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Acquisition Will Accelerate Growth Strategy
NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominari Financial, Inc., the financial services subsidiary of AIkido Pharma Inc., (NASDAQ: AIKI) has entered into an exclusive agreement for the acquisition of a broker-dealer firm. This is Dominari's first acquisition since launching in June. Details of the proposed purchase can be found in the 8K on file with the SEC.
Dominari Financial was formed with the intention of acquiring revenue generating assets in the fintech and financial services industry. "Our goal has always been to move swiftly to execute a roll-up strategy of wealth management firms that cater to ultra-high-net worth investors. This transformative purchase not only accelerates our timetable, but also gives us the organizational infrastructure and technology needed to scale Dominari into a financial services powerhouse," said Carlos Aldavero, President of Dominari.
Kyle Wool, AIkido board member, acted as matchmaker on the deal and will continue to advise Mr. Aldavero on the purchase. "The board fully supports the diversification strategy of which Dominari Financial is the centerpiece," added Wool. "Once approved by FINRA, this acquisition will catapult Dominari forward and lays the groundwork for future acquisitions. I am looking forward to working closely with Carlos to continue to identify synergistic companies to bring into the portfolio," he continued.
Upon approval of the transaction by FINRA, this acquisition will allow Dominari Financial to provide banking and lending services through a collaborative agreement with a third-party institution, delivering the full balance sheet to UHNW investors, corporations, and institutional clients once the deal officially closes.
Dominari is a dynamic, forward-thinking financial services company that creates wealth for all stakeholders by capitalizing on emerging trends in the financial services sector and identifying early-stage future opportunities that will generate a high rate of return for investors.
AIkido Pharma Inc. was initially formed in 1967 and is a biotechnology Company with a diverse portfolio of small-molecule anticancer and antiviral therapeutics. The Company's platform consists of patented technology from leading universities and researchers, and we are currently in the process of developing an innovative therapeutic drug platform through strong partnerships with world renowned educational institutions, including The University of Texas at Austin and University of Maryland at Baltimore. Our diverse pipeline of therapeutics includes therapies for pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer. We are constantly seeking to grow our pipeline to treat unmet medical needs in oncology. The Company is also developing a broad-spectrum antiviral platform that may potentially inhibit replication of multiple viruses including Influenza virus, SARS-CoV (coronavirus), MERS-CoV, Ebolavirus and Marburg virus.
Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Company's filings with the SEC, not limited to Risk Factors relating to its business contained therein. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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| 2022-09-09T23:39:06Z
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BEIJING, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MMTEC, Inc. (NASDAQ: MTC) ("MMTEC", "we", "our" or the "Company"), a China based technology company that provides access to the U.S. financial markets, today announced its unaudited financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
First Half 2022 Summary
- Revenues increased by 44.64% from $507,048 to $733,400 as a result of the increase in software sales revenue during the six months ended June 30, 2022.
- Gross profit increased by 41.53% to $622,910 as compared to $440,140 for the same period in 2021, while the gross profit margin was 84.93%, as compared to 86.80% for the same period in 2021.
- Loss from operations was $2,927,617 for the six months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to $1,835,262 for the same period of 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to the increase in operating expenses. We increased the size of and level of spending on support team for our investment banking business, fund management services business and software sales business. We accrued litigation loss contingency of $450,000 to settle with FINRA.
- Net loss was $2,887,201 for the six months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to net loss of $2,367,612 for the same period of 2021.
- Loss per share both on a basic and fully diluted basis were $0.92 for the six months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to loss per share on a basic and fully diluted basis of $0.99 for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
Xiangdong Wen, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, commented, "Our revenue increased to $733,400 for the first half of 2022 as a result of our increased sales force in our software sales business. The company ramped up investment banking team spending. Loss from operations increased significantly as a result of the increase in size of, and level of spending on, our support teams for our investment banking and fund management services businesses."
Mr. Wen continued, "As for the Company's future strategy, we will actively promote cooperative relationships with Chinese companies listed in the US and provide them with financing, mergers and acquisitions, and financial advisory services. In addition, we will attempt to further increase the construction of investment banking teams, provide high-quality services, and continue to expand the market."
Operating Results for Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
Revenues
We derive our revenues from: (1) data services and related technical support (the "Market data services"); (2) software sales and related technical support, which are primarily software to facilitate stock trading and clearing (the "Software sales"); (3) commissions through customer securities transactions ("Commissions"); and (4) fund management services as the administrator of the fund ("Fund management services").
The following tables illustrate the Company's revenue by revenue type:
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue consists primarily of internal labor cost and related benefits, and other overhead costs that are directly attributable to services provided.
Cost of revenues increased by $43,582, or 65.14%, to $110,490 for the six months ended June 30, 2022 from $66,908 for the same period last year. The increase in cost of revenues is directly linked to the 100% increase of software sales revenues. Revenue from commissions is presented as net revenue with no associated cost of revenues.
Gross Profit and Gross Margin
Gross profit was $622,910 for the six months ended June 30, 2022, representing gross margin of 84.93%, as compared to 86.80% for the same period in 2021.
Operating Expenses
During the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, operating expenses included selling and marketing, payroll and related benefits, professional fees, and other general and administrative expenses.
Selling and Marketing Costs
All costs related to selling and marketing are expensed as incurred. Selling and marketing costs increased by $790,027, or 813.24%, to $887,173 for the six months ended June 30, 2022 from $97,146 for the same period last year.
Payroll and Related Benefits
Payroll and related benefits totaled $1,022,931 for the six months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to $669,299 for the six months ended June 30, 2021, an increase of $353,632.
Professional Fees
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, professional fees primarily consisted of audit fees, legal service fees, financial consulting fees and other fees associated with being a public company. Professional fees totaled $696,556 for the six months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to $837,457 for the six months ended June 30, 2021, a decrease of $140,901.
Other General and Administrative Expenses
For the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, other general and administrative expenses were $943,867 and $671,500, respectively. The increase in other general and administrative expense was mainly attributable to the increase of $450,000 in litigation loss contingency, which represented an estimated fine of $450,000 from FINRA investigation; this was partially offset by the decrease in training fee, computer and internet expense, and ETC clearing costs.
Loss from Operations
For six months ended June 30, 2022, loss from operations amounted to $2,927,617, as compared to loss from operations of $1,835,262 for the six months ended June 30, 2021, an increase of $1,092,355, or 59.52%, which was mainly attributable to the increase in selling and marketing costs, payroll and related benefits and litigation loss contingency. As a result of the expansion of the Company's overall business scale, the Company increased the size of and level of spending on support team for investment banking business, fund management services business.
Other Income (Expense)
Other income (expense) includes interest income from bank deposits, other income, impairment loss on long-term investment, and foreign currency transaction gain (loss). Other income totaled $40,416 for six months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to other expense of $532,350 for six months ended June 30, 2021, a change of $572,766, which was mainly attributable to the decrease in impairments of long-term investment.
Income Taxes
We did not have any income taxes expense for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 since we did not generate any taxable income in these two periods.
Net Loss
As a result of the factors described above, our net loss was $2,887,201, or $0.92 per share (basic and diluted), for the six months ended June 30, 2022. Our net loss was $2,367,612, or $0.99 per share (basic and diluted), for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of our parent company, MMTEC INC., MM Future Technology Limited, MM Fund SPC, HC Securities (HK) Limited, MMBD Trading Limited, MMBD Investment Advisory Company Limited, Fundex SPC and MM Global Securities, INC, are the U.S. dollar, and the functional currency of Gujia (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd., is the Chinese Renminbi ("RMB"). The financial statements of our subsidiaries whose functional currency is the RMB are translated to U.S. dollars using period end rates of exchange for assets and liabilities, average rate of exchange for revenue and expenses and cash flows, and at historical exchange rates for equity. Net gains and losses resulting from foreign exchange transactions are included in the results of operations. As a result of foreign currency translations, which are a non-cash adjustment, we reported a foreign currency translation loss of $55,780 and a foreign currency translation gain of $23,720 for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. This non-cash loss had the effect of increasing our reported comprehensive loss.
Comprehensive Loss
As a result of our foreign currency translation adjustment, we had comprehensive loss of $2,942,981 and $2,343,892 for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Financial Condition
As of June 30, 2022, the Company had cash of $7,023,053, compared to $11,206,220 as of December 31, 2021. Total working capital was $9,708,668 as of June 30, 2022, compared to working capital of $12,720,191 as of December 31, 2021.
Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $4,153,241, compared to $1,431,474 for the same period last year. Net cash used in investing activities was $6,036 for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $8,806 for the same period last year. Net cash provided by financing activities was $nil for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $14,637,200 for the same period of last year.
As an entity that operates in the financial industry in China and the United States, the Company finds itself subject to the challenges posed by the ongoing tension in the trade relations between the countries.
Shares Authorized and Issued
The Company is authorized to issue 50,000,000 shares with a par value of $0.01 per share. This takes into account the 1-for-10 reverse stock split on the Company's common stock that was effectuated on July 13, 2022.
There were 3,137,001 common shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. This takes into account the 1-for-10 reverse stock split on the Company's common stock that was effectuated on July 13, 2022.
Legal Proceedings
In the normal course of business, MM Global is engaged in various trading and brokerage activities on a principal and agency basis through a clearing broker. As a regulated FINRA broker-dealer, MM Global is subject to regulatory trading inquiries and investigations to determine whether any violations of federal securities or FINRA rules may have occurred. MM Global has responded to FINRA inquires and is subject to an investigation conducted by FINRA. In June 2022, FINRA's Department of Enforcement concluded its investigation and alleges that there have been violations of the federal securities laws and FINRA rules. The Company intends to settle and as of September 9, 2022, the settlement negotiations are still in process. The Company assesses the likelihood of adverse outcome to the matter, as well as the range of probable losses to the extent losses are reasonably estimable. The Company records accruals to the extent that management concludes a loss is probable and the financial impact, should an adverse outcome occur, is reasonable estimable. As of June 30, 2022, the Company accrued a liability of $450,000 that represents the total estimated amount the Company expects to pay to settle this matter.
Other than MM Global, we are currently not involved in any legal proceedings; nor are we aware of any claims that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Recent Developments
On July 13, 2022, the Company implemented a 1-for-10 reverse stock split. As a result of the reverse split, on July 27, 2022, the Company received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("NASDAQ") confirming that the Company had regained compliance with NASDAQ's minimum bid price requirement under Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). The Company regained compliance with NASDAQ's requirements when the closing bid price for the Company's common stock was at or above $1.00 for 10 consecutive business days.
On August 10, 2022, Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement, which was subsequently amended and restated on August 12, 2022 (the "Purchase Agreement"), with VG Master Fund SPC ("VG"). Subject to specified terms and conditions, the Company may, from time to time during the term of the Purchase Agreement, sell to VG up to the lesser of (a) $6.0 million of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and (b) the maximum amount of securities the Company is permitted to issue under its existing shelf registration statement, which was declared effective by the SEC on July 21, 2020. In consideration for VG's entry into the Purchase Agreement, the Company issued 53,334 shares of common stock to VG on or about August 17, 2022.
Follow on offering
On August 24, 2022, the Company's shelf registration statement for up to $300,000,000 in securities was declared effective by the SEC. Under this shelf registration statement, we may offer and sell from time to time up to an aggregate of $300,000,000 of common shares (issued separately or upon exercise of warrants), warrants, debt securities, and units of the Company's securities.
Notice
Rounding amounts and percentages: Certain amounts and percentages included in this press release have been rounded for ease of presentation. Percentage figures included in this press release have not in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures, but on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, certain percentage amounts in this press release may vary from those obtained by performing the same calculations using the figures in the financial statements. In addition, certain other amounts that appear in this press release may not sum due to rounding.
About MMTEC, Inc.
Headquartered in Beijing, China, we mainly focus on investment banking and asset management, providing customers with one-stop and all-round financial services. In addition to traditional incubation and investment in domestic and foreign companies listed in the United States, we also launched the HiFund platform to attract global institutional and individual investors to invest in the most competitive Chinese assets.
More information about the Company can be found at: www.haisc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as "may", "will", "intend", "should", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "project", "estimate" or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Specifically, the Company's statements regarding its continued growth, business outlook, and other similar statements are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development; product and service demand and acceptance; changes in technology; economic conditions; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 20-F and its subsequent filings. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
jessie@xgujia.com
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| 2022-09-09T23:39:12Z
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Public Service Company of New Mexico, a subsidiary of PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM), declared the regular quarterly dividend of $1.145 per share on the 4.58 percent series of cumulative preferred stock. The preferred stock dividend is payable October 15, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business September 30, 2022.
PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM) is an energy holding company based in Albuquerque, N.M., with 2021 consolidated operating revenues of $1.8 billion. Through its regulated utilities, PNM and TNMP, PNM Resources provides electricity to approximately 800,000 homes and businesses in New Mexico and Texas. PNM serves its customers with a diverse mix of generation and purchased power resources totaling 3.1 gigawatts of capacity, with a goal to achieve 100% emissions-free energy by 2040. For more information, visit the company's website at www.PNMResources.com.
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| 2022-09-09T23:39:19Z
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NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Co-Diagnostics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CODX) between May 12, 2022 and August 11, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important October 17, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Co-Diagnostics securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Co-Diagnostics class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8137 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than October 17, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) there was significant falloff in demand of Co-Diagnostics' Logix Smart™ COVID-19 Test as demand for the tests plummeted throughout the quarter ended June 30, 2022; and (2) as a result, defendants' positive statements about the demand for its Logix Smart™ COVID-19 Test lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Co-Diagnostics class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8137 mailto:or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
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pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
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| 2022-09-09T23:39:26Z
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NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Carvana Co. (NYSE: CVNA) between May 6, 2020 and June 24, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important October 3, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action commenced by the firm.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Carvana securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Carvana class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=6457 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than October 3, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Carvana faced serious, ongoing issues with documentation, registration, and title with many of its vehicles; (2) as a result, Carvana was issuing unusually frequent temporary plates; (3) as a result of the foregoing, Carvana was violating laws and regulations in many existing markets; (4) as a result of the foregoing, Carvana risked its ability to continue business and/or expand its business in existing markets; (5) as a result of the foregoing, Carvana was at an increased risk of governmental investigation and action; (6) Carvana was in discussion with state and local authorities regarding the above-stated business tactics and issues; (7) Carvana was facing imminent and ongoing regulatory actions including license suspensions, business cessation, and probation in several states and counties including in Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and North Carolina; and (8) as a result, defendants' statements about Carvana's business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Carvana class action, go https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=6457 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
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| 2022-09-09T23:39:32Z
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NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of 17 Education & Technology Group Inc. (NASDAQ: YQ) pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with 17EdTech's December 2020 initial public offering (the "IPO"), of the important September 19, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline, in the securities class action commenced by the Firm.
SO WHAT: If you purchased 17EdTech securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the 17EdTech class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=7395 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 19, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the IPO Registration Statement featured false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Defendant 17EdTech's K-12 Academic AST Services would end less than a year after the IPO; (2) as part of its ongoing regulatory efforts, Chinese authorities would imminently curtail and/or end 17EdTech's core business; and (3) as a result, Defendants' statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the 17EdTech class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=7395 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/yq-final-deadline-alert-rosen-trusted-leading-law-firm-encourages-17-education-amp-technology-group-inc-investors-secure-counsel-before-important-september-19-deadline-securities-class-action-filed-by-firm-yq/
| 2022-09-09T23:39:39Z
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Natrona County School District now requires an ID from school visitors before entry to school premises. Tanya Southerland, the public relations director of the district, said the new ID requirement is nothing out of the ordinary, but it is part of a routine comprehensive School Safety Plan meant to protect students and staff.
“The raptor system and the requirement for IDs is new for this upcoming year to the Natrona County School District,” said Southerland. “But it is a component of a comprehensive safety plan that addresses multiple safety areas within the Natrona County School District. So it’s an addition to a plan that has already been in place for many years now.”
Further explaining the new development, Christopher Dresang, district director of student support services, explained that this is not a knee-jerk response to the national debate over school safety.
“We all know what’s going on at the national level and the tragedy that befalls different schools. This is merely an update. Our policy before was all pens and paper, well this is bringing us into the 21st century and a more digital approach to ensure safety”, Dresang said.
Dresang said the new visitor management system, in addition to being a seamless sign-in sheet, will also be used for emergency responses, like safe evacuation and reunification of kids with their families.
Schools in Natrona County will now join other districts in the state where IDs are already required before entry.
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https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/education/2022-09-09/natrona-county-schools-update-visitor-management-sys-will-require-id-for-entry
| 2022-09-10T00:02:29Z
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Campbell County Health (CCH) and Sheridan Memorial Hospital announced a new partnership that will provide emergency medical services (EMS) to Sheridan County. The Sheridan City Council and Sheridan County Commissioners offered the EMS services bid to CCH after a competitive bid process.
The new partnership will form Wyoming Regional EMS, an LLC that subcontracts with CCH for ambulance services and which will be managed through CCH. It will be jointly funded by the two entities and will officially begin service Nov. 19.
Sheridan Memorial Hospital previously contracted out to another ambulance service provider for service in Sheridan County, and though that provider put forth a bid, Sheridan city and county officials declined to renew their service contract with them. CCH and Sheridan Memorial Hospital entities have been cooperating on intercity transfers since late April when Sheridan Memorial Hospital officials requested additional assistance in transporting patients to other hospitals. Intercity transfers occur when a patient is transferred from one hospital to another that provides a higher level of care.
“As healthcare in general is going through a lot of change in the way we do business, health care entities, whether it’s EMS or hospitals or even doctor’s offices, are really having to look at new ways of providing services to patients, and specifically with EMS,” said Chris Beltz, Director of Urgent and Emergency Services for CCH. “One thing that we're seeing sort of organically happening across the state is that all of the EMS agencies that have traditionally existed, all of us at times are struggling with recruiting staff, retaining staff, being financially sustainable, whether that's through increased operational cost and or struggling to maintain [and] handle increased revenue.”
The new service obligations will require hiring 36 additional staff, 24 of which will be full-time. This is in addition to the 60 or so existing staff CCH already for ambulance and emergency medical care. Sheridan Memorial Hospital had already budgeted around $276,000 for the service, which CCH will be paid in the form of a subsidy for the first year of operation. The overall cost is slated to be approximately $3 million per year to operate, Beltz said.
“Our goal definitely is to have a long-term relationship with the Sheridan area as their EMS provider, [and] we would prefer longer terms to those contracts,” he added. “As we work through that negotiation process, we certainly may ask for longer terms.”
After the first year, the contract between the two entities could be extended for an additional two years. It comes at a time when there are regular intercity transfers being conducted. Transfers may also be transported to other hospitals if need be, such as to Billings, Mont.
“Last month we did the record amount of our inter facility transfers, which was 57, we and the majority of those were out of the Sheridan area, which was around, I believe 40,” said Shawna Cochran, EMS Manager for CCH. “We've done upwards [of] around 300, with any year, so that's kind of where we’re on track this year to probably do more than that, while we've expanded into the Sheridan area.”
In addition to soon providing EMS services to Sheridan County, CCH also operates ambulance services that cover Newcastle and Weston County.
Weston County was previously served by a private ambulance service provider whose owner retired. CCH purchased the assets of the business and provided services based on that. Altogether CCH will soon be tasked with providing EMS services to three counties encompassing around 10,000 square miles, Cochran said.
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https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/health/2022-09-09/campbell-county-health-will-take-on-ambulance-services-in-sheridan-county
| 2022-09-10T00:02:35Z
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CASPER – Wyoming could develop two new Amber Alert-type systems designed to help locate missing people quickly.
A legislative committee has requested staff draft a bill that would create the new alerts, and there appears to be substantial initial support.
Sen. Affie Ellis, R-Cheyenne, is co-chair of the Wyoming Legislature’s Select Committee on Tribal Affairs. During a meeting last week, she asked for a bill draft on Ashanti and Silver alerts.
But it’s possible that state statute already allows law enforcement to launch such alert systems without legislative action.
The Ashanti Alert focuses on people over 17 years old, missing adults with “special needs or circumstances” and missing adults “who are endangered or have been involuntarily abducted or kidnapped.”
Meanwhile, the Silver Alert focuses on missing seniors – including those with mental disabilities such as dementia.
Wyoming is one of the few states that doesn’t have a formal Silver Alert. There appears to be support from various stakeholders for the initiative and an agreement that it would not be arduous to implement.
Jordan Dresser, Northern Arapaho chairman, said that the Ashanti Alert is something he’s “very interested in.”
Erick Blackburn, chief of police for the Wind River Reservation Bureau of Indian Affairs, also said that he thinks Wyoming should use it.
If Wyoming implements the Ashanti Alert, the state would be one of the first to do so.
“I do believe it would be a fairly easy lift, with little to no revenue impact, because we already have the system,” said Cara Chambers, director of the Wyoming Division of Victim Services. “It would just be adding more people to the criteria.”
When Virginia lawmakers were discussing implementing a similar system there, however, state police were concerned that “the public could become desensitized to alerts if they are too frequent.”
The Ashanti Alert Act was passed in 2018. It authorized the U.S. attorney general to establish a nationwide communications framework to enable regional and local search efforts for missing people who fall outside of the scope of the Amber and Silver alerts.
The Ashanti Alert would apply to adults “who kind of just fall through this gap, where the family believes something has happened that this person didn’t just leave of their own volition,” Chambers said.
While the Ashanti Alert is for Indigenous and non-Indigenous adults, the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people, as well as sexual assault suffered by Native Americans, came up during the meeting.
Jessica Swallow, a Native American woman who lives on the reservation, delivered tearful public testimony about sexual predators that go unpunished on the reservation.
“I’d like to ask you, now that you have some more staffing, if you could take a look into the sexual assaults that go on on our reservation,” she said to Blackburn. “We have predators that walk our reservation, and it’s scary. It’s really scary.”
Blackburn, who sat next to Swallow before the committee, responded.
“As far as sexual assaults, it is out of control here. The problem we run into is victims not wanting to be victims,” Blackburn said. “They don’t want to cooperate, they don’t remember what happened ... our biggest road bump or hurdle is getting victims to cooperate.”
Dresser provided a bit of an explanation for why some victims may not cooperate.
“I think [victims] see that nothing happens to those individuals. That it kind of goes nowhere,” he said.
Chambers said that a “more substantive update” from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Task Force will come at the committee’s October meeting.
Through tears, Swallow pushed back against Blackburn’s testimony.
“One of my friends said something, and she was getting death threats. She had to buy a gun and move out of the county,” she said. “I know she was cooperative, and she was trying to get help, and she just couldn’t get the help. The only help was to go arm herself.”
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/from_the_wire/state-s-alert-system-could-grow/article_957b33f8-308f-11ed-8669-83964119f468.html
| 2022-09-10T00:15:31Z
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Monday
Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee, 8 a.m., Room 225 of the Walter H. Nolte Gateway Center, Casper College, 125 College Drive, Casper. Livestream available on the Legislature’s website at www.wyoleg.gov.
Wyoming State Board of Nursing, 8 a.m., via Google Meet. Meeting video link available at https://wsbn.wyo.gov/board/board-meetings.
Wyoming Legislature's Joint Judiciary Committee, 8:30 a.m., Room 3024, Round House Conference Room of Thyra Thompson State Office Building, 444 W. Collins Drive, Casper. Livestream available on the Legislature’s website at www.wyoleg.gov.
Wyoming Real Estate Commission, 1:30 p.m., Holiday Inn Cody at Buffalo Bill Village, 1701 Sheridan Ave., Cody, and online. Dial-in number is 929-299-3687, and the PIN is 837 472 245#. Or join at https://meet.google.com/bzn-oxif-rpo.
Cheyenne City Council, 6 p.m., Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 2101 O’Neil Ave., and online via Zoom. For online access information, visit www.cheyennecity.org/ecm.
Laramie County Fair Board, 6 p.m., Commissioners’ Board Room, Historic Courthouse, 310 W. 19th St. Visit https://laramiecounty.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx to attend the meeting virtually and comment online.
Laramie County School District 2 Board of Trustees, 7 p.m., Pine Bluffs Junior-Senior High School, 502 Maple St., Pine Bluffs.
Tuesday
Wyoming Legislature's Joint Judiciary Committee, 8:30 a.m., Room 3024, Round House Conference Room of Thyra Thompson State Office Building, 444 W. Collins Drive, Casper. Livestream available on the Legislature’s website at www.wyoleg.gov.
Wyoming Environmental Quality Council, 9 a.m., Turntable Room of the Thyra Thomson State Building, Turntable Room, 444 W. Collins Drive, Casper. Contact Joe Girardin at 307-777-7170 or joe.girardin@wyo.gov for information or assistance to gain access to the Zoom meeting.
Wednesday
Wyoming Legislature's Joint Revenue Committee, 8:30 a.m., Room 3024, Round House Conference Room of Thyra Thompson State Office Building, 444 W. Collins Drive, Casper. Livestream available on the Legislature’s website at www.wyoleg.gov.
Wyoming Environmental Quality Council, 9 a.m., Turntable Room of the Thyra Thomson State Building, Turntable Room, 444 W. Collins Drive, Casper. Contact Joe Girardin at 307-777-7170 or joe.girardin@wyo.gov for information or assistance to gain access to the Zoom meeting.
State Building Commission, 8:30 a.m., via Google Meet. Meeting video link available at https://meet.google.com/ghs-jxie-wbx?authuser=0&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery, or access by phone by calling 413-349-8913 and entering the PIN, 12 450 496#.
Thursday
Wyoming Legislature's Joint Revenue Committee, 8:30 a.m., Room 3024, Round House Conference Room of Thyra Thompson State Office Building, 444 W. Collins Drive, Casper. Livestream available on the Legislature’s website at www.wyoleg.gov.
Cheyenne Regional Airport Board, 3 p.m., Airport Terminal Conference Room, 4020 Airport Parkway.
Cheyenne Board of Adjustment, 6 p.m., Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 2101 O’Neil Ave., and online via Zoom. For online access information, visit www.cheyennecity.org/ecm.
Friday
Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce, 8 a.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 1150 North Poplar Street, Casper. Livestream available on the Legislature’s website at www.wyoleg.gov.
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https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/government_meetings_listing/government-meetings-9-12-2022/article_2c8b3f5e-307c-11ed-aeb9-6b8dff9d84ce.html
| 2022-09-10T00:15:37Z
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1.5-pound newborn safely surrendered under Daniel’s Law
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – A 1-day-old baby was safely surrendered in South Carolina Sunday under Daniel’s Law, according to the Department of Social Services.
Officials said the baby was accepted at Prisma Health Memorial Hospital where DSS took custody of the child.
According to DSS, the baby was born Sept. 3 and only weighed 1 pound, 12.5 ounces. He is currently receiving medical care.
A permanency planning hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 11, at 10:30 a.m. at Greenville County Family Court.
Officials said this is the fifth baby surrendered in South Carolina under Daniel’s Law this year.
They also reiterated that Daniel’s Law provides a safe and legal option for people to surrender babies up to 60 days old. Anyone interested in learning more about the Safe Haven Act, also known as Daniel’s Law, can visit DSS’ website.
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/15-pound-newborn-safely-surrendered-under-daniels-law/
| 2022-09-10T00:39:51Z
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Sheriff: 3 children among victims shot to death in Maryland
ELKTON, Md. (AP) — Two adults and three children were found shot to death Friday at a Maryland house after a man called 911 from the home to report a shooting, authorities said.
Cecil County Sheriff Scott Adams said a man, a woman and three children — in the 5th, 7th and 8th grade — were found Friday morning in a large two-story home in Elk Mills. Authorities did not immediately release the identities of the victims, but said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
The shooting occurred on a cul-de-sac in an area of residential streets interspersed with wooded areas about 60 miles (97 kilometers) northeast of Baltimore and a few miles west of the Delaware state line.
“It’s a horrific day, and I know everybody’s prayers are appreciated. ... My phone hasn’t stopped ringing from people concerned about this and upset about this,” Adams said.
“It’s grief is what it is at this point,” Adams said. “Anytime you have a loss to these levels. Any loss is terrible, but a loss to this level, which is not a common thing — it’s certainly not a common thing here in Cecil County — it’s tragic and terrible and it takes a long time for people to process.”
Deputies were called to the home just after 9 a.m. by a man who said three children and a woman had been shot and killed, Holmes said. Deputies made entry to the home and also found a man dead. A semi-automatic handgun was located near the dead man.
The sheriff declined to say what the motive might have been. He said that his office has no records of deputies responding to calls at the house.
The bodies were in different locations in the house. Video from the scene showed the home with cream siding and red shutters and a detached garage surrounded by police tape. Numerous law enforcement vehicles were at the scene.
A neighbor, Tom Driscoll, who can see the residence where the shooting happened from his home, said that a couple with three children had lived there for at least five years. He said the parents kept to themselves, but the children once brought cookies at Christmas and would sometimes bring his dogs back to him if they wandered.
He said the children were homeschooled, a detail that the sheriff had earlier confirmed. Driscoll said he would see the two girls and a boy playing on a swing set in their yard or on a trampoline.
“I don’t know why anyone would want to hurt those children. I really don’t, Driscoll said. “Things must have been really bad somehow.”
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/5-killed-shooting-maryland-officials-say/
| 2022-09-10T00:39:58Z
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Beckley VAMC plans community walk for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and the Beckley VA Medical Center is bringing awareness to one of the most affected demographics.
Veterans.
Here’s a troubling statistic: 22 veterans die by suicide a day.
The medical center has teamed up with Active Southern West Virginia to host a community walk to share resources and ways to help struggling veterans.
“Suicide prevention is a community effort so the more that people, in general, know about veterans’ suicide and maybe how they can help a veteran who might be in crisis if they ever find themself in that situation,” said Sara Yoke, Public Affairs Officer for the Beckley VAMC. “It’s just really key...”
So mark your calendars! The walk is set for Wednesday, September 28, at 2 p.m. Walkers will be meeting at the Welcome Center pavilion at Little Beaver State Park.
The walk is roughly one-and-a-half miles.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/beckley-vamc-plans-community-walk-suicide-prevention-awareness-month/
| 2022-09-10T00:40:05Z
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Beckley Youth Museum unveils newest exhibit
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - The Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia unveiled its newest exhibit on Friday.
“Toys: The Inside Story” focuses on the inner workings of a child’s favorite toys. The exhibit, which is geared toward children ages six to 12 and focuses on critical thinking and problem solving, is currently on loan from the Ithaca Science Center in New York.
“It’s about toys, and kids are just naturally attracted to toys, but they don’t always understand all the mechanics that go into make them function,” said Leslie Baker, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Beckley. “So in this exhibit, they can see their favorite toys taken apart...what makes them work, and it’s really an eye-opening experience for them, as well as their caregivers.”
The exhibit will be up until the end of the year. Tickets are $5.
The Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia is open from 10 a.m . to 5 p.m. seven days a week until its winter hours take over Nov. 1.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/beckley-youth-museum-unveils-newest-exhibit/
| 2022-09-10T00:40:11Z
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From Eisenhower to Biden, queen met every US president but 1
WASHINGTON (AP) — Horseback riding with Ronald Reagan. Yachting with Bill Clinton. Sipping tea with Joe Biden.
Queen Elizabeth II, who died Thursday at age 96, had met every American president since Dwight Eisenhower, with the exception of Lyndon Johnson, who did not visit Britain during his presidency. Biden was the 13th and final U.S. president to meet the woman whose reign spanned seven decades.
Every living former U.S. president — Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump — joined Biden in mourning her passing and sending condolences to her family.
Biden and first lady Jill Biden said the queen’s “legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world.”
Obama and his wife, Michelle, recalled the queen welcoming them, America’s first Black president and first lady, to the world stage “with open arms and extraordinary generosity.”
Biden first met the queen in 1982 as a U.S. senator traveling in the U.K. with a delegation from Congress. He last saw her in 2021, several months after he became president, while attending a world leaders’ summit in southwestern England.
She mingled with Group of Seven leaders at a reception that she and other royals hosted at an indoor rainforest. After the summit, the Bidens traveled to Windsor Castle, near London, at the queen’s invitation for a private audience.
The queen was a 25-year-old princess when she came to Washington in 1951 and stayed with President Harry Truman and his family. She met Herbert Hoover in 1957, more than 20 years after he left office.
Here are highlights of some of her meetings, on both sides of the pond, with past American presidents:
JOE BIDEN
Biden and his trademark aviator sunglasses met the queen at Windsor Castle on a sweltering afternoon in June 2021.
Biden emerged from a black car wearing his shades, stepped onto a covered dais where the queen waited, and, with his wife, posed with the queen as the two countries’ national anthems played.
After walking around the courtyard to inspect the honor guard, he entered the castle for tea.
Back at the airport, Biden told journalists that the queen was “very gracious” and had asked him about the leaders of China and Russia.
While it’s generally frowned upon to discuss one’s private talks with the queen, Biden continued.
“I don’t think she’ll be insulted, but she reminded me of my mother,” he said.
Biden said he also had invited the queen to visit the White House.
DONALD TRUMP
Trump and the queen met in July 2018 at Windsor Castle during a visit to Britain that drew large anti-Trump protests to downtown London, including the hoisting of a balloon depicting Trump in a diaper.
He was criticized for breaking protocol by briefly walking in front of the queen — instead of alongside her — and turning his back on her as they reviewed an honor guard.
Trump later said he thought of his late mother, Mary Anne, who was born in Scotland and who loved the royal family, when he and his wife, Melania, sipped tea with the queen.
Trump’s subsequent comment that the queen told him that Brexit — Britain’s break from the European Union — was complex also created a stir. Most heads of state don’t reveal their private conversations with the queen. She also doesn’t discuss political matters.
The Trumps and the royals met again during the D-Day commemoration in 2019.
BARACK OBAMA
Obama and the queen had their first of three meetings in April 2009 at a reception for world leaders attending the Group of 20 nations summit in London.
It was there that first lady Michelle Obama broke protocol by briefly putting an arm around the queen’s back as they commiserated about their achy feet. It’s generally a no-no to touch the queen, but she returned Mrs. Obama’s gesture.
The queen invited the Obamas for a state visit in 2011 that included a two-night stay at Buckingham Palace and a lavish banquet in the president’s honor.
As Obama delivered a toast to the queen, he didn’t miss a beat when the band assumed that a pause in his remarks meant he had concluded and launched into a rendition of “God Save the Queen.” Obama kept talking over the music until the band quieted down.
The couples saw each other again in 2016 when Obama visited the queen at Windsor Castle a day after her 90th birthday during another swing through Europe.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Bush detested stuffy, formal affairs, but he donned a white tie-and-tails tuxedo after the queen pulled out all the stops for a state dinner in his honor at Buckingham Palace in November 2003.
A few years later, Bush’s slip of the tongue generated ripples of laughter at a White House welcoming ceremony for the queen, who was touring the U.S. in May 2007.
Stumbling on a line in his speech, Bush said the queen had dined with several of his predecessors and had helped the United States “celebrate its bicentennial in 17- ...” Bush caught himself and corrected the date to 1976, and paused to see if she had taken offense.
“She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child,” Bush said with a smile.
The queen later turned the tables on Bush with her toast at a dinner she hosted for the president at the British Embassy in Washington.
“I wondered whether I should start this toast by saying, ‘When I was here in 1776,’” she said to laughter.
BILL CLINTON
The queen hosted Clinton and his wife, Hillary, aboard her royal yacht, Britannia, in June 1994.
The ship, 412 feet (125 meters) long and 55 feet (17 meters) wide, was docked at the Portsmouth Naval Base and was home base for the Clintons as they attended the queen’s dinner at Guildhall for leaders of Allied nations whose troops participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy 50 years earlier.
The Clintons spent one night aboard the boat. The next day, the Britannia ferried Clinton to the USS George Washington aircraft carrier as it prepared to sail across the English Channel, from Portsmouth to Normandy, for D-Day anniversary celebrations.
GEORGE H.W. BUSH
One of the more memorable images from the monarch’s third state visit to the U.S. came in 1991 when only her white-striped purple hat could be seen above the microphones when she spoke at an arrival ceremony on the White House grounds.
Someone forgot to adjust the lectern after the much taller Bush spoke.
The queen stayed strong and carried on, later making light of the incident as she opened an address to a joint meeting of Congress.
“I do hope you can see me today from where you are,” she deadpanned. Bush later apologized and said he felt badly for not pulling out a step for her to stand on.
RONALD REAGAN
Reagan and the queen bonded over a mutual love of horseback riding.
They rode side by side on an 8-mile (13-kilometers), hourlong tour on the grounds of Windsor Castle when Reagan visited her there in June 1982. Reagan was the first president to sleep over at the British royal family’s historic home, an 11th-century estate overlook the River Thames.
While in the U.S. in 1983, the monarch and Philip stayed with the president and first lady Nancy Reagan at their ranch in Santa Barbara, California. She wanted to ride horses again, but a rainstorm wouldn’t allow it. The Reagans served a lunch of regional staples, including enchiladas, chiles rellenos, refried beans, tacos, rice and guacamole.
They also hosted a state dinner for the queen in San Francisco at the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum.
JIMMY CARTER
The queen hosted Carter in May 1977 on his first overseas trip at a dinner for NATO leaders at Buckingham Palace. At one point, as Carter stood with the queen and other guests, he noticed the arrival of the queen mother.
Ever the Southern gentleman, Carter broke away, took her by the hand and escorted her to the assembled line of guests.
The no-frills Georgia peanut farmer-turned-president ate chicken mousse off a gold plate and seemed excited by his dinner seating between the queen and her sister, Princess Margaret, and across from her son, Prince Charles, Prince Philip and the queen mother.
GERALD FORD
Ford threw a gala state dinner for the Brits in 1976 to mark the bicentennial of the American Revolution. The queen was resplendent in a diamond-studded tiara that sparkled for a crowd that included diplomats, star athletes and celebrities such as Cary Grant and Julie Harris.
The mood evaporated when Ford led the queen to the dance floor while the song “The Lady Is a Tramp” echoed throughout the State Dining Room.
___
Associated Press writers Danica Kirka in London and Nancy Benac in Washington and AP news researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/biden-is-13th-final-us-president-meet-queen-elizabeth/
| 2022-09-10T00:40:17Z
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Politics in air as Biden visits future Intel plant in Ohio
NEW ALBANY, Ohio (AP) — President Joe Biden steered clear of partisan politics at Friday’s groundbreaking celebration for a huge new computer chip facility in Ohio — as a tough Senate contest in that state and a Democratic candidate seeking to distance himself from Biden reflected the challenge of translating White House policy wins into political gains.
Biden, a major force behind the legislation that helped lure Intel, went to suburban Columbus to take a victory lap just as voters in the state are starting to tune in to the Senate race between Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan and Republican author and venture capital executive JD Vance. They’re competing in a former swing state that has trended Republican over the past decade.
Ryan attended the event but raised questions in interviews about whether he thinks Biden should pursue re-election in 2024. Vance did not attend.
The president, in his speech, thanked Ryan for his leadership without mentioning his Senate candidacy, choosing instead to emphasize that the Intel plant serves as a model for a U.S. economy that revolves around technology, factories and the middle class.
“Folks, we need to make these chips right here in America to bring down everyday costs and create good jobs,” Biden said. “Industry leaders are choosing us, the United States, because they see America’s back and America’s leading the way.
Touring the construction site, the president chatted with unionized workers in hard hats and noted his own blue collar credentials, saying, “These are my people, where I come from.”
Intel had delayed groundbreaking on the $20 billion plant until Congress passed the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act. The plant speaks to how the president is trying to revive American manufacturing nationwide, including in states that are solidly Republican or political toss-ups. Investments for manufacturing facilities in Idaho, Arizona and North Carolina have also been announced in recent weeks.
Factory work is one of the few issues going into November’s midterm elections that has crossover appeal at a time when issues such as abortion, inflation and even the nature of democracy have dominated the contest to control Congress. Biden shared the stage on Friday with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Sen. Rob Portman, two Republicans who stressed in their remarks the value the plant holds in a state with a working class identity.
Ryan, the Democrat vying to succeed Portman, did not take to the lectern even though he championed the computer chip plant. He had largely been hesitant to share a stage with Biden, as appearing with the country’s top Democrat could hurt his chances in a state that backed Republican Donald Trump by eight points in both 2016 and 2020.
Ryan skipped the president’s July 6 visit to Cleveland where Biden plugged his administration’s efforts to shore up troubled pension programs for blue-collar workers. Biden nonetheless referred to him as the “future Senator Tim Ryan” and thanked him for his “incredible work” on the legislation.
In a Thursday TV interview with Youngstown’s WFMJ on the eve of Biden’s visit, Ryan said he was “campaigning as an independent.” When asked if Biden should seek a second term, he said, “My hunch is that we need new leadership across the board, Democrats, Republicans, I think it’s time for like a generational move.”
Ryan, pressed Friday by reporters about his comments in the TV interview, said that Biden himself has said he “was going to be a bridge to the next generation, which is basically what I was saying.” Pressed if Biden should run in 2024, Ryan offered a noncommittal, “That’s up to him.”
The open Senate seat in Ohio is one of several hotly contested races that could determine whether Democrats can hold their slim majority in the chamber for the second half of Biden’s term.
Several Democrats in competitive races have at moments sought to maintain some distance from the president, whose public approval ratings have ticked up in recent weeks but remain underwater. Biden has tried to balance his bipartisan cheerleading with warnings that extremist Republican lawmakers who refuse to accept the results of the 2020 election are a threat to democracy.
Vance, the Republican Senate candidate in Ohio, hailed the Intel plant in a statement at as “a great bipartisan victory” for the state. He specifically applauded the “hard work” of GOP lawmakers including DeWine and Portman, but Vance pointedly made no mention of Biden.
The shortage of semiconductors has slashed into production of autos, household appliances and other goods. That has fueled high inflation, while creating national security risks as the U.S. has recognized it is overly dependent on Asia for chip production.
The mix of high prices and long waits for basic goods has left many Americans feeling disgruntled about Biden’s economic leadership, a political weakness that has lessened somewhat as gasoline prices have fallen and many voters have grown concerned about the loss of abortion protections after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
The new law that convinced Intel to build the facility would provide $28 billion in incentives for semiconductor production, $10 billion for new manufacturing of chips and $11 billion for research and development. That cash infusion means voters will be weighing the changes coming to the Ohio city of New Albany, where the Intel plant is being constructed, as well as nearby Johnstown.
Don Harvey, a sporting goods store owner and longtime Johnstown resident, likes the idea of a company making things again in the United States, and also providing potentially high-paying jobs for his five grandchildren down the road. Intel has said pay will average $135,000 for its 3,000 Ohio workers.
“What an opportunity in my eyes for Ohio and the United States as a whole,” said the 63-year-old Harvey.
Elyse Priest lives in a subdivision just up the road from the plant, and received a firsthand taste of the construction recently as she watched a huge cloud of dust roll up from the 1,000-acre site currently being leveled. Priest, 38, also knows the road widening and added traffic will affect her commute to downtown Columbus where she works as a legal assistant.
“I’m concerned about losing the small town feel I’ve always had and loved about Johnstown,” Priest said. “But I know it’s going to be a greater good for the whole state.”
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Welsh-Huggins reported from Columbus, Boak from Baltimore.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/biden-tell-ohioans-his-policies-will-revive-manufacturing/
| 2022-09-10T00:40:25Z
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Board puts abortion rights question on Michigan fall ballot
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A question on Michigan’s November ballot asking voters to put the right to an abortion in the state constitution could have a powerful effect: drawing more left-leaning voters to the polls and boosting Democrats’ power in the battleground state.
A record number of people — over 750,000 — signed petitions to put the measure on the Nov. 8 ballot after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark decision guaranteeing the right to an abortion. Supporters said the decision to do away with Roe v. Wade was a powerful motivation, particularly for women, to get involved in politics — some for the first time.
Now, with a Michigan election board agreeing Friday to place the measure on the ballot, Democrats are hoping that translates into increased support for their candidates in an election in which the party is defending all statewide offices, including governor. Democrats also are looking to take control of at least one chamber of the Republican-led Legislature in a battleground state that is expected to be pivotal in the 2024 presidential election.
“When we collected signatures for the ballot initiative, we met women who had never voted or signed a ballot initiative petition before but were getting involved because the stakes for women and families are so high,” said Kelly Dillaha, Michigan program director for Red, Wine and Blue, a group that helped put the initiative on the ballot. Those same women, Dillaha said, are now mobilizing their friends, families and communities to vote in November.
A poll taken shortly after the Supreme Court decision found 53% of U.S. adults saying they disapprove of the court overturning Roe v. Wade, while 30% said they approve. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that 60% think Congress should pass a law guaranteeing access to legal abortion nationwide.
Democrats have seen reason for optimism in other elections held since the Supreme Court’s ruling. In conservative Kansas, for example, voters overwhelmingly defeated an abortion measure that would have allowed the Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten restrictions or ban the procedure outright.
“I think we saw in Kansas that the ballot measure certainly increased turnout and changed the turnout equation significantly to make it more favorable to folks who favor abortion rights,” said Jessica Post, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. “And so these Republican candidates have finally kind of gotten what they wanted and what they’ve been working for forever, and they’re ready to face a giant electoral backlash.”
Opponents of abortion say the Michigan initiative goes too far and may affect other laws, such as requiring parental consent for a minor’s abortion, though proponents dispute that. The amendment would affirm the right to make pregnancy-related decisions without interference, including abortion and other reproductive services such as birth control. It would essentially nullify a dormant 1931 state law that makes it a crime to perform most abortions, a ban that was suspended by a judge last spring. A judge declared the ban unconstitutional this week, but abortion opponents could appeal that decision.
Abortion foes also contend the calculation in Michigan is different than it was in Kansas. In Kansas, abortion opponents needed a “yes” vote — which is harder to get than a “no” when asking to amend the constitution, said Fred Wszolek, a GOP consultant working to oppose the measure. In Michigan, abortion foes will need a “no” vote.
“I just have to create a little bit of doubt in people’s minds and they’ll generally vote no, whereas you have to sell people pretty hard on a yes vote when you’re trying to amend a constitution,” Wszolek said.
Michigan is among four states, along with California, Kentucky and Vermont, that will have votes in November on abortion access. A fifth, Montana, is voting on a measure that would require abortion providers to give lifesaving treatment to a fetus that is born alive after a botched abortion.
But of those states, Michigan stands alone in national importance when it comes to picking a president. It is the only swing state of the four, and the officials elected during the November midterm would be in office during the 2024 contest.
The Michigan abortion initiative made the ballot after a bit of partisan drama over the quality of the petitions. Although supporters easily cleared the minimum threshold for signatures, Republicans and abortion opponents argued the petitions had improper or no spacing between certain words and were confusing to voters.
A state elections board subsequently deadlocked along party lines on whether the abortion initiative should appear on the ballot, with Republicans voting no and Democrats voting yes. The 2-2 tie meant the measure wasn’t certified for the ballot.
On Thursday, however, the Michigan Supreme Court ordered the Board of State Canvassers to put the initiative on the Nov. 8 ballot, and the board did just that on Friday.
To be sure, Democrats face some headwinds this election cycle. Historically, the party in power in the White House fares poorly in the president’s first midterm election, and the GOP has criticized President Joe Biden, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other Democrats for their handling of crime and the economy.
GOP strategist John Sellek said the Republican Party will find success in November if the election is about issues such as inflation and children doing poorly in school after the pandemic, rather than abortion. He suggested GOP candidates try to separate the abortion ballot initiative from choosing a candidate for office who has sway over far more issues.
“What (Republicans are) counting on is that the issue of abortion has reached its peak,” Sellek said. “They’re going to attack this initiative as a Trojan horse and try to peel off those people who aren’t comfortable with second-term abortions or eliminating parental consent.”
Democrats already are focusing on abortion rights in the race between Whitmer and her Republican rival, Tudor Dixon, who opposes abortion in all circumstances except to protect the life of the mother. The Democratic Governors Association has repeatedly hit Dixon in advertising, calling her position “too radical” for Michigan.
Dixon appears to be trying to swing the debate elsewhere. In a tweet Thursday following the Michigan Supreme Court decision, she said voters “can vote for Gretchen Whitmer’s abortion agenda & still vote against her.” She then turned to other issues, including crime.
“Gretchen, time to stop hiding behind your BS ads,” Dixon said. “I’m here to clean up your mess, turn our schools around, stop your crime wave, fix the roads, & bring back the jobs you cost us.”
Democratic-aligned groups, meanwhile, are buoyant that the measure will be on the ballot and plan to be out out in full force to get out the vote. A group that led the petition effort, Reproductive Freedom for All, said supporters are out organizing statewide. Actions are planned Saturday, including in the Democratic strongholds of Detroit and Ann Arbor.
“We are energized and motivated now more than ever,” RFFA communications director Darci McConnell said.
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Burnett reported from Chicago. Associated Press writer Ed White contributed to this report from Detroit.
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Joey Cappelletti is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
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Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ap_politics.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/board-puts-abortion-rights-question-michigan-fall-ballot/
| 2022-09-10T00:40:31Z
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Britain mourns Queen Elizabeth: King Charles III, in first address, vows ‘lifelong service’
LONDON (AP) — King Charles III vowed in his first speech as monarch Friday to carry on Queen Elizabeth II’s “lifelong service” with his own modernizing stamp, as Britain entered an uncertain new age under a new sovereign. Around the world, the queen’s exceptional reign was commemorated, celebrated and debated.
Charles, who spent much of his 73 years preparing for the role of king, addressed a nation grieving the only British monarch most people alive today had ever known. He takes the throne in an era of unease for both his country and the monarchy itself.
He spoke of his “profound sorrow” over the death of his mother, calling her “an inspiration and example to me and to all my family.”
“That promise of lifelong service I renew to all today,” he said in the 9 1/2-minute address, recorded earlier in the day and delivered with a framed photo of the queen on a desk in front of him.
“As the queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I, too, now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation,” he said.
The king’s speech was broadcast on television and streamed at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where some 2,000 people attended a service of remembrance for the queen. They included Prime Minister Liz Truss and officials in her government, along with hundreds of members of the public who lined up for tickets.
As the country began a 10-day mourning period, people around the globe gathered at British embassies to pay homage to the queen, who died Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland after an unprecedented 70 years on the throne.
In London and at military sites across the United Kingdom, cannons fired 96 shots in an elaborate, 16-minute salute marking each year of the queen’s life.
The widespread admiration for Elizabeth in Britain and across its former colonies was occasionally mixed with scorn for the institution and the imperial history she symbolized.
Charles, who became the monarch immediately upon his mother’s death, will be formally proclaimed king at a ceremony on Saturday. He is expected to tour the United Kingdom in the coming days.
The queen’s coffin will be brought to London, where she will lie in state before a funeral at Westminster Abbey, expected around Sept. 19.
On the king’s first full day of duties, Charles left Balmoral and flew to London for a meeting with Truss, appointed by the queen just two days before her death.
He arrived at Buckingham Palace, the monarch’s London home, for the first time as sovereign, emerging from the official state Bentley limousine alongside Camilla, the queen consort, to shouts from the crowd of “Well done, Charlie!” and the singing of the national anthem, now called “God Save the King.” One woman gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Under intense scrutiny and pressure to show he can be both caring and regal, Charles walked slowly past flowers heaped at the palace gates for his mother. The mood was both grieving and celebratory.
“It has been so touching. ... All those people, come to give their condolences,” he told Truss during their meeting.
“It’s the moment I’ve been dreading, as I know a lot of people have,” he added, referring to his mother’s death. “But you try and keep everything going.”
The changing of the guard comes at a time when many Britons are facing an energy crisis, the soaring cost of living, the war in Ukraine and the fallout from Brexit.
In his speech, Charles looked to both the past — noting his mother’s unwavering “dedication and devotion as sovereign” — and the future, seeking to strike a reassuring note of constancy while signaling that his will be a 21st-century monarchy.
He reflected on how the country had changed dramatically during the queen’s reign into a society “of many cultures and many faiths,” and pledged to serve people in Britain and the 14 other countries where he is king “whatever may be your background or beliefs.”
The lifelong environmentalist said he was confident work on “the issues for which I care so deeply” would “go on in the trusted hands of others.”
He spoke of his son Prince William, now heir to the throne and formally given the title that Charles long held, Prince of Wales. William and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, will “continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the center ground where vital help can be given,” Charles said, referring to the couple’s work on homelessness, mental health and other issues.
He also struck a note of reconciliation after a raw family rift when he said, “I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas.”
Prince Harry and wife Meghan have been in a tense relationship with the royal family since they stepped away from their official duties and left the country in 2020, citing what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media toward the biracial American actress.
As the second Elizabethan Age came to a close, throngs of people arrived all day to grieve together and lay flowers outside the gates of Buckingham Palace and other royal residences.
Finance worker Giles Cudmore said the queen had “just been a constant through everything, everything good and bad.”
At Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, mourner April Hamilton stood with her young daughter, struggling to hold back tears.
“It’s just such a momentous change that is going to happen,” she said. “I’m trying to hold it together today.”
Many sporting and cultural events were canceled as a mark of respect, and some businesses — including Selfridges department store and the Legoland amusement park — shut their doors. The Bank of England postponed its meeting by a week.
Elizabeth was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a symbol of constancy in a turbulent era that saw the decline of the British empire and upheaval in her family, including the messy divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
The public’s affection for the queen had helped sustain support for the monarchy amid complaints in some quarters that it had outlived its usefulness. But Charles does not command that kind of popularity.
“Charles can never replace her, you know,” said 31-year-old Londoner Mariam Sherwani.
Like many, she referred to Elizabeth as a grandmother figure. Others compared her to their mothers, or great-grandmothers.
But around the world, her passing revealed conflicting emotions about the nation and institutions she represented.
In Ireland, some soccer fans cheered.
For some, Elizabeth was a queen whose coronation glittered with shards of a stunning 3,106-carat diamond pulled from grim southern African mines, a monarch who inherited an empire they resented. Across Africa, nations rejected British rule and chose independence in her first decade on the throne.
In India, once the “jewel in the crown” of the British empire, entrepreneur Dhiren Singh described his own personal sadness at her death, but added: “I do not think we have any place for kings and queens in today’s world.”
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Associated Press writer Cara Anna in Nairobi, Kenya, and AP journalists from around the world contributed to this report.
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Follow AP coverage of Queen Elizabeth II at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/britain-enveloped-mourning-queen-revered-worldwide/
| 2022-09-10T00:40:38Z
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BYU investigation finds no racial slurs against Duke player
PROVO, Utah (AP) — An investigation by Brigham Young University into allegations that fans engaged in racial heckling and uttered racial slurs at a Duke volleyball player last month found no evidence to support the claim.
BYU issued the results of its investigation into the Aug. 26 match on Friday, reiterating it will not tolerate conduct threatening any student-athlete.
The school said it reached out to more than 50 people who attended the event, including athletic department personnel and student-athletes from both schools, event security and management and fans who were in the arena. It also reviewed audio and video recordings and raw footage from the match.
As a result of the investigation, the university said it has lifted a ban on a fan who was identified as directing racial slurs toward Duke sophomore Rachel Richardson during the match. It also apologized to the fan for any hardship the ban caused.
Duke athletic director Nina King issued a statement standing by Richardson and the rest of her team.
“The 18 members of the Duke University volleyball team are exceptionally strong women who represent themselves, their families, and Duke University with the utmost integrity,” she said Friday after BYU issued its statement. “We unequivocally stand with and champion them, especially when their character is called into question. Duke Athletics believes in respect, equality and inclusiveness, and we do not tolerate hate and bias.”
In the aftermath of the Aug. 26 match, South Carolina women’s basketball program canceled a home-and-home series with BYU. Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said she did not want to put her players in the situation that she said Richardson had experienced.
The Gamecocks were scheduled to start the season at home against BYU on Nov. 7, then play at the Utah campus during the 2023-24 season.
Staley released a statement through the school Friday, standing by her earlier decision to cancel the series.
“After my personal research, I made a decision for the well-being of my team,” Staley said. “I regret that my university, my athletics director Ray Tanner and others got drawn into the criticism of a choice that I made.”
BYU said it remains committed to rooting out racism wherever it is found. The school also said it understands some will criticize their investigation as being selective in its review.
“To the contrary, we have tried to be as thorough as possible in our investigation, and we renew our invitation for anyone with evidence contrary to our findings to come forward and share it,” the school said.
Lesa Pamplin, Richardson’s godmother who initially tweeted about the claim that the player was called a racial slur, did not immediately respond Friday to an email seeking comment about BYU’s findings.
BYU is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church. Race relations is one of the most sensitive issues for a faith that until 1978 banned Black church members serving in the lay priesthood, going on missions or getting married in temples.
The Salt Lake City-based religion has worked to improve race relations, including calling out white supremacy and launching a formal alliance with the NAACP, but some Black church members and scholars say discriminatory opinions linger from a ban rooted in a belief that black skin was a curse.
The number of Black church members has increased but still only accounts for small portion of the 16 million worldwide members. Not one serves in the highest levels of global leadership.
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/byu-investigation-finds-no-racial-slurs-against-duke-player/
| 2022-09-10T00:40:45Z
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Children’s HearMuffs recalled for potential hearing, burn injuries
(Gray News) – Some children’s HearMuffs from Lucid Audio are being recalled for potential burn and/or hearing injuries.
The Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) announced Thursday that four models of powered Lucid Audio HearMuffs sound compression earmuffs designed for children are being recalled.
The recalled models include:
- LA-infant-AM-WH
- LA-infant-ASM-WH
- LA-infant-ASM-WHPlus
- LA-kids-AM-WH
The recalled HearMuffs were sold in multiple colors and have a power button that switches from off, active, or soothe mode.
The CPSC said the AAA batteries inside the products can rupture, posing a threat of hearing, projectile and/or burn injuries. The CPSC has received 19 reports of rupturing batteries, but no injuries have been reported.
About 31,150 units are part of the recall and were sold at Sam’s Club, Kroger, and other stores nationwide and online from January 2018 to December 2021.
The CPSC advises consumers to stop using the recalled HearMuffs immediately and contact the company to receive a replacement.
For more information on this recall, click here.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/childrens-hearmuffs-recalled-potential-hearing-burn-injuries/
| 2022-09-10T00:40:52Z
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The City of Bluefield hosts 9/11 remembrance ceremony.
Published: Sep. 9, 2022 at 6:00 PM EDT|Updated: 3 hours ago
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) -
The 21st anniversary of 9/11 is on Sunday.
Today, community members gathered at Chicory Square in Bluefield to honor the lives lost.
The event included the presentation of colors by the Bluefield High School JROTC, the singing of the national anthem, god bless america and more.
The keynote speaker was retired Army Colonel Douglas Smith.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/city-bluefield-hosts-911-remembrance-ceremony/
| 2022-09-10T00:40:58Z
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Computer experts urge Georgia to replace voting machines
ATLANTA (AP) — A group of computer and election security experts is urging Georgia election officials to replace the state’s touchscreen voting machines with hand-marked paper ballots ahead of the November midterm elections, citing what they say are “serious threats” posed by an apparent breach of voting equipment in one county.
The 13 experts on Thursday sent a letter to the members of the State Election Board and to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who’s a non-voting member of the board. It urges them to immediately stop using the state’s Dominion Voting Systems touchscreen voting machines. It also suggests they mandate a particular type of post-election audit on the outcome of all races on the ballot.
The experts who sent the letter include academics and former state election officials and are not associated with efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The midterm elections are just two months away. A switch to hand-marked paper ballots could easily be made by then because state law already provides for them to be used as an emergency backup, the letter says.
State Election Board Chair William Duffey responded in an email to The Associated Press that the “security of our election equipment is of paramount interest to the State Election Board as is the integrity of the election process in Georgia.” He noted that the alleged breach in Coffee County is being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and secretary of state’s office investigators and said the FBI has been asked to assist.
“The investigation is active and ongoing,” Duffey wrote. “Information developed will be considered to evaluate the impact of the Coffee County conduct.”
Raffensperger’s office has repeatedly said that Georgia’s elections remain secure because of varied security mechanisms in place. Spokesperson Mike Hassinger said in an email that the office will respond “in due time with due care” and that the response will be “addressed directly to the authors, rather than leaked to the media to obtain some sort of rhetorical advantage.”
The apparent unauthorized copying of election equipment in Coffee County happened in January 2021. It is documented in emails, security camera footage and other records produced in response to subpoenas in a long-running lawsuit that argues Georgia’s voting machines are vulnerable and should be replaced by hand-marked paper ballots.
Those records show that a computer forensics team traveled to the rural county about 200 miles southeast of Atlanta on Jan. 7, 2021, to forensically copy voting equipment. Emails show that Sidney Powell and other Trump-allied attorneys were involved in arranging for the visit.
The security video also shows that Doug Logan and Jeff Lenberg, who were involved in broader efforts to cast doubt on the 2020 election results, visited the office later that month.
The experts who sent the letter Thursday have long criticized Georgia’s voting machines, which print a paper ballot that includes a human-readable summary of the voter’s selections and a barcode that is read by a scanner to tally the votes. They argue the machines already made elections more vulnerable to tampering because voters cannot read the barcode to verify that it accurately reflects their selections.
But the copying and sharing of election data and software from Coffee County “increases both the risk of undetected cyber-attacks on Georgia, and the risk of accusations of fraud and election manipulation,” the letter says.
The expert letter also cites work by University of Michigan computer science professor J. Alex Halderman, who serves as an expert witness in the long-running voting machines lawsuit. He has identified what he says are security vulnerabilities in Georgia’s voting machines. The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in June issued an advisory based on Halderman’s findings.
In addition to urging a switch to hand-marked paper ballots, the experts say a statewide post-election, risk-limiting audit should be done on all of the races on the ballot. A risk-limiting audit essentially uses a statistical approach to ensure that the reported results match the actual votes cast. Current rules require only one statewide contest to be audited.
At least some of the experts who signed the letter sent to the Georgia State Election Board last year sent a similar letter to California’s secretary of state ahead of a recall election for the state’s governor urging a rigorous audit of that contest. The secretary of state did not act on the recommendations.
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Associated Press writer Christina A. Cassidy contributed reporting.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/computer-experts-urge-georgia-replace-voting-machines/
| 2022-09-10T00:41:05Z
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‘A servant queen’: World pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Across the globe, the death of Queen Elizabeth II has prompted reflections on the historic sweep of her reign and how she succeeded in presiding over the end of Britain’s colonial empire and embracing the independence of her former dominions.
Tributes to the queen’s life have poured in, from world leaders to rock stars to ordinary people — along with some criticism of the monarchy.
It was in Cape Town, marking her 21st birthday in 1947, that the then-Princess Elizabeth pledged that her “whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
The British empire soon crumbled, but Elizabeth managed to maintain a regal — if ceremonial — position as the head of the Commonwealth, the 54 nations of mostly previous British colonies.
“The Queen lived a long and consequential life, fulfilling her pledge to serve until her very last breath at the age of 96,” Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, said Friday. “She was an exemplary leader of the kind seldom seen in the modern era.”
As queen, Elizabeth was seen as endorsing the birth of democracies in former colonies in Africa where Black citizens previously had been denied basic rights, including the vote. When in glittering tiaras she danced with new African leaders in the 1960s and visited their capitals, she burnished their new institutions.
When white-minority rule finally fell in South Africa in 1994, Elizabeth welcomed Nelson Mandela as a world leader. Her warm friendship with Mandela gave her a new relevance.
“In the years after his release from prison, (Mandela) cultivated a close relationship with the queen. He hosted her in South Africa and visited her in England, taking particular delight in exploring Buckingham Palace. They also talked on the phone frequently, using their first names with each other as a sign of mutual respect as well as affection,” the Nelson Mandela Foundation said Friday.
“For Madiba, (Mandela’s clan name) it was important that the former colonial power in southern Africa should be drawn into cordial and productive relations with the newly democratic republic of South Africa.”
Fellow anti-apartheid fighter the late Anglican archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu also enjoyed good relations with the queen.
“Although ensconced in the pomp, ceremony and lifestyle of royalty and empire, in a world of profound inequality, she was a servant queen,” Tutu’s foundation and trust said Friday.
In contrast, a scathing view of the queen’s rule was issued by South Africa’s populist party, the Economic Freedom Fighters. The queen was “head of an institution built up, sustained, and living off a brutal legacy of dehumanization of millions of people across the world,” it said.
“We do not mourn the death of Elizabeth, because to us her death is a reminder of a very tragic period in this country and Africa’s history,” said the party. “During her 70-year reign as queen, she never once acknowledged the atrocities that her family inflicted on native people that Britain invaded across the world. She willingly benefited from the wealth that was attained from the exploitation and murder of millions of people.”
Some Irish soccer fans raucously cheered the queen’s death at a match Thursday, according to videos posted online that angered her supporters. The Republic of Ireland’s leadership expressed condolences and admiration for the queen.
The widespread tributes that followed her death came not only from U.S. President Joe Biden but also from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
She was a “stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States,” Biden and first lady Jill Biden said, adding that she “defined an era.”
Putin sent a telegram to King Charles III — Elizabeth’s oldest son who automatically became Britain’s new monarch.
“For many decades, Elizabeth II rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority on the world stage. I wish you courage and perseverance in the face of this heavy, irreparable loss,” Putin wrote.
Elizabeth was mourned across Europe. In France, Britain’s historic rival and contemporary ally, flags at the presidential palace and public buildings were lowered to half-staff on Friday.
French President Emmanuel Macron released a video Friday in English expressing a sense of “emptiness” after her passing. Addressing the British public, he said: “To you, she was your Queen. To us, she was THE Queen, to all of us.”
In the U.S., tributes came from every living former president.
Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, said Elizabeth made “the role of queen her own — with a reign defined by grace, elegance, and a tireless work ethic.” George W. Bush called her “a woman of great intellect, charm, and wit,” and Jimmy Carter said Elizabeth’s “dignity, graciousness and sense of duty” were inspiring.
Even in places where the relationship with British monarchy is complicated, the tributes flowed. In India, once a British colony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Elizabeth “a stalwart of our times.”
The queen’s death came as a growing number of British territories in the Caribbean are seeking to replace the monarch with their own heads of state amid demands that Britain apologize for its colonial-era abuses and award its former colonies slavery reparations.
Still, Caribbean leaders mourned her. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said for many years Elizabeth visited the island every decade.
“Undoubtedly, she formed a special bond with the people of Jamaica,” he said. “We are saddened that we will not see her light again, but we will remember her historic reign.”
Bermuda Premier David Burt noted that her reign “has spanned decades of such immense change for the United Kingdom and the world.”
Elizabeth was also sovereign to 14 other countries including Jamaica, Canada, Australia, the Solomon Islands and New Zealand.
“Here is a woman who gave her life, utterly, to the service of others. And regardless of what anyone thinks of the role of monarchies around the world, there is undeniably, I think here, a display of someone who gave everything on behalf of her people,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was having trouble believing he’d had his last sit-down chat with Elizabeth: “I will so miss those chats,” he said. Elizabeth had visited Canada 22 times as monarch.
“For most Canadians, we have known no other sovereign,” Trudeau said, his eyes red with emotion. He said she was a “constant presence in our lives — and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history.”
Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who led a failed campaign to have an Australian president replace the British monarch as Australia’s head of state, came close to tears in paying tribute to Elizabeth.
“It’s the end of an era and let’s hope that the future, after the queen’s passing, is one where we will have leadership as dedicated and selfless as she has shown,” Turnbull told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
In China, Elizabeth’s death was a top trending topic on social media.
“I feel quite sad,” said Bao Huifang, a lawyer in Beijing. “She played a very important role in stabilizing Britain and the world.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent his condolences, noting Elizabeth was the first British monarch to visit China.
Elizabeth’s death comes amid increasingly tense relations between Britain and China. Xi said he was willing to work with King Charles III on promoting “healthy and stable” bilateral ties.
Rock star Elton John paid tribute at his Toronto concert, saying he was inspired by her and is sad that she is gone.
“She led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace and decency and genuine caring,” John said.
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AP journalists Mogomotsi Magome in Johannesburg, Robert Gillies in Toronto, Canada, and Nick Perry in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report.
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Follow AP stories on Queen Elizabeth II at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/constant-my-life-world-mourns-queen-elizabeth-ii/
| 2022-09-10T00:41:16Z
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Coyote found hiding in family’s bathroom
Published: Sep. 9, 2022 at 12:14 PM EDT|Updated: 8 hours ago
BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio (WXIX/Gray News) – Police in Ohio made an unusual discovery Friday morning while responding to a public assist call.
Officers found a coyote hiding behind the toilet in a family’s bathroom, the Trenton Police Department said on Facebook.
Police received a call around 5:15 a.m. from the family, saying the animal was in the bathroom and they didn’t want to get near it.
The coyote managed to slip inside the home around 4 a.m. through the front door while the family was packing up their vehicle to hit the road for a trip, police explained.
Officers safely removed the coyote and released him outside unharmed.
Copyright 2022 WXIX via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/coyote-found-hiding-familys-bathroom/
| 2022-09-10T00:41:24Z
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Dad charged with murder in crash that killed improperly restrained 3-year-old
ROCKY MOUNT, Mo. (KY3/Gray News) – A Missouri father has been charged with second-degree murder for the car-crash death of his 3-year-old son who was not properly restrained.
Larry Lunnin, 40, is charged with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, two counts of child abduction, failing to drive on the right side of the roadway, and failing to secure a child in a child restraint or booster.
Investigators said the crash happened Saturday afternoon when Lunnin drove off the road, hit a sign, then rolled his soft-top Jeep. The 3-year-old boy was not properly restrained in a car seat, but he was wearing a seat belt.
Another child in the Jeep suffered minor injuries.
Investigators also said Lunnin did not have custody of the children, as a judge gave the children’s mother full custody in March.
A judge ordered Lunnin in contempt of court after he failed to show up in court to hand over the children. In an interview after the fatal Jeep accident, investigators said Lunnin claimed he never received that court order.
Copyright 2022 KY3 via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/dad-charged-with-murder-crash-that-killed-improperly-restrained-3-year-old/
| 2022-09-10T00:41:31Z
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Dad lies about baby being inside stolen Jeep to get quicker police response, sheriff says
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (Gray News) – A man in Texas has been charged with filing a false report after he lied about his infant son being inside a stolen vehicle, officials said.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the father lied about his son being inside the vehicle in order to get a quicker police response for the stolen Jeep.
Gonzalez said Anthony Ray Gray, 38, called 911 to report that his 2018 Jeep Cherokee was stolen Thursday morning and that his 6-month-old son was inside at the time.
Gray told deputies he went inside a store and left the vehicle running in the parking lot with the child inside. Gray said unknown men then took off with the vehicle.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office shared photos on social media of the 6-month-old, asking for the public’s help in bringing him home safely.
Later Thursday morning, Gonzalez said the Jeep was found but the baby was unaccounted for. By the afternoon, Gonzalez said the child was located and safe.
Investigators determined that the baby was never with Gray that morning nor inside the Jeep. The baby was at a relative’s house all morning.
Gonzalez said Gray told deputies he lied about his son being in the Jeep in order to get a quicker response to his stolen vehicle.
Gray was arrested and charged with filing a false report.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/dad-lies-about-baby-being-inside-stolen-jeep-get-quicker-police-response-sheriff-says/
| 2022-09-10T00:41:37Z
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Daughter of former Sophia fire chief arrested for embezzlement, conspiracy
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - The daughter of the former fire chief of the Sophia City Fire Department is facing charges of embezzlement.
Brandi Ball, 39, was detained and taken to Raleigh County Magistrate Court Friday afternoon. She is accused of conspiring with her father, Kenneth Churning.
Churning was arrested in 2021 for allegedly stealing more than $100,000 from his department between 2017 and 2019. After rejecting a plea deal last month, he is expected to go to trial in December.
According to the criminal complaint, Ball used Town of Sophia funds to purchase $400 worth of merchandise at JoAnn’s in Beckley in June of 2018. She was also provided an AT&T cell phone using Town of Sophia funds from June 2018 to December 2019. Other purchases, such as that of a Christmas tree and tree votive, were also made.
Ball’s bond was set at $50,000.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/daughter-former-sophia-fire-chief-arrested-embezzlement-conspiracy/
| 2022-09-10T00:41:44Z
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Defense rests at R. Kelly trial on trial-fixing charges
CHICAGO (AP) — The defense for R. Kelly and two co-defendants rested Friday at the R&B singer’s trial on charges of trial-fixing, child pornography and enticing minors for sex, with closing arguments and the start of jury deliberations scheduled for early next week.
Minutes before resting, Kelly co-defendant and ex-business manager Derrell McDavid ended three days on the stand. He testified for nearly two days that he had believed Kelly when he denied abusing minors — then said he started having doubts about Kelly’s believability during the trial that started last month.
Kelly and McDavid are charged with fixing Kelly’s 2008 state child pornography trial — at which Kelly was acquitted — by threatening witnesses and concealing video evidence. Both also face child pornography charges. A third co-defendant, Kelly associate Milton Brown, is accused of receiving child pornography.
Prosecutors normally get a chance to call witnesses in a rebuttal of the defense case. But when they told Judge Harry Leinenweber on Friday that they needed some time to prepare, he said there would be no rebuttal and the case would go straight to closing arguments Monday morning.
McDavid was the only one of the three defendants to testify in his own behalf.
Kelly, 55, already was sentenced to 30 years in prison in June after a separate federal trial in New York.
Known for his smash hit “I Believe I Can Fly” and for sex-infused songs such as “Bump n’ Grind,” Kelly sold millions of albums even after allegations of sexual misconduct began circulating in the 1990s. Widespread outrage emerged after the #MeToo reckoning and the 2019 docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly.”
During her cross-examination of McDavid, prosecutor Jeannice Appenteng sought to cast doubt on his testimony that, all through the 2000s, he was unaware that the sexual abuse allegations might have some credence.
During Kelly’s monthlong trial in 2008, which McDavid attended, state prosecutors played a 30-minute, sexually explicit video dozens of times on large screens throughout the courtroom. Prosecutors said it showed Kelly abusing a 14-year-old girl, “Jane.”
McDavid initially said he looked away every time the video was played but later conceded that he “glanced back and forth” at it, though not long enough to fully assess the content.
Appenteng also questioned McDavid about his claim that he wasn’t at a 2001 hotel room meeting with Jane and her parents, where government witnesses said Kelly admitted having sex with Jane, who regarded Kelly as her godfather.
McDavid testified that he drove to the hotel but remained outside in his car. “It was delicate,” he added.
“It was delicate,” the prosecutor shot back, “because Kelly admits (at the meeting) ... he is having sex with his goddaughter.”
On Thursday, McDavid also denied intimidating anyone leading up to the 2008 trial. His lawyer asked if he ever threatened to kill Kelly’s ex-girlfriend Lisa Van Allen for having stolen a sex video from Kelly and for not being forthcoming about it, as she testified earlier.
“I’m an accountant. No,” he said.
At times, McDavid sounded more like a government witness.
In a sudden shift at the end of his second day of testimony Thursday, he expressed doubts about Kelly’s insistence in the 2000s that he never sexually abused minors.
Asked by his own lawyer, Beau Brindley, if he was in “a different position” to assess allegations against Kelly after sitting through government testimony by four Kelly accusers, including Jane, McDavid responded: “Yes, I am.”
“The last (few) weeks … I’ve learned a lot … that I had no idea about in 2008,” added McDavid, who previously had testified that he once saw Kelly as a son.
McDavid’s testimony could lend credence to the charges Kelly alone faces — five counts of enticing minor girls for sex, one count each for five accusers.
Judge Leinenweber repeatedly rejected requests from Kelly’s defense team that he be tried alone because his and McDavid’s interests would conflict at a joint trial.
The ongoing trial in Kelly’s hometown is, in ways , a do-over of the 2008 trial. The single video was at the heart of that trial and is also in evidence at the current trial.
Jane, then an adult, did not testify at that 2008 trial, which jurors cited as a reason they couldn’t convict Kelly. She testified at the current trial that she was the person in that video. She also said Kelly sexually abused her hundreds of times starting when she was 14.
___
Follow Michael Tarm on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mtarm and find AP’s full coverage of the R. Kelly trial at https://apnews.com/hub/r-kelly
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/defense-rests-r-kelly-trial-trial-fixing-charges/
| 2022-09-10T00:41:51Z
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Enjoy today because some unsettled weather is on the way
High pressure will keep us dry today but these conditions won’t last long
High pressure will keep us dry today with a mix of sun and clouds. Temperatures will be seasonable with highs in the 70s and low 80s.
We’ll stay dry overnight with partly cloudy skies. Temperatures will dip down into the 50s and low 60s tonight.
Low pressure will take over our region on Saturday and Sunday. It’ll bring on-and-off rounds of rain and thunderstorms this weekend and into early next week. The rain could be heavy at times which could result in some localized flooding issues. With more clouds and rain, temperatures will be below-average, topping off in the mid 60s-low 70s through the weekend.
Next week, we will gradually dry back out, and temperatures look to stay on the cooler side for a while. Make sure to stay tuned and catch the latest on WVVA.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/enjoy-today-because-some-unsettled-weather-is-way/
| 2022-09-10T00:41:57Z
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Football Friday looks nice, but we’re in for a damp weekend
Low pressure takes control, giving us cool and wet weather into Sat & Sun
We’ll see increasing clouds tonight, as high pressure sits to our northeast, and SE wind flow continues to bring in some Atlantic moisture this evening. Our Friday evening looks nice and dry though overall, with only the slim chance of a stray shower/sprinkle. Low temps tonight will fall into the upper 50s and low 60s.
By Saturday morning, low pressure riding in from the Mississippi Valley will bring showers, and the rain looks to be on and off throughout the entire day. While severe weather doesn’t look likely thanks to cooler temps and cloud cover, occasionally heavy rainfall could cause localized flooding issues.
Areas of fog will be likely into the weekend as well. Highs on Saturday will only be in the 60s for most during the day, dropping only a few degrees to the upper 50s/low 60s as rain continues into Saturday night.
Sunday looks a bit wet as well, with scattered showers especially during the morning hours. Highs on Sunday will be a tad warmer, but still below normal for this time of year, in the upper 60s-mid 70s.
Rain will continue into Monday as a separate frontal system from the west also enters the area. Once again, severe weather chances look nil, but localized heavy rain/high water will be the main concerns into early next week.
We look to dry out quickly by Tuesday, and pleasant weather looks to be in store after that for a while...stay tuned!
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) -
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/football-friday-looks-nice-were-damp-weekend/
| 2022-09-10T00:42:04Z
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Foundation pays off 21 mortgages for fallen first responder families ahead of 9/11
(Gray News) - The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is helping multiple families pay off their homes after losing a loved one in the line of duty.
Representatives said the foundation was established in memory of fallen New York Firefighter Stephen Siller, who laid down his life to save others on Sept. 11.
“When America was attacked on Sept. 11, my brother and many others rushed headfirst into danger and laid down their lives, trying to save as many people as possible,” said Foundation Chairman and CEO Frank Siller.
The families helped by the foundation with their mortgages included the following:
- Mineral Point, Wisconsin, Fire Captain Brian Cecil Busch
- Joplin, Missouri, Police Corporal Benjamin Cooper
- Salt River, Arizona, Police Officer Clayton Joel Townsend
- Arvada, Colorado, Police Officer Gordon Beesley
- Billerica, Massachusetts, Firefighter/EMT Patrick Corbett
- Mesa, Arizona, Fire Captain Trevor Cowley Madrid
- Illinois Police Senior Master Trooper Todd Anthony Hanneken
- Champaign, Illinois, Firefighter Trevor Herderhorst
- Portsmouth, Ohio, Firefighter/EMT Edward Jay Long
- Connecticut State Police Sergeant Brian Erik Mohl
- Gallatin County, Montana, Deputy Sheriff Jacob Otto Allmendinger
- FBI Special Agent Jimmie John Daniels
- Baltimore County Firefighter/Paramedic Brian Dennis Neville
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Trainee Wolf Valmond
- Yuma, Colorado, Fire Captain Darcy Stallings
- El Paso, Texas, Fire Suppression Technician Eduardo Ramirez
- Jones County, North Carolina, Sheriff Danny Heath
- Pennsylvania State Trooper Martin Francis Mack III
- Bloom Township, Ohio, Fire Lieutenant/Paramedic Ralph “Andy” Nunley
The foundation said its Fallen First Responder Program pays off mortgages for the families of law enforcement officers and firefighters who are killed in the line of duty and leave behind young children, ensuring they will always have a place to call home.
“Twenty-one years later, I am proud to keep my brother Stephen’s memory alive by supporting the families of these heroes who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Their dedication and their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and the families they left behind will always have the support of Tunnel to Towers,” Siller said.
In 2021, Tunnel to Towers expanded the program to support the families of first responders who have lost their lives to 9/11 illnesses.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/foundation-pays-off-21-mortgages-fallen-first-responder-families-ahead-911/
| 2022-09-10T00:42:16Z
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‘The gates are open’: Illinois ending cash bail system
VIENNA, Ill. (KFVS/Gray News) - Illinois is getting ready for some changes in 2023 that include eliminating its cash bail system.
However, select lawmakers and law enforcement officials say it could make communities more dangerous.
“I believe the elimination of cash bail, particularly as it’s written in the SAFE-T Act, will reduce public safety and lead to more crime in Illinois,” said Patrick Windhorst, former state attorney and current state representative.
Windhorst said he voted against the bill when it came about and was one of the leading voices against it.
KFVS reports the Illinois SAFE-T Act is legislation aimed at overhauling the state’s criminal justice system.
“I know after talking with prosecutors and law enforcement officers, they’re really concerned that the public is going to point the finger at them and say, ‘Why aren’t you doing more about these offenses?’ And with this major change in the law, a lot of their ability to do their jobs has been restrained,” Windhorst said
The Johnson County sheriff agreed with Windhorst.
“Anyone sitting in jail right now with all these pending charges, they’re going to be let out,” Johnson County Sheriff Peter Sopczak said. “The gates are open and they’re going to be let out onto the streets.”
The bill reportedly passed with the support of upstate lawmakers. Proponents of the law said it’s wrong to keep people locked up simply because they can’t afford bail.
According to Sheriff Sopczak, fewer suspects will end up going to jail. Only suspects involved in specific deadly incidents could be held.
“We’re going to end up calling someone saying, ‘Can we arrest them?’ Just because of liability, if you take someone into custody and it doesn’t meet all the criteria, then you can get in trouble,” said Sopczak.
Sopczak also said he isn’t clear how the law will be implemented.
Windhorst listed some of the offenses that won’t involve detention before going to trial.
“Violent crimes, burglary, robbery, arson, kidnapping, almost all drug offenses, DUI offenses, even DUI offenses involving a fatality, do not qualify for detention under the Illinois Safety Act,” Windhorst said. “That’s going to mean a lot of individuals are committing crimes and being released immediately, if not within a couple of days.”
Illinois is the first state in the country to abolish cash bail.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/gates-are-open-illinois-ending-cash-bail-system/
| 2022-09-10T00:42:22Z
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Grand jury reportedly probing Trump leadership PAC
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal grand jury is reportedly seeking information about Donald Trump’s Save America leadership PAC as investigations into the former president continue to expand.
ABC News first reported Thursday that subpoenas issued in recent weeks have asked recipients about the political action committee’s formation, its fundraising activities and its spending.
The Department of Justice and a Trump spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump is now the subject of numerous ongoing federal and state investigations, including several probing his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol building, his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and how thousands of government records, including documents with highly classified markings, ended up at his private Mar-a-Lago club.
Trump aggressively fundraised off the 2020 election, capitalizing on his supporters’ anger about and refusal to accept his loss. During its hearings, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack said Trump’s fundraising machine had collected some $250 million from his campaigns to “Stop the Steal” and others in the aftermath of the election, mostly in small-dollar donations from Americans. One plea for cash went out 30 minutes before the Jan. 6 insurrection.
“Not only was there the big lie, there was the big ripoff,” Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., said of the efforts.
No credible evidence has emerged to support Trump’s claims that the election was marred by mass fraud. Numerous state and local elections officials, including Trump’s own attorney general and judges he appointed, have also rejected such claims.
Trump’s PAC — which he has used to pay for his post-presidential rallies, other travel, legal bills and even the portraits of him and the former first lady that will one day hang in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery — has raised millions since its creation. It ended July with just under $100 million cash-on-hand, according to government filings.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/grand-jury-reportedly-probing-trump-leadership-pac/
| 2022-09-10T00:42:29Z
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High court blocks recognition of LGBTQ campus at Yeshiva U
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a court order that would have forced Yeshiva University to recognize an LGBTQ group as an official campus club.
The court acted Friday in a brief order signed by Justice Sonia Sotomayor that indicated the court would have more to say on the topic at some point.
The university, an Orthodox Jewish institution in New York, argued that granting recognition to the group, the YU Pride Alliance, “would violate its sincere religious beliefs.”
On the other side, the club said Yeshiva already has recognized a gay pride club at its law school.
A New York state court sided with the student group and ordered the university to recognize the club immediately. The matter is on appeal in the state court system, but judges there refused to put the order on hold in the meantime.
The Supreme Court has been very receptive to religious freedom claims in recent years.
In June, conservatives who hold a 6-3 majority struck down a Maine program prohibiting state funds from being spent at religious schools and ruled a high school football coach in Washington state has the right to pray on the field after games.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/high-court-blocks-recognition-lgbtq-campus-yeshiva-u/
| 2022-09-10T00:42:37Z
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High school football player collapsed after game, needs open heart surgery
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD/Gray News) – Freshman running back Zaidyn Ward made the final touchdown during his high school’s football game before collapsing on the field.
“He went into the huddle with his coach. The coach was telling him to lift his head up, and he was trying to do that. Once he finally lifted his head like that, he fell back and collapsed,” Zaidyn’s mother Cassandra Combs told KCBD.
The 14-year-old’s heart had stopped.
Combs said an athletic trainer shocked his heart to revive him.
“The trainer from Monterey saved him, and if she wouldn’t have been out there, Zaidyn would have been dead,” Combs said.
Zaidyn’s heart actually stopped twice. After he was revived a second time, the teen had a seizure and was rushed to the hospital.
Combs said doctors ran several tests on her son and ultimately flew him to a children’s hospital in Fort Worth for an angiogram procedure.
“So, it’s not really good news,” Combs said. “So, their best option that they’re saying is to do open heart surgery on him.”
Combs is not sure when doctors will do that surgery.
They expected to leave the hospital on Thursday, but it could be another week or two before they go home.
Zaidyn won’t be playing football for a while, which is a sport he’s always loved.
“Sports are his life, that’s what he likes. But if it comes down to it, your heart, I mean your health, comes first,” Combs said.
Combs is out of work caring for her son while he is getting treatment. She said affording everything can be challenging, so a GoFundMe has been set up to help with expenses.
Copyright 2022 KCBD via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/high-school-football-player-collapsed-after-game-needs-open-heart-surgery/
| 2022-09-10T00:42:45Z
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Judge tosses Trump’s Russia probe suit against Clinton, FBI
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge in Florida has dismissed Donald Trump’s lawsuit against 2016 Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and former top FBI officials, rejecting the former president’s claims that they and others acted in concert to concoct the Russia investigation that shadowed much of his administration.
U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks said in a sharply worded ruling on Thursday that Trump’s lawsuit, filed in March, contained “glaring structural deficiencies” and that many of the “characterizations of events are implausible.”
He dismissed the idea that Trump had sued to correct an actual legal harm, saying that “instead, he is seeking to flaunt a two-hundred-page political manifesto outlining his grievances against those that have opposed him, and this Court is not the appropriate forum.”
The lawsuit had named as defendants Clinton and some of her top advisers, as well as former FBI Director James Comey and other FBI officials involved in the investigation into whether Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign had coordinated with Russia to sway the outcome of the election.
Other defendants include the founders of a political research firm that hired a former British spy to investigate ties between Trump and Russia, and a well-connected Democratic lawyer who was recently acquitted on a charge of lying to the FBI during a 2016 meeting in which he presented the bureau with information he wanted it to investigate.
But none of the claims, the judge wrote, supported Trump’s claims of a conspiracy against him.
“What the Amended Complaint lacks in substance and legal support it seeks to substitute with length, hyperbole, and the settling of scores and grievances,” Middlebrooks wrote.
A 2019 Justice Department inspector general report did identify certain flaws by the FBI during the Russia investigation, but did not find evidence that the bureau’s leaders were motivated by political bias in opening the probe and said the inquiry was started for a legitimate purpose.
A separate investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller produced criminal charges against nearly three dozen people and entities and found pervasive Russian interference in the election, but did not establish a criminal conspiracy with the Trump campaign.
Alina Habba, a lawyer for Trump, said Friday that Trump would appeal the dismissal.
____
Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/judge-tosses-trumps-russia-probe-suit-against-clinton-fbi/
| 2022-09-10T00:42:52Z
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Just add water: Kellogg’s launches new cereal
Published: Sep. 9, 2022 at 11:32 AM EDT|Updated: 9 hours ago
(CNN) - Kellogg’s is putting a new spin on a breakfast classic.
The company has created new instabowls that just need water.
The little tubs of cereal have milk powder inside. When you add water and stir, the milk rehydrates and instantly creates milk and cereal.
There are four to choose from – Frosted Flakes, Raisin Bran Crunch, Froot Loops and Apple Jacks.
You can pop them in your cart at Walmart for $1.98 a bowl.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/just-add-water-kelloggs-launches-new-cereal/
| 2022-09-10T00:42:59Z
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UK watches to see if king departs from mother’s traditions
LONDON (AP) — As the United Kingdom mourns a beloved queen, the nation is already wondering how King Charles III will reign and whether his monarchy will depart from the traditions of his mother.
If his first full day on the throne is any indication, Charles seemed ready to chart at least a slightly different course.
When Charles traveled to Buckingham Palace for the first time as the new king Friday, his limousine snaked through a sea of spectators then stopped short of the palace gates before he got out and shook hands with well-wishers. Charles looked more like a U.S. president on the campaign trail than the latest steward of a 1,000-year-old hereditary monarchy.
It’s not that Queen Elizabeth II didn’t meet her subjects. She did, often. But this felt different — a bit less formal, a bit more relaxed and personal. Charles spent almost 10 minutes greeting people pressed up against the crowd-control barriers, smiling, waving, accepting condolences and the occasional bouquet of flowers as the audience broke out in a chorus of “God Save the King.”
After inspecting the tributes to his mother lined up outside the palace, he waved once more and walked through the gates with Camilla, the Queen Consort.
“It was impressive, touching, a good move to come out to the crowds,” said Ammar Al-Baldawi, 64, a retiree from Hertfordshire who was among the throngs outside the palace. “I think that’s where the royal family needs to communicate with the people now.”
Charles’ efforts to engage with the public more intimately reflect the fact that he needs their support. There are difficult issues ahead, most pressingly how the 73-year-old king will carry out his role as head of state.
The laws and traditions that govern Britain’s constitutional monarchy dictate that the sovereign must stay out of partisan politics, but Charles has spent much of his adult life speaking out on issues that are important to him, particularly the environment.
His words have caused friction with politicians and business leaders who accused the then-Prince of Wales of meddling in issues on which he should have remained silent.
The question is whether Charles will follow his mother’s example and muffle his personal opinions now that he is king, or use his new platform to reach a broader audience.
In his first speech as monarch, Charles sought to put his critics at ease.
“My life will of course change as I take up my new responsibilities,’’ he said. “It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others.”
Ed Owens, a historian and author of “The Family Firm: Monarchy, Mass Media and the British Public, 1932-53,” said that while Charles will tread a careful path, it’s unlikely he will suddenly stop talking about climate change and the environment — issues where there is a broad consensus about the urgent need for action.
“To not do so would not be true to the image that he has until this moment developed,” Owens said.
John Kerry, the U.S. special envoy for climate, said he hopes Charles will continue speaking out about climate change because it is a universal issue that doesn’t involve ideology. Kerry was in Scotland to meet with the Prince of Wales this week, but the session was canceled when the queen died.
“It doesn’t mean he’s involved in the daily broil of politics or speaking for a specific piece of legislation,” Kerry told the BBC. “But I can’t imagine him not … feeling compelled to use the important role of the monarch, with all the knowledge he has about it, to speak out and urge the world to do the things the world needs to do.”
Constitutional lawyers have debated for years whether Charles has pushed the boundaries of conventions designed to keep the monarchy out of the political fray.
His so-called Black Spider Memos — named for his spidery handwriting — to government ministers have been cited as evidence that he wouldn’t be neutral in his dealings with Parliament.
The debate has also spilled over into fiction.
In the 2014 play “King Charles III,” playwright Mike Bartlett imagines the new king, uncertain of his powers and moved by his conscience, causing a constitutional crisis by refusing to sign a new law restricting press freedom.
It is an illustration of the tensions inherent in a system that evolved from an absolute monarchy to one in which the sovereign plays a largely ceremonial role. While Britain’s unwritten constitution requires that legislation must receive royal assent before it becomes law, this is considered a formality that the monarch cannot refuse.
In an interview for a 2018 documentary broadcast on his 70th birthday, Charles said he would behave differently when he became king because the monarch has a different role than the Prince of Wales.
Even so, he questioned the criticism he has received over the years.
“I’ve always been intrigued if it’s meddling to worry about the inner cities, as I did 40 years ago, and what was happening or not happening there, the conditions in which people were living,” he wondered. “If that’s meddling, I’m very proud of it.”
On another issue facing the new king, Charles has said clearly that he intends to reduce the number of working royals and cut expenses as he seeks to ensure the monarchy better represents modern Britain.
Robert Lacey, a royal historian and adviser on the Netflix series “The Crown,” said this initiative underscores the important role of Prince William, who is now heir to the throne.
William has already made the environment one of his primary issues, and he is likely to take an even more prominent role in this area now that his father is king, Lacey told the BBC.
But there is another clue to the new king’s plans for his reign, and that’s his choice of a name.
Before Elizabeth’s time, there was a tradition that British monarchs would choose a new name when they ascended the throne. Charles’ grandfather, for instance was known as Bertie before he became King George VI. There was some thought Charles would choose to be known as King George VII in honor of his grandfather.
But Charles rejected the idea and kept his own name. That’s a “clear message” that the king will continue to champion the causes he backed as Prince of Wales, Lacey said.
It was his father, Prince Philip, who identified ways in which the neutral monarchy could advocate for youth development and the environment — “really important causes that they could push forward without being accused of partisanship,” he said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/king-charles-iii-signals-his-reign-will-offer-change-tone/
| 2022-09-10T00:43:05Z
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Man accused of beating 6-year-old to death with bat
Published: Sep. 9, 2022 at 10:41 AM EDT|Updated: 10 hours ago
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — A 37-year-old Missouri man is accused of beating his 6-year-old daughter to death with a bat. Dustin Beechner, of St. Joseph, is charged with child abuse resulting in death.
During a brief court hearing Wednesday, a judge ordered that Beechner be held without bond.
St. Joseph police say they were called to a home Friday and found the child dead with blunt force trauma to the head.
According to a probable cause statement, police said Beechner led officers to the house’s roof, where they found a child, identified as Jozlyn Marie Beechner, covered in a white sheet.
Beechner does not yet have an attorney.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/man-accused-beating-6-year-old-death-with-bat/
| 2022-09-10T00:43:12Z
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Man arrested after luring boy away from bus stop, molesting him, police say
CHANDLER, Ariz. (Arizona’s Family/Gray News) - An Arizona man is accused of luring a 7-year-old boy away from his bus stop and molesting him two months ago in the Chandler area.
Chandler police said they arrested Jesus Jorge Delcampo on Thursday afternoon after DNA linked him to the crime.
Arizona’s Family reports on July 29, the boy’s parents called 911 after their son told them he followed a man in a “go-kart” behind a shed and was molested near McQueen and Warner roads.
According to court documents, the parents suspected maintenance staff and confronted them before calling the police.
Authorities said the boy told them he got to his bus stop too early, and no other kids were around. So, he asked Delcampo, who was riding around in a golf cart, for help. Delcampo reportedly told the boy to follow him to the shed, where he molested him.
After Delcampo stopped, police said he told the boy to meet him back at the park.
According to court documents, the boy’s parents told officers they talked to different maintenance staff, including Delcampo. The boy’s mother said Delcampo appeared scared, and his face changed when he was told about the allegations.
DNA was later taken from all the men working at the complex, including Delcampo, in early August.
Authorities said Delcampo told them he had gone to work at the complex on the morning of the crime but went directly to the main office. He also said he talked to another co-worker along the way and waited at the office. However, that employee was interviewed by police and said he never spoke to Delcampo that morning.
Video surveillance reportedly showed Delcampo driving a golf cart the morning of the incident.
On Wednesday, police said the DNA found on the victim matched Delcampo. He was taken into custody on Thursday.
Delcampo has claimed innocence, stating it was “impossible” that his DNA was found on the boy, police said. He also reportedly claimed he was at the office despite video surveillance.
Chandler police said Delcampo was booked on two counts of molestation of a child and one count of kidnapping.
Copyright 2022 Arizona's Family via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/man-arrested-after-luring-boy-away-bus-stop-molesting-him-police-say/
| 2022-09-10T00:43:19Z
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McDonald’s bringing back ‘80s treat for the fall
Published: Sep. 8, 2022 at 10:18 PM EDT|Updated: 22 hours ago
(CNN) - It’s a blast from the past at McDonald’s. And no, it’s not another appearance of the McRib.
Starting Sept. 14, for a limited time, the fast-food giant is bringing back its cheese danish after a decades-long disappearance.
The pastry is filled with sweet cream cheese and topped with a buttery streusel and light and vanilla drizzle.
McDonald’s briefly sold it in the 1980s.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/mcdonalds-bringing-back-80s-treat-fall/
| 2022-09-10T00:43:25Z
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Midland Trail faces Meadow Bridge in Fayette County rivalry game
Both teams come off blowout wins in Week 2
Published: Sep. 8, 2022 at 11:42 PM EDT|Updated: 21 hours ago
MEADOW BRIDGE, W.Va. (WVVA) - Our Game of the Week features a county rivalry game between a pair of 1-1 teams.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/midland-trail-faces-meadow-bridge-fayette-county-rivalry-game/
| 2022-09-10T00:43:32Z
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MLB adopts pitch clock, shift limits, bigger bases for 2023
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball is introducing some of its most radical rules next season, adopting a pitch clock and limiting defensive shifts after concluding modern analytics created a slower, less entertaining sport.
The decisions were made Friday by the sport’s 11-man competition committee over the unanimous opposition of the panel’s four players. Commissioner Rob Manfred pushed for the innovations along with a management team that included former Boston and Chicago Cubs executive Theo Epstein, now an MLB consultant.
“The influx of data in our industry,” Epstein said, “have not improved the game from an esthetic standpoint or from an entertainment standpoint. So in my role now, it’s my responsibility to try to look at the big picture, think about what’s great for fans.”
Players supported the third major initiative: larger bases that are expected to lessen injuries and lead to more stolen bases because of a decreased distance of 4 1/2 inches.
Manfred called the rules an attempt to “bring back the best form of baseball.”
“Number one, fans want games with better pace,” he said during a news conference. “Two, fans want more action, more balls in play. And three, fans want to see more of the athleticism of our great players.”
Union head Tony Clark was noticeably absent, as he was at the announcement of an agreement in March that ended a 99-day lockout.
“Players live the game — day in and day out. On-field rules and regulations impact their preparation, performance, and ultimately, the integrity of the game itself,” the union said in a statement. “Major League Baseball was unwilling to meaningfully address the areas of concern that players raised.”
The pitch clock will be set at 15 seconds with no runners on base and 20 seconds with runners — up from the 14/19 tested at Triple-A this season and 14/18 at lower minor league levels.
There will be a limit of two of what MLB calls disengagements — pickoff attempts or steps off the rubber — per plate appearance, and a balk would be called for a third or more unless there is an out. The disengagement limit, which some players predict will beneft baserunners, would be reset if a runner advances.
A catcher is required to be in the catcher’s box with nine seconds left on the clock and a hitter in the batter’s box and focused on the pitcher with eight seconds remaining. Penalties for violations will be a ball called against a pitcher and a strike called against a batter.
A batter can ask an umpire for time once per plate appearance, and after that it would be granted only at the umpire’s discretion if the request is made while in the batter’s box.
The clock, which some players suggested be altered for late and close situations, has helped reduce the average time of a nine-inning game in the minor leagues from 3 hours, 4 minutes in 2021 to 2:38 this season. The average time of a nine-inning game in the major leagues this year is 3:07, up from 2:46 in 1989 and 2:30 in the mid-1950s.
“It reminded me of the game that I grew up watching in the ‘70s and ‘80,” said former outfielder Raúl Ibañez, now an MLB senior vice president.
Two infielders will be required to be on either side of second and all infielders to be within the outer boundary of the infield when the pitcher is on the rubber. Infielders may not switch sides unless there is a substitution, but five-man infields will still be allowed, MLB executive vice president Morgan Sword said.
Shifts have soared from 2,357 times on balls hit in play in 2011 to 28,130 in 2016 and 59,063 last year, according to Sports Info Solutions. Shifts are on pace for 68,000 this season.
“I think fans will cherish the moments absent the extreme defensive shifts when games are decided not by whether their team’s infield is positioned by the perfect algorithm, but by whether their team’s second baseman can range to make an athletic dive playing with everything on the line,” Epstein said.
MLB’s season batting average has dropped from .267 in 1997 to .243 this year, with a team’s average runs declining from 4.77 to 4.33.
“The game has evolved in a way that nobody would have chosen if we were sitting down 25 years ago to chart a path towards the best version of baseball,” Epstein said. “Nobody would have asked for fans to have to wait more than four minutes for balls to be put into play. Nobody would have asked for generational lows and stolen bases, triples and doubles.”
Base size will increase to 18-inch squares from 15 — first basemen are less likely to get stepped on.
In addition, each team will be allowed a sixth mound visit in the ninth inning next year, if it has used five during the first eight innings.
Until last winter, MLB needed one year advance notice to amend on-field rules without union approval but the March lockout settlement established the committee. Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty, Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow, Blue Jays infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield and Giants outfielder Austin Slater represented players Friday, a group that included Cubs infielder Ian Happ as an alternate.
“It’s going to be hard on guys. ... It’s a shame that that we weren’t taken more seriously,” Merrifield said. “It’s an overcorrect and they’re going to have to tweak it. And that’s just what we were trying to avoid.”
Seattle chairman John Stanton headed the committee, which included include St. Louis CEO Bill DeWitt Jr., San Francisco chairman Greg Johnson, Colorado CEO Dick Monfort, Toronto CEO Mark Shapiro and Boston chairman Tom Werner, along with umpire Bill Miller.
“It’s hard to get consensus among the group of players on changing the game,” Manfred said. “I think at the end of the day what we did here was about giving fans the kind of game they want to see.”
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AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/mlb-adopts-pitch-clock-shift-limits-bigger-bases-2023/
| 2022-09-10T00:43:38Z
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N. Korea says it will never give up nukes to counter US
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stressed his country will never abandon the nuclear weapons it needs to counter the United States, which he accused of pushing to weaken the North’s defenses and eventually collapse his government, state media said Friday.
Kim made the comments during a speech Thursday at North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament, where members passed legislation governing the use of nuclear weapons, which Kim described as a step to cement the country’s nuclear status and make clear such weapons will not be bargained.
The law spells out conditions where North would be inclined to use its nuclear weapons, including when it determines that its leadership is facing an imminent “nuclear or non-nuclear attack by hostile forces.” The law requires North Korea’s military to “automatically” execute nuclear strikes against enemy forces, including their “starting point of provocation and the command,” if Pyongyang’s leadership comes under attack.
The law also says North Korea could use nukes to prevent an unspecified “catastrophic crisis” to its government and people, a loose definition that experts say reflect an escalatory nuclear doctrine that could create greater concerns for neighbors.
Kim also criticized South Korea over its plans to expand its conventional strike capabilities and revive large-scale military exercises with the United States to counter the North’s growing threats, describing them as a “dangerous” military action that raises tensions.
Kim has made increasingly provocative threats of nuclear conflict toward the United States and its allies in Asia, also warning that the North would proactively use its nuclear weapons when threatened. His latest comments underscored the growing animosity in the region as he accelerates the expansion of his nuclear weapons and missiles program.
“The purpose of the United States is not only to remove our nuclear might itself, but eventually forcing us to surrender or weaken our rights to self-defense through giving up our nukes, so that they could collapse our government at any time,” Kim said in the speech published by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency.
“Let them sanction us for 100 days, 1,000 days, 10 years or 100 years,” Kim said. “We will never give up our rights to self-defense that preserves our country’s existence and the safety of our people just to temporarily ease the difficulties we are experiencing now.”
Kim also addressed domestic issues, saying North Korea would begin its long-delayed rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in November. He didn’t specify how many doses it would have, where they would come from, or how they would be administered across his population of 26 million people.
GAVI, the nonprofit that runs the U.N.-backed COVAX distribution program, said in June it understood North Korea had accepted an offer of vaccines from China. GAVI said at the time the specifics of the offer were unclear.
North Korea rejected previous offers by COVAX, likely because of international monitoring requirements, and has also ignored U.S. and South Korean offers of vaccines and other COVID-19 aid.
Kim last month declared victory over COVID-19 and ordered preventive measures eased just three months after his government for the first time acknowledged an outbreak. Experts believe the North’s disclosures on its outbreak are manipulated to help Kim maintain absolute control.
The North Korean report about Kim’s speech came a day after South Korea extended its latest olive branch, proposing a meeting with North Korea to resume temporary reunions of aging relatives separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, which were last held in 2018.
Experts say it’s highly unlikely North Korea would accept the South’s offer considering the stark deterioration in inter-Korean ties amid the stalemate in larger nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang. The U.S.-North Korean diplomacy derailed in 2019 over disagreements in exchanging the release of crippling sanctions against the North and the North’s denuclearization steps.
Kim was combative toward South Korea in Thursday’s speech and urged his country to expand the operational roles of its tactical nuclear weapons and accelerate their deployment to strengthen the country’s war deterrent. Those comments appeared to align with a ruling party decision in June to approve unspecified new operational duties for front-line troops, which analysts say likely include plans to deploy battlefield nuclear weapons targeting rival South Korea along their tense border.
Cheong Seong Chang, a senior analyst at South Korea’s Sejong Institute, said Kim’s comments and the new North Korean law amount to a warning that it would launch immediate nuclear strikes on the United States and South Korea if they ever attempt to decapacitate Pyongyang’s leadership.
The North is also communicating a threat that it could use its nuclear weapons during conflicts with South Korea’s conventional forces, which would raise the risk of accidental clashes escalating into a nuclear crisis, Cheong said.
North Korea has been speeding its development of nuclear-capable, short-range missiles that can target South Korea since 2019. Experts say its rhetoric around those missiles communicates a threat to proactively use them in warfare to blunt the stronger conventional forces of South Korea and the United States. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in the South to deter aggression from the North.
The U.S.-led diplomatic push to defuse the nuclear standoff has been further complicated by an intensifying U.S.-China rivalry and Russia’s war on Ukraine, which deepened the divide in the U.N. Security Council, where Beijing and Moscow have blocked U.S. efforts to tighten sanctions on Pyongyang over its revived long-range missile tests this year.
Kim has dialed up weapons tests to a record pace in 2020, launching more than 30 ballistic weapons, including the first demonstrations of his intercontinental ballistic missiles since 2017.
U.S. and South Korean officials say Kim may up the ante soon by ordering the North’s first nuclear test in five years as he pushes a brinkmanship aimed at forcing Washington to accept the idea of the North as a nuclear power and negotiating concessions from a position of strength.
Experts say Kim is also trying to strengthen his leverage by strengthening his cooperation with China and Russia in an emerging partnership aimed at undercutting U.S. influence.
North Korea has repeatedly blamed the United States for the crisis in Ukraine, saying the West’s “hegemonic policy” justified Russian military actions in Ukraine to protect itself. U.S. officials said this week the Russians are in the process of purchasing North Korean ammunition, including artillery shells and rockets, to ease their supply shortages in the war against Ukraine.
North Korea also has joined Russia and Syria as the only nations to recognize the independence of two pro-Russia breakaway territories in eastern Ukraine and has discussed send its construction workers to those regions to work on rebuilding.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/n-korea-says-it-will-never-give-up-nukes-counter-us/
| 2022-09-10T00:43:46Z
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Officials warn parents to look out for fentanyl that looks like candy
MARION COUNTY, Fla. (Gray New) – Officials in Florida are warning parents nationwide to be cautious of products that look like candy but actually contain drugs.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said with Halloween around the corner, it’s not too early to be on the lookout for these deceptive products.
The sheriff’s office posted photos of examples to be wary of, showing fentanyl pressed in multiple colors, giving it a candy-like appearance.
“Not only does this make it easier for kids to hide drugs from their parents, but it also makes it more likely for unknowing kids (or even adults) to consume the drugs believing it is candy,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a Facebook post.
If you believe your child has ingested something they shouldn’t have, officials say to call 911 immediately.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/officials-warn-parents-look-out-fentanyl-that-looks-like-candy/
| 2022-09-10T00:43:54Z
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PikeView Students Climb Steps to Honor 9/11 First Responders
Students climbed 2071 steps in remembrance of those who risked their lives.
MERCER COUNTY, W.Va. (WVVA) - It has been more than two decades since the 9/11 attacks. This year, students and faculty from PikeView High School held an event in remembrance of those who risked their lives to help others on that horrific day. Students gathered in the gym for a ceremony to honor all the firefighter, police, and military who lost their lives because of the attacks in New York.
Principal Anna Lilly told of her experiences watching the events unfold surrounded by her students.
“Nothing about that day was normal. Most teachers spent their days watching the television and just trying to help the students cope with the situation because we were dealing with not only our emotions, but we also had to help the students understand the situation and try to put some of their fears to rest and try to provide comfort to those students.”
Firefighters on that day climbed the stairs of the Twin Towers to rescue the those trapped inside the inferno. For many of them, this would be the last thing they would ever do. To honor their sacrifice, some of the students ran 2071 steps at the school’s football field to show just some of what the firefighters went through that day.
The students gave their best effort to complete the task, but many struggled in the hot sun - a heat that barely compares to the flames the first responders experienced during the tragic events in New York.
First Sergeant Steven Compton who also ran the steps spoke of the importance of keeping the memory of the heroes of that day alive in the minds of the generations who were born following the attack.
“Well, I think, especially young people, I think they don’t understand what those people went through and things like this gives them an idea of exactly what those, those firefighters and police officers did to try to save people and without thought, without stopping, without thinking, they did their job, and it lets young people know what 9/11 is all about.”
The students who finished the climb were exhausted. Although they will recover from the soreness, the appreciation that they gained for the first responders went through that day will likely never fade.
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/pikeview-students-climb-steps-honor-911-first-responders/
| 2022-09-10T00:44:00Z
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President Biden to deliver ‘Cancer Moonshot’ speech Monday in Boston
The president wants to “end cancer as we know it.”
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - On Monday, President Joe Biden will deliver his ‘Cancer Moonshot’ speech at the JFK Library in Boston.
The White House said Wednesday the president will lay out a vision for another American moonshot, on the 60th anniversary of President Kennedy’s Moonshot speech, to “end cancer as we know it” by doing two things.
“First, to cut the cancer death rate in half over the next 25 years. Second, to improve the experience of people, their families, and caregivers living with and -- living with and surviving cancer,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
The president has called on Congress to fund Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, with a price tag of $6.5 billion over three years to drive biomedical breakthroughs. He previously announced he was reigniting the White House’s Cancer Moonshot initiative which was something he first embarked on six years ago when he was vice president.
Biden said during his State of the Union address in March that this is personal to him after losing his son, Beau to brain cancer in 2015.
“So many of you have lost someone you love: husband, wife, son, daughter, mom, dad,” said Biden.
The president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, which helps patients talk about their cancer battles, said it means everything to know President Biden is personally invested in being there for families too.
“I am 100% sure that we are making incredible progress in this fight. And by having an administration and a Congress that’s committed to doing what needs to be done in the public policy arena to end cancer as we know it, we will absolutely achieve that goal,” said Lisa Lacasse.
The president has already created a Cancer Cabinet to address several issues including helping to close the screening gap.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/president-biden-deliver-cancer-moonshot-speech-monday-boston/
| 2022-09-10T00:44:07Z
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Princeton University offers free tuition for some families
(CNN) - Students can go to Princeton University for free if their family earns less than $100,000.
The Ivy League school in New Jersey announced a more generous financial aid program Thursday.
Previously, students only qualified if their families made less than $65,000.
Now, most students from families earning less than $100,000 annually will get free tuition, room and board.
Princeton said about 1,500 undergraduates, which is about a quarter of the undergraduate student body, will get this aid.
Also under the new policies, which take effect next fall, more scholarship funding will go to families earning less than $150,000 a year.
Other Ivy League schools have also recently boosted financial aid for their students.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/princeton-university-offers-free-tuition-some-families/
| 2022-09-10T00:44:13Z
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Proud Boys Hawaii leader, friend plead guilty in Jan. 6 riot
(AP) - The founder of the Hawaii Proud Boys chapter and a Texas man who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and posed for a picture in front of a door on which one of them had written “Murder the Media” each pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to a felony charge in connection with the riot.
Nicholas Ochs, founder of the far-right extremist group’s Hawaii chapter and a onetime Republican state House candidate, and Nicholas DeCarlo, of Fort Worth, Texas, admitted to obstructing the congressional certification of President Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory.
They shared a social media channel called “Murder the Media” and initially claimed to be working as journalists on Jan. 6, according to the government.
Federal guidelines for Ochs, 36, and DeCarlo, 32, call for sentences between about 3 1/2 years and four years behind bars, although the judge can decide to go above or below that. In exchange for pleading guilty, prosecutors agreed to dismiss several other charges against them. They are to be sentenced in December.
Edward MacMahon, a lawyer for Ochs, noted after the hearing that his client did not injure anyone at the Capitol and said he hopes Ochs is sentenced consistent with others who did not participate in any violence. A lawyer for DeCarlo did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.
Ochs and DeCarlo attended the “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House in support of then-President Donald Trump on the morning of Jan. 6 and then marched together to the Capitol. The men admitted to throwing smoke bombs at a line of police trying to keep the mob from the stage set up for Biden’s inauguration.
DeCarlo admitted to writing “Murder The Media” in permanent marker on a door in the Capitol building, prosecutors said. The men then posed in front of the door with a thumbs-up sign. DeCarlo also rummaged through a Capitol police officer’s bag and stole a pair of plastic handcuffs, prosecutors said.
Ochs posted on Twitter a picture of the men smoking cigarettes inside the Capitol, and the caption said: “Hello from the Capital lol,” according to court papers.
After leaving the building, they filmed a video together in which Ochs said they came to “stop the steal” and DeCarlo declared: “We did it,” the government said. “Sorry we couldn’t go live when we stormed the f----in’ U.S. Capitol and made Congress flee,” Ochs said in a video with the Capitol visible in the background.
Ochs told CNN that he was working as a “professional journalist” and that he did not have to break into the Capitol, but just “walked in and filmed.” Before his arrest, DeCarlo also told The Los Angeles Times that they were journalists.
“What I did was journalism: Follow the events and show people what happened,” DeCarlo told the newspaper.
Ochs was the Republican Party’s candidate to represent Waikiki in the Hawaii House in the November 2020 election. Ochs lost to Democrat Adrian Tam.
Ochs and DeCarlo are among dozens of members and associates of the Proud Boys who have been charged in the Capitol riot. The group’s former chairman, Enrique Tarrio, and other leaders have been charged with seditious conspiracy — the most serious charges brought so far in the insurrection.
The leader and members of another far-right extremist group, the Oath Keepers, are heading to trial later this month on the charge of seditious conspiracy. The Oath Keepers are the first Jan. 6 defendants facing the rare and difficult-to-prove charge to go to trial.
Also on Friday, a lawyer for the Oath Keepers, Kellye SoRelle, pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiracy to obstruct the certification of the Electoral College vote. SoRelle, a close associate of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, was arrested this month in Texas.
More than 870 people have been charged so far in the Capitol riot. Nearly 400 have pleaded guilty to charges ranging from low-level misdemeanors for illegally entering the building to felony seditious conspiracy.
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For full coverage of the Capitol riot, go to https://www.apnews.com/capitol-siege
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/proud-boys-hawaii-leader-friend-plead-guilty-jan-6-riot/
| 2022-09-10T00:44:20Z
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Police: Georgia deputies serving warrant killed in shootout
MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) — Authorities charged a man with murder Friday in the killing of two sheriff’s deputies serving an arrest warrant on another person outside a suburban home near Atlanta.
Cobb County Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer told reporters at a news conference that the deputies were attempting to arrest a man wanted on theft charges in the driveway of his home Thursday night when another man inside confronted them with a gun.
A shootout ensued when the armed man refused commands to drop his weapon, VanHoozer said, and both deputies were fatally wounded. The shooting suspect and the man with the outstanding warrant were both arrested following a standoff with officers who swarmed the neighborhood.
The two slain deputies were identified Friday as 42-year-old Jonathan Koleski and 38-year-old Marshall Ervin.
“They were outstanding men, men of character and integrity, family men loved by their families and their kids,” Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens told a news conference.
Both men arrested at the scene made initial court appearances Friday afternoon.
Christopher Golden, 30, was charged with two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault against law enforcement officers. Christopher Cook, 32, wasn’t charged in the killings. But he was booked on six outstanding theft charges.
Both men were denied bond. It was not immediately known if they had attorneys.
VanHoozer declined to give specifics of what happened during the standoff that ended with the two men arrested, the home’s front door out of its frame and windows broken. He did say there was no more gunfire after the deputies were shot and no other officers were injured.
The sheriff had previously told reporters his deputies had been “ambushed.” On Friday afternoon, he deferred questions about the shootings to the county police chief, whose agency is conducting the investigation.
VanHoozer said police had tried to be forthcoming with what they knew during an “unfolding investigation” in which they still had limited information.
Asked if he would call the shootings an ambush, VanHoozer said: “What I’ve just given you are facts. I’m not going to label it.”
Sprawling Cobb County, with more than 760,000 people, is just northwest of Atlanta and one of Georgia’s most populous counties.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/sheriff-2-deputies-killed-while-serving-warrant-georgia/
| 2022-09-10T00:44:27Z
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South Carolina senators reject a near-total abortion ban
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina senators rejected a ban on almost all abortions Thursday in a special session called in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade after five Republicans, including all the chamber’s women, refused to support it.
The 30 Republicans in the 46-member chamber had a majority to pass the ban, but did not have the extra votes to end a threatened filibuster by Republican Sen. Tom Davis.
Davis, the chief of staff for former Gov. Mark Sanford before being elected to the Senate in 2009, was joined by the three Republican women in the Senate, a fifth GOP colleague and all Democratic senators to oppose the proposed ban.
Davis said he promised his daughters he would not vote to make South Carolina’s current six-week abortion ban stricter because women have rights, too.
“The moment we become pregnant we lost all control over what goes on with our bodies,” Davis said, recalling what his daughters told him. “I’m here to tell you I’m not going to let it happen.
After a recess to work through their options, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey conceded the abortion ban likely couldn’t pass.
“We were never going to pass a total abortion ban,” Massey said. “We never had the votes to pass even what the House passed.”
Senators did pass a few changes to the six-week ban, including cutting the time that victims of rape and incest who become pregnant can seek an abortion from 20 weeks to about 12 weeks and requiring that DNA from the aborted fetus be collected for police. The bill goes back to the House, which passed a ban with exceptions for rape or incest.
South Carolina’s six-week ban is currently suspended as the state Supreme Court reviews whether it violates privacy rights. In the meantime, the state’s 2016 ban on abortions 20 weeks after conception is in effect.
South Carolina’s General Assembly was meeting in a special session to try to join more than a dozen other states with abortion bans.
Most of them came through so-called trigger laws designed to outlaw most abortions when the U.S. Supreme Court threw out the constitutional right to end a pregnancy in June. Indiana’s Legislature passed a new ban last month that has not taken effect.
The debate started Wednesday with the three Republican women in the South Carolina Senate speaking back to back, saying they couldn’t support the bill unless the rape or incest exceptions were restored.
Sen. Katrina Shealy said the 41 men in the Senate would be better off listening to their wives, daughters, mothers, granddaughters and looking at the faces of the girls in Sunday School classes at their churches.
“You want to believe that God is wanting you to push a bill through with no exceptions that kill mothers and ruins the lives of children — lets mothers bring home babies to bury them — then I think you’re miscommunicating with God. Or maybe you aren’t communicating with Him at all,” Shealy said before senators added a proposal allowing abortions if a fetus cannot survive outside the womb.
Massey helped broker the compromise among Republicans that briefly returned the exceptions to the bill. He pointed out state health officials recorded about 3,000 abortions in 2021 within the first six weeks of a pregnancy.
“Heartbeat is great, but this I think is better,” Massey said. “I don’t think abortion should be used as birth control.”
Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto said Republican women stood up for all women in South Carolina, while Republican men let them down. He said Democrats didn’t want any changes to current laws.
“There may be a sentiment that this is the same as what we already had. It’s not. It’s worse in many regards,” Hutto said.
Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who has said before he would be happy if there were no abortions in the state, thought the Senate version struck an appropriate balance, governor’s spokesman Brian Symmes said
“It is the governor’s hope that the House and Senate will soon come to an agreement and send a bill to his desk for signature,” Symmes said.
Republican Sen. Sandy Senn, who didn’t vote for the six-week ban in 2021, said a total ban would be an invasion of the privacy against every woman in the state.
“If what is going on in my vagina isn’t an unreasonable invasion of privacy for this legislature to get involved in, I don’t know what is,” Senn said.
___
Associated Press writer James Pollard contributed to this report.
___
Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/south-carolina-senators-reject-near-total-abortion-ban/
| 2022-09-10T00:44:33Z
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Spotty fall colors likely in New England amid drought
(AP) - This summer’s drought is expected to cause a patchy array of fall color starting earlier in the leaf-peeping haven of New England while the autumn colors are likely to be muted and not last as long in the drought- and heat-stricken areas of the south.
In New England, experts anticipate the season, which typically peaks in October, to be more spread out with some trees changing earlier or even browning and dropping leaves because of the drought. Other places, like Texas, could see colors emerging later in the fall due to warm temperatures.
“We will still have brilliant colors in New England because of the fact that we have so many different kinds of trees and they’re growing on kind of ridges, and kind of slopes and wetlands,” said Richard Primack, a professor of plant ecology at Boston University. “You know we will have good color but the color will probably be more spotty than usual.”
Leaf peeping is big business in places like New England, where millions of visitors from around the country and world bring in billions of dollars.
Everyone from inns to diners often count on this business to get them through the rest of the year. But predicting when those colors will peak is not an exact science; requiring experts to consider everything from temperature, the length of the day and stresses like pests and drought.
In Vermont, the 18-room Mad River Barn, an inn in Fayston, typically sells out for about three weeks in a row starting in late September, said inn manager Jess Kotch. But those leaf-peepers don’t make reservations far in advance.
“Typically we get so many inquiries for last-minute stays through that period that I don’t even really start thinking about it until this week and next week,” she said.
This year, drought is one of the big concerns in many parts of the country.
Severe and even extreme drought set in this summer in southern New England and remains in some areas, while up north parts of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are in a moderate drought or are abnormally dry. In those northern New England states, the color will depend on the health of the individual trees and is expected to be good to variable.
“Where you have those real dry sandy soils or you know, trees that have had health issues accumulating over time you may see some effect on fall foliage on those trees,” Wendy Scribner, a forestry field specialist with the University of New Hampshire extension service, said. “But I think we just have so many of them that we still will see some coloration.”
In Oklahoma, where much of the state is in severe or extreme drought, the trees are expected to change earlier than usual and it will be quicker. Some oak trees started browning and dropping leaves this summer, said Alex Schwartz, district silviculturist for the Oklahoma Ranger Districts of the Ouachita National Forest.
“When the trees experience moderate to severe drought stress like we’ve had, what they’re going to do is they’re going to probably stop that production — what little they’ve had over the summer —- stop that production a lot quicker, and they’re not going to produce a lot of those other pigments like the carotenoids that bring out those other fall colors,” he said.
The same thing is happening on some ridgetops in Connecticut where oak trees in thin dry soils are browning and dropping leaves early, meaning they’re shutting down. And many southern New England beech trees, whose leaves typically turn yellow and orange in the fall, have been hit by beech leaf disease, causing them to drop their leaves, said Robert Marra, a forest pathologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
“It’s going to have a very serious impact on fall colors in the sense that most of the beeches, many of them throughout southern New England, were hit so badly by beech leaf disease this year that they’re just dropping, they don’t have leaves on them to change color,” he said.
In Texas, the colors are likely to be muted and warm temperatures could push back the change, said Mac Martin, partnership coordinator for Texas A&M Forest Service.
“We’re going to probably get a shorter window of the fall colors that we get here in general as well as probably less kind of brilliant colors,” he said.
Visitors to the White Mountain Hotel and Resort in North Conway, New Hampshire, are not holding off in making reservations, said Carol Sullivan, director of sales and marketing.
“The last two years for us have been very strong, and that is the same prediction for us this year, that we will have an equally strong, if not even stronger, fall foliage season, regardless of what the weather does,” she said.
______
AP reporter Kathy McCormack contributed to this report from Concord, New Hampshire.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/spotty-fall-colors-likely-new-england-amid-drought/
| 2022-09-10T00:44:40Z
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Teen killed after walking into path of semi-truck, troopers say
Published: Sep. 9, 2022 at 11:06 AM EDT|Updated: 10 hours ago
DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) – A 16-year-old died Tuesday night after being hit by a semi-truck on a portion of Interstate 80, according to Iowa State Patrol.
Authorities said a semi-truck was heading westbound on I-80 and a car was stopped on the inside shoulder of the road.
The teen got out of the car and walked into the path of the truck and was killed, according to troopers.
The driver of the semi-truck was not hurt.
The crash remains under investigation.
Copyright 2022 KWQC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/teen-killed-after-walking-into-path-semi-truck-troopers-say/
| 2022-09-10T00:44:47Z
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Tropical Storm Kay veers away from Mexico- California border
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Tropical Storm Kay veered out into the Pacific just short of the U.S. border Friday, while dumping rain on parts of northwestern Mexico and Southern California.
The eye of Kay came ashore as a hurricane near Mexico’s Bahia Asuncion in Baja California Sur state Thursday afternoon, but it quickly weakend into a tropical storm after moving back out over open water.
At midafternoon Friday, it had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and was becoming less organized, with forecasters predicting it would diminish to a remnant low overnight.
Kay was centered about 130 miles (205 kilometers) south-southwest of San Diego, California, and was moving northwest at 12 mph (19 kph). The storm was expected to start a more marked turn to the west that would take it farther out into the Pacific.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said that “flash, urban, and small stream flooding” was a threat across Southern California and southwestern Arizona.
The center said southernmost California could see 2 to 4 inches of rain, with isolated areas getting 6 to 8 inches. It said the Sierra Nevada, Arizona and Southern Nevada might receive 1 to 2 inches, with isolated spots at 3 inches.
Meanwhile in the Atlantic, Hurricane Earl continued heading out into the open seas after passing southeast of Bermuda.
Late Friday afternoon, Earl was centered about 430 miles (690 kilometers) northeast of Bermuda. It had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 kph) and was moving northeast at 26 mph (43 kph).
Earl knocked out power to 1,500 customers as it brushed past Bermuda early Friday, downing several trees in the British territory. Crews had cleared roads by midday and were working to restore power to the few homes still in the dark.
Government agencies and public transportation were operating as usual, while ferries were scheduled to restart service Friday afternoon.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/tropical-storm-kay-dumps-rain-mexicos-baja-peninsula/
| 2022-09-10T00:44:53Z
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Trump team, Justice Dept. to make new Mar-a-Lago filing
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department and Donald Trump’s legal team are to stake out positions Friday on the precise role to be played by an independent arbiter tasked with reviewing documents seized during an FBI search of the former president’s Florida home.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon had given both sides until Friday to submit potential candidates for the role of a “special master,” as well as proposals for the scope of the person’s duties and the schedule for his or her work.
The back-and-forth over the special master is playing out amid an FBI investigation into the retention of several hundred classified documents recovered from Mar-a-Lago within the past year. Though the legal wrangling is unlikely to have major long-term effects on the criminal investigation or knock it significantly off course, it will almost certainly delay it and has already caused the intelligence community to temporarily pause a national risk assessment it was doing.
Over the strenuous objections of the Justice Department, Cannon on Monday granted the Trump team’s request for the special master and directed the department to temporarily halt its review of records for investigative purposes.
She said the person would be responsible for sifting through the records recovered during the Aug. 8 search of Mar-a-Lago and filter out from the criminal investigation any documents potentially covered by claims of attorney-client or executive privilege.
Roughly 11,000 documents — including more than 100 with classified markings, some at the top-secret level — were recovered during the search. That’s on top of classified documents contained in 15 boxes retrieved in January by the National Archives and Records Administration, and additional sensitive government records the department took back during a June visit to Mar-a-Lago.
The Justice Department had objected to the Trump team’s request for a special master, saying it had already completed its own review in which identified a limited subset of records that possibly involve attorney-client privilege. It has maintained that executive privilege does not apply in this investigation because Trump, no longer president, had no right to claim the documents as his.
The department on Thursday filed a notice of appeal indicating that it would contest the judge’s order to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. Officials asked the judge to lift her hold on their investigative work pending their appeal, as well as her requirement that the department share with a special master the classified records that were recovered.
It is not clear whether Trump or anyone else will be charged.
___
More on Donald Trump-related investigations: https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/trump-team-justice-dept-make-new-mar-a-lago-filing/
| 2022-09-10T00:45:00Z
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Ukraine claws back some territory; nuclear plant in peril
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian forces on Friday claimed new success in their counteroffensive against Russian forces in the country’s east, taking control of a sizeable village and pushing toward an important transport junction. The United States’ top diplomat and the head of NATO noted the advances, but cautioned that the war is likely to drag on for months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commended the military for its gains in the east, saying in a nightly video address that Ukrainian troops have reclaimed more than 30 settlements in the Kharkiv region since the start of the counteroffensive there this week.
“We are gradually taking control over more settlements, returning the Ukrainian flag and protection for our people.” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine’s military said it also launched new attacks on Russian pontoon bridges used to bring supplies across the Dnieper River to Kherson, one of the largest Russian-occupied cities, and the adjacent region. Ukrainian artillery and rocket strikes have left all regular bridges across the river unusable, the military’s southern command said.
Anxiety increased about Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which was operating in emergency mode Friday for the fifth straight day due to the war. That prompted the head of the U.N. atomic watchdog to call for the establishment of an immediate safety zone around the plant to prevent a nuclear accident.
The six-reactor Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant came under the control of Russian forces early in the war but is being operated by Ukrainian staff. The plant and surrounding areas have been repeatedly hit by shelling that Russia and Ukraine blame on each other. The last power line connecting the plant to the Ukrainian electricity grid was cut Monday, leaving the plant without an outside source of electricity. It is receiving power for its own safety systems from the only reactor — out of six total — that remains operational.
In other advances, the Ukrainian military said it took control of the village of Volokhiv Yar in the Kharkiv region and aimed to advance toward strategically valuable town of Kupiansk, which would cut off Russian forces from key supply routes.
Pro-Russian authorities in the Kupiansk district announced that civilians were being evacuated toward the Russian-held region of Luhansk.
“The initial signs are positive and we see Ukraine making real, demonstrable progress in a deliberate way,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Brussels, a day after visiting Kyiv.
“But this is likely to go on for some significant period of time,” he said. “There are a huge number of Russian forces in Ukraine and unfortunately, tragically, horrifically, President (Vladimir) Putin has demonstrated that he will throw a lot of people into this at huge cost to Russia.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who met with Blinken, said the war is “entering a critical phase.”
The gains “are modest and only the first successes of the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian army, but they are important both in terms of seizing the military initiative and raising the spirit of Ukrainian soldiers,” Mykola Sunhurovskyi, a military analyst at the Razumkov Center in Kyiv, told The Associated Press.
Energoatom, Ukraine’s state nuclear operator, said Friday that repairs to outside electric lines at the Zaporizhzhia plant are impossible because of the shelling and that operating the plant in what is called an “island” status carries “the risk of violating radiation and fire safety standards.”
“Only the withdrawal of the Russians from the plant and the creation of a security zone around it can normalize the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Only then will the world be able to exhale,” Petro Kotin, the head of Energoatom, told Ukrainian TV.
Earlier, Kotin told The Associated Press the plant’s only operating reactor “can be stopped completely” at any moment and as a consequence, the only power source would be a diesel generator.
There are 20 generators on site and enough diesel fuel for 10 days. After that, about 200 tons of diesel fuel would be needed daily for the generators, which he said is “impossible” to get while the plant is occupied by Russian forces.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Friday that there was little likelihood of reestablishing reliable offsite power lines to the plant.
“This is an unsustainable situation and is becoming increasingly precarious,” Grossi said, calling for an “immediate cessation of all shelling in the entire area” and the establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone.
“This is the only way to ensure that we do not face a nuclear accident,” he said.
Fighting continued Friday elsewhere in Ukraine.
Russian planes bombed the hospital in the town of Velika Pysarivka, on the border with Russia, said Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, governor of the Sumy region. He said the building was destroyed and there were an unknown number of casualties.
In the Donetsk region in the east — one of two that Russia declared to be sovereign states at the outset of the war — eight people were killed in the city of Bakhmut over the past day and the city is without water and electricity for the fourth straight day, said governor Pavlo Kyrylenko.
Four people were killed in shelling in the Kharkiv region, two of them in the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest, according to governor Oleh Syniehubov. The shelling of the city continued Friday afternoon, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said, wounding 10 people, including three children.
Ukraine this week claimed to have regained control of more than 20 settlements in the Kharkiv region, including the small city of Balakliya. Social media posts showed weeping, smiling Balakliya residents embracing Ukrainian soldiers.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday refused to comment on the alleged retaking of Balakliya, redirecting all such questions to the Russian Defense Ministry.
But Vitaly Ganchev, the Russian-installed official in the Kharkiv region, confirmed Friday that “Balakliya, in effect, is not under our control.” Ganchev said “tough battles” were continuing in the city.
Helicopters and fighter jets streaked over the rolling plains of the Donetsk region, with the jets heading toward Izium, near where Ukrainian forces have been carrying out a counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region. The jets fired flares and black smoke billowed in the distance.
—
Associated Press writer Elena Becatoros in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, and Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report.
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Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/ukrainian-nuke-plant-operating-tenuously-war-persists/
| 2022-09-10T00:45:07Z
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US changes names of places with racist term for Native women
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The U.S. government has joined a ski resort and others that have quit using a racist term for a Native American woman by renaming hundreds of peaks, lakes, streams and other geographical features on federal lands in the West and elsewhere.
New names for nearly 650 places bearing the offensive word “squaw” include the mundane (Echo Peak, Texas), peculiar (No Name Island, Maine) and Indigenous terms (Nammi’I Naokwaide, Idaho) whose meaning at a glance will elude those unfamiliar with Native languages.
Nammi’I Naokwaide, located in traditional lands of the Shoshone and Bannock tribes in southern Idaho, means “Young Sister Creek.” The tribes proposed the new name.
“I feel a deep obligation to use my platform to ensure that our public lands and waters are accessible and welcoming. That starts with removing racist and derogatory names that have graced federal locations for far too long,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement.
The changes announced Thursday capped an almost yearlong process that began after Haaland, the first Native American to lead a Cabinet agency, took office in 2021. Haaland is from Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico.
The Native American Rights Fund, a nonprofit legal organization, welcomed the changes.
“Federal lands should be welcoming spaces for all citizens,” deputy director Matthew Campbell said in a statement. “It is well past time for derogatory names to be removed and tribes to be included in the conversation.”
Haaland in November declared the term derogatory and ordered members of the Board on Geographic Names, the Interior Department panel that oversees uniform naming of places in the U.S., and others to come up with alternatives.
Haaland meanwhile created a panel that will take suggestions from the public on changing other places named with derogatory terms.
Other places renamed include Colorado’s Mestaa’ėhehe (pronounced “mess-taw-HAY”) Pass near Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Denver. The new name honors an influential translator, Owl Woman, who mediated between Native Americans and white traders and soldiers in what is now southern Colorado.
The Board on Geographic Names approved changing the mountain’s name in December.
While the offensive term in question, identified as “sq___” by the Interior Department on Thursday, has met wide scorn in the U.S. only somewhat recently, changing place names in response to broadening opposition to racism has long precedent.
The department ordered the renaming of places carrying a derogatory term for Black people in 1962 and those with a derogatory term for Japanese people in 1974.
The private sector in some cases has taken the lead in changing the offensive term for Native women. Last year, a California ski resort changed its name to Palisades Tahoe.
A Maine ski area also committed in 2021 to changing its name, two decades after that state removed the slur from names of communities and landmarks, though it has yet to do so.
The term originated in the Algonquin language and may have once simply meant “woman.” But over time, the word morphed into a misogynist and racist term to disparage Indigenous women, experts say.
California, meanwhile, has taken its own steps to remove the word from place names. The state Legislature in August passed a bill that would remove the word from more than 100 places beginning in 2025.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has until the end of September to decide whether to sign the bill into law.
___
Adam Beam in Sacramento, California, contributed to this report.
___
Follow Mead Gruver at https://twitter.com/meadgruver
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/us-changes-names-places-with-racist-term-native-women/
| 2022-09-10T00:45:14Z
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US, NATO note Ukraine army gains but see war dragging on
BRUSSELS (AP) — Ukraine’s armed forces have made significant early gains in their counter-offensive against Russian troops in southern and eastern Ukraine but fighting appears set to drag on for months, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the head of NATO said Friday.
Blinken, who was at NATO headquarters to brief the 29 U.S. allies after a trip to Kyiv on Thursday, said the six-month war in Ukraine is entering a critical period. He urged the conflict-torn country’s Western backers to maintain their support through the winter.
“The initial signs are positive, and we see Ukraine making real, demonstrable progress in a deliberate way,” Blinken said, referring to the Ukrainian military’s recent push into Russian-occupied areas in southern Ukraine and the eastern Donbas region.
“But this is likely to go on for some significant period of time,” he said. “There are a huge number of Russian forces that are in Ukraine, and unfortunately, tragically, horrifically, President (Vladimir) Putin has demonstrated that he will throw a lot of people into this at huge cost to Russia.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the invasion launched by Putin in February is “entering a critical phase.”
“Ukrainian forces have been able to stall Moscow’s offensive in Donbas, strike back behind Russian lines and retake territory,” he said.
But Stoltenberg warned that allied unity will be tested in coming months, “with pressure on energy supplies and the soaring cost of living caused by Russia’s war.” He renewed calls for allies to supply special uniforms, generators, tents and equipment to help Ukraine’s army weather the winter.
Blinken appeared moved by his visit to Ukraine as he railed against what he said were Russian war crimes and the price of “indiscriminate violence” inflicted on civilians.
“I saw the costs in my visit to a children’s hospital in Kyiv, where I met kids who will spend the rest of their lives without limbs, or with enduring brain injuries, or with other trauma that may be invisible to the eye, because of atrocities committed by Russian forces,” he said.
The one-day visit was Blinken’s second to Ukraine’s capital since the war began, and his fifth into Ukraine since becoming secretary of state. On his last trip, in April, he traveled on the same overnight train with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin but did not have the opportunity to see much of the damage in and around the city caused by Russian shelling.
At the hospital, Blinken met with, among other children wounded in aerial and artillery attacks, a six-year old girl named Maryna who lost a leg after a rocket struck her house in the city of Kherson. He also toured the town of Irpin, much of it devastated by repeated Russian air strikes.
“You see just miles from downtown Kyiv these bombed-out buildings, civilian dwellings,” he said after his return. “The only thing you can say when you see it is, at best – at best, these were indiscriminate attacks on civilian buildings, and at worst, intentional, deliberate, designed to terrorize the population.”
“There has to be accountability for those who committed atrocities,” Blinken said.
At NATO on Friday, Blinken said Putin is using every weapon he has, including energy, to try to “break the will” of the allies, but that there is “a growing recognition around the world that while the costs of standing up to the Kremlin’s aggression are high, the costs of standing down would be even higher.”
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Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
“But this is likely to go on for some significant period of time,” he said. “There are a huge number of Russian forces that are in Ukraine, and unfortunately, tragically, horrifically, President (Vladimir) Putin has demonstrated that he will throw a lot of people into this at huge cost to Russia.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the invasion launched by Putin in February is “entering a critical phase.”
“Ukrainian forces have been able to stall Moscow’s offensive in Donbas, strike back behind Russian lines and retake territory,” he said.
But Stoltenberg warned that allied unity will be tested in coming months, “with pressure on energy supplies and the soaring cost of living caused by Russia’s war.” He renewed calls for allies to supply special uniforms, generators, tents and equipment to help Ukraine’s army weather the coming winter.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/us-nato-note-ukraine-army-gains-see-war-dragging/
| 2022-09-10T00:45:20Z
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VIDEO: Former principal facing charges after shoving special needs student, authorities say
FRESNO, Calif. (TMX/Gray News) - School district officials released a video that reportedly shows a now-former principal shoving an elementary school student with special needs.
The Fresno Unified School District released the video it says involves former Wolters Elementary School Principal Brian Vollhardt shoving a student to the ground in June.
In a press conference Thursday, Superintendent Bob Nelson said that on the morning of June 7, Vollhardt joined a small group of students in the cafeteria.
Nelson said that a student got upset and “instead of de-escalating the situation” the former principal chose to “shove the student down aggressively.”
The video reportedly shows Vollhardt and two other adults speaking to that student. The student could be seen pointing at Vollhardt and stepping close to him. The student steps up to Vollhardt a second time and he can be seen forcefully shoving the student’s chest, causing the student to fall backward.
Nelson said the student involved is “physically OK” and has been provided support since the incident was reported on June 8. Vollhardt was placed on administrative leave while the district launched an investigation, and on June 9, the district reported the incident to the Fresno Police Department and Child Protective Services.
According to Nelson, when the district initiated disciplinary proceedings, Vollhardt resigned.
“The district has no interest in retaining employees who engage in this type of harmful behavior toward students,” Nelson said.
Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama said the video “was shocking” to him.
“As a parent of a child close in age to the victim who also suffers from anxiety and doesn’t always handle situations in the best way, it is abhorrent and troubling as to how somebody who’s supposed to protect this child, and provide support, treated them,” Balderrama said.
The police chief said Vollhardt has been charged with willful cruelty to a minor and that interviews are still being conducted in the case.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. TMX contributed to this story.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/video-former-principal-facing-charges-after-shoving-special-needs-student-authorities-say/
| 2022-09-10T00:45:27Z
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What’s next as UK mourns, King Charles III starts reign
LONDON (AP) — The death of Queen Elizabeth II has triggered a series of carefully structured ceremonial and constitutional steps, as Britain undergoes a period of national mourning and heralds the reign of King Charles III.
The long-established 10-day plan, code-named Operation London Bridge, has been adapted to the specific circumstances of the queen’s death in Scotland, and some details haven’t been publicly confirmed.
Here is a look at what will happen in the coming days.
Friday, Sept. 9
— King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, traveled from Balmoral Castle in Scotland to London.
— At noon, church bells rang at Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral and across the country in honor of the queen.
— Also at noon, Parliament held a special session so lawmakers can pay tribute to the queen.
— A 1 p.m., gun salutes were fired in London’s Hyde Park and at military sites around the country, one round for reach of the 96 years of the queen’s life.
— Afternoon — The king met with new Prime Minister Liz Truss.
— 6 p.m. — The king made a televised address to the nation in which he spoke of his “profound sorrow” over the death of his mother, the queen, and vowed to continue her “lifelong service” to others.
— 6 p.m. — A service of remembrance was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral for the queen.
Saturday, Sept. 10
— 10 a.m. — Charles meets at St. James’s Palace with senior officials known as the Accession Council and is officially proclaimed king.
— 11 a.m. — An official reads the proclamation aloud from a balcony at St. James’s Palace. It is also read out in other locations across the U.K.
— 1 p.m. — Parliament holds a second day of tributes to the queen.
Subsequent days:
— The queen’s body is moved from Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands to Edinburgh, where the coffin is likely to rest at Holyrood Palace before being moved to St. Giles’ Cathedral so members of the public can pay their respects.
— The coffin will be transported by train or plane to London.
— The queen will then lie in state for several days in Parliament’s Westminster Hall, where the public will again be able to pay their respects.
— A state funeral at Westminster Abbey will be attended by leaders and dignitaries from around the world.
— The period of national mourning will end the day after the queen’s funeral.
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Follow AP stories on the death of Queen Elizabeth II at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/whats-next-uk-mourns-king-charles-iii-starts-reign/
| 2022-09-10T00:45:34Z
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Who do you think will win the Game of the Week
Published: Sep. 9, 2022 at 4:00 PM EDT|Updated: 5 hours ago
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - Lock in your vote below!
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - Lock in your vote below!
Copyright 2022 WVVA. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/who-do-you-think-will-win-game-week/
| 2022-09-10T00:45:40Z
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Woman trying to retrieve phone goes over 68-foot waterfall, survives
WHITLEY COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT/Gray News) – A woman survived with no injuries after going over a waterfall in Kentucky while trying to retrieve her phone.
According to Whitley County Emergency Management, the 36-year-old woman was taking photos at Cumberland Falls State Park when she dropped her phone in the river Wednesday afternoon. When she tried to retrieve the phone, she was swept away by the current.
“We all want to get really close to something so beautiful, but I can see how easy it would be to misjudge how close you are to something like that,” Cumberland Falls visitor Tonya Scherf said.
Witnesses called 911 and told dispatchers a woman had fallen into the river and went over the waterfall, landing downstream.
When first responders arrived, they found the woman at the bottom of the waterfall. She was able to swim to rescuers and was pulled out of the water.
Officials said she was checked out by EMS at the scene and, shockingly, did not need to be taken to the hospital, as she was uninjured.
Located in southeastern Kentucky, Cumberland Falls is 68 feet high by 125 feet wide, reaching depths of up to 400 feet at the base of the falls.
Anthony Christie, the Whitley County Emergency Management director, credits the woman’s ability to swim with saving her life.
“If she didn’t know how to swim, it probably would have been a different outcome,” Christie said.
Officials said the woman breached the security gate to get a closer look at the falls, and they are reminding visitors to stay behind the barricade for safety reasons.
Visitors who disobey safety rules can be fined. Officials did not say if the woman who went over the falls would be fined.
Copyright 2022 WKYT via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.wvva.com/2022/09/09/woman-trying-retrieve-phone-goes-over-68-foot-waterfall-survives/
| 2022-09-10T00:45:46Z
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Attorney General Miyares announces Election Integrity Unit
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Attorney General Jason Miyares announced a new unit that would provide support, advice and resources to increase confidence in future Virginia elections.
The Election Integrity Unit would provide legal advice to the Department of Elections and investigate and prosecute violations of Virginia election law. The unit will also work with the election community throughout the year to ensure election laws are applied ethically.
This comes nearly two years after baseless claims that the presidential election was stolen from former President Donald Trump.
“I pledged during the 2021 campaign to work to increase transparency and strengthen confidence in our state elections. It should be easy to vote and hard to cheat. The Election Integrity Unit will work to help to restore confidence in our democratic process in the Commonwealth,” Attorney General Miyares said.
Keith Balmer, the registrar for Richmond, said he doesn’t believe voters ever lost confidence, but the unit could only benefit the Commonwealth.
“There are regulations that come from the State Board of Elections in order for us to all do our jobs, and this new Election Integrity Unit created by the attorney general just looks to be an extension of that,” Balmer said.
The new unit will work with the State Board, the Department of Elections and local election officials in the upcoming election and beyond.
The Election Integrity Unit comprises more than 20 attorneys, investigators and paralegals from various divisions in the Office of the Attorney General.
Copyright 2022 WWBT. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/09/attorney-general-miyares-announces-election-integrity-unit/
| 2022-09-10T01:09:20Z
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US changes names of places with racist term for Native women
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The U.S. government has joined a ski resort and others that have quit using a racist term for a Native American woman by renaming hundreds of peaks, lakes, streams and other geographical features on federal lands in the West and elsewhere.
New names for nearly 650 places bearing the offensive word “squaw” include the mundane (Echo Peak, Texas), peculiar (No Name Island, Maine) and Indigenous terms (Nammi’I Naokwaide, Idaho) whose meaning at a glance will elude those unfamiliar with Native languages.
Nammi’I Naokwaide, located in traditional lands of the Shoshone and Bannock tribes in southern Idaho, means “Young Sister Creek.” The tribes proposed the new name.
“I feel a deep obligation to use my platform to ensure that our public lands and waters are accessible and welcoming. That starts with removing racist and derogatory names that have graced federal locations for far too long,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement.
The changes announced Thursday capped an almost yearlong process that began after Haaland, the first Native American to lead a Cabinet agency, took office in 2021. Haaland is from Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico.
The Native American Rights Fund, a nonprofit legal organization, welcomed the changes.
“Federal lands should be welcoming spaces for all citizens,” deputy director Matthew Campbell said in a statement. “It is well past time for derogatory names to be removed and tribes to be included in the conversation.”
Haaland in November declared the term derogatory and ordered members of the Board on Geographic Names, the Interior Department panel that oversees uniform naming of places in the U.S., and others to come up with alternatives.
Haaland meanwhile created a panel that will take suggestions from the public on changing other places named with derogatory terms.
Other places renamed include Colorado’s Mestaa’ėhehe (pronounced “mess-taw-HAY”) Pass near Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Denver. The new name honors an influential translator, Owl Woman, who mediated between Native Americans and white traders and soldiers in what is now southern Colorado.
The Board on Geographic Names approved changing the mountain’s name in December.
While the offensive term in question, identified as “sq___” by the Interior Department on Thursday, has met wide scorn in the U.S. only somewhat recently, changing place names in response to broadening opposition to racism has long precedent.
The department ordered the renaming of places carrying a derogatory term for Black people in 1962 and those with a derogatory term for Japanese people in 1974.
The private sector in some cases has taken the lead in changing the offensive term for Native women. Last year, a California ski resort changed its name to Palisades Tahoe.
A Maine ski area also committed in 2021 to changing its name, two decades after that state removed the slur from names of communities and landmarks, though it has yet to do so.
The term originated in the Algonquin language and may have once simply meant “woman.” But over time, the word morphed into a misogynist and racist term to disparage Indigenous women, experts say.
California, meanwhile, has taken its own steps to remove the word from place names. The state Legislature in August passed a bill that would remove the word from more than 100 places beginning in 2025.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has until the end of September to decide whether to sign the bill into law.
___
Adam Beam in Sacramento, California, contributed to this report.
___
Follow Mead Gruver at https://twitter.com/meadgruver
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/09/us-changes-names-places-with-racist-term-native-women/
| 2022-09-10T01:09:26Z
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Youngkin signs tax reduction for veterans
RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) - Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed two Day One Game Plan Bills reducing state income taxes for Virginia’s Military and Veteran Community.
This will apply to military retirement income for veterans age 55 and older at a phased in rate of $10,000 in taxable year 2022, $20,000 in taxable year 2023, $30,000 in taxable year 2024, and up to $40,000 in taxable year 2025.
“As part of my Day One Game Plan, I’ve pledged to fight for a reduction in military veteran retirement pay taxation, and today, we are delivering on that promise. This is a great step toward making Virginia the most veteran-friendly state in the country. As we near the anniversary of 9/11, I feel honored to support our service members in this way. I want to thank the legislators for their incredible work as we continue to advocate for our military-connected communities, veterans, and their families.”
Copyright 2022 WDBJ. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/09/youngkin-signs-tax-reduction-veterans/
| 2022-09-10T01:09:39Z
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‘I’m having a blast’: 49-year-old college freshman makes football team
FARGO, N.D. (KVLY/Gray News) - Usually, a college freshman making the football team isn’t the talk of the campus, but that’s not the case at a school in North Dakota.
The North Dakota College of Science Wildcats said 49-year-old Ray Ruschel has joined their undefeated football team.
KVLY reports Ruschel is an active-duty North Dakota Army National Guard member. Ruschel said he has been a part of that team for 17 years before being welcomed to this team.
“They’ve all been very receptive of me coming in and playing,” Ruschel said. “At first, they thought I was another football coach on our first day of camp. And whenever I got in line for pads, they were like ‘wait a minute, you’re playing?’”
Head coach Eric Issendorf, just a year younger than Ruschel, said he is happy to have him part of the team.
“He’s always in a good mood; he’s always just Ray,” Issendorf said. “He’s always in a good mood, ready to work and do what he can for his teammates.”
Ruschel said he found out about the Wildcat football team from a friend and was determined to not only make the team but make a real impact with his teammates.
“I want to live life,” he said. “If I had the chance and didn’t take it, I would regret it. I had a chance, and I’m taking it, and I’m living life to the fullest.”
Ruschel said his goals remain simple while looking forward to stopping touchdowns and winning games.
“I’m having a blast playing. Out here with these young kids and actually being able to keep up! I surprise myself,” Ruschel said.
Copyright 2022 KVLY via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/10/im-having-blast-49-year-old-college-freshman-makes-football-team/
| 2022-09-10T01:09:45Z
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Advertising Sponsors Include:
Procter & Gamble, Honda, AT&T, Stellantis, Walmart, Toyota, Bank of America, Verizon, Lexus, Meta, Allstate, Boost Mobile, Lowes, Kia, SC Johnson, UnitedHealthcare, Safelite, Macy's, Taco Bell, T.J. Maxx, Dairy Queen, Capital One, Geico, Pizza Hut, Mastercard, Target and Many More
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Byron Allen's Allen Media Group (AMG) is proud to announce it has secured numerous major Madison Avenue advertising sponsors for the launch of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) sports for HBCU GO and theGrio Television Network's 2022-23 sports programming season. Brand sponsors include: Procter & Gamble, Honda, AT&T, Stellantis, Walmart, Toyota, Bank of America, Verizon, Lexus, Meta, Allstate, Boost Mobile, Lowes, Kia, SC Johnson, UnitedHealthcare, Safelite, Macy's, Taco Bell, T.J. Maxx, Dairy Queen, Capital One, Geico, Pizza Hut, Mastercard, Target and many more.
HBCU GO is the leading media provider for the nation's 107 HBCUs, and recently announced nationwide clearance for their 2022-23 sports season as part of a new carriage deal with CBS owned-and-operated broadcast television stations in key broadcast television markets including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Tampa, Detroit, Miami, and Pittsburgh. AMG's FREE-streaming digital platform HBCU GO brings together major HBCU NCAA conferences, with major market carriage across broadcast television, cable, satellite, and digital platforms. HBCU GO's 2022-23 season began this past Saturday, September 3 with "The HBCU GO Sports Kickoff Show." The three-hour pre-season special aired LIVE on the AMG platforms HBCU GO, theGrio Television Network, theGrio Streaming App, Sports.TV, Local Now, and on broadcast television stations throughout the U.S.
HBCUs are widely known for graduating exceptional athletes, celebrities, politicians, and historical figures including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Wilma Rudolph, Althea Gibson, Walter Payton, Michael Strahan, Jerry Rice, Spike Lee, Alice Walker, Samuel L. Jackson, astronaut Ronald McNair, Alex Haley, Earl Graves, Oprah Winfrey, Chadwick Boseman, Justice Thurgood Marshall, Common, Booker T. Washington, Taraji P. Henson, Judge Kevin Ross, Langston Hughes, Katherine Johnson, Kenya Barris, and Vice President Kamala Harris, to name a few.
"The HBCU brand represents over 184 years of historic excellence, dating back to 1837, which helped cultivate some of the world's greatest minds and talent," said Byron Allen, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group. "HBCU GO and theGrio position our advertisers to speak to the heart and soul of Black America 24/7, and help our sponsors stay strongly connected with one of the most valuable, untapped audiences in the world."
For more information about HBCU GO visit HBCUGO.TV or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram.
About HBCU GO
HBCU GO is a cultural lifestyle destination and leading sports media provider that embraces and represents the voice of Black Excellence every day of the year through an all-new platform that captures the rich history, diversity, perspectives, and cultural experiences at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). HBCU GO also provides a platform for emerging creatives in media production, branding, and broadcasting. We offer our viewers the best in live sports, original series, documentaries, films, comedy, and edutainment programming produced by African-American leading producers, directors, and students from select HBCUs.
Launched in 2012, the free-streaming service HBCU GO was purchased by Byron Allen in 2021 and is part of Byron Allen's Allen Media Group (AMG). AMG is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Charleston, SC. AMG owns 27 ABC-NBC-CBS-FOX network affiliate broadcast television stations in 21 U.S. markets and twelve 24-hour HD television networks serving nearly 220 million subscribers: THE WEATHER CHANNEL, THE WEATHER CHANNEL EN ESPAÑOL, PETS.TV, COMEDY.TV, RECIPE.TV, CARS.TV, ES.TV, MYDESTINATION.TV, JUSTICECENTRAL.TV, THEGRIO, THIS TV, and PATTRN. AMG also owns the streaming platforms HBCU GO, THE GRIO STREAMING APP, SPORTS.TV, THE WEATHER CHANNEL STREAMING APP, and LOCAL NOW -- the free-streaming AVOD service powered by THE WEATHER CHANNEL and content partners, which delivers real-time, hyper-local news, weather, traffic, sports, and lifestyle information. For more information, visit www.entertainmentstudios.com and www.hbcugo.tv
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/byron-allens-hbcu-gothe-grio-attracts-major-fortune-500-sponsors-historically-black-colleges-universities-sports-network/
| 2022-09-10T01:09:51Z
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TOKYO, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KLab Inc., a leader in online mobile games, announced that its head-to-head football simulation game Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team will hold the FC Barcelona Official Campaign starting Friday, September 9th. During the campaign period, new players Tsubasa Ozora, Rivaul, Gordoba Gonzales, and Pedro Fonseca will debut wearing FC Barcelona official kits. See the original press release (https://www.klab.com/en/press/) for more information.
FC BARCELONA OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN Login Bonus
Login every day to the game during the event period to receive great rewards.
FC BARCELONA Selection Transfer
Rivaul, Gordoba Gonzales, and Pedro Fonseca wearing the FC BARCELONA official kit debut as new players in this Transfer.
FC BARCELONA OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN Daily Scenario
Users can complete these limited scenarios once a day during the event period. Clear the scenario to receive points and medals to exchange for amazing items.
FC BARCELONA OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN Event Mission
During the event period, complete the Event Missions to earn great rewards.
FC BARCELONA 2022/2023 Official Kits Added to Dreamball Exchange
The Dreamball Exchange is getting an update with the FC BARCELONA 2022/2023 home, away, GK uniforms. Users can exchange Dreamballs to collect them.
Overview of Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team
Supported OSes: Android™ 4.4+, iOS 10.0+, HarmonyOS 2.0+
Genre: Head-to-head football simulation game
Price: Free-to-play (In-app purchases available)
Supported Regions: Global (Excludes Japan and Mainland China)
Official Website: https://www.tsubasa-dreamteam.com/en
Official Twitter Account: @tsubasaDT_en
Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/tsubasaDTen
Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTgOPO7kIQ35YzB7SBIQoWQ/
Official Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/6tyEs48
Copyright: ©Yoichi Takahashi/SHUEISHA
©Yoichi Takahashi/SHUEISHA/TV TOKYO/ENOKIFILM
© KLabGames
Download here:
App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1293738123
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.klab.captain283.global
AppGallery: https://appgallery.huawei.com/#/app/C105375049
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SOURCE KLab Inc.
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/captain-tsubasa-dream-team-debuts-new-players-including-tsubasa-ozora-rivaul-wearing-official-fc-barcelona-uniforms/
| 2022-09-10T01:09:58Z
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BERWYN, Pa., Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RM LAW, P.C. announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of all persons or entities that purchased Latch, Inc. ("Latch" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: LTCH) securities during the period from May 13, 2021 through August 25, 2022 inclusive (the "Class Period").
Latch shareholders may, no later than October 31, 2022, move the Court for appointment as a lead plaintiff of the Class. If you purchased shares of Latch and would like to learn more about these claims or if you wish to discuss these matters and have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights, contact Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire toll-free at (844) 291-9299 or to sign up online, click here.
According to the complaint, on or about June 3, 2021, Latch became a public entity via business combination with TSIA. On August 25, 2022, after the market closed, Latch revealed that it would restate financial statements for 2021 and the first quarter of 2022 due to revenue recognition errors related to the sale of hardware devices. Specifically, the Company stated that "certain revenue recognition errors occurred as a result of unreported sales arrangements due to sales activity that was inconsistent with the Company's internal controls and procedures." On this news, Latch's stock fell $0.13, or 12.2%, to close at $0.95 per share on August 26, 2022, on unusually heavy trading volume.
Throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, defendants failed to disclose to investors that there were unreported sales arrangements related to hardware devices that would result in the Company improperly recognizing revenue throughout fiscal 2021 and first quarter 2022. This material weakness in Latch's internal control over financial reporting related to revenue recognition required Latch to restate financial statements for fiscal 2021 and first quarter 2022.
If you are a member of the class, you may, no later than October 31, 2022, request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff of the class. A lead plaintiff is a representative party that acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Under certain circumstances, one or more class members may together serve as "lead plaintiff." Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. You may retain RM LAW, P.C. or other counsel of your choice, to serve as your counsel in this action.
For more information regarding this, please contact RM LAW, P.C. (Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire) toll-free at (844) 291-9299 or by email at rm@maniskas.com or click here. For more information about class action cases in general or to learn more about RM LAW, P.C. please visit our website by clicking here.
RM LAW, P.C. is a national shareholder litigation firm. RM LAW, P.C. is devoted to protecting the interests of individual and institutional investors in shareholder actions in state and federal courts nationwide.
CONTACT: RM LAW, P.C.
Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire
1055 Westlakes Dr., Ste. 300
Berwyn, PA 19312
484-324-6800
844-291-9299
rm@maniskas.com
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SOURCE RM LAW, P.C.
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/rm-law-announces-class-action-lawsuit-against-latch-inc/
| 2022-09-10T01:10:05Z
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BERWYN, Pa., Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RM LAW, P.C. announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of all persons or entities that purchased Sema4 Holdings Corp. ("Sema4" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: SMFR) securities during the period from March 14, 2022 through August 15, 2022 inclusive (the "Class Period").
Sema4 shareholders may, no later than November 7, 2022, move the Court for appointment as a lead plaintiff of the Class. If you purchased shares of Sema4 and would like to learn more about these claims or if you wish to discuss these matters and have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights, contact Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire toll-free at (844) 291-9299 or to sign up online, click here.
According to the complaint, on August 15, 2022, the Company announced changes to its research and development leadership team, including that Eric Schadt was stepping down from his roles as President and Chief R&D Officer. The Company also disclosed that it was eliminating approximately 13% of its workforce as part of a series of restructuring and corporate realignments. During the related conference call, Sema4 revealed that it had "reversed $30.1 million of revenue this quarter related to prior periods," in connection with negotiations with "one of [Sema4's] larger commercial payors regarding the potential recoupment of payments for Sema4 carrier screening services rendered from 2018 to early 2022." On this news, Sema4's stock fell $0.80, or 33.3%, to close at $1.60 per share on August 16, 2022.
If you are a member of the class, you may, no later than November 7, 2022, request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff of the class. A lead plaintiff is a representative party that acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Under certain circumstances, one or more class members may together serve as "lead plaintiff." Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. You may retain RM LAW, P.C. or other counsel of your choice, to serve as your counsel in this action.
For more information regarding this, please contact RM LAW, P.C. (Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire) toll-free at (844) 291-9299 or by email at rm@maniskas.com or click here. For more information about class action cases in general or to learn more about RM LAW, P.C. please visit our website by clicking here.
RM LAW, P.C. is a national shareholder litigation firm. RM LAW, P.C. is devoted to protecting the interests of individual and institutional investors in shareholder actions in state and federal courts nationwide.
CONTACT:
RM LAW, P.C.
Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire
1055 Westlakes Dr., Ste. 300
Berwyn, PA 19312
484-324-6800
844-291-9299
rm@maniskas.com
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SOURCE RM LAW, P.C.
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/rm-law-announces-class-action-lawsuit-against-sema4-holdings-corp/
| 2022-09-10T01:10:11Z
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BERWYN, Pa., Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RM LAW, P.C. announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of all persons or entities that purchased TuSimple Holdings, Inc. ("TuSimple" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: TSP) securities during the period from April 15, 2021 through August 1, 2022 inclusive (the "Class Period").
TuSimple shareholders may, no later than October 31, 2022, move the Court for appointment as a lead plaintiff of the Class. If you purchased shares of TuSimple and would like to learn more about these claims or if you wish to discuss these matters and have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights, contact Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire toll-free at (844) 291-9299 or to sign up online, click here.
According to the complaint, on April 15, 2021, TuSimple effected its IPO, selling 33.8 million class A common shares at $40.00 per share, generating $1.031 billion in gross proceeds. On August 1, 2022, the Wall Street Journal published an article titled "Self-Driving Truck Accident Draws Attention to Safety at TuSimple," which brought to light a number of previously undisclosed concerns that undermined defendants' representations and omissions concerning the Company's safety. The article referenced an April 6, 2022, accident involving a truck fitted with TuSimple's autonomous driving technology, noting that regulators disclosed the accident to the public in June after TuSimple filed a report on the incident, which "underscores concerns that the autonomous-trucking company is risking safety on public roads in a rush to deliver driverless trucks to market, according to independent analysts and more than a dozen of the company's former employees." On this news, the Company's share fell be almost 10%, to close at $8.99 per share on August 1, 2022.
The Registration Statement in support of the IPO failed to disclose, inter alia, that: (i) TuSimple's commitment to safety was significantly overstated and defendants concealed fundamental problems with the Company's technology; (ii) TuSimple was rushing the testing of its autonomous driving technology in order to deliver driverless trucks to the market ahead of its more safety-conscious competitors; (iii) there was a corporate culture within TuSimple that suppressed or ignored safety concerns in favor of unrealistically ambitious testing and delivery schedules; (iv) the aforementioned conduct made accidents involving the Company's autonomous driving technology more likely; (v) and the aforementioned conduct invited enhanced regulatory scrutiny and investigatory action toward the Company.
If you are a member of the class, you may, no later than October 31, 2022, request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff of the class. A lead plaintiff is a representative party that acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Under certain circumstances, one or more class members may together serve as "lead plaintiff." Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. You may retain RM LAW, P.C. or other counsel of your choice, to serve as your counsel in this action.
For more information regarding this, please contact RM LAW, P.C. (Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire) toll-free at (844) 291-9299 or by email at rm@maniskas.com or click here. For more information about class action cases in general or to learn more about RM LAW, P.C. please visit our website by clicking here.
RM LAW, P.C. is a national shareholder litigation firm. RM LAW, P.C. is devoted to protecting the interests of individual and institutional investors in shareholder actions in state and federal courts nationwide.
CONTACT: RM LAW, P.C.
Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire
1055 Westlakes Dr., Ste. 300
Berwyn, PA 19312
484-324-6800
844-291-9299
rm@maniskas.com
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SOURCE RM LAW, P.C.
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/rm-law-announces-class-action-lawsuit-against-tusimple-holdings-inc/
| 2022-09-10T01:10:18Z
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NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The environmental law attorneys at Manning Law, APC proudly announce a settlement on behalf of Calsafe Research Center, Inc., a California non-profit corporation dedicated to keeping Californians safe from exposure to products that are alleged to contain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm in violation of Proposition 65.
Proposition 65, "The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986" is a "right to know" law intended to protect Californians. Through its required warnings, Proposition 65 alerts consumers in the State of California to the risk of potential exposures to substances causing cancer or reproductive harm and provides them with the ability to make an informed decision regarding whether to purchase, consume or use such products. Calsafe Research Center, Inc. acts in the public interest as a private enforcer of Proposition 65 through civil law enforcement actions initiated by its counsel, Manning Law, APC.
Material details of settlement:
"Since California residents overwhelmingly voted to enact Proposition 65 in 1986 the act has generated substantial reductions in the content of toxic chemicals in consumer touching products. Where products inherently include a Proposition 65 listed chemical that cannot be removed, warning labels have empowered Californians to make an informed decision about being exposed to the product," said Manning Law, APC co-founder Michael J. Manning.
Babak (Bobby) Hashemi, who also represents Calsafe Research Center, Inc. in advancing the public's interest through environmental litigation, said "I am proud to represent an organization dedicated to protecting the health and autonomy of California residents."
Manning Law, APC is known for its civil rights, consumer, and environmental protection litigation including its precedent setting litigation under the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and the Unruh Civil Rights Act ("UCRA"). In particular, the firm is known for its role as plaintiff's counsel in the first federal appellate case to recognize the application of the ADA and UCRA to websites and mobile applications, see Robles v. Domino's Pizza, LLC, No. 17-55504 (9th Cir. 2019). Manning Law, APC has also been recognized by the Office of the Secretary of Defense of the United States as a "Patriotic Employer" for its support of employee participation in the National Guard and Reserve Force.
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SOURCE Manning Law APC
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/10/environmental-law-attorneys-manning-law-apc-continue-streak-settlements-prevent-public-exposure-lead/
| 2022-09-10T01:10:25Z
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New space boasts 30% bigger footprint with sustainable building features and offers a larger selection, grand re-opening discounts, giveaways and festivities
LAKEWOOD, Colo., Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Grocers®, the largest family-operated organic and natural grocery retailer in the U.S., is pleased to announce the relocation of its Cheyenne, WY store to a newly renovated and larger space Friday, September 23rd. At 8:20 a.m. Natural Grocers' good4u® Crew will host an official ribbon-cutting and donation ceremony with Mayor Patrick Collins and Food Bank of Wyoming's Graham Brown at the new location at 1851 Dell Range Blvd. Additional community leaders will help welcome the Cheyenne community into the new store at 8:30 a.m. with gift card giveaways, fantastic discounts, prize sweepstakes and more.
"The Cheyenne Natural Grocers good4u® Crew has been proud to serve the community since the original location opened in 2010, which marked Natural Grocers' first store in Wyoming, followed by our store in Casper in 2011. We're excited to give our Cheyenne customers more space to shop, which also means new product offerings throughout all departments," said Raquel Isely, Vice President of Marketing for Natural Grocers. "We're also thrilled to have several notable community leaders joining us for our festivities, including Mayor Collins and representatives from Food Bank of Wyoming, the Cheyenne Police Department and the Cheyenne City Council. We invite everyone to visit our new store, join in the fun and discover what makes the Natural Grocers shopping experience exceptional."
GRAND RE-OPENING EVENTS — SWEEPSTAKES & DISCOUNTS
Grand Re-opening events and discounts starting September 23rd include:
- Mystery Gift Cards for First 150 Customers: The first 150 customers in line on September 23rd will receive a mystery Natural Grocers gift card (with varying amounts between $5 - $500)![i]
- Prize Wheel: Customers can spin the Natural Grocers prize wheel on September 23rd for a chance to win fun prizes.[ii]
- Grand Opening Sweepstakes[iii] : From September 23rd – October 7th, customers will have the chance to win fabulous prizes, such as an Aventon e-bike, a $500 Natural Grocers gift card and more. Entry forms will be available at the store.
- Special Grand Re-opening Discounts: Customers will enjoy exceptional discounts in every department from September 23rd – October 31st.[iv]
- For even more savings, customers can join {N}power® Natural Grocers' free loyalty program for exclusive discounts, digital coupons, rewards benefits, and other members-only features.[vi]
WHAT'S NEW?
Supported by its good4u Crew, the new store is 30% bigger and will feature a noticeably bigger product selection: particularly produce, refrigerated items and supplements. The contemporary layout will also include a Nutrition Education Center, which is a community space for in-store classes, recipe demonstrations and guest speaker events. Customers will enjoy a modern and efficient, yet friendly checkout experience. The company, ever-conscious of its environmental impact, has upgraded the new space with sustainable building features and energy-saving innovations, such as non-toxic building materials and 100% LED lighting, for a lighter environmental footprint.
WHAT STAYS THE SAME?
Serving customers with a wide range of natural and organic options since 1955, Natural Grocers will continue to support the Cheyenne community with world-class customer service from its knowledgeable and friendly good4u Crew, healthy recipes for all diets and high product standards. Customers can enjoy access to fresh, 100% USDA certified organic produce, high-quality organic and natural groceries, 100% free-range eggs, 100% pasture-based dairy, 100% non-GMO prepackaged bulk goods, dietary supplements, body care, and household essentials at an Always Affordable PriceSM. Natural Grocers also prioritizes humanely sourced and sustainably raised meats.
The Cheyenne community will continue to have the support of Natural Grocers' Nutritional Health Coaches (NHC's) for their health and wellness journeys with free, one-on-one personalized nutritional health coaching sessions. Customers are invited to book a free session, which are currently available in person, via phone or video, by visiting www.naturalgrocers.com/nutritional-health-coaches.
FOOD BANK OF WYOMING PARTNERSHIP
Known for its community outreach, Natural Grocers has partnered with Food Bank of Wyoming since 2013 for its "Bring Your Own Bag" program. Each time a customer brings their own bag, Natural Grocers donates five cents per shopping trip to the Food Bank, which provides food and necessities to people in need across the state.
"Natural Grocers has been supporting Food Bank of Wyoming since 2013. As the statewide food bank, we serve all twenty-three counties through 160 hunger relief partners. It's relationships like the one we have with Natural Grocers, plus being a part of the Feeding America network, which enables us to stretch every dollar donated into four meals. Every donation, whether big or small, truly ads up. When you shop at Natural Grocers and bring your own bag, you are joining the fight to end hunger," said Jill Stillwagon, Director of Development for Food Bank of Wyoming
September is also Hunger Action Month®, and the date of Natural Grocers' Grand Re-location (September 23rd) coincides with Hunger Action Day®. Graham Brown, the Development Coordinator from Food Bank of Wyoming will be onsite for the ribbon cutting ceremony and to accept a special donation of $2,500 from Natural Grocers to support Hunger Action Day and Wyoming communities facing hunger.
- Click here to learn more about Natural Grocers.
- To join {N}power, visit www.naturalgrocers.com/npower.
- Click here to learn more about Food Bank of Wyoming and Hunger Action Month.
- Media kit & assets, courtesy of Natural Grocers.
- For media inquiries contact Katie Macarelli, Manager of Public Relations at kmacarelli@naturalgrocers.com.
ABOUT NATURAL GROCERS BY VITAMIN COTTAGE
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC) is an expanding specialty retailer of natural and organic groceries, body care products, and dietary supplements. The products sold by Natural Grocers must meet strict quality guidelines and may not contain artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners, or partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils. The Company sells only USDA-certified organic produce and exclusively pasture-raised, non-confinement dairy products, and free-range eggs. Natural Grocers' flexible smaller-store format allows it to offer affordable prices in a shopper-friendly, clean, and convenient retail environment. The Company also provides extensive free science-based Nutrition Education programs to help customers make informed health and nutrition choices. The Company, founded in 1955, has 163 stores in 21 states. Visit https://www.naturalgrocers.com for more information and store locations.
[i] Quantity limited to first 150 customers in line at Natural Grocers Cheyenne –1851 Dell Range Blvd. Cheyenne, WY 82009; no rain checks. Limit one gift card per customer 18 years or older. Valid 9/23/22 only. Void where prohibited by law.
[ii] No purchase necessary. Quantity limited to stock on hand; no rain checks.
[iii] No purchase necessary. A purchase or payment of any kind will not increase your chances of winning. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, 18 years or older. Void where prohibited by law. Sweepstakes starts on September 23, 2022 and ends on October 7, 2022. Winner will be contacted directly by store after October 7, 2022. For Official Rules and complete details, see store or visit: www.naturalgrocers.com/sweepstakes. Sponsor: Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets, Inc.
[iv] Unless otherwise noted, offers are available only from 9/23/22 to 10/31/22 and are redeemable only for in-store customer purchases at Natural Grocers Cheyenne, WY location. All discounts are on regular prices and cannot be redeemed for store credit or cash and cannot be combined with other offers. Pricing excludes taxes and is subject to change without notice. Quantity limited to stock on hand; no rain checks. Natural Grocers reserves the right to correct errors. Void where prohibited by law.
[v] Bacon/Bacon Alternatives and Cheese Shreds and Slices: limit 3 per customer. Offers valid only from 9/23/22 to 10/31/22, are redeemable only for in-store customer purchases at Natural Grocers Cheyenne, WY location and cannot be combined with other offers. Quantity limited to stock on hand; no rain checks. Pricing excludes taxes and is subject to change without notice. Natural Grocers reserves the right to correct errors. Void where prohibited by law.
[vi] Customers can sign up for {N}power here. Message and data rates may apply. See naturalgrocers.com/privacy for our Privacy Policy and naturalgrocers.com/terms for the {N}Power terms of use.
[vii] Must be an {N}power member to receive these discounts. Offers valid only from 9/23/22 to 10/31/22, are redeemable only for in-store customer purchases at Natural Grocers Cheyenne, WY location and cannot be combined with other offers. Quantity limited to stock on hand; no rain checks. Pricing excludes taxes and is subject to change without notice. Natural Grocers reserves the right to correct errors. Void where prohibited by law. Eggs: limit 4 per customer; avocados: limit 4 per customer. Excludes green beans.
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| 2022-09-10T01:10:32Z
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- Nature's Miracle is a fast-growing agriculture technology company providing services to growers in Controlled Environment Agriculture ("CEA") settings in North America;
- Nature's Miracle provides hardware as well as software to design, build and operate various indoor growing settings including greenhouse, vertical farming and indoor-growing spaces;
- Nature's Miracle, through its two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Visiontech Group, Inc. and Hydroman, Inc., provides grow lights as well as other hydroponic products to hundreds of indoor growers in North America;
- Nature's Miracle has also developed a robust pipeline to build commercial-scale greenhouse in the U.S. and Canada to meet the growing needs of fresh and local vegetable products. The Company offers turnkey solutions to its operating partners by providing design, construction and hardware installment services;
- Nature's Miracle has established its first manufacturing footprint in North America with its grow-light assembly plant in Manitoba, Canada and is expecting to set up additional manufacturing/assembly facilities in North America;
- The implied pro-forma enterprise value of the combined company is approximately $265 million, assuming no redemptions from the trust account. The business combination is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023;
- This transaction is expected to accelerate Nature's Miracle's development of commercial greenhouse in the U.S. and Canada.
UPLAND, Calif., Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nature's Miracle Inc. ("Nature's Miracle"), a leader in the Controlled Environment Agriculture Industry, and Lakeshore Acquisition II Corp. ("together with its successors, Lakeshore") (Nasdaq: LBBB) today announced that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement (the "Merger Agreement"). Upon closing, the combined company is expected to change its name to Nature's Miracle Holding Inc. and its common stock is expected to be traded on the Nasdaq Global Market.
Management Comments
"In the face of global energy shortage, food security, drought and life-style change, Nature's Miracle is excited to offer an alternative farming mode which saves transportation cost, reduces irrigation water requirements by up to 90% and ensures fresh and local supply of produces for health-conscious consumers. We have developed a robust pipeline of greenhouse projects in the U.S. and Canada for the next twenty-four months," said Tie "James" Li, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nature's Miracle. "By combining with Lakeshore, Nature's Miracle will be able to tap into the public equity and debt market to fund its aggressive growth plan going forward. We look forward to working with Lakeshore team to complete the transaction and to list on Nasdaq."
"We are thrilled to partner with Nature's Miracle on its public company journey," said Bill Chen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lakeshore. "After learning of Nature's Miracle's business model and its position in the rapidly growing Controlled Environment Agriculture market, we immediately realized the vast potential for the Company's growth in this very important market segment."
Key Transaction Terms
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Nature's Miracle will merge with LBBB Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lakeshore (the "Merger"), with Nature's Miracle surviving and Lakeshore acquiring 100% of the equity securities of Nature's Miracle. In exchange for their equity securities, the stockholders of Nature's Miracle (the "Company Stockholders") will receive an aggregate number of shares of common stock of Lakeshore (the "Merger Consideration") with an aggregate value equal to: (a) two hundred thirty million U.S. dollars ($230,000,000), minus (b) any Closing Net Indebtedness (as defined in the Merger Agreement).
The Merger has been approved by the boards of directors of each of Lakeshore and Nature's Miracle. The Merger will require the approval of the stockholders of Lakeshore and Nature's Miracle and is subject to other customary closing conditions, including a registration statement on Form S-4 being declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023.
Advisors
Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC. is acting as legal advisor to Nature's Miracle and Loeb & Loeb is acting as legal advisor to Lakeshore. Maxim Group is acting as M&A advisor to Lakeshore.
Management Presentation
A presentation made by the management teams of both Nature's Miracle and Lakeshore regarding the transaction will be available on the websites of Nature's Miracle at https: //www.Nature-Miracle.com and Lakeshore at https://www.lakeshoreacquisition.com/tzzy. Lakeshore will also file the presentation with the SEC in a Current Report on Form 8-K, which will be accessible at www.sec.gov.
About Lakeshore Acquisition II Corp.
Lakeshore Acquisition II Corp. is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities.
About Nature's Miracle Holdings Inc.
Nature's Miracle is a fast-growing agriculture technology company providing services to growers in the Controlled Environment Agriculture ("CEA") industry which also include vertical farming in North America. The Company offers integrated solutions which include hardware as well as software to design, build and operate various indoor growing settings including greenhouse and indoor-growing spaces. Nature's Miracle, through its two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Visiontech Group, Inc. and Hydroman, Inc., provides grow lights as well as other hydroponic products to hundreds of indoor growers in North America. Nature's Miracle has also developed a robust pipeline to build commercial-scale greenhouse in the U.S. and Canada to meet the growing needs of fresh and local vegetable products. The Company offers turnkey solutions to its operating partners by providing the design, construction and hardware installment services; Nature's Miracle has established its first manufacturing footprint in North America with its grow-light assembly plant in Manitoba, Canada and is expected to set up additional manufacturing/assembly facilities in North America.
Important Information About the Proposed Business Combination and Where to Find It
This press release relates to a proposed business combination between Lakeshore and Nature's Miracle. A full description of the terms of the business combination will be provided in a Registration Statement on Form S-4 and proxy statement to be filed with the SEC by Lakeshore. The proxy statement will be mailed to Lakeshore's shareholders as of a record date to be established for voting at the shareholders' meeting relating to the proposed transactions. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed business combination and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the proposed business combination. Lakeshore's shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the Registration Statement on Form S-4 and proxy statement and the amendments thereto and other documents filed in connection with the proposed business combination, as these materials will contain important information about Nature's Miracle, Lakeshore and the proposed business combination. The Registration Statement on Form S-4 and the proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC, once available, may be obtained without charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a written request to Lakeshore, 667 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10065.
Participants in the Solicitation
Lakeshore, certain shareholders of Lakeshore, and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Lakeshore's shareholders with respect to the proposed business combination. A list of the names of Lakeshore's directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in Lakeshore is contained in Lakeshore's registration statement on Form S-1, which was filed with the SEC and is available free of charge at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov, or by directing a written request to Lakeshore, 667 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10065. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants will be contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 and proxy statement for the proposed business combination when available.
Nature's Miracle and its directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Lakeshore in connection with the proposed business combination. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed business combination will be included in the proxy statement for the proposed business combination when available.
Forward-looking Statements
Except for historical information contained herein, this press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal U.S. securities laws with respect to the proposed business combination between Lakeshore and Nature's Miracle, the benefits of the transaction, the amount of cash the transaction will provide Nature's Miracle, the anticipated timing of the transaction, the services and markets of Nature's Miracle, our expectations regarding future growth, results of operations, performance, future capital and other expenditures, competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities, future plans and intentions, results, level of activities, performance, goals or achievements or other future events. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "may," "could," "will," "potential," "intend," "estimate," "should," "plan," "predict," or the negative or other variations of such statements, reflect our management's current beliefs and assumptions and are based on the information currently available to our management. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: (i) the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of Lakeshore's securities; (ii) the risk that the transaction may not be completed by Lakeshore's business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by Lakeshore; (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the transaction, including the approval of the business combination agreement by the stockholders of Lakeshore, the satisfaction of the minimum cash amount following any redemptions by Lakeshore's public stockholders and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals; (iv) the lack of a third-party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed transaction; (v) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement; (vi) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Nature's Miracle's business relationships, operating results and business generally; (vii) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations of Nature's Miracle; (viii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Nature's Miracle or Lakeshore related to the business combination agreement or the proposed transaction; (ix) the ability to maintain the listing of Lakeshore's securities on a national securities exchange; (x) changes in the competitive industries in which Nature's Miracle operates, variations in operating performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Nature's Miracle's business and changes in the combined capital structure; (xi) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts and other expectations after the completion of the proposed transaction, and identify and realize additional opportunities; (xii) the risk of downturns in the market and Nature's Miracle's industry including, but not limited to, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; (xiii) costs related to the transaction and the failure to realize anticipated benefits of the transaction or to realize estimated pro forma results and underlying assumptions, including with respect to estimated stockholder redemptions; (xiv) risks and uncertainties related to Nature's Miracle's business, including, but not limited to risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to Nature's Miracle; risks related to Nature's Miracle's limited operating history, the roll-out of Nature's Miracle's business and the timing of expected business milestones; Nature's Miracle's ability to implement its business plan and scale its business; Nature's Miracle's ability to develop products and technologies that are more effective or commercially attractive than competitors' products; Nature's Miracle's ability to maintain accelerate rate of growth recently due to lifestyle changes in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic; risks of increased costs as a result of being a public company; risks relating to Nature's Miracle's being unable to renew the leases of their facilities and warehouses; Nature's Miracle's ability to grow the size of its organization and management in response of the increase of sales and marketing infrastructure; risks relating to potential tariffs or a global trade war that could increase the cost of Nature's Miracle's products; risks relating to product liability lawsuits that could be brought against Nature's Miracle;; Nature's Miracle's ability to formulate, implement and modify as necessary effective sales, marketing, and strategic initiatives to drive revenue growth; Nature's Miracle's ability to expand internationally; acceptance by the marketplace of the products and services that Nature's Miracle markets; and government regulations and Nature's Miracle's ability to obtain applicable regulatory approvals and comply with government regulations. The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of proxy statement, when available, and other documents filed by Lakeshore from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and neither Nature's Miracle nor Lakeshore assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Neither Lakeshore nor Nature's Miracle gives any assurance that either Lakeshore or Nature's Miracle, or the combined company, will achieve its expectations.
Non-solicitation
This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the potential business combination or any other matter and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of Lakeshore, Nature's Miracle 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 of 1933, as amended.
Contacts
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SOURCE Lakeshore Acquisition II Corp.
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https://www.whsv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/10/natures-miracle-leader-controlled-environment-agriculture-industry-be-listed-nasdaq-through-business-combination-with-lakeshore-acquisition-ii-corp/
| 2022-09-10T01:10:40Z
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NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: COIN) between April 14, 2021 and July 26, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important October 3, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Coinbase securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Coinbase class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8095 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than October 3, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Coinbase custodially held crypto assets on behalf of its customers, which assets Coinbase knew or recklessly disregarded could qualify as the property of a bankruptcy estate, making those assets potentially subject to bankruptcy proceedings in which Coinbase's customers would be treated as the Company's general unsecured creditors; (2) Coinbase allowed Americans to trade digital assets that Coinbase knew or recklessly disregarded should have been registered as securities with the SEC; (3) the foregoing conduct subjected Coinbase to a heightened risk of regulatory and governmental scrutiny and enforcement action; and (4) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Coinbase class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8095 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
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| 2022-09-10T01:10:48Z
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Girl Scouts in the Virginia Skyline Council have until Sept. 30 to sign up for free
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - While we have some time until you can buy Girl Scout cookies, it is time for Girl Scouts to join or renew their memberships.
Girl Scouts in the Virginia Skyline Council can join or renew for free thanks to a generous donation.
“There were dreams we had for the council and this begins to make these dreams a little bit more of a reality. We certainly are not done and this doesn’t fix all of the needs and desires for programs and program centers and camps and improvements we want to make there but this absolutely is a great beginning,” Nikki Williams, CEO of the Girl Scouts of the Virginia Skyline Council explained.
Co-leaders can also join for free with a new troop of eight or more girls. Memberships for scouts are $32 and $25 for adults. Williams said while there is always financial assistance this will eliminate one of the barriers to entry for girls.
“The girl scouting program is unbelievable and it really impacts every aspect of their life so to make sure that anyone who wants to participate has that chance, really is important to this council,” Williams added.
There is also Juliette membership option in which a girl can be an individually registered member and participate in all of the girl scout activities and programming on her own but not be defined to a particular meeting schedule.
You must be signed up by September 30. The season begins on October 1. The free code to use is GSVSCMY23. To register for the free membership, visit their website.
Cookie order forms will start coming out in December and then in January, Girl Scouts will be out selling cookies.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/10/girl-scouts-virginia-skyline-council-have-until-sept-30-sign-up-free/
| 2022-09-10T01:36:07Z
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Newman files bill to repeal electric vehicle mandate
BEDFORD CO., Va. (WDBJ) - Legislation that was passed to encourage Virginia’s transition to electric vehicles has drawn criticism from Republicans including Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
And now Bedford County Sen. Steve Newman has filed a bill to repeal the mandate.
House Bill 1965 cleared the General Assembly in 2021, and was signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam.
It ties Virginia to California’s vehicle emissions standards. And last month, a California air resources board decided that all new cars sold in the state must be electric by the year 2035.
“To me that is undoable,” Sen. Steve Newman told WDBJ7. “The people of Virginia should not be required to buy an electric vehicle because an unelected board in California decided to do so.”
This week, Newman said he has filed legislation that would effectively repeal the legislation he says would require Virginians to buy electric vehicles.
“Working Virginians simply cannot afford an electric vehicle necessarily,” he said. “They may choose to do that, but we should not force them to do that.”
Del. Lamont Bagby defended the legislation in a phone interview with WDBJ7.
“We need to protect our share of electric vehicles. It’s coming. Folks are excited about it coming, but we want to make sure we get those vehicles.”
Bagby said he wishes Republicans who oppose his legislation would instead focus on building up Virginia’s infrastructure, so the state will be prepared for the coming transition to electric vehicles.
“We want to make sure we get our fair share,” Bagby said. “And we want to make sure that the Commonwealth of Virginia looks more like the Jetsons and less like the Flintstones.”
Lawmakers will take up the issue in January.
Democrats should still hold a slim majority in the State Senate, so it remains to be seen if Newman’s legislation can pass.
Copyright 2022 WDBJ. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/10/newman-files-bill-repeal-electric-vehicle-mandate/
| 2022-09-10T01:36:08Z
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Understanding potholes and how VDOT is working to fix them on Virginia roads year-round
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - Potholes can sure do some damage and as we near closer to fall and winter, they become more of a problem with the changing weather.
Potholes are created when moisture or water seeps into the pavement freezes, expands then thaws and that area of the street cannot hold up the weight of the vehicles passing by.
Officials with the Virginia Department of Transportation say they have crews working year-round to repair potholes.
“Sometimes it is our crews or if it is something on the interstate, it would be one of our contractors that handles that,” Ken Slack with VDOT explained. “If we know that we have a few roads that are in a similar area we might try to schedule them to be done the same day. For the most part, we get out there sometimes the same day but certainly that same week.”
Steven Faught is the owner of Shenandoah Valley Automotive Service Center. He said the damages to vehicles from hitting potholes can vary.
“It can go from a simple alignment that is inexpensive up to suspension replacement which can get pretty costly depending on what it is,” Faught explained. “If you notice your car pulling one way or the other or it develops a vibration that it didn’t have, then it is probably a good time to get it checked out.
Slack said it is important for the public to report the potholes they see and you can do that by calling 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623) to get them checked out.
Copyright 2022 WHSV. All rights reserved.
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https://www.whsv.com/2022/09/10/understanding-potholes-how-vdot-is-working-fix-them-virginia-roads-year-round/
| 2022-09-10T01:36:08Z
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https://www.kitv.com/news/local/flash-flood-warning-issued-in-west-maui-multiple-roads-closed/article_86d20526-30a2-11ed-8a2c-438ccc5e1c9c.html
| 2022-09-10T01:39:22Z
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If you need a sign other than pumpkin spice lattes that fall is in the air, look no further than the harvest moon.
Stargazers can view the moon beginning around sunset on Friday, and it will peak at 5:59 a.m. ET Saturday, according to NASA.
This lunar event is called the harvest moon because it is close to the fall equinox, a time when farmers often harvest their crops, NASA said.
In 2022, September's full moon is closest to the autumnal equinox, which falls on September 22, so it's called the harvest moon, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. When October's full moon is closer to the equinox, it gets the name harvest moon, and September's is called the corn moon.
The harvest moon first emerges around sunset on Friday and rises 25 minutes later each day in the northern United States and 10 to 20 minutes later in Canada and Europe, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. Once the moon moves into its next phase, it returns to its normal schedule of rising 50 minutes later each day.
Other full moons during the year remain on that 50-minute timeline, according to EarthSky.
The earlier rising time of the harvest moon happens in the Northern Hemisphere near the autumnal equinox when the moon's orbit is closest with the Eastern horizon, The Old Farmer's Almanac said. The moon's orbit moves about 12 degrees to the east each day, but because September's full moon is so close to the horizon, it rises sooner than usual, according to the almanac.
Moonlight lasts from dawn to dusk for a few nights in a row, which gives farmers light to continue working at night, EarthSky said.
In the Southern Hemisphere, this effect occurs around the spring equinox in either March or April, according to EarthSky.
When the moon begins its ascent into the sky, it may look a burnt orange hue. This is because there is a thicker layer of the Earth's atmosphere along the horizon compared with directly above our heads, according to EarthSky.
That atmosphere acts as a filter, transforming the moon into the eerie color when it first emerges above the horizon.
The harvest moon may also appear larger in the sky compared with other full moons, but your eyes are playing a trick on you.
Any full moon will look bigger along the horizon, so the harvest moon's location close to the skyline makes this optical illusion more noticeable, EarthSky said.
Remaining events in 2022
Three more full moons will occur this year, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac:
• October 9: Hunter's moon
• November 8: Beaver moon
• December 7: Cold moon
Native American tribes have different names for the full moons, such as the Cheyenne tribe's "drying grass moon" for the one happening in September, and the Arapaho tribe's "popping trees" for the full moon occurring in December.
Catch the peak of these upcoming meteor shower events later this year, according to EarthSky's 2022 meteor shower guide:
• Draconids: October 8-9
• Orionids: October 20-21
• South Taurids: November 5
• North Taurids: November 12
• Leonids: November 17-18
• Geminids: December 13-14
• Ursids: December 22-23
And there will be one more total lunar eclipse and a partial solar eclipse in 2022, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. The partial solar eclipse on October 25 will be visible to people in parts of Greenland, Iceland, most of Europe, northeast Africa, and western and central Asia.
The total lunar eclipse on November 8 can be seen in Asia, Australia, the Pacific, South America and North America between 3:02 and 8:56 a.m. ET. But for people in eastern North America, the moon will be setting during that time.
Wear proper eclipse glasses to view solar eclipses safely as the sun's light can damage the eyes.
The-CNN-Wire
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https://www.kitv.com/news/national/the-harvest-moon-will-glow-an-eerie-orange-color-as-it-rises-in-the-sky/article_213c14f5-76f5-5bad-a2f0-b8e0074c3222.html
| 2022-09-10T01:39:28Z
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When famed actor-comedian Chris Kattan moved to a new town during his high school years, he used his talents to establish himself amongst his new peers.
“I did impressions of some of the different teachers,” Kattan said. “It was a big hit.”
The teachers were less than impressed Kattan said.
Kattan, perhaps best known for his role in “Night at the Roxbury” and his seven seasons on “Saturday Night Live,” is making his way up to Klamath Falls on Saturday, Sept. 10 to perform at the Ross Ragland theater for its monthly comedy show production.
Though he has never been to the area before, Kattan says he is looking forward to seeing Crater Lake and getting to know the local community, remarking that he himself spent a number of years in the pacific northwest.
The laughs begin at the Ross Ragland Theater at 7:30 p.m.
Comedy influences
Growing up, the young comedian-to-be found joy in watching comedy classics with his father, whom he lists as one of his biggest influences.
“We used to watch a lot of old films,” Kattan recalled. “He brought me up on watching anything from Marx pictures to Bing Crosby classics. He had really impeccable taste.”
For Kattan, the motivation to pursue a career in comedy came from his father, who was also a performer and actor.
“He was very, very funny. He always made people laugh, and I thought that was an amazing gift,” Kattan said. “He was a very big influence on me.”
Also amongst his comedic heroes are Steve Martin, Zach Galafianakas and Buster Keaton.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/freeaccess/chris-kattan-performs-in-klamath-falls/article_7a80037a-3086-11ed-b0e8-23f856ae128a.html
| 2022-09-10T01:58:05Z
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I was dumbfounded by the decision of our city councilors and county commissioners to fund a static display of a decommissioned fighter jet in Veterans Park with $600,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds. A jet display seems like a tremendous extravagance when I consider the many urgent needs of people in this county. However, I am aware that ARPA’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund gives broad latitude for how local governments choose to “respond to the far-reaching … negative economic impacts of the pandemic.”
My questions to our local leaders:
Transparency: Where can the public access a definitive list of organizations and projects supported with the first $6.6 million SLFRF allotment? I cannot find that information.
Economic Value: The jet display would certainly command the attention of anyone entering our City Center for the first time. And I suspect it would initially gain widespread press and name recognition. I cannot dispute that an F-15 Eagle (if that is what you intend to mount) is every bit as much a symbol of Klamath Falls as the Bald Eagle. But will the jet prove valuable enough to justify its cost?
Will it be a profitable source of income for Klamath Falls businesses?
Will tourists return for a jet the way they will for natural beauty, kayaking, biking, hiking and bald eagles?
Can you project return on investment (ROI) for the installation?
Have you developed strategies for capitalizing on the installation?
What will upkeep cost?
Community support: Where are the citizens who favor this display and what do they have to say?
For centuries, communities have used weaponry to decorate public spaces. My concern is whether this particular piece of weaponry is a wasteful extravagance or an effective tool in the Klamath Basin’s struggle to address “pressing” community needs.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/members/forum/letters-to-the-editor-for-sept-10-2022/article_d494c588-306f-11ed-92dc-e7ca7d302e51.html
| 2022-09-10T01:58:11Z
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Queen Elizabeth, head of state of the United Kingdom and 14 other countries since 1952, has died. Her birth did not necessarily portend a rise to the throne. Her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne to marry an American, and his brother (Elizabeth’s father) was crowned King George VI in 1937. When her father died in 1952, she ascended to the throne at 25 and was coronated in 1953. Despite her youth, it was apparent she had been prepared, and her dedication to her official duties was something she took seriously up to and including her last official act of welcoming Britain’s new prime minister, Liz Truss, and saying goodbye to the outgoing Boris Johnson just days ago. She and her husband, Prince Phillip, were married 73 years until his death last year. They had four children, including her heir, Prince Charles. She has remained the dignified, calming figure for the United Kingdom and much of the world. “Queen Elizabeth has retained her image and influence as a pillar of the Western world for seven decades,” said Rich Outzen, a foreign policy expert. “Part of the reason is her personality — charming, dignified and engaging — only enhanced by popular media,” he said. Her 70 years on the throne was a powerful symbol of continuity. Her reign was not only the longest in United Kingdom history but in the history of the world. “Queen Elizabeth is the last link to those who led the victory of the British Empire in World War II,” wrote Robert Wilkie, a former U.S. Cabinet secretary and noted defense and foreign policy expert. “Winston Churchill was her first prime minister. She is the embodiment of selfless service to her nation and to all that Great Britain has given to the world.” Despite mainly having symbolic powers, she consulted with 14 previous prime ministers (and formally invited them to service), engaging them weekly. Their conversations, heard by no one else and not publicly discussed afterward, were no doubt built firmly on a wide and deep foundation of knowledge and understanding in state and international politics and governance. She assumed the throne at the end of the Korean War and saw her countrymen and women fight in the Falkland Islands in 1982, the “troubles” in Northern Ireland, and more recently in the global War on Terror. She participated in World War II as a military mechanic and had a long and enduring bond with her country’s military. With the queen’s death, Prince Charles ascends to the throne as king and is expected to be crowned at a date to be determined. Although monarchies, in general, are decidedly not American, she nevertheless was widely admired in the United States and much of the world. Her steadfast patriotism and dedication to her subjects and to freedom internationally will be analyzed for hundreds of years to come. James Hutton is a former assistant secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
Queen Elizabeth, head of state of the United Kingdom and 14 other countries since 1952, has died.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/members/forum/opinion-queen-elizabeth-charming-dignified-and-engaging/article_d869e5f4-308c-11ed-89a6-93fe79044ea4.html
| 2022-09-10T01:58:17Z
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James Nemeth has seen enrollment at Saints Peter & Paul High School, a parochial school on Maryland’s Eastern Shore grow from 152 to 187 pupils over the past two years, an increase of 23%.
Nemeth, principal at the Catholic school in Easton, about 80 minutes from Washington D.C and Baltimore, credits part of the enrollment growth to Saints Peter & Paul maintaining in-class instruction for the entire 2021-22 school year and being efficient and consistent with remote classes during the start of the pandemic.
“I think it is a combination of moving into a new campus in August 2021, quality of the total educational product, and to a degree, confidence in the stability of the product through the pandemic, and overall positive environment for young people,” Nemeth said.
Nemeth is not alone.
Across the country, private, religious and charter schools have seen enrollment growth during the shutdowns, mandates and quarantines of the coronavirus pandemic.
Now, many of those same schools are looking at school security and safety protocols after the bungled police response to the deadly May shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
“Following the Uvalde school shooting, we have had a noticeable uptick in inquiries for school security and emergency preparedness assessments from private and charter schools,” said Ken Trump, president of Ohio-based National School Safety and Security Services.
Local police departments also report getting more calls from private and charter schools about security needs and assessments following a school shooting in May in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 students and two teachers dead.
Trump said assessing school security can be new territory for charter and private schools.
Private, independent schools have also “historically been hesitant to have assessments performed out of concern that recommendations related to security and emergency preparedness might somehow adversely impact their school climate and cultures,” Trump continued. “Private independent schools and charter schools are increasingly realizing that they are not immune from security threats and that parents of their students have an expectation that their schools will exercise due diligence in evaluating and reducing risks, and preparing for safety incidents that could impact their schools.”
Trump said consultants need to understand that private, religious and charter schools have unique learning cultures that differ from public campuses and those need to be accounted for with security assessments.
“Like all schools, we revisit our crisis response and management plan annually,” said Nemeth. “We have a camera access system to the school to allow visitors into the school. We work with our staff on basic security and safety reminders, and will practice fire and emergency drills throughout the year. I think there is a heightened emphasis on door security and keeping eyes and ears open.”
An explosion over the past two years in home schooling, and private and charter schooling, has stemmed in part from parent and student frustrations with their public school districts’ decisions to pivot to remote learning, and worries over COVID-19 quarantine protocols at the pandemic’s peak.
“I think some parents have been concerned about the loss of instruction and distracting learning environments,” Nemeth said.
The trend has played itself out across the country with more families looking at alternatives to public schools. Private K-12 schools tended to keep classrooms open more than their public counterparts. Some families have also been turned off by their public school districts getting caught up in politically charged fights over mask mandates and sometimes frustrating quarantine rules as well as ideological battles for curriculums around race, gender identity and sexual orientation.
“Because of the way Catholic parochial schools handled COVID we have not seen an enrollment decline at all. In fact, during COVID our enrollments increased,” said Gene Fadness, communications director for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise, Idaho.
Charter schools — which are independently operated but publicly funded — also saw enrollment growth during the pandemic.
“During the 2020-21 school year, charter school enrollment grew 7%, the largest increase in half a decade. Nearly 240,000 new students enrolled in these innovative, student-centered public schools, despite a sharp decrease in overall public school enrollment during the same period,” said Nina Rees, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, for the Washington D.C.-based National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
There has also been a marked increase in home schooling during the pandemic with more parents and grandparents working from home as kids learn remotely.
“Our organization has grown from 40,000 to 750,000 since COVID started. Almost all have stayed even though the schools are getting back in session. Most parents admit they had no idea how wonderful homeschooling is until they were forced into it,” said J. Allen Weston, executive director of the Colorado-based National Home School Association.
Weston said some parents have voiced concerns about public school curriculums. “Aside from that, mask and vaccine mandates seem to be causing many parents to make the permanent switch to homeschooling,” he said.
Weston said concerns about school shootings and security have led some parents to turn to alternatives, despite
“programming and societal pressures” adverse to options like homeschooling.
“Most parents are programmed to believe that children have to be ‘schooled’ for at least 6 hours a day and many parents think they don’t have that much time. But when children receive one-on-one attention from someone that truly cares about them, then they can accomplish more in just a couple hours a day than they would for a whole day at school,” Weston said, pointing to homeschool cooperative where parents take turns with groups of kids.
A new Gallup Poll released Sept. 1 showed 42% of Americans are satisfied with public education with 55% dissatisfied. However, 80% of parents with kids currently in school voiced satisfaction with their family’s educational experiences, according to Gallup.
A number of private, parochial and religious schools throughout the country declined or did not respond to requests for comments on their enrollment growth and school security efforts.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/alternative-options-in-the-pandemic-many-families-turned-to-private-charter-and-home-schools-now/article_0b6855c2-3096-11ed-8db2-b7b63fef5f37.html
| 2022-09-10T01:58:23Z
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People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/hart-mountain-national-antelope-refuge-announces-temporary-closures-on-hart-mountain-grade-road/article_ac2bc96a-3084-11ed-93db-8b8ba027e07b.html
| 2022-09-10T01:58:29Z
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Natural disasters, disease outbreaks and emergencies can have widespread and even long-lasting impacts on supplies, services and the public health and health care systems. September is national Emergency Preparedness Month and Klamath County Public Health officials are encouraging local residents to explore ways to be prepared as individuals and as a community.
The national theme is #MeetPeopleWhereTheyAre. In the context of public health emergency preparedness and response, “meeting people where they are” means creating opportunities for everyone to prepare and respond to emergencies to their full potential.
It also means acknowledging that preparedness recommendations and protective actions, such as evacuation, have limitations. For example, the recommendation to “set aside enough food, water, supplies, and personal needs to last at least 72 hours” may not consider the effect of poverty on a person’s access to food beyond daily use.
Here are some ways community members may have difficulty being prepared:
• People with lower or fixed incomes may find it difficult to build an emergency fund.
• People who do not have a reliable personal vehicle or access to public transportation may find it difficult to evacuate.
• People who live in low-income, minority, and rural communities may be at greater risk for health impacts from power outages and planned blackouts.
• People experiencing social isolation may find it difficult to build a personal support network.
Don’t wait for an emergency to happen to prepare. Evaluate your own preparedness and ask how you might help others.
Use the time before and between events to gather essential supplies, learn self-help skills, and build the self-confidence you need to respond quickly and constructively in a crisis. When services and supplies are limited, it is important to have the personal needs, prescriptions, paperwork, power sources, and practical skills you need to respond.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/its-time-to-meet-people-where-they-are/article_2c16a7da-3085-11ed-8324-9f9611edf3e1.html
| 2022-09-10T01:58:36Z
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/klamath-symphony-begins-rehearsals-for-fall-concert/article_913d05de-3097-11ed-8dad-c36c8a361d44.html
| 2022-09-10T01:58:42Z
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100 years ago
Over 1,500 acres of grain were burned by the fire which started on the Chin Lung Ranch near Midland. The fire was under control but a brisk wind fanned the flames to renewed vigor and caused them to spread to adjoining lands.
100 years ago
Over 1,500 acres of grain were burned by the fire which started on the Chin Lung Ranch near Midland. The fire was under control but a brisk wind fanned the flames to renewed vigor and caused them to spread to adjoining lands.
Twenty firefighters had been on the job continuously. The fire had eaten two feet into the ground, however, making their efforts of little avail. The men were said to be exhausted and it was believed flooding would have to be resorted to.
The Evening Herald, Sept. 11, 1922
The grain land fire at Midland has spread over an area estimated at more than 2,000 acres. In many places it was said, the peat soil has been burned down to a depth of five or six feet.
Steps were taken today to have water from the irrigation canal turned onto the burning area. Unless this is done, it was said, not only will the fire continue to spread but the soil will be ruined.
The Evening Herald, Sept. 12, 1922
50 years ago
Klamath County’s newest park — on the site of the oldest permanent white settlement — opened to the public.
The Fort Klamath Park, including a small museum housed in a replica of the old guard house, will be open daily except Tuesdays and Wednesdays until sometime in October, according to County Parks Director Earl Kessler.
This will be a “sneak preview,” according Kessler, because the official opening and dedication of the new county park are not scheduled until next spring.
The Fort Klamath Park, Klamath County’s 11th park, is located off Highway 62 a mile and a half east of the town of Fort Klamath at the site of the old fort which was established in 1863.
The park includes picnic tables, running water and restrooms plus a replica of the old guard house contains displays and artifacts illustrating the history of the fort and the Modoc Indian War of 1872-73. Items were loaned by the Klamath County Museum and by Mark and Vera Jones, owners of the Baldwin Hotel in Klamath Falls, Kessler said.
The Herald & News, Sept. 13, 1972
25 years ago
A serial C-note donator is on the loose in Klamath Falls.
Since early August someone — who seems to prefer anonymity — has deposited a dozen $100 bills into Ronald McDonald House donation boxes in the local McDonald’s restaurants.
The phantom philanthropist seems to have struck again.
Earlier this week a $100 bill was found in the mailbox belong to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
And last weekend, two more $100 bills turned up in the Klamath-Lake Food Bank donation barrel at the Goodwill store, said Niki Sampson, food bank director.
Sampson is grateful for whoever donated the money, but also appreciates the honesty people showed.
“I am impressed with employees at Goodwill and with other people walking through the store who had access to the barrel. They were just sitting there,” Sampson said. “With one dollar we can buy six pounds of food, so that $200 donation will purchase 1,200 pounds of food”
The Herald & News, Sept. 11, 1997
10 years ago
Participants in Cycle Oregon were on their road bikes at the crack of dawn leaving from Moore Park at first light en route to their final destination: Bly.
The first riders began zipping down the OC&E Woods Line Trail shortly after dawn, crossing Hope Street near Wizard Park, in groups big and small.
“What’s going on here?” a bystander waiting for a gap in the riders could be heard asking.
“Just a big bike ride,” a rider yelled back as he cruised past.
Riders, some of them participating in the full 470 miles of options along the Southern Oregon loop, made their way east through Klamath Falls on the OC&E Trail, to Dairy where they hopped on Highway 140 for a short stint before guiding their cycles onto North Poe Valley Road into Bonanza.
From there it was on to Bly Mountain Cutoff Road, to 140 again, and all the way into Bly for lunch and the end of a week of spinning.
The Herald & News, Sept. 16, 2012
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/looking-back-this-week-in-klamath-basin-history-for-sept-10/article_e00eede0-2fdd-11ed-9436-6fa1de96198c.html
| 2022-09-10T01:58:48Z
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Beginning next week, the Klamath Falls Public Works Department will conduct several maintenance projects.
From Monday, Sept. 12 through Friday, Sept. 16, the Streets Division's Asphalt Crew will be performing utility cut repairs from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations:
• Sept. 12: 700 block of Wocus Street and the intersection of Hawkins Street and Buena Vista Street
• Sept. 13 and Sept. 14: intersection of Mt. Whitney Street and North Seventh Street.
• Sept. 15: 1800 block Esplanade Avenue, 1900 Eldorado Avenue and the intersection of Auburn Street and Damont Street
Additionally, the division's Paint Crew will be painting legends, crosswalks and curbs on Nevada Street, East Main Street, Moore Park and downtown parking Ts from Sept. 13 through 16.
Finally, sign maintenance and sweeping will occur Sept. 12 through 16 throughout the city as needed.
Detours and signage will be in place where needed.
Also next week, the city Water Division will begin water distribution main flushing.
Water main flushing will take place in the Lynnewood, Pelican City, Harbor Isles Neighborhoods between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 13 through 16. The purpose of the Water Main Flushing Program is to improve drinking water quality for residents and businesses.
The flushing process might cause discolored water and a reduction in pressure. The discoloration of the water will be temporary and is not harmful. Check tap water for discoloration before starting laundry. If water appears cloudy, only cold-water faucets should be run until the water clears. If the condition persists, contact our Public Works office.
The final project will be conducted by Geothermal Division crews from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 12 through 23.
Crews will begin turning on and charging the downtown geothermal infrastructure throughout the next few weeks in a systematic manner to allow for inspection and preventative maintenance. During this time the system will be on and heating but will not be a viable heat source until the system is fully charged and operating at normal capacity. The division’s goal is to have all maintenance completed and the system fully operational by Oct. 3.
Detours and signage will be in place where needed.
For more information about these projects, call the city Public Works Department at 541-883-536
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/maintenance-projects-in-klamath-falls-to-affect-streets-travel-routes-water/article_a5abd214-3085-11ed-860e-fbacf2c48d11.html
| 2022-09-10T01:58:54Z
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The White House has unveiled a new website intended to provide local and state governments and businesses with information about climate-driven events and data, including real-time information about droughts, floods, wildfires and extreme heat.
The web-based tool, called Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation, contains information about current climate trends and projections through 2099, including risks such as expected revenue losses, annual number of dry days and consecutive wet days, and average daily minimum and maximum temperatures.
Representatives from the White House and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spoke at a press conference Thursday to announce the new tool, along with the mayors of Miami and Phoenix who spoke about the effects of flooding and extreme heat on their communities.
David Hayes, special assistant on climate policy to President Joe Biden, said the team developing the tool wanted it to be based in science and organized around the impacts of climate change.
“We wanted a portal that could pull together information about federal funding opportunities that frankly have been had for (local and state officials) to discover,” Hayes said during the press conference.
Many federal funding opportunities are granted based on applications, Hayes said, and communities applying for funds are expected to describe their needs in detail to support the funding request. He said the tool will include more data sets in the future that could further bolster those applications.
Hayes said some effects are more difficult to predict than others, such as wildfire, but the Biden administration’s climate team plans to update the tool with information from other agencies about recent forest management efforts as well as management plans for the future.
The climate mapping dashboard can show data specific to any county across the United States.
New website
According to the White House, the 20 largest climate-related disasters in the United States in 2021 alone cost more than $150 billion in damages, including severe storms, floods, wildfires and tropical cyclones. Over the past five years, the cost is nearly $790 billion.
The tool provides location-specific data for counties and tribal lands across the country. In Idaho’s Ada County, the tool estimates an expected annual loss of $6.1 million because of wildfires, and $387,603 annually lost because of the effects of drought.
The climate tool also shows the number of days on a yearly basis in Ada County when the maximum temperature is above 95 or 100 degrees. Between 2015 and 2044, the data shows potentially 40 days will have a maximum temperature of more than 95 degrees annually in Ada County. By 2064, if emissions remain high, that number is expected to be 54 days.
The dashboard also shows the number of people living in disadvantaged communities across a county, which in Ada County is 3.2%, and also reflects whether county building codes are written to withstand climate-related disasters. Ada County’s building codes do not meet those standards, according to the dashboard data.
The dashboard will also be consistent with data reflected on other government climate websites, said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Rick Spinrad, including climate.gov and heat.gov.
This screenshot looks at extreme heat conditions in two different scenarios: low emissions and higher.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/new-government-tool-shows-oregon-and-other-states-climate-related-risks-projections/article_a46018ce-3081-11ed-8e31-373a26e49ccc.html
| 2022-09-10T01:59:00Z
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Alek Skarlatos, a Republican nominee for Congress in Oregon, was cleared this week of violating campaign finance law, months after a Democratic-aligned group filed a complaint alleging he improperly funded his campaign with money from a nonprofit he also controlled.
“Democrats have created a false controversy to smear Alek Skarlatos,” campaign manager Ross Purgason said in a statement. “The (Federal Election Commission) has dismissed these false allegations.”
Skarlatos, who is running for a second time to represent Oregon’s 4th District, established the nonprofit veterans group 15:17 Trust shortly after losing his bid for the seat in 2020, pledging to advocate for veterans “left high and dry” by the country “they put their lives on the line for.” And he used $93,000 left over from his campaign to help seed the nonprofit.
But several months later, after Skarlatos decided in 2021 to run for the seat again, the nonprofit transferred $65,000 back to his campaign. The transfers of money were the subject of an Associated Press story last year, which was followed by a complaint filed with the FEC by End Citizens United, a Democrat-aligned group.
Campaign finance laws prohibit candidates from self-dealing and from accepting illicit money from the often opaque and less regulated world of political nonprofits. That includes a prohibition on candidates donating campaign cash to a nonprofit they control, as well as a broader ban on accepting contributions from such groups, legal experts say.
But in this case, the FEC found that Skarlatos’ nonprofit wasn’t very active and failed to raise much money, taking in about $1,800. The agency also determined that the transfers of cash from Skarlatos’ campaign to his nonprofit and back were done in a short enough time span that it likely amounted to a legitimate refund.
“Without information to indicate the contrary, the $65,000 payment from the 15:17 (Trust) to the Committee was likely a bona fide refund,” the agency states in a filing, which was provided by the Skarlatos campaign and has not yet been released publicly.
The AP’s story last year detailed how Skarlatos’ nonprofit was soliciting money online but otherwise was maintaining a decidedly low profile and had not yet released annual tax paperwork detailing how much it had raised and how the money was spent it.
The story also noted how laws governing transfers of money by candidates to nonprofits they operate are intended to prevent sidestepping the ban on the personal use of campaign funds. And it detailed how Skarlatos had previously collected $43,000 from his 2020 campaign in mileage reimbursements, rent and expenses vaguely listed as contractor campaign staff.
The FEC did not receive a full explanation of how the nonprofit spent the money Skarlatos lent it, including the remaining $28,000 that was not refunded to his campaign. The Skarlatos campaign said about $14,000 was spent on fundraising, but an additional $14,000 was not accounted for in the filing released by the agency.
Skarlatos was a member of the Oregon National Guard when he gained a measure of fame in 2015, helping to disrupt an attack on a train bound for Paris by a heavily armed man who was a follower of the Islamic State group. Hailed as a hero, he appeared on “Dancing with the Stars,” visited the White House and was granted dual French citizenship. It also led to a role starring as himself in the Clint Eastwood movie “15:17 to Paris.”
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/oregon-gop-congressional-candidate-alek-skarlatos-cleared-of-campaign-cash-violation/article_d146bd88-3082-11ed-bfd6-4b5fa0fb33a0.html
| 2022-09-10T01:59:07Z
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The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has thrown out a lawsuit in which Klamath Basin irrigators won an injunction against federally authorized releases of stored water from Upper Klamath Lake.
The court ruled the lawsuit shouldn’t have been allowed to proceed because the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which is under court orders to protect tribal water rights and comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), wasn’t named as a defendant and can't be compelled to participate in state court litigation.
The complaint was filed against the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) for failing to protect the irrigators' water rights.
“The relief ordered by trial court is inconsistent with those requirements and brings OWRD into direct conflict with the Bureau, the ESA, tribal rights, and federal case law,” wrote Douglas Tookey, the presiding judge.
The dispute put the state's authority over water rights against the federal government’s ability to manage water levels in Upper Klamath Lake. The lake stores irrigation water but also provides habitat for endangered sucker fish.
The injunction ordered the OWRD to stop the federal government from releasing lake water to improve stream flows until uncertainties about water rights are resolved.
“This is hard to process,” Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) President Ben DuVal said in a news release. “Any number of tribal and non-tribal parties can sue the government to take water away from irrigators, but irrigators can’t sue to protect their own interests in water.”
KWUA was one of several parties that filed a lawsuit in 2019 against Reclamation, with a parallel lawsuit also filed by the Klamath Irrigation District (KID). Others involved in the lawsuit were the Shasta View Irrigation District, Tulelake Irrigation District, the Klamath Drainage District, the Van Brimmer Ditch Company, DuVal and Rob Unruh.
The irrigation parties claimed Reclamation adopted decisions and actions that were outside its legal authority, to the detriment of Klamath Project irrigation.
The Federal District Court for the District of Oregon - where the cases were filed - agreed and dismissed the cases. Thursday, the Ninth Circuit upheld the dismissal.
“We believe the government is acting outside its legal authority,” DuVal said. “We may be right, or we may be wrong. But it’s beyond disappointing that we can’t get our day in court.”
Rich Deitchman, an attorney who represented KWUA and other districts in the appeal, said that he, and the attorneys representing KID in its appeal, will confer with their boards of directors about whether to pursue the cases further. Legally, he said, the irrigation parties could seek a rehearing in the Ninth Circuit or petition the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision.
“It’s too early to say whether or not this is the end of the road in this case,” Deitchman said in a news release.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/ruling-invalidates-klamath-irrigators-injunction/article_bff53c2c-306d-11ed-8118-d3415b9372b3.html
| 2022-09-10T01:59:13Z
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School wellness centers can help improve mental and behavioral health for students and staff, according to a new analysis by Brigham Young University.
They just require proper investments, institutional and community support and staffing to be able to offer students and teachers a productive oasis from everyday and societal stresses.
“It’s a place where kids can come and get nourished physically, emotionally and socially,” said BYU education professor Paul Caldarella, co-author of the report. “And if we’re not addressing students’ social, emotional, and behavioral struggles in school, then they’re not going to do well academically, either.”
BYU researchers zeroed in on the establishment of a wellness room staffed with counselors at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs, near Provo, Utah.
Westlake High School’s wellness room was launched in 2020 after two student suicides and to help at-risk children. It is staffed with a counselor and offers students 20-minute respites from classes.
The BYU study found more than 750 students, parents and staff surveyed about its impacts, were supportive.
“Wellness centers can sometimes sound ‘granola’ or ‘hippie,’ but it’s interesting that, even at a school that’s about 80% white, we saw that diverse populations felt comfortable taking advantage of the center,” said BYU school psychology graduate student Malka Moya, lead author of the paper, which was published in Education and Treatment of Children.
Caldarella said faculty and administration buy-in is crucial to wellness centers receiving the support and staffing needed to help distressed students. That means not only having the room staffed with a counselor and relaxing spaces but also teachers and principals willing to trust students when they need a short mental health break.
“We expect students to manage their own emotional health but don’t teach them how or give them the space they need to do so,” said Jennifer Bitton, who helped found the wellness center as assistant principal at Westlake and co-authored the BYU report. “The wellness center has normalized discussions surrounding mental health. Students are no longer going home, hiding in bathrooms or hallways when they need a break — they understand that everyone has bad days, and the wellness center is there for them to use.”
Bitton said tthe suicides of two Westlake students in 2019 sparked the effort to engage more students who might be struggling.
“We were looking for a solution,” said Bitton, who is now an assistant principal at Lehi High School in the same Alpine School District as Westlake.
“It’s very calming, very sensory driven,” Paul Feyereisen, chief impact officer with the Utah-based IM Foundation, said of the space.
The Westlake wellness center was initially funded via $10,000 in seed money from IM, a group focused on wellness and mental health balance for students and others, to help outfit a converted classroom.
Feyereisen said the start-up money consisted of donations from local businesses and the local school district’s foundation.
He said the initial funding from the foundation and other community sources helped show school districts and local communities the need for such trusting spaces. Now, the Westlake center is funded through the school district and its community foundation.
The center is also staffed with a licensed mental health counselor who is paid approximately $50,000 per year.
Feyereisen said the Westlake center has another $5,000 in annual operating costs — including snacks and drinks.
Bitton said 15 to 25 students use the wellness center each day and there are passes available in classrooms. Stressors that draw them there can range from troubles and trauma at home, worries about social and political turmoil and breakups with boyfriends and girlfriends to much deeper anxiety and thoughts of suicide and self harm.
Bitton said students don’t have to formally ask to go, they just have to make sure classroom teachers see they are utilizing a wellness pass.
“Kids use it to start their day. It’s just buzzing in the morning,” she said. The high school center was also open during the summer in case students wanted to stop by.
Feyereisen said he’s been approached by a handful of students who told him the center and its dedicated counselor helped dissuade them from thoughts of committing suicide.
“That’s the ultimate testament,” he said.
Caldarella said most schools don’t have wellness centers and if they do they are more relaxation and escape rooms. He said the focus on mental health needs increased amid coronavirus pandemic school shutdowns, and amid anxieties over mass shootings at schools.
Calderella also noted the bulk of wellness efforts are in California, and most are professional staffed by mental health experts. “They usually don’t have a counselor there,”he said.
Feyereisen wants that to change and said he hopes the Westlake center will provide a positive impetus for other districts, school boards and state legislatures nationwide
“We are also talking to schools across the country,” he said, pointing to conversations with schools in California, Florida and the Philadelphia area.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/school-safety-part-5-school-wellness-centers-can-potentially-move-mental-health-suicide-prevention-needles/article_be2ee9c2-3097-11ed-ba19-4322992f2bc4.html
| 2022-09-10T01:59:19Z
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The U.S. Senate on Thursday, Sept. 8 confirmed Natalie Wight as Oregon’s next U.S. attorney, formally making her the top federal law enforcement official in the state.
Wight, a longtime federal prosecutor, has served as the court-appointed U.S. attorney since June, shortly after she was nominated by President Joe Biden.
Wight is from Oregon and graduated from Cleveland High School in Portland. She is the first Black person and the second Asian American person to serve as the district’s U.S. attorney.
Wight graduated from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 2003. She has spent her career working for the federal government, first as a lawyer for the Federal Bureau of Prisons before becoming a federal prosecutor in California.
In 2012, Wight became an assistant U.S. attorney in Oregon, where she’s worked on both civil and criminal prosecutions.
One of her highest-profile cases involved the 2019 prosecution of a Beaverton man convicted of ordering materials to make a bomb. That man later set off an explosive device after federal agents and members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force searched his home. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Wight was selected by the White House from three finalists.
“Natalie Wight has long been a community leader with an exemplary record of integrity and independence, and we’re gratified the entire Senate has confirmed her nomination to be U.S. Attorney for Oregon,” Oregon’s U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said in a written joint statement following her confirmation by the U.S. Senate. “We thank President Biden for nominating this very well-qualified Oregonian, and look forward to working with Ms. Wight in this vitally important post serving our state.”
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/senate-confirms-natalie-wight-as-the-u-s-attorney-for-oregon/article_34c7c722-3082-11ed-a365-0317d789cd38.html
| 2022-09-10T01:59:25Z
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The United Way of the Klamath Basin kicked off its 77th annual community campaign Thursday, Sept. 8 at the Waffle Hut and Juan Maldonado, campaign associate chairman, announced that $51,000 of its $507,000 goal has already been raised, according to a press release.
Maldonado presented Christy David, executive director of the Klamath Crisis Center, with a platinum spirit award for leading the way as a pacesetter and achieving a 30% increase in their United Way employee contributions for $263 per employee.
Capt. Brandon McGraw with the Oregon Air National Guard at Kingsley Field introduced the United Way Loaned Executive Class of 2022. They include Technical Sergeant Megan Cornett; Master Sgt. Cliff Rutledge; Mason Otero and Kylie Thompson with Washington Federal Bank; and Paul Ocon with Sky Lakes Medical Center. McGraw said these individuals will be meeting with CEOs and giving presentations to various employee groups over the next nine weeks.
Todd Andres, chairman of the 22nd annual United Way Community Golf Challenge said 16 teams have signed up to play in the annual event on Saturday at Harbor Links Golf Course. Mike Cheeseman with Lithia Dodge announced the hole-in-one prize this year will be a 2022 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. More than $4,000 in prizes will be raffled and anyone interested in playing are encouraged to contact the United Way at 541-882-5558.
“The campaign is off to a great start,” said Maldonado and encouraged everyone to work hard to help surpass the $507,000 goal. Beneficiaries of the United Way campaign include 16 local social service agencies including Boys and Girl Scouts, CASA, Foster Grandparents program, Klamath Crisis Center, Klamath Hospice, Klamath KID Center, Senior Citizens’ Center, The Salvation Army, SPOKES Unlimited, YMCA, Friends of the Children, Citizens for Safe Schools, Lutheran Community Services and Integral Youth Services.
Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to United Way of the Klamath Basin at 136 N. Third St., Klamath Falls, OR 97601, and 99 cents of every dollar donated stays local.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/united-way-sets-507-000-goal-announces-10-already-raised/article_413b4002-307c-11ed-83b7-070fabfd0594.html
| 2022-09-10T01:59:31Z
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LAKEVIEW, Ore. — Tuesday's blue Klamath skies turned a dusky grey after wildfire Van Meter took hold of Stukel Mountain just after noon Wednesday, Sept. 7.
As of Thursday, Sept. 8, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) reported that the Van Meter Fire had consumed 3,500 acres of the Lakeview territory, and seven structures along with it — two of which were confirmed to be residences.
As of Friday morning, the fire is still zero percent contained. The estimated containment date is Wednesday Sept. 14.
The type 3 Management Team that was persistent in its structure protection efforts throughout Wednesday night passed the torch to a Type 1 Management team at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Aiding in evacuation and suppression efforts are the Klamath County Sheriff's Office, Klamath Fire District 1, Merrill Rural Fire District and Klamath County Emergency Management.
Traffic is limited to necessary travel only, with Oregon State Police and Highway Patrol monitoring the area and assisting with evacuations.
At this time, ODF reports there is a temporary flight restriction in place. No air crafts that are not associated with fire activities are allowed to enter the airspace surrounding the fire. This restriction includes the use of drones.
Incident Commander Tyler McCarty said, “The highest priority for this incident is firefighter and public safety, make sure you are focused on your situational awareness and expect the unexpected.”
Conditions at this time are unstable with fire behaviors increasing due to low humidity and high temperatures.
The most concerning is the Dodds Hollow area north of Merrill. As of Thursday evening, Dodds Hollow was still under evacuation Level 3 (GO NOW), including all addresses on Patricia Lane, Dodds Hollow Road and Pope Road north of Taylor Road.
Crystal Springs Road, east of Hill Road to South Poe Valley Road and from South Poe Valley Road to Weber Road has dropped from a Level 3 down to a Level 2 (BE READY) evacuation level.
The Air quality index rating in Klamath County was in the red Thursday, with a score of 168, but was reduced to a safe range with a score of 19 as of Friday afternoon.
Red Cross Cascades has set up temporary shelters for residents under evacuation orders in areas affected by the Rum Creek and Van Meter fires. Affected locals can seek shelter at the Klamath County Fairgrounds, located at 3531 S. Sixth St., in Klamath Falls.
For households with dogs and cats, there are three pet shelters taking in animals in Klamath Falls: Cherish K9, 2006 Oregon Ave.; Double-C Dog Training, 4141 Washburn Way; and Unfurgettable Pet Care, 601 S. Fifth St.
“Disasters can happen anywhere,” Regional Disaster Officer for Red Cross Cascades Rebecca Marshall said. “With the forecast calling for high winds and an increased wildfire risk across much of our region, it’s important to take the time now to get your family and home prepared. If you are able, you can also register to become a trained Red Cross volunteer to help those in your community.”
Red Cross Cascades suggested that, in order to stay safe and be prepared during wildfire season, Oregonians should take certain precautions.
Household members should have responsibilities divvied up in advance and a plan in place in case the area falls under evacuation orders.
Households should have an emergency kit containing enough water for each family member for three days. This equates to one gallon per person, per day. The kit should also contain items such as flashlights, batteries, hand-crank radios (or battery-powered), first-aid kits, multi-purpose tools, phone chargers, emergency contact information, maps, blankets and a seven-day supply of medications.
Red Cross Cascades also suggests that households consider the needs that specifically apply to their household members. For homes with pets, add supplies they require, such as leashes, food, water bowls and pet carriers. Households with infants and expectant mothers are encouraged to include formula, diapers, bottles and other necessities.
For updates on the Van Meter Fire, visit inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8405/ or the Van Meter Fire Facebook page. For updates on evacuations, visit the Klamath County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/van-meter-fire-holds-steady-at-3-500-acres-zero-containment/article_73f4ea7a-2fb9-11ed-bcc7-ff2abb7aba31.html
| 2022-09-10T01:59:38Z
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Country
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/obituaries/death-notice-postlethwait/article_4e27c090-3088-11ed-b779-93e42755d3db.html
| 2022-09-10T01:59:44Z
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Nick McMillen opened his final Oregon Tech cross country campaign with a seventh-place finish, helping the Owls place third overall at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Preview Meet in Talent.
The Owls placed all five of their scoring runners in the top 20, finishing with 63 team points – just four points behind second-place Southern Oregon (59). Eastern Oregon ran away with the team title (17), with Tech well ahead of both Bushnell (104) and Corban (125).
“Our guys were really solid, it was a great opener for us,” OIT coach Mike Anderson said. “There is nothing that can replicate racing and it was a great opportunity for some of our runners to get back on the course after a long layoff. I am happy where we are and know we will be even better when we return here in November.”
McMillen battled the dusty conditions to clock an 8,000-meter time of 26:10.40 – running in a pack that had five EOU runners and one racer from Southern.
Jonas Hartline placed 12th (26:40.70) and Tychon Preston took 15th (27:03.40), both running in the middle pack. Joseph Wilkinson (27:34.50) and Toby Ruston (27:38.60) worked together throughout, placing 17th and 18th.
Maxwell Cox (28:52.40 / 31st) and Thomas Long (29:25.10 / 34th) completed the OIT finishers.
Justin Ash of EOU earned the individual title, blitzing the field in 25:30 – 19 seconds ahead of teammate Hunter Nichols.
OIT returns to action in two weeks, competing at the Jessup invitational in Rocklin, Calif.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Lady Owls take fourth in CCC Preview: Kira Morrow led the way for Oregon Tech, posting a fifth-place finish at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Preview Meet.
Morrow recorded a 5,000-meter time of 20:37.50 and finished as the first non-Southern Oregon runner in the field.
SOU claimed the team title with 18 points, placing all five of their scoring runners in the top eight. The Lady Owls finished fourth overall with 77 points – just behind Eastern Oregon (64) and Bushnell (76).
“It was a really good opener for us,” Anderson said. “Kira ran like crazy and mixed it up with some quality runners. Our entire team engaged really well in the middle of the race and I am excited to see the progress we will make before we return here in November.”
Hannah Mason placed 10th overall (21:06.70), with McKenzie Morgan taking 14th (21:41.40). Both Mackenzie Peterson and Rachel Newhard earned top-25 efforts – Peterson in 23rd (23:12.90) and Newhard in 25th (23:41.30).
Kayla Clayton of SOU earned the individual title (19:13.70), six seconds ahead of teammate Lauren Forster (19:19.40).
OIT returns to action in two weeks, competing at the Jessup invitational in Rocklin, Calif.
PREP VOLLEYBALL
Bonanza 3, Chiloquin 0: Josie Cole had 17 kills and eight assists to lead the Antlers to the 25-13, 25-20, 26-24 victory.
Julie Hess added 14 kills, 14 assists and six aces, Jaidyn Maddock had five aces and four digs and Kylie Basso had seven kills and two aces.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/sports/basin-roundup-oit-men-take-third-in-ccc-preview-meet-women-fourth/article_8ab16cfa-3092-11ed-abc5-eb44daa91e50.html
| 2022-09-10T01:59:46Z
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Few people have seen the rise of Oregon Tech women’s soccer more up close and personal, so to speak, than has Tom Eichelkraut, who is in his first season as head coach after the sudden resignation over the summer by Casey Tate.
When the 47-year-old Eichelkraut joined the program with then-coach Mike Hedlund, the Hustlin’ Owls were, in reality, a so-so program. Beat the lesser sides they should, struggle against the best teams in the league.
Then came Brandon Porter and becoming a Cascade Collegiate Conference playoff team became a reality in his third season.
Tate took Tech to the next step.
Eichelkraut was there, a steady influence as the Hustlin’ Owls transitioned with new head coaches.
He is senior Maddie Miller’s third head coach in four seasons.
“It was difficult at first,” Miller said Sunday after she scored the match-winning goal as Tech beat Menlo College, 2-1, to level its season record at 1-1-1. “It takes the players time to help the coaches, but as a team leader it was easier.”
Coming off a 2-1 loss to North Dakota’s Jamestown University in Pendleton last Friday, Tech had to make the long trip home to prepare for its home opener.
“This was a good stepping stone and there are some things we’re trying to clean up,” Eichelkraut said. “This shows that their training is working, but these players are never happy, even with the win.”
The victory not only was No. 1 for Eichelkraut, the seventh head coach for the women’s program that started in 2000 when engineering professor Mike Cornachione brought the game to the OIT campus.
The victory also was No. 200 in school history.
While it was on Tech’s nice turf field, No. 200 also came at the site where the program began under Cornachione, on a less-than level pitch that was, at times, a challenge for players to avoid injuries.
“That’s a big accomplishment,” Miller said of victory No. 200, which allowed Oregon Tech to join The College of Idaho, Corban and the defunct Concordia University as league sides with that many career wins. Frontier League member Carroll, which plays in the CCC for soccer, also has won 200 times.
“It’s carrying on the work others did, keeping the name at the top, keeping the alumni happy,” Miller said.
“It’s a lot of pressure, too,” Eichelkraut said, “for the players, the coaches. The bar has been set high. We want to keep the program going forward and not go back. It is what drives these players.”
“We knew we could do it,” Miller said of a group which, a year ago, advanced to the national semifinals. “Now, it’s proving that to everybody else. We know we have to show up every day. We can’t have a day off.”
All along, the taciturn Eichelkraut has been a quiet force on the sidelines.
“It’s cool to see him step up to be head coach,” Miller said. “He just cares so much for the program.”
Steve Matthies is the sports editor emeritus of the Herald & News, and has covered Oregon Tech sports for more than 30 years.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/sports/commentary-faces-change-results-stay-same-for-oit-womens-soccer/article_432874b6-3090-11ed-9f25-37ed29bcb8c5.html
| 2022-09-10T01:59:52Z
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The eighth annual Ride the Rim days are scheduled for the next two Saturdays, Sept. 10 and Sept. 17, at Crater Lake National Park.
The event is free, but normal park entrance fees apply.
“Ride the Rim has grown in popularity each year. It provides an opportunity to experience East Rim Drive in a unique way, under your own power, whether you’re on a bicycle or on your own two feet,” park superintendent Craig W. Ackerman said in a news release. “It is a strenuous endeavor, but the rewards of a slower pace, opportunities for quiet reflection, and healthy, vigorous recreation make it a special experience for many people.”
East Rim Drive from North Junction to park headquarters will be closed for motorized vehicles from 8 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday both weekends.
West Rim Drive will be open for all travel. Visitors should expect a large number of bicyclists on park roads. Park staff recommend cyclists avoid riding on West Rim Drive, if possible, because of increased traffic due to the event.
Ride the Rim parking is available at North Junction, park headquarters and the Picnic Hill area of Rim Village. A free shuttle will transport participants to and from the parking area.
Wildland fire smoke levels are fluctuating because to several active fires near the park. Participants are encouraged to check weather and smoke forecasts.
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https://www.heraldandnews.com/sports/ride-the-rim-set-for-next-two-saturdays-at-crater-lake/article_f55dc850-308d-11ed-9c33-132d7fdd677c.html
| 2022-09-10T01:59:58Z
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