose whether they want to hear us or not."
Even in pre-pandemic times, door-knocking ministry came with anxiety because Witnesses never knew how they would be received at any given home. In 2022 that's even more the case, and evangelizers are being advised to be mindful that lives and attitudes have changed.
"It's going to take an additional level of courage," Hendriks said.
The organization is not mandating masks or social distancing, leaving those decisions to each individual.
The denomination has cautiously been rebooting other activities: In April it reopened congregations for in-person gatherings, and in June it resumed public ministry where members set up carts in locations such as subway stations and hand out literature.
But getting back to door-knocking, considered not just a core belief but also an effective ministry, is a big step toward "a return to normal," Hendriks said.
Among those eager to pound the pavement again was Jonathan Gomas of Milwaukee, who started door-knocking with his parents when he was "big enough to ring a doorbell."
"When you're out in the community, you have your hand on the pulse," he said. "We haven't had that close feeling with the community for more than two years now. It feels like we've all become more distant and polarized."
Gomas and his wife and two daughters have all learned Hmong in order to better reach out to members of that community, and residents are often pleasantly surprised to open their doors to fluent speakers of their language.
"I think it made them listen even closer," he said.
In Acworth, Georgia, Nathan Rivera said he has greatly missed seeing people's faces and reading their expressions.
"You see and appreciate these responses, and it's much more personal," he said. "You establish common ground and relationships that you can never develop over the phone or by writing a letter."
The son of Cuban refugees who came to the United States in the 1980s, Rivera said door-knocking is an important part of his spiritual identity and "feels Christ-like."
"We show respect for each person's right to hold a different belief," he said. "If they don't want to hear what we have to say, we politely thank them and move on, recognizing that we cannot judge anyone. We'll just keep on knocking."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-02/jehovahs-witnesses-resume-door-to-door-visits-for-the-first-time-since-the-pandemic | 2022-09-02T17:32:00Z |
More than 2,500 athletes will compete in an annual 9-man volleyball tournament this holiday weekend in Providence, Rhode Island. The game is an urban adaptation of international volleyball that has been played for generations among Chinese Americans.
WBUR’s Aimee Moon reports.
A Hurricanes player tosses a volleyball in the air during the Reggie Wong Memorial Volleyball Tournament in Chinatown. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-02/more-than-2-500-athletes-will-compete-in-9-man-volleyball-tournament-this-labor-day-weekend | 2022-09-02T17:32:07Z |
Protests are planned this weekend in Columbus, Ohio, as outrage grows over the police killing of Donovan Lewis. Columbus Police shot Lewis, a 20-year-old Black man, in his bed around 2 a.m. Tuesday while serving a warrant. Rex Elliott, the lawyer for Lewis’ family, called the shooting “reckless” and “barbaric.”
Here & Now‘s Celeste Headlee speaks with Bethany Bruner, a reporter for Columbus Dispatch.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-02/police-killing-of-donovan-lewis-sparks-protests-in-columbus-ohio | 2022-09-02T17:32:13Z |
NPR is undertaking a project to investigate the impact of new abortion laws taking effect across the country.
We are interested in personal stories. And we'd love to hear from health care providers as well. Yours may be about a serious decision you've had to make, a risk to your health, or even your life. Or it may illustrate the smaller, unexpected ways that these laws have affected your life or those of your patients.
Along the way, we're hoping to help people understand the breadth of these laws and how they're reshaping American life now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned.
Do you have a story to tell about something that happened to you because of your state's abortion laws? Submit your story in the form below or here, and we may contact you to learn more.
Your submission will be governed by our general Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. As the Privacy Policy says, we want you to be aware that there may be circumstances in which the exemptions provided under law for journalistic activities or freedom of expression may override privacy rights you might otherwise have. We will not use your submission in our story until we have communicated with you and obtained your consent to use the details that will be published.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-02/share-the-ways-abortion-laws-have-affected-you-big-and-small | 2022-09-02T17:32:19Z |
The U.S. jobs market slowed down a bit in August, adding 315,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate went up slightly — but both are actually good news.
Here & Now‘s Peter O’Dowd finds out why from Bloomberg’s senior markets editor Michael Regan.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-02/the-jobs-market-slowed-and-unemployment-went-up-in-august-heres-why-its-good-news | 2022-09-02T17:32:26Z |
TV rights deals are booming in the U.S. and abroad as viewers tune in for women’s sports in greater numbers. Serena Williams’ day one match at the U.S. Open broke viewership records for ESPN, while the Women’s Soccer Euro Final set the highest number of viewers for any UK program this year.
Shira Springer is a lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. She’s also a journalist who writes about issues at the intersection of sports and gender, including a column for the Sports Business Journal on women’s sports. She joins Here & Now‘s Celeste Headlee to look into the latest developments in the business of women’s sport.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-02/tv-rights-deals-are-up-for-womens-sports | 2022-09-02T17:32:32Z |
International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors had to dodge bullets and shelling to arrive at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Now they say they plan to remain there on a permanent basis.
Here & Now‘s Peter O’Dowd talks with John Hudson, national security reporter for the Washington Post who is in Kyiv.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-02/un-inspectors-will-remain-on-site-at-ukraine-nuclear-power-plant | 2022-09-02T17:32:38Z |
Updated September 2, 2022 at 12:45 PM ET
The first legal step that former President Donald Trump took after FBI agents executed a search warrant at his home last month was to ask a federal court to appoint a special master to review the documents they had seized.
That request spawned a whole new saga, with the Justice Department arguing that such an appointment is not only unnecessary but would "significantly harm important governmental interests, including national security interests."
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who has expressed openness to granting Trump's request, said on Thursday that she will rule on it later (though gave no indication of when that decision might come).
In the meantime, it's worth examining the question: What exactly is the role of a special master in general, and how could the potential appointment of one impact this case specifically?
"A special master really is kind of a fancy name for judge's helper," explains David Cohen, a special master who serves in federal cases including opioid litigation.
He tells Morning Edition's Rachel Martin that special masters, who are usually attorneys, can be appointed when judges get complex cases — and that Trump's is far from typical. Their conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Interview highlights
What counts as a complex case?
Obviously that's not going to happen when it's a simple car accident, but in a case where the subject matter is complicated — for example, an antitrust case or a patent case — or the case itself is just overwhelmingly large — like the BP oil spill case or national opioid litigation — or even just a case where the parties can't even really say hello to each other without getting into a fight and it just needs a lot of judicial supervision, what a federal judge will sometimes do is appoint a special master just to help the judge oversee the case because there's just a lot to do, and judges have limited judicial resources, limited time.
What qualifications does a special master need?
It's not always an attorney. For example, in a patent case what a judge might need most is somebody who is conversant in the technology at issue, but ... it's usually an attorney. I guess the primary qualification is somebody who can remain neutral, which isn't easy. It's kind of hard to refresh your neutrality every day. You can't come in and be a judge or a special master with an agenda or really kind of wanting one side to win, you need to look at all the facts and the evidence and what the parties are arguing, and apply the law to the facts and come out to what the right result is regardless of who is appearing before you.
Do special masters always try to draw conclusions?
It depends ... if I'm being asked by the judge to provide a report and recommendation on a motion then yes, I'm going to say, "Judge, this is how I think you should rule," and I'll draft an order or a proposed order, or I'll submit my opinion over my signature, which the parties can then accept or appeal to the judge. And in other cases, it's sometimes just being present so that while the parties are arguing you can referee it.
What role could a special master play in Trump's case?
In this case in front of Judge Cannon, it looks like the judge is going to be appointing — if that does happen — appointing somebody who is going to make calls — yes or no; this is privileged, this isn't — [and] submit a report to the parties. The parties would then have an opportunity to object, which is to say, to appeal to the judge, and she would then rule de novo, which means kind of start at the beginning. But everybody knows that for the most part, if the special master knows what they're doing, the judge is going to accept the recommendation.
What makes Trump's case unique?
This is such an unusual case. In most cases where I've been appointed, I'm being asked to oversee discovery, I'm being asked to rule on attorney-client privilege issues. There aren't really any cases where you have the ex-president of the United States having materials taken out of his house and citing not only attorney-client privilege — which is relatively easy, there's all kinds of case law about that — but executive privilege, which has not been the subject of a lot of case law.
Could appointing a special master slow down the Justice Department's investigation?
It's very likely that if Judge Cannon appoints a special master, that the special master's going to have to do a lot of legal research, come to a place of understanding of how to apply the law and look at some pretty unusual facts. So that does have the chance to slow things down. But on the other hand, the judge could provide for a kind of parallel processing, where the review continues by the Justice Department while the special master is reviewing the documents as well.
This interview was produced by Kaity Kline and edited by Simone Popperl.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-02/what-a-special-master-does-as-told-by-a-special-master | 2022-09-02T17:32:45Z |
The White House is asking Congress for $47.1 billion in emergency funding to cover expected costs for Ukraine, COVID-19, monkeypox and natural disasters. The administration hopes the funding request will become part of an upcoming short-term spending bill aimed at funding the federal government beyond Sept. 30, when the current spending package is set to expire.
The largest portion of the request is for $22.4 billion in COVID-19 funding, money that would go toward stockpiling vaccines and tests, as well as to research and development and the global vaccine response. The White House had asked for the funding in March but Republicans had pushed back against the request.
As a result, the White House has had to reprogram some funding and pause a program that sent free test kits to American homes. "We do not have enough funding to get through a surge in the fall," an official told reporters on a briefing call.
For Ukraine, the White House is asking for $11.7 billion, including $7.2 for military-related costs and $4.5 billion for direct economic support. It also wants Congress to provide $1.5 billion for uranium for U.S. nuclear reactors in case there is a reduction in Russian supplies of uranium, and $500 million for work on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
It would be the latest in a series of massive U.S. spending packages to support Ukraine. The last bill, approved in May, was worth about $40 billion. About three-quarters of previous U.S. support to Ukraine has been spent, committed or obligated, with more spending expected by the end of September, officials said. "We have rallied the world to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their democracy and we simply cannot allow that support to Ukraine to run dry," an official said.
For monkeypox, the White House is asking for $4.5 billion, the majority of which would go to vaccinations, testing and treatment for Americans. Officials said the government is still working to end the current outbreak, and has depleted its reserves of vaccines, which means it also needs to rebuild the stockpile to prepare for future outbreaks.
For disaster response, the White House is asking for $6.5 billion which would help with costs for flooding in Kentucky, as well as unmet needs in California, Louisiana and Texas.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-02/white-house-asks-for-47-billion-for-ukraine-covid-19-monkeypox-and-disasters | 2022-09-02T17:32:51Z |
- As Wyoming’s top industry of coal mining declines, the state is looking to diversify its economy, including industries like outdoor recreation tourism.
Patrick Harrington, the manager of the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, said in the last couple years a record number of visitors have explored Wyoming’s public lands.
“I think my office is sort of coming of age at a really important time in Wyoming history, and that we're looking at development at a grand scale and what the future of our state is going to be,” Harrington said.
His office has created collaboratives with seven communities to help develop outdoor recreation – including things like updating old trails, which are abundant in Wyoming. Places like Park, Natrona and Sweetwater counties are part of the effort.
Harrington said they are hoping to expand into more rural parts of Wyoming too, although he added that it has to be done thoughtfully, as a lot of people live in these rural areas because there is not a lot of tourism.
Members of the Sublette Trails Association (STA), which helps the U.S. Forest Service update old trails in northwest Wyoming, said they would like to see more refurbished trails in the area. However, they added, it is important to them to keep the feel of a local community.
“I think a big thing that we're trying to do, also, is develop that trail based culture in the community,” STA President Ryan Grove said. “Like, a lot of us use the trails in a lot of different ways individually, but we're starting to see now that there's kind of a group of people that are willing to get together and recreate together. It creates a healthier community.”
Some of the work they do involves hosting trail days, where community members come out and help update old trails. This can include things like moving big rocks, creating water drainage and adding in switchbacks. Grove said a lot of the old trails were built very steep, most of the time just the shortest way from point A to point B.
“Lots of people get hurt just coming down trails that are too steep and whether they step on a rock or rocks get loose because the trail’s eroding, so it's more fun, it's more accessible and it's safer for everybody,” Grove said.
Harrington, from the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, said he is hoping to expand his office’s outreach to support efforts like the STA. He added that he plans to host listening sessions around the state this fall to identify how communities want to develop outdoor recreation. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/natural-resources-energy/2022-09-02/state-eyes-trail-development-as-an-opportunity-for-economic-development | 2022-09-02T17:32:58Z |
The goal of the Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names, comprised of 17 members who largely represent tribes and tribal organizations, is to help identify and recommend changes to derogatory terms still in use for places throughout the U.S., including geographic features like rivers, lakes and mountains.
“Our nation’s lands and waters should be places to celebrate the outdoors and our shared cultural heritage — not to perpetuate the legacies of oppression,” Haaland said.
A key part of the process is talking early and often with tribes and the Native Hawaiian community, according to Christine Johnson, one of a few committee members representing the Mountain West. She’s a professor in the anthropology and geography departments at the University of Nevada, Reno.
“People need to be heard and names that reflect times in history that are painful for people need to be considered because people shouldn't be forced to experience a dark part of history on a daily basis,” Johnson said.
She says the federal advisory group will also engage with state and local governments. In addition, committee meetings, which haven’t been scheduled yet, will be open to the public.
A separate federal task force was created last year to remove the term sq_ _ _, a racist and sexist slur against Native American women. In late July, the Interior Department announced the group had concluded its review of more than 660 instances of the term in use within federal lands. More than 300 are in the Mountain West. Candidate replacement names were recommended to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which is expected to vote on the names in September.
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West in Montana, KUNC in Colorado, KUNM in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West News Bureau is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Copyright 2022 KUNR Public Radio. To see more, visit KUNR Public Radio. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2022-09-02/interior-forms-advisory-group-to-remove-nations-derogatory-place-names | 2022-09-02T17:33:04Z |
News brief
How tribal leaders and members of Congress are advocating for the protection of Indigenous sites was top of mind at the recent National Native Media Conference in Phoenix.
A panel on cultural identity included Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva, the San Carlos Apache Tribe's historic preservation officer, the Arizona Republic's environmental and Indigenous affairs reporter, and the founder of NativesOutdoors.
They focused on the controversy surrounding the proposed copper mine beneath Oak Flat, an Apache religious site east of Phoenix. It's a conflict that reflects other battles involving public lands, resource extraction and sacred sites around the West.
Rep. Grijalva, a Democrat who chairs the House Committee on Natural Resources, says the protections for these sacred areas need to be put into law.
“You have to have them codified, otherwise we’re always fighting the fight," he said. "If we have a process that works, you still have a fight but you also have the acknowledgement that you’re sitting in this fight as equals, and not starting way behind.”
Examples of Indigenous efforts to protect sites considered sacred range from Chaco Canyon in New Mexico to Devils Tower in Wyoming and Spirit Mountain in Nevada.
Rep. Grijalva and New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich introduced legislation this summer that would elevate tribal management of public lands and protect tribal cultural sites. Last year, Grijalva also introduced the RESPECT Act, which would require federal agencies to consult tribal governments before certain actions.
“We’re not all the sudden being inconvenient by insisting on sacred sites being protected,” Grijalva said. “Tribes are not being obstructionists when their public health and the health of their communities are at stake.
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West in Montana, KUNC in Colorado, KUNM in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West News Bureau is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Copyright 2022 KUNM. To see more, visit KUNM. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2022-09-02/lawmaker-calls-on-colleagues-to-support-protections-for-indigenous-cultural-sites | 2022-09-02T17:33:11Z |
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
Ukraine's beaches on the Black Sea make up another frontline in the war with Russia. Police patrol the sandy shores, and signs warn of danger ahead. But this summer, swimmers couldn't stay away. NPR's Joanna Kakissis reports from the port city of Odesa.
JOANNA KAKISSIS, BYLINE: Yulia Knyzhko has a perfect view of the beach from the seafood restaurant where she works. In August, this beach is usually so crowded, you can barely see the sand. This summer, of course, is different. On the day I visited the restaurant...
YULIA KNYZHKO: It's no one there but elderly woman, and she was sitting right there on this rock. Police came and said that you need to leave because it's too dangerous.
KAKISSIS: Knyzhko points to a sign with a skull and crossbones that reads danger - mines.
KNYZHKO: This woman said that she's a mermaid, and she don't want to leave. She scream it, like, really loud. And some people - yes, yes, yes. Some people was shocked.
KAKISSIS: The mermaid has short white hair and is wearing a flowered bikini. She's floating on her back, looking blissfully up at the sun and totally ignoring the police. She's got the biggest smile on her face. Oh, my God.
Hi.
HALYNA DRUZ: Hi.
KAKISSIS: She wades out of the water to introduce herself.
DRUZ: (Through interpreter) My name is Halyna Druz, and I'm not a criminal. I have been swimming here for the last 40 years, and that's why I've lived to be 90 years old.
KAKISSIS: Something about Halyna Druz's rebellion seems to embolden those watching her. A woman in full makeup peels off her caftan and jumps in, wearing only her undergarments. Sunbathers run onto the beach from an empty hotel nearby. Retired secretary Anya Rudenko gleefully admits that she's been dodging the beach police all day.
ANYA RUDENKO: (Through interpreter) If the police tell me to leave, I just walk off the sand and wait. And when they leave, I come back.
KAKISSIS: She says that in Odesa, challenging authority is practically in your blood, like the charismatic gangsters in the stories by the city's beloved writer, Isaac Babel.
OLEKSII TYMCHENKO: (Speaking Ukrainian).
KAKISSIS: Oleksii Tymchenko is one of those whose authority is being challenged. He's a community police officer. And he says he has a long list of beach outlaws. He tells those here that he's only trying to protect them.
TYMCHENKO: (Through interpreter) Ukrainian military mined some of our beaches when Russia invaded to guard the sea from Russian forces. Those mines can easily move and end up here, right where you are now swimming.
KAKISSIS: Mines floating in the sea have killed several swimmers in the Odesa region this summer.
SERGEI: (Speaking Russian).
KAKISSIS: A white bearded man in red swim trunks says he knows it's dangerous, and he's just going to take his chances.
SVITLANA: (Speaking Russian).
KAKISSIS: A woman swimming with him adds, there are no guarantees during war. Who says a missile won't hit me while I'm sitting at home with a TV remote in my hand? The swimmers give their names as Sergei and Svitlana, but they won't reveal anything else, lest Officer Tymchenko finds them. The officer calls for backup, and soon, nearly everyone leaves. Halyna Druz, the 90-year-old mermaid, she stays on the beach. And the police eventually give up and leave. Druz says she's trying to defend something precious.
DRUZ: (Speaking Russian).
KAKISSIS: "This war has tried to take our summer away from us," she says, "swimming in our sea is our way of taking it back." Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Odesa. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-08-31/this-ukrainian-grandmother-is-rebelling-against-the-wartime-beach-ban | 2022-09-02T17:39:44Z |
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
We turn now to a David and Goliath fight in Florida. Residents of a mobile home park there are suing the multibillion-dollar company that owns it. Millions of Americans live in mobile home parks because mobile homes are the only homes they can afford to buy. But they only own the structures, not what's underneath them. So many are now at the mercy of big companies that own the land where their homes sit. NPR's Chris Arnold and Robert Benincasa report.
ROBERT BENINCASA, BYLINE: Five years ago, Mike Noel retired and moved from Rhode Island to Florida.
CHRIS ARNOLD, BYLINE: And he thought he'd found the perfect spot - a mobile home community named Heritage Plantation. It's about 20 minutes from the ocean in Vero Beach.
MIKE NOEL: I thought I was moving to paradise and, you know, beautiful weather. And I could fish 12 months of the year instead of three or four months, like in Rhode Island.
BENINCASA: Noel was a manager at a small company that made stainless steel screws. He spent most of his modest retirement savings buying a home here. It looks more like a regular house than what you might think of as a mobile home.
ARNOLD: Yeah. It's got a small yard, a covered carport, a little spot for his gear.
NOEL: This is my shed.
ARNOLD: Nice. So yeah. So you've got a whole bunch of fishing rods.
NOEL: Yeah.
BENINCASA: They're called mobile homes because they get brought in on trucks in big pieces. But then they're screwed together and put up on foundations. And basically, they're not mobile after that.
ARNOLD: And since the mobile home park owns the land underneath them, that makes this a pretty vulnerable form of home ownership. Noel says he learned that the hard way after it started to rain.
NOEL: The first time it flooded here, it was like, holy crap. This is not good.
BENINCASA: And he says whenever a hard rain came through, the roads and driveways flooded, and it wouldn't drain away for hours or sometimes days.
NOEL: When - the 10th time that it flooded, well, I started reaching my limits because now it wasn't just two, three, four or five inches. It was two feet or a foot.
ARNOLD: Residents say that the water has damaged their homes and is often deep enough that people get trapped in their houses. Some are elderly. They say emergency vehicles have refused to respond to calls due to the flooding.
NOEL: The people across the street are in their 90s. I know people that couldn't get to their chemotherapy appointments.
ARNOLD: Residents here say there have been other issues, too - problems with electrical wiring, potholes and bad lighting that's caused people to fall on the roads at night and end up in the hospital.
BENINCASA: People like 79-year-old Stan Paxton. He says he needed shoulder surgery after he fell on slimy residue that regularly gets left behind by the flooding.
STANLEY PAXTON: I was just walking my dog. Next thing I know, my left foot goes up from underneath me, and I'm going down this way, and I hit the pavement with my shoulder.
BENINCASA: A group of residents has detailed these and other complaints in a lawsuit against the park's owner, a company called Equity Lifestyle Properties, or ELS. They allege that ELS has ignored their complaints and failed to fix the broken storm water drain system for about 20 years. ELS denies wrongdoing.
ARNOLD: What these residents say they're dealing with may be part of a much bigger problem. Millions of Americans live in mobile home parks, and many desperately need this affordable housing option. But in recent years, big companies have been buying up mobile home parks around the country.
BENINCASA: And critics say some are making enormous profits, collecting and raising rents on their often lower-income residents without spending enough money even on basic upkeep.
ARNOLD: Complaints about mobile home park companies ranged from sewage backups, water and power outages and, in some cases, aggressive eviction policies and unfair business practices.
BETH FEGAN: They're taking advantage of a group of people that really don't have the resources to fight against it.
BENINCASA: That's Beth Fegan, an attorney whose law firm sued Harvey Weinstein as part of the #MeToo movement. Mike Noel and some other residents managed to track her down.
ARNOLD: And she took the case. She's filed a lawsuit in federal court against ELS.
FEGAN: It's a nationwide company that knows it's wrong and won't do anything about it.
BENINCASA: ELS is a multibillion-dollar publicly traded company that lists about 200 mobile home parks in its portfolio. It also owns RV parks and marinas. Its net income was about $263 million last year.
ARNOLD: Fegan says the problems with mobile home parks go way beyond this one individual case.
FEGAN: We're trying to right a wrong that we see that is systemic in an industry and really use it as an example to let the industry know that we're going to come after them, right? If they don't put the money in to maintain the infrastructure in these parks - that we're willing to take on that fight.
BENINCASA: She says in the case of the residents at the Vero Beach park...
FEGAN: The park knows that they cannot pick up their home and leave. And so these complaints have really just gone ignored.
BENINCASA: The manager at the ELS Park wouldn't talk to us when we visited. ELS said in a statement that homeowners are free to sell their homes and often do. ELS says that the lawsuit misrepresents conditions at the park and that the company invests in it to ensure it remains a desirable neighborhood.
ARNOLD: ELS also says that the suit only involves three residents out of the hundreds who live there. But that's not really true. Technically, there are three plaintiffs, but 27 residents signed court papers in support of the lawsuit getting class action status. And Beth Fegan says more than 75 answered questionnaires to help her with the case. We did meet with some residents, though, who don't support the lawsuit.
BENINCASA: I'm Robert.
ARNOLD: Hi. I'm Chris.
JEAN BRUCE: I'm Jean.
ARNOLD: Nice to meet you.
J BRUCE: You're Chris?
ARNOLD: Yeah.
J BRUCE: Hi.
ARNOLD: Hi. Richard?
DICK BRUCE: Dick.
J BRUCE: Yeah.
ARNOLD: Nice to meet you.
J BRUCE: He prefers Dick.
ARNOLD: Dick and Jean Bruce welcome us into their really nice manufactured home here. They've got an antique banjo clock on the wall - it was her grandfather's - and other keepsakes.
BENINCASA: Dick is a former head of the park's homeowners association, and he's not a big fan of this lawsuit.
D BRUCE: I'm not an advocate, per se, for ELS. I'm just going to say that they're not as bad as what some folks will make it sound like.
ARNOLD: The couple's retired. And they worry that forcing the company to spend more money will result in the company charging them higher rent for the land underneath their home.
J BRUCE: I'm not saying I don't want the flooding fixed, but we need to be aware of what we are asking for and what we may get. We're on a fixed income. But we've seen our rent go up every year.
BENINCASA: The Bruces tell NPR they recently moved out of Heritage Plantation because of differences with their neighbors about the lawsuit. They also say the flooding isn't as bad as it used to be. In its statement, ELS says it has already spent more than $300,000 improving the storm drain system over the last three years and that it is, quote, "fully operational and compliant."
ARNOLD: Some residents say it seemed to them, though, that major repairs only started happening after the homeowners here began organizing and meeting with lawyers. And they say there is still a flooding problem.
BENINCASA: ELS wouldn't do an interview. But a former ELS board member and current shareholder Michael Torres agreed to talk. He says collecting rents without having a lot of expenses is exactly what makes mobile home parks a good investment.
MICHAEL TORRES: It's just basically resurfacing roads and having a shared community center. You don't own walls and roofs.
ARNOLD: The residents have to fix their own roofs.
BENINCASA: Torres now manages more than $2 billion through his company, Adelante Capital Management. It invests in publicly traded real estate investment trusts like ELS.
TORRES: I consider it the kind of the gold standard of investing in property.
ARNOLD: And Torres doesn't seem to have too much sympathy for the homeowners at the park in Florida.
TORRES: Streets flood. You know, you chose that community. Buyer beware. It's like people that move next to the school and complain about the noise. I mean, there's always basically somebody that has, you know, some complaint.
BENINCASA: Torres says nobody forces residents to buy homes in a particular park. He was not speaking on behalf of the company but adds...
TORRES: I mean, unfortunately, it's called landlord for a reason.
ARNOLD: Meaning the landlord controls the universe there and their tenants are at their mercy, basically.
TORRES: Pretty much, pretty much.
BENINCASA: As for the lawsuit, Torres says he doesn't know all the facts. But he's not particularly worried about it as an investor in ELS.
TORRES: It's a nuisance. It's just part of the cost of doing business.
ARNOLD: OK, maybe. But the lawsuit says that ELS is responsible for providing an adequate stormwater drainage system. This case involves the residents at this one ELS Park. But NPR spoke to a former manager, Ann, at a different ELS Park in Florida. She described very similar problems.
ANN: We would have constant flooding. And we would have, like, catfish swimming in the roads.
BENINCASA: Ann says she worked there for several years until 2017 and doesn't want to use her whole name for fear of hurting her ability to get another job. She says sometimes people would get stuck in their homes at that park, too, because the water was too deep to drive through.
ANN: They wouldn't be able to leave because if they did try, the water would then get into their engine.
ARNOLD: How often did this happen?
ANN: Any time it rained heavily.
ARNOLD: Ann says as the park manager, she repeatedly asked ELS to fix the flooding problems.
ANN: Oh, well, at least three times a year. But we never received any kind of response, basically saying that there was, like, nothing that they could really do.
ARNOLD: This is not the first time that residents have banded together to sue ELS.
BENINCASA: Jim Allen is a lawyer in California who brought a case involving an ELS park there in 2009. He remembers there were kids in that park, and his suit alleged the playground was dangerous.
JIM ALLEN: It had sharp edges. It had a slide you couldn't use. They had a lake, and the lake basically stunk. It was just - it was putrid.
ARNOLD: Allen says there are so many mobile home parks neglecting residents that representing residents is now the heart of his law practice. In the case of the California ELS park, he alleged that the electrical system in the park was shot. Power would go out to the homes regularly. Sewage backed up in some houses.
BENINCASA: And there's something else. Allen argued in the trial that ELS had a bonus structure that incentivized managers to squeeze out more profits by forgoing maintenance.
ALLEN: So what happens then is, you know, you want to get your bonus, so you don't authorize repairs. And that's why it was such a rundown condition.
PAXTON: ELS says that it encourages park managers to act in the best interests of the property and the residents and that the manager at the Heritage Plantation Park in Florida received her full bonus last year despite the property being overbudget.
BENINCASA: In addition to the lawsuit at that park, the local government has gotten involved. Indian River County has been fining ELS $100 a day because the broken stormwater system appears to be dumping water into county sewers. When we visited the park, we met with Joe Earman, the county commissioner.
JOE EARMAN: I think as of today, they're up to owing the county $146,700 because basically, their stormwater is going in our sewer system.
ARNOLD: ELS says it's repaired the problem and is now working to resolve the issue with the county. But Earman says it shouldn't take 20 years for the flooding problems residents have been struggling with here to get fixed.
EARMAN: It's frustrating to me as a county commissioner because how about you just do the right thing? This company needs to fix the stormwater issue here. And I think they can afford it.
BENINCASA: In the California case, the residents eventually got a $10 million settlement, though ELS did not admit liability. But that took more than seven years. Beth Fegan expects the current case will go to trial in January. I'm Robert Benincasa.
ARNOLD: And I'm Chris Arnold, NPR News.
(SOUNDBITE OF BUN B AND STATIK SELEKTAH SONG, "STILL TRILL (FEAT. METHOD MAN AND GRAFH)") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-09-01/residents-of-mobile-homes-are-often-at-the-mercy-of-big-companies-that-own-the-land | 2022-09-02T17:39:45Z |
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Texas has banned state and local government agencies from doing business with financial firms that they accuse of boycotting the gun and fossil fuel industries. Some other Republican-led states are following Texas' lead. But experts say the shift is already costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies reports.
DAVID MARTIN DAVIES, BYLINE: Republican Texas State Representative Phil King introduced his bill a year ago last April, saying it would stop Wall Street firms from discriminating against the fossil fuel industry.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PHIL KING: Wealthy investment managers are denying capital to energy companies, wielding their money and power with one simple goal in mind - destroying the oil and gas industry. This bill sends a strong message to both Washington and Wall Street that if you boycott Texas Energy, then Texas will boycott you.
DAVIES: King's bill prohibits Texas agencies from investing in companies that choose not to invest in fossil fuel companies because of the financial cost of climate change. Minutes later, the same committee heard a proposal for a similar bill from State Representative Giovanni Capriglione, this one aimed at firms divesting from the gun industry.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
GIOVANNI CAPRIGLIONE: I'm here to speak to you today about House Bill 2558, which prevents firearm lending discrimination by banks. This bill is supported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the National Rifle Association.
DAVIES: Capriglione argued cutting off capital and banking services to the gun industry threatens the Second Amendment. Both of these bills passed, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed them into law. They're aimed at ESG, or environmental, social and governance, policies. These are policies, companies say, that are good business because they address the risk they face from things like climate change. But Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar called ESGs an opaque and perverse system where financial companies use their clout to push a social and political agenda. Last week, Hegar banned 10 firms from doing business with Texas after he determined they did not support the fossil fuel industry enough.
DANIEL GARRETT: The result is it's costing Texans.
DAVIES: Daniel Garrett of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania studied the impact of Texas' anti-ESG laws on the state's municipal bond borrowing. He says the top five lenders left the Texas municipal bond market because they wouldn't support the manufacturing of AR-15-style weapons, the kind of gun used in the Uvalde school massacre.
GARRETT: The banks definitely think they're having an impact. They think these policies are worth leaving Texas over.
DAVIES: Garrett estimates the Texas laws have reduced competition and cost Texas taxpayers an extra 300- to $500 million so far this year in extra interest. Still, those firms are sticking with their ESG policies.
For NPR News, I'm David Martin Davies in San Antonio.
(SOUNDBITE OF DICKON HINCHLIFFE'S "PRISON RELEASE") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-09-01/texas-ban-on-firms-that-dont-invest-in-firearms-and-fossil-fuels-is-costing-taxpayers | 2022-09-02T17:39:45Z |
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Three weeks after President Biden signed the CHIPS Act to boost domestic production of semiconductors, chip company Micron has announced that it is building a $15 billion manufacturing plant in Boise, Idaho. Boise State Public Radio's Sasa Woodruff reports.
SASA WOODRUFF, BYLINE: Fifteen billion dollars is a huge investment for Boise, where Micron is based. Mayor Lauren McLean says the company is promising 2,000 jobs here and expects its plant to create 17,000 nationwide.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
LAUREN MCLEAN: It's a big day for the city of Boise, and I'd say it's a big day for our state and our nation too.
WOODRUFF: Emilie Simons, assistant White House press secretary, says the new memory chip plant will help fix supply shortages that emerged during the pandemic.
EMILIE SIMONS: We saw this in real life when cars became harder to find, dishwashers were more on back order.
WOODRUFF: Simons says the CHIPS and Science Act was crucial to Micron building the new plant in the U.S.
SIMONS: They were looking at opportunities in Europe and in other countries where countries had already passed legislation that was meeting them halfway.
WOODRUFF: Micron will fund science and technology education in Idaho from elementary school through college, says Chief People Officer April Arnzen.
APRIL ARNZEN: As you can imagine, hiring another 2,000 direct employees to Micron is going to require a lot of support from our educators in Idaho and across the region.
WOODRUFF: Idaho ranks last in the country for per student spending. Micron also plans to partner with Boise on housing, where prices skyrocketed during the pandemic.
ARNZEN: Housing is a challenge, and we continue to partner with the mayor's office and others to support all of these jobs that we're bringing to Boise.
WOODRUFF: Micron says this investment in Boise is the initial phase of a $40 billion plan to build memory fabrication plants in other parts of the country.
For NPR News, I'm Sasa Woodruff in Boise.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-09-02/chip-company-micron-announces-multibillion-dollar-facility-in-boise | 2022-09-02T17:39:46Z |
Updated September 2, 2022 at 12:45 PM ET
The first legal step that former President Donald Trump took after FBI agents executed a search warrant at his home last month was to ask a federal court to appoint a special master to review the documents they had seized.
That request spawned a whole new saga, with the Justice Department arguing that such an appointment is not only unnecessary but would "significantly harm important governmental interests, including national security interests."
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who has expressed openness to granting Trump's request, said on Thursday that she will rule on it later (though gave no indication of when that decision might come).
In the meantime, it's worth examining the question: What exactly is the role of a special master in general, and how could the potential appointment of one impact this case specifically?
"A special master really is kind of a fancy name for judge's helper," explains David Cohen, a special master who serves in federal cases including opioid litigation.
He tells Morning Edition's Rachel Martin that special masters, who are usually attorneys, can be appointed when judges get complex cases — and that Trump's is far from typical. Their conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Interview highlights
What counts as a complex case?
Obviously that's not going to happen when it's a simple car accident, but in a case where the subject matter is complicated — for example, an antitrust case or a patent case — or the case itself is just overwhelmingly large — like the BP oil spill case or national opioid litigation — or even just a case where the parties can't even really say hello to each other without getting into a fight and it just needs a lot of judicial supervision, what a federal judge will sometimes do is appoint a special master just to help the judge oversee the case because there's just a lot to do, and judges have limited judicial resources, limited time.
What qualifications does a special master need?
It's not always an attorney. For example, in a patent case what a judge might need most is somebody who is conversant in the technology at issue, but ... it's usually an attorney. I guess the primary qualification is somebody who can remain neutral, which isn't easy. It's kind of hard to refresh your neutrality every day. You can't come in and be a judge or a special master with an agenda or really kind of wanting one side to win, you need to look at all the facts and the evidence and what the parties are arguing, and apply the law to the facts and come out to what the right result is regardless of who is appearing before you.
Do special masters always try to draw conclusions?
It depends ... if I'm being asked by the judge to provide a report and recommendation on a motion then yes, I'm going to say, "Judge, this is how I think you should rule," and I'll draft an order or a proposed order, or I'll submit my opinion over my signature, which the parties can then accept or appeal to the judge. And in other cases, it's sometimes just being present so that while the parties are arguing you can referee it.
What role could a special master play in Trump's case?
In this case in front of Judge Cannon, it looks like the judge is going to be appointing — if that does happen — appointing somebody who is going to make calls — yes or no; this is privileged, this isn't — [and] submit a report to the parties. The parties would then have an opportunity to object, which is to say, to appeal to the judge, and she would then rule de novo, which means kind of start at the beginning. But everybody knows that for the most part, if the special master knows what they're doing, the judge is going to accept the recommendation.
What makes Trump's case unique?
This is such an unusual case. In most cases where I've been appointed, I'm being asked to oversee discovery, I'm being asked to rule on attorney-client privilege issues. There aren't really any cases where you have the ex-president of the United States having materials taken out of his house and citing not only attorney-client privilege — which is relatively easy, there's all kinds of case law about that — but executive privilege, which has not been the subject of a lot of case law.
Could appointing a special master slow down the Justice Department's investigation?
It's very likely that if Judge Cannon appoints a special master, that the special master's going to have to do a lot of legal research, come to a place of understanding of how to apply the law and look at some pretty unusual facts. So that does have the chance to slow things down. But on the other hand, the judge could provide for a kind of parallel processing, where the review continues by the Justice Department while the special master is reviewing the documents as well.
This interview was produced by Kaity Kline and edited by Simone Popperl.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-09-02/what-a-special-master-does-as-told-by-a-special-master | 2022-09-02T17:39:48Z |
Clint "Stormy" Tupper Stormy was a Modoc Indian of the Klamath Tribes. He was born on January 4, 1948, in Klamath Falls, OR, to the late Rachel Robbins and Bill Duffy-Tupper. Stormy went home on August 25, 2022, at his residence in Klamath Falls, OR, with family by his side. Stormy came from a strong blood line. He was the great-great grandson of Dr. Duffy and a direct descendant of Bogus Charley and Captain Jack, all lead warriors who fought in the Modoc War of 1872-1873. In addition, he was the great-great-great grandson of Old Chief Schonchin (1864 Treaty Signer), and a descendant of Modoc warriors, Boston Charley, Black Jim and Winema Riddle. Stormy grew up at Whiskey Creek and was raised in the Sprague River Valley on the Hi-Robbins Ranch. He also frequented the Beatty area along with his siblings, Rayson, Tana, Richard, Tori, Berva, Steve and Norman Lotches, roping and ranching. Stormy was a cowboy and a champion team roper with his brothers, Richard and Rayson. They attended many rodeos alongside their dad and they placed wherever they traveled. One thing that always stood out about Stormy was that he was fearless. On the Hi-Robbins Ranch, there was an Arabian horse that nobody could ride, except for Stormy. His brother Rayson said, "If there was a horse that nobody could ride, then we would get Stormy to get on and break 'em." Stormy attended school in Sprague River, Bonanza, Chiloquin and Judson Private School in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he and his brothers became the Arizona High School Team Roping Champions. Stormy often talked about his memories at Judson. He also briefly attended college at Oregon State University, COCC in Bend, and in 1972 he went to Heavy Equipment School in Ronan, Montana. In 1964, he married Julia Ann Forrest in Reno, NV. Together they had two beautiful daughters, Shannon and Tracy. And through it all - thick, thin, and turbulent - they spent their lives together, and their bond was never broken. Over the years he held several jobs where he made many life-long friends. In his younger years he often worked as a ranch hand and did millwork. He laid railroad ties for the railroad in Sprague River and worked for Bill Wampler Logging in 1969. From 1982 to 1986, he worked for the Forest Service in Lakeview. Other jobs included working for the Klamath Tribal Commodities program, the Klamath County Fairgrounds, Columbia Mill, and as a Surveillance Operator at Kla-mo-ya Casino. Stormy was an auto enthusiast; he loved classic cars and trucks and often spoke of all the vehicles he and his family owned throughout the years. He enjoyed attending car shows and participating in the annual Klamath Cruise. He loved to restore vehicles, go for long drives, listen to good music, travel and spend time with family and friends. He also loved to watch rodeo, read western books, and play a good game of cards or dominoes. Stormy has always been known for his kind heart, un-selfishness and willingness to help others. He was caring, and his conversation always included asking how you and your family were doing. He never said hello... he always greeted you with a 'Howdy Howdy Howdy' or 'Howdy Partner!' He loved his family deeply and shared a special and different bond with each one. Stormy will be remembered for his horsemanship, friendliness, quiet humor and fearlessness. He will truly be missed. He is survived by his daughters, Shannon Tupper and Tracy Tupper-Lugo; Grandchildren, Tava Sloss, Stephen Lugo, AJ Lugo, Jordan Hiram, Christopher Case, and many other grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sisters: Tana Tupper, Tori Tupper, and Berva Tupper. Brothers, Steve Weiser, Brandon Tupper, and many more family and special friends. He is preceded in death by his lifelong companion and wife, Julia Ann Forest-Tupper, his mother, father, brothers, grandparents, special relatives Irvin 'Blink' Kirk, and Pat Foster along with many more family and partners. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 2, 2022 at the Beatty Valley Gospel Mission. | https://www.heraldandnews.com/obituaries/tupper-clint-stormy/article_30a8482b-4ed6-5f81-b75f-5c5453d4af49.html | 2022-09-02T17:54:25Z |
Last group of beagles taken from troubled breeding facility
CUMBERLAND, Va. (AP) — The Humane Society of the United States says it has removed the last group of beagles from a troubled breeding facility in Virginia.
The facility in Cumberland planned to sell the dogs to animal testing labs. But it was cited by federal officials for violating the Animal Welfare Act.
The Humane Society says it took away the remaining 312 dogs on Thursday. Nearly 4,000 were removed. They’re being taken to shelters and other rescue sites that are finding them homes.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals initially investigated the facility.
PETA found dogs to be living in crowded and stressful conditions.
A federal judge approved a plan to remove them in July. Envigo RMS owns the facility and plans to close it.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/02/last-group-beagles-taken-troubled-breeding-facility/ | 2022-09-02T18:10:02Z |
Biden seeks $47 billion for Ukraine, COVID-19, monkeypox, disasters
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is asking Congress to provide more than $47 billion in emergency dollars that would go toward the war in Ukraine, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing monkeypox outbreak and help for recent natural disasters in Kentucky and other states.
The request, which comes as lawmakers are preparing to return to Washington and fund the government, includes $13.7 billion related to Ukraine, including money for equipment, intelligence support and direct budgetary support. Shalanda Young, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said that more than three-fourths of the $40 billion approved by Congress earlier this year has already been disbursed or committed.
“We have rallied the world to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their democracy and we cannot allow that support to Ukraine to run dry,” Young said in a blog post.
The White House request will play into congressional budget negotiations in the coming weeks as financing for federal agencies is set to run out Sept. 30. Both parties will be seeking to avoid a government shutdown in the weeks before the midterm elections, but they will have to work out differences over issues like the COVID-19 aid, which has been a sticking point for many months as the White House has said more money is needed for vaccines and testing and Republicans have pointed to the trillions that have already been approved and money that is still unspent.
In Friday’s request, the White House is seeking $7.1 billion to procure additional vaccines and for replenishing personal protective equipment in the Strategic National Stockpile, among other measures. It is also seeking $2 billion to continue testing programs, including an initiative to distribute free at-home tests that ended on Friday as the government says it is running short on funds. White House officials say they have some tests left in the stockpile, but not enough to provide free tests if cases sharply increase.
Congress also has not moved forward on President Joe Biden’s $22.5 billion request earlier this year for the COVID-19 response. And funding is drying up for many of the community groups that received millions of federal tax dollars to encourage vaccinations.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the White House has repeatedly warned that there would be trade-offs if that money wasn’t approved, and “that is precisely what happened.” The lack of free testing kits, for example, “leaves our domestic testing capacity diminished for a potential fall surge,” she said.
The administration is also asking for $4.5 billion to bolster its efforts to fight monkeypox. Officials said they have already depleted significant reserves from the national stockpile to provide over 1.1 million vials of vaccine.
The money would help ensure access to vaccinations, testing and treatment, and also help fund the global effort to fight the disease, administration officials said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/02/white-house-seeks-137-billion-more-ukraine/ | 2022-09-02T18:10:09Z |
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Birthdays: 9.1.22
Happy Birthday to everyone who celebrates on this day!!
Birthdays: 9.1.22
By
Joshua Bolden
Updated: Sep. 1, 2022 at 1:01 PM EDT
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Birthdays: 9.1.22
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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Gov. Justice presents $5M check for Monroe County Courthouse | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/01/birthdays-9122/ | 2022-09-02T18:29:12Z |
Birthdays & Anniversaries: 9.2.22 - 9.4.22
Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary to everyone who celebrates today and this weekend!!
Published: Sep. 2, 2022 at 1:00 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
Birthdays & Anniversaries: 9.2.22 - 9.4.22
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/birthdays-anniversaries-9222-9422/ | 2022-09-02T18:29:18Z |
Clean-up continues after coal mining accident floods Fayette County community
PAGE, W.Va. (WVVA) - An accident at a coal mining site flooded a Fayette County Community on August 24th.
It happened along Route 61 in Page on August 24th at a mining operation owned by Resliient Mining.
Fayette County Commission Pres. Allison Taylor said she was told the accident may have been caused by a high wall machine cutting into an abandoned mine shaft. She said some standing pools drained which caused the second rush of water into the community. A couple of residents have reported property damage, including one homeowner who had contaminated well water as a result.
Crews could be seen cleaning at least two homes with yards covered with sludge on Thursday.
A spokesperson for the W.Va. Dept. of Environmental Protection has released the following statement on the incident:
“On Aug. 24, Resilient Mining notified the WVDEP that it had cut into underground mine works during the course of its permitted operations, which caused a release of water (not coal slurry) from the underground mine that overwhelmed a sediment ditch.When the incident occurred, a rush of water left the permit area and went down Glenco Hollow and overwhelmed the culvert under county route 61. This caused water to back up over county route 61 and impact several citizens’ yards with mud and debris. WVDEP staff immediately responded to the incident and observed that the discharge was under control and a sediment ditch had been reestablished. The agency issued an Imminent Harm Cessation Order.”
“WVDEP staff also conducted a stream assessment and took samples from the point of discharge and several points instream. The results of the collected samples are still pending, but field findings on the days of our investigations showed multiple aquatic life specimens present in the stream.Resilient Mining staff has been onsite since the incident and working to clean up and repair residents’ yards and driveways, as well as any access roads and parking lots that were impacted.”
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/clean-up-continues-after-coal-mining-accident-floods-fayette-county-community/ | 2022-09-02T18:29:25Z |
Last group of beagles taken from troubled breeding facility
CUMBERLAND, Va. (AP) — The Humane Society of the United States says it has removed the last group of beagles from a troubled breeding facility in Virginia.
The facility in Cumberland planned to sell the dogs to animal testing labs. But it was cited by federal officials for violating the Animal Welfare Act.
The Humane Society says it took away the remaining 312 dogs on Thursday. Nearly 4,000 were removed. They’re being taken to shelters and other rescue sites that are finding them homes.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals initially investigated the facility.
PETA found dogs to be living in crowded and stressful conditions.
A federal judge approved a plan to remove them in July. Envigo RMS owns the facility and plans to close it.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/last-group-beagles-taken-troubled-breeding-facility/ | 2022-09-02T18:29:31Z |
Man charged with murder after setting mom on fire, police say
Published: Sep. 2, 2022 at 12:39 PM EDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
WINSTON SALEM, N.C. (Gray News) – A man in North Carolina was charged with murder after being accused of setting his mother on fire, according to police.
Responding officers found Joanna Parker sitting on the front porch burning in flames.
Police said officers were able to put out the fire.
According to the police report, James Parker, 48, was upset with his mother, so he poured gasoline on her and set her on fire.
The 72-year-old woman was taken to the hospital where she died from her injuries.
James Parker was arrested and charged with murder in connection to his mother’s death.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/man-charged-with-murder-after-setting-mom-fire-police-say/ | 2022-09-02T18:29:37Z |
Richlands High invites veterans to tonight’s game for free; plans to honor our servicemen & servicewomen
Attendees, coaches and athletes are honoring our veterans ahead of the game.
RICHLANDS, VA (WVVA) - Our country is the land of the free because of the brave and tonight before the Blue Tornado take on the Union Bears at home our veterans will be honored.
According to leaders with Richlands High School, all of our servicemen and service women will receive free admission to the game.
Kick off begins at 7 PM but 30 minutes prior there will be a special recognition ceremony on the football field as a 30 x 60 American flag will be unfurled on the gridiron.
This rendition of 13 stripes and 50 stars was provided by community leader, Karen Patton.
More information on tonight’s game can be found here.
Following tonight’s game, Richlands will play the G-Men on September 9th at Graham in Bluefield, VA.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/richlands-high-invites-veterans-tonights-game-free-plans-honor-our-servicemen-servicewomen/ | 2022-09-02T18:29:44Z |
Stolen voting machine bought on eBay
(CNN) - Michigan authorities are trying to figure out how a 2020 voting machine that went missing ended up on eBay.
Since the machines are part of the nation’s infrastructure, they’re supposed to remain under lock and key, but somehow this one ended up being available to the highest bidder.
“That is a device which can be configured either to be a voting machine or ballot-marking device,” elections systems expert Harri Hursti said.
The box with the machine in it shouldn’t be on Hursti’s kitchen table in Connecticut.
“Yeah. I have been asked not to open it so that if it’s a part of criminal investigation, it’s preserved as evidence,” he said.
Hursti bought the voting machine for $1,200 on eBay.
“As far as I was aware, it was a completely legal sale on my end,” said Ean Hutchison, an Uber driver in Ohio, who sold the item on eBay.
In his eBay ad, he wrote, “Dominion ImageCast X voting machine from Michigan, own a piece of history. This voting machine was one of thousands used in the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.”
Hutchison said he bought it from Goodwill online.
“I saw a listing for ... well, looked like just an industrial touchscreen computer, and I got to looking through the pictures,” Hutchison said. “And in one of the pictures, I saw in the bottom corner of the screen, it said Dominion Voting. So I, just on a whim, bid on it, and I was the only bidder, and I won the auction.”
He said he paid $7.99 for it.
It turns out someone dropped the voting machine off at a Goodwill in northern Michigan.
Who that person is remains a mystery, but the Goodwill put the machine for sale up on its website.
“I wasn’t even aware that they were supposed to be sold, let alone donated to Goodwill,” Hutchison said.
“It is shocking that only when we started asking, ‘Does it belong somewhere?’ only after that, they realize it has been stolen,” Hursti said.
It’s raised some issues about the chain of custody and how these machines are secured.
“We basically have 1,600 jurisdictions. Typically, in between elections, clerks have the responsibility of securing all election equipment, and protecting it from illegal attempts to access it by unauthorized individuals,” said Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State, a Democrat.
Benson said the incident has been referred to law enforcement.
Michigan is one of several swing states where authorities are already investigating unauthorized access to voting systems by people who are trying to prove the false claim the 2020 election was stolen.
“There is a nationally coordinated effort to try to interfere with our elections that’s manifesting itself at the local level in incidents like these in Michigan,” Benson said. “What you really have is individuals who don’t seem to understand the technicalities of the elections process or election security trying to gain access to machines to keep the misinformation alive.”
Benson, a Democrat, said she has a message to reassure voters.
“Michigan’s elections are secure before every election. We test every machine for accuracy. We’ve never seen, even with this unauthorized access to machines, any actual evidence of any challenges or wrongdoing or lack of security in the process,” she said.
As of Thursday evening, the voting machine has yet to be picked up from Hursti’s home.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/stolen-voting-machine-bought-ebay/ | 2022-09-02T18:29:50Z |
Biden seeks $47 billion for Ukraine, COVID-19, monkeypox, disasters
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is asking Congress to provide more than $47 billion in emergency dollars that would go toward the war in Ukraine, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing monkeypox outbreak and help for recent natural disasters in Kentucky and other states.
The request, which comes as lawmakers are preparing to return to Washington and fund the government, includes $13.7 billion related to Ukraine, including money for equipment, intelligence support and direct budgetary support. Shalanda Young, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said that more than three-fourths of the $40 billion approved by Congress earlier this year has already been disbursed or committed.
“We have rallied the world to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their democracy and we cannot allow that support to Ukraine to run dry,” Young said in a blog post.
The White House request will play into congressional budget negotiations in the coming weeks as financing for federal agencies is set to run out Sept. 30. Both parties will be seeking to avoid a government shutdown in the weeks before the midterm elections, but they will have to work out differences over issues like the COVID-19 aid, which has been a sticking point for many months as the White House has said more money is needed for vaccines and testing and Republicans have pointed to the trillions that have already been approved and money that is still unspent.
In Friday’s request, the White House is seeking $7.1 billion to procure additional vaccines and for replenishing personal protective equipment in the Strategic National Stockpile, among other measures. It is also seeking $2 billion to continue testing programs, including an initiative to distribute free at-home tests that ended on Friday as the government says it is running short on funds. White House officials say they have some tests left in the stockpile, but not enough to provide free tests if cases sharply increase.
Congress also has not moved forward on President Joe Biden’s $22.5 billion request earlier this year for the COVID-19 response. And funding is drying up for many of the community groups that received millions of federal tax dollars to encourage vaccinations.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the White House has repeatedly warned that there would be trade-offs if that money wasn’t approved, and “that is precisely what happened.” The lack of free testing kits, for example, “leaves our domestic testing capacity diminished for a potential fall surge,” she said.
The administration is also asking for $4.5 billion to bolster its efforts to fight monkeypox. Officials said they have already depleted significant reserves from the national stockpile to provide over 1.1 million vials of vaccine.
The money would help ensure access to vaccinations, testing and treatment, and also help fund the global effort to fight the disease, administration officials said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/02/white-house-seeks-137-billion-more-ukraine/ | 2022-09-02T18:29:57Z |
Jogger abducted during early morning run in Tennessee, police say
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) – Memphis police are searching for a woman who they believe was abducted early Friday morning.
Eliza Fletcher, 34, went missing around 4:30 a.m. Police found her personal items but have not located her.
Police said she was abducted on Central Avenue near the University of Memphis campus.
She is described as 5 foot, 6 inches tall, 137 pounds with blonde hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink jogging top, purple and blue running shorts, and she had her hair in a bun.
Police released this photo of her, seen running:
The University of Memphis sent an alert to students saying a woman had been kidnapped at about 4:30 a.m. on Central Avenue.
Officers were called to the scene around 7 a.m. when Fletcher was reported missing.
Police say Fletcher frequently jogs in the area and was approached by an unknown person and forced into an SUV.
The suspect was in a dark-colored SUV traveling westbound on Central Avenue.
Police say Fletcher’s phone and water bottle were found in front of a home on the street on which she was abducted. The phone was smashed.
Friends said the woman they know as “Liza” is an avid runner and a mother of two children. She is also a teacher at St. Mary’s Episcopal School, where she teaches junior kindergarten.
Anyone with information about Fletcher’s whereabouts should call 911 immediately. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been called in to assist Memphis police.
Copyright 2022 WMC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/02/jogger-abducted-during-early-morning-run-tennessee-police-say/ | 2022-09-02T18:53:33Z |
Leading E-Commerce Arts and Crafts Brand Celebrates Major Milestone, Among Other Big Wins
MIAMI, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arteza, a rapidly scaling arts and crafts brand dedicated to championing all creators by providing premium yet affordable products and education that inspires boundless creativity, today announced its entrance into JOANN stores, a leading crafts retailer. Quickly ranked as one of the fastest-growing e-commerce brands globally, Arteza makes a pivotal move to enter the retail space.
JOANN will sell Arteza products across 350 brick-and-mortar stores, as well as being available on the brand website. A full set, which includes 42 assortments of Arteza products, will be sold at 150 stores, while smaller sets will be sold at the remaining 250 stores. The assortment includes a variety of unique Arteza products such as Inkonic pens, acrylic paints, watercolor paints and accessories, colored pencils, EverBlend Pro markers, gel pens, sketchbooks, and more.
"The ability to offer a tangible and immersive experience for our consumers across JOANN retail stores is a golden opportunity for us," said Erick Haskell, CEO at Arteza. "Since inception, Arteza has been able to break the mold in the art industry by building a robust online presence fueled by its connection with the artist community. Now, with our partnership with Joann, we are able to offer creators an enhanced experience where they can visually and physically step into our brand and get a true sense of all that Arteza has to offer."
This milestone comes at an exciting time for Arteza, as this year is full of significant wins for the brand. In 2022, the company raised $35M in financing led by long-time backer Volition Capital with participation from Escalate Capital Partners. The financing gives Arteza the capital and expertise to continue its hyper-growth trajectory while meeting customer demand, further validating its leadership position in the arts and crafts industry.
Earlier this summer, Arteza launched Fuel Your Creativity, a campaign designed to redefine what it means to be an artist by paving a path for artistic inspiration, education, and digital creativity. The campaign continues to play an essential role in today's brand-voice, as Arteza aims to deepen its impact with creators worldwide.
To learn more about Arteza, visit Arteza.com or follow Arteza on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. You can also browse Arteza's online assortment offered on JOANN's website here.
Established in 2016, Arteza is a rapidly scaling arts and crafts brand dedicated to connecting and championing all who dare to create by providing premium tools and education that inspire boundless creativity. Arteza is headquartered in the heart of Miami, FL, near iconic art districts like Wynwood, the largest street arts district in the world and known to attract the highest renowned street artists in the world. The company offers state-of-the-art tools to millions of consumers in more than 120 countries worldwide. Recognized as #32 in Inc. 5000's 2020 Fastest Growing Companies, #57 in Inc. 2022 Regional Southeast Awards, and showcased as a brand that goes beyond business in Inc.s' 2021 Best in Business, Arteza has redefined the art supply industry with its extensive assortment of premium yet affordable products, robust social platforms offering expert resources, and unmatched customer service. To learn more about Arteza, visit www.arteza.com or follow @artezaofficial on Instagram.
Media Contact:
Natalia Rodrigues
Public Relations Manager
natalia.rodrigues@arteza.com
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SOURCE Arteza | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/arteza-enters-retail-space-with-joann-partnership/ | 2022-09-02T18:53:39Z |
FEATURES FORMER BEACH BOYS' BANDMATES BRIAN WILSON, MIKE LOVE, BRUCE JOHNSTON, DAVID MARKS PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS ALEC BALDWIN, DAVID CROSBY, DEWEY BUNNEL AND GERRY BECKLEY OF AMERICA, FLEA, GLEN CAMPBELL, JOHN STAMOS, NEIL YOUNG, STEPHEN STILLS, STEVE MILLER, AND MORE
15-TRACK ALBUM INCLUDES PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED, NEWLY REMASTERED AND EXPANDED EDITION OF "WAVES OF LOVE" FEATURING ONE OF CARL WILSON'S LAST-EVER RECORDED VOCALS
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Al Jardine's acclaimed debut solo album, A Postcard from California, is now available digitally for streaming and download worldwide via UMe, just ahead of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and legendary co-founder of The Beach Boys' 80th birthday tomorrow, September 3rd. Originally released in 2010 on CD and again in 2012 with two bonus tracks, "Waves of Love" and "Sloop John B (A Pirate's Tale)," the much-sought-after record hasn't been available digitally for several years and is making its streaming debut. The album quickly sold out when released on limited edition translucent blue vinyl for Record Store Day in 2018. Stream A Postcard from California here: AlJardine.lnk.to/APostcardfromCaliforniaPR
"I can't believe it's been twelve years since Postcard came out and I thank everyone involved in the production and creation of this album to help me get my songs out there," says Al Jardine. "Brian's advice to aspiring young songwriters has always been 'finish your songs' so I took it to heart and I hope everyone who has listened to A Postcard from California feels my excitement and enthusiasm for this great land and sea of ours and our need to protect it forever. Thank you for all your support over the years, it is greatly appreciated and I will continue to dedicate Postcard to all the pets we love and who love us back!"
Recorded at Jardine's own Red Barn Studios in Big Sur, Calif., A Postcard from California touches upon California's history, natural beauty and other environmental issues. The 15-song collection includes several songs that speak to the relationship of man and his environment. "Don't Fight The Sea," "Tidepool Interlude" and "A California Saga" are songs that reflect Jardine's deep love for the California coastline and his concern for the ecological health of the planet, which more than a decade after its initial release resonates as strongly today as ever. Jardine has always embodied that concern for the environment, and the coastline and ocean in particular. Previously, on the Beach Boys' Surf's Up album, he and Mike Love wrote the song, "Don't Go Near the Water." The track "Lookin' Down the Coast" is a tale of the discovery of California by the Spanish, as seen through the eyes of its natural inhabitants, the California condor, the whale, the otter and the bear.
Specially for this digital release, Jardine has included a previously unreleased, newly remastered and extended version of the bonus track "Waves of Love," which features former Beach Boys bandmate Carl Wilson in one of his last recorded studio vocals ever.
A Postcard from California was largely penned by Jardine who enlisted a slew of his famous friends to help him bring this album to life, including Alec Baldwin, David Crosby, Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley of America, Flea, Glen Campbell, John Stamos, Neil Young, Richie Cannata, Stephen Stills, and Steve Miller. The album also served as a reunion of sorts for The Beach Boys as it brought Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, along with a lead vocal by Carl Wilson, together on the song "Don't Fight The Sea" several years before the band would reunite for an album and tour in celebration of their 50th anniversary in 2012. Jardine's sons, Adam and Matt Jardine, also sing on the album, which was co-produced by musicians Stevie Heger and Scott Slaughter.
"'Don't Fight the Sea' started a long time ago with a Canadian friend of mine, Terry Jacks, who was kind enough to allow me to rewrite his song for a solo album that Mike Love and I were planning around an ecology theme. I asked Matt Jardine to help me with the lyrics. I always envisioned it to be the quintessential environmental song, a big statement, but I could never get all the guys together to finish it. I started with Carl, Bruce (Johnston) and myself on backgrounds, then years later Brian put on his falsetto, and just recently Mike recorded his baritone signature line. To top it all off, I added Matt and friend Scott Mathews to the track, to give additional vocal support to the core group; all this over a period of thirty-plus years. I guess persistence pays off!"
"Don't Fight The Sea" (also released as a 7" single on white vinyl on Record Store Day 2011 to help raise funds for Japan disaster relief) is just one of the many highlights of the album that also includes inspired versions of Beach Boys' classics "Help Me, Rhonda" and "A California Saga" and a heartfelt rendition of The Mamas & The Papas' biggest hit, "California Dreamin'," a duet with one-time Beach Boy Glen Campbell who famously filled in for Brian Wilson on tour from December 1964-March 1965. Campbell also lends his unmistakable voice to the ebullient album opener title track.
"Help Me, Rhonda" gets quite a blues makeover as Jardine shares vocals with Steve Miller on the Brian Wilson-penned track that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100 for the Beach Boys in 1965 on the strength of Jardine's unforgettable lead vocal. Adding to the blues feel is harmonica by the late virtuoso Norton Buffalo. Jardine's reworking of "A California Saga," his song from the Beach Boys' 1973 album, Holland, features Neil Young on co-lead vocals with Jardine and backing vocals by David Crosby and Stephen Stills along with Adam and Matt Jardine. Young also sings on "Campfire Scene" which follows Alec Baldwin's spoken word narration of a Stephen John Kalinich poem on "Tidepool Interlude" that leads into "A California Saga."
A Postcard from California also includes "Sloop John B (A Pirate's Tale)" which was originally released alongside Jardine's award-winning children's book of the same name.
As Endless Summer Quarterly wrote in their review, "there are great moments of depth, strokes of expression, and ageless vision that could only come from a 'Jardine musical canvas.' Although this collection isn't purely autobiographical; it masterfully captures the transient lifestyle of his biological family as well as the musical consciousness of The Beach Boys."
Now, just in time for Al Jardine's 80th birthday, his debut solo album, A Postcard from California is available once again for all to enjoy. For more info on the album, please visit http://www.aljardine.com
A Postcard from California Track Listing
1. A Postcard from California
2. California Feelin'
3. Looking Down The Coast
4. Don't Fight The Sea
5. Tidepool Interlude
6. Campfire Scene
7. A California Saga
8. Help Me Rhonda
9. San Simeon
10. Drivin'
11. Honkin' Down The Highway
12. California Dreamin'
13. And I Always Will
Special Bonus Tracks
14. Waves Of Love
15. Sloop John B (A Pirate's Tale)
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SOURCE UMe | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/beach-boys-co-founder-al-jardines-acclaimed-debut-studio-album-postcard-california-available-digitally-worldwide-via-ume/ | 2022-09-02T18:53:45Z |
ImpactLife campaign celebrates the role of blood donors in supporting pediatric cancer patients
DAVENPORT, Iowa, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ImpactLife is highlighting the critical role of blood donors in supporting pediatric patients during September's Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Every day, more than 40 children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States and many of these patients will rely on blood transfusions as part of their treatment. ImpactLife seeks to raise awareness and inspire action with its "Blood is Medicine" campaign materials, now available to download and share from www.bloodcenter.org/childhoodcancer.
Cancer patients receive blood transfusions to help treat symptoms of the disease as well as side effects caused by chemotherapy. Jessica McKearney's son, Hudson, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia just before his second birthday in 2019. "The first night he was diagnosed, Hudson received red blood cell and platelet transfusions," said Jessica. "He officially rang the bell and is done with chemotherapy as of May. We could not have survived this journey without all the support and blood donations because in the oncology world, blood is medicine, and it truly saved his life."
Watch Hudson's story here.
The ImpactLife "Blood is Medicine" campaign materials are intended to support outreach efforts and help educate potential donors on the difference they can make for patients like Hudson. For example, a transfusion of red blood cells, which carry oxygen through the body, can help increase a patient's energy levels and a transfusion of platelets reduces the risk of bleeding. The campaign, available at www.bloodcenter.org/childhoodcancer, includes an educational toolkit with infographics and statistics, motion graphics, social media cover photos, and video features. The web page also includes scheduling information and a calendar of upcoming childhood cancer-related blood drives.
To schedule an appointment for donation, call (800) 747-5401, text 999-777, or schedule online at www.bloodcenter.org, or via the Blood Center's mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app).
About ImpactLife
ImpactLife is a not-for-profit blood services provider to 124 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as resource sharing partners across the country. ImpactLife operates 22 Donor Centers and holds approximately 5000 mobile blood drives annually to provide blood components needed for patient transfusions at hospitals within its four-state service region (www.bloodcenter.org/hospitals). For more information, see @impactlifeblood on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat or www.bloodcenter.org.
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SOURCE ImpactLife | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/blood-is-medicine-raising-awareness-inspire-action/ | 2022-09-02T18:53:52Z |
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