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DETROIT — A judge on Wednesday struck down Michigan's 1931 anti-abortion law, months after suspending it, the latest development over abortion rights in a state where the issue is being argued in courtrooms and, possibly, at the ballot box.
The law, which was long dormant before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, violates the Michigan Constitution, said Judge Elizabeth Gleicher.
"A law denying safe, routine medical care not only denies women of their ability to control their bodies and their lives — it denies them of their dignity," Gleicher of the Court of Claims wrote. "Michigan's Constitution forbids this violation of due process."
The decision comes as the Michigan Supreme Court is considering whether to place a proposed amendment on the Nov. 8 ballot that would add abortion rights to the state constitution. A Friday deadline is looming.
Supporters submitted more than 700,000 signatures, easily clearing the threshold. But a tie vote by the Board of State Canvassers over spacing issues on the petition has kept it off the ballot so far.
In the case handled by Gleicher, the 1931 law makes it a crime to perform abortions unless the life of the mother is in danger.
The judge found the law "compels motherhood" and prevents a woman from determining the "shape of her present and future life."
The law "forces a pregnant woman to forgo her reproductive choices and to instead serve as `an involuntary vessel entitled to no more respect than other forms of collectively owned property,'" Gleicher wrote, quoting constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe.
She suspended the law in May with an injunction. Her latest decision applies to all state and local prosecutors in Michigan. The Republican-controlled House and Senate can appeal the ruling, which came in a lawsuit from Planned Parenthood.
Gleicher acknowledged in July that she has been a regular donor to the organization and gave $1,000 to the campaigns of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel, both Democrats who support abortion rights. But that support wasn't a reason to pass the case to another judge, said Gleicher, who also serves as chief judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals.
In a separate lawsuit, Whitmer has repeatedly asked the state Supreme Court to bypass lower courts and settle the status of the 1931 law. The court hasn't decided whether to intervene.
Copyright 2022 . To see more, visit . | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/a-judge-strikes-down-a-1931-law-criminalizing-abortion-in-michigan | 2022-09-07T21:32:06Z |
Here & Now‘s Scott Tong speaks with Vox correspondent Jonathan Guyer about the U.S. officials and systems bearing the responsibility for the American and allied withdrawal from Afghanistan.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 . To see more, visit . | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/a-tremendous-tragedy-who-is-responsible-for-the-effects-of-the-u-s-withdrawal-from-afghanistan | 2022-09-07T21:32:13Z |
Airlines are looking to shake up their menus in an attempt to woo passengers. Airline food is routinely mocked for its standards and many airlines now charge for the food you have on board, something which has changed in the past few years.
Seth Kaplan, Here & Now‘s transportation analyst, joins host Scott Tong to talk about the culinary world at 35,000 feet and the changes that are coming.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 . To see more, visit . | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/airline-food-is-due-for-a-revamp | 2022-09-07T21:32:19Z |
Longtime NPR foreign correspondent Anne Garrels has died. She was known for her brave work covering war zones and conflicts around the world.
Copyright 2022 NPR
Longtime NPR foreign correspondent Anne Garrels has died. She was known for her brave work covering war zones and conflicts around the world.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/anne-garrels-long-time-foreign-correspondent-for-npr-dies-at-71 | 2022-09-07T21:32:26Z |
The Southern Decadence festival in New Orleans attracted hundreds of thousands of people over this past Labor Day weekend. It’s a celebratory event but the city also saw it as an opportunity to educate revelers about monkeypox and provide vaccines.
Shalina Chatlani of the Gulf States Newsroom reports.
Shea Creel (left), Jae Hinton (center), and Darryn Johnson (right) stop for a photo in New Orleans’ French Quarter, Sept. 6, 2022. The trio from Lake Charles, Louisiana were excited to come to Southern Decadence and were happy to see positive messaging around monkeypox vaccinations.
(Shalina Chatlani/ Gulf States Newsroom.)
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 . To see more, visit . | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/at-new-orleans-southern-decadence-festival-health-officials-educate-and-vaccinate-for-monkeypox | 2022-09-07T21:32:32Z |
President Biden unveiled the official White House portraits of former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday — reviving a tradition set aside during the Trump era.
Copyright 2022 NPR
President Biden unveiled the official White House portraits of former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday — reviving a tradition set aside during the Trump era.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/biden-unveils-the-official-white-house-portraits-of-the-obamas | 2022-09-07T21:32:38Z |
Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro are flocking to Rio's most famous beach to celebrate Independence day - and a military display with an ominous undertow ahead of next month's election.
Copyright 2022 NPR
Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro are flocking to Rio's most famous beach to celebrate Independence day - and a military display with an ominous undertow ahead of next month's election.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/brazil-celebrates-independence-day-ahead-of-presidential-election | 2022-09-07T21:32:45Z |
NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Jan Smutny-Jones, CEO of the Independent Energy Producers Association, about how California's record heat wave nearly broke the state's power grid.
Copyright 2022 NPR
NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Jan Smutny-Jones, CEO of the Independent Energy Producers Association, about how California's record heat wave nearly broke the state's power grid.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/californias-record-heat-wave-put-so-much-stress-on-the-power-grid-it-nearly-broke | 2022-09-07T21:32:51Z |
Civil rights attorneys in Mississippi are trying to strike a provision from the state constitution that dates back more than a hundred years to 1890. They say it is a discriminatory law that blocks some Black Americans from voting.
They plan to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case now after losing in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. The case centers on an old Mississippi law that blocks people convicted of certain felonies from ever voting again.
Here & Now‘s Scott Tong talks with Rob McDuff, an attorney with the Mississippi Center for Justice who brought the case.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 . To see more, visit . | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/civil-rights-attorneys-say-a-100-year-old-law-in-mississippi-is-unconstitutional | 2022-09-07T21:32:58Z |
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Alex Gibson of the Kentucky-based arts and media organization Appalshop, about how recent floods affected their archives of Appalachian music, film and heritage items.
Copyright 2022 NPR
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Alex Gibson of the Kentucky-based arts and media organization Appalshop, about how recent floods affected their archives of Appalachian music, film and heritage items.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/east-kentuckys-cultural-cornerstone-is-trying-to-salvage-its-archives-after-floods | 2022-09-07T21:33:04Z |
FX's new original series for Hulu, The Patient, features Steve Carell as Alan Strauss, a therapist kidnapped by a new patient who turns out to be a serial killer.
Copyright 2022 NPR
FX's new original series for Hulu, The Patient, features Steve Carell as Alan Strauss, a therapist kidnapped by a new patient who turns out to be a serial killer.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/encore-a-review-of-hulus-new-series-the-patient-that-stars-steve-carell | 2022-09-07T21:33:10Z |
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan about the ongoing water crisis in Jackson, Miss. The city has now gone 39 days without safe drinking water.
Copyright 2022 NPR
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan about the ongoing water crisis in Jackson, Miss. The city has now gone 39 days without safe drinking water.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/epa-administrator-says-its-all-hands-on-deck-in-jackson-miss | 2022-09-07T21:33:16Z |
Here & Now‘s Scott Tong gets the latest on how California’s power grid is holding up amidst an intense heat wave from Steve Milne, Morning Edition anchor and reporter at Capital Public Radio.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 . To see more, visit . | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/heat-wave-strains-californias-power-grid | 2022-09-07T21:33:23Z |
NPR's Juana Summers speaks with professor Siobhan Brooks of California State University — Fullerton about the issues strippers face and their history of organizing and unionizing in the U.S.
Copyright 2022 NPR
NPR's Juana Summers speaks with professor Siobhan Brooks of California State University — Fullerton about the issues strippers face and their history of organizing and unionizing in the U.S.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/how-strippers-hoping-to-unionize-in-la-adds-to-the-history-of-organizing-in-the-u-s | 2022-09-07T21:33:29Z |
The first shipment of Ukrainian grain arrived in Ethiopia on Wednesday. But the delivery — six truckloads — is just a fraction of what is needed across the entire continent.
Copyright 2022 NPR
The first shipment of Ukrainian grain arrived in Ethiopia on Wednesday. But the delivery — six truckloads — is just a fraction of what is needed across the entire continent.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/is-africa-being-held-hostage-in-the-politics-of-grain-wars | 2022-09-07T21:33:35Z |
A Texas judge ruled that requiring employers to provide coverage for anti-AIDS medication violates religious freedoms and is unconstitutional. The ruling could jeopardize other preventive health care.
Copyright 2022 NPR
A Texas judge ruled that requiring employers to provide coverage for anti-AIDS medication violates religious freedoms and is unconstitutional. The ruling could jeopardize other preventive health care.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/judge-rules-that-companies-are-not-required-to-provide-coverage-for-hiv-medication | 2022-09-07T21:33:42Z |
Wednesday marks exactly 100 years since the death of American surgeon Dr. William Stewart Halsted. It’s a name you may not know, but if you have ever had an operation, you probably have him to thank for its success.
Halsted pioneered many vital hygiene practices and new operations. However, following an experiment gone wrong, he ended up struggling with an addiction to cocaine.
Dr. Gerald Imber is a surgeon himself and the author of the book ‘Genius on the Edge: The Bizarre Double Life of Dr. William Stewart Halsted.‘ He joins Here & Now‘s Scott Tong to discuss Halsted’s complicated life and his lasting impact on American and world medicine.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 . To see more, visit . | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/looking-back-on-100-years-since-the-death-of-revolutionary-surgeon-dr-william-stewart-halsted | 2022-09-07T21:33:48Z |
The Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., has a rich, complex history and was destined to be a "Winter White House" long before Donald Trump came along.
Copyright 2022 NPR
The Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., has a rich, complex history and was destined to be a "Winter White House" long before Donald Trump came along.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/mar-a-lagos-legacy-began-long-before-trump | 2022-09-07T21:33:55Z |
In Nashville, a low-income apartment complex is being demolished to build a new mix-use development. Virginia Holland is a mother of six and is being forced to look for a new place to live.
Copyright 2022 WPLN News
In Nashville, a low-income apartment complex is being demolished to build a new mix-use development. Virginia Holland is a mother of six and is being forced to look for a new place to live.
Copyright 2022 WPLN News | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/nashville-families-are-struggling-to-find-housing-after-being-displaced | 2022-09-07T21:34:01Z |
The new COVID-19 booster shot is now available. It targets both the original strain of COVID and the newer omicron sub-variants that have been causing the majority of recent infections in the United States.
Here & Now‘s Peter O’Dowd speaks to Sarah Owermohle, a Washington correspondent for our partners at STAT, the health and medicine publication.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 . To see more, visit . | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/new-covid-booster-questions-answered | 2022-09-07T21:34:07Z |
Colorado Public Radio’s Caitlyn Kim joins Here & Now‘s Peter O’Dowd to discuss the Senate race between incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet and construction magnate Republican Joe O’Dea, which the Cook Political Report recently moved from “likely Democrat” to “lean Democrat.”
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 . To see more, visit . | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/republican-gains-ground-in-colorado-senate-race | 2022-09-07T21:34:14Z |
Our bodies couldn't endure the summer heat without sweating. But as the climate gets hotter, sweat isn't cooling us off like it used to.
Copyright 2022 NPR
Our bodies couldn't endure the summer heat without sweating. But as the climate gets hotter, sweat isn't cooling us off like it used to.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/sweating-keeps-you-cool-but-climate-change-is-making-it-harder | 2022-09-07T21:34:20Z |
Extreme heat across California is causing trouble in schools. It's straining aging air conditioning systems, making recess dangerous and highlighting ventilation problems in many classrooms.
Copyright 2022 KPCC
Extreme heat across California is causing trouble in schools. It's straining aging air conditioning systems, making recess dangerous and highlighting ventilation problems in many classrooms.
Copyright 2022 KPCC | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/the-extreme-heat-in-california-is-causing-disruptions-in-the-states-classrooms | 2022-09-07T21:34:27Z |
Six months into the war in Ukraine, thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced. Four-legged Ukrainians are also suffering, but there are groups working to help the animals.
Copyright 2022 NPR
Six months into the war in Ukraine, thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced. Four-legged Ukrainians are also suffering, but there are groups working to help the animals.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/these-groups-are-working-to-help-the-animals-affected-by-the-war-in-ukraine | 2022-09-07T21:34:33Z |
Across the U.S., more moms are turning to small amounts of psychedelic mushrooms to cope with the stresses of parenting. But does it point to a deeper problem of lack of support for women?
Copyright 2022 CPR News
Across the U.S., more moms are turning to small amounts of psychedelic mushrooms to cope with the stresses of parenting. But does it point to a deeper problem of lack of support for women?
Copyright 2022 CPR News | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/thousands-of-moms-are-microdosing-with-mushrooms-to-ease-the-stress-of-parenting | 2022-09-07T21:34:39Z |
United Nations nuclear watchdogs are sounding the alarm about the conditions of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine. The power went out due to the artillery shelling in the area, major repairs are due, and a much-reduced crew of Ukrainian workers are under tremendous stress.
Here & Now‘s Scott Tong checks in with John Hudson, national security reporter for The Washington Post in Kyiv.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 . To see more, visit . | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/un-watchdogs-alarmed-by-conditions-at-ukraines-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant | 2022-09-07T21:34:45Z |
A recent industry study found that only 4% of video game developers identified as Black. While game companies are pledging money to support programs for developers of color, one podcaster is drawing attention to the problem through a long-standing podcast.
“Spawn On Me” host Kahlief Adams joins Here & Now‘s Scott Tong.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 . To see more, visit . | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/video-game-development-lacks-diversity-one-podcaster-is-trying-to-change-that | 2022-09-07T21:34:52Z |
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The 10 victims of the mass stabbing in Canada on Sunday range in age from 23 to 78 years old and all but one are from the Indigenous community of James Smith Cree Nation, according to authorities.
The Saskatchewan Coroner's Service and Saskatchewan Royal Canadian Mounted Police provided names and ages of the victims in a statement Wednesday but declined to confirm the relationships between them. Six of the victims share the last name Burns, two share the last name Head, and one shares the last name of the two suspects in the attacks.
The victims were identified as:
- Thomas Burns, 23
- Carol Burns, 46
- Gregory Burns, 28
- Lydia Gloria Burns, 61
- Bonnie Burns, 48
- Earl Burns, 66
- Lana Head, 49
- Christian Head, 54
- Robert Sanderson, 49
- Wesley Petterson, 78
Petterson is from Weldon, Saskatchewan, while the other nine victims are from James Smith Cree Nation.
Several family members of some victims spoke at a press conference Wednesday about their loved ones. Saskatoon Tribal Chief Mark Arcand identified Bonnie Burns as his sister and Gregory Burns as her son, and he said another of her sons was stabbed but survived.
"Let me be honest in saying this, we don't really know what happened. We just know that our family members were killed in their own home, in their yard," Arcand said.
In addition, 18 people were injured in the stabbing attacks, but authorities will not be releasing their identities. "We can confirm one young teen was injured and the remaining injured are all adults. We will not be confirming other specific ages," the agencies said.
Three patients were in critical condition and seven were in stable condition as of Tuesday, according to the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
The victim information was released as Canadian police have continued their massive search for one of the two suspects in the brutal attacks, which spanned 13 different crime scenes in the James Smith Cree Nation and in Weldon, a nearby rural village in Saskatchewan.
Authorities have identified brothers Myles and Damien Sanderson as suspects. Myles Sanderson remains at large and is considered "armed and dangerous," while Damien Sanderson was found dead a day after the attacks with injuries that were not believed to be self-inflicted, police said.
Police have warned that Myles Sanderson may be injured. He is wanted on a warrant for three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and breaking and entering into a residence.
Police on Tuesday reported a potential sighting of Sanderson at the James Smith Cree Nation, but police later determined he was not in the community. The search has expanded to the entirety of the province of Saskatchewan, authorities said.
Some of the victims were apparently targeted, police say
It remains unclear what motivated the violence and how or whether the brothers knew any of the victims.
Some were apparently targeted while others may have been attacked randomly, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore said in a Monday briefing.
It's also unknown if the brothers carried out the attacks at the same time, according to Blackmore.
The first stabbing was reported on the James Smith Cree Nation at 5:40 a.m. local time. Minutes later, several more calls came in about stabbings at other locations, police said.
The nation has a population of around 3,400 people with about 1,800 members who live on the reservation, according to its website.
By 9:45 a.m., authorities were reporting victims in multiple locations, including one in Weldon.
Lydia Gloria Burns, a first responder, was responding to a crisis call when she was caught up in the violence and killed, her brother Darryl Burns told Reuters, though the agency didn't say if the call was related to the stabbings.
"She was butchered," her brother Ivor Burns said to Reuters.
The discovery of Damien Sanderson's body a day after the attacks also raised questions about his brother's involvement in his death. But police said Monday that it was unclear if Myles Sanderson was involved.
"It is an investigative avenue that we are following up on, but we can't say that definitively at this point," Blackmore said.
Suspect had a 'lengthy' criminal history and was released by parole board
Myles Sanderson was described as being approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing about 240 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Police on Tuesday released an updated photo of him.
Blackmore previously said that Sanderson had warrants out for his arrest before the stabbings.
"Myles' record dates back quite a number of years and it includes both property and persons crimes," Blackmore said, without elaborating on the alleged crimes.
"His actions have shown that he is violent and so we're continuing to emphasize for people to remain vigilant," Blackmore added.
Sanderson was granted statutory release by the Parole Board of Canada, according to a ruling made on February 1, 2022.
Statutory release is a presumptive release by law that allows an offender to serve part of their sentence in the community under direct supervision, according to the board. By Canadian law, the Correctional Service of Canada must release most offenders with supervision after they have served two-thirds of their sentence, if they have not already been granted parole, except for those serving a life sentence.
The board said in the ruling that it didn't believe Sanderson would present a risk to the public if released. The decision did note his long criminal history and that he was assessed by a psychologist for a "moderate risk of violence."
"Your criminal history is very concerning, including the use of violence and weapons related to your index offences, and your history of domestic violence which victimized family, including your children, and non-family," the ruling states.
In a statement, the Parole Board said it "extends its thoughts to the victims, their families and all those who have been impacted as a result of these senseless and horrific acts of violence."
Citing the Privacy Act, the board said it could not discuss specifics of an offender's case.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.kitv.com/news/crime/saskatchewan-mass-stabbing-victims-range-in-age-from-23-to-78-years-old/article_5de662b7-08a9-5007-85b0-ddd17bbee5db.html | 2022-09-07T21:37:48Z |
Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama's official White House portraits were unveiled during an emotional ceremony at the White House on Wednesday -- marking their first joint visit to the building since they left in 2017 and the return of a Washington tradition last celebrated 10 years ago.
The history-making portraits of the Obamas stand in contrast to those of other US presidents and their spouses hung on the White House walls, depicting the first Black President and first lady through the perspectives of contemporary artists working outside many of the conventions of traditional political portraiture.
President Obama's image was painted by Robert McCurdy and Michelle Obama's portrait was painted by Sharon Sprung.
McCurdy told the White House Historical Association in an interview that his process focused on working off of a photograph of the former President. The photorealistic image of the former President, dressed in a black suit with a gray tie, is painted against a minimal white backdrop -- a signature of McCurdy's artworks. McCurdy said his paintings take at least a year to complete.
The former first lady's portrait was painted by Sprung, who describes her work as "contemporary realism." The image depicts Michelle Obama in a blue dress, seated on a sofa in the Red Room of the White House. The artwork was painted from photographs taken in different locations on the White House's State Floor.
The long-awaited return of a White House tradition
Wednesday's ceremony in the East Room marked a rare occasion for a celebration among two presidential administrations, where President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden convened a who's who of administration officials past and present -- from the unique vantage point of having served in both.
The pieces, which will hang inside the White House for decades to come, are the first official portraits added to the White House Collection since then-President Obama held a bipartisan unveiling ceremony for George W. Bush and Laura Bush in 2012.
Biden used the unveiling ceremony to reflect on the Obamas' accomplishments in the White House, saying that the former first couple "made history."
"You both generated hope for millions of people who were left behind for so long -- and it matters. You both did it with such grace and such class. You dreamed big and secured lasting wins for the American people, helping lift their burden with a blessing of hope," he continued. "It's so underestimated ... just having hope. This is the gift of the Obama presidency to the country and to history."
The former President subsequently led a standing ovation for Biden, saying in the East Room, "Thanks to your decency and thanks to your strength -- maybe most of all thanks to your faith in democracy and the American people -- the country's better off than when you took office. And we should all be deeply grateful for that."
Stewart McLaurin, the president of the WHHA, told CNN that the Covid-19 pandemic played a factor in the timing of the unveiling. The WHHA, a nonprofit organization, facilitates and funds the creation of the portraits.
"Covid impacted us two-and-a-half years ago, and I do think it's important for these (portraits) to be revealed at a time when the public does have access to the White House and they can be seen," McLaurin said.
While there's no hard-and-fast rule for when a White House portrait ought to be unveiled, ceremonies have often been hosted by a former president's immediate successor. And when in office, President Donald Trump never held a ceremony for the Obama portraits.
'An evolution of art'
Details about the pieces being unveiled on Wednesday were a tightly held secret, with artists and art movers signing confidentiality agreements to keep things under wraps before the big day.
But the Obamas have often used art as a tool to express their tastes, so it should come as no surprise that their White House portraits are doing the same.
McCurdy's depiction of the former President is minimalist, eschewing the conventional props typically associated with a presidential portrait, like a desk or a bookcase, for an entirely blank background.
The former President said during the unveiling that he liked that McCurdy "paints people the way they are, for better or worse."
"He captures every wrinkle on your face, every crease in your shirt. You'll note that he refused to hide any of my gray hairs, refused my request to make my ears smaller. He also talked me out of wearing a tan suit, by the way," Obama quipped. "His work is so precise that at first glance it looks like a photograph."
While past presidents attain a form of "mythical status" after leaving office, Obama said he hoped future generations would look at the portraits and "get a better, honest sense of who Michelle and I were."
"And I hope they leave with a better understanding that if we could make it here, maybe they can too. They can do remarkable things, too," he continued.
Sprung's interpretation shows the former first lady appearing to take a brief moment to get comfortable inside one of the the most formal rooms in the White House. Unlike her predecessors' portraits, Michelle Obama is wearing a strapless gown in her portrait -- perhaps a marker of the country's evolving style.
In her portrait, the former first lady is wearing a custom Jason Wu Collection gown, a person familiar with the details told CNN. Wu is a full-circle choice of designer for Obama, and he designed both of her inaugural gowns. Obama's choice of Wu back then essentially launched his career as a globally recognized fashion designer.
Michelle Obama said during the ceremony that though she "never could have imagined" being first lady would be part of her story, she recognized that "traditions like this matter, not just for those of us who hold these positions, but for everyone participating in and watching our democracy."
"Too often in this country, people feel like they have to look a certain way or act a certain way to fit in, that they have to make a lot of money or come from a certain group or class or faith in order to matter. But what we're looking at today -- a portrait of a biracial kid with an unusual name and the daughter of a water pump operator and a stay-at-home mom -- what we are seeing is a reminder that there is a place for everyone in this country," the former first lady said.
"That is what this country is about. It's not about blood or pedigree or wealth. It's a place where everyone should have a fair shot," she continued.
Ahead of Wednesday's reveal, McLaurin called the Obama portraits "an evolution of art."
"We're now heading towards the first third of the 21st century. And I think in the mind's eye of most Americans, we see presidential portraits as these very traditional, 19th-century-looking-and-feeling portraits. But art and taste in art evolves and changes," he continued.
While living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the Obamas opted to highlight several contemporary and modern artists.
A Robert Rauschenberg painting replaced a portrait of a Roosevelt in the family dining room. Mark Rothko and Josef Albers works were installed. And Michelle Obama brought in work from Alma Thomas -- the first Black female artist in the White House Collection.
Since leaving the presidency, the Obamas have staked some of their post-White House careers in taste-making -- producing podcasts and award-winning films, as well as curating playlists and book lists each year.
For their portraits unveiled in 2018 at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery (which are not to be confused with new official White House portraits being unveiled this week), the Obamas chose two Black artists with unique perspectives on African-American portraiture.
Amy Sherald, who painted the first lady's Smithsonian portrait, challenges conventions about race by depicting her figures' skin in shades of gray. Kehinde Wiley, who painted the former President, re-imagines Old Master paintings with Black subjects.
Traditionally, the two latest sets of presidential portraits are placed in the Cross Hall of the White House -- though Trump chose to move portraits of Bush and Clinton into the Old Family Dining Room -- which was essentially used as a storage room during his White House -- after feuding with both families.
Biden moved the Bush portraits and Clinton portraits back to the Cross Hall, but with a new Obama portrait, Clinton may have to be relocated soon.
Wednesday's ceremony at the White House
The Obamas' return to the White House marked a rare moment for the current and past administrations to converge and look back on a presidential legacy in the same room where President Obama awarded then-Vice President Biden a surprise Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2017.
Unlike the 2012 Bush portraits unveiling, Wednesday's event mostly hosted attendees from the same political party -- with some attendees having connections to both administrations.
The Obamas were joined by family, friends, former Cabinet members and top staffers from the administration during the unveiling, acknowledging former staff in the room as well as staff from the White House residence.
Marian Robinson, the mother of Michelle Obama who lived in the White House residence during their presidency, attended the ceremony.
Other attendees included Obama's former chief of staff (and the current US Ambassador to Japan) Rahm Emanuel, former senior adviser David Axelrod, former Treasury Secretaries Jack Lew and Timothy Geithner, former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, former Attorney General Eric Holder, former Education Secretary Arne Duncan, former Director of the US Office of Management and Budget Shaun Donovan, and former White House press secretary Josh Earnest.
Former President Obama has visited the White House since Biden took office, but Wednesday's event marked Michelle Obama's first time back in the building since the Trumps arrived in January 2017.
While former President Obama and President Biden like to play up their relationship in public, there are limits to their friendship, officials have said.
They speak occasionally, but they are not in daily or weekly contact, people familiar with the matter have said.
After two terms working in Obama's shadow, Biden has, at moments, differentiated himself from his predecessor. Officials have said there is also a degree of competition between the two men.
Their history, while one of partnership, has also been colored by various slights, real or perceived, that still linger.
Obama declined to endorse Biden over other Democrats in the 2020 primary, a step both men insisted was necessary to allow a true contest within the party. Four years earlier, Obama had viewed Hillary Clinton as his Democratic successor instead of Biden, who decided not to run as he grappled with his son's death.
Trump portraits are up next
The White House Historical Association is in the "beginning stages" of the portrait processes for former President Trump and former first lady Melania Trump, McLaurin said.
"There's focus on specific artists that will likely be doing their portraits," McLaurin added.
A source familiar with the situation told CNN that chatter about the portraits started in the last six months at Mar-a-Lago -- Trump's Florida residence -- and that the former president recently sat for photographs. However, it's not clear whether Trump has posed for the White House portrait artist or for photographs specifically for the portraits.
On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to say whether Biden would extend an invitation to Trump should his portrait be completed during the Biden administration.
While the official White House portraits are typically funded by the WHHA, the other set of portraits being created for the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery are being underwritten by Trump's political donors.
Trump's political action committee donated $650,000 to the Smithsonian Institution in July to help underwrite the portraits of the Trumps, according to Linda St. Thomas, chief spokesperson for the Smithsonian.
The donation from Trump's Save America leadership PAC marks the first time that funds have come from a political action committee since the institution began raising private funds for presidential portraits -- a practice that started with the portraits associated with former President George H. W. Bush, St. Thomas said.
St. Thomas said another private donation of $100,000 also is helping to pay costs associated with the portraits. The funds, totaling $750,000, will go to artists' fees, shipping, framing, installation and events.
CLARIFICATION: This story has been updated to clarify where President Donald Trump had the portraits of Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton moved during his time in the White House.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/barack-and-michelle-obama-make-first-joint-return-to-the-white-house-for-unveiling-of/article_e4d1307a-583c-58f4-86a4-0b63462b0aaa.html | 2022-09-07T21:37:54Z |
President Joe Biden speaks about the American Rescue Plan investments in the South Court Auditorium of the White House in Washington, DC, on September 2.
President Joe Biden will deliver a speech on the "Cancer Moonshot" initiative at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston on Monday, aiming to draw attention to his administration's efforts to halve the cancer death rate over the next 25 years.
Biden's remarks, which will take place on the 60th anniversary of Kennedy's famous "We choose to go to the moon" speech, will draw parallels between the former President's goal of landing a man on the moon and Biden's own "vision for another American moonshot -- a future where we end cancer as we know it," a White House official previewing the speech first to CNN said.
"When President Kennedy committed to putting a man on the moon and bringing him back, the United States had the building blocks to know that was possible. There were major scientific and societal advances that needed to happen. As a nation, we needed to fully commit to a future in which traveling to the moon was possible -- and we did just that," the official said.
"Today, we have many of the building blocks needed to make significant progress treating cancer, but we must come together to deliver on the promise. And because of incredible advances in science, technology, and medicine, we can already begin to see what is possible," the official added.
Biden has often referenced Kennedy's September 12, 1962, speech at Rice University over the years as he's talked about efforts to fight cancer.
"We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win," Kennedy said.
Caroline Kennedy, the US ambassador to Australia and daughter of the late President, welcomed Biden's speech at the JFK Library, saying: "Sixty years after my father challenged Americans to land on the moon, President Biden is welcoming great challenges as new opportunities by setting us on a bold course to end cancer as we know it."
The fight against cancer is a deeply personal one for Biden, who lost his son Beau to brain cancer in 2015.
In his State of the Union address in 2016, President Barack Obama tasked then-Vice President Biden with leading the White House's Cancer Moonshot initiative. While out of office, Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden founded the Biden Cancer Initiative, a nonprofit organization supporting cancer research and prevention.
The President relaunched the White House's Cancer Moonshot initiative in February, setting a goal of cutting the cancer death rate by at least 50% by 2047 and improving the experience of cancer patients and their families. Biden also made ending cancer one of the pillars of his unity agenda outlined in this year's State of the Union address.
"We can do this. I promise you, we can do this. For all those we lost, for all those we miss. We can end cancer as we know it," Biden said earlier this year when announcing the initiative.
The President has appointed a Cancer Cabinet, featuring representatives from 20 departments, agencies and the White House, including Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough and Dr. Alondra Nelson, head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
This summer, the group unveiled five key priorities, including "(1) close the screening gap, (2) understand and address environmental exposure, (3) decrease the impact of preventable cancers, (4) bring cutting edge research through the pipeline to patients and communities, and (5) support patients and caregivers," according to the White House.
Cancer is the nation's second highest cause of death, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. But the American Cancer Society earlier this year noted progress has been made as cancer mortality rates have fallen.
The overall cancer death rate dropped by about a third (32%) from its peak in 1991 to 2019, from about 215 deaths for every 100,000 people to about 146, averting about 3.5 million deaths during that time, according to an annual report on cancer statistics from the American Cancer Society. Most of that decline can be attributed to a drop in mortality among lung cancer patients. | https://www.kitv.com/news/national/biden-to-deliver-cancer-moonshot-speech-on-anniversary-of-famous-jfk-moon-speech/article_639e60ba-547a-548f-a514-27aa0991dba7.html | 2022-09-07T21:38:00Z |
BOOMERANG page plan for THURSDAY, Sept. 8
...RED FLAG WARNING FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEAST WYOMING AND A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE THURSDAY DUE TO GUSTY WEST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM MDT THURSDAY FOR GUSTY WEST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 430, AND 432... * AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 418 through 425. Fire weather zones 427 through 430. Fire weather zone 432. * WIND...West to northwest winds 15 to 20 mph sustained with gusts to 35 mph possible. * HUMIDITY...7 to 15 percent. * HAINES...5 to 6. * THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated dry thunderstorms are likely Thursday afternoon leading to additional fire starts. * IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. &&
BOOMERANG page plan for THURSDAY, Sept. 8
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TODAY’S PICK Bill’s coming due: Rawlins needs ‘urgent and unavoidable’ 50% rate hike, Page A3
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DIG THIS Annual Archaeology Fair returns to historic prison site this weekend, Page A6
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Today’s pick: Report: Rawlins needs ‘urgent’ 50% water rate hike, Staff (file photos)
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Lowry column (Other voices)
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Vol. 142 No. 185
A6 OUTDOORS (send color) – ad over fishing report
Dig this: Archaeology Fair has something for everyone, Travsky column (photos)
CWD prevalence high in Powell hunt areas, WNE (file photo) – can cut to fit
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A receipt was sent to your email. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/boomerang-page-plan-sept-8/article_06d1dd34-2eee-11ed-a248-5bb0bd8f87ea.html | 2022-09-07T21:45:22Z |
Laramie High junior Sidnie Study, center, digs the ball on defense with sophomore Savanna Steiert, left, and senior Taylor Tyser getting ready for the play during a match against Rawlins Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, at the LHS main gym.
From left, Laramie High junior Noel Jensen, and freshmen Ava Plassmeyer and Tessa Dodd celebrate after scoring a point in the first set of a match against Rawlins Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, at the LHS main gym.
Laramie High junior Sidnie Study, center, digs the ball on defense with sophomore Savanna Steiert, left, and senior Taylor Tyser getting ready for the play during a match against Rawlins Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, at the LHS main gym.
Carol Ryczek/For WyoSports
From left, Laramie High junior Noel Jensen, and freshmen Ava Plassmeyer and Tessa Dodd celebrate after scoring a point in the first set of a match against Rawlins Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, at the LHS main gym.
LARAMIE — The first week of full volleyball matches had a pair of regional teams meet at the net Tuesday night when Class 3A Rawlins took on 4A Laramie for a nonconference match at the LHS main gym.
Both teams showed efficiency and chemistry at times and areas needing improvement at other times as Laramie won in three sets 25-11, 25-18, 25-16.
The match showcased two programs with recent success. Rawlins won a 3A state title in 2019, and Laramie is defending back-to-back 4A state championships in 2020-21.
With five players over 6-feet tall, Laramie had a significant height advantage at the net, but the Outlaws compensated with scrappiness and taking advantage of keeping plays alive.
“Laramie is a tough team,” Rawlins coach Aubrey Griffiths said. “Obviously, they have way tall people and we have way short people. I think my girls fought pretty hard through most of the game. We made some silly mistakes and we gave them some easy stuff, but overall I’m not sad with how we played.
“We played aggressive and had fun. We knew what it was going to be like coming into it already playing them in Cheyenne. We knew their tendencies and how good they are. We just wanted to come here, have fun and play the game.”
The teams last met during the first weekend of the season at the Cheyenne Invitational on Aug. 27 with the Lady Plainsmen prevailing 25-14, 25-17 in a best-of-three sets format.
Laramie (8-4) took advantage of an 8-1 run to start the first set that featured no ties or lead changes with the final tally being the largest margin at 14 points.
“I’m really excited about our overall set distribution,” Laramie coach Jill Stucky said. “We were in-system enough where we could run the offense we wanted to run — move the ball toward the right side, toward the middle and toward the outside. Our setter had her choice of what she wanted to do, and Maddy (Stucky) distributed the ball pretty evenly throughout the group.”
Maddy Stucky notched 26 assists with six different players recording at least a kill.
The Outlaws bounced back early in the second set for a 4-4 tie before the Plainsmen used another 8-1 run for separation and a 12-5 lead. Rawlins closed the gap to five points at 23-18 late in the frame with a solo block from senior Kayli Phipps. Laramie junior Anna Sell ended the set with an ace for a 2-0 match lead.
The third set started with another early 4-4 tie and the Plainsmen later clinging to a one-point lead at 11-10 before a modest 5-1 run for a 16-11 difference and closed the match with a 6-2 run.
Sophomore Savanna Steiert led Laramie with 13 kills and admitted she and other new varsity players had to get used to playing in front of a large home crowd.
“It went pretty good. We made some little errors, and it was our first home game, so I think we were all a little bit nervous,” Steiert said. “But overall, we played really good and will be ready to bring it for our next home game. I was nervous playing in front of a huge student section for the first time, but it worked out fine and was fun.”
LHS junior Noel Jensen added seven kills and sophomore Michon Sailors had six kills. Defensively, seven players recorded at least a dig, led by Sell’s nine and Steiert and senior libero had eight each.
Team stats for Rawlins were not available.
The Plainsmen have a bit of a break from competition before beginning East Conference matches on Sept. 15 hosting Cheyenne East.
“We are going to work on some pressure serving and moving our middles around a little bit and not running the same thing over and over,” Jill Stucky said. “We have to progress as a team, develop as a team and have to move forward.”
The Outlaws (2-6, 1-0 3A Southeast) will return to quadrant play on Sept. 16 at Douglas.
David Watson is the WyoSports assistant editor. He can be reached at dwatson@wyosports.net or 307-755-3327. Follow him on Twitter at @dwatsonsports. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyosports/high_school/laramie_high/laramie-rawlins-meet-in-nonconference-action/article_2d492890-2e22-11ed-af12-fbed679f831a.html | 2022-09-07T21:45:28Z |
GOP gives thumbs down to Biden’s $47B emergency request
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s request for more than $47 billion in emergency funding to help Ukraine and tackle COVID-19, monkeypox and natural disasters is encountering deep skepticism from Senate Republicans, signaling a showdown ahead.
The early resistance on the size and scope of the spending request points to the fraught negotiations to come as Congress labors to pass a stopgap spending bill that would keep the federal government running past Oct. 1 or risk a federal shutdown.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday that while Ukraine aid “is obviously a priority,” he downplayed the need for other funding — even in his Kentucky home state hit hard by devastating floods.
“It’s a big ask without much explanation,” said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., a member of GOP leadership.
Lawmakers are eager to avoid another government shutdown just weeks before November’s midterm election when voters will decide which party controls Congress. But their plan to pass a short-term bill to keep government funded could run into trouble unless the parties can strike an agreement on what additional priorities, if any, should be included.
The budget showdown is fast emerging as a showcase for party priorities at home and abroad that will define the lawmakers as they face voters in the fall.
The White House request includes $11.7 billion for security and economic assistance for Ukraine, on top of some $40 billion Congress has already approved to help the country battle’s Russia’s invasion. Closer to home, the Biden administration is seeking $22 billion to respond to COVID-19, and additional funds for monkeypox and natural disasters.
Republicans object to much of it.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., endorsed Biden’s request and said “it’s disgraceful that Republicans are playing political games with this.”
“Ukraine needs more help. We want to give it to them,” Schumer said Wednesday. “And on monkeypox and on COVID relief, we need to be prepared.”
This latest round of proposed funding for Ukraine comes as the country depends on support from the U.S. and allies in battling the Russian invasion.
The White House says more than three-quarters of the money approved for Ukraine has already been dispersed or committed, creating an urgent need for more.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has struck up relationships with members of Congress this year, many of whom have traveled to the region and rallied to his aid. Zelenskyy and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke earlier this week.
Republicans said they still support Ukraine and are open to more funding, but want more details about how the earlier money has been spent.
“I would be interested in why they feel this is an emergency, why they need to do it now, but certainly, I would not slow down our support for what Ukraine is doing,” said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.
But few Republicans seemed willing to even entertain Biden’s request for $22.4 billion in emergency funding to deal with COVID-19.
While the administration says the money is needed for additional COVID-19 vaccines, testing programs and research and development, Republicans say the federal spending on the virus needs to wind down, not ramp up.
Blunt said that people can pay for their vaccines like they pay for other aspects of their health care, and “there’s really no reason that the government should be paying for all of that.”
GOP lawmakers are sticking with the view that dedicating more money to the country’s COVID response should be paid for by cutting spending elsewhere.
“The problem is they want to keep spending more money and throw more gasoline on the inflation fire,” Cornyn said. “I think that’s a bad idea.”
The White House is also asking for $4.5 billion to bolster 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.
On disaster relief, the Biden administration is seeking about $6.5 billion to help states such as Kentucky recover from recent flooding. Aid would also help residents of California, Louisiana and Texas rebuild from major disasters.
Schumer also indicated that he supports adding a measure from Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., that is designed to speed up the permitting process for energy infrastructure projects. But including it could trigger opposition from House Democrats who see it as rushing projects to approval before the environmental ramifications are clear.
Still, there’s wide agreement on both sides that even a temporary government shutdown before the election is out of the question.
Democrats want to keep the focus on legislative victories designed to bolster the country’s infrastructure, semiconductor production and address climate change and health care costs. Republicans want voters to focus on inflation, gas prices and crime.
“There might be a couple of emergencies we’re going to need to deal with, but my guess is that with an election coming, you won’t see a lot of interesting brinksmanship,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/07/gop-gives-thumbs-down-bidens-47b-emergency-request/ | 2022-09-07T22:37:08Z |
Updated September 7, 2022 at 5:23 PM ET
GREENVILLE, W.Va. — The Mountain Valley Pipeline exists as a 303-mile-long chain with hundreds of missing links. Without all of its federal permits, the natural gas project cannot cross Jefferson National Forest or many of the streams and wetlands in its proposed path from West Virginia to North Carolina.
That includes one segment at the bottom of Maury Johnson's family farmland in mountainous Monroe County, W.Va.
"It's built from there over to the next hollow, and they can't cross that stream," Johnson says, pointing about halfway down the ridge, near a small patch where he grows corn, pumpkins and zinnias.
That could change soon. When Congress passed historical climate spending last month, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced that his support had hinged on future legislation that would change the process for issuing permits for large energy infrastructure projects such as this one. A one-page summary released by Manchin's office explicitly named steps to support the completion and operation of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. With Congress back in session, debate over this deal and what it means for the future of fossil fuels in the United States is resuming.
In West Virginia, supporters of the pipeline, including Manchin, say finishing it will bring in $40 million annually in tax revenue to the state and provide greater energy security for the United States.
"There's not another project in America today that will bring this much energy within four to five months," Manchin told West Virginia's MetroNews radio network in August. "This has everything to do not only with West Virginia, but our country and the security and energy that we need."
But local environmental groups say this deal subverts community input processes, and new fossil fuel infrastructure is incompatible with U.S. climate goals.
"This is not just about Mountain Valley Pipeline, it's about every community that has been sacrificed across this country" to further fossil fuel extraction, says Johnson, an activist who says pipeline construction put sediment in his well water and degraded his farmland.
Lawsuits over environmental impact stalled the pipeline
A series of lawsuits has slowed the Mountain Valley Pipeline's progress.
Originally approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2017, the project was supposed to wrap up in 2018 with a budget of $3.5 billion. Environmental groups such as the Sierra Club and Appalachian Mountain Advocates sued federal agencies that issue the pipeline's permits, arguing they failed to adhere to environmental law, and succeeded in getting several permits thrown out, some more than once. The cost of the project ballooned to more than $6 billion.
The area is too steep, too full of rivers and streams and home to endangered species such as the candy darter, a small colorful fish, for the pipeline to be completed, says Joe Lovett, founder and executive director of Appalachian Mountain Advocates.
"It's just an inappropriate project. Some things just can't be built," he says.
Legislation to speed up permitting for energy projects could change how future lawsuits are handled.
Lawsuits against the pipeline have been heard in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, based in Richmond, Va. The summary from Manchin's office called for requiring "the relevant agencies to take all necessary actions to permit the construction and operation of the Mountain Valley Pipeline and give the D.C. Circuit jurisdiction over any further litigation."
Manchin, whose office did not respond to requests for comment for this story, is the top recipient of donations from pipeline companies, according to Open Secrets.
Local activists balked at these proposals.
"If you have a criminal on the street that breaks the law, do you hold the criminal accountable or do you change the law so that they're allowed to walk free?" says Autumn Crowe, program director with the non-profit West Virginia Rivers Coalition. That group has documented environmental concerns, including erosion and stream sedimentation, with federal regulators.
Equitrans Midstream Corporation, the company managing the pipeline's development and the largest owner of the project, did not respond to requests for interviews or comment for this story.
But pipeline advocates say lawsuits have led to unnecessary delays.
"There are certainly constituencies that believe that Mountain Valley has not had a fair hearing before a very narrow panel of judges," says Christine Tezak, managing director with Clearview Energy Partners, a research firm that advises investors in major energy projects such as pipelines.
Some want natural gas in the renewable energy future
For some in the area, the pipeline symbolizes a larger battle happening over the future of fossil fuels in the United States, amid the transition to renewable energy.
"People don't understand how many jobs are affected by gas, coal and oil," says Bill Ray Wiseman, who works in equipment sales related to coal mining.
The pipeline cuts a path through some of his land in Summers County, W.Va., and he says the pasture that created improved his land.
Wiseman says he knows the gas, which is slated for markets in the eastern and southeastern United States, will not lower his gas bills, but he still thinks it should be completed, and fossil fuels should stay in the picture.
For utility companies and industrial energy users on the other end of the pipeline, natural gas is a part of their clean energy plans, since it would reduce their use of coal, Tezak says.
"They look at the availability of natural gas as a way to do their job in a better and lower emissions fashion," she says.
But as climate scientists warn that the world must rapidly wean itself off fossil fuels, many others want it stopped.
"For the environmental community ... every incremental pipeline is one pipeline too many," says Tezak.
Maury Johnson, of Greenville, is in that group. He's heading to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 8 to join a protest against the pipeline and permitting reform, held by a group called People vs. Fossil Fuel.
Johnson says communities near fossil fuel infrastructure like Mountain Valley didn't get a say in the pipeline deal, and now they want to be heard.
"We're going to try to convince [Manchin] that this side deal is terrible," he says.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-09-06/west-virginians-divided-over-natural-gas-pipeline-despite-manchins-support | 2022-09-07T22:37:09Z |
Harris to lead US delegation to Japan for Abe’s funeral
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris will lead the U.S. delegation to the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later this month, the White House announced Wednesday.
Harris will also visit South Korea on the Sept. 25-29 trip.
The White House said “her visit will honor the legacy of Prime Minister Abe and underscore the importance of his leadership in championing the alliance between the United States and Japan and advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
The trip marks Harris’ first official visits to both countries since taking office last year. Harris is set to meet with senior government officials and civil society leaders, and the White House said she will raise economic, trade and security interests during her trip.
Abe was shot to death in July on a street in western Japan by a gunman who opened fire on him from behind as he delivered a campaign speech. The 67-year-old Abe was Japan’s longest-serving leader when he resigned in 2020.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/07/harris-lead-us-delegation-japan-abes-funeral/ | 2022-09-07T22:37:14Z |
Anne Garrels, long time foreign correspondent for NPR, dies at 71 By Lynn Neary Published September 7, 2022 at 4:16 PM CDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Longtime NPR foreign correspondent Anne Garrels has died. She was known for her brave work covering war zones and conflicts around the world. Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.keranews.org/2022-09-07/anne-garrels-long-time-foreign-correspondent-for-npr-dies-at-71 | 2022-09-07T22:37:15Z |
Man dressed as ‘Halloween’ character Michael Myers spotted at Florida beach
Published: Sep. 7, 2022 at 5:37 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (TMX/Gray News) - A beachgoer says he spotted a man dressed as Michael Myers from “Halloween” at a Florida beach over Labor Day weekend.
Todd Brandon Easter shared images of what he saw that day at a Panama City beach.
The beachgoer said he saw the iconic movie character while visiting the beach on Sept 4.
Easter said the person dressed as Myers wasn’t bothering anyone and seemed approachable while not causing any problems.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/07/man-dressed-halloween-character-michael-myers-spotted-florida-beach/ | 2022-09-07T22:37:20Z |
The Precinct 4 constable said said in an email to KERA on Wednesday evening that he accepted the The Oath Keepers' invitation when he first ran for constable in 2011 because he thought the group was inviting him to re-affirm his commitment to his oath of office if elected.
“At the time, I believed the Oath Keepers existed only to encourage elected officials to honor their oath of office, follow the law and to uphold the Texas and U.S. Constitution,” he wrote in the statement.
Wright said he never attended any of the organization’s meetings and never renewed his membership.
Alex Friedfeld, an investigative researcher on extremism with the ADL, said even if Wright has since left the organization, the fact that he joined is still cause for concern.
“There was something in that message that appealed to him,” Friedfeld said.
More than two dozen members of The Oath Keepers were arrested for their involvement in the attack at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
June Jenkins, the president of the Collin County NAACP chapter, said Wright’s connection to the Oath Keepers speaks to a deeper issue of rising incidents of extremism in the county.
“You’re starting to see repetitive incidents with people involved in this area,” she said.
Precinct 4 includes parts of Frisco, McKinney, Prosper and Celina. Wright’s current term as constable ends in 2024.
Got a tip? Email Caroline Love at clove@kera.org.
Caroline Love is a Report For America corps member for KERA News.
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/2022-09-07/collin-county-constable-joe-wright-says-he-doesnt-support-extremism-but-the-adl-says-otherwise | 2022-09-07T22:37:21Z |
Officials rule shooting deaths of elementary teacher, her 2 children as murder-suicide
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF/Gray News) - An investigation into the deaths of an elementary school teacher and her children in South Carolina has revealed that they died in a murder-suicide, according to authorities.
The Horry County Coroner’s Office said the cause of death of the children, 11-year-old Eric and 8-year-old Emily Moberley, is homicide. Their mother, Laura Moberly, died by suicide.
Officials confirmed to WMBF that the deaths have been ruled a murder-suicide.
The Horry County Police Department and Horry County Coroner’s Office said the 42-year-old teacher and her two children were all found shot to death at a home on Centennial Circle last week.
Records from family court show a legal order of separation was filed by Moberly’s husband, William, on June 13.
The latest filings were dated Aug. 30, the same date on which a temporary hearing was scheduled.
Officers were called to the home the day after the scheduled hearing, where they found the three of them dead.
Moberley taught at Carolina Forest Elementary School, which is also where Emily attended.
According to the funeral home, services are planned for Thursday for Moberley and her two children.
Copyright 2022 WMBF via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/07/officials-rule-shooting-deaths-elementary-teacher-her-2-children-murder-suicide/ | 2022-09-07T22:37:27Z |
Sen. Kaine speaks on how Inflation Reduction Act benefits in Virginia
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine is speaking on the Inflation Reduction At and its impact on Virginians.
Sen. Kaine spent the last few weeks traveling the commonwealth, speaking with local leaders about the impacts they’re experience from inflation.
This bill ranges from reducing insurance premiums to investing in clean energy.
“Virginia used to be known as one of the worst states in the country when it came to distribution and deployment of solar and now we’re top five because there’s been so many investments in solar energy in recent years,” the senator said Wednesday, September 7.
President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law last month.
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Copyright 2022 WVIR. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/07/sen-kaine-speaks-how-inflation-reduction-act-benefits-virginia/ | 2022-09-07T22:37:33Z |
Senate to vote on same-sex marriage in coming weeks
WASHINGTON (AP) — Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed Wednesday that the Senate will vote on legislation to protect same-sex marriage “in the coming weeks” as a bipartisan group backing the bill negotiates changes to gain more Republican support.
The vote, expected by the end of the month, comes as Democrats and a small group of Republicans are moving to safeguard same-sex marriage following the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and the federal right to an abortion. Lawmakers fear the court’s ruling, and a concurring opinion from Justice Clarence Thomas, indicate that an earlier high court decision protecting same-sex marriage could come under threat.
“We all want to pass this quickly,” Schumer said. “I hope there will be 10 Republicans to support it.”
A bipartisan group of senators, led by Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, is working to round up those ten GOP votes needed to overcome a filibuster and get the legislation through the 50-50 Senate.
“I think the momentum is going in the right direction,” Baldwin said after the bipartisan group met on Wednesday.
The Senate push for the historic vote — and the openness by some Republicans to back it in an election year — reflects a seismic shift on the issue since the Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision legalizing gay marriage nationwide. Some 70% of U.S. adults in a June Gallup poll said same-sex unions should be valid under the law.
The bill protecting same-sex marriage cleared the House in a July vote with the support of 47 Republicans – a larger than expected number that gave the measure a boost in the Senate.
To win over more Senate Republicans, negotiators are planning to introduce amendments aimed at addressing concerns from some about “religious liberty” – the rights of religious institutions or religious business owners to oppose same-sex marriage, for example. Supporters say such religious liberty is already enshrined in law, but new language would simply make that clear.
Another proposed tweak to the bill would make clear that a marriage is between two people, an effort to ward off some far-right criticism that the legislation could endorse polygamy.
Baldwin and two of the Republicans supporting the marriage bill, Maine Sen. Susan Collins and North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, said Wednesday that the group was drafting the amendments to address the concerns they’ve heard from their GOP colleagues.
“There’s no harm in doing it,” Tillis said, even though some Democrats have pointed out that those rights are already protected under law.
Collins said the amendment would “make crystal clear that it does not in any way infringe religious liberties” and allow Republicans to have input on the bill.
“I’m never confident until the roll is called but we’re making good progress,” Collins said.
The legislation would repeal the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act and require states to recognize all marriages that were legal where they were performed. The new Respect for Marriage Act would also protect interracial marriages by requiring states to recognize legal marriages regardless of “sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.”
So far, three Republicans have said they will vote for the legislation and are working with Baldwin and others to pass it: Collins, Tillis and Ohio Sen. Rob Portman. A fourth GOP senator, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, has supported same-sex marriage in the past. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, who is up for reelection this year, has said he doesn’t see a “reason to oppose it” but has talked on both sides of the issue in recent weeks.
Several other Republican senators have said they are undecided or have declined to comment.
“I don’t have anything for you on that at this point,” Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey said Wednesday, when asked if he would vote for the bill.
Indicative of the political shift, many of the Republicans who are opposing the bill aren’t arguing whether same-sex marriages should be recognized by the government. They say instead that they believe the Supreme Court is unlikely to overturn Obergefell.
“I don’t think that’s a pressing matter,” said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who is up for re-election this year. “There’s no threat to same-sex marriage in America.”
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said the effort is a “show vote” and Democrats are playing politics.
Baldwin, who is the first openly gay senator and has been working on gay rights issues since she first entered state politics in the 1980s, said she disagrees with that assessment.
“It’s not” just politics, Baldwin said. “It’s very real for a whole lot of people.”
___
Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri, Nomaan Merchant and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/07/senate-vote-same-sex-marriage-coming-weeks/ | 2022-09-07T22:37:39Z |
Staunton’s event calendar stays packed for fall; tourism sees a boost
STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) - Summer tends to be vacation time, when roads are particularly busy, hotel occupancy is up, and calendars are full of events.
Staunton’s summer was full of events like Happy Birthday America and Staunton Music Festival, and fall is looking similar.
Witches and wizards will come out for Queen City Mischief and Magic.
The Frontier Culture Museum will revisit their take on on Oktoberfest, which is one of the largest fall festivals.
Those big events mean Staunton has seen a surge of tourists.
The Smith Travel Study showed a 23% increase in hotel occupancy from July 2021 to July 2022, as well as a 40% boost in revenue.
“They’re not just staying at our hotels, but they’re also eating at our restaurants and shopping at our retailers and visiting our attractions,” said Staunton’s Director of Tourism, Sheryl Wagner.
Wagner said Staunton has eagerly responded to the events, since many of them have been on hiatus for a few years.
“People are excited to be back together and we have a variety of events going on. I think it’s going to have a significant impact on our tourism revenue,” she said.
Queen City Mischief and Magic (QCMM) founder, Sarah Lynch, said Staunton is the perfect backdrop for the event because of the historic architecture, but the people also make the event perfect.
“This town is full of eager-doers. I get credited as being the brainchild for this, but it would not happen if it weren’t for hundreds of people who jumped in with both feet and did their part,” she said.
QCMM kicks off with locals’ night on Friday, Sept. 23 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 25. Lynch said there are many people who travel from hours away to attend the event.
“We have friends that come together from Alaska and Hawaii, so they meet and come this way. They’ve come every year that we’ve been in person, and they’re coming again this year,” Lynch said.
Lynch said there will be many firsts this year including many live animals, an ASL interpreter, participation from the Silver Line Theatre and a feast by the Trinity Episcopal Church.
For more on QCMM, click here.
On October 1, the Frontier Culture Museum will the Shenandoah Valley’s version of Oktoberfest.
“We celebrate and commemorate, to an extent, the contributions of German immigrants to American culture,” said Research Coordinator for the museum, Doretta Sobolewski.
The Frontier Culture Museum will also have interpretive activities, historical beer brewing, flintlock rifle demonstration and cooking demonstrations. Another attraction that day will be their bands, and one group is making the trip from Germany.
The band won’t be the only visitors in the Queen City from Germany. Sobolewski’s mom will be in town for the event, as well.
“We’ve missed our visitors so much. Being able to host these events again, especially the Oktoberfest which has been a staple in our event calendar, it’s a wonderful opportunity,” she said.
The museum opens at 9 a.m., and music begins at noon. For more on the event, visit their website here.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/07/stauntons-event-calendar-stays-packed-fall-tourism-sees-boost/ | 2022-09-07T22:37:46Z |
Students at Guy K. Stump are enjoying recess on brand new playset
STUARTS DRAFT, Va. (WHSV) - Students at Guy K. Stump Elementary School are spending recess enjoying brand new playground equipment.
For about a decade, the Stump PTA did fundraisers to get new equipment. Their old playground had outlived its prime, and there were some pieces that were out of order entirely.
Now, they’ve got brand new equipment, thanks to private donors, along with the Augusta County School Board and the Board of Supervisors.
“Between what we’ve raised over a ten-year period of time and what they’ve put in, we were able to get this done a whole lot quicker than we thought,” said Principal Shawn Baska.
Baska said the new equipment has been well-received.
“They love it, they come in with smiles on their face, red-faced, as always, coming in from being on the playground. I hear quite a bit, ‘I love the playground,’ and they’ll tell me about pieces of the playground they like, so it’s been everything we’d hoped for,” said Baska.
Students play on the playground, but many community members use the space, too. The new equipment is a win for not only the school, but for people who live locally.
“To walk out of there and see this nice, brand new, beautiful playground out here, it really fits in. We just want to have what we feel like other schools have within the division. Now I feel like we have that,” Baska said.
Parent and PTA Treasurer, Tara Mahanes, said she can take a deep breath now.
“We can relax a little bit. We don’t have to keep raising massive amount of money because it’s so much more than our regular budget,” Mahanes said.
She said seeing the playground now is rewarding.
“That’s why we volunteer - is for our kids. It’s really rewarding to know that all the hard work is totally worth it because they’re so excited about it,” she said.
Students did have a hand in choosing the equipment; they were able to vote on colors they wanted to see on the playground.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/07/students-guy-k-stump-are-enjoying-recess-brand-new-playset/ | 2022-09-07T22:37:52Z |
UPS driver saves dogs trapped in pool, family says
IRETON, Iowa (KTIV/Gray News) - A family in Iowa is praising the work of a UPS delivery driver.
KTIV reports UPS driver Colin Mitchell heard some commotion while making a delivery at a home in Ireton, Iowa. He checked the home’s backyard area and reported seeing two dogs swimming in an above-ground pool.
Mitchell tried to notify the customers, but no one was home. He said he didn’t feel right about leaving, so he walked back to check on the dogs and realized the pool’s solar cover had trapped them.
The UPS driver was able to rescue the two dogs, Groot and Remy, and returned to his route.
The family said the dogs would have been stuck in the pool for at least another three hours if it wasn’t for Mitchell.
But now the dogs are doing well.
Copyright 2022 KTIV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/07/ups-driver-saves-dogs-trapped-pool-family-says/ | 2022-09-07T22:37:59Z |
UVA doctor: Time to check all boosters, not just COVID-19
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - A doctor at UVA Health is recommending that people check if they are up to date on all their vaccines, not just the COVID-19 booster.
“One problem that we’ve seen with the COVID pandemic is that some children didn’t get to all of their regular pediatrician or other health care provider visits, which meant that they are behind in their regular, non-COVID vaccines,” Doctor Steven Zeichner said.
Dr. Zeichner says right now is the time to get the flu shot.
“Right now it’s low, but that’s good because now’s the time to get the vaccine to be protected,” Zeichner said. “The reason the recommendation is that people get vaccinated in September, October is that they have enough immunity built up so that they’re better protected in November, December, January when the peaks normally happen.”
With less people wearing masks, there is the possibility for more people to get the flu this year.
“The fewer precautions that people take, the more likely there is to be widespread transmission. I mean, I don’t have a crystal ball, but I would probably imagine that we’d be closer back to the pre pandemic patterns, but we’ll have to see,” Zeichner said.
So for many, it many be time to check if you and your children are up to date on all the routine shots.
“I think one of the most important things is to make sure that all the children have all of their routine vaccines,” Zeichner said.
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Copyright 2022 WVIR. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/07/uva-doctor-time-check-all-boosters-not-just-covid-19/ | 2022-09-07T22:38:06Z |
UVA Health expert breaks down new COVID-19 booster
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - It’s time to roll up that sleeve again to help protect yourself against coronavirus. The new bivalent vaccine is approved and in the Blue Ridge Health District.
Doctor Taison Bell with UVA Health says getting these boosters as they come out are like updating your computer’s software: It will put you in better shape when it comes to potential viruses.
“This phenomena, that being an updated booster, is somewhat different than what you had before. We know that giving different kinds of vaccines will broaden the immune response. Maybe the best effect of this will be people more willing more people will be willing to get a booster,” Dr. Bell said.
Dr. Bell studies infectious diseases at UVA Health. He says this booster is different than what we have seen before since it is made to specifically target the omicron variant.
“The virus is changing over time, and what we ideally would like to do is try to stay a step ahead, obviously, but it’s evolving so fast that we at least want to try to keep track,” he said.
Dr. Bell says the goal of this updated booster is to protect against the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, which are still the dominant strains of COVID-19.
“It’s not to say that we won’t have some variant down the road. But if we’re trying to change our vaccines, and more closely track what’s in with circulating in the population, we’ll get a better immune response,” the doctor said.
Dr. Bell says data suggests combining this bivalent vaccine with the original one could provide more antibodies. He says anyone 12 and up who had their last booster at least two months ago is eligible for the Pfizer shot. Those 18 and older can get Moderna.
“For most people who got their booster already, that timeline has passed by many, many months. And so I think for the vast majority of people, they will be eligible to get it right away,” Dr. Bell said.
This is a good thing, since Dr. Bell says this is the time to get the shot.
“Even the cold weather, it decreases some of your ability to fight off infection sometimes. So those are all good reasons to make sure that your immune system is in top shape going into the fall and winter,” he said.
Vaccines are available through the BRHD now. If you want to register for one, you can go here.
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Copyright 2022 WVIR. All rights reserved. | https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/07/uva-health-expert-breaks-down-new-covid-19-booster/ | 2022-09-07T22:38:12Z |
In the United States the cost of illiteracy is $300.80 billion
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On International Literacy Day (September 8 2022) a new report has highlighted the economic cost and social impact of a spike in illiteracy rates due to the disruption in children's education caused by the pandemic.
World Literacy Foundation (WLF) CEO Andrew Kay said, "The study finds that children from low-income homes are those most impacted in a post-pandemic environment. With gaps in their reading development, many children face lifelong illiteracy without effective intervention".
Released today on International Literacy Day to highlight the impact of illiteracy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation's report titled "The Economic & Social Cost of Illiteracy" says illiteracy is costing the global economy $1.19 trillion USD. Report available here: https://worldliteracyfoundation.org/
Mr Kay said, "illiteracy traps young people in an endless cycle of poverty and life-long hardship, often unable to fill out a form, read a street sign or a medicine label".
"The problem of illiteracy is often hidden by the person yet linked to numerous negative social and financial outcomes".
"Globally, almost 770 million people can't read a single word and another 2 billion people struggle to read a sentence.
As we observe International Literacy Day 2022, we must hold our political leaders to account, asking that they urgently remedy these catastrophic statistics.
"In both developing and developed countries, illiteracy is ruining lives and is linked with an array of poor life outcomes, such as poverty, inequity, unemployment, social exclusion, crime and long-term illness.
"We need to understand that early intervention can avert a lifetime of hardship, poverty and pain for a child, young person or adult who is struggling to read or write.
"Rapid change in digital technology is changing the landscape and ability of the populations in the poorest countries to learn to read and write. New and exciting opportunities are opening almost every day," Mr Kay concluded.
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SOURCE World Literacy Foundation | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/119-trillion-usd-lost-global-economy-due-illiteracy-dubbed-hidden-impact-pandemic/ | 2022-09-07T22:38:18Z |
BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AGNC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC) ("AGNC" or the "Company") announced today that it has priced a public offering of 6,000,000 depositary shares with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share (the "Depositary Shares"), for gross proceeds of $150 million before deducting underwriting discounts and other estimated offering expenses. Each Depositary Share represents a 1/1,000th interest in a share of the Company's 7.75% Series G Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. In connection with the offering, the Company has granted the underwriters an option for 30 days to purchase up to an additional 900,000 Depositary Shares. The Company intends to apply to list the Depositary Shares on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "AGNCL." The offering is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close on or about September 14, 2022.
AGNC intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to finance the acquisition of Agency securities, non-Agency securities (including credit risk transfer securities), other real estate-related assets and hedging instruments, other investments in, or related to the housing, mortgage or real estate markets, and for other general corporate purposes, which may include the redemption in whole or in part of AGNC's currently outstanding 7.000% Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock.
Morgan Stanley, BofA Securities, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan, RBC Capital Markets, UBS Investment Bank and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company, are joint book-running managers for the offering. BTIG and Citigroup are the co-managers for the offering.
The offering is being made pursuant to AGNC's existing effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to this offering has been, and a final prospectus supplement related to this offering will be, filed with the SEC, and each will be available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the preliminary and final prospectus supplements relating to this offering may be obtained, when available, by contacting:
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
180 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014
Attention: Prospectus Department
Or by telephone: (866) 718-1649
Or by email: prospectus@morganstanley.com
BofA Securities, Inc.
NC1-004-03-43
200 North College Street, 3rd Floor
Charlotte, NC 28255-0001
Attention: Prospectus Department
Or by telephone: 800-294-1322
Or by email: dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
Attention: Prospectus Department
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Or by telephone: 866-471-2526
Or by email: prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk
383 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10179
Or by telephone: 212-834-4533
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Attention: Transaction Management
200 Vesey Street
8th Floor
New York, NY 10281-8098
Or by telephone: 866-375-6829
Or by email: rbcnyfixedincomeprospectus@rbccm.com
UBS Securities LLC
Attention: Prospectus Department
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
Or by telephone: 888-827-7275
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
Attention: Capital Markets
787 Seventh Avenue
4th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Or by telephone: 800-966-1559
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other 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.
AGNC Investment Corp. is an internally-managed real estate investment trust that invests primarily in residential mortgage-backed securities for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise or a U.S. Government agency.
This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with regard to the size, completion and timing of the Company's securities offering and the anticipated use of the net proceeds. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There can be no assurance that the securities offering discussed above will be completed on the anticipated terms described, or at all, or that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. Completion of the securities offering on the terms described, and the application of net proceeds, are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, without limitation, changes in interest rates; changes in the yield curve; changes in prepayment rates; the availability and terms of financing; changes in the market value of our assets; general economic conditions; market conditions; conditions in the market for Agency securities, any of which may be materially impacted by changes in the Federal Reserve's bond buying program, approaches to address the size of its bond portfolio or its monetary policy; legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the business of the Company; and other factors, including those set forth in the section titled "Risk Factors" of the prospectus supplements related to this offering, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and other periodic reports and documents filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.
CONTACT:
Investor Relations - (301) 968-9300
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SOURCE AGNC Investment Corp. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/agnc-investment-corp-announces-pricing-public-offering-depositary-shares/ | 2022-09-07T22:38:25Z |
WILMINGTON, Del., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The BBFI Liquidating Trust today announced that the initial lenders (the "Initial Lenders") under its $31,375,447.57 Senior Secured PIK Credit Facility (the "Credit Facility") have offered to holders ("Liquidating Trust Beneficiaries") of the notes issued by the BBFI Liquidating Trust ("Liquidating Trust Participation Notes") pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of BBFI Liquidating Trust, dated as of June 2, 2022, as amended August 17, 2022, certain purchase rights ("Purchase Rights") that, if exercised, will allow Liquidating Trust Beneficiaries to purchase their pro rata share of the Credit Facility, based on the number of Liquidating Trust Participation Notes held by such Liquidating Trust Beneficiary as of the record date ("Pro Rata Share"). The purchase will be from the Initial Lenders at par value, plus any capitalized PIK interest and accrued but unpaid interest thereon, to the initial principal amount of the loans extended by the Initial Lenders under the Credit Facility (the "Loans").
The Purchase Rights are being made available to Liquidating Trust Beneficiaries solely on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Assignment Solicitation Statement dated September 7, 2022 (the "Assignment Solicitation Statement," and the solicitation made pursuant thereto, the "Solicitation"). The solicitation period under the Assignment Solicitation Statement (the "Solicitation Period") will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 20, 2022. The Liquidating Trust may, at any time and in its sole discretion, terminate or extend the Solicitation Period or amend or rescind the Assignment Solicitation Statement. All capitalized terms used in this press release but not defined herein have the meaning given to them in the Assignment Solicitation Statement.
In accordance with the terms of the Assignment Solicitation Statement, a Liquidating Trust Beneficiary can appropriately exercise their Purchase Rights by delivering the Required Documents, which include a Loan Purchase Form, to the Solicitation Agent prior to the expiration of the Solicitation Period. On the Sale Date, Liquidating Trust Beneficiaries who appropriately exercised their Purchase Rights will be required to deliver to UMB Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Credit Facility, an amount of funds equal to (i) their Pro Rata Share of the Loans (inclusive of capitalized PIK interest), plus (ii) accrued but unpaid interest on its Pro Rata Share of the Loans, plus (iii) an assignment fee payable to the administrative agent in the amount of $3,500 (which amount may be waived by the administrative agent in its sole discretion).
Subject to applicable law, the BBFI Liquidating Trust reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to (i) extend, terminate, or withdraw the Solicitation at any time, (ii) extend the Solicitation Period upon prior notice to the Liquidating Trust Beneficiaries, or (iii) amend the Assignment Solicitation Statement in any respect, at any time and from time to time. The BBFI Liquidating Trust also reserves the right, in its sole discretion, not to accept any deliveries of the Required Documents. The BBFI Liquidating Trust is making the Solicitation only in those jurisdictions where it is legal to do so.
D.F. King & Co., Inc. is acting as the Solicitation Agent for the Solicitation and can be contacted with questions regarding the Solicitation by phone at (212) 269-5550 (for banks and brokers) and (800) 967-4617 (for all others) or by email at bbfi@dfking.com. Requests for copies of the Assignment Solicitation Statement should be directed to D.F. King.
Neither the Assignment Solicitation Statement nor any related documents have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, nor have any such documents been filed with or reviewed by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority of any country. No authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Assignment Solicitation Statement or any related documents, and its unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make any representation to the contrary.
The Solicitation is being made solely on the terms and conditions set forth in the Assignment Solicitation Statement. Under no circumstances shall this press release constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities of the BBFI Liquidating Trust or its affiliates. The Solicitation is not being made to, nor will the BBFI Liquidating Trust accept deliveries of the Required Documents from, holders in any jurisdiction in which the Solicitation or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction. No recommendation is being made as to whether Liquidating Trust Beneficiaries should exercise their Purchase Rights. Liquidating Trust Beneficiaries should carefully read the Assignment Solicitation Statement because it contains important information, including the various terms and conditions of the Solicitation.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release regarding the Liquidating Trust's financial condition or regarding future events or prospects are forward-looking statements. The words "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "future," "help," "intend," "may," "plan," "shall," "should," "will" or the negative or other variations of them as well as other statements regarding matters that are not historical fact, are or may constitute forward-looking statements. The Liquidating Trust based these forward-looking statements on the Liquidating Trust Committee's current view with respect to future events and financial performance. These views involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those predicted in these forward-looking statements and from past results, performance or achievements. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
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SOURCE The BBFI Liquidating Trust | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/bbfi-liquidating-trust-announces-offering-participate-bbfi-liquidating-trusts-3137544757-senior-secured-pik-credit-facility/ | 2022-09-07T22:38:32Z |
NEW YORK, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bit Digital, Inc. (Nasdaq: BTBT) ("Bit Digital" or the "Company"), a digital asset mining company headquartered in New York, announced its unaudited bitcoin and Ethereum production and corporate updates for the month of August 2022.
Corporate Highlights for August 2022
- In August 2022, the Company earned 145.3 bitcoins, a 2% increase compared to the prior month. The Company earned 0 ETH during August 2022 compared to 0.5 in the month ending July 31, 2022.
- Treasury holdings of BTC and ETH were 919.2 and 3,684.0 with a fair market value of approximately $18.4 million and $5.7 million, respectively, on August 31, 2022.
- The Company owned 38,594 bitcoin miners and 731 Ethereum miners as of August 31, 2022, with an estimated maximum total hash rate of 2.7 Exahash ("EH/s") and 0.3 Terahash ("TH/s), respectively.
- During the month, the Company purchased 561 M30s miners and sold 103 M21 miners.
Miner Deployments
During the month of August, the Company continued to work with hosting partners to deploy miners. 29% of its currently-owned fleet, or 11,545 bitcoin miners and 0 ETH miners representing 1.04 EH/s and 0 TH/s, respectively, was deployed in North America as of August 31, 2022. The Company's ETH miners remain offline due to previously announced interruptions to certain hosting partners' operations.
About Bit Digital
Bit Digital, Inc. is a bitcoin mining company headquartered in New York City. Our mining operations are located in North America. For additional information, please contact ir@bit-digital.com or visit our website at www.bit-digital.com.
Investor Notice
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and forward-looking statements described under "Risk Factors" in Item 3.D of our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. If any material risk was to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the value of our securities could decline and you could lose part or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. In addition, our past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results in the future. Future changes in the network-wide mining difficulty rate or bitcoin hash rate may also materially affect the future performance of Bit Digital's production of bitcoin. Actual operating results will vary depending on many factors including network difficulty rate, total hash rate of the network, the operations of our facilities, the status of our miners, and other factors. Additionally, all discussions of financial metrics assume mining difficulty rates as of September 2022. See "Safe Harbor Statement" below.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of Bit Digital, Inc., and its subsidiary companies. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," or similar expressions, involving known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at http://www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.
For more information, please contact: ir@bit-digital.com, +1 (212) 463-5121
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SOURCE Bit Digital, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/bit-digital-inc-announces-monthly-production-update-august-2022/ | 2022-09-07T22:38:38Z |
Atmosphere joins forces with southwest dealer to expand territory to six states
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. and ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Atmosphere Commercial Interiors, a commercial furniture and services provider headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, today announced the acquisition of Business Environments, a Steelcase solution and commercial flooring provider based in Albuquerque, NM and El Paso, TX.
Business Environments has a reputation for professional and personalized service from a team that takes pride in a job well done. "I am most impressed by their commitment to each other, their clients, and to their communities," said Carlene Wilson, CEO and President of Atmosphere. "Together, we bring a depth of experience and capacity to commercial, education, government, and healthcare markets, and we will deliver remarkable value. I am delighted to welcome Business Environments to our Southwest Region."
I.B. Hoover founded Business Environments in Albuquerque as an office equipment store in 1973, then sold the business to his sons, Bruce and Scott Hoover in 1997. Under their leadership, Business Environments expanded their office furniture and flooring business into El Paso and now employ over 85 team members.
"The synergies across our companies are hard to miss," said Bruce, who has led Business Environments as CEO for 25 years. "We put people first, build solid relationships, and give back to our community. Atmosphere believes in value creation—for team members, clients, architects and designers, commercial real estate professionals, and the communities we live and work in."
Scott Hoover joined Business Environments in 1994 and eventually took over as President. "Hitting the 50-year mark is an extraordinary accomplishment and could not have happened without the dedication and professionalism of our staff. I am thrilled that this expansion will serve as a springboard for careers and development," said Scott.
Michael Kocurek, Vice President of Sales, will lead the furniture division across the Albuquerque and El Paso locations. "I am excited, that in this next chapter of our history, we will have the opportunity to elevate our capabilities and lead with a growth mindset. I am confident that our outstanding teams will help clients discover new opportunities and solutions, and we will bring unparalleled value to our design communities," said Michael.
Current and prospective team members can expect a welcoming and dynamic workplace and continuous innovation that powers the growth and enrichment of our teams, partnerships, and local communities. Design and commercial real estate firms can expect support from a seasoned project team from co-creation and visualization, to budgeting and planning, to implementation. Clients can expect environments that are compelling, high-performing, and human-centric through the creative applications of architecture, furniture, and technology that is backed by global workplace research and the strongest warranty in the industry.
Both organizations are multi-year recipients of the distinguished Steelcase Premier Partner award, a reflection of their commitment to strong financial and operational performance, and customer service excellence.
Business Environments will operate as Business Environments by Atmosphere through the end of 2022 before a full transition to the Atmosphere Commercial Interiors brand in 2023.
Atmosphere Commercial Interiors is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with additional offices in Wisconsin, Illinois, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Atmosphere Commercial Interiors has a rich history in the office furniture industry, serving organizations around the globe of every size, from start-up to Fortune 500, and across corporate, healthcare, education, and hospitality industries. Atmosphere is a multi-year recipient of the distinguished Steelcase Premier Partner award. Atmosphere is a subsidiary of Omni Workspace, a diversified holding company whose subsidiaries serve the design-build and contract interiors markets with products, services, and solutions. For more information, visit www.atmosphereci.com.
Business Environments has served New Mexico and Southwest Texas since 1973 with exceptional services and products. Clients include emerging enterprises as well as major corporations across multiple industries. Business Environments' success is based on the energy and experience of its people and strong partnerships, earning credibility through integrity and performance. Business Environments is a multi-year recipient of the distinguished Premier Partner award. For more information, visit www.businessenvironments.com.
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SOURCE Atmosphere Commercial Interiors | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/business-environments-acquired-by-atmosphere-commercial-interiors/ | 2022-09-07T22:38:45Z |
Tested to withstand over 156 drops on all angles and falls from up to 21.3 feet, the 6x Military Grade Standard Bounce Case is the most protective of its kind.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CASETiFY, the global tech accessory brand loved by millennials, Gen Z, and Hollywood celebrities has today unveiled the most protective phone case ever made for the mass market, and made it available for Apple's newly announced iPhone 14 — The Bounce Case. At the same time, the brand has upgraded its best-selling Impact and Ultra Impact Series, making them the most protective phone cases in their category.
The most striking feature of the Bounce Case is the "Bounce Corners", an innovation breakthrough resulting from a rigorous R&D process that included drop testing hundreds of smartphones to identify that 70% of a device's most vulnerable points were located in the four corners, with the worst impacts able to peel apart the screen from the main body and causing irreparable damage. The Bounce Corners are inspired by suspension bridges. The compression ribs with three air cavities allow for a cushioned contraction and bounce-back in the event of a fall, protecting the device from structural damage. New iPhone 14 owners can order and customize their own Bounce Case or other CASETiFY iPhone 14 phone cases at www.CASETiFY.com as well as made-to-order models at the brand's Amazon page. Locations around the world with CASETiFY Studio can also buy them directly at the store.
EcoShock™ - Providing Impact Cushioning and Dissipation
Further helping CASETiFY lay claim to the "most protective phone case", the brand reinforced the inner sides and the back of the Bounce Case by applying layers of a new proprietary and patent-pending material called EcoShock™. At a molecular level, the plant-based EcoShock™material is able to turn the kinetic energy of an impact into heat, while its twister pattern dissipates it across the surface of the case.
In addition to the 40% plant-based material used in the EcoShock™ proprietary material, the entire case is made sustainably with the company's "Re/CASETiFY" upcycling program, which was nominated this year by FastCompany to receive the World Changing Ideas Award. By recycling unwanted and used cases that customers can send to the brand in exchange for store credits, Re/CASETiFY is giving new life to old materials, making the CASETiFY line of iPhone 14 cases one of the most eco-friendly products in the market. It's worth noting that today, CASETiFY has already diverted over 160,000 phone cases from landfills thanks to the program, that's roughly the length of over 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Tested to the Extreme - Surviving the Highest Drop Heights
The result of both the Bounce Corner and EcoShock™ reinforcement is the most protective case for the mass market, manufactured responsibly thanks to the Re/CASETiFY program. CASETiFY rigorously tests all cases. The Bounce Case for iPhone 14 (MSRP $82US) survived a series of over 156 drops on all angles by impacting on a concrete and steel floor, meaning it is able to achieve 6x the requirement for military-grade approval, also sporting a drop height protection of 21.3 feet. Featuring the same proprietary EcoShock™ technology, the Ultra Impact Case for iPhone 14 (MSRP $78US) added a patent-pending bumper design, allowing for 130 consecutive drops from all angles, 5x military-grade standard, and a drop height of 11.5ft. Lastly, the Impact Case for iPhone 14 (MSRP $68US) survived 104 consecutive drops from all angles, has a 4x Military Grade Standard, including a drop height of 8.2ft.
Protection & Personality, Combined
The new Bounce Case for iPhone 14 will not only be the most protective option for new users but will also come in several colors. Peri, Kiwi and Bubble Gum. Apart from ready-to-order models in Amazon, purchases from casetify.com will have a good part of the 2,000+ design catalog from CASETiFY available for purchase. Customers can also choose to customize their Impact, Ultra Impact, and Bounce Case with a name, special message, or specific pattern, in their font of choice. iPhone 14 cases from CASETiFY are expected to also receive new designs from top franchises such as One Piece, Sailor Moon, or Harry Potter.
"After spending more than 10 years researching and creating high quality accessories, CASETiFY is thrilled to keep on a path to support artists and create eye-catching designs" said Wes Ng, CASETiFY CEO and co-founder. "But from now on, our consumers can also rest assured that we have become the most protective accessory brand".
All case models will be available for iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus , iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max Learn more about CASETiFY, Bounce Case and the company's full line of best-in-class accessories by clicking here. Follow along for more @CASETiFY news on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter.
About CASETiFY
CASETiFY is a global lifestyle brand and home to the first and largest platform for customized tech accessories. Created with the highest-quality materials and most cutting-edge designs, CASETiFY's products empower self-expression by turning your personal electronics into highly designed, stylishly slim, drop-proof accessories. Known for tapping top artists, big celebrities and creatives for its Co-Lab program, CASETiFY gives brands and individuals the opportunity to share their unique visions with the world. With 18 retail shops and growing, CASETiFY Studio provides a one-stop, visual retail experience where customers can customize their accessories on the spot. For more information on CASETiFY, its stores, partners and products, please visit www.CASETiFY.com.
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SOURCE CASETiFY | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/casetify-launches-bounce-case-iphone-14-worlds-most-protective-case-mass-market/ | 2022-09-07T22:38:51Z |
CHICAGO, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), a leading provider of global market infrastructure and tradable products, today announced that Ed Tilly, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Brian Schell, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, will present at the Barclays Global Financial Services Conference on Monday, September 12 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
The webcast and replay of the presentation will be accessible at www.cboe.com in the Investor Relations section, under Events and Presentations. The archived webcast is expected to be available within an hour of the presentation.
Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE), a leading provider of market infrastructure and tradable products, delivers cutting-edge trading, clearing and investment solutions to market participants around the world. The company is committed to operating a trusted, inclusive global marketplace, providing leading products, technology and data solutions that enable participants to define a sustainable financial future. Cboe provides trading solutions and products in multiple asset classes, including equities, derivatives, FX and digital assets, across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more, visit www.cboe.com.
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Cboe® and Cboe Global Markets® are registered trademarks of Cboe Exchange, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.
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SOURCE Cboe Global Markets, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/cboe-global-markets-present-barclays-global-financial-services-conference-september-12/ | 2022-09-07T22:39:07Z |
CHICAGO, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
If you paid for or provided reimbursement for some or all of the purchase price of brand or generic Opana ER® (oxymorphone hydrochloride extended release), you could get a payment from a class action lawsuit.
Your rights may be affected by a proposed partial settlement in a class action lawsuit regarding the prices paid for brand and generic Opana ER by consumers and third-party payors filed against Defendant Impax Laboratories, Inc. ("Impax"). The case name is In re Opana ER Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 2580, Lead Case No. 14-cv-10150 (N.D. Ill.) (the "Lawsuit"). The Lawsuit, which is pending in the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that Impax, together with Endo Health Solutions Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Penwest Pharmaceuticals Co. (collectively, "Endo"), violated certain state antitrust, consumer protection, and unjust enrichment laws by entering into a "pay for delay" or "reverse payment" agreement, delaying the launch of Impax's generic version of Opana ER until January 2013. As a result, the Lawsuit alleges that the End-Payor Classes paid or reimbursed for brand and generic Opana ER at prices that were higher than they would have otherwise been. Impax denies any wrongdoing. After Plaintiffs settled with Impax, a federal jury determined that as to Endo, Plaintiffs did not meet their burden in showing that Endo violated federal or state laws arising from Plaintiffs' allegations.
The Court has preliminarily approved the proposed settlement between the End-Payor Classes and Impax (the "Settlement"). The proposed Impax Settlement will provide for the payment of $15 million (the "Settlement Fund") to resolve the End-Payor Classes' claims against Impax. The full text of the proposed Settlement Agreement is available at www.opanaerantitrustlitigation.com.
The Court has scheduled a hearing to decide whether to approve the Settlement, the plan for allocating the Settlement Fund to Class Members, and the request of Co-Lead Counsel for payment of attorneys' fees and reimbursement of expenses and service awards to the Class Representative Plaintiffs out of the Settlement Fund (the "Fairness Hearing"). The Fairness Hearing is scheduled for December 15, 2022, at 10:00a.m., before Judge Harry D. Leinenweber at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60604.
You are a member of the End-Payor Plaintiff Classes if:
You purchased, paid for, or provided reimbursement for some or all of the purchase price of brand or generic Opana ER sold by Endo or Impax for the purpose of consumption, and not resale, by yourself, your family member(s), insureds, plan participants, employees, or beneficiaries, at any time from April 2011 through September 2018 in any of the following states or commonwealths:
Arizona*, California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts*, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi*, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
* With respect to Arizona, Massachusetts, and Mississippi unjust enrichment claims, Class Members must have purchased, paid for, and/or provided reimbursement for some or all of the purchase price of brand or generic Opana ER from June 4, 2011, through September 2018.
The following are NOT members of the Classes:
- Defendants and their counsel, officers, directors, management, employees, subsidiaries, or affiliates;
- Persons or entities whose only purchases of or reimbursements or payments for brand or generic Opana ER were of or for the generic Opana ER product sold by Actavis South Atlantic LLC or its successors;
- All governmental entities and Medicare Part D plans and beneficiaries, except for non-Medicare Part D government-funded employee benefit plans;
- All persons or entities who purchased Opana ER for purposes of resale or directly from Defendants or their affiliates;
- Fully insured health plans (plans that purchased insurance from another third-party payor covering 100 percent of the plan's reimbursement obligations to its members);
- Flat co-payers (consumers who paid the same co-payment amount for brand and generic drugs);
- Any consumer who purchased only Endo's brand version of Opana ER after the AB-rated generic version became available in January 2013 (i.e., "brand loyalists");
- Consumers with copay insurance plans who purchased only generic versions of Opana ER (i.e., "generic-only copay consumers");
- Pharmacy Benefit Managers;
- All Counsel of Record; and
- The Court, Court personnel, and any member of their immediate families.
For additional details, please read the Long Form Notice available at www.opanaerantitrustlitigation.com.
DO NOTHING: If you are a member of a Class, by doing nothing you will remain in that Class but will not be entitled to share in any distribution from the Settlement Fund. You will be bound by any decision of the Court in this Lawsuit, including rulings on the Settlement.
SUBMIT A CLAIM FORM: If you did not exclude yourself from one or more of the Classes prior to the December 6, 2021, deadline and believe you are a Class Member, you will need to complete and return a Claim Form to obtain a share of the Settlement Fund. The Claim Form, and information on how to submit it, are available on the Settlement website. Claim Forms must be postmarked (if mailed) or received (if submitted online) on or before January 5, 2023. Because a federal jury has recently determined that Impax's co-defendant Endo has not violated federal or state law arising from its reverse payment agreement, this may be your only opportunity to receive compensation in this Litigation.
OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT: If you object to all or any part of the Settlement or desire to speak in person at the Fairness Hearing, you must file a written letter of objection and/or a notice of intention to speak, including a summary statement, with the Court, Co-Lead Counsel, and Counsel for Impax by November 7, 2022.
Go to www.opanaerantitrustlitigation.com. You may also contact the Claims and Notice Administrator, by mail at Opana ER Antitrust Litigation, P.O. Box 173067, Milwaukee, WI 53217, email at info@opanaerantitrustlitigation.com, or phone at 877-888-6423. The deadlines contained in this notice may be amended by Court Order, so check the Settlement website for any updates.
Please do not call the Court or the Clerk of the Court for information about the Impax Settlement.
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SOURCE Dicello Levitt LLC and Freed Kanner London & Millen LLC | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/dicello-levitt-llc-freed-kanner-london-amp-millen-llc-announce-proposed-settlement-class-action-involving-purchasers-opana-er-andor-its-generic-equivalent/ | 2022-09-07T22:39:14Z |
The classic American tavern by Vandelay Hospitality Group opens September 8
DALLAS, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
High-Res Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/te43xvwavxfpqmq/AADS2m9Q9GrDSz0CRCfFTPpJa?dl=0
Known for its Chicago-inspired, classic American cuisine, D.L. Mack's will open its second location on September 8th in a handsome and comfortable old-world setting at 10720 Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75230. "Mack's" is fueled by Vandelay Hospitality Group, the rapidly expanding, Texas-owned-and-operated group behind classic American local favorites Hudson House, Drake's Hollywood, and Brentwood. D.L. Mack's blends the approachable, all-occasions feel of Hudson House with its own distinctly unique Chicago-inspired backdrop.
The 3,533 square foot space on the corner of Preston and Royal features reclaimed wood flooring from a 16th-century French church and reclaimed antique brick straight from 19th century Chicago. Details throughout the classic American tavern include black leather booths inspired by the classic automobiles of the mid-1900s, vintage light installments, vintage cigarette cards highlighting sports and movie stars of the early 20th century, black lacquered bar ceiling with custom brass and a glass back bar.
Just like the original location in University Park, D.L. Mack's food program will offer classic American cuisine by way of carefully sourced purveyors with an emphasis on house-made ingredients. Dishes are prepared from scratch in-house daily, featuring an all-day entrée set with shareable snacks, and of course, pizza. Dallas appetites have grown to love D.L. Mack's purist Chicago cracker crust tavern-style pizza offering. No deep dish to be found here. The thin crust is so crispy, it can't be folded. Other fan favorites include the Larchmont Salad, Blackened Redfish, and Garlic Shrimp Scampi.
The second D.L. Mack's post is just one of many openings this season by Vandelay Hospitality Group, which recently opened Brentwood, in North Dallas, as well as the group's first restaurant outside of Texas. Hudson House will open its fifth location in Los Angeles this year.
D.L. Mack's will open 7 days a week [11am-9pm Sunday - Wednesday and 11am-10pm Thursday - Sunday]. For more information on D.L. Mack's, visit www.dlmacks.com. Follow D.L. Mack's and Vandelay Hospitality on Instagram at @dlmacks and @vandelayhospitality.
Founded by CEO Hunter Pond in 2012, Vandelay Hospitality Group is rooted in developing hospitality brands and services that evoke a combination of rich American heritage, exquisite craftsmanship, eye for detail, and timeless charm. Concepts are framed with the local community at the forefront, often reviving former food and beverage spaces to match and add to the character of the neighborhood. Each property is designed in-house with polished eclecticism paying mind to artisanal aesthetics and a comfortable and timeless experience for all to enjoy. The Vandelay portfolio of sit-down and casual concepts include East Hampton Sandwich Co., Hudson House Restaurant & Raw Bar, Drake's Hollywood, D.L. Mack's, Brentwood Restaurant & Bar and The Anchor Bar (set to open in 2023). Vandelay's dedication to honest food and world-class service is built upon commitment and respect to employees and guests.
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SOURCE Vandelay Hospitality Group | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/dl-macks-opens-second-dallas-location-preston-hollow-neighborhood/ | 2022-09-07T22:39:21Z |
VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) (Hecla) and Alexco Resource Corp. (NYSE American: AXU) (TSX: AXU) (Alexco) announced today completion of the Alexco acquisition.
"With the world's increasing demand for silver for clean energy, Hecla is helping meet that demand as the world's fastest growing established silver miner," said Phillips S. Baker, Jr., Hecla's President & CEO. "Since 2010, Hecla has increased silver production by more than 25%. With the additional production from Alexco's Keno Hill, and the continued production growth from Greens Creek and Lucky Friday, we expect Hecla to produce 17-20 million ounces per year in the next few years, which is 30 to 55% more than 2021. Hecla's silver production is in the United States where it already produces 40% of all the silver mined and, with Keno Hill, Hecla is on the path of being Canada's largest silver producer as well."
"The Keno Hill property is in a premier mining jurisdiction where the First Nation of the Na-Cho Nyak Dun and Yukon governments are supportive of mining. Like our other operations where we have had decades of mining and have become an integral part of the communities, we look forward to doing the same in the Yukon," Baker added.
Baker said, "Keno Hill currently has an almost decade-long high-grade reserve life, which we expect to extend as we drill on identified resources. With the fully operational mill and development that is in place we don't anticipate a large capital program to bring the mine into production. Over the coming months Hecla plans to invest in development, infrastructure, and equipment so there are adequate mining faces and good working conditions to bring Keno Hill to full and consistent production by the end of 2023."
As part of the acquisition, Hecla issued 17,992,875 million shares of its common stock to Alexco shareholders for a total consideration of approximately $69 million based on a share exchange ratio of 0.116 of a Hecla share for each Alexco common share. Concurrent with the acquisition, the silver streaming interest at Alexco's Keno Hill property held by Wheaton Precious Metals Corp was terminated in exchange for US$135 million of Hecla common stock, in the form of 34,800,989 million shares of Hecla common stock based on the 5-day VWAP of $3.88 per share. As part of the transaction, Hecla provided Alexco with a US$30 million secured loan facility, of which US$25 million was drawn when the transaction closed.
ABOUT HECLA
Founded in 1891, Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) is the largest silver producer in the United States. In addition to operating mines in Alaska, Idaho and Quebec, Canada, the Company owns a number of exploration properties and pre-development projects in world-class silver and gold mining districts throughout North America.
Cautionary Statements to Investors on Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections and other applicable laws, including Canadian securities laws. When a forward-looking statement expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and financial condition and often contain words such as "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "will," "could," "would," "estimate," "should," "expect," "believe," "project," "target," "indicative," "preliminary," "potential" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release may include, without limitation: (i) Hecla could be the largest silver producer in the U.S. and Canada; (ii) the Keno Hill mine will resume production in the future; (iii) Hecla may produce 17-20 million ounces per year in the next few years; (iv) Keno Hill's mine life may be extended; (v) Hecla does not anticipate a large capital program to bring Keno Hill into production and (vi) Hecla expects to invest in development, infrastructure, and equipment at Keno Hill to obtain adequate mining faces and good working conditions to make Keno Hill a consistent producer by the end of 2023. The material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information include that Hecla's plans for development and production will proceed as expected and will not require revision as a result of risks or uncertainties, whether known, unknown or unanticipated, to which Hecla's operations are subject.
Estimates or expectations of future events or results are based upon certain assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect, which could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements. Such assumptions, include, but are not limited to: (i) there being no significant change to current geotechnical, metallurgical, hydrological and other physical conditions; (ii) permitting, development, operations and expansion of Hecla's projects being consistent with current expectations and mine plans; (iii) political/regulatory developments in any jurisdiction in which Hecla operates being consistent with its current expectations; (iv) the exchange rate for the USD/CAD being approximately consistent with current levels; (v) certain price assumptions for gold, silver, lead and zinc; (vi) prices for key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (vii) the accuracy of our current mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; (viii) Hecla's plans for development and production will proceed as expected and will not require revision as a result of risks or uncertainties, whether known, unknown or unanticipated; (ix) counterparties performing their obligations under hedging instruments and put option contracts; * sufficient workforce is available and trained to perform assigned tasks; (xi) weather patterns and rain/snowfall within normal seasonal ranges so as not to impact operations; (xii) relations with interested parties, including Native Americans, remain productive; (xiii) economic terms can be reached with third-party mill operators who have capacity to process our ore; (xiv) maintaining availability of water rights; (xv) factors do not arise that reduce available cash balances; and (xvi) there being no material increases in our current requirements to post or maintain reclamation and performance bonds or collateral related thereto.
In addition, material risks that could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) gold, silver and other metals price volatility; (ii) operating risks; (iii) currency fluctuations; (iv) increased production costs and variances in ore grade or recovery rates from those assumed in mining plans; (v) community relations; (vi) conflict resolution and outcome of projects or oppositions; (vii) litigation, political, regulatory, labor and environmental risks; (viii) exploration risks and results, including that mineral resources are not mineral reserves, they do not have demonstrated economic viability and there is no certainty that they can be upgraded to mineral reserves through continued exploration; (ix) the failure of counterparties to perform their obligations under hedging instruments; * we take a material impairment charge on our Nevada operations; (xi) we are unable to remain in compliance with all terms of the credit agreement in order to maintain continued access to the revolver, and (xii) we are unable to refinance the maturing senior notes. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors, see Hecla's 2021 Form 10-K, filed on February 23, 2022, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as Hecla's other SEC filings, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 5, 2022. Hecla does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any "forward-looking statement," including, without limitation, outlook, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued "forward-looking statement" constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Continued reliance on "forward-looking statements" is at investors' own risk.
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SOURCE Alexco Resource Corp. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/hecla-completes-acquisition-alexco-resource-corp/ | 2022-09-07T22:39:28Z |
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (Nasdaq: HBAN) announced today that Chief Financial Officer Zach Wasserman will present at the Barclays Global Financial Services Conference on Monday, September 12, 2022, at 9:00 AM (Eastern Time). He will discuss business, financial performance, and strategic initiatives.
Webcast Information
Interested investors may access the live audio webcast in the investor relations section of Huntington's website (www.huntington-ir.com). A replay of the webcast will be archived on the website.
About Huntington
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (Nasdaq: HBAN) is a $179 billion asset regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1866, The Huntington National Bank and its affiliates provide consumers, small and middle‐market businesses, corporations, municipalities, and other organizations with a comprehensive suite of banking, payments, wealth management, and risk management products and services. Huntington operates more than 1,000 branches in 11 states, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Visit Huntington.com for more information.
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SOURCE Huntington Bancshares Incorporated | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/huntington-bancshares-speak-barclays-global-financial-services-conference/ | 2022-09-07T22:39:34Z |
- Independent proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis recommends shareholders vote FOR RIV Capital's highly qualified Board nominees.
- RIV Capital's visionary and highly experienced Board nominees bring diverse views, financial and capital market experience, and an understanding of the cannabis market in both Canada and the U.S.; they are committed to delivering future growth and further enhancing shareholder value.
- Vote FOR RIV Capital's Board nominees well before the deadline of 10:00 a.m. (EDT) on September 27, 2022. For help voting, please contact Kingsdale Advisors at 1-877-659-1821 (toll free in North America), or at 1-416-867-2272 (collect outside North America), or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com.
TORONTO, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - RIV Capital Inc. ("RIV Capital" or the "Company") (CSE: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF), an acquisition and investment firm focused on building a leading multistate platform with the strongest portfolio of cannabis brands in key strategic markets across the United States, today announced that a leading proxy advisory firm, Glass, Lewis & Co. ("Glass Lewis"), has recommended that RIV Capital shareholders vote FOR all seven of the Company's board of directors (the "Board") nominees – Laura Curran, Chris Hagedorn, Richard Mavrinac, Joseph Mimran, Amy Peckham, Mark Sims and Dawn Sweeney.
RIV Capital's Board nominees consist of highly qualified individuals with relevant industry expertise, who are committed to delivering future growth and further enhancing shareholder value. To learn more about each nominee, visit rivcapital.com/future.
"Glass Lewis' recommendation that shareholders vote FOR our Board nominees is further proof that the Company is on the right track and is well situated to become a leading cannabis operator," said Mark Sims, Director, President and CEO, RIV Capital. "We strongly believe that our director nominees will provide RIV Capital with the right balance of continuity and fresh perspectives, relevant experience, strategic vision, and bold, forward-looking insights that the Company needs to create significant shareholder value in the years ahead."
Vote FOR RIV Capital's Board Nominees Today
Shareholders are encouraged to vote well before the deadline of 10:00 a.m. (EDT) on September 27, 2022.
Voting is fast and easy – if you have questions or need help voting, contact Kingsdale Advisors at 1-877-659-1821 (toll free in North America), or at 1-416-867-2272 (collect outside North America), or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com.
About RIV Capital
RIV Capital is building a leading cannabis packaged goods company, with a focus on establishing one of the strongest portfolios of brands in key strategic U.S. markets. Backed by in-house expertise and cannabis domain knowledge, RIV Capital aims to grow its own brands and partner with established U.S. cannabis operators and brands to bring them to new markets and build market share. RIV Capital established the foundational building blocks of its active U.S. strategy with the previously announced acquisition of Etain. Through its strategic relationship with The Hawthorne Collective, Inc. ("The Hawthorne Collective"), a subsidiary of ScottsMiracle-Gro, RIV Capital is The Hawthorne Collective's preferred vehicle for cannabis-related investments not under the purview of other ScottsMiracle-Gro subsidiaries.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of RIV Capital and its portfolio companies with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding the Company's strategies, objectives, goals, opportunities and plans, including in respect of future growth and creating shareholder value; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.
Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical fact but instead reflects management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although RIV Capital believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of RIV Capital or its portfolio companies.
Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: the timing and likelihood for receipt of all required regulatory approvals, and satisfaction of other conditions to closing, in respect of the Etain Acquisition; the Company's ability to execute its go-forward strategy; stock market volatility; changes in the business activities, focus and plans of the Company, Etain and the Company's investees and the timing associated therewith; the timing of any changes to federal laws in the U.S. to allow for the general cultivation, distribution, and possession of cannabis; regulatory and licensing risks; changes in cannabis industry growth and trends; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; litigation risks; the global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks and risks relating to regulatory change; risks relating to anti-money laundering laws; compliance with extensive government regulation, including RIV Capital's interpretation of such regulation; public opinion and perception of the cannabis industry; divestiture risks; and the risk factors set out in RIV Capital's management's discussion and analysis dated August 29, 2022 and annual information form dated June 10, 2022 filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available on RIV Capital's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
The Company has invested in and acquired, and intends to in the future invest in and/or acquire, companies that are involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where such operations occur permit such activities, however, investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable U.S. federal money laundering legislation.
While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with recreational and medicinal cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under U.S. federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although RIV Capital has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. RIV Capital does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.
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SOURCE RIV Capital Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/independent-proxy-advisory-firm-glass-lewis-endorses-riv-capitals-board-directors/ | 2022-09-07T22:39:41Z |
WESTBURY, N.Y., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp. IV (NYSE: KCAC.U) ("Kensington") and Amprius Technologies, Inc. ("Amprius") today announced that they have determined the exchange ratio to be approximately 1.45590 (the "Exchange Ratio") as of the anticipated date for Closing (as defined below) in accordance with the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of May 11, 2022 (the "Business Combination Agreement"), among Kensington, Kensington Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Kensington, and Amprius, pursuant to which, among other things, Kensington and Amprius will enter into a business combination (the "Proposed Business Combination"). Capitalized terms used in this press release but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Business Combination Agreement.
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, at the closing of the Proposed Business Combination (the "Closing"), (1) each outstanding share of Amprius' common stock will be cancelled and automatically converted into the right to receive approximately 1.45590 shares of Kensington common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, with each holder's shares rounded down to the nearest whole number and (2) each outstanding option to purchase shares of Amprius' common stock, whether vested or unvested, will be cancelled and automatically converted into an option to purchase a number of shares of Kensington common stock equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of (i) the number of shares of Amprius common stock subject to the option immediately prior to Closing, multiplied by (ii) the Exchange Ratio, at an exercise price per share (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to (A) the exercise price per share of such option immediately prior to Closing divided by (B) the Exchange Ratio.
The Exchange Ratio as of the anticipated date for Closing is lower than the assumed exchange ratio calculated in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement that was set out in the proxy statement/prospectus, dated September 1, 2022 (the "Proxy Statement/Prospectus"), that was filed by Kensington with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and distributed to its shareholders.
Amprius Technologies, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of high-energy and high-power lithium-ion batteries producing the industry's highest energy density cells. The company's corporate headquarters is in Fremont, California where it maintains an R&D lab and a pilot manufacturing facility for the fabrication of silicon nanowire anodes and cells.
For additional information, please visit amprius.com.
Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp. IV (NYSE: KCAC.U) is a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, stock purchase or similar business combination with a business in the automotive and automotive-related sector. Kensington's management team of Justin Mirro, Dieter Zetsche, Bob Remenar, Simon Boag and Dan Huber is supported by a board of independent directors including Tom LaSorda, Nicole Nason, Anders Pettersson, Mitch Quain, Don Runkle, and Matt Simoncini.
Kensington's units, subunits and warrants are currently trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols "KCAC.U," "KCA.U," and "KCAC.WS," respectively. Each "KCAC.U" unit contains one subunit and 1 warrant. Each "KCA.U" subunit contains one share of Kensington common stock and 1 warrant. A holder of the subunit will only be able to retain the 1 warrant underlying the subunit if the holder elects not to redeem the subunit in connection with the Business Combination. The subunits will not separate into shares of common stock and warrants until the consummation of the Business Combination.
For additional information, please visit autospac.com.
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, each as amended, including Kensington's or Amprius' or their management teams' expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the timing and terms of the Proposed Business Combination, including the final Exchange Ratio. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of Amprius' and Kensington's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied upon by any investors as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Amprius and Kensington. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the Proposed Business Combination, including the risk that any regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the Proposed Business Combination or that the approval of the equity holders of Amprius or Kensington is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Business Combination; risks related to the rollout of Amprius' business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on Amprius' business; supply shortages in the materials necessary for the production of Amprius' products; the termination of government clean energy and electric vehicle incentives or the reduction in government spending on vehicles powered by battery technology; delays in construction and operation of production facilities; the amount of redemption requests made by Kensington's public equity holders; and the ability of Kensington or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in connection with the Proposed Business Combination or in the future. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the operations and projections discussed herein can be found in Kensington's periodic filings with the SEC, including Kensington's final prospectus for its initial public offering filed with the SEC on March 2, 2022 and the Registration Statement (as defined below) filed in connection with the Proposed Business Combination. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither Amprius or Kensington presently know or that Amprius and Kensington currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Amprius' and Kensington's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Amprius and Kensington anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause Amprius' and Kensington's assessments to change. However, while Amprius and Kensington may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Amprius and Kensington specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Amprius' or Kensington's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Neither Amprius, Kensington, nor any of their respective affiliates have any obligation to update this press release other than as required by law.
This press release relates to the proposed transaction involving Kensington and Amprius. A full description of the terms of the transaction is provided in the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-265740) (as amended, the "Registration Statement"), filed with the SEC by Kensington. The Registration Statement includes a prospectus with respect to the combined company's securities to be issued in connection with the Proposed Business Combination and a preliminary proxy statement with respect to the shareholder meeting of Kensington to vote on the Proposed Business Combination. Kensington also plans to file other documents and relevant materials with the SEC regarding the Proposed Business Combination. The Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC, and Kensington commenced mailing, on September 1, 2022, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to the shareholders of Kensington as of the record date established for voting on the Proposed Business Combination. SECURITY HOLDERS OF AMPRIUS AND KENSINGTON ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS AND RELEVANT MATERIALS RELATING TO THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION. Shareholders are able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents containing important information about Amprius and Kensington filed with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through the websites referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.
Kensington and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Kensington in connection with the Proposed Business Combination. Amprius and its officers and directors may also be deemed participants in such solicitation. Security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of certain of Kensington's executive officers and directors in the solicitation by reading Kensington's final prospectus filed with the SEC on March 2, 2022, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other relevant materials filed with the SEC in connection with the Proposed Business Combination when they become available. Information concerning the interests of Kensington's participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different from those of Kensington's shareholders generally, is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or constitute a solicitation of any vote or approval in respect of the potential transaction and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of Kensington, Amprius or the combined company, nor shall there be any sale of any such 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 such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act.
Contact:
Daniel Huber
Chief Financial Officer
dan@kensington-cap.com
(703) 674-6514
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SOURCE Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp. IV | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/kensington-capital-acquisition-corp-iv-amprius-technologies-announce-final-exchange-ratio-proposed-business-combination/ | 2022-09-07T22:39:48Z |
MONTREAL, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Lightspeed Commerce Inc. ("Lightspeed" or the "Company") (TSX: LSPD) (NYSE: LSPD), the one-stop commerce platform for merchants around the world to simplify, scale and create exceptional customer experiences, today announced its participation in the Piper Sandler Growth Frontier Conference. Unless noted, listen-only audio webcasts and replays will be accessible at the scheduled presentation time on the Company's Investor Relations website at investors.lightspeedhq.com. Details for the event are as follows:
Powering the businesses that are the backbone of the global economy, Lightspeed's one-stop commerce platform helps merchants innovate to simplify, scale and provide exceptional customer experiences. The cloud solution transforms and unifies online and physical operations, multichannel sales, expansion to new locations, global payments, financing and connection to supplier networks.
Founded in Montréal, Canada in 2005, Lightspeed is dual-listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange (NYSE: LSPD) (TSX: LSPD). With teams across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, the company serves retail, hospitality and golf businesses in over 100 countries.
For more information, please visit: www.lightspeedhq.com
On social media: Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter
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SOURCE Lightspeed Commerce Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/lightspeed-participate-upcoming-investor-conference/ | 2022-09-07T22:39:55Z |
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced that data from studies of Verzenio® (abemaciclib) and Retevmo® (selpercatinib) will be presented at the 2022 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, to be held September 9-13, 2022.
Presentation Highlights
Verzenio (abemaciclib)
Lilly will present interim overall survival results from the double-blind, randomized Phase 3 MONARCH 3 study of Verzenio in hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced breast cancer as well as final overall survival results from the Phase 2 monarcHER study in HR+, HER2+ advanced breast cancer.
Retevmo (selpercatinib)
Lilly will present longer-term follow-up data for patients with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) and data on the continuation of Retevmo beyond progression in patients with rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from the Retevmo LIBRETTO-001 trial.
A list of the presentations, along with their viewing details, is shared below.
About Verzenio® (abemaciclib)
Verzenio® (abemaciclib) is a targeted treatment known as a CDK4/6 inhibitor. Verzenio is a nonchemotherapy oral tablet.
Verzenio works inside the cell to block CDK4/6 activity and help stop the growth of cancer cells so that they may eventually die (based on preclinical studies). Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK)4/6 are activated by binding to D-cyclins. In estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer cell lines, cyclin D1 and CDK4/6 promote phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (Rb), cell cycle progression and cell proliferation.
In vitro, continuous exposure to Verzenio inhibited Rb phosphorylation and blocked progression from G1 to S phase of the cell cycle, resulting in senescence and apoptosis (cell death). Preclinically, Verzenio dosed daily without interruption resulted in reduction of tumor size. Inhibiting CDK4/6 in healthy cells can result in side effects, some of which may be serious. Clinical evidence also suggests that Verzenio crosses the blood-brain barrier. In patients with advanced cancer, including breast cancer, concentrations of Verzenio and its active metabolites (M2 and M20) in cerebrospinal fluid are comparable to unbound plasma concentrations.
Verzenio is Lilly's first solid oral dosage form to be made using a faster, more efficient process known as continuous manufacturing. Continuous manufacturing is a new and advanced type of manufacturing within the pharmaceutical industry, and Lilly is one of the first companies to use this technology.
INDICATIONS FOR VERZENIO®
Verzenio® (abemaciclib) in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-), node-positive, early breast cancer (EBC) at high risk of recurrence and a Ki-67 score of ≥20%, as determined by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved test.
Verzenio is also indicated for the treatment of HR+, HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer:
- In combination with ET (tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor) for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with HR+, HER2-, node-positive, EBC at high risk of recurrence and a Ki-67 score ≥20% as determined by an FDA-approved test
- In combination with an aromatase inhibitor as initial ET for the treatment of postmenopausal women, and men, with HR+, HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer
- In combination with fulvestrant for the treatment of adult patients with HR+, HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression following ET
- As monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with HR+, HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression following ET and prior chemotherapy in the metastatic setting
About Retevmo® (selpercatinib)
Retevmo® (selpercatinib, formerly known as LOXO-292) (pronounced reh-TEHV-moh) is a selective and potent rearranged during transfection (RET) kinase inhibitor. Retevmo may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells, which can result in side effects. RET-driver alterations are predominantly mutually exclusive from other oncogenic drivers. Retevmo is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved oral prescription medicine, 120 mg or 160 mg dependent on weight (<50 kg or ≥50 kg, respectively), taken twice daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Continued approval may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.
INDICATIONS FOR RETEVMO®
Retevmo® is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic RET fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with advanced or metastatic RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) who require systemic therapy or with advanced or metastatic RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer who require systemic therapy and are radioactive iodine-refractory (if radioactive iodine is appropriate). Retevmo was approved under the FDA's Accelerated Approval regulations based on the LIBRETTO-001 Phase 1/2 trial's endpoints of overall response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DoR).
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR VERZENIO (abemaciclib)
Severe diarrhea associated with dehydration and infection occurred in patients treated with Verzenio. Across four clinical trials in 3691 patients, diarrhea occurred in 81 to 90% of patients who received Verzenio. Grade 3 diarrhea occurred in 8 to 20% of patients receiving Verzenio. Most patients experienced diarrhea during the first month of Verzenio treatment. The median time to onset of the first diarrhea event ranged from 6 to 8 days; and the median duration of Grade 2 and Grade 3 diarrhea ranged from 6 to 11 days and 5 to 8 days, respectively. Across trials, 19 to 26% of patients with diarrhea required a Verzenio dose interruption and 13 to 23% required a dose reduction.
Instruct patients to start antidiarrheal therapy, such as loperamide, at the first sign of loose stools, increase oral fluids, and notify their healthcare provider for further instructions and appropriate follow-up. For Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea, or diarrhea that requires hospitalization, discontinue Verzenio until toxicity resolves to ≤Grade 1, and then resume Verzenio at the next lower dose.
Neutropenia, including febrile neutropenia and fatal neutropenic sepsis, occurred in patients treated with Verzenio. Across four clinical trials in 3691 patients, neutropenia occurred in 37 to 46% of patients receiving Verzenio. A Grade ≥3 decrease in neutrophil count (based on laboratory findings) occurred in 19 to 32% of patients receiving Verzenio. Across trials, the median time to first episode of Grade ≥3 neutropenia ranged from 29 to 33 days, and the median duration of Grade ≥3 neutropenia ranged from 11 to 16 days. Febrile neutropenia has been reported in <1% of patients exposed to Verzenio across trials. Two deaths due to neutropenic sepsis were observed in MONARCH 2. Inform patients to promptly report any episodes of fever to their healthcare provider.
Monitor complete blood counts prior to the start of Verzenio therapy, every 2 weeks for the first 2 months, monthly for the next 2 months, and as clinically indicated. Dose interruption, dose reduction, or delay in starting treatment cycles is recommended for patients who develop Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia.
Severe, life-threatening, or fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD) or pneumonitis can occur in patients treated with Verzenio and other CDK4/6 inhibitors. In Verzenio-treated patients in EBC (monarchE), 3% of patients experienced ILD or pneumonitis of any grade: 0.4% were Grade 3 or 4 and there was one fatality (0.1%). In Verzenio-treated patients in MBC (MONARCH 1, MONARCH 2, MONARCH 3), 3.3% of Verzenio-treated patients had ILD or pneumonitis of any grade: 0.6% had Grade 3 or 4, and 0.4% had fatal outcomes. Additional cases of ILD or pneumonitis have been observed in the postmarketing setting, with fatalities reported.
Monitor patients for pulmonary symptoms indicative of ILD or pneumonitis. Symptoms may include hypoxia, cough, dyspnea, or interstitial infiltrates on radiologic exams. Infectious, neoplastic, and other causes for such symptoms should be excluded by means of appropriate investigations. Dose interruption or dose reduction is recommended in patients who develop persistent or recurrent Grade 2 ILD or pneumonitis. Permanently discontinue Verzenio in all patients with Grade 3 or 4 ILD or pneumonitis.
Grade ≥3 increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (2 to 6%) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (2 to 3%) were reported in patients receiving Verzenio. Across three clinical trials in 3559 patients (monarchE, MONARCH 2, MONARCH 3), the median time to onset of Grade ≥3 ALT increases ranged from 57 to 87 days and the median time to resolution to Grade <3 was 13 to 14 days. The median time to onset of Grade ≥3 AST increases ranged from 71 to 185 days and the median time to resolution to Grade <3 ranged from 11 to 15 days.
Monitor liver function tests (LFTs) prior to the start of Verzenio therapy, every 2 weeks for the first 2 months, monthly for the next 2 months, and as clinically indicated. Dose interruption, dose reduction, dose discontinuation, or delay in starting treatment cycles is recommended for patients who develop persistent or recurrent Grade 2, or any Grade 3 or 4 hepatic transaminase elevation.
Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) were reported in 2 to 5% of patients across three clinical trials in 3559 patients treated with Verzenio (monarchE, MONARCH 2, MONARCH 3). VTE included deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, pelvic venous thrombosis, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, subclavian and axillary vein thrombosis, and inferior vena cava thrombosis. In clinical trials, deaths due to VTE have been reported in patients treated with Verzenio.
Verzenio has not been studied in patients with early breast cancer who had a history of VTE. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and treat as medically appropriate. Dose interruption is recommended for EBC patients with any grade VTE and for MBC patients with a Grade 3 or 4 VTE.
Verzenio can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman, based on findings from animal studies and the mechanism of action. In animal reproduction studies, administration of abemaciclib to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis caused teratogenicity and decreased fetal weight at maternal exposures that were similar to the human clinical exposure based on area under the curve (AUC) at the maximum recommended human dose. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Verzenio and for 3 weeks after the last dose. Based on findings in animals, Verzenio may impair fertility in males of reproductive potential. There are no data on the presence of Verzenio in human milk or its effects on the breastfed child or on milk production. Advise lactating women not to breastfeed during Verzenio treatment and for at least 3 weeks after the last dose because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants.
The most common adverse reactions (all grades, ≥10%) observed in monarchE for Verzenio plus tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor vs tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor, with a difference between arms of ≥2%, were diarrhea (84% vs 9%), infections (51% vs 39%), neutropenia (46% vs 6%), fatigue (41% vs 18%), leukopenia (38% vs 7%), nausea (30% vs 9%), anemia (24% vs 4%), headache (20% vs 15%), vomiting (18% vs 4.6%), stomatitis (14% vs 5%), lymphopenia (14% vs 3%), thrombocytopenia (13% vs 2%), decreased appetite (12% vs 2.4%), ALT increased (12% vs 6%), AST increased (12% vs 5%), dizziness (11% vs 7%), rash (11% vs 4.5%), and alopecia (11% vs 2.7 %).
The most frequently reported ≥5% Grade 3 or 4 adverse reaction that occurred in the Verzenio arm vs the tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor arm of monarchE were neutropenia (19.6% vs 1%), leukopenia (11% vs <1%), diarrhea (8% vs 0.2%), and lymphopenia (5% vs <1%).
Lab abnormalities (all grades; Grade 3 or 4) for monarchE in ≥10% for Verzenio plus tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor with a difference between arms of ≥2% were increased serum creatinine (99% vs 91%; .5% vs <.1%), decreased white blood cells (89% vs 28%; 19.1% vs 1.1%), decreased neutrophil count (84% vs 23%; 18.7% vs 1.9%), anemia (68% vs 17%; 1% vs .1%), decreased lymphocyte count (59% vs 24%; 13.2 % vs 2.5%), decreased platelet count (37% vs 10%; .9% vs .2%), increased ALT (37% vs 24%; 2.6% vs 1.2%), increased AST (31% vs 18%; 1.6% vs .9%), and hypokalemia (11% vs 3.8%; 1.3% vs 0.2%).
The most common adverse reactions (all grades, ≥10%) observed in MONARCH 3 for Verzenio plus anastrozole or letrozole vs anastrozole or letrozole, with a difference between arms of ≥2%, were diarrhea (81% vs 30%), fatigue (40% vs 32%), neutropenia (41% vs 2%), infections (39% vs 29%), nausea (39% vs 20%), abdominal pain (29% vs 12%), vomiting (28% vs 12%), anemia (28% vs 5%), alopecia (27% vs 11%), decreased appetite (24% vs 9%), leukopenia (21% vs 2%), creatinine increased (19% vs 4%), constipation (16% vs 12%), ALT increased (16% vs 7%), AST increased (15% vs 7%), rash (14% vs 5%), pruritus (13% vs 9%), cough (13% vs 9%), dyspnea (12% vs 6%), dizziness (11% vs 9%), weight decreased (10% vs 3.1%), influenza-like illness (10% vs 8%), and thrombocytopenia (10% vs 2%).
The most frequently reported ≥5% Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions that occurred in the Verzenio arm vs the placebo arm of MONARCH 3 were neutropenia (22% vs 1%), diarrhea (9% vs 1.2%), leukopenia (7% vs <1%)), increased ALT (6% vs 2%), and anemia (6% vs 1%).
Lab abnormalities (all grades; Grade 3 or 4) for MONARCH 3 in ≥10% for Verzenio plus anastrozole or letrozole with a difference between arms of ≥2% were increased serum creatinine (98% vs 84%; 2.2% vs 0%), decreased white blood cells (82% vs 27%; 13% vs 0.6%), anemia (82% vs 28%; 1.6% vs 0%), decreased neutrophil count (80% vs 21%; 21.9% vs 2.6%), decreased lymphocyte count (53% vs 26%; 7.6% vs 1.9%), decreased platelet count (36% vs 12%; 1.9% vs 0.6%), increased ALT (48% vs 25%; 6.6% vs 1.9%), and increased AST (37% vs 23%; 3.8% vs 0.6%).
The most common adverse reactions (all grades, ≥10%) observed in MONARCH 2 for Verzenio plus fulvestrant vs fulvestrant, with a difference between arms of ≥2%, were diarrhea (86% vs 25%), neutropenia (46% vs 4%), fatigue (46% vs 32%), nausea (45% vs 23%), infections (43% vs 25%), abdominal pain (35% vs 16%), anemia (29% vs 4%), leukopenia (28% vs 2%), decreased appetite (27% vs 12%), vomiting (26% vs 10%), headache (20% vs 15%), dysgeusia (18% vs 2.7%), thrombocytopenia (16% vs 3%), alopecia (16% vs 1.8%), stomatitis (15% vs 10%), ALT increased (13% vs 5%), pruritus (13% vs 6%), cough (13% vs 11%), dizziness (12% vs 6%), AST increased (12% vs 7%), peripheral edema (12% vs 7%), creatinine increased (12% vs <1%), rash (11% vs 4.5%), pyrexia (11% vs 6%), and weight decreased (10% vs 2.2%).
The most frequently reported ≥5% Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions that occurred in the Verzenio arm vs the placebo arm of MONARCH 2 were neutropenia (25% vs 1%), diarrhea (13% vs 0.4%), leukopenia (9% vs 0%), anemia (7% vs 1%), and infections (5.7% vs 3.5%).
Lab abnormalities (all grades; Grade 3 or 4) for MONARCH 2 in ≥10% for Verzenio plus fulvestrant with a difference between arms of ≥2% were increased serum creatinine (98% vs 74%; 1.2% vs 0%), decreased white blood cells (90% vs 33%; 23.7% vs .9%), decreased neutrophil count (87% vs 30%; 32.5% vs 4.2%), anemia (84% vs 34%; 2.6% vs .5%), decreased lymphocyte count (63% vs 32%; 12.2% vs 1.8%), decreased platelet count (53% vs 15%; 2.1% vs 0%), increased ALT (41% vs 32%; 4.6% vs 1.4%), and increased AST (37% vs 25%; 3.9% vs 4.2%).
The most common adverse reactions (all grades, ≥10%) observed in MONARCH 1 with Verzenio were diarrhea (90%), fatigue (65%), nausea (64%), decreased appetite (45%), abdominal pain (39%), neutropenia (37%), vomiting (35%), infections (31%), anemia (25%), thrombocytopenia (20%), headache (20%), cough (19%), constipation (17%), leukopenia (17%), arthralgia (15%), dry mouth (14%), weight decreased (14%), stomatitis (14%), creatinine increased (13%), alopecia (12%), dysgeusia (12%), pyrexia (11%), dizziness (11%), and dehydration (10%).
The most frequently reported ≥5% Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions from MONARCH 1 with Verzenio were diarrhea (20%), neutropenia (24%), fatigue (13%), and leukopenia (5%).
Lab abnormalities (all grades; Grade 3 or 4) for MONARCH 1 with Verzenio were increased serum creatinine (99%; .8%), decreased white blood cells (91%; 28%), decreased neutrophil count (88%; 26.6%), anemia (69%; 0%), decreased lymphocyte count (42%; 13.8%), decreased platelet count (41%; 2.3%), increased ALT (31%; 3.1%), and increased AST (30%; 3.8%).
Strong and moderate CYP3A inhibitors increased the exposure of abemaciclib plus its active metabolites to a clinically meaningful extent and may lead to increased toxicity. Avoid concomitant use of ketoconazole. Ketoconazole is predicted to increase the AUC of abemaciclib by up to 16-fold. In patients with recommended starting doses of 200 mg twice daily or 150 mg twice daily, reduce the Verzenio dose to 100 mg twice daily with concomitant use of strong CYP3A inhibitors other than ketoconazole. In patients who have had a dose reduction to 100 mg twice daily due to adverse reactions, further reduce the Verzenio dose to 50 mg twice daily with concomitant use of strong CYP3A inhibitors. If a patient taking Verzenio discontinues a strong CYP3A inhibitor, increase the Verzenio dose (after 3 to 5 half-lives of the inhibitor) to the dose that was used before starting the inhibitor. With concomitant use of moderate CYP3A inhibitors, monitor for adverse reactions and consider reducing the Verzenio dose in 50 mg decrements. Patients should avoid grapefruit products.
Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A inducers and consider alternative agents. Coadministration of strong or moderate CYP3A inducers decreased the plasma concentrations of abemaciclib plus its active metabolites and may lead to reduced activity.
With severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C), reduce the Verzenio dosing frequency to once daily. The pharmacokinetics of Verzenio in patients with severe renal impairment (CLcr <30 mL/min), end stage renal disease, or in patients on dialysis is unknown. No dosage adjustments are necessary in patients with mild or moderate hepatic (Child-Pugh A or B) and/or renal impairment (CLcr ≥30-89 mL/min).
Please see full Prescribing Information for Verzenio.
AL HCP ISI 12OCT2021
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR RETEVMO® (selpercatinib)
Hepatotoxicity: Serious hepatic adverse reactions occurred in 2.6% of patients treated with Retevmo. Increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) occurred in 51% of patients, including Grade 3 or 4 events in 8% and increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) occurred in 45% of patients, including Grade 3 or 4 events in 9%. The median time to first onset for increased AST was 4.1 weeks (range: 5 days to 2 years) and increased ALT was 4.1 weeks (range: 6 days to 1.5 years). Monitor ALT and AST prior to initiating Retevmo, every 2 weeks during the first 3 months, then monthly thereafter and as clinically indicated. Withhold, reduce dose or permanently discontinue Retevmo based on the severity.
Hypertension occurred in 35% of patients, including Grade 3 hypertension in 17% and Grade 4 in one (0.1%) patient. Overall, 4.6% had their dose interrupted and 1.3% had their dose reduced for hypertension. Treatment-emergent hypertension was most commonly managed with anti-hypertension medications. Do not initiate Retevmo in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Optimize blood pressure prior to initiating Retevmo. Monitor blood pressure after 1 week, at least monthly thereafter, and as clinically indicated. Initiate or adjust anti-hypertensive therapy as appropriate. Withhold, reduce dose, or permanently discontinue Retevmo based on the severity.
Retevmo can cause concentration-dependent QT interval prolongation. An increase in QTcF interval to >500 ms was measured in 6% of patients and an increase in the QTcF interval of at least 60 ms over baseline was measured in 15% of patients. Retevmo has not been studied in patients with clinically significant active cardiovascular disease or recent myocardial infarction. Monitor patients who are at significant risk of developing QTc prolongation, including patients with known long QT syndromes, clinically significant bradyarrhythmias, and severe or uncontrolled heart failure. Assess QT interval, electrolytes and TSH at baseline and periodically during treatment, adjusting frequency based upon risk factors including diarrhea. Correct hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia prior to initiating Retevmo and during treatment. Monitor the QT interval more frequently when Retevmo is concomitantly administered with strong and moderate CYP3A inhibitors or drugs known to prolong QTc interval. Withhold and dose reduce or permanently discontinue Retevmo based on the severity.
Serious, including fatal, hemorrhagic events can occur with Retevmo. Grade ≥3 hemorrhagic events occurred in 2.3% of patients treated with Retevmo including 3 (0.4%) patients with fatal hemorrhagic events, including one case each of cerebral hemorrhage, tracheostomy site hemorrhage, and hemoptysis. Permanently discontinue Retevmo in patients with severe or life-threatening hemorrhage.
Hypersensitivity occurred in 4.3% of patients receiving Retevmo, including Grade 3 hypersensitivity in 1.6%. The median time to onset was 1.7 weeks (range 6 days to 1.5 years). Signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity included fever, rash and arthralgias or myalgias with concurrent decreased platelets or transaminitis. If hypersensitivity occurs, withhold Retevmo and begin corticosteroids at a dose of 1 mg/kg prednisone (or equivalent). Upon resolution of the event, resume Retevmo at a reduced dose and increase the dose of Retevmo by 1 dose level each week as tolerated until reaching the dose taken prior to onset of hypersensitivity. Continue steroids until patient reaches target dose and then taper. Permanently discontinue Retevmo for recurrent hypersensitivity.
Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) occurred in 1% of patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma receiving Retevmo. Patients may be at risk of TLS if they have rapidly growing tumors, a high tumor burden, renal dysfunction, or dehydration. Closely monitor patients at risk, consider appropriate prophylaxis including hydration, and treat as clinically indicated.
Impaired wound healing can occur in patients who receive drugs that inhibit the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway. Therefore, Retevmo has the potential to adversely affect wound healing. Withhold Retevmo for at least 7 days prior to elective surgery. Do not administer for at least 2 weeks following major surgery and until adequate wound healing. The safety of resumption of Retevmo after resolution of wound healing complications has not been established.
Based on data from animal reproduction studies and its mechanism of action, Retevmo can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Administration of selpercatinib to pregnant rats during organogenesis at maternal exposures that were approximately equal to those observed at the recommended human dose of 160 mg twice daily resulted in embryolethality and malformations. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential and males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Retevmo and for at least 1 week after the final dose. There are no data on the presence of selpercatinib or its metabolites in human milk or on their effects on the breastfed child or on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed children, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with Retevmo and for 1 week after the final dose.
Severe adverse reactions (Grade 3-4) occurring in ≥15% of patients who received Retevmo in LIBRETTO-001, were hypertension (18%), prolonged QT interval (4%), diarrhea (3.4%), dyspnea (2.3%), fatigue (2%), abdominal pain (1.9%), hemorrhage (1.9%), headache (1.4%), rash (0.7%), constipation (0.6%), nausea (0.6%), vomiting (0.3%), and edema (0.3%).
Serious adverse reactions occurred in 33% of patients who received Retevmo. The most frequently reported serious adverse reaction (in ≥ 2% of patients) was pneumonia.
Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 3% of patients; fatal adverse reactions which occurred in >1 patient included sepsis (n=3), cardiac arrest (n=3) and respiratory failure (n=3).
Common adverse reactions (all grades) occurring in ≥15% of patients who received Retevmo in LIBRETTO-001, were dry mouth (39%), diarrhea (37%), hypertension (35%), fatigue (35%), edema (35%), rash (27%), constipation (25%), nausea (23%), abdominal pain (23%), headache (23%), cough (18%), prolonged QT interval (17%), dyspnea (16%), vomiting (15%), and hemorrhage (15%).
Laboratory abnormalities (all grades; Grade 3-4) ≥20% worsening from baseline in patients who received Retevmo in LIBRETTO-001, were AST increased (51%; 8%), ALT increased (45%; 9%), increased glucose (44%; 2.2%), decreased leukocytes (43%; 1.6%), decreased albumin (42%; 0.7%), decreased calcium (41%; 3.8%), increased creatinine (37%; 1.0%), increased alkaline phosphatase (36%; 2.3%), decreased platelets (33%; 2.7%), increased total cholesterol (31%; 0.1%), decreased sodium (27%; 7%), decreased magnesium (24%; 0.6%), increased potassium (24%; 1.2%), increased bilirubin (23%; 2.0%), and decreased glucose (22%; 0.7%).
Concomitant use of acid-reducing agents decreases selpercatinib plasma concentrations which may reduce Retevmo anti-tumor activity. Avoid concomitant use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), histamine-2 (H2) receptor antagonists, and locally-acting antacids with Retevmo. If coadministration cannot be avoided, take Retevmo with food (with a PPI) or modify its administration time (with a H2 receptor antagonist or a locally-acting antacid).
Concomitant use of strong and moderate CYP3A inhibitors increases selpercatinib plasma concentrations which may increase the risk of Retevmo adverse reactions including QTc interval prolongation. Avoid concomitant use of strong and moderate CYP3A inhibitors with Retevmo. If concomitant use of a strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitor cannot be avoided, reduce the Retevmo dosage as recommended and monitor the QT interval with ECGs more frequently.
Concomitant use of strong and moderate CYP3A inducers decreases selpercatinib plasma concentrations which may reduce Retevmo anti-tumor activity. Avoid coadministration of Retevmo with strong and moderate CYP3A inducers.
Concomitant use of Retevmo with CYP2C8 and CYP3A substrates increases their plasma concentrations which may increase the risk of adverse reactions related to these substrates. Avoid coadministration of Retevmo with CYP2C8 and CYP3A substrates where minimal concentration changes may lead to increased adverse reactions. If coadministration cannot be avoided, follow recommendations for CYP2C8 and CYP3A substrates provided in their approved product labeling.
The safety and effectiveness of Retevmo have not been established in pediatric patients less than 12 years of age. The safety and effectiveness of Retevmo have been established in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) who require systemic therapy and for advanced RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer who require systemic therapy and are radioactive iodine-refractory (if radioactive iodine is appropriate). Use of Retevmo for these indications is supported by evidence from adequate and well-controlled studies in adults with additional pharmacokinetic and safety data in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older. Monitor open growth plates in adolescent patients. Consider interrupting or discontinuing Retevmo if abnormalities occur.
No dosage modification is recommended for patients with mild to severe renal impairment (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate [eGFR] ≥15 to 89 mL/min, estimated by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease [MDRD] equation). A recommended dosage has not been established for patients with end-stage renal disease.
Reduce the dose when administering Retevmo to patients with severe hepatic impairment (total bilirubin greater than 3 to 10 times upper limit of normal [ULN] and any AST). No dosage modification is recommended for patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment. Monitor for Retevmo-related adverse reactions in patients with hepatic impairment.
Please see full Prescribing Information for Retevmo.
SE HCP ISI All_25MAR2021
About Lilly
Lilly unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help more than 47 million people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges, redefining diabetes care, treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects, advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease, providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders, and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/newsroom or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. P-LLY
© Lilly USA, LLC 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Verzenio® and Retevmo® are trademarks owned by or licensed to Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about Verzenio and Retevmo as potential treatments for people with various types of cancer and the timeline for future readouts, presentations, and other milestones relating to Verzenio and Retevmo and their clinical trials, and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, as with any pharmaceutical product, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development, and commercialization. Among other things, there is no guarantee that planned or ongoing studies will be completed as planned, that future study results will be consistent with study results to date, that Verzenio and Retevmo will prove to be safe and effective treatments for certain types of cancer, that Verzenio and Retevmo will receive additional regulatory approvals, or that Lilly will execute its strategy as expected. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from Lilly's expectations, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.
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HUNT VALLEY, Md., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC), a global leader in flavor, today announced preliminary financial results for the third quarter ended August 31, 2022 and updated its financial outlook for fiscal year 2022.
Preliminary Third Quarter 2022 Results
- Sales are expected to increase by approximately 3% in the third quarter from the year-ago period. In constant currency, sales are expected to increase by approximately 6% driven by growth in both the Consumer and Flavor Solutions segments. Both comparisons include an estimated 1% unfavorable impact from the divestiture of the Company's Kitchen Basics business.
- Operating income is expected to be approximately $223 million in the third quarter compared to $265 million in the year-ago period. Adjusted operating income is expected to be approximately $226 million compared to $272 million in the third quarter of 2021.
- Earnings per share is expected to be approximately $0.79 in the third quarter, comparable to the year-ago period. Adjusted earnings per share is expected to be approximately $0.65 as compared to $0.80 in the year-ago period.
- For fiscal year 2022, McCormick updated its sales, operating income, and earnings per share outlook.
Chairman and CEO's Remarks
Lawrence E. Kurzius, Chairman and CEO, stated, "Our third quarter sales were a record and while strong fell short of our own expectations. Our results were led by the continued growth momentum of our Flavor Solutions segment. We divested our Kitchen Basics business during the quarter which impacted our Consumer segment growth. Growth in the Consumer segment was also tempered by the moderation of elevated consumption trends that we anticipated in the second half of the year, which occurred earlier than expected. Broad pressure on consumers' cost of living from inflation has resulted in higher price elasticity than expected, although still below historical levels. We are increasing our brand marketing investments in our updated outlook and are focusing its messaging on value, which we are confident, combined with our innovation behind price pack architecture and category management initiatives, will continue to drive growth. Cooking at home remains higher than pre-pandemic levels, reinforcing our expectation that the shift in consumer demand to at-home-consumption will be sustained.
"During the third quarter, supply chain challenges continued, and supply recovery of certain constrained materials has taken longer than expected. We also continued to incur elevated costs to meet high demand in some parts of our business, while in other parts of our business, where demand has moderated, we are experiencing lower operating leverage. Across the supply chain, managing inventory levels and eliminating inefficiencies have been a focus. Overall, the normalization of our supply chain costs is taking longer than expected, pressuring gross margin. Over the coming months, we will be aggressively driving the elimination of supply chain inefficiencies.
"We remain confident that we are well positioned for the long term and will successfully navigate this dynamic global environment with our strong global portfolio and proven track record of execution."
Preliminary Third Quarter 2022 Results
Third quarter sales are expected to increase approximately 3% from the year-ago period, including an expected approximate 3% unfavorable impact from currency. Sales growth is expected to be driven by pricing actions the Company has realized, partially offset by a decline in volume and product mix, including the impact of the Kitchen Basics divestiture.
Third quarter sales are expected to grow at a constant currency three-year compounded annual growth rate of approximately 7% for the total Company off of a pre-pandemic baseline of 2019 showing the sustained momentum in the business across both the Consumer and Flavor Solutions segments.
Operating income is expected to be approximately $223 million in the third quarter of 2022 compared to $265 million in the third quarter of 2021. Excluding special charges, as well as transaction and integration expenses, adjusted operating income is expected to be approximately $226 million compared to $272 million in the year-ago period. This decline is a result of gross margin compression, primarily in our Flavor Solutions segment, with higher brand marketing investments also contributing.
Earnings per share is expected to be approximately $0.79 in the third quarter of 2022, which is comparable to the third quarter of 2021. The net favorable impact of the gain on the sale of the Kitchen Basics business, special charges and transaction and integration expenses is expected to increase earnings per share by approximately $0.14 in the third quarter of 2022. Special charges and transaction and integration expenses lowered earnings per share by approximately $0.01 in the third quarter of 2021. Excluding these impacts, adjusted earnings per share is expected to be approximately $0.65 in the third quarter of 2022 compared to $0.80 in the year-ago period. This expected decrease is projected to primarily be driven by lower adjusted operating income.
The Company has not yet completed its quarterly financial close process for the third fiscal quarter of 2022. This update does not present all necessary information for an understanding of McCormick's financial condition as of the date of this release, or its results of operations for the third quarter. As McCormick completes its quarterly financial close process and finalizes its financial statements for the quarter, it will be required to make significant judgments in a number of areas. It is possible that the Company may identify items that require adjustments to the preliminary financial information set forth above and those changes could be material. The Company intends to provide its full financial results for the third quarter on October 6, 2022. Until that time, the preliminary results described in this press release are estimates and remain subject to change based on management's ongoing review of results of the quarter and completion of its quarterly financial close process.
Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Outlook
For fiscal year 2022, McCormick updated its financial outlook to reflect its preliminary third quarter results, moderation of consumption trends earlier than expected, slower supply chain cost normalization, the divestiture of the Kitchen Basics business, and a more unfavorable impact of foreign currency rates.
The Company expects foreign currency rates in 2022 to unfavorably impact net sales by 3%, as compared to 2% in its previous financial outlook, and continues to expect adjusted operating income and adjusted earnings per share to be impacted unfavorably by 2%.
The Company expects 2022 sales to range from comparable to 2021 to an increase of 2%, which in constant currency is sales growth of 3% to 5%. These comparisons include an unfavorable impact from the divestiture of the Company's Kitchen Basics business. The Company previously expected to grow sales 3% to 5%, or 5% to 7% in constant currency.
McCormick is projecting 2022 gross profit margin to be 330 to 280 basis points lower than 2021. In 2021, $11 million of special charges and transaction and integration expenses lowered the Company's gross margin. Excluding this impact, the Company is projecting 2022 gross profit margin to be 350 to 300 basis points lower than 2021, primarily driven by the Company's Flavor Solutions segment. This projection includes the Company's reaffirmation of its previous expectation of an increase in cost inflation in the high teens.
Operating income in 2022 is expected to decline 10% to 8% from $1.02 billion in 2021. The Company expects approximately $46 million of special charges in 2022 that relate to previously approved organization and streamlining actions as well as integration expenses related to the FONA acquisition of approximately $2 million in 2022. Excluding the impact of special charges and transaction and integration expenses in 2022 and 2021, the Company projects adjusted operating income to decline 13% to 11%, which in constant currency is 11% to 9%. The revised guidance is driven by the updated sales and adjusted gross margin outlooks as well as a higher level of brand marketing investments, which is now projected to be a low single digit increase compared to 2021. The Company's projection also includes reaffirmation of its previous expectation of approximately $85 million of cost savings led by the Company's Comprehensive Continuous Improvement (CCI) program. The Company previously expected adjusted operating income to range from comparable to an increase of 2%, or 2% to 4% in constant currency.
McCormick projects earnings per share to be in the range of $2.64 to $2.69, compared to $2.80 in 2021. The Company expects the net favorable impact of the gain on the sale of the Kitchen Basics business, special charges and transaction and integration expenses to increase earnings per share by approximately $0.01 in 2022. Excluding these impacts, the Company projects 2022 adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of $2.63 to $2.68, as compared to previously reported guidance of $3.03 to $3.08 and adjusted earnings per share of $3.05 in 2021. The revised guidance is driven by the updated adjusted operating income outlook and includes an approximate $0.02 unfavorable impact from the divestiture of the Kitchen Basics business.
McCormick will report its full third quarter 2022 financial results and conduct a related conference call and webcast on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The tables below include financial measures of adjusted operating income, adjusted operating income margin, and adjusted diluted earnings per share. These represent non-GAAP financial measures which are prepared as a complement to our financial results prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. These financial measures exclude the impact, as applicable, of the following:
Special charges – In our consolidated income statement, we include a separate line item captioned "Special charges" in arriving at our consolidated operating income. Special charges consist of expenses associated with certain actions undertaken by the Company to reduce fixed costs, simplify or improve processes, and improve our competitiveness and are of such significance in terms of both up-front costs and organizational/structural impact to require advance approval by our Management Committee. Upon presentation of any such proposed action (including details with respect to estimated costs, which generally consist principally of employee severance and related benefits, together with ancillary costs associated with the action that may include a non-cash component or a component which relates to inventory adjustments that are included in cost of goods sold; impacted employees or operations; expected timing; and expected savings) to the Management Committee and the Committee's advance approval, expenses associated with the approved action are classified as special charges upon recognition and monitored on an ongoing basis through completion.
Transaction and integration expenses associated with the Cholula and FONA acquisitions – We exclude certain costs associated with our acquisitions of Cholula and FONA in November and December 2020, respectively, and their subsequent integration into the Company. Such costs, which we refer to as "Transaction and integration expenses", include transaction costs associated with each acquisition, as well as integration costs following the respective acquisition, including the impact of the acquisition date fair value adjustment for inventories, together with the impact of discrete tax items, if any, directly related to each acquisition.
Income from sale of unconsolidated operations – We exclude the gain realized upon our sale of an unconsolidated operation that occurred during the second quarter of fiscal 2021. The sale of our 26% interest in Eastern Condiments Private Ltd resulted in a gain of $13.4 million, net of tax of $5.7 million. The gain is included in Income from unconsolidated operations in our consolidated income statement for the year ended November 30, 2021.
Gain on sale of Kitchen Basics - We exclude the expected gain realized upon our sale of the Kitchen Basics business in August 2022. For the three months ended August 31, 2022, we expect a gain, after tax, associated with the sale of approximately $40 million.
We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are important. The exclusion of the items noted above provides additional information that enables enhanced comparisons to prior periods and, accordingly, facilitates the development of future projections and earnings growth prospects. This information is also used by management to measure the profitability of our ongoing operations and analyze our business performance and trends.
These non-GAAP financial measures may be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but they should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies because other companies may not calculate them in the same manner that we do. We intend to continue to provide these non-GAAP financial measures as part of our future earnings discussions and, therefore, the inclusion of these non-GAAP financial measures will provide consistency in our financial reporting. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the related GAAP financial measures is provided below (expected amounts for the three months ended August 31, 2022):
Because we are a multi-national company, we are subject to variability of our reported U.S. dollar results due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Those changes have been volatile over the past several years. The exclusion of the effects of foreign currency exchange, or what we refer to as amounts expressed "on a constant currency basis", is a non-GAAP measure. We believe that this non-GAAP measure provides additional information that enables enhanced comparison to prior periods excluding the translation effects of changes in rates of foreign currency exchange and provides additional insight into the underlying performance of our operations located outside of the U.S. It should be noted that our presentation herein of amounts and percentage changes on a constant currency basis does not exclude the impact of foreign currency transaction gains and losses (that is, the impact of transactions denominated in other than the local currency of any of our subsidiaries in their local currency reported results).
Percentage changes in sales expressed on a constant currency basis are presented excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange. To present this information for historical periods, current period results for entities reporting in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rates in effect during the corresponding period of the comparative year, rather than at the actual average exchange rates in effect during the current fiscal year. As a result, the foreign currency impact is equal to the expected current year results in local currencies multiplied by the change in the average foreign currency exchange rate between the current fiscal period and the corresponding period of the comparative year. The following provides our expected increase in sales for the third quarter of 2022.
To present "constant currency" information for the fiscal year 2022 projection, projected sales and adjusted operating income for entities reporting in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the company's budgeted exchange rates for 2022 and are compared to the 2021 results, translated into U.S. dollars using the same 2022 budgeted exchange rates, rather than at the average actual exchange rates in effect during fiscal year 2021.
The following provides a reconciliation of our estimated earnings per share to adjusted earnings per share for 2022 and actual results for 2021:
Live Webcast
As previously announced, McCormick will be participating in the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference on September 8, 2022, at 11:15 a.m. Eastern Time. Representing McCormick will be Lawrence Kurzius, Chairman & CEO; Brendan Foley, President & COO; and Mike Smith, Executive Vice President & CFO. A live audio webcast of the session will be available on the McCormick website ir.mccormick.com. If you are unable to listen to the live webcast, the event will be archived on ir.mccormick.com.
As a reminder, McCormick is scheduled to conduct a conference call and webcast of its third quarter 2022 financial results on October 6, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Lawrence Kurzius, Chairman & CEO; Mike Smith, Executive Vice President & CFO; Brendan Foley, President & COO; and Kasey Jenkins, Chief Strategy Officer & Senior Vice President, Investor Relations will be hosting the call.
Forward-Looking Information
Certain information contained in this release, including statements concerning expected performance, such as those relating to net sales, operating income, gross margin, earnings, cost savings, transaction and integration expenses, special charges, acquisitions, brand marketing support, volume and product mix, income tax expense and the impact of foreign currency rates are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "expect," "should," "anticipate," "intend," "believe" and "plan." These statements may relate to: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, suppliers, consumers, customers, and employees; disruptions or inefficiencies in the supply chain; the expected results of operations of businesses acquired by the company, including the acquisitions of Cholula and FONA; the expected impact of the inflationary cost environment, including commodity, packaging materials and transportation costs on our business; the expected impact of pricing actions on the company's results of operations and gross margins; the expected impact of factors affecting our supply chain, including transportation capacity, labor shortages, and absenteeism; the expected impact of productivity improvements, including those associated with our Comprehensive Continuous Improvement (CCI) program and global enablement initiative; the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, including the potential for broader economic disruption; expected working capital improvements; expectations regarding growth potential in various geographies and markets, including the impact from customer, channel, category, and e-commerce expansion; expected trends in net sales and earnings performance and other financial measures; the expected timing and costs of implementing our business transformation initiative, which includes the implementation of a global enterprise resource planning (ERP) system; the expected impact of accounting pronouncements; the expectations of pension and postretirement plan contributions and anticipated charges associated with those plans; the holding period and market risks associated with financial instruments; the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations; the adequacy of internally generated funds and existing sources of liquidity, such as the availability of bank financing; the anticipated sufficiency of future cash flows to enable the payments of interest and repayment of short- and long-term debt as well as quarterly dividends and the ability to issue additional debt securities; and expectations regarding purchasing shares of McCormick's common stock under the existing repurchase authorization.
These and other forward-looking statements are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results. Results may be materially affected by factors such as: the company's ability to drive revenue growth; the company's ability to increase pricing to offset, or partially offset, inflationary pressures on the cost of our products; damage to the company's reputation or brand name; loss of brand relevance; increased private label use; product quality, labeling, or safety concerns; negative publicity about our products; actions by, and the financial condition of, competitors and customers; the longevity of mutually beneficial relationships with our large customers; the ability to identify, interpret and react to changes in consumer preference and demand; business interruptions due to natural disasters, unexpected events or public health crises, including COVID-19; issues affecting the company's supply chain and procurement of raw materials, including fluctuations in the cost and availability of raw and packaging materials; labor shortage, turnover and labor cost increases; the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, including the potential for broader economic disruption; government regulation, and changes in legal and regulatory requirements and enforcement practices; the lack of successful acquisition and integration of new businesses; global economic and financial conditions generally, availability of financing, interest and inflation rates, and the imposition of tariffs, quotas, trade barriers and other similar restrictions; foreign currency fluctuations; the effects of increased level of debt service following the Cholula and FONA acquisitions as well as the effects that such increased debt service may have on the company's ability to borrow or the cost of any such additional borrowing, our credit rating, and our ability to react to certain economic and industry conditions; risks associated with the phase-out of LIBOR; impairments of indefinite-lived intangible assets; assumptions we have made regarding the investment return on retirement plan assets, and the costs associated with pension obligations; the stability of credit and capital markets; risks associated with the company's information technology systems, including the threat of data breaches and cyber-attacks; the company's inability to successfully implement our business transformation initiative; fundamental changes in tax laws; including interpretations and assumptions we have made, and guidance that may be issued, and volatility in our effective tax rate; climate change; Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters; infringement of intellectual property rights, and those of customers; litigation, legal and administrative proceedings; the company's inability to achieve expected and/or needed cost savings or margin improvements; negative employee relations; and other risks described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
About McCormick
McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global leader in flavor. With over $6 billion in annual sales across 170 countries and territories, we manufacture, market and distribute spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry including e-commerce channels, grocery, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. Our most popular brands with trademark registrations include McCormick, French's, Frank's RedHot, Stubb's, OLD BAY, Lawry's, Zatarain's, Ducros, Vahiné, Cholula, Schwartz, Kamis, DaQiao, Club House, Aeroplane and Gourmet Garden. Every day, no matter where or what you eat or drink, you can enjoy food flavored by McCormick.
Founded in 1889 and headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland USA, McCormick is guided by our principles and committed to our Purpose – To Stand Together for the Future of Flavor. McCormick envisions A World United by Flavor where healthy, sustainable and delicious go hand in hand. To learn more, visit www.mccormickcorporation.com or follow McCormick & Company on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
For information contact:
Investor Relations:
Kasey Jenkins - kasey_jenkins@mccormick.com
Corporate Communications:
Lori Robinson - lori_robinson@mccormick.com
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SOURCE McCormick & Company, Incorporated | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/mccormick-reports-preliminary-third-quarter-performance-updates-2022-outlook/ | 2022-09-07T22:40:07Z |
DUBLIN, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), a global leader in healthcare technology, today confirmed its participation in the following September 2022 investor conferences:
Wells Fargo 2022 Healthcare Conference
Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at 11:35am EDT (10:35am CDT)
Karen Parkhill, executive vice president & chief financial officer, IT & enterprise excellence answered questions about the company.
Morgan Stanley 20th Annual Global Healthcare Conference
Monday, September 12, 2022, at 12:30pm EDT (11:30am CDT).
Geoff Martha, chairman and chief executive officer, will answer questions on the company.
The Bank of America Global Healthcare Conference 2022
Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 2:10pm BST (8:10am CDT)
Rob ten Hoedt, executive vice president & president, EMEA & APAC, will answer questions on the company.
A live webcast of each session will be available on the date and time of each of the conferences noted above by clicking on the Investors Events at http://investorrelations.medtronic.com. An archive of each Q&A session will be available on the same webpage later in the day.
About Medtronic
Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people across 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow @Medtronic on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.
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SOURCE Medtronic plc | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/medtronic-appear-september-investor-conferences/ | 2022-09-07T22:40:15Z |
Adagrasib demonstrates promising clinical efficacy and favorable tolerability as a monotherapy and in combination with cetuximab in heavily pretreated patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) harboring a KRASG12C mutation
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRTX), a clinical-stage targeted oncology company, today announced results from KRYSTAL-1, a multicohort Phase 1/2 study, evaluating adagrasib with or without cetuximab in patients with advanced CRC harboring a KRASG12C mutation.
"These exciting results further our understanding of the well-tolerated profile with robust and sustained responses that adagrasib provides as a monotherapy and in combination with cetuximab to patients with KRASG12C-mutated advanced colorectal cancer," said Charles Baum, M.D., Ph.D., president, founder and head of research and development, Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. "We are pleased about the significant improvement these results demonstrate relative to the existing standard of care. We continue to explore the full potential of adagrasib in combination with cetuximab in late-line CRC in a potentially registration-enabling Phase 2 cohort of the KRYSTAL-1 study and in second line CRC in the ongoing Phase 3 KRYSTAL-10 study."
In this analysis, 44 patients received adagrasib monotherapy (600 mg twice daily) and 32 patients received the combination of adagrasib (600 mg twice daily) with full dose cetuximab, with a follow up of 20.1 months and 17.5 months, respectively.
Of the evaluable patients in the adagrasib monotherapy cohort (n=43), the investigator assessed confirmed objective response rate (ORR) was 19% (8/43) and the disease control rate (DCR) was 86% (37/43). The median duration of response was 4.3 months (95% CI, 2.3–8.3) and median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.6 months (95% CI, 4.1–8.3).
Of the evaluable patients in the adagrasib plus cetuximab combination cohort (n=28), the investigator assessed confirmed ORR was 46% (13/28) and the DCR was 100% (28/28). The median DOR was 7.6 months (95% CI 5.7–NE) and median PFS was 6.9 months (95% CI, 5.4–8.1).
The prognosis for patients with CRC has historically been poor in later lines of therapy with response rates of approximately 1-2% and median PFS of approximately 2 months1,2,3 in patients with late-line CRC; patients with KRASG12C-mutated CRC tend to have even worse outcomes than the broader CRC patient population.
In the overall subset of patients with KRASG12C-mutated CRC evaluated in this study, adagrasib was found to be well-tolerated as a monotherapy and in combination with cetuximab. The majority of observed treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were grade 1–2 (59%); no grade 5 TRAEs were observed.
"These data illustrate the importance of durable KRAS inhibition in colorectal cancer and the added benefit that dual EGFR/KRAS blockade may provide for some patients in their regimen as evidenced by the more sustained responses from the adagrasib and cetuximab combination," commented Dr. Samuel J. Klempner of the Massachusetts General Cancer Center and study investigator. "Overall, it's encouraging to see the emergence of KRAS inhibitors like adagrasib providing more targeted, efficacious, and safe treatment options for colorectal cancer and other solid tumors with KRAS mutations."
The data (Presentation #LBA24) will be presented in an oral presentation on Monday, September 12 at 4:15 am ET (10:15 am CET) during the Proffered Paper Session II at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2022.
In addition, at the ESMO Congress 2022, the Company shared a poster presentation detailing additional practice-informing data on adverse event patterns and management for investigational adagrasib in patients with KRASG12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The presentation (Presentation #1133P) is available online via the ESMO website and will be available onsite in Poster Session 15, Hall 4 on September 12, 2022.
About Adagrasib (MRTX849)
Adagrasib is an investigational, highly selective, and potent oral small-molecule inhibitor of KRASG12C that is optimized to sustain target inhibition, an attribute that could be important to treat KRASG12C-mutated cancers, as the KRASG12C protein regenerates every 24–48 hours. Adagrasib is being evaluated as monotherapy and in combination with other anti-cancer therapies in patients with advanced KRASG12C-mutated solid tumors, including non-small lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. For more information visit Mirati.com/science.
Mirati has an Expanded Access Program (EAP) for investigational adagrasib for the treatment of eligible patients with KRASG12C-mutated cancers, regardless of tumor type, including patients with treated or untreated CNS metastases, in the U.S. Learn more about the EAP at Mirati.com/expanded-access-policy.
About Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.
Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company whose mission is to discover, design and deliver breakthrough therapies to transform the lives of patients with cancer and their loved ones. The company is relentlessly focused on bringing forward therapies that address areas of high unmet medical need, including lung cancer, and advancing a pipeline of novel therapeutics targeting the genetic and immunological drivers of cancer. Unified for patients, Mirati's vision is to unlock the science behind the promise of a life beyond cancer. For more information about Mirati, visit us at Mirati.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the business of Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. ("Mirati"). Any statement describing Mirati's goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions or beliefs, development plans and the commercial potential of Mirati's drug development pipeline, including without limitation adagrasib (selective KRASG12C inhibitor), sitravatinib (TAM receptor inhibitor), MRTX1719 (MTA cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor), MRTX0902 (SOS1 inhibitor), and MRTX1133 (selective KRASG12D inhibitor), is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, particularly those challenges inherent in the process of discovering, developing and commercialization of new drug products that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs.
Mirati's forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Mirati's forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by Mirati. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning Mirati's programs are described in additional detail in Mirati's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K, which are on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov). These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Mirati assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Mirati Contacts
Investor Relations: ir@mirati.com
Media Relations: media@mirati.com
1 Obermannová R, et al. Ann Oncol. 2016;27(11):2082-2090.
2 Grothey A, et al. Lancet. 2013;381(9863):303-312.
3 Mayer RJ, et al. N Engl J Med. 2015;372(20):1909-1919. 3Van Cutsem E, et al. Eur J Cancer. 2018;90:63-72
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SOURCE Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/mirati-therapeutics-presents-late-breaking-adagrasib-monotherapy-combination-results-advanced-colorectal-cancer/ | 2022-09-07T22:40:21Z |
SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is announcing steps to further increase monkeypox testing capacity and accessibility nationwide as part of its continued commitment to addressing the ongoing outbreak.
"Since the beginning of the monkeypox outbreak, the agency has used the full breadth of its authorities to work quickly and proactively to ensure the availability of medical countermeasures, including diagnostics, to prevent the spread of the disease," said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. "We will continue to engage federal public health partners like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, laboratories, commercial manufacturers, health care professionals, and consumers to facilitate the availability of monkeypox tests to people and communities who need them."
Since the first case of monkeypox was detected in the U.S., the FDA has been:
- working with the CDC to increase production and distribution of the FDA-cleared CDC non-variola orthopoxvirus test;
- clearing the use of additional reagents and automation to increase the testing capacity of laboratories using the CDC test;
- proactively engaging with commercial manufacturers on the development and validation of both lab-based molecular diagnostic tests and rapid molecular or antigen tests for use at the point-of-care (such as clinics) or at home;
- facilitating the development and availability of test components to help high-complexity CLIA-certified laboratories develop tests for monkeypox; and
- monitoring tests that have been developed and used since the start of the outbreak. For example, on July 15, the FDA issued a safety communication recommending the use of lesion swabs to avoid false results.
New Guidance to Facilitate Development of Additional Tests
Today, the FDA issued guidance that outlines the agency's current thinking regarding enforcement policies, recommendations for emergency use authorization (EUA) requests for monkeypox diagnostic tests, and the FDA's plans to prioritize review of EUA requests. The agency is also providing voluntary templates that test developers may use when validating a test or when submitting an EUA request. These templates include recommendations – not requirements – for how a developer could validate a test to help ensure it is appropriately accurate and reliable. The FDA intends to update its recommendations, as needed, in response to the developing emergency.
This guidance follows a declaration by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services justifying the emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of the monkeypox virus or non-variola orthopoxviruses. Under the declaration, the FDA may issue an EUA to allow the use of unapproved in vitro diagnostics or unapproved uses of approved in vitro diagnostics.
"Today's important actions further aid the monkeypox response by working toward expanding vital testing capacity and facilitating the detection of cases nationwide in an effort to stem the spread of the virus," said Jeff Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "The policy announced today is intended to support the development of more validated monkeypox tests and expand access to testing."
As explained in the guidance, the FDA does not intend to enforce requirements for certain tests developed by laboratories that are used without submission of an EUA request where they are appropriately validated and the laboratories notify the FDA within 30 days, among other things. The agency's intent is to facilitate the development of additional tests to address local availability and accessibility concerns not addressed by current testing capabilities. The FDA will monitor the situation and may adjust its policies as appropriate to address testing needs. The FDA also may decide, on a case-by-case basis, not to object to individual labs offering tests using different specimen types or technologies to address patient care needs.
Commercial manufacturers who intend to make a diagnostic test for monkeypox and want to seek authorization through the more streamlined EUA process should inform the FDA of their plans within 30 days, as well.
It is important that all tests be appropriately validated prior to use, as false results can have a negative impact on both the individual patient and the public health broadly. Currently, only lesion swabs have been shown to be an appropriate specimen type for diagnosing monkeypox. If and when other specimen types are validated, the FDA will inform the developer community and the public. Test developers are encouraged to discuss alternative specimen types, technologies, and approaches to validating their test with the agency.
FDA Authorizes Quest Diagnostics Monkeypox Virus Real-Time PCR Test
In addition to the FDA's guidance, the agency issued the first EUA for a monkeypox in vitro diagnostic. The Quest Diagnostics Monkeypox Virus Qualitative Real-Time PCR is intended to detect monkeypox and other non-variola orthopoxvirus DNA using lesion swab specimens. Quest Diagnostics submitted data demonstrating that its test for distribution to other laboratories met the standards for issuance of an EUA.
Additional Resources:
Media Contact: Abby Capobianco, 240-461-9059
Consumer Inquiries: Email, 888-INFO-FDA
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
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SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/monkeypox-update-fda-takes-significant-action-help-expand-access-testing/ | 2022-09-07T22:40:27Z |
WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will hold a media teleconference at 11 a.m. EDT Thursday, Sept. 8, to discuss next steps for the Artemis I mission to launch the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft from the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Audio of the call will livestream on NASA's website at:
Artemis I is an uncrewed flight test. It is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions to provide a foundation for human exploration in deep space and demonstrate our commitment and capability to extend human existence to the Moon and beyond.
Teleconference participants include:
- Jim Free, associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
- Mike Bolger, Exploration Ground Systems program manager, Kennedy
- John Blevins, SLS chief engineer, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
To participate by telephone, media must RSVP no later than two hours prior to the start of the event to: ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov.
After standing down on the Sept. 3 launch attempt due to a hydrogen leak, teams have decided to replace the seal on an interface, called the quick disconnect, between the liquid hydrogen fuel feed line on the mobile launcher and the rocket while at the launch pad.
Through Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone to send astronauts to Mars.
For updates, follow along on NASA's Artemis blog at:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis
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SOURCE NASA | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/nasa-discuss-status-next-artemis-i-moon-mission-launch-attempt/ | 2022-09-07T22:40:34Z |
WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has selected Axiom Space to deliver a moonwalking system for the Artemis III mission, which will land Americans on the surface of the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. This award – the first one under a competitive spacesuits contract – is for a task order to develop a next generation Artemis spacesuit and supporting systems, and to demonstrate their use on the lunar surface during Artemis III.
With this award, NASA has put in place another cornerstone of returning astronauts to the Moon under Artemis to support continued scientific breakthroughs, benefiting humanity back on Earth. As part of its planned human lunar spaceflight missions, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon.
After reviewing proposals from its two eligible spacesuit vendors, NASA selected Axiom Space for the task order, which has a base value of $228.5 million. A future task order will be competed for recurring spacesuit services to support subsequent Artemis missions.
"NASA is proud to partner with commercial industry on this historic mission that will kickstart the United States building a lasting presence on the surface of the Moon," said Lara Kearney, manager of NASA's Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility program. "What we learn on Artemis III and future missions on and around the Moon will pave the way for missions to Mars. Spacesuits enable us to literally take that next step."
Using more than 50 years of spacesuit expertise, NASA defined the technical and safety requirements for the next generation of spacesuits. Axiom Space will be responsible for the design, development, qualification, certification, and production of its spacesuits and support equipment that will meet these key agency requirements for Artemis III.
NASA experts will maintain the authority for astronaut training, mission planning, and approval of the service systems. Axiom Space will be required to test the suits in a spacelike environment before Artemis III.
Under the indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity of the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services contract, eligible industry partners compete for task orders that will provide a full suite of capabilities for NASA's spacewalking and moonwalking needs during the period of performance through 2034.
Future task orders under the contract will consist of recurring lunar landings, the development of spacesuits for use in low-Earth orbit outside the International Space Station, and special studies. The agency is currently evaluating task order options for space station spacesuits.
The spacesuits contract, which will advance spacewalking capabilities in low-Earth orbit and on the Moon, is managed by the Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program (EHP) at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, paving the way for a long-term, sustainable lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone for future astronaut missions to Mars.
Learn more about spacewalking at:
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SOURCE NASA | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/nasa-taps-axiom-space-first-artemis-moonwalking-spacesuits/ | 2022-09-07T22:40:43Z |
MIAMI , Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LiveHire, the globally leading Direct Sourcing and Total Talent platform, and Broadleaf Results, a leading provider of talent acquisition and workforce management solutions, have successfully launched Direct Sourcing programs for three Global Fortune 1000 companies.
The client launches include one of the largest sustainable packaging companies, a premier industrial supplies and equipment provider, and a leading natural gas and electric company.
"LiveHire's AI technology gives Broadleaf's Direct Sourcing team the ability to rapidly build highly qualified, client-branded talent communities that offer an alternative way to ensure greater success in resource fulfillment," said Dave Savarise, President at Broadleaf. "We are confident that our Direct Sourcing - LiveHire partnership will provide our clients with better access to talent, an improved slate of interested and available candidates with a reduced cycle-time—resulting in a positive experience."
LiveHire's technology was recognized as a Market Leading Platform by Ardent Partners, a leading resource and advisory firm, in their Direct Staffing Platforms Technology advisor report that evaluated the digital staffing solutions marketplace.
LiveHire's Direct Sourcing solution enables companies to leverage their brand to attract and hire contingent workers through a private talent community.
Broadleaf launches LiveHire for its clients in record time and brings its own expertise in recruitment and program management to scale a successful Direct Sourcing program, delivering significant savings to its clients, plus speed and quality of hire.
LiveHire will be showcasing their Direct Sourcing platform at the CWS Summit in Dallas, Texas on September 19-20, 2022 at booth #325 and Broadleaf can be found at booth #110.
About LiveHire
LiveHire is a globally leading recruitment and direct sourcing platform — enabling clients to attract and engage both permanent employees and contingent workers to deliver Total Talent and Direct Sourcing solutions. LiveHire offers an award-winning candidate experience and provides talent-on-demand through its unique talent pooling and two-way text messaging functionality, having successfully enabled end-to-end recruitment from sourcing through to hire of diverse workforces for over 200 clients across 20 verticals globally. For more information, visit www.livehire.com/us.
About Broadleaf Results
Founded in 1965, Broadleaf is a certified WBE and leading provider of total talent
management services. Our consultative approach specializes in managed service programs, recruitment process outsourcing, direct sourcing, independent contractor compliance, statement of work/procurement management, and employer of record/payrolling. At Broadleaf, we help deliver your most valuable asset: talent. To learn more about Broadleaf, visit www.broadleafresults.com.
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SOURCE LiveHire | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/new-fortune-1000-direct-sourcing-clients-livehire-partner-broadleaf/ | 2022-09-07T22:40:50Z |
Exclusive Interview with Artists on The White House 1600 Sessions Podcast
WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The White House Historical Association today presented the official portraits of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, painted by Robert McCurdy and Sharon Sprung, respectively. The portraits and the artists who painted them were introduced during a White House ceremony hosted by President Joseph Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and attended by President and Mrs. Obama.
The White House Historical Association has acquired and commissioned official portraits of the president and first lady since 1965. As is the custom, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama selected the artists before leaving office. Now that the portraits have been presented to the public, they will hang in the White House and be inducted into the White House Collection.
The Association also assisted in acquiring portraits of presidents and first ladies dating back to Washington, in an effort to add missing portraits to the White House Collection, and retroactively commissioned the official portraits of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
"The White House Historical Association is honored to continue the tradition of funding these portraits," said Stewart D. McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association. "It's a career achievement for the artists selected for these important commissions, and they are now forever a part of White House history."
McLaurin is the host of The White House 1600 Sessions and released a new episode today featuring an exclusive conversation with Robert McCurdy and Sharon Sprung. In the episode, McLaurin and the artists discuss the challenges of this unique historical assignment and their approach to creating the portraits.
Watch the full video of this podcast episode here.
Sprung describes the first sittings she had with Mrs. Obama: "I felt this trust come from her, that you do your thing, I do my thing. I'm going to trust you with your thing. And I think portraiture works better sometimes like that."
McCurdy says the former President "was very present and easy to work with" during their sessions together. McCurdy has a stripped-back style which originates with the taking of photographs. "This is the speech everybody gets when they sit for me – look directly in the lens. Don't smile or gesture. And just hold into that moment. We're looking for a more meditative or transcendent moment…[the President] did an excellent job of that."
To hear the full episode, visit https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-white-house-1600-sessions/obama-white-house-portraits-the-artists.
The White House 1600 Sessions is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
For more information, please contact press@whha.org.
The White House Historical Association was founded in 1961 by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to support her vision to restore and preserve the Executive Mansion and its legacy for generations to come. Mrs. Kennedy sought to inspire Americans, especially children, to explore and engage with American history and its presidents. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that has contributed more than $100 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit WhiteHouseHistory.org.
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SOURCE White House Historical Association | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/official-white-house-portraits-president-barack-obama-first-lady-michelle-obama-presented/ | 2022-09-07T22:40:56Z |
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Watchdog and a coalition of nonprofits opposed preemption of California's landmark privacy law in a letter sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today urging her to protect the rights of 40 million Californians.
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), strengthened by voters in 2020 with the California Privacy Rights Act to give people unprecedented control over their personal data collected by businesses, would be preempted by the federal American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA).
Californians would lose a slew of rights because of federal preemption, primarily the right to make their laws stronger. The CCPA can only be amended by the legislature in a way that benefits consumer privacy, or with voter support.
"The bill will exempt companies that provide data to government agencies, leave the law vulnerable to weakening by industry lobbyists, and swiftly cancel years of progress in California," stated the letter, signed by Consumer Action, Children's Advocacy Institute, Consumer Protection Policy Center, Consumer Watchdog, and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
Pelosi recently raised questions about the federal law overriding privacy protections.
"With so much innovation happening in our state, it is imperative that California continues offering and enforcing the nation's strongest privacy rights," Pelosi said in a statement.
"All Americans deserve privacy protections, but preemption is a false choice pitting California's law against protections for all Americans. We can have both. Strong federal privacy laws already co-exist with stronger state privacy laws," states the letter.
Preemption will impact everything from immigration rights to freedom of assembly. It will also handicap the fight for reproductive rights, enabled by a loophole that allows companies who contract with government entities for data collection to avoid its protections.
"In contrast, under California law companies who contract with the government are covered businesses that must comply with the law," states the letter.
This loophole provides a shortcut for governments to purchase personal information without needing to obtain a warrant or subpoena. For example, a location data company called SafeGraph collected location information of those who visited abortion clinics and made it publicly available for sale.
"Under California's law, any resident who exercised their opt-out choice is protected from a government's extra-judicial purchase of their private information. ADPPA would overturn that protection," states the letter.
The California doctor who provided an abortion to a woman in an anti-choice state could also be exposed to prosecution if the doctor travels to her home state, because a Californian's ability to prevent their information from being sold to any government – including that anti-choice sheriff – is stripped by the ADPPA.
The loophole will disparately impact communities of color, low-income workers, immigrants, the LGBTQ community, and marginalized people everywhere.
Other rights that will be precluded by ADPPA include:
- The right to opt-out of profiling and automated decision-making. That's where the worst discrimination is built into the system, with biased algorithms making decisions on creditworthiness, employability, insurance eligibility and home purchases.
- Protection against coercive pricing when consumers exercise their privacy rights. The state's law prohibits such charges from being "unjust, unreasonable, coercive or usurious" and requires companies to prove a different price for those who choose privacy is "reasonably related to the value provided to the business by the consumer's data."
- California's ability to enforce the law. The California Privacy Protection Agency, charged with enforcing our state law, cites "significant uncertainties" in its ability to do so.
Federal laws such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act all established national policy "floors" and let states enact more privacy-protective legislation. The ADPPA could do the same.
Californians are enjoying the protections of the law now. The enhancements enacted by voters take effect this January. But it will take years for the FTC to write rules implementing much of the federal law, stripping our protections in the meantime.
"Delay is denial," states the letter.
The California Privacy Protection Agency, Governor Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and numerous other state and federal lawmakers have expressed similar objections to preemption.
Consumer Watchdog is a non-profit public interest organization. Visit us on the web at www.ConsumerWatchdog.org
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SOURCE Consumer Watchdog | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/privacy-groups-urge-pelosi-halt-preemption-california-privacy-law/ | 2022-09-07T22:41:08Z |
RADA USA Assembly Technicians, Test Technicians and Manufacturing Engineers celebrate this great milestone in Germantown, Maryland.
GERMANTOWN, Md., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to meet U.S DoD requests for advanced tactical cUAS and VSHORAD systems, RADA USA increased production of its detection and surveillance radars, and recently completed assembly of its 1000th RPS-42 Multi-mission Hemispheric Radar (MHR) system.
As the world faced a global pandemic, RADA USA's production increased tremendously shortly after opening its Germantown, Maryland facility in Q4 of 2019. This forced the organization to expand its manufacturing facility during the first quarter of 2022 as requirements to meet customer demands for our tactical radars.
"This is a big accomplishment for the RADA USA and RADA Electronic Industries team members who have partnered in this achievement. Throughout COVID our teams have continued to build excellent products to support and keep the warfighters safe. Thanks to all that have helped in this team effort. From Netanya to Bet She'an to Germantown, everyone has played a role in achieving this significant milestone. Congratulations to all!" said Greg Platt, Vice President of Manufacturing Operations.
The Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar (MHR) is a cutting-edge, software-defined 4D AESA pulse-Doppler radar platform that can host a variety of operational missions. It provides full hemispheric protection by improving active defense capabilities against all types of incoming aerial threats.
RADA USA, a subsidiary of Israel-based RADA Electronic Industries Ltd, is a defense technology company specializing in the production and sales of all-threat, air surveillance combat radars. RADA USA was established in 2018 to serve the U.S. defense and aerospace markets.
RADA USA offers advanced, pulse-Doppler, multi-mission AESA radars for tactical applications. These software-defined combat radars introduce hemispheric spatial coverage with an excellent price-performance ratio.
Please follow @RADA_USA on Twitter for the latest news from RADA USA.
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SOURCE RADA USA | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/rada-usa-completes-assembly-1000th-multi-mission-radar-mhr-meet-customer-demands/ | 2022-09-07T22:41:15Z |
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Reelgood for Business announces today the international expansion of its award-winning metadata solutions, which empower customers with best-in-class streaming metadata.
Reelgood's international streaming data includes localized metadata and imagery, along with streaming availability and deeplinks across a host of new international channels such as Crave and Hayu in Canada, FoxTel Now and BriBox AU for Australia, and Mubi for New Zealand, as well as leading global streaming providers such as Netflix, Disney, and HBO Max.
"We are so excited to expand our streaming catalog and availability metadata to new regions of the globe. We've built our reputation in the U.S. as the best-in-class streaming metadata in terms of quality, technology, and speed, and our international offering will be no different—our plan is to move country by country so that our non-U.S. clients can expect the same level of quality and service as our U.S. customers," says Tim Cutting, GM of Commercial. "What separates us in the data provider market is this quality, speed of delivery, and breadth of coverage."
A key differentiator of Reelgood in the streaming metadata business is its consumer arm. "We went into this space to make a consumer guide, and every metadata vendor that we used did not meet our expectations," says CEO and founder, David Sanderson, "so, we decided to build it ourselves."
Reelgood data leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning, which keeps its streaming data current in real-time. This same technology is what powers Reelgood's consumer app, used by millions of people every night to find something to watch.
These new global territories and services will launch in Q4 of 2022.
Reelgood's commercial products are some of the most awarded and innovative in the space, as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in Video in 2022, a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, a Parks Associates Top Leaders in Technology in 2021, and a nominee for Most Significant Technology by TVOT in 2022. Reelgood for Business data has been integrated across voice assistants, pay TV services, search engines, AI, research and competitive analysis, and more.
For more information, see the Reelgood for Business website.
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SOURCE Reelgood | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/reelgood-business-announces-expansion-its-data-licensing-program-into-canada-australia-new-zealand-france-spain-italy-germany/ | 2022-09-07T22:41:22Z |
DrTalks.com has partnered with Dr. Sharon Stills and 40+ experts to unlock the secrets of a sexy menopause at a 7-day virtual summit.
CARLSBAD, Calif., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Join DrTalks.com with the creator of RED Hot Sexy Meno(pause), Dr. Sharon Stills, from Tuesday, September 20th through Tuesday, September 27th to learn how to have a sexy, happy, low-stress menopause. Featured guests include Dr. Keesha Ewers (Best-Selling author and Integrative Medicine expert), Dr. Anna Cabeca (Triple Board-Certified OBGYN and Author), and Dr. Heather Sandison, ND (Founder of Marama). Each expert will be interviewed directly by Dr. Sharon Stills.
We talk about menopause in whispers - if we talk about it at all. We fear hot flashes, fatigue, mood swings, libido changes, and potential weight gain. But we do little if anything to prep our bodies for this massive change. But here's the good news. Menopause is more than "the change." It's an opportunity to pivot. And it CAN be a beautiful, powerful, transformative time if you lean into the transition and reach for the kind of medicine that doesn't come in a bottle.
The Mastering the Meno(pause) Transition Summit brings together more than 40 guest speakers, including doctors, OBGYNs, functional medicine practitioners, naturopaths, nutritionists, and more, to teach you how to have a red hot, sexy menopause. Topics will include prepping your body for menopause during perimenopause, how to manage the symptoms of menopause, what habits make symptoms worse, what menopause can teach you about your sexuality, how to get the best sleep of your life, how to boost libido, more. Attendees will discover 40+ ways to embrace menopause as a time of transition and will leave the summit feeling empowered to craft the second half of their story with intention.
This summit is for anyone currently experiencing menopause or perimenopause and who wants to be fully prepared for this incredible time of change. Register for the Mastering the Menoo(pause) Transition Summit and prepare for a sexy, vibrant menopause!
About Dr. Sharon Stills: Dr. Sharon Stills is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor who helps perimenopausal and menopausal women to pause and evaluate life so they can live the second act of their story stronger, healthier, and sexier while aging backward. She has more than 20 years of medical experience and an extensive background in anti-aging, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, and European biological medicine. She is the founder of the RED Hot Sexy Meno(pause) Program and the host of The Science of Self Healing podcast.
Media Contact
Christi Simoneaux
christi@drtalks.com
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SOURCE DrTalks | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/rethinking-change-discover-40-ways-embrace-menopause/ | 2022-09-07T22:41:28Z |
Seasons at Sutton Preserve will offer eight ranch and two-story floor plans
WINTER HAVEN, Fla., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Richmond American Homes of Florida, LP, a subsidiary of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MDC), is pleased to announce that it has recently purchased 112 future homesites in Winter Haven.
These homesites are set to comprise a new Polk County community, Seasons at Sutton Preserve, which is scheduled to open in fall, 2022. This notable new neighborhood will offer eight ranch and two-story floor plans from the builder's popular Seasons™ Collection (RichmondAmerican.com/SeasonsOrlando), designed to put homeownership within reach for a variety of buyers. Two of the plans—the Zinc and the Copper—will showcase the UltraGarage® (RichmondAmerican.com/UltraGarage), an attached, extra-tall garage designed to accommodate a range of vehicles and storage needs.
Seasons at Sutton Preserve is ideal for homebuyers seeking design flexibility and those looking to downsize without downgrading. The community will also appeal to buyers relocating from Orange and Seminole Counties and Metro Orlando in search of more affordable housing options.
More about Seasons at Sutton Preserve:
- New ranch and two-story homes with open layouts and designer details
- Up to 4 bedrooms and approx. 1,710 to 2,800 sq. ft.
- Close proximity to Lakeland, Polk Parkway, I-4 and downtown Orlando
- Easy access to notable schools, shopping, dining, sports facilities, parks and playgrounds
- Near open space, trails and natural bodies of water, such as Lake McLeod and Eagle Lake
Everyone who builds a brand-new Richmond American home from the ground up at Seasons at Sutton Preserve will have the opportunity to meet with a professional design consultant to choose colors, textures, finishes and fixtures for their new living spaces—a complimentary service!
Call 407.287.6285 for more information.
About M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.
Operating under the name Richmond American Homes, MDC's homebuilding subsidiaries have built more than 220,000 homes since 1977. Among the nation's largest homebuilders, MDC's subsidiary companies have operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington. Mortgage lending, plus insurance and title services are offered by the following MDC subsidiaries, respectively: HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency, Inc. and American Home Title and Escrow Company. M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MDC." For more information, visit MDCHoldings.com.
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SOURCE M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/richmond-american-set-build-new-community-polk-county/ | 2022-09-07T22:41:35Z |
TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Sailfish Royalty Corp. (TSXV: FISH) (OTCQX: SROYF) (the "Company" or "Sailfish") is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has declared the Company's third quarterly cash dividend for 2022 in the amount of US$0.0125 per common share that will be payable on October 14, 2022 to Sailfish shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 30, 2022.
The declaration, timing, amount, and payment of future dividends will be subject to the discretion and approval of the Board of Directors. The Company will review the dividend policy on an ongoing basis and may amend it at any time depending on the Company's then current financial position, capital allocation framework, profitability, cash flow, legal requirements and other factors considered relevant. As such, no assurances can be made that any future dividends will be declared and/or paid. Dividend payments may be subject to withholding taxes.
About Sailfish
Sailfish is a precious metals royalty and streaming company. Within Sailfish's portfolio are two main assets in the Americas: a gold stream equivalent to a 3% NSR on the San Albino gold mine (~3.5 sq. km) and a 2% NSR on the rest of the area (~134.5 sq. km) surrounding San Albino in northern Nicaragua; and an up to 3% NSR on the Spring Valley gold project in Pershing County, Nevada.
Sailfish is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "FISH" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "SROYF". Please visit the Company's website at www.sailfishroyalty.com for additional information.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary statement regarding forward–looking information
Certain disclosures in this release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by words such as the following: expects, plans, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, projects, assumes, potential and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements also include reference to events or conditions that will, would, may, could or should occur, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's dividend policy and the Company's intention to pay a quarterly dividend. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, including that the Company's financial position will allow it to pay quarterly dividends in accordance with the dividend policy. However, the forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including without limitation: that a quarterly dividend will not be payable in accordance with the dividend policy or at all. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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SOURCE Sailfish Royalty Corp. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/sailfish-royalty-declares-q3-2022-dividend/ | 2022-09-07T22:41:41Z |
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sempra (NYSE: SRE) (BMV: SRE) today announced that its board of directors has declared a $1.145 per share quarterly dividend on the company's common stock, which is payable Oct. 15, 2022, to common stock shareholders of record at the close of business on Sept. 23, 2022.
Sempra's board of directors also declared a semi-annual dividend of $24.375 per share on the company's 4.875% Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, which is payable Oct. 15, 2022, to Series C preferred stock shareholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 1, 2022.
About Sempra
Sempra's mission is to be North America's premier energy infrastructure company. The Sempra family of companies have 20,000 talented employees who deliver energy with purpose to nearly 40 million consumers. With more than $72 billion in total assets at the end of 2021, the San Diego-based company is the owner of one of the largest energy networks in North America helping some of the world's leading economies move to cleaner sources of energy. The company is helping to advance the global energy transition through electrification and decarbonization in the markets it serves, including California, Texas, Mexico and the LNG export market. Sempra is consistently recognized as a leader in sustainable business practices and for its long-standing commitment to building a high-performing culture focused on safety, workforce development and training, and diversity and inclusion. Sempra is the only North American utility sector company included on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and was also named one of the "World's Most Admired Companies" for 2022 by Fortune Magazine. For additional information about Sempra, please visit Sempra's website at sempra.com and on Twitter @Sempra.
This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions with respect to the future, involve risks and uncertainties, and are not guarantees. Future results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other factors.
In this press release, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "contemplates," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," "should," "could," "would," "will," "confident," "may," "can," "potential," "possible," "proposed," "in process," "construct," "develop," "opportunity," "target," "outlook," "maintain," "continue," "progress," "advance," "goal," "aim," "commit," or similar expressions, or when we discuss our guidance, priorities, strategy, goals, vision, mission, opportunities, projections, intentions or expectations.
Factors, among others, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include risks and uncertainties relating to: California wildfires, including the risks that we may be found liable for damages regardless of fault and that we may not be able to recover all or a substantial portion of costs from insurance, the wildfire fund established by California Assembly Bill 1054, in rates from customers or a combination thereof; decisions, investigations, regulations, issuances or revocations of permits and other authorizations, renewals of franchises, and other actions by (i) the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Comisión Reguladora de Energía, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Utility Commission of Texas, and other regulatory and governmental bodies and (ii) the U.S., Mexico and states, counties, cities and other jurisdictions therein and in other countries in which we do business; the success of business development efforts, construction projects and acquisitions and divestitures, including risks in (i) being able to make a final investment decision, (ii) completing construction projects or other transactions on schedule and budget, (iii) realizing anticipated benefits from any of these efforts if completed, and (iv) obtaining the consent or approval of partners or other third parties, including governmental and regulatory bodies; civil and criminal litigation, regulatory inquiries, investigations, arbitrations, property disputes and other proceedings, including those related to the natural gas leak at Southern California Gas Company's (SoCalGas) Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility; changes to laws and regulations, including certain of Mexico's laws and rules that impact energy supplier permitting, energy contract rates, the electricity industry generally and the import, export, transport and storage of hydrocarbons; cybersecurity threats, including by state and state-sponsored actors, to the energy grid, storage and pipeline infrastructure, information and systems used to operate our businesses, and confidentiality of our proprietary information and personal information of our customers and employees, including ransomware attacks on our systems and the systems of third-parties with which we conduct business, all of which have become more pronounced due to recent geopolitical events and other uncertainties, such as the war in Ukraine; failure of foreign governments, state-owned entities and our counterparties to honor their contracts and commitments; actions by credit rating agencies to downgrade our credit ratings or to place those ratings on negative outlook and our ability to borrow on favorable terms and meet our debt service obligations; the impact of energy and climate policies, laws, rules and disclosures, as well as related goals and actions of companies in our industry, including actions to reduce or eliminate reliance on natural gas generally and any deterioration of or increased uncertainty in the political or regulatory environment for California natural gas distribution companies and the risk of nonrecovery for stranded assets; the pace of the development and adoption of new technologies in the energy sector, including those designed to support governmental and private party energy and climate goals, and our ability to timely and economically incorporate them into our businesses; weather, natural disasters, pandemics, accidents, equipment failures, explosions, acts of terrorism, information system outages or other events that disrupt our operations, damage our facilities and systems, cause the release of harmful materials, cause fires or subject us to liability for damages, fines and penalties, some of which may be disputed or not covered by insurers, may not be recoverable through regulatory mechanisms or may impact our ability to obtain satisfactory levels of affordable insurance; inflationary and interest rate pressures, volatility in foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices, our ability to effectively hedge these risks, and their impact, as applicable, on San Diego Gas & Electric Company's (SDG&E) and SoCalGas' cost of capital and the affordability of customer rates; the availability of electric power, natural gas and natural gas storage capacity, including disruptions caused by failures in the transmission grid or limitations on the withdrawal of natural gas from storage facilities; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on capital projects, regulatory approvals and the execution of our operations; the impact at SDG&E on competitive customer rates and reliability due to growth in distributed and local power generation, including from departing retail load resulting from customers transferring to Community Choice Aggregation and Direct Access, and the risk of nonrecovery for stranded assets and contractual obligations; Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC's (Oncor) ability to eliminate or reduce its quarterly dividends due to regulatory and governance requirements and commitments, including by actions of Oncor's independent directors or a minority member director; changes in tax and trade policies, laws and regulations, including tariffs, revisions to international trade agreements and sanctions, such as those that have been imposed and that may be imposed in the future in connection with the war in Ukraine, which may increase our costs, reduce our competitiveness, impact our ability to do business with certain counterparties, or impair our ability to resolve trade disputes; and other uncertainties, some of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control.
These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the reports that Sempra has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports are available through the EDGAR system free-of-charge on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, and on Sempra's website, www.sempra.com. Investors should not rely unduly on any forward-looking statements.
Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Texas, Sempra Mexico, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor and Infraestructura Energética Nova, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (IEnova) are not the same companies as the California utilities, SDG&E or SoCalGas, and Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Texas, Sempra Mexico, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor and IEnova are not regulated by the CPUC.
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SOURCE Sempra | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/sempra-declares-common-preferred-dividends/ | 2022-09-07T22:41:48Z |
WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Teamsters Union supports recent efforts by the Federal Trade Commission to scrutinize the troubling rise of mass surveillance and urges the agency to explore how commercial surveillance and lax data security practices pose unique harm to workers.
The FTC plans to host its Commercial Surveillance and Data Security Public Forum on Thursday to evaluate several concerns it is seeking public comment on. The agency is exploring potential rules to "crack down on harmful commercial surveillance and lax data security."
"As terrifying as it is, working people are growing accustomed to their personal information being exposed and exploited by corporate interests who face little accountability or punishment," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "Regulators have got to give these corporations a taste of their own medicine. Corporate America builds and sustains itself by bullying working people or robbing them blind entirely, whether its unpaid wages or private data. The advancements that employers have made to workplace surveillance are another appalling reminder that Big Business will never change its playbook. Working people must fight back."
The Teamsters have repeatedly made clear that the methods employers like Amazon and UPS use to monitor workers are developed to stifle any concerted activity by employees, while also surveilling unsuspecting consumers. These dangerous corporate tools include navigation software, driver-facing cameras, item scanners, wristbands, thermal cameras, other security cameras, and recorded footage.
"The Teamsters are encouraged by the Federal Trade Commission's efforts to crackdown on corruptible commercial surveillance, and we urge the agency to meaningfully explore how harmful these practices are to workers and consumers alike," O'Brien said.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.2 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
Contact:
Ted Gotsch, (202) 508-6437
tgotsch@teamster.org
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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/teamsters-support-regulator-efforts-scrutinize-mass-surveillance-urge-focus-workers/ | 2022-09-07T22:41:55Z |
VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. ("West Fraser" or the "Company") (TSX and NYSE: WFG) has declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.30 per share on the Common shares and Class B Common shares in the capital of the Company, payable on October 7, 2022 to shareholders of record on September 22, 2022.
Dividends are designated to be eligible dividends pursuant to subsection 89(14) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and any applicable provincial legislation pertaining to eligible dividends.
Dividends are declared and payable in U.S. dollars. Shareholders may elect to receive their dividends in Canadian dollars. Details regarding the election procedure are available on our website at www.westfraser.com in the "Investors/Stock Information/Dividends" section.
About West Fraser
West Fraser is a diversified wood products company with more than 60 facilities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. From responsibly sourced and sustainably managed forest resources, the Company produces lumber, engineered wood products (OSB, LVL, MDF, plywood, and particleboard), pulp, newsprint, wood chips, other residuals, and renewable energy. West Fraser's products are used in home construction, repair and remodelling, industrial applications, papers, tissue, and box materials.
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SOURCE West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. | https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/west-fraser-declares-dividend/ | 2022-09-07T22:42:01Z |
A new federal lawsuit has challenged the state of Florida's effort to exclude gender-affirming health care for transgender people from its state Medicaid program, calling the rule illegal, discriminatory and a "dangerous governmental action."
A coalition of legal groups filed the lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of four Florida Medicaid recipients, who are either transgender or parents of transgender youth, in the Northern District of Florida.
"This exclusion is discrimination, plain and simple," said Carl Charles, a senior attorney for Lambda Legal, a LGBTQ civil rights organization that is leading the lawsuit and has litigated similar issues around the country. "Transgender Medicaid beneficiaries deserve health care coverage free from discrimination, just like any other Medicaid beneficiary in Florida."
One of the lawsuit's four plaintiffs, a 20-year-old transgender man named Brit Rothstein, was pre-authorized by Florida's Medicaid program on Aug. 11 for a chest surgery that was scheduled for December, the complaint states.
The next day, the lawsuit says, Rothstein learned that Florida had decided to strip Medicaid coverage for the procedure.
Jade Ladue, another plaintiff, said she and her husband began seeking medical care for her son, who is identified in the lawsuit as K.F., after he came out as transgender at 7 years old.
K.F.'s doctor recommended puberty blockers, a common treatment for transgender youth that helps delay the effects of puberty, which he then received via an implant. Due to Ladue's limited family income, the lawsuit states, the costs were covered under Medicaid.
In the future, K.F. could need monthly shots that could cost more than $1,000 out of pocket, the lawsuit states. "For our family, it would be super stressful," Ladue said. "Potentially, if it's something we couldn't afford, we'd have to look to possibly moving out of state."
About 5 million Floridians — nearly a quarter of the state's residents — rely on the state's taxpayer-funded Medicaid program. More than half of the children in the state are covered by Medicaid, and most adult recipients are either low-income parents or people with disabilities.
For years, the program has covered the cost of gender-affirming health care for transgender people, including hormone prescriptions and surgeries. Advocacy groups estimate that 9,000 transgender people in Florida currently use Medicaid for their treatments.
In June, the state's Medicaid regulator, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, issued a report claiming that health care for gender dysphoria – the medical term for the feelings of unease caused by a mismatch between gender identity and sex as assigned at birth – is "experimental and investigational" and that studies showing a benefit to mental health are "very low quality and rely on unreliable methods." The state's report has been criticized by medical experts.
Then, last month, the agency implemented a new rule banning health care providers from billing the Medicaid program for such treatments for transgender patients. Those treatments are still covered for patients who are not transgender, the lawsuit says. (For example, cisgender children may be prescribed hormone blockers for a condition called "precocious puberty," in which the body begins puberty too early.)
The abrupt end to Medicaid coverage "will have immediate dire physical, emotional, and psychological consequences for transgender Medicaid beneficiaries," the complaint says. Challengers have asked for the rule to be permanently enjoined.
A handful of other states have similar exclusions. Lambda Legal has filed challenges in several, including Alaska and West Virginia, where a federal judge ruled in August that the state's Medicaid agency could not exclude transgender health care from coverage.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/a-new-lawsuit-is-challenging-florida-medicaids-exclusion-of-transgender-health-care | 2022-09-07T23:02:52Z |
Police in Las Vegas visited the home of a county official Wednesday as they continue to investigate the stabbing death of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, the newspaper said.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department only confirmed in a statement to NPR that it was executing search warrants related to the weekend homicide on the 7200 block of Bronze Circle.
But the Review-Journal reported that law enforcement officers and police vehicles were spotted outside the home of Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles on Wednesday morning, and that a section around the home was taped off.
Journalists with the newspaper also observed a vehicle in Telles' driveway matching the description of the red GMC Yukon police say the suspect was driving. The vehicle was later towed.
German, who was found dead with stab wounds outside his home on Saturday, had recently written a series of stories about Telles' mismanagement of the public administrator's office, including allegations of a hostile workplace, bullying and favoritism. Employees also said that Telles had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.
Telles denied the allegations and targeted German on social media. In one tweet, Telles called one of the stories about his office a "smear piece" and said he thought German was "mad that I haven't crawled into a hole and died."
Telles lost his reelection bid during the Democratic primary in June after German's stories had run.
Police have not named Telles as a suspect in German's death or disclosed any motive for the killing.
Carlos Martinez de la Serna, program director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said it's imperative for authorities to get to the bottom of what happened to German.
"Police must conduct a swift and transparent investigation into this killing and clearly determine the motive," he said in a statement. "Whoever killed German should be held to account."
The newspaper said German had reported on crime and corruption among Las Vegas public officials, casino industry executives and the mob during his 40-year journalism career in the resort city.
Review-Journal Executive Editor Glenn Cook said German had never told the newspaper's leadership of any concerns about his safety and added that the paper was devastated by his death.
"He was the gold standard of the news business. It's hard to imagine what Las Vegas would be like today without his many years of shining a bright light on dark places," Cook said.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-09-07/las-vegas-police-search-a-local-officials-home-after-a-journalists-stabbing-death | 2022-09-07T23:02:59Z |
The U.S. dollar strengthened to a 20-year high against a collection of foreign currencies this week, spelling more trouble for heavily indebted smaller nations around the world. The stronger dollar makes payments on loans owed in U.S. currency more expensive. This comes as some lower-income countries face mounting economic problems and others — including Sri Lanka, Lebanon and Zambia — have already defaulted on their international debts.
Last week, Argentina slapped sweeping new restrictions on imports of everything from whiskey to software to consulting services to try to contain inflation that's running at over 70%. The South American nation has been hemorrhaging foreign currency and the strengthening U.S. dollar threatens to make that worse. In July, the value of the Argentine peso fell to a record low against the dollar on the black market.
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Francesc Balcells, who manages emerging market debt at the Dubai-based Frontier Investment Management Partners, says U.S. interest rate hikes like we are seeing often spawn disaster for lower-income countries.
"If you look at the history of emerging markets from the Latin American debt crisis in the 1980s, the Mexican peso crisis in 1994, to the different Argentine defaults, to the Brazilian crisis in the early 2000," Balcells ticks through a list of the most recent emerging market meltdowns, including the Asian financial crisis in the late '90s. "All of those periods always coincide with periods of interest rate hikes in the U.S."
Not only do poorer countries have larger debts in U.S. currency, now they are having to pay even more for imports bought in dollars as the currency strengthens. And this time around, global prices for fuel and food were already surging, due to currency fluctuations and significant supply shortfalls caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
"Not to overuse the term, but it's been pretty much a perfect storm for emerging markets," Balcells says of the current situation.
According to the business news service Bloomberg, the number of emerging market borrowers that have debt trading at distressed levels has doubled over the last six months. The pandemic played a hand in that, as many governments took on additional debt to subsidize idled workers and keep social services functioning.
An investment analysis by Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank called the second quarter of 2022 an "unmitigated disaster" for the global economy and warned that the third quarter is "shaping up to be the summer of discontent."
Balcells says many of the larger middle-income countries can weather that storm. But others are getting battered. For instance, in May, Sri Lanka had a political and economic meltdown and was unable to pay its foreign debts. The default makes it nearly impossible for Sri Lanka to buy food and fuel on international markets.
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Other nations facing financial distress are spread around the world, including El Salvador, Pakistan and Ghana. In Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa, inflation has hit a 20-year high driven almost entirely by skyrocketing food prices.
"Right now, the world is experiencing the worst food security crisis any of us have ever seen," says U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Speaking at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in late August, Thomas-Greenfield said much of the current global food crisis is driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
She notes that before the war, Russia and Ukraine accounted for almost a quarter of global grain exports. The disruption to those grain supplies, she says, is doing more than just leaving people hungry.
"Food security is directly linked to economic growth," she said. "And it matters because food insecurity leads us to political and social instability. And that endangers us all."
The big question is how much instability the current global economic downturn will produce.
Increases in food prices hit poorer nations and households harder than wealthier ones, because spending on food consumes a larger portion of their budgets. For instance, the International Monetary Fund estimates that food makes up 40% of the consumer price index in sub-Saharan Africa while accounting for less than 20% of the index in advanced economies.
Balcells, with Frontier Investment Management Partners, thinks the worst economic pain from the current economic downturn will be in smaller, highly indebted emerging market economies. He includes Ecuador, Ghana, Zambia and El Salvador on that list. Two larger nations — Pakistan and Turkey — are also at risk, he says. The IMF this week approved a billion dollar bailout to support Pakistan's floundering economy.
Another thing making 2022 different from global economic crises of the past is the role of China as a major lender. A significant portion of the debt now owed by low and middle-income countries is owed to Beijing.
"In terms of foreign debt, China is the elephant in the room," says Vasuki Shastry, an associate fellow with the global think tank Chatham House.
Unlike global debt crises of the 1980s, the lending side of the equation is now significantly different. There are now billions of dollars owed to China. Much of that debt has come as part of China's ambitious Belt and Road infrastructure program. The issue, Shastry says, is a lack of transparency around much of the lending by China. Some of it is labeled as commercial debt rather than sovereign debt even though it's owed to state-owned Chinese companies.
And negotiating debt relief with Beijing is novel territory not just for individual countries but for the broader international community. Traditionally, the IMF and the so-called Paris Club of wealthy nations play a significant role in restructuring distressed debt. But so far Beijing has preferred to deal with its borrowers on its own.
"China is essentially signaling that there are two tracks in terms of global debt negotiations," Shastry says. "One track is led by the OECD [the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development], which includes the U.S. and Europe, the traditional Paris Club. And China wants to be part of a separate track, where it alone wants to determine how it wants to deal with countries facing debt distress."
Another forum for emerging markets to hash out debt relief has been the Group of 20. But given that Russia is a member of the G-20, it's been nearly impossible since the February invasion of Ukraine to get the group's finance ministers to agree on a unified response to the growing global economic troubles.
Particularly if the war in Ukraine drags on, Shastry says the current global economic conditions are going to lead to "a lot of pain" in low and middle-income countries. He predicts that that pain is going to be even worse and could drag out even longer this time because of a lack of global cooperation to address it.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-09-02/an-economic-perfect-storm-is-battering-emerging-markets-debt-crises-loom | 2022-09-07T23:22:35Z |
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U.N. nuclear inspectors are in Ukraine trying to assess damage at Europe's largest nuclear power plant. The Zaporizhzhia plant is on the front lines of the war and now controlled by Russia. Nuclear facilities like that one should be off limits during conflict. But the laws of war aren't clear on this point. And in this case, diplomats are struggling to figure out ways to pressure the Russians to back off. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.
MICHELE KELEMEN, BYLINE: A top State Department official, Bonnie Jenkins, says Russia has been engaging in what she calls irresponsible behavior for a nuclear weapons state. And she wants to see Russia return the Zaporizhzhia power plant to Ukrainian control.
BONNIE JENKINS: Nowhere in the history of this world has a nuclear power plant become a part of a combat zone. So this really has to stop immediately.
KELEMEN: In recent decades, the U.S. and Israel have carried out airstrikes on unfinished nuclear sites in Iraq and Syria. But in this case, Russia has seized control of a working civilian nuclear power plant as part of its invasion of Ukraine. And nuclear experts like Henry Sokolski are sounding the alarm.
HENRY SOKOLSKI: This is a curtain raiser on future problem sets that we will encounter with North Korea targeting possibly reactors in South Korea. It may well be that China is serious about their training manuals that they had written up in 2015 that talked about the need to be ready to target reactors in Taiwan.
KELEMEN: There are international norms against this. The 1977 additional protocol to the Geneva Convention doesn't exactly prohibit attacks on nuclear facilities. But signatories are supposed to avoid civilian installations that contain, quote, "dangerous forces" like radiation. But that leaves too much wiggle room, and it's hard to enforce, says George Moore, a scientist in residence at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
GEORGE MOORE: I hope once Ukraine gets somehow settled that, you know, maybe cooler heads will prevail, and they will get an international treaty on this. But then going back to your other question, who would enforce it if it's broken? It's sad to say, but, you know, all international treaties are only as good as the commitment of the countries to abide by them.
KELEMEN: The Russians don't seem at all moved by the international condemnation, and both sides have accused each other of shelling the plant. Ukraine and many others point out that Russia has no right to be there. As for the U.S., it is not a party to that protocol in the Geneva Convention. And Sokolski, who runs the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center in Washington, says that undercuts U.S. diplomacy.
SOKOLSKI: Our credibility in this topic here is akin to the proverbial lecture about temperance from a bar stool (laughter), and I would think it would be wise for us to tighten up our act.
KELEMEN: He says the U.S. could start by bringing U.S. military guidelines closer in line with the additional protocol. And the U.S. could work within international organizations, like the IAEA, to censure Russia's record on nuclear safety.
SOKOLSKI: They do not, by any stretch of the imagination, want to be put it all in the corner with a dunce cap on safety when they're trying to export reactors.
KELEMEN: Much will depend on what International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors report back to Vienna after their visit to Ukraine.
Michele Kelemen, NPR News, the State Department. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.keranews.org/2022-09-02/state-department-official-says-russias-activities-in-zaporizhzhia-are-irresponsible | 2022-09-07T23:22:37Z |
Abbotsford, Lapeer closure amid roundabout work delayed
The closure of an area of roadway along the Clyde and Kimball Township border — the site of St. Clair County's latest and ongoing roundabout project — has been delayed until further notice.
Drivers had previously been advised that slow-downs were imminent as they detoured around the construction of the north half of the reconstruction at Lapeer and Abbotsford roads starting Wednesday.
However, the St. Clair County Road Commission reported this week the closure was delayed due to scheduling issues.
Previously, turns weren't to be permitted from Lapeer to northbound Abbotsford for 20 days.
The $3.5 million round project also includes the reconstruction of a section of Lapeer east of the intersection. The work, which began in August, is still expected to wrap up in November, though the road commission said in a release all scheduling and project dates were subject to change, depending on the weather and the contractor's schedule. The prime contractor is Superior Contracting Group.
Once the northern half of the intersection is closed, the posted detour for northbound Abbotsford was to be Wadhams Road to Vincent Road to M-136 back to Abbotsford.
The Abbotsford and Lapeer roundabout is just among several traffic circles in the works.
A roundabout at Palms Road and Gratiot Avenue opened in Columbus Township last year. Others came at Dove and Range roads in Port Huron Township and at Wadhams and Fred Moore Highway on the border of China and St. Clair townships over the two years prior.
Earlier this year, work was set for a roundabout via a state project down the road at M-136 and North Road in Clyde.
The road commission has also reported roundabouts were slated for Marine City Highway on the border of Ira and Casco townships in 2024, as well as Palms Road and Krafft and State roads in Fort Gratiot in 2026.
For more, contact the road commission at (810) 364-5720. | https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2022/09/07/abbotsford-lapeer-closure-amid-roundabout-work-delayed/65742743007/ | 2022-09-07T23:32:22Z |
Port Huron United girls swimming happy to be back 'on home grounds'
Life has always been a little different for the Port Huron United girls swimming & diving team.
It holds the distinction of being the sport's only combined squad in St. Clair County, with athletes from Port Huron and Port Huron Northern High School. Known as the Red Dogs (a nod to both school's nicknames), they don't have their own pool to host meets.
But after spending the past two years practicing at other teams' facilities, Port Huron United has finally returned to its usual training center at the YMCA of the Blue Water Area in Port Huron.
"The YMCA has guaranteed that we will always have a chance to come in here and practice," coach Aley Minton said. "But all of our meets are away. The closest are within the county — Marysville, St. Clair and Marine City. So that does make it quite unique for us."
That doesn't bother the Red Dogs. They're just happy to be back in a familiar setting together.
"I feel a lot more positivity and motivation in our team overall this year," senior Paige Borowski said. "Because for the past two years, we've had to practice at Marine City's and St. Clair's pools. During (the coronavirus pandemic), weren't allowed to practice at the Y."
"It was really nice of St. Clair and Marine City to allow us to use their pools," junior Reagan Francis said. "But being back here makes it more accessible for everyone to be able to come to practice more often."
"Us having our own pool just feels better," Borowski said. "We all feel more confident as a team, to be able to practice knowing that this is our home grounds."
This season, Port Huron United welcomes four new members to those grounds. That group includes junior Rori Garner and freshman Miranda Mayer.
"I started three weeks ago," Garner said. "This is only my fifth practice. "It sounded really fun. My friends were talking about it and were like, 'Yeah we need more swimmers.' I was like, 'Okay, I'll just show up.' And I did."
Garner added that she's not used to this kind of physical activity. Still, her spirits remain high.
"My legs are burning right now," Garner said. "It's pretty hard, but it's fun."
Mayer is the team's only freshman. But any reserves she had about being the youngest swimmer quickly faded.
"The team aspect has made it really easy (to come in as the only freshman)," Mayer said. "Because all of my teammates were very welcoming. I felt like I was part of the team the first practice I had. That's what made it easy."
Minton explained it as the type of environment that swimming fosters.
"Swimming is different than any other sport," Minton said. "No matter where you go in the state — or even in the country — with swimming, you're competing against the same teams all the time. And it's a family atmosphere all across the country. Everywhere you go, it's referred to as a 'swim family.' "
But the Red Dogs' most immediate family is each other. And their bond is strengthened by having athletes from two competing schools.
"I find it as an advantage for our team," said Borowski, who attends Northern. "Because we're rivals for football and other sports. But with this, we feel way closer. We have best friends that go to opposite schools. Which I believe we never would've gotten without a combined team."
Madeline Schneider shares that same sentiment. The Port Huron junior doesn't think of her team as Big Reds and Huskies, but as Red Dogs instead.
"It was different my freshman year," Schneider said. "But as soon as I got to know everybody ... I don't see the difference that we go to different schools."
With the season underway, Port Huron United is prepared for a return to normal. The Red Dogs don't have to worry about logistics anymore.
"We're feeling really good," Francis said. "And I think we're ready. We all confident in each other."
Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper. | https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/sports/2022/09/07/port-huron-united-girls-swimming-happy-to-be-back-on-home-grounds/65538660007/ | 2022-09-07T23:32:34Z |
Lawmakers are scheduled to consider five draft trespass-related bills in mid-September. They include measures that would criminalize aerial photography of prisons, flying drones “into the immediate reaches” of airspace over private property, and crossing private property to collect antlers on public land.
The draft bill, Prohibiting drones over penal institutions, raises potential conflicts with the First Amendment, the bedrock constitutional clause guaranteeing free speech, an attorney with a national news photographers group said.
The bill states that no person shall “intentionally … [p]hotograph, surveil, broadcast or otherwise record a penal institution or correctional facility through the use of an unmanned aircraft system.” The person in charge of a prison could authorize photography.
The Joint Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider the draft measure during a two-day meeting Sept. 12-13 in Casper.
The committee has also scheduled discussion on the draft bill Trespass by Small Unmanned Aircraft. It would make it a crime to cause a drone to “enter into the immediate reaches of the airspace over … private property” when such action interferes with “use and enjoyment of the land.”
Another bill appears to address the issue of trespassing to collect antlers. A fourth bill would add drones to the list of aircraft that are illegal to use for hunting. Yet another draft bill would expunge a data-trespass statute that’s been ruled by courts to be unconstitutional.
The committee continues its charge by the Legislature’s leadership to investigate trespass issues before the next legislative session at the beginning of 2023. The meeting will address a slew of other matters from pedestrian safety, to homicide by vehicle, violence against healthcare workers, security in healthcare facilities and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.
The discussions will be live-streamed through a link available on the Legislature’s website.
First Amendment
The draft bill prohibiting drones over prisons would not ban satellite imagery and various government operations. The bill also criminalizes the use of drones to deliver contraband.
“The bill as proposed, at least the section pertaining to photography, is constitutionally suspect,” said Mickey Osterreicher, general counsel for the National Press Photographers Association. U.S. regulations on flying drones include prohibitions regarding flying over critical infrastructure, Osterreicher said.
The draft bill appears to go beyond that.
“They’re not actually saying you can’t fly over it, (they’re saying) you can’t photograph it, surveil it,” he said. Surveil is not defined in the bill and appears to include news photography, he said.
“I think there’s a problem here … which is to list photography” as an illegal act, Osterreicher said. An exemption for news gathering would probably bring the bill in line with constitutional requirements, he said.
Drone voyeurism
The draft bill criminalizing trespass by small, unmanned aircraft would set penalties of up to $750 and six months in jail for a violation.
A person would be guilty if he or she “causes a small unmanned aircraft to enter into the immediate reaches of the airspace over the private property of a landowner and the entry substantially interferes with the landowner’s or his authorized occupant’s use and enjoyment of the land.”
The measure addresses trespassing in airspace “over” private property, including the undefined “immediate reaches” of such airspace.
Whether crossing the airspace directly above private property is illegal is a matter that’s being contested in a civil case in federal court in a corner-crossing case involving hunters. They were criminally cited — and found not guilty — in Carbon County.
The separate and ongoing civil suit seeks to recover damages from the four Missouri men after they stepped from one piece of public U.S. Bureau of Land Management land to another at the common corner of two private parcels, all arranged in a checkerboard pattern of ownership.
The hunters did not set foot on private property. The owner of the private land, citing Wyoming law, claims that passing through the airspace directly above his ranch constituted trespass.
Hunting
Another draft trespass bill Prohibiting travel across private land for hunting purposes appears to revive a measure that Rep. Barry Crago, R-Buffalo, proposed during the last legislative session. The bill would amend Wyoming’s law that criminalizes the act of trespassing to hunt or to collect antlers.
Today, the law makes it illegal to “enter upon the private property of any person,” to hunt or collect antlers. The proposed amendment would change that language to make it illegal to enter upon “or travel through” such private property.
During the legislative session earlier this year, Crago said the measure he proposed was not intended to address corner crossing. Instead, it was to make trespass enforcement uniform across the state.
Crago’s measure also was designed to deter trespassing antler hunters who might collect antlers on public land after crossing private land without permission. In such instances antler hunters might find antlers that are worth much more than the maximum $1,000 fine. The existing law also provides for a six-month sentence.
Crago sought to deter antler hunting by including a provision in his House Bill 103 — Prohibit travel across private land for hunting purposes — that would have made antler hunters forfeit their booty. But his measure did not advance in the 2022 session.
A couple of other draft bills also seek to address hunting and trespass issues. One would add drones to the list of aircraft prohibited for hunting. The other would repeal elements of the state’s troubled data trespass laws that courts found unconstitutional.
WyoFile participated as a witness in that court challenge. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/lawmakers-aim-high-with-drone-trespass-draft-bill/article_438963cc-2d32-11ed-be6c-17328b6c237d.html | 2022-09-07T23:45:58Z |
...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THURSDAY...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Portions of southeast Wyoming including central and northern
Carbon County...northern Albany County...north Laramie
Range...Converse and Niobrara Counties.
WHEN...Through 1PM Thursday
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from wildfires in Idaho.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
Weather Alert
...RED FLAG WARNING FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEAST WYOMING AND A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH FOR THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE THURSDAY DUE TO GUSTY
WEST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM MDT
THURSDAY FOR GUSTY WEST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 430,
AND 432...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 418 through 425. Fire
weather zones 427 through 430. Fire weather zone 432.
* WIND...West to northwest winds 15 to 20 mph sustained with
gusts to 35 mph possible.
* HUMIDITY...7 to 15 percent.
* HAINES...5 to 6.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated dry thunderstorms are likely Thursday
afternoon leading to additional fire starts.
* IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
Gabriel Testerman is seen in a picture provided by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office. Testerman is a sergeant with the Wyoming Highway Patrol, but has been on administrative leave since May 2 pending a Laramie County criminal investigation, according to WHP. He was arrested Aug. 30.
CHEYENNE — A Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper arrested earlier this week is no longer in custody, a Laramie County jail official said Thursday.
Sgt. Gabriel Testerman bonded out Wednesday, Laramie County jail Capt. Don Hollingshead told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Testerman’s bond had been set at 10% of $100,000 at his initial appearance Wednesday in Laramie County Circuit Court, Hollingshead said.
Testerman was arrested Tuesday, according to a WHP news release distributed that day. He was stationed in Cheyenne. He was placed on administrative leave in early May after the agency learned of a Cheyenne Police Department investigation involving him, the news release said.
It’s unclear exactly what Testerman has been charged with. A Laramie County Circuit Court employee said Thursday that they “don’t have any information about that case.” No public documents had been filed in the case as of late Thursday afternoon, according to a WTE records search.
On Wednesday, Cheyenne Police Department Sgt. Kevin Malatesta told the WTE the law limits what the department can say about the case. He cited Wyoming statute 6-2-319(a), which prohibits a public employee from releasing information about an alleged perpetrator before charges are filed in district court.
Wyoming statute 6-2-319 applies to charges of sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual assault of a minor and soliciting.
Malatesta said he wasn’t sure why Testerman’s name was included in the Highway Patrol news release, but that “it was probably an attempt for transparency.”
The statute does say that “the actor’s name may be released to the public to aid or facilitate an arrest. This subsection shall not apply if release of the name or information is necessary to enforce an order for protection against the alleged actor.”
“We look at every allegation seriously – we’re investigating this just as we would any other,” Malatesta told the WTE on Wednesday. “The fact that this person is a law enforcement officer does not give them preferential treatment. We do our investigation in the same manner and with the same professionalism.”
On May 2, the Highway Patrol was contacted by the Cheyenne Police Department about an investigation involving a trooper, according to Tuesday’s news release. It said the trooper, Testerman, was immediately removed from service and placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.
WHP spokesperson Sgt. Jeremy Beck said Testerman has been with the agency since August 2005. Beck declined to provide any details about Testerman’s job duties.
An investigation is ongoing. The Highway Patrol is “cooperating fully with the investigation,” the news release said. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/news/trooper-no-longer-in-custody-at-laramie-county-jail/article_35f019dc-2d36-11ed-81ab-ffbbda9a2b28.html | 2022-09-07T23:46:04Z |
...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MDT THURSDAY...
The following message is transmitted on behalf of the Wyoming
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division and the
Wyoming Department of Health.
WHAT...Air Quality Alert for Wildfire Smoke.
WHERE...Portions of southeast Wyoming including central and northern
Carbon County...northern Albany County...north Laramie
Range...Converse and Niobrara Counties.
WHEN...Through 1PM Thursday
IMPACTS...Heavy smoke from wildfires in Idaho.
HEALTH INFORMATION...The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the
elderly, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems
avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities
during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of
pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause
respiratory health effect. Although these people are most
susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises
that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality
conditions.
CURRENT CONDITIONS...The Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Air Quality Division offers near real-time air quality data
for Wyoming's monitoring stations and health effects information to
help the public interpret current conditions. Current air quality
conditions across the state of Wyoming can be found at
http://www.wyvisnet.com/
Weather Alert
...RED FLAG WARNING FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEAST WYOMING AND A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH FOR THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE THURSDAY DUE TO GUSTY
WEST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM MDT
THURSDAY FOR GUSTY WEST WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 430,
AND 432...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 418 through 425. Fire
weather zones 427 through 430. Fire weather zone 432.
* WIND...West to northwest winds 15 to 20 mph sustained with
gusts to 35 mph possible.
* HUMIDITY...7 to 15 percent.
* HAINES...5 to 6.
* THUNDERSTORMS...Isolated dry thunderstorms are likely Thursday
afternoon leading to additional fire starts.
* IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
From left, Rawlins High senior ReggiLee Conley-Hellman, sophomore Kasadie O’melia and senior Morgan Lonn worked together to launch the ball over the net during a match against Laramie on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, in Laramie.
From left, Rawlins High senior ReggiLee Conley-Hellman, sophomore Kasadie O’melia and senior Morgan Lonn worked together to launch the ball over the net during a match against Laramie on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, in Laramie.
Carol Ryczek/For WyoSports
Rawlins High sophomore Kendaie O’melia, right, serves the ball during a match against Laramie on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, in Laramie.
LARAMIE — The first week of full volleyball matches had a pair of regional teams meet at the net Tuesday night when Class 3A Rawlins took on 4A Laramie for a nonconference match at the LHS main gym.
Both teams showed efficiency and chemistry at times and areas needing improvement at other times as Laramie won in three sets 25-11, 25-18, 25-16.
The match showcased two programs with recent success. Rawlins won a 3A state title in 2019, and Laramie is defending back-to-back 4A state championships in 2020-21.
With five players over 6-feet tall, Laramie had a significant height advantage at the net, but the Outlaws compensated with scrappiness and taking advantage of keeping plays alive.
“Laramie is a tough team,” Rawlins coach Aubrey Griffiths said. “Obviously, they have way tall people and we have way short people. I think my girls fought pretty hard through most of the game. We made some silly mistakes and we gave them some easy stuff, but overall I’m not sad with how we played.
“We played aggressive and had fun. We knew what it was going to be like coming into it already playing them in Cheyenne. We knew their tendencies and how good they are. We just wanted to come here, have fun and play the game.”
The teams last met during the first weekend of the season at the Cheyenne Invitational on Aug. 27 with the Lady Plainsmen prevailing 25-14, 25-17 in a best-of-three sets format.
Laramie (8-4) took advantage of an 8-1 run to start the first set that featured no ties or lead changes with the final tally being the largest margin at 14 points.
“I’m really excited about our overall set distribution,” Laramie coach Jill Stucky said. “We were in-system enough where we could run the offense we wanted to run — move the ball toward the right side, toward the middle and toward the outside. Our setter had her choice of what she wanted to do, and Maddy (Stucky) distributed the ball pretty evenly throughout the group.”
Maddy Stucky notched 26 assists with six different players recording at least a kill.
The Outlaws bounced back early in the second set for a 4-4 tie before the Plainsmen used another 8-1 run for separation and a 12-5 lead. Rawlins closed the gap to five points at 23-18 late in the frame with a solo block from senior Kayli Phipps. Laramie junior Anna Sell ended the set with an ace for a 2-0 match lead.
The third set started with another early 4-4 tie and the Plainsmen later clinging to a one-point lead at 11-10 before a modest 5-1 run for a 16-11 difference and closed the match with a 6-2 run.
Sophomore Savanna Steiert led Laramie with 13 kills and admitted she and other new varsity players had to get used to playing in front of a large home crowd.
“It went pretty good. We made some little errors, and it was our first home game, so I think we were all a little bit nervous,” Steiert said. “But overall, we played really good and will be ready to bring it for our next home game. I was nervous playing in front of a huge student section for the first time, but it worked out fine and was fun.”
LHS junior Noel Jensen added seven kills and sophomore Michon Sailors had six kills. Defensively, seven players recorded at least a dig, led by Sell’s nine and Steiert and senior libero had eight each.
Team stats for Rawlins were not available.
The Plainsmen have a bit of a break from competition before beginning East Conference matches on Sept. 15 hosting Cheyenne East.
“We are going to work on some pressure serving and moving our middles around a little bit and not running the same thing over and over,” Jill Stucky said. “We have to progress as a team, develop as a team and have to move forward.”
The Outlaws (2-6, 1-0 3A Southeast) will return to quadrant play on Sept. 16 at Douglas.
David Watson is the WyoSports assistant editor. He can be reached at dwatson@wyosports.net or 307-755-3327. Follow him on Twitter at @dwatsonsports. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rawlinstimes/sports/laramie-rawlins-meet-in-nonconference-action/article_2ac2464e-2f01-11ed-b257-c7cf56e67956.html | 2022-09-07T23:46:10Z |
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT
THURSDAY...
* IMPACTS: Low Humidities...Very Warm Temperatures and Strong
Gusty Winds will create erratic fire behavior and new fire
starts.
* AFFECTED AREA:
In Southwest WY Fire Zones...277...279.
In West Central WY Fire Zone....278.
* COUNTIES AFFECTED:
In Southwest WY...Sweetwater...Uinta.
In West Central WY...Lincoln...Sublette.
* WIND: West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
* HUMIDITY: As low as 14 percent.
* TEMPERATURES: Highs in the lower 80s.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are
either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of strong
winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
Western freshman midfielder McCall Hogge tries to shake off some defenders during Wednesday's game.
ROCK SPRINGS – The Western Wyoming Community College Lady Mustangs defeated Colorado Northwest Community College, 3-0, in the squad’s first home game of the regular season on Wednesday.
Under the bright, hot sun at Tiger Stadium at Rock Springs High School, the Lady Mustangs didn’t take their time getting on the scoreboard.
In the sixth minute of the game, freshman forward Emma Granthem found the back of the net with the assist coming from sophomore midfielder Corienne Henderson, giving Western a 1-0 advantage.
“The first half was a little rough. We played four games Friday, Saturday and Sunday on a road trip to Kansas. I think their legs were a little tired. They picked it up in the second half and it was much better,” said Western coach Brady Baldwin.
With the Lady Mustangs’ defense controlling most of the game, the squad was able to pressure on CNCC offensively.
In the 46th minute, Western sophomore defender Shelby Steele was able to connect on a penalty kick to make it a 2-0 game.
Later on, in the 81st minute, Granthem scored her second goal of the game by converting a penalty kick to make it 3-0.
Baldwin liked what he saw from the team for the most part. With games against Laramie County Community College and Western Nebraska Community College this weekend, he said he would like to see the team’s communication and possession of the ball get better.
“LCCC is always a good team and Western Nebraska is good this year. They beat Casper, so neither one of them is going to be a slouch. Communication is going to be huge and we just need to finish the ball. We’re having a little bit of issue finishing the ball, but when we’re able to find the back of the net, I think we’ll be good,” he said.
The Lady Mustangs play LCCC at Rock Springs Junior High School at 1 p.m. on Friday.
They play WNCC at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the same location. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/lady-mustangs-blank-cncc-3-0-in-first-home-game-of-the-season/article_7732efb2-2ef5-11ed-afc1-43680707676d.html | 2022-09-07T23:46:17Z |
A MARTINEZ, HOST:
As the Colorado River shrinks, the seven states that rely on it for water and power need to cut their use to keep its biggest reservoirs from getting critically low. Earlier this summer, federal officials gave states a deadline to come up with a plan for cuts, but the deadline has come and gone with no agreement by the states. Luke Runyon from member station KUNC reports.
LUKE RUNYON, BYLINE: For an illustration of just how much the Colorado River system has receded over the past two decades, due to climate change and overuse, take a hike at Lake Powell. Earlier this summer, at the nation's second-largest reservoir on the Colorado River, a narrow desert side canyon that used to be filled to the brim was low enough to slosh through. A high watermark stained the red rock more than a hundred feet up. In some places, long-sunk objects are now visible.
Is that a boat?
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Yeah.
RUNYON: What the heck?
This system provides drinking water to 40 million people, and this reservoir is so low that its dam could lose the ability to produce hydropower in a little more than a year. That's why in June, the federal government said states had to make unprecedented cuts to their use.
TANYA TRUJILLO: We feel the urgency. They should feel the urgency.
RUNYON: That's Tanya Trujillo, an assistant secretary at the Interior Department. She and other federal water managers said that if the states couldn't come up with a plan for those cuts by an August deadline, the federal government would take action to protect the river system. But last week, that deadline came and went and still no plan. While the federal government did announce small cuts for Arizona, Nevada and Mexico that were already on the books, it's still not clear what action they'll take to prevent the reservoirs from crashing.
ANDY MUELLER: Our water users really would like to understand the federal government when they say, if you don't take action, states, we will. Well, what are the actions being proposed?
RUNYON: Andy Mueller is general manager of the Colorado River District in western Colorado. He says that even though the federal government hasn't delivered on their threat to intervene, they still could. The cuts they asked for were clear - 2 to 4 million acre-feet. But the threat of what happens if the states can't get there still isn't.
MUELLER: If you don't know what that threat is, it's really hard to be motivated to take action.
RUNYON: Aversion to federal intervention runs deep along the Colorado River. Some state leaders say the feds should simply run the dams and not wade into policymaking. But as the crisis has deepened in recent years, others in the basin are beginning to crave federal leadership.
JOHN ENTSMINGER: I think it would be much more effective if the federal government, actually, in writing, articulates a plan.
RUNYON: John Entsminger is in charge of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, which serves the Las Vegas metro area. When the states couldn't reach a plan, he pleaded with federal officials to take the reins and make hard decisions about where some of the cuts need to come from.
ENTSMINGER: The states have never accomplished anything meaningful without a credible federal threat.
RUNYON: In response to the charge that they should be doing more, federal water managers said they're going to continue working with states on a plan for cutbacks. No new deadline has been set. Kathryn Sorensen, a water policy researcher at Arizona State University, says if the federal government were to take drastic action, it could alienate people in states that rely on the river. But if the feds don't take action, the risk falls on the reservoirs.
KATHRYN SORENSEN: No one wants to make this call, right? It's not enviable to be in a position of saying who gets water and who doesn't.
RUNYON: Someone eventually will be in that position, Sorensen says, whether it's the federal government, the states or the users themselves.
For NPR News, I'm Luke Runyon in Grand Junction, Colo. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-26/as-the-colorado-river-recedes-states-that-rely-on-it-struggle-to-curb-demand | 2022-09-07T23:50:19Z |
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Good morning. I'm Rachel Martin. Identical twins Brittany and Briana Dean always dreamed of marrying another pair of twins. Identical twins Jeremy and Josh Salyers shared that same dream. How better to realize it than attending a Twins Day Festival, which they all did in 2017 in Ohio. The four met and married each other a year later, then both couples gave birth to sons five months apart. The boys are cousins, but their genetics are similar to siblings. And all six of them live together in the same house. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-26/identical-twins-who-married-identical-twins-start-their-families | 2022-09-07T23:50:25Z |
With inflation near a four-decade high, American shoppers are watching their pennies and adjusting their spending habits – and the businesses that cater to them are taking notice.
The change in spending is affecting retailers across the country, from giants like Walmart to the neighborhood supermarket, as they look for ways to deliver more affordable products to their customers.
Here are four examples of what businesses across America are seeing, and how they are adjusting to the new shopping reality.
The family supermarket that's offering gas promotions
Tom Charley's family has been selling groceries in the Pittsburgh area for four generations, through lots of economic ups and downs. Even his father, who ran stores during the high inflation of the 1970s and '80s has never seen a period quite like this.
"It's a challenge, for sure. There's no doubt about it," Tom Charley says.
The three Charley Family Shop N Save markets have long prided themselves on high-quality service, with in-store butchers and bakeries. But today, the company's newspaper ads are more likely to highlight discounts on yogurt than premium, hand-cut steaks.
"We are as focused today as we've ever been on price and making sure we can get items that people care about at the best price possible," Charley says.
That means beating the bushes for lower prices on everything from bananas to the plastic wrap used to package prepared foods. Even as shoppers are trying to save money, Charley says, they still want the ease that comes with pre-cut vegetables or market-crafted kebabs.
"Convenience is king," Charley says. "They want it more and more every day."
That's labor intensive for the supermarkets, which employ more than 200 people. But they still have to be cost competitive, especially now, when grocery prices have been climbing at a double-digit annual rate.
"We've never said we're going to be the cheapest," Charley says. "And we've also never said we're going to be the Whole Foods of the market."
Charley's supermarkets get a lot of mileage from offering a discount at the gas station through a promotional tie-in with Sunoco. Customers save 10 cents a gallon on gasoline for every $50 they spend on groceries.
"Our customers love that promotion," Charley says. "Everyone I know that shops in my store uses it."
Cheaper train sets and hunting for used models
The Smoke Stack Hobby Shop in Lancaster, Ohio, sells train sets, radio-controlled cars and model airplanes. Sales boomed early in the pandemic when many people were looking for ways to entertain themselves at home. But some of the most elaborate model kits, priced at $70 or more, are now out of reach for some customers.
"Once you hit past the $50 mark, somebody has to think long and hard about buying a kit like that," says Patti Riordan, who runs the store with her husband, Don. "So we're still going to get some of those high-end ones, but it's definitely going to be a lot less."
Instead, Riordan is stocking more mid-priced models, which sell for around $35. And a growing share of her sales now comes from used items that another hobbyist has sold or traded in.
"We buy a lot of collections so people can buy a model kit or some rolling stock for their train layout at a fraction of the cost of new," Riordan says. "And that's been a big sustainer for folks this year."
Riordan says while finding and pricing used hobby items is a lot of work, it's gratifying when old railroad cars or other items find new owners.
"It's a nice way to recycle that stuff," Riordan says. "It really allows a lot more flexibility to keep the shop going. And that, I think, gives us the strength to weather through some of these things."
Ice cream at smaller portions – and lower prices
Victor Garcia runs a Mexican-style ice cream company in the Fort Worth area that specializes in flavors like mango, tres leches and tequila.
"Our whole mission is to make people happy by sharing a piece of our Mexican culture," he says.
This summer, Garcia noticed some customers at his SolDias stores were downsizing their orders, perhaps buying just one item instead of two. The average transaction dropped from $13.50 to about $12.25.
"That kind of was the first indicator that maybe a recession is coming," Garcia says. "And we do have to be a little more flexible with our budget-conscious consumers."
Garcia has started offering smaller portion sizes at lower prices. He's also hunting for cheaper paper suppliers and exploring whether he could cut costs by moving more of the ice cream manufacturing process in-house.
"At the end of the day, what we don't want is customers saying, 'That place is outside of our budget,'" Garcia said. "It's up to us as the businesses to really listen and pivot and give the customer the experience they want."
More hot dog sales, fewer deli meats at Walmart
Walmart reported a drop in quarterly earnings this past week, saying cash-strapped shoppers have been trading down and filling their shopping carts with less expensive items as they've grown more sensitive to rising food prices.
"As an example, instead of deli meats at higher price points, customers are increasing purchases of hot dogs as well as canned tuna or chicken," says chief financial officer John David Rainey.
Cash-strapped shoppers are also opting for more private-label products, rather than brand-named goods. And in some cases they're having to get by with smaller package sizes.
Walmart says so far, back-to-school sales have been strong. But customers are wary about spending outside the grocery aisle. That's forced the retailer to offer deeper discounts on other merchandise as it tries to unload unwanted inventory.
At the same time, Walmart says it's seeing increased traffic from upper-income shoppers, who are turning to the discount chain in search of bargains.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-21/these-are-some-of-the-ways-inflation-is-changing-americans-spending-habits | 2022-09-07T23:50:32Z |
BEIJING — Twin giant pandas have been born at a breeding center in southwestern China, a sign of progress for the country's unofficial national mascot as it struggles for survival amid climate change and loss of habitat.
The male and female cubs, born Tuesday at the Qinling Panda Research Center in Shaanxi province, are the second pair of twins born to their mother, Qin Qin. Another panda, Yong Yong, gave birth to twins at the center earlier this month.
Qin Qin was also born at the center and previously gave birth to twin females in 2020.
State media gave no word on the father, but Chinese veterinarians for years have been using artificial insemination to boost the population of the animals, which reproduce rarely in the wild and rely on a diet of bamboo in the mountains of western China.
The efforts have paid off, with some captive-bred pandas being released into the wild. The population of wild pandas has ticked up gradually, reaching an estimated 1,800. About 500 others live in captivity in zoos and reserves, the majority in the mountainous, heavily forested province of Sichuan.
Encroachment on their land by farmers and industry has reduced the pandas' space while cutting them off from other populations with which to breed.
Like much of central and western China, Sichuan has been hit by soaring summer temperatures and drought this year that have sparked forest fires and the withering of crops and forests, generally attributed to global climate change.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-24/panda-twins-are-born-in-china-as-the-species-struggles-for-survival | 2022-09-07T23:50:38Z |
Updated September 2, 2022 at 6:23 PM ET
More than three months into the U.S. monkeypox outbreak, there's a welcome phrase coming from the lips of health officials who are steering the country's response: cautious optimism.
The change in tone reflects "recent signs the rate of growth is slowing," according to a CDC technical report released Thursday. These signs are especially apparent in some of the major cities where the virus arrived early and spread quickly, such as New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Federal officials warn it's still too soon to make pronouncements about the country turning a corner. And they're ramping up a monkeypox vaccination campaign – sending thousands of vaccine doses this Labor Day Weekend to events like Southern Decadence in New Orleans, Atlanta Black Pride and Pridefest in Oakland, to reach large gatherings of gay, bisexual and queer people – especially men who have sex with men – who are at higher risk of getting exposed to and infected by the virus.
Still the slowdown in some parts of the U.S. – coupled with data about how those at highest risk are protecting themselves and getting vaccinated – are promising signs.
"Our numbers are still increasing, [but] the rate of rise is lower," Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters on August 26. "We're really hopeful that many of our harm reduction messages and our vaccines are getting out there and working."
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Reported case numbers have been trending down since mid August, based on an NPR analysis of data the CDC released Wednesday. Overall, there's been around a 20% drop in the 7-day average of new cases from August 10 through August 26, and new case counts in recent days continue to decrease .
However, health officials caution that lags in data reporting can offer an incomplete picture of the outbreak in recent weeks, making it hard to know if cases have truly peaked.
And notes Anne Rimoin, an epidemiologist at UCLA who has studied monkeypox for years, cases could increase again, if providers and patients at risk let down their guard and stop testing or taking mitigating behaviors.
"We need to be watching the data carefully and continuing to push forward to increase testing, increase access to care and ensure that everybody that is at risk has access to vaccines," she says.
Cases slow down in big cities
In New York City – one of the epicenters of the outbreak – the number of new people being infected has dropped almost 50% from late July through late August . San Francisco health officials are also seeing a decline in the rate of new cases.
"I'm cautiously optimistic," says Dr. Susan Philip, health officer for the city and county of San Francisco. "We know, though, it's going to take a lot of work and effort to sustain that downward curve and to make sure that cases continue to go down."
The picture is also improving in other cities like Houston and Chicago where local health leaders say there are indications that infections are leveling off.
Key metrics – such as the average number of cases and the time it takes for cases to double – have decreased over the past couple of weeks, says Janna Kerins, medical director at the Chicago Department of Public Health. "I'm not sure we're ready to say this outbreak is truly ending," Kerins says, "But all of those things are encouraging."
The changes also track with modeling released in late August that suggests the national outbreak is on the decline.
"We are seeing signs of a substantial slowdown and the forecasts suggest that this is going to go in the right direction," at least over the next four weeks, says Gerardo Chowell-Puente, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the Georgia State University, who's modeling the monkeypox outbreak.
CDC projections concur, estimating "the monkeypox outbreak in the United States will likely continue to grow very slowly over the next two to four weeks, likely with a declining growth rate," agency staff wrote in a technical report released Thursday.
The decline in parts of the U.S. mirrors what's already being seen in some European countries, where the virus was detected a few weeks earlier. In both the U.K. and Germany, daily case counts have steadily dropped since late July. In several other countries, including the Netherlands and Italy, the number of new cases have plateaued.
Behavior change is helping
Given the size and diversity of the U.S., there's still considerable uncertainty on how the outbreak will play out in different parts of the country, notes Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University.
"Case counts in large, populous states like Texas, California, and New York that were hit early in the epidemic are slowing just as other states like Oregon, Virginia, and Indiana begin to pick up steam," she wrote in a Substack post Friday.
Still, infectious disease experts largely attribute the local and regional slowdowns to efforts in those areas to change behavior among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men – a group that accounts for the vast majority of cases.
"Most of us in public health who work on this disease are quite confident that the majority of the reduction is due to change in behavior," says Dr. Jay Varma, director of the Cornell Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Currently around 80% of monkeypox cases in the U.S. are associated with sexual activity, according to the Thursday's technical report. And data, published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly on August 26, show that gay and queer communities are modifying their sexual behaviors in response to messaging around monkeypox.
In one online survey, about 50% of respondents said they had reduced "their number of sexual partners, one-time sexual encounters [or] use of dating apps because of the monkeypox outbreak." An accompanying modeling study released by the CDC showed that a "40% reduction in one-time sexual partnership might delay the spread of monkeypox and reduce the percentage of people infected" by up to about 30%.
"What this means is that the LGBTQIA+ people are doing things that are actually reducing their risk, and it's working," said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, White House monkeypox response deputy coordinator, at a press briefing August 26.
It's not entirely surprising that the virus appears to be slowing down in the U.S. as it has in Europe, says Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases, population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.
"Most of the cities will see a decline in cases – that decline may not be as fast or as steep as the ascent," says Klausner.
Klausner notes that monkeypox has stayed mostly within certain relatively small sexual networks – that makes it harder for the virus to maintain momentum as vaccination increases, people build up immunity from infection and those at highest risk change their behavior.
"People who raised concerns about the spread of infection on college campuses and daycares and other kinds of settings where there's close personal contact, at this point, that hasn't occurred," he says.
Uncertainty remains
But other experts are not as sanguine about the trajectory of the outbreak – at least not yet.
"It's great to see some declines," UCLA's Rimoin. "But if the downward trend is due to changes in behavior and vaccinations, it's not clear how long behavioral changes can be sustained, and how well the vaccinations actually work to prevent infections."
Health officials are urging members of affected communities to keep taking precautions – with an emphasis on reducing the number of sexual partners and remaining clothed at parties, festivals and raves – to slow the spread of monkeypox.
"Let me be clear," Daskalakis said August 26. "The advice about how to reduce risk for monkeypox exposure is for now, not forever, and is an important part of our public health and community response as we urgently surge vaccinations to control this outbreak."
Around 350,000 monkeypox vaccine doses have been reported as administered to CDC.
Still, there isn't robust real world data on how well the monkeypox vaccine – approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2019 – protects against infection and transmission. Further complicating the picture is that a shortage of vaccine has led the Biden administration to pursue a new strategy of offering the shots intradermally in order to stretch the supply.
"The laboratory data that we have on the vaccine suggests that it's going to be very effective in humans," says Varma. "But what we know in medicine is that until we see what happens in the real world, we never know for sure."
NPR's Michaeleen Doucleff contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-26/the-monkeypox-outbreak-may-be-slowing-in-the-u-s-but-health-officials-urge-caution | 2022-09-07T23:50:45Z |
Back in March, I spoke with Dr. Aleksandra Shchebet, a Ukrainian neurologist, about the upending of her professional and personal life when the war with Russia began. She and her family fled Kyiv, making their way to Lutsk in northwest Ukraine. Shchebet gave private virtual consultations to patients the best she could, but her ability to intervene was limited. So she found another way to help, spending hours sorting, packing and loading food and medical supplies onto trucks for delivery elsewhere into the country. "I hope the war will end as soon as possible," she told me. Now, more than five months deeper into that war, I checked back with Shchebet.
Shchebet returned to the capital of Kyiv a couple months ago, leaving her family behind in Lutsk. Things had gotten safer there and she missed her city. On the drive back, she passed by burned houses and torched supermarkets — "like wounds on the Earth," she recalls. Soon after arriving, on a Monday or Tuesday, she visited her favorite district, the historic part of the city called Podil. On a weekday, it should have been bustling with traffic and city goers drinking coffee and laughing. "But there was no people at all," she says. "It was empty and kind of apocalyptic feeling."
Elsewhere in the capital, over the last several weeks, people and families have come back. "Now I hear voices of kids who are playing in the yard," Shchebet says, "which means life still goes on." Overall, though, she says Kyiv, this place she once called home, is "not my city anymore." She adds, "Ukraine is not the same anymore, and it never will be." Somehow, Shchebet still can't believe that she's living in a war. "In my head, I still hope it will end soon, like in a dream... and I will wake up." But every day when she does wake up, she returns to this alternate Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Shchebet's neurology practice has gradually filled out. Many of her appointments are virtual. She estimates that half of those clients are Ukrainians who've escaped the country, scattering from China to the United States. But she also sees patients in person at a private clinic two days a week, mostly people who've fled from eastern Ukraine, where the fighting has been intense.
She routinely consults with individuals experiencing chronic headaches and chronic pain stemming from inadequate or absent treatment over the last few months. But Shchebet is also encountering numerous cases of depression, anxiety and PTSD in both children and adults. She draws a direct line between the last several months and her patients' physical and mental ailments. "All my consultations are now about war and what happened during the war and how it affected people," she says.
To drive the point home, Shchebet says that with air raid sirens going off almost every day, it's not uncommon for her to hear the telltale wailing during an in-person appointment. She's grown accustomed to dashing to the shelter with her patient and continuing the consultation from there, "which is not so comfortable," she admits.
Shchebet has expanded her effort to get medications and food from Lutsk and Kyiv to internally-displaced refugees and medical supplies to the hospitals and doctors on the front lines of the war in the east and south of the country. She and her friend created a non-profit charity fund called "Dzhmil," which means bumblebee in Ukrainian. The name comes from the eponymous insect, which is "heavy and ha[s] such short wings. But despite all circumstances, it can fly and... be very helpful. So we decided that we are like little bumblebees in this situation in Ukraine. We have a lot of things to do and to bring to people despite all this stuff, which is going on here in Ukraine."
Her effort to restore the medical functioning of Ukraine was bolstered when Shchebet told her story to NPR in March. She says that some 50 medical professionals from the U.S. and Europe found her through social media and offered to help. Some sent supplies including large packages of antibiotics. Others offered psychological consultations to patients (for which Shchebet served as interpreter) and trainings to Ukrainian psychologists. "It was very helpful," she says, "and I'm beyond grateful."
Shchebet's day to day is a jarring mix of the routine and the extreme, each one bringing the other into sharper relief. "Of course, we are trying to cherish our lives and cherish all those minutes of calm between air raid sirens," she says. That means that she meets friends at the cafe or cinema when it's safe. "But sometimes the whole thing is interrupted with air raid sirens, so you don't know how it ends," she says with a laugh.
Back when we spoke in March, Shchebet says the acute stress was unbearable. But she's amazed at how she and other Ukrainians have grown accustomed to their new reality. "Now I know that people actually are unique creatures," she says. "And they can [get] used to everything."
"We lost our people. We lost our soldiers. We lost a lot of doctors [and] children, unfortunately," she admits. "But we are fighting and I think we're doing great with the support of all the world. And this is unbelievable, actually."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-27/whatever-happened-to-the-caring-ukrainian-neurologist-who-didnt-let-war-stop-her | 2022-09-07T23:50:52Z |
Updated September 3, 2022 at 10:32 AM ET
President John F. Kennedy delivered a famous speech in 1962 outlining his administration's challenge to land Americans on the moon. "We choose to go to the moon," he declared, not because it is easy, but because it is hard.
As difficult a technological feat as the Apollo moon program proved, within seven years NASA had met Kennedy's challenge and ultimately sent a dozen astronauts to the surface on six missions between 1969 and 1972 at a cost of about $25 billion — roughly $250 billion in today's dollars.
Sixty years after Kennedy's speech, NASA is again getting ready to send humans to the moon. NASA is planning a second attempt Saturday afternoon to launch the uncrewed Artemis I after a planned launch on Monday was scrubbed due to an engine issue. The mission is the first test flight of the hardware that will be used to send astronauts in the next few years.
No doubt, many people are wondering: Why go back?
There's a lot of science to be done on the moon
The rock samples brought back by Apollo astronauts decades ago taught scientists a lot about the geologic history of Earth and the moon.
What can be gathered by today's astronauts could tell us even more, says David Kring, a lunar geologist at the Center for Lunar Science & Exploration in Houston, Texas.
It's easier to set down a spacecraft near the moon's equator, so that's where all six Apollo landings occurred. But now, NASA has more ambitious aims.
Just days ago, NASA announced 13 possible landing sites, each in the south pole region, where water ice has been confirmed deep inside craters that never see sunlight. A crewed lunar flyby, Artemis II, is anticipated for 2024. And the first crewed landing, Artemis III, could come as early as 2025.
The sites "are some of the best places to go for lunar geology and understanding lunar ice and sampling lunar ice," says Bethany Ehlmann, associate director of the Keck Institute for Space Studies at the California Institute of Technology.
Kring calls the lunar south pole region "absolutely extraordinary geologic terrain."
"If you really want to understand the origin of the evolution of the solar system, there is no better place ... to go [than] the moon," Kring says. Because the moon has never had an atmosphere or flowing water, it is not subject to weathering and erosion and has thus preserved evidence of its origin, he says.
As technology has steadily improved in the decades since Apollo, the level of detail on the moon's surface revealed by such probes as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter "is so extraordinary that we've already identified rocks on the lunar surface that we want the astronauts to collect," Kring says.
Having astronaut boots on the moon has other advantages, too, says Craig Hardgrove, an associate professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University. He considers himself "a huge fan of robotic exploration," but nonetheless acknowledges that rovers and landers are limited by the scientific instruments they carry with them. They also have a harder time capturing as much data on the detailed geologic context and landscape as an astronaut trained in geology can.
Humans, by contrast, "are able to collect a large number of samples much quicker than robots," says Hardgrove, who is principal investigator of the Lunar Polar Hydrogen Mapper (LunaH-Map) mission, set to launch aboard the Artemis I rocket. The shoebox-size probe aims to pinpoint the location of polar ice deposits.
With astronauts selecting the best samples and bringing them home, laboratories and universities can examine them with a wider range of sophisticated tools, he says. "If we can bring them back to Earth, I think we have a much better shot at answering even more questions than we can if we're limited to rovers."
It's a stepping stone to Mars
Mars is at least 200 times farther from Earth than the moon, which means an enormous challenge in keeping astronauts safe from such things as radiation exposure, Hardgrove says.
"The launch windows to get to Mars are once every two years," he says. "So, we would be thinking about keeping our astronauts on the surface of Mars for a long period of time. I personally feel like we would be doing them a service and everyone a service if we test out all these technologies on the moon first."
Apollo was mostly about beating the Soviet Union to the moon. It succeeded, but there was no long-term plan to create a sustainable human presence there.
Artemis could change that, says Clive Neal, a professor of civil and environmental engineering and Earth sciences at the University of Notre Dame. He's especially keen to see a gradual shift toward a permanent human presence on the moon.
Given that SpaceX, a commercial venture, has been chosen to provide the vehicle that will land Artemis astronauts on the lunar surface, that prospect may not be as far off as once thought.
"We need to build an infrastructure that's going to say, 'OK, we're going to have human permanence on the moon and transition to commercial operations there in the future,'" Neal says. "And we can have a blueprint then at the moon of how to do these things sustainably that can be applied to more distant destinations."
It could spur new technologies
Dozens of new technologies created to go into space and to the moon have also brought substantial benefits to people on Earth — spawning everything from hand-held computers to insulin pumps and freeze-dried food.
Artemis could spark similar innovations.
A 2013 study commissioned by NASA estimates that commercial products emerging from the space agency's research return between $100 million and $1 billion annually to the U.S. economy. Many of those "spinoffs" had their origin in the Apollo program.
The Apollo Guidance Computer, for example, was a technological marvel of its day. It was an early demonstration of digital fly-by-wire technology that is used in modern passenger jets and military aircraft.
"We're still reaping the rewards of miniaturization of electronics that happened during Apollo," Neal says. "Think about mobile phones. This is a technology that maybe would not have happened without Apollo."
New flame-retardant fabrics first developed for spacesuits, to withstand very high temperatures and still remain lightweight, are found today in clothing to protect firefighters around the country.
A "super insulation" developed for NASA in the 1960s can now be "found hidden inside the walls and roofs of buildings, in cryogenic tanks and MRI machines, in winter gear, and in cases for electronic devices, among other applications," according to NASA.
It has the potential to inspire a generation of engineers and scientists
It's often said that the Apollo moonshot inspired thousands of new engineers and scientists. While numbers are impossible to quantify, according to a 2009 survey of 800 researchers, "the Moon landings deserve credit for motivating a large fraction of today's scientists ... who have published in Nature in the past three years."
With Artemis, "we're going to get nearly live video from the surface of the moon and people are going to start thinking about the moon as a real place," Hardgrove, of ASU, says.
"I think it can absolutely be inspirational, hopefully not just for people like me, but [also] people who may not be thinking about careers in space exploration or engineering," he says.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-28/nasa-is-set-to-return-to-the-moon-here-are-4-reasons-to-go-back | 2022-09-07T23:50:58Z |
Updated September 4, 2022 at 7:30 AM ET
NASHVILLE — Marie met her husband, Shaun Varsos when they both worked at a movie theater in Nashville in 2006 or so. A few years later, that movie theater flooded and was turned into a shooting range where the two would go shoot guns together.
That anecdote took on a tragic irony when Marie's brother, Alex Youn, got a phone call the morning of April 12, 2021.
"Shaun had shot Marie and my mother," he says.
Alex lost his mother, Debbie Sisco, 60, and his younger sister, Marie Varsos, 31, the people to whom he was closest - in an instant.
In the month leading up to their tragic deaths, records left by Marie show that she had exhausted every option available to victims of domestic violence to try and prevent what she saw coming.
But the system was not enough to protect her.
Marie had left a trail of the domestic violence that led to her death at the hands of her husband
Alex remembers being overcome with grief. It was like being trapped in some horribly tragic movie.
"It just hasn't seemed real and it still doesn't seem real," Alex, 37, says. "It's been hard to sort of process it."
He flew from San Francisco where he lives now back home to Nashville. To try and cope, he kept himself busy. He had so much to get done - planning their funerals, and settling their estates.
It was during this process that Alex found something that spurred him to turn that grief into action.
He remembers opening his sister Marie's laptop. It was locked. But then there, by the track pad, was a sticky note. With her computer password on it.
"It was almost like a sign that she wanted me to have access to her computer," Alex says.
And on that computer, Marie had been documenting her husband Shaun Varsos' abuse and her efforts to escape it.
She left notes to herself. She had texts from Shaun. She even made audio recordings of some of their fights, and Shaun's threats.
"It sort of really sort of weirdly turned into a solving a murder mystery," Alex says.
Marie had left a trail.
And her brother decided he was going to follow it, retracing the steps Marie took to get protection from law enforcement, and the courts.
"And through that process, I discovered the irregularities, the loopholes and the failures in the system," Alex says.
Failures that he believes led to the deaths of his sister, and their mother, Debbie Sisco.
Her family called the police to report the abuse but dispatchers said there was no one to help at the moment
Marie's attempts to get help from law enforcement and the courts began on March 7, 2021. Marie and Shaun had a horrible argument.
In recordings found on Marie's computer, she shouts, "Stop! Don't put your hands on me!" Shaun then wrapped his hands around her neck, choking her until she passes out.
When she came to, he was holding a gun to her head. She told police that he threatened to kill her, her family and himself.
Experts say strangulation and threats with a gun are two of the biggest warning signs that a domestic violence case could become lethal. And the police should have responded urgently.
But they didn't.
Marie escaped from Shaun. An hour later, she and her family sat in a pickup truck outside an empty police station, trying to file a police report. Bruises were forming on Marie's neck. Her mom, Debbie, was in the backseat, comforting her.
But when they called the police, they were told by dispatchers that they would have to wait.
"They're working on getting out there to you. There's just nobody in the precinct right now," the dispatcher says. "So what's going to happen is a patrol car is going to have to free up from whatever they're doing and come to. But they do have to take those life threatening emergencies first."
Alex, Marie, and their mom, Debbie, were in disbelief. Didn't her case qualify as life-threatening?
Alex kept calling. For hours. His frustration grew and grew.
"My sister was choked out when she passed out and her husband threatened to shoot her ... my patience is gone"
"I'm trying to be as appreciative and waiting as long as possible," Alex says to dispatchers. "But my sister was choked out when she passed out and her husband threatened to shoot her and threatened to shoot himself. So my patience is gone."
"That timeframe was completely unacceptable for response time to a victim," Metro Nashville Police Capt. Kevin Lovell later told Alex. Since Marie's death, Lovell says domestic violence calls are categorized differently to get victims help quicker.
Eventually, Marie was able to file a police report that night and get a temporary order of protection from the court. Shaun was charged with assault and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He was summoned by the sheriff's office the very next day to pick up the order. But he walked in and out of the office without being arrested. The sheriff's department says when they ran Shaun's name, they didn't see any warrants ... even though one had been issued the night before.
It wasn't until days later, when Marie notified law enforcement of Shaun's location, that he was actually taken into custody.
"That has definitely been an issue that has come up many times; is the separateness of the work that the sheriff's department does and the work of the Metro police," says Susan Tucker-Smith, with the Office of the District Attorney Nashville-Davidson County.
The sheriff's department says it has added one more step to its process to notify the police in cases like Shaun's.
And then another mistake: Shaun was accidentally released early.
And another: Marie was never notified - even though she signed up for the state's victim notification system. A sheriff's deputy failed to follow through and would later be disciplined for it.
Records show Marie even tried to fix the department's mistake.
"I never got a notification, or a missed call, or anything that that happened so I just want to make sure my contact info was correct," she says in a call to the city's non-emergency line later that week.
And then there were the guns - the court ordered Shaun to give them up.
But Tennessee has no method to enforce that ruling. Part of the problem is that someone who has been ordered to turn in their guns can give them to a licensed firearms dealer, law enforcement or — the most potentially dangerous option — a third party like a friend or a relative.
"We're saying we trust you to give this gun to someone, and not to steal it back or have access to it whenever you want or for that third party to just give it back to them," says Becky Bullard of Nashville's Office of Family Safety, which works with domestic violence victims.
In Shaun's case, he said he was going to give his guns to his dad, but there is no documentation of that ever happening.
On April 12 of last year, Shaun took his guns, zip ties, and battery acid to Marie's mom's house. He waited outside in a rental car.
Marie and Debbie spotted him and tried to run away. But he shot them on their neighbors lawn.
Then he shot and killed himself.
In Nashville, nearly half of suspects in domestic violence homicides were prohibited from having access to a gun.
Tennessee has one of the highest rates of women killed by men, ranking 10th in the United States. Experts say guns play a big role in that statistic; in domestic violence situations, the risk of death is five times greater when a gun is present.
"We are not waiting for a homicide to happen," says Bullard of Nashville's Office of Family Safety. "They have happened and they are happening — they continue to happen — with individuals who should never have a weapon."
Domestic violence victims face similar barriers because when abusers are determined it's hard to stop them
These barriers that Marie faced are not unique to Nashville.
It's a challenge for domestic violence victims all over the country, says Ruth Glenn of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
"If they fall through the cracks or their needs aren't being addressed or something really bad happens," Glenn says. "It's mostly because they're a domestic violence victim, and our systems are not set up as properly as they could be to address the unique needs of every domestic violence victim."
To protect victims, Glenn says there needs to be a coordinated response. But they interact with so many separate agencies that don't work together it creates a safety net with too many holes in it.
And as Marie's case illustrates, that's a problem — especially because domestic violence abusers are incredibly determined, Glenn says.
"When they decide that something bad is going to happen, it's almost impossible to stop them," Glenn says. "They will cut off a GPS. They will go put a false record to get a gun. They will sit in the dark for two hours. The list goes on and on."
Pushing through legislation to protect domestic violence victims is challenging
Glenn says pushing through legislation to protect domestic violence victims is not easy. Federally, it took three years of negotiations for Congress to finally reauthorize the violence against women act.
And here in Tennessee, Alex took everything he learned about his sister's case and brought it to the state Capitol last session.
"I wanted to make sure ..."Alex said to a room full of representatives, his voice catching. "I wanted to make sure that no one — no family — had to endure what we had to go through."
In the end, Alex helped write four bills. But because of concerns about expenses, or implementation, only one became a law. It requires more communication between sheriff's offices and the police.
But Alex says it's not enough.
"For them, they view it as one thing that went wrong with their agency," Alex says, "but coupled together there are like eight things that went wrong for this person that is dealing with the government to try and get the help they needed."
Alex says he will return to Tennessee's state capitol as many times as it takes to close the gaps that Marie fell through. For him, the fight for justice has only just begun.
Copyright 2022 WPLN News | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-29/his-mom-and-sister-were-killed-by-domestic-violence-now-hes-trying-to-help-others | 2022-09-07T23:51:05Z |
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
One year ago tomorrow, on August 30, 2021, the final U.S. troops left Afghanistan. The chaotic end to America's longest war was marked by unfulfilled promises, a Taliban takeover, frantic airlifts out of Kabul and a terrorist attack that killed more than 100 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members. For President Biden, it was a major stain on his reputation not just here at home but with European partners who were close allies in Afghanistan. NPR's White House correspondent Asma Khalid has been looking into this. Hey, Asma.
ASMA KHALID, BYLINE: Hi there, Ari.
SHAPIRO: So some of the U.S' strongest allies a year ago were vocal in their criticism of the Afghan exit. Take us back to that time.
KHALID: That's right. And in part, that's because two months before this withdrawal, Joe Biden went to the United Kingdom for his first in-person G7 meeting as president. And you probably recall he declared very proudly that America is back. But then we heard Brits wondering out loud, you know, if you look at Afghanistan, is that really true? And one member of parliament there in the United Kingdom wrote an op-ed saying, quote, "if the U.S. won't lead, it is our duty to step up." Even the Germans were critical. The chancellor at the time described this all as bitter, dramatic and terrifying.
SHAPIRO: What exactly made them so upset?
KHALID: You know, Ari, it was not just the decision but the way that the decision was handled. James Cunningham was a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, and he explained it to me this way.
JAMES CUNNINGHAM: It's no secret that most of our coalition partners and allies wanted us to stay. They wanted to stay because they saw quite clearly what was going to happen. And many of them live closer to Afghanistan than we do. And they're going to feel the effects of this more directly.
KHALID: Experts have told me that the reason European allies felt so blindsided was because Biden had promised multilateralism when he came into office. And then he kind of made this entire Afghanistan decision rather unilaterally.
SHAPIRO: And so now, one year later, how is the relationship with those European allies?
KHALID: So, Ari, really, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shifted the paradigm entirely. Charles Kupchan with the Council on Foreign Relations actually argues that with the benefit of hindsight, the U.S. did not lose the credibility that was initially expected. And if anything, he says the U.S. now has more money, more strategic attention and more political capital to focus on other global priorities.
CHARLES KUPCHAN: Lo and behold, not long after the withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russia invades Ukraine, and the United States has been freed up from Afghanistan to focus like a laser on supporting Ukraine and putting together a very solid coalition.
KHALID: And President Biden has made it a point to coordinate with allies in Europe in responding to Russia. You know, at times he's even let the Germans or the French take the lead rather publicly. But as (inaudible) said, you know, there's not consensus that this has necessarily erased all of the anxiety around Afghanistan. Some experts say that there is this question of whether Russia acted in part because it had presumed the U.S. was weaker after the Afghan withdrawal and, you know, likewise, if China has felt emboldened with Taiwan as a result.
SHAPIRO: So are the experts you're talking to saying that Biden's role in Ukraine basically erased the allies' anxiety coming out of Afghanistan?
KHALID: You know, the relationship today is certainly stronger than where it was a year ago. But one expert told me that European nations still have nagging doubts about whether the U.S. has the patience for long fights. Cathryn Cluver Ashbrook is with the Bertelsmann Foundation in Berlin.
CATHRYN CLUVER ASHBROOK: The Germans are afraid of waning American commitment because of American electoral politics and policy.
KHALID: And really, what she's saying, Ari, here is that some of these reservations aren't about Biden himself. They're about whether Donald Trump or one of his followers could take power in a couple of years and decide then that a transatlantic friendship is no longer worth the time and the money.
SHAPIRO: NPR's Asma Khalid. Thank you.
KHALID: My pleasure. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-29/how-u-s-allies-view-the-country-a-year-after-its-withdrawal-from-afghanistan | 2022-09-07T23:51:12Z |
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
President Biden's administration says it's time for the federal government to stop paying the cost of COVID. The Wall Street Journal is reporting the administration is meeting this week with drugmakers, pharmacies and state governments. So who pays instead? We're joined by Stephanie Armour, a health policy reporter at The Wall Street Journal. Good morning.
STEPHANIE ARMOUR: Good morning. Thanks for having me.
INSKEEP: So I'm just thinking back through the pandemic. I've had vaccinations. I've had tests. Sometimes they are just free or they seem to be to me. Sometimes they'll charge it to insurance if I have insurance, but otherwise it would be free. How would that change?
ARMOUR: Well, basically, the reason that everything has been free at this point is because the federal government has been purchasing and buying the vaccines and treatments and allocating them to states and providers. So there's really been no cost. And what's going to happen - the change that's happening - and it's already underway - is it's going to shift to the more traditional health care industry and market. Insurers will be picking up the cost. And the uninsured - one of the big issues is, how will we maintain access? So you're going to see a real big change that's especially going to kick in after this fall booster season.
INSKEEP: OK. So for those of us who have insurance, this is just a normal deal. We're returning to the market economy, and we've bought insurance, and so we're covered in some way. But what does happen to the uninsured?
ARMOUR: That's a big question. We've got roughly 30 million people in the United States that don't have health coverage. And one of the issues that the Biden administration and the drugmakers are hoping to talk about at this meeting is what kind of systems can be set up to try to maintain some kind of access and equity, especially when you look at vaccines and the importance of maintaining boosters that people will need to keep having at this point. So that's one of the big question marks that's out there.
And there's other issues, too. It's not as easy as just pulling a switch. It's actually a really big lift because - think about it - the antivirals that have now been approved to treat COVID, they're approved by the Food and Drug Administration under what's known as an emergency use authorization. And basically, it means that they've done all the trials and are sure that it's a safe product, but it's different than a full approval. And Medicare and Medicaid, which are the federal insurance program, they do not cover antivirals that are approved under the emergency use authorizations.
INSKEEP: Oh. Could that also be true for people who have some kind of private insurance? The insurance company may say, we just don't cover that?
ARMOUR: Right. So that's one of the big issues they're going to have to look at, starting with this meeting, is what do they need to do? Is there a new way they need to get some kind of regulatory approval for these products in order to allow coverage from insurers or Medicare and Medicaid? So there's a lot of hurdles.
INSKEEP: Can we just take stock of how monumental an intervention this has been by the federal government, starting back in 2020, the government saying, we're going to pick up all the costs, we're going to pay everything because we need everybody or as many people as are willing and as many people as possible to be taken care of, vaccinated and treated? How huge an intervention has this been over the past couple of years?
ARMOUR: Oh, it's been tens of billions of dollars. There's been really nothing quite like it in terms of a mass vaccination campaign in the United States. It's truly been historic. And that's why the shift is so important in terms of how we move forward, especially you want to make sure that - one of the reasons that we've been able to do so well is we've had the federal buying power of the federal government. That has a lot of clout, and that's not going to be there as we move to this new system. So will we still get access?
INSKEEP: Stephanie Armour, health policy reporter for The Wall Street Journal, thanks so much.
ARMOUR: Oh, thank you so much. Appreciate it. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2022-08-29/the-biden-administration-is-handing-covid-costs-to-the-health-care-industry | 2022-09-07T23:51:18Z |
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